Beyond the clouds.

On the mountaintop, a golden gate emerged.

Built into the mountain, beyond this golden gate of the Sacred Star Sect, was its most important place, the Founding Hall. The hall was wide, enough to accommodate even ten thousand people comfortably.

Ancestor Yun and Sect Leader Yun Chen, along with the floating Yun Zhi, only these three were allowed in. Even the Grand Elders at Peak Soul Formation, had to stay patiently outside.

Golden light flickered in the surrounding walls. In the middle of the hall, stood a man with a silver robe. Eyes on a circle of green light, it was a formation covering half of the hall. He stood with utmost attention to the formation, as if even a speck of invading dust would catch his eye.

Yun Zhi saw him. Tall and with vibrant energy, his shining black hair and more youthful appearance than her all-white grandfather. Yet, her impression of him was still quite similar...

"Woah... handsome uncle,"

"Zhi-er!"

Reprimanded by her father, she pouted. Turning toward the three, the man smiled politely.

"Star Formation Gate, link established. You came just in time, old friend."

"You've worked hard, good friend. I'm ashamed,"

"Don't be, lest things be awkward. Come,"

Greeting the old ancestor nonchalantly, the handsome uncle was none other than the Venerable Star Saint. As a mysterious existence who stood at the peak, not many people knew him personally. However, that did not mean he did not have connections. Yun Zhi's grandfather Yun Tao was one of his few friends. As a fellow Dao Seeker, he had no qualm addressing him conveniently.

Besides, it was Yun Tao who requested his help, and he was actually doing him a huge favor. He had spent a lot to establish and link the formation, and had been careful not to ignore even the slightest trace of error. This Star Formation Gate was a tricky formation, one entrusted to him by a mysterious figure. Looking at the three, he nodded to Yun Chen before paying attention to the floating girl.

He smiled at Yun Tao;

"So this is your granddaughter. Quite a fine lady,"

"She was... Until that happened,"

"Hm... Have you briefed her of the other condition?"

"This... Forgive me, friend, I haven't yet,"

"Well, no matter. Now might be the right time,"

He observed the young lady. Aside from being a bit undernourished and lacking sun exposure, she actually had a solid base. Her body was better than any genius youngsters in the Thirteenth Qi layer. A shy away from establishing her foundation, he could see no reason why she would fail, none. Like her grandfather had mentioned, he could sense nothing wrong. Then, it meant that whatever inflicted her, required a deeper understanding of the nature of the cause.

Something that, even Dao Seeker Cultivator, top existence in the continent, did not qualify to analyze. Seeing her confused face though, reminded him of that mysterious lady...

Could all this... calculated earlier?

It was intriguing, and he was certainly curious. However, he knew his limit. That lady had done him a huge favor. And, considering her ability, there was no need to go to a great length just to deceive a junior. Sighing, there was nothing else for him to do other than trusting her.

"Yun Zhi, Zhi-er, can I call you that?"

"Ehh... no problem, handsome uncle. I don't mind--"

"Zhi-er..."

Seeing her daughter so blatantly ignored manners in front of such a senior, her father had a cold sweat. Yet, contrary to his dread, the saint did not mind in the least.

"Haha, good! Then, why don't we start explaining?"

Turning to his friend, the saint hinted that for the grandfather to tell her first. Nodding, the ancestor approached Yun Zhi, explaining;

"Zhi-er, there is a chance for us to deal with your ailment once and for all. But, there are conditions we need to fulfill before we proceed..."

"Ehhh, not more work, right?"

"This girl, no, not much work... First, you just have to,"

She just had to accept the Venerable Star Saint as her master, paying him respect and offering him tea as per tradition. Hearing the weird condition, she felt suspicious. Turning to the handsome uncle, awkward, she asked;

"Ehh, Uncle, Yun Zhi think highly of you... For you to... Aii, get an honest job... scamming young girls won't get you anywhere--"

""Zhi-er!""

Hearing her utter nonsense, both her father and grandfather reprimanded her in a hurry.

What scamming young girl? Does anyone need to scam you? He's a Dao Seeker, you slacker!

Hearing her unexpected response, the saint seemed amused. Was such fearlessness comes from her unique ailment? She seemed able to say what she was thinking directly. This could also be the reason why so many people in the sect avoided her, including maids and elders.

Responding to her reply, he said;

"It's nothing of such. It's just a condition you and I had to abide with. Think about it, why would I want to scam anyone, especially a junior like you? If I want anything, I would just be out and clear about it, wouldn't you say? After all, power is... not everything, but quite close."

"Eh, makes sense..."

What he said, seemed to fit her logic more than her initial analysis. However, she still caught what he had said. She asked;

"You and I had to abide? Who could force you, uncle? You're a Dao Seeker, right?"

"Aha, you caught that one? My mistake then. My patron told me to... She said if I'm doing a favor, it ought to be justified. Otherwise, people would take it for granted. So,"

"So me being your disciple... would justify you helping me out, uncle?"

