《Ascending the Path to Immortality》
Chapter 1 - Su Twelve
Cultivators steal the power of creation to achieve immortality, harness the energy of heaven and earth to endure, and refine the essence of the five elements to protect themselves.
In the northern region of Muyun Prefecture, there lies a mountain known as Tianjue Peak, a place seen as a death zone by countless cultivators.
At the base of Tianjue Peak, near the mountain¡¯s entrance, rests an ancient village called Xiaoshi Village.
Xiaoshi Village got its name from the fact that all of its buildings were constructed using stone.
Legend has it that a thousand years ago, the village was founded by descendants of immortals who had secluded themselves in this remote location. However, as time passed, the truth of this tale has long been lost to history.
Today, Xiaoshi Village is home to nothing more than a group of ordinary mortals.
The village consists of about forty households, surrounded by fertile fields and rich soil. Occasionally, the villagers venture out to Huilong Town to trade for rare items. Life here is peaceful and uneventful.
Dusk.
In the woods east of Xiaoshi Village, five children dressed in coarse hemp clothing, their sun-tanned skin darkened by exposure, crouched in the grass.
In the center, a small boy held a hemp rope. One end of the rope was tied to a wooden stick, which propped up a wooden sieve. Beneath the sieve, scattered grains of rice served as bait.
A wild chicken cautiously peeked around, drawn to the rice. After some hesitation, it finally couldn¡¯t resist and darted under the sieve.
The boy immediately pulled the rope, causing the stick to fall. The greedy chicken was quickly trapped beneath the sieve.
Seeing this, the children erupted in excitement, clapping and cheering for the boy in the center.
"Wow, we caught it! We really caught it! Twelve, you¡¯re so clever!"
"Twelve-gege, you¡¯re amazing! When I grow up, will you marry me?"
"Twelve, my mom said there¡¯s going to be an immortal coming to Huilong Town tomorrow to accept disciples. You¡¯re so smart¡ªyou might be able to become their apprentice!"
The boy, called Twelve, rolled his eyes and laughed. "Give me a break! You can¡¯t even count to three, you little fatty. How would you understand anything about immortals? Do you really think it¡¯s that easy to become an apprentice? Besides, what¡¯s so great about cultivation? Staying in the village with Grandpa isn¡¯t good enough for you?"
"Alright, you little bootlickers," Twelve said as he stood up, "I¡¯ve already taught you how to do it. Now go catch something yourselves!"
He walked over to the sieve, skillfully reached underneath to grab the trapped chicken, and headed toward the nearby river.
Twelve¡¯s full name was Su Twelve. He had grown up with his grandfather, relying on the kindness of villagers to survive.
Smart and quick to learn, he was the leader among the village children¡ªa "king of the kids."
At the riverbank, Su Twelve deftly slaughtered the chicken, draining its blood and plucking its feathers. From his pocket, he took out a small, battered, fist-sized miniature alchemy furnace.
The furnace was filled with salt. Su Twelve pinched a bit of salt between his fingers and sprinkled it over the cleaned chicken.
He then tore a lotus leaf from the riverbank, wrapped the chicken in it, and coated it in a layer of clay.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
The three-legged, round-bodied furnace was carved with intricate patterns of flowers, birds, insects, and fish. Its material was unidentifiable¡ªnot metal, not wood, not jade, nor stone. It was impervious to water, fire, or blades.
Su Twelve had secretly taken it from the rafters of his house, where his grandfather had hidden it. His grandfather treated it as a priceless treasure and forbade him from touching it.
At first, Su Twelve hadn¡¯t thought much of the furnace. To him, it was just a strange, old relic. But one day, he had used the furnace to store salt while making Beggar¡¯s Chicken on a whim.
To his surprise, the salt that had been stored in the furnace became especially crystalline. Using this salt to season the chicken made the meat exceptionally flavorful and crispy. After eating it, he felt his mind become extraordinarily clear and sharp.
Since then, no matter where his grandfather hid the furnace, Su Twelve would always find it. Of course, this earned him plenty of scoldings and beatings.
This time, however, he planned to make the chicken for his grandfather to taste.
"Hehe, the old man¡¯s never had such a delicious roast chicken before. This time I¡¯ll really surprise him. Once he¡¯s tasted it, he¡¯ll stop refusing to let me use the furnace, right?"
Su Twelve grinned as he prepared the meal.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out behind him. "Old man? Which old man, huh?"
Su Twelve turned to see an elderly man with a head full of white hair and a beard. The man had his hands clasped behind his back, hiding a wooden stick as he approached the riverbank.
It was Su Twelve¡¯s grandfather, Su Mingren, the only literate person in the village and a figure of high regard among the villagers.
"Of course, it¡¯s my dear Grandpa¡ Wait, what?!" Su Twelve¡¯s casual response turned into a yelp when he saw his grandfather walking over with the stick. He shuddered in fear, and the chicken in his hands nearly slipped to the ground.
"Calling me ''old man'' left and right! Have all the books I made you read gone to the dogs?" Su Mingren glared at the alchemy furnace in Su Twelve¡¯s hands, his beard bristling in anger.
"How many times have I told you? This furnace is absolutely forbidden! You little rascal, you dug it out again! Today, I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson!"
Su Twelve had been watching his grandfather¡¯s every move. Before the old man could strike, Su Twelve stuffed the furnace into his pocket and darted away like a rabbit, sprinting toward the village.
"Old man! I was trying to make roast chicken for you, and you¡ª you¡¯re actually going to hit me? That¡¯s so unfair!" Su Twelve shouted as he ran.
"Unfair?!" Su Mingren roared as he chased after him with the stick. "You little rascal, do you even know who raised you?!"
"You¡¯re always climbing roofs and stealing chickens¡ªfine, I can let that slide. But no matter where I hide that furnace, you dig it out! Are you trying to fight me over it?!"
Despite his young age, Su Twelve was quick on his feet. As he ran, he looked over his shoulder and stuck out his tongue at his grandfather. "Old man, this furnace is a family heirloom. It¡¯s going to be mine eventually, right? What difference does it make if you give it to me now or later?"
Su Mingren¡¯s face turned red with anger as he chased after him. "You little rascal! If I don¡¯t teach you a lesson today, you¡¯ll never learn the severity of the situation!"
The truth was, Su Mingren didn¡¯t know the exact origins of the alchemy furnace. It had been passed down for generations, and his father had warned him on his deathbed to guard it closely, lest it bring disaster to their family.
It was a secret Su Mingren had no intention of revealing to Su Twelve unless absolutely necessary.
Su Twelve, sensing his grandfather¡¯s genuine anger, began to feel uneasy. He darted around the village, eventually sneaking into a haystack to hide.
Su Mingren, being older, soon found himself out of breath. After circling the village, he finally locked eyes on the haystack.
With quiet steps, he approached and yanked the hiding Su Twelve out by the collar.
"Got you! You little rascal, let¡¯s see where you run off to now¡ª"
Before Su Mingren could finish his scolding, shouts erupted from the village.
"Hey, everyone, look! There¡¯s someone flying in the sky!"
"Oh my goodness, people can really fly?"
"What are you talking about? That¡¯s an immortal! And it looks like the immortal is coming toward our village!"
Hearing the commotion, Su Mingren immediately looked up.
In the sky, a black-clad figure streaked toward Xiaoshi Village with a trail of light behind them.
Seeing the figure, Su Mingren¡¯s pupils contracted, and his expression changed drastically.
He shoved Su Twelve back into the haystack and said in a grave tone, "Twelve, listen to me carefully. Stay hidden in here and don¡¯t come out!"
"No matter what happens next, do not come out! Do you hear me?!"
Inside the haystack, Su Twelve had been sulking about the punishment he was sure to receive. But seeing his grandfather¡¯s unprecedentedly serious expression left him stunned. Instinctively, he nodded.
After ensuring Su Twelve was hidden, Su Mingren quickly turned and walked toward the commotion.
[--------------------------------------------]
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Chapter 2 - The Immortal Masters Wrath
In the air, the black-clad figure sped toward the village, his sharp, hawk-like gaze coldly surveying the entire area.
Moments later, the black-clad figure came to a halt directly above the village.
Shrouded in swirling black mist, his clothes fluttered despite the absence of wind, creating an eerie gust of chilling air. His entire being exuded a sinister and ominous aura.
"Who is Su Mingren?!"
His cold, raspy voice cut through the silence, sending shivers down everyone¡¯s spine.
Is this what an immortal looks like? Terrifying!
And he¡¯s here looking for Su Mingren? When did the village chief get involved with an immortal?
Hearing the commotion, many curious villagers poked their heads out, glancing warily at the black-clad figure hovering in the sky.
In the open square, Su Mingren looked up at the man in the sky, his heart tightening with a strong sense of foreboding.
So they¡¯ve come for me¡ Could it really be because of the alchemy furnace?
As he hesitated, unsure whether to respond¡ª
"Hmph! What¡¯s this? No one wants to speak?"
The black-clad figure let out a low growl when he noticed the silence.
At that moment, a dense wave of sinister energy radiated from his body, enveloping the entire village in its chilling grasp.
