《Dao of The Depraved immortal》


 Chapter 1, The Heavens Stir

    In the ever-changing world of cultivation, every quake and natural disaster could be heard and felt across the land.


    Every living creature, big or small, felt this change as lightning storms fused with hurricanes, erupting and startling all the cultivators in the world as the earth itself continued to shake.


    Streaking through the air, golden lightning rained down, flattening mountains and tearing the sky apart.


    Heavenly Palace


    Inside a large pagoda, a woman adorned in simple red robes quietly sipped on fragrant tea. Her divine sense unrestrained, she observed the phenomenon occurring outside the palace.


    ¡°It seems like it¡¯s happening,¡± a deep voice said as someone approached the woman from behind.


    ¡°Disciple greets master,¡± the woman rose, bowing lightly.


    ¡°Come now, no need to be like this. You¡¯re already stronger than me, and you still feel the need to bow when you see this old man? Is this how the ruler of Heavenly Place should be acting?¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°Master, I may be stronger and the ruler of Heavenly Place, but that doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re not still my master.¡±


    ¡°Master? Hmph. I¡¯ve already taught you everything that I know, and you even improved on some of the things I taught you. Which master do you belong to?¡±


    Chuckling, the woman in red robes said, ¡°Master, be that as it may, there are still some things I¡¯m lacking in. Just having the knowledge isn¡¯t enough. I also need experience¡ªexperience that you have.¡±


    She smiled innocently at the tall man in front of her.


    Smiling back, the old man walked past her.


    Even though the entire cultivation realm was in an uproar, these two immortals were calm, even joyous.


    Stroking his beard, the old man continued, ¡°Do you know the location of where it¡¯s going to appear?¡±


    ¡°Regrettably, no. However, I have some of the immortals on standby, ready to be deployed for the search.¡±


    The old man stayed silent for a moment.


    Sensing something, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it. The fact that you even managed to receive a revelation from heaven is praiseworthy in itself. You don¡¯t need to blame yourself for not being able to locate the child.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already done enough. Now go rest; the injuries you suffered from still haven¡¯t healed. Let the rest of Heavenly Place take care of the rest of the work.¡±


    ¡°Once we find this child, Heavenly Place¡¯s strength will rise exponentially once again.¡±


    The old immortal spoke as he disappeared from the pagoda.

 Chapter 2 early morning

    In a small, dilapidated building, a boy about 14 years old lay on a creaky bed.


    Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬, the boy in question, slowly rose from his sleep, his eyes unfocused.


    Leaning against the side of the bed, he rubbed his eyes, his body trembling slightly as he stepped onto the floor.


    Unbothered, he waded through the shallow water pooling across the floor and made his way to the desk. Picking up a cloth, he headed for the door, his feet still submerged.


    When he reached the stream, Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬ set the bucket down and began removing his tattered clothes.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Once done, he wrung the clothes out, placed them in the bucket, and began the walk back to his small cabin. Naked but unfazed, he didn¡¯t bother worrying about who might see him. The path was isolated, and even if someone did pass by, Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬ wouldn¡¯t care. He had no energy for embarrassment.


    inside, he retrieved his only other set of clothes¡ªa simple light green robe with black trousers. Though worn and covered in patches, they were in better shape than the ones he¡¯d been wearing.


    Today was a special day¡ªone that would determine the futures of every 14-year-old in the village. It was the day of the aptitude test.


    For those with outstanding aptitudes, life could change dramatically, whether they were born into wealth or poverty. For better or for worse, this test was pivotal.


    Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬¡¯s expression remained calm, almost detached. He hadn¡¯t shown much emotion all day, and now was no different.


    Taking a deep breath, he began circulating the faint spiritual essence within his body. Then, with a burst of speed, he dashed up the hill, the cold morning breeze brushing against his scarred skin.

 Chapter 3 The aptitude test

    In the cold weather Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬ moved ignoring the cold, The hill was not particularly steep, but the path was uneven, littered with loose stones and overgrown roots.


    Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬ moved with practised ease, his bare feet skimming over the terrain as though he had traversed it a thousand times before.


