Chapter 5 — Disciple Inspection

Lin Yue had been a disciple of Cloudveil Peak for less than an hour.

She was already worried about her master.

Shen Yuan had entered his treasury nearly fifteen minutes ago.

Since then, she had heard several doors opening.

A few drawers closing.

Once, something heavy fell over.

Then silence.

Lin Yue sat alone inside the receiving hall.

Before her rested an empty jade bottle.

The third-grade Meridian Nourishing Pill had already dissolved within her body.

Warm medicinal energy flowed through her damaged meridians.

It was comfortable.

More comfortable than cultivation had felt in years.

That alone was strange.

Normally, whenever spiritual energy entered her meridians, the cold inside her dantian reacted.

Today—

nothing.

Whatever Shen Yuan had done during the recruitment ceremony had temporarily suppressed it.

Lin Yue lowered her gaze toward her hands.

This morning, she had entered the Azure Origin Sect expecting rejection.

By afternoon, she had become the first disciple of one of its most famous Peak Masters.

She still hadn't fully processed that.

Footsteps finally approached.

Shen Yuan returned.

He carried nothing.

Lin Yue stood immediately.

"Master."

"Sit."

She obeyed.

Shen Yuan sat opposite her.

Then stared.

Lin Yue waited.

He continued staring.

"...Master?"

"Hm?"

"Is something wrong?"

"No."

Shen Yuan kept looking at her.

Lin Yue became increasingly uncomfortable.

"Then..."

"I'm inspecting you."

Her expression became strange.

"Inspecting me?"

"Yes."

"How?"

Shen Yuan considered the question.

"Profoundly."

Lin Yue had no idea what that meant.

She decided not to ask.

Shen Yuan, meanwhile, was looking at something entirely different.

The moment he activated his newly acquired ability, a detailed golden interface unfolded before him.

**[Disciple Inspection activated.]**

---

**Disciple:** Lin Yue

**Age:** 17

**Cultivation:** Body Tempering — Seventh Stage

**Spiritual Root:** High-grade Ice Spiritual Root — Severely Damaged

**Innate Physique:** Nine-Yin Immortal Body

**Physique State:** 3% Awakened / Unstable

**Physique Grade:** Immortal

**Destiny:** Crimson-Gold

**Comprehension:** Exceptional

**Willpower:** Exceptional

**Current Cultivation Method:** Cold River Breathing Art — Mortal High Grade

**Cultivation Method Compatibility:** 11%

**Foundation Integrity:** 34%

**Meridian Integrity:** 51%

**Current Condition:** Yin Essence Accumulation / Spiritual Root Fracturing / Meridian Frost Scarring

**Master-Disciple Compatibility:** 97%

---

Shen Yuan's expression gradually changed.

Eleven percent.

Lin Yue had been cultivating a technique with eleven-percent compatibility for years.

No wonder her body was rebelling.

He focused on the Nine-Yin Immortal Body.

More information appeared.

---

**[Nine-Yin Immortal Body]**

An extremely rare Immortal-grade physique naturally aligned with the fundamental principles of Yin.

Possesses exceptional affinity toward:

**Extreme Yin Qi**

**Ice Dao**

**Moon Essence**

**Soul Cultivation**

**Yin Laws**

When properly awakened, the physique forms Nine Yin Channels capable of refining spiritual energy at extraordinary efficiency.

**Current Issue:**

Host body developed without suitable cultivation guidance.

Innate physique began awakening naturally at age fourteen.

Mortal-grade cultivation method failed to regulate increasing Yin Essence.

Excess energy was redirected through spiritual root and meridians.

Result:

**Spiritual Root Damage**

**Meridian Damage**

**Cultivation Regression**

**Foundation Instability**

---

Shen Yuan became quiet.

Fourteen.

Exactly three years ago.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

That explained everything.

Lin Yue hadn't suffered some mysterious injury.

Her talent had awakened.

And nearly crippled her.

He continued reading.

**[Recommended Treatment Path available.]**

Shen Yuan immediately selected it.

A list appeared.

**Step One: Cease current cultivation method.**

Easy.

**Step Two: Repair spiritual root and meridian damage.**

Possible.

