Chapter 1, The Bridge of White Clouds

Though still young, merely around twelve or thirteen years of age, his appearance is already remarkable, faintly exuding the charm of a handsome young man. His long eyebrows resemble blades, and his eyes are like autumn waters. However, his fair and delicate face is tightly drawn, and his expression seems rather impatient. He first stood for a moment, surveying the surroundings from a high vantage point, before finally stepping down from the carriage. His demeanor is quite elegant, indicating good upbringing, presenting an air of maturity beyond his years.

He actually saw through her thoughts? Just now, she truly hated him to the point of wanting him dead

The old man in the black robe suddenly said: "Is Yin Fan not coming?"

I do not know which faction it belongs to

"How do I look like a beggar?" The little girl protested, lowering her head to tug at her clean yet worn clothes. She had already worked hard to wash them thoroughly, and the hair tie was something she had picked up. "The magic given to me by the celestial brother isn't working! I want to learn magic myself, so that they won't dare to bully us!"

Min Yunzong calmly took the tea and said: "This time there are two, does the master still want to snatch them?"

Among those who came to participate in the election, several children were particularly eye-catching

The beggar, feeling aggrieved, approached and kicked.

Knowing that he was not an ordinary person, the nearby beggars obediently moved away a little

Of course

She gave her a faint smile and turned to leave

The little girl had a look of fear on her face, and anyone with keen eyes could see that she was extremely frightened, yet her little legs continued to move forward step by step

Everyone looked towards the mountain gate at the same time

Regardless, everything has passed; the scars left by war will eventually be erased by time, and those nightmarish days will ultimately be forgotten by people

On the grand avenue, a magnificent carriage approached, gradually slowing down until it finally came to a stop at the foot of the mountain. The distinguished coachman dismounted first, setting down a footstool. After a moment, a young nobleman emerged from the carriage, dressed in a purple robe adorned with intricate patterns, wearing a small golden crown, and cinched at the waist with a beautifully carved gold belt, clearly indicating his noble lineage.

Nanhua Immortal Mountain, with thousands of disciples waiting outside the door, in the Hall of Six Harmonies, dozens of senior disciples stand respectfully on both sides, while three immortal elders sit side by side at the top

The Immortal Gate? Truly divine! The little girl gazed blankly, watching until that snow-white figure gracefully disappeared around the corner.

With these two present, a good disciple will never be one's own. The old man with white hair had long anticipated this outcome and sighed helplessly: "Do the two of you look down on my Tianji Pavilion?"

The oldest white-haired elder on the right spoke first with a smile, saying, "The children are still young; isn't it a bit too difficult for them that the master uncle has set this challenge?"

In a moment, a hand patted her back

The Nanhua Sect widely recruits disciples every five years, and the selection of apprentices is traditionally strict, favoring the young. Just as a piece of paper that has been written on many times is less useful than a brand new sheet, the latter is always more advantageous. Therefore, the usual rule of the Nanhua Sect is that children aged between 7 and 14 are eligible to apply for selection

The clean, fair hand supported her, showing no disdain for her dirt. He spoke softly: "It is acceptable to be angry when one has been wronged, but one should not harbor the intention to harm another's life, do you understand?"

In the next moment, she would know the answer

They will definitely accept me

The person in front of her leaned down to look at her, one hand resting on her shoulder, sadness and compassion emanating from them, akin to a saint who alleviates suffering, and also like a relative offering earnest guidance

The people of the Immortal Gate

The two stopped in their tracks

Suddenly, a voice came from a distance: "Brother Chu, Junior Sister is looking for you!"

The little girl was knocked to the ground, rolling around, yet she still desperately swallowed the bun in her mouth, choking and stretching her neck.

The expression of deep compassion on his face seemed to convey to her that he was not only there to save her, but was also sent by heaven to rescue all those who are suffering and in distress

A richly dressed woman emerged from the car, wearing a long black cloak and holding a delicate handkerchief. Like the other adults, she gently admonished the young master for a long time, and finally took out a letter and placed it in his arms: "This is a letter from your father; remember to deliver it to Master Yu."

... ...

No one would expect that a little girl could possess such a gaze, a gaze that even evildoers would fear.

The young master wore a serious expression and remained silent

Time flows swiftly, often just a turn of the head, and several years have passed in a hurry. A thousand miles away, the celestial bell tolls continuously, the morning mist dissipates, and Nanhua Mountain majestically floats in the clouds. From a distance, the peak is shrouded in a faint golden light. There is only one path leading to the celestial mountain, and one must first ascend to the summit of the mountain before them. The time has not yet come, and the mountain gate remains tightly closed, with countless people waiting outside.

