The Dragon Profound Sect was located within Yandang Mountain.
Yandang Mountain was a famous mountain in Northern Yan. Every year, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, at dusk, one could watch purple qi come from the east at the mountain’s peak-an auspicious omen!
Legend said that in those years, the Mysterious Upper Being traveled here. Upon seeing this mountain, he declared he was fated with it, opened a gate, established a sect, and founded the Dragon Profound Sect.
At this moment, before the stone steps at the mountain’s foot, two disciples were about to change shifts when they saw three children stumbling over from the distance.
These three children supported each other. Each was sallow and thin, covered in dust and dirt. Before they even reached the stone steps at the mountain’s base, two of them fainted. Only the one in the middle with the larger head dragged them along, continuing to walk.
“Erdan! Goudan! Hold on, we’re almost there! This time we’re really almost there!”
Yet Shu Han himself was about to exhaust his strength and nearly fainted.
After leaving that Emerald Bamboo Forest, the three children had fallen into confusion.
Goudan cried so hard he lost control of his bowels, clamoring to go back. Erdan also wanted to go home, but was waiting for Shu Han to make the decision.
After experiencing a bloody struggle, with Immortal Master Zhang dead, how could Shu Han not want to go home?
However, he knew they were already far from the Canglang Mountains. With just the three of them, there was simply no way back. He talked sense and nonsense, finally managing to pull Goudan along, asking for directions everywhere, step by step heading towards the Dragon Profound Sect.
The children’s foot strength was limited. A journey that should take two days, with them stopping and starting, took a full five days and five nights.
The three of them almost made it here relying on meager scraps from the roadside, going hungry along the way.
Many times Erdan and Goudan fainted from hunger on the road. Shu Han found some tree bark and leaves to feed them and wake them up.
The two mountain-watching disciples saw this and immediately ran over, asking, “Whose children are you? Why did you run here?”
Shu Han forced himself to muster a breath, saying weakly, “Immortal Masters… we are children from Shu Village in the Canglang Mountains… we came to join the Dragon Profound Sect…”
“Shu Village in the Canglang Mountains?”
The two disciples looked at each other. “Isn’t that Senior Brother Zhang’s responsibility? Where is Senior Brother Zhang?”
Sadness appeared in Shu Han’s eyes. “Immortal Master Zhang was ambushed by a group of bandits and died in the Emerald Bamboo Forest.”
“What!”
One of them shook his head. “Little kid, don’t spout barefaced words! Senior Brother Zhang was at the Qi Condensation Sixth Heaven, how could he die at the hands of a bunch of mountain bandits?”
Shu Han’s mind raced, trying hard to describe the scene of that day to them, slowly dispelling their doubts.
“This is serious! We must report to the Elders immediately!”
“Liheng, you take these three kids to the Spirit Awakening Pavilion and hand them over to the Third Elder. I’ll go to the Rear Mountain right away to report to the First Elder! These Jianghu gangs really don’t want to live, daring to mess with our Dragon Profound Sect!”
Soon, the one called Liheng walked over, picking up the unconscious Erdan and Goudan one on each shoulder. The other disciple then went up the mountain first, taking dozens of steps at a time as if a swallow skimming the ground, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Shu Han gathered his spirits, following Liheng up the mountain stone steps.
Liheng looked at him panting and puffing, laughed, and said, “Kid, do you want me to carry you?”
Shu Han gritted his teeth. “No need, I have strength left, I can walk myself.”
“Not bad. To be able to bring these two kids here from the Emerald Bamboo Forest, at such a young age, it’s quite remarkable. Kid, what’s your name?”
“Shu Han!”
Liheng squatted down, pointing to a pavilion in the distance for Shu Han. “Little Shu Han, see that? That’s the Dragon Profound Sect’s Spirit Awakening Pavilion! Since you want to walk yourself, I won’t wait for you. Go report to the Spirit Awakening Pavilion. The Third Elder will identify your spirit roots for you.”
“Thank you, Immortal Master!”
