Chapter 8: 8. Chapter Eight

8. Chapter Eight

Although his style seemed peculiar due to being instilled with different words by different people, the Sword Attendant Boy was indeed a dutiful guide. He was, in essence, a sword rack; all his words and actions were controlled by his master, so naturally, he would have no thoughts or actions of slacking off... probably.

Seeing him stand composed by the Sword Washing Pool, he said in an incredibly serious tone: "This sect implements a commissioned task system. Any member can obtain rewards by completing tasks posted by others. To help you integrate into the sect as quickly as possible, we are now issuing entry tasks."

"First, you need a new set of clothes."

Following behind the Sword Attendant Boy and listening to his "tap-tap" footsteps, Atian was unexpectedly distracted. The scenery before her eyes was so different; whether it was the pavilions and towers amidst the swirling clouds or the Sword Cultivator disciples who occasionally cast curious glances, everything was clearly telling her—her life was already completely different.

No, it should be said that her life had returned to the right track.

The corners of Atian's mouth curled into an arc, looking like mockery or perhaps cold sarcasm. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she had returned to a look of curiosity.

In all fairness, the Beihai Sword Sect could completely satisfy any ordinary person's imagination of an immortal sect. Whether it was the Martial Arts Arena floating in mid-air or the towering main hall, they were wonders not seen in the mortal world. Even she, someone who hadn't yet entered the sect, could feel the awe-inspiring Sword Intent contained within.

It's amazing, it really is amazing.

This is where you should stay.

She felt the blood in her entire body flowing rapidly, every bone emitting a silent cheer. The nature she had suppressed for over a decade was quietly awakening, secretly taking its first breath.

This is a bit troublesome.

Atian thought nonchalantly while pressing her chest, yet she didn't seem too bothered.

The living quarters specifically opened for disciples were located at the southernmost side of the Floating Island. From afar, one could see clusters of yellow houses. They were not arranged in a neat and orderly fashion, but rather formed a "small mountain" in a somewhat crooked way, as if someone had randomly piled these houses together after getting drunk.

The Inner Affairs Hall, which distributed daily necessities and assigned houses, was located at the foot of this "small mountain." The monk in charge had a rather blessed appearance, especially that round, bulging belly that made one want to pat it.

"Oh my, new people on the island again," the chubby monk said with a smile, sizing the two up. "I am Guo Huai, the Grand General Manager of this entire island. You can call me Uncle Guo."

As he said this, he rummaged through a mountain of miscellaneous items behind him and pulled out two sets of clothes, handing one to each of them.

Guo Huai claimed to be the Grand General Manager of the Beihai Sword Sect, but Bai Tian dared not truly treat him as just a manager. Along the way, she had already figured out the general situation of this non-mainstream immortal sect through the Sword Attendant Boy's intermittent, erratic explanations.

Perhaps to restrain this group of lawless cultivators, the cultivation world was a place that placed great emphasis on seniority and qualifications. Every form of address was a symbol of status and could not be used carelessly. Since the Beihai Sword Sect had no Supreme Elder, the ranking of seniority followed the Sect Master. Before the Sect Master of this generation ascended, all cultivators of the same generation honored him as Senior Brother, while disciples who entered during his reign were all counted as the next generation.

Therefore, the Beihai Sword Sect would only ever have two generations existing at the same time. At the same time, because seniority could only be recalculated when the Sect Master ascended, it was not unusual for people of the same generation to have an age difference of several hundred years.

What? You ask what happens to the other Elders who haven't ascended if the Sect Master ascends?

No, that doesn't exist.

If the Sect Master, who is entangled in miscellaneous affairs all day, can ascend, and the Elders who can cultivate to their heart's content haven't ascended, how useless would you say they are?

Such people, in the cultivation world with its astonishing elimination rate, generally don't live long enough to become Elders.

Guo Huai letting Atian and Song Zhicheng call him "Uncle" indicated that he was of the same generation as the Sect Master and was indeed one of the Elders standing at the pinnacle of the Beihai Sword Sect's pyramid.

The Sword Attendant Boy's introduction also confirmed Atian's guess: "This is the sect's Deacon Elder, a recognized veteran bachelor."

"What?"

The last half of the sentence was too shocking, and Song Zhicheng couldn't help but exclaim, though his own second half wasn't much better.

"Does the sect not issue wives?! I heard that immortals are issued wives!"

"Are you mentally retarded?"

Atian thought for a moment that she had spoken her inner thoughts aloud, only to hear the Sword Attendant Boy continue: "What kind of misunderstanding do you have about this sect full of old bachelors?"

