Chapter 1 The Unexpected Situation 

"Little brother, are you awake? It seems luck is on the old man's side." The old man smiled, placing a hand on Xuan Dao's shoulder to help him up.

Xuan Dao remained cautious, attempting to gather his internal force but realizing it was difficult, likely due to his serious injury. Nevertheless, he sat up and twisted his lower body, finding no major issues other than feeling severely bruised.

Surveying the surroundings of the dilapidated temple, his gaze returned to the old man's face. "Brother, where are we?" As he spoke, he noticed his voice sounded immature, probably due to his injuries.

"Brother?" The old man paused momentarily, then chuckled, "You speak boldly for a young man. Alright then, I may be older, but let's stick with brother. I'm not sure of the exact name of this place and don't have the energy to check. Anyway, we're in a mountain hideaway in Purple Cloud County, in the Fire Kingdom."

"Fire Kingdom, Purple Cloud County?" Xuan Dao muttered in confusion. How did he end up here?

Glancing at the old man again, he noticed blood staining his chest and abdomen, emitting a strong odor. Despite looking pale, the old man's eyes remained clear. "Brother, may I know your name?"

The old man smiled warmly. "I am Dongfang Changfan, a disciple of the Ancient Crystal Sect."

Xuan Dao was taken aback. The words made sense, but their meaning eluded him. He scrutinized Dongfang Changfan's ancient-style attire and manner of speech. Was this some elaborate charade? An actor playing a role in a historical drama? Suspicion crept in, and he turned abruptly, shouting, "Tiger! Tiger!"

Startled, Dongfang Changfan replied, "I just arrived and haven't seen any tigers. Are there tigers in the nearby forest?"

The lack of response confirmed Xuan Dao's suspicions. Whoever had extricated him from the tomb was no ordinary person. Gathering himself, Xuan Dao asked firmly, "Brother, which way should I go from here?"

"The Ancient Crystal Sect lies ahead naturally," Dongfang Changfan replied with a smile.

Xuan Dao scoffed, "Enough with the games. Speak plainly."

"Fair enough!" Dongfang Changfan nodded. "I'm gravely injured, and time is short. You may not fully understand now, but remember this: the Ancient Crystal Sect is also in Purple Cloud County, about 300 miles away. There's a river below the mountain, drift downstream until you reach a cliff waterfall. That's where the Ancient Crystal Sect is located, amidst serene spiritual beauty. Remember?"

With that, Dongfang Changfan settled into a cross-legged position, his hands moving gently in front of his chest.

Xuan Dao was utterly astonished, feeling himself held by an invisible force that rendered him completely immobilized. He hovered gently off the ground, his heart filled with shock at the realization that someone possessed such profound internal strength. In his previous arrogance, he had considered himself a top martial arts expert, yet now he saw himself as merely a speck in the face of this incredible power. It reminded him of the ancient saying about there being people beyond the heavens and outsiders.

Suddenly, the old man coughed up blood onto his chest, forming a ball that floated in the air. The old man's fingers deftly pierced into the blood ball, stirring it swiftly until a blood rune emerged and began circling around Xuan Dao.

Witnessing this bizarre and magical scene, Xuan Dao was dumbfounded by the old man's mastery of internal force, something he could hardly fathom.

More runes appeared, each causing the blood ball to shrink until it transformed into thirty-six blood-red runes that encircled Xuan Dao. The old man then moved his hands in a stirring motion, causing Xuan Dao to rotate in every direction.

With a swift palm strike, the old man directed each blow precisely at the rotating blood-red runes. They condensed into red light and accurately struck Xuan Dao's acupuncture meridians, causing him intense pain and cold sweat.

After all thirty-six runes had been infused into Xuan Dao's body, the old man's hands fell, and Xuan Dao slowly descended to the ground, sitting across from the old man in a daze.

The old man's dignified expression softened into a smile, though his eyes dimmed with fatigue. His voice weakened as he spoke, "I have used a secret technique of the Ancient Crystal Sect to transform the remaining of my life force into thirty-six talismans to protect you from harm. If you follow the path I've outlined, it should suffice to introduce you to the Ancient Crystal Sect. I was too injured to return there, and meeting you in my dying moments was both luck and destiny for both of us. Becoming my disciple will offer you more than staying in this mountain hideout and facing troubled times. I believe you have no reason to refuse. When you arrive at the Ancient Crystal Sect, tell them you are my disciple. The talismans I have given you will serve as proof, and they will believe you."

Xuan Dao blinked, absorbing the old man's words, his mind racing with the weight of this unexpected turn of events.

The old man touched a bronze mirror from his arm and handed it to Xuan Dao, saying, "To obtain this item, my fortune was nearly ruined. Li Qing Mu, the head of the Ancient Crystal Sect, is my sworn brother. Take this to him. Never reveal its existence to anyone else. Only my sworn brother must see it. Remember?"

Xuan Dao nodded silently, taking the bronze mirror and turning it over in his hand. His mind was reeling with disbelief—this mirror seemed identical to the one he had taken from the Guanyin statue in the tomb. Though he couldn't be certain without a closer inspection, the resemblance was uncanny.

As he looked up at the old man, a mix of awe and skepticism filled his thoughts. The old man's mystical abilities had impressed him, yet the bronze mirror grounded him in the reality of the situation.

Before he could ask anything, the old man smiled gently, closed his eyes, and slumped lifelessly to the ground.

"Brother! Brother..." Xuan Dao called out, patting the old man's shoulder. With no response, he checked for a pulse and confirmed the old man's death.

Stunned, Xuan Dao stared at the lifeless body for a long moment, realizing this wasn't a jest or trick—it was real death.

Carefully laying the old man's body down, he glanced at the bronze mirror in his hand and noticed the unfamiliar attire he now wore, complete with a bun on his head. Disoriented by the surreal turn of events, he heard a commotion outside, sounding like a crow's cry.

Stepping towards the door, Xuan Dao unlatched it and stepped onto the moonlit steps. The landscape was serene under the starlit sky, yet a peculiar crow caught his attention. Its eyes glowed red, fixated on the bronze mirror in his hand.

Suddenly, the crow transformed, its form shifting into a humanoid figure wielding a menacing blade. Xuan Dao, bewildered by this supernatural sight, attempted to dodge but found his reactions sluggish and unresponsive. As panic set in, a surge of heat flowed from his palm, striking the crow creature with force.

A thunderous boom echoed through the air as the creature disintegrated into smoke, the rune on its forehead fading away.

Breathing heavily, Xuan Dao marveled at what he had just done. Was this his doing, as the old man had hinted after imparting the talisman on him?

"Damn, things are getting dangerous out here," he muttered to himself.

Quickly retreating inside, Xuan Dao shut the door and extinguished the torch, pondering the strange turn his life had taken.