**Step Three: Rebuild Body Tempering foundation using Extreme Yin-compatible body refinement.**

More difficult.

**Step Four: Establish stable Nine-Yin circulation route.**

**Step Five: Awaken First Yin Channel.**

**Step Six: Replace current cultivation method with Immortal-grade or higher compatible method.**

Shen Yuan paused.

Immortal-grade.

He looked toward Lin Yue.

She was still sitting quietly.

"Where did you get your cultivation technique?"

Lin Yue blinked at the sudden question.

"The Cold River Breathing Art?"

"Yes."

"My clan."

"Who chose it for you?"

"My grandfather."

"Did anyone test your compatibility?"

She hesitated.

"It was the best ice cultivation method our clan possessed."

That answered the question.

Shen Yuan leaned back.

This wasn't anyone's fault.

A mortal cultivation clan couldn't possibly identify an Immortal physique.

If Lin Yue had shown an Ice spiritual root, giving her the clan's best ice technique would have seemed perfectly reasonable.

Unfortunately—

"Stop cultivating it."

Lin Yue stiffened.

"Master?"

"From today onward, you are forbidden from circulating the Cold River Breathing Art."

Her face changed.

"But if I stop cultivating—"

"You won't."

She paused.

Shen Yuan clarified.

"You won't stop cultivating. You'll stop cultivating incorrectly."

Lin Yue stared at him.

"There's a difference?"

"A large one."

Shen Yuan raised his hand.

A translucent strand of spiritual energy formed above his palm.

"Your spiritual root isn't rejecting cultivation."

He separated the strand into several smaller streams.

"Your body possesses a special physique that requires far more precise control over Yin energy than your current method can provide."

The streams began rotating.

"Your technique forces spiritual Qi through ordinary meridian routes."

One strand suddenly collided with another.

"Your physique pulls that Qi elsewhere."

Another collision.

Then another.

The entire structure collapsed.

"Your spiritual root has spent three years caught between the two."

Lin Yue stared at the disappearing energy.

"So every time I cultivated..."

"You injured yourself slightly."

Her face went pale.

Shen Yuan continued before she could blame herself.

"You couldn't have known."

That mattered.

Lin Yue had spent three years believing she simply wasn't trying hard enough.

Shen Yuan could see it in her expression.

So he added:

"Training harder wouldn't have fixed it."

Her eyes lowered.

"It made it worse?"

"Yes."

She went silent.

Shen Yuan let her.

Some truths needed a moment.

Eventually, Lin Yue asked:

"If I had stopped three years ago..."

"Your spiritual root would probably be healthier."

Her fingers tightened.

"But your physique would still be unstable."

She looked up.

"So this would have happened eventually?"

"Most likely."

That seemed to help.

A little.

Shen Yuan tapped the table.

"Fortunately, the damage can be repaired."

Lin Yue looked at him immediately.

"Completely?"

"Yes."

No hesitation.

No vague promise.

No comforting lie.

Just yes.

Lin Yue's shoulders slowly relaxed.

"How long?"

Shen Yuan looked at the system's recommended treatment.

Then at his system storage.

Inside rested the reward from his first cashback.

**Sixth-grade Heavenly Meridian Restoration Pill.**

He selected it.

---

**[Heavenly Meridian Restoration Pill]**

**Grade:** Sixth

**Primary Effects:**

Repairs severe meridian damage.

Restores damaged spiritual roots.

Purges residual medicinal impurities.

Strengthens spiritual pathways.

**Suitability for Disciple Lin Yue:** 94%

**Estimated Foundation Restoration:** 34% → 68%

**Warning:** Does not resolve Nine-Yin Immortal Body instability.

---

Very useful.

Not enough.

Shen Yuan smiled slightly.

That was fine.

He had twenty-three hours remaining on his First Disciple Bonus.

"Not long."

Lin Yue didn't know what Shen Yuan considered "not long."

She was afraid to ask.

Shen Yuan retrieved the jade bottle.

The moment it appeared, the room filled with medicinal fragrance.

Lin Yue's eyes widened.

She knew enough about alchemy to recognize the difference immediately.

