Lin Xuanji followed Ling Xueyin as she surveyed the peak, pretending he understood whatever she was doing.
He absolutely did not.
Ling Xueyin moved like someone inspecting her own home—her fingers brushing faintly against stones, trees, the air itself. The mountain responded with subtle hums, tiny pulses beneath their feet. Ruolan looked awestruck.
Lin Xuanji looked stressed.
After a while, Ling Xueyin stopped beside the training grounds and turned toward him.
"Sect Master," she said softly, "you have done well."
Lin Xuanji blinked. "Me? Doing what?"
"Reestablishing the foundation," she answered. "This peak resisted awakening for centuries. Yet you… managed it."
Lin Xuanji coughed into his fist. "Ah, yes. That. Of course. Totally intentional."
(False.)
He stomped on the ground. "System, shut up!"
Ling Xueyin's lips twitched very slightly.
Ruolan, who had been practicing quietly, raised his hand. "G-Grand Elder, is the mountain… special?"
Ling Xueyin looked at the boy with a serene expression. "All mountains are special."
Lin Xuanji squinted suspiciously.
"That sounded like an answer and not an answer at the same time."
"It was meant to be."
"…Okay, so even your answers are mysterious."
Ruolan giggled nervously.
Lin Xuanji sighed. "Well, Grand Elder, since you're here… should we make some kind of… plan? For the sect?"
Ling Xueyin nodded once. "Yes. But first…"
She stepped closer, her gaze settling on Lin Xuanji with the kind of seriousness that made his stomach twist.
"…you must test your cultivation."
Lin Xuanji's brain blanked. "…Test my what?"
"Your cultivation," Ruolan echoed, eyes shining with curiosity.
Lin Xuanji looked between them. "Uh… you see… the thing is… I've been very busy with paperwork."
"There is no paperwork," Ling Xueyin said calmly.
"Training disciples. Very important."
"You have one disciple."
"…Meditation?"
"You slept on the floor."
Lin Xuanji groaned. "Fine! I get it! System! Do I even HAVE cultivation?!"
(Host's cultivation level is… undefined.)
Lin Xuanji's eyes widened. "Undefined? What do you mean undefined?"
(You do not fit into the standard categorization of this realm.)
Ling Xueyin watched him with a knowing look.
Ruolan watched him with the look of someone wondering if his Sect Master was secretly strong or secretly unqualified.
Lin Xuanji threw his hands up. "So what do we do?"
Ling Xueyin extended her hand. "Place your palm on mine."
"Eh!? Is that some kind of intimate—"
"It is a cultivation test."
"Oh. Right. Yes. Testing. Very professional."
He placed his palm on hers.
A soft glow surged—
Not overwhelming, not violent—
Just a faint, steady pulse, like a heartbeat echo.
Ling Xueyin's eyes softened.
Grip tightened just slightly.
Lin Xuanji felt… warm.
Not physically.
Something deeper.
Ancient.
Familiar.
Like touching something he had lost long ago.
He pulled his hand back quickly. "W-What was that?!"
Ruolan leaned forward. "Sect Master? What's your level?"
Ling Xueyin took a breath before answering.
"Unassessed."
Lin Xuanji threw his arms up. "Oh come on!"
Ruolan blinked. "…What does that mean?"
"It means," Ling Xueyin said gently, eyes flicking toward Lin Xuanji, "your Sect Master does not follow ordinary paths."
Lin Xuanji pointed dramatically. "There! That! What does THAT mean?!"
(It means Host is anomalous.)
"STOP CALLING ME THAT!"
Ruolan hid his giggling behind his sleeve.
Ling Xueyin finally turned toward the horizon. "Regardless… the sect needs resources. And disciples. And reputation."
Lin Xuanji swallowed. "Which means…?"
"We must leave the peak," she said. "Enter the world. Gather supplies. Find talent."
Lin Xuanji blinked.
Ruolan gulped.
The wind rustled ominously.
Lin Xuanji pointed down the mountain. "Out there? Into the dangerous world full of bandits, clans, killers, angry animals, and people who run faster than me?"
"Yes," Ling Xueyin said calmly.
Ruolan whispered, "Sect Master… are we ready?"
Lin Xuanji looked at his grand elder.
At his first disciple.
At the huts.
At the stones still humming faintly.
He straightened his back.
"…Absolutely not."
(Correct.)
"But we're going anyway," he said.
Ling Xueyin smiled—only slightly, but enough to soften the air.
"Then let the Heavenly Peak Sect take its first step."
The mountain hummed beneath them, quiet… approving.