Chapter 1

Great Dao Sect, Xuan Qing Feng.

Lu Xuan stood before a thatched cottage, feeling stifled.

After transmigrating to this world, he inherited his late master's mantle and became the peak master of Xuan Qing Feng in the Great Dao Sect.

From the moment he became peak master of Xuan Qing Feng, his disciple recruitment system appeared, but the first disciple must be an empress to activate the system!

Isn't this a trap?

In this world, the realms are: Qi Refining, Profound Scholar, Profound Master, Profound Spirit, Profound King, Great Profound King, Profound Emperor, Profound Ancestor, Profound Venerable, Profound Sage, Holy King, Great Emperor…

You should know that the sect master of the Great Dao Sect is only at the Holy King realm, while the original owner was merely a cultivation trash, only at the Qi Refining stage.

His cultivation was even inferior to that of outer disciples; if not for the grace left by his cheap master, he would have long been expelled from the Great Dao Sect.

For years, Lu Xuan has attended every disciple recruitment gathering of the Great Dao Sect, yet no one has chosen to take him as master.

Moreover, Lu Xuan's name spread tenfold, then a hundredfold; now the outside world knows it, and many senior figures of major powers warn their juniors.

"Never go to Xuan Qing Feng! Never take Lu Xuan as master! Otherwise your life will be ruined!"

Thus even fewer people take Lu Xuan as master.

Lu Xuan let out a sigh.

Recently, the Great Dao Sect's entrance examination ended; tomorrow is the disciple recruitment grand assembly—will anyone take him as master?

At that moment, a divine rainbow shot forth from afar.

Boom!

A gray-robed elder descended onto Xuan Qing Feng, his expression solemn, speaking earnestly to Lu Xuan.

"Peak Master Lu, you have not recruited a single disciple for six consecutive years! According to the Great Dao Sect's rules, if you go seven years without recruiting a disciple, you will be removed from the peak master position—do you understand?"

Lu Xuan said, "I know."

The gray-robed elder's expression grew complex, then he said, "Peak Master Lu, if you are removed from the position of Xuan Qing Feng peak master, your cultivation and talent will not meet the outer disciple requirements; combined with your performance these years as peak master, per the Great Dao Sect's rules, you will be expelled from the sect—do you understand?"

Lu Xuan's face twitched, "I understand."

Expelled from the Great Dao Sect!

That's a bit like killing someone's heart!

The gray-robed elder nodded, stepped into the void and left without looking back, "Peak Master Lu, good luck at tomorrow's disciple recruitment gathering."

Looking at the gray-robed elder's retreating figure, Lu Xuan frowned slightly.

How can I recruit a disciple?

Suddenly an idea flashed in his mind.

Smash them with spirit stones!

His master left him many cultivation resources, of which he has used only a small portion these years.

Tomorrow's disciple recruitment gathering is his last chance; he no longer hopes to take an empress as disciple—just securing any disciple will let him keep his peak master position.

He refuses to believe that with so many cultivation resources he cannot snag a genius, let alone a waste.

Thinking thus, Lu Xuan instantly relaxed, full of confidence, and returned to his cave dwelling to rest.

Awaiting tomorrow's disciple recruitment gathering!

…

The next day, the Great Dao Sect's disciple recruitment gathering officially began, directly causing an uproar across a million li radius!

The Great Dao Sect's history is ancient and venerable; it has produced a Great Emperor before, and after surviving an ancient great calamity it remains unshakable, with profound foundations.

The Great Dao Scripture, as the sect's guardian art, is one of the few Emperor-tier techniques in Nan Huang, ranking among the top ten there!

Thus the Great Dao Sect has long become a cultivation holy land of Nan Huang.

Today, countless youths who passed the sect entrance examination have gathered on the square, hoping to be chosen by a powerful spirit peak.

Many youths scanned their surroundings, beholding the magnificent sight of the Great Dao Sect, their hearts surging with excitement.

One after another spirit peaks rose from the ground, their spiritual energy extremely dense, transforming into purple qi coiling around them, even condensing into substance; upon the spirit peaks, countless cave dwellings are interspersed, amidst the rising mist and clouds, resembling a fairyland on earth.

