Chapter 1: Starting Off by Recruiting a Disciple Abandoned by the Heavenly Dao?

The Qingyun Mountains stretched tens of thousands of feet into the sky.

Among the seventy-two peaks of the Qingyun Sect, the most remote was known as Luoxia Peak.

Beneath an ancient pine tree at the summit, Chen Ping looked up at the sky and sighed deeply, shaking loose a shower of pine needles.

“Twenty years… System, you’re finally here.”

He was originally a corporate slave on Earth, who had transmigrated to this world after working overtime and dying suddenly.

He had become the disciple of the Peak Master of the Qingyun Sect’s Luoxia Peak.

To put it nicely, he was a disciple, but in truth, his master’s lifespan was already near its end when he took Chen Ping in. He passed away after teaching him for only three months.

On his deathbed, he had held Chen Ping’s hand, trembling as he pressed the Peak Master Token into his grasp:

“Ping’er, Luoxia Peak… is in your hands now.”

And so, twenty years passed.

Over those twenty years, Chen Ping tried every cultivation method available.

But drawing spiritual energy into his body was like a clay ox sinking into the sea^[1], vanishing without a single ripple.

He became the Qingyun Sect’s famous mortal Peak Master, with a cultivation level inferior to even the outer court sweeping servants.

If not for the ancestral rules of the Qingyun Sect stating that a peak could not go without a master, and the fact that his master had rendered great service to the sect, he would have been kicked down the mountain long ago.

“System, oh System, do you know how I’ve survived these past twenty years?”

Chen Ping muttered to the empty air.

“Every time the sect competition comes around, the disciples of the other peaks look at me like I’m a monkey in a zoo…”

【Ding! Strong resentment detected from the host. The Myriad Worlds Master-Disciple System has been successfully activated!】

When the mechanical voice rang in his mind, Chen Ping almost burst into tears.

“System! Quick!

“Give me the cultivation of an Immortal Emperor!

“Or at least a Great Golden Immortal!

“I want to make those who look down on me kneel and call me daddy!”

【Ding! The host is thinking too small.】

【This system is named the Myriad Worlds Master-Disciple System, not the Get-Something-for-Nothing System. As the name implies, the host must recruit disciples and teach them to receive rewards.】

Chen Ping was stunned. “Recruit disciples? With my cultivation… who would ever agree to take me as their master?”

【Ding! Therefore, the system has prepared a novice gift pack for the host: Master’s Majesty!】

“What’s that?”

【Ding! Master’s Majesty: Passive skill.

When facing a disciple, the host will automatically gain a master’s aura that matches them.

A Qi Refining disciple will see you as a Saint, a Saint disciple will see you as a Great Emperor, and so on.

Note: This aura only works on disciples and provides no actual combat power boost.】

Chen Ping’s lips twitched. “Isn’t this just a posturing halo?”

【Ding! The host can open the status panel.】

A transparent screen of light appeared before his eyes:

【Host】: Chen Ping

【Identity】: Peak Master of the Qingyun Sect’s Luoxia Peak

【Age】: 22 years old (Two and a half years of lifespan remaining)

【Cultivation】: Half a layer of Qi Refining

【Ability】: Master’s Majesty (Inactive)

【Current Quest】: Recruit a legacy disciple within three days (0/1)

【Quest Reward】: Distributed based on the disciple’s aptitude

“Two and a half years remaining?” Chen Ping’s eyes widened.

“I’m only twenty-two!”

【Ding! Mortals begin to decline at twenty. The host originally possessed a mortal body, but mistakenly drew spiritual energy into it without knowing the proper methods.】

Chen Ping felt a headache coming on. So it turned out his years of drawing spiritual energy into his body had been completely wrong, and he had nearly run himself into an early grave!

“Then this quest…” Chen Ping stared at “Recruit a legacy disciple.” His scalp tingled.

With his reputation, who inside or outside the Qingyun Sect didn’t know that Luoxia Peak was a bottomless pit?

In previous years, it wasn’t that there weren’t desperate disciples who wanted to take a gamble. But once they arrived at Luoxia Peak and took a look…

Good grief, the Peak Master was even weaker than they were. They turned and fled immediately.

“System, this quest is too hard. Can we change it?”

【Ding! The quest is locked. Friendly reminder: If the quest fails, the system will unbind itself and seek the next destined person.】

“No, no, no! I’ll do it! I’ll recruit one, alright?!”

Chen Ping paced around the summit in a panic.

If he couldn’t complete the recruitment quest and get some rewards, he would kick the bucket in two years.

But recruiting a disciple within three days?

How was he supposed to do that?

What did he have to offer?

Just as Chen Ping was hesitating.

A rushing sound cut through the air.

A green shadow landed on the summit. The newcomer wore the robes of a Hall of Discipline elder, his expression cold and stern.

“Peak Master Chen,” the elder said indifferently.

