Honor of the First Direct Disciple

Spirit beasts of all sorts and sizes screeched, trembled, and stood morionless. The huge being's oppressive temper was evident enough to disrupt the Sky Port's busy day. But amidst the astonishment that ensued, Shen Mo was cheerfully waving at the warlord-like creature.

"Yo! Zhangqi, long time no see!" Shen Mo greeted the giant with a carefree bearing.

"Master, 'tis too sudden for a summon. Is there any evil we must quell?" The Sword Light Grandmaster Zhangqi bowed his head towards Shen Mo. His main job is to protect Wu from great evils such as Chaos Bringers and a rampant wave of demons.

Zhangqi, a land immortal as they called his rank, is among the untamable immortals that roamed Wu. He was the master of his own destiny, a child favored by the Heavens once and became one of the peak of cultivators. However, Shen Mo earned his respect and vowed to serve him for as long as he lives. Quickly, Zhangqi noticed the girl next to Shen Mo and the same intent in the past started to appear. He knows in one look if the Chaos Bringer is full-fledged or it was infected by one. The girl next to Shen Mo has the same aura as the people around them but her fate is blank. He thought the girl must be infected but he can do nothing to her because Shen Mo is with her.

"Nothing much. I just summoned you so I can show off and impress my disciple a bit." Shen Mo whispered and pointed at Cai. He expected Cai will feel amazed even a little but he shouldn't have tried. She has no change of expression at all! He scoffed and turned to the land immortal with a dejected look, "Nevermind, just bring us to my sect. And don't ask why I don't have any spirit beasts with me, humph!."

"As you wish." Zhangqi agreed immediately as he bent down to pick them up.

"Isn't that Sword Light Grandmaster Zhangqi a legend?!"

"I-its a land immortal!"

"Goodness. Who is that cloaked person then?"

"Haven't you heard? The Sword Light Grandmaster entered a Life Contract with Tao Supreme Sect's founder."

"That means..."

"Huh, I didn't anticipate Master is popular." Cai thought after hearing the onlookers. They seemed terrified and amazed at the same time.

"Sigh, I was once revered and arrogant due to my power. Yet, here I am, a substitute for an airship, aiya." Zhangqi lamented in his heart. He is a Land Immortal, an existence barely reachable by mortals but Shen Mo is now his master.

"Master, how are we going to travel?" Cai asked. Her reference towards Shen Mo made Zhangqi guess their relationship correctly.

"I didn't know Master Shen Mo will have a disciple."

Zhangqi knew how Shen Mo thinks. He is lazy and casual ever since achieving the peak of humanity. Shen Mo even said once that he won't take in any disciple and spend his remaining life enjoying his retirement. However, Shen Mo is too young to retire. Compared to the earliest Celestial Death cultivators, Shen Mo's age is just one-tenth of theirs. Zhangqi thinks it is not a good idea for Shen Mo to have a disciple at all..

"Mhm. This disciple is one of a kind. Lucky I found her but her talent can be troubling. Zhangqi, meet my first direct disciple, Cai. Student Cai, this is Sword Light Grandmaster Zhangqi. He is a level above Celestial Death." Shen Mo brought the girl forward and proudly smiled. "Come on, don't be shy. Say hi to the Land Immortal."

"..."

Cai remained silent and looked at Zhangqi as if she is looking at a piece of dust. It made Zhangqi feel uncomfortable. Most youngsters react through shouting and even fainting from too much surprise but Cai seemed..well, just nothing.

"Hi." The girl said without a proper amiable tone and raised her hand.

Shen Mo taught her how to greet people properly and this is the casual way. But why is Zhangqi not returning her greeting?

"I am very surprised to see a Land Immortal." Cai continued as Shen Mo facepalmed.

She doesn't look convincing at all!

"I am honored to meet Master's disciple." Zhangqi showed a smile and lowered his hand.

"Enough awkwardness from you two. Cai let's go."

Shen Mo felt a headache seeing their exchange. He held Cai's hand and guided her to Zhangqi's palm. With a loud boom, Zhangqi is already traveling miles away from Tian Port. His lack of presence enabled everyone to move and chatter endlessly from shock.

"Master, I thought Celestial Death is the final stage. Why is there a Land Immortal?"

"Don't you know the path of cultivation is limitless?" Shen Mo answered Cai's question with a question.

He smiled at Cai and showed her a demonstration from his palm.