In the distance, the trial tower and some secret realms above shimmer with resplendent Dao patterns flowing like stars, radiating dazzling light; even from afar one can feel an immensely terrifying power—the entire Great Dao Sect exudes mighty vigor, crimson light intertwining, vast and magnificent.

Mountains interlock, rivers rush forth; the Great Dao Sect spans tens of thousands of li, extremely vast. At this moment, above the Void, auspicious mythical beasts soar the skies, emitting pleasant cries that make everyone feel mentally clear and very comfortable.

Among the crowd, an absolute beauty in a scarlet-red long dress had a flawless lovely face, her long jade-like legs as perfect as jade pillars; in the breeze, the scarlet long dress could not conceal her alluring figure.

Countless young cultivators' gazes were fixed tightly on the absolute beauty.

She is Ji Fuyao, the first place in this examination!

Ji Fuyao's cultivation is at the mid-stage of Great Profound King, surpassing all participants in this examination and even exceeding the outer elders of the Great Dao Sect!

Moreover, her talent has triggered the resonance of the Great Dao Sect's supreme treasure, the Great Dao Bell!

The Great Dao Sect's ancestor was startled, evaluating her as "a genius encountered once in a thousand years!"

Although the disciple recruitment assembly has not yet begun, Ji Fuyao has already become the object of contention among many peak masters.

At this moment, a richly dressed youth holding a folding fan, graceful and poised, slowly approached Ji Fuyao, smiling gently, and came to make conversation: "Miss Fuyao, I am Lin Feng, the young master of the Lin family..."

"Scram!"

Before he could finish speaking, Ji Fuyao coldly spoke, slowly closed her eyes, and directly ignored the richly dressed youth.

She is the empress of the Fuyao Dynasty!

Three thousand years ago, the Fuyao Dynasty waged a great war against another major power, and combined with internal treason and rebellion within the dynasty, the dynasty collapsed; under her command countless died and were injured, blood flowing like rivers.

She used an ancient secret technique to reincarnate, thereby escaping calamity.

However, this ancient secret technique is flawed, causing her body to retain many defects—her soul and spirit are shattered, her Dao foundation incomplete.

And the Great Dao Sect's guardian art, the Great Dao Scripture, famed for its accord with the Heavenly Dao, can perfect a cultivator's Dao foundation, mend their soul and spirit; upon sudden enlightenment of its ultimate mystery, one may even step into the legendary "Ultimate Dao" realm.

This is also why she wishes to join the Great Dao Sect!

She seeks revenge!

She will rise again!

With her talent, she is confident she will surely obtain the qualifications to cultivate the Great Dao Scripture!

Moreover, the Great Dao Sect claims it never abandons its disciples; if she joins the Great Dao Sect, even her past rivals will be wary.

Soon.

Above the Void appeared divine rainbows, brilliant as the Milky Way, the aura of the Saint King Realm permeating the heavens.

"Boom boom boom!"

The Sect Leader and many Peak Masters slowly descended onto the square.

Ji Fuyao's beautiful eyes flickered; she thought silently, it seems those Emperor Realm ancestors won't appear today.

As the hegemonic power of Nan Huang, the Great Dao Sect is far more than it seems on the surface; although the Sect Leader is only of the Saint King Realm, who knows how many Emperor Realm titans lie in secluded meditation in the dark.

Because the Great Dao Sect transcends worldly affairs and keeps a low profile, not participating in Nan Huang's power struggles, thus on ordinary days without turmoil, Emperor Realm ancestors rarely show themselves.

At this moment, countless disciples were extremely excited, the square buzzing with voices.

"Silence!"

The Sect Leader swept his sleeve and spoke slowly, "The Great Dao Sect's disciple recruitment assembly officially begins! Now you may go choose a Spirit Peak to join!"

The voice fell!

The many youths immediately became very excited.

"I want to join Alchemy Peak! I want to become an alchemist!"

"I want to join Sword Peak..."

"I want to join Body Tempering Peak..."

For a moment, the youths frenziedly rushed toward the various Spirit Peaks.

Only where Lu Xuan stood was empty and deserted.

Not a single person came over!

Some Peak Masters teasingly looked at Lu Xuan, wearing a playful smile, "If Lu Xuan can recruit a disciple today, I'll eat ten catties of feces!"