In the blink of an eye, everyone felt as though they had been plunged into an icy abyss, their bodies trembling from the cold.
Sensing the man¡¯s growing anger, Su Mingren hurriedly called out, "Esteemed Immortal, I am Su Mingren. May I ask why you¡¯re looking for me?"
Hearing the voice, the black-clad figure¡¯s form flickered, transforming into a streak of light that landed directly in front of Su Mingren.
The figure examined Su Mingren with his icy gaze, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. "Hand over the treasure furnace, or die!"
Su Mingren shuddered, his heart leaping into his throat as he maintained a facade of calm. "Treasure furnace? What treasure furnace? Esteemed Immortal, I¡ I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about."
The black-clad figure¡¯s gaze grew colder. With a wave of his hand, he unleashed a surge of true energy, sending Su Mingren flying backward.
Looking at Su Mingren as if he were nothing more than an ant, the black-clad figure sneered, "Old man, do you think I¡¯d come here without knowing anything?
"If you hand over your family¡¯s ancestral treasure furnace now, we can settle this peacefully.
"But if you refuse, you won¡¯t be the only one to die today¡ªevery single person in this village will perish!"
As he spoke, he began approaching Su Mingren, his killing intent spreading and blanketing the village like a suffocating fog.
The villagers watching from afar felt as though the sky itself was collapsing. Terrified, they shouted anxiously at Su Mingren:
"Chief, if you really have this so-called furnace, just give it to the immortal!"
"Exactly! No point angering an immortal over something like this!"
"Esteemed Immortal, please don¡¯t be angry! We¡¯ve lived here for years and never heard of any treasure furnace in the chief¡¯s house!"
Su Mingren landed heavily on the ground. Already frail with age, the impact broke several of his ribs, causing his face to contort in pain.
Hidden in the haystack nearby, Su Twelve witnessed the entire scene.
Seeing his grandfather injured, Su Twelve¡¯s heart clenched. Gripping the alchemy furnace in his hands, he prepared to rush out and save him.
To him, no treasure was more important than his grandfather¡¯s life.
But just as he was about to reveal himself and hand over the furnace, his grandfather¡¯s earlier warning echoed in his mind:
No matter what happens, you must not come out!
Remembering those words, Su Twelve hesitated.
Lying on the ground, Su Mingren noticed movement in the haystack and, despite his pain, forced himself to speak again. "Esteemed Immortal, I¡ I truly don¡¯t know anything about a treasure furnace!"
Su Mingren was an experienced man. From the moment he understood the intruder¡¯s purpose, he knew that whether or not he handed over the furnace, death was inevitable for both himself and the villagers.
His only hope now was to protect his grandson.
Hearing Su Mingren¡¯s denial, the black-clad figure¡¯s eyes gleamed with malice. He let out a sinister laugh. "Heh heh¡ Old man, so you¡¯ve chosen death? How unfortunate¡ I guess I¡¯ll have to find it myself!"You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
His tone turned cruel, and he activated the true energy within his body. Forming a sword seal with his fingers, a jet-black flying sword shot out from his back, spinning in midair.
In an instant, countless streaks of sword light filled the sky. Each streak transformed into a skeletal figure, diving toward the villagers like harbingers of death.
The villagers froze in terror. A few reacted quickly and turned to flee, but most simply stood there, paralyzed with fear.
"No¡ please, no!"
"Immortal, have mercy!"
"Please spare us! We don¡¯t know anything!"
Faced with the overwhelming power of the black-clad cultivator, the villagers were as helpless as ants. Under the onslaught of the sinister sword energy, death came in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, Xiaoshi Village was drenched in blood, the air thick with the stench of iron and despair.
Lying on the ground, Su Mingren¡¯s eyes burned with fury and despair.
Although he had prepared himself for death, witnessing the massacre of his fellow villagers filled him with inconsolable sorrow.
Hidden in the haystack, Su Twelve was paralyzed with fear. His body felt cold and numb, as though he had fallen into an icy abyss.
This isn¡¯t an immortal¡ this is a bloodthirsty demon!
The black-clad figure approached Su Mingren, his voice dripping with mockery. "Old man, do you see this? All of them died because of you!"
"I¡¯ll give you one last chance: hand over the treasure furnace!"
Grabbing his flying sword from midair, he pointed its tip at Su Mingren. Surrounded by rolling black mist, an oppressive aura radiated from his figure.
The weight of the pressure alone made it difficult for Su Mingren to breathe. But his face remained resolute as he shook his head and said firmly, "I don¡¯t have it!"
The black-clad figure¡¯s gaze turned icy. Activating his sword energy, he unleashed a skeletal blade that severed Su Mingren¡¯s arm in one swift motion.
"What about now?!" he demanded.
Writhing in agony, Su Mingren gritted his teeth and shouted, "I¡ I truly don¡¯t know anything about a treasure furnace!"
"Hmph! Then you have no reason to live."
With a cold sneer, the black-clad figure unleashed another skeletal sword strike, this time aiming directly for Su Mingren¡¯s heart.
"No¡ stop!"
Hidden in the haystack, Su Twelve wanted to scream, but no sound came from his throat.
Gripping the alchemy furnace tightly, he wanted to rush out and save his grandfather. But fear and the immense pressure emanating from the black-clad figure pinned him to the ground, rendering him immobile.
"Thud!"
A muffled sound echoed as the skeletal blade pierced Su Mingren¡¯s chest, leaving a gaping hole the size of a fist.
Su Mingren¡¯s head tilted to the side, and he breathed his last.
Seeing his grandfather lying lifeless in a pool of blood, Su Twelve¡¯s pupils contracted sharply. Grief overwhelmed him, and he fainted on the spot.
The black-clad figure didn¡¯t notice the haystack. Instead, he began methodically searching each house in the village courtyard.
To the black-clad figure, slaughtering the entire village was as insignificant as completing a mundane task.
From dusk until deep into the night, he searched every corner of the village. He left no place unchecked¡ªsearching the rafters, scouring the cellars¡ªbut his efforts were in vain.
Two hours later, the black-clad figure returned to Su Mingren''s corpse. After confirming that Su Mingren had nothing on him, his expression turned grim with frustration.
"Damn it! Could the intel have been wrong? Or was someone else one step ahead of me?"
He muttered to himself, his annoyance apparent.
"Forget it. It seems I¡¯ll have to look for another lead."
With that, the black-clad figure leapt into the air, transforming into a streak of light that disappeared into the sky.
Su Twelve remained unconscious for the two hours that passed. It wasn¡¯t until the first light of dawn that he suddenly twitched and woke up, drenched in cold sweat.
In his dreams, the horrifying images of skeletal figures and the moment his grandfather was killed replayed endlessly in his mind.
The first thing Su Twelve did upon waking was look outside, hoping desperately that everything that had happened was just a nightmare.
But reality was cruel.
Through his teary vision, he saw his grandfather lying lifeless in a pool of blood.
Su Twelve¡¯s entire body trembled. Crawling and stumbling, he scrambled out of the haystack and rushed to Su Mingren¡¯s side.
"Grandpa¡ Grandpa¡ wake up! I¡ I¡¯ll stop calling you ''old man,'' okay?"
"Please, wake up! I¡¯m begging you¡ say something to me!"
He hugged Su Mingren tightly, calling out to him over and over again, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face like broken pearls.
But no matter how much he cried, the man on the ground remained completely unresponsive.
Su Twelve clung to his grandfather¡¯s body, crying until the sun rose, until his tears dried up, until blood streaked down his cheeks in place of tears.
He fainted several times from exhaustion, and when his voice finally became hoarse and could no longer produce a sound, he lowered his head to look at the alchemy furnace in his hands.
"It¡¯s all your fault! If it weren¡¯t for you, Grandpa wouldn¡¯t have died, and neither would everyone else!"
In his anger, Su Twelve gripped the furnace tightly. To him, it was the root cause of everything¡ªif not for this cursed object, none of this tragedy would have happened.
If there were a way to bring his grandfather back to life by giving it up, he would do so without hesitation.
Seething with rage, Su Twelve hurled the furnace onto the ground with all his might.
But as he watched the furnace roll a short distance away, he hesitated. After a brief pause, he walked over and picked it up again.
"This furnace is the last thing Grandpa left me. I can¡¯t lose it."
"Besides, if even immortals are after it, it must be some kind of treasure. If I want to avenge Grandpa and everyone else, this is probably the only thing I can rely on. I just don¡¯t know how to use it yet."
"Maybe¡ once I learn immortal arts, I¡¯ll figure out how to use it."
Taking a deep breath, Su Twelve tucked the furnace back into his chest.
Suppressing his grief, Su Twelve found a shovel and began digging large pits in the village square. He buried his grandfather and every villager, one by one.
By evening, a modest mass grave stood in the middle of the village, marking the resting place of over a hundred people.
Kneeling in front of the graves, Su Twelve wept silently once again.
But this time, he forced himself to hold back the tears. In his heart, he made a solemn vow: this would be the last time he ever cried.
From now on, he had only one purpose: revenge. No matter how much suffering or hardship he encountered, he would not shed another tear.
