Chapter 1 - Su Shi'er
Cultivators harness the power of creation to achieve immortality, steal the essence of heaven and earth to endure, and refine the essence of the five elements for self-preservation.
In the northern part of Muyun Prefecture, there is a mountain called Heavenly Pinnacle Peak, a place considered a dead zone by countless cultivators.
At the entrance to the mountain beneath Heavenly Pinnacle Peak lies an ancient village, Small Stone Village, named for its entirely stone-built structures.
Legend has it that a thousand years ago, Small Stone Village was established by the descendants of immortals who chose to live in seclusion. However, as time passed, the truth of this tale has long been lost.
Nowadays, Small Stone Village is home to a group of ordinary mortals.
The village consists of over forty households, occupying fertile lands, occasionally venturing to Dragon Return Town to trade for rare items, living a peaceful life.
Evening.
In the woods to the east of Small Stone Village, five sun-tanned children in coarse hemp clothing, around ten years old, were crouched in the grass.
In the center, one child held a hemp rope, the other end tied to a stick propping up a sieve, with some scattered rice grains underneath.
Nearby, a wild chicken cautiously pecked at the rice grains. Before long, unable to resist, it ventured inside.
The child decisively pulled the rope, causing the stick to fall, trapping the greedy wild chicken under the sieve.
Seeing this, the children jumped up excitedly, clapping and cheering for the child in the center.
"Wow, we caught it, we really caught it! Shi'er, you're so smart!"
"Brother Shi'er, you're amazing! When I grow up, can I marry you?"
"Shi'er, I heard from my mom that an immortal is coming to Dragon Return Town to take disciples. You're so smart, maybe you could become an immortal's apprentice."
The boy called Shi'er rolled his eyes and laughed, "Forget it! You, Little Chubby, can't even count to three, what do you know? Do you really think it's that easy to become an immortal's disciple? Besides, what's the point of cultivation? Isn't it better to stay in the village with Grandpa?"
"Alright! You little flatterers, I've taught you the method! You can play on your own now!"
The boy finished speaking, walked over to the sieve, skillfully picked up the trapped wild chicken, and headed towards the nearby river.
His full name was Su Shi'er, and he had been raised by his grandfather, growing up on the kindness of the villagers.
He was smart from a young age, quick to learn anything, and was like the leader among the children in the village.
Su Shi'er reached the riverbank, skillfully bled and plucked the wild chicken, then took out a small, worn-out pill furnace the size of a fist from his pocket.
The pill furnace was filled with salt. Su Shi'er grabbed a pinch, sprinkling it over the prepared wild chicken.
Then, he tore off a lotus leaf, wrapped the chicken in it, and coated the outside with a layer of mud.
The pill furnace had a three-legged round belly, its body engraved with intricate patterns of flowers, birds, insects, and fish. Its material was unknown, neither metal nor wood, neither jade nor stone, impervious to water and fire, unbreakable by knife.
He had secretly retrieved it from the rafters at home. His grandfather treasured the pill furnace, never allowing him to touch it. Initially, Su Shi'er didn't care much, thinking it was just a strange, broken furnace.
However, once he used the pill furnace to hold salt while making Beggar's Chicken.
He discovered that the salt stored in the pill furnace became exceptionally crystalline. The Beggar's Chicken made with this salt was extraordinarily crispy and fragrant, and after eating it, his mind felt clear, and his thoughts became exceptionally sharp.
Since then, no matter where his grandfather hid it, he could always find it! Of course, he often got beaten for it.
This time, he planned to make it for his grandfather to try.
"Hehe, the old geezer has never tasted such delicious roasted chicken. This time he'll be surprised, and maybe he won't refuse to let me use the pill furnace anymore!"
Su Shi'er grinned as he prepared.
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind, "Old geezer? Which old geezer?!"
An elderly man with white hair and beard, hands clasped behind his back, hiding a stick, approached the riverbank.
The newcomer was Su Shi'er's grandfather, Su Mingren. Su Mingren was the only literate person in the village, held in high regard.
"Of course, it's my grandpa... Old geezer, why are you here?!" Su Shi'er replied without thinking. Turning around to see his grandfather approaching with a stick, he was so startled that the prepared wild chicken slipped from his hands.
"Calling me 'old geezer' with every breath, have all the teachings gone to the dogs?
I've told you countless times, this furnace must never be taken out! You little brat, you dug it out again! Today, I'll teach you a lesson!"
Su Mingren glared at the pill furnace in Su Shi'er's hands, his beard bristling, raising the stick as if to strike.
Su Shi'er had been watching his grandfather's every move. Before his grandfather could act, he tucked the pill furnace into his arms, jolted, and dashed towards the village.
As he ran, Su Shi'er shouted back, "Old geezer, I was kindly making roast chicken for you, and you... you actually want to hit me! You're not being fair!"
"Not fair? You little brat, have you forgotten who raised you this big?!"
Su Mingren, holding the stick, chased after him angrily.
"You're up on the roof every day, stealing chickens and dogs is one thing! But this furnace, wherever I hide it, you find it, are you at odds with it or something?!"
Though young, Su Shi'er was quick on his feet. As he ran, he turned back to make a face at his grandfather, "Old geezer, this pill furnace is a family heirloom, isn't it going to be mine eventually? What's the difference if you give it to me sooner or later?"
Su Mingren, hot on his heels, was livid, "You little brat, if I don't teach you a lesson today, you won't understand the gravity of the situation."
This pill furnace had been passed down for generations, its purpose long forgotten.
Su Mingren only knew that his father had instructed him before his death to guard it well, never letting anyone know, or it would bring disaster.
He had never intended to let Su Shi'er know about this unless absolutely necessary.
Su Shi'er occasionally glanced back, seeing his grandfather truly angry, and felt a bit apprehensive.
Relying on his youthful agility, he ran circles around the village, and when no one was watching, he ducked into a haystack.
Su Mingren, being older, was flushed and out of breath after a few rounds, unable to run any further.
However, having raised his grandson himself, he knew his temperament better than anyone.
After a round, Su Mingren's gaze locked onto a nearby haystack.
Holding the stick, he quietly approached the haystack and grabbed Su Shi'er, who was peeking out from inside.
"Hmph! You little brat, you're quite good at hiding! Let's see where you can run today..."
Su Mingren was scolding when suddenly cries of surprise erupted nearby.
"Hey, everyone, look, there's someone flying in the sky."
"Oh my, can people really fly in the sky?"
"Who is it? That's an Immortal Master! That Immortal Master seems to be heading towards our village!"
***
In the village, figures looked up one after another, exclamations rising and falling.
Su Mingren also looked up.
In the sky, a figure shrouded in black, trailing a streak of light, was flying towards Small Stone Village.
Seeing the black figure, Su Mingren's pupils contracted sharply, his face changed instantly. He quickly shoved Su Shi'er back into the haystack, speaking solemnly, "Shi'er, listen to Grandpa. From now on, stay hidden inside and don't come out! No matter what happens later, you must not come out! Do you hear me?!"
Inside the haystack, Su Shi'er, who was lamenting the beating he was about to receive, was suddenly stunned by his grandfather's unprecedentedly serious expression, instinctively nodding.
After swiftly hiding Su Shi'er, Su Mingren quickly walked away.
Chapter 2 - The Wrath of the Immortal Master
In the sky, a black-clothed person sped towards the village, his sharp gaze sweeping over it like an eagle's eyes, cold and indifferent.
Moments later, the black-clothed person hovered directly above the village.
Black mist swirled around him, and his clothes fluttered without wind, sending out gusts of eerie wind, his entire being exuding a chilling evil aura.
"Who is Su Mingren?!"
The cold, hoarse voice sent shivers down everyone's spine.
Is this an Immortal? He looks terrifying!
He's here for Su Mingren? When did the village chief get involved with an Immortal?
Hearing the commotion, many villagers curiously poked their heads out, observing the black-clothed person in the sky.
On the ground, Su Mingren looked up at the newcomer, his heart tightening with a strong sense of foreboding.
He's here for me, is it really for that Pill Furnace?
As he hesitated, unsure whether to respond.
"Hmph! What? No one wants to speak?!"
In mid-air, the black-clothed person snorted when no one answered.
A thick, sinister aura emanated from him, enveloping the entire small mountain village.
In the next second, everyone felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, their bodies chilled.
Seeing the black-clothed person about to lose his temper, Su Mingren hurriedly spoke, "High Immortal, I am Su Mingren. I don't know what business you have with me?"
Hearing the voice, the black-clothed person flickered in the air, transforming into a streak of light and appearing before Su Mingren.
Gazing at Su Mingren, the black-clothed person's eyes glinted coldly as he sinisterly said, "Hand over the Treasure Furnace, or die!!!"
