"Ah—choo!" Lin Xiao Tian lay outside the tavern wrapped in nothing but a thin blanket, the cold moonlight settling over him like silent mockery. He shifted slightly, trying to trap warmth that simply refused to stay.
"How dare those guards charge me an entry fee," he muttered irritably while pulling the blanket tighter around himself. "Those elders from other sects didn't even pay a single spirit stone."
He snorted and turned slightly, face stiff with annoyance as the night wind brushed past him again. "Just wait, when this supreme sect master ascends, I'll teach them a proper lesson."
He opened his storage ring with faint hope, only to confirm the empty truth once again. Not a single spirit stone remained inside, not even enough for a cup of water.
Which was exactly why he had been thrown out of the tavern without ceremony or sympathy. The memory still stung slightly, especially with how casually it happened.
The night grew colder as the wind picked up, yet exhaustion eventually overcame his irritation and pride. Before long, he drifted into sleep under the open sky like some forgotten stray.
He woke at dawn to loud commotion, the streets already alive with movement and noise from early activity.
Cultivators streamed toward the central square while young hopefuls gathered with nervous excitement.
As he shifted to sit up, something warm brushed against his leg without warning and froze him instantly. A stray dog lay curled beside him like it belonged there, breathing softly without concern.
And worse, it had clearly claimed him as territory during the night without permission.
Lin Xiao Tian's face darkened instantly as killing intent rose in his chest without restraint. "You damned beast," he growled while preparing to kick it without hesitation.
The dog reacted faster than expected and darted into the crowd before his foot could connect properly. It vanished completely, leaving him standing there stiffly with damp robes and a murderous expression.
"Fine," he muttered coldly while suppressing the urge to chase it down immediately.
He hurried toward the nearest bathhouse without wasting time, scrubbing himself thoroughly until both the smell and humiliation were erased completely. Only after that did he retrieve his sect master robes.
The robes were dignified and imposing, naturally straightening his posture the moment he wore them properly. Whatever happened last night no longer existed in his version of reality.
With restored bearing, Lin Xiao Tian stepped toward the city square calmly as if nothing had happened. His expression returned to composed indifference without any visible cracks.
When he arrived, he immediately understood why the city had been restless since dawn without exaggeration.
Thousands of young cultivators filled the plaza, stretching across streets and raised platforms prepared for competition.
Some wore patched robes while others stood in luxurious silk, yet all carried visible hope and ambition. Unfortunately, most of them were still trash-tier in terms of actual cultivation talent.
With a casual sweep of his spiritual sense, Lin evaluated several at once without difficulty or effort. Shallow foundations, turbid qi, weak meridians, the type destined to stall early without exception.
Complete waste of time, he thought with quiet dismissal.
Above the crowd stood several elevated platforms where true powers observed everything without moving much. The city lord sat among five elders representing the strongest sects of Qingzhou.
The Azure River Sword Pavilion, Crimson Flame Valley, Heavenly Cloud Palace, Iron Blood War Sect, and Moon Veil Pavilion all had representatives present.
Each elder radiated restrained pressure while watching like predators selecting prey.
Meanwhile, smaller sects moved through the crowd restlessly, whispering promises and testing talents like desperate traders. They scrambled for whatever scraps the larger powers ignored.
Lin Xiao Tian narrowed his eyes slightly while scanning the entire area with growing impatience. Where are my protagonists… he muttered inwardly with clear dissatisfaction.
He was not here for ordinary talent or mediocre potential that would stagnate later. He wanted broken geniuses, discarded heirs, and heaven-defying misfits.
As if answering him, a sudden commotion erupted near one of the lower rings without warning. Lin turned immediately, locking onto the disturbance with sharp focus.
On the platform, a young man in black robes knelt at the center with a straight posture despite his condition. A dark blindfold covered his eyes while blood stained the corner of his lips clearly.
Standing before him was a handsome youth in white robes with a sword at his waist. His expression twisted with smug satisfaction as he spoke loudly.
"What do you think you are now, Yan Fang?" the man sneered, ensuring everyone heard clearly. "You are no longer the genius of the dynasty, your parents are dead, and your cultivation is crippled."
He leaned closer deliberately, his tone dripping with mockery and cruelty. "And now you've even lost those precious eyes of yours, you cannot even witness your own fall properly."
The crowd murmured in mixed reactions as some pitied while others openly enjoyed the humiliation. Most simply watched like it was entertainment.
