The thunderous echo of Elder Ning's declaration hung in the air, a pronouncement that had irrevocably altered the reality of everyone present. The fish-feeder was gone, and in his place stood a personal disciple, a figure of status so lofty it was almost mythical to the common outer sect members. The crowd, once a unified body of scorn, was now a fractured sea of emotions. There was shock, envy so thick it was a poison in the air, and for a select few, a dawning sense of awe.
Li Jie's face was a canvas of pure, unadulterated hatred. The world had turned upside down. The boy he had tormented, the trash from his village, had not only defeated him but had leaped over the entire sect hierarchy in a single bound. He was now an existence Li Jie couldn't even dream of offending. The injustice of it all was a fire that threatened to consume his sanity. He stumbled away from the arena, the venomous glares of his former cronies now directed at him for his association with the boy who had humiliated them all. His path in the sect had just become infinitely more difficult.
Elder Ning paid the crowd no mind. To a cultivator of her stature, their opinions were as significant as the chirping of insects. She gave Li Yu a curt nod. "Come. Your new life begins now."
She turned and walked away, her steps unhurried yet impossibly fast. Li Yu, after a moment's hesitation, moved to follow. As he did, the Crimson-Gill Marsh-Drake, still waiting patiently in the center of the arena, lifted its head and let out a low, rumbling croak, a clear sound of acknowledgment and farewell. Li Yu glanced back, giving the proud beast a small, almost imperceptible nod of his own.
The silent and serious Sister Feng appeared at his side. "Follow me, Junior Brother Li. I will guide you to your new residence."
The title "Junior Brother" felt alien and heavy on his ears. Just this morning, he would have been beaten for not addressing her as "Senior Sister." Now, their statuses were nominally equal, though he knew her experience and cultivation were still leagues beyond his own.
As they walked away from the tumultuous arena, Li Yu felt a chapter of his life closing with a resounding finality. He was leaving the mud and the stench, the back-breaking labor and the constant, gnawing fear. He was ascending.
The journey was a revelation. They left the dusty, utilitarian grounds of the outer sect and began to climb one of the three towering emerald peaks. This was the Azure Cloud Peak, the residential area for the sect's elders and their personal disciples. The very air changed. The spiritual energy was so rich and dense it was like breathing in a fine, invigorating mist. The path was paved with smooth, white stones that seemed to glow with a faint inner light, and the buildings they passed were elegant pagodas and pavilions, nestled amongst ancient, gnarled trees and serene rock gardens. Disciples in silver-threaded robes moved with a quiet, confident grace, their auras deep and powerful. This was the true heart of the Green Mountain Sect.
Sister Feng led him to a small, secluded courtyard halfway up the mountain. It was surrounded by a low, white wall and contained a single, elegant two-story building with a gracefully curved roof. A small, clear pond with a few ornamental fish—mortals, not demonic beasts—was situated next to a weeping willow tree.
"This will be your residence," she said, her tone as neutral as ever, but Li Yu could detect a flicker of something in her eyes—perhaps curiosity, perhaps envy. "As a personal disciple of Master, you will receive a monthly stipend of twenty low-grade spirit stones, one Qi Gathering Pill, and access to the first three floors of the sect's main library. This token," she handed him a heavy, silver medallion carved with the image of a soaring crane, "is your new identity. It will grant you access to your residence, cultivation chambers, and signifies your authority. Show it, and no outer disciple will dare to disrespect you."
Li Yu took the token, its weight a heavy reminder of his new reality. Twenty spirit stones a month. He had nearly died of shock when Brother Chen had given him one. This was a level of wealth he could scarcely have imagined.
"Master will summon you when she is ready," Sister Feng concluded. "For now, settle in. Your new robes and a disciple's manual are inside. Read the manual. It will explain the rules and etiquette you are now expected to follow. Do not cause trouble for our Master." With that, she bowed slightly and departed, leaving him alone at the gate of his new home.
He pushed the gate open and stepped inside. The sheer, unadulterated peace of the place was overwhelming. He walked through the small house, his worn straw sandals silent on the polished wooden floors. There was a bedroom, a study, and a small chamber on the second floor with a meditation cushion at its center, clearly designed for cultivation. It was a world away from the windowless, stinking hut he had called home for over a year.