Su Mingren shivered, his heart leaping to his throat, but he feigned calmness and said, "Treasure Furnace? What Treasure Furnace? High Immortal, I... I don't understand what you're talking about?"
The black-clothed person's eyes turned cold, and with a wave of his hand, True Essence transformed into a force that sent Su Mingren flying.
Staring at Su Mingren as if looking at an ant, he said, "Old man, do you really think I know nothing since I managed to find this place? If you obediently hand over your family's heirloom Treasure Furnace today, everything will be fine.
Otherwise, it won't just be you who dies today; everyone in your village will perish!!"
As he spoke, the black-clothed person stepped towards Su Mingren, a thick killing intent spreading throughout the village.
The villagers watching felt as if the sky was about to collapse, terrified, and hurriedly shouted at Su Mingren on the ground.
"Village chief, if you really have that furnace, just give it to this Immortal!"
"Yeah, it's not worth angering the Immortal over some Treasure Furnace."
"Immortal, please don't be angry! We've lived here for so many years and have never heard of any Treasure Furnace in the village chief's house!"
***
Su Mingren landed heavily on the ground, his old limbs breaking several ribs, his face contorted in pain.
In a nearby haystack, Su Shi'er witnessed the entire scene.
Seeing his grandfather injured, his heart tightened, and he clutched the Pill Furnace, ready to go out and save his grandfather.
To him, no matter how precious the Pill Furnace was, it was not more important than his grandfather's life.
But just as he was about to go out and hand over the Pill Furnace, his grandfather's earlier warning echoed in his mind.
No matter what happens, never go out!
Remembering his grandfather's words, Su Shi'er hesitated.
On the ground, Su Mingren noticed the slight movement in the haystack and, enduring the pain, continued to speak, "High Immortal, I... I really don't know what Treasure Furnace you're talking about!"
Su Mingren, wise with age, knew from the moment he understood the other's purpose that whether or not he handed over the Pill Furnace, he and the villagers were unlikely to escape death today.
Now, the only thing he could do was to protect his grandson's life.
Hearing this, the black-clothed person's eyes gleamed with cold light, and he let out a strange laugh, "Heh heh... Old man, are you seeking death? What a pity... Seems like I'll have to find it myself!"
The black-clothed person shook his head, his eyes turning cruel.
With that, he activated the True Essence within him, forming a sword seal with his hand. A dark flying sword shot out from his back, hovering in the air, spinning rapidly.
Immediately, sword light filled the sky, each beam transforming into a skull that dived towards the villagers.
Seeing this, the villagers were petrified, with only a few reacting quickly enough to turn and flee.
"No... No!"
"Immortal, spare us, spare us!"
"Please, let us go, we know nothing!"
Feeling the threat of death, the villagers were terrified, instinctively begging for mercy.
But facing a cultivator like the black-clothed person, capable of flying through the sky and burrowing into the earth, they were no different from ants. Under the assault of this sinister Sword Qi, death was but a moment away!
In the blink of an eye, the entire Small Stone Village was awash with blood, the air thick with the scent of blood.
Su Mingren lay on the ground, his eyes filled with anger and despair.
Though he had long been prepared to die, seeing the villagers die so tragically filled him with immense sorrow.
In the haystack, Su Shi'er was also terrified by the scene, lying on the ground, his hands and feet cold, as if plunged into an ice cave.
This was no Immortal, but a bloodthirsty demon!
At this moment, the black-clothed person coldly walked up to Su Mingren, "Old man, see? They all died because of you! I'll give you one more chance, hand over the Treasure Furnace!"
The black-clothed person reached out, and the flying sword in the air fell into his hand, the tip pointing directly at Su Mingren.
Black mist rolled around him, releasing a terrifying pressure.
Lying on the ground, Su Mingren felt suffocated just from the pressure.
But he shook his head resolutely, "No!"
The black-clothed person's eyes turned cold, and he activated the flying sword with True Essence, sending a skull Sword Qi flying out, biting off Su Mingren's arm.
"Now?!"
In excruciating pain, Su Mingren gritted his teeth and shouted, "I... I really don't know about any Treasure Furnace!"
"Hmph! In that case, you have no reason to live!" The black-clothed person snorted coldly, sending another skull Sword Qi straight towards Su Mingren's heart.
"No... No..."
In the haystack, Su Shi'er watched helplessly, opening his mouth to shout. But when he opened his mouth, no sound came out.
Clutching the Pill Furnace tightly, he wanted to go out and save his grandfather, but already frightened and under the oppressive aura of the black-clothed person, Su Shi'er lay on the ground, feeling as if a thousand-pound weight pressed down on him, rendering him immobile.
"Thud!"
In the next second, a dull sound echoed as the skull-like Sword Qi pierced through Su Mingren's heart.
A fist-sized hole appeared in Su Mingren's chest. His head tilted, and he died on the spot!
Seeing his grandfather lying in a pool of blood, Su Shi'er's pupils contracted sharply, his heart clenched, and he fainted from grief.
In the village, the black-clothed person paid no attention to the haystack on the ground, instead going from house to house, searching each courtyard.
Killing the entire village was like a trivial task to him!
From dusk till midnight, the black-clothed person searched every room in the village. From the rafters to the cellars, he left nothing unchecked, but found nothing.
Though powerful, he could not extend his Divine Sense, something only achievable by those who had formed a Golden Elixir.
Small Stone Village, adjacent to Heavenly Pinnacle Peak, was a forbidden ground for cultivators. Not to mention that Golden Elixir cultivators were rare, even they would face mysterious suppression here.
***
Two hours later, the black-clothed person returned to Su Mingren's corpse, confirming that there was nothing on him either, feeling somewhat frustrated.
"Damn it! Could the information be wrong? Or has someone else already taken it? Forget it, I'll have to find another lead!"
With that, the black-clothed person leapt into the air, transforming into a streak of light and shooting towards the sky.
He never imagined that right where he descended, a half-grown child was hiding!
This is the so-called most dangerous place being the safest!
***
An hour later, the black-clothed person, hidden in the night, silently descended once more.
Seeing the scene unchanged, he shook his head in frustration and left on his sword.
Su Shi'er remained unconscious for two hours until the sky began to brighten. He suddenly twitched and woke up, drenched in cold sweat.
In his unconsciousness, his mind was filled with images of the skull-like monster killing his grandfather.
The first thing Su Shi'er did upon waking was to look outside, hoping that everything that happened yesterday was just a nightmare.
However, it was all in vain.
In his sight, his grandfather lay motionless in a pool of blood.
Su Shi'er trembled all over, crawling out of the haystack and rushing to Su Mingren's side.
"Grandpa... Grandpa... wake up, please wake up! I beg you... respond to me!"
Su Shi'er held Su Mingren, calling out repeatedly, tears streaming down like broken beads.
But no matter how he called, the person on the ground showed no response.
Su Shi'er held his grandfather on the ground, crying until the sun rose, until his tears ran dry, until blood flowed from his eyes.
He fainted several times, until his voice was hoarse, unable to cry anymore, before looking down at the Pill Furnace in his arms.
"It's all because of you! If it weren't for you, grandpa wouldn't have died, and neither would everyone else!"
In anger, Su Shi'er grabbed the Pill Furnace, believing it to be the culprit behind everyone's death. If it weren't for this Pill Furnace, none of this would have happened.
If he could trade it for his grandfather's life, he would do so without hesitation.
Gripping the Pill Furnace tightly, he angrily threw it away.
Watching it roll on the ground, he hesitated for a moment, then picked it up again.
"This Pill Furnace is the last thing grandpa left me; I can't lose it.
Besides, if even those Immortals want it, it must be some kind of treasure. If I want to avenge grandpa and everyone, I'll need to rely on this treasure. I just don't know how to use this Pill Furnace.
Maybe... once I learn Immortal Techniques, I'll know how to use it!"
Su Shi'er took a deep breath, tucking the Pill Furnace back into his arms.
Then, he forced himself to endure the pain, found a shovel, and dug large pits in the village clearing, burying his grandfather and the villagers.
***
By the next evening, a simple mass grave for a hundred people had appeared in the village center.
Su Shi'er knelt before the graves of his grandfather and the villagers, sobbing again.
But he forced himself to hold back the tears. He silently told himself that today would be the last time he cried. From now on, he had only one goal: revenge. No matter what hardships he faced, he would not shed another tear.
"Grandpa, that black-clothed person is powerful. To deal with him, I must join an Immortal Sect and learn Immortal Techniques. Perhaps, once I master them, I'll understand the purpose of this furnace! Little Chubby said that in Dragon Return Town, there are Immortals recruiting disciples these days. I plan to check it out!
No matter what, I will avenge you and everyone!"
