Chapter 1: The moment I opened my eyes, I was hanging in midair

Ning Yue was awakened by a few drops of cold rain, and she curled her body instinctively.

In the distance, a sudden clap of thunder roared, making Ning Yue shudder and fully wake up.

No… something was wrong. All around her was desolate just a few patches of withered wild grass and scattered rocks.

She was lying on a dirt road pressed down by yellow mud.

She distinctly remembered that she should be dead.

Suddenly.

She looked at her hand…

It was a whole size smaller clearly the hand of a twelve or thirteen-year-old child. This wasn’t her hand!

A strange thought rose up from the depths of her mind.

Reincarnated by borrowing a corpse?!

No way! Ning Yue suddenly thought of something and pulled back her sleeve.

Seeing a familiar flame-shaped birthmark on her shoulder, she let out a sigh of relief.

It seemed this was still her body she had just somehow become younger.

Ning Yue propped herself up and stood with wobbly legs, trying to figure out where she was.

In the distance, a loud boom startled her. She looked up.

A lavish, luxurious carriage was flying in midair, surrounded by a circle of people also flying.

A flying carriage?! People who can fly?! What kind of new technology was this?

Although she was amazed, it seemed entirely impractical.

The people flying beside the carriage seemed to have spotted Ning Yue too. One lifted the carriage curtain and whispered to someone inside.

Moments later, a chubby, round-faced young man dressed in fine silk stepped out, glaring at Ning Yue with his triangular eyes full of malice.

“A mere commoner dares block my way?” The young man pointed at Ning Yue. “Bring her up here!”

Ning Yue was still puzzled by their elaborate clothing and wondering where exactly she was when two people swiftly flew toward her.

She was too weak to resist catching her was as easy as lifting a chick. They grabbed her and hauled her up onto the carriage.

The young man looked at her with disgust. “Tie her to the back of the carriage and hang her up.”

Ning Yue’s throat was dry, but she managed to argue, “You fly your way, I walk mine. When did I ever block your path?”

The young man snorted arrogantly, flipping his robe with disdain.

“This young master is in a foul mood today. Do I need a reason to grab you?” And with that, he bound her up in no time.

In her mind, Ning Yue beat him up a hundred thousand times over.

Though honestly, even at full strength, she probably couldn’t take on these people.

But at least she wouldn’t be bound up like this, powerless to resist.

The carriage shot up into the sky again. Ning Yue dangled from the back, the speed making her head spin and nearly pass out.

Through her dizzy vision, she vaguely saw buildings below, shrouded in clouds and mist.

Amid the haze stood countless immortal palaces gold-tiled roofs, white stone walls, jade columns wrapped in golden carvings.

If not for the real feeling of flying at high altitude, Ning Yue would have thought she was dreaming.

The sense of weightlessness and vertigo worsened, but Ning Yue forced herself to stay conscious.

She had to think of a way out.

Otherwise, even if she didn’t die, she’d be half dead by the time this was over. But the carriage kept flying higher and faster.

The fierce wind battered her body, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

Damn it! Ning Yue clenched her fists. What kind of mess was this?

She had just come back to life and hadn’t even seen tomorrow’s sun was she going to die again here?!

At that moment, a bright blue sword light whooshed through the air swoosh! and cut the rope binding Ning Yue.

She immediately plunged downward at high speed.

She looked up in despair, cursing the heavens for abandoning her.

The next second, she fell into a warm embrace, carrying a faint scent of soap.

Ning Yue looked up to see a young man’s tense jawline he had delicate features and gentle eyes that quietly met hers.

“Are you alright?”

Ning Yue stared at him blankly and shook her head.

Suddenly, another sword light slashed toward them. The young man dodged swiftly, his eyes turning cold.

“San Pang! This is Fuso Sect territory how dare you cause trouble here!”

The fat young master slowly stepped out of the carriage, his chubby cheeks trembling with every step.

He sneered at the sight of the rescuer.

“Oh? Who’s meddling in my business? Turns out it’s Senior Brother Shi. What, done handling Fuso Sect’s affairs already? Got time to stick your nose in mine?”

Shi Yinghan’s expression turned frosty. “If you’re so curious, why not ask Uncle Master Sang yourself? I’m sure he’ll tell you everything.”

San Pang’s face stiffened. After a pause, he snorted coldly, “Just a commoner anyway. Since Senior Brother wants her, she’s yours.”

With a flick of his robe, he retreated into the carriage and left in a huff.

Ning Yue snickered softly, “So he’s just a bully who fears the strong and picks on the weak.”

The young man holding her let out a quiet laugh at her comment and bent down to set her down.

Ning Yue panicked and suddenly clung to his neck tightly, blurting out, “Brother, don’t let go I can’t fly!”