Lin Xiao Tian's eyes slowly began to shine with interest as he observed the scene carefully.
This is textbook, absolute textbook protagonist template, he thought with rising certainty.
One hundred percent confirmed.
On the ring, Yan Fang suddenly coughed and spat a mouthful of blood toward the white-robed youth. The act was weak but filled with defiance.
The man's face darkened instantly as his qi surged violently outward without restraint. Eleventh layer of Qi Refining, clearly above most present here.
Yan Fang, in contrast, barely stood at peak Body Refining with unstable aura and weakened state. If that strike landed, he would not survive at all.
Lin Xiao Tian's pupils shrank slightly as the situation escalated instantly before the kick could connect, he moved.
His sect master robes flared as he stepped forward smoothly, intercepting at the exact moment. He pulled Yan Fang out of the ring just as the attack struck empty air.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as Lin landed lightly, supporting the unconscious youth in his arms without effort.
So the robe really boosts me to Foundation Establishment within range, he thought with quiet satisfaction.
Yan Fang had already fainted from blood loss, his breathing weak and unstable without support. Without drawing attention, Lin slipped a Grade-2 healing pill into his mouth carefully.
He guided the medicinal qi gently, stabilizing his condition just enough to prevent death.
The white-robed youth began shouting in outrage, but the referee quickly intervened before things escalated further.
"Enough," the referee barked sharply while stepping forward with authority.
The youth clenched his fists but suppressed his anger under the gaze of elders watching above.
The commotion faded quickly as attention shifted elsewhere without concern. A fallen prodigy was hardly worth continued interest.
But Lin Xiao Tian looked down at the blindfolded youth in his arms and smiled faintly.
Oh, you're worth plenty, he thought with quiet certainty.
________________ _____________________________ __________________________________________
Later, Lin Xiao Tian stood outside the city gates with a pale expression as reality struck again. His earlier confidence took a clean hit without warning.
"Oh heavens, why such injustice," he muttered weakly while staring back at the bustling streets.
He had made a perfect entrance by saving Yan Fang in full view of everyone present. Yet when he announced his sect name, only blank stares followed without recognition.
Most people had never even heard of the Celestial Origin Supreme Sect before.
After wandering all day through outer districts and testing talents himself, he recruited only twenty-seven disciples. That number barely felt acceptable.
Most were stuck in Body Refining, while a few had just stepped into early Qi Refining stages. Their foundations were weak but their determination was obvious.
They came from villages with worn clothes and hopeful expressions, carrying nothing but dreams. Not a single protagonist template among them.
This is just bullying at this point, he thought with visible irritation.
In the end, he even accepted two skinny boys as part of the group just to meet numbers. Even then, something still felt off.
"Why hasn't the mission completed?" he thought inwardly with slight confusion.
"Task evaluation will occur upon returning to sect territory, Master."
His eyelid twitched slightly as he looked up at the darkening sky without enthusiasm.
There was no way he would reach the sect before nightfall, and absolutely no chance he was sleeping outside again. Especially not in front of his disciples.
Not with dogs involved again.
Suppressing the pain in his heart, he took out a Grade-1 elixir and sold it discreetly. Even that lowest-grade item fetched enough spirit stones to attract envious glances.
This is a necessary investment, he told himself firmly while ignoring the pain.
With funds secured, he led the group toward a nearby village before night fully set. The journey remained quiet, his disciples following without complaint.
The tavern there was simple but clean, with wooden beams and warm light from oil lamps. The scent of cooked food filled the air pleasantly.
It was far better than last night, especially considering the absence of stray dogs.
Lin Xiao Tian straightened his robes and walked in first with composed dignity. Behind him, his disciples followed quietly, whispering among themselves.
To them, he was already a mysterious and powerful sect master worth following and he could not afford to break that image now.
"Prepare rooms," he said calmly to the innkeeper, maintaining a steady and composed tone. "My disciples require proper rest, we will depart early."
Only he knew how much lighter his storage ring had become after everything.
He glanced at Yan Fang, his mouth twitching slightly at the sight.
This guy has been unconscious the entire time, he thought with mild annoyance.
Still, he could not discard such a valuable uncut jade under any circumstance.
Tomorrow, once I reach the sect, everything will stabilize again, he reassured himself.
For now, he simply prayed that no further humiliation awaited him before sunrise.