“Tomorrow is the triennial Disciple Recruitment Ceremony. According to sect rules, anyone who fails to recruit a disciple for six consecutive ceremonies will be stripped of their Peak Master position and demoted to a utility disciple. You have already left your peak vacant for five terms. Tomorrow is your final deadline.”

Chen Ping smiled bitterly. “I understand.”

The elder glanced at him and added, “With your current cultivation, you don’t even meet the standards of a utility disciple. When the time comes, you will no longer be a member of the Qingyun Sect.”

Chen Ping’s heart sank. Being expelled from the sect in a world where the strong ruled was no different from a death sentence.

On one hand was the two-and-a-half-year lifespan limit set by the system, and on the other was expulsion from the sect.

Chen Ping went completely numb. It truly was a case of when it rains, it pours.

The elder said no more, transforming into a streak of light as he departed, leaving behind a final warning: “You are on your own.”

As the night deepened, Chen Ping tossed and turned in his dilapidated cave dwelling, unable to sleep.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up.

Although his master hadn’t left behind any profound cultivation methods, there were plenty of basic pills and spirit stones. Since he couldn’t attract geniuses, then…

“With a high enough reward, someone is bound to step up!” Chen Ping slapped his thigh.

“I refuse to believe that with all these resources, I can’t even recruit a single disciple!”

With that thought, his mind settled, and he fell fast asleep.

The next day, the gates of the Qingyun Sect were bustling with noise and activity.

On the plaza paved with rosy clouds, tens of thousands of young boys and girls who had passed the preliminary trials stood on tiptoe, waiting expectantly.

The Peak Masters of the seventy-two peaks sat high on the platform, surrounded by immortal mist, with only the seat in the furthest corner remaining empty.

That was Chen Ping’s seat, but he had no way of getting up there.

He took a different approach, setting up a small stall at the edge of the plaza.

In front of the stall stood a crooked wooden sign with several large characters written on it:

“Luoxia Peak recruiting disciples. Room and board included. Plenty of spirit stones and cultivation methods.”

Below it was a line of smaller text: “Bonus: One safety talisman hand-drawn by the Peak Master. Limited quantity, first come first served.”

The passing youths looked over one after another, then burst into laughter.

“Luoxia Peak? You mean that useless Peak Master?”

“Room and board included? Is he recruiting disciples or hiring laborers?”

Chen Ping’s face flushed red with embarrassment, but he forced himself to remain seated behind the stall, cursing the system a thousand times in his heart.

As the sun rose higher, long queues had already formed in front of the other peaks.

Especially in front of the popular peaks like Tianjian Peak, Danding Peak, and Lingshou Peak, the lines snaked like dragons.

Only the stall of Luoxia Peak was completely deserted.

And those who did come were only there to mock him.

The looks the other peak masters cast at Chen Ping were filled with ridicule.

“If Chen Ping can recruit a disciple, I will stand on my head atop Qingyun Peak for three days!”

“A Qi Condensation cultivator acting as a peak master is a joke in itself. After today, it’s time for Luoxia Peak to change masters.”

Chen Ping gritted his teeth and took out all his belongings, piling dozens of bottles of Qi Condensation Pills and thousands of spirit stones on the table. He called out in a loud voice,

“Anyone who joins my Luoxia Peak can take these resources as they please! There will also be an extra monthly allowance!”

The square instantly fell silent, and everyone stared at the pile of resources.

To the top geniuses, these were not worth mentioning.

But to ordinary disciples, this was almost several years’ worth of resources.

However, after a brief silence, an even louder burst of laughter erupted.

“Hahaha, he really is at the end of his rope!”

“My dad said that apprenticing under Chen Ping is worse than going home to farm!”

“Who goes to Luoxia Peak is ruining their own future!”

Chen Ping’s face darkened, and his heart gradually sank to the bottom.

It seemed he would return empty-handed again today.

Just as Chen Ping was about to give up, a timid voice spoke up:

“Excuse me… is room and board really included?”

Chen Ping looked up and saw a young girl of about fifteen or sixteen.

She wore patched, coarse cloth clothes, and her small face was dirty, but her eyes were clear and bright. Right now, she was nervously twisting the hem of her shirt.

“Of course!” Chen Ping’s spirits lifted.

“Luoxia Peak might not have much else, but we have plenty of space! You can choose any room you want! As for food… uh, you can eat your fill!”

The girl’s eyes lit up, but then quickly dimmed:

“But… I don’t have any spirit stones to pay tuition.”

“Tuition is free!” Chen Ping waved his hand grandly.

“Apprentice under me, and it won’t cost you a single penny!”

The girl bit her lip, seemingly struggling with the decision.

After a long moment, she whispered, “Then… can I try?”

“Yes! Absolutely!” Chen Ping almost jumped up.

“What is your name?”

“Lin Xiaoyu.”

“Good! Lin Xiaoyu, from today on, you are the eldest disciple of my Luoxia Peak!”

