Chapter Seventy-Eight: Left Behind

The Ancient Fool scratched his head and helped him over to where Gu Weiyu and the others were. “Little brother, stand firm,” he said. The young boy nodded slightly, mimicking Liu Ruyan and the others as he reached out to grip the jade handrail tightly.

Only then did the Ancient Fool let go, instinctively glancing at Liu Ruyan and successfully earning a faint smile from the fairy-like maiden. Immediately, as if energized, he produced a meditation cushion and said, “Ruyan, are you tired?” This time, he glanced at Xu Weizhou and another, then took out several more cushions in quick succession. “Big Brother Xu, Red Robe, why don’t you sit down and rest as well?”

Xu Weizhou remained standing stiffly, while Gu Weiyu went straight to a cushion and sat down without ceremony—she truly was a bit weary. Liu Ruyan sat beside Gu Weiyu, smiling warmly, “I’m Liu Ruyan. And you, sister?”

Gu Weiyu replied with a gentle smile, “My name is Lian Hongyi.”

Liu Ruyan noticed her fair complexion and refined features, but all of it was marred by the scar on her right cheek. A sense of pity rose unbidden in her heart.

Before Gu Weiyu finished speaking, the Ancient Fool’s head popped in, pointing to himself and the young man in blue, “I’m the Ancient Fool, and he’s Xu Weizhou.”

Gu Weiyu and Liu Ruyan both twitched at the corners of their mouths. Truly, he was everywhere!

“And me, I’m Lin Haoran,” the last boy, having registered his information, chose a cushion and sat down.

“Big Brother Xu, why don’t you come rest as well?” the Ancient Fool invited Xu Weizhou again.

Xu Weizhou shook his head, replying calmly, “No need, I’m fine standing.”

Inside the sect leader’s hall, Fairy Yuyao watched the five through the Flowing Light Mirror and said with a smile, “These little ones are quite interesting!”

“Look, more people are coming up!” Master Qingpu closed his feather fan and pointed at the Celestial Ascension Stairway in the mirror.

Not long after Gu Weiyu and the others sat down, several more arrived one after another, soon bringing the number to ten.

Gu Weiyu’s gaze swept discreetly over the other nine. As expected, those who ascended before the others must each have their own remarkable qualities.

“Zhongli, go and bring these ten over,” said Master Qianhe, the sect leader of the Myriad Sword Sect, who had been silent until now.

“Yes!” Zhongli saluted the sect leader and briskly headed out.

“Everyone, take a close look. Besides these ten, are there any others you find pleasing to the eye?” Master Qianhe gestured to the Flowing Light Mirror.

There were still disciples in the hall who hadn’t been chosen, and they looked at the mirror again at his words.

What the Ancient Fool said wasn’t wrong: the first ten to ascend the stairway had a high chance of being accepted as disciples by the Core Formation masters.

But being among the first ten didn’t guarantee one would become a disciple of a Core Formation master. Likewise, those who weren’t in the top ten weren’t necessarily without hope. Ultimately, it all came down to “fate.” Sometimes, one’s presence alone could touch the heart.

The ten, including Gu Weiyu, were standing by the jade steps, listening to the Ancient Fool chatter, “I tell you, now that ten of us are here, I’ve heard the first ten up…”

“You seem to know quite a bit!” Zhongli, who had appeared behind them without notice, interrupted him.

The Ancient Fool, seeing Zhongli, immediately stopped, chuckling awkwardly, “Heh heh, it’s just hearsay, just hearsay…”

The disciples of the Myriad Sword Sect on the white jade plaza looked on with envy. This was a chance to ascend in one leap—if only…

Many felt regret rise in their hearts, but could only reminisce to themselves.

“You all, come with me.” Zhongli cast them a glance, then turned toward the sect leader’s hall.

Everyone looked at the Ancient Fool—well done, brother, you were right!

The Ancient Fool basked in their attention, puffing out his little chest. He’d said those in the top ten had a chance to become Core Formation disciples, and he never lied!

Zhongli led them directly into the sect leader’s hall, saluting Master Qianhe again. “Sect Leader, Zhongli has brought them.”

“Very well, you may step back.” Master Qianhe nodded, his gaze settling on the ten.

Zhongli quietly moved to a corner to await further instructions.

Master Qianhe regarded Gu Weiyu and the others, then spoke: “Your performance on the Ascension Stairway was exceptional. The Core Formation masters wishing to take disciples are here. Whether you become their disciples depends entirely on fate.

Since you stand here now, remember: do not rejoice over possessions, nor grieve for oneself. Let everything follow its course; never let yourselves fall into obsession.”

Master Qianhe was about to continue when someone interrupted, “Senior Brother Qianhe, can we begin now?”

It was a beautiful young woman in pale purple gauze, looking no more than twenty, smiling as she gazed at Master Qianhe.

“If Junior Sister Yuyao cannot wait, then let us begin,” Master Qianhe replied, not at all annoyed by her interruption, with a nod.

“Then I’ll start,” said Fairy Yuyao, her gaze falling on Liu Ruyan. With a smile, she asked, “Little Ruyan, would you like to be my disciple?”

As a self-confessed admirer of beauty, Fairy Yuyao was instantly taken with Liu Ruyan—not only was her spiritual root outstanding, but she also had an ethereal appearance that greatly pleased her.

As soon as she spoke, everyone in the hall showed expressions of confirmation—it was just as expected.

Liu Ruyan glanced quickly at Fairy Yuyao seated in the hall. Without much hesitation, she knelt and bowed, “Ruyan pays respect to Master!”

Fairy Yuyao’s lips curled, beckoning to her, “Good disciple, come to my side.”

Liu Ruyan rose and walked gracefully to stand behind Fairy Yuyao. Both wore pale purple, making for an oddly harmonious sight.

“Xu Weizhou, would you like to join my sect?” Master Qingjian asked next.

Few would refuse the chance to become a Core Formation disciple. Xu Weizhou knelt decisively, his voice cool, “Weizhou greets Master.”

Master Qingjian stroked his beard and nodded, “Weizhou, come over.”

Xu Weizhou stepped to stand behind Master Qingjian.

Next, the Core Formation masters in the hall began selecting their favored disciples: Lin Haoran, with a golden spiritual root, was chosen by Master Qingpu; Wu Tian, with fire and wood roots, was picked by Master Hongyu; even the chatterbox Ancient Fool was selected by Master Xiuyuan.

Soon enough, only Gu Weiyu remained standing alone in the hall.

She instinctively clenched her hands, her face composed but her heart already stirred. She had been the third to finish the Ascension Stairway, and her qualifications were not lacking—there was no reason for her to be left alone.

Could it be that the scar on her face was too ugly, and that was why she was set aside? The thought puzzled her.

Surely not—dignified Core Formation masters could not be so superficial as to judge only by appearances, could they?