Chapter 5: Liu Hanyan, You Lied to Me! No Fate with the Immortal Sect?

“Xiao Yifeng. Mixed Spiritual Roots. Grade: Ding-Lower.”

The announcement hung in the air like a bad smell.

A ripple of commotion swept through the crowd. Several young boys couldn’t hold back their snickers.

Xiao Yifeng remained expressionless.

If this were his previous life—ignorant, sensitive, and proud—hearing this result immediately after Ye Jiusi’s dazzling “Jia-Upper” performance would have made him want to dig a hole and bury himself alive. The contrast was too cruel. It was like comparing a mud brick to flawless jade.

But he was no longer that naive child. He was a man reborn. In this life, his heart was a still lake, feeling neither sorrow nor joy.

Ignoring the astonished and mocking gazes of the other youths, Xiao Yifeng walked silently back to his spot.

He knew his reality. His aptitude was trash. His spiritual roots were a chaotic mess. The only reason he received a “Ding-Lower” was that the Wentian Sect’s grading system didn’t go any lower. If there were a grade E or F, he would be firmly at the bottom.

“Yifeng?” Ye Jiusi called out, his face filled with worry.

Xiao Yifeng shook his head and offered a reassuring smile, signaling that he was fine.

Up on the high platform, the atmosphere was less forgiving.

A gaunt, withered Daoist sitting next to the Sect Leader leaned over. “What is going on with this Xiao Yifeng? Since when do we accept disciples with Ding-grade aptitude?”

“Ding-grade? Calling that ‘Ding’ is an insult to the alphabet! That aptitude isn’t even fit for a servant disciple!”

The speaker was Su Qianyi, the plump, fair-skinned Daoist. He was visibly furious, his face flushing red. “Which bastard took a bribe? How much silver did they accept to shove this mediocrity into my Wentian Sect?”

The Wentian Sect had high standards. Although the grades nominally went down to Ding, for years, they had only accepted Jia, Yi, and Bing. Even a Bing-Upper was considered borderline.

Accepting a Ding-Lower disciple was unprecedented. It was a stain on their reputation.

Just as the Hall Masters were exchanging puzzled glances, a clear, cold voice cut through the noise.

“Senior Brother Guangling. I recommended both Xiao Yifeng and Ye Jiusi.”

The Hall Masters turned toward the source of the voice. It was Liu Hanyan, the Guanghan Fairy, Master of Feixue Hall.

The Elders were stunned.

If it were anyone else, they wouldn’t be surprised. But Liu Hanyan? She was the ice queen of the sect—aloof, devoid of worldly desires, and famously intolerant of favoritism. For her to use the back door was unthinkable.

“Might I ask what relationship these two have with Junior Sister Guanghan?” Guangling Zhenren asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

Liu Hanyan shook her head impassively. “None. On my way back with the new recruits, I encountered a pack of wolf demons attacking a village. I arrived too late to save the village, but I managed to rescue these two children.”

She paused, her voice steady. “I briefly examined them and found they both possessed spiritual roots. Since the sect has been short on disciples recently, I brought them along. I simply did not expect the gap in their aptitude to be so… extreme.”

Su Qianyi’s expression remained sour. He narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Xiao Yifeng.

The boy’s talent was garbage, true. But looking closely… the kid had red lips, white teeth, and gentle, spirited eyes. He was a undeniably pretty child, albeit a bit sallow from malnutrition.

Then Su Qianyi looked at Ye Jiusi—a handsome, jade-like genius.

Ah.

Su Qianyi remembered Liu Hanyan’s secret weakness. He snorted. No wonder she gave them a recommendation token.

“This Xiao Yifeng has Mixed Spiritual Roots,” Su Qianyi grumbled. “He is unfit to be a True Disciple of the Wentian Sect. I ask the Sect Leader to make a ruling.”

Guangling Zhenren stroked his beard, pondering for a moment before smiling.

“Junior Brother Qianyi, the boy has already undergone the test alongside the others. It would be improper to retract his candidacy now. Besides, he met Junior Sister Guanghan and was brought through our mountain gates—that in itself suggests profound fortune.”