"Grandpa, that black-clad man is incredibly powerful. The only way to defeat him is to join an immortal sect and learn immortal arts. Perhaps by mastering those arts, I can also uncover the secret of this furnace."
"I overheard Little Fatty say that tomorrow, an immortal will be coming to Huilong Town to accept disciples. I¡¯ve decided to go and see for myself!"
"No matter what it takes, I¡¯ll avenge you and everyone else in the village!"
Speaking softly, Su Twelve glanced at the alchemy furnace in his arms. Then, he knelt down and kowtowed four times in front of his grandfather¡¯s grave.
Resolving himself, he stood up with determination, grit his teeth, and ran toward the direction of Huilong Town.
[--------------------------------------------]
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Chapter 3 - Spiritual Root Assessment
The next day.
Before dawn, Hui Long Town was already bustling with excitement, like a pot of boiling water.
Countless vendors swarmed the streets, shouting loudly to sell their wares. Groups of three or five people, walking on foot or riding ox carts and horse carriages, rushed to Hui Long Town from all directions.
The immortals of Yun Ge Sect¡¯s Luo Fu Peak were recruiting disciples, an event held once every three years, open exclusively to children aged ten to twelve. This had become a well-established tradition, and every time recruitment day arrived, it also marked the day of Hui Long Town¡¯s grand market gathering.
For families within a ten-mile radius with children of suitable age, this was a major event. Not only could they shop for household necessities, but if their child happened to be chosen to become an immortal¡¯s disciple, it would be an honor far greater than passing imperial exams. Such fortune would surely have their ancestors¡¯ graves ¡°emitting green smoke¡± (a sign of great luck).
Su Twelve, blending into the crowd, also entered the town.
The road from Xiao Shi Village to Hui Long Town was treacherous and difficult to traverse. Su Twelve had only come here once before as a child with his grandfather. Thankfully, he had a good memory and, despite stumbling along the way, managed to arrive just as the sun rose.
However, his clothes were now tattered, and his entire body was covered in dirt, making him look like a little beggar.
As Su Twelve walked, he kept his ears perked and his eyes alert.
Coming alone, he didn¡¯t know where the immortal recruitment would take place. However, he guessed that among the parents accompanying children his age, there would surely be those heading to the same destination.
Before long, Su Twelve followed the crowd to the center of town, where a large open space was surrounded by adults. On the vacant ground stood nearly a hundred children around his age.
From the conversations of the people around him, Su Twelve learned that this was the place where the immortals would soon test the children¡¯s talents for recruitment.
All the children hoping to become disciples were waiting here for the immortals to arrive.
Su Twelve crouched and squeezed through the crowd, finding an empty corner where he plopped onto the ground.
After walking all night through the mountains, he was exhausted, starving, and had swollen feet. At this moment, all he wanted was to rest.
Just then, the sky suddenly filled with drifting clouds, and a flying sword streaked across like lightning.
The sword was broad and wide, with two graceful figures standing upon its surface.
"The immortals! The immortals are here!"
The crowd on the ground looked up, faces filled with awe. Regardless of age or gender, everyone froze in place, holding their breath.
The entire Hui Long Town, which had been noisy just moments before, fell silent in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, the flying sword passed over the open space. The two graceful figures leaped off the sword, descending from the heavens and landing squarely in the middle of the clearing.
Mid-air, the luminous flying sword shrank into a three-foot-long blade and fell neatly into the sheath on one of their backs.
"Immortals?"You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Su Twelve trembled with excitement, quickly turning his head to look at the arrivals.
One was an elderly man clad in a green robe, his face weathered with age¡ªhe appeared to be in his sixties or seventies. His white beard was thick and full, extending across his chest. Yet his sharp, sparkling eyes betrayed a vitality that belied his years. He exuded an aura of elegance and transcendence.
The other was a young woman, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with delicate features that could only be described as stunning.
She had moth-like eyebrows, ruby-red lips, and white teeth. Her long black hair flowed like a waterfall, and her light green dress swayed gently in the breeze, making her look like a celestial maiden.
"Is that the immortal maiden? She¡¯s too beautiful!"
"I never thought, in all my years, that I¡¯d get to see such a stunning immortal maiden."
"They say the princess of Song Kingdom is as beautiful as a celestial being, but compared to this immortal maiden, she might not even come close!"
Whispered praises rippled through the crowd. Faced with such breathtaking beauty, the mortals present couldn¡¯t help but lose themselves.
On the open ground, even the nearly one hundred children, including Su Twelve, were left staring in awe.
After landing, the young woman glanced around curiously and sighed. "It¡¯s been ten years, and I¡¯ve finally descended the mountain again!"
"I didn¡¯t expect so many more people in Hui Long Town after just ten years!"
The elderly man smiled at her and said, "Alright, enough nostalgia. Let¡¯s get to business. If we don¡¯t outshine Tianhua Peak this time, that old scoundrel Fu Boran will ridicule me to death!"
The young woman smiled back and nodded. "Don¡¯t worry, Grandpa. I won¡¯t let you down! There are plenty of children here for the test this year; we¡¯re sure to find some promising candidates."
With that, she waved her hand, and a square table appeared before them.
On the table rested a peculiar-looking stone¡ªthe sect¡¯s Spirit Testing Stone, used to assess spiritual roots.
The elderly man nodded and turned his sharp gaze to the children in the clearing. His voice, devoid of emotion, was cold and commanding: "Only a very small number of you will be chosen to join Yun Ge Sect.
His chilling words caused the entire crowd to fall silent.
Su Twelve shrank back slightly, his heart filled with nervous anticipation.
"Spiritual roots are the foundation of cultivation," the old man continued. "Now, I will test each of your spiritual roots one by one. Everyone, form a line and come forward to place your hand on this stone."
The children hurriedly formed a sparse line.
Su Twelve found himself at the very end of the line, clenching his fists tightly, trying to catch a glimpse of what lay ahead.
At the front, a brave child cautiously stepped forward and placed his hand on the Spirit Testing Stone.
The stone trembled slightly and emitted a faint red glow.
The old man¡¯s face remained expressionless as he said, "Lower-grade fire spiritual root. Qualified. Stand to the right."
Hearing this, the child¡¯s face lit up with joy. He quickly moved to the right, where a couple in the crowd beamed with pride.
Next, another child stepped forward. This time, the Spirit Testing Stone showed no reaction.
"Unqualified. Leave."
"Unqualified."
"Lower-grade earth spiritual root. Stand to the right."
One by one, the tests continued. Most of the children were declared unqualified, and only two with lower-grade spiritual roots stood on the right.
The old man¡¯s brows furrowed as his impatience grew. Lower-grade spiritual roots were the most mediocre in the cultivation world, offering limited prospects.
If all they found were lower-grade roots, he would be a laughingstock upon his return.
Then, a dark-skinned boy in coarse clothes stepped forward.
As soon as he placed his hand on the stone, it shook violently. A brilliant golden glow burst forth, accompanied by a dazzling red light.
The radiance was blinding, carrying an almost palpable sense of power.
Everyone froze in astonishment.
The old man¡¯s eyes widened with delight. "What?! Supreme-grade gold spiritual root and supreme-grade fire spiritual root?! A dual spiritual root! Haha, this trip wasn¡¯t wasted after all!"
He was so ecstatic that his voice trembled, unable to conceal his joy.
And for good reason. In the cultivation world, spiritual roots determined everything. Poor roots meant slow progress, while exceptional roots promised exponential growth.
Ordinary people considered medium or high-grade roots to be blessings. Supreme-grade roots, however, were one-in-a-million talents.
A supreme dual spiritual root was even rarer¡ªin fact, it was almost unheard of. Such a combination had only been documented once in Yun Ge Sect¡¯s history, in the case of the sect¡¯s founder.
The elegant young woman beside him didn¡¯t speak, but the joy in her gaze as she looked at the boy was unmistakable.
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Chapter 4: Mixed Spiritual Roots
"Good! Good! Good!! What is your name?" The old man uttered three consecutive words of praise, his sharp eyes gleaming with excitement as he stared at Han Yu, as if he couldn¡¯t wait to snatch him up.
The young boy radiated a sense of pride and answered calmly, "Han Yu!"
"A good name! And a good child. Come, come to me!"
The old man nodded, smiling as he beckoned Han Yu forward. He warmly held Han Yu¡¯s small hand, his face beaming with joy, as if afraid someone might take this rare gem away from him.
Han Yu stood beside the old man with his head held high and chest out, exuding an aura of confidence. Despite his young age, he appeared far more composed and mature than his peers.
Such a demeanor made the old man even more satisfied, nodding with approval in his heart.
The testing resumed, and the old man¡¯s face showed traces of expectation.
However, among mortals, those who naturally awaken spiritual roots are exceedingly rare.
In no time, another thirty or so children were tested, but none possessed spiritual roots.
The old man remained calm, showing no signs of disappointment. Every so often, he glanced at Han Yu, his eyes full of fervor.
To him, whether or not anyone else appeared no longer mattered. As long as he could properly train this prodigy, he was confident it could elevate Luo Fu Peak¡¯s standing within Yun Ge Sect.
At this point, only two children remained: Su Twelve and a chubby boy.