Chen Ping pulled out a low-grade jade talisman he had prepared beforehand, a peace talisman he had stayed up all night carving, and stuffed it into the girl’s hand.

“This is a meeting gift from your master!”

Lin Xiaoyu took the jade talisman, her eyes suddenly turning red. With a thud, she knelt on the ground:

“Disciple Lin Xiaoyu pays respects to Master!”

【Ding! Detected that disciple Lin Xiaoyu has successfully apprenticed!】

【Master’s Majesty has been activated!】

【Mission completed, rewards are being distributed…】

Before Chen Ping could even celebrate, he suddenly realized the surroundings had become eerily quiet.

He turned his head and saw tens of thousands of gazes from the square locking onto him, filled with shock, ridicule, and even pity.

On the high platform, Li Xuangang, the Peak Master of Tianjian Peak, let out a cold snort, his voice booming like a bell:

“Peak Master Chen has quite the nerve, to dare to accept even a Heaven-Detested Physique?”

“Heaven-Detested Physique?” Chen Ping was taken aback.

Nearby disciples began to whisper:

“Is that the freak who blew up the spirit-testing stone during the test?”

“I heard that wherever she goes, bad luck follows. Her hometown flooded, and a sect she passed by caught fire…”

“Chen Ping dares to accept a jinx like her? He really has given up on himself!”

Lin Xiaoyu’s body trembled, and she buried her head even lower.

Chen Ping, however, smiled.

He helped Lin Xiaoyu up, patted her shoulder, and turned to look at the high platform, speaking clearly:

“Peak Master Li, you are mistaken. In my eyes, there are no unteachable students in this world, only teachers who do not know how to teach.”

His voice was not loud, but it spread clearly across the entire square.

At the same time, 【Master’s Majesty】 quietly activated.

In Lin Xiaoyu’s perception, Chen Ping’s body now seemed to be enveloped in a hazy Dao charm.

Although she could not gauge his depth, he possessed the profound and imposing demeanor of a grandmaster.

She stared blankly at this master, who had looked like a charlatan just moments ago, a certain chord in her heart gently struck.

【Ding! Detected that disciple Lin Xiaoyu has developed an initial sense of belonging. The effect of Master’s Majesty has been enhanced!】

“Good! What a fine ‘no unteachable students in this world’! Then I would like to see how you, Chen Ping, will teach this Heaven-Detested Physique!”

He paused, his voice turning cold:

“In three months, the New Disciple Tournament of the seventy-two peaks will take place. If this disciple of yours can make it into the top hundred, I will give you three bottles of the Marrow-Cleansing Spiritual Liquid treasured by my Tianjian Peak. If she cannot…”

Li Xuangang’s gaze was like a sword: “You, Chen Ping, will voluntarily resign from your position as peak master and get out of the Qingyun Sect!”

The entire crowd went into an uproar.

Top hundred?

What a joke!

In previous years’ New Disciple Tournaments, the top hundred were almost entirely dominated by peaks like Tianjian and Danding. Luoxia Peak had been at the very bottom for twenty consecutive years.

Not to mention that Lin Xiaoyu was the legendary Heaven-Detested Physique.

Everyone felt that Chen Ping would definitely refuse.

However,

“It’s a deal.”

Chen Ping smiled faintly. Under the gaze of countless eyes, he took the bewildered Lin Xiaoyu’s hand and turned to walk toward Luoxia Peak^[2].

He walked as he asked in his heart:

“System, what exactly is this Heaven-Detested Physique?”

【Ding! Heaven-Detested Physique: An outcast of the Heavenly Dao. Unable to cultivate any mainstream cultivation methods, spiritual energy disperses upon entering the body, and it triggers localized disruptions in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. It is often accompanied by unpredictable disasters and is regarded as an ill omen across the myriad worlds.】

Chen Ping’s footsteps paused.

He looked back at his young disciple, who was following closely behind him.

The girl kept her head down, her small hands nervously clutching the hem of her shirt, holding the low-grade peace talisman tightly against her chest.

“Xiaoyu,” Chen Ping suddenly spoke.

“Ah? Master?” Lin Xiaoyu looked up, her eyes still a little red.

Chen Ping grinned, showing two rows of white teeth:

“From today on, you are my very first disciple.”

“Whether our Luoxia Peak can make a comeback depends entirely on you.”

Lin Xiaoyu froze for a moment, then nodded vigorously, a smile appearing on her dirty little face for the first time:

“Yes! This disciple will definitely work hard!”

In the distance, the sun was setting, filling the sky with glowing clouds.

As Chen Ping gazed at the red clouds filling the sky, a sudden surge of pride rose in his heart.

A useless master paired with a disciple despised by heaven?

They might still find a way to survive against all odds.

The cultivation realms of this world are divided into: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divine Ability, Grotto-Heaven, Dao Severing, Saint, Great Saint, Quasi-Emperor, Great Emperor…