Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 563 Personal Disciples and Followers
Upon hearing Xiao Jie's voice, the three immortals who were chatting and laughing turned their heads together. Their gazes naturally passed over Xiao Jie's figure and landed on the group of young people behind him who were both nervous and excited.

Their gaze held a scrutinizing quality, like an experienced craftsman examining an unpolished gem; yet it also contained a subtle hint of expectation. Ultimately, their purpose in descending to the mortal realm was to cultivate a group of exceptionally skilled individuals for the Heaven-Mending Alliance and for the future cause of saving the world, to serve as capable assistants. If their talent was too mediocre, or their character flawed, they would not only fail to be an asset but could potentially become a source of trouble.

However, after the three men carefully scanned the crowd, they couldn't help but light up and nod in agreement.

Putting aside everything else, this group of young people in front of us, perhaps because they have experienced the baptism of life and death, or perhaps because they are one in ten thousand, have a spiritual radiance in their souls that is pure and vibrant, far exceeding that of ordinary mortals.

It's important to understand that "spirituality" is mostly innate and difficult to significantly enhance through acquired means. Aside from a very few born with exceptional spiritual talent, the vast majority of the billions of living beings in the world are merely ordinary mortals with obscured spirituality. And the level of this spirituality is precisely the most basic and demanding requirement for perceiving the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, cultivating Taoist arts and mystical techniques, and ultimately achieving immortality. Of course, this is the orthodox path of the Xuanmen (mystical sects); if one follows unorthodox paths such as demon immortals or ghost immortals, then it's a different story.

The group of people before him, at least in terms of their innate talent and aptitude, were indeed exceptional. Considering they had only been reincarnated a day ago, even if Xiao Jie possessed any secret methods of nurturing them, he certainly wouldn't have had time to use them yet. Their extraordinary talent was truly a gift from heaven.

"Good, good, good!" Lin Xuance stroked his beard and praised repeatedly, his eyes full of admiration. "Indeed, they are a group of excellent talents, their foundations are exceptionally good, rarely seen in the world." His gaze slowly swept over the crowd, then suddenly sharpened, fixing on the ancient, sheathed longsword behind Xia Yi Wushuang. Although the sword was not drawn, it possessed a hidden, awe-inspiring sword intent that resonated subtly with his own sword energy.

The style of the sword hilt looked very familiar.

"Fellow Daoist Suifeng, this sword—" Lin Xuance's tone carried a hint of surprise and inquiry.

Xiao Jie smiled and explained, "Fellow Daoist Lin has a keen eye. This 'Demon-Slaying Sword' was originally a fortuitous possession of my friend. It was fate that brought us together. Back then, deep in Snowfall Valley, at the bottom of the frozen lake, it was my team that opened the ancient immortal realm. And this sword was personally pulled from the sword tomb at the core of that realm by my friend, the Peerless Hero, so it naturally recognizes him as its master."

He paused, then continued, "Later, things changed drastically, and he suffered a great calamity. Before he died, he entrusted this sword to me for safekeeping, hoping that I could return it to him one day. Now, it can be considered that the sword has been returned to its rightful owner."

"Such a thing is true!" Lin Xuance immediately showed a look of surprise and joy, and his gaze toward Xia Yi Wushuang became even more different. "The Snowfall Valley Secret Realm was left behind by me and Shenjizi and other fellow Daoists back then, so that future generations with the right fate could open the secret realm and use the memories and treasures within the secret realm as a foundation to be of some benefit to the cause of saving the world."

This sword is the one I left in that secret realm; only the most chivalrous person can draw it.

"I never imagined it would be you who ultimately unlocked this secret! Since this sword has chosen him, it is destined for him; and this child is also destined for me! Wonderful, wonderful! Since we are here to guide him into this path, why don't I personally nurture and teach him?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Yi Wushuang realized that this was an incredible stroke of luck, and he was extremely excited. He had been a martial arts fan since childhood, and he had already rehearsed this scene countless times in his mind. He hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down in front of Lin Xuance like a mountain collapsing and a jade pillar falling, his voice loud and sincere: "Master, please accept my bow!"

