Chapter 4: The Immortal

All these disciples were elite members of the sect’s inner circle, each gifted beyond compare. Not a single one failed to reach the Foundation Establishment stage before the age of thirty, after which they were dispatched to the mortal world for three years of training, tasked with seeking out mortal youths with the potential for cultivation.

To prevent these disciples from causing disturbances among mortals and disrupting worldly order, the Hengyuan Sect imposed strict regulations on Foundation Establishment disciples sent to the secular world: First, they must not reveal their identities as cultivators at will; second, they must not use spells to harm ordinary mortals; third, they must not exploit their status as cultivators to amass wealth among the common folk. It was precisely these stringent rules that ensured their training yielded genuine results.

In the woods on the southern outskirts of Qingyang Town, two young people walked side by side—a man and a woman. The man, judging by his appearance, was about twenty-four or twenty-five, standing nearly seven feet tall. His jet-black hair was neatly tied into a topknot and secured with a finely crafted white jade crown. His features were striking—sword-like brows, eyes like a tiger, exuding an extraordinary aura and refined demeanor. Clad in a long azure robe, his handsome presence made him appear rather distinguished.

The woman, too, seemed to be in her early twenties. She wore a water-blue gauze dress, her silky black hair cascading gracefully around her slender waist, styled elegantly in a cloud-shaped bun adorned with a purple crystal magnolia hairpin. Her eyebrows arched like willow leaves, her skin as smooth as jade, her face reminiscent of a lotus blossom, her temperament as serene as an orchid, with a delicate beauty shining through her features.

“Junior Sister Tong, we’ve been assigned by the sect to train in the mortal world together, and now the three-year deadline is almost upon us. Yet, we haven’t encountered a single mortal youth with a spiritual root suitable for cultivation. I fear the rewards promised by the sect will elude us this time,” the young man said to the girl beside him.

“Senior Brother Zhou, we’ve searched nearly every crowded place in the county during these three years, and it seems there truly isn’t anyone suitable for cultivation here. When we return, let’s focus on our own advancement and strive to reach the Core Formation stage soon. That way, the sect will reward us with treasures appropriate for Core Formation, and we’ll also be eligible to compete for the position of Elder in the future.”

These two were, of course, disciples of Hengyuan Sect—elite members of the inner circle with remarkable potential for cultivation. The man’s name was Zhou Yi, born with a wood-attribute spiritual root; the woman was He Yitong, born with a water-attribute spiritual root. Both had been discovered by a Nascent Soul cultivator during their youth and brought into the sect, immediately accepted as disciples. After more than a decade of training, they achieved Foundation Establishment and became some of the most valued disciples in the sect.

There were nearly a hundred disciples like them dispatched for training into the world, all elite inner sect disciples with high aptitude, each having reached Foundation Establishment in their twenties before undertaking secular training.

It was nearing dusk when Qiuhan and Yunrou returned from the private academy. The path from town to their home passed through the southern woods; every day after school, they walked this way, chatting and laughing as they went.

“Hey, look—there are two people over there,” Qiuhan exclaimed in surprise, turning to Yunrou. “Sister Rou, let’s go check it out. Their clothes look so beautiful.”

Yunrou noticed them as well and agreed. The two walked leisurely toward Zhou Yi and He Yitong. Zhou Yi and He Yitong, resting on a large stone, saw Qiuhan and Yunrou approaching.

“Senior Brother Zhou, look,” said He Yitong.

Zhou Yi murmured in response, watching as the two drew near. He asked, “Little brother, little sister, is there something you need from us?”

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Qiuhan quickly replied, “Big brother, we saw you and big sister wearing such unusual clothes—we’ve never seen anything like them, nor have we seen you before. So we came over to ask out of curiosity.”

Zhou Yi nodded thoughtfully and asked, “Little brother, what’s your name?”

“I’m Qiuhan, and she’s Yunrou. We’re both from Qingyang Town and study at the private academy.”

“Come here, little brother—bring your head over,” Zhou Yi said.

For reasons unknown even to himself, Zhou Yi felt a sudden urge when he saw Qiuhan and Yunrou.

Qiuhan stepped forward without hesitation, gazing at Zhou Yi with curiosity, unsure what he intended.

Zhou Yi placed his right hand gently on Qiuhan’s forehead. In moments, his demeanor shifted—he grew visibly excited, unable to contain his exhilaration as he exclaimed, “Innate wood-attribute single spiritual root! I’ve finally found a mortal with the qualification for cultivation!”

Afraid of making a mistake, Zhou Yi repeated the check, placing his hand on Qiuhan’s head again. After confirming, he turned to He Yitong and said, “Junior Sister Tong, we’ve finally found a mortal with a spiritual root—and it’s the same wood attribute as mine. He looks to be about fourteen or fifteen—what incredible potential! If we bring him back to the sect, it will be a great achievement. Our standing in the sect will surely rise, and when it’s time to form our core, we could even petition the master for a Transformation Pill.”

He Yitong, accustomed to Zhou Yi’s usual composure, was surprised to see him so ecstatic. Half skeptical, she placed her hand on Qiuhan’s head, and her eyes widened as she exclaimed, “Wood-attribute single spiritual root! Senior Brother Zhou, it truly is a single spiritual root, the same as yours.”

Zhou Yi nodded, suppressing his excitement. He turned to Qiuhan, who was still rubbing his head in confusion, and asked, “Little brother, how old are you?”

Though puzzled by their conversation, Qiuhan honestly stated his age.

“Qiuhan, would you like to return to our sect and cultivate immortality?” Zhou Yi asked.

The mention of cultivation stunned Qiuhan, who grabbed Zhou Yi’s hand and asked, “Really? Can I cultivate? Can I become an immortal and fly in the sky?” His eyes searched Zhou Yi’s face, eager for an answer.

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Zhou Yi and He Yitong were amused by Qiuhan’s reaction, reminded of their own excitement when their master first told them they could become immortals.

To prove his identity as a cultivator, Zhou Yi offered to demonstrate for Qiuhan and Yunrou. After ensuring no one was around, he raised his right hand and slowly conjured a small fireball in his palm. With a flick, the fireball landed on the ground, igniting a patch of leaves that quickly burned to ash, carried away by the wind.

Next, Zhou Yi extended his right hand toward a small branch on the ground and, with a gesture, caused it to fly into the air. As he waved his hand, the branch spun midair, then, with a pull, it shot toward Zhou Yi, landing in his grasp.

Qiuhan and Yunrou were dumbfounded, witnessing wonders beyond anything they’d imagined. So immortals truly possessed such powers—it was simply miraculous.

“Big brother Zhou, you really are an immortal! Will I be able to do such things someday?” Qiuhan asked eagerly.

Zhou Yi smiled. “This is nothing. Those were just two simple spells: ‘Fireball Technique’ and ‘Object Manipulation.’ Even beginner cultivators can learn them. The true power of cultivators is far greater than this. You won’t understand now, but when you start cultivating, you’ll see for yourself. So, little brother, will you come back to the sect with me to cultivate immortality?”

“I will, I will!” Qiuhan nodded vigorously, afraid Zhou Yi might change his mind. Then he asked, “Big brother Zhou, can you check if Yunrou can cultivate, too?”