Ruan Li (gl) · Chat

A vast sea of clouds stretches for a thousand miles, and flowing morning glow spills over ten thousand cliffs. The once-in-a-century Disciple Selection Ceremony of the Tianyan Sect is grandly opening atop the High Stage of Lingxiao. Perched high above the clouds and overlooking an endless, azure expanse, the immortal peak surges with mighty winds and billowing spiritual mist. The entire High Stage of Lingxiao is paved from a single massive block of thousand-year warm jade, its surface carved with ancient spirit-locking arrays. A soft, radiant glow flows slowly along the intricate runes, elevating the platform as it floats amid the cloud sea. Ethereal celestial music drifts gently down from beyond the nine heavens—an ancient melody played by sect musicians upon spirit jade zithers. Clear, resonant, and unending, the music echoes around the grand stage, imbuing this immortal realm with solemn sanctity. Dozens of white jade cloud pillars surround the platform, their surfaces engraved with cloud-pattern sword seals, while brilliant spirit lanterns hover at their tops, spreading a soft radiance that dyes the rolling clouds in shades of gold and red. Seeking cultivators from all four seas and eight realms gather here—a gathering of young talents whose robes overlap like woven silk and whose spiritual glows interweave, all partaking in this rare grand occasion. As the paramount sect of the righteous path in the three realms, established for a millennium under strict precepts, the Tianyan Sect selects its disciples with extreme scrutiny, picking only one in ten thousand. The century-spanning trial consists of four grueling rounds: spiritual power screening, sword-heart trial, Dao-comprehension assessment, and state-of-mind breach. Layer by layer, candidates are eliminated. Countless exceptionally gifted cultivators fall short—some crushed under the pressure of the spiritual power trial, some trapped by inner demons during the sword-heart test, and others lacking deep Dao-comprehension to break through illusions. Only the absolute elite can set foot on the Lingxiao Platform to be personally received by the immortal elders. Today, the hall is gathered with brilliant geniuses and star-like talents, yet from beginning to end, the entire crowd's focus remains fixed upon a single, solitary figure standing before the stage. The young maiden is named Ruan Li. According to the roster, she is merely a wandering cultivator with no background or sect, possessing no master to rely on nor prominent family to back her, coming alone to this grand immortal ceremony. No one knows that beneath this quiet exterior lies the bloodline of a royal golden dragon, as well as a years-long hatred meticulously woven around her. She was originally a vibrant and enthusiastic soul who loved connecting with others and possessed warm, pure emotions at heart. Yet, raised since childhood by her uncle Mo Yan and fed daily with lies about her father's tragic death, hatred became a shackle that firmly locked away her naturally bright spirit. For the sake of revenge, she concealed all her sharp edges, put on a quiet and restrained mask, and stepped alone into the number-one sect of the righteous path. Yet it was this very unknown, unfamiliar maiden who, under the watchful gaze of thousands, broke through every obstacle with steady progress. During the sword trial, while countless peers brandished sharp sword techniques to outshine one another, she alone struck with restrained power. Seeking no flashy displays, every sword strike she made was steady, precise, and solid—holding true to her heart and finding every flaw. In the Dao-comprehension test, while others fixated on surface scriptures, she penetrated the core of the Great Dao beneath the words, her comprehension clear and refined far beyond her peers. In the trial of breaking mental illusions, where countless cultivators were trapped by inner demons—either indulging in past glory or shrinking in fear from hardship—Ruan Li remained unmoved as the pressure swept around her, her expression unyielding and her mind steady as a mountain, untouched by illusions. Single-handedly outshining the surrounding talents and subduing the gathering of cultivators, she securely took the top rank of this year's selection ceremony with overwhelming dominance. Below the stage, thousands of disciples whispered in hushed tones, envy and curiosity intertwined. No one expected that the most dazzling standout of this year's trial would not be a favored disciple nurtured by a major sect, but an obscure, unknown wandering maiden appearing out of nowhere. Among the crowd, many young disciples discussed in