An old man stood calmly in the moonlight, his brown robes blending into the night, his posture relaxed yet impossibly still- like an ancient tree unmoved by wind or rain. The man's white hair was tied neatly behind his back, and a faint scent of aged herbs and earth lingered around him. His gaze, however, was sharp- clear and penetrating, as though it could see through the surface of the world.
Li Yao's heartbeat quickened. Though he had seen this man many times in the herbal gardens, there was something vastly different about him now.
Suppressing the unease within his chest, Li Yao stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Elder," he said with quiet respect, "please come inside my humble hut. I may not have much to offer, but the tea is warm."
The old man gave a faint nod, the corners of his mouth lifting ever so slightly. "Very well."
Inside, Li Yao lit a simple lantern, the warm light casting long shadows on the walls. The elder sat opposite him with practiced grace, as though even sitting was a matter of discipline. Li Yao poured tea into two clay cups and placed one before his guest. Steam curled into the air, mingling with silence.
"You must be wondering," the elder finally said, breaking the stillness, "why, despite your strength and talent, no peak elder chose you as a registered disciple."
Li Yao stiffened.
Indeed, that thought had lingered in his mind since the conclusion of the outer sect trials. He had given it his all, performed well in the duels, received praise from spectators and even inner sect seniors. And yet, when the time came, none had stepped forward. He had accepted it with grace, but confusion still tugged at his heart.
He kept his face neutral and simply nodded.
The old man's eyes gleamed.
"That is because I spoke to them first," he said calmly.
Li Yao's breath caught.
"I asked them to refrain," the elder continued. "Because I intended to speak to you myself."
There was a pause. Then, the old man placed his cup down and folded his hands behind his back.
"My name," he said quietly, "is Bai Renshu. I have worked in the outer sect's herbal gardens for over three hundred years."
Li Yao stared, his mind spinning.
Three hundred years?
But the average lifespan of Foundation Establishment cultivators was around 180 years. Even those who reached Core Formation rarely lived past 400 without special means. And yet this elder had spent three centuries in the outer gardens alone? He had to be older than that…
There was only one conclusion.
Li Yao's eyes widened.
"You're… a Nascent Soul cultivator?" he whispered.
Elder Bai gave a small smile, but neither denied nor confirmed.
Li Yao was stunned. If such a powerful cultivator was quietly tending herbs among the outer disciples, then just how deep did the roots of the Embercloud Sect run?
But something didn't make sense.
If Elder Bai was truly so powerful, then why would he remain in the outer gardens? Why choose obscurity over the status and reverence that someone of his level would surely receive among the inner sect or peak halls?
He wanted to ask, but held his tongue.
Instead, he looked into the elder's eyes and asked, "Elder, may I know what you wish to speak to me about?"
Elder Bai smiled gently. "Straightforward and respectful. Good."
He leaned forward slightly. "I wish to take you as my personal disciple, Li Yao."
Li Yao's eyes widened. "You… want to take me as your disciple?"
"For many decades, I have waited," the old man said, his voice quiet but firm. "I have watched, tested, and guided. I have seen countless disciples come and go. Some were talented, others hardworking, but none were worthy of my legacy."
He paused, sipping his tea.
"But you, Li Yao… you passed every trial. Not just in cultivation, but in heart."
Li Yao's mind raced. A hundred thoughts surged, but one stood out clearly.
"The Veinroot Herb," he said slowly. "That was… your test?"
Elder Bai nodded. "One of many I've planted around the sect. Small trials to test the hearts of disciples. That particular one was designed to tempt greed. But you chose to report it- without expectation of reward."
Li Yao lowered his gaze. "I only did what I thought was right."
"And that's precisely why it mattered."
The elder set down his cup.
"But honesty alone was not enough. I watched you long after that day. From the moment your spirit root evolved… to the night you sat beneath the peach tree, slowly comprehending the essence of the axe."
Li Yao blinked in surprise. "You… saw that?"
Elder Bai nodded. "Every moment. Every choice. Even the way you till the soil shows patience, intent, and control. But it was your talent in the axe arts that convinced me."
"You see," the elder continued, "I am a practitioner of battle arts myself. Though my primary weapon is the bow, the essence of battle flows through all martial paths- whether blade, axe, or fist."
He extended a finger and tapped the table lightly.
"Battle arts are about spirit. Not just strength or speed, but the intent behind each movement. The clarity of mind in combat. The will to cut through anything."
"I have walked the Dao of Nature through my Wood Spirit Root," he said, "and trained my bow to harmonize with wind, forest, and silence."
Li Yao listened, each word etching into his heart like strokes on stone.
"You carry the spirit of a battle art practitioner," Elder Bai said. "Untamed, but growing. I can guide it- if you accept me as your master."
Without hesitation, Li Yao slid off his cushion and knelt.
He bowed deeply, pressing his forehead to the wooden floor.
"Disciple Li Yao greets Master."
The old man's expression softened as he raised his hand. A token, carved from pale green wood and inscribed with a graceful pattern of vines and wind, floated gently down and landed before Li Yao.
"This token is your proof," Elder Bai said. "Come to the inner herb residence before sunrise. From this day forward, you are no longer just an outer disciple."
The air shifted subtly, and in the blink of an eye, Elder Bai vanished- no gust of wind, no flicker of movement. One moment he was there, and the next, nothing remained but the quiet hum of night.
Li Yao stared at the token, his breath caught in his throat.
He didn't even see him leave.
He had fought against blades, refined Qi, survived forests and storms- but this moment, more than any other, shook him to his core.
For the first time, a true path was opening before him.
The stars outside gleamed brighter, but Li Yao didn't see them. He simply sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, entering quiet meditation.
There would be time to process it all later.
For now, he needed rest.