But before he could settle in, there was one last thread to tie up. He took off his new robes, put his old, patched linen clothes back on, and, with his new status token hidden in his pocket, made his way back down the mountain, back to the Aquatic Pens.
He found Uncle Wei sitting on the edge of a dock, staring out at the water, a look of dazed pride on his wrinkled face. The old man looked up as Li Yu approached, and a wide, genuine smile split his face.
"Brat," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "You actually did it. You climbed to the heavens."
Li Yu walked over and, to the old man's surprise, bowed deeply, a full, formal bow of respect. "I could not have survived without Uncle Wei's care. This Li Yu will never forget your kindness."
Uncle Wei's eyes grew misty. He quickly waved his hand, embarrassed. "Nonsense. It was all you. I just kept the flies off you." He looked at the boy, truly looked at him, and saw the quiet, unyielding determination in his eyes. "It will be different up there, brat. The peaks are high, but the wind is cold. The disciples up there are not like the fools down here. They are true dragons and phoenixes among men. Their families are powerful, their resources are endless, and their jealousy is a sharp knife. Be careful. Be smarter than them. Your strange talent is a treasure, but it is also a target."
"I will," Li Yu said, his voice filled with a sincerity that went beyond words. He took out the pouch of five spirit stones Uncle Wei had given him and tried to hand it back. "Uncle Wei should take these back."
The old man shoved his hand away with surprising force. "Don't you dare insult me, brat. That was an investment, and it has paid off a thousand times over. Now go. You don't belong here anymore. Don't look back."
Li Yu gave the old man one last, long look, etching the memory of his first and only friend in the sect into his mind. He bowed again, then turned and walked away, leaving the world of the Aquatic Pens behind for the final time.
Later that day, the summons came. He was led by Sister Feng to the highest point of Azure Cloud Peak, to a magnificent, nine-story pagoda that seemed to touch the clouds. This was Elder Ning Yue's personal residence. The spiritual energy here was so dense it was almost liquid, and a profound silence pervaded the air.
He was brought to a large, open-air study on the fifth floor. Elder Ning was seated behind a large, dark-wood desk, practicing calligraphy. She did not look up as he entered and knelt. After what felt like an eternity, she finished a final character, placed her brush down, and finally turned her sharp, penetrating gaze upon him. "Rise," she said.
Li Yu stood, his heart beating a steady rhythm.
"Your performance at the test was… unexpected," she began, her voice calm but carrying an immense pressure. "I have seen disciples with powerful affinity spirits, but I have never seen anyone command the submission of a Rank 3 Spirit Beast with a Grade One Ornamental Fish. Explain."
It was the question he had been preparing for. He bowed his head respectfully. "Master, this disciple does not fully understand it himself. Since I awakened my spirit, I have always felt a connection to creatures of the water. It is not a feeling of control, but of… understanding. My spirit, though weak, seems to possess a strange quality. It feels… old. When I am near other aquatic beasts, especially those with ancient bloodlines like the Marsh-Drake, they seem to become calm, as if they are recognizing something in my spirit that I cannot."
He was carefully crafting a narrative. It was the truth, but a carefully curated version of it. He was framing his Koi as having a "Bloodline Suppression" ability, a rare and believable phenomenon. He revealed nothing of his absorption ability.
Elder Ning listened, her fingers steepled, her expression unreadable. "A bloodline suppression spirit… Such things are rare, but not unheard of. It would explain the drake's reaction." Her gaze swept over him, her powerful spiritual sense probing him. Li Yu stood perfectly still, allowing the probe while his «Myriad Rivers Returning to the Sea Art» worked its magic. The technique was truly heaven-defying. It didn't just mask his aura with a fish-like quality; it actively concealed the sea of Qi in his dantian, making him appear as a complete mortal, a blank slate with unopened meridians.
Elder Ning's brow furrowed slightly. "You have no cultivation base," she stated, a hint of surprise in her voice. "None at all. You are a complete mortal."
This was the critical moment. Li Yu feigned a look of confusion and slight shame. "Master, I… I was a menial worker. We are not permitted to cultivate. I do not know how."