quiet voices, guessing the hidden sect and opportunities behind her, their eyes repeatedly falling upon her in awe. Standing in the very center of the crowd, Ruan Li stood straight as a green bamboo, upright and dignified, possessing a natural noble strength of character. Her simple, elegant gown was subtly woven with delicate cloud patterns that glinted in the light—unpretentious and understated, yet carrying an innate aura of quiet nobility. The fabric draped neatly, accentuating her slender, graceful figure, while her posture was refined and polite, neither humble nor arrogant. Her features were strikingly gorgeous and clear, her brows and eyes exquisite and bright; what should have been a radiant beauty was coated in a faint layer of cool solitude. Her gaze was clear and clean, quiet without fear, bright without vanity, her aura restrained to the extreme, nearly dissolving into the ocean of clouds and mist. She completely suppressed her spiritual power, sealing away her meridians, foundation, and bloodline aura, utilizing a dragon secret technique to mask all dragon majesty, leaving not a trace of abnormality. In everyone's eyes, she was merely an unusually calm, exceptionally talented, and self-controlled young seeker of the Dao, with only her composure—far beyond her age—commanding respect. Only Ruan Li herself knew that her palm was tightly clenched, and beneath her calm facade, the heart of a royal golden dragon was pounding wildly inside her chest. She raised her eyes toward the white-robed figure seated at the highest apex of the stage, her heart surging with the hatred her uncle Mo Yan had drummed into her for years. The person before her was the rumored murderer who slaughtered the Dragon Clan and killed her father with his own hands—the target she had traveled across countless mountains and hidden her identity to approach and seek revenge upon. On both sides of the stage, elders looked down at her, nodding in silent approval. Winners of past trials were often young, arrogant, and boastful, whereas Ruan Li was victorious without pride, standing tall without rashness, acting with propriety and grace—her character and vision already surpassing countless peers. Beside the main seat sat Gu Zhichao, the current Sect Master of Tianyan Sect. Clad in dark blue robes subtly embroidered with flowing cloud patterns, his expression was warm and gentle, his eyes bearing the heavy worries unique to the master of a grand sect. Looking down at Ruan Li on the stage, his heart was full of admiration, silently marvelling that this maiden's talent and heart were both top-tier. He began calculating in his mind whether he could take her under his wing during the master-selection phase to cultivate her with care. Having been taught since childhood by his master, Tianjizi, he had spent his life upholding the righteous path, firmly believing that the dragon slaughter battle a century ago was a righteous deed to protect all living beings. He had no idea that this young maiden he favored bore the royal bloodline of the Dragon Clan, nor did he know that behind the case sealed away for years lay a monumental lie. Beside Gu Zhichao stood Jiang Yuebai, clad in dark purple robes embroidered with medicinal patterns, her arms crossed as a subtle herbal fragrance lingered around her. The chief medical practitioner of Tianyan Sect glanced indifferently at Ruan Li in the crowd, a faint flicker of surprise passing through her eyes a moment later. Highly skilled in reading pulse and aura, she instantly noticed that the maiden's bloodline was extraordinary, though cleverly sealed beyond the perception of ordinary cultivators. Jiang Yuebai did not make a sound, only curling her lips into a subtle, inquiring smile, silently noting down this unusual bloodline aura as she waited to see what choice the maiden would make next. The ceremony approached its conclusion, and the herald elder's clear voice echoed through the cloud sea, announcing the crucial stage where new disciples would choose their masters. According to tradition, the top rank of the selection held priority in choosing a master, free to enter the tutelage of any sect elder. Several immortal masters present were renowned figures of profound cultivation, whom countless disciples dreamed of learning from. All the newly admitted disciples below showed envious expressions, whispering guesses about which elder Ruan Li would choose. Some said she would likely pick Sect Master Gu Zhichao, for he was benevolent and possessed abundant resources; others guessed she would choose another elder skilled in sword cultivation, well-suited for her outstanding sword heart. The entire arena