Ascending the Path to Immortality

Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 4

"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—clearly 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.

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—including 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—aside from Su Twelve and Han Yu—had 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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