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Chapter 3 – She Called Me Master
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Thud!
Luo Yixue hit the ground hard, dirt flying as her small frame skidded across the forest floor.
Blood trickled from her lip. Her arms were scraped raw from blocking the blow, and the injured spirit fox whimpered in her grasp.
Two older inner disciples stepped out from the shadows, sneering.
"You're still protecting that thing?" one asked, cracking his knuckles. "We gave you a warning yesterday. Looks like you didn't listen."
"She's just a low-ranked trash disciple," the other scoffed. "Elder Bai will thank us for recovering the fox."
Luo Yixue gasped for breath, hugging the small beast tighter.
"Don't touch her," she whispered. "I don't care what the sect rules say… I won't let you hurt her."
The first disciple raised his foot.
"Then you can suffer with it."
---
Meanwhile…
On a nearby hill, Lin Mo lay on a patch of grass, holding a dandelion between his teeth.
The sun was warm, birds chirped, and the system was still ignoring him.
He yawned.
"Man… I saved a kid, healed a fox, and still no tutorial. Budget system confirmed."
Then—
> [System Notification: Host's potential first disciple is under attack.]
[Warning: Bond progress will regress if the target dies.]
Lin Mo sat up, blinking. "What."
He stood.
Then the ground cracked beneath his feet as he vanished, wind howling in his wake.
---
Boom!
A sudden gust exploded through the trees like a thunderclap.
The attacking disciple's kick never landed.
A hand caught his ankle mid-air.
Lin Mo stood there, one brow raised, holding the man upside-down like a sack of flour.
"Sorry, were you saying something about hurting her?"
The man's face drained of color. "Y-you again—?!"
Without a word, Lin Mo tightened his grip—
Crack!
The ankle dislocated, and the man screamed.
Lin Mo tossed him into a tree. Bark exploded.
The second attacker drew a sword in panic. "You think the sect will let you get away with this?! We're inner disciples!"
Lin Mo looked at him—no smile, no jokes. Just cold eyes.
"You touched what's mine."
He moved.
To the attacker, it looked like a blur. Then—
BANG!
The sword shattered. A palm hit his chest like a sledgehammer, sending him flying back thirty feet. He vomited blood mid-air.
---
Luo Yixue watched from the ground, stunned.
This wasn't the carefree boy from yesterday.
This was something else.
Lin Mo walked to her and crouched down. "Hey. Still breathing?"
She nodded quickly.
He gently took the fox from her arms and inspected its wounds.
"This little one's tougher than most humans," he muttered.
Luo Yixue bit her lip. "They… they were going to kill her. I couldn't stop them…"
Lin Mo smiled—just a little.
"You did enough."
He placed one finger on the fox's head. A soft golden glow pulsed out, and the beast's body shimmered, wounds sealing instantly.
> [System Notice: Healing Energy Imprinted – First Disciple Candidate's Favorability +25%]
[Current Bond Strength: 50% → 75%]
Lin Mo blinked. "Okay, that's new…"
Luo Yixue looked up at him, eyes wide.
"Y-you're not a normal cultivator, are you?"
He scratched his head. "Honestly? I have no clue what I am."
Then she whispered, "...Master."
Lin Mo froze.
"What did you just call me?"
"I… I want to follow you," she said, trembling. "I know I'm weak. I know I'm not worthy. But if you'll let me… please…"
She bowed deeply.
"I want to become your disciple."
Silence.
Then—
> [Ding! First Disciple Bond Complete.]
[Reward Unlocked: Heavenly Sense Veins (Passive)]
[You can now sense life, killing intent, and spiritual energy within 100 meters. Permanent.]
> [Note: Bonded disciples will automatically gain accelerated growth when trained by Host.]
> [Updated Stats: Cultivation – Unknown | Constitution – Divine Immortal Vessel]
Lin Mo blinked. "Whoa."
He looked at his hand. It glowed briefly with golden threads before fading.
"…Guess this is really happening."
He looked at the kneeling girl. "Stand up. From now on, I'm responsible for you."
Luo Yixue stood, teary-eyed, nodding rapidly. "Yes, Master!"
He scratched his cheek, still unsure how to feel about that word.
"I'm not a master… I'm just pretending to be one."
---
Later That Night – Spirit Vein Sect Outer Courtyard
The guest courtyard was silent, moonlight bathing the tiled roofs in silver.
Lin Mo sat on the edge of the roof, legs dangling, eating roasted fruit on a stick.
Below him, Luo Yixue practiced basic stances with her wooden sword.
Her form was rough, her balance shaky.
But her focus was real.
"She's got guts, at least," Lin Mo muttered.
Then—
> [Heavenly Sense Veins Activated]
Lin Mo's eyes flashed gold for a second.
He turned his head sharply.
Behind the trees—a presence. Cold. Watching.
"…System, did you feel that?"
> [Warning: Host is being observed.]
> [Spiritual fluctuation detected: Masked Entity | Unknown Cultivation.]
Lin Mo squinted.
A shadow flitted through the forest—barely visible, silent as death.
Then gone.
He sighed.
"Can't even fake being low-key for a day."
---
Deep Underground – Hidden Chamber
A cloaked figure stood before a pool of black mist.