The lie was perfect. It was the truth of his station, and it made his performance at the test even more miraculous in her eyes. It meant his affinity was pure, untainted by even a shred of cultivation. It was a raw, natural talent of the highest order.
A look of profound understanding crossed Elder Ning's face. She believed she had found an uncut diamond. "I see," she said, the coldness in her voice melting away, replaced by the focused intensity of a master artisan. "Your talent is wasted without a foundation. Your affinity is your primary weapon, but without strength, you will remain a flower in a vase—beautiful, but fragile. From now on, you will cultivate."
She waved her hand, and a thick, leather-bound tome appeared on the desk. "This is the «Azure Water Scripture», the core Qi cultivation art of my lineage. It is a high-grade technique that will allow you to build a true foundation. It is difficult, but with the spiritual energy on this peak and the resources I provide, you should be able to reach the First Stage of Body Tempering within a month."
Li Yu's heart pounded with feigned excitement, but his mind was a whirlwind of calculation. This was the perfect cover! His future breakthroughs, which would be lightning-fast due to his absorption, could now be attributed to his "profound talent" for this high-grade scripture.
"Thank you, Master!" he said, his voice filled with a convincing eagerness.
"Your second task is to learn how to formalize your gift," she continued, producing a set of bamboo slips. "This is a beast taming art called «The Spirit-Link Contract». It will teach you how to form a true bond with a demonic beast, making it your companion. The Marsh-Drake has submitted to your spirit's bloodline. It will be your first partner."
Li Yu accepted the precious books, his mind already racing. A high-grade cultivation art to use as a shield, a formal beast taming method, and a Rank 3 Spirit Beast as his companion. He had gained everything he wanted and protected all his secrets.
He knew he had to press his advantage, to steer his future towards his ultimate goal. He bowed deeply. "Master, this disciple is deeply grateful. I will study these techniques with all my heart. But… this disciple has a request."
Elder Ning raised an eyebrow. "Speak."
"For the past year, my life has been spent with the beasts of the Aquatic Pens," Li Yu said, his voice filled with a genuine passion that was not faked. "My affinity, my understanding… it all comes from being near them. I fear that if I stay on this peak, surrounded by quiet gardens, my talent will wither. This disciple humbly requests to be given a responsibility, a place where I can be among the aquatic beasts I understand so well. Perhaps… perhaps I could oversee the Aquatic Pens? Or a similar place with more valuable beasts? I wish to cultivate, yes, but I also wish to continue learning from the creatures themselves. It is the only way I know."
Elder Ning was silent for a long moment, considering his words. The request was unusual. Most disciples would kill for the chance to cultivate peacefully on the peak. But this boy was different. His talent was inextricably linked to the beasts. To separate him from them might indeed be foolish. His desire to take on responsibility also showed a maturity and diligence she found admirable.
"A sound request," she finally said. "Your foundation is in beast taming, and it should not be neglected. The old Aquatic Pens are beneath your station now. However, there is a place. The Azure Serpent Lake, located in the inner sect valley. It houses our most valuable aquatic beasts, from Rank 3 to even a few young Rank 4 specimens. It is a place of great importance and great danger." She looked at him, her gaze sharp. "I will make you the Junior Steward of the Azure Serpent Lake. You will answer only to me. You will have the authority to manage the beasts as you see fit. But be warned, a single mistake there could cost the sect tens of thousands of spirit stones, and cost you your life."
Li Yu's heart exploded with silent, triumphant joy. Higher-level beasts. A position of authority. A perfect reason to be surrounded by an ocean of high-grade Qi. It was more than he had ever dared to hope for.
"This disciple will not fail you, Master!" he declared, his voice ringing with conviction.
"See that you don't," she said, her voice turning cold again. "Your status will bring you trouble. There are many who will be jealous. There are many who will test you. Do not rely on my name to protect you. In the Green Mountain Sect, strength is the only true status. If you are weak, you will be devoured, and I will not have a weakling as my disciple. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Master!"
"Good. Now go. Your journey is your own."
Li Yu bowed deeply, took the precious books, and backed out of the study. As he walked down from the pagoda, the weight of his new life settled fully upon his shoulders. He was no longer just hiding. He was now a player in a much larger, more dangerous game. He looked at the books in his hands and then towards the distant valley. His past had been about survival. His future would be about power.