Chapter 2: Senior Brother's Entry Assessment

Lan Ling'e had a dream.

In her dream, an old immortal accepted her as a disciple and took her back to his residence, where she met a handsome senior brother who emerged from the water...

Uh, it seemed this wasn't a dream; it had just happened.

Drowsily, Lan Ling'e heard her master's voice again, but this time, her master sounded a bit fierce, far different from the kind old immortal she remembered.

"You rascal! Have your wings grown stiff? Now you even dare to scheme against your master!"

Then, Lan Ling'e heard that gentle and elegant voice:

"Master, please calm your anger. Your disciple was merely taking precautions and happened to be practicing the Water Escape technique, so I set up these anti-theft arrangements while cultivating in the lake. Your disciple did not know you would suddenly return today and couldn't remove them in time. Please forgive me, Master."

The senior brother spoke unhurriedly, making one unconsciously want to listen more.

Immediately after, Lan Ling'e heard her master let out a long sigh.

By the bamboo bed, the old Daoist clapped his hands, complaining helplessly: "I say, Changshou, what's the use of making such arrangements within the sect? And protecting against thieves? Our Little Qiong Peak might as well write 'Qiong' as 'poor'! What thief would bother visiting us!"

Changshou? Is the senior brother called Changshou?

What a simple Daoist name, yet it revealed the senior brother's simple and pure good wishes.

Lan Ling'e suddenly realized that although she could hear the sounds outside, she couldn't open her eyes at all. Her eyelids felt incredibly heavy, and she had no strength in her body.

The senior brother spoke again; his voice was so warm, making her feel as if it were her mother...

"Master, that statement is somewhat biased. Dangers don't disappear just because we are within the sect. Competition between peaks has been fierce in recent years, and the sect elders don't pay much attention to such matters. Furthermore, your disciple is the only—oh, no, one of only two disciples in our lineage. Necessary caution is still required. Our Little Qiong Peak already has a low presence within the sect and no significant backing. Someone might try to seize our small territory and plot against us."

As soon as the senior brother finished speaking, the old master complained again:

"Our Immortal Ascension Sect has strict rules; how could such things happen? Forget it, forget it! Your master can't talk sense into you! All day long with your twisted logic! And I don't see your cultivation improving! Wait here for Ling'e to wake up, then take my token and lead her to the main peak to register her name, collect her official disciple identity token, and her monthly allowance! Honestly, you infuriate me!"

The old Daoist swept his sleeve and rose from the bamboo chair. Perhaps the effects of the earlier medicine hadn't worn off, for he stumbled again, causing the old Daoist's face to flush.

"You infuriate me!"

"Master, take it slow."

"Hmph! Your master is going into seclusion to comprehend the supreme Dao!"

Daoist Qiyuan stomped his foot heavily, and his figure turned into a wisp of green smoke, disappearing from the straw hut.

In the blink of an eye, a clattering sound immediately came from the adjacent straw hut, clearly indicating that the Daoist had lost his balance again after dismissing his spell.

"Sigh..."

The young man standing by the door sighed softly.

Along with this sigh, the girl lying on the bamboo bed opened her eyes a crack, seeing the figure deep in thought, head bowed.

The senior brother is so tall.

"Master's foundation is still a bit too weak. His spiritual power is insufficient, and he probably won't be able to withstand the Heavenly Tribulation for ascension to immortality."

What did those words mean...?

Weariness swept over her again. Lan Ling'e unconsciously closed her eyes gently again, and soon heard increasingly clear footsteps.

Although she was only nine years old at the moment, her intelligence had awakened early. Born into a noble family in the human mundane world and having studied etiquette since childhood, she already had a vague and partial understanding of various matters.

This situation of a solitary man and a lone woman, with an unfamiliar man constantly approaching her, in Lan Ling'e's view, was disrespectful to etiquette.

But if it was her senior brother, who would be like a biological elder brother from now on, then perhaps it was fine...

"Junior Sister Lan, I am your senior brother, Li Changshou. I am now going to alleviate the effects of the Soft Immortal Incense for you. If you can hear me, please don't think I'm a pervert; I am a man with very proper values. Uh, what nonsense am I muttering? She's just started cultivating; how could she withstand this medicine's power?"

Pervert? Values?

These specialized terms about cultivation were so hard to understand...

As expected of a Qi Cultivator!

Lan Ling'e wanted to try and respond, to avoid being too impolite in front of her senior brother, but she had no strength at all; only her thoughts were active.

Suddenly, she felt a large hand gently placed on her forehead. Streaks of cool, refreshing energy flowed in from her forehead, instantly coursing through her entire body, making her feel exceptionally comfortable.

The senior brother was healing her...

For some reason, Lan Ling'e's thoughts became a bit muddled. Her mind drifted into the clouds, hazy yet undeniably real.

