The rewards were undeniably generous.
Li Bai's Green Lotus Sword Song, Sword Intent, and even the assistance of a Peak King Realm cultivator—each one powerful enough to shake the heavens.
Yet, as Xuan Yi examined the system's task panel again, a subtle frown appeared on his face.
No matter how enticing the prizes were, neither the Main Quest nor the Side Quest would be easy to complete.
The Main Quest required that at least one of his disciples attain combat strength equivalent to the Soul Condensation Realm. On the surface, it seemed straightforward. But when Xuan Yi glanced at the names on his panel—Lin Zhiyin and Wang Hu—his confidence wavered just slightly.
Lin Zhiyin, the more talented of the two, had only just broken through to the second level of the Qi Foundation Realm. Wang Hu's progress was even more modest—hovering just at the seventh level of the Qi Condensation Realm, seemingly stuck at the bottleneck.
Would either of them really be able to reach Soul Condensation?
But then, as he re-read the quest description, a flicker of realization lit up in his eyes.
"Wait… The quest doesn't say 'break through to the Soul Condensation Realm'… It says 'reach Soul Condensation Realm combat strength'."
The distinction was subtle, but to cultivators, it was crucial.
In the cultivation world, realm and strength were not always the same. Some prodigies could defeat opponents two or even three realms above them through talent, techniques, or treasures. The moment this clicked, Xuan Yi's expression shifted.
"Combat strength, huh… Then it's not impossible after all."
After all, Lin Zhiyin had only just become his disciple. She had trained on her own, with no guidance, no techniques worthy of her potential. But now she had Xuan Yi.
With his status as a Nascent Soul expert, and with the aid of the System, he could provide her with elite cultivation methods, precious pills, powerful techniques, and actual combat guidance. Elevating her battle prowess to match Soul Condensation wasn't an unthinkable task—it was a matter of time and investment.
"In that case," Xuan Yi mused, "the Main Quest… might be easier than I thought."
But then his eyes darkened slightly.
"It's the Side Quest that's truly difficult."
The requirement? To recruit a disciple with over 100 aptitude.
Aptitude, as measured by the System, quantified a person's innate talent and potential for cultivation. The higher the number, the greater the potential. However, aptitude above 100 was extremely rare, bordering on legendary.
Even Bai Zisong, publicly hailed as the number one genius of the Profound Sword Sect, only had 92 aptitude points.
"That's still a bit short…" Xuan Yi muttered.
Which meant the chances of finding such a disciple were slim—even within the sect.
He could only hope that the upcoming recruitment ceremony would surprise him.
If not, he might have no choice but to leave the sect and personally search the land for a worthy disciple.
The Profound Sword Sect's Annual Recruitment Ceremony was one of the grandest events in the entire region. Held once every year, it was a time of hope and ambition for many young cultivators across the Southern Province.
For some local powers, it was a matter of pride to have even one of their own enter the sect.
Though not a top-tier force in the Heavenly Wind Kingdom, the Profound Sword Sect still commanded considerable respect—especially in the Southern Province, where it stood as a dominant presence.
The Southern Province was just one of 108 provinces in the kingdom. Yet even within this single province, Nascent Soul experts were rare.
Currently, the Profound Sword Sect housed four Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, including the Sect Master, Jian Nantian—who himself had reached the peak of the second level.
To many, that alone made the sect a sacred land for cultivation.
It should be noted that the difference between the first and second levels of Nascent Soul Realm was vast. In the entire Southern Province, most Nascent Soul cultivators barely reached the first level. Very few ever broke through to the third. As for the fourth level, it marked the threshold of mid-stage Nascent Soul, and not a single such cultivator had been seen in the Southern Province for generations.
By the time Xuan Yi arrived at the grand sect square, it was already teeming with people.
Young hopefuls, their families, clan elders, and even wandering cultivators had gathered from every corner of the province. Some stood tall and proud, others looked nervous, but they all shared one thing—ambition.
The annual ceremony was more than a simple recruitment—it was a battlefield of talent.
While it was referred to as a disciple recruitment ceremony, only a tiny portion of these youths had the qualifications to become personal disciples of the Profound Sword Sect's elders.
Most would only become Outer Disciples—assigned to perform chores, train under guidance, and work their way up slowly.
And yet, even that was enough to excite most of the attendees.
In a world where strength ruled all, gaining access to a Nascent Soul-backed sect was akin to rewriting one's fate.
Most of the candidates came from small cities and minor clans. Prominent families often sent their children to stronger forces, such as the Imperial Academy of Tianfeng—one of the Ten Great Sects and the so-called cradle of geniuses.
Still, within the Southern Province, the Profound Sword Sect carried undeniable weight.
"I heard that man in the embroidered robe at the front is Jian Nantian, the Sect Master! A real Nascent Soul expert!"
"What? Nascent Soul?! I'm still stuck at the Soul Condensation Realm…"
"Ha! My clan doesn't even have someone at the seventh level of Soul Condensation, let alone Nascent Soul."
"If I become a disciple here… even our Patriarch will have to bow to me when I return!"
"They say Sect Master Jian is already at the peak of the second level of Nascent Soul! He's one step away from breaking into the third!"
Gasps, whispers, and awestruck voices filled the air.
For many of the youths present, this was their first time laying eyes on a Nascent Soul expert. And not just one—several high-ranking elders had appeared alongside Jian Nantian.
Each one radiated a terrifying aura, more powerful than any figure most of these young cultivators had ever seen.
Among the crowd stood a girl—seventeen or eighteen years old, with long black hair, gentle yet steady eyes, and a grace that stood out even in the sea of hopefuls.
Her name was Gui Yiyi.
She hailed from Half Moon City, located deep in the southernmost reaches of the province. Her clan, the Gui Family, was one of the Three Great Clans in the city.
As the daughter of the Patriarch, she held a high status back home. But she knew well that status was regional. Outside of Half Moon City, her name carried little meaning.
She had traveled two weeks with her clan's disciples to arrive here. Unlike others who flaunted their backgrounds, Gui Yiyi remained low-key, her expression calm and focused.
"Only strength matters in this world," she reminded herself.
If she could enter the Profound Sword Sect—especially under a powerful elder—her family's position would be unshakable. Even the threat of the Witherwood Gate, a hostile power looming near their territory, could be neutralized.
Her heart pounded as her eyes scanned the elders on the platform.
"I must stand out today," she whispered.
Unbeknownst to her, her arrival would soon change everything.
And on the elevated platform, as Xuan Yi swept his gaze across the sea of fresh faces…
His eyes paused—for the briefest moment—on Gui Yiyi.