Su Twelve noticed that the chubby boy wore luxurious clothes, his face rosy and healthy¡ªclearly the child of a wealthy family.
Before he could step forward, the chubby boy rushed ahead, jogging to the Spirit Testing Stone and nervously placing his pudgy hand on it.
The next second, the stone trembled slightly but remained unresponsive.
The old man¡¯s face remained indifferent as he said, "Unqualified. Leave!"
The chubby boy, however, seemed prepared for this outcome. Instead of leaving, he dropped to his knees with a loud thud and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "My name is Zhu Hanwei, son of the mayor of Hui Long Town. Greetings to the esteemed immortal! I am devoted to the Dao and humbly beg for a chance to join."
"This is a token of respect from my father to the esteemed immortal!"
As he spoke, Zhu Hanwei hurriedly pulled a small sandalwood box from his robe, his face full of nervousness.
"Hmph!" The old man¡¯s expression darkened, and the air around them grew noticeably colder.
Zhu Hanwei shivered, trembling as the box slipped from his hands and fell to the ground.
The old man was about to reprimand him, but when he saw the cracked box, his pupils contracted. He swiftly retrieved the box, examined it closely, and his face lit up with delight.
"Hmm? A hundred-year Cold Jade? I didn¡¯t expect a mortal like your father to have such a treasure."
The old man¡¯s eyes glimmered with joy as he held the Cold Jade.
Cold Jade was a rare material for refining artifacts, and even for him, obtaining it was no easy task. In comparison, accepting a child without spiritual roots into the sect was a small price to pay.
Without revealing his thoughts, the old man carefully stored the jade and solemnly stroked his beard. "Very well. Since you are so devoted to the Dao, I will grant you a chance."Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Zhu Hanwei was overjoyed, kowtowing repeatedly. "Thank you, esteemed immortal! Thank you!"
The old man waved him off. "Enough. Go stand to the side."
Zhu Hanwei got up and walked to the right, grinning sheepishly as he passed Han Yu. However, Han Yu didn¡¯t even glance at him, maintaining an aloof demeanor.
Zhu Hanwei awkwardly smiled, not daring to show any anger. From the old man¡¯s attitude toward Han Yu, it was clear that Han Yu¡¯s future status would be far above his own¡ªa person he could never afford to offend.
At last, it was Su Twelve¡¯s turn. Nervous but determined, he approached the Spirit Testing Stone.
After a moment of hesitation, he gritted his teeth and placed his hand on the stone.
The stone trembled violently before emitting a multicolored glow. However, the glow was dim, flickering faintly as if struggling to stay lit.
Seeing the stone light up, Su Twelve¡¯s heart leaped with joy. "I have spiritual roots after all!"
But just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he noticed the old man¡¯s expression darken, which made his heart sink.
At this moment, the young woman beside the old man exclaimed, "Master, this child has rare full spiritual roots!"
The old man scoffed, "Full spiritual roots? Each of these roots is so weak it¡¯s practically nonexistent. This is the worst kind of mixed spiritual roots! Someone like him would barely reach the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refinement in his lifetime."
He then turned to Su Twelve and said coldly, "Unqualified! Leave!"
Hearing the old man¡¯s conversation with the young woman, Su Twelve¡¯s heart sank even further. By the time the old man dismissed him, he felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.
For Su Twelve, if he couldn¡¯t join the sect and learn immortal techniques, how could he avenge his grandfather?
His thoughts were in turmoil. After hesitating for a moment, he trembled slightly and said unwillingly, "Immortal, but¡ but I have spiritual roots. Isn¡¯t having spiritual roots enough to join the sect?"
The old man sneered. "What kind of nonsense spiritual roots do you have? In over two centuries of cultivation, I¡¯ve never seen spiritual roots worse than yours. Accepting someone with your potential into the sect would be a waste of resources¡ªand a waste of your own time!"
Su Twelve clenched his teeth and quickly glanced at Zhu Hanwei, feeling a wave of frustration. However, he didn¡¯t dare voice his anger. Instead, he muttered softly, "But he¡ he doesn¡¯t even have spiritual roots, yet he was accepted."
The fact that someone without spiritual roots could join the sect through bribery shocked Su Twelve. The legendary immortal sects were not as pure and virtuous as he had imagined.
The old man seemed lofty and untouchable, but his actions were no different from that of the petty, opportunistic villagers back in Xiao Shi Village.
"Boy, are you teaching me how to do my job?" The old man¡¯s face darkened with anger, and an invisible pressure emanated from him.
Su Twelve¡¯s breath hitched, and his heart raced as fear gripped him. The oppressive aura reminded him of the black-clad man in Xiao Shi Village.
The young woman frowned slightly, glancing at Su Twelve before saying, "Grandfather, this child does have spiritual roots. Why not give him a chance? Cultivation is difficult as it is. If he can¡¯t endure it, we can send him back down the mountain in a few years."
Hearing his granddaughter plead for the boy, the old man¡¯s expression softened slightly. He said to Su Twelve, "Fine. Go stand to the right. Your aptitude is barely better than that chubby boy¡¯s. You¡¯ll just be a servant disciple."
Relieved, Su Twelve quickly cast a grateful look at the young woman before moving to the side.
By now, all the children had been tested, and only five had passed¡ªincluding Zhu Hanwei, who joined through connections, and Su Twelve, who had been granted a chance due to the young woman¡¯s intervention.
The old man turned to the group and said flatly, "Though you possess spiritual roots, don¡¯t celebrate too soon. The path of cultivation is long and arduous."
"Next, I will take you to the sect to begin your training. From this moment forward, you are no longer part of the mortal world. If anyone regrets their decision, now is the time to leave."
With that, the old man waved his hand, and the flying sword behind him shot into the air. Under the infusion of his true energy, the sword expanded to over ten meters in length.
The sword hovered about a meter off the ground. The old man leaped onto it, bringing Han Yu with him.
The others climbed aboard under the young woman¡¯s guidance.
As they prepared to depart, the other three children¡ªaside from Su Twelve and Han Yu¡ªhad teary eyes, reluctantly gazing back at their families in the distance.
The old man remained indifferent. Having cultivated for many years, he was long accustomed to such farewells.
True energy surged within him, forming a protective barrier around the group. The sword then soared into the sky, carrying everyone toward the distant horizon.
[--------------------------------------------]
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Chapter 5: Entering the Cloud Song Sect
The flying sword pierced through the sky, leaving a trail of whistling wind in its wake. Su Shier stood at the tail end of the sword, curiously looking down below. The villages beneath them quickly shrank into tiny black dots.
As far as the eye could see, the terrain of the earth rose and fell, mountain ranges crisscrossed, and rivers converged, creating a spectacular view.
Su Shier¡¯s pupils contracted. Only now did he realize how vast the world truly was. Thinking back to the mysterious man in black, his heart swelled with anger and confusion about his future.
At the front of the flying sword, Han Yu stood tall and upright, appearing mature and composed. However, his tightly clenched fists betrayed a hint of nervousness.
In contrast, the other three children on the sword were even more visibly shaken. Squatting low on the sword, huddled into themselves, they trembled in fear. After all, they were only kids, and the experience of soaring through the sky with the wind howling past their ears was utterly terrifying.
Seeing this, the woman flying alongside them smiled gently and began telling them stories about the Cloud Song Sect to help ease their tension.
Through her words, they learned that the sect they were about to join was a cultivator sect located at the outer edge of the Cangshan Mountain Range: the Cloud Song Sect.
The Cloud Song Sect was divided into seven main peaks: Tianzhu, Tianhua, Tianyin, Yuntai, Chaoyang, Luoyan, and Luofu. Externally, the sect functioned as a whole; internally, however, it was split into seven factions, each centered around one of the peaks. Every peak had its own Peak Lord responsible for its management.
Among these, Tianzhu was the main peak and rarely accepted disciples. The other six peaks, however, would descend into the mortal world every three to five years to recruit disciples who possessed spiritual roots.
The elderly man leading the way was named Lu Mingshi, the Peak Lord of Luofu Peak within the Cloud Song Sect. After entering the sect, they would all become his disciples.
As for the woman, her name was Xiao Yue. She was Lu Mingshi¡¯s granddaughter and would also serve as their senior sister.
For the children, the information Xiao Yue shared was fascinating, though only partially understood given their age¡ªnone of them were older than twelve. Still, her stories helped steady their nerves.
Su Shier listened carefully, memorizing everything Xiao Yue said. He was acutely aware that his talent was lacking, so he could only work harder and focus more than anyone else to make up for it.
Time passed quickly. The flying sword carried them through the sky for two full days.
On the morning of the third day, the sword sliced through a thick layer of mist, bringing them closer to the Cloud Song Sect.
Looking out as far as they could, the group saw a magnificent expanse below: countless mountains stretched endlessly, their peaks towering into the skies.
Each mountain peak was veiled in thin mist, appearing and disappearing like a dream. Among these, seven peaks stood the tallest, arranged in a pattern reminiscent of the Big Dipper constellation.
Atop these seven peaks were grand, awe-inspiring structures, each radiating some sort of mysterious energy, occasionally emitting flashes of brilliant light.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
The sight filled the group with exhilaration, momentarily easing the pain of leaving their homes.