"Hahaha! Good, good! Get up now!" Lin Xuance laughed heartily, appearing very satisfied.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, this is not right!" The Martial Dao Immortal beside him couldn't help but glare and puff out his beard. "If you're going to choose disciples, it should be fair and reasonable, giving everyone a chance to showcase their talents. How come you picked one first? And such a fine piece of jade at that!"

“How is it wrong?” Lin Xuance said righteously, pointing to the sword on Xia Yi Wushuang’s back. “This boy is destined to be with me, and this Demon-Slaying Sword is proof of that! You all saw it. This fate is ordained by heaven and cannot be forced! Haha!”

At this moment, Su Zhiqing, the Mysterious Sovereign, looked at everyone with a clear and cold gaze, as if she could see through people's hearts. She spoke in an ethereal voice: "Among you, is there anyone who is skilled in Taoist magic and mystical arts?"

Bai Ze hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully said, "Reporting to the Immortal Master, I had some knowledge of Taoist arts in my previous life, and I was especially skilled in sword control."

Over there, Deidara, nourished by the Soul-Soothing Saliva, had largely recovered his damaged soul. Although his eyes were still occasionally dazed, his mind had returned to about 70-80%. He quickly raised his hand and said, "Me! I know the Five Elements magic! I can even cast the Five Elements Incarnation Technique! It's just that after reincarnation, my level was gone, so I can't use it anymore..."

Wen Tian Wuji was the most composed. He stepped forward, bowed gracefully, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Reporting to the fairy, in my previous life I was honored to be a 'Master of Qimen Dunjia,' and I have some knowledge of Qimen Dunjia, formations, and talismans."

"Immortal Master? Heh, what a boastful tone." Su Zhiqing's lips curled up slightly, a half-smile on her face. She ignored Bai Ze and Deidara, and instead asked Wentian Wuji, "Then I'll test you and see how much you really know with your 'little knowledge'."

After a moment's thought, she asked, "First question: What is the basis of Qimen Dunjia, and how does it change? What is its key principle?"

Without hesitation, Wen Tian Wuji calmly replied: "Immortal Master, Qimen Dunjia is based on the three powers of Heaven, Earth, and Man, and changes according to the Qi of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. Its key lies in the 'living plate,' which rotates endlessly and changes with the times. The auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of directions all arise from this. The core is the word 'change,' following the timing of Heaven, observing the advantages of the land, and understanding the harmony of people."

Su Zhiqing nodded slightly, which was considered as approval.

"Second question: If one encounters the Eight Gates Reversal, with all the ominous signs gathered, how should one arrange the formation to resolve it? What should be used as a guide, and what method should be used as the foundation?"

After pondering for a moment, Wen Tian Wuji replied, "The Eight Gates are in a state of reversal, causing turmoil and instability. We must use stillness to control movement. We should set up the 'Four Symbols Harmony Array' to stabilize the earth's energy, wind, and fire with the energy of the four directional spirit beasts: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise. We need to use a hundred-year-old peach wood core as the array's core and cinnabar-drawn stabilizing talismans as the foundation. We must proceed step by step, without forcibly suppressing it, and guide the evil energy to dissipate slowly."

A hint of approval flashed in Su Zhiqing's eyes. This was no longer just theoretical talk, but a practical understanding of how to deploy troops.

"Third question: The 'Tianrui' star is located at the 'Death Gate' and is also obscured by the 'Taiyin' moon. What does this signify? If one wishes to go against the trend, what choices should be made and what will be the price?"

This time, Wentian Wuji did not answer immediately. His brows furrowed slightly, clearly indicating that the question touched upon a very deep level of esoteric deduction. He pondered for a full ten seconds, and the surroundings were silent as everyone held their breath and watched him. Finally, he spoke slowly, his tone tinged with uncertainty: "This omen... is extremely ominous. It signifies the outbreak of hidden illnesses, secret schemes, and unsuitability for any endeavor; any action will bring harm. If... if one wishes to go against the tide, it will likely be beyond ordinary means; one must employ the secret technique of 'stealing the sky and changing the sun,' but this technique defies the will of heaven and forcibly alters fate. The practitioner will inevitably suffer a backlash, at best shortening their lifespan and blessings, at worst... endangering their life."

The Mysterious Sovereign was slightly surprised: his answer was not perfect, and even somewhat rough and vague, but the meaning was generally correct.

The first two questions tested basic knowledge and application, which was fine. But this third question touched upon the secrets of Xuanmen deduction and the backlash of the Heavenly Dao, which not everyone in the Immortal Realm could understand.

This young man was able to deduce this much. Although it was not very thorough or rigorous, he was able to point out the key points, which is truly remarkable.

A satisfied look appeared on her face: "Very well, it seems you do have some talent in divination. In that case, I will accept you as a disciple." She then looked at the eager Bai Ze and Deidara, "As for you two—you can study with me for now."

"Thank you, Master!" Wentian Wuji was overjoyed and respectfully bowed to his master once again.

Bai Ze and Deidara hurriedly bowed in gratitude, but Miao Fa Yuan Jun waved her hand dismissively, telling them they didn't need to address her as "Master," but simply as "Immortal Master." Clearly, she favored Wen Tian Wu Ji the most, and the other two were merely secondary "add-ons" for the time being.

Upon seeing this, the martial arts immortal also became interested and laughed heartily, "You two are so lucky to have found disciples who suit your tastes. I, too, will have to pick one! Do any of you have anyone skilled in close combat or martial arts techniques? Step forward and let me see!"

Before the words had even finished, Hao Mie stepped forward from the crowd, clenching his fists so that his knuckles cracked slightly. He assumed a steady yet poised fighting stance, his eyes sharp. Beside him, Jiu Jianxian and Wo Yu Fengtian also stepped forward, displaying impressive stances. Even Han Luo couldn't resist mimicking a somewhat Bruce Lee-esque alert posture.

At a time like this, they had to fight for it! Everyone could see that if they were chosen as disciples by the immortals, they would definitely receive careful guidance and might even get special treatment. Otherwise, they would probably end up like Bai Ze and Deidara, just passive listeners.

The martial arts immortal Wu Qingtian's sharp gaze swept over the group one by one, but finally landed on Hao Mie, who had the strongest momentum and the most intense fighting spirit.

"Hmm...you're quite skilled, and your energy and spirit are decent." He nodded. "Then I'll play with you. Don't worry, I won't use any immortal techniques, internal energy, or rely on my superior immortal body. I'll just use the most basic moves to spar with you. If any of you can beat me in even one or two moves, I'll take you on as my personal disciple and teach you everything I know! If you can't beat me, then I'll just teach you whatever you want."

"What? You beat me by a move or two?" The Drunken Sword Immortal nearly bit his tongue. "Are you kidding me?! How is that possible?"

The group of people all looked troubled, their hearts pounding. How the hell could they possibly win? Even if you don't use magic or internal energy, with your immortal insight, experience, and reaction speed, how are we supposed to win? These conditions are far too harsh!

Of all the people, only Hao Mie reacted quite differently. Instead of fear, his eyes burned with a fierce fighting spirit.

"Good! That's exhilarating! I'd love to see what's different about the immortal's kung fu! Take this!" With that, he roared, gathered his energy in his dantian, and pushed off with his feet, shooting out like an arrow. A straight punch, simple yet powerful, aimed directly at the martial arts immortal's heart!
Seeing this, the others thought to themselves, "Alright, let's all join in!" Since it's a "group fight," maybe a flurry of punches can defeat a master... uh, I mean, create an opportunity!

However, everyone soon realized they had overestimated him. The Martial Immortal Wu Qingtian hadn't even moved a step; he simply shifted his body casually, blocking, parrying, pulling, and pushing back… his movements were fluid and seemingly slow, yet incredibly fast and lightning-fast, precisely responding to attacks from all directions. Although he had promised not to use supernatural power, the combat experience accumulated over tens of thousands of years, his understanding of power application, and his control of the battle were completely beyond the comprehension of the others.

Hao Mie was the first to go up, and also the first to fly out—he was gently pulled and pushed by Wu Qingtian, and his whole body was involuntarily lifted into the air and thrown out. His experience of the peerless martial arts he had in his previous life was of no use at all.

