Either you are fabulously wealthy, acquiring treasures to offer to the Daoist sect and thus allowed to become a disciple.

Or, you possess a rare constitution, so even if you are penniless, it doesn’t matter—you can still gain the sect’s favor!

This little boy had none of these three things, which made him the butt of everyone’s jokes.

But who could have imagined that this little boy’s demon-servant maid would actually possess such a strange wood spirit bloodline?

Before long, the crowd’s discussion had already alerted the Daoist sect’s inner members, and soon after, a major figure within the sect was disturbed.

After about half an hour, a white-robed woman with a cold demeanor was seen riding a giant white crane, soaring through the air. The crane was at least ten zhang long, and with a sweep of its wings, it nearly whipped up a world-shaking hurricane in front of the mountain gate. It was clearly a tamed demon bird. On the crane’s back behind her stood two little girls with drooping hair buns.

“Ah, outer disciple Yu Sanliang greets Sister Grace…”

The chubby Daoist, seeing this, hurriedly knelt down, performing a grand salute.

The young people waiting to become disciples nearby, though they didn’t recognize this woman, quickly followed suit, bowing and addressing her as “senior sister.”

The woman named Grace seemed to pay them no heed. With a sweep of her gaze, she spotted the demon-servant maid lying in the grass by the roadside. She signaled the white crane to descend, came to the little maid’s side, picked up some grass to examine, then dabbed a bit of the maid’s blood with her index finger, brought it to her nose for a gentle sniff, nodded, and smiled, as if confirming something.

“Add this one to the list of disciples for this initiation!”

Sister Grace picked up the little maid, stood up, and without even glancing at the chubby Daoist, gave her instructions.

“Yes… yes… Sister Grace, your junior understands…”

Even though it was just a demon-servant girl, since Sister Grace had spoken, she was undoubtedly now an official disciple of the Qingyun Daoist Sect.

Everyone stole glances, filled with envy. To go from a demon-servant to an official disciple of the Qingyun Daoist Sect was truly a leap to the heavens.

Even the little boy in Hou Qing’s arms stared blankly at the scene, his mouth agape in astonishment.

Sister Grace was about to take off with the little maid in her arms, when suddenly the maid stirred and murmured softly, “Don’t hit young master… don’t hit… Young Master Clark…”

Sister Grace paused slightly, her face expressionless as she asked, “Who is Young Master Clark?”

The little boy snapped out of it, immediately raised his hand and shouted, “I… I am Young Master Clark, give me back my maid…”

Sister Grace glanced at him and said coolly, “From today on, she is no longer your maid!”

With that, she waved her hand and tossed over a small jade porcelain vial, its body a delicate shade of purple.

“Innate Purple Qi Pill…”

The chubby Daoist cried out in shock, unable to help swallowing hard.

To help a demon-servant maid shed her servant status, she actually handed out such a spiritual elixir?

The aspiring disciples around, seeing this, had eyes burning with fervor, looking as if they wished they could swallow the little boy whole.

An Innate Purple Qi Pill—an excellent item for cleansing the body and refining the marrow—how could it be given so easily to a little beggar?

Countless people, at that moment, were seized by the urge to snatch it.

The little boy stared at the Innate Purple Qi Pill, unable to help gulping, but seeing the woman named Grace about to leave with the little maid, he suddenly snapped back and shouted, “You can’t go! Who agreed to exchange my little maid for this useless pill? I’m not trading! Take your pill back and leave the person here for me…”

“Hm?”

Sister Grace turned her gaze back, a chilling murderous intent making him instantly shut his mouth.

“I… I don’t want the pill…”

The little boy still mustered his courage and stammered, “Unless… unless you take me into the sect…”

Those who had been secretly blaming the boy for not knowing what’s good for him suddenly understood—so this was what he was after.

Sister Grace was also slightly taken aback, then laughed, a hint of disdain in her voice as she said to the chubby Daoist, “Count him in, but I think his aptitude is average and his temperament a bit wild. Just put him to work in the medicine fields for some tempering!”

“Uh, your junior obeys…”

The chubby Daoist was stunned for a moment, then bowed in agreement.

Chapter 2: The Tenth Great Bandit

Qingyun Mountain, a renowned Daoist sect in the Chu Domain, with a legacy spanning three thousand years and profound foundations.

In the Chu Domain, or rather, the Southern Zhanbu Continent, every disciple of the Qingyun Immortal Daoist Sect stands atop the mortal world like a deity. All the various sects and factions of the three teachings and nine schools are as feeble as clay chickens and pottery dogs before the Daoist disciples, unable to withstand a single blow. Just three months ago, the Qingyun Mountain Daoist Sect’s true disciple Edward Harris single-handedly, with one sword, slew the nine great bandits of Ghost Smoke Valley, leaving only one to escape.

The heads of the nine great bandits now hang at the entrance of Ghost Smoke Valley as a warning. Edward Harris has eradicated evil to the utmost, and is currently pursuing the last bandit with all his might in the Yandang Mountain area. It is said that this is the most mysterious of the bandits—his name is known, but no one has ever seen his face…