Great Villain: Starting by Humiliating the Son of the Heavenly Fate-Chapter 499: The Disciple Candidate

On Lonely Sea Immortal Star, on a strange, nameless island, Shen Xin sat cross-legged beside a mountain stream. His long saber rested across his knees, a faint crease forming between his brows.

He had just received news.

The higher-ups of the Profound Jade Immortal Alliance wanted to speak with him—about his senior brother, the so-called Devil Sword, Zhu Zhongming.

Are they trying to lure me out? Shen Xin wondered. Or do they really plan to use senior brother as leverage?

In the end, he chose not to shy away.

After all, he had no other way to save Zhu Zhongming.

Could he really sit by and watch his senior brother be executed in the Heavenly Purgatory Prison?

And besides, he wasn't helpless. Even if several experts at the same level tried to surround him, he was confident he could still escape.

Shen Xin lowered his gaze and took out a strange ring.

"Master… if only you were still here."

The ring had been given to him by his master, Qin Ran, when he was sent away. It was a life-saving treasure, infused with spatial power—capable of opening a one-way teleportation path to a predetermined location.

Shen Xin had faced many life-and-death situations before, yet he had never been willing to use the jade ring. Now, it seemed he had no choice.

"Senior Brother… wait for me."

He put the jade ring away, then stepped forward. In the next instant, his figure flashed and turned into a streak of saber light, shooting into the sky and vanishing beyond the horizon.

Before long, Shen Xin appeared above the largest and busiest city on Lonely Sea Immortal Star.

He said nothing.

His aura burst outward without restraint.

Boom!

The sky dimmed at once. Thick black clouds rolled in, pressing down over the city.

Countless cultivators froze, then looked up in alarm.

"What's going on? Why did the sky suddenly turn dark?"

"That pressure… this has to be someone at the Nirvana Cleansing realm!"

"Is he crazy? Why would a Nirvana Cleansing realm powerhouse release their aura like this?"

Whispers spread through the city, fear seeping into every corner.

At the same time, the guardians of Lonely Sea Immortal Star sensed the disturbance and reacted immediately.

Outside the city's main hall, an elderly man in brown robes stood rooted in place, staring up at the black clouds shrouding the sky. Shock was plain on his face.

Devil Saber Shen Xin… he really is on Lonely Sea Immortal Star.

That overwhelming pressure made his chest feel heavy.

Peak-stage Nirvana Cleansing realm.

His thoughts shifted, emotions stirring. Devil Saber and Devil Sword… two monsters from the same sect. What kind of person could raise disciples like that?

As his divine sense spread outward, it quickly locked onto a figure standing within the rolling clouds—a long saber in hand, unmistakable.

Shen Xin.

The elderly man straightened, his expression turning solemn. He clasped his hands together and bowed slightly toward the sky.

"Devil Saber, your name has long been known. Please come inside the hall. Let us talk."

In the cultivation world, strength was everything. Even though Devil Saber Shen Xin was labeled a threat by the Profound Jade Immortal Alliance, the brown-robed elder—one of the guardians of Lonely Sea Immortal Star—didn't dare show the slightest disrespect.

Besides, the higher-ups truly did want to speak with him.

Shen Xin glanced at the elder. "Let's hope you don't try anything."

With that, he stepped forward and appeared right in front of the Alliance's representative.

The brown-robed elder raised a hand in welcome. "Please."

The two of them entered the main hall together.

...

On Sky Harmony Immortal Star, in a small, unremarkable town, Qin Ran stood beside a teleportation array, a hint of surprise crossing his face.

A suitable disciple? Already?

The thought caught his interest.

He had never taken disciples at random. Only those confirmed to be true geniuses ever entered his sights. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to raise eighteen disciples to the Transcendence realm in just over a hundred years.

For most cultivators, even reaching the Spiritual Awakening realm could take more than ten years. Beyond that were countless other bottlenecks—Mysterious Platform, Heavenly Origin, Inquiring Journey, and more.

Just then, the familiar system notification echoed in his mind.

[Host, the target has been marked.]

Qin Ran's gaze shifted.

Among the crowd, a little girl had entered his view. A faint glow surrounded her—subtle, yet unmistakable.

So it's her.

The realization settled quietly in his mind as he observed her in silence.

A seven- or eight-year-old girl… Qin Ran wondered, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Is she the obedient type, or a handful?

With that thought, he started walking toward her.

Before he could get close, a flustered shout rang out.

"My little ancestor! How did you end up here?"

"If the master finds out, I'm done for!"

"Quick, quick—let's go home."

An old woman hurried over from the distance, grabbed the little girl by the hand, and rushed off toward a large estate nearby. Worry was written all over her face.

At first glance, the old woman looked completely ordinary. But Qin Ran could tell at once—she was an Early-stage Heavenly Origin realm cultivator.

In a remote town like this, someone at her level counted as a real expert.

That wasn't all.

Qin Ran's eyes narrowed slightly. Several cultivators nearby were watching the old woman and the little girl with clear hostility.

Interesting. He touched his nose again, a faint smile appearing. This little girl has quite the status. And she's already being targeted.

Of course, her background wasn't truly impressive—at least not by his standards. It just stood out a bit more compared to his previous eighteen disciples.

The backgrounds of Qin Ran's previous eighteen disciples had all been very plain. Many came from non-cultivator families, and some didn't even have a single cultivator in their entire bloodline.

Even those with martial backgrounds were only at the Physical Body or Original Movement realm when he took them in.

As Qin Ran lingered nearby, bits of conversation drifted into his ears.

That was when he learned the little girl's surname was Pan.

The Pan Clan held considerable influence in this small town. They had a Peak-stage Heavenly Origin realm cultivator holding the fort. However, there was also the Gong Clan—an equally strong force that was often at odds with them.

Not long ago, the Gong Clan's patriarch had broken through to the Inquiring Journey realm. Their strength soared overnight.

Because of that, the balance in the town had shifted, and the Pan Clan had suddenly been pushed into a dangerous position.

At present, the Gong Clan controlled the teleportation array, and their informants were spread throughout the town. Any member of the Pan Clan who tried to leave would vanish without a trace.

Everyone believed the Pan Clan had only two possible endings—be wiped out by the Gong Clan, or bow their heads and submit.

The little girl marked by the system was named Pan Li. She was the most talented descendant of the Pan Clan, which made her a prime target. The Gong Clan kept a close watch on her, and she could be eliminated at any time.

So that's how it is. Qin Ran's eyes flickered with understanding. Wherever there are people, there's conflict. Even a small town like this has its own hidden currents.

With that thought, he turned and headed toward the Pan Clan's residence.