After Bai Li of War Peak selected Ye Lin as his direct disciple but was politely refused, he made no further selections. The process of disciple selection by the other Peak Masters continued.
The second peak, Emperor Sword Peak, chose Liu Xingchen, a young man who possessed the Emperor-grade special physique, the Void Sword Body. Though his body had been sealed, his potential was more than enough to draw the attention of Emperor Sword Peak. Moreover, Chen Xingtian had already received recommendations from Luo Yunhai and a body-unsealing pill from Han Ming.
The third peak, Pure Light Peak, led solely by Han Ming, did not select any additional disciples. Everyone was aware of the extreme difficulty of joining his peak, and Han Ming only sought those he could truly trust.
The fourth peak, Five Sacred Elements Peak, did not choose a single disciple. Their Peak Master had yet to find anyone suitable, despite the presence of dozens of candidates with Emperor-grade physiques.
The fifth peak, Alchemy Sovereign Peak, saw Master Luo Yunhai selecting Jiang Zhiyao as his direct disciple a young woman who possessed the Eternal Heaven Flame Body. Though her origin power had been damaged, her talent in cultivation and her deep knowledge of herbs gave Luo Yunhai full confidence that he could not only restore her body but also awaken the full potential of her Flame Body. He even intended to teach her to become a Saint-level alchemist.
The sixth peak, Heavenforge Peak, had Master Zhao Honglong selecting Feng Yan, the boy who bore the Origin Body of the Sacred Flame. Though his power was damaged, the potential of his Emperor-grade physique was still formidable. Han Ming had already provided Zhao Honglong with a restorative pill in exchange for a Saint-grade weapon.
The seventh peak, Immortal Pattern Peak, had Master Bai Jingsen choosing Liu Fengyue, a girl who possessed the Arcane Emperor Body. Although her power had been sealed, with proper training, she had the potential to become one of the most powerful practitioners of arcane arts. He too had exchanged spirit stones with Han Ming for a pill to unseal her body.
The eighth peak, Divine Seal Peak, did not select any disciples this time.
The ninth peak, Mysterious Heaven Peak, also did not select any disciples.
The tenth peak, Bamboo Heaven Peak, had its representative act in place of the Peak Master. She chose Lan Xingyue and Ye Lin to join their ranks.
All disciples who were not chosen by a Peak Master or a Core Elder became Outer Disciples of the Holy Land of the Immortal River. However, they still had opportunities to train and climb the ranks should they prove themselves worthy.
After the selection ceremony ended, masters and disciples bid each other farewell before each peak led their new disciples back to their respective mountains.
Han Ming instantly teleported himself and Lei Chen to Pure Light Peak.
The moment Lei Chen's body materialized on the peak, he was immediately overwhelmed.
"This is...!"
He could feel the incredibly dense spiritual energy that filled the entire peak.
Though he had heard that each peak within the Holy Land of the Immortal River possessed differing concentrations of spiritual energy, the density here on Pure Light Peak surpassed anything he had ever encountered.
"Master... this place..."
Han Ming smiled faintly. Before long, he spoke.
"Let us begin the disciple initiation ceremony."
Lei Chen did not hesitate in the slightest. He knelt down and bowed to Han Ming three times.
"Disciple Lei Chen pays respects to Master!"
Han Ming smiled with satisfaction before speaking inwardly.
"System, open the disciple initiation reward box."
Ding! Congratulations to the Host for receiving... Supreme Emperor Weapon: Boundless Sword +1, Emperor's Blood Drop: Sacred Dragon Blood +1, Emperor-tier Technique: Mystic Sacred God Physique +1
Han Ming gave a small nod and proceeded to examine the items he had received.
The Supreme Emperor Weapon, Boundless Sword, was a weapon without a fixed form. It could change shape in accordance with the will of its wielder. It seemed as though it had been crafted specifically for Lei Chen.
The Emperor's Blood Drop, Sacred Dragon Blood, was capable of restoring the body, repairing injuries, and stimulating hidden potential to its utmost limits.
The Emperor-tier Technique, Mystic Sacred God Physique, was a cultivation art that could draw out the full potential of Lei Chen's Emperor-grade physique.
Han Ming paused for a moment, then asked the system a question.
"Can I use these rewards to invest in my disciple?"
Only items received from the disciple reward box may be used, Host. And if they are from the disciple reward box, you may give them freely. They will not count toward your daily investment limit.
At that moment, Han Ming sat calmly on a chair, gazing at Lei Chen with a steady gaze before asking in a quiet voice.