"Rightly put,"

"Is it costly? The cure?"

"Oh? Yes, quite high, even for me. But calling it a cure... not accurate. There's no direct cure, just a way."

"W-what do you mean?"

Startled, Yun Zhi felt dread. If it was not a cure, then what the heck the formation in front of her was for?

"I'll be sending you to someone who can. He or she will help you,"

"What... why can't it be you who help?"

"Unfortunate, I don't have such ability. But worry not, the one on the other side can be trusted,"

"But, where..."

Was it another long-range teleportation?

She had enough of such a freaking pathway. It was like going on a water slide. Fun, you say? Well, it might be. But, instead of just a few meters high... Hell, it was a water slide from high orbit, pushed by ferocious flowing Qi. Every time she went through that, her head turned all dizzy.

Which was earth, which was heaven? Who am I, even?

It was that dizzy!

She turned to look at the formation. Reminding herself of what the saint had mentioned before, she recalled it was...

"Star Formation Gate... T-teleportation? Star, Gate? Link?"

"You caught on quite fast. Yes, this one will send you to another star,"

"F-frick me! Uncle, you're gonna yeet me out of the bloody planet?!"

""Yun Zhi-er!""

Her father and grandfather could not take it anymore. The way she spoke was truly bizarre. What if she really offended this saint? There was no telling if her grandfather could find any other expert as capable as him within even a hundred years. After all, all Dao Seekers were aloof people. They might entertain you for a while since you're a peer. But, to do such a huge favor...

Sending anyone to another star, was not feasible even to most Dao Seekers. It was a feat only immortals in heaven were capable of. That was why, among the Dao Seekers, the saint had a special position. He was not yet an immortal, but close. He might even know some of them.

'So, girl... You better behave, or else!'

The stare of both top cultivators reigned down on her, making her whole body shiver.

"Ehhh---"

Yun Zhi, realizing how adamant they were, she could only lament her fate.

She was about to be yeeted out of the planet, and she still had to be grateful? Thinking about it, why, why? Ahh, her mind almost fried. Her brain had not used this much processing power in over four years...

"For now, don't think too much,"

The saint assured her. Smiling at her with full sincerity, he said;

"Instead of thinking, just use your instinct. It's faster and better, considering your current condition,"

"Instinct..."

"What does your instinct tells you about me? Is it trust, or avoid? Just let it guide you,"

"..."

That statement calmed her.

That's right. She had not use her brain much for many years. Trying to analyze so much at once would not be good. The brain had rusted quite a bit... the gears were clunking like an old engine... Instinct, huh...

Observing his face, she recalled her first impression.

She had always had confidence in her first impression. Back when she was six, she had asked her father, why people seemed so obvious with their character. They should hide them, or at least try. At first, her father was confused. It sounded as though from the very first time she saw anyone, she knew whether that person had good value or not, to be trusted or not.

In her eyes, their character was all in naked form!

While it was not a hundred percent, it pretty much told her what situation the people in front of her had faced, and the decision they had taken before. Later, she learned from a theory, that people's faces carried certain signs based on their previous thought and action.

A lecher carried a certain edgy, unpleasant face that invited her the urge to slap him.

A thinking person tended to be careful with their eyes, breathing, and mouth. They leaned on observing more first before concluding anything. They held their judgment till all facts were scrutinized.

A dishonest person carried an unnatural sharp face, in an unbalanced manner. It shouted betrayal even a hundred meters away. When they said things, some of their inner thought slipped out as a joke... take note.

A foolish person could not control his mouth and tended to believe things easily if it was in his favor. As long as that was what he wanted to, or the news was brought by favored people... They could not see beyond the immediate consequences of certain actions.

A leader would be sensitive to details, would not demean his people, and would be genuinely concerned with his people by the virtue of action. They would sacrifice their time, energy, and resources for the good of their people. The planning would be meticulous and detailed, and the action taken would be decisive. Words carried little value to judge them, since those in a leadership position were all capable speakers, to some degree. Their face would carry maturity and determination... not confusion. When asked about their work, they could clearly tell the process, the challenges, and at least, the solution they were considering.

And there were several other characteristics she had familiarized herself with.

And she was able to tell, by instinct...

Who they were...

Through their face.

Such was her natural talent.

Her father and grandfather did not take her seriously at first. But, as she analyzed different cultivators whom she had just met, with no prior background information... Both were convinced.

"Lin lin..."

The saint's statement reminded her of Xiao Lin. At the time, she was barely six and Xiao Lin was five. Seeing her for the first time, it was a pitiful sight. However, rather than feeling pitiful or sympathy... She felt admiration. Xiao Lin's face was that of innocence...

It was not surprising, since she was a mere five. However, there was more. Her face was as if saying, that she would go the extra mile to those who took her out of the hellhole, that city. Her expression was screaming help to the whole world... yet, no one was picking it up.

No one, except her.