"The Immortal Vessel has awakened…"
The mist stirred.
"The one who fell from the sky… He's here."
---
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Chapter 4 – The Silent Fox and the System's Secret
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Misty moonlight poured into the guest courtyard, bathing the wooden room in silver. Lin Mo lay on the bed, arms behind his head, eyes half-lidded.
Crickets chirped. Spirit lights floated past the open window.
> [System Notice: First Disciple Bond – 35% Strength] [Minor Reward Unlocked: Spiritual Insight Vision (Passive)]
"Huh?" Lin Mo blinked. "That sounds… fancy."
He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and looked at his hand.
His pupils shimmered faintly gold for a second. The world around him sharpened. He could see the qi threads drifting through the night air.
> [Vision: Active] [Current Target: Luo Yixue] [Spiritual Root: Ice-Wind Dual Affinity – High Grade] [Potential: 88/100 – Heaven-Grade Seedling]
"Whoa…" he muttered. "So the cute fox girl's got real talent?"
He stood and peeked out the window.
Luo Yixue sat near the garden pond, hugging the spirit fox gently. Her robes had been washed. Her eyes were closed. The fox rested peacefully on her lap.
Lin Mo smiled.
"Guess saving her wasn't such a bad decision after all."
He turned back, stretched, and sat cross-legged.
"Okay, System. I've accepted my first disciple — even if unofficially. Can you finally tell me what's going on?"
Silence.
"Again with the cold shoulder?" he muttered. "Last time I asked, you didn't reply either. What's your deal?"
> [Host Inquiry Detected. System Permissions Now Unlocked.] [Accessing Core Host Data...]
Lin Mo froze as gold lines of text appeared in his vision.
> [Host: Lin Mo] [Cultivation Level: Unknown (Sealed)] [Physique: Divine Body – Eternal Heaven Vessel] [Qi Reserve: Estimated 1000 Years Condensed]
"...Wait. WHAT?"
He stood up so fast he hit his head on the ceiling beam. "Ow!"
> [Host possesses invulnerability to physical damage in Lower Realm.]
He stared at his glowing hand. "That's why I didn't get hurt when I fell… I really am invincible?"
> [Correction: Host's strength is currently sealed from Host perception.] [Host remains unaware of full potential. This state will continue until six disciples are accepted.]
"So you're telling me I am a walking god… but I don't know I'm a walking god?"
> [Affirmative.]
Lin Mo blinked. Then grinned.
"That's stupidly amazing."
---
Next Morning – Outer Courtyard Garden
Birdsong filled the air. Dew sparkled on the leaves.
Lin Mo walked through the stone path, hands behind his back, casually humming a tune.
He approached Luo Yixue, who was training with a wooden sword under a tree. The spirit fox circled her feet playfully.
She turned and bowed. "Good morning, Senior Lin."
"Morning, little warrior." He pointed at the fox. "She looks lively."
"She healed overnight," Luo Yixue said happily. "And… I feel stronger too. It's strange."
Lin Mo smiled. He saw it with his vision. Her qi flow had become clearer. It was subtle — but the bond between master and disciple was already affecting her.
"You did well protecting her," Lin Mo said, then tossed her a small pouch.
She opened it. It contained two spirit-gathering pills and a frost crystal.
"T-These are expensive!" she gasped.
"Call it a senior's gift," Lin Mo said with a shrug. "Besides, I'm not really short on resources."
---
That Afternoon – Northern Hill Trail
While walking alone through the forest path, Lin Mo paused.
He sensed something.
> [Qi fluctuations detected nearby. Host may engage or ignore.]
"Trouble again?" he sighed.
Suddenly, a panicked cry echoed through the woods.
"Get away from her, or I'll—!"
It was Luo Yixue's voice.
In a flash, Lin Mo vanished.
---
A clearing in the woods.
Luo Yixue stood protectively before the fox again — surrounded by three masked men in grey robes.
"You dare interfere again, girl?" one hissed. "The beast is worth a fortune!"
"I won't let you touch her!"
One man raised his sword.
Then—
BOOM!
A gust of wind exploded through the clearing. Leaves scattered. Trees bent back.
Lin Mo stood in front of Luo Yixue, eyes calm, voice low.
"You guys again, huh?"
The masked men froze.
"Who are you?"
"I'm the guy who's tired of watching weaklings bully children," Lin Mo said, stepping forward.
One man charged. His sword met Lin Mo's hand.
CLANG!
His blade shattered like glass.
Lin Mo didn't move. "Oops."
Another attacker hurled a spell.
Lin Mo waved a hand. The air twisted — and the spell vanished.
The men trembled.
"Run!"
They fled.
Luo Yixue stared at him, eyes wide.
"You… you didn't even flinch…"
Lin Mo dusted off his sleeve.
"Guess I got lucky," he said with a smirk.
---
Later That Night – Guest Room
> [First Disciple Bond – 50% Strength] [Reward Unlocked: Silent Step Technique]
Lin Mo chuckled.
"A movement technique now? Nice. But don't you dare ignore me again tomorrow, System."
> [Noted.]
He lay back, watching the ceiling again.
"One down… five to go."
A grin tugged at his lips.
"If this is how the journey starts… I can't wait to meet the rest."
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