Chapter 6

The disciple recruitment conference is in full swing.

Translation: "The disciple recruitment conference was in full swing."

Those who were eliminated walked away with their heads hung low.

Translation: "Those who were eliminated hung their heads, dejected."

Even worse, some even shouted loudly to the heavens.

Translation: "Even worse, some actually shouted up at the sky."

It hurts! It's so painful!

Translation: ""It hurts! So painful!""

I, the future great emperor, actually suffered a setback at this measly disciple recruitment conference—I won't stand for it!

Translation: ""I, a future emperor in name, actually suffered defeat at this tiny disciple recruitment conference—I'm not resigned!""

He's gone mad!

Translation: ""This person is crazy!""

Come on, at twenty‑five years old, he's only at the middle stage of Qi Refining!

Translation: ""Indeed, at twenty-five years of bone age, he's only at the middle stage of Qi Refining!""

And he claims to be the strongest Qi Refining cultivator, the future emperor—damn him!

Translation: ""And he still claims to be the strongest Qi Refining cultivator, a future emperor—go to hell!""

The man then followed his companion and kicked him—this kid really knows how to put on an act!

Translation: "After saying that, the man followed his companions up and kicked him—this kid is really good at pretending!"

Even I, the king of humblebragging, can't take it anymore.

Translation: "Even I, the pretentious bragging king, can't bear to watch."

Meanwhile.

Translation: "On the other side."

Don't be sad, Brother Lin Bai—if there's no place for you here, there will be elsewhere.

Translation: ""Don't be sad, Brother Lin Bai—if there's no place for you here, there will be elsewhere.""

I believe in you, Brother Lin Bai—someday you'll rise to great heights!

Translation: ""I believe in you, Brother Lin Bai—someday you'll surely soar to great heights!""

Sigh, still no luck?

Translation: ""Sigh, still no good?""

The speaker is a disheartened young man in white robes, with a sharp, chiseled face, sword‑like brows, and starry eyes.

Translation: "The speaker was a dejected youth in white robes, with a chiseled face, sword-like brows, and starry eyes."

He has the face of a novel's male lead, but not the destiny.

Translation: "He had the face of a novel's male protagonist, but not the protagonist's fate."

His name is Lin Bai, the eldest son of the Lin family of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and nominally the future head of the Lin family.

Translation: "His name is Lin Bai, eldest son of the Lin family in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and nominally the future head of the Lin family."

His status is prestigious from birth.

Translation: "One could say this status was illustrious from birth."

Lin Bai reached the early stage of Qi Refining at eight, gaining fame across the city.

Translation: "Lin Bai reached the early stage of Qi Refining at eight years old, gaining fame throughout the city."

But fate had other plans; his early Qi Refining stage lingered for ten years, ultimately becoming a joke.

Translation: "But fate thwarted his wishes; that early Qi Refining stage stayed with him for ten years, ultimately becoming a laughingstock."

For ten years his cultivation stagnated, remaining stuck at the early Qi Refining stage.

Translation: "Over ten years, his cultivation made no progress, stuck at the early Qi Refining stage."

This time, feeling a spark of inspiration, he came to try his luck, hoping to find a way to advance his cultivation.

Translation: "This time, having a sudden feeling, he came to try his luck, hoping to find a way to cultivate."

Thanks, Qing'er; I'm glad you're here.

Translation: ""Mm, thank you, Qing'er—good thing you're here with me.""

The lovely young woman speaking beside him is his fiancée, Nian Qing.

Translation: "The young woman who had been speaking beside him was his fiancée, Nian Qing."

When they were eight, they were already betrothed.

Translation: "When they were eight, they were already betrothed."

Brother Lin Bai, I passed the first test—I'm about to begin the second.

Translation: ""Brother Lin Bai, I passed the first test—I'm about to start the second.""

Then I'll go get ready.

Translation: ""Then I'll go prepare first.""

Nian Qing said that hurriedly and walked off into the distance.

Translation: "Nian Qing said that hurriedly and then walked off into the distance."

Take care, Qing'er.

Translation: ""Mm, stay safe, Qing'er.""

Watching Nian Qing's retreating back, Lin Bai slowly withdrew the hint of envy in his eyes.

Translation: "Watching Nian Qing's retreating back, Lin Bai slowly withdrew the hint of envy in his eyes."

Why! Why is this happening!

Translation: ""Why! Why is this happening?!""

He also witnessed that man shouting to the heavens just earlier.

Translation: "He also saw that scene just now where that person shouted up at the sky."

The final scene of that man being kicked over deeply pierced his heart.

Translation: "Until the final scene of him being kicked over, it deeply pierced his heart."

He could no longer bear it!

Translation: "He simply couldn't hold back any longer!"

That man is twenty‑five and at the middle stage of Qi Refining—what about me?

Translation: "That man is twenty-five and at the middle stage of Qi Refining—what about me?"

For ten years I haven't broken through the early stage; I can't find a way to advance, and at twenty‑five I'm still stuck at the early stage—worse than him!

Translation: "For ten years I haven't broken through the early stage; I can't find a way to breakthrough, and at twenty-five I'm still at the early stage—worse than him!"

Lin Bai walked along, worrying and thinking, sighing aimlessly.

Translation: "Lin Bai walked along, worrying and thinking, sighing helplessly."

He came this time to try his luck and also to accompany Nian Qing.

Translation: "He came this time both to try his luck and to accompany Nian Qing."

Nian Qing passing the first stage was as expected.

Translation: "Nian Qing passing the first trial was also expected."

Nian Qing is the city‑renowned genius who reached early Qi Refining at ten and now, at eighteen, has attained the Golden Core realm.

