Chapter 2, Born with a Malevolent Aura

The little girl was in a daze when she suddenly heard Min Yunzong say: "You, come here"

As one walks along the grand avenue, there are also a hundred stone steps. At the end of these steps stands the Hall of Six Harmonies, its eaves elegantly raised, reflecting the sunlight, resplendent in gold and jade.

The young master adjusted his robe and respectfully stepped forward to kneel, saying: "Qin Ke from Chen Prefecture pays his respects to the esteemed master, Immortal Lord."

The children were in an uproar, as Mu Yu's reputation had already become quite prominent. He was the foremost disciple of the Nan Hua Sword Immortal Sect and the first successful apprentice under the guidance of the esteemed Min Xian in recent years. It was unexpected that he would be such a gentle and amiable character

The young master, feeling impatient, shook off her hand and said, "If you are afraid, then go back. Why are you holding onto me?"

The children stood properly, quietly guessing who was who

The little girl did not dare to retort, she simply cried

The little girl defended herself: "I have never harmed anyone..."

The young master could not find a retort, maintaining a cold expression as he continued walking. After a while, he could not help but curve the corners of his mouth.

Let them in. A gentle yet authoritative voice

The little girl screamed, nearly being swept into the sea

The spirit fox drew closer and finally stopped in front of the young master, the distance between the human and the fox less than one foot. After all, the young master was still a child; fear filled his heart, and he tightly shut his eyes.

"Wait a moment," Yu Du suddenly called out to them, "That little girl, I cannot accept you into the Nan Hua Sect. Mu Yu, please escort her down the mountain quickly."

The little girl exclaimed, "Wow, such a big lake!"

In the middle of the wide road ahead, there squatted a fox, entirely covered in fiery red fur, approximately the height of a person. At this moment, it was licking its fur with its tongue, baring its teeth and frightening the children.

The little girl was filled with disappointment; she remembered that girl, the one who had caused a commotion on the back of the fish and had nearly pushed her into the sea. Fortunately, Qin Ke had saved her at that moment. In fact, if it hadn't been for her lengthy persuasion, the girl would not have dared to follow the big fish to Nanhua.

Min Yunzong looked at Yu Du: "Master?"

In fact, the young master, being slightly older and more knowledgeable, speaks with reason. Elders tend to favor children who are honest and steady, rather than those who are eager to show off their achievements.

It is Master Mu Xian!

The little girl knew there was no hope, and in anger, she turned around, wiping her eyes with her hands as she walked towards the palace exit, choked with emotion: "Even the immortals bully people! If you won't take me, I will go elsewhere, I will no longer stay at Nanhua!"

The fact that the master asked this question naturally indicates that he has taken a liking to him. The children were all extremely envious, and the little girl was even more delighted for him. Throughout this journey, he has indeed proven to be much stronger than others, and he has won the master's favor without needing to rely on faith.

The little girl expressed her gratitude and reached out to pull him.

The children simultaneously quieted down and listened attentively to him speak

Qin Ke was overwhelmed with joy and immediately bowed three times to pay his respects to his master

Min Yunzong then signaled her to pay her respects to her master

The young master furrowed his brow slightly, contemplating the most practical issue: without a cloud bridge, how could one cross the sea to Nanhua Immortal Mountain

Next, Xing Xuan also chose a name to take as a disciple, but Min Yunzhong remained silent with a cold expression. Both the Sect Master and the Heavenly Machine Venerable had taken on disciples, and the children looked at that stern face with a mix of fear and anticipation. To become a disciple under the esteemed Min Xianzun would be a tremendous honor, even more glorious than being a disciple of the Sect Master

Yu Du nodded: "It is just a pity"

In the hall, the three celestial beings displayed expressions of appreciation

Everyone has guessed the meaning of Master Min's title, and the little girl in red joyfully stepped forward: "Disciple Wen Ling pays respects to Master."

The little girl said anxiously: "I... I also wanted to help you ascend to the Immortal Mountain."