    The morning air was crisp, carrying with it the faint scent of damp earth and wildflowers. Birds chirped in the distance, their songs a stark contrast to the tension coiled within him.


    spider web villager:


    As he neared the top, the sound of voices reached his ears. The village square was already bustling with activity. Parents stood in clusters, their faces a mix of hope and anxiety, while children his age milled about, some nervous, others brimming with confidence.


    The centre of the square was dominated by a raised platform, upon which stood a large, crystalline structure¡ªthe Spirit Testing Stone.


    Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬ slowed his pace, his expression unreadable as he approached the gathering. He received a few curious glances, but most ignored him. He was used to being invisible, a shadow in the periphery of their lives. His tattered clothes and scarred body marked him as an outsider¡ªa beggar even.


    A tall, stern-looking man stepped onto the platform, his presence commanding immediate silence. Elder Mo, the village¡¯s spiritual guide and the overseer of the aptitude tests, surveyed the crowd with a critical eye.


    ¡°Today,¡± he began, his voice resonating with authority, ¡°you will all undergo the Spirit Aptitude Test. This is a pivotal moment in your lives. Your results will determine your path forward¡ªwhether you will remain here, toiling in obscurity, or ascend to greater heights, harnessing the power of the spiritual essence that flows through our world.¡±


    The children exchanged nervous glances, their earlier bravado fading under Elder Mo¡¯s imposing gaze. Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬, however, remained impassive. He had long since learned to mask his emotions, to bury them deep inside his heart.


    ¡°We will begin shortly,¡± Elder Mo continued. ¡°Line up in an orderly fashion. Each of you will step forward, place your hand upon the Spirit Testing Stone, and channel your spiritual essence into it. The stone will reveal your aptitude.¡±


    The crowd shuffled into a rough line, the children jostling for position. Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬ hung back, content to wait at the rear. He watched as the first child, a boy from a wealthy family, stepped onto the platform. The boy placed his hand on the stone, his face scrunched in concentration. The crystal glowed faintly, then emitted a soft, blue light.


    ¡°Low-grade aptitude,¡± Elder Mo announced, his tone neutral. The boy¡¯s shoulders slumped, but he stepped down without complaint. The next child, a girl, followed suit. Her result was the same¡ªexcept she wasn¡¯t as accepting of the results as the first boy.


    ¡°Low-grade? This can¡¯t be right,¡± she said, her attitude distasteful. ¡°How can I, Wang Li, have low-grade aptitude? This crystal is clearly broken!¡±


    Elder Mo¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. There hadn¡¯t even been that many people tested yet, and someone was already complaining?


    His eyes bearing a slight pressure, he looked at the girl. ¡°Oh? Then are you calling *me* incompetent, since I was the one to handpick this crystal?¡±


    Elder Mo¡¯s voice deepened slightly.


    But before Wang Li could answer, a voice from the back could be heard. It was Wang Li¡¯s father, Wang Hao.


    ¡°No, no! We wouldn¡¯t dare say that, Elder Mo!¡± The man rushed forward, frantically shouting. Reaching her, he quickly grabbed his daughter¡¯s head before forcing her to prostrate alongside him.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Elder Mo, please forgive my daughter for her slight outburst,¡± Wang Hao said, his body shaking. ¡°She¡¯s still a child, you see. Please don¡¯t be too harsh on her.¡±


    Elder Mo watched this scene in silence. ¡°Very well, Wang Hao. I will let this matter slide for now. But remember¡ªthere will be no next time,¡± he said, his voice growing deeper.


    ¡°Yes, Elder! Yes, Elder!¡± Wang Hao said, quickly bowing three times before leaving the platform.


    Elder Mo watched them for a brief moment before shifting back to the crystal. [Sigh. I really cannot stand wealthy children and their attitudes. They are always so arrogant.] He looked at the rest of the children lined up. ¡°Next!¡±


    One by one, the children took their turns, the results varying only slightly. Most were low-grade, with a handful achieving mid-grade. The crowd¡¯s initial excitement waned, replaced by a sombre realisation of their limitations.