Translation: "Nian Qing is that famed genius girl of the city; she reached the early stage of Qi Refining at ten, and now at eighteen she has attained the Golden Core Realm."

They were originally a perfect match, but he gradually became a laughingstock.

Translation: "The two were originally a perfect match, but he gradually became a laughingstock."

With early Golden Core cultivation at eighteen, he should be able to stand out, right?

Translation: ""With an early Golden Core cultivation at eighteen, she should be able to stand out, right?""

Just as he lowered his head in troubled thought, a voice spoke.

Translation: "Just as he lowered his head in troubled thought, a voice came."

Young man, what troubles you? Our sect loves to help—feel free to tell us.

Translation: ""Young man, what troubles you? Our sect loves to help—feel free to tell us.""

Lin Bai heard the words, paused, and stopped.

Translation: "Lin Bai heard the words, paused for a moment, and stopped."

He sized up the three people before him.

Translation: "He sized up the three people before him."

The three before him claimed to be from the sect, dressed in black robes with flowing black hair, and especially their violet eyes were extraordinary.

Translation: "These three people before him claimed to be from the sect, the black-robed youth with hair flowing like a waterfall, especially his purple eyes, which were extraordinary."

Beside him, the youth exuded aura, his eight‑foot height adding oppressive pressure, and there was also a middle‑aged man equally inscrutable.

Translation: "Beside him, the youth exuded aura, his eight-foot height adding oppressive pressure, and there was also a middle-aged man equally inscrutable."

May I ask who you are?

Translation: ""May I ask who you are?""

Lin Bai asked doubtfully, 'Could this kid have heard of my reputation as the great waste and come just to mock me?'

Translation: "Lin Bai asked doubtfully, "Could this kid have heard my nickname 'Lin the Great Trash' and come specially to mock me?""

We are the Qingyun Sect's master.

Translation: ""This sect, the Qingyun Sect Master.""

Our Qingyun Sect is fated with you; we see your extraordinary talent and offer you a chance to rise straight in Qingyun Sect—join us.

Translation: ""Our Qingyun Sect is fated with you, and we see your extraordinary talent—we offer you a chance to rise straight in Qingyun, join my Qingyun Sect.""

Those words struck Lin Bai like a bolt from the blue, spoken by Feng Qingyang.

Translation: "These words, which struck Lin Bai like a bolt from the blue, were spoken by Feng Qingyang."

He immediately burst into tears.

Translation: "He immediately burst into tears!"

Ten years!

Translation: ""Ten years!""

Exactly ten years!

Translation: ""Exactly ten years!""

For ten years I've been waiting for an opportunity! Waiting for a patron!

Translation: ""For ten years I've been waiting for an opportunity! Waiting for a patron!""

However, Qingyun Sect? I've never heard of it—any sect will do.

Translation: ""However, Qingyun Sect? I've never heard of it—any sect will do.""

After all, for ten full years no sect had ever extended him an invitation.

Translation: "After all, for ten full years no sect had ever extended him an invitation."

"Me? You haven't got the wrong person, have you?" Lin Bai still asked cautiously, just in case, for if he had mistaken the person, it would be embarrassing.

What he found even more puzzling was that his nickname Lin Da Feichai had already spread throughout Lingzhou, and yet someone had actually come specially to his door.

"What, you're questioning our sect?"

Feng Qingyang raised an eyebrow and said.

After confirming there was no mistake, Lin Bai hastily clasped his hands: "No, I dare not... I want to join the Azure Cloud Sect."

"Very good, you will someday feel fortunate for the decision you made today."

【"Ding, congratulations host, you have successfully recruited a second genius disciple, mission completed."】

【"Mission rewards being distributed... congratulations host, you have obtained a silver summoning card."】

【"Congratulations host, you have obtained the Myriad Swords Tomb, the back mountain of the Azure Cloud Sect has been manifested."】

【"Congratulations host, you have obtained the Azure Lotus Sword Technique."】

It's still the same, with usage noted on the back.

【"Silver Summoning Card: Can summon beings from the Divine Transformation to the Manifest Saint realm."】

【"Myriad Swords Tomb: Buries myriad swords from the heavens, obtainable by those with affinity."】

【"Azure Lotus Sword Technique: Immortal method, custom-made for the Azure Lotus Sword Body."】

As the reward notification sounded, Feng Qingyang also opened Lin Bai's panel.

【"Lin Bai: Early Qi Refining"】

【"Constitution: Azure Lotus Sword Body (inactive)"】

【"Identity: Eldest son of the Lin family of the Great Zhou Dynasty."】

"No wonder this kid is at the early Qi Refining stage; it seems his inactive constitution absorbed his spiritual energy, and without a suitable cultivation method he cannot advance."

Having taken on a disciple, there's no need to stay at the disciple-accepting gathering any longer.

After some time, when the Azure Cloud Sect's fame shakes the Eastern Region, countless heavenly talents will naturally come seeking fame, begging to join the sect.

"Let's go, return to the sect."

"Ah, Sect Master," Lin Bai was about to speak, but he also wanted to wait for Nian Qing to tell him the good news of his acceptance into the sect.

A few people came over from the side and interrupted him.

"Yo? Isn't that the young master of the Lin family?"

"How come, Lin the great genius, you're not going to participate in the second round of the test?"

"No way, no way, there couldn't really be a pig that fails even the first round, right?"

"Haha, young master, why insult pigs when you're just speaking?"

"Haha, I'm dying laughing, this kid isn't even as good as a pig."

Those nearby who didn't pass the first round were also resentful but dared not speak.

It's only because this person who arrived is Wang Tian, the young master of the Wang family, a top clan of the Great Zhou Dynasty.