Su Shier stared unblinkingly, quickly realizing that these must be the seven peaks Xiao Yue had mentioned. However, he couldn¡¯t yet tell which peak was which.
On the flying sword, Lu Mingshi and Xiao Yue both visibly relaxed, smiles appearing on their faces. Despite having recruited disciples for years, every journey outside the sect came with its share of worries.
The world of cultivation was anything but peaceful.
With a small smile, Lu Mingshi guided the flying sword toward a distant mountain peak, preparing to land.
But just then¡ª
"Senior Sister, what¡¯s that?" Su Shier pointed toward a small black dot on the horizon, speaking quickly.
Before his voice had even faded, the black dot rapidly approached. In the blink of an eye, a massive crimson flying ship, over a hundred meters long, sped through the air toward them.
Standing at the bow of the ship was a lean man dressed in crimson robes, his sharp gaze surveying the area. Behind him, the ship¡¯s deck was packed with children around the same age as Su Shier and his companions.
There were easily over a hundred of them!
Before Xiao Yue could respond, the figure at the front of the ship spoke first, addressing Lu Mingshi.
"Senior Brother, it¡¯s just me. Why the rush to leave as soon as you see me? I¡¯m not going to eat you!"
"Me? Running from you? Fu Boren, who do you think you are? Please, have some shame, will you?" Lu Mingshi shot back, curling his lip.
As he spoke, his eyes quickly scanned the large group of children aboard the flying ship, and his mouth twitched involuntarily.
Fu Boren was the Peak Lord of Tianhua Peak, and Tianhua Peak had long been at odds with Luofu Peak. Seeing that Fu Boren had recruited so many disciples in one trip, Lu Mingshi couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of envy and frustration, though he didn¡¯t show it outwardly.
In the world of cultivation, disciples were the foundation of a sect¡¯s growth. The more disciples a faction had, the stronger it would inevitably become over time.
"Heh heh, Senior Brother, of course I care about my reputation. But you don¡¯t need to hide your thoughts¡ªI know you¡¯re feeling a bit jealous." Fu Boren chuckled, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group on Lu Mingshi¡¯s flying sword.
"But Senior Brother, your Luofu Peak really seems to be declining year by year. How did you only manage to recruit five disciples this time? At this rate, in a hundred years, you might not even have anyone left!"
Lu Mingshi¡¯s face darkened. He retorted angrily, "Pah! You¡¯re just spouting nonsense. In cultivation, quality matters more than quantity. Even if you bring in five hundred useless brats, they won¡¯t amount to anything!"
Lu Mingshi, known for his fiery temper, wasn¡¯t about to let that remark slide. Over the years, Luofu Peak had been the weakest of the seven peaks, so such comments usually left him at a disadvantage.
But this time was different. With Han Yu, a genius with dual spiritual roots, joining their ranks, Lu Mingshi finally had a reason to feel confident.
"Oh, so quality over quantity, is it? I take it you¡¯re feeling confident about Luofu Peak¡¯s chances at the newcomer trial in five years?" Fu Boren grinned knowingly, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Tch, as if I¡¯ve ever taken those trials seriously. Understand?!" Lu Mingshi shot back disdainfully.
While Luofu Peak¡¯s overall strength was still weak, having Han Yu, a rare genius, among them gave Lu Mingshi a sliver of hope. And regardless of the outcome, he wasn¡¯t about to lose face in front of a rival.
"Oh? It seems like you¡¯ve recruited some talent this year. Care to share who it is, so I can broaden my horizons?" Fu Boren¡¯s eyes glinted as he spoke, his sharp gaze lingering on Su Shier and the others.
"Broaden your horizons? Ha! Don¡¯t even think about it!" Lu Mingshi scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Fu Boren, I know exactly what you¡¯re up to. Trying to poach my disciples? Not a chance!"
With that, Lu Mingshi controlled the flying sword, which transformed into a streak of light and sped toward a distant mountain peak.
On the bow of the flying ship, Fu Boren watched the sword vanish into the distance, his eyes glinting with a thoughtful expression.
Moments later, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile. With a flick of his wrist, he guided the ship toward the second peak.
[--------------------------------------------]
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Chapter 6: Guarding the Abandoned Pill Room
The flying sword moved swiftly, and in no time, it arrived above the seventh mountain peak.
The mountain was dotted with numerous ancient buildings, all simple yet grand in design. However, as Su Shier cast his gaze across the mountain, he noticed only a few scattered figures, giving the area an air of desolation.
The flying sword landed in a spacious plaza. As soon as they touched the ground, Lu Mingshi turned toward Han Yu and said:
"Han Yu, follow me in a moment. From today onward, you will be my personal disciple! I will personally teach you the ways of cultivation."
Hearing these words, even someone as proud as Han Yu couldn¡¯t help but beam with joy. He quickly responded, "Thank you, Peak Lord!"
"Hmm? Peak Lord?" Lu Mingshi''s brow furrowed.
Han Yu immediately knelt on the ground with a thud and hastily corrected himself, "Thank you, Master!"
"Good! We''ll hold the formal apprenticeship ceremony at the main hall shortly," Lu Mingshi said with satisfaction, nodding as he turned to look at the others.
At that moment, aside from Su Shier, the other three children gazed at Han Yu with envy.
Becoming the personal disciple of the Peak Lord was a tremendous honor! Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t possess Han Yu¡¯s natural talent and could only admire from the sidelines.
After settling Han Yu¡¯s arrangements, Lu Mingshi turned to Xiao Yue. "Yue¡¯er, I¡¯ll leave the others to you. Tomorrow, take them to the instructors to learn literacy and the sect¡¯s rules. Three months later, send them to the teaching elders to begin learning the ways of cultivation."
"Understood! I¡¯ll first arrange their accommodations," Xiao Yue replied with a smile. She then turned her gaze toward Su Shier and the others, preparing to speak when a flurry of footsteps interrupted her.
"Peak Lord, something terrible has happened! Junior Brother Chen Xi has been bitten by a demonic beast!"
Two disciples in Cloud Song Sect robes rushed over, carrying an injured disciple on a stretcher. The injured boy appeared no older than sixteen or seventeen and was unconscious from his severe wounds, his body soaked in blood.
"Demonic beast? The sect¡¯s formations protect the entire area¡ªwhere would a demonic beast come from?" Lu Mingshi frowned as his gaze fell on the stretcher.
The lead disciple quickly explained, "Peak Lord, the Abandoned Pill Room is in a remote area, and wild beasts, including low-tier demonic beasts, frequently appear there."
"Hmph! And you call yourselves cultivators? You can¡¯t even handle a mere wild beast? What have you been cultivating all these years¡ªdog tricks?" Lu Mingshi¡¯s expression darkened as he let out a cold snort.
With a wave of his hand, he pulled out a pale green talisman. Activating it with his internal energy, the talisman transformed into a green light that enveloped the boy on the stretcher.
Moments later, the green light faded, and the boy¡¯s bleeding stopped. However, he was now missing an arm and a leg, leaving him in a pitiful state.
"That¡¯s enough. I¡¯ve stabilized his condition with the Green Spirit Talisman. However, with his limbs lost, his path in cultivation is over. Find a day to send him down the mountain."
The two disciples nodded hurriedly but didn¡¯t leave. Instead, one of them asked cautiously, "Peak Lord, should we assign someone to guard the Abandoned Pill Room?"
"Hmph! The abandoned pills may be useless, but keeping track of them is essential for monitoring the sect¡¯s resource consumption. What do you think?" Lu Mingshi snorted in dissatisfaction.
Within the Cloud Song Sect, all medicinal pills consumed by disciples during cultivation were refined by the Peak Lords or specialized alchemists.
The required herbs were supplied by the sect, and the amount of finished pills, as well as discarded pills, was recorded to monitor resource usage and prevent corruption or embezzlement.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
The Abandoned Pill Room was located on the outskirts of the sect¡¯s territory, a nearly isolated area. Normally, such trivial tasks wouldn¡¯t concern Luofu Peak.
However, as the weakest of the seven peaks, Luofu Peak often ended up with such responsibilities.
Hearing Lu Mingshi¡¯s words, the two disciples shivered and quickly responded, "Peak Lord, but who should we send? The peak is short-handed at the moment."
"Hmm? No one available? That¡¯s fine¡ªI brought back a few brats from the outside this time!" Lu Mingshi muttered to himself before scanning the group and locking eyes on Zhu Hanwei.
Feeling Lu Mingshi¡¯s gaze, Zhu Hanwei¡¯s legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed onto the ground.
He had overheard everything about the dangers of the Abandoned Pill Room. The injured boy on the stretcher was living proof that it wasn¡¯t a safe place.
There was no way he wanted to go!
Terrified, Zhu Hanwei¡¯s face turned pale. Before Lu Mingshi could say a word, he quickly pulled out a small wooden box from his pocket.
"Peak Lord, my father asked me to give you this!"
"Oh?" Lu Mingshi raised an eyebrow, taking the box. Upon opening it, his eyes narrowed into slits.