The aura coming from this bottle was nothing like the third-grade pill she'd taken earlier.

"Master..."

Shen Yuan placed it on the table.

"Take it."

Lin Yue didn't move.

"What grade is it?"

"Sixth."

Her expression froze.

Shen Yuan waited.

Lin Yue looked at the bottle.

Then at him.

Then back at the bottle.

"Sixth?"

"Yes."

"Sixth-grade?"

"That is usually what sixth means."

Lin Yue forgot that disciples were supposed to maintain respectful expressions toward their masters.

She simply stared.

A sixth-grade pill.

Her entire clan could sell everything it owned and still struggle to purchase one.

Even the Azure Origin Sect treated sixth-grade pills as strategic treasures.

And Shen Yuan had placed one in front of her as casually as if it were breakfast.

"Master."

"Hm?"

"I can't accept this."

Shen Yuan frowned.

"Why?"

"It's too valuable."

He had heard this once already today.

Apparently, it would become a recurring problem.

"Lin Yue."

"Yes?"

"Why do you think I have resources?"

She hesitated.

"To cultivate?"

"Good."

"And?"

She didn't know.

Shen Yuan pointed at her.

"To teach disciples."

That was not entirely true.

Until yesterday, most of his resources existed because cultivators had a pathological inability to stop collecting things.

But it sounded appropriate.

Lin Yue still hesitated.

Shen Yuan pushed the bottle closer.

"Take it."

Slowly, she did.

**[Ding!]**

Shen Yuan's attention sharpened.

**[Disciple Lin Yue received: Sixth-grade Heavenly Meridian Restoration Pill.]**

**[Evaluating investment...]**

**[Resource suitability: Very High.]**

**[Disciple need: Very High.]**

**[Compatibility bonus detected.]**

**[First Disciple Bonus detected.]**

Shen Yuan waited.

**[Cashback multiplier determined.]**

**[300× Cashback activated.]**

Three hundred.

Better.

**[Congratulations, Host.]**

**[Obtained: Eighth-grade Nine Revolutions Meridian Rebirth Pill.]**

Shen Yuan almost smiled.

Eighth-grade.

He inspected it immediately.

---

**[Nine Revolutions Meridian Rebirth Pill]**

**Grade:** Eighth

Reconstructs damaged meridians and spiritual roots from their foundational state.

May improve spiritual root quality.

May strengthen natural affinity.

May eliminate hidden injuries accumulated before Core Formation.

---

Shen Yuan's eyes brightened.

Excellent.

But still not what he needed.

He looked toward Lin Yue.

She was carefully holding the sixth-grade pill as though it might explode.

"Take it now."

"Here?"

"Here."

Lin Yue nodded.

She swallowed.

The effect was immediate.

Her entire body trembled.

Powerful medicinal energy entered her meridians.

Lin Yue gasped.

"Don't circulate your technique."

Her instinct had been to do exactly that.

She stopped.

"Then what do I do?"

"Nothing."

"...Nothing?"

"Sit."

Shen Yuan raised one finger.

"I'll guide it."

A thread of Immortal Qi entered her body.

The medicinal energy instantly became obedient.

Lin Yue's damaged meridians began repairing.

Tiny fractures closed.

Frozen scars dissolved.

Her spiritual root trembled.

For the first time in three years—

it began healing.

Lin Yue's eyes closed.

A tear slipped down her cheek.

Shen Yuan noticed.

He said nothing.

Instead, he looked at the system.

Thirty-four percent.

Forty.

Forty-seven.

Fifty-five.

Sixty-one.

Sixty-eight.

Then—

**[Foundation Integrity: 69%]**

Slightly better than predicted.

Lin Yue opened her eyes.

She looked down at her hands.

"I..."

Her voice shook.

"I can feel it."

Shen Yuan knew what she meant.

Her spiritual root.

For three years, circulating spiritual energy had felt like forcing water through cracked glass.

Now—

the cracks were closing.

"Good."

Lin Yue looked at him.

"Master..."

Shen Yuan expected thanks.

Instead, she bowed deeply.

He sighed.

"Don't start doing that every time I give you something."

Lin Yue straightened.

"Then how should I thank Master?"

