After a long while, the tea in his hand was finally taken away. 

Lin Ji looked up in confusion, only to find Meng Wanqiu with red-rimmed eyes. After drinking the master-tea, he quickly helped him up, “Can you call me one more time?” 

Is it that easy to trigger emotions? Is he going to cry from being moved? 

Lin Ji instantly felt a headache and regret, but he could only helplessly call out again, “Master.” 

“Good, good, good,” Meng Wanqiu wrapped an arm around his shoulder, “Sect Leader Senior Brother, I’ll take my disciple back now. The rest of the matters will be hard on everyone.” 

Meng Wanqiu, with his esteemed status and no responsibilities, walked out of the grand hall, while the gazes in the room continued to send him off respectfully. 

Lin Ji felt a prickly sensation on his back; today, he had certainly drawn enough attention. 

But unexpectedly, after his new master distanced himself from the crowd, he sighed in distress, “Tsk, I took the little disciple back, how do I explain this to the big disciple?” 

He hadn’t discussed this with Lu Xiaobai, and he was afraid there would be a tantrum. 

Hearing this, Lin Ji couldn’t help but curl the corners of his lips, feeling curious and pleased; he was actually looking forward to Lu Xiaobai’s reaction. 

In this life, he hadn’t yet worn a sword, so he stood behind his master and shared a sword ride back. 

The Ling Yun Zunzhe occupied a secondary peak of the sect, named Luoxia Peak, which matched his name quite well. 

The area didn’t seem large, but it had everything: a cave dwelling, various training places like the Qi Refining Hall, Alchemy Room, Book Pavilion, and Spiritual Artifact Library. 

Meng Wanqiu walked ahead, teaching Lin Ji the way, saying, “Later, I’ll have your senior brother choose a suitable cave dwelling for you, ensuring it’s convenient for you to go anywhere.” 

When Lin Ji heard the words “your senior brother,” the corners of his mouth twitched, and he forcibly suppressed the dark thoughts in his heart, pretending to be humble and eager to learn. 

He couldn’t reveal his true nature just after arriving. 

Passing by a pond, with a few scattered lotus leaves floating on the water’s surface, what caught his attention were several red and green fish swimming around, performing spins and jumps. 

Meng Wanqiu casually conjured a small pouch, poured out fish food, and sprinkled it on the lake’s surface, encouraging Lin Ji to try as well, “These fish were caught and raised by Xiaobai.” 

After walking a few dozen steps, Lin Ji stared blankly at the lush green in front of him, “…What is this?” 

Meng Wanqiu squatted down and picked two cucumbers, washing them in the nearby water channel, then handed one to Lin Ji, “These were grown by Xiaobai. Just right since you’re hungry, don’t hold back, you can eat too! We’ll be spending a long time together from now on!” 

Lin Ji: “…” 

Lu Xiaobai is really… diligent. 

It was one thing to have a pond, but who could tell him why a cultivation place had to cultivate spiritual fields to grow vegetables and rice? 

Lin Ji suddenly bent down to closely observe the golden rice ears and the green cucumber leaves in the field. Lu Xiaobai had such poor aptitude at first; he must have gained some opportunity or done something special to change. 

However, after looking around, Lin Ji found that aside from noticing the vegetables and fruits growing well in the field, he had no other gains. 

Meng Wanqiu looked at him, seemingly pleased with his curious and fond attitude towards the crops. In the past, when other disciples visited Luoxia Peak, their expressions upon seeing the farmland were hard to describe. 

They didn’t see Lu Xiaobai until they reached the study. 

“Where did he go?” Meng Wanqiu had Lin Ji sit down while he bent over, rummaging through the bookshelf, “I guess he’s either in the Alchemy Room or in the kitchen…” 

Before he could finish his sentence, a sudden sound of footsteps came from outside, growing closer. 

The first change for disciples officially stepping into cultivation was that their bodies became lighter, and a stream of energy gathered in their inner bodies, sharpening their senses. Therefore, even though the footsteps outside weren’t heavy, Lin Ji heard them clearly. 

In the next moment, Lu Xiaobai walked in, “Old man, guess what I traded outside for my self-refined pills? A couple of silver ingots, hahaha!” 