Inside was a small piece of century-old Cold Jade, clearly part of the same piece he had acquired earlier in Hui Long Town.
Without showing any expression, Lu Mingshi closed the box and sized up Zhu Hanwei. "Fine. Why the long face? You don¡¯t even have a spiritual root¡ªcultivating would be a waste of time. How about this: my alchemy room needs an assistant. From now on, you¡¯ll be my pill boy."
"Thank you, Peak Lord!" Hearing this, Zhu Hanwei nodded fervently, his heart leaping with joy. Guarding the Abandoned Pill Room was dangerous, but becoming the Peak Lord¡¯s pill boy was a far better fate.
Lu Mingshi ignored him and turned his gaze toward Su Shier, who froze immediately.
"Alright, it¡¯ll be you. Starting today, you¡¯ll guard the Abandoned Pill Room."
Su Shier¡¯s small frame trembled, his face turning pale as snow.
If Zhu Hanwei could sense the danger of the Abandoned Pill Room, so could Su Shier.
But unlike Zhu Hanwei, Su Shier had nothing to offer in return. He didn¡¯t know how to refuse.
Xiao Yue glanced at Su Shier and the others, then turned to Lu Mingshi. Unable to hold back, she said, "Grandfather, they¡¯re still young and just joined the sect. Sending anyone to the Abandoned Pill Room¡ªwhat if they encounter a wild beast or even a low-tier demonic beast? Isn¡¯t that sending them to their deaths?"
Lu Mingshi¡¯s face hardened, but he didn¡¯t relent. "Sending them to their deaths? Yue¡¯er, do you think cultivation is some kind of childish game?"
"This boy¡¯s talent is already abysmal. If he can¡¯t overcome even this small danger, then what¡¯s the point of cultivating? He might as well leave the mountain."
Lu Mingshi didn¡¯t hold any hope for Su Shier. With his inferior mixed spiritual roots, training him would be a waste of resources.
Given the current manpower shortage, assigning Su Shier to guard the Abandoned Pill Room was the most practical choice.
To Lu Mingshi, the danger posed by wild or demonic beasts was minimal. Chen Xi had spent years at the Abandoned Pill Room before finally encountering danger.
Xiao Yue¡¯s face darkened, and she tried to argue further.
Before she could speak, Su Shier interrupted, "Senior Sister Xiao Yue, thank you. But the Peak Lord is right. My talent is lacking, and if I can¡¯t overcome this challenge, how can I hope to cultivate properly in the future?"
Su Shier could see that Lu Mingshi had already made up his mind. He understood that he had no choice.
Staying meant at least a slim chance to cultivate. Leaving meant losing all hope of reentering the cultivation world.
Xiao Yue hesitated, wanting to say more, but Lu Mingshi nodded. "Good. It¡¯s rare to see such courage. You two, take him to the Abandoned Pill Room."
Lu Mingshi gestured to the two disciples carrying the stretcher.
"Alright, follow us," the disciples said, glancing at Su Shier with pity.
To them, the Peak Lord was essentially sending this boy to his death.
Even Chen Xi had trained for years before encountering danger. What chance did a mere twelve-year-old boy have?
Zhu Hanwei and the others also looked at Su Shier with doubt. To them, Su Shier was foolish. Cultivation was important, but risking one¡¯s life was not worth it.
Han Yu, standing by Lu Mingshi, hesitated as he watched Su Shier¡¯s frail figure leaving. In the end, he said nothing. "With his talent, he¡¯ll give up once he faces real danger," Han Yu thought.
Su Shier followed the two disciples out of Luofu Peak. One of them carried the injured Chen Xi, while the other led Su Shier toward the Abandoned Pill Room.
Perhaps believing that Su Shier wouldn¡¯t last long in the sect, the disciple leading him said nothing during the entire journey.
Su Shier, sensing the mood, kept quiet as well.
They descended Luofu Peak and walked for nearly two hours before arriving at a small mountain at the edge of the sect¡¯s territory.
Before them stood a simple wooden and stone structure. The building had a courtyard and several rooms, including a living space and a storage room specifically for discarded pills.
"This is the Abandoned Pill Room. The storage room is for discarded pills. At the end of each month, the other peaks will deliver their discarded pills here. Your job is to record the quantity of pills delivered by each peak and report it to the sect steward at the beginning of the next month."
"This book will teach you how to identify different types of discarded pills. Do you know how to read? If not, it¡¯s fine¡ªthere are pictures."
The disciple briefly showed Su Shier around the Abandoned Pill Room, handed him a book on identifying discarded pills, and left in a hurry.
[--------------------------------------------]
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Chapter 7: The Mysterious Furnace that Turns Waste into Treasure
Soon, the waste pill room was left with only Su Shiyi.
The large space was completely empty, and faint sounds of wolf howls and beast roars came from the distance. Su Shiyi stood in the yard, feeling deeply startled. No matter how daring he was, he was still just a half-grown child.
But he knew well that in order to learn immortal techniques, he had to overcome the challenges in front of him. Looking down at the waste pill guidebook in his hand, Su Shiyi began flipping through it.
The guidebook had simple descriptions and images of over a hundred kinds of pills. Waste pills were the products of failed alchemy, containing large amounts of impurities and even toxins, rendering them completely inedible.
For other children, understanding this would require quite a bit of effort. But Su Shiyi had studied reading and writing with his grandfather from a young age, had read countless books, and, coupled with his sharp mind, he quickly memorized most of the contents after just a few readings.
Holding the guidebook, Su Shiyi turned and walked into the warehouse where the waste pills were stored. Having read the descriptions and pictures, the next step was to identify the real pills.
Inside the warehouse, piles of waste pills were stacked high.
However, having memorized the contents of the guidebook, Su Shiyi quickly identified that there weren¡¯t many kinds of waste pills¡ªonly about three or five types.
The most numerous were the Pei Yuan Dan (a foundational pill used by entry-level disciples to strengthen their physique and expel impurities), followed by Juqing Dan (a pill used by Qi Refining disciples to accelerate their cultivation) and a type of Xiao Huan Dan (a small pill for healing injuries).
Staring at the tens of thousands of waste pills, Su Shiyi couldn¡¯t help but sigh. If these weren¡¯t waste pills, and if I had so many pills, that would be incredible.
Unfortunately, for him, it was nothing but a fantasy.
Su Shiyi stayed in the warehouse until nightfall. Apart from the three common pills, he also found two other types of waste pills.
But these waste pills were nothing more than unwanted trash; he could only gather more information about pills.
As night fell, Su Shiyi was about to return to his room to rest.
Just then, a series of low beast roars and heavy footsteps suddenly came from outside the yard.
The muffled sound was like thunder or the booming of drums, hitting Su Shiyi''s heart with each beat.
¡°A beast?!¡± Su Shiyi was startled, and the image of a person with severed arms and legs flashed through his mind.
¡°What should I do?¡± He froze, not daring to move, afraid of alerting the beast outside.
But the wild beast showed no intention of leaving.
The footsteps drew closer, and with a loud thud, something jumped over the yard wall and landed inside.
Su Shiyi''s heart rate quickened at the sound. Holding his breath, he cautiously peered out from a crack in the warehouse.
In the yard, a tiger with red eyes, its breath coming out in loud huffs, was pacing back and forth. Its copper-ringed eyes gleamed with killing intent, and as it sniffed the air, it let out a low growl, shaking its fur, and slowly moved toward the warehouse where Su Shiyi was hiding.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Seeing this, Su Shiyi¡¯s pupils contracted, and he began to tremble. With his small body, he was no match for this tiger; he might not even be enough to fill its teeth.
Though terrified, Su Shiyi remained calm. Turning to look at the mountain of waste pills behind him, a bold thought emerged in his mind.
Without hesitation, he quickly retreated to a pile of waste pills, silently dug a small pit, and buried himself inside.
Clang!
Just a few minutes later, the warehouse door was pushed open. A massive, fierce tiger head peeked into the room.
Its sharp, gleaming teeth and foul-smelling breath froze Su Shiyi in place as he held his breath, not daring to make a sound.
Fortunately, the vast number of waste pills masked his scent. After a brief scan, the tiger turned and left.
Su Shiyi exhaled in relief. But, fearing the tiger might return, he stayed hidden among the waste pills until dawn.
After repeatedly confirming that there was no movement outside, he finally crawled out from the pile of waste pills.
¡°This is some cursed place! A giant tiger appears just after I arrive? If I stay here, I¡¯ll definitely be eaten by it sooner or later!¡±
His heart raced, and his face was filled with lingering fear.
¡°But if I leave, how will I get close to cultivation techniques?¡±
¡°If I can¡¯t cultivate, how can I take revenge for Grandpa? I still need to figure out the use of that mysterious pill furnace!¡±
While thinking, Su Shiyi took out the old, worn pill furnace from his robe.
Seeing the pill furnace, his pupils shrank, and he froze for a moment.
¡°Huh? Why are there two pills inside?¡±
Inside the pill furnace were two small, crystal-clear pills, about the size of a thumb, resembling jade.
He quickly poured the pills into his palm, and immediately, a rich medicinal fragrance filled the air, instantly refreshing him, sweeping away hunger and fatigue.
