Drawing Character Cards
Should I immediately draw a character card?
"Yes."
The small text in front of Ning Lang vanished, replaced by seven cards adorned with vibrant symbols. Each card lay face down, their patterns identical.
[Please choose...]
The system prompt reappeared in the bottom left corner of the seven cards.
Ning Lang concentrated, directing his attention to the seventh card.
A bright light flashed, and the seventh card slowly flipped over, revealing the information on the character card.
[Character Card Level: SSS]
[Character Name: Jiang Chen]
[Strength Realm: Mortal Realm - Lower Grade]
[Comprehension: Outstanding (Undeveloped)]
[Charm Value: 6]
[Loyalty: To be unlocked]
[Character Keywords: Orphan, Simple and Honest, Naturally Sacred Body, Unawakened...]
[Newbie Mission Tip: The bonded character is currently an outer disciple of the Haohui Sect. The host is required to complete the task within the specified time.]
After reading all the information, a smile graced Ning Lang's face as he descended the mountain.
...
Taihua Mountain, home to the Haohui Sect, stretched for more than three hundred miles with thirty-six peaks. Apart from the seven peaks occupied by the elders, most were claimed by inner disciples, leaving outer disciples with limited territory.
Wuqiong Peak, the lowest and smallest among the thirty-six peaks, served as the place for outer disciples to cook and fetch water.
Outer disciples residing on Wuqiong Peak faced rigorous labor. Rising before dawn, they fetched water, chopped wood, washed vegetables, and cooked, providing three meals daily for nearly ten thousand Haohui Sect disciples. Despite their hard work, they received only one spirit stone per month.
Jiang Chen arrived six months ago, at the age of fifteen.
Presently, he toiled in the kitchen, cooking and chopping wood alongside a few peers.
The large kitchen housed thirty-six stoves, with only two windows, causing it to become stifling after prolonged stays. An older youth, stirring in front of a stove, suddenly experienced a stomachache. Waving his hand, he said, "Jiang Chen, come help me stir the vegetables. I need to go to the outhouse."
"Alright." Jiang Chen, seven feet tall, donned a linen sweatshirt with rolled-up trouser legs, resembling a farmer. Though not particularly handsome, his face bore distinct features.
Observing Jiang Chen wielding a half-height spatula to stir in the large iron pot, a companion inquired, "Jiang Chen, can you handle this?"
Jiang Chen smiled innocently, "Why don't you give it a try?"
"Among us, you possess the most strength. I'd rather not." The companion quickly shook his head. The pot contained food for at least a hundred people, a task beyond the capacity of an ordinary person.
Jiang Chen said no more, focusing on stir-frying the vegetables.
After a while, Liu Wangquan, the oldest qualified outer disciple, hurried into the kitchen. Anxious, he shouted, "Quick! Everyone gather outside! The seventh elder is coming to us."
"Elder!"
The Haohui Sect boasted seven elders, each an expert beyond the Foundation Realm. Their rare appearances on other peaks made the arrival of Ning Lang, the seventh elder, a spectacle.
"Close the kitchen door. Everyone, assemble outside. Though the seventh elder holds the lowest status and the weakest cultivation, we cannot offend him. Hurry!"
At Liu Wangquan's insistence, a group of youths rushed outside.
On Wuqiong Peak's open ground, five or six hundred outer disciples swiftly gathered.
Ning Lang stood beneath a banyan tree in front of the open space, facing away from everyone. Only when Liu Wangquan approached and respectfully said, "Elder, everyone is here."
"Good, you've worked hard."
Ning Lang turned around, scanned the crowd, and announced, "I came here today not for anything else but to find a talented person among you to be my disciple. Now, each of you, come forward and state your name, age, and realm."
The seventh elder, alone for ten years, suddenly desired to take a disciple?
Although the news wasn't widespread among outer disciples, Ning Lang's situation had long circulated throughout the Haohui Sect. Everyone knew he was about to lose his elder position. Now, his sudden wish to take a disciple was akin to thunder on a clear day for outer disciples.
For inner disciples, the opportunity might be less enticing, but for outer disciples, escaping their current status mattered more than the elder's prestige.
"Seventh elder, my name is Yu Wenshun, sixteen years old, Mortal Realm - Middle Grade..."
"Next."
"I'm Ma Qi, fifteen years old, Mortal Realm - Middle Grade..."
"Next."
...
"I'm Jiang Chen, fifteen years old, Mortal Realm - Lower Grade..."
Upon hearing this, Ning Lang's eyes brightened, and the hands in his sleeves clenched into fists.
It's you!
Ning Lang interrupted, "Stop, no need to say more."
Jiang Chen sighed inconspicuously. His talent was the worst among his peers, and since entering the Mortal Realm, his cultivation hasn't progressed. Even he thought being selected was impossible.
"It's you," Ning Lang looked at him and smiled.
"Ah?"
"Go back, all of you." Ning Lang waved to the crowd. "Jiang Chen, are you willing to be my disciple?"
Willing to be my disciple?!
Boom.
Thunder seemed to echo in Jiang Chen's ears. The unexpected selection left him momentarily unable to grasp reality.
Ning Lang declared again, "Jiang Chen, are you willing to be my disciple?"
Plump.
Jiang Chen knelt on the ground, head pressed to the earth. Although his voice was not loud, it was firm, "Disciple is willing!"
"Good. Follow me back to Miao Peak. From today onwards, you are officially my personal disciple."
"Yes!"
Ning Lang in front, Jiang Chen following behind, the two left Wuqiong Peak under the gaze of the crowd. The onlookers stood with mouths agape, eyes widened, taking a long time to regain their senses.
...
Mission Completed, Rewards Obtained: Taiyi Clearwater Sword Art (Bound), Wuwei Heart Sutra.
Reminder: Bound cultivation techniques can only be practiced by the host, while unbound ones can be taught to bonded characters.
The two lines of small text disappeared after Ning Lang read them.
Ning Lang's steps were light, and his face was full of smiles.
Jiang Chen always followed Ning Lang, looking at Ning Lang's tall and straight back. Thinking back to the two sentences he said just now, 'Are you willing to be my disciple?' Jiang Chen suddenly felt that his master was not as unbearable as rumored.
Bonded Character Panel Attributes Refreshed.
Loyalty: 82
Ning Lang smiled and asked, "Do you want to know why I chose you as my disciple?"
Jiang Chen nodded sincerely, "Yes."
"Because your talent is no less than those inner disciples."
"My talent?" Jiang Chen was confused. Having been in the Haohui Sect for half a year, his cultivation had never advanced since entering the Mortal Realm. It was obvious that he had no talent. Why did his master say...
Ning Lang didn't explain much. He just stopped and pointed to the scene in front of him, saying, "This is Miao Peak."
Jiang Chen looked up. On the vast Miao Peak, there were only three bamboo houses in the center, giving a somewhat desolate feeling.
Ning Lang patted Jiang Chen's shoulder and smiled, "Don't worry, we'll have what we need soon. At the morning hour tomorrow, I will inform the other six elders to come and observe the disciple-receiving ceremony. After they finish observing, you will officially be my disciple."
"Yes!"
...