Ye Xuan was somewhat surprised—Little Tower was actually scared!
Back in the day, aside from Qing’er, Little Tower looked down on everyone.
It seemed that sword strike from his old man the other day had rattled it!
Without dwelling on it, Ye Xuan closed the ancient text and was about to leave when a woman suddenly stepped into the pavilion!
Seeing her, Ye Xuan froze for a moment. It was none other than Mu Shen.
Mu Shen approached him. “Gu Yi said you were here reading.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Yep!”
Mu Shen sized him up, then said, “Interested in becoming a true disciple?”
Ye Xuan blinked. “True disciple?”
Mu Shen nodded.
Ye Xuan hesitated, then replied, “I’m not really that interested!”
Mu Shen nodded again. “Good thing you’re interested—come with me!”
With that, she turned and walked off.
Ye Xuan stood there, dumbfounded. *Did I say I was interested?*
Speechless, he followed her after a moment.
Mu Shen led him to a grand hall, vast and empty, flanked by towering coiled-dragon pillars that exuded majesty.
Inside, an elderly man and a middle-aged man awaited.
The elder wore a loose, cloud-colored robe, his hair and beard stark white. The middle-aged man stood with his eyes half-closed, lost in thought.
Ye Xuan glanced at them—both were at the Thought Clarity realm!
Mu Shen suddenly announced, “He’s the true disciple I’ve chosen!”
With that, she turned to leave, but after two steps, she paused and looked back at Ye Xuan. “Coming?”
Ye Xuan blinked. “That’s it?”
Mu Shen nodded. “Yep!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Without another word, Mu Shen headed out of the hall.
Ye Xuan hesitated, then followed.
Inside the hall, the white-haired elder chuckled. “Muge, what do you think?”
The middle-aged man, Muge, glanced toward the hall’s exit. “She sure knows how to pick ’em!”
The elder laughed. “Indeed! This kid—I can’t see through him. But my gut tells me choosing him could bring a massive opportunity! Though, it’s not without risks.”
Muge said gravely, “She’s gambling!”
The elder shrugged. “I’d bet too!”
Muge turned to him. “Sect Master, I hear you’ve taken a Child of Destiny as your disciple. Why not bring him out to meet us?”
The elder laughed heartily. “The time’s not right!”
He then looked at Muge. “What about yours?”
Muge’s expression remained calm. “How could mine compare to yours, Sect Master?”
The elder grinned. “Born with divine pupils—something you don’t see in millions of years!”
Muge gave a faint smile, saying nothing more.
The elder turned his gaze outside the hall, murmuring, “I wonder what kind of background Mu Shen’s pick has…”
Muge followed his gaze, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
—
Outside the hall.
Mu Shen stopped, staring up at the horizon, lost in thought.
Ye Xuan trailed beside her, glancing at her but staying silent.
Suddenly, Mu Shen asked, “You’ve probably gotten a decent grasp of this universe by now, right?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
She turned to him. “Know why I brought you here?”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then ventured, “You’re not planning to groom me as the next Vein Master, are you?”
Mu Shen froze, clearly caught off guard by that response!
She stared at him, speechless.
Ye Xuan gave an awkward laugh. “No?”
Mu Shen said softly, “Our Holy Vein Master, Xu Chong—the old guy just now—took a disciple. Know who that disciple is?”
Ye Xuan shook his head.
Mu Shen continued, “His disciple is a Child of Destiny. Know what that is?”
Ye Xuan shook his head again.
Mu Shen explained gently, “A person’s birth is a kind of fate. Many are born with extraordinary advantages—things others couldn’t achieve in several lifetimes. This Child of Destiny was born with the top divine physique in all the myriad realms: the Destiny Divine Body!”
She paused, then looked at Ye Xuan. “Know what that is?”
Ye Xuan shook his head.
Mu Shen gazed at him. “The Destiny Divine Body is an incredibly mystical constitution. Those born with it are practically invincible from the start.”
Ye Xuan frowned. “Why?”
Mu Shen elaborated, “Because no evil karma can touch them. Plus, anyone who opposes them is essentially defying destiny—and such people tend to die miserably! In layman’s terms, those who go against them get taken out by the heavens! Only someone at Thought Clarity can barely resist this special destiny power.”
Ye Xuan stayed quiet.
