1 My Master Is Pretty As A Picture

The mountains pierced the clouds like swords. An ethereal air enveloped the territory as cranes flocked by, crafting a lively scenery of immortality.

There was a mountain, however, that was barren and filled with wilting weeds and brambles. A straw hut sat on the peak, a lonely pine tree grew askew from the rocks near the cliff in front of it, and several broken swords were stabbed in the vacant plot behind it.

It looked more like a bandit's nook than a cultivator's retreat.

Where the aged pine tree's roots coiled and intertwined on the cliff facing east, a lady in a dark robe sat with her legs crossed in a lotus position, telling a young man standing reverently under the tree after she took a sip of her bamboo wine, "I've cultivated for thousands of years and have been the sect's Sword-Wielding Elder for over 500 years, but I have never taken in a disciple. Do you know why I've picked you out of the blue to be my Direct Disciple?"

The young man's name was Xiao Ran.

He came from 21st-century earth and had been given the opportunity to hop on the transmigration bandwagon three years ago to arrive in the cultivation world he was currently in.

It had not been a fruitful adventure, however. Averagely talented as he was, he had nothing to help him make a name for himself other than his good looks. Nonetheless, it would be absurd for him not to cultivate when he had already transmigrated to a cultivation world.

During the past three years, he had taken part in dozens of sect entry assessments, only to fail in the first rounds.

Not today! Today, he had lucked out.

He had been taken on, which was an exception and a shock, as a Direct Disciple by Sword-Wielding Elder Lingzhou Yue during the sect entry assessment of a highly-respected school called Zongzhi Mountain.

This was a famous school! And he was a Direct Disciple!

Happiness came unannounced abruptly, surprising Xiao Ran.

Even now, as he soaked in the rich spiritual energy of Zongzhi Mountain after changing into a light green disciple uniform, collecting his Direct Disciple token, putting away his high-tier interspatial ring and sword, and receiving his disciple stipend of 10 spirit stones in advance, he was still dazed.

Was this female Elder a fool?

With his guilty conscience and elation simultaneously gnawing at him, Xiao Ran hung his head, not daring to peek at the Elder and not hearing her question…

Upon finishing her pot of alcohol, Lingzhou Yue eventually became aware of the fact that her new disciple had yet to reply. His lack of reaction ruffled her feathers.

"I asked you a question!"

Xiao Ran was slightly taken aback before he quickly responded, "Please ask me again, Master."

The corners of Lingzhou Yue's eyes twitched as she suppressed her emotions and asked again in a sterner tone, "Do you know why I've chosen you as my Direct Disciple?"

Xiao Ran had no idea.

"I don't know."

Seeing that Xiao Ran had kept his head low all this while, Lingzhou Yue raised her voice. "Is there a wraith on my face? Look up!"

At the mention of a wraith, Xiao Ran quickly composed himself and looked up at the foreign master.

She was a young lady in a long dark robe holding a bamboo wine pot. Her clothes barely covered her, while the alcohol never seemed to leave her lips. She was barefaced, with only a tint of drunkenness on her face, and her sword-like brows and bright starry eyes were prominent and exuded divine beauty.

She appeared casual, as her coarse long hair had been arranged into a short braid behind her head and her loose-fitting robe was missing a flap of fabric on the sleeved front as it was draped over her slender figure.

With a gust of wind, the front of the garment and the sleeves fluttered to reveal glimpses of soft skin. The fair skin that was vaguely visible was as smooth as jade and formed promising curves.

Xiao Ran thought that the overly loose fit of the dark robe was surely meant to conceal the titillating figure beneath.

This was the first person Xiao Ran had met since transmigrating to the cultivation world who exuded more masculine beauty than he did.

A loose robe over a voluptuous figure, a bare face with striking beauty, a sense of an otherworldly powerful aura that tinged the laidback heroic front... It was just unexpected that such an uninhibited vibe came from a beautiful woman brimming with the energy of a sword!

Xiao Ran was pulled into deep thoughts.

Why would a woman like that want a cultivation loser as her Direct Disciple?

There was nothing wrong with her face, her figure was a little scandalous—not that this was an issue—and her ability was not even questionable. After all, she was Zongzhi Mountain's Sword-Wielding Elder… There had to be something wrong with her brain then!

Upon reaching this conclusion, Xiao Ran said respectfully, "Forgive this disciple's slowness. I really do not know why you have taken me in. Pray tell, Master."

Lingzhou Yue nodded in satisfaction, gulping down another pot of wine she seemed to pull out of thin air. Meanwhile, she side-eyeing her handsome and honest disciple. She rarely ever felt a slight superiority because of her intelligence.

'Hah, should I tell you that the Cultivation Alliance just approved the inculcating act of the Dao-Ending Period and I'll be kicked out of the sect if I don't take in and teach a disciple?'

'Why did I pick you? Because getting a fool will prove that I really am not talented at teaching and those bastards won't force me to do it.'

'Why you out of hundreds of thousands of average Joes? Because I'm the only one who can see that you're utterly hopeless. You're too mediocre in all Five Elements. You can't possibly even refine Qi!'

'Plus, you're handsome. I'll have to see your face every day, all the time. At least I won't hate looking at it. If your looks can boost my swag, that'll be even better.'

