Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

"Congratulations, all of you, for arriving at Qingye Heavenly Sect."

A dignified yet kindly voice echoed, and then beams of light descended from the sky, enveloping everyone present.

Some tried to avoid it.

But there was no time!

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Suddenly, everyone's consciousness was pulled into the same "group chat" by Qingye Daojun.

"Who are you?!"

Someone asked cautiously.

"Heh, who am I? It's been so long, I can barely remember my name. But the world knows me as… Qingye Daojun!"

Qingye Daojun stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from the crowd, his figure ethereal and shrouded in mystery, giving off an unfathomable aura.

"Greetings, Daojun!"

"Greetings, Senior!"

The Chosen Ones immediately bowed.

Though they usually acted arrogant, always looking down on others, in the presence of an elder, they were incredibly polite—each more respectful than the last.

Many of them had risen to prominence precisely by relying on such politeness.

For example, they'd encounter a seemingly mysterious old beggar. While others would mistreat him, they would show unparalleled courtesy, treating him better than their own parents. The beggar, moved by their kindness, would then grant them an enormous opportunity.

So, they had learned a simple truth—one might not always need to treat their parents well, but an elder must always be respected!

"No need for formalities."

Qingye Daojun hadn't expected this group of ants to be so polite. That troublesome guy from before certainly hadn't acted this way.

Slowly turning around, he smiled and said, "Since you've come here, you are fated with the Qingye Heavenly Sect. And since you've received tokens, it's clear that you are all true geniuses. So... are you willing to join the Qingye Heavenly Sect?"

The crowd was stunned.

Being accepted as disciples outright?

Wasn't this a bit too straightforward? No trials or tests? The suddenness of this fortune was overwhelming!

After all, for any young cultivator, being taken in as a disciple by such an ancient, mysterious figure was an incredible opportunity.

Even without much else.

Being accepted as a disciple would likely come with some teachings, right?

For a figure of this level, even the smallest bit of wisdom could grant them endless benefits.

"Disciple is willing! I greet my master!"

"Your humble disciple greets Master!"

"Master, please accept your disciple's bow!"

Everyone hurriedly knelt down, performing the formal bow of apprenticeship.

In truth, they were being cunning.

Qingye Daojun had asked if they wanted to join the sect, but he hadn't specifically said he would take them as his personal disciples.

Being a regular sect disciple and being a direct disciple of the sect's patriarch were worlds apart.

One was the sky, and the other was the earth!

Realizing this, they immediately performed the disciple's bow, giving Qingye Daojun no chance to refuse.

Of course, Qingye Daojun didn't plan to refuse.

Wasn't this exactly what he wanted?

"Heh, such obedient young people, but also such fools. Don't they know that performing a disciple's bow links their fate and luck to mine?"

Qingye Daojun smiled benevolently, but inside, he was sneering coldly. Slowly, he spread his hands.

It was as though he were welcoming the sun or awaiting the onslaught of a storm—he was anticipating the flow of destiny and fortune to come back to him.

Yes, a flow back!

By performing the disciple's bow, they had officially formed a master-disciple bond, which would create an invisible connection. The stronger party's destiny and fortune would naturally flow to the other.

Like ocean water flowing into a river.

Having been sealed for so long, both his destiny and the fortune of the Qingye Heavenly Sect had been severely depleted. Only recently, with the world's resurgence, had he regained a small amount, but it was nowhere near enough to sustain his life.

Currently, both his body and soul were petrified, and only a tiny portion of his consciousness could extend out.

His destiny and fortune were tied to the Qingye Heavenly Sect. He was the core, and naturally, the sect was in the same dire state.

But!

With the fortune and destiny of these Chosen Ones flowing back to him, he could regain some strength.

His level of cultivation was too high, so their destiny and fortune wouldn't be enough to fully revive him.

However, it could be enough to revive a few weaker disciples or stewards, and from there, he could set a chain reaction in motion. Like a glacier thawing, bit by bit, until the entire Qingye Heavenly Sect was fully restored and returned to the world!

"Hmm?!"

But after waiting for a long time, he was shocked to find that no destiny or fortune was flowing back to him.

"What's going on?"

His eyes glowed with brilliant symbols, as though opening a divine vision that could see through all truth.

Then, his face froze, and after a brief silence, he let out an earth-shaking roar, filled with rage: "Bastards!!!"

What did he see?

He saw that none of these young people had any destiny or fortune at all! They were completely empty, cleaner than he was!

Crash!

To his horror, he realized that what little destiny and fortune he had left was now flowing toward these young people.

"No!!!"

He howled in agony.

His own destiny and fortune were already scarce, but for these Chosen Ones, it was like a miraculous elixir.

It could practically overwhelm them!

After absorbing his destiny and fortune, not only would these people restore what they had lost, they would become even stronger!

He had intended to reap the rewards.

But instead, he had been used to make them even more powerful...

"Master, what's happening?!"

"This... what is this? Hahaha! Hahahahaha!"

"I feel amazing again!"

"Me too! Hahaha!"

The Chosen Ones were initially startled, thinking they should react with panic like their master, but as the destiny and fortune surged into them, they felt an overwhelming sense of exhilaration, and soon, they were laughing uncontrollably.

Seeing their crazed laughter, Qingye Daojun nearly exploded on the spot, but he restrained himself.

He knew that if he continued to lose more of his fortune, he would fall back into a deep slumber. Perhaps he wouldn't awaken again until the world had fully revived.

But before that happened!

He had to find out who had set him up, because this situation was far too suspicious—someone had to be behind it!

"Reflection Technique!"

He shot a brilliant light from his eyes, invading the mind of one of the young Chosen Ones. As he sifted through the memories, he experienced everything that young person had gone through as if he were there.

And then, he discovered it.

The son of the one he had once feared—Qin Zi!

He saw that when Qin Zi had defeated this young man, a mysterious force had drained his destiny and fortune. The young man hadn't noticed, but Qingye Daojun did.

"It's that little brat!!!"

At that moment, Qingye Daojun's rage reached its peak, transforming into a deep, irreconcilable hatred.

"You little brat! I've ruled over countless ages, and today I've fallen into your trap. I will never forgive you!"

As his destiny and fortune rapidly drained, Qingye Daojun's consciousness began to blur, and he was about to fall into slumber once more.

Using the last of his strength, he sent a final command to the remnants of Qingye Heavenly Sect.

"I decree! Whoever awakens first, make sure you kill that brat Qin Zi—no rest until he is dead!!!"

With that, his figure vanished.

Rumble!

His voice, like a law of nature, became etched into the statues of the sect. When those statues eventually awakened, they would know exactly what to do.

Generally, weaker beings would awaken first, as it took less destiny and fortune to restore them.

Why?

Like a cup of water on a small hill can carry a pebble, but when placed on a flat surface, it won't budge—the smaller the burden, the easier it is to revive.