I was killed by my relatives, and I am reborn to be ruthless.

This highly respected elder has an indescribable confidence and open-mindedness deep in his heart.

The years have left traces of wisdom on his face, but his deep eyes are sparkling with endless expectations for the younger generations.

In his opinion, every cultivator who was able to step into the sacred place of Wanjing Sect and participate in the sect's rigorous assessment had lofty ambitions. They all dreamed of becoming the sect master's personal disciple and were eager to obtain the most advanced training resources and guidance within the sect.

However, although he was full of love and reluctance for these young talents in his heart, and was even willing to teach them all his life's cultivation and experience, the elder had a broader mind.

He knew very well that the path of cultivation was long and difficult. Every disciple with extraordinary potential and talent was like a rare seed. They had to find the most suitable soil for their growth in order to shine the brightest.

Therefore, when faced with those young faces who might surpass himself and possess unlimited possibilities, he chose a more noble approach—reluctantly giving up and actively recommending them to the head, hoping that these outstanding seedlings could be cultivated at a higher level.

This selflessness and foresight made the elders feel very reluctant when making the decision, but they were also full of beautiful visions for their disciples' future.

He secretly calculated that once this young man whom he favored nodded in agreement and became the master's personal disciple, he would be able to blackmail the master for a large sum of money, and it would be worth it for him to be so generous in giving him a disciple.

However, things are unpredictable. Just as he was full of anticipation, stroking his beard, smiling, and waiting for He Ronger's words of promise, he unexpectedly heard a completely opposite answer.

"I don't want to be your disciple!"

These four words, concise and firm, were like thunderclaps out of the blue, instantly freezing the smile on the elder's face.

He was stunned, and a trace of surprise and confusion flashed in his eyes that had seen all the vicissitudes of life, as if he could not understand this sudden decision.

"What did you say? I... I didn't hear you clearly." There was a hint of disbelief in the elder's voice.

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on He Ronger, as if trying to find a hint of hesitation or joking in her expression.

However, all he saw was He Ronger's face, calm as water and without any ripples.

An unprecedented shock surged in the elder's heart. This was the first time in his long career of cultivation that he had encountered such a direct rejection.

The surprise in his eyes quickly turned into deep inquiry and confusion, as if he was trying to penetrate He Ronger's eyes and explore his true inner thoughts.

"This...how is this possible?" the elder muttered to himself.

If he had held out a glimmer of hope for Xu Chong's silence before, then He Ronger's clear rejection at this moment undoubtedly dropped a bombshell in his heart, making the expression on his face complicated.

Anger and disappointment mixed together to form an indescribable emotion.

"I'm really sorry, Elder." He Rong'er's voice was still calm and firm, without any hesitation or retreat. "I came to Wanjing Sect with the original intention of finding a place where I can practice in peace. I never had any expectations about becoming a disciple."

Her words revealed a kind of indifference that was detached from the world, as if she had already seen through the various constraints and ties behind the relationship between master and disciple.

He Ronger recalled the past. No matter whether it was the enthusiastic invitation from the great-grandmaster of Qixuan Sect or the favor from Sect Master Yuan of Qingling Sect and Sect Master Hong of Lingyun Sect, she declined them one by one.

All of this stems from what Uncle Zou said ten years ago. The teachings of "You don't need to find a disciple, and you don't need to be controlled by anyone" were deeply engraved in her heart like a brand, and became the most solid backing on her road of cultivation.

"I believe that no matter whether you become a disciple or not, as long as you have the Tao in your heart, the path of cultivation will be smooth."

As the elder listened to He Ronger's words, the anger in his heart gradually dissipated, replaced by a complex feeling of admiration and emotion.

He realized that the girl in front of him possessed determination and wisdom far beyond her peers, and her choice might be the best proof of her unique path of cultivation.

However, the elders' favor for He Ronger was not generally understood by the people around him, but instead caused quite a stir.

In Wanjing Sect, a land where the strong are respected and opportunities are rare, the elder's invitation is undoubtedly the highest recognition of a person's strength and potential. It is like a dazzling light that instantly illuminates He Ronger's figure and also makes everyone present fall into a vortex of various emotions.

When the crisp and firm rejection echoed in the air, everyone who was still immersed in envy and fantasy seemed to be suddenly awakened by a basin of cold water, and the expressions on their faces instantly became complicated and subtle.

They all looked at He Ronger with not only disbelief but also strange scrutiny, as if they were watching a freak who didn't play by the rules.

"She...she actually refused? This is the position of the master's personal disciple!" Someone exclaimed in a low voice, his voice full of disbelief.

"Yeah, is this person out of her mind? How many people would love to have such an opportunity, how could she give it up so easily?" another person echoed, his tone full of regret and confusion.

Some people even began to whisper, with some ridicule and mockery in their words: "Humph, I think she thinks highly of herself and thinks she is so great. Little does she know that if she misses this opportunity, she may never be able to get such training again."

"I heard that the leader of Wan Jing Sect is very strict in accepting disciples and has only accepted one in ten years. That person tried his best to become the leader's disciple. He showed himself in front of the leader every day and finally won the leader's heart. But this person, people took the initiative to invite her, but she didn't even appreciate it!" Someone shook his head as he recounted the anecdotes of the leader's accepting disciples, and his words were full of disdain for He Ronger's behavior.

These discussions came like a tide, rushing towards He Ronger one after another, trying to drown her in the confusion and prejudice of the crowd.

However, He Ronger seemed to be in another world, turning a deaf ear to those surprised, jealous, or mocking looks and words. She had her own thoughts in her heart, and her choice was only about her own path, not others.

When the elder saw that He Ronger was unmoved, a look of regret appeared on his face.

But he was just an elder and had no right to force anyone to make a decision.

He put away all the expressions on his face, and returned to his initial indifference and alienation. He picked up the brush on the table, looked up at He Ronger and asked, "What is your name, young friend? Why did you come to my Wanjing Sect?"