Dawn light bathed Azure Cloud Main Peak in golden haze.
Xiao Chen stood in the Grand Hall of the Sect Master's Palace — a vast chamber supported by hundred-zhang pillars carved with soaring cloud dragons. Spiritual mist drifted like living silk.
Before him sat five figures on elevated jade thrones.
At the center: Sect Master Yun Tianhe — white-haired yet youthful-faced, aura vast as the sky itself.
To his left: three Peak Masters — Alchemy Peak's gentle female elder Mu Qingwan (Mu Xiaoxiao's master), Sword Peak's sharp-eyed middle-aged man Leng Feng, and Formation Peak's scholarly old man Gu Zhen.
To the right: a lone elder in black robes, face hidden in shadow, exuding faint chaotic fluctuations — Elder Chaos, the sect's most mysterious recluse.
All five had come to choose Xiao Chen's master.
Sect Master Yun spoke first, voice calm yet resonant.
"Xiao Chen, your Primordial Chaos Spirit Root is a once-in-ten-thousand-years anomaly. Righteous and evil intertwined — it may lead to supreme glory or utter destruction. Each Peak Master may make an offer. Choose wisely."
Alchemy Peak Master Mu Qingwan smiled warmly.
"Child, alchemy requires balance of yin and yang, creation and destruction. Your dual nature suits it perfectly. Join my peak — I will teach you to refine chaos into eternal pills. Resources unlimited, and my disciple Xiaoxiao will guide you daily."
Mu Xiaoxiao, standing behind her master, winked playfully at Xiao Chen.
Sword Peak Master Leng Feng's voice was cold steel.
"The sword path is direct — kill to prove Dao. Your chaos root will birth unparalleled sword intent. Join me, and I will forge you into a blade that severs heaven itself."
Formation Peak Master Gu Zhen stroked his beard.
"Formations control the laws of heaven and earth. Chaos is the origin of all laws — study with me, and you will master arrays that even Golden Core cultivators cannot break."
Finally, Elder Chaos spoke — voice like grinding void.
"Boy… your root mirrors mine from ancient times. I walk the path of true chaos — neither righteous nor evil, only absolute freedom. Join me, and no one in the sect will dare scheme against you. But the path is lonely and bloody."
The hall fell silent.
Xiao Chen bowed deeply.
"This disciple thanks all seniors for their grace. After careful thought… I choose Elder Chaos as my master."
Gasps echoed.
Sect Master Yun raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Very well. From today, you are Elder Chaos's personal disciple. The sect will grant you three high-grade spirit stones monthly, plus access to the Chaos Scripture Pavilion."
Elder Chaos rose, shadowy robes swirling.
"Come."
He led Xiao Chen out of the hall to a forbidden side peak shrouded in perpetual black mist — Chaos Peak, where no other disciple dared tread.
A simple stone hut and a chaotic spiritual spring were the only structures.
"Your courtyard is here. Cultivate freely. I will not teach step-by-step — only answer when you have questions born from blood and bone."
Xiao Chen bowed. "Yes, Master."
Elder Chaos vanished like smoke.
Alone, Xiao Chen sat by the spring.
Chaos energy here was hundreds of times denser. It poured into him wildly.
In one day, he broke through to mid Spirit Vein Condensation.
But as night fell, a transmission talisman from Mu Xiaoxiao lit up.
"Little Junior Brother! Congratulations on choosing the scariest master — now no one will bully you openly! Come to Alchemy Peak tomorrow. I'll sneak you to see your little girlfriend."
He smiled helplessly.
The next day, using his new inner disciple token, he descended to Outer Peak.
Qing Lian waited anxiously at a secluded grove.
The moment she saw him, she ran into his arms.
"I was so worried! Everyone said Elder Chaos is a devil who cultivates forbidden arts…"
He held her tightly. "He's direct, but he accepted me because our paths align. Don't worry."
She looked up, eyes misty. "As long as you're safe."
He brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"I'll always come back to you."
Under the shade of ancient spirit trees, their lips met again — this kiss deeper, more urgent, carrying the relief of reunion and the fire of young love.
When they parted, both breathing faster, she teased softly, "If you keep kissing me like that, I won't be able to cultivate properly."
He laughed — a rare, genuine laugh. "Then I'll have to visit more often to distract you."
Their moment was interrupted by a cold snort.
Li Wei stood twenty zhang away with three outer disciples, arms crossed.
"So bold, inner disciple Xiao. Sneaking to outer peak to meet a woman — if the discipline hall knew…"
Xiao Chen shielded Qing Lian behind him, voice calm.
"Senior Brother Li, this is private. Leave."
Li Wei smirked. "Private? The grove is public. And Qing Lian still refuses proper suitors while clinging to trash. Today, I'll teach you your place."
His three lackeys — all late Body Forging — spread out, cracking knuckles.
Qing Lian whispered, "Chen-ge, don't—"
But Xiao Chen stepped forward.
"Three on one? Fair enough."
The fight was short.
Li Wei's companions rushed first.
Xiao Chen moved — simple, direct.
One punch to the chest sent the first flying ten zhang, coughing blood.
A palm strike shattered the second's guard, breaking ribs.
The third turned to flee.
Xiao Chen grabbed his collar and threw him into a tree.
All in breaths.
Li Wei's face paled. He was only mid Spirit Vein — barely condensed two strands.
"You… you dare attack fellow disciples? I'll report—"
Xiao Chen appeared before him instantly, hand on his throat, lifting him effortlessly.
"Report what? A friendly spar? No one saw permanent injury."
His voice was quiet ice.
"Listen carefully. Harass Qing Lian again, and next time I won't hold back."
He dropped Li Wei, who scrambled away with his groaning lackeys.
Qing Lian stared wide-eyed. "Chen-ge… when did you become so strong?"
He rubbed his head sheepishly. "The chaos energy here is too rich. It's hard to control sometimes."
She laughed despite herself, hugging him again.
"My hero."
From a distant pavilion, Mu Xiaoxiao watched through a far-seeing mirror fruit, munching spirit grapes.
"Oho~ Little Junior Brother is fierce when protecting his girl. This is going to be fun."
But deeper in Outer Peak, Li Wei knelt before a middle-aged deacon who shared his surname.
"Uncle, that trash humiliated me! You must act!"
Deacon Li's eyes glinted coldly.
"Chaos root… interesting. Don't worry. In the upcoming outer disciple trial, accidents happen."
Hidden currents began to flow beneath Azure Cloud Sect's peaceful surface.