Chapter 15: The Third Disciple

Su Bai walked over at a leisurely pace. When he noticed that there was a young woman standing beside Xiao Yan, he paused ever so slightly.

This was getting more and more interesting!

"Immortal Master, you've arrived?"

Suddenly, Xiao Yan spotted Su Bai, and his face immediately broke into an excited grin as he hurried over.

"Let me see who this is!"

Seeing Xiao Yan rush forward, Xixi also turned her gaze in that direction.

Not far away stood a young man in white robes — strikingly handsome, with an air as refined as jade.

His hands were clasped behind his back. He wore a flowing moon-white robe cinched with a jade belt, his posture upright and his sleeves drifting gently in the breeze. He gave off an otherworldly, transcendent feeling — like an exiled immortal descended into the mortal world.

The corners of his mouth carried a faint smile, and his eyes shone like a brilliant river of stars, clear and luminous, as though the night sky's countless stars had gathered within them.

What a young exiled immortal!

"Uncle Ying, check his cultivation level," she murmured inwardly, as though speaking to someone unseen.

A moment later, an aged voice surfaced in her mind: "Young Miss, I… cannot see through his cultivation."

"What? Even you can't see through it, Uncle Ying?"

Her eyes went wide.

She knew Uncle Ying's strength better than anyone.

While he might not rank among the most powerful within her clan, in the Great Zhao Empire, he was absolutely a figure who stood at the very pinnacle!

If even Uncle Ying couldn't see through it, then just what level of cultivation did this Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect possess?

"Uncle Ying, have you found any information on the Heavenly Dao Sect?" she continued.

"I looked into it. Throughout the entire Immortal Alliance, there is no record of the Heavenly Dao Sect or Su Bai. Among the hundreds of large and small sects in the Great Zhao Empire, there is likewise no trace of the Heavenly Dao Sect. It is as though this sect appeared out of thin air."

Uncle Ying pondered for a moment before slowly replying.

"Appeared out of thin air?" Xixi said in astonishment.

Thinking about it, her suspicion of Su Bai only deepened.

She had asked Uncle Ying to quietly investigate Xiao Yan's constitution issue, yet no conclusion had been reached.

If even Uncle Ying didn't know, then no one else in the entire Great Zhao Empire possibly could!

And if someone did know, their strength would be so extraordinary that there was no way they'd have left no record!

"Immortal Master, this is my clan sister, Xiao Xixi. She also wishes to visit the Heavenly Dao Sect — what do you think?" Xiao Yan said carefully, glancing toward Su Bai.

Su Bai swept a glance over Xiao Xixi, understanding everything in an instant, and gave a calm nod.

"If she wishes to come, then come along."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan's face lit up with joy, and he quickly bowed in gratitude.

"Thank you, Immortal Master!"

And so, the three of them set off toward the Heavenly Dao Sect.

Or rather, to be precise — the "four" of them.

Along the way, Su Bai kept his hands clasped behind his back, his expression calm and unhurried. Xiao Xixi kept her eyes fixed on him, yet could discern nothing.

Was this guy genuinely capable, or was it all an act?

If Xiao Yan weren't present, Xiao Xixi would have been tempted to make a move just to test his strength!

The Heavenly Dao Sect was not far from Yunshui City, and before long, the group arrived at the foot of the sect's mountain.

"This is the Heavenly Dao Sect?"

Taking in the scale of the Heavenly Dao Sect, Xiao Xixi's expression grew increasingly skeptical.

No matter how she looked at it, this Heavenly Dao Sect didn't resemble any great sect — at best, it was a ragtag, second-rate outfit!

At the Heavenly Dao Sect, Zhuge Feng and Xiao Lingxi had both been waiting for Su Bai's return. When they saw him come back with two people in tow, their faces lit up with excitement.

"Master, are these our new Junior Brother and Junior Sister?" Xiao Lingxi blinked her large, beautiful eyes and asked in surprise.

"Yes. His name is Xiao Yan." Su Bai gestured toward Xiao Yan.

"Senior Brother, Senior Sister — I'm Xiao Yan." Xiao Yan cupped his hands and greeted them politely.

