The Master's Grand Scheme

After receiving the ladle, Qin Yi couldn't put it down.

He held it in both hands, caressing it with a gaze as tender as if he were looking at his first love.

"With this master chef's ladle, I feel even more confident," he declared with unwavering determination.

"Haha, excellent!" Qin Lan laughed heartily before shifting his gaze to Qin Nan and Qin Zhiyu.

"This blade, I entrust to you two—the most outstanding juniors of our Qin family—to safeguard together," Qin Lan said with a smile. "First, because you are the future of the Qin family. Second, because you will soon seek out our ancestors. If they no longer remember our family, this blade will serve as proof of your identity."

"Yes, Ancestor!"

Qin Nan and Qin Zhiyu, as if electrified, immediately knelt on the ground.

They had never imagined such an honor—being entrusted with this blade was an immense privilege.

"Alright, everyone, disperse and make the necessary arrangements," Qin Lan said cheerfully.

"Yes!"

The crowd responded in unison before withdrawing.

Soon after, the entire Heaven and Earth Island underwent a thorough cleaning, leaving every corner spotless. Ingredients from all corners of the celestial realm were transported to the island, and decorations were hung everywhere, as if celebrating the New Year.

At the same time, several large ships adorned with red flags set sail from Heaven and Earth Island, embarking on their missions.

Meanwhile, high above the clouds...

A woman in green robes stood with her hair flowing in the wind, hands clasped behind her back as she gazed into the distance.

Suddenly, a colossal vessel entirely constructed of mechanized armor streaked across the sky.

On its deck stood a group of people.

Upon seeing the green-robed woman, they all bowed in unison. "Greetings, Senior Sister."

"Hmm."

The woman, Su Yunyun, gave a slight nod before closing her eyes again, resuming her meditative state.

The others, understanding her intent, refrained from disturbing her. They stowed the airship and settled into seated positions, hovering midair.

Over the next few days...

Some arrived riding dragons, others descended on phoenixes.

By now, the gathering had swelled to seventy or eighty individuals.

"Who has yet to arrive?"

Su Yunyun, the leader, finally opened her eyes and asked.

"Reporting to Senior Sister, aside from Junior Brother Seventy-Five and Junior Sister Sixty-Three, those ranked beyond Eighty-Five have not yet arrived," Jia Jiaqin, surrounded by a menagerie of beasts, stepped forward to explain.

Su Yunyun nodded.

"Ah, and there's also the Eldest Senior Brother—he remains missing," Jia Jiaqin added.

"The Eldest Senior Brother is the disciple most cherished by our master and the one who has followed him the longest," Su Yunyun mused. "Perhaps he carries a separate mission, so we can consider him an exception for now."

"True."

Jia Jiaqin nodded, then suddenly remembered something else. "Oh, and there's also Senior Brother Wu Chang'an."

"Senior Brother Wu Chang'an..."

Su Yunyun paused in thought before continuing, "Aside from the Eldest Senior Brother, he is the only one among us I cannot fully comprehend. He has also spent more time with our master than the rest of us. Like the Eldest Senior Brother, he is likely an exception."

"Understood."

Jia Jiaqin nodded again.

After surveying the surroundings and waiting a while longer, Su Yunyun seemed to lose patience. "Perhaps the others are too far away and won't arrive for another day or two. We won't wait for them."

"I’ve gathered everyone here to ask one thing," she said after a brief pause. "Over the past month, whenever I enter deep meditation, a scene appears in my mind—one where all of us, except Wu Tian, are seated together in a grand hall."

"Has anyone else experienced the same?"

Her words immediately stirred a wave of murmurs among the disciples.

"Senior Sister, I have! I was just about to ask the same thing!" Xiao Zhan exclaimed.

"Me too," Chi Yitong chimed in.

"Yes, yes, same here!"

"I’ve seen it too."

"That exact scene has appeared in my mind as well."

One after another, the disciples confirmed the phenomenon.

Upon tallying, it became clear that everyone present—except Wu Tian—had encountered the same vision.

"So it’s true..."

Su Yunyun’s expression grew contemplative. "I have a strong feeling that what we’ve seen is not just a vision—it’s a memory. As if we’ve known each other for far longer than we realize."

"Exactly!"

"I feel the same way."

"You’ve put it perfectly, Senior Sister. That’s precisely what I thought!"

The others nodded fervently.

"It seems that, because of our master, our fates have long been intertwined. Our becoming his disciples wasn’t mere coincidence," Su Yunyun said solemnly, lifting her chin slightly. "Rather, we were chosen by him."

At this, the disciples grew visibly excited.

Deep down, many had always believed their status as the master’s disciples was purely due to luck—not because they were particularly exceptional.

After all, even a pig, if taken as a disciple by their master, could rise to dominate realms and command the heavens.

But if Su Yunyun was right—if they had been chosen—then their selection carried far greater significance.

"Regardless, we must ensure we do not disgrace our master," Su Yunyun declared firmly. "And that brings me to the second reason I’ve called you all here."

The disciples fixed their attention on her.

"I’ve often wondered—why did our master take us as disciples?" she continued.

"To pass on his legacy?"

"Our master’s knowledge is as vast as the ocean. Even a single tributary of his wisdom is enough to sustain us for lifetimes. Who among us could ever hope to inherit it all?"

"Therefore, I’m certain our existence is no accident. We must have a purpose—a mission."

"Especially now, with these recurring visions, my conviction has only grown stronger."

The disciples listened intently, their faces etched with deep thought.

"Do you remember the grand scheme our master spoke of?" Su Yunyun pressed further.

"Senior Sister, then what do you believe our mission is?" one disciple ventured. "And what is our master’s grand scheme?"

Instead of answering directly, Su Yunyun posed another question.

"Do you recall the countless volumes stored in the Heaven and Earth Sect’s Scripture Pavilion?"

"Or the endless recordings preserved in the Jade Scroll Hall?"

"Every one of us here found our own path to enlightenment within them, didn’t we?"

Her voice rose with passion as she spoke.

"Senior Sister, we still don’t quite grasp your meaning. Could you explain further?" Jia Jiaqin couldn’t help but ask.

"Have none of you realized? The worlds described in those books, the civilizations depicted in those recordings—they might very well be the pieces of our master’s grand scheme!" Su Yunyun looked at each of her fellow disciples, enunciating every word with weight.