Su Shi'er whispered, glancing at the Pill Furnace in his arms, then kowtowed four times to his grandfather's grave.
Then, he resolutely stood up, gritting his teeth, and ran towards Dragon Return Town.
Chapter 3 - Spirit Root Test
The next day.
Before dawn, Dragon Return Town was like boiling water, bustling with activity.
Countless vendors flooded the streets, loudly hawking their wares.
People gathered in groups of three or five, either walking or riding ox carts and horse carriages, coming from all directions to Dragon Return Town.
Every three years, the Immortals of Luofu Peak from the Cloud Song Sect would recruit disciples, accepting only children aged ten to twelve. This had become a customary practice, and every recruitment day was also a grand gathering in Dragon Return Town.
Families from all around, as long as they had children of the right age, would bring them here to try their luck.
Firstly, they could purchase some daily necessities. Secondly, if their child was fortunate enough to be chosen as a disciple of an Immortal, it would be an honor greater than passing the imperial examinations, bringing glory to the family.
Su Shi'er mingled with the crowd and entered the town.
The road from Small Stone Village to Dragon Return Town was rugged and difficult to traverse. Su Shi'er had only been there once as a child with his grandfather. Fortunately, he had a good memory, and despite stumbling along the way, he managed to arrive by dawn.
However, his clothes were in tatters, and he was covered in dirt, looking just like a little beggar.
As he walked, Su Shi'er kept his ears open and looked around.
He had come alone and didn't know where the Immortals would be recruiting disciples. But he was sure that among the parents with children his age, there would be someone taking their child to become an apprentice.
Soon, Su Shi'er followed the crowd to the center of the town, to an open space surrounded by adults. Nearly a hundred children his age were gathered there.
From the conversations of passersby, Su Shi'er learned that this was the place where the Immortals would soon recruit disciples.
All the children hoping to become apprentices were waiting here for the Immortals to test their talents.
Su Shi'er squeezed into the crowd, found an empty corner, and sat down heavily.
After walking the mountain road all night, he was exhausted and hungry, his feet swollen. All he wanted now was a good rest.
Just then, clouds suddenly drifted across the sky, and a flying sword sliced through the air like lightning.
The sword was wide and broad, and two graceful figures stood upon it.
"It's the Immortals! The Immortals have arrived!"
On the ground, everyone looked up, their faces tense, holding their breath.
The entire Dragon Return Town, which had been bustling with noise, fell silent in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, the flying sword passed over the open space, and the two graceful figures leaped down, landing in the center of the clearing.
In mid-air, the flying sword emitted a radiant glow, quickly shrinking into a three-foot sword that landed behind one of the figures.
"Immortal?"
Su Shi'er perked up, quickly turning to look at the newcomers.
The man wore a long robe of blue, his hair white as a crane, appearing to be in his sixties or seventies, with a thick, white beard flowing over his chest. His eyes were bright and full of spirit, exuding an extraordinary aura.
The other was a young woman of about seventeen or eighteen.
She had delicate eyebrows and white teeth, her lips red and teeth white, with long black hair cascading like a waterfall. Her light blue dress fluttered in the wind, making her look like a fairy maiden.
"Is that the Fairy Maiden? She's unbelievably beautiful!"
"I never thought, in my lifetime, I would see such a beautiful Fairy Maiden."
"I've heard the princess of the Song Kingdom is as beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal, but compared to this Fairy Maiden, she might fall short!"
***
As soon as the young woman landed, the crowd stirred. Faced with such a stunning beauty, the mortals present were all captivated.
In the open space, nearly a hundred children, including Su Shi'er, were also entranced.
After landing, the young woman curiously observed her surroundings, sighing, "It's been ten years, and I've finally come down the mountain! I never expected so many more people in Dragon Return Town after just ten years!"
The old man smiled at the young woman, "Alright, don't get caught up in nostalgia. Let's get down to business. If we can't surpass Heavenly Splendor Peak this time, I'll be laughed at by that old rascal Fu Boren!"
The young woman nodded with a smile, "Don't worry, Grandpa, I won't delay your matters! With so many people here for the test this year, we're sure to find some promising talents."
As she spoke, she waved her hand, and a square table appeared before them.
On the table lay a strangely shaped stone, the Spirit Testing Stone used by the sect to test disciples' Spirit Roots.
The old man nodded, his gaze sweeping over the children in the clearing, his eyes turning cold as he spoke with an emotionless voice, "Among you, only a very few will be chosen to join our Cloud Song Sect."
His cold and unfeeling words sent a chill through the crowd, silencing everyone.
Su Shi'er shrank his neck, feeling even more anxious inside.
"The Spirit Root is the foundation of a cultivator. Next, I will test each of your Spirit Roots. Now, everyone line up and come forward one by one to place your hand on this stone," the old man said calmly, pointing at the Spirit Testing Stone on the table.
With his words, the children slowly formed a line.
Su Shi'er stood at the end of the line, nervously clenching his fists, peering sideways.
At the front of the line, a somewhat brave child cautiously stepped forward and placed his hand on the Spirit Testing Stone.
The stone trembled slightly, emitting a dim red light.
The old man remained expressionless, saying indifferently, "Low Grade Fire Spirit Root! Qualified, stand to the right!"
Hearing this, the child's eyes lit up with joy. He quickly moved to the right and stood quietly, while a couple in the crowd became excited.
Then, another child stepped forward, but this time, the Spirit Testing Stone showed no reaction.
"Not qualified! Leave!"
"Not qualified!"
"Low Grade Earth Spirit Root, stand to the right!"
***
In no time, more than half of the children had been tested, and only two with Low Grade Spirit Roots stood beside the old man.
Seeing the few remaining children, the old man's brows furrowed noticeably, showing some impatience.
Low Grade Spirit Roots were the most common and mediocre in the cultivation world. With such roots, the future prospects were very limited.
Coming all this way, if he only recruited two people, he would be a laughingstock upon returning.
At this moment, a dark-skinned boy in coarse cloth stepped up to the Spirit Testing Stone.
As soon as he placed his hand on it, the stone shook violently, and a dazzling golden light and brilliant red light shone simultaneously.
The lights were radiant, with a hint of sharp intimidation emanating from them.
This scene left everyone stunned.
The old man's face lit up with joy, exclaiming, "What?! Top Grade Gold Spirit Root and Top Grade Fire Spirit Root?! Dual Spirit Roots, haha, this trip wasn't in vain!"
The old man was overjoyed, his voice trembling with excitement, unable to hide his delight.
It was no wonder he was so thrilled. For cultivators, the Spirit Root was the foundation of everything, determining their cultivation speed. If the Spirit Root was poor, cultivation would be twice the effort for half the result.
For ordinary people, having a Mid Grade or High Grade Spirit Root was considered good. If a Top Grade Spirit Root appeared, it was a one-in-a-million genius.
And a Top Grade Dual Spirit Root was a genius among geniuses. Such roots were rare, almost unheard of. In the Cloud Song Sect, over hundreds of years, only one such instance had occurred—the founder, Master Cloud Song!
Beside him, the young woman, though silent, looked at the boy with obvious joy.
Chapter 4 - Mixed Spirit Root
"Good! Good! Good!! What's your name?" The old man said "good" three times in a row, staring at Han Yu with eyes gleaming with brilliance, as if he couldn't wait to devour him.
The young boy, with an air of arrogance between his brows, calmly replied, "Han Yu!"
"Good name! And a good child too, come, come over here!"
The old man nodded, smiling as he beckoned Han Yu over. He gently held Han Yu's small hand, beaming with joy, as if afraid someone might snatch away a treasure.
Han Yu stood by the old man's side, head held high, chest out, exuding a sense of pride. Though young, he appeared more mature and composed than his peers.
This reaction made the old man nod in approval, feeling even more satisfied.
The testing continued, and the old man's face showed more anticipation.
However, among mortals, those who could naturally awaken their Spirit Roots were few and far between.
In the blink of an eye, another thirty children were tested, but none had Spirit Roots.
The old man remained calm, not too disappointed. From time to time, he glanced at Han Yu, eyes filled with fervor.
To him, whether there were others didn't matter anymore. As long as he could nurture this seedling well, it would surely change the status of Luofu Peak within the Cloud Song Sect.
At this moment, only two were left in the field, Su Shi'er and a chubby boy.
Su Shi'er noticed that the chubby boy was dressed in luxurious clothes, with a rosy complexion, clearly a child from a wealthy family.
Before he could step forward, the chubby boy rushed ahead, running to the Spirit Testing Stone, nervously placing his chubby hand on it.
In the next second, the Spirit Testing Stone trembled slightly, but nothing changed.
Seeing this, the old man said expressionlessly, "Unqualified, leave!"
