I was strikingly handsome with an outstanding temperament, and with my transcendent status as Celestial Gate's eldest senior brother, the moment I spoke, the crowd fell dead silent.
This Senior Brother, which is me, had taken the renowned Yana as my master. Not only was I blessed with exceptional talent, but I'd also cultivated tirelessly for eight years without pause. Rumors said I'd reached the peak of level 3 and was already half a step into level 4.
A 16 year old half step to level 4. A supreme prodigy unseen for a thousand years! How could these small fry at the level1 and level 2 levels dare provoke me? Not to mention I had the entire Celestial Gate backing me. Cross me? I'd crush you with a flick of my wrist and scatter your ashes to the wind!
I couldn't care less about what the people around me thought. Right now, I was thrilled. Of course, I wasn't lusting after the little girl's body, after all, I wasn't some lolicon. A mere white haired loli was nothing special! I prefer milf ofc.
I probed with my divine sense, and sure enough, this girl's spiritual roots were completely trash-tier. With her constitution, she was undoubtedly the worst of the worst!
Perfect!
I felt like I was one step away from grasping my future.
Literally.
I calculated that if I brought her back with me, her living conditions would certainly be better than her current state of helpless poverty. I wouldn't force her to do anything, my only requirement was for her to be content being a total failure and draw my master's fire for me. That wasn't too much to ask, right?
It was like how other companies found creative ways to demand unpaid overtime from employees, while I wouldn't force overtime and would pay proper wages on time. No matter how I looked at it, I was leagues more conscientious than those shameless bloodsucking capitalists, wasn't I?
I comforted myself this way. I needed to build up my mental fortitude, you had to believe in yourself first before others would believe in you.
So I stepped forward, bent down slightly to meet her eyes at the same level, and asked in a gentle voice: "Little miss, I'm Sulan. Would you be willing to tell me your name and answer three of my questions?"
My eyes sparkled with sincerity.
I was dead serious about finding a failure to be my junior!
But to ensure nothing went wrong, I still had some important things to clarify.
"I'm Sumin, Xiao Sumin. As for your questions, please... please ask." Sumin stared at me in a daze.
I casually set up a barrier around us both, then asked: "Do you have any ancestral rings, pendants, or similar items?"
In some webnovels I'd read in my previous life, certain grandpa or grandma spirits liked to hide their remnant souls in those kinds of objects.
I'd soundproofed us because if the girl answered yes, I wouldn't take her as my junior sister. If others overheard, they might covet her treasures.
Either way, this girl had suffered enough. I didn't want to cause her more trouble because of my own actions.
Sumin honestly shook her head, wondering if I had a thing for such items.
"Good." I quietly sighed in relief.
This reaction left Sumin completely baffled.
"Second question: have you ever heard mysterious voices by your ear or in your head? Like when no one around you is speaking, or anything claiming to be a system?"
Sumin shook her head again, looking confused.
I was overjoyed and hurriedly dispelled the barrier.
"Then the third question: Miss Sumin, would you be willing to join Celestial Gate and become my junior?"
Sumin stared at the hand I extended toward her and her mind going blank.
That hand was spotless, not particularly large or thick, but it radiated security. If she grasped it, her entire future would be completely transformed.
She understood, this was her only chance! But did she deserve it?
To attend today's Selection Assembly, she'd gotten up early to wash her hands and face by the river, then changed into her only garment without holes, barely maintaining the last shred of dignity from her days as a refined young lady.
Yet facing this sword browed, star eyed handsome young man who looked like a banished immortal, she still felt inferior deep down, believing her current fallen state made her unworthy of his favor.
A flash of panic appeared in her eyes and her expression like that of a lonely wild goose wounded by arrows.
She was still hesitating, but the surrounding crowd was already turning sour with envy!
Celestial Gate! The strongest sect within a thousand miles! Moreover, becoming Senior Sulan's junior meant she could take the legendary An Yana, the leader of Heavenly Jade Peak, as her master!
There's a saying that perfectly captures this moment: 'from zero to hero overnight.' Honestly, even the most unremarkable person could probably achieve extraordinary heights under Senior Sulan's tutelage
Such an enviable opportunity had fallen on the head of a universally acknowledged waste. How could others feel balanced about this?
Sure enough, a clown jumped out, the very middle aged man who'd been shouting at Sumin earlier. He bowed respectfully to me, smiling obsequiously: "Immortal Sulan, this girl has trash spiritual roots. Perhaps you should reconsider your selection..."
He chose his words carefully, terrified of displeasing me, while secretly hoping that I might abandon that girl and choose someone else. Maybe his bold counsel would earn him a favorable glance...
Hearing the middle aged man's words, Sumin felt like she'd been doused with a bucket of ice water in the dead of winter. The small flame of hope that had just ignited in her heart was ruthlessly extinguished, awakening her from the self-deceptive thoughts that had carried her this far.
Yes, she should face reality. Even those small sects along the way had thoroughly despised her waste spiritual roots. Did someone like her really deserve to join Celestial Gate and study immortal arts under that legendary woman?
Her lifelong obsession was so humble and laughable when faced with reality!
She should abandon those unrealistic fantasies. Perhaps this gentle and refined eldest senior brother of Celestial Gate understood too, and was just trying to help her out of a tough spot out of kindness.
I turned to look at the middle aged man, my gaze no longer peaceful but carrying a hint of arrogance and natural authority. "Are you trying to tell me what to do?"
I'd finally found someone who perfectly met all my requirements for a failure. My grand plan for salvation hadn't succeeded yet, how could I let some nobody interfere halfway through!
Though it was midsummer, the watching crowd couldn't help but shiver.
Where was even half the arrogance that the advisor had shown before? Terrified, he tumbled to the ground, frantically waving his hands in explanation: "I wouldn't dare, I was wrong, I'm guilty, I shouldn't have questioned young master!"
I withdrew my gaze, no longer bothering with that social climbing man.
As if granted a great pardon, the middle aged man quickly kowtowed on the ground, constantly muttering "Thank you for your great mercy, young master."
I couldn't be bothered wasting time on irrelevant people. I gently patted Sumin's hand twice: "Those who've never ventured beyond their small world cannot understand greater truths. Their opinions matter little"
If anyone else had made such a sweeping insult, the crowd would have erupted in outrage. But the one saying this was undoubtedly the immortal-like eldest senior brother of Celestial Gate. Plus, with the middle aged man's example before them, no one dared question me again.
Because speaking up would expose their own ignorance and shallowness, and might even draw my ire.
I was a half-step level 4 child favor by destiny! A single thought could make their souls scatter, never to be reborn. Who would dare provoke me?
The atmosphere became eerily quiet.
I could see she was tempted, and given the current situation, I couldn't leave her here alone no matter what. So I extended my hand:
"It's getting late. Let me take you back to meet Master."