Rumors of Dustwind's sudden rise had spread like wildfire.
Holy child.
Divine ancestor.
Cleansing yawn.
Breakthrough cabbages.
Sky-sweeping broom.
Phoenix stove that judges cooks.
Every city, every sect, every tavern had a different version—
but they all agreed on one thing:
**Dustwind was now a place of miracles.**
Which led to the inevitable.
Someone came to join.
---
⭐ 1. A STRANGER AT THE GATE
Jin Haru spotted a lone man bowing respectfully at Dustwind's entrance.
He wore ragged clothes, carried a broken sword, and had the aura of someone who barely survived life.
He bowed again.
"Please… allow this humble rogue cultivator to join Dustwind Hidden Valley Sect."
Lin Ruyin whispered, "He looks desperate."
Gu Wenhai stroked his beard.
"With our reputation exploding, more may come soon… we must handle this carefully."
Jin Haru nodded.
"We must treat him with dignity."
A cabbage rolled by, glowing faintly.
The stranger stared at it with horror.
---
⭐ 2. INTERVIEW TIME (AKA PANIC TIME)
Inside the courtyard, the man knelt.
"I have no background, no clan, little talent. But… I heard Dustwind accepts all who are sincere."
Gu Wenhai felt tears gather.
"N-No one has said such kind words about our sect in DECADES…"
Jin Haru puffed his chest proudly.
"Yes! We accept the humble! The hopeful! The—"
The man continued,
"I also heard your ancestor gives breakthroughs."
Jin Haru choked on his own spit.
Lin Ruyin elbowed him.
"YOU started that rumor!"
Jin Haru whispered back,
"I thought no one would believe it!!"
The stranger bowed even lower.
"Please… just let me see her."
Lin Ruyin paled.
"Are you sure?"
He nodded.
"Even one glimpse is a blessing."
Dustwind disciples silently prayed for his soul.
---
⭐ 3. ENTER MIYU (HALF-ASLEEP AS ALWAYS)
Miyu stepped out of her room hugging her pillow.
Hair messy.
Expression blank.
Aura sleepy.
The stranger gasped as if witnessing heaven.
"S-She really is a divine child…"
Miyu blinked at him.
"…Noisy."
The man bowed instantly.
"Forgive me! I only wish to join the sect—"
Miyu tilted her head.
"…Dirty."
He froze.
"E-Excuse me?"
She pointed lazily at him.
"Clothes dirty. Body dirty. Aura… messy."
The man burst into tears.
"I-I am sorry, Divine Ancestor! I live alone in a cave—!"
Miyu raised her hand.
A faint golden ripple spread out.
WHOOM—
His aura purified.
His meridians unclogged.
His spiritual roots brightened.
His shabby robes transformed into a clean simple uniform.
His broken sword straightened and gained a faint glow.
The man blinked.
Jin Haru screamed,
"SHE JUST FIXED HIS ENTIRE LIFE WITH ONE WAVE!!"
Lin Ruyin whispered, trembling,
"She… she corrected his existence…"
Gu Wenhai cried openly,
"A breakthrough miracle in broad daylight…"
Then the system chimed.
> [HOST PURIFIED A ROGUE CULTIVATOR]
> [TARGET CULTIVATION: +3 REALMS]
> [TARGET LIFESPAN: +40 YEARS]
> [TARGET DESTINY: UPGRADED FROM 'PATHETIC' TO 'NOT BAD']
The man burst into tears again.
"I… I ascended…?!"
Miyu blinked.
"…You're welcome."
He fainted immediately.
---
⭐ 4. SECT PANIC BECAUSE THIS IS BAD (OR GOOD?)
Gu Wenhai massaged his temples.
"This is dangerous…"
Jin Haru nodded rapidly.
"YES! If word gets out that joining Dustwind means instant breakthroughs—"
Lin Ruyin continued,
"—we will be buried under thousands of desperate cultivators!"
Jin Haru shivered.
"Some may even fight to be purified!"
Gu Wenhai wiped cold sweat.
"We must keep a low profile—"
A shining column of light erupted above the man's body as he stabilized his new cultivation level.
Birds shrieked.
Clouds parted.
The wind sang praises.
The entire mountain saw it.
Gu Wenhai collapsed to his knees.
"…We are doomed."
---
⭐ 5. THE WORLD MISINTERPRETS EVERYTHING
Nearby villagers gasped.
"Did you see that?! Dustwind accepted a disciple and he ascended instantly!"
A merchant trembled.
"That child must be a divine reincarnator!"
A scholar scribbled notes.
"Conclusion: Dustwind offers cultivation packages."
A wandering elder muttered,
"If I join… can I become young again…?"
Rumors spread instantly:
• "Dustwind disciples ascend the moment they join."
• "The ancestor grants fortune to mortals."
• "Dustwind is now a holy recruitment ground."
• "Even failure becomes success under her gaze."
Sects began sending envoys.
Kings began sending spies.
Clans began preparing tributes.
---
⭐ 6. BACK IN DUSTWIND
The stranger awoke with tears in his eyes.
"T-Thank you… I will serve this sect with my life!"
Gu Wenhai gently patted his back.
"Just… don't tell anyone what happened."
The man nodded seriously.
"I swear it on my soul."
He stepped outside.
A group of merchants immediately ran up.
"What happened inside?!"
The man declared proudly:
"I JOINED DUSTWIND AND ASCENDED THREE REALMS!"
Gu Wenhai screamed internally loud enough to crack a star.
---
⭐ 7. MIYU, COMPLETELY UNAWARE
Meanwhile, Miyu returned to her bed.
She tucked her pillow under her cheek.
"…Sleepy."
A soft purification wave spread out as she drifted off.
Dustwind glowed faintly.
Gu Wenhai knelt.
"She purifies even in her sleep…"
Jin Haru wiped tears.
"She is too powerful…"
Lin Ruyin nodded.
"We must protect her nap at all costs."
And so, on that fateful day—
Dustwind gained its first official disciple since the rumors started.
And the world began its pilgrimage.