The Beginning

Yun Yao’s meaning was quite clear. Although Xue Linglong was a Daughter of Destiny, she still couldn’t escape the constraints of fate.

The Heavenly Dao and fate were not the same entity. The Heavenly Dao represented natural laws, while fate was an invisible trajectory. Though seemingly connected, they were, in reality, distinct and even contradictory.

The Daughter of Destiny chosen by fate and the Son of Destiny chosen by the Heavenly Dao were also not the same concept. However, one point remained: the Heavenly Dao was still the controller of this world, and even fate could not influence it.

“So that’s how it is. You’ve endured so much hardship at such a young age. I believe your future will surely be extraordinary,” Bai Lan remarked to Xue Linglong with a peculiar tone.

Hearing this, Xue Linglong immediately narrowed her eyes and nodded with a smile.

“That’s right! My mother told me the same thing before she passed away,” Xue Linglong replied. “She said that after the wind and rain, one would surely see a rainbow.”

It seemed Xue Linglong’s mother was quite a cultured woman herself.

“Alright, time’s almost up. We should get ready for the assessment,” Bai Lan said. “Perhaps we’ll be fellow disciples soon.”

Xue Linglong paused, then quickly followed Bai Lan towards the assessment area. Mere seconds after they had walked off, a voice from a high-ranking official of the Luoshen Sect echoed across the sky.

“Time is up! All girls participating in the entrance examination, please prepare for the preliminary inspection. Before that, this Venerable One reminds you: our Luoshen Sect’s recruitment requirements are clearly stipulated. Those unqualified should leave now to avoid detection; otherwise, do not blame us for our lack of courtesy.” The voice, stern and unyielding, addressed the crowd on Eternal Blossom Island.

No sooner had she spoken than many girls revealed expressions of helplessness and disappointment. These individuals were likely unqualified.

While nothing might have been evident on the surface, the Luoshen Sect had a strict rule: they absolutely did not recruit disciples who were no longer virgins. This was a non-negotiable requirement.

Furthermore, they did not recruit disciples with overly unsightly appearances, and finally, the age limit was sixteen. These were the three fundamental requirements. Only those who met these basic criteria were eligible to participate in the assessment inspection.

The inspection primarily focused on spiritual roots. For the outer sect examination, nothing else was checked; only spiritual roots mattered.

As long as one possessed spiritual roots, they could remain. The method for checking spiritual roots was quite simple.

The Luoshen Sect possessed a specialized artifact for detecting spiritual root attributes. One only needed to touch it, and with a cultivator’s activation, the results would be revealed.

Sure enough, Bai Lan and Xue Linglong were already standing in one of the three queues. At the front, three Luoshen Sect disciples were responsible for testing spiritual roots, while others patrolled nearby to maintain order.

With so many girls standing amidst the flowering trees, the scene possessed a unique charm. The four testing points across the island had all begun simultaneously.

“So many people!” Xue Linglong exclaimed, standing before Bai Lan and looking around. Despite her high intelligence, she was still a child, and her curiosity remained strong.

“Indeed. I heard that this time, the Luoshen Sect specifically increased the outer sect quota by two thousand spots,” Bai Lan explained. “It’s likely because of the overwhelming number of applicants.”

Hearing this, Xue Linglong cast a slight glance at Bai Lan. She always felt that this ‘older sister’ seemed to know everything.

“Oh, right, Sister, I haven’t asked your name yet, have I?” Xue Linglong inquired.

“My name? Ah, I am Bai Lan. ‘Bai’ as in white, and ‘Lan’ as in mountain mist.” Bai Lan directly stated his name from his previous life.

He decided against using his current life’s name, Xue Yue, to avoid trouble. Besides, he always felt that name sounded too feminine and didn’t want to use it. Bai Lan, being a gender-neutral name, perfectly suited his preference.

“Bai Lan? ‘White Mountain Mist’? Sister Bai Lan, I suddenly realized our names sound quite harmonious together!” Xue Linglong pondered for a moment after hearing Bai Lan’s name, then her eyes lit up as she smiled at Bai Lan.

The term ‘Linglong Flower’ was actually a general designation, often referring to a snow lotus.

Bai Lan was startled, then thought carefully. Indeed, their names truly complemented each other well when combined. This was likely a great affinity.

Honestly, if Xue Linglong were an adult woman with such a gentle personality, Bai Lan estimated he would fall in love with her. No man disliked a gentle and kind girl.

“Then I suppose we have a special affinity,” Bai Lan suggested with a smile. “Once we join the Luoshen Sect’s outer sect, you can live with me. Outer sect disciples are free to choose their residences anywhere on the island, after all.”

He had a thought, not that he harbored any ulterior motives towards such a young girl, but for two reasons. The first was Yun Yao’s suggestion that he foster a good relationship with Xue Linglong.

Secondly, it was his own feeling: he believed that having such a pure snow lotus by his side would significantly uplift his spirits. Any unpleasant matters would likely vanish the moment he saw Xue Linglong’s smiling face.

“Okay! But, Sister Bai Lan, I feel like you know a lot about this assessment. Do you have some kind of ‘in’?” Xue Linglong asked softly.

“Eh? Well, you could say that, hehe.” Bai Lan felt awkward. This girl is too smart, he thought.

She gave Bai Lan the impression that she could see through everything. In truth, having one’s thoughts exposed like that was quite unsettling.

Xue Linglong noticed Bai Lan’s expression stiffen slightly, seemingly discerning that Bai Lan wasn’t particularly pleased with her questions.

“I’m sorry, Sister Bai Lan. I, I shouldn’t have asked those things.” Xue Linglong apologized, then said nothing more.

This girl’s ability to read people was simply astonishing; truly worthy of a Linglong Body.

“Heh heh, that’s the Linglong Body for you. Bai Lan, you either tell her the truth or don’t speak at all,” Yun Yao chuckled. “The moment you open your mouth, she can practically discern your thoughts from your words and subtle expressions.”

Bai Lan gave a wry smile. How wonderful it would be to have such an ability, he thought. If only I had known, I would have chosen the Linglong Body.

However, the moment this thought crossed his mind, Yun Yao spoke again.

“Don’t overthink it. If you had chosen the Linglong Body, you wouldn’t have met this girl before you,” Yun Yao added.

Seeing Yun Yao constantly prying into his thoughts, Bai Lan couldn’t help but speak up.

“I say, could you please stop looking into my thoughts so casually? It leaves me with no secrets, and I find it quite uncomfortable.”

Upon hearing Bai Lan’s words, Yun Yao immediately fell silent.

Amidst their conversation, the queue Bai Lan and his companions stood in slowly advanced. From the front, the cries of girls who had failed the assessment due to lacking spiritual roots frequently echoed.

After all, they had arrived here filled with hope. To suddenly be told they had no spiritual roots and could not cultivate immortality would undoubtedly be unacceptable to them.

Yet, their inability to accept it was useless; they could only return the way they came. Girls who possessed spiritual roots were, of course, overjoyed.

However, entering the outer sect was merely the first step. If they couldn’t establish their foundation within a century, they would still have to leave.

Approximately half an hour later, it was soon Bai Lan and Xue Linglong’s turn. Just as the two were preparing to step forward for their assessment, an unexpected incident occurred.

Several young girls suddenly approached from the back of the queue, abruptly blocking Xue Linglong, who was about to go up for inspection. In essence, they were cutting in line.