“Haha, from now on don’t call me Immortal Master, call me Senior Brother Liheng!”
With that, Liheng’s feet generated wind. Carrying Goudan and Erdan, he was fast as lightning, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Seeing this, Shu Han couldn’t help but feel envy. However, the image of Immortal Master Zhang’s death still lingered, constantly reminding him that immortals were not completely free and unfettered either.
The sun set in the west.
Shu Han crawled and stumbled, finally arriving before the Spirit Awakening Pavilion.
At this moment, the two children, Goudan and Erdan, were sitting in front of the Spirit Awakening Pavilion. They had washed away their fatigue and were full of energy. Seeing Shu Han finally walk over, the two children immediately went up to him, supporting the weak-legged Shu Han from left and right.
Although Goudan held hostility towards Shu Han, it was just harmless jealousy from a child, jealous that Shu Han had such prestige among the village children.
This journey, with Shu Han’s encouragement and care for the two of them, also made him see clearly where he fell short compared to Shu Han.
Erdan excitedly said to Shu Han, “Big-Head Brother, guess what spirit roots I have! Earth-Wood Dual Spirit Roots! The Third Elder said I’m a rare genius in the Dragon Profound Sect!”
Goudan also said, “I’m a bit worse than Erdan, Water-Wood-Fire Three Spirit Roots! The Third Elder said my aptitude isn’t bad either!”
Shu Han gave them a weak smile, happy for his village companions, while also worrying about his own talent.
He was very clear about how many Fufang Grasses he used to awaken his spirit roots. At this moment, he kept praying in his heart, hoping his own talent wouldn’t be too bad.
Inside the Spirit Awakening Pavilion, the Third Elder, whose white beard was even thicker than his hair, sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion.
Shu Han’s first impression was that he was extremely old.
He had never seen such an aged old man before. The people of Shu Village ate coarse grains year-round, facing the yellow soil and turning their backs to the sky every day. Most died of illness in their fifties. The village chief grandfather was the longest-lived, only fifty-nine this year.
But this old man before him, Shu Han felt he was over a hundred years old.
The Third Elder slowly opened his eyes, clicked his tongue, and said, “This year, Shu Village sent quite a few children, and their talents are higher than the last. A pity about Junior Disciple Zhang, dying so young. Otherwise, it would have been a great merit. Come, child, stretch out your hand. Let this old man see your spirit roots.”
Shu Han’s small hand was grabbed by the Third Elder. That hand, which looked like a withered tree branch, had irresistible strength.
The Third Elder stroked his beard, closing his eyes in thought.
“There’s a Fire Spirit Root…”
“A Water Spirit Root…”
“And an Earth Spirit Root… Three Spirit Roots? That’s not bad either.”
“Hmm? The Wood Spirit Root is also there! An ordinary Four Spirit Roots.”
The Third Elder suddenly opened his eyes, staring at Shu Han with a surprised gaze, saying strangely, “There’s actually a Metal Spirit Root too! Five Spirit Roots! What in the world, can Five Spirit Roots even awaken? In all the years this old man has lived, this is also the first time I’ve seen it.”
Shu Han asked weakly, “Elder, my talent…”
“Your talent is also top-tier, but it’s top-tier bad. This old man has been cultivating for a hundred and fifty years and has never seen worse than yours. Little child, you being able to awaken is a miracle itself.”
Shu Han’s eyes dimmed. “Elder, can I cultivate immortality?”
“You can cultivate. However, even with a lifetime of effort, it’s difficult to break through the Qi Condensation Third Heaven. Forget it, forget it. Received two good children, can’t expect to get another one. Child, you just stay in the Dragon Profound Sect as a servant. Whatever fortune you have, it’s up to you.”
Then the Third Elder beckoned Liheng over, saying, “Take these two children into the Heavenly Cloud Pavilion tomorrow. Let them join under the First Elder’s command and have him teach them well. As for this child, send him to the Second Elder. See what work can be given to him.”
“This disciple obeys the command!”