The chubby boy, however, seemed prepared and did not leave. Instead, he knelt down with a thud, kowtowing several times to the old man, "I am Zhu Hanwei, son of the mayor of Dragon Return Town, paying respects to the Immortal Lord! I am devoted to the Dao and hope the Immortal will give me a chance.
This is a gift from my father to the Immortal Lord!"
As he spoke, Zhu Hanwei hurriedly took out a sandalwood box from his bosom.
"Hmph!" The old man's face darkened, and the temperature in the air dropped a few degrees.
Zhu Hanwei shivered, and the box fell from his hands.
The old man was about to scold him, but when he saw the cracked box, his pupils shrank. He grabbed the box, and upon closer inspection, his face lit up with joy, "Hmm? Hundred-Year Cold Jade? I didn't expect your mortal father to gather such a treasure."
The old man smiled slightly, secretly pleased.
Hundred-Year Cold Jade is a material for crafting artifacts, and even for him, collecting it wasn't easy. In comparison, accepting a boy without Spirit Roots into the sect wasn't a big deal.
Without a change in expression, he put away the Cold Jade and continued, "Very well, since you are devoted to the Dao, I'll give you a chance."
Zhu Hanwei was overjoyed, bowing repeatedly, "Thank you, Immortal Lord! Thank you, Immortal Lord!"
The old man waved his hand, "Alright, go stand aside."
Zhu Hanwei got up and walked to the old man's right side. As he passed Han Yu, he smiled friendly, but Han Yu ignored him, staring straight ahead. Zhu Hanwei awkwardly smiled, not daring to get angry. From the old man's attitude towards Han Yu, he knew Han Yu's future status was not someone he could afford to offend.
At this moment, Su Shi'er nervously approached the Spirit Testing Stone.
Hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth and placed his hand on the stone.
The Spirit Testing Stone shook violently, then emitted a brilliant colorful light. However, the light was dim and flickering.
Seeing the light, Su Shi'er was delighted, thinking, "Luckily, I have Spirit Roots too."
But just as he was about to relax, he noticed the old man's displeased expression, and his heart sank.
At this moment, a woman beside him exclaimed, "Master, this child has the rare Omni Spirit Root?"
The old man scoffed, "What Omni Spirit Root? Each of his Spirit Roots is weak, equivalent to none, clearly the worst Mixed Spirit Root! Such a person, in his lifetime, can only cultivate to the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refining."
With that, the old man looked at Su Shi'er, "Unqualified! Leave!"
Hearing the old man's conversation with the woman, Su Shi'er's heart had already grown cold. Hearing this, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
To him, if he couldn't join the Immortal Sect to learn Immortal Techniques, how could he avenge his grandfather?
Su Shi'er was momentarily flustered, hesitating, his body trembling slightly, unwillingly saying, "Immortal, but I... I have Spirit Roots. Isn't it said that having Spirit Roots allows one to join the Immortal Sect?"
The old man coldly replied, "What kind of lousy Spirit Root do you have? In my two hundred years of cultivation, I've never seen a worse Spirit Root. With your aptitude, accepting you into the sect would just waste resources and your time!"
Su Shi'er gritted his teeth, quickly glancing at Zhu Hanwei, feeling indignant but not daring to act out. He quietly said, "But he... has no Spirit Roots, yet he joined the Immortal Sect?"
A person without Spirit Roots could join the Immortal Sect by giving gifts, which greatly shocked Su Shi'er. The legendary Immortal Sect wasn't as perfect as he imagined.
The old man seemed lofty, but his actions were no different from Er Gou's father in the village, who always wanted to take advantage of others.
"Boy, are you teaching me how to do things?" The old man showed anger, releasing an invisible pressure.
Su Shi'er's breath hitched, his heart racing, face showing fear, unable to speak. This powerful aura reminded him of being oppressed by the black-clothed person in Small Stone Village.
The woman beside him frowned slightly, looking at Su Shi'er, and said, "Grandfather, this child has Spirit Roots after all, why not give him a chance? Cultivation is not easy, if he can't persist in a few years, we can send him down the mountain then!"
With his granddaughter pleading, the old man's expression softened slightly, saying to Su Shi'er, "Fine, go stand to the right. Your aptitude is just a bit better than that chubby boy, you can both be servants!"
Hearing this, Su Shi'er breathed a sigh of relief, casting a grateful glance at the woman, then stood aside.
With Su Shi'er's test complete, there were no other children left.
In total, only five passed the test. Among them were Zhu Hanwei, who got in through connections, and Su Shi'er, who was helped by others' pleas.
The old man turned to them, saying indifferently, "Though you have Spirit Roots, don't celebrate too soon! The path of cultivation is long!
Next, I will take you to the sect for training! The path of cultivation separates immortals from mortals, if you regret now, it's still not too late."
With that, the old man waved his hand, and a Flying Sword shot out from behind him. Driven by True Essence, the sword grew to over ten meters long in the blink of an eye.
The Flying Sword hovered a meter above the ground, and the old man, with Han Yu, leaped onto it.
The others, under the woman's guidance, climbed onto the Flying Sword one by one.
As they were about to leave, except for Su Shi'er and Han Yu, the other three children were teary-eyed, reluctantly looking at their families in the distance.
The old man's expression was indifferent, having cultivated for many years, such farewells were a common sight.
True Essence surged from his body, forming a protective shield around them. The long sword then soared into the sky, carrying them towards the distance.
Chapter 5 - Enter the Cloud Song Sect
The flying sword sliced through the air, creating a whistling wind. Su Shi'er stood at the end, curiously looking down to see the village below quickly turning into a small black dot.
As far as the eye could see, the earth rose and fell, mountains stretched endlessly, and rivers converged, presenting a magnificent view.
Su Shi'er's pupils contracted, realizing for the first time just how vast this world truly was. Thinking of the nameless black-clothed person, his heart filled with anger and a sense of uncertainty about the future.
At the front of the flying sword, Han Yu stood tall and proud, appearing mature and composed. Yet, his clenched fists revealed a hint of nervousness.
In contrast, the other three were in a worse state. Crouching on the flying sword, they huddled together, trembling with fear. After all, they were just young children, and this high-altitude flight, with the wind howling in their ears, terrified them.
Seeing this, the woman smiled and began to talk about the Cloud Song Sect, helping everyone to relieve their stress.
From her words, they learned that the sect they were joining was a cultivation sect on the outskirts of the Azure Mountain range, known as the Cloud Song Sect.
Within the Cloud Song Sect, there were seven peaks: Heavenly Unique, Heavenly Splendor, Heavenly Melody, Cloud Terrace, Rising Sun, Falling Anser, and Luofu. Externally, the Cloud Song Sect was a unified entity, but internally, it was divided into seven factions based on these peaks. Each peak had its own Peak Lord who managed it.
Among them, Heavenly Unique Peak was the main peak and rarely recruited disciples. The other six peaks would recruit disciples with spirit roots from the mortal world every three to five years.
The elder before them was named Lu Mingshi, the Peak Lord of Luofu Peak in the Cloud Song Sect. After entering the sect, they would become his disciples. As for the woman, her name was Xiao Yue, Lu Mingshi's granddaughter and their senior sister.
The content Xiao Yue shared was somewhat difficult for the children, all no older than twelve, to fully grasp, but it clearly helped stabilize their emotions.
Su Shi'er listened intently, silently committing everything Xiao Yue said to memory. He knew his talent was lacking, so he had to work harder and be more diligent than others.
However, he was puzzled by the fact that Xiao Yue and Lu Mingshi, though clearly grandfather and granddaughter, had different surnames.
Could it be... they weren't blood-related?
With little experience, Su Shi'er could only speculate wildly in his mind!
Time flew by as the flying sword carried them for two full days.
***
On the morning of the third day, the flying sword passed through a dense fog, bringing them back to the Cloud Song Sect.
Looking as far as he could, he saw a vast expanse of mountains below, with countless peaks stretching endlessly.
Each peak was shrouded in mist, appearing and disappearing. Among them, the seven tallest peaks were arranged like the Big Dipper.
Atop each of these seven peaks stood a grand and magnificent building, with unknown energies flowing around them, occasionally emitting dazzling brilliance.
Such a sight stirred everyone's emotions, quickly dispelling the sorrow of parting.
Su Shi'er gazed unblinkingly, immediately realizing that these must be the main peaks Xiao Yue had mentioned. However, he couldn't yet tell which peak corresponded to which name.
On the flying sword, Lu Mingshi and Xiao Yue visibly relaxed, smiling. Although they had recruited disciples for many years, each journey out of the mountains brought its own worries.
The world of cultivation was far from peaceful.
With a smile, Lu Mingshi controlled the flying sword, preparing to head towards the farthest peak.
