Ascension of the Silent Guardian

Seeing the options before his eyes, Tian Ling thought, "What do I really seek? Strength? Fame? Power?... No, I pursue the great Dao." Resolute and with a firm expression, he chose the first option.

Time resumed its flow, and he spoke in a firm and determined tone:

"I acknowledge Mei Lianhua as my master."

Liang Wuyin, while maintaining his dignified posture, couldn't hide the look of disappointment that briefly crossed his face. It was clear that he, too, desired Tian Ling as his disciple, but the choice had already been made.

Thus, a few more disciples were chosen by the elders, totaling six: Jiang Zhenhai and Zhao Xun were accepted by Liang Wuyin; Tian Ling, Jin Yu, and Yu Meilin were under the tutelage of Mei Lianhua; and Lan Wei and Qin Rong were placed under Shen Qixian's care.

"Everyone return to the outer sect palace. The chosen disciples must prepare to leave for the inner sect in three days," commanded Elder Lian Ziyue in an authoritative tone.

The group of disciples, especially those selected, was filled with excitement. The air buzzed with anticipation as they dispersed to prepare.

Upon arriving at the outer palace, Tian Ling was once again interrupted by the familiar voice of the system, echoing in his mind. A screen flashed before his eyes.

[IT HAS BEEN DETECTED THAT THE HOST HAS ACCEPTED MEI LIANHUA AS THEIR MASTER. YOU WILL RECEIVE A SUPREME SPIRITUAL TREASURE, A BOTTLE OF FOUNDATION PILLS, AND A SYSTEM UPGRADE.]

[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE OBTAINED A SUPREME SPIRITUAL TREASURE: SPIRIT SLIDING BOOTS.]

[SPIRIT SLIDING BOOTS: A SUPREME SPIRITUAL TREASURE THAT TRIPLES THE USER'S NORMAL SPEED AND PROVIDES RESISTANCE AGAINST ATTACKS FROM THE GOLDEN CORE REALM.]

[SYSTEM FUNCTION UPGRADE INITIATED. IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO COMPLETE. PLEASE WAIT.]

Tian Ling was momentarily stunned and then quickly filled with excitement. He immediately stored the bottle of Foundation Pills in his ring and put on the Spirit Sliding Boots. As soon as he wore them, a unique sensation flowed through his entire body. His movements felt lighter, almost as if he could defy gravity.

"This is amazing... I’m really three times faster," Tian Ling murmured, marveling at the agility the boots granted him. He took a few quick steps, feeling the breeze around him shift with his newfound speed. "This is unreal!"

But suddenly, a thought crossed his mind: "What is this system, anyway? How can it give me treasures and make decisions like this, out of nowhere?" For a few moments, he was lost in thought, pondering the mysteries the system presented. Even after all the strange events, he still had no clear answers.

"Am I being guided by some powerful senior? Is someone watching me and helping me secretly?" He wondered aloud. But he soon shook his head, dismissing the idea. "Who cares? As long as this helps me get stronger, I’m grateful."

Three days passed quickly, and the chosen disciples gathered, ready to depart. Everyone was eager for what was to come.

"We’re together again, aren’t we?" Jin Yu said with a light smile, approaching Tian Ling. As she got closer, she couldn’t help but think, "Is his potential greater than mine? Maybe I underestimated him… And he’s quite handsome. Perhaps…" A slight blush crept up her cheeks as her thoughts wandered.

Tian Ling, noticing Jin Yu’s proximity, tried to remain calm. His smile was shy, almost awkward, but sincere.

"Yes, sister. It seems we ended up with the same master, didn’t we?" he replied, trying to hide his nervousness.

"Take care of me in the future," she said, her eyes shining with a hint of something more. There was a strange mix of expectation and curiosity in her gaze.

Tian Ling noticed the look and was briefly confused, but he quickly responded, "Of course, take care of me too, sister."

Yu Meilin, who was also waiting nearby, didn’t join the conversation. She simply nodded to both of them in greeting. Her personality was cold and reserved, keeping her distant from more friendly interactions.

It wasn’t long before the elders appeared, flying on their swords like true high-level cultivators.

"Get on, and be careful not to fall. I won’t save you if you do," Elder Mei Lianhua said in a firm tone as she pulled a small flying boat from her storage ring.

The disciples boarded, some still puzzled. They had expected to be transported by a teleportation array, but the boat seemed to be a more interesting method. As they began to rise into the sky, the view over the outer sect transformed.