His laughter abruptly stopped. 

Meng Wanqiu handed the book he had flipped to Lin Ji, speaking gently, “I remember you were a loose cultivator before, but you still need to build a solid foundation. Here’s a book on Qi Refining for you to keep.” 

Lin Ji took it with both hands, glancing at Lu Xiaobai from the corner of his eye, a smile secretly curling at the corners of his lips, “Thank you, Master.” 

Lu Xiaobai dropped the wrapped item, scattering spiritual herbs all over the ground. After a long pause, he covered his mouth and said, “Master… Master?” 

“Old man, what did you do while you were out?!” Lu Xiaobai roared at Meng Wanqiu. 

Meng Wanqiu coughed lightly, his eyes darting, “Xiaobai, I have something to tell you.” He pushed Lin Ji forward to introduce, “Today, I brought back a person from your Sect Leader Senior Uncle. From now on, he’ll be your fellow disciple… uh, are you surprised?” 

Lu Xiaobai took two steps back, his eyes filled with seven parts pain and three parts fear, “Didn’t you say you would only have me as a disciple in this life?” 

Meng Wanqiu glared, “Nonsense, when did I ever say that?” 

Lu Xiaobai shook his head in pain, “Back then, you said my aptitude was insufficient but my perseverance was enough, so you made an exception to take me in… What about him?” He suddenly pointed at Lin Ji, “You’re just taking him in because he has high talent to save face for you. Old man, where does that leave me?” 

“Just because you went out for a stroll, I ended up with another junior brother. If you go out for two strolls, will I end up with a whole bunch of junior brothers… I won’t accept it! From now on, it’s either me or him!” 

After saying that, Lu Xiaobai picked up the items on the ground, his eyes red as he turned to leave. 

Even with decades of experience, Lin Ji was once again shocked. 

Although he wanted to see Lu Xiaobai’s incredulous and jealous expression when he found out that the Ling Yun Zunzhe had taken in another disciple, wasn’t this a bit too exaggerated? 

Seeing Meng Wanqiu remain unfazed, he turned back to rummage through the cabinets. Lin Ji couldn’t help but point outside, “Is he okay?” 

Meng Wanqiu replied nonchalantly, “Don’t worry about him, he’ll be fine in a bit.” 

Saying that, he handed Lin Ji a few more books on spiritual cultivation. 

Lin Ji: “…” 

So-called cultivation requires years of diligent practice to break through realms, but it also needs moments of sudden enlightenment. 

In his previous life, Lin Ji had already had his moment of enlightenment, so it didn’t make sense to have to experience it again in this life. Therefore, he looked at the foundational spiritual cultivation book as if it were a child’s reading of “Thousand Character Classic,” reading it effortlessly. 

However, he could still tell that the books Meng Wanqiu gave him were very comprehensive and detailed, covering every key point that needed attention in the early stages of cultivation, making them well-written books. 

Reading was always a good way to pass the time. Just as Lin Ji was lost in thought, Meng Wanqiu suddenly stood up from his seat and grabbed his wrist, “Let’s go.” 

Lin Ji understood that the over-a-hundred-year-old immortal treated his fourteen or fifteen-year-old disciple like a child, but he really wasn’t used to being led around! 

“Where are we going?” 

“It’s time for dinner.” 

“…” 

Lin Ji sat at the dining table, dumbfounded, watching the main character, who was putting the last dish into the plate after a few shakes of the pot, and the main character’s master, who was holding a bowl with shining eyes. 

Lu Xiaobai hummed a little tune, serving a bowl of soup in front of Meng Wanqiu, then turned to Lin Ji, “Serve yourself.” 

Meng Wanqiu happily drank the soup, “He even added two more dishes, Xiaobai is thoughtful.” 

Staring at the centerpiece of the table, the chopped pepper fish head, Lin Ji seemed to recall seeing it just today. 

The other plates with side dishes of green spiritual herbs were probably what Lu Xiaobai had been holding earlier. 

He might be dreaming. Even if a cultivator hadn’t developed the ability to fast before foundation establishment, they could still eat at a public cafeteria… Even if they had to eat, the cafeteria would at most serve some cold dishes of spiritual herbs and freshly picked spiritual fruits, enough to fill the stomach! 

