In the Xia Dynasty, the third year of Yuanxing, the Tantai Family, who had served as the State Preceptors for generations, welcomed another Qilin’er. The State Preceptor named his grandson Yan, signifying change and development, much like the future itself.

It was rumored that on the night of Tantai Yan’s birth, the five stars aligned. The Astronomical Bureau, seeming to either flatter the Tantai Family or simply say what would please Emperor Yuanxing, proclaimed that ’the Qilin child of the Tantai aligns with the destiny of the Xia Dynasty.’

There were many interpretations of this statement.

One could say that Tantai Yan was destined to bring about an era of peace for the Xia Dynasty. Alternatively, it could mean that Tantai Yan and the Xia Dynasty were intrinsically linked, implying that Tantai Yan was the Xia Dynasty. Others suggested that Tantai Yan was the predestined dragon child, fated to someday replace the ruling monarch.

During Tantai Yan’s youth, the Tantai Family was still in its glory and esteem. Until Emperor Yuanxing aged, and someone once again whispered the ancient pronouncement from the Astronomical Bureau into his ear.

Soon after, someone accused a Tantai Family member of using his official position to enrich himself. Enraged, Emperor Yuanxing ordered a thorough investigation, which resulted in the discovery that the Tantai Family head was stockpiling weapons with intentions of treason. He commanded the execution of the entire clan, sparing only Tantai Yan, forbidding him to ever leave the Astrology Tower.

In the first year of Jianhe, the new Emperor ascended the throne. That year, State Preceptor Tantai Yan predicted three consecutive days of celestial events, forecasting an impending Northern invasion.

Heeding the late Emperor’s last words, Emperor Jianhe promptly dispatched grain and troops, successfully halting the Beidi invasion.

From the twentieth to the twenty-fifth year of Jianhe, Emperor Jianhe shifted from his initial diligent governance to indulgence and decadence, empowering eunuchs. Several years of rampant warfare followed by natural disasters left the populace in suffering and frequently spurred rebellions.

The Astronomical Bureau declared that ignoble forsakers wielded power and Mars was in the heart sector, signaling divine warning and calling for the execution of the traitor Tantai Yan.

The Astrology Tower was besieged by soldiers, and soon engulfed in flames, the State Preceptor’s remains lost to the fire.

Not long after, a renowned hero known for the Listening Wave Swordsmanship and Sea Viewing Saber Technique emerged in Jianghu.

In the twenty-sixth year of Jianhe.

Tantai Yan practiced martial arts in a bamboo grove.

Though over forty, he still bore a youthful and handsome visage.

Having inherited years of Inner Strength from his grandfather and father, he could indefinitely maintain his youthful appearance. Having spent many years in the Astrology Tower, he often wore a mask, leaving few aware of his true looks.

During his practice, he grew restless and decided to divine using a tortoise shell.

"Today is the day I receive a disciple?"

Tantai Yan scoffed, "How could I undertake such a dangerous thing?"

The fewer who knew of his identity, the better. Despite having made numerous friends, it was all just to solidify his reputation as a renowned hero in Jianghu. Truly keeping a disciple by his side was extremely dangerous.

He casually performed another divination, and his expression slightly changed.

For the hexagrams indicated he had ten disciples, each one from an Otherworld.

Despite his ability to predict the future having strengthened with age, proven correct repeatedly over the years, he couldn’t help but suspect a mistake this time.

It was like when he predicted no trouble for his family in his younger days, yet the Tantai Family still faced calamity, his grandfather and father hastily imparting their Inner Strength to him before passing. He could miscalculate.

Putting away the tortoise shell, he resumed his martial arts training with an unyielding expression, only to have a young man suddenly fall from the sky.

The young man claimed to be Duan Xiayou, a Princely Heir, motherless, unloved by his father, incapable of self-preservation.

Sounding pitiful, Tantai Yan reluctantly taught him some Listening Wave Swordsmanship, discovering the young man’s noteworthy aptitude for Swordsmanship, finally prompting him to become more spirited.

But no one told him this disciple would be so lazy!

He spent his days eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating; even pigs were more industrious!

An infuriated Tantai Yan abandoned his sage-like pretense of the former State Preceptor, chasing after Duan Xiayou daily, forcing him to train.

Upon learning the secret of the Spirit Jade, he located similar sites, dug them all out, and crafted nine pieces, preparing to bestow one to each disciple.

He could only hope that the second disciple would be more obedient and endearing.

Then he met Ji Zhangzhuo.

Tantai Yan: "..."

Realizing that Otherworld individuals couldn’t meet without causing temporal chaos, Tantai Yan had to devise means to separate his two disciples.

Once the eldest disciple departed, the third disciple arrived.

The third disciple, well-behaved, yet utterly lacking in charm, wore a constant stern expression, never retaliating when bullied, ultimately unenjoyable. However, out of pity, he wasn’t opposed to granting him the Tantai surname.

The choice of the name held no lofty purpose, merely hoping for him to find satisfaction in all things.

Soon after, the fourth disciple arrived too.

Even accepting that his disciples were from Otherworlds, certainly, the heavens wouldn’t assign a leopard as a disciple!

How was he supposed to teach it? Instruct it to ’meow’?

The tribulations of his past left Tantai Yan nearly numb, yet now he felt invigorated.

Infuriated to youth! Infuriated with a body full of strength!

Just when he thought having a leopard as a disciple was the limit, another duo arrived with a shared soul... no, actually two disciples.

He was resigned; surely, reciting scriptures was permissible now?

Resigned, Tantai Yan received yet another disciple, a chef.

This disciple was filial, cooking for him every day with exceptional skill; the flavor of his dishes surpassed even that of the imperial chefs.

But why did villagers below the Mountain always give him peculiar looks every time he descended?

The eighth disciple was unruly, a troublesome rascal causing him constant headaches. Yet knowing that the eighth disciple’s parents were driven to suicide by so-called righteous people in his presence softened his heart... a heart softened to madness.

"Ning Jixiu, call me ’this lord’ again, and your master will twist off your head to play ball!"

The ninth... the ninth was best left unmentioned. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he’d anger a monk into leaving the order and entice chickens and ducks to jump into the pot. As for his alternating between male and female attire, a trivial matter... except it wasn’t; he had no desire for the villagers to misunderstand and think he was hiding a beauty in his hut.

Once the disciples were separated, preventing them from meeting, he began to wait for the arrival of the final disciple.

Having experienced nine eccentric disciples in succession, he’d abandoned hope for the last one.

Numbed, Tantai Yan practiced swordsmanship by the river, catching a few fish with Sword Qi.

Suddenly, dark clouds gathered, and before he could react, a swaddled infant plunged into the river.

He immediately utilized Inner Strength to perform Water Floating, narrowly saving the infant, only to find a fish had leaped into the strange clothing of the child.

The child’s face was flushed, obviously sick, yet its tiny hands clung stubbornly to the fish.

"This must be a Little Glutton."