The evil fish stopped in front of the two individuals, causing the two children to involuntarily take a few steps back

Yu Du remained silent for half a day and said: "I have only seen one person with such a murderous aura"

Yu Du did not read the letter, but casually tucked it into his sleeve. Upon returning to his seat, he signaled to Qin Ke to pay respects to Min Yunzong and Xing Xuan, addressing them respectively as Master Uncle Ancestor and Master Uncle, before standing beside him

The young man said: "My name is Mu Yu, and I am the current chief disciple of Nanhua."

Yu Du scanned each person in turn, and his gaze finally settled on the young master: "Come here."

The white-haired old man was actually Xing Xuan, the second disciple of Nanhua Tianzun, who was skilled in divination and held the position of the Heavenly Mechanism Master. He closed his eyes for a moment, slowly unfolded the Heavenly Mechanism Book in his hands, and after a long while, he said: "She is from Weiyang County in Cangzhou, originally surnamed Chong. The Chong couple perished in the great calamity five years ago. This girl, by chance, escaped and ended up begging on the streets. She has traveled thousands of miles to participate in the selection this time."

The children were awed by the solemn atmosphere, and under the watchful eyes of all, each one cautiously stepped forward, not daring to make a sound

The girls surrounded her and pushed her, saying: "Who needs your help!"

Qin Ke averted her gaze and no longer paid her any attention

The little girl thought to herself and thus paid no further attention

His gaze swept past her, looking at a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl behind her, who had delicate features and was dressed elegantly in a red outfit

Mu Yudao: "Naturally, after the Sect Leader and the Honorable One have made their selections, I will also choose one among you to be my disciple"

He raised his hand to signal the children to be quiet: "The master is in the Hall of Six Harmonies, do not panic, first listen to me explain a few rules"

After passing through these several stages, around sixty to seventy children successfully made it to the mountainside. A few disciples from Nanhua were already waiting there, dressed in blue and white robes. At the forefront was a young man in his twenties, of ordinary appearance, who looked gentle and amiable, yet exuded a captivating demeanor in his every gesture.

... ...

I want it too

In the spacious and solemn grand hall, dozens of disciples stood on either side, dressed similarly to the disciples outside, their expressions grave. At the top of the high steps in front sat three immortal elders.

Receiving praise, the children were filled with joy, and at the same time, they guessed the identity of the speaker, becoming even more anxious. Every pair of eyes was filled with anticipation, wondering who among them would be fortunate enough to catch the attention of the master.

The little girl had no idea what the three immortals were thinking; at this moment, she was still feeling proud of having scared away the spirit foxes: "They are all afraid of me. Once, I even scared away a tiger!"

The young master remained calm, surveying the fish from top to bottom. Seeing that it seemed to harbor no ill intentions, he suddenly said: "It must be sent by the immortal to carry us across the sea." After saying this, he was about to step onto the fish's back.

Finally arriving at the legendary Nanhua Fairy Mountain, the children cheered with joy, eagerly racing up the stone steps. The young master walked leisurely behind, having impressed others with his demeanor at sea. The more timid children stayed back to follow him, gathering around to chat and laugh. The girls were particularly chatty, asking questions non-stop. The young master was clearly accustomed to being popular, responding only occasionally, presenting himself with an air of maturity.

Young Master saluted: "I appreciate the trouble taken by Master Mu to lead the way"

Min Yunzong shouted: "Impudent! Is it you who speaks of fairness and unfairness?"

At that moment, a cold and intense aura suddenly surged from the side, accompanied by a childish shout: "Do not eat him!"

Upon raising her head, she noticed Qin Ke looking at her, seemingly with a sense of comfort, and she couldn't help but smile at him

The young master turned around and saw, displeased: "What are you following me for?"

Qin Ke hesitated for a moment and shook his head: "No." Knowing full well that having the letter would greatly increase his confidence, he truly refrained from mentioning it.

The young master remained silent, occasionally glancing at her with his eyes

The little girl pulled him again: "Wait, there is only one fish. We should go first. How will others get across? Let's wait for them to arrive before we go. If something happens in the middle, we won't be afraid if we are together."

The children were unwilling to listen to her, and chaos ensued. Several girls had already begun to cry, scolding her: "If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have come up here!"

