Chapter 4

Lin Du was exploring the “Grand View Garden,” while people in the garden were also observing her.

In these times, there weren’t many people who looked both simple and attractive.

Though the child’s eyes were filled with curiosity and wonder, it wasn’t the envy of someone inexperienced. Instead, it was as if they were part of the garden’s scenery, being observed rather than observing.

The ill-fitting, oversized green robe made her look somewhat sharp and thin. Her face, which had grown cold and indifferent due to years of poor health, was lit with a rare brilliance in her dark eyes. Sunlight fell on her face, revealing a clarity even superior to the finest ice jade.

She didn’t seem impoverished or destitute at all; rather, she appeared like a solitary gem in a humble dwelling, standing out from the crowd with an air of ease and natural grace.

Gui Zhenren sighed softly, “A heart of glass fallen into the dust yet unblemished, with an excellent Taoism heart. Monk, you cannot take this one.”

What the crowd couldn’t see was that, on one side of the seats representing the Supreme Sect, a casually lounging monk with an enchanting and unique appearance, eyes full of emotion and red lips, was intently watching the youth among the crowd with great interest.

“Life and death, the eight sufferings—such is the path of our Buddhist teachings. If one enters Buddhism, they can sever karma and end their suffering.”

They all saw clearly that the female cultivator had good talent and would do well in any of the three sects. If she joined a lesser sect for the sake of a man who spoke empty words and lacked sincerity, it would be a pity for such a gem to be covered in dust.

But everyone has their own fate, and the hardest thing to change in this world is a person’s mind.

That little guy just had to meddle, and surprisingly, managed to sway the female cultivator.

Of course, they wouldn’t believe that the little guy was accidental; it was obvious she did it on purpose.

She saw through the worldly matters without exposing them, stirring up trouble without directly confronting it.

Quite intriguing.

He Gui suppressed his hidden anger, “Isn’t it enough that a follower from the Yummo Luo sect of the Buddhist gate is here? Do you have to come to my Zhong Zhou to poach people? You’ve aroused public outrage!”

Wei Zhi glanced at him disdainfully, “Public outrage? If you have the capability, go and wipe out Buddhism.”

He Gui sneered, his fists clenched. He couldn’t fight, nor could he win.

Wei Zhi lowered his head and performed a divination using the Zi Ping method. Then, the smile on his lips froze.

The divination showed…

A short life, a doomed fate, but strangely… an unexpected turn, finding life in the face of despair, and the cause of this change was himself.

It was too bizarre.

How could someone’s fate be altered by oneself? This wasn’t a storybook with a Monkey King.

Lin Du suddenly sensed a burning gaze and looked directly towards the direction of the Supreme Sect’s seats.

The plaque of the Supreme Sect appeared extremely simple, even less elaborate than a minor sect. It was just a wooden board with the three characters “Supreme Sect” written in bold strokes, yet the brushwork was exquisite, filled with spiritual essence, unlike any gilded or crafted treasure.

This was indeed the number one sect in Zhong Zhou, unsurpassed by anyone.

Returning to simplicity, wholly free, very interesting.

She smiled faintly. The sect only accepted geniuses, yet… there was a whole nest of love-struck fools. If one didn’t know better, they might think the Supreme Sect had some debuff that turned everyone who entered into love-struck fools.

Then, she suddenly squinted and noticed something.

The people seated were all of exceptional appearance, but her attention wasn’t on that.

The powerful figure seated behind the desk was frowning, tilting his head as if speaking to the air next to him.

According to the conventional rules of cultivation novels, it definitely wasn’t just air.

It must be a person.

She narrowed her eyes slightly.

“Ah Shao, you know, I really like you. You’re the only one for me. I wish I could be by your side every moment. Why don’t we join the same sect and cultivate together?”

Lin Du withdrew her gaze, evidently noticing that Li Dong was whispering to someone because of her presence.

It was a pity… she had already entered the path and could clearly hear this.

“Brother, didn’t you just say that the path of cultivation can only be walked alone? Why do you now want to cultivate with sister?”

