The title of True Disciple of the Supreme Dao Sect carried such immense weight that it alone was enough to topple kingdoms in the Eastern Province of the Sleeping Dragon Continent.
Within the sect, only Fifty individuals bore this Prestigious title, making it a symbol of Unparalleled Power and Influence.
Their authority within the sect surpasses even that of the Elders who govern the Inner Sect, and the resources at their disposal eclipsed those of both Inner and Core disciples.
Each True Disciple was granted an entire Mountain Peak, far Grander than those of the Elders.
Their domains were adorned with gardens brimming with Rare and Precious herbs, and they commanded disciples from the Core and Inner Sects as their Servants—under the guise of attendants and maids.
But among them, one name stood out.
Xu Liang, The Scarlet Flame Princess.
She wasn't simply a Top-ranked True Disciple; no, she embodied something far more formidable.
The Second Direct Disciple of Li Qin, The Crimson Blaze Queen—revered as the Youngest Great Elder in the illustrious History of the Supreme Dao Sect.
Her very name stirred both awe and dread—her Flames, a testament to her Immense Power, her Royal Lineage, and her Unmatched Stature within the sect.
Yet, none of that was what made her truly remarkable.
What set her apart was this—
She was one of the Female Leads in the novel Rising of the Supreme Sword Immortal.
And her arc was set to begin in just four months.
That was before the Inner Sect Disciple Selection Ceremony, which would take place in five months.
Reon's expression darkened.
He knew what would happen.
Before the ceremony, Xu Liang would be returning from a trip to the outside world when she would be ambushed by disciples of the Azura Dragon Sect and poisoned with an Aphrodisiac.
And that was when she would cross paths with the Protagonist, who would conveniently Heal her through physical contact.
"Lucky Protagonist Bastard."
Suddenly—
A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Do you know her, Big Brother?"
Reon blinked.
Xu Yang was staring at him curiously.
He composed himself quickly.
"Of course, I know her," he replied smoothly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"She's my idol, after all. One of the Top True Disciples, and the Revered Second Direct Disciple of the Legendary Great Elder Li Qin."
Xu Yang grinned, his admiration evident.
"Exactly! She's Unbelievably talented. In just five years after joining the sect, she climbed to the top.
His excitement dimmed slightly as he sighed.
"And here I am—six months in—and I still can't even break past the Qi Solidification Realm."
His voice dropped, laced with frustration.
"I'm not even qualified to enter the Inner Sect Disciple Selection Ceremony."
Reon's eye twitched.
Six months... and he was complaining?
Meanwhile, that useless bastard Xue Taiyang had been stuck at Stage-1 Qi Refining Realm for two fucking years—and even that was Unstable.
Reon took a deep breath, shoving down the urge to scream.
Still, he couldn't bring himself to be irritated with Xu Yang.
This boy had helped him—something no one had ever done for him in his past life.
Then—
Reon's mind suddenly clicked.
The Inner Sect Selection.
Only a Hundred disciples would be chosen to enter the Inner Sect—out of the hundreds of thousands of Outer Sect hopefuls.
Only cultivators at the Peak-Stage Qi Solidification Realm or higher were even eligible to participate.
And all the Elders—including some Great Elders—would be watching.
If Reon wanted to reclaim his place in the Inner Sect, he had five months.
Five months to reach Peak-Stage Qi Solidification Realm.
A monumental task—one that seemed nearly impossible.
But he had no choice.
Failure was not an option.
Reon exhaled, then smirked slightly.
"That's not the case, Xu Yang. You shouldn't give up so easily."
He placed a firm hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Keep pushing forward, and you'll succeed—just like your Big Sister."
His gaze sharpened.
"This time, let's step into the Inner Sect together."
Xu Yang's eyes lit up like stars, almost hearing words from his Big Sister his excitement almost childlike.
"Woah! Yes! Big Brother, let's do it together!"
For a moment, Reon saw something familiar in those sparkling eyes.
A deep, unwavering trust.
The kind of trust a younger sibling would have for an older brother.
Something he had never known in his past life.
It felt... unfamiliar.
Yet, strangely warm.
Perhaps... for the first time, having a younger brother didn't seem so bad after all.
Xu Yang suddenly glanced up at the sky.
"Ah! It's already lunchtime! Come on, Big Brother, let's grab something to eat."
Reon chuckled. "Alright. But today, I'll cook for you as thanks for letting me rest in your home."
Xu Yang's eyes widened. "Wait, Big Brother, you know how to cook?"
Reon raised an eyebrow. "Of course I do. What, you guys don't cook here?"
Xu Yang shook his head. "Nope. We use Sect Contribution Points to get food from Spirit Food Serving. They have branches everywhere, from the Outer Sect all the way to the Core."
Ah, right. Spirit Food Serving.
Reon had almost forgotten about it—the same Hall that would later cause Massive Chaos within the Supreme Dao Sect.
Not that it was his problem. That was for the main character to deal with.
Right now, his priority was getting stronger.
Reon smirked. "Forget Spirit Food Serving. Today, let me cook for you. Go fetch a Spirit Chicken from the Beginner's Forest."
Xu Yang's face lit up with excitement. "Alright, Big Brother!"
And with that, he bolted off.
Reon watched him go, shaking his head in amusement. "Such an energetic kid."
By the time Xu Yang returned, the two of them worked together to prepare the meal.
Though Reon wasn't a master chef, his years of living alone—and a stint as an assistant chef in a 3-star restaurant—had sharpened his skills.
Soon, a mouthwatering aroma filled the air.
Xu Yang took one bite—and his eyes widened in astonishment.
"WOW! Big Brother Xue, this is incredible! It might not be on the same level as Spirit Food Serving's premium dishes, but it's way better than what us outer sect disciples usually eat!"
Reon smiled. "I'm glad you liked it. Eat as much as you want."
For the first time in a long time, Reon felt a quiet sense of satisfaction.
Someone has appreciated his cooking in front of him.
But just as they finished their meal—
A group of disciples approached, their matching yellow and blue robes standing out sharply from the usual Outer Sect attire.
The air grew tense.
Xu Yang's expression darkened instantly.
Reon exhaled sharply, already recognizing the trouble before it even arrived.
"F*ck. Not again..."