What’s going on now? Three meats, two vegetables, and a soup? 

Meng Wanqiu seemed to see his concerns and comforted him, “It’s a misconception that transcendent beings don’t eat grains. The vegetables from our spiritual fields and the fish and shrimp from the pond are all carefully nurtured in a place rich in spiritual energy, which will only benefit your cultivation. You can eat with peace of mind.” 

Could it be that Lu Xiaobai’s spiritual root is to eat well? 

Lin Ji skeptically picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth, then took a sip of fish soup. 

Feeling the gazes of others, he looked over to see Lu Xiaobai sitting next to him with a half-smile, and Lin Ji felt his ears burning. 

At that moment, Meng Wanqiu asked Lu Xiaobai, “So, is it all set?” 

Lu Xiaobai swallowed the food in his mouth and casually replied, “If you want to take him in, then do it, but I can’t be the only one cooking from now on; my junior brother has to help.” 

Lin Ji almost choked on a fish bone, looking at the two’s natural actions and conversations, as if having an extra person in their lives was no surprise, and they adapted well. 

Only then did he realize that the earlier reactions of the two were just an act. 

“Alright, remember to take your junior brother to choose a cave dwelling after dinner.” 

As Lin Ji walked along the forest path, his emotions were hard to describe, and he looked at the person walking beside him with a complex gaze. 

Lu Xiaobai was genuinely introducing the advantages of each available cave dwelling, which was closer to where, and where was most convenient. 

“Ah Ji, have you thought about where to choose? I still think it should depend on your wishes.” 

Lin Ji suddenly looked up, unable to suppress the fierce expression on his face for a moment, “What did you call me?” 

Lu Xiaobai seemed oblivious, “Naturally, Ah Ji.” After a pause, he added, “I’m the kind of person who likes to get close to others. I always feel that calling someone by their full name feels distant. The last time I introduced myself, I mentioned the names my close ones like to call me…” 

“Unfortunately,” Lu Xiaobai crossed his hands behind his head, “I only learned your name from others.” 

Lin Ji’s emotions surged, and he fell silent. 

Suddenly, he raised his head and smiled, pretending to be innocent and naive as he asked the main character, “But, Master took in another disciple without discussing it with you. Aren’t you really angry?” 

Lu Xiaobai stared at him in a daze, then snapped back to reality, scratching his ear unconsciously, “Do you want me to kick you out?” 

After saying that, he couldn’t help but glance again. 

Tearing… Actually, he hadn’t figured out the old man’s reason for taking in Lin Ji. Could it be that he found him very pleasing to the eye? 

Everyone was clearly a young man with their hair tied up; why did he, at this age, look like a delicate boy with a youthful face, and his height hadn’t even started to shoot up? 

In contrast, Lin Ji, at fourteen, had well-defined and exquisite features, a slender face. His looks were beautiful but not effeminate, strikingly handsome, yet somehow made him feel that this person had a hint of wickedness and charm in his brows. 

His physique was also quite good, tall but not skinny, broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His long hair was tied high, fluttering in the wind, exuding youthful energy. 

Lu Xiaobai quickly snapped back to reality, pouting, “Besides, my old man never said he would only take one disciple for life. I was already prepared for this. My aptitude is poor; if he wants to have successors, he has to take in more disciples… Just think, in the future, anyone stronger will have to call me senior brother and protect me. Tsk, tsk, tsk, that’s really nice!” 

It’s his freedom to take in a few disciples; Lu Xiaobai never interfered with others’ choices. Managing Luoxia Peak alone was quite cumbersome, and he had long hoped for someone to share the workload. 

Lin Ji didn’t expect the main character to have such self-awareness at this moment, and he reluctantly believed his words. 

But protecting him? Dream on; he was here to take everything from him. 

After choosing a cave dwelling, Lin Ji tidied up his residence that same day. Lu Xiaobai took him to the sect’s seven main peaks to collect the entry supplies, ensuring everything was in order. 

Along the way, countless pairs of eyes secretly observed them, but the two ignored them completely. 

