……Cultivate as an immortal?
Yun Hao was somewhat dazed when he heard the immortal sister before him say this.
He was not unfamiliar with legends of immortals.
When he was young, every time his mother coaxed him to sleep, she would tell him stories in bed about the legendary immortals’ great power to split heaven and earth.
They could reach up to pluck stars and seize the moon, or part rivers and tread the seas below.
Young Yun Hao had always been filled with fantasies about immortals whenever he heard his mother’s tales.
He dreamed that one day he too would become the immortal his mother spoke of and bring her out of this bitter sea of constant beatings and humiliation.
But as he slowly grew older and endured day-and-night bullying and abuse in the mansion, he gradually came to recognize reality.
A little slave who could be abused at will—how could an immortal ever take a liking to him?
It was not that no one in the mortal world had been chosen by immortals to embark on the immortal path, but most of those people were imperial relatives or nobles.
They were born eating better than ordinary commoners, so their physical foundations were naturally stronger.
Cultivating as an immortal required aptitude.
The better the aptitude, the farther one could go on the path of the Great Dao.
Compared to commoners, imperial nobles ate better from childhood.
If they were born with immortal aptitude, it would not decline due to postnatal factors.
Even if commoners were born with immortal aptitude, it would usually gradually disappear amid the hardships of later life.
Therefore, those chosen to cultivate as immortals in the mortal world were mostly imperial relatives or nobles.
At worst, they were descendants of wealthy merchants.
Commoners being selected to cultivate as immortals was extremely rare.
Thus, in the Tian Ling Continent, the people closest to cultivators were the royal families of various dynasties and the extremely wealthy.
For ordinary commoners, the path was truly out of reach.
When Yun Hao heard that the immortal sister before him—who seemed to be an immortal—was willing to lead him onto the immortal path, his initial surge of immense joy quickly turned to fear and unease.
He was terrified that he might lack immortal aptitude and end up excited for nothing.
So Yun Hao thought for a moment, suppressed the anxiety in his heart, and asked Luo Shuiling,
“Immortal Sister, do I have immortal aptitude?”
Seeing the small youth before her asking so fearfully, Luo Shuiling could not help feeling a trace of delight.
She enjoyed this feeling of control, especially when the subject was such an exceptionally beautiful young boy.
She explained to him,
“It is not yet clear. We did not bring a spirit-testing stone with us on this journey. Everything can only be determined after we return to the sect.”
Hearing the answer he had expected from the immortal sister, Yun Hao’s remaining joy slowly sank. In its place came complete unease.
Of course.
He was nothing more than a slave being auctioned off.
How could he possibly possess the immortal aptitude that mortals could only dream of?
Luo Shuiling found the clearly dejected youth rather amusing.
Ordinary cultivators naturally could not discern a mortal’s immortal aptitude with just a glance, as it required observing one’s spiritual soul.
However, she was different.
Having already reached the Dao Integration realm, she stood at the peak of what most cultivators could achieve in their lifetime.
Determining someone’s immortal aptitude required nothing more than a careful look from up close.
Moreover, when the youth had approached her earlier, the stirring of her Ice Jade Physique had become even more pronounced.
This further confirmed that the youth was special.
She could not yet tell if he had a special physique, but after examining him closely just now, she had a good idea of his cultivation aptitude—it was roughly equivalent to that of an inner sect disciple of the sect.
She deliberately did not tell Yun Hao this because she wanted to create greater unease in the youth.
Once he followed her back to the sect and learned his true cultivation aptitude, he would be even more grateful to her.
After all, for an immortal to go through so much trouble for a mortal whose aptitude was still uncertain was an enormous favor that could never be forgotten.
Additionally, she needed to gradually win people over.
The battle for the Holy Maiden position in the sect would begin in two years.
She needed to defeat the other three elders’ disciples and secure the position of Holy Maiden if she wanted any hope of becoming the next sect master.
Time was becoming limited for carefree cultivation. She also needed a personal servant who could run errands and convey her wishes.
Seeing that Yun Hao had remained silent for a long time, Luo Shuiling opened her mouth and began to persuade him,
“Although we cannot confirm your immortal aptitude yet, that does not prevent you from coming back to the sect with us first.”
After a pause, she continued,
“Even if you have no immortal destiny in the end, the sect still has the Miscellaneous Service Hall. You could work there for the rest of your life. It would still be much better than…”
Luo Shuiling glanced at Zheng Meng, who was still kneeling outside the door, signaling Yun Hao to remember his current situation.