At that moment.
"Senior Sister, what's that?" Su Shi'er pointed to a distant black dot, quickly asking.
As soon as he spoke, the black dot rapidly approached, and in the blink of an eye, a thirty-meter-long crimson ship sped through the sky.
At the bow of the ship stood a lean man in a crimson robe, his gaze sharp. On the deck behind him, a crowd of children, all about the same age as Su Shi'er and the others, could be seen.
There were over a hundred of them!!!
Before Xiao Yue could respond, the figure at the front of the ship spoke to Lu Mingshi.
"Senior Brother, I'm not going to eat you, so why are you in such a hurry to run away when you see me?"
"Run away from you? Fu Boren, who do you think you are? Please, have some dignity!" Lu Mingshi retorted with a smirk.
As he spoke, his eyes quickly scanned the over a hundred figures on the flying boat, his mouth twitching slightly.
Fu Boren was the Peak Lord of Heavenly Splendor Peak, and Heavenly Splendor Peak had always been at odds with Luofu Peak. Now, seeing that the other side had recruited so many disciples at once, Lu Mingshi couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy and jealousy, even if he didn't show it.
For a cultivation sect, disciples were the foundation of development. A faction with many disciples would inevitably see a significant increase in strength over the years.
"Heh, I do care about my dignity, Senior Brother. Whether you deliberately avoided me, I think you know best in your heart."
Fu Boren chuckled, his eyes quickly scanning the flying sword.
"But Senior Brother, your Luofu Peak is really getting worse year by year! How come you've only recruited five people this year? At this rate, I fear Luofu Peak will be extinct within a century!"
Lu Mingshi's face darkened, and he retorted, "Pah~ You can't expect ivory from a dog's mouth. In cultivation, quality is more important than quantity. Even if you recruit five hundred of those misfits, it won't matter."
Lu Mingshi, with his fiery temper, couldn't hold back after hearing this.
For years, Luofu Peak had been the weakest faction, and in the past, he lacked confidence when making such statements.
But this time, with Han Yu, a top-grade dual spirit root genius joining, Lu Mingshi was full of confidence.
"Quality over quantity, you say? So, for the newcomer trial in five years, your Luofu Peak is full of confidence?" Fu Boren eyed Lu Mingshi with a teasing smile.
Lu Mingshi retorted, "Hah, we were just letting you win before, got it?!"
Given Luofu Peak's situation, even with the addition of a genius like Han Yu, Lu Mingshi didn't have high hopes for the newcomer trial.
But no matter what, he couldn't lose face in front of his rival! Moreover, nurturing such a genius could bring him great prestige.
"Oh? It seems Senior Brother has recruited some promising talents this year? Why not share, so I can also learn?" Fu Boren detected the pride in Lu Mingshi's words and lowered his voice, his eyes slyly scanning Su Shi'er and the others.
"Learn? Dream on! Fu Boren, don't think I don't know what you're up to. Trying to poach my talents? No way!"
Lu Mingshi rolled his eyes and, with that, controlled the flying sword to streak towards the farthest peak.
At the bow of the flying boat, Fu Boren watched the sword's shadow disappear into the sky, his eyes reflecting a thoughtful look.
Then, he smiled slightly, steering the flying boat towards the second peak.
Chapter 6 - Guarding the Discarded Pill Room
The flying sword moved swiftly, reaching the sky above the seventh mountain peak in just a moment.
The mountain was dotted with houses, each an ancient and majestic structure. However, looking around, only a few scattered figures could be seen, giving the place a somewhat desolate feel.
The flying sword landed in a plaza. As soon as they touched down, Lu Mingshi turned to Han Yu and said, "Han Yu, follow me. From today on, you are my personal disciple! I will personally teach you the ways of cultivation."
Hearing this, even with his pride, Han Yu couldn't help but show a joyful expression and quickly said, "Thank you, Peak Lord!"
"Hmm? Peak Lord?" Lu Mingshi's eyebrows twitched.
Han Yu immediately knelt on the ground with a thud, hurriedly correcting himself, "Thank you, Master!"
"Good! Later, at the main hall, I will hold a formal ceremony for you to acknowledge me as your master."
Only then did Lu Mingshi nod in satisfaction and turn to look at the others.
At this moment, aside from Su Shi'er, the other three children all wore envious expressions.
Becoming the personal disciple of a Peak Lord was a tremendous honor! Unfortunately, they didn't have Han Yu's talent and could only look on with envy.
After arranging Han Yu, Lu Mingshi turned to Xiao Yue, "Yue'er, I'll leave the rest to you. Tomorrow, have them start learning literacy and sect rules from the instructors. In three months, arrange for them to learn cultivation methods from the teaching elders."
"Okay! I'll arrange their accommodations first!"
Xiao Yue nodded with a smile. Just as she was about to speak to Su Shi'er and the others, hurried footsteps approached.
"Peak Lord, something's wrong! Brother Chen Xi has been bitten by a demonic beast!"
Two disciples wearing Cloud Song Sect uniforms rushed over, carrying an injured disciple on a stretcher.
On the stretcher, the disciple appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, gravely injured and unconscious, covered in blood.
"Demonic beast? The sect is protected by formations everywhere; where did a demonic beast come from?" Lu Mingshi's gaze fell on the stretcher, his brow furrowing.
The leading disciple quickly replied, "Reporting to the Peak Lord, the Discarded Pill Room is in a remote location, and there are often wild beasts there, including some low-level demonic beasts."
"Hmph, and you call yourselves cultivators! You can't even handle a small beast. All these years of cultivation, wasted!" Lu Mingshi's face darkened, letting out a cold snort. He then focused on the injured disciple, pulling out a pale blue talisman.
With a surge of True Essence, the talisman transformed into a blue light, enveloping the boy on the stretcher.
Moments later, the blue light dissipated, and the boy's bleeding stopped. However, he was missing a hand and a foot, looking particularly pitiful.
"Alright, I've stabilized his injuries with a Blue Spirit Talisman. But with his limbs severed, he won't be able to cultivate anymore. Find a day to send him down the mountain."
The two carrying the stretcher nodded hastily but didn't leave immediately. Instead, they cautiously asked, "Peak Lord, should we still assign someone to guard the Discarded Pill Room?"
"Hmph, even though the discarded pills are useless, their records are crucial for tracking the sect's medicinal consumption. Do you think it's necessary?" Lu Mingshi snorted in dissatisfaction.
In the Cloud Song Sect, all the pills consumed by disciples for cultivation were refined by the Peak Lords or specialized Pill Refiners. The required materials were provided by the sect, and the amount of pills produced and discarded helped track material usage, preventing embezzlement.
The Discarded Pill Room was in a remote location, almost at the sect's outskirts. Normally, managing such trivial matters had nothing to do with Luofu Peak.
But the problem was, among the seven peaks of the Cloud Song Sect, Luofu Peak was the weakest. Naturally, such tasks fell to Luofu Peak.
Hearing Lu Mingshi's words, the two disciples carrying the stretcher shivered and quickly said, "Peak Lord, who should we send? We're short on manpower in our peak right now!"
"Hmm? No one left? No problem, I brought back a few kids this time!" Lu Mingshi was taken aback, muttering softly as his gaze fell on Zhu Hanwei.
Feeling Lu Mingshi's gaze, Zhu Hanwei's legs almost gave out beneath him.
He had heard every word the two disciples said. The Discarded Pill Room didn't sound like a good place, and the person on the stretcher was a living example.
How could he be willing to go there?
Thinking about this, Zhu Hanwei's face turned pale. Before Lu Mingshi could speak, he hurriedly took out a palm-sized wooden box from his pocket.
"Peak Lord, my father has something he wants me to give you!"
"Hmm?" Lu Mingshi was momentarily stunned. Taking the wooden box, his eyes narrowed into slits.
Inside the box was another small piece of Hundred-Year Cold Jade. This piece was clearly part of the same whole as the one he had received in Dragon Return Town.
Without showing any emotion, Lu Mingshi put away the wooden box, looking Zhu Hanwei over. "Alright, why the long face at such a young age? You don't have a Spirit Root, so cultivating would be a waste. My pill room is short a pill boy; you can be my pill boy from now on!"
"Thank you, Peak Lord!" Hearing that he wouldn't have to go to the Discarded Pill Room and could instead be a pill boy for the Peak Lord, Zhu Hanwei nodded eagerly, his heart filled with joy.
Lu Mingshi paid him no more mind, his gaze continuing to sweep until it landed on Su Shi'er.
"Alright, it's you! From today, you'll be guarding the Discarded Pill Room!"
Su Shi'er's small frame trembled, his face turning as white as snow.
If Zhu Hanwei could sense the danger of the Discarded Pill Room, so could he.