At the time, Yun Zhi was visiting a border city with her father. The city had suffered a terrible invasion from the northern cultivator alliance. It was a terrible time, and much more so for a young one who carried the blood of the northerners. Racism and intolerance were at their peak. She was often beaten up just by the virtue of her hair and eye color... by her blood.

Save me, please...

At that time, the poor child's message to the world...

The young Yun Zhi, answered it.

When she was hungry, she provided for her.

When she was thirsty, she handed the cup to her.

When she was sick, she tended to her.

When she was fearful, she assured her.

And, when she was unwelcomed, she invited her.

That was why, to Xiao Lin, she was...

Her whole world.

...

As for Yun Zhi, meeting Xiao Lin, was a pivotal event in her life.

She had no siblings, so... having Xiao Lin, was similar to having a little sister. She wanted to feed her, entertain her, amuse her, make her happy... It was a longing of sorts. Due to her position and ability, she had been wary of others since childhood. However, she could be herself when she was with Xiao Lin. Taking her back into the sect was perhaps her best decision so far...

Some people who knew about it back then, did not think too much about it. They thought that it was a mere child's whim, as if picking up a toy. Perhaps after a few months, she would lose her interest. Yet, contrary to it, she did not do it out of a whim...

"That was, from instinct... different from a mere whim, but..."

All of a sudden, she remembered the cleansing talisman Xiao Lin gifted her. It was her first use of her allowance, requesting a special talisman that was rechargeable. She had treasured the talisman, taking it with her everywhere she went. Now...

Sending her little Qi into her storage ring, it was there.

The talisman Xiao Lin had used to cleanse her whenever she turned dirty from the soil, drenched from training, or simply too busy to take a bath. She had used the talisman on her for who knows how much.

"...Lin lin, little sister,"

She truly appreciated Xiao Lin's existence, and vice versa.

Of course, there was no guarantee that this time, it would bear the same fruit. Taking someone as the master meant to fully pledge allegiance to him. It was as if taking a second parent, some said it was more than that. Plus, she had no idea what awaits her on the other side...

Was it an immortal, or a monster?

Would they even help her?

Then again, the whole ordeal just depended on this question;

'Is this uncle, trustworthy?'

Before taking a stranger as a master, even if he was her grandfather's friend, she still knew to be deliberate about it. It should never be a mere whim, but...

Right then, she took a good look at the saint's face.

This uncle had all the resemblance of a young adult. Her grandfather also looked youthful, but he at least had all his hair and small beard white. He, had all hair black, no beard, and had such a vibe coming from him. It was a pure, lively vibe.

Taking in the saint's visage, Yun Zhi uttered;

"Mysterious, deep secrets... a lot of responsibility... do not take as enemy,"

Her black eyes glimmered as though she was reading an open book.

Seeing her analysis of his character read out in the open, the Venerable Star Saint nodded in faint agreement. However, he did not expect it to go even further;

"A lot of knowledge... beyond this world, connection... the whole world under gaze... under one's feet,"

Yun Zhi continued uttering.

"Definitely will... deliver, promise. Trust? Blurry... but, definitely never betray... Ugh,"

She shook her head.

A headache, a splitting one. She held her head together, as if preventing it from bursting.

"...She's more than we thought, old Yun,"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

The saint addressed the grandfather, causing him quick confusion. The saint replied;

"Still, it's better if she could keep it to herself. Otherwise, she's inviting trouble,"

"Ah, you mean her impression of others? Well, I certainly say it's amusing... but, why don't we help her first?"

They both observed her, soon waving their hands at once. Vibrant energy swept over Yun Zhi, and soon, her headache passed. It didn't hurt anymore.

Gaining her calm, she had her eyes directly into the saint's eyes. As if conveying something to him, she nodded, soon kneeling and saluting;

"Disciple Yun Zhi, pays respect to master! Please receive my kowtow,"

"Em, but no need for kowtow. Just serve me tea,"

"Is instant one okay?"

Uhuk uhuk!

Just as the saint admitted her, she immediately changed her tone to casual. The abrupt change had her father by her side, coughed out loud.

This girl is too brazen!

What instant tea? Properly brew one!

"Haha, very well!"

The saint clearly did not mind.

Yun Zhi took out a teapot from her storage ring, put in water, then heated it up to a boil using her Qi. Right then, she put in a pack of tea leaves. Swirling the pot in her hand, she soon poured out the tea into the cup from her ring. True to it being an instant, the tea was done quite fast.

Kneeling, she offered him a cup with both hands.

"Disciple Yun Zhi, offered master a cup. Please accept,"

"Em,"

Her demeanor was seriously not graceful. It was as if someone who hurriedly making tea for an uninvited guest she did not like. Then again, the saint did not complain. He knew her condition. Even keeping up her focus in the long conversation she had with him, already put a strain on her psyche.

For common people, it's like forcing them to serve customers for several days in a row, with no rest.

Any normal people would collapse soon after, so...

Her making him an instant tea, was enough.

The Venerable Star Saint accepted her tea.

...

It was bitter.

Seriously bitter.