Tianyuan Grand World.

Northern Region.

Shu Mountain Sword Sect.

“Meng Fan, in this assessment for menial disciples, you’ve come in last place. As per tradition, the one at the bottom is eliminated, and you will be expelled from the Shu Mountain Sword Sect.”

Meng Fan looked at Steward Wang, who had appeared before him, his face betraying a hint of surprise.

He had only been in this world for less than two days, and now he was about to be kicked out of the clan?

This wasn’t how the script was supposed to go!

After merging with the memories of his host, he recalled the events and asked with some confusion, “Steward Wang, if I remember correctly, I was second to last in the assessment, not the last.”

Although being second to last was still embarrassing, traditionally only the very last one would be eliminated.

Steward Wang replied indifferently, “The last place, Yang Qian, violated the sect rules and has already been expelled. That makes you the last now.”

Hearing this, Meng Fan was completely dumbfounded.

Could it really work like that?

He had just arrived in this world, ready to soar to the heavens with the help of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect.

Being expelled and becoming an abandoned disciple of the sect would make it nearly impossible to join another clan.

And this world was extremely dangerous!

He absolutely could not leave the Shu Mountain Sword Sect; otherwise, he might die without even knowing how.

Meng Fan quickly said, “Steward Wang, is there any way we could work something out? Although Yang Qian broke the rules, he was still the last in the assessment. Shouldn’t the elimination spot still be on him?”

As he spoke, he took out an inferior spirit stone from his chest and handed it to Steward Wang.

The spirit stone, with only seventy percent of its spiritual qi remaining, wasn’t much.

But it was all Meng Fan had. As a menial disciple, and one at the bottom at that, constantly at risk of being eliminated, it was incredibly hard for Meng Fan to earn money!

“Meng Fan, let’s be honest, you know your own level. Even if you stay this time, you’ll still be the one eliminated next. Why struggle in vain?” Steward Wang took the spirit stone without a change in expression.

A mosquito’s leg is still meat, and an inferior spirit stone with only seventy percent of its spiritual qi is still a spirit stone.

Why not take it if it’s free?

Beside Steward Wang, another menial disciple spoke up, “Junior Disciple Meng, you should be well aware that with your mixed spiritual root, you simply can’t make it in the Shu Mountain Sword Sect. It might be better to leave the clan and find a living elsewhere.”

This menial disciple, Yang Fei, although also a menial disciple, always ranked in the top three in every assessment, unlike Meng Fan.

Recently, Yang Fei had been taken as a nominal disciple by Steward Wang, his future looking bright.

【Mixed Spiritual Root】

Hearing these four words, Meng Fan felt a sense of helplessness.

A mixed spiritual root was the worst kind of spiritual root, far inferior to even an inferior spiritual root!

Mixed, inferior, intermediate, superior, excellent, heavenly, divine—just by looking, one could tell how poor a mixed spiritual root was!

Though a mixed spiritual root was still a spiritual root, stronger than a mortal and capable of cultivation, it was undoubtedly cannon fodder in the cultivation world.

The original owner of this body was a classic “loser style” character.

But Meng Fan, who had traveled to this world, was no loser!

His body still possessed a mixed spiritual root, but his transmigration had brought him a boon.

Talent—【Sword Dao Transcendence】.

How fearsome was this talent?

Innate Sword Heart!

Innate Sword Soul!

Innate Sword God!

He could master any sword technique upon learning it.

Grasp any sword intent upon contemplation.

Understand any sword momentum upon observation.

Integrate with the Great Way of the Sword… seamlessly!

Given time, Meng Fan was destined to become a Sword Immortal.

Unfortunately, he had just transmigrated and had not yet begun to exert his strength when he faced the crisis of being expelled from the clan.

Although with the talent of 【Sword Dao Transcendence】, even if he were expelled from the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, he still had hope of rising to prominence.

But with such a high starting point in the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, why would he want to experience a hellish beginning?

“Steward Wang, could you give your disciple another chance? I will cultivate diligently and surely won’t be last in the next assessment!” Meng Fan said earnestly to Steward Wang.

“Every disciple facing elimination pleads with me like this, yet they still get eliminated next time,” Steward Wang sighed and said.

“However, what you said isn’t entirely without merit. The last place in the assessment was indeed Yang Qian. Technically, you were second to last, so it seems somewhat inappropriate to eliminate you right now!”

Meng Fan breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the spirit stone had made a difference.

Otherwise, if Steward Wang had come all this way, he would certainly have been set on eliminating him!

“Thank you, Steward Wang!” Meng Fan quickly thanked Steward Wang.

Steward Wang nodded and turned to leave.

But just as he took half a step, he turned back to look at Meng Fan.

“Steward Wang, do you have any further instructions?” Meng Fan immediately asked, sensing the steward’s change of heart.

Steward Wang glanced at Meng Fan, a slight smile on his face, then said, “Even if I let you off this time, you’ll still be eliminated in the next assessment. How about I show you a clear path?”

A clear path?

Meng Fan was skeptical. Could the effect of that spirit stone really be that good?

Steward Wang didn’t seem like someone easily impressed by such small favors.

“Please speak, Steward Wang. What clear path?”

“The Sword Pavilion is short one Guarding Sword Disciple. I don’t have a suitable candidate right now, but you seem clever. Would you like to be a Guarding Sword Disciple?”

“Sword Pavilion? Guarding Sword Disciple?”

“That’s right. As a Guarding Sword Disciple of the Sword Pavilion, you’ll receive the same treatment as an Outer Sect Disciple. You won’t have to participate in the menial disciples’ assessments anymore, nor worry about being eliminated.”

The Sword Pavilion!

A high-end place within the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, where a menial disciple like Meng Fan had no right to enter, let alone draw a sword.

Only the best among the Outer Sect Disciples and even higher-ranking Inner Sect Disciples had the privilege to draw swords from the Sword Pavilion.

***

Moments later, Meng Fan took the token of a Guarding Sword Disciple of the Sword Pavilion from Steward Wang, ready to report to the Sword Pavilion.

Although he had his doubts, suspecting that Steward Wang wasn’t so kind as to let him take advantage of this opportunity, there was a saying: “Only a fool would refuse a free lunch.” If there was any trouble, he would just deal with it when it came!

Besides, as a menial disciple about to be eliminated, he had nothing that Steward Wang could covet.

The only spirit stone he had was already willingly given to Steward Wang!

Yang Fei, standing beside Steward Wang, watched Meng Fan’s departing figure with a slight frown, puzzled, he asked, “Master, didn’t Senior Disciple Qian ask you to drive Meng Fan away? Why not only did you keep Meng Fan here, but you also let him enter the Sword Pavilion? Isn’t this offending Senior Disciple Qian? Senior Disciple Qian is Elder Qian’s son, there’s no need for you to offend him!”

Steward Wang sneered and said, “What do you know?”

“There are thousands of swords in the Sword Pavilion, many of which are malevolent.”

“A menial disciple with almost no cultivation won’t survive a month in the Sword Pavilion.”

“He’s doomed!”