Su Shiyi¡¯s mind was jolted, and he quickly grabbed a handful of waste pills to compare.
The waste pills were dark and foul-smelling, exuding a faint stench, which was a stark contrast to the two pills, which were gleaming and flawless.
After carefully inspecting them for a long time, he finally confirmed that these two pills were proper Pei Yuan Dan.
¡°Strange, how did these two Pei Yuan Dan suddenly appear in the pill furnace?¡±
¡°This thing was just used for holding salt before, and I¡¯ve never seen any pills inside.¡±
¡°Could it be... that some waste pills fell in last night?¡±
Thinking about this, Su Shiyi immediately tried it out, placing one of the waste pills into the pill furnace and watching it closely.
Under his gaze, the waste pill was enveloped by a layer of greenish light, and the blackness on its surface began to fade visibly.
It looked as though the impurities on the pill were being refined by some force.
In just a few breaths, the waste pill turned from black to grayish-blue.
After more than ten breaths, a crystal-clear, jade-like Pei Yuan Dan appeared in the furnace.
¡°Hiss~¡±
Watching this with his own eyes, Su Shiyi couldn¡¯t help but take a sharp breath.
¡°This pill furnace can actually turn waste pills into proper pills? Turning waste into treasure, this is too incredible!¡±
¡°No wonder... no wonder those immortals wanted this pill furnace so badly!¡±
¡°However, I wonder if this furnace can keep refining indefinitely?¡±
Filled with uncertainty, he stuffed another handful of waste pills into the furnace.
Before his eyes, each waste pill was covered in a greenish light.
After another ten breaths, the light faded, replaced by a new batch of flawless Pei Yuan Dan pills.
Su Shiyi tried over a dozen times. No matter how many pills he put in, as long as the furnace could hold them, they would all be refined into proper pills in about fifteen to twenty breaths.
And throughout, the pill furnace remained its old, worn-out self, without any visible change.
Confirming the furnace¡¯s function, Su Shiyi turned to look at the mountains of waste pills nearby, his breath quickening.
At this moment, in his eyes, these weren¡¯t just unwanted trash¡ªthey were pills that could be used for cultivation!
¡°With so many pills, even if my spiritual root is weak, I¡¯ll definitely make progress!¡±
¡°No! I absolutely cannot tell anyone about this!¡±
Hugging the pill furnace tightly to his chest, his heart raced, and his face flushed red.
Although he didn¡¯t know much about cultivation, he understood the value of this pill furnace.
He hid the pill furnace close to his body, found a few ceramic bottles in the warehouse, and filled them with the refined pills. Then, he returned to his room.
¡°Now, let¡¯s see if these refined pills really work!¡±
With this thought, Su Shiyi took out a Pei Yuan Dan from his robe.
[--------------------------------------------]
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Chapter 8: Hunting the Tiger
This is the only pill he can take right now, as for the Gathering Qi Pill, it is used by disciples in the Qi Refining stage for cultivation.
Looking at the pill in his hand, Su Twelve hesitated for a moment, then closed his eyes and swallowed the pill.
As soon as the pill entered his throat, Su Twelve immediately felt a warm flow spread throughout his body, like basking in the sun, it felt incredibly comfortable.
This sensation lasted for a whole hour.
When the warm flow dissipated, Su Twelve opened his eyes and saw that a thick layer of black, grimy impurities had unexpectedly seeped out of his body.
He quickly ran to the yard and washed away the impurities on his body. Then, after taking a few deep breaths, he felt no discomfort, but instead felt full of energy.
He let out a long sigh of relief and felt his anxious heart settle.
"It seems that these pills are indeed fine. Just like the book says, they can remove impurities from the body and enhance physical condition."
"With so many Enhancement Pills, if I take them all, my body should become extremely strong."
"Then, if I encounter that tiger again, I won¡¯t be afraid!"
Su Twelve silently thought to himself as he decided to stay in the waste pill room, eating the Enhancement Pills every day.
He had no idea how extravagant his actions were. Treating Enhancement Pills as regular food¡ªthis was something unique not only in the Cangshan Mountains, but even throughout the entire Zhao Kingdom.
If other disciples found out, they would surely be envious to the point of jealousy!
In the world of cultivating immortals, the success rate of pill-making was extremely low. The entry-level disciples of Yun Song Sect only received a few Enhancement Pills each month¡ªat most ten, and usually only three.
For the next ten days, Su Twelve spent his time on edge.
Every night, the tiger would appear. Knowing he was no match for it, he could only hide in the waste pills and use them to mask his scent.
One morning, Su Twelve swallowed three Enhancement Pills again.
However, this time, there were almost no impurities expelled from his body. He felt no other changes, except for not feeling hungry anymore.
This situation made Su Twelve frown.
"It seems that the Enhancement Pills can¡¯t infinitely improve my body. This is troublesome! The tiger is still a threat, and if I run into it one day, I¡¯ll be finished."
"I need to think of another way. Even if it¡¯s risky, I need to get rid of it as soon as possible!"
"My physical condition is no worse than those adults. If I could set a trap..."
As Su Twelve thought, his eyes gleamed. With his enhanced body, his confidence surged, but he knew he wouldn¡¯t engage in hand-to-hand combat with the tiger unless it was absolutely necessary.
Humans and animals have the greatest difference: the ability to think!
Without wasting any time, he immediately checked each room and quickly found a pile of farm tools.
He picked out a shovel and an axe and began his work.
After a full day¡¯s effort, he dug a pit about five or six meters deep in the yard and chopped down several tree trunks the size of his arms. He sharpened the trunks into points and stuck them upright at the bottom and around the pit.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
By evening, a carefully crafted trap appeared in the yard.
He concealed the trap and then crouched in the corner of the yard, holding the axe, patiently waiting.
He was determined to hunt down the tiger that night.
Pressing his ear against the wall, he listened closely.
After consuming so many Enhancement Pills, not only did his physical condition improve, but his senses were also enhanced. Now, he could hear many sounds from a hundred meters away with perfect clarity.
Based on his experiences from the past few days, the tiger should be arriving soon.
Sure enough, soon he heard the rustling of footsteps in the distance.
Hearing the noise, he instinctively gripped the axe tighter, pressed his back against the wall, and kept his eyes fixed on the yard.
"Thud!"
With a muffled sound, the tiger leapt over the wall like it was returning home.
Seeing the tiger, Su Twelve shivered, then immediately swung the axe, stood up, and braced himself.
Even though he was prepared, facing such an opponent for the first time still made him instinctively terrified, his limbs feeling weak.
This creature¡¯s massive size alone was enough to overpower him easily.
At the same time, the tiger also noticed Su Twelve in the corner of the yard, sniffing the air for human scent, and its ferocity flared.
"Roar!"
The tiger roared and opened its blood-red mouth, charging straight at Su Twelve.
Its sharp claws gleamed in the moonlight, and the stench from its mouth was terrifying.
The ground shook under its massive body.
Seeing the tiger getting closer, Su Twelve felt his heart leap to his throat, his back drenched in cold sweat.
His gaze fell on the trap in front of him, and he felt a little more at ease.
But in the next second, an unexpected change occurred.
Just as the tiger was about to step into the trap, it suddenly leaped into the air, seemingly about to jump over the trap and directly pounce on Su Twelve.
Su Twelve panicked. If the trap didn¡¯t work, he would be in serious danger.
"Ah!"
He let out a loud yell, disregarding his fear, and with all his might, threw the axe at the tiger in mid-air.
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, the axe struck the tiger¡¯s head, causing blood to spurt everywhere.
Now, Su Twelve was as strong as an ox!
The moment the tiger jumped, it was struck by the axe, its momentum disrupted as it landed awkwardly.
Upon landing, the tiger grimaced in pain, its eyes wide with fury. It roared and charged toward Su Twelve again.
But just as it made its move, the ground beneath it suddenly gave way. Caught off guard, it fell straight into the pit.
"Splash~"
A spray of hot blood erupted from the trap as the tiger fell onto the sharp wooden stakes and let out an earth-shattering roar.
But after a few more roars, the tiger went silent.
Su Twelve hurriedly grabbed the axe and moved to the side to check.
As soon as he peeked his head out, a dark shadow flashed by¡ªit was the tiger, still alive and leaping up despite its injuries.
Caught off guard, Su Twelve was slammed aside, and the axe flew from his hands.
As he hit the ground, he felt his whole body ache. If it hadn¡¯t been for the long-term use of Enhancement Pills, his enhanced body would have broken from the impact.
"Not good!"
He quickly regained his footing and rushed to stand up.
Just as he rose, he saw the tiger, blood dripping from its body, its bell-like eyes flashing with hatred, pouncing at him again, mouth wide open, its teeth gleaming with cold light.
In a moment of desperation, Su Twelve threw a handful of dust into the tiger¡¯s eyes. Taking advantage of its moment of blindness, he kicked it hard in its wounded side.
With his current strength, the kick was heavy and powerful. The tiger, in pain, staggered back, almost falling over.
Su Twelve took this opportunity to roll out of the way and grabbed the axe that had fallen to the ground.
He swung it with all his might at the tiger.