“…much better than being beaten to death here.”
Hearing Luo Shuiling openly point out her intentions, Zheng Meng, who was kneeling outside the private room, trembled violently.
He was so terrified he nearly fainted.
It seemed he would not be leaving alive today.
Yun Hao looked at Luo Shuiling, who was trying to persuade him, then glanced at the trembling Zheng Meng.
He weighed his options in his heart.
Cultivating might not make him an immortal, but at the very least, he would not be beaten to death.
If he could not cultivate in the future, finding work as a menial servant in the sect would still allow him to survive.
Compared to the life he had lived so far, it was already far better.
Once he thought this through, Yun Hao gently nodded at Luo Shuiling and said timidly,
“I am willing to cultivate with Immortal Sister.”
Hearing Yun Hao finally agree to follow her and cultivate, Luo Shuiling nodded in satisfaction.
She then said to him,
“Once you step onto the immortal path, you must no longer concern yourself with mortal affairs. Do you have any unfinished business right now?”
“If you do, you may speak now. I can help you resolve it.”
Upon hearing Luo Shuiling’s words, Zheng Meng, who was kneeling outside, shook like a sieve as despair filled his heart.
This was clearly an excuse to kill him. He muttered inwardly,
My life is over.
However, Yun Hao shook his head after hearing her.
“Immortal Sister, I have nothing that needs to be resolved.”
“Oh? Are you sure? If not, I will take you away now. From then on, you will disregard worldly matters and focus solely on the Dao.”
Luo Shuiling looked at the youth before her, gently reminding him.
Her underlying meaning was clear: now was the best chance for him to kill Zheng Meng.
He should not waste the opportunity.
Yet Yun Hao lowered his head and still replied,
“I truly have nothing, Immortal Sister. I am now all alone in this world, without any ties or worries.”
In Yun Hao’s eyes, although Zheng Meng had indeed intended to buy him for torture, nothing had actually happened yet.
He had not suffered any real harm.
Even if the Zheng family had a grudge against the Yun family, that was between them and his so-called father. It had nothing to do with him.
Luo Shuiling gazed deeply at Yun Hao.
She inwardly thought that this was truly a naive and innocent youth.
If it were her, and she encountered a family that harbored a grudge against hers, she would do everything possible to eliminate the threat completely.
After all, even if you did not treat them as enemies, they might not extend the same courtesy.
But it did not matter.
Luo Shuiling shook her head lightly.
Yun Hao would soon be a cultivator.
From then on, they would exist in completely different worlds.
There was no need to worry about future retaliation from them.
“In that case, very well.”
Luo Shuiling said softly to Yun Hao.
She then looked at Zheng Meng, who was still kneeling outside, and spoke,
“You may rise. Today’s matter must not be spoken of to anyone.”
Zheng Meng, upon hearing that he had been pardoned, was overjoyed. He said,
“Immortal, please rest assured. This humble one will keep today’s events sealed in my mouth and will not reveal a single word.”
Even after speaking, he remained kneeling on the ground, unwilling to get up.
Seeing this, Luo Shuiling did not bother saying anything more.
Instead, she turned her gaze to Zhang Li, who had accompanied Zheng Meng to apologize.
Zhang Li immediately understood what her look meant. Before Luo Shuiling could speak, he quickly said,
“Immortal, please feel free to take Yun Hao with you. Consider him a small gift from this humble one to the immortals.”
Luo Shuiling saw that Zhang Li had already said what needed to be said and did not stand on ceremony.
She nodded lightly at him and said,
“Then I must thank Manager Zhang.”
She then looked at the luxurious women’s clothing Yun Hao was wearing and frowned slightly without realizing it.
She said indifferently,
“Change out of those clothes. Then you may come with us back to the sect.”
Yun Hao noticed the immortal sister frowning at him and his face immediately flushed bright red.
These clothes he was wearing were indeed extremely embarrassing.
Under Zhang Li’s guidance, he went to change his clothes.
After watching Yun Hao being led away by Zhang Li, Luo Shuiling withdrew her gaze.
She looked at the pedestrians outside the window and fell into thought.
This time, the mission of bringing the sect disciples out for training could be considered complete.
As for this newly acquired Yun Hao, she wondered whether he would bring her any pleasant surprises in the future.
At this thought, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Luo Shuiling’s usually expressionless face.
She hoped her Ice Jade Physique had not sensed wrongly.
Yun Hao, ah, Yun Hao… you had better not disappoint me.