The children behind gradually caught up, and upon seeing the fierce appearance of the fish, they all felt a bit scared. The young master paid no attention to the others and was the first to climb onto the fish's back. The little girl tried to persuade them for a while, and a portion of the children were willing to follow him, but there were still some timid ones who insisted on turning back the way they came. She had no choice but to climb onto the fish's back and sit there, sighing.

The immortal elder does not age at all

Not only the spirit fox was frightened, but the children were also stunned, unsure of what was happening, each feeling a chill running down their spine

The little girl initially ran a few steps with the other children, but seeing that he did not follow, she hesitated and returned to stand in front of him: "Aren't you going to hurry? The immortal must surely prefer those who arrive first."

That person is renowned, having endured three lifetimes, ultimately becoming the Heavenly Demon. Not only did he bring about a great calamity to the mortal realm, but he also nearly caused the annihilation of the Immortal Sect. As a result, the six realms suffered greatly, and even five years after his death, he remains a nightmare in the hearts of countless individuals. He caused the death of the South Hua Celestial Venerable while guarding the Six Realms Stele at the Tong Tian Gate, and all disciples of South Hua harbor deep hatred towards him. Min Yunchong, in particular, despises him to the core, as several of his fellow disciples perished in that battle between immortals and demons, leaving only Min Yunchong alive. Therefore, within the South Hua Sect, his name is one that few dare to mention publicly.

Min Yunzong's expression remained cold: "Even so, we absolutely cannot take risks; Nan Hua has no shortage of capable disciples."

Qin Ke had no choice but to withdraw

The little girl, having never seen the ocean, gazed around with great excitement

The great hall was enveloped in silence

... ...

The little girl did not realize that the spirit fox was merely playing; she thought it intended to eat the young master. In a moment of panic, she stepped forward and stood in front of the young master, her big eyes surprisingly glimmering with a faint cold light

Mu Yu nodded: "Everyone follow me."

The children were amazed

Ancient trees tower into the sky on the mountain, auspicious energy entwines, clouds drift gracefully, and celestial cranes soar through the air. At the summit, twelve peaks of varying sizes stand majestically beneath the blue sky, with magnificent and exquisite palaces, their overlapping eaves reflecting the sunlight and clouds, creating an exceptionally grand spectacle

The young master shouted: "Everyone hold hands and stand firm. Whoever does not listen, I will throw him down to feed the fish!"

"Cowardly." The young master mocked, but did not insist further.

The little girl stands tall, clenching her small fists

So his name is Qin Ke? the little girl thought to herself

Min Yunzong dropped the fragments from his hand and said sternly: "Xing Xuan, quickly investigate her background."

The young master was astonished, and upon closer inspection, he indeed saw something happening in the waves. As it swam closer, the two of them discovered that it was actually a gigantic blue fish, with a flat and broad grayish-blue back, and sharp teeth, looking quite fierce

Filled with hope, she came, but ultimately was the only one to be rejected. The little girl, unaware of any malice, felt her eyes redden and, feeling wronged, began to cry: "I did nothing wrong, you are being unfair!"

Although the little girl did not understand the reason behind it, she knew that his words and actions were different from others and must be very pleasing to adults. She thought that following him to learn would certainly be a wise choice, so she blinked her eyes and no longer rushed ahead.

After a long while, the little girl finally understood that she was the one being referred to, and she anxiously exclaimed: "Why won't you accept me? I am braver than all of them!"

Mu Yu gestured for the children to enter by turning to the side

Mu Yu smiled and raised her hand again to signal: "Any one of you may become a new disciple of the Nanhua Sect, either as my junior brother or junior nephew. Later, I will take you into the hall to pay respects to the Master and the Elders. At that time, you must not speak at will; only when the Master indicates who among you should speak may you step forward to respond. Do you all remember this?"

What she said was merely a thoughtless remark, yet the three esteemed immortals present all changed their expressions

Wen Ling was initially startled, but fortunately, she had been educated since childhood and was quick to adapt. She knew how to conduct herself in front of adults, obediently lowering her eyes and bowing down to apologize: "It was Ling's indiscretion. I have long heard of the esteemed name of Master Min. This time, I came to Nanhua with the sole intention of seeking to be Master Min's disciple, which is why I acted rashly."

At that moment, a voice sounded from outside the hall: "I accept you."

