As soon as Yu Meilin left the palace, Tian Ling did not immediately return to his cultivation. He felt something was off, as if there was a disturbance in his mind. He decided to check on his friends through the monitoring system. With a simple mental command, several notifications appeared before him, floating in the air, ready to be seen.

[Your friend Jiang Zenhai was attacked by demons and gravely injured. His life hangs by a thread, but fortunately, a wandering cultivator saved him.]

[Your friend Zhao Xun was attacked by demons and gravely injured. His life hangs by a thread, but fortunately, a wandering cultivator saved him.]

[Your dao companion, Jin Yu, has successfully passed the tribulation of the Spiritual Core Realm and advanced.]

[Your acquaintance, Kim Long, received guidance from the Heavenly Dao. His cultivation advanced, and he has become a True Soul Realm cultivator.]

Tian Ling quickly clicked on Jiang Zenhai's name to check what had happened to him and Zhao Xun. A screen appeared in front of him, showing the events clearly. He saw that both had been attacked by a group of demons, but to his surprise, a wandering cultivator had saved them at the last moment. Tian Ling tried to see who the mysterious savior was, but the system didn’t provide this information, frustrating his curiosity.

“What bad luck...” Tian Ling thought, frowning slightly. “Those two are always getting into trouble…”

When his eyes fell upon the notification about Jin Yu, a thought quickly crossed his mind. "Will she come to disturb my cultivation before I break through to the next minor realm?" He shook his head and chuckled softly. “What am I thinking? She’s my dao companion, of course she’ll want to share her achievements with me.”

Upon reading the last notification, his eyes narrowed. Kim Long had broken through to the True Soul Realm, which took him by surprise.

"That kid... already broke through?" Tian Ling murmured to himself, a smile of surprise appearing on his lips. "What terrifying talent."

After taking in all the news, Tian Ling closed his eyes and returned to a meditative state. However, his mind was still unsettled, replaying the information he had just received.

Meanwhile, at the borders of the Serene Mist Sect, in a hidden cave in the mountains, Jiang Zenhai and Zhao Xun were sitting in cultivation positions, circulating their energies to heal the injuries caused by their recent battle. Their breathing was deep and rhythmic, but the exhaustion on their faces showed how close they had come to death.

In front of them stood a man in a green robe, watching them with a calm expression. His eyes, however, carried a flame of severity and wisdom accumulated over the years.

"You boys need to learn your limits. If it weren’t for me, you’d be dead right now." The man's voice was deep, like distant thunder, yet laced with undeniable authority.

Jiang Zenhai, still with his eyes closed while circulating his energy, responded indifferently:

"Senior, we appreciate your help, but we were defending the borders of our sect. If we had died fighting, it would have been our fate."

The man in the green robe raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the coldness in Jiang Zenhai’s voice. Zhao Xun, sitting beside him, snorted and shook his head.

"I don’t see it that way. I always prioritize my life, but Brother Jiang is stubborn. If it weren’t for you, both of us would have died today." Zhao Xun looked at the man with a bitter smile, acknowledging the truth in his words.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

The man let out a low chuckle, his gaze intensifying as he observed Zhao Xun.

“Hahaha, boy, you’ve got the right mindset.” His voice now carried a hint of approval. “Learning to prioritize your own life is something many cultivators overlook, but it’s an important lesson.”

Zhao Xun smiled back, but doubt still gnawed at him. He didn’t know the man who had saved them, and his mysterious behavior raised more questions than answers.

"Senior, could you tell us your name?" Zhao Xun asked, his voice filled with respect. "We will surely repay you in the future."

The man in the green robe lifted his chin proudly and firmly said:

"I am Xin Miang, master of the Celestial Firmament Sect."

Hearing this, both Jiang Zenhai and Zhao Xun were visibly surprised. The Celestial Firmament Sect was one of the most respected, though mysterious, sects in the surrounding lands.

Jiang Zenhai narrowed his eyes, suspicious.

“Why would the master of the Celestial Firmament Sect be at the borders of our sect?” he asked, his voice filled with suspicion.

Xin Miang snorted, crossing his arms.

“Hmph, I was merely passing through. The Celestial Firmament Sect is not like the others. We do not have a fixed headquarters. We carry the name of our sect while traveling the world, seeking to comprehend the Dao.”

Jiang Zenhai and Zhao Xun fell into deep thought, trying to understand the true motivation of the mysterious cultivator. Still, Xin Miang's words echoed in their minds, leaving them intrigued.

After a moment of silence, Xin Miang looked directly at Zhao Xun, with a glint of interest in his eyes.

“Boy, I like you. Are you willing to accept me as your master?” His tone was serious, but the offer carried a weight that few would refuse.

Zhao Xun was taken aback, surprised by the unexpected offer. He knew that becoming the disciple of someone as powerful as Xin Miang could open unimaginable doors on the path of cultivation. However, he hesitated.

“Accept you as my master?” Zhao Xun murmured to himself, then looked at the man with seriousness. “But I’m already a disciple of the Serene Mist Sect. I can’t take on a second master.”

Xin Miang snorted, as if this concern was insignificant.

“What difference does it make?” He looked coldly at Zhao Xun. “We have no rivalry with the Serene Mist Sect. If needed, I will support your sect, and no one needs to know you are my disciple. Just don’t go around spreading it.”

Zhao Xun pondered for a moment. The skills Xin Miang had demonstrated when saving them were tremendous, and the proposal became more and more attractive. Accepting could be the opportunity he needed to grow stronger.

Jiang Zenhai, however, snorted, crossing his arms with a look of disapproval.

“Senior, why did you offer this only to him?” Jiang Zenhai asked, his voice filled with frustration. “I am also a dedicated cultivator. Or do you think I’m not worthy?”

Xin Miang let out a low chuckle, but his eyes remained cold.

“Tsk, boy, you have terrible judgment. With that attitude, you’ll die young. I don’t need disciples who will die soon.” His response was direct and disdainful, causing Jiang Zenhai to grit his teeth but remain silent.

Zhao Xun, however, was not swayed by the tension and spoke firmly:

“Senior, I agree to accept your proposal, but with one condition. You must also accept Jiang Zenhai as your disciple. He is more talented than I am, and we made a brotherly vow. We will live and die together.”

Xin Miang narrowed his eyes, evaluating Zhao Xun's determination. After a few seconds of silence, he snorted again, but this time with a faint smile.

“Tsk, very well. I will accept both of you as my disciples, but remember, don’t go around spreading that you are my students. The Serene Mist Sect may not take kindly to this situation.” With a swift gesture, Xin Miang tossed two jade tokens to the young men. “Take these. If you’re ever in danger, use them to contact me.”

Both caught the tokens, and in unison, they knelt before Xin Miang.

“Disciple greets the master!” they said with respect and reverence.

Xin Miang smiled in satisfaction and then approached the two young men.

“With these tokens, you can contact me when necessary. Now, as a sign of our new relationship, I will teach you a technique that is my trademark: the Celestial Sword.”

With these words, he began explaining the fundamentals of the technique, his eyes gleaming with pride as he imparted the knowledge. Jiang Zenhai and Zhao Xun listened attentively, absorbing every detail of the complex technique, while Xin Miang's aura seemed to intensify as he demonstrated the power of the Celestial Sword.

Meanwhile, back in the mythical realm of Tian Ling’s palace, another two years had passed, and a new notification appeared before Tian Ling. He slowly opened his eyes, and his expression quickly became strange.