Chapter 4: The First Disciple and the Sect's Upgrade

In the night sky, a brilliant full moon hung overhead while countless stars twinkled, casting a soft radiance that bathed the entire world in a faint silver glow.

The peculiar trio made their way through the moonlit landscape, walking along a quiet forest path where only the occasional chirping of insects and birds broke the silence — not a single soul in sight.

Xiao Lingxi, trailing at the back, watched the increasingly desolate scenery around her, her suspicion of Su Bai growing deeper with every step. One hand had already come to rest on the hilt of her sword.

At the first sign of anything strange, she would draw it without hesitation!

A short while later, a small hilltop came into view ahead. Su Bai extended his hand and pointed. "The Heavenly Dao Sect is just up there."

Hearing this, Xiao Lingxi quickly raised her head and fixed her gaze on it.

The hilltop was clearly not large by any measure. There were virtually no proper structures to speak of — only a single dilapidated thatched hut standing there in lonely isolation.

The surroundings were utterly silent. There was not a single figure in sight, not even the faint glow of a candle!

"What kind of pathetic sect is this?" Xiao Lingxi muttered to herself, her suspicion reaching its peak. "And he said he wasn't a fraud!"

Even the ever-composed Zhuge Feng felt a flicker of doubt stir within him at this moment. No matter how he looked at it, this place bore no resemblance whatsoever to what a proper sect should look like.

Yet the corners of Su Bai's mouth curved into a faint smile.

The moment one foot crossed into the sect's territory, his power became absolute — unrivaled!

In the blink of an eye, he vanished from where he stood like a phantom.

In the next instant, Su Bai appeared before the door of the thatched hut atop the hill at a speed that defied all reason!

"Spatial Step!"

Both Xiao Lingxi and Zhuge Feng stared wide-eyed, their pupils contracting sharply from sheer astonishment. Waves of shock crashed through their hearts, refusing to settle.

Spatial Step was not merely an immortal art — it was a powerful one at that. One needed to reach at least the Foundation Establishment Stage before being able to learn it!

In other words, this seemingly impossibly young fraud was, in truth, a genuinely powerful Immortal Master!

"Are you not coming to pay your respects?"

Atop the hill, Su Bai stood with his hands clasped behind his back and called out to Zhuge Feng.

Zhuge Feng snapped back to his senses, drew a deep breath, and did his best to calm the excitement surging within him. He broke into a jog and hurried up the hill.

Before long, he reached the summit. With utmost reverence, he dropped to both knees before Su Bai, who stood at the entrance, and kowtowed three times with solemn deliberateness, declaring in a loud, clear voice: "Disciple Zhuge Feng pays his respects to the Sect Master!"

Zhuge Feng.

Su Bai gave a slight nod, a look of satisfaction crossing his face. "Rise," he said calmly. "From this moment on, you are my first disciple, Su Bai's eldest student — and the Senior Brother of the Heavenly Dao Sect."

At the same time, the System's voice echoed through his mind.

"Ding — task completed. The sect has been upgraded to One-Star. One-Star rewards have been distributed. Please check, Host."

[Sect Information]

Sect Name: Heavenly Dao Sect

Sect Rank: One-Star (upgradeable)

Sect Members: 2 (disciple information can be viewed at any time)

Sect Territory: One li in radius (Host is absolutely invincible within territorial boundaries)

Sect Structures: One Main Hall, One Immortal Arts Pavilion

Sect Property: One mu of fertile land, one hundred spirit seeds

Sect Assets: 0

Sect Points: 0

Two-Star Upgrade Conditions: Recruit three disciples (sect loyalty 60 or above), and sect points must exceed 100.

Mission: Upgrade to a Two-Star sect as soon as possible. Reward: One Combat Arts Pavilion, One Pill Pavilion.

Host Feedback: Host's power equals ten times the combined strength of all sect disciples.

As the System's notification rang out, Su Bai felt a surge of excitement. It had finally upgraded!

"Upgrade!"

Su Bai silently willed it in his mind.

In the next instant, the earth shook and the mountain trembled as the entire hilltop began to transform.

Rumble...

The old, crumbling thatched hut vanished in an instant, replaced by a grand and towering palace that radiated an aura of magnificent splendor.

Above the palace's main entrance stood a plaque bearing three boldly brushed characters: "Heavenly Dao Sect," written in sweeping, dragon-and-phoenix strokes!

At the same time, not far from the main hall, another resplendent palace appeared, inscribed with the three characters: "Immortal Arts Pavilion."

The entire hilltop had more than doubled in size, and the desolation was gone — replaced by an air of spiritual grace.

This sudden, breathtaking transformation left both Zhuge Feng and Xiao Lingxi utterly dumbstruck, their mouths hanging open as they stared at everything in stunned silence.

What had they just witnessed?

Creation from nothing — reshaping the very terrain!

If Spatial Step had still been within the realm of comprehension, then this godlike feat was something else entirely — something that completely transcended the mortal world.

A Core Formation True Master?

Or a Nascent Soul old monster?

Or perhaps the legendary Soul Transformation?

"The Sect Master is incredible — so many times more powerful than Steward Wang!" Zhuge Feng thought to himself, feeling deeply grateful that he had chosen to trust the Sect Master.

"Zhuge Feng, that is the Immortal Arts Pavilion. Go and select the immortal art most suited to your cultivation."

Su Bai instructed Zhuge Feng.

"Thank you, Sect Master!" Zhuge Feng bowed once more, then walked into the Immortal Arts Pavilion with barely contained excitement.

He was finally going to have access to immortal arts?

He clenched his fists, brimming with exhilaration!

And when he stepped inside the Immortal Arts Pavilion, he was once again struck speechless by what lay before him.

Countless immortal art scrolls floated throughout the entire pavilion!

"Hiss..."

Even with Zhuge Feng's steady composure, he could not help but draw a sharp breath, his heart pounding rapidly.

The sight was simply too overwhelming for him to take in calmly.

"Please place your hand on the stone dais ahead."

A faint, ethereal female voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.

"Who — who's speaking?"

Zhuge Feng jolted in shock and looked around.

Yet aside from the scrolls drifting through the air, there was not a single person to be found.

"I am the spirit guardian of the Immortal Arts Pavilion. There is no need to be afraid."

The ethereal female voice continued to resonate in his ears: "By the rules, every new disciple who joins our Heavenly Dao Sect may select one immortal art."

"If you wish to choose for yourself, you may freely pick any scroll. If you would like me to choose for you, please place your hand on the stone stele ahead."

Hearing this, Zhuge Feng let out a breath of relief. So it was a spirit guardian.

"I humbly ask the spirit guardian senior to make the selection for me."

Zhuge Feng clasped his hands respectfully and bowed toward the stone dais, then placed his hand upon it.

He knew little about immortal arts — as far as he was concerned, having one to cultivate was enough. It didn't matter which one it was.

With so many scrolls to choose from, he had no idea where to begin. Letting the spirit guardian choose for him was undoubtedly the wiser option.

"Your character is steady and unhurried, neither arrogant nor impatient. This is the "Dao Scripture — Qi Refining Chapter." It suits your cultivation best and will lay a stronger foundation for you."

In a fleeting moment, the stone stele blazed with a brilliant golden light, and a single immortal art scroll slowly drifted out.

"Many thanks to the spirit guardian senior for your recognition. This junior is deeply grateful." Zhuge Feng was overjoyed. He received the scroll with both hands, bowed to the spirit guardian, and stepped back.

Though he had long steeled himself mentally, when he truly held that golden scroll in his hands, he could not help but feel his heart surge with overwhelming emotion.

Was this... the immortal art he had dreamed of for so long?