"Here is another lesson. These are the mortal levels in cultivation. Body Training enhances your physique to be suitable for intensive qi gathering, releasing, and transforming. The next one is Qi Refining where your dantian expands and allows you to cultivate qi without obstruction. Qi Integration is the third level that benefits a cultivator by enabling them to use qi in alchemy, combat, arrays, and more. Next, Foundation Building. This will be the base of your ascension to the immortal levels. Your dantian is durable than before and throughout the phase of Foundation Building, every time you practice, it will enhance your body, meridians, and dantian to get it ready for the following category."

"The last stage of the mortal realm is Core Formation. For how genuine and dependable your foundation is, that will be the Core Formation's base for your prowess in its stage. Core Formation is the last phase of preparation for the immortal realm. After Core Formation, comes the Nascency Stage. The core in your dantian will have a duplicate of you, the first life throughout your refinement of Dao. Nascency too requires you to fight your inner demons. The more evil you are, the stronger your tribulation will be. It's the reason why not all talented people can be immortals."

"Second level of immortality is Nirvana which was derived from a phoenix's rebirth. After your soul was cleansed in the Nascency ascension, Nirvana will change your physique similar to the demigods. It will be your choice if you want to change your face and body but the Nascent Soul with you will remind you of your old appearance. Third, Celestial Life. In Nirvana, the space in your dantian will form. In Celestial Life, there will be the solid fragments of Great Dao in your dantian that you have refined starting from your first try of cultivation. Time will start, a universe will form slowly and beings will live. However, in Celestial Death, perfection happens. Life and death will revolve in a dantian."

"Yet, it doesn't end there. There is the last unknown stage, Ascension. The Will of Heaven will see how strong you are and let tribulations befall you. If you pass, you become immortal, your lifespan unmeasured but you will no longer interfere with the matters of mortals like me and the rest of Wu. But, Land Immortals are exceptions. They can descend the heavens, never to return again, and aid the mortal realm if dangerous fellow rebels against the Will of Heaven. Land Immortals are just one of the rankings above Celestial Death. I don't desire eternal life and I wish to contribute my remaining days for this world."

If Will of Heaven heard Shen Mo, she would have scoffed and called him an old fart. He just doesn't want to ascend because he will have to aim for a higher rank if he becomes a full-fledged immortal!

How far can his laziness go??

"Why does Master speak like you already wrote a final will?" Cai asked bravely.

Her question made Zhangqi purse his lips the best he could to avoid laughing while Shen Mo's face became grim.

"Oh, right. Master is two thousand years old. How many years do I have to wait for Master's funeral?"

"Little girl, I'm not that old!" Shen Mo was at a loss of what to say but he admits in his bleeding heart that he might be old he even forgot his weaknesses that can endanger his life.

Tao Supreme Sect is as bustling as ever. Though it lasted for a thousand years at most, Tao Supreme Sect also encountered a lot of ups and downs. When Shen Mo was recognized as Wu Patriarch, Tao Supreme Sect became more popular than any sect in the world. It was the center of geniuses from every continent. Outer court disciples too are feared in the outside world but Tao Supreme Sect forbids any student to brag about their status or use it to pressure vulnerable people.

The students of Tao Supreme Sect looked up in awe to witness a Land Immortal's arrival towards the Founder's Peak. Gu Cheng organized his fellow elders to welcome Shen Mo. Almost half a year since Shen Mo left the sect. They must report the development of students and the upcoming entrance exam for recruits.

Zhangqi disappeared the moment Shen Mo and Cai stepped on Founder's Peak. Cai was mesmerized by the exceptional view and landscape the Unfettered Villa holds. Unlike the mountains where the elders reside, Founder's Peak is completely flat at the top.

It was perfect for symmetrical courtyards and residents. The so-called Unfettered Villa is a legend for the mortals. Four towers stood facing the four main directions. It was tall, perhaps twelve floors at most. Each tower have a courtyard of their own with different trees and ponds. There is a training ground seemingly unused for a few hundred years at the western area. A three-storey building by the north was labeled 'Wuxia Library' where the greatest martial arts that ever existed are stored carefully. By the east is an imposing huge cauldron that was chained to keep it from floating away. The gate faced south, no less majestic than Tao Supreme Sect's heavenly doorway.

In the middle of it all is a walled courtyard larger than all combined. Its greenery provided a cool shade below the soft pebbles and sands that covered the yard. A lake stretched by the front yard where two pavilions rest and a simple house stood in a carefree manner in the middle. This earned the name Unfettered Villa.

