After a long wait, no one else Awakened a Spiritual Root.
Immortal Master Bai addressed the old village chief: “This inspection has found four in Stone Village with Spiritual Roots. They may enter the sect to cultivate.”
The old village chief bowed hastily. “We’ve troubled the three Immortal Masters.”
Immortal Master Bai flicked his hand, and four hundred taels of silver appeared in the hands of the four children. He instructed them: “You have the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to bid farewell to your families. We must move on to the next village.”
Shi Rou, Wang Shan, and Zhao Xiaowu rushed to their families at once, pressing the silver into their parents’ hands.
Only Lu Qinghe stood alone where he was.
Seeing the silver in Lu Qinghe’s hand, Madam Lu-Wang’s eyes lit up with greed.
She strode over, her gaze fixed on the silver like a hawk on a field mouse. “Little brat, I’m your aunt. Hand that silver over-I’ll keep it safe for you.”
Lu Qinghe snatched the silver behind his back, watching the shrew with wary eyes.
His defiance made Madam Lu-Wang’s face twist with rage. “Little brat, you dare defy me?”
Seeing her about to lunge, Lu Qinghe shouted: “Poisonous hag! You’d rob me right in front of the Immortal Masters?”
His words froze Madam Lu-Wang mid-step. She turned toward the three cultivators and found all three watching her with cold, half-amused smiles.
A chill shot through her spine. Her face went stiff, and she slunk back with an ugly, reluctant grimace.
The lesson from moments ago was still fresh in her bones.
Lu Qinghe thought for a moment, then walked to the old village chief and placed the silver in his hands. “Village Chief Grandpa, thank you for looking after me this past year. This is Qinghe’s way of repaying you.”
Without the old village chief, he would never have had this chance. He couldn’t take the silver where he was going-better to repay the old man’s kindness while he could.
The old village chief stared at Lu Qinghe, his expression complicated. He hadn’t expected the boy to actually be chosen-to truly have a chance at the immortal path.
He shook his head. “No need. I didn’t do anything worth repaying. Keep it. Even inside the sect, silver has its uses.”
Lu Qinghe insisted: “Village Chief Grandpa, without you, I’d have no chance at all. Besides, I can’t carry this much silver with me.”
Seeing the boy’s resolve, the old village chief hesitated, then accepted the silver. “Very well. I’ll hold it for you. Come back for it whenever you need.”
Then he turned to Shi Rou. “Little Rou’er, once you’re in the sect, look after Qinghe when you can.”
Shi Rou studied Lu Qinghe with open curiosity, then nodded. “I will, Grandpa.”
Lu Qinghe smiled-a child’s genuine smile. “Thank you, Village Chief Grandpa.”
He didn’t know if he would ever return to this place.
He had wanted to visit his parents’ graves, but there was no time. He could only wait-wait until he had achieved something on the immortal path, then come back to pay his respects and comfort their spirits.
The time was up. Immortal Master Bai spoke: “We leave now.”
He patted the cloth pouch at his waist, and a palm-sized boat appeared in his hand.
Immortal Master Bai murmured an incantation and formed a hand seal.
The tiny boat swelled with the wind, expanding in moments into a vessel several zhang long, sails and all.
Before the four children could react, Immortal Master Bai waved his hand. The world blurred, and all four found themselves standing inside the boat.
Amidst the villagers’ cries of wonder, the vessel rose into the sky and vanished beyond the horizon.
Once the boat disappeared from sight, the old village chief turned his gaze on Madam Lu-Wang.
“Madam Lu-Wang. Return that child’s belongings. I will hold them for him.”
She bristled, unwilling. The old village chief’s voice hardened: “That boy has entered the immortal sect. He is no longer someone ordinary folk can afford to offend. I trust you understand.”
Madam Lu-Wang shuddered from head to toe. No matter how unwilling she was, she could no longer keep Lu Qinghe’s things.
“Village Chief… I understand.”
In her heart, she cursed him-hoped he would die out there and never set foot in Stone Village again.
The three cultivators did not return to the sect immediately. They visited several more villages, collecting children along the way.
Half a day later, the boat held thirteen children in all.
Shi Rou, Wang Shan, and Zhao Xiaowu had recovered from the grief of parting with their families. Now they gazed around at everything with wide, curious eyes.
A boat that flew through the sky! Their longing to enter the sect and become immortals burned brighter than ever.
Lu Qinghe, in his tattered, filthy rags, drew sidelong glances and wrinkled noses from the others. Only Wang Shan planted himself beside Lu Qinghe without a word, glaring at every child who dared look down on his friend.
Bai Tianyu addressed the thirteen children: “The sect you are entering is the Taixuan Sect-one of the three great sects of Zhao Kingdom. My name is Bai Tianyu. I am an Outer Sect Disciple of Taixuan Sect.”
“This is my Junior Brother, Liu Qingshan, and my Junior Sister, Lin Yun. They are also Outer Sect Disciples. You may address us as Senior Brother and Senior Sister.”
All thirteen bowed and called out in unison: “Senior Brother Bai! Senior Brother Liu! Senior Sister Lin!”
One boy asked eagerly: “Senior Brother Bai, are you true immortals? Is this boat an Immortal Artifact?”
Every ear perked up, hungry for knowledge of the Taixuan Sect.
Senior Brother Bai saw their expectant faces and let out a helpless sigh. “We are not immortals. We are merely cultivators-and only at the first realm of cultivation at that. Qi Condensation, sixth layer.”
“We have cultivated for decades, yet even the second realm-Foundation Establishment-remains as distant as a chasm we cannot cross.”
“Cultivation is harder than ascending to heaven. You will understand soon enough once you enter the Taixuan Sect.”
“Among all of you, only Sun Hao has a real chance of reaching Foundation Establishment.”
Sun Hao-the boy who had asked the question. He possessed a dual Spiritual Root, and all three Outer Sect Disciples regarded him with clear favor.
Sun Hao puffed up with pride. He hadn’t even entered the sect yet, but he already understood: he was different from the rest. His future would be something none of them could touch.
Every child turned envious eyes toward Sun Hao, and he basked in it.
“As for this Flying Boat,” Senior Brother Bai continued, “it is a High Grade flying Magical Artifact, worth over ten thousand Spirit Stones. We may only borrow it from the sect when carrying out assignments.”
Some time later, the Flying Boat descended and came to rest in a stretch of barren wilderness.
Senior Brother Bai spoke: “We’ve arrived.”
Confusion rippled through the children. This was nothing like what they had imagined. Shouldn’t an immortal sect be all jade towers and celestial palaces? Why was it just… empty wasteland?
Senior Brother Bai offered no explanation. He reached into the cloth pouch at his waist and drew out a token. The token flared with light.
The Flying Boat passed through, and in an instant the world before their eyes transformed. Towering peaks rose in every direction, each crowned with magnificent halls and jade pavilions.
Two figures appeared in the air above, each standing atop a flying sword.
Bai Tianyu and his two companions hurried forward and cupped their fists. “Greetings, Senior Brothers. We were dispatched to the mortal realm to recruit disciples. The matter is complete, and we have returned to report.”
The two gatekeeping disciples confirmed their identities, gave a brief nod, then stepped onto their swords and vanished without another word.
Senior Brother Bai turned back to the children. “Those two Senior Brothers are gatekeeping disciples. From now on, whenever you enter or leave the Taixuan Sect, the gatekeepers must verify your identity.”
“Ordinary disciples may not leave the mountain gate as they please.”
“Now-follow me to the Affairs Hall. They will arrange your placements there.”