"Lu Xuan has failed to recruit a disciple for seven straight years; he will soon leave the Great Dao Sect—this is what everyone expects!"

"Yes! In these years, when competing with other major powers, those Saints always mocked our Great Dao Sect using Lu Xuan; from now on, such things won't happen."

At this moment, Lu Xuan began his final struggle, shouting, "As long as you take me as your master, you can use all the cultivation resources of my Xuan Qing Feng Peak! You all should know that my master left behind many spirit stones and elixirs!"

Upon saying that, the field fell into utter silence.

Whether elders or disciples, they all turned their gazes to Lu Xuan.

A moment of silence.

The field stirred up again!

But still no one came over to Lu Xuan; those young disciples instead began pointing and gossiping about him.

"Hilarious! When I took the exam, my clan elder told me I must never join Xuan Qing Feng Peak, or else my life would be ruined!"

"What is this? My father told me that if I join Xuan Qing Feng Peak, he'll break my three legs!"

"Ah... Lu Xuan this guy's cultivation isn't even as high as ours, yet he has the nerve to take disciples; if I were Lu Xuan, I'd have long left the Great Dao Sect, not embarrass myself here."

Seeing this, Lu Xuan's face turned black directly.

Damn it!

He's already unleashed his ultimate move, yet no one wants to join Xuan Qing Feng Peak?!

Lu Xuan sighed and decided to leave here.

It seems no one is willing to take him as master!

Just then, a faint voice broke the clamor.

"I am willing to join Xuan Qing Feng Peak and take Lu Xuan as my master!"

The voice fell!

The field immediately fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Because the speaker was no one else—it was Ji Fuyao, who placed first in this examination and stunned the entire Great Dao Sect!

Everyone was stunned.

They couldn't have misheard, could they?

Ji Fuyao wants to join Xuan Qing Feng Peak!?

The Sect Leader stared wide‑eyed, looking at Ji Fuyao with shock; they and the other Saints were discussing who would take her as a disciple, but Ji Fuyao directly announced she would join Xuan Qing Feng Peak!

Lu Xuan turned around and was dumbfounded.

Holy shit?

"This isn't the examination's top scorer Ji Fuyao, right? I've also heard a bit about her."

"She wants to take me as her master?"

"Is that for real?"

At this moment, the Sect Leader and others immediately came before Ji Fuyao and stopped her, saying, "Fuyao, absolutely not!"

Ji Fuyao's expression unchanged, her eyes shining, she said, "Sect Leader, my mind is made up!"

The Sect Leader stared wide‑eyed, "This child, if Lu Xuan were your master, he could only make your cultivation decline."

Lu Xuan had a black line across his face: "……"

Sword Peak, Alchemy Peak, Ethereal Peak and the Saints all spoke up, urging Ji Fuyao, "Child, if you join Xuan Qing Feng Peak, you'll waste your talent!"

"Lu Xuan himself doesn't even understand cultivation; he's not even as good as an outer sect disciple—taking him as master is pure nonsense!"

"Lu Xuan leads disciples astray!"

But Ji Fuyao slightly tilted her snow‑white neck, gently shook her head, stepped straight before Lu Xuan, performed the disciple‑to‑master bow, and said, "Master, I, your disciple, pay my respects!"

Actually, she had already decided to join Xuan Qing Feng.

She has too many secrets; if she joined another Saint's sect, she would surely be discovered.

Moreover, she took Lu Xuan as her master, but in her heart it was only in name, because she knew Lu Xuan's cultivation was inferior to that of an outer sect disciple, so he could not control her at all, allowing her complete freedom!

Just then.

"Ding! Congratulations, host, for accepting Fuyao Empress as a disciple! (The Empress reincarnated and resumes cultivation)"

"Activating Invincible Disciple System! Estimated time: two hours!"

The voice faded.

Lu Xuan exclaimed outright, "What the heck?"

Ji Fuyao is actually the Empress reincarnated!

Seeing Lu Xuan's reaction, the Sect Master and others were speechless.

The Sect Master immediately put on a smile, "Lu Xuan, Fuyao is young and doesn't understand the stakes; she wants to take you as her master, but you can refuse!"

The other Saints instantly surrounded Lu Xuan, shouting loudly, "Lu Xuan, hurry up and refuse!"

……