Seeing that he looked down on her, the little girl was about to get angry with him again when suddenly she heard a loud rumble by her ear

The young master’s expression grew increasingly unpleasant as he reluctantly nodded and said, "I understand, you may go back now"

The individual in the middle, around thirty years of age, is dressed in a long blue robe, with a fair complexion. In front of him stands a long sword of deep blue, its tip suspended in mid-air, surrounded by an ethereal aura. The master of the Six Harmonies Sword can only be the current sect leader, Yu Du.

It is pitiful for the child; how can one bully her

The mountain gate before me has vanished; no, the entire mountain has disappeared. The lush trees that were once visible all over the mountain are now gone, replaced by a sheer cliff of ten thousand feet!

I have never seen such a beautiful face, perfect beyond anything in the mortal realm, with distinct contours, slightly furrowed brows, and a pair of elegantly shaped phoenix-like eyes, gently gazing at her, filled with countless shades of compassion. He slightly bent his knee, half-squatting beside her, pretending to support her, his snow-white robe trailing on the ground, and his glossy long hair cascading down, almost reaching his waist, truly resembling a celestial being descending from the heavens to save all living beings

Indeed. The little beggars all nodded

The figure on the left, in his fifties, clad in a black robe, has a few strands of beard on his chin, and his gaze is cold and piercing, exuding an air of great authority. In his hand, he wields a long sword of dark gray, whose shape is exceedingly peculiar, with a blade that is completely round and devoid of edges, resembling a tiered pagoda.

... ...

Historically, there have been very few female disciples who have passed the tests, so it was unexpected that this time a particularly bold one emerged. Yu Du's eyes brightened, and the corners of his mouth gradually curved upward, even Min Yunzong's usually unsmiling face showed a hint of appreciation and satisfaction. Those with discernment could already see that these two children possessed exceptional physical talent; if they were to be compared seriously, the little girl would actually surpass the boy. In the realm of immortals, a good disciple is more valuable than rare treasures, and both were relieved that these two children had not gone elsewhere but had come to Nanhua.

Yu Dadao said: "In the past two years, the Nine Nether Demon Palace has risen with great momentum. As the protector of the teachings, he bears a heavy responsibility. Devoting himself to the practice of swordsmanship, he naturally has no time to spare. Wouldn't it be better to have one less person competing with his master uncle for disciples?" Even he referred to the old man in the black robe as his master uncle, which undoubtedly indicates that the old man is the supervising immortal, Min Yunzong.

That was the most beautiful voice the little girl had ever heard in her life, as if it came from the heavens, gentle, with a hint of reproach, yet filled more with compassion; it was warm and comforting to her ears, like a mother's gentle hand caressing her.

A small head struggled to emerge from the crowd, seemingly afraid of being robbed. With both little hands, it desperately stuffed the entire bun into its mouth, cheeks puffed out, and it turned out to be that little one.

The little girl misunderstood his meaning, immediately pouting in a provocative manner, and strode over.

It is acceptable to be beaten, but one cannot lose their eyesight. The little girl screamed in agony, desperately pressing her face against the ground to avoid it

The young master exclaimed in anger: "What did you say!"

How do you know

Does the immortal master accept beggars as disciples

The master Yu Du only smiled without speaking

The immortals would certainly not harm the children; it is merely a test set as the first barrier for them. The adults all understand this and urge the children to proceed, but the children only believe what they see with their own eyes. They are unaware that it is an illusion, and one by one, they turn pale with fear, with some of the timid ones already crying, refusing to go forward no matter what.

If the immortals do not accept you, then come back

A pair of eyes suddenly brightened

The little girl huffed heavily and said: "Relying on one's parents to plead for favor in order to become a disciple of Nanhua, how shameful!"

The woman, feeling uneasy, said: "I will leave once the mountain gate opens"

Min Yunzong said: "Although this is the case, it is essential for someone to inherit the mantle."

The young master paused for a moment and snorted, "Ugly girl."

He straightened up and said, "Coming right away"

Min Yunzong seemed reluctant, and after a moment, he waved his hand generously: "Although girls can be troublesome, I do not have a single female disciple under my tutelage, so I will make an exception this time; let that boy go. " Finally, he added, "Let's see how it goes."

Feeling safe, she slowly raised her face, her big eyes filled with confusion. Why did he choose to help when no one else cared about the little beggar?

Do the immortals also favor wealthy individuals? The little girl felt somewhat disheartened. Since the other party had confidence, it was likely that they had a connection with the sect leader. She pouted and huffed, "Relying on my parents' connections, what is so remarkable about being a disciple of Master Yu? I want to be a disciple of the esteemed Immortal Zun Min!"