The landscape before them was breathtaking. Immense mountains floated above the clouds, like castles suspended in a sea of mist. Surrounding them, islands of varying sizes hovered, each with its own unique characteristics—some with vast forests, others with serene rivers. The sunlight reflected off crystal-clear waters, creating a scene that seemed like something out of a dream.

"This is… magical…" Tian Ling murmured, his eyes widening as he took in the grandeur of the place.

As they approached the center of the main island, they saw nine giant islands surrounding an even larger one. Each of these islands had a magnificent palace at its center, and the landscapes around them varied from battlefields to walls, forests, and rivers.

When they finally landed on the central island, the disciples were confused. One of them asked:

"Master, why did we come to the center? Isn’t this the palace of the sect master?"

"Exactly. When new disciples arrive at the sect, they must be introduced to the sect master first," Elder Mei Lianhua replied as the palace gate opened for them.

The interior of the palace was even more magnificent. The floor gleamed with polished marble, the pillars were adorned with golden details, and every corner seemed carefully decorated with the sect’s insignia. In the center, seated on an imposing throne, was the sect master, his majestic presence filling the entire hall. His cold eyes swept over the disciples, scrutinizing them carefully.

Tian Ling felt a wave of tension run through his body. "I want to see his screen..." he thought, referring to the system’s interface. And as if in response to his thoughts, a voice echoed in his mind.

[THE SYSTEM IS UPDATING AND CANNOT BE USED AT THE MOMENT. PLEASE WAIT.]

Tian Ling sighed, frustrated but also curious about what would happen when the update was complete. However, before he could think further on the matter, the sect master’s piercing gaze landed on him.

"Is it him? No… his lineage is mediocre. It can’t be him. Even though he entered the Foundation at a young age, he probably won’t go far," the sect master pondered silently.

After the formal introductions, the sect master stood up and walked over to Jiang Zhenhai.

"You seem like a promising talent. Are you willing to acknowledge me as your master?" he asked, his deep voice resonating through the hall.

"Yes, sect master!" Jiang Zhenhai quickly responded, bowing deeply.

All the disciples were shocked. The sect master rarely took personal disciples, and this was a unique opportunity. Tian Ling, however, remained indifferent. To him, all that mattered was cultivating in peace, and with Elder Mei Lianhua, he already had what he wanted.

Suddenly, the system echoed again in Tian Ling’s mind, and a new screen appeared before him:

[SYSTEM UPGRADE COMPLETE. NEW FUNCTIONS AVAILABLE.]

Tian Ling quickly raised his head, his eyes fixed on the sect master. Suddenly, a screen appeared before him.

[NAME: Xue Yunzhi SECT MASTER OF THE SERENE MIST SECT AGE: 802 YEARS REALM: LEVEL 8 OF THE TRUE SOUL REALM SPIRIT ROOT: MEDIUM (ELEVATED) LINEAGE: SON OF A CULTIVATOR FROM THE CELESTIAL TEMPERAMENT REALM, HIS PARENTS TRANSCENDED THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, LEAVING HIM ALONE WHILE HE WAS STILL YOUNG. HE STOOD OUT AS A PRODIGY AND INHERITED THE POSITION OF SECT MASTER OF THE SERENE MIST SECT. AFFINITY: HE IS NEUTRAL TOWARDS YOU, FINDS YOUR TALENT PROMISING BUT DOES NOT HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS.]

Seeing the screen before him, a chill ran down Tian Ling’s spine. "Lineage? Affinity? This wasn’t available before." He thought silently, intrigued by the new information the system provided. Then, suddenly, another screen appeared.

[NEW FUNCTION ACTIVATED: THE USER CAN NOW VIEW THE LINEAGE OF OTHER PEOPLE. LINEAGE DIRECTLY INFLUENCES TALENT IN THE PATH OF CULTIVATION. YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE AFFINITY THESE PEOPLE HAVE TOWARDS YOU, RANGING FROM HATE, NEUTRALITY, OR FAVORABILITY.]

Tian Ling reflected for a moment, his heart racing. "Lineage... Affinity... So this is the system’s new function." He suddenly wondered what his own lineage was, something he had never considered before. With that thought, he quickly remembered that he could check his own status.

"Status," he murmured quietly, anxious.

And instantly, a new screen appeared before him, bringing the answers he had been eagerly waiting for.