Miles away from Red River Hill was a mid-sized village. Rows of young children were lined up and appraised by lofty elders in fine robes.

"Master? Why are we at the Divine Saint Sect's annual recruitment of disciples? Aren't I the inheritor of the Nine Nethers Serpent Sect?" Jiang She muttered under bated breath.

"You may be the inheritor of my sect but you're still a poor, penniless cultivator." Her master sighed. "Whats important right now is to get you to Foundation Establishment, only then can you be considered a real cultivator."

An elder with graying hair stopped in front of Jiang She.

"Not bad..." The elder muttered. "Step out of line girl."

"Yes elder." She respectfully said.

The elder disdainfully waved away the other children. Out of fifty children or so only Jiang She and another brat were chosen.

"You may address me as Falcon Elder." The graying elder said authoritatively. "I'll ignore your meridian problem for now girl."

"Master? He knows. Let's silence the elder." She thought inwardly. "Wouldn't it be dangerous to let a-

"Has fracturing your meridians also result in a brain fracture?" Her master sneered. "He's an elder at the Core Formation, and quite the strong one at that."

"But he knows-

"Why would a tiny injury on a Qi Condensation brat matter to him? Her master snickered. "You should be grateful you were even chosen! A brat on your level didn't even have the qualifications to become a servant at the Nine Nethers Serpent Sect in my prime!"

"And yet I'm your inheritor." She fired back, not backing down from her masters provocation. "Why don't you go find a more talented disciple to become the inheritor of your broke sect."

"She's quite the brave little junior." Her master sighed, thinking inwardly. "To bad she's as stupid as she is brave."

The Falcon Elder pulled a whistle from a bag on his waist. He gently blew into it, although no sound was produced Jiang was certain it was no ordinary whistle.

Distant screeches could be heard echoing from the mountain not too far off from the village. A dark figure could be seen rapidly approaching the village. As the figure loomed closer to Jiang She's shock it was a giant falcon.

She had heard about such mythical beasts from the Old Daoist but this was the first time she had seen a spirit beast in person.

Jiang She and the other child made it up the falcon with help from the graying elder. She wasn't sure just exactly how spirits beasts were ranked but she knew for certain that the falcon was strong. In fact probably stronger than the crippled old man she had left behind.

The falcon burst into the sky with such speed Jiang She couldn't help but let out a yelp. The elder couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the young children holding on to the back of the falcon fearfully.

Jiang She lost track of time on that cursed falcon. What felt like an eternity passed on that accursed falcon for Jiang She.

She managed to compose herself as they approached the sect. It consoled her that the child beside her had fared no better on the hellish ride than she had.

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She had managed to pick up information on the road regarding the recruitment of new initiates at a village near Red River Hill. It was child's work for her to blend in with the rest of the village urchins.

The sect was a composed of low-key yet elegant buildings dotted all throughout a large mountain. According to the words of the Falcon Elder an immortal had once spent his last years on the mountain. Countless mortals flocked to him for tutelage and direction. Eventually the Divine Saint Sect was formed,

She had asked the Falcon Elder how an immortal being could died but only received a harsh scolding in return.

The Falcon Elder grounded his over-sized bird behind one of the low-end pavilions near the base of the mountain.

He lazily tossed over identification badges to the two hapless initiates. The girl caught it deftly and tossed it in her robes indolently while the other child treated the badge reverently, as if it was an immortal's treasure.

"You two are now considered outer court disciples of the Divine Saint Sect. You two should be grateful for the opportunity. We shall do the coronation tomorrow-

The village brat was too absorbed in worshiping the wooden badge in his hands and the girl was busy murmuring to herself like she had done the whole ride to the sect.

"I suppose I'll just save the talk for tomorrow" The Falcon Elder sighed and flew away without as so much of a word to the disciples.

The girl was too busy talking to herself to notice that the Falcon Elder had left.

"So sir Falcon Elder what exactly do we-

"Tsk." Jiang She looked up and saw no sign of the elder. "What sort of master just dumps his disciples and leave without any explanation. What a shabby master. If he's the caliber of master this sect has it's obviously not fit to teach a heavenly talent like me."

"Ignorant bumpkin." She thought proudly. "Getting so excited over a little badge from a second rate sect is below a great genius like me."

"Master how strong was the Nine Nether Serpent Sect exactly?" She asked, her curiosity piqued. "I'm sure we were much stronger than these Divine Saint bumpkins right?"

"Er..." For once her ever proud master seemed to be at a loss. "The situation of the sect is... complicated."

"I see." She thought it best not to push the matter any further and attempted to change the question."

"How old is the master exactly? How can you hear my thoughts? Is master a ghost?"

"Well if you're so curious about the sect then I suppose I can't just ignore the matter."

"Your disciple would rather know about-

"Long ago our sect used to be prosperous and unrivaled in all the land. We were the-

"Hey bumpkin!" The girl said imperiously. "Got any food?"

The village brat looked up from his badge and threw over a sack slung over his shoulders.

"Here this should have some vegetables." He went back to inspecting his badge.

Jiang She caught the sack and decided to turn in for the night. She had a long day and even a super genius like her could get tired.

"Master. Why did you choose me become the inheritor?" She asked uncharacteristically softly. "I'm sure there were better candidates than me right?"

"Don't look down on yourself girl. I know I'm harsh but raising a sect from the dead is a difficult task that not even those heavenly blessed talents can do easily. My eye for people is never wrong, I'm sure you'll be a worthy-

He cut his speech short after realizing she was fast asleep.

"Rest well young disciple." He said gently. "We have long journey ahead of us."