Faced with the wooden sword pressed against his throat, Li Xingtian decisively backed down. After all, in his previous life at the sect, he had often admitted defeat. Raising his hands high, he said, "I'm not who you think I am, and I don't know those people you're talking about."

Li Yingling's eyes narrowed as she coldly asked, "Then what are you doing here?"

Li Xingtian's mind raced, trying to come up with an excuse.

Just then, a voice drifted over from the direction of the temple.

"Surely our sect's reputation has spread far and wide, and this young talent must be here to join us, right?"

Li Xingtian turned to see a handsome young man in a tattered robe leaning against the door, looking at him with a smile.

Li Yingling was somewhat speechless and said, "Master, I think... isn't that a bit unlikely?"

If Li Yingling didn't understand the true nature of their so-called sect, she'd have to be a complete fool. Her master's cultivation might be impressive, but he probably couldn't dominate the Xuanwu Kingdom. His identity was questionable, and it was unclear where he got so many top-tier cultivation techniques. As for being renowned and attracting people, that was pure fantasy.

Chu Xingchen strolled over leisurely, carefully examining the young man before him. Short hair, slightly thin, and though a sword was pointed at his throat, his eyes showed no panic.

He glanced at the system.

[Target: Li Xingtian]

[Cultivation Level: Qi Refining Stage Two]

[Golden Attribute: Reincarnator]

[Purple Attribute: Ruthless and Decisive]

[Blue Attribute: Loyal and Righteous]

[Meets the criteria for accepting disciples]

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The system had just alerted him that someone nearby met the criteria for becoming a disciple. A sweep of his divine sense revealed that this person had been caught by Li Yingling.

Chu Xingchen looked at the young man in front of him with amazement. A reincarnator—clearly a protagonist template. Especially the "loyal and righteous" attribute, which was like a little darling to a Sect Master, though unfortunately, he was male. It was rare to have a disciple delivered to his doorstep; he had to take him under his wing.

Li Xingtian was startled by Chu Xingchen's knowing look. He hadn't expected the person to come not as a protector but as her master himself.

Li Xingtian took a deep breath and slowly asked, "May I ask, senior, which sect you belong to?"

Hearing this question, Li Yingling also looked at Chu Xingchen with curiosity. She didn't know either; every time she asked, her master would dodge the question.

In truth, this question had puzzled not only Li Yingling but also Chu Xingchen for a long time. As someone who struggled with naming things, he had always wanted to come up with a meaningful and elegant name. Now, seeing Li Xingtian's puzzled gaze, Chu Xingchen knew he had to say something, or this potential disciple might slip away.

He glanced up at the sky and then said leisurely, "The sect is called the Heavenly Dao Alliance."

Heavenly Dao Alliance? Li Xingtian's pupils contracted. How dare they name it after the Heavenly Dao?!

It seemed his previous worldview had been too limited. He had long heard that there were many hidden immortal sects in Central State, and these two must belong to one of them.

Li Xingtian quickly cupped his hands and said, "I was just passing by, with no intention to disturb..."

Chu Xingchen quickly raised his hand to interrupt Li Xingtian, squinting as if he had noticed something.

"You carry the scent of karma on you. Is it... time?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xingtian's heart raced, and he dared not look up at Chu Xingchen's eyes. Could this person see through temporal causality?! What kind of cultivation level was this? Nascent Soul or Tribulation Transcendence? How could he encounter such a big shot in the remote Southern Zhanbu Continent? Could it be that he was also here for the Bone Jade?

However, in his previous life, he had obtained the Bone Jade, which meant this senior hadn't found it! Why was he still thinking about the Bone Jade at this moment? This person had already seen through his temporal causality. Did he know he was a reincarnator? Would this big shot capture him for research?

As Li Xingtian's mind raced, someone else was also racking their brains to fool this reincarnator.

After a while, Chu Xingchen spoke slowly, "Kid, carrying such heavy karma on you, it's hard to say if it's good or bad."

Li Xingtian was taken aback, feeling that the senior seemed to be hinting at something, and quickly asked, "What does senior mean by this?"

Chu Xingchen, feigning profundity, said, "Time is a torrent, a grand trend, a law. Swimming against the current will either shatter you or make you famous."

Li Xingtian took a deep breath, seemingly understanding Chu Xingchen's hint, and resolutely said, "Whether shattered or famous, I now understand what I must do in this life."

Nodding in satisfaction, Chu Xingchen displayed a look of approval and said, "Cultivating immortality is, after all, defying the heavens."

Chu Xingchen showed a hint of hesitation, then sighed and said, "Well, it seems you and I are fated. Would you like to join my sect?"

Li Xingtian was slightly stunned, looking at Chu Xingchen in disbelief, hesitant to speak.

Chu Xingchen naturally saw his concerns. He was simply afraid that he was being set up. Since Li Xingtian was a reincarnator and his cultivation level was only at Qi Refining Stage Two, seeing his feet worn and bloodied, it seemed this dilapidated temple held something very important for him. As for what that thing was, did it need much thought? It was clearly Li Xingtian's most crucial opportunity, his most significant chance!

Chu Xingchen, as if seeing through Li Xingtian's thoughts, sneered and said, "You underestimate the world. What you consider a treasure is merely dispensable to us. Go and claim your opportunity."

Li Xingtian's secret was instantly revealed, and he looked at Chu Xingchen with undisguised surprise.

Chu Xingchen maintained his air of a master and said, "It's a pity you lack vision and don't recognize what true opportunity is."

Li Xingtian struggled internally but still cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, senior, for your generosity. However, I'm not accustomed to the constraints of a sect, so I hope you'll understand."

Chu Xingchen silently shook his head and turned away, no longer looking at him.

"Yingling, let him go."

Although she didn't know what her master was pretending or what mysterious things they were discussing, Li Yingling would naturally give her master face when needed.

Li Yingling withdrew the wooden sword, respectfully cupped her hands toward Chu Xingchen, and said, "Yes, Master."

At the same time, she secretly winked at Chu Xingchen from a side Li Xingtian couldn't see, indicating her obedience.

Chu Xingchen nodded in satisfaction.

Li Xingtian thanked them again, then climbed back up the small slope, not daring to look back, and stepped into the temple.

The temple now showed signs of habitation, quite different from when Li Xingtian first arrived. Even the wooden planks under the statue had been removed.

Li Xingtian's heart skipped a beat as he hurried to the statue and reached out to touch the floor, only to find that the small stone he remembered was gone.

What happened? Did the senior take it? But he spoke so casually, and his cultivation was unfathomable. At this moment, with his mere Qi Refining Stage Two, he could easily be subdued without any deceit. So where did it go?

"The thing you're looking for, I used it to prop up a table leg."

Chu Xingchen's voice came from behind.

Li Xingtian didn't turn to look at him but followed Chu Xingchen's words and looked at the table leg. The Millennia-old Bone Jade he had been longing for was indeed propping up the table leg.

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Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan