6: Accepting disciples

It wasn't until half a year ago that Xiao Ruobai overheard two traveling merchants chatting in a dilapidated temple.

"Did you hear? The Azure Profound Sect is recruiting Disciples! That's a major sect in Xuan Province. I heard the Azure Profound Sect values Heart-Nature and character more when recruiting Disciples, with Aptitude being secondary..."

Xiao Ruobai suddenly looked up, sparks igniting in his dead eyes.

He used his last few copper coins to buy a map and begged his way towards the Azure Profound Sect.

When his straw sandals wore out, he walked barefoot.

When he was starving, he dug up wild vegetables to fill his stomach.

When he encountered wild beasts, he fought them with the ferocity he had honed in the valley.

When the Azure Profound Sect's mountain gate appeared in the mists, Xiao Ruobai's feet were already bloody and raw, but his back was ramrod straight.

He knew this was his last chance.

Father, Mother, wait for me.

Gu Changge sighed softly as he saw Xiao Ruobai's early life, pitying the child.

This person's incomplete War God Body, though not as perfect as a complete one, still retained its Foundation.

More importantly, the resilience hidden in the young man's eyes pleased him more than those gifted but arrogant children.

With a decision made, Gu Changge rose from the long bench, patted his robes as if dusting off non-existent dust, and slowly walked towards the Disciples waiting in the center of the square to recruit.

His steps were unhurried, yet he exuded an invisible aura. Wherever he passed, the originally noisy crowd instinctively quieted down, all turning to look.

Finally, he stopped in front of Xiao Ruobai.

The young man was thin, dressed in faded clothes, clutching the hem of his garment tightly, his knuckles slightly white from the effort.

"What is your name?"

Gu Changge asked, his voice calm and even, yet it seemed to carry a penetrating power, falling directly into Xiao Ruobai's ears.

"Xiao Ruobai."

The young man suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, as if he hadn't expected this Senior to ask his name.

He quickly composed himself, stepped out of the crowd, and bowed to Gu Changge, "Disciple Xiao Ruobai greets Senior."

His movements were a bit stiff, but they showed the discipline typical of a military family.

A murmur immediately arose from the Elder's seats.

"Didn't they test this child's Aptitude already? Low Grade Mortal, barely meeting the standard for an Outer Sect Disciple."

"Why would the Purple Bamboo Peak Lord take an interest in him?"

Gu Changge ignored their confusion, merely looking at Xiao Ruobai. Under his Eye of Illusory Breaking, the faint but exceptionally tenacious golden War Qi within the young man's body slowly circulated.

That was the Origin of the War God Body; even if incomplete, it held the potential to destroy the world.

"Are you willing to become my Disciple and join my Zizhu Peak?"

As soon as Gu Changge's voice fell, the square instantly erupted in an uproar.

"This person's Aptitude is Low Grade Mortal, did Peak Lord Gu make a mistake?"

An Outer Sect Steward responsible for registering Aptitude exclaimed in shock, and the Jade Slip in his hand clattered to the ground.

He clearly remembered that Xiao Ruobai's spiritual testing crystal only showed the gray light representing the lowest Aptitude.

"I heard that Peak Lord Gu has been in seclusion for many years; perhaps he doesn't know what Low Grade Mortal means?"

Some newly promoted Inner Sect Disciples whispered together.

"Although our Azure Profound Sect doesn't solely rely on Aptitude, Low Grade Mortal... it's difficult even to guide Qi into the body. And to take him as a Personal Disciple?"

Even more people cast their gaze upon Gu Changge's plain white Daoist robe, their eyes filled with curiosity.

On the Elder's seats, the atmosphere also grew subtle.

The Jianxiao Peak Lord frowned, his tone carrying a hint of disapproval.

"Changge, taking a Disciple is not a game. This child... his Aptitude is truly too poor."

"It's better to choose a few good prospects. If you don't want to bother teaching them, my Jianxiao Peak can assign an Elder to help you."

The Dan Ding Peak Lord also chimed in, persuading him, "I think that Shen Jinghong is good. Heaven-Grade Aptitude. Following you, she wouldn't disgrace the name of Zizhu Peak at least."

The Sect Master on the high platform coughed lightly, his gaze gentle but assessing.

"Changge, if you just want a companion, let him be a Named Disciple. A Personal Disciple concerns the Legacy of a peak, think about it again?"

They had known Gu Changge for many years and knew that this young man, though seemingly uninhibited, was actually very perceptive. Yet, at this moment, he chose the most inconspicuous one, which inevitably made people feel it was inappropriate.

Xiao Ruobai stood in the gaze of everyone, clenching his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.

He knew his Aptitude was poor, so poor that he might not even be chosen as a Utility Disciple, but hearing these words, his heart still ached as if being squeezed.

Just then, Gu Changge suddenly smiled and cupped his hands to the Sect Master and the various Peak Lords.

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Senior Brothers, but when I choose Disciples, I always only look at whether they are pleasing to my eye or not."

He turned to look at Xiao Ruobai, without a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

"What? You don't want to become my Master?"

Xiao Ruobai suddenly looked up, his eyes instantly turning red.

He saw Gu Changge's clear eyes, and saw that the other party, despite being at the center of the storm, remained composed.

When everyone thought he was worthless, it was this person who, in front of the entire Azure Profound Sect, extended a hand to him.

The threshold for Inner Sect Disciples of the Azure Profound Sect was impossibly high. He had originally thought he could at most become a Utility Disciple, obtain meager resources, and struggle at the bottom day after day, with revenge being a distant dream.

But now, the position of a Personal Disciple to a Peak Lord, like a ray of light, shone into his dark and hopeless life.

"Disciple... I am willing!"

Xiao Ruobai's voice was choked with tears, yet exceptionally firm. He bowed deeply to Gu Changge, his forehead almost touching the ground.

"To be chosen by Master, Disciple will not hesitate even unto death!"

"Ding! Detected that the host has recruited a qualified Personal Disciple. Mission [Purple Bamboo Lamp] completed."

"Reward issued: Eye of Illusory Breaking (activated), Grandmist Qi x100, a lake of Innate Spirit Marrow, Emperor Cultivation Technique <War Gods Stratagem>."

Gu Changge was delighted. It was Grandmist Qi, and 100 wisps of it! The rewards for taking a Disciple were indeed rich.

This was the legendary Innate Qi born during the creation of heaven and earth, containing the most fundamental Dao Laws.

As for the Emperor Cultivation Technique War Gods Stratagem, it was clearly prepared for Xiao Ruobai.

The Innate Spirit Marrow was gathered from the essence of heaven and earth, capable of cleansing marrow, refining veins, and reshaping one's Foundation. For the incomplete War God Body, it was simply a tailor-made treasure.

Gu Changge looked at the bottomless lake of Innate Spirit Marrow in the System space.

He mused, the System was indeed generous, providing an entire lake. Such a feat, he feared, could not be found a second time in the entire Xuanhuang Great World.

He glanced at Xiao Ruobai, who was still in a daze, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"From today onwards, you are my Personal Disciple, Gu Changge's. Come back to Zizhu Peak with me. Senior Brothers, Changge will take his leave first."

Gu Changge no longer paid attention to the discussions behind him, turning and walking away.

Xiao Ruobai followed closely, his back ramrod straight.

He could feel countless gazes glued to his back—surprise, disdain, regret—but more than that, it was something he had never possessed: the weight of being chosen.

On the Elder's seats, the Sect Master watched their receding figures and suddenly smiled at the Qingyun Peak Lord beside him.

"What's in that child's eyes is far more valuable than Heaven-Grade Aptitude. Perhaps this child truly can achieve something great."

The Dan Ding Peak Lord stroked his beard, deep in thought: "This young Gu, his taste is getting stranger and stranger..." Meanwhile, the protagonists of the discussion had already walked deep into the mists.