(MC's POV)

"A cultivator may lose his pants, but never his face as an expert."

I was once told those words by a certain Taoist (the one of ch 2) during my past life before being thrown off like a flying sword into a fantasy forest consisting of Orcs, bishou Orcs, and ugly Orcs.

Ever since then, those words have become engraved in my very existence.

Thus, even though I was initially shocked at the revelation from my disciple, I quickly regained my composure.

Turning down to look at her, I said with a light smile.

"That is a good name."

Fidgeting lightly, Lily accepted my compliments with a happy smile.

"Um."

That's right.

I thought as I looked at her.

She was she and the heavenly talent Lily of my past life was her.

Although the body was the same, the paths they would take would now be different.

Experiencing her own path to accumulate her own story, she would be a Lily completely different from the one I am familiar with.

She would not just be known as Heavenly talent Lily in the future.

She would also be known also as Xin Lily.

The first disciple of Xin Fan.

.....

(Lily's POV)

"That is a good name."

Moonlight shone on my master's face when he said those words with a light smile.

I don't know why but I felt a bit happy when he said those words.

Nodding my head, I softly said "Um" in agreement.

Would that be too childish?

I thought to myself embarrassingly as I tried to look at his face.

With a smile hanging around his face, his natural cool face contrasted with the contemplating look he had now, making him look especially appealing.

"Lily."

He said as he stared at my face.

Was I found out?

I wondered as my face became a little red.

"As per the tradition of the sect, if a disciple does not have a surname, he/she may take his/her master's surname."

"Do you wish to take my surname or just stay as Lily?"

He said as he gazed into my eyes.

His words vanished the pointless thought I had right now and instead had me seriously thinking.

To be honest, I wanted to have his surname.

If I had the same surname as my master, I would have a deeper connection with him more than just a master-disciple bond by name.

That would indeed be quite pleasing. (*?v?*)

But at the same time, the moment I took the new surname, it would also mean giving up my on my past identity.

While my past would certainly not leave me, and neither would I part with it, I would no longer be Xuan Lily of the Xuan Household.

I would be Xin Lily.

'???????????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????????.'

I thought back to what my dying mother said to me that day.

The day when the Xuan Household died.

For the longest time, I only focused on its literal meaning.

But thinking about it now, perhaps she wanted me to be free of my burden.

While I can never free myself from the past, I can at least try.

Looking back at my master with a hint of determination in my face, I said.

"I do."

....

(MC's POV)

The resolute eyes staring back at me filled me with surprise.

I thought that I understood a bit about the present her, but it seems like it was just my arrogance.

Chuckling lightly in my heart, I said.

"Very well. Henceforth, you shall be known as Xin Lily."

Bowing deeply, Lily said.

"I, Xin Lily, thank my master for my new name."

Hearing her words, I nodded in appreciation.

Changing surname was nothing more than a formality to give status to one's disciple.

But I suppose, the actual meaning of the ceremony differs between people.

Although I could not put my finger in it, it seemed like something about Lily had changed.

Thinking that she was now prepared to start her journey to immortality, I put my hands in the back and looked at the far horizon like a great expert.

As the person responsible for explaining these stuffs to young cultivators in Heavenly Plane Village for hundreds of years, I had the entire script memorized.

"The path to cultivation is tough and tenacious with different ways to reach immortality."

"There are ways in which one seek dangers to improve themselves, they are the ones feared as masochists in the world of cultivation."

"There are also those who are so introverted that their path to cultivation is being a shut-in."

"Then there are perverts who perform perverted acts in the name of cultivation."

"All three of are methods you should avoid."

After saying so, I looked down to give my disciple a deep glance like what Xianxia masters do after these sorts of explanation.

But what greeted my eyes was not a look of interest as I thought but a wide pair of eyes like goldfish which seemed surprised.

I then finally realized what I had said.

(ノ*°▽°*)

Dear lord.

The hundreds of years of sermon in the damn village has finally managed to twist my common sense.

My master image is ruined. (*/.＼)

Struggling to act as if everything was normal, I continued my explanation.

"There are three Planes in the world of cultivation – The mortal plane where we reside, the spiritual plane where the numerous small worlds of mortal plane converge, and the heavenly plane where the laws direct after it."

As a matter of fact, there is also the Devil plane which is connected to all three planes and the god plane which has now been destroyed as well.

But, knowing about this information would raise suspicions about my identity, so I will skip on that.

"The world we are living right now is the mortal plane."

"Here, the stages of cultivation can be divided into six stages – Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Free Travel, Broken Sea, Spiritual Core, Spiritual Arrival."

"For now, you just need to concentrate into reaching the Qi Refinement stage."

Saying so, I passed along a book consisting of flame-ice cultivation method to Lily.

The method written in the book was a method popular in spiritual plane for those with dual attributes.

It was not like I did not have methods of heavenly plane but practicing techniques of that plane would lead to tribulations so strong that she would have no way to survive.

I wanted her to ascend to Heavenly Plane, not heaven.

So, better safe than sorry.

Thinking so, I looked at the figure of Lily holding the book.

She had finally started walking in her path to immortality.