Beneath their feet appeared to be soft white clouds, yet walking on them was quite solid, not much different from walking on the ground. Two children walked several dozen meters one after the other, when suddenly the abyss along with the cloud bridge vanished, revealing an endless expanse of deep blue ocean, with rolling waves and the sounds of the sea breeze, crashing waves, and calling seabirds in their ears

He gently spread her small hand, traced two lines in the palm, and then closed it again: "This way, no one will dare to bully you anymore"

The young master, with a flushed face, declared: "I don't need to believe it, I can still be a disciple of Nanhua!" With a flick of his sleeve, he strode forward and said: "Ugly girl, if you have the ability, then come along."

The Nanhua Sect is the foremost among the four celestial sects and also the leading sect of the Sword Immortals, guarding the Tongtian Gate. Five years ago, the Nanhua Celestial Venerable fought against the Reverse Wheel Demon Lord, ultimately slaying the Demon Lord and destroying the Demon Palace, leaving the demon race with no place to reside and preventing them from wreaking havoc. However, the Celestial Venerable was gravely injured and perished as a result, earning the solemn respect of all fellow practitioners. That battle further established the Nanhua Sword Immortal Sect as a sacred place in the hearts of the people. The current leader of the Nanhua Sect is none other than the Celestial Venerable's eldest disciple, Yu Du. At present, Master Yu has only eight direct disciples, while the rest are of the junior generation. He had stated in his early years that he would only accept nine disciples, leading many to speculate that he is likely to take in a closed-door disciple this year. The primary condition for this closed-door disciple is exceptional talent and extraordinary courage.

On the cloud bridge, the young master in purple walked alone in front. Perhaps sensing something amiss, he could not help but stop and turn around to look. Sure enough, someone was closely following behind, and it was none other than the tattered little girl from before.

Yu Du also nodded

It turns out that in addition to the leader of the Nanhua Sect, there is also a supervising elder and a protective elder. The supervising elder, known as the esteemed Xian Zun Min Yunzong, is a junior disciple of the Nanhua Tianzun, holding a higher status than the leader, making him the highest-ranking figure in the Nanhua Sect today. His strict standards for selecting and teaching disciples are well-known, yet all his disciples are renowned in their own right. He is also the only one who dares to compete with the leader for disciples, but those with good qualifications are always taken under his wing first.

Her voice was too loud, and the young master clearly heard it, his small face turning from green to white in anger. Once he turned his face to see clearly, his expression immediately shifted from anger to disdain

The little girl understood for the first time the feeling of being ashamed of her appearance, and instinctively lowered her eyelids, nodding shyly

They were all dressed in extremely tattered clothes, without any adults accompanying them. Among them was a little girl, around ten years old, with her hair tied into two tufts with red ribbons, like other children. Due to malnutrition, her hair was dry and lacked luster, and her thin face had a yellowish hue. Only her large eyes sparkled with brightness, appearing innocent and clever, revealing a hint of mischief.

On the streets of the city, several beggars sit weakly against the wall, their broken bowls in front of them completely empty

The adults were even more anxious than the children, repeatedly reminding them of what had already been said several times. Everyone hoped that their own child would perform well, find a good master, and if they could catch the attention of the headmaster and several esteemed elders, it would be an immense stroke of luck

The cliff is unfathomably deep, shrouded in a vast expanse, with only the faint sound of the wind heard, presenting an extreme peril

After a long time, the crowd began to disperse.

The white-haired old man lamented: "You two have forgotten me again, leaving me alone in the realm of secrets."

The immortal is performing magic! The little girl blinked her big eyes in surprise, shyly looking at him, filled with curiosity.

The immortals are looking for disciples with exceptional courage and insight! The little girl recalled and quickly said to her companions: "If it gets dark and I haven't returned, it must be that the immortals of Nanhua Mountain have accepted me as their disciple, or perhaps... I have fallen to my death. You all should just go back on your own, thank you for accompanying me this far." They had traveled a thousand miles, begging for directions along the way, and it took a full three months.

The little beggars nodded

The child appears to be around five or six years old, with unkempt hair and a yellowish little face, making it difficult to discern whether it is a boy or a girl. Due to a lack of flesh, the eyes seem particularly large, as if the entire face is composed solely of those eyes. The eyes lack luster, and the tattered clothing does little to cover the body. Two thin little legs are exposed, and as a result of prolonged suffering from hunger, they are emaciated and bony, resembling dry twigs, with multiple bruises in shades of purple and blue. Draped in empty garments, the entire figure resembles a withered blade of grass, almost swept away by the cold wind, leaving one to wonder how such a tiny being has managed to survive.