"Is this where Master lives?"

"Mhmm. This is Unfettered Villa on Founder's Peak. This range is where my master failed his tribulation. It's completely flat because the tribulation he faced is strong."

Shen Mo remembered the terrifying scene that time. The clouds were dark that the whole place looked as if dusk has descended. Thunders boomed like war drums of gods and bolts of lightning sparked against each other. The tribulation released a very strong phenomenon his master was unable to stop. Founder's Peak became flat because of that tribulation. Shen Mo finds the view up here is awesome so he decided to build his home here and sheltered his master's grave too.

Cai turned around and saw six elders coming forth. They knelt immediately upon facing Shen Mo and greeted him politely.

"Right on time! Come meet my direct disciple, Cai." Shen Mo happily introduced her in front of them. Though he is full of smiles, his disciple seemed to be the extreme opposite of him.

"This..."

The elders were stunned to see a ten-year-old girl. She has an expressionless face, her meridians are all open and a great amount of qi are surrounding her. If the Wu Patriarch finds a disciple, that means she is more than very extraordinary.

"Anyway, I want you guys to include her in the entrance exam this year. Watch over her for some time, I need rest."

Shen Mo yawned to feign his sleepiness. He dashed into his residence before Gu Cheng can ask more questions.

The elders looked at Cai who suddenly raised her hand. They were all nervous about what she will do because they believe Shen Mo's disciple is surely someone capable of overturning the world in the future! Who won't be scared of a little monster?

"Hi." One word of greeting only came out of Cai's mouth. "Master named me Cai. You are?"

The elders looked at each other and formed a tacit understanding, this girl is irresistably cute!

"Gu Cheng, First Elder of Tao Supreme Sect. I am the Sect Leader's direct disciple and his substitute during his absence." Gu Cheng first went forward and bowed formally. He thought that they are in a lower position than Cai. She is Shen Mo's direct disciple and the sect leader which is his master is Shen Mo's half student.

"Zhang Ning'an, the Second Elder. I am in charge of the core disciples talented in alchemy." The lady in elegant green robes went forward. She have a long hair that flows down to her thin waist with little white flowers all over that enhanced her gentle temperament.

"Murong Li, the Third Elder. Most people call me the Divine Doctor of Tao. I am knowledgeable regarding medicines." A man came up next with a bamboo basket on his shoulders. Cai can faintly smell the minty scent of herbs coming from him. He may look a little plain but he exudes such a warm and harmless nature, perhaps because of his honest simple eyes and genuine smile.

"Zhang Ningxiang, the Fourth Elder. I develop Yang attributed disciples in our school." Cai was surprised at the Fourth Elder. She has the same face as Zhang Ning'an but her hair is short, just by her shoulder. Compared to the white Zhang Ning'an, Zhang Ningxiang is all smiles and cheerful with a louder voice. Sisters as they are, they bore the opposite of each other.

"Bai Shengming, the Fifth Elder. I am responsible for training students talented in sword fights." The Fifth Elder wore all white and was exceptionally taller than the rest. His stance was more prominent as if swordfighting has taken over his daily life. Cai immediately listed him as the least approachable of the group. Her change of gaze was of course noticed by Bai Shengming, helplessly sweating at the thought of what he did to displease the girl!

"Liu Zhouran, Sixth Elder of Tao Supreme Sect. I am no expert in alchemy, medicines, combat, or Yang magics but am related to Yin attributes. Thus, disciples with Yin talents are taught by me to ensure they won't follow the wrong path." Finally, a lady with a bold aura came forth. She seemed to be the epitome of femininity in both terms of looks and bearing. Her voice is sultry and inviting with every move spelling seduction. Even her very presence is overwhelmingly attractive.

"So many elders." Cai doesn't even sound convinced. She memorized their name in no time. "Then is Master the Sect Leader?"

"Wu Patriarch had stepped down from that position. The Sect Leader is currently in secluded cultivation to breakthrough another level."

"Oh. From this point of view, my Master is a slacker, isn't he?" Her question struck the elders with life-threatening lightning. Cai sighed and turned her back to follow where Shen Mo went. "Heavens, is he a reliable master at all?"

"Little girl, we all wanted to be his student." Gu Cheng thought though his face showed his intent. Who wouldn't want to be the strongest immortal's disciple?