She is young and crying pitifully, and the disciples on both sides feel a bit reluctant to watch. Qin Ke hesitated for a moment and softly pleaded, "Master Min, she is actually very good..."

A smile is always the most useful to children, and the children replied in unison: "We remember!"

Min Yunzong waved his hand to interrupt her: "No need for further words, the Nanhua Sect cannot keep you, leave quickly."

The summit features a flat terrain, with the ground entirely paved in white marble. A main path, approximately three zhang wide, leads directly to the imposing Hall of the Six Harmonies at the end. Thousands of disciples stand orderly on either side, some in blue and white robes, others in pure white robes, some with long swords hanging at their waists, while others hold various ritual implements, exuding an extraordinary presence

The old man with white hair murmured: "Incredible, a natural aura of menace!"

At that moment, a sudden outburst of screams erupted ahead, and many children turned back, unanimously regarding the young master as their leader, and hurriedly informed him: "Not good, there is a monster ahead!"

The little girl is afraid: "What does it want to do!"

... ...

You are the ugly girl!" The little girl raised her face defiantly, "It's not your road, I can walk however I want, who is following you!"

The gaze lingered on her for a moment, yet it was cold

Yu Du looked at the remaining children and kindly advised, "Some of you may have ordinary talents, but as long as you remember four words: diligence can make up for lack of talent. If you work harder in your practice, you will not be inferior to others in the future. For now, you may wait outside the hall, as other senior disciples of the Nanhua Sect will also be accepting apprentices, and you can choose to study under them."

The spirit fox extended its front paw as if to pat his shoulder

Yu Du read the name aloud: "How old are you?"

"Ugly girl, who asked you to follow us"

A few humble words greatly improved Min Yunzong's impression of her. Although this child’s aptitude is not as remarkable as those of the other two, she is still considered quite good. A girl being a bit timid is not a major issue; with more experience in the future, she will naturally become fearless. Thus, he proceeded to give her a lecture, concluding with: "The Nanhua Sect has guarded the Tongtian Gate for generations, and every disciple of Nanhua takes it upon themselves to protect the beings of the six realms and eradicate the demon race. You must remember this point if you wish to join my sect. Should you dare to go against my words in the future, you will certainly face severe punishment."

Wen Lingzhi immediately said: "The disciple will remember this diligently"

The young master glanced at her and said, "Who said they prefer those who arrive first"

Yu Dusheng let out a sigh: "My background is indeed innocent"

The children held hands, and indeed felt much more stable; with many people united in purpose, they were not so afraid anymore

Qin Ke replied: "I just turned thirteen last month"

At the foot of the mountain, beneath the shade of ancient trees, a clean stone staircase extends upward

Qin Ke said loudly: "The disciple will remember the master's teachings"

The little girl asked in fear: "Are there really monsters?"

"Who dares to bully others!" A figure stepped forward, shielding the little girl behind him; it was the young master.

Yu Du spoke, his voice echoing in the hall, appearing particularly solemn: "We are already aware of your performance just now, and it was all very good."

On both sides stood in confrontation, the children did not know how to move forward. A few had already sneaked down the mountain, and the little girl wanted to stop them, but was prevented by the young master: "Have you forgotten what happened earlier"

Min Yunzong said: "Did I ever say that I would take you as my disciple?"

The voice is somewhat youthful, carrying a hint of childishness, yet between the words and actions, a leader's demeanor subtly emerges. The children gradually cease their commotion and obediently hold hands.

The fish initially swam smoothly, but as it ventured further into the sea, the wind grew stronger and the waves higher, causing it to begin to rock. Eventually, the waves rose like thick walls, and the children transformed from initial curiosity to fear, feeling at a loss.

However, before my eyes, a small girl possesses such a fierce aura; what does this signify

The young master glanced at her and said, "This is not a lake, it is the sea"

The girls also mocked her

The children were amazed

Mu Yu stopped outside the hall with the children and said loudly, "Reporting to the Master, everyone has been brought here."

Suddenly, with a bang, the teacup shattered

The young master dodged: "Ugly girl, don't touch me!"

He was still troubled when he suddenly heard a little girl nearby exclaim, "Oh, what is that!"