"In the entire cultivation world, in terms of the number of bachelors, apart from that group of monks at Fahua Temple, it's here!"

A bolt from the blue!

Suffering a fatal blow, Song Zhicheng withered at a speed visible to the naked eye. When mortals yearn for immortals, they always harbor the most simple and beautiful dreams, such as being full or being warm. Although the dream Song Zhicheng harbored was a bit different, it was still a simple dream after all.

Now, his simple dream had been ruthlessly shattered.

"Deceived..." He sat on the ground powerlessly, "... deceived!"

A grown man actually sat on the ground and cried like this, leaving Atian dumbfounded. She couldn't help but cast her gaze toward the one with the highest seniority present, and then she saw a chubby man who was equally heartbroken.

"Damn it... these words must have been taught by Junior Sister Luo," Guo Huai muttered while clutching his chest. "... hit the sore spot. Why hurt me like this? It's clear that the others are no better off, even Grandmaster Senior Brother is still single..."

Speaking of this, he suddenly raised his eyes to look at Atian, then buried his head and cried bitterly, "Wuwuwu... I also want a child bride..."

As the only person present who could understand this meme, Atian patted his thick shoulder to show comfort.

As a successful cultivator, Guo Huai's ability to withstand blows was extremely outstanding. His withering lasted only a moment before he wiped away his tears to distribute houses and other supplies to the two new junior disciples.

"There is an empty room in the northeast corner of the first floor, so it will go to Junior Nephew Song. As for Junior Niece Bai, go to the second room on the twentieth floor."

Upon hearing this, Song Zhicheng was no longer depressed, even forgetting his self-reference of "I": "Why is she on the twentieth floor and I'm on the first?"

Guo Huai looked weary, "Because the female cultivators of the Beihai Sword Sect haven't even filled the twentieth floor."

Looking up at the twentieth floor, which only had five rooms, and habitually picking at his feet, Song Zhicheng wisely remained silent.

However, he wanted peace, but someone wouldn't let him have it. To be precise, there was a sword rack that wouldn't let him have it.

"Since both of you have been registered, you are officially members of the Beihai Sword Sect. The friendly guidance ends here; please perform the next task on your own."

The following things were simply horrific. The Sword Attendant Boy maintained an expressionless face while bossing Atian and Song Zhicheng around. The two of them ran across the entire Beihai Sword Sect on their own two feet. Even when they raised objections, they only received "I am just a sword rack, I don't walk" or "Know yourself! I am the sword rack in the Sect Master's room!", the former specifically for Bai Tian, the latter for Song Zhicheng, with very obvious differential treatment.

Guo Huai comforted the bearded bandit who was about to smoke with anger like this: "Just endure it, female Sword Cultivators are the treasures of the entire cultivation world."

It was already evening when Atian arrived at Shengxian Town with Zhao Kuo. Even without counting the time in the Sword Washing Pool, after such a toss, the sky had long since turned completely dark, which further increased the difficulty of finding the way. By the time she ran this circle and returned to the Sword Attendant Boy, she was almost drowned by the fatigue that came like a tide.

Apart from her astonishing attack power, she considered herself no different from an ordinary young lady of a noble family. And a young lady of a noble family who never stepped out of the gate would certainly not have the opportunity to enhance her physical strength. Encountering the Beihai Sword Sect, which didn't play by the rules, she could only accept her fate.

However, the benefits of the Beihai Sword Sect doing this were also obvious. At least she felt that she would definitely not get lost on the Floating Island in the future. Although the entry task had the suspicion of being a torment, it really let them understand this place in the fastest way.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, the somewhat physically exhausted Atian still gritted her teeth and walked to the Sword Attendant Boy and Guo Huai, who were waiting in place.

Facing the weary-looking girl, Guo Huai frowned, but in the end, he glanced at the Sword Attendant Boy, patted his round belly, and said nothing.

"The last item," the Sword Attendant Boy's emotionless voice rang out, "Pay respects to the Senior Brother."

Pay respects to the Senior Brother?

Atian was stunned.

There was only one person in the entire Beihai Sword Sect who could be called Senior Brother, and that was the leader of this generation of disciples. As a new disciple, it was only right to pay respects on the first day of entry. However, this was not an easy matter for her.

The Senior Brother of the Beihai Sword Sect, Bai Xinli.

Her husband, whom she hadn't seen for fifteen years, Bai Xinli.

And now, she was going to pay him a visit.

To pay him a visit looking like this—reeking of sweat, hair disheveled, and face deathly pale.

As a young lady of a noble family, Atian felt she was going to go insane.