    Finally, it was Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬¡¯s turn. He stepped onto the platform, his movements deliberate and unhurried. The crowd¡¯s murmurs grew louder, their curiosity piqued by the boy who seemed so out of place.


    Though the aptitude test wasn¡¯t restricted to anyone¡ªthe only qualification being that one had to know how to circulate spiritual essence¡ªit was still surprising to see a beggar from the streets able to manipulate their spiritual essence. Though surprising, it wasn¡¯t rare.


    Elder Mo¡¯s gaze remained neutral as Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬ approached the stone. ¡°Place your hand on the stone and channel your essence,¡± he instructed, his voice tinged with scepticism.


    Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬ nodded, his hand hovering over the crystal for a moment before making contact. He closed his eyes, focusing on the faint thread of spiritual essence within him. It was weak, almost imperceptible, but he had spent years honing his control over it.


    The stone remained inert for a long moment, the crowd¡¯s murmurs growing into outright laughter. ¡°Looks like he¡¯s got no aptitude at all!¡± someone jeered.


    But then, a flicker of light. The crystal began to glow, faintly at first, then brighter, the light shifting from blue to a deep, vibrant purple.


    Elder Mo¡¯s eyes remained neutral as he read the scores. ¡°Low-grade aptitude,¡± he said, unsurprised at all.


    The crowd erupted into chaos, their laughter spreading like a wave. Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬ opened his eyes, his expression still calm, though a bit disappointed¡ªit didn¡¯t concern him too much.


    Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬ himself had never really concerned or cared much for what aptitude level he might get. Heck, he was even slightly relieved that he had gotten a low-grade aptitude.


    He had only come to confirm if he could cultivate.


    Ever since he became able to control his spiritual essence, he had practised diligently for the past four years, continuously circulating it around his body to the point where he could move all of it to a certain spot to increase its capabilities.


    Meagre in its amount, it was also how he managed to run up the hill without stopping. Otherwise, he would have to stop every so often, possibly missing his chance to test his aptitude.


    Even though he did not understand much about the cultivation world, he still remembered quite a few novels he had read back in his past life. And if there was one thing he remembered from most of them, it¡¯s that a world with cultivation was filled with endless possibilities.


    So even if someone like him was born with a low-grade aptitude, what was stopping him from finding or using a technique to snatch someone else¡¯s talent?


    After all, that was what he had planned to do if the results he got from the test weren¡¯t good.


    Elder Mo turned around, directing Sh¨© H¨¦ng Y¨¬ to the place where those with low-grade aptitudes were gathered, before then disappearing.


    [Sigh. It seems like the heavens are on my side today,] Elder Mo thought as he appeared above everyone.


    ¡°Twenty-six A-grade, fifty-six B-C grade, and eighty-nine D-grade. Hmm. There¡¯s more A-grade aptitude users compared to last year¡¯s,¡± he mused, stroking his beard.


    Garnering everyone¡¯s attention, he spoke, his voice loud but calm.


    ¡°In front of you all are gates. These gates are based on your aptitude level¡ªA-grade being green, while D-grade being grey.


    ¡°Once you step through these gates, you will have to test your skills to see if you are worthy to join our sect.


    ¡°Those with A-grade aptitudes have no need to worry about this. Once they enter the gate, they will be sent straight to the sect, where they will be given cultivation manuals to learn from.¡±


    ¡°However, the rest of you¡ª¡± Elder Mo said, smiling towards Wang Hao, ¡°¡ªwill not be as fortunate.¡±


    ¡°Once you pass through those gates, you will have to make your own way to the sect, proving yourselves.¡±


    ¡°If you are unfortunate, you will die. If you are fortunate, you might make it to the sect with your body intact, where you will receive medical attention¡ªfor a small fee.¡± His smile widened as he turned back towards the children.


    ¡°You have a month to get there. After which, the sect¡¯s doors will be closed, and any more attempts to enter will be futile.¡±


    Saying those final words, the man disappeared, walking through the green gate.