"Junior Brother Xiao, welcome to the Heavenly Dao Sect." Xiao Lingxi smiled warmly, her face blooming like a flower.

Xiao Yan scratched the back of his head shyly. "Senior Sister, no need for formalities."

"And this Junior Sister is…?" Xiao Lingxi's gaze shifted to Xiao Xixi.

"I have no intention of joining your Heavenly Dao Sect. I'm merely here to have a look." Xiao Xixi's expression was cool, and a trace of skepticism flickered in her eyes.

The two disciples of the Heavenly Dao Sect — one at the second level of the Qi Refining Stage, the other at the Third Level of the Qi Refining Stage. With that kind of strength, could this really be called a great sect?

Seeing the doubt in Xiao Xixi's eyes, Xiao Lingxi instead revealed a meaningful smile.

She understood — the young woman before her was questioning the sect's strength.

Hadn't she herself worn that very same expression not so long ago?

It was only after witnessing Master's methods that she truly understood what it meant to be a real powerhouse!

"Master, Ye Qingyao is still unconscious. We've settled her in the side room of the Main Hall, in your quarters." Zhuge Feng reported.

"It's fine. Let her rest well." Su Bai replied, a thought quietly nagging at him.

The number of disciples in the Heavenly Dao Sect was growing, yet there were still no proper living quarters for them. This couldn't go on.

When the sect upgraded next time, he'd have to expand and build a grand palace dedicated to housing disciples, at the very least.

Otherwise, if word got out that the Heavenly Dao Sect mistreated its disciples, that would be quite bad!

"Come pay your respects. Only after doing so will you truly be a member of my Heavenly Dao Sect."

Su Bai turned and walked into the Main Hall, leaving those words behind him.

"Junior Brother Xiao, hurry up!" Xiao Lingxi urged.

Xiao Yan froze for a moment, then snapped back to his senses, overwhelmed with excitement, and quickly followed Su Bai into the Main Hall.

Xiao Xixi pursed her lips, wearing an expression of disdain.

Inside the Main Hall.

Su Bai sat at the head seat, with Zhuge Feng and Xiao Lingxi standing to his left and right respectively, their bearing deeply respectful.

As for Xiao Yan, he knelt on the ground, kowtowed three times, and then said word by word: "Disciple Xiao Yan pays his respects to Master!"

"Very well. Rise. From this moment on, you are my third Personal Disciple — the third disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect."

Su Bai gave a slight nod, gesturing for Xiao Yan to stand.

"Thank you, Master."

Xiao Yan stood up, then reached into his storage bag and pulled out a wooden box. He opened it to reveal gleaming silver ingots.

"Master, I noticed the sect's sign says thirty silver taels per month. This is one hundred and eighty silver taels — half a year's enrollment fee from your disciple."

Xiao Yan lowered his head respectfully.

He naturally knew the rules of joining a sect — the half-year menial fee was mandatory, and immortal arts would cost extra on top of that.

"The Heavenly Dao Sect provides free room and board — no payment required." Su Bai said with a light smile, offering an explanation.

"Free room and board?" Xiao Yan was stunned, a look of bewilderment crossing his face.

This was the first time he had ever heard of a sect that charged nothing!

"Hmm?" Xiao Xixi also blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

If this guy wasn't after money, what was he after?

"Then, Master… about the problem of my being unable to cultivate…" Xiao Yan said nervously. This was the matter he cared about most.

"That is the Immortal Arts Pavilion. Once you go inside, you will understand on your own why you cannot cultivate, and you will find an immortal art that you can practice." Su Bai waved his hand, speaking in an offhand, unhurried tone.

"Thank you for telling me, Master. Your disciple understands!"

Xiao Yan was overjoyed and bowed in gratitude.

Could the problem of his inability to cultivate truly be resolved?

With a heart full of excitement, Xiao Yan made his way toward the Immortal Arts Pavilion.

Xiao Xixi followed along as well — but Su Bai's figure appeared before her, and he smiled: "Non-sect members are not permitted to enter."