Morning in the White Cloud Sect began with the sound of a bell echoing through the mountains.
Ye Lin woke from the simple bed in the inner disciple dormitory, still not used to the mattress—far softer than the straw mat he had at home.
His status panel displayed the same information as before:
[STATUS]
Name: Ye Lin
Cultivation: Mortal Level 1
Age: 12 years
Luck: 999/1000
Life Potential: 67 years
Still 999, Ye Lin thought as he got ready. For some reason, I feel this number isn't stable.
He had just stepped out of his room when he heard light footsteps in the corridor.
A girl around sixteen approached with graceful steps. Her long black hair was tied in a half-up style, and her brown eyes radiated both warmth and sharpness.
"You must be Ye Lin," she said with a friendly smile. "I'm Su Mei, a senior inner disciple. Elder Zhang asked me to guide you for your first week here."
Ye Lin bowed politely. "Thank you, Senior Sister Su."
Su Mei chuckled at his formality. "No need to be so stiff. Inner disciples should look out for each other. Come on, I'll show you the important places in the sect."
They crossed a stone bridge connecting the dormitory tower to the main buildings. From this height, Ye Lin could see an incredible view: a sea of clouds stretching to the horizon, with mountain peaks jutting out like islands.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Su Mei said, noticing his awed expression. "I was the same when I first arrived. But wait until you see the library and the Main Cultivation Hall."
"How long have you been here, Senior Sister?" Ye Lin asked, trying to match her quick steps.
"Four years. I joined when I was twelve, same as you," Su Mei replied. "The difference is, I was an outer disciple for two years before making it to inner disciple. You got in directly—that's an impressive achievement."
Ye Lin looked a little uneasy. "I think it was just luck…"
Su Mei stopped and looked at him seriously. "Ye Lin, the first thing you must learn in the cultivation world: there is no such thing as 'just luck.' Everything happens for a reason. Your luck might be part of your destiny."
Ye Lin's status panel flickered faintly, but he said nothing.
"This is the Main Dining Hall," Su Mei said, pushing open a pair of large double doors.
Inside was a vast hall filled with long tables. Disciples sat in groups—outer disciples on the left, inner disciples on the right, and core disciples at a smaller, more prestigious table.
"We sit over there," Su Mei pointed to the inner disciple section. "But remember, never sit anywhere you like. There's a hierarchy to respect."
As they collected their food—white rice, vegetable soup, and fragrant meat far better than anything Ye Lin had eaten in the village—he noticed curious glances from other disciples.
"That's the kid who became an inner disciple right away," someone whispered.
"Look, he's sitting with Su Mei. He must be special."
Su Mei noticed Ye Lin's discomfort. "Ignore them. In a few days, they'll get bored and find a new rumor to chase."
"Senior Sister… doesn't it bother you to have to guide me?" Ye Lin asked quietly.
Su Mei smiled warmly. "Actually, I'm glad. Usually, new disciples who enter as inner disciples are arrogant and hard to deal with. But you… you're different. There's an innocence about you that's rare in the cultivation world."
---
After breakfast, Su Mei led Ye Lin to the Basic Training Hall—a large room with smooth stone floors, filled with disciples practicing foundational movements.
"Before you can refine qi, you must strengthen your body," Su Mei explained, demonstrating a sequence of moves. "This is called the White Cloud Foundation Exercise. Every disciple must master it before advancing."
Ye Lin followed her movements carefully. Strangely, his body felt light, and he could mimic even the complex moves with ease. Su Mei's expression shifted to surprise.
"Incredible," she murmured. "Usually it takes days to master this sequence. Have you trained before?"
"Never," Ye Lin answered honestly. His status panel flickered again, and he felt a warm flow of energy moving through his body.
"This must be natural talent," Su Mei said, impressed. "Elder Zhang truly made the right call making you an inner disciple."
By midday, Su Mei brought Ye Lin to the Sect Library—a five-story building filled with thousands of scrolls and books on cultivation, history, and martial arts.
