Calthoria, Ruins of Kaelum, Mystral, night as dark as ink.

At midnight, the Hall of Serenity was brightly lit. Luna Sutton saw Venerable Master Serenity meditating, his breath deep and steady, as if unified with heaven and earth.

Her eyes flickered slightly; she held her breath and silently retreated outside the hall.

Soon after, her body transformed into a streak of flowing light, heading straight for the herb garden behind the mountain.

In a certain corner of the herb garden, Corbin Crowley had long since run out of patience; his silver eyes glinted coldly under the night.

The moment he saw Luna Sutton’s figure, he rushed forward, instantly drawing her into his arms; his voice was low, anger barely suppressed: "That ice-faced bastard didn’t give you a hard time?"

"Not for now, but he’s unfathomable—can intercept our messages."

Luna replied swiftly, then quickly added, "He’s meditating right now; it isn’t safe here for long. We should leave, now."

Corbin froze a moment, but once he understood, he didn’t hesitate, "Alright."

As soon as he finished, his large hand gripped her waist tightly. Silver light shimmered around them, and they disappeared from the herb garden in the blink of an eye, heading toward the mountain gate.

Hardly had the two left the herb garden—

—when, in the Hall of Serenity, Venerable Master Serenity abruptly opened his eyes, lips curving in a faint, elusive smile.

With a casual sweep of his wide sleeve, the space before him rippled like water.

At the same time, as Luna and Corbin were about to break through the Ruins of Kaelum’s mountain-guarding formation, the world suddenly twisted before their eyes.

An irresistible power enveloped them both.

In the next moment, amid wild spinning, the two were directly transported back to the Hall of Serenity, crashing gracelessly onto the cold blue jade floor.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

Venerable Master Serenity’s voice resounded, indifferent, betraying neither joy nor anger.

Luna rubbed her sore backside, heart sinking instantly at the sound of his voice.

We didn’t escape after all.

She looked up, forcing a smile uglier than tears: "Master, we... we were just going to look at the moonlight..."

"Moonlight?"

Venerable Master Serenity glanced out at the pitch-black night beyond the hall. "At midnight, the clouds shroud the moon. What is there to see? Or were you checking if my herb garden has suffered at the hands of your clumsy paramour?"

Corbin’s silver eyes surged with fury. Demonic power churned around him, but was instantly subdued by an invisible pressure—he couldn’t move, couldn’t even speak, could only glare helplessly at the figure in white above.

Who is this man? How is his power so terrifying?

Venerable Master Serenity ignored Corbin’s murderous intent and fixed his gaze on Luna, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes: "Your lovers, it seems, have chosen quite the place to gather."

"Huh?"

Luna hadn’t grasped the meaning of his words.

She then saw his slender fingers tapping the air several times in succession.

With each tap, the space within the Hall of Serenity shuddered violently.

"Thud!"

Rhys Blackwood’s figure fell from thin air, hitting the ground hard and lying sprawled for a moment before scrambling up warily. The moment he saw Luna, he froze in shock.

"Luna..."

He was just about to rush over in delight.

Suddenly—

"Bang..."

Soon after, Kian Sterling rolled out from who-knows-what corner, his appearance a bit bedraggled.

He took in the situation in the hall, utterly bewildered and at a loss for what was happening.

"Which damned bastard dragged me here?"

Zeke Veridian’s sharp-tongued voice rang out in the hall. He was dizzy from the fall, his Green Jade Ancient Sword clattering to the floor.

He quickly steadied himself; his emerald eyes swept the room. Upon spotting Luna, he stared blankly for a beat, then was overjoyed.

"Damn it all, which son of a bitch yanked me—"

Malachi Arcanus dropped from nowhere, so disoriented he could barely see straight.

Soon after, Soren Phoenix and Mael Valerius likewise fell from thin air in succession, both wearing thoroughly confused expressions.

Evidently, they were just as clueless.

But upon seeing Luna, Corbin, and the others, their confusion quickly gave way to joy.

The most baffled of all were Luna and Corbin, caught between shock and happiness.

