“Big-Head Brother, don’t worry, Third Elder said my talent is very good, and First Elder will give me plenty of resources for cultivation. Whatever I have in the future, you’ll have a share of too!”
Erdan laughed and joked in front of Shu Han. Seeing this, Goudan thumped his chest and declared, “Me too! We came out together, and my mother said we must look after each other!”
Hearing this, Liheng couldn’t help laughing aloud.
“You’d better forget that, kids!”
He patted Shu Han’s big head and said, “Little brother, Senior Brother will tell you the truth, so don’t be disheartened. Five Spirit Roots are practically no different from ordinary mortals; no matter how many pills you waste on them, it’s useless. The two of you should focus on cultivating properly. Once your cultivation advances, you can still protect the big-headed kid, which is much more practical than splitting pills with him. Besides, you won’t be given many pills anyway; pills that aid cultivation growth are extremely rare even within our Dragon Profound Sect.”
Shu Han looked up and asked, “Senior Brother, when can I go home?”
“Missing home already?”
“Mmm…”
Liheng comforted him: “Understandable, seeing as you’re still young and have been through so much hardship. But Senior Brother must tell you, once you enter our Dragon Profound Sect, you cannot return home for ten years! Once you step onto the immortal path, immortals and mortals are separated forever. The Headmaster established this rule to prevent the children who enter from being bound by family affection and ruining their cultivation. However, your families will receive annual gifts from the Dragon Profound Sect, so their lives won’t be poor.”
The group walked along the stone steps until a round boulder three people tall suddenly blocked their path.
Senior Brother Liheng patted the stone and said, “This is the Heaven-Reaching Stone! From now on, the two of you must come here to test yourselves every year. Before you turn twenty, if you can reach the Qi Condensation Sixth Heaven and make the Heaven-Reaching Stone glow, you will earn the qualification to go cultivate at the Heavenly Profound Sect.”
“Senior Brother, what is the Heavenly Profound Sect?”
At the mention of the Heavenly Profound Sect, Senior Brother Liheng perked up.
“The Heavenly Profound Sect? That place is extraordinary! For village children like you, entering the Dragon Profound Sect is already like a carp leaping through the dragon gate. But compared to the Heavenly Profound Sect, we are merely carp, while they are the true dragon gate. Our Headmaster is an expert in the Foundation Establishment stage, yet at the Heavenly Profound Sect, he would be nothing more than an ordinary disciple.”
The three children immediately filled with longing.
“Senior Brother, what is the Foundation Establishment stage?”
Liheng explained: “Refining Qi into essence constitutes the Qi Condensation stage, which is the realm of the vast majority of cultivators. The Foundation Establishment stage lies above Qi Condensation-it is the creation of the Great Dao’s foundation, an ascent to the heavens in a single step! Foundation Establishment cultivators can command lifebound Dharma Treasures, traverse the skies and the earth, and wield limitless divine power!”
“Don’t get ahead of yourselves, though! Foundation Establishment cultivators are one in ten thousand. Look at our First Elder; after more than a hundred and sixty years of Qi Condensation, he remains stuck at the twelfth layer, struggling to establish his foundation. For kids like you two, reaching the ninth layer of Qi Condensation or higher would already give you reason to burn incense and thank the heavens.”
“What about Big-Head Brother?”
Amidst his longing, Erdan did not forget to ask on Shu Han’s behalf.
“The big-headed kid…”
Liheng said with a troubled expression, “Didn’t Third Elder already say? The third layer is his limit. In the future, earning enough for fine clothes and rich food shouldn’t be a problem. Alright, enough asking! Ahead are the residential buildings, one room per person. Go to sleep early, and don’t wet the bed tonight!”
The three children had never stayed in such large rooms before. Goudan and Erdan were so excited they couldn’t sleep, making a ruckus for half the night before finally succumbing to exhaustion and falling fast asleep. Only Shu Han sat alone on his bed, heavy with worry.
Five Spirit Roots!
An unprecedented piece of trash throughout the ages!
A succession of rejections had dealt a heavy blow to his young heart.
Back in the village, the adults had showered him with praise, but once outside, one blow followed another without pause.