The others fared no better. The Drunken Sword Immortal's sword finger was easily deflected, the Grappling Hand of I Want to Seal the Heavens was countered by joint control, and Han Luo's flying kick was deflected and he lost his balance... In almost a single exchange, one after another they were knocked to the ground, utterly powerless to fight back.

Hao Mie sprang up with a somersault, his eyes burning even brighter, and charged forward with a low roar! The next second, he was knocked down again in a different position... and so on.

After falling seven or eight times and his whole body ached, Hao Mie finally gave up, stopped panting heavily, and ceased his attack.

"Alright, that's enough." The Martial Immortal also stopped, standing with his hands behind his back, his breathing even and smooth, as if he had just stretched his muscles.

Hao Mie sighed, his face showing both admiration and a hint of regret for not being able to win.

"It's you," the Martial Immortal suddenly said, pointing at Hao Mie.

"Huh? But he didn't win either!?" Han Luo looked surprised and puzzled. Although he was the weakest and was always taken down in one move, the others were also knocked down in one move, so it didn't make him seem too bad.

"Hmph!" Wu Qingtian snorted, his voice booming like a bell. "How could you possibly win? What do you think you'd win? What I want to see isn't your fancy moves, but the fighting spirit and ambition in your bones! As martial artists, without these two qualities, you'll never achieve anything great; you'll just be mediocre talents who follow the rules step by step! Even if you develop unparalleled martial arts skills, you'll still be unparalleled wastes."

Only with unwavering courage and indomitable will can one make even the slightest progress on the path of martial arts and immortal cultivation.

He looked at Hao Mie: "This kid's martial arts, while still a bit rough and full of flaws—"

Hao Mie's face immediately showed resentment. He thought to himself, "I'm a Martial Saint! I even advanced to the hidden class of Dragon Slayer! If I hadn't been reincarnated and cleansed up, I might not have lost so badly!"

"Fortunately, he has a fierce and tenacious spirit, daring to fight and forge ahead! Even knowing he is no match, he has the determination and courage to fight to the end! Even when facing immortals, he has the courage to fight. On the other hand, look at you guys—" His gaze swept over the Drunken Sword Immortal, I Shall Seal the Heavens, and Han Luo, "You become fearful at the sight of a strong enemy, worrying about defeat before the battle even begins, and your morale is already three points lower! After being defeated, you have no courage to fight again. With such a mindset, how can you bear the extremely difficult task of saving the world in the future?"

Upon hearing these words, Hao Mie's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly, bowing down once more: "Master is right. I dare not say anything else, but I am absolutely brave and daring. As long as I have a chance, even if gods and demons descend to earth, I would dare to fight."

Master, please accept my bow once more!

The martial arts immortal Wu Qingtian nodded and laughed heartily, appearing very pleased: "Good, good, good! Finally, I've taken on a decent disciple! If you guys want to learn, you can practice with me. Although I doubt you'll achieve anything great, you'll at least learn a few basic moves. They'll come in handy in the future when you're fighting a few minor demons or monsters."

Seeing this, Lin Xuance laughed and said, "Since fellow martial artist has said so, then I will take in a few more. As the saying goes, whether you herd one sheep or two sheep, it's all the same."

This gave everyone more choices. However, it was clear that apart from Xia Yi Wushuang, Wen Tian Wuji, and Hao Mie, who were confirmed as direct disciples, the others could only be considered "followers" for the time being.

After some simple coordination and consideration of each party's wishes:
The three heroes, Xia Yi Wushuang, Jiu Jianxian, and Tingyu, were trained by the Demon-Slaying Master Lin Xuance.

Wentian Wuji, Bai Ze, and Deidara are being trained by Miaofa Yuanjun Su Zhiqing.

Hao Mie, Han Luo, and Wo Yu Feng Tian were trained by the martial arts immortal Wu Qingtian.

Each immortal has three students under their command.