"Become strong."

She froze.

Shen Yuan leaned back.

"That will be enough."

For several seconds, Lin Yue didn't speak.

Then she nodded.

"Yes."

This time, there was something different in her voice.

Not desperation.

Determination.

Shen Yuan approved.

Then the system chimed.

**[Disciple's trust increased.]**

**[Master-Disciple bond stabilized.]**

**[Additional Disciple Inspection function unlocked.]**

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

**[Investment Recommendation.]**

Interesting.

He activated it.

The system analyzed Lin Yue.

Then displayed three items.

**[Recommended Investment Priority #1:]**

**Nine-Yin Foundation Scripture or equivalent.**

**[Priority #2:]**

**Extreme Yin Foundation Treasure.**

**[Priority #3:]**

**Immortal-grade body refinement resource.**

Shen Yuan stared.

He possessed none of those.

At least—

he didn't think he did.

Then he remembered something.

Cloudveil Peak's treasury wasn't the only place containing resources.

He stood.

Lin Yue immediately looked over.

"Master?"

"Rest."

"Where are you going?"

"The sect treasury."

Her expression became concerned.

"Why?"

Shen Yuan walked toward the door.

"Apparently, you're expensive."

Lin Yue stared after him.

She wasn't sure whether that was an insult.

Judging by Shen Yuan's expression—

probably not.

---

Gu Tianhe was having a peaceful afternoon.

That should have worried him.

He sat inside the Sect Master's hall reviewing recruitment reports.

Zhao Tianming had officially joined Heavenly Sword Peak.

Several other promising candidates had entered the inner sect.

The recruitment ceremony had resumed without further incidents.

No mysterious snow.

No hidden physiques awakening.

No Shen Yuan stopping formations with his bare hands.

Peace.

Then the doors opened.

"Sect Master."

Gu Tianhe closed his eyes.

Of course.

He looked up.

Shen Yuan entered.

"You've had a disciple for two hours."

"Approximately."

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

Gu Tianhe immediately became more suspicious.

"What do you want?"

Shen Yuan smiled.

"The treasury."

"No."

"I haven't said what I need."

"You're smiling."

"Am I not allowed?"

"Not when asking about the treasury."

Shen Yuan sat opposite him.

"I need Yin-attributed treasures."

Gu Tianhe's expression changed.

"For Lin Yue?"

"Yes."

"How valuable?"

"The more valuable, the better."

"No."

Shen Yuan frowned.

"Why do you keep saying no?"

"Because I know you."

"You clearly don't. Yesterday you thought I'd never accept a disciple."

Gu Tianhe stared at him.

That was unfortunately true.

Shen Yuan continued.

"Do we possess anything related to Extreme Yin?"

Gu Tianhe thought.

"A few."

"Immortal-grade?"

The Sect Master stared.

"Get out."

Shen Yuan sighed.

"Fine. Heavenly-grade?"

"Why would you need an Immortal-grade treasure?"

"Curiosity."

"Your curiosity is expensive."

Shen Yuan almost laughed.

That was ironic.

Gu Tianhe considered the question seriously.

"There is something."

Shen Yuan's attention sharpened.

"Go on."

"An old treasure from the northern ruins."

"What is it?"

"We don't know."

That was less promising.

Gu Tianhe continued.

"It was recovered three hundred years ago. Extremely dense Yin energy. None of our cultivation methods are compatible with it."

"Where?"

"Sect treasury."

Shen Yuan stood.

Gu Tianhe raised a hand.

"Sit."

Shen Yuan sat.

"You aren't taking it for free."

Shen Yuan looked offended.

"I wasn't going to."

"You absolutely were."

"I was going to borrow it."

"That means taking it for free."

"Temporarily."

Gu Tianhe rubbed his forehead.

"What will you give in exchange?"

Shen Yuan thought.

Before yesterday, this question would have mattered.

Now?

He possessed Immortal cultivation.

A passive Dao Body.

A cashback system.

And apparently a disciple capable of converting his investments into increasingly absurd treasures.

Shen Yuan smiled.

"What does the sect need?"

Gu Tianhe stared at him.

For some reason—

that answer worried him even more.