"The first floor is for outer disciples and new inner disciples," she explained. "The second and third floors are for senior inner disciples. The fourth is for core disciples, and the fifth is only for elders."
Ye Lin scanned the towering shelves. A faint pull drew him toward a corner, the same kind of strange instinct he had felt before.
"May I look around a bit?" he asked.
"Of course. I'll wait here," Su Mei said, picking up a sword technique manual.
Following his instinct, Ye Lin found an old, almost forgotten scroll tucked between thick tomes. The moment his fingers touched it, his status panel reacted:
[STATUS]
Name: Ye Lin
Cultivation: Mortal Level 1
Age: 12 years
Luck: 1000/1000
Life Potential: 67 years
Back to 1000? Ye Lin thought in shock. What's with this scroll?
He carefully unrolled it, reading the title: Empty Sky Meditation Manual – Beginner Level.
"Ye Lin?" Su Mei walked over. "Found something interesting?"
"It's… a meditation technique," Ye Lin said, showing it to her.
Su Mei examined it. "The Empty Sky Meditation… I've heard of it. Supposedly, it's a very pure foundational technique, but difficult to master—it requires extreme concentration. Many give up because it's too monotonous."
"Can I borrow it?"
"Of course. As an inner disciple, you have access to everything on the first floor. But don't push yourself too hard—cultivation is a marathon, not a sprint."
---
By evening, after touring most of the sect grounds, they returned to the dormitory. Su Mei sat on Ye Lin's porch, sipping warm tea.
"How's your first impression of the sect?" she asked.
"It's amazing," Ye Lin replied, eyes bright. "But also a little intimidating. I still feel like I don't belong here."
Su Mei laughed softly. "Everyone feels that way at first. I used to have nightmares about being expelled for not being talented enough."
"But now you're a senior inner disciple…"
"Because I didn't give up," Su Mei said seriously. "Cultivation isn't just about talent, Ye Lin. Perseverance, willpower, and a little luck—they're all equally important."
Ye Lin's panel flickered again, reminding him of his near-perfect luck value.
"Senior Sister," he asked quietly, "what happens if someone is too lucky? I mean… is that always a good thing?"
Su Mei looked intrigued. "Interesting question. In cultivation philosophy, balance is key. Excessive luck often comes with heavier trials to balance it out. Why do you ask?"
"I'm just… curious," Ye Lin said with an awkward smile.
"If you ever face trouble or need to talk, come to me," Su Mei said gently. "In this world, having a friend you can trust is invaluable."
"Thank you, Senior Sister," Ye Lin said sincerely. "I'm lucky to have you as my guide."
"And I'm lucky to have a junior who's not arrogant," Su Mei laughed.
That night, after Su Mei left, Ye Lin sat cross-legged on the floor with the Empty Sky Meditation Manual in his hands. He began reading the basic instructions:
Empty your mind of all worldly desires. Feel the flow of qi within your body. Let the energy move naturally without force…
Closing his eyes, Ye Lin followed the instructions. Strangely, he immediately felt a warm current flowing through him—gentle, yet powerful.
Suddenly, his status panel updated:
[STATUS]
Name: Ye Lin
Cultivation: Mortal Level 1 → Qi Gathering Level 1
Age: 12 years
Luck: 1000/1000
Life Potential: 67 years → 75 years
Ye Lin's eyes flew open in shock. I… broke through? But he had only been practicing for an hour!
Outside his window, Su Mei—still awake—felt an unusual fluctuation of qi from Ye Lin's room. Her brow furrowed.
"Impossible," she whispered. "No one can break through from Mortal to Qi Gathering in a single day… unless…"
Her gaze toward Ye Lin's room shifted from curiosity to concern.
"That boy… who exactly is he?"
Unbeknownst to Ye Lin, his extraordinary luck was not only bringing blessings—it was already starting to draw attention from people who might not all have good intentions.