Li Changshou looked at the little girl lying flat on the bed, frowning in thought.

Although his master had long spoken of taking another disciple, and he had also prepared himself mentally to welcome a junior sister or junior brother, there were still a few things he was quite concerned about.

'I should take this opportunity to check her soul.'

Li Changshou released a wisp of cool energy, gently touching the core of Lan Ling'e's life essence.

Hmm, her soul and body are perfectly integrated, with no sense of discord. She shouldn't have been body-snatched. Her aptitude seems good too, with an affinity for Water and Wood. I just don't know what her temperament is like. At this age, a junior sister's personality should already be formed. I hope she's not the kind who causes trouble everywhere... However, judging by her appearance, she might become a beauty in the future. Beauties have historically caused much trouble. This could be a flashpoint for conflict, so I must try my best to avoid it.

'I should also check if there's any demonic seed or similar hidden within her.'

Yes, this is also a very necessary check. Although the probability of it happening is very low, this tiny possibility cannot be ruled out. It's always good to be prepared.

Meanwhile...

Huh? Feeling the large hand leave her forehead and slowly glide across other parts of her body, Lan Ling'e, still in a daze, felt her small face slightly flush.

Se-Senior brother... Is this a bit too... This might be a bit impolite...

Soon, Li Changshou nodded. After his thorough inspection, his junior sister should have no problems. She hadn't been body-snatched, no demonic seed had been planted, she hadn't been cursed or hexed, and she was indeed a good seedling for cultivation.

Entrance examination, officially passed!

Next, it was time to prepare for training courses for his junior sister. He needed to prepare well for this too.

Ideally, his junior sister wouldn't be the kind to cause trouble. That way, the probability of him getting involved in karma would roughly remain the same as it was now...

Li Changshou sat by the bed, slightly lost in thought. Then he chuckled wryly and muttered:

"But I guess I also understand why there were so many lolicon in my previous life. So cute, who could resist?"

Lolicon? Cute? Previous life?

Although Lan Ling'e didn't understand, she felt that her master was indeed right; her senior brother was a bit strange.

Perhaps the cool energy had taken effect. Lan Ling'e felt a tiny bit of strength return to her body. She couldn't help but want to open her eyes, her small mouth slightly agape, letting out a soft hum.

Her vision changed from blurry to clear. Lan Ling'e finally saw her senior brother up close. It was indeed a face with well-defined features that grew more handsome the longer she looked, even more attractive than the guards around her mother.

It was just that, at this moment, the senior brother's expression was a bit... unsettling...

The senior brother's gaze was terrifying!

Gulp!

Lan Ling'e swallowed, feeling weak, helpless, and utterly pathetic.

Then the young cultivator sitting by the bed quietly asked: "Did you hear everything I just said?"

Lan Ling'e instantly panicked, replying tremblingly: "N-no... Mmm..."

What's wrong with Senior Brother? Did I do something to upset him? Is that expression because he's dissatisfied with something about her?

"Senior Brother..."

The young man by the bed slowly stood up, looking down at the delicate little girl, his gaze holding a slight hesitation, but he quickly spoke in a low voice:

"Look at me. Don't mention what I just said to anyone."

"Oh, okay," Lan Ling'e responded softly, her cheeks flushed, feeling a bit lost.

Then, she saw her senior brother shake his head, slowly stand up and walk to the window, staring blankly outside.

His name was Li Changshou. When he became a disciple years ago, he insisted on keeping 'Changshou' as his Daoist name. It wasn't far from Lan Ling'e's guess; Li Changshou simply hoped to live longer, preferably as long as heaven and earth.

At this moment, Li Changshou was recalling the information he had revealed while talking to himself just now.

The biggest flaw should be those three words: 'previous life'.

Damn it! After over a hundred years of being extra careful, he unexpectedly exposed his secret in front of his new junior sister! He had also kept the secret hidden for too long, and couldn't help but start talking to himself!

Turning his head, he glanced at the little girl on the bed, who was trying to sit up. Li Changshou rubbed his chin.

As expected, he'd have to silence her, silence her!

On the bamboo bed, Lan Ling'e, who had struggled to sit up, happened to catch a glimpse of her senior brother's chilling gaze, and couldn't help but shiver...

"Senior Brother?"

"What I just said, absolutely do not mention it to anyone!"

"Mhm! Ling'e remembers!"

"You must not tell anyone, including Master!"

"Okay, Senior Brother..."

"Alright then, first, make an oath, in the name of the Supreme Dao!"

"Huh? Uh..."

In the slanting sunlight, the little girl sitting on the bed felt her brow furrow. Under the supervision of the "technical advisor" beside her, she raised her small hand and began to recite the thousand-word, all-encompassing, conditional... Grand Dao Oath.