3: That unlucky fellow who got jilted, I'll take him in!

The air in the main hall seemed to solidify for an instant.

Li Daoxuan, with lightning speed, swept his hand back, and the immortal slaying sword, radiating terrifying malevolence, instantly vanished, being stuffed back into the deepest layer of the System space.

It was too hot to handle.

If that thing were to be exposed for even one more second, it would probably attract all the old monsters within a hundred-mile radius.

Must hide it well.

After doing all this, he let out a long breath, his gaze returning to Xiao Chen, who was kneeling on the ground.

At this moment, Xiao Chen was still immersed in the self- move of "Revered Master bestowed me a divine sword and taught me to hide my talents." He held the rusty iron sword like a treasure, his eyes more affectionate than if he were looking at his own father.

Li Daoxuan narrowed his eyes.

Something's not right.

To return an extreme dao imperial weapon for a piece of scrap metal, this kid's Luck must be problematic.

Could an ordinary Utility Disciple have such treatment?

"System, bring up Xiao Chen's attribute panel."

Whoosh.

A light blue screen unfolded above Xiao Chen's head, visible only to Li Daoxuan.

[Name: Xiao Chen]

[Bone Age: Sixteen]

[Realm: Qi Refinement Stage Third Layer (Formerly Foundation Establishment Perfection)]

[Fate: Son of Destiny (Sealed), Trash Stream Template, Engagement Cancellation Stream Template]

[Special Physique: Myriad Fire Burning Heaven Physique (Unawakened)]

[Recent Turning Point: Encountered fiancée breaking off the engagement, made a three-year pact, using this as an Opportunity to awaken an old grandpa... oh no, to awaken a Host System.]

Li Daoxuan looked at the string of glittering golden tags, his mouth curving upwards uncontrollably.

Good heavens.

Good heavens, indeed.

Surname Xiao, once a Genius who later became a Trash, and a fiancée who was about to break off the engagement.

These elements are too complete!

This isn't a Disciple; this is clearly a walking "Experience Pill," a living "Troublemaker," a best-selling book filled with "Don't bully a young man for being poor"!

No wonder the System activated "Ten Thousand Times Return for Teaching Disciples."

A Son of Destiny of this caliber could choke on cold water and still pick up gold. Giving him Opportunities, how could the return rate not be high?

"Xiao Chen."

Li Daoxuan calmed his excited mood, trying hard to maintain the detached persona of a Revered Master.

"Some things, though I see through them, I still wish to hear you say personally."

He walked in front of Xiao Chen, looking down at the young man's stubborn face.

"You should have already reached Foundation Establishment, so why has your cultivation regressed instead of advancing, falling to the Qi Refinement Stage? There seems to be a stagnant Qi within your body."

Xiao Chen's body trembled.

He suddenly looked up, a flicker of disbelief in his eyes.

He had never told anyone this secret, not even the Sect Master who took him in; he had only said he suffered Qi Deviation during Cultivation.

Unexpectedly, Revered Master saw through it at a glance?

Indeed, Revered Master has always been watching me!

Xiao Chen's eyes reddened, and the three-year defense line he had built in his heart collapsed at this moment.

"Revered Master... Disciple..."

His voice choked, his hands gripping his clothes tightly, knuckles white.

"Disciple was originally the Young Lord of the Xiao Family in the Eastern Desolate, Qi Refining at four, Foundation Establishment at ten, hailed as the Xiao Family's once-in-a-century Genius."

"But one night three years ago, Disciple suddenly fainted, and after waking up, my cultivation began to inexplicably drain away. No matter how I Cultivated, my spiritual energy would disappear like water in a funnel."

"From Genius to cripple, it only takes one night."

Xiao Chen let out a bitter laugh, his eyes full of self-mockery and bitterness.

"The Family abandoned me and gave resources to others. Father was ostracized by the Elder Council to protect me. Unwilling to implicate Father, I left the Family alone and ended up here."

Li Daoxuan listened quietly, his heart unmoved, even feeling a little like laughing.

Standard.

Too standard.

This script was like it just came off an assembly line.

However, this further confirmed his conjecture—this kid was worth investing in!

Li Daoxuan reached out and gently patted Xiao Chen's shoulder.

"All that is past is like yesterday's death."

"Xiao Chen, are you willing to be my Hidden God Sect's Head Disciple?"

The main hall instantly fell silent.

Xiao Chen looked up abruptly, his face full of astonishment, even doubting if he had heard correctly.