"Can you tell me why your bones and eyes were taken?"
Lei Chen, still kneeling, clenched his fists as though trying to suppress the surge of emotions within him. He bowed lower and replied in a soft, trembling voice.
"Master, I once had everything… I was called a peerless genius. I was the hope of my clan. I had a beautiful and trustworthy fiancée. But I never knew what I had done to earn the wrath of the Wu Clan's Holy Son."
As he spoke that name, his body trembled slightly, but he bit his lip and pushed through, continuing.
"He stole everything from me. My status, my fiancée, my bones, my eyes… and trampled upon my dignity as a human being. I… was truly killed. But my father… my father gave his life, using a forbidden technique to transfer the majority of my wounds onto himself. That is how I survived."
Lei Chen clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, a thin trickle of blood seeping out. His empty eyes slowly lifted upward.
"But… my father… he couldn't endure those injuries. He passed away… with a smile. And before he drew his final breath, he told me to live on… that I didn't need to seek revenge for him."
Silence spread throughout the room. The gentle breeze that passed through only made the atmosphere heavier. Han Ming looked at his disciple without saying a word. He already knew that everything Lei Chen had just said was true. Back when Lei Chen was within his formation, Han Ming had examined his memories before accepting him as a disciple. He had seen it all. The torment this boy had endured was far beyond what he had just described.
"Do you want revenge?" Han Ming asked. His voice held neither pressure nor judgment. It was simply an open question, meant to let Lei Chen answer from the depths of his heart.
Lei Chen fell silent for a while, then finally spoke in a faint voice. "I… don't… know… Master."
He tightened his fists. "But in my heart… I'm so full of hatred that sometimes, just breathing feels painful. I relive that moment in my dreams again and again. The nightmares haunt me and make me suffer. I dream of that man's sneering face… just the sound of his laughter fills my heart with rage."
He took a deep breath. "But… my father told me… to live on… that revenge wasn't necessary… I… I..."
Han Ming gave a faint smile before speaking.
"No one said you must seek revenge. And no one said you must let it go. If you're still unsure, then don't decide now. After examining you, I can see you already bear inner demons. But that's not a problem."
Lei Chen remained silent, listening closely to his master's words.
"First, become strong. And when the day comes that you're strong enough, you'll be able to choose your own path whether to exact revenge, or to move on. That choice will be yours alone."
Lei Chen's eyes trembled. "I…"
"But remember this," Han Ming continued. "In the world of cultivation, weakness is not just a fault. It is a crime. The weak are trampled, stripped of every right even the right to their own lives. They have no right to choose, no right to plead, and no one will reach out to help them. This world knows neither justice nor fairness. Only the law of the strong decides all things. In this world, there are only predators and prey. What you become depends on whether you grow sharp enough fangs to tear them apart."
Lei Chen felt as if something had been ignited deep within his mind.
"So then…" Han Ming stood up, stepping forward toward Lei Chen before tossing him a small flask filled with a golden-red liquid.
"Drink it."
Lei Chen caught the flask, still dazed. Though his eyes could no longer see, the moment he opened it, an overwhelming surge of energy burst forth.
"This is…?"
"Sacred Dragon Blood," Han Ming said. "It will restore your body. Not only will it heal your injuries, it will also regenerate your eyes and bones."
Lei Chen pressed his lips together tightly. This was an unimaginably precious item. Even in his clan's prime, such a treasure had never been within reach.
"But Master… I…"
"You are my disciple," Han Ming said calmly. "From the moment you bowed to me as your master, your fate changed. From here on, your destiny will be your own. You chose me when I stood at my lowest. This is what I offer you in return."
Lei Chen trembled from head to toe. "Thank you… Master…" He gripped the flask tightly, then drank the sacred elixir without hesitation.
At that very moment, a surge of immense power exploded from within him.
A blinding golden light radiated from Lei Chen's body, spreading across the entirety of Pure Light Peak. The ground trembled, and the air around them swirled as if a spiritual storm had been unleashed.
His frail and wounded body began to transform. His torn muscles regenerated. The bones that had once been excavated were being reforged anew through the power of the Sacred Dragon Blood.
"AAAAAAAGHHHH!!"
A cry of pain erupted from Lei Chen, as though his entire body were being scorched from within.
Han Ming stood silently, arms folded, watching the scene unfold with calm eyes.
Lei Chen gritted his teeth. He would not allow himself to fall again. The Sacred Dragon Blood surged through his veins, bursting through damaged meridians and forming new pathways—stronger, tougher than ever before.