There was no time for reunions; their gazes all turned to Venerable Master Serenity, faces full of astonishment.

Who on earth was this man?

His methods were simply terrifying.

He had effortlessly summoned Rhys, Kian, Zeke, Malachi, Soren, and Mael from all corners, out of thin air.

He was practically a god, wasn’t he?

Of course, what they didn’t know was that while Venerable Master Serenity wasn’t technically a god, he was nearly there already.

He ranked first in the Cultivation Realm; his cultivation had already reached the tribulation’s peak. The only reason he hadn’t ascended was lacking just that last opportunity.

Venerable Master Serenity tapped the Jade Table lightly with a fingertip, his gaze sweeping the group. "Seven ancient beasts—how interesting."

Luna stiffened her spine and moved to shield her seven beast-husbands. "Master, if punishment must be dealt, let it come to me."

"Luna."

The seven spoke in unison, but were instantly pinned down by a crushing pressure, unable even to move.

Venerable Master Serenity suddenly let out a soft laugh—not looking at Luna, but inspecting Corbin, Rhys, Kian, Zeke, Malachi, Soren, and Mael one by one.

"You seven are all ancient beasts. If the Cultivation Realm discovers your identities, you’ll be either enslaved by contract or skinned alive. Only within Mystral under my protection can you remain truly safe."

The hall fell silent.

Luna frowned slightly, thinking of the extraordinary bloodlines her companions possessed.

Especially Soren and Mael— in a world where dragons and phoenixes had long vanished, being captured for contracts, medicine, or slaughter was all too possible.

Most of these beast-husbands were no stronger than Golden Core. In this fearsome Cultivation Realm, who knows how many harbored evil intent?

To guarantee her beast-husbands’ survival, Luna felt, perhaps, staying here wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

At least Venerable Master Serenity bore them no murderous intent.

Her eyes flickered. She quickly pulled the seven beasts down to kneel. "Many thanks for your protection, Master."

Though Corbin and the rest were unwilling in their hearts, feeling Venerable Master Serenity’s fathomless might and seeing Luna’s acquiescence, they could only bow for now.

Soren and Mael, recalling their first perilous days in this world, remained silent in the end.

This man’s strength was clear—staying here, at least no one would dare target them.

Especially Mael Valerius—had Venerable Master Serenity not pulled him here, he might still be entangled with Sect Master Vienna Paxton of the Sect of a Hundred Flowers.

Venerable Master Serenity nodded in satisfaction. "In that case, from this day forward, you are disciples under my tutelage."

He pointed a finger; seven streaks of golden light entered their brows. "This is a forbidden seal concealing your bloodlines. You may roam outside safely—so long as you do not expose your true forms, you will not be discovered."

Finishing, his gaze shifted to Luna, his eyes amused. "As for you, you’ll be a disciple as well."

His real interest was in the seven beasts; Luna was just an afterthought.

And thus, Corbin became the eldest disciple, Rhys second, Kian third, Zeke fourth, Malachi fifth, Soren sixth, Mael seventh.

Luna, meanwhile, was now Mystral’s youngest junior sister.

Venerable Master Serenity swept his sleeve. "Now that you are under my tutelage, you must follow my rules. Sword practice at 7 AM; meditation at noon; cultivation at 7 PM. Defy me and—"

He flicked a finger lightly. In the distance, an entire mountain crumbled with a roar.

The seven swallowed in unison.

Only Luna appeared unfazed—having seen it all before.

Three days later, a thunderous rumor spread from the Ruins of Kaelum.

The number one in the Cultivation Realm, Venerable Master Serenity, had accepted eight personal disciples at once. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The cultivation world was shaken—Venerable Master Serenity was famed for disdaining students, never once accepting any, so how was it that right before his ascension, he’d taken on eight disciples at once?

Speculation ran rampant as to what extraordinary talents these eight must possess to win such favor.

Until one day, Sect Master Vienna Paxton of the Sect of a Hundred Flowers glimpsed Mael Valerius with a personal disciple’s Jade Token from Mystral, Ruins of Kaelum, hanging from his waist—and her face turned absolutely ashen.