Seeing that his friends had finally found their places, Xiao Jie breathed a sigh of relief. With this, his biggest worry was mostly resolved. As for how many of them would truly stand out and achieve immortality, that would depend on their individual fortune and efforts.

In the end, however, he simply stood quietly to the side, without participating in any of the immortals' apprenticeship ceremonies.

The Myriad Dharma Sovereign Su Zhiqing glanced at Xiao Jie, then gave a meaningful look to An Ran standing beside him. She seemed to understand something instantly, and her lips curled up slightly, revealing her signature ambiguous smile, but she did not reveal it.

The martial arts immortal Wu Qingtian was somewhat puzzled and looked at An Ran directly, asking, "Eh? This girl, why don't you become a disciple? I see that you have flexible muscles and a well-proportioned figure, and you are a good prospect for practicing martial arts. If you are willing to work hard, your future achievements may not be worse than Hao Mie's."

An Ran listened with anticipation, but after a moment's hesitation, she quickly and respectfully declined, saying, "Thank you for your kind offer, Immortal Master! I already... uh, I already have someone teaching me." Her words were somewhat ambiguous.

Before the Martial Immortal could ask any more questions, Su Zhiqing, the Mysterious Law Primordial Sovereign, coughed lightly, interrupting him, and then called to Lin Xuance and Wu Qingtian: "Fellow Daoists, now that the disciples have been assigned, let's not waste any more time. Find a quiet place and begin the initial instruction. The war in the Underworld will begin soon, and time is of the essence."

The three immortals then led their newly recruited students, transforming into streaks of light and scattering in different directions around Ginkgo Village, clearly searching for suitable locations to pass on their skills.

"Let's go," Xiao Jie called to An Ran, and the two headed towards the village.

After walking a few steps, Xiao Jie suddenly remembered someone and asked, "By the way, where's Yuan Bai?" Only then did he realize that Yuan Bai was the only one missing from the group. He didn't seem to have noticed him during their group leveling up, and now, at this crucial occasion of becoming an apprentice and cultivating immortality, he hadn't appeared either.

An Ran explained, "Yuan Bai said he didn't want to worship any immortals or learn any new techniques. He said he had all his techniques memorized, and he knew every move clearly. Right now, he was just weak and lacked energy, so he couldn't use them. He said that once he had eaten and drunk his fill and strengthened his muscles and bones, his power would naturally recover. So he didn't participate in leveling up, nor did he come to ask for a master."

Xiao Jie thought to himself, "Okay, Yuan Bai was a native NPC in his previous life. His way of thinking is indeed different from that of players. He probably doesn't have the concept of 'leveling up by fighting monsters' at all, and instead follows the route of 'restoring his power'."

"Then where did he go?"

"He went to play chess with the village chief, Huang Shidao."

Xiao Jie nodded: "I'll have to have a good talk with Brother Yuan later." But for now, we need to arrange An Ran's affairs first.

He stopped and looked at An Ran, saying seriously, "The reason I don't want you to worship those three immortals is that although they are powerful and can teach you immortal arts, martial arts, swordsmanship, and esoteric skills, the probability of them guaranteeing you will become an immortal is not very high. They are more likely to guide you and provide resources."

He paused, his tone becoming serious: "And I happen to possess a path to immortality that I've personally verified—a direct route to celestial status. However, this path is somewhat special; it can only be offered to one person at a time. You are a sorcerer by training, so following my path—the path of the sorcerer-demon-immortal—is the most suitable for you. Therefore…"

Xiao Jie looked directly into An Ran's eyes, his tone frank and even tinged with a hint of warning: "Are you interested in giving it a try? But let me make this clear first, even the path I've verified has been fraught with danger several times, almost leading to our demise. This path may not necessarily work for you, and the difficulties and perils involved are no joke."

Upon hearing this, An Ran was initially surprised and excited, but then she showed an expression of great interest.

"Nonsense! How could I not be interested in such a good thing! Becoming an immortal, huh? Haha, I knew you were a good friend. You thought of me first when there was such a good thing. It's true that I've been with you for so long!"

After saying that, she seemed to feel that it was not enough to express her happiness, so she suddenly hugged Xiao Jie and kissed him.

(End of this chapter)