But looking at Lu Mingshi, he didn't know how to refuse. Zhu Hanwei had money and could give gifts, but he had nothing to offer.
Beside him, Xiao Yue glanced at Su Shi'er and the others, then turned to Lu Mingshi, unable to hold back her words:
"Grandfather, they're still young and have just joined the sect. Sending any of them to the Discarded Pill Room, what if they encounter a wild beast or even a low-level demonic beast? Isn't that sending them to their deaths?"
Lu Mingshi kept a stern face, but this time he didn't relent. "Sending them to their deaths? Yue'er, let me tell you, cultivation isn't child's play."
"This boy's talent is already abysmal. If he can't overcome even this little danger, then what's the point of cultivating? He might as well be sent down the mountain."
Lu Mingshi had no expectations for Su Shi'er. With the worst Mixed Spirit Root, it seemed like a waste of resources to let him cultivate.
With no one else available in the peak, sending Su Shi'er to guard the Discarded Pill Room was undoubtedly the best decision.
As for the danger, he saw it as negligible. Encounters with wild beasts or demonic beasts were rare. Chen Xi, who also lacked talent, had stayed in the Discarded Pill Room for years before encountering danger.
Xiao Yue's face darkened, and she wanted to persuade him further.
Before she could speak, Su Shi'er suddenly said, "Senior Sister Xiao Yue, thank you! But the Peak Lord is right. My talent is lacking, and if I can't overcome this challenge, how can I hope to cultivate properly in the future?"
Su Shi'er could sense Lu Mingshi's determination. He knew he had no choice.
Staying meant at least having a chance to cultivate.
Leaving would make it nearly impossible to ever touch the world of cultivators again.
Xiao Yue felt a pang of sympathy and wanted to say more, "But..."
Lu Mingshi nodded and said, "Alright, it's commendable that you have this courage. You two, take him to guard the Discarded Pill Room."
With that, Lu Mingshi turned to the two disciples carrying the stretcher.
"Okay! Junior Brother, come with us!" The two nodded, looking at Su Shi'er with sympathy.
The Peak Lord was really sending this kid to his death!
Brother Chen Xi had at least cultivated for a few years, but this kid was only twelve!
Even if he went, he might be scared out of his wits in just a few days, if not dead.
Not only them, but Zhu Hanwei and the others also didn't have high hopes for Su Shi'er. To them, Su Shi'er was being foolish. Cultivation was one thing, but if you lost your life, what was the point?
Beside Lu Mingshi, Han Yu watched Su Shi'er's frail figure, wanting to say something but holding back. Well, with his talent, he'd naturally know to give up when faced with danger.
Su Shi'er followed the two disciples, one carrying the injured Chen Xi away, while the other led Su Shi'er to the Discarded Pill Room.
Perhaps thinking Su Shi'er wouldn't last long in the sect, the disciple leading the way remained silent throughout.
Su Shi'er, sensing the atmosphere, wisely kept quiet as well.
They descended Luofu Peak and walked for another two hours before reaching a small mountain at the sect's edge.
Before them stood a simple wooden and stone building. It was a standalone structure with its own courtyard, divided into several rooms, including a living area and a storeroom for discarded pills.
"This is the Discarded Pill Room. The storeroom is for storing discarded pills. At the end of each month, each peak will send their discarded pills here. Your job is to record the number of discarded pills from each peak and report it to the steward responsible for statistics at the beginning of the month.
This book teaches you how to identify different discarded pills. Can you read? If not, it's okay; there are pictures."
The disciple responsible for settling Su Shi'er led him around the various rooms of the Discarded Pill Room, handed him a guidebook on identifying discarded pills, and then hurriedly left.
Chapter 7 - The Mysterious Pill Furnace that Transforms Waste into Treasure
Soon, only Su Shi'er was left in the Discarded Pill Room.
The vast space was empty, with distant sounds of wolves howling and beasts roaring faintly echoing. Su Shi'er stood in the courtyard, his heart pounding with fear. Despite his bravery, he was still just a young boy.
But he knew well that to learn the Immortal Techniques, he must overcome the challenges before him. Lowering his head to look at the Discarded Pill Compendium in his hands, Su Shi'er began to flip through it.
The compendium contained simple introductions to over a hundred types of pill medicines and illustrations of discarded pills. Discarded pills were the failed products of pill refining, filled with impurities and even toxins, making them completely unusable.
For other children, understanding this would require significant effort. However, Su Shi'er had been learning to read and write from his grandfather since childhood, had read countless books, and was quick-witted. After silently reading through the compendium a few times, he memorized most of its contents.
Holding the compendium, Su Shi'er turned and entered the storeroom where the discarded pills were kept. Having read the text and seen the pictures, the next step was to identify the real items.
Inside the storeroom, discarded pills were piled up like mountains.
However, with the compendium's contents firmly in mind, Su Shi'er quickly discerned that there were not many types of discarded pills, just three to five kinds.
The most numerous were the Foundation Pills, used by entry-level disciples to strengthen the body and eliminate impurities.
Next were the Gathering Qi Pills, used by Qi Refining disciples to enhance cultivation speed, and a small Healing Pill for treating injuries.
Looking at the tens of thousands of discarded pills before him, Su Shi'er couldn't help but sigh. If these weren't discarded pills and he could possess so many pill medicines, it would be wonderful.
Unfortunately, for him, all this was just wishful thinking.
Su Shi'er stayed in the storeroom until evening, discovering two more types of discarded pills besides the three he had identified.
However, these discarded pills were just unwanted trash, and he could only learn more about pill medicines from them.
***
As night fell, Su Shi'er planned to return to his room to rest.
Just then, deep growls and heavy footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard.
The dull sounds, like muffled thunder or drumbeats, struck Su Shi'er's heart.
"Wild beasts?!"
Su Shi'er was shocked, his mind immediately recalling the image of a figure with severed limbs on a stretcher.
"What should I do?" He froze in place, not daring to move, fearing he might alert the beasts outside.
But the beasts showed no intention of leaving.
The footsteps grew closer, and with a thud, something seemed to leap over the courtyard wall.
Hearing the commotion, Su Shi'er's heart raced. Holding his breath, he cautiously peeked outside through the storeroom's gaps.
In the courtyard, a tiger with white forehead and blood-red eyes paced, its breath making a panting sound, white mist puffing from its mouth and nose.
Its eyes, like copper bells, glowed with a fierce light. As it sniffed the air, it seemed to catch the scent of a human, letting out a low growl, shaking its fur, and slowly approaching the storeroom where Su Shi'er was hiding.
Seeing this, Su Shi'er's pupils contracted, and he trembled all over. With his small frame, he was no match for the tiger; he wouldn't even be enough to fill its teeth.
Terrified, Su Shi'er grew calmer the more afraid he became.
Turning to look at the mountain of discarded pills behind him, a bold idea formed in his mind.
Without hesitation, he quickly retreated to the pile of discarded pills, stealthily digging a deep hole and burying himself within.
"Clang!"
In just a few minutes, the storeroom door was pushed open, and a massive, fierce tiger head peeked inside.
The tiger's gleaming teeth and foul-smelling maw terrified Su Shi'er into holding his breath, not daring to move.
Fortunately, the sheer number of discarded pills masked Su Shi'er's scent, and after glancing around, the tiger turned and left.
Seeing this, Su Shi'er let out a sigh of relief. But fearing the tiger might return, he stayed hidden among the discarded pills until dawn.
After repeatedly confirming that there was no movement outside, he finally crawled out from the discarded pills.
"What kind of place is this, with such a huge tiger right after I arrived? If I stay here, I'll be eaten by that tiger sooner or later!"
Su Shi'er's heart pounded, and he muttered to himself in fear.
He didn't believe his small frame could be a match for the tiger.
"But if I leave, how will I learn the methods of cultivation?
If I can't cultivate, how will I avenge my grandfather and the others? And there's that mysterious pill furnace; I need to figure out its use!"
As he pondered, Su Shi'er took out the old, rustic pill furnace from his pocket.
Seeing the pill furnace again, his pupils contracted, and he was momentarily stunned.
"Huh? Why are there two pills?"
Inside the pill furnace lay two crystal-clear, thumb-sized pills, resembling jade.
He quickly poured the pills into his hand, and immediately, a rich medicinal fragrance filled the air, invigorating him, dispelling hunger and fatigue.
Su Shi'er felt a surge of energy, grabbing a handful of discarded pills for comparison.
The discarded pills were pitch black, emitting a faint stench, a stark contrast to the two pills in his hand.
After careful examination, he finally confirmed that the two pills were indeed good Foundation Pills.
"Strange, how did the pill furnace suddenly produce two Foundation Pills?
I've only ever used this thing to store salt, and I've never seen it produce any pills.