Shi Yinghan’s cheeks flushed slightly, unable to hold back a laugh.

“It’s okay, I’m standing on my sword; you won’t fall.”

Ning Yue looked down and saw a faint blue sword shadow beneath her feet. Only then did she carefully step onto it, but she still clutched tightly at Shi Yinghan’s robe with one hand.

“Senior Brother!!”
In the distance, a few boys in white robes with blue waist sashes were waving at them.

Only then did Ning Yue notice Shi Yinghan’s clothing.

It was similar to the boys’ robes but more elaborate, embroidered with cloud patterns in gold thread.

In the blink of an eye, those boys had flown over, staring curiously at the dirty girl standing on Shi Yinghan’s sword.

“Senior Brother, who’s this…?”

“I just rescued her from Sang Pang. She was probably abducted from the lower realm,” Shi Yinghan supported Ning Yue’s body.
“I was just about to ask her where her family is so I can send her back…”

Ning Yue suddenly looked up, her eyes pitiful and weak.

“Big brother, I have no home…”

“I have no parents, no one cares about me… I just fainted on the road, and when I woke up that fat man tied me up…”

As she spoke, she lowered her head, shrank her shoulders on purpose, and perfectly portrayed an image of pitifulness and grievance three parts real, seven parts acted.

One of the boys already looked soft-hearted:

“Senior Brother, why don’t we take her back to Fuso Sect…”

But another hesitated:

“But the sect rules don’t allow outsiders to enter.”

Shi Yinghan thought for a moment:

“There is a way…”
He crouched slightly and looked Ning Yue in the eyes:
“What’s your name?”

“I’m Ning Yue…”

“In two days, all the sects will hold a disciple recruitment gathering. If you can be accepted into Fuso Sect, you may stay. Even an outer disciple has some protection.”

Ning Yue nodded heavily.

In her heart, she already pieced together a rough idea of this strange world.

Judging by their robes, flying carriages, and the flying sword beneath her feet, it was obvious this must be a cultivation world. She had only read about it in novels, but it wasn’t hard to guess.

The group landed steadily.

Shi Yinghan turned and said to the younger disciples behind him:

“Brothers, you go back first. I’ll get Ning Yue settled.”

The boys bowed and left together.

Ning Yue followed Shi Yinghan, glancing around curiously as they walked.

Suddenly, Shi Yinghan stopped, and Ning Yue stopped too.

He opened a room, stepped inside, and took out a pouch full of coins, handing it to her.

“Stay here for these two days. Feel free to look around; within Fuso Sect’s territory, no one will dare cause trouble.”

“But remember to return early in the evening I’ll teach you some basic breathing and gathering techniques. Even if you fail the selection, you’ll have some means to protect yourself.”

Ning Yue was touched:

“Thank you, big brother.”

She thought to herself how lucky she was to meet such a good person.

The moment Shi Yinghan left, Ning Yue called a servant to prepare hot water she planned to bathe and sleep.

By the time she woke up again, the courtyard outside was lit up with lanterns.

Remembering Shi Yinghan was coming by tonight, she went downstairs, ate a little, and obediently waited in her room.

She didn’t have to wait long there was a knock at the door, and sure enough, it was Shi Yinghan.

This time, he had changed into a light blue robe. His gentle eyes reflected the warm lamplight as he looked at her with a faint smile.

“Sorry to disturb you. Have you rested?”

Ning Yue widened her big doe eyes and shook her head immediately.

“Of course you’re not disturbing me! I should thank you for teaching me at night, big brother!”

“Alright then, let’s begin.”
Shi Yinghan lifted his robe and sat cross-legged on a cushion:
“Cultivation starts with learning to draw Qi into the body.”

“Take a deep breath, guide the Qi into your dantian, hold it, focus, and then exhale with force.”

He demonstrated the whole sequence and then opened his eyes to ask her:

“Well? How does it feel?”

Ning Yue touched her chest and hesitated:

“Um… I think… I don’t really feel anything…”

Shi Yinghan smiled warmly:

“That’s fine. Try a few more times once you can draw Qi into your body, you’re officially on the path.”

“After that, you can cultivate properly. Since you grew up in the lower realm, it might be hard at first, but keep practicing and you’ll succeed.”

He said it in such a gentle way that it made her feel taken care of rather than looked down on.

Ning Yue couldn’t help but ask:

“Big brother, do the new disciples usually already have cultivation when they join?”

Shi Yinghan nodded:

“In theory, yes. Before the recruitment, they must pass a trial ground on their own. Naturally, it’s much easier for those who already have cultivation.”

“Only after passing the trial can they test their spirit root and aptitude on the Spirit Stone. Then the elders choose disciples based on compatibility and potential.”

Shi Yinghan looked at her with a gentle smile:

“Work hard I really hope you can join Fuso Sect.”