She blinked and then smiled.

“I understand. It must be that brother loves sister so much that he can’t bear to part with her. So, brother, why not join sister in the big sect? If sister speaks, the sect might let you in as well, though not as a formal disciple, but you could be with sister every day.”

“That wouldn’t be the same. Then I’d just be a servant. How could a big man like me abandon my future to follow her?”

Li Dong spoke reflexively, then saw the frail-looking girl looking astonished.

“Does brother mean that if sister follows you to a minor sect, it’s not abandoning her future?”

Du Shao was taken aback. Indeed, she was struggling with whether to give up her future for her fiancé.

But… she looked up at Li Dong again.

He was really good to her.

“Brother doesn’t want to give up his future for sister. So why should sister give up the path of cultivation for you?” Lin Du looked at them in confusion, “If I were brother, I definitely wouldn’t want sister to give up the superior resources of a big sect and live a hard life with me.”

She said, turning to Du Shao with a bright smile, her sharp little tiger teeth showing a hint of youthful shyness.

“After all, sister is so wonderful, she deserves the best things in the world.”

Lin Du was beautiful, and since they first met, she hadn’t smiled like this. Now, under the sunlight, her eyes were bright, and the sunlight added a healthy glow to her pale skin, making her appear divine.

Du Shao felt her heart pounding wildly.

Such a brat child with this much impact. If she grew up, what would happen?

[Host, are you going too far? The scumbag is glaring at you with hostility.]

Lin Du, while stopping her smile, looked at Li Dong, raising an eyebrow and saying slowly, “Brother, isn’t that right?”

It was a blatant provocation, but since she was turned away from Du Shao, it wasn’t caught by the girl.

However, Li Dong saw it clearly. He couldn’t help but point at Lin Du, angrily saying, “You little guy! How come you always use sweet words to deceive people?”

Lin Du acted as if she were startled, gripping Du Shao’s arm, “Brother is so fierce, I’m scared.”

Du Shao was also startled by Li Dong’s sudden outburst, instinctively protecting the child. She looked up at her fiancé’s angry face and couldn’t help but frown, “Li Dong, what’s wrong with you? She’s just a child, and she hasn’t said anything wrong!”

“She’s clearly trying to stir up trouble between us, inciting you!” Li Dong shouted angrily.

If not for Du Shao being present, he might have pointed at the little guy and cursed her as a demon.

But she was indeed a demon. Originally, Du Shao would have followed him to a minor sect if he pushed a bit, but this little demoness spoke, and everything unraveled like a runaway horse.

Looking neither male nor female, like a demon, and adept at inciting people’s hearts.

Just as he was about to pull Du Shao aside to talk, a powerful figure in brocade robes floated above the square. The words he spoke were infused with spiritual power, easily reaching everyone’s ears, “Everyone.”

His single sentence made everyone stop talking, and the entire venue fell silent.

The sect was about to start selecting people.

Everyone looked up eagerly, with anxious and expectant hearts, their eyes on the powerful figures above, like fish waiting to be fed.

Yes, a pond full of fish waiting to be hooked.

The three sects and six factions, ten schools, with the Supreme Sect at the forefront.

Everyone was watching the central seats of the Supreme Sect, not only the candidates below but also people from various sects and factions— the Supreme Sect was notoriously selective, only accepting geniuses. It was said that each time they held a selection, it was rare to get even ten candidates in, and that would be considered good.

It was rumored that the elders of the Supreme Sect preferred to pick disciples from their travels. Lin Du wanted to say— don’t just pick up stray disciples from the roadside.

That’s how the scoundrels with ulterior motives in the script sneaked in.

Then, the Supreme Sect called out the first number.

“Number 666!”

Lin Du thought: What a powerful number for an “Old Six.”

“Number 666!”

Seeing no response from the crowd, the person on stage seemed a bit helpless and then used their mind to act.

Lin Du suddenly felt a force enveloping her, and then she was lifted into the air and landed on the high platform.

…Old Six was actually me.