Could it be... that discarded pills fell in last night?"
Thinking of this, Su Shi'er immediately tried it out, placing a discarded pill into the pill furnace and watching intently.
Under his gaze, the discarded pill was enveloped in a green light, shedding its black color at a visible speed.
It seemed as if the impurities were being refined away by some force.
In just a few breaths, the discarded pill turned from black to gray-green.
After another dozen breaths, a crystal-clear, jade-like Foundation Pill appeared in the pill furnace.
"Hiss~"
Watching this unfold, Su Shi'er couldn't help but gasp.
"This pill furnace can turn discarded pills into good pills? Turning waste into treasure, this is too miraculous!
No wonder... no wonder those Immortals wanted this pill furnace so badly!
But, I wonder if this pill furnace can keep refining?"
With a mix of excitement and anxiety, he stuffed a handful of discarded pills into the pill furnace.
In his sight, all the discarded pills were enveloped in a green light.
After a dozen breaths, the light vanished, replaced by flawless, crystal-clear Foundation Pills.
Su Shi'er tried this over ten times, and no matter how many pills he put in, as long as the pill furnace could hold them, they would be refined into normal pills within ten to twenty breaths.
Throughout the process, the pill furnace remained in its rustic, worn state, unchanged.
Having confirmed the pill furnace's function, Su Shi'er turned to look at the mountain of discarded pills, his breath quickening.
At this moment, in his eyes, these were not unwanted trash but pills that could be used for cultivation!
"With so many pills, even if my spirit root is lacking, I can surely achieve something! I mustn't tell anyone about this!"
Clutching the pill furnace tightly to his chest, his heart pounded, and his face flushed red.
Though he didn't know much about cultivation, he understood the value of this pill furnace.
Hiding the pill furnace close to his body, he found several porcelain bottles in the storeroom to store the refined pills before returning to his room.
"Now, let's see if these refined pills are truly effective!"
With that thought, Su Shi'er took out a Foundation Pill from his pocket.
Chapter 8 - Hunting Tiger
This was the only type of pill medicine he could take right now. As for the Gathering Qi Pills, those were for disciples in the Qi Refining stage to use for cultivation.
Looking at the pill in his hand, Su Shi'er hesitated for a moment before closing his eyes and swallowing it.
As the pill went down his throat, Su Shi'er immediately felt a warm current flowing through his entire body, like basking in the sun, exceptionally comfortable.
This state lasted for a full hour.
When the warm current disappeared, Su Shi'er opened his eyes to find that a layer of thick black impurities had unknowingly seeped out onto the surface of his body.
He quickly went to the courtyard to wash away the impurities. After taking a few deep breaths, he felt no discomfort; instead, he felt full of energy.
Only then did he let out a long sigh of relief, his anxious heart finally at ease.
"It seems these pills are indeed effective. Just like the books say, they can remove impurities from the body and enhance one's physique.
If I consume all these Foundation Pills, my body will definitely become very strong.
By then, I won't have to fear that tiger anymore!"
Su Shi'er thought silently and decided to stay in the Discarded Pill Room, consuming Foundation Pills as his daily food.
He had no idea how extravagant this behavior was. Using Foundation Pills as meals was unheard of, not just in the Azure Mountain range, but throughout the entire Zhao Kingdom.
If other disciples found out, they would be green with envy!
In the cultivation world, the success rate of pill refining was extremely low. Entry-level disciples of the Cloud Song Sect received as few as three to as many as ten Foundation Pills per month.
***
For ten consecutive days, Su Shi'er lived in constant anxiety.
Every night during these ten days, the tiger would appear. Knowing he was no match for it, he could only hide in the Discarded Pill Room when it showed up, using the discarded pills to mask his scent.
This morning, Su Shi'er swallowed three more Foundation Pills.
But this time, there were almost no impurities expelled from his body, and apart from not feeling hungry, there were no other noticeable changes.
This situation made Su Shi'er furrow his brows.
"It seems that Foundation Pills can't infinitely enhance my physique. This is troublesome! That tiger remains a threat, and if it ever catches me, I'm done for.
I must find another way. Even if it's risky, I need to get rid of it as soon as possible!
My current physique is on par with adults. If I could set a trap..."
As Su Shi'er thought about it, his eyes lit up. The improvement in his physique had boosted his confidence, but he wasn't about to engage the tiger in close combat unless absolutely necessary.
The biggest difference between humans and animals is the ability to think!
Once he had the idea, he wasted no time.
He checked each room and soon found a pile of farming tools in one of them.
Su Shi'er picked out a shovel and an axe and began to take action.
After a whole day's work, he dug a pit five to six meters deep in the courtyard. He chopped several arm-thick wooden stakes, sharpened them, and embedded them upside down at the bottom and around the pit.
By nightfall, a carefully crafted trap was set up in the courtyard.
After concealing the trap, Su Shi'er held the axe and crouched in the corner of the courtyard, patiently waiting.
He was determined to hunt the tiger tonight.
With his ear pressed against the wall, he began to listen intently.
After consuming a large number of Foundation Pills, not only had his physique improved, but his senses had also been enhanced. Now, he could clearly hear many sounds from a hundred meters away.
Based on the past few days' experience, the tiger should be arriving around this time.
Soon, he heard the rustling footsteps approaching from afar.
Hearing the noise, he instinctively tightened his grip on the axe, leaning against the wall, his eyes fixed on the courtyard without blinking.
"Thud!"
With a dull thud, the tiger leaped over the wall as if it were returning home.
Seeing the tiger appear, Su Shi'er shivered at first, then quickly raised the axe, standing up, ready for action.
Even though he was prepared, facing such an opponent for the first time, he couldn't help but feel nervous, his limbs slightly trembling.
The sheer size of the creature alone was not something he could easily contend with.
At the same time, the tiger noticed Su Shi'er in the corner, and smelling the scent of a human, its ferocity was unleashed.
"Roar!"
The tiger let out a roar, opening its bloodthirsty maw and charging at Su Shi'er.
Its sharp claws and fangs glinted coldly in the moonlight, and the foul breath from its mouth was terrifying!
The massive body made the ground tremble with each step.
As the tiger drew closer, Su Shi'er's heart pounded in his throat, cold sweat breaking out on his back!
His gaze fell on the trap not far ahead, and he felt a bit more at ease.
But in the next second, an unexpected change occurred.
Just as the tiger was about to step into the trap, it suddenly leaped, seemingly about to jump over the trap and pounce directly on Su Shi'er.
Seeing this, Su Shi'er panicked. If the trap didn't work, he would be in great danger on his own.
"Ah!"
With a loud shout, he disregarded his fear, using all his strength to hurl the axe at the airborne tiger.
"Bang!"
With a dull thud, the axe struck the tiger, causing its head to bleed profusely.
Su Shi'er's strength now rivaled that of a strongman!
The tiger, just as it leaped, was struck by the axe, its body pausing in mid-air before landing prematurely.
Upon landing, the tiger grimaced in pain, its eyes wide open, letting out a fierce roar as it prepared to charge at Su Shi'er again.
But just as it moved, the ground beneath its feet suddenly gave way. Caught off guard, it fell directly into the pit.
"Splash~"
A splash of bright red blood erupted from the trap. As it fell, the tiger was impaled by the sharp stakes, letting out an earth-shattering roar.
But after a few roars, it fell silent.
Seeing the silence, Su Shi'er quickly grabbed the axe and moved to the side, peering into the pit.
Just as he leaned over, a shadow flashed before his eyes—the tiger, enduring its injuries, leaped up.
Caught off guard, Su Shi'er was knocked away, the axe slipping from his grasp.
Upon hitting the ground, he felt a wave of soreness and pain throughout his body. If it weren't for the long-term consumption of Foundation Pills, which greatly enhanced his physique, he would have been in pieces by now.
"Not good!"
Ignoring his injuries, he quickly got up.
As soon as he stood, he saw the tiger, bleeding and with eyes full of malice, pouncing on him. Its jaws wide open, teeth gleaming menacingly as it lunged to bite him.
In desperation, Su Shi'er flung a handful of dust into its eyes. Taking advantage of its momentary blindness, he kicked it hard on its injured side.
His strength now far exceeded that of an ordinary mortal. The kick was both heavy and fierce, causing the tiger to stagger, nearly falling.
Seizing the opportunity, Su Shi'er rolled to where the axe had fallen. Picking it up, he swung it with force at the tiger.
By now, Su Shi'er was filled with rage, needing to vent his anger. Seeing blood, he no longer cared about traps.
The tiger, already wounded, had its reactions and agility greatly diminished.
Facing Su Shi'er's attack, it was defenseless.
***
Half an hour later, Su Shi'er had a few new wounds on his body. But the tiger, covered in blood, lay on the ground, unable to rise.
