Beside a small stream beneath the peak of Mount Xiaoyao, a beautiful young girl sat on a rock. Her fair, delicate feet continuously swung in the water, sending countless tiny bubbles splashing up. The soles of her feet were smooth and white like a block of tofu, and her rosy skin was very pleasing to the eye. She hummed a song while washing off the sticky mud clinging to her jade-like feet. There had just been heavy rain, and the dirt path was entirely covered in mud. The young girl had been careless and stepped right into it. Being a clean freak, she couldn't stand it, so she had to take off her socks and shoes, wash her feet clean, and only then could she continue her journey.
The young girl stood up, tidied her hair, adjusted the male attire she was wearing, and altered her appearance. Today, she was disguised as a man, having changed her appearance to ascend Mount Xiaoyao for a very important matter. The rain gradually lessened. She lifted her soaking wet bare feet, used a brocade towel to dry them completely, then changed into another pair of shoes and continued towards the mountain gate. Finally, before the mountain gate, she met the Senior Disciple Brother of the Xiaoyao Sect. "You must be Liu Tianye?" Liu Tianye was twelve years old this year, and this time she had come to Mount Xiaoyao to formally become a disciple. As soon as she entered the mountain gate and met her Senior Disciple Brother, Wu Chen, she was startled as if encountering a celestial being. The Senior Disciple Brother personally came out of the mountain gate to welcome her? From the moment the Senior Disciple Brother stepped out of the mountain entrance, his white robes, untainted by worldly dust, made the surrounding scenery suddenly brighten. His simple yet elegant white robes, and his peerless appearance, could not conceal his noble and aloof aura. His indifferent, cold gaze seemed to pierce one's heart. Birds flew and beasts ran in all directions, all submitting, respectfully bowing before him, showing reverence. This was the first time Liu Tianye had met such an extraordinary person; for a moment, she was so flustered that she forgot to perform the proper etiquette. She even felt a little afraid of this Senior Disciple Brother with his stern, cold expression. Wu Chen's icy, water-like eyes swept lightly over her, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "You are the one chosen from among the outer disciples, Liu Tianye?" Only then did Liu Tianye react, bowing and cupping her hands in a salute. "Liu Tianye greets Senior Disciple Brother." Wu Chen: "Where are you from?" Liu Tianye: "A native of Nanyang." Wu Chen: "From today onwards, you are one of the direct disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect. Follow me, I will take you to meet our Master." Liu Tianye: "Yes."
"Hoo." Liu Tianye secretly let out a breath, feeling relieved. Although Senior Disciple Brother appeared aloof, he was gentle and not arrogant. Liu Tianye's courage grew. She gazed at the long sword at Wu Chen's hip and couldn't help but ask, "Senior Disciple Brother, are you a sword cultivator?" Wu Chen was stunned by the question, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Ah?... Well... you could say that." Liu Tianye's personality was still quite childish, and she liked to show off. She excitedly ran to Wu Chen's side and said enthusiastically, "I'm also a sword cultivator! I've already cultivated to the 'Sword Heart Clarity' realm. Senior Disciple Brother, you've cultivated swordsmanship for so many years, you must be incredibly powerful, right? Can I cultivate the sword dao with you in the future?" Wu Chen took a deep breath, continued walking, and said nothing. Liu Tianye thought Senior Disciple Brother was looking down on her low cultivation, so she continued, "Senior Disciple Brother, please don't misunderstand. I've only just begun cultivating the sword dao, which is why my realm is so low. However, my cultivation is already at the late Foundation Establishment stage, almost reaching Core Formation. Really!" Wu Chen's expression darkened slightly, but he still opened his mouth to praise her. "Hmm, not bad, truly a rare genius seen only once in a thousand years. To reach late Foundation Establishment at just twelve years old. Haha... not bad." Although Wu Chen smiled, his smile was very forced, and veins bulged on his forehead. His words just now were clearly not what he was thinking. The two junior disciples walking beside them exchanged glances, both secretly thinking, "Oh no." This new junior disciple, ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth, kept poking at Senior Disciple Brother's sore spot. The two of them continuously winked at Liu Tianye, trying to hint at her to stop mentioning this matter. But Liu Tianye was completely oblivious and curiously asked, "Senior Disciple Brother, you've cultivated for so many years, what realm are you in now?" Veins bulged on Wu Chen's temples, and he finally couldn't hold it in anymore, roaring out a sentence. "Brat, do you know how annoying you are?! Is Foundation Establishment stage so great?!" "Huh?" Liu Tianye could never have imagined that this Senior Disciple Brother, who was as gentle as an immortal, would say such words to her. Her small face immediately flushed crimson, and she lowered her head, not daring to speak further. Her eyes welled up with tears, feeling both wronged and bewildered. She didn't know what she had done wrong. The two disciples standing nearby were startled and hastily bowed to beg for forgiveness. "Senior Disciple Brother, please forgive us. It is our fault. We did not teach him the sect rules before ascending the mountain." Wu Chen's gaze swept fiercely over the two of them. If a second ago he had been like an immortal untouched by worldly affairs, now he was no different from a demon. The two disciples felt like two rabbits being stared at by a lion; they didn't even dare to breathe heavily, and their backs were drenched in sweat. A few seconds later, Wu Chen took a deep breath, calming his emotions. He reached out and patted Liu Tianye's small head. "I'll let it go this time. Next time, remember not to babble nonsense. Understand?" Liu Tianye stretched out her small hand, wiping away her tears. "Sorry, Senior Disciple Brother. I know I was wrong, next time I will definitely be careful." In truth, even now she was still bewildered, not understanding how she had offended Senior Disciple Brother.
Wu Chen led her directly into a cliff face, stepping onto a rainbow bridge. This rainbow bridge shimmered brightly, with mist swirling around the valley below, its depths unknown. Liu Tianye couldn't help but feel delighted and captivated, secretly sighing, "Truly an immortal mountain." Wu Chen said indifferently, "Be careful, the path is slippery. Below is a bottomless abyss; once you fall, you won't be able to get back up." Liu Tianye, once again excited, replied, "Yes, I understand."
They walked on this rainbow bridge for about half an hour. The white clouds gradually thinned, and they finally reached the end. Ahead was the Grand Hall of Three Purity, where Li Daozi, the Sect Master of the Xiaoyao Sect, cultivated. Wu Chen said indifferently, "Junior Disciple Brother." Liu Tianye: "Yes." Wu Chen: "We'll be meeting Master soon. If Ziyang and Chunyang haven't taught you the sect rules yet, then I will. Our Xiaoyao Sect doesn't have too many rules, just a few points: 1. Do not disrespect your master or betray the sect. 2. Do not betray your fellow disciples. 3. Do not collude with demons or evil cultivators. ..." Liu Tianye listened very attentively. Indeed, the Xiaoyao Sect's rules were not troublesome, complicated, or strict like those of other sects; on the contrary, they seemed quite lenient. As long as one didn't commit any major mistakes, everything could be forgiven.