fell silent for a moment, everyone holding their breath in anticipation of Ruan Li's choice. It was at this moment that the maiden raised her eyes. Her gaze crossed the dense crowd and the floating sea of clouds, settling steadily and unerringly upon the white jade main seat at the very top of the High Stage of Lingxiao. At the pinnacle of the stage sat a figure in white, solitary and detached from the mortal world. Immortal Lord Huaizhu's robes were white as snow, swaying gently in the wind, surrounded by a faint, cool spiritual glow. His features were exquisite like frosted jade, his demeanor cold and distant, seated above all the elders with natural dignity and authority. As the most revered Immortal Lord in the Tianyan Sect, his sword techniques were unmatched among his peers and his cultivation unimaginably profound—a righteous Immortal Venerable revered across the three realms, yet also the terrifying "Dragon-Slaying Fiend" feared by all. The elders on both sides and the disciples below all assumed that this brilliant top disciple would choose a gentle, steady elder with many pupils. No one associated her choice with the quiet, cold, and notoriously fearsome Immortal Lord Huaizhu. After all, for a century, countless talented disciples had avoided him, unwilling to study under the Dragon-Slaying Fiend. Everyone felt that a genius with such a bright future would never choose a path viewed by others as desolate and perilous. Under the focused gaze of thousands, Ruan Li took her first step. With calm and steady strides, she walked up the flowing cloud steps, coming to a stop at the center of the high platform in front of all new disciples. Her posture was straight and upright, her manners faultless and undaunted. Facing the gazes of the entire hall, she bowed slightly in a traditional, formal salute of master selection. Her movements were respectful and dignified, executed with perfect decorum without a hint of disrespect, presenting the most proper stance of a junior disciple. Yet only Ruan Li understood how heavy an obsession lay beneath this bow. With her eyes cast down, her peripheral vision rested upon the white-robed Immortal Lord, the years of hatred in her heart nearly breaking through her layers of disguise. She had come here not to seek the Dao, nor for the immortal path, but to get close to this feared Dragon-Slaying Fiend and bide her time for revenge. In the next moment, the maiden's clear, steady voice resounded across the cloud sea of Lingxiao, every word crisp and firm, penetrating through the floating celestial music and soft wind into everyone's ears: "Disciple Ruan Li has long admired Immortal Lord Huaizhu's supreme cultivation that spans the three realms, and your immortal renown that echoes across the four seas. Having fortunately taken top rank in the selection today, I seek no promotion from the elders. I am drawn solely to the Immortal Lord's Dao aura, and humbly request to enter your tutelage—to strictly honor my master's teachings, cultivate diligently, and pursue the Dao faithfully for the rest of my life. I pray the Immortal Lord will grant my wish." As her words fell, the entire arena plunged into dead silence. The wind ceased, the celestial music paused, and even the morning glow across the sky seemed to freeze at this moment. Everyone stood frozen in place, no one uttering a sound. After a brief, heavy silence, an uproar burst forth across the hall, accompanied by hushed whispers and surging murmurs exploding beneath the high stage like a rising tide. "She... she chose Immortal Lord Huaizhu?!" "How could that be?! That is the Dragon-Slaying Fiend! For a century, almost no disciple has been willing to enter his tutelage!" "With such talent, she could clearly choose the best path on the immortal journey—why insist on stepping into such a harsh, lonely peak?!" Low conversations broke out among the elders as well, many showing astonishment and exchanging looks, having never expected such an outcome. Gu Zhichao's brows furrowed slightly, his heart filled with surprise; he had favored Ruan Li greatly, never imagining she would make such a choice. Beside him, Jiang Yuebai raised an eyebrow, the curiosity in her eyes deepening. Her fingers lightly stroked the medicine pouch at her waist as she quietly observed the two figures on stage without saying a word. The sea of clouds rolled, and the celestial music trembled softly. As thousands of astonished gazes crossed beneath the high stage, Ruan Li, standing in the center, remained as calm as ever. Bowing her head in humble respect with an unyielding posture, she quietly awaited the verdict of the white-robed Immortal Venerable above.