The Age of Immortals and Martial Arts, the third day of the third month.
Thanks to Sect Leader Xuanwei's tireless efforts, Qingxia Daoist Sect finally welcomed its eighth disciple: Lu Zhao.
To keep this kid, who didn't even have a spirit root, and to fill the quota for the sect's annual review, everyone pitched in, from the sect leader down to the senior brothers and sisters, each displaying their own special talents.
Eldest Senior Brother Xie Wujiu claimed he was a peerless sword genius. He casually drew a sword mark and said it concealed the supreme meaning of the sword.
Second Senior Brother Shen Yan claimed he was a peerless alchemy genius. He hauled out a black wok and said it was the supreme method of alchemy.
Third Senior Brother Gu Qingheng claimed he was a peerless formation genius. He tossed out a handful of pebbles and said they formed a grand array of heaven and earth.
Fourth Senior Brother Pei Ju bragged about his mastery of talismans, Fifth Senior Brother Wei Jue boasted about his treasure appraisal skills, and Junior Sister Ruan Xiaoman was there to nod along.
As for Eldest Senior Sister Jiang Xueci, she couldn't be bothered to brag. She just wanted a drink.
Everyone had a simple plan: keep Lu Zhao around for as long as possible. Once he'd spent a year in the sect and the paperwork for a third-rank sect had been submitted, it would be too late for him to discover he'd been tricked.
But no one expected that...
From that casually drawn sword mark, Lu Zhao really comprehended the Four Seasons Thunderclap Sword.
From that casually hauled-out black wok, Lu Zhao really refined a supreme treasure pill.
From that casually tossed handful of pebbles, Lu Zhao really set up a temporal formation.
Xie Wujiu watched Lu Zhao once again say with complete sincerity, "Eldest Senior Brother, I've had an epiphany," and finally couldn't take it anymore. He turned and walked toward the cliff.
He wanted some peace and quiet.