Mu Shen added, “That middle-aged guy earlier, Muge, is a Holy Venerable of our vein. He took a disciple born with divine pupils… You probably don’t know what that is either, right?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Mu Shen chuckled lightly. “Divine pupils mean divine arts. They’re not as mystical as a Child of Destiny, but their eyes hold terrifying innate power—something they’re born with. No one knows where it comes from; it just grows with them.”
She looked at Ye Xuan again. “Know why I’m telling you this?”
Ye Xuan shook his head.
Mu Shen fixed her gaze on him. “You’re part of Holy Vein now—my pick. Though we’re one vein, there’s internal competition. I don’t want you vying for Vein Master. I want you to befriend them—connect with them. It’ll benefit you!”
Ye Xuan shook his head.
Mu Shen frowned.
Ye Xuan grinned. “I don’t choose friends based on status or background. In this world, no one’s got a stronger backing than me.”
Little Tower: “…”
Mu Shen stared at him. “You serious?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Mu Shen fell silent.
Ye Xuan suddenly asked, “How should I address you?”
Mu Shen replied, “You can call me Master!”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “Can we go with something else?”
Mu Shen glanced at him. “They all call me Mu Shen.”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly. “Mu Girl, why’d you take me as a disciple? I really want to know!”
Mu Shen paused, then said, “When I saw you, you gave me a unique feeling—one that told me being with you would benefit me. That’s it!”
Ye Xuan frowned. “Benefit you?”
Mu Shen nodded. “I trust that feeling—it’s a special ability of Thought Clarity. Of course, I don’t know how big that benefit is. And benefits often come with dangers! But I decided to take the gamble!”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Why?”
Mu Shen looked at him. “Because you’re good with words!”
With that, she turned and walked off.
Ye Xuan: “…”
Then Mu Shen added, “Don’t leave Holy Vein lightly. By now, you’re likely on Demon Vein’s hit list. If you go out, they’ll kill you!”
Ye Xuan asked, “Holy Vein or Demon Vein—which is stronger?”
Mu Shen replied, “Demon Vein’s a bit stronger!”
Ye Xuan frowned. “You’ve got such terrifying prodigies here and still can’t match them?”
Mu Shen stopped and turned to him. “Demon Vein has even scarier freaks!”
Ye Xuan grew curious. “Can you tell me?”
Mu Shen went quiet.
Ye Xuan grinned. “Can’t?”
Mu Shen said softly, “Defiers!”
Ye Xuan frowned. “Defiers?”
Mu Shen glanced at him. “With your background, you shouldn’t be unfamiliar with them!”
Ye Xuan chuckled. “Can I be honest?”
Mu Shen nodded.
Ye Xuan laughed. “I’ve got a halo—a Halo-Bearer. Under this halo, all prodigies and geniuses are just stepping stones!”
Little Tower: *Speechless.*
*Little Master’s showing off again!*
But then again… it didn’t seem entirely wrong!
Mu Shen stared at him. “Halo-Bearer?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “You haven’t heard of it?”
Mu Shen shook her head. “Nope! I think you’re just bragging!”
Ye Xuan’s face darkened…
Mu Shen continued softly, “Defiers are those who cultivate through adversity. They’re not bound by innate talent. Unlike natural gifts, they’re born from struggle—reversing fate, breaking limits, forging strength and potential that defy their origins.”
She paused, her expression growing serious. “These people endure countless hardships and tribulations, eventually grasping the mysteries of the heavens, the cosmos, the vicissitudes of life, and the shifts of past, present, and future. They achieve true enlightenment. Such beings are rarer than rare across eons. Simply put, a Child of Destiny or someone with divine pupils is born with their gifts. Defiers earn theirs through sheer grit. They’re genuinely terrifying! Demon Vein has one—and that single person tips the scales in their favor!”
She looked at Ye Xuan. “One person altered the balance of the Great Motian Domain.”
Ye Xuan murmured, “Sounds kinda badass!”
Mu Shen turned to him. “Can you tell me about this Halo-Bearer thing? I’m curious—I’ve never heard of it, and there’s no record in ancient histories! Care to explain?”
Halo-Bearer!
Ye Xuan paused, then said inwardly, “Little Tower, can you explain? I’m curious too!”
Little Tower thought for a moment, then said, “Simple. Next time you see Sister Destiny, just tell her, ‘This endless cosmos pisses me off!’ Then our story’s done!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
