Chapter 16: Changing the Candidate, Shen Yan's Opportunity!-From Servant to Saint: The Path to Enlightenment(The mountains rise high beneath a small, distant moon.)

A soft chuckle escaped from Yang Yun at those words, her smile blooming like a hundred flowers unfurling at once.

“Father, you’re overthinking it. That servant’s luck only brought about a few innate spiritual items. For an ordinary person, perhaps such fortune could help him build a small nest egg, but now that he’s in my hands, do you think I would let him rise above his station?”

Her tone turned cold, and a chill swept through the room, making both occupants shiver.

“He’s joining me at the Jade Immortal Sect. If he can find a few more innate spiritual items, perhaps I’ll consider cultivating him a little. But if his luck is spent on just two spiritual fish and he wastes one of my precious spots, then he can serve as a medicinal slave within the sect.”

Yang Ze nodded, understanding that his daughter already had a plan in mind. He said, “Since your mind is made up, I have nothing more to add. The Yang family doesn’t keep idlers; if he can become your right hand, all the better. If he’s unworthy, he’s just a lowly life, nothing more.”

Yang Yun nodded softly, a hint of anticipation briefly brightening her cool features.

“There are rumors within the Jade Immortal Sect that the chief disciple of the sacred ground is a man of extraordinary luck. If this servant of ours possesses even a fraction of his fortune, perhaps I’ll have the chance to enter the Boundless Sea Immortal Sect and become a Dao-seed of a great sect.”

A glimmer of excitement flickered through Yang Yun’s eyes. If she could become a Dao-seed, her path of cultivation would surely be smooth and prosperous.

“In that case, Mingyue, go inform that servant—three days from now, he’s to accompany the young lady to Stillcloud Isle.”

Mingyue acknowledged the order and turned to head for the fishing courtyard.

...

“You want me to accompany the young lady to the Immortal Sect?”

Shen Yan could hardly believe it as he saw Mingyue’s expression, full of envy and resentment.

He had only meant to use the Crimson-Gold Silver-Eyed Fish as a pretext to get close to Mingyue and glean information about Yang Yun—and yet, the results were so effective that he’d ensnared the young lady herself?

“That’s right. In three days, the young lady has ordered you to go with her to the Jade Immortal Sect. Don’t forget it.”

With that, Mingyue turned away, afraid her jealousy might get the better of her.

She had served the young lady for over a decade, and now, at the crucial moment, the young lady was leaving her behind to take a mere servant instead? Even if he had managed to catch the Crimson-Gold Silver-Eyed Fish, it was nothing more than a stroke of outrageous luck—could he really repeat such a feat?

The more she thought about it, the more infuriated she became, and her hatred for Shen Yan grew deeper. Yet, no matter how angry she was, she could do nothing to alter Yang Yun’s decision.

If she dared to sabotage things behind the scenes, Yang Yun would never forgive her. Even having grown up together since childhood, she would not escape with her life.

Watching Mingyue’s retreating figure, Shen Yan was momentarily bewildered, but quickly regained his composure.

“She wants me to keep searching for Crimson-Gold Silver-Eyed Fish for her!”

Yang Yun must have her eye on his ability to catch those rare fish.

“If she values innate spiritual items imbued with innate purple energy so highly, could it be that even within the Immortal Sect there is no method for finding such treasures? Or perhaps, given Yang Yun’s status, she doesn’t have access to them?”

This line of thought made Shen Yan value his Water Manipulation Art all the more. Whatever the reason, it was clearly a rare talent. Otherwise, given Yang Yun’s standing in the kingdom, if innate spiritual items were easily found, why would she value his fishing skills?

He became all the more certain that the secret of the Heavenly Emperor’s Divine Seal must never be revealed.

Celebrations continued in the Yang household, but Shen Yan, as always, went to the shore to cultivate.

This time, though, he chose not to practice the Primordial Unity Technique but instead focused on honing his Water Manipulation Art.

Water arrows, water prisons, water walls, water shields—he experimented with every technique that might aid him in battle.

He also discovered that his art was less effective on mist than on water, but made a startling revelation: he could control blood.

While gutting a fish, he realized he could manipulate its blood, which thrilled him. To test its effect on people, he tried to control the blood of another servant while tending a wound. The effect was faint, but unmistakable—he could influence another’s blood flow.

“If my Water Manipulation Art advances further, not only will my range increase, but I might even be able to control the blood within a person’s body. If I can achieve that, I’d be practically invincible.”

The thought excited him, and his desire to master the Water Manipulation Art grew even stronger.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard he trained, progress was slow and incremental. In the end, Shen Yan concluded that the only way to improve was through persistent effort.

But things had changed now. Martial arts alone could do little to enhance his Water Manipulation Art, but after spying the electric aura around Yang Yun, he was sure that the Immortal Sect must have spells to cultivate such abilities.

If he could learn them, one day he could silently wipe out everyone in the Yang household.

“Most importantly, once I enter the Immortal Sect, I can set my plan to hunt Yang Yun into motion. She’ll be in the open, I’ll be in the shadows—if I am careful and calculating, I stand a good chance of killing her.”

Once he destroyed the Yang family and killed Yang Yun, his great vengeance would be fulfilled, his mind would be at peace, and his spirit would be freed.

By now, it was no longer just about the hatred of losing his parents and being imprisoned—it was also the enmity of someone blocking his path to immortality.

The news that the young lady had taken notice of Shen Yan had already spread through the household, and naturally, no one dared to provoke him.

Thus, he was able to train undisturbed until late into the night, returning to his room only when he was finally sated.

So it was that the following night, just as Shen Yan had lain down, a commotion arose outside.

He got up quickly and opened the door, only to see Mingyue, Yang Yun’s personal maid, standing there.

“Mingyue, what’s going on?”

“Don’t ask—just come with me,” she said, her tone urgent. “The young lady was originally going to take you to the Jade Immortal Sect tomorrow, but for some reason, the schedule’s been moved up.”

“We’re leaving now?” Shen Yan was startled.

“Right now. Don’t dawdle. Since it’s the young lady’s decision, just do as you’re told and don’t argue,” Mingyue snapped, impatience in her voice.

Shen Yan nodded. As a servant, he had nothing of value to pack. He quickly gathered two changes of clothes and the few silver coins he’d managed to save, then followed Mingyue out.

Though he bore the Heavenly Emperor’s Divine Seal, he was, in truth, just an ordinary man. Now, with the chance to enter the Immortal Sect thanks to the Crimson-Gold Silver-Eyed Fish and Yang Yun’s interest, anticipation surged within him.

Though it was the middle of the night, the manor was abuzz, a stark contrast to its usual tranquility—clearly preparations were underway for the young lady’s departure.

The Yang estate was vast; after walking for quite some time, Mingyue finally led Shen Yan to a massive square.