"Head... Head Disciple?"

"Revered Master, I am just a Utility Disciple... and a cripple who cannot Cultivate..."

In this world where strength is respected, who would take a cripple as a true Head Disciple? Wouldn't that be trampling on the Sect's reputation?

"Cripple?"

Li Daoxuan scoffed, standing with his hands behind his back, his gaze profound as he looked towards the sky outside the hall.

"The so-called cripple and Genius in this world are merely self-inflicted worries of mediocre people."

"True powerhouses never care about the starting point."

"If I say you are a Genius, you are a Genius. If I say you can do it, even all the Heavenly Gods and Buddhas must say you can do it."

These words were incredibly domineering and highly inflammatory.

For Xiao Chen, who was at the lowest point of his life, suffering cold looks and ridicule, this was the first ray of light in the darkness, the only straw a drowning man could grasp.

"Revered Master..."

Xiao Chen could no longer hold back, kowtowing heavily, his forehead hitting the rotten wooden floor with a dull thud.

"Disciple Xiao Chen, greets Revered Master!"

"From now on, Disciple's life belongs to the Hidden God Sect!"

Li Daoxuan nodded in satisfaction.

Very good, the bond has been established.

From now on, if this kid causes trouble or obtains treasure, it will be inextricably linked to him, his Revered Master.

Just at this touching moment of deep Revered Master-Disciple affection.

Boom!

A loud bang shattered the warmth in the main hall.

The already shaky mountain gate was violently blasted open from the outside. Crushed stones splattered, dust flew, and even the tattered plaque with the three words "Hidden God Sect" crashed to the ground, breaking into two halves.

Immediately after, a clamorous and arrogant uproar came.

"Where's Li Daoxuan? Tell him to get out!"

"What kind of crappy Hidden God Sect is this? It doesn't even have a Mountain-Protecting Formation, making this Young Lord step in mud!"

"Hurry up! Hand over that good-for-nothing Xiao Chen, don't waste our Young Miss Nalan's time!"

Xiao Chen's previously excited face instantly turned pale.

He felt as if a basin of ice water had been poured over him from head to toe, his whole body trembling slightly.

It was a humiliation and anger that penetrated his very bones.

He clenched the iron sword in his hand, his fingernails digging deep into the rust of the hilt, drawing blood.

"It's them..."

"They still came in the end."

Li Daoxuan raised an eyebrow, asking knowingly, "Who?"

Xiao Chen took a deep breath, his voice trembling, yet carrying a sense of resolve.

"The Nalan Family."

"And... my fiancée, Nalan Yanran, to whom I was betrothed since birth."

"The favored daughter of the Yunlan Sect."

When he spoke the last few words, Xiao Chen was almost gritting his teeth.

Li Daoxuan's lips curved into a playful arc.

Here it comes.

The most classic face-slapping scene of the engagement cancellation stream, it has arrived with an arrogant swagger.

If it were ten minutes ago, Li Daoxuan might really have taken Xiao Chen and run away through a dog hole.

But now?

He touched the immortal slaying sword still humming in the System space, then looked at the Son of Luck he had just taken in.

Run?

It's impossible to run in this lifetime.

If he missed this Opportunity to show off that came knocking, he would be struck by lightning.

Li Daoxuan tidied his sleeves, casually flicking away non-existent dust.

"Oh, so they're here to break off the engagement."

His tone was as flat as if he were saying, "Oh, so they're here to deliver takeout."

Xiao Chen lowered his head, his face full of shame: "Revered Master, Disciple has disgraced you. This is Disciple's private matter; Disciple will go out now and settle it with them, absolutely not implicating the Sect!"

With that, he lifted the rusty iron sword and was about to rush out.

His back view was filled with the tragic grandeur of "The wind whistles, the Yi River is cold."

"Stop."

Li Daoxuan's lazy voice sounded behind him.

Xiao Chen paused, turning to look at his Revered Master.

Li Daoxuan slowly walked to the entrance of the main hall, looking at the group of aggressive, lavishly dressed uninvited guests outside, a hint of playful amusement flashing in his eyes.

He turned his head, looking at the astonished Xiao Chen, and chuckled:

"What's the hurry?"

"How can such a famous scene as an engagement cancellation be without your Revered Master?"

"Coincidentally, these old bones of mine are almost rusty. I just need an excuse... ahem, I just need an Opportunity to establish my might and loosen the soil in this Eastern Desolate."