Chapter 2

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The carriage galloped swiftly along the narrow path, Wang Lin's body swaying with the uneven ground. He held the package in his arms, his heart heavy, carrying the hopes of his parents as he left the mountain village where he had lived for fifteen years.

The distance to the county town was not short, and Wang Lin gradually fell asleep. He didn't know how long he had been asleep when he was gently shaken awake. Opening his eyes, he saw his Uncle Four smiling at him and teasingly said, "Tiezhu, what are your thoughts on leaving home for the first time?"

Wang Lin noticed the carriage had stopped and smiled awkwardly, "I don't have many thoughts, just a bit scared. I wonder if I'll be accepted by the immortals."

Uncle Four laughed heartily, patted Tiezhu's shoulder, and said, "Alright, don't think too much. We've arrived. This is Uncle Four's house. You can rest here first, and I'll take you to your clan in the morning."

After getting off the carriage, Wang Lin saw a row of tile-roofed houses. Following Uncle Four to a room, Wang Lin sat on the bed but couldn't fall asleep. Memories of his parents, neighbors, and relatives flashed through his mind, and he sighed inwardly. The thought of being accepted as a disciple by the immortals grew stronger.

Time passed slowly, and before long, the sky began to brighten as the sun rose. Despite not having rested much, Wang Lin felt energetic. With a mix of anticipation and nervousness, he followed Uncle Four to the Wang family's large residence.

This was the first time Wang Lin had seen such a large house, and he was dazzled. Uncle Four sighed as they walked, "Tiezhu, you must make your father proud this time. Don't let the relatives laugh at you."

Wang Lin felt even more nervous, bit his lower lip, and nodded.

Shortly after, Uncle Four led him to the central courtyard of the residence. Tiezhu's father's elder brother, an old man, stood in the courtyard. Seeing Tiezhu, he nodded slightly and said, "Tiezhu, when the immortals arrive, don't be surprised. Follow your brother Wang Zhuo's lead. Do as he does, understand?"

The last few words were said with a stern tone.

Wang Lin remained silent, looking around. He noticed that besides Wang Zhuo, there was another boy. The boy had slightly dark skin, a sturdy build, and a mischievous glint in his eyes. His clothes were bulging, as if he was carrying something.

Seeing Tiezhu looking at him, the boy made a face and ran over, asking, "You must be Brother Tiezhu from Uncle Two's family. I'm Wang Hao."

Wang Lin smiled and nodded.

The old man, seeing that Tiezhu was ignoring him, felt a bit annoyed and was about to scold him.

At that moment, clouds suddenly drifted across the sky, and a sword beam flashed down like lightning. The sword beam dissipated, revealing a young man in white. He had sharp, piercing eyes and an extraordinary aura. His expression was cold as he scanned the three boys, pausing slightly on the bulging part of the mischievous boy's clothes. He said coldly, "Are these the three candidates from the Wang family?"

"Is this an immortal?" Wang Lin felt a chill run through his body, his heart pounding uncontrollably. His face turned pale as he stared at the young man in a daze.

The mischievous boy, with his bright eyes, also stood respectfully with his hands at his sides, his eyes filled with fervor.

Only Wang Zhuo glanced at the young man indifferently and snorted through his nose.

Wang Zhuo's father hurried forward, his face full of respect, and said nervously, "Exalted Immortal, these three are the Wang family's recommended candidates."

The young man nodded, impatiently saying, "Who is Wang Zhuo?"

The old man's face lit up, and he quickly pulled Wang Zhuo forward, saying, "Exalted Immortal, this is my son, Wang Zhuo."

The young man looked deeply at Wang Zhuo, his expression softening slightly. He nodded and said, "Junior Brother Wang is indeed a fine talent. No wonder Uncle Daoxu favored you."

Wang Zhuo looked at Tiezhu and the other mischievous boy with a proud expression and said, "Of course. My innate talent for cultivation has been highly praised by Immortal Daoxu."

The young man's eyebrows furrowed but quickly relaxed. He glanced at Wang Zhuo with a half-smile, then swept his sleeve, and the three boys were carried into the air, turning into a long rainbow and disappearing instantly.

Uncle Four looked up at the sky, muttering, "Tiezhu, you must be chosen!"

Wang Lin felt his body become light, and the strong wind stung his face. Looking closely, he was shocked to find himself held under the young man's arm, flying rapidly through the air. The villages below turned into small black dots, quickly moving backward.

In just a short while, his eyes were already red from the wind, and tears streamed down his face.

"If you don't want to go blind, close your eyes," the young man's cold voice said. Wang Lin's heart trembled, and he quickly closed his eyes, no longer daring to look. His desire to cultivate became even stronger.

After a short time, Wang Lin could feel the young man breathing slightly harder, and his speed had clearly slowed. Then, everything went blurry, and the young man quickly landed. As he touched the ground, he released his arms, and the three boys fell to the ground.

Fortunately, the fall was not too hard, and the three quickly got up. What Wang Lin saw was a place that seemed like a paradise, with green mountains and clear waters, birds singing, and flowers fragrant.

In front of them stood a towering mountain peak, its rocks competing in beauty, shrouded in mist, making it impossible to see its true form. Occasionally, the sound of beasts could be heard. A winding stone path led down from the mountain, like a scene from a painting, with clear mountains and beautiful waters, evoking a sense of being in another world.

Looking up, a grand hall could be seen at the peak of the mountain. Although obscured by mist, it emitted a dazzling array of colors, inspiring reverence at first sight.

Next to the hall, a long stone bridge extended like a crescent moon into the misty void, connecting to another mountain peak.

This blessed land was the entrance to the Hengyue Sect, one of the few cultivation sects in the State of Zhao. Five hundred years ago, it had once led the entire cultivation world of Zhao, boasting several Elder Adepts in the Core Formation stage, enjoying great glory. Unfortunately, with the passage of time and several upheavals, the once mighty sect had shrunk to the point where it could barely maintain its position in the cultivation world.

However, even so, the Hengyue Sect remained unattainable for ordinary people within a ten-thousand-mile radius.

"Junior Brother Zhang, are these the three boys recommended by the Wang family?" A middle-aged man in black, exuding a sage-like aura, floated down from the mountain peak.

The young man's face showed respect as he said, "Senior Brother, these three are indeed the Wang family's recommendations."

The middle-aged man scanned the three boys, focusing on Wang Zhuo for a moment, and smiled, "The Sect Leader knows you are at a critical stage in your cultivation. I will conduct this test. You can continue your cultivation."

The young man nodded, and with a swift movement, he disappeared up the mountain path in the blink of an eye.

Wang Lin stared at the scene before him, his heart surging with emotion. Suddenly, he felt someone tugging at his clothes. Turning his head, he saw the mischievous boy, whose eyes were even more fervent. The boy whispered, "This is where the immortals live. Damn it, I, Wang Hao, will be chosen no matter what!" He then patted the bulging part of his clothes.