Lin Ji thought Lu Xiaobai was just pretending not to care; he could act, and so could he. 

However, once they returned to the cave dwelling, Lu Xiaobai leaned against the door, watching him busying himself, unwilling to leave. 

Lin Ji felt his scalp tingle under his gaze and warily asked, “Is there something else?” 

Lu Xiaobai chuckled, raising an eyebrow at him with ill intentions, “Now that you’ve joined, shouldn’t you call me senior brother?” 

Lin Ji: “…” 

From the moment he handed the master-tea to Meng Wanqiu, he had indeed prepared for everything and thought of all the situations he would face. 

Since he had decided to lurk beside the main character and seize everything from him, he should endure and compromise appropriately. 

But Lin Ji’s lips felt as if they were glued shut, and a lump formed in his throat, making it impossible for him to speak. 

Damn it, just call him. 

Lin Ji kept telling himself, imagining the scene of trampling the main character underfoot and tormenting him at will, before finally opening his mouth. 

But unexpectedly, Lu Xiaobai waved his hand to say goodbye, “Get some rest early. Tomorrow, Master will definitely have teachings for you, so you need to get up early.” 

After saying that, Lu Xiaobai turned and left. 

He had noticed early on that Lin Ji’s attitude towards him was at the point of not wanting to engage but forcing himself to make connections; forcing it was useless. 

If he had the heart, he could make Lin Ji willingly speak in the future; it was better to owe him that call to senior brother for now. 

Lin Ji was momentarily stunned, recalling the fleeting disappointment on Lu Xiaobai’s face when he turned, which oddly overlapped with certain moments from his past life, giving him a familiar feeling. 

Lin Ji’s heart suddenly rang alarm bells, and a surge of hostility filled his eyes. 

The next day, Lin Ji got up early, and Meng Wanqiu was indeed waiting for him. 

However, he first went to the kitchen to warm up the steamed buns, giving Lin Ji two, indicating they would talk after eating. 

Lin Ji looked around, seemingly casually asking, “Where’s Lu Xiaobai?” 

Meng Wanqiu looked at him disapprovingly, “You should call him senior brother. Xiaobai won’t get up until at least two hours after dawn.” 

Lin Ji was astonished, “Aren’t you going to manage him?” 

Meng Wanqiu said inexplicably, “Isn’t he leaving food for us?” 

“…” 

Could it be that the Dragon Ao Tian protagonist only needed to be lazy and hang around the kitchen all day to develop? 

If this continued, Lin Ji’s previous life’s imagination of Lu Xiaobai accumulating strength and later surpassing others would probably be completely shattered. 

After finishing the buns, Meng Wanqiu took Lin Ji back to the study, sitting face to face with him, “Today, I mainly want to ask, what is your dream?” 

Lin Ji tilted his head, “?” 

Meng Wanqiu rephrased, “In life, whether in cultivation or doing something else, you need to have a goal or an achievement you want to reach. First, tell me what kind of person you want to become in the future, so I can teach you accordingly.” 

In any sect, disciples were usually trained uniformly by the sect, participating in cultivation courses based on their aptitude and cultivation level, with dozens of people studying together, undergoing trials, and the master being the main guide and responsible person. 

If the disciples excel, the master gains face; if they make mistakes, the master loses face. But if the master has a high status and many disciples, even if one disciple commits a major crime, they only need to expel them from the sect to draw a line, which doesn’t greatly affect the master. 

Lin Ji’s master in his previous life had never asked him what kind of person he wanted to become. 

For the first time, he felt a bit lost, until he thought of Lu Xiaobai, suddenly standing up with a strong voice, “I want to become the strongest in the world!” 

As soon as the words fell, Lin Ji felt a wave of regret wash over him, fearing that Meng Wanqiu would scold him for being overambitious and unrealistic. 

However, what he imagined didn’t happen. 

Meng Wanqiu patted his shoulder, looking pleased, “You have ambition! It reminds me of my younger days; the blood that had been cold for years seems to be heating up again.” 

“Then let me ask you again, which category do you want to major in?” 

Every course in the sect had to be learned, but disciples always had one or two areas they excelled in, which would allow them to stand out later. 

