The moment Li Shen stepped beside Lin Feng's crooked booth and bowed with quiet gratitude, the entire recruitment plaza turned into chaos.
It wasn't just surprise.
It was panic.
A rare B+ Spirit Root choosing a man from the cursed mountain?
Impossible.
Unthinkable.
Unacceptable.
Li Shen's talent glowed on the Testing Stone like an accusation:
Spirit Root Grade: B+ (Rare)
Every elder in a ten-meter radius stared like a treasure had been stolen before their eyes.
An Azure Cloud Pavilion elder rushed forward first, sleeves flaring dramatically.
"Young man! Join Azure Cloud Pavilion and you will receive a full bottle of Spirit Nurturing Pills and three high-tier manuals!"
A Willow Spirit House instructor cut him off.
"Ridiculous! Boy, join our sect! We offer a guardian beast, guaranteed protection, and a private cultivation yard!"
Iron Bamboo Hall's elder shoved both aside, grinning confidently.
"Child, join us! I'll give you spirit stones, immediate breakthroughs, and a personal mentor tonight!"
Li Shen listened to all three.
His expression stayed calm—reserved, polite, but unshaken.
Simple clothes, rough hands, silent posture… the kind of boy always overlooked.
But his eyes were steady.
"I appreciate your offers," Li Shen said quietly, "but I choose Horizon Sect."
Silence hit the plaza like a dropped slab.
Then—explosion.
"You… YOU WHAT?!" "You choose that?!" "You want to die?!" "He follows a man from the cursed mountain!"
Ghost child floated proudly behind Lin Feng, circling with a smug spin.
The Chained Woman lifted her head slightly, her chain shifting with a cold whisper.
Lin Feng sat with his teacup, looking like this was all extremely convenient.
Willow Spirit elder tried to yank Li Shen by the arm.
"Boy, are you mad? That man LIVES on Broken-Soul Peak! Are you seeking death?!"
Azure Cloud elder pointed at Lin Feng.
"He brought ghosts to a crowded city! You'll be dead by dawn!"
Iron Bamboo elder stared accusingly.
"Is he paying you?! Are you bribed?!"
Li Shen shook his head once, voice steady.
"No. Master Lin didn't mock me. He didn't try to buy me. He spoke to me like I mattered."
His simple words cut louder than all their shouting.
"I follow the person who treated me with dignity."
The plaza fell quiet in a different way.
Not disbelief.
Not excitement.
Something closer to respect.
Before anyone could respond, a sharp voice sliced through the noise.
"You dare steal talent from under Sword Valley's nose?!"
A Sword Valley instructor marched forward, sword already humming with sharp intent.
He didn't offer rewards.
He didn't try persuasion.
He came with anger.
"That boy stood next to OUR booth. That means he was ours to claim."
Lin Feng blinked slowly.
"I wasn't aware proximity indicated ownership."
A ripple of muffled laughter passed through the crowd.
Li Shen stepped calmly beside Lin Feng—straight-backed, determined, no trembling, no retreat.
"I chose with my own will," he said.
The Sword Valley instructor snapped.
"Your will means NOTHING! With that talent you should join a real sect! Not follow a lunatic with ghosts!"
Ghost child hissed loudly, offended.
The Chained Woman's chain rose an inch.
The system chimed in Lin Feng's mind.
[SYSTEM WARNING]
Enemy: Sword Valley Instructor
Cultivation: Spirit Pulse (Late)
Host cultivation: Early Qi Initiate
Survival chance: 14%
Recommendation: Smile and hope he slips.
Lin Feng ignored it and set his cup down gently.
"You're blocking her view."
The Sword Valley instructor frowned. "Her?"
He turned.
The Chained Woman stepped forward.
One step.
Just one.
Every cultivator within sight felt the temperature fall.
Breaths shortened.
A paper lantern extinguished.
A merchant dropped all his fruit.
The Sword Valley instructor's hand shook—but pride forced him to attack.
"Ghost or human—it makes no difference!"
He slashed.
A concentrated spiritual blade shot straight at Lin Feng and Li Shen.
Li Shen closed his eyes, trusting the unseen.
Ghost child shrieked but didn't move.
The Chained Woman reacted.
Her chain shot forward like silver lightning, smashing the sword aura out of existence and burying itself in the stone plaza, splitting the ground with a loud crack.
The Sword Valley instructor stumbled back, eyes wide.
"W-What—?! That ghost—!"
The Chained Woman's aura sharpened—cold, silent, merciless.
He panicked and unleashed his strongest technique.
"SWORD RAIN!"
Hundreds of sword shadows filled the air, descending like a storm.
The Chained Woman flicked her chain once.
Once.
Every sword shadow shattered.
Gasps spread through the plaza.
Before anyone could blink, her chain wrapped around his sword and yanked him off his feet, slamming him into his own booth with such force the wooden planks disintegrated.
His disciples screamed as he crawled out, covered in dust and humiliation.
"You… you DARE attack a Sword Valley elder?!"
Lin Feng answered calmly:
"You attacked my disciple. I defended what is mine."
The system chimed.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
New Enemy Added: Sword Valley Sect
Hatred Level: Maximum
Future conflicts: 100% guaranteed
The instructor pointed a shaking finger.
"This isn't over, ghost freak! Sword Valley never forgets humiliation!"
Lin Feng nodded.
"Good. Neither do I."
The instructor was dragged away, half unconscious, half furious.
The plaza buzzed with whispers:
"He defeated Sword Valley…" "That ghost defended him…" "Horizon Sect… is it actually powerful?" "That boy… his loyalty is real…"
Li Shen bowed deeply.
"Master… thank you."
Lin Feng patted him once on the shoulder.
"Welcome to Horizon Sect. Don't die too early."
Ghost child clapped excitedly.
The Chained Woman's chain settled quietly behind her.
The crowd stepped far away from Lin Feng's booth, creating a wide protective circle.
Recruitment continued…
But now everyone judged Horizon Sect with fear.
Which was perfect.
Exactly how Lin Feng liked it.
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