Now, with all the frustration and anger he had built up over the past few days, he fought fiercely. The feeling of rage coursed through his veins, and he was beyond concerned about whether the trap worked or not.
The tiger, already injured, was slow and less agile, and it couldn¡¯t even defend itself against Su Twelve¡¯s attack.
Half an hour later, Su Twelve had some new wounds, but the tiger, covered in blood, collapsed to the ground, unable to rise again.
"I... I actually killed a tiger with my own strength?! The pills from those cultivators are amazing!"
Su Twelve stood beside the tiger¡¯s corpse, his heart racing with excitement after the battle.
Hunting a tiger on his own had greatly boosted his courage! The sense of accomplishment was hard to describe.
But soon, a wave of fear hit him.
"That was too close. I thought the trap was foolproof, but the tiger actually played dead, and I almost died because I got careless. I need to be much more careful in the future!"
The tiger pretending to be dead and then counterattacking left a deep impression on him. It also reminded him that no opponent should ever be underestimated.
That night, Su Twelve slept more soundly than ever before.
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Chapter 9: The Black-Clad Man Returns
The next day, he dismembered the tiger and made roasted meat, then moved into the waste elixir room.
However, near the waste elixir room, wild beasts would come and go every now and then.
To deal with this, he set up numerous traps around his dwelling, tirelessly hunting these ferocious beasts.
Although he hadn''t started cultivating yet, fighting with various wild animals every day had greatly improved his combat abilities. Moreover, his diet had improved, which also greatly benefited his physical growth.
One evening, Su Twelve draped a tiger skin over himself, holding a machete, and hid in a mountain hollow near his dwelling.
He lay in the hollow, resembling a resting tiger. Beneath the tiger skin, he perked his ears, silently listening to any movement from all directions.
This time, the beast he was facing was a green wolf as strong as an ox. The green wolf was extremely vicious, and it could even spit out gusts of wind from its mouth, resembling the legendary demon beasts.
He had been battling this demon beast for several days, and today, he had prepared several traps, planning to take down the creature in one go.
At that moment, a rustling sound reached his ears.
Su Twelve''s heart tightened, and he instinctively gripped the machete tightly.
But the next second, the voices coming from a distance struck him like a thunderbolt.
"Where''s the thing?!"
"I failed, please punish me, Master!"
Upon hearing the voice, Su Twelve froze in place.
Then, a strong wave of hatred surged within him instantly.
The voice was so familiar! It was the voice he would never forget, the voice of the man who had killed his grandfather and the villagers, the black-clad man!
"That person... is he actually in Yunge Sect?!"
The thought flashed through his mind, and Su Twelve clenched his fists tightly.
But he knew clearly that he was no match for that man now.
Once discovered, he would be doomed!
The black-clad man was more violent and terrifying than the tiger!
Holding his breath, Su Twelve dared not make a sound.
The voices continued to reach his ears.
"You should be punished, but you don''t intend to take the treasure furnace for yourself, do you?"
"Master, you wronged me. That old man from Little Stone Village was more stubborn than stone. I tried everything, but he refused to give in, even until death."
"Hmph! If you can''t even handle a few mere mortals, what use do I have for you?!"
...
Hearing their conversation, Su Twelve''s heart skipped a beat.
"Master? The person speaking sounds even stronger than the black-clad man?"
"Could it be... that there is someone more powerful behind the black-clad man?"
This situation left him even more shocked.
Lying motionless on the ground, he was terrified of being discovered.
Through a gap, he could vaguely see two shadowy figures in the nearby woods, talking under a towering tree.
The moonlight stretched their shadows, which were reflected on the ground near him.
"Thank you, Master, for sparing my life. I have more leads on the matter!"Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!
"Oh? What leads?"
"Afterwards, I went back to Little Stone Village and found that the village had a new hundred-person grave. The gravestone was erected by someone named Su Twelve, who turned out to be the grandson of that old man. If I¡¯m not mistaken, the treasure furnace must be in the hands of that Su Twelve!"
"Hmm? Such a thing? Alright, I''ll give you another month. If you still can''t find the treasure furnace, you know the consequences!"
...
After speaking, the two of them huddled together to discuss something, then soared into the sky, flying in two different directions.
In the hollow, Su Twelve lay on the ground, his mind in turmoil.
At this moment, all he could think about was the last words of the black-clad man.
"He... he knows my name, and he knows the elixir furnace is with me?!"
"No, I must leave here quickly!"
At that moment, Su Twelve''s heart raced, and all he could think of was fleeing.
But then, he realized that if he left Yunge Sect, he wouldn''t know where to find the methods to cultivate.
Moreover, he had finally obtained a small clue about the black-clad man. If he left now without investigating further, he wouldn''t be able to forgive himself.
Thinking of this, Su Twelve held back his panic, waiting until the second half of the night. After confirming that the two people had not returned, and the green wolf had not appeared either, he cautiously returned to his dwelling.
The next day, early morning.
As soon as Su Twelve woke up, he heard a series of urgent knocks on the door.
"Knock knock knock..."
The sound was neither too fast nor too slow, but with each knock, it seemed to strike right at Su Twelve''s heart, causing his heartbeat to quicken.
"Uh-oh, could it be... that the person came so quickly?" Su Twelve quickly jumped out of bed, his heart racing.
His eyes darted around as he considered if it was possible to escape.
"Twelve Junior Brother, are you there?"
At that moment, a melodious voice came from outside.
"Xiao Yue Senior Sister?"
Su Twelve froze, but his heart did not relax. Instead, he suddenly realized another troublesome matter. He had used his real name when joining Luofufeng.
And now, that black-clad man not only knew of his existence but also knew his name!
"What should I do?" Su Twelve broke into a cold sweat.
Just when he didn''t know what to do, the worried voice of Xiao Yue came again from outside.
"Twelve Junior Brother?!"
Hearing her call again, Su Twelve had no choice but to suppress his anxiety and took a deep breath before quickly going to open the door.
"Xiao Yue Senior Sister?"
When the door opened, he saw Xiao Yue in a long dress, carrying a sword, standing at the door.
Upon seeing Su Twelve, Xiao Yue looked surprised.
Maybe in her heart, she thought Su Twelve wouldn''t last long. He would either die at the hands of a wild beast or would have been scared off long ago.
Surprised as she was, Xiao Yue quickly smiled, appearing quite natural.
"Judging by your complexion, it looks like you''ve been doing... well?" She said, glancing around at the courtyard.
Seeing the various beast pelts piled on the ground, her pupils shrank, and she was shocked beyond belief!
"Hmm? Are those beast hides? You... you killed so many wild beasts??"
As she spoke, Xiao Yue quickly scanned Su Twelve from head to toe, unable to believe what she was seeing.
A twelve-year-old boy had killed so many wild beasts? What a joke!
"It wasn''t me who killed them! I just dug a few traps around. The beasts are so dumb, they keep falling into them every few days." Su Twelve scratched his head with a smile, quickly inviting Xiao Yue in and pointing to the traps in the yard.
He didn''t want Xiao Yue to think he was too powerful, and he certainly couldn¡¯t let anyone know about his use of Peiyuan Pills.
"Ah, traps! I knew it! But I have to say, it''s impressive that you came up with this idea! If it were someone else, they would probably be too scared to even face these beasts!"
Seeing the traps, Xiao Yue¡¯s emotions calmed down a bit. If she hadn''t seen this, she might have thought he was a monster.
But when she looked at Su Twelve, her eyes were still filled with surprise and admiration.
When Xiao Yue was twelve, she didn¡¯t have such abilities or courage.
This little guy was smart and brave, but unfortunately, his spiritual root was too poor. Otherwise, he could definitely become a great talent.
"Hehe, thanks for the compliment, Senior Sister!" Su Twelve grinned and then asked about her reason for coming. "Senior Sister, did you come here for something?"
Xiao Yue smiled. "I came to check on your well-being and make sure you''re okay. Looks like I worried for nothing. Also, I need to inform you about the newcomer trial!"
"Newcomer trial?" Su Twelve raised his eyebrows slightly, remembering that the peak master of Tianhua Peak had mentioned it when he first entered the sect.
Xiao Yue nodded. "Yes, it''s a rule of Yunge Sect. Every new disciple must participate in the newcomer trial five years after joining. Only those who pass the trial can remain in Yunge Sect. Otherwise, they''ll either be relegated to a servant disciple or sent back."
"Servant disciple? Sent back?" Su Twelve''s heart sank, and he quickly asked, "What exactly does the trial entail?"
Xiao Yue replied, "The trial content changes each time, and it''s only revealed when the trial begins. However, based on past experiences, to pass the trial, you must at least be at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining or above."
"Fourth Level of Qi Refining?" Su Twelve¡¯s face instantly turned pale.
According to Lu Ming Shi, he could only cultivate to the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refining at most in his lifetime.
With this in mind, even if he had a cultivation method, trying to reach the Fourth Level within five years would be extremely difficult.
But to give up just like that? Su Twelve didn¡¯t even think about it.
After hesitating for a moment, he quietly asked Xiao Yue, "Senior Sister, if I want to cultivate, what should I do?"
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