Cultivation emphasized specialization rather than mediocrity; unless someone was a hexagonal all-rounder, they would be a rare prodigy that appeared once in ten thousand years. 

Lin Ji quickly replied this time, “I want to major in swordsmanship.” 

He had always been a sword cultivator, feeling that other paths were too soft; he liked to have absolute control over his power. 

Meng Wanqiu sighed inwardly: sword cultivators are strong, but I’m afraid the sword will go astray. 

However, he didn’t show it on his face, “Then let’s work hard in that direction from now on!” 

Speaking of which, Ah Ji’s dream was exactly the same as what Xiaobai said when he first entered the sect. 

“Master, I want to become stronger; I don’t want to be bullied anymore! I want to walk the path of the strong, and one day, I want everyone to look up to me.” 

But not long ago, Xiaobai found him and said his aspirations had changed. 

Meng Wanqiu came back to his senses, “In that case, since you just joined, I should give you a welcome gift. In a few days, you can go to the Spiritual Artifact Library and pick two items you like; they are all treasures I’ve collected over the past century.” 

After saying that, Meng Wanqiu returned to his main seat, dipping the brush into the inkstone, “You can go out now.” 

“…” Lin Ji was still in shock over his master’s generosity. He somewhat understood why the Dragon Ao Tian could easily surpass others; who wouldn’t like a master who came in and handed out equipment? 

Lin Ji felt a rare sense of embarrassment, taking a few steps forward, “Master, can I help…” 

“Go, go, go,” Meng Wanqiu waved his hand, “Who needs your help? Young people should learn to find their own fun; don’t always rely on others.” 

“…” 

Lin Ji saw the familiar cover on the desk being blown up by the wind, the ink on the pages just dried. 

He recalled the spiritual cultivation book he received yesterday; could it be that Meng Wanqiu wrote it himself? 

With an indescribable feeling, Lin Ji walked out of the study. Peifeng Sect gave them a three-day familiarization period for master and disciple, and their class wouldn’t start for another two days. He suddenly didn’t know what to do, so he found a tree to sit and meditate under. 

A few hours later, he smelled the scent of smoke and opened his eyes to see the kitchen filled with rising smoke. 

Lin Ji walked into the kitchen, only to see Lu Xiaobai carrying a pile of firewood inside, very experienced as he first broke the thin branches and leaves to put them in the stove. However, due to the heavy rain these past two days, the firewood had dampened, and it took a long time to catch fire. 

Lin Ji pursed his lips but couldn’t help but ask, “Why don’t you use a Fire Control Technique?” 

Lu Xiaobai clapped his hands and stood up, “Sure, let’s give it a try.” 

Saying that, he gathered spiritual power between his two fingers, and after a while, a ball of flame ignited, but he got too excited and let it fizzle out quickly. 

“Still like this.” Lu Xiaobai shook his head, preparing to burn the fire honestly. 

This level of cultivation was purely at the entry level; he could barely draw energy into his body, but due to his poor ability to draw energy, his techniques were unreliable. 

Lin Ji looked at him speechlessly, feeling a bit disillusioned with the Dragon Ao Tian, “I heard you have a mixed spiritual root of the fifth grade; what attribute is your spiritual root?” 

Lu Xiaobai shrugged, “I don’t know.” 

Lin Ji couldn’t believe it, “How could you not know?” 

A mixed spiritual root means that the drawn spiritual energy is impure; the more mixed it is, the worse the aptitude. 

Lu Xiaobai replied, “It’s so mixed that I can’t tell what kind of spiritual root it is.” 

Lin Ji: “…” 

In fact, everything in the world has spirituality; even if you randomly grab an ordinary person from the mortal realm to test, they would probably have a three or four-grade spiritual root. Someone like Lu Xiaobai, who was mixed to the extreme, was not just rare; he was probably a phoenix feather among chickens. 

He really didn’t know how he joined Peifeng Sect and caught Meng Wanqiu’s eye to be taken in; the protagonist’s halo was too thick, and it was normal for others to be unconvinced. 

Seeing Lu Xiaobai still struggling to light the fire, Lin Ji turned his head away from him, raised his fingers slightly, and a flame ignited in the stove, choking the person who was about to blow on the fire with a bamboo tube. 