The little girl hesitated with a pale face

There is still one position that remains vacant

The twenty-year calamity of the mortal realm has passed, and the celestial demons have forever vanished from the Six Realms. The sorrowful clouds over the mountains and rivers have dissipated, all things are reviving, and the scarred earth has finally found a glimmer of hope. The Reverse Wheel Demon Palace has been destroyed, the demon clan has collapsed and disbanded, and their incarnations have fled into the mortal world to escape the pursuit of the celestial gates, leaving behind only remnants of walls, desolate villages, dead towns, and countless broken homes. The number of civilians who perished in the war is incalculable; some lost their sons, others lost their wives. Some died at the hands of the demon clan, while others fell victim to the celestial gates. New graves can be seen everywhere, presenting a scene of survival after the catastrophe.

Min Yunzong immediately said: "These two children possess extraordinary talents; it would be a great pity to have them study divination and fortune-telling."

Seeing that she was untroubled, he slightly curved his well-shaped lips, a smile revealing a hint of comfort, as he assisted her to her feet

The beggars around could not help but take a step back

As expected, more than half of the participants were eliminated in the first round

The words of the master are always to be taken seriously, yet this statement is the only one that is consistently disregarded. Whenever something good arises, excuses are made to seize it away, leaving the old man with white hair to smile bitterly

Yu Du replied: "Perhaps I will come."

After being kicked twice, the little girl on the ground let out a couple of pitiful groans, suddenly raising her face to glare at him. Her large eyes, at that moment, were deep and unfathomable, and within them surged a rare and intense killing intent that was chilling to behold

It was a bridge paved with white clouds, leading directly to the opposite side, with no end in sight. The bridge was only three or four feet wide; although it was sufficient for walking, the height of the cliff was daunting, and there were no guardrails around. Should one accidentally lose their footing and fall, it would surely result in a shattering demise.

"Insect, are you really going to leave?"

Suddenly, a force came out of nowhere, pushing the great beggar aside, leaving the other beggars nearby in stunned silence

On the seat to the right sat an elderly man in his seventies, with white hair and beard, a kind expression, holding only a roll of an old, yellowed, and elegant book in his hands

With the first and second ones leading the way, some bold children gradually followed suit. Of course, many more children stubbornly refused to go. The adults, feeling helpless, angrily scolded them as "useless things". After a while, they had no choice but to take them back.

Get up, do not be afraid

Suddenly, a snicker came from beside me

The little girl felt a bit sad, no longer looking at the crowd, gritting her teeth as she stepped onto the cloud bridge, her face displaying an expression of fearless determination.

There is a bridge above

They have received a letter, and Master Yu will definitely take him as a closed-door disciple

Upon looking again, that young master had already taken the lead and gone up

The sound of hooves approached from afar, drawing the attention of the crowd.

The stern-looking old man in the black robe on the left said: "Better to have none than to have too many; what use is there for those who are greedy for life and afraid of death"

On the large bronze mirror, two children walk up the cloud bridge, one in front of the other. The one in front is a young nobleman in purple attire, appearing to be from a wealthy family, with an air of confidence; the one behind is even younger, a little girl dressed in rags.

The insect, his father recognizes Master Yu.

The great beggar cursed: "It's that little girl again!" and slapped her.

Although the voice was low, quite a few people around had already heard it and began to discuss it

... ...

There is a child among them

Yu Du smiled and said, "Junior brother, do not overthink it; next time, it will be your turn."

Who is afraid! The little girl hurriedly followed.

During the conversation between the two, the old man with white hair suddenly exclaimed, "Oh! These two children are quite good!"

The little girl, with a pale face and big eyes, stared intently at him in front, her legs trembling slightly, yet she still moved forward resolutely, as if striving to catch up.

The large bronze mirror in front of the hall clearly displays the scene of the children hesitating before the cloud bridge, while the three immortals maintain a calm demeanor, leisurely sipping tea, yet their eyes occasionally glance upward.

Almost simultaneously, the beggars all rushed over, like starving dogs seeing a meat bone, turning into a chaotic melee.

The little girl raised her face and said: "You already took the letter."

With a heavy responsibility on my shoulders, I have just felt a strong malevolent aura, initially thinking it was the escaping demon clan coming to target the Demon Sword. To my surprise, it actually emanated from a little girl, which is truly hard to believe. Should I inform my master?

The old man in the black robe frowned: "Is he still not accepting?"

She was lost in thought

The brilliance has flashed by, yet the palm remains empty.

... ...

Yu Du smiled and said, "Which one does the master uncle want?"

"Insects, how can we get past this? We will fall to our deaths!" the little beggars exclaimed.

Never before had he seen such a bold girl; the young master finally retracted his disdainful expression, revealing a hint of surprise as he looked her up and down

The beggar also felt guilty: "Always glaring at someone, if I blind you, let's see if you can still glare!" After saying this, he went over and pinned her down

Someone walked by and left half a steamed bun

I am quite bold, the little girl said with her chest held high, they admire those who are exceptionally courageous, I am very bold

The great beggar was enraged: "Who!"