With these thoughts in mind, Lingzhou Yue guzzled more wine and almost spoke honestly aloud.

"Why? Because you're a rare person who's gifted in all Five Elements. I coincidentally have some amazing original art that's dying out, and only someone gifted in all Five Elements like you can cultivate it."

'As if I'd believe you!' thought Xiao Ran. However, he bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you for your regard, Master."

Xiao Ran lacked talent but was well equipped with theoretical knowledge, as he had been preparing for various sect entry assessments for three years.

Being gifted in all Five Elements just meant that he was mediocre when it came to Spiritual Roots. There was no prominent talent that came with the disability to gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. This was a typical hopeless case.

How could he cultivate some amazing techniques when there was no way he could refine Qi in his entire life?

Fortunately, Xiao Ran had still successfully made his way into a cultivation sect and was going to embark on the first step of his cultivation journey no matter what his master was planning.

Regardless of how difficult the future might be, his master would still be his guide, so he would reach his best competency when he should.

Opportunities were for people who were ready. He would cultivate properly. After all, who knew when the system would be dropped on him?

He had been selected as the Direct Disciple of a famous school despite his lack of talent. It would not be surprising if the system was dropped on him.

"Loading Supreme Devotion System…"

Xiao Ran was shocked.

'What kind of system is that?'

"Supreme Devotion System has been loaded successfully. Host Xiao Ran is bound permanently. Host will grow stronger if he's devoted to his master."

'This works too, I guess?'

"Please select the master of your choosing."

It was not like Xiao Ran had any other choice.

'Master Lingzhou Yue.'

"Binding Master Lingzhou Yue. Choice irreversible for life."

Oops! That was a bit careless!

Xiao Ran quickly checked the system dashboard.

"Host: Xiao Ran."

"Cultivation Base: Mortal."

"Master: Lingzhou Yue."

"Devotion Points: 0."

"Skills: N/A."

"Items: N/A."

"Store: Accessible through concentration."

'Quantifiable Devotion Points, huh…'

'Isn't this debauched devotion?'

'I, Xiao Ran, am innately devoted and filial!'

Xiao Ran did not go about his way immediately to make some Devotion Points (DP). Instead, he concentrated his attention to access the system store and check what was available.

After flipping through a few pages, he realized that the store only sold abstract items related to one's cultivation base, cultivation methods, and skills. There was nothing tangible.

The most expensive things one could buy were cultivation kits that could increase the host's cultivation base. For example, it took 100 DP to get to the 1st Qi Refining Layer. Next were cultivation methods, healing kits, and life aids. Purchasing cultivation methods, healing cultivation energy in battles, and prolonging a lifetime by decades usually required dozens of DP.

The cheapest options were mortal-level life skills. Skills like the maximum level of zither playing, chess, calligraphy, painting, and cooking cost a couple DP. There was also the maximum level of building, farming, canaling drainage, postpartum care of spiritual beasts, and more…

There was such an assortment of items for sale that there was nothing one could not buy. There were only things one did not think of!

These skills were mainly used to serve one's master and earn DP.

Xiao Ran was poor and destitute. He could only depend on what he currently had and fully utilize traditional talent.

In the Dao-Ending Period, when everyone was too busy to scrutinize principles, Xiao Ran was thick-skinned and unafraid of being too forward. Upon seeing that his master was idle and drowsy, he stepped forward and said seriously, "Master, you only picked me after selecting disciples for a whole day. You must be exhausted. Allow this disciple to massage your shoulders."

Lingzhou Yue was taken aback. Staring straight at Xiao Ran, she saw the unwavering sincerity in his eyes. Were there still sensible disciples like this in the Dao-Ending Period? Never mind, she was fine with anything as long as she was not forced to cultivate.

Lingzhou Yue did not like men, but it was enjoyable to be given a massage by a handsome young man.

"Not bad. You're very devoted."

After saying that, Lingzhou Yue closed her pretty eyes and adjusted her body to let Xiao Ran give her a massage.

Hmm… Her disciple did not seem very skilled, but he was young and his movements were consistent and strong. His massage was rejuvenating and relaxing.

The massage, in combination with the soft mountain breeze and the faint aromatic whiff of her wine, made Lingzhou Yue fall asleep swiftly.

Xiao Ran's hands moved fast, taking advantage of the situation as much as possible.

"Congratulations, you've earned 1 Devotion Point!"

"Congratulations, you've earned 1 Devotion Point!"

"Congratulations, you've earned 1 Devotion Point!"

"…"

The notifications stopped coming in, but Xiao Ran shifted around and continued massaging his master to see if his DP would keep increasing. In the end, his hands got sore and his shoulders were fatigued, but no more DP came in.

"Fool, you're hurting me!" Lingzhou Yue scolded him blearily.

Xiao Ran stopped at once.

Five DP was obviously the limit. It would be futile if he kept massaging his master. He decided to try again tomorrow to see if he could reap more points.

Letting out a contented sigh, Xiao Ran glanced at his master's buxom and carefree position, sighing again in his mind. 'What a luscious experience pack!'

Surprise, surprise. A lazy voice that commanded obedience drifted over suddenly. "Don't stop."