After lingering in confusion for a moment, the clever boy’s mind began to turn.
He carefully pulled the black jar from his bundle and duplicated a pile of Fufang Grass.
Shu Han didn’t know the exact properties of the Fufang Grass, but every time he consumed it, he felt the tiny flame within his body grow just a fraction stronger. He concluded that this herb was originally meant for immortal cultivators, and if he took it regularly, it would surely increase his cultivation.
If his natural talent fell short, he would simply make up for it with effort.
Inside the Hall of Gathered Heroes of the Chaotian Sect.
Mu Wan’er stood beside her father, the Chaotian Sect Leader, her gaze sweeping over the various mountain and forest bandit leaders assembled in the hall.
The Hungry Wolf Gang, the Eagle Sect, the Formless Pavilion-the leaders of all the prominent martial-world factions in the Northern Yan region had gathered within the Chaotian Sect’s hall.
The Chaotian Sect Leader rose to his feet. Though aged, he still possessed an imposing bearing.
“I am grateful to all the heroes who have honored the Chaotian Sect with your presence today. I thank you all on behalf of the sect!”
“The reason I have invited you heroes here is a matter well known to everyone. Twenty years ago, that undying Old Dragon Profound occupied the mountains and set himself up as a king, continually oppressing us martial-world folk and making life unbearable for every sect and faction. Our Chaotian Sect was once considered a righteous and renowned school of Northern Yan, yet we were forced by the Dragon Profound Sect to prey upon the common people, extorting vast amounts of the people’s lifeblood to supply those demonic daoists. Extortion was bad enough, but those demonic daoists even compelled us to secretly plunder and traffic young children! The people of Northern Yan curse us bitterly, while the Dragon Profound Sect-the true source of this evil-sits back and enjoys a great reputation. I trust every one of you has suffered deeply under their thumb!”
“Now, Old Daoist Dragon Profound has not been seen for seven years and is most likely dead. The time has come for us to counterattack the Dragon Profound Sect!”
The Eagle Sect Leader sneered coldly, “How can you be so certain that old bastard is dead?”
Mu Wan’er chimed in, “Twenty years ago, my father hired a renowned Qi Observer to examine that old man’s life energy, and the Qi Observer declared that his fortune was long spent. Furthermore, when we intercepted and killed Dragon Profound Sect disciples on the road recently, the sect made no move whatsoever. Old Dragon Profound is definitely dead!”
“You killed disciples of the Dragon Profound Sect? Those are immortals!”
An uproar instantly erupted through the Hall of Gathered Heroes upon this declaration.
The leader of the Hungry Wolf Gang tossed a human head into the center of the hall, cutting the commotion short.
“Bah! What immortals? They’re just a bunch of charlatans putting on a show! Demonic daoists! Chop off their heads, and they bleed just like ordinary men.”
Mu Wan’er said, “Precisely. They are made of flesh and blood just like anyone else, and they can die. If our seven major factions unite, we will have thousands of men. Why should we fear a Dragon Profound Sect with fewer than a hundred members?”
A voice muttered quietly from the crowd, “Their techniques are not to be trifled with…”
Mu Wan’er nodded in agreement. “True, the techniques of the Dragon Profound Sect are difficult to counter, but we have already prepared countermeasures. Bring it in!”
At her signal, a stone garment was brought forward. She announced, “The most troublesome of the demonic daoists’ arts is their Fireball Technique. With these asbestos garments, which are impervious to water and fire, there is nothing to fear!”
Yet murmurs of hesitation still lingered in the hall.
The old sect Leader continued: “Thanks to heaven’s grace, my second son has attained the post of Northern Yan Military Governor within the imperial court. In a few days, dozens of ballistas and catapults will arrive to support us. Combined with the thousands of brave heroes from our seven factions, why should we fear a Dragon Profound Sect stripped of Old Daoist Dragon Profound? Could it be that we martial-world heroes are truly as cowardly and incompetent as they claim?”
The old sect leader’s words served as a reassuring pill for everyone present.
The atmosphere in the hall instantly surged with passion.
“Damn it, I’m going all in! I’ve had enough of those pretentious frauds anyway!”
“Right! What do they amount to?”