Feeling the intense malevolence, the spirit fox was frightened and rolled back in retreat

The girls followed the path: "Indeed, the immortals prefer the most powerful!"

Yu Du nodded and said, "Is there anything you would like to show me?"

The three immortal masters have already taken on disciples, and the little girl couldn't help but feel a bit downcast. However, she soon came to terms with it, as she could still learn immortal techniques. Paying respects to the immortal masters is the same; in the future, she would be able to save people just like her elder brother.

... ...

Yu Du nodded: "Mu Yu, escort her down the mountain"

I want to become the disciple of Master Muxian

Min Yunzong coldly said: "As a disciple of the sect leader, it is not your place to interrupt when the elders are speaking!"

It was the first time encountering such a spiritually attuned fox, and the young master was also taken aback. He took a step back, spread his arms to shield the other children behind him, and mustered his courage to reassure them: "Do not be afraid of it; it must be raised by the immortals."

The giant fish safely delivered the children to the foot of the mountain, gradually shrinking until it ultimately transformed into a palm-sized paper fish.

Upon seeing the young master, it unexpectedly stood up and wobbled over.

Yu Du was still hesitating whether to tell the truth, when Min Yunzong beside him spoke up: "You are born with a malevolent aura; if you cultivate magical arts, it will surely lead to harm in the long run"

Qin Ke was initially surprised, but soon understood, her face flushed red as she took out the letter from her bosom and presented it with both hands: "He is doing well, and before he left, he wrote a letter, instructing me to make sure to deliver it to my master."

... ...

The little girl exclaimed loudly: "Everyone, don't be afraid! Hold on tight and don't let go!"

The image on the bronze mirror suddenly vanished, and the three celestial beings in the hall simultaneously changed color, while the other disciples dared not utter a word

Wen Ling respectfully bowed and paid his respects, then bowed to Yu Du and Xing Xuan, addressing them as senior brothers according to their seniority. Finally, he stood behind Min Yunzong, wearing a proud expression.

How glorious it is for the children to be able to become disciples of the first disciple of Nanhua

Most of the children were somewhat timid, but the young master remained unfazed and stepped in first. The little girl, seeing this, regained her composure, hurriedly lowered her head, tugged at her dress, and anxiously followed him across the threshold

The young master did not believe: "Where would the monsters on the fairy mountain come from? Nonsense!" He quickly stepped forward.

Following his gaze, the children turned their faces to look at one person

The giant fish swims swiftly, and in less than half an hour, a celestial mountain gradually appears across the sea

Yu Du smiled: "Good child, are you willing to kneel before me?"

Hurry up!

The little girl pouted and said nothing

Yu Du stood up and walked in front of him, his expression slightly serious, and admonished: "I am Yu Du, the current headmaster of the Nan Hua Sword Immortal Sect, also known as Yu Chen. I preside over the Liu He Hall on Nan Hua Peak. Since you have taken me as your master, you are now the three hundred sixty-fifth disciple under the Nan Hua Sword Immortal Sect. From this day forth, you must strictly adhere to the sect rules, respect your teachers and elders, conduct yourself with integrity and honor, and uphold the reputation of Nan Hua. Should you commit any acts that bring disgrace to the sect in the future, I will not show leniency. Do you understand?"

The little girl held onto him: "What if it wants to eat us?"

Yu Du was satisfied and helped him up: "Is your father doing well?"

The big fish swam towards the opposite side with the children, cutting through the waves like a ship braving the wind and waves

In fact, most children did not harbor hopes of becoming disciples of the Supreme Master, but felt that being able to stay at Nanhua was already quite good. Thus, they all agreed in unison and turned to follow Mu Yu out.

Among this group of children, he is not the oldest, yet he is the tallest. Coupled with his cold expression, several of the children are intimidated and dare not take further action

Inside the Hall of Six Harmonies, looking at everything through the bronze mirror, Yu Du and Min Yunzhong were both very satisfied, but the old man with white hair kept sighing, anxious about not being able to find a good disciple

The children followed him up the mountain, noticing his gentle and amiable demeanor. The bolder children began to ask various questions, with one person asking: "Master Mu, will you accept disciples?"