Guangling looked down at the boy. “In our path of cultivation, aptitude is king, but luck is the crown. Let us accept him. Who knows? Perhaps he will bring us an unexpected surprise.”

The other Hall Masters nodded in agreement. Seeing the consensus, Su Qianyi counted the number of disciples on the field and decided not to press the issue.

Soon, the testing concluded.

Xuan Yi stepped forward, bowed to the dais, and reported. “Reporting to Master and Senior Uncles. A total of 78 candidates were tested. Results: 1 Jia-Upper, 3 Jia-Middle, 10 Jia-Lower. 21 Yi-Upper, 15 Yi-Middle, 23 Yi-Lower. 4 Bing-Upper… and 1 Ding-Lower.”

“Mm. You’ve worked hard. Withdraw,” Guangling said.

Xuan Yi bowed and returned to his rank.

“According to last year’s Grand Martial ranking,” Guangling announced, looking left and right, “the Halls will select disciples in order. Qiankun Hall has priority. Followed by Taiji, Feixue, Changsheng, Fengmai, Rufeng… and finally, Wuya Hall. No Hall may take more than ten disciples, and no more than two Jia-grades.”

The gaunt Guangwei Daoist of Qiankun Hall smiled thinly. “Then this seat will select first. I will take Ye Jiusi and Mo Ruxuan for the Jia quotas. Minghai, select the rest for me.”

A disciple behind Guangwei acknowledged the order, leaped down from the platform, and called out ten names.

Ye Jiusi was the first called.

He walked out of the line but looked back reluctantly at Xiao Yifeng.

Xiao Yifeng stood with his chest puffed out, brimming with confidence. He waved Ye Jiusi away with a grin. Go on! I have a deal with Liu Hanyan. I’m a guaranteed admit.

Ye Jiusi hesitated, then followed the Qiankun disciple.

Next, Guangling Zhenren smiled. “Xuan Yi, select ten for me.”

Xuan Yi descended, called ten names, and led them to the side.

Then it was Feixue Hall’s turn.

Liu Hanyan gave a faint nod. Behind her, a beautiful female disciple stepped forward and floated down to the square.

Xiao Yifeng straightened his robes, ready to step forward.

But as the female disciple began calling names, Xiao Yifeng noticed a pattern. Every single child she selected was a girl. And not just any girls—they were all “carved from pink jade,” absolutely adorable and pretty.

Aptitude? She didn’t seem to care.

Xiao Yifeng watched her skip over a dark-skinned girl with Yi-Upper aptitude to pick a cute girl with Yi-Lower.

He couldn’t help but chuckle. Right. I forgot. In my past life, everyone knew Liu Hanyan was a superficial face-con.

Feixue Hall was known as the “Nest of Beauties” for a reason. They only recruited the best-looking disciples.

But I’m handsome too! And we have a deal!

Xiao Yifeng waited for his name.

The female disciple picked the tenth girl. She turned around and walked back to the dais without even glancing at him.

Xiao Yifeng stood there, dumbfounded.

Fairy? Did you miss a page? What about me? ME?

He glared up at the jade throne.

Liu Hanyan sat there, calm and composed, staring straight ahead. She acted as if she didn’t know him. She acted as if their deal, the cultivation technique he gave her, and his desperate pleas meant absolutely nothing.

Liu Hanyan… you lied to me!

Xiao Yifeng nearly choked on his rage. He had trusted her! He had been played by his own future wife!

The selection continued.

Changsheng Hall, Fengmai Hall, Rufeng Hall… one by one, the disciples stepped forward and picked their recruits.

Everyone got picked. Even Danding Hall, which only took seven people, ignored him.

Soon, the bustle on the square died down.

The 77 other children stood in neat rows behind their new seniors, chatting excitedly or looking around with pride.

In the center of the vast white marble plaza, only one person remained.

Xiao Yifeng.

Standing alone. Isolated. Abandoned.

The gaze of the chosen disciples fell upon him—some playful, some mocking, some sympathetic.

Ye Jiusi looked like he was about to cry from anxiety. The atmosphere was excruciatingly awkward.

Only one Hall had yet to make its selection: Wuya Hall.

Xiao Yifeng tilted his head back, staring at the high and mighty figures on the dais, his anger soaring.