Before the Story Begins

“Why such a rush?”

The news had arrived too abruptly, leaving Luochen somewhat bewildered.

“Your illness is worsening, and when you break through to the Seventh Revolution, I will truly struggle to protect you.”

“I don’t know how long it will take to overcome the death barrier of the Ninth Revolution, so I can only act as soon as possible.”

“Furthermore, almost all of my primordial spiritual power has been transferred into your body, and I also need this period of secluded cultivation to re-condense my spiritual power.”

However, there was another reason, one that Zhu Qing found difficult to articulate.

After this incident, her feelings for her disciple were no longer merely the simple bond between master and student; an inexplicable, elusive sentiment had begun to intertwine within them.

No, perhaps she had harbored that feeling even earlier. This recent event had simply prompted her to scrutinize her own heart.

‘Was that feeling love?’

Zhu Qing did not know. She only knew that whenever her gaze fell upon Luochen’s lips now, she felt an undeniable urge to kiss them.

To allow herself time for contemplation, and to cool the fervent emotions stirring within her, Zhu Qing, after careful consideration, decided to immediately begin her secluded cultivation.

Yet, before she could retreat, one matter absolutely had to be conveyed to Luochen.

She collected her thoughts, then spoke, “Chen’er, do you know why I took you as my disciple back then?”

“Because Master fell in love with me at first sight?”

Luochen playfully responded.

Normally, Zhu Qing would have simply tapped her on the head as a warning.

But now, she was momentarily speechless.

“Go on, go on, what nonsense are you spouting? You were only thirteen at the time, weren’t you?” Zhu Qing’s tone carried a hint of vexation she herself hadn’t consciously registered.

‘Thirteen years old?’ Luochen sank into her memories.

When she first arrived in this world, she had appeared at Feibai Sect as a thirteen-year-old child.

In ‘His’ words, this was ‘the most perfect timing for entry, derived from countless simulations.’

****

In the Kingdom of Tianyun, at Feibai Sect, the New Disciple Recruitment Assembly was underway.

Thirteen-year-old Luochen observed the surrounding sights with a touch of curiosity.

All around her were immortals with an ethereal aura, the kind who traveled by flying sword.

‘This truly is a genuine cultivation world.’

Imagining herself soaring gracefully through the sky on a flying sword in the future, Luochen felt a surge of motivation.

“First test, commence.”

‘It seems He directly transported me to a sect’s recruitment assembly.’

‘Wait, See the Future, See the Legacy, See the Rising Sun — Feibai Sect New Disciple Recruitment Assembly?’

Luochen’s lips twitched as she stared at the title before her, reminiscent of a high school freshman orientation from her previous life.

‘Is the Sect Master of this sect truly human?’

Breezing through the first three rounds in a daze, Luochen noticed the disciples around her already gazing with envy and awe.

“Luochen, full marks on the first three rounds.”

‘It seems I’m quite formidable after all. Can it be said that I am indeed the man destined to save the world?’

‘No, I’ve already lost that. I’m the woman destined to save the world, that’s right.’

‘Damn it, why do I have to become a girl to gain the support of the Daughter of Destiny?’

‘What kind of strange setting is this?’

As her mind still reeled with this brainstorm, a sudden tremor originating from the depths of her soul sent a prickling sensation across her scalp.

She lifted her eyes, searching for the source of the excitement.

There, on the sign before her, were the three large characters ‘Zhu Qing Peak,’ and seated beneath it, seemingly asleep, was a green-robed immortaless.

She was the one Luochen had been searching for, the Daughter of Destiny.

“Please place your hand on the Sacred Stone to test your physique.” The elder responsible for new disciple recruitment instructed.

Temporarily setting aside her thoughts, she extended her slender, delicate hand and pressed it onto the Sacred Stone—a stone so easily activated that ‘even nine dogs could light it up.’

The Sacred Stone emitted a golden radiance that shot straight into the clouds.

‘This is… a golden legend?’

“Hiss.”

It was the sound of indrawn breaths.

“Luochen, you may choose any Peak Master as your Master.”

“We will introduce ourselves, and you can simply select the one you are most satisfied with.”

Yuxi’s delight was barely contained within his eyes.

‘It seems all the mentors on stage have turned their lights on for me. Now it’s just a matter of whom I wish to choose.’

Without a moment’s hesitation, she pointed her small hand.

A soft, childlike voice, still retaining a hint of innocence, rang out.

“No need for introductions, I choose that big sister.”

Following her gaze, Yuxi looked towards Zhu Qing, who was idly sleeping at the very end.

“Uh, this one might be…”

Before he could finish, Zhu Qing awoke.

She stretched languidly, her voice laced with weariness.

“No disciples, thank you.”

Opening her hazy eyes, Zhu Qing’s expression changed the moment she saw the girl below the stage.

She was practically the youthful version of the person in the painting.

“I want this one.”

Her tone turning solemn, Zhu Qing turned to Yuxi.

“You want to take a disciple?” Yuxi clearly remembered Zhu Qing explicitly stating she would only be a nominal Peak Master, taking no disciples.

“Yes, I want this one.”

Zhu Qing’s eyes were filled with earnestness.

Yuxi nodded. “Since you want her, then we won’t contend.”

Zhu Qing flew down, crouching to look at the still somewhat naive young girl before her.

“From now on, I am your Master.”

Perhaps feeling her acceptance of a disciple was a little hasty, Zhu Qing added a promise.

“I will protect you for a lifetime.”

Taking Luochen’s hand, Zhu Qing’s face held a faint smile.

“Mas…ter.” The young girl murmured the two words.

“Yes, I’m here.”

****

“So, Master, you were clearly captivated by my charm back then, weren’t you?”

Recalled from her memories, Luochen offered this conclusion.

“Does your conscience not ache when you say such things?” Tapping Luochen’s head, Zhu Qing turned to open a hidden compartment in a drawer within the room.

Carefully retrieving a box, she took out a scroll-like object from within.

Unfurled before Luochen, it was a painting.

A portrait, and the person depicted was undeniably Luochen herself.

“Master, when did you secretly photograph… no, secretly paint me? And is your painting skill really that good?”

Luochen was somewhat suspicious.

“This wasn’t painted by me; it’s a work of my Master.”

“But I don’t recall ever meeting Grandmaster. Why would she have a portrait of me?”

She was utterly perplexed.

“My Master, Xing Gui, was known as the Half-Immortal Diviner.”

“Throughout the world, there was nothing she couldn’t divine: lifespans, calamities, even the locations of ancient sages’ relics.”

Zhu Qing’s gaze deepened, seemingly lost in recollection of past events.

“But after Master ascended to the Ninth Revolution, her state of mind was unusual every day.”

“When I asked her, she only said that this world would face a calamity, a great tribulation that would destroy it.”

“She said she had calculated countless possible futures, yet the world’s outcome remained unchanged.”

“Finally, one day, she vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a painting and a letter.”

“The painting was this very one, and the letter contained only a few brief words, roughly stating that she had found the key to saving the world, but it was as vague as looking at flowers through a mist.”

“She needed a place directly connected to the will of heaven and earth, only then could she continue her divinations.”

Luochen remained silent, but a storm of emotions had already erupted within her heart.

‘So, a powerful being had already sensed the world’s calamity? And even sensed me, the sole variable.’

‘She’s still divining. What exactly does she intend to do?’