"I... I actually killed a tiger with my own strength? These cultivator pills are incredible."
Standing beside the tiger's corpse, Su Shi'er felt a surge of excitement after calming down.
Hunting a tiger alone had greatly boosted his courage! The sense of achievement was indescribable.
But soon, a wave of fear followed.
"That was close. I thought the trap was foolproof, but the tiger played dead and nearly killed me. I must be more cautious in the future!"
The tiger's feigned death and counterattack left a deep impression on him, making him realize that he should never underestimate any opponent.
That night, Su Shi'er slept exceptionally well.
Chapter 9 - Men in Black Reappear
The next day, he dismembered the fierce tiger and made it into roasted meat, then settled down in the Discarded Pill Room.
However, every few days, different wild beasts would come near the Discarded Pill Room.
To deal with this, he set up numerous traps around his dwelling, tirelessly hunting these beasts.
Although he hadn't started cultivating yet, his combat skills improved significantly from daily battles with various beasts. Moreover, the improved diet greatly benefited his physical growth.
***
That evening, Su Shi'er, draped in a tiger skin and holding a bamboo knife, hid in a mountain hollow near his dwelling.
Lying in the hollow, he resembled a sleeping tiger. Under the tiger skin, he strained his ears, listening intently to the surrounding sounds.
This time, he was up against a fierce blue wolf as strong as an ox. The blue wolf was extremely vicious and could even spew strong winds from its mouth, much like the legendary demonic beasts.
He had been outsmarting this demonic beast for several days, and today, he had prepared several extra traps, intending to finish it off once and for all.
Just then, a rustling sound reached his ears.
Su Shi'er's heart tightened, and he instinctively gripped the bamboo knife in his hand.
But the next second, the voice that came from not far away struck him like a bolt of lightning.
"Where is it?!"
"Subordinate failed to accomplish the task, please punish me, Lord!"
Hearing the voice, Su Shi'er froze in place.
Immediately, a surge of intense hatred welled up in his heart.
The latter's voice was so familiar! It was a voice he could never forget for the rest of his life!
At that moment, the image of the black-clothed person who murdered his grandfather and the villagers flashed through his mind!
"That person, he's actually in the Cloud Song Sect?!"
The thought flashed by, and Su Shi'er clenched his fists.
But he knew in his heart that he was no match for that person now.
If discovered, he would be doomed!
That black-clothed person was more brutal and terrifying than a fierce tiger!
Holding his breath, Su Shi'er didn't dare to make a sound.
Nearby, the conversation between the two continued.
"You indeed deserve punishment, but you wouldn't be trying to keep the Treasure Furnace for yourself, would you?"
"Lord, you wrong me. That old man from Small Stone Village had a mouth harder than stone. Despite all my threats and bribes, he refused to speak until his death."
"Hmph! Can't even handle a few mortals, what use do I have for you?!"
***
Listening to their conversation, Su Shi'er's heart skipped a beat.
"Lord? That person sounds even more formidable than the black-clothed person?
Could it be... there's someone even more powerful behind the black-clothed person?"
This realization shocked him even more.
Lying on the ground, he remained motionless, fearing the two would discover his presence.
Through a gap, he could vaguely see two shadowy black figures conversing under a towering tree not far away.
The moonlight stretched their shadows, casting them onto him.
"Thank you, Lord, for sparing my life. I have another lead on this matter!"
"Oh? What lead?"
"Afterward, I went back to Small Stone Village and found a new cemetery with a hundred graves. The person who erected the monument is named Su Shi'er, the grandson of that old man. If I'm not mistaken, the Treasure Furnace must be with that boy named Su Shi'er!"
"Hmm? Is that so? Fine, I'll give you another month. If you still can't find the Treasure Furnace, you know the consequences!"
***
After speaking, the two conspired for a while longer before soaring into the sky, flying off in different directions.
In the mountain hollow, Su Shi'er lay on the ground, his mind in turmoil.
His head was filled with the black-clothed person's final words.
"He... he knows my name and that the Pill Furnace is with me?!
No, I must leave here immediately!"
At that moment, Su Shi'er's heart raced, his mind consumed with thoughts of escape.
But on second thought, if he left the Cloud Song Sect, he wouldn't know where else to learn cultivation methods.
Moreover, he had finally obtained a clue about the black-clothed person. If he left without investigating further, he wouldn't be satisfied.
With this in mind, Su Shi'er forced himself to calm down and waited until the latter half of the night. Confirming that the two hadn't returned and the blue wolf hadn't appeared, he returned to his dwelling with a nervous heart.
***
The next morning, at dawn.
Su Shi'er had just woken up when he heard a series of urgent knocks on the door.
Knock, knock, knock...
The sound was neither fast nor slow, but each knock seemed to strike Su Shi'er's heart, quickening his pulse.
"Oh no, could it be... that person found me so soon?" Su Shi'er jumped out of bed, his heart in his throat.
His eyes darted around as he considered the possibility of escape.
"Junior Brother Shi'er, are you there?"
At this moment, a melodious voice came from outside.
Senior Sister Xiao Yue?
Hearing this, Su Shi'er was momentarily stunned, but his heart didn't settle. Instead, he suddenly realized another problem: he had joined Luofu Peak using his real name.
And now, not only did the black-clothed person know of his existence, but he also knew his name!
What should he do? Su Shi'er broke out in a cold sweat.
As he was at a loss, Xiao Yue's slightly worried voice came from outside again.
"Junior Brother Shi'er?!"
Hearing the voice again, Su Shi'er had no choice but to temporarily suppress his worries, take a deep breath, and quickly go to open the door.
"Senior Sister Xiao Yue?"
As the door opened, he saw Xiao Yue standing at the entrance, dressed in a long gown with a sword on her back.
Seeing Su Shi'er, Xiao Yue's face was full of surprise.
Perhaps in her heart, she thought Su Shi'er wouldn't last this long, either dying at the hands of a beast or having fled in fear.
Despite her surprise, Xiao Yue quickly smiled, appearing very natural.
"Judging by your complexion, it seems you've been doing... quite well?" As she spoke, Xiao Yue glanced into the courtyard.
Seeing the pile of various beast hides on the ground, her pupils contracted in shock!
"Hmm? Are those beast hides? You... you actually killed so many beasts?"
As she spoke, Xiao Yue quickly scanned Su Shi'er up and down, unable to believe what she was seeing.
A mere twelve-year-old child capable of killing so many beasts? What a joke!
"It wasn't me who killed them! I just dug a few traps around, and those beasts were too stupid, falling in every few days." Su Shi'er scratched his head and smiled, quickly inviting Xiao Yue in and pointing to the traps in the courtyard.
He didn't want Xiao Yue to think he was impressive, and he certainly couldn't let anyone know about taking the Foundation Pills.
"So it was traps, I see! But still, it's impressive you came up with such a method! Others would probably be scared to death encountering these beasts!"
Seeing the traps, Xiao Yue's emotions calmed a bit. Otherwise, she would have thought he was a prodigy.
But her gaze at Su Shi'er was still full of surprise and admiration.
At twelve, she didn't have such skills or courage.
This little guy was smart and brave, but unfortunately, his spirit root was too poor; otherwise, he would be a promising talent.
"Hehe, thank you for the compliment, Senior Sister!" Su Shi'er chuckled, then asked about her visit, "Senior Sister, is there something you need this time?"
Xiao Yue smiled and said, "I came to check on your safety, but it seems I worried for nothing. Secondly, I'm here to inform you about the newcomer trial!"
"Newcomer trial?" Su Shi'er raised an eyebrow slightly. He had heard the Peak Lord of Heavenly Splendor Peak mention it when he first entered the sect.
Xiao Yue nodded, "Yes, according to Cloud Song Sect's rules, every batch of newcomers must participate in a trial five years after entering. Only by passing the trial can they stay in the sect; otherwise, they can only be servant disciples or be sent back."
"Servant disciples? Sent back?" Su Shi'er's heart trembled, and he cautiously asked, "What does the trial entail?"
Xiao Yue replied, "The trial content varies each time and will be announced when it begins. However, based on past experiences, to pass the trial, one must have at least the fourth level of the Qi Refining stage or higher."
"Fourth level of the Qi Refining stage?" Su Shi'er's face turned pale.
According to Lu Mingshi, he could only cultivate to the seventh or eighth level of the Qi Refining stage in his lifetime.
At this rate, let alone not having a cultivation method now, even if he did, reaching the fourth level of the Qi Refining stage within five years would be extremely challenging.
But giving up was not an option for Su Shi'er.
After hesitating for a moment, he quietly asked Xiao Yue, "Senior Sister, if I want to cultivate, what should I do?"