Lu Xiaobai, covered in soot, didn’t get angry; he gathered spiritual energy again and finally used the Cleaning Technique. 

He felt secretly pleased, thinking that who could stand to see him looking so useless yet trying hard. 

“Ah Ji, since you’re here, if you don’t help, you won’t get to eat.” 

But Lin Ji didn’t know how to cook, so he could only take on the task of washing the dishes. 

In the afternoon, Lin Ji finally saw Lu Xiaobai planning to cultivate. As a perennial student, he hadn’t started classes these days and could only practice at home. 

He saw Lu Xiaobai working hard to absorb the spiritual energy of Luoxia Peak into his body, trying to use some basic spiritual cultivation techniques. 

Unfortunately, despite sweating profusely, he couldn’t absorb a bit. But without spiritual power, his gestures looked so comical, like a charlatan performing a ritual in the mortal realm. 

Lin Ji’s feelings were complicated; he hadn’t expected the Dragon Ao Tian to start so low… However, after practicing for an hour, Lu Xiaobai suddenly sighed, “Still not working today; I’m so tired. Let’s take a break.” 

Then he just collapsed on the ground, leaning against a tree trunk, closing his eyes, and broke off a branch to shield himself from the sun, falling asleep like that. 

Lin Ji hid in the shadows, feeling furious as he scratched the tree: don’t tell him he was surpassed by such a guy in his past life, becoming the perennial second place! 

In less than three days of joining Peifeng Sect, Lin Ji’s understanding had been completely overturned. 

His heart was filled with confusion, bitterness, and more indignation. 

If Lu Xiaobai’s talent was higher than his, that would be fine; if he practiced day and night without eating or drinking, that would be fine too… Now, Lin Ji was filled with the question of why. 

How could someone with no talent and no effort rely on opportunities falling from the sky, with the old man handing out equipment, picking up leaks to become strong? 

Lin Ji’s blood ran cold, and his gaze darkened. 

He observed secretly for a long time, then suddenly stepped forward. If this world must have a protagonist, what if the protagonist died? 

Would the world collapse, or would it choose a new master? 

It didn’t matter; after all, this life was also one he picked up, and if he could live again without following his heart, then what was the point of being reborn? 

Even if the protagonist died and the world collapsed, he would still gain. 

But if the heavenly path chose a new protagonist, he would have a chance to compete. If the opportunities given to Lu Xiaobai could come to him, he would definitely make better use of them than he did. 

Lin Ji concealed his aura, his footsteps barely making a sound, as he approached the sleeping Lu Xiaobai, slowly crouching down. 

He extended his hands, measuring the width of the other’s neck. 

Taking advantage of his weakness to take his life, Lu Xiaobai was currently completely defenseless. 

But Lin Ji couldn’t help but feel nervous; his breath gradually became erratic and heavy due to his emotions. 

Actually, it didn’t matter; even if Lu Xiaobai discovered it, he wouldn’t be able to withstand a single blow, and he had to die. 

But if he was discovered later, would he end up on the same path as in his past life, forced to self-destruct by thousands of cultivators? 

But Lu Xiaobai wasn’t that important; how many people would seek revenge for his death? 

Suddenly, Lin Ji’s mind flashed with Meng Wanqiu’s pained, blood-stained face, and the white-clad man’s gritted teeth shouting: 

“Lin Ji!” 

Lin Ji snapped back to reality, retracting his hands. 

There would be plenty of opportunities to kill the Dragon Ao Tian protagonist in the future; it was best to do it without anyone knowing. 

Forget it, let him go this time. 

Lin Ji slowly adjusted his breath, quietly stepping back a few paces, and turned to leave as if escaping. 

After Lin Ji disappeared for a stick of incense, Lu Xiaobai stretched and woke up. 

Just as he removed the branch covering his face, a voice suddenly rang in his ear, “Grandpa, just now I felt a killing intent spreading within ten miles; that little brat almost twisted your neck! You didn’t wake up…” 

“This child must not be left alive.” 

Lu Xiaobai turned over, ignoring the roar in his mind, and covered his face with the branch again.