1-5 Immortal World Wanderer

Chapter 1. The Mysterious Black Jar

Canglang Mountain, nestled in the miasma-ridden region of Northern Yan, was surrounded by dense forests and overlapping ridges. Its nickname reflected its geography: eight mountains, one river, and a portion of arable land. Despite its poverty-stricken setting, resilient clusters of villages were still scattered throughout the area.

In the past, the mountain people of Canglang led harsh lives, battling with the land for grain, the mountains for water, and the elements for survival. Yet, ten years prior, their livelihood abruptly improved. Not only did each household have surplus food, but every village also constructed ancestral halls with green bricks and pottery tiles.

Shu Village was one of them.

At dawn, within the ancestral hall of Shu Village, a line of children were seated in an orderly manner. They all restrained their lively and playful nature, their mouths filled with green medicinal herbs. Yet soon, a child began to bounce around, coughing incessantly, quickly spitting out the bitter medicine, his small face etched with an expression of pain. As time passed, more and more children could no longer endure and, one after another spat out the medicinal herbs and left the ancestral hall.

Only three children remained in the ancestral hall.

A faint mist of spiritual energy was continuously emerging from the crowns of two of them. However, this phenomenon was absent in the child with a slightly larger head.

"Hold on! You must completely absorb the effect of the Enlightenment Herb!" he muttered to himself.

"I can already feel it, just a bit more of the Enlightenment Herb and I will be able to awaken my spiritual root like Erdan, qualifying to enter the Mystical Dragon Sect!"

The big-headed child's name was Shu Han.

Since he had a large head, he was thus given the nickname Big Head. Perhaps because of his larger head, Shu Han was more astute and clever compared to other children. The story of how Big-Head captured the mountain bandits at night was widely known.

Two autumns ago, a drought had spread around Canglang Mountain. Many honest farmers had turned into bandits just to survive. One night, after the village had turned off its lights, a group of people snuck into Shu Village, only to run into Shu Han who had gotten up to use the restroom.

These bandits were not extremely wicked, intending only to knock Shu Han unconscious. Any ordinary child would've been terrified, yet Shu Han reacted swiftly. He pretended to be the village idiot and insistently declared that they were there to buy grain. The bandits followed his lead, asking Shu Han to show them the granary. Shu Han lied that for safety's sake, the village chief had hidden all the grain in the ancestral hall. After leading them into the hall, he quickly slipped out through a small hole and locked the door behind him, trapping the bandits inside.

After the incident, everyone in Shu Village praised Shu Han, saying his big head held great wisdom.

Seated atop the ancestral hall was a middle-aged man donned in silk robes, embroidered with lifelike bamboo shoots—a stark contrast to the village chief standing beside him in coarse linen. Holding a cup of hot tea, his eyes shone brighter than any of the villagers. He watched the children below with a degree of satisfaction, remarking, "The children are all doing well, especially Erdan. He appears to have a deep spiritual root. Goudan's performance is also commendable, it's just a pity for Big-Head. There's still no sign of him awakening his spiritual root..."

The white-bearded village chief bowed and nodded, "Immortal Master Zhang, does Big-Head still have a chance?"

Immortal Master Zhang pondered for a moment, "I quite like Big-Head. He's not only intelligent but also has tenacity. Consuming the Enlightenment Herb without an awakened spiritual root is like swallowing burning charcoal. It's rare for a child to persist like this. Give him two more days. If there's still no sign by then, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do."

The village chief rubbed his hands together, smiling, "Immortal Master Zhang, if our Shu Village produces three children with spiritual roots, could we perhaps receive additional subsidies? Once the children leave, they never come back. We have to give their parents an explanation."

Immortal Master Zhang glanced at him, snorting, "If Big-Head truly succeeds, building another ancestral hall for your village wouldn't be an issue. Don't bother me about this anymore."

"Of course, of course..."

Eventually, enduring the fiery sensation, Shu Han managed to fully assimilate all the medicinal potency of the Enlightenment Herb.

At this time, Erdan and Goudan also woke up. Their faces bore no signs of pain but rather exhibited a refreshing and clear demeanor. This scene stirred a yearning within Shu Han, intensifying his resolve to awaken his spiritual root.

"The Immortal Master said that entering the Mystical Dragon Sect is far better than becoming a scholar," he reminded himself.

"As long as I enter the Mystical Dragon Sect, I will be able to lead a wealthy life with my parents and younger sister outside the mountain. I could also see the grand world that Immortal Master Zhang mentioned."

With this thought in mind, Shu Han took out a worn-out hemp bag and began picking up the spit-out Enlightenment Herb. He knew that the medicinal strength of these herbs had not yet dissipated. After a slight rinse, he could consume them again. If he didn't have the natural gift like Erdan, then he must make up for it with hard work.

Watching Shu Han pick up the Enlightenment Herb, Goudan sneered, "Big-Head, just give it up! You aren't destined for this! It's quite decent to be a carpenter like your father."

"Goudan, say that one more time, and I swear I'll give you a good beating!"

Erdan got up, rage simmering in his eyes as he raised his fist.

Goudan retreated with a chuckle, "Erdan, Big-Head is bound to spend his life in the village, but we will surely go to the Mystical Dragon Sect. There's no point in losing our temper over Big-Head. My mother said we need to look after each other in the future!"

"Dare to speak again!"

With eyes wide as saucers, Erdan lunged at Goudan, ready to give him a beating, but was held back by Shu Han.

"Big Brother Big-Head, if he dares to speak to you like this, I'll beat him to death!"

Shu Han shook his head, pocketed a bag of Enlightenment Herb, and pulled Erdan out of the ancestral hall.

Erdan's anger hadn't subsided, "Big Brother Big-Head, he's always insulting you. Let me punch him once, I guarantee I'll shut his foul mouth."

"Hey, I think Goudan is right."

"Huh?"

Erdan's eyes widened into perfect circles, "Big Brother Big-Head, are you okay?"

Shu Han scratched his head, "If I don't awaken my spiritual root in the future, then I'll really not be like you guys. You'll be going to the Mystical Dragon Sect, you should get along with Goudan, it's always good to have someone watch your back. But, if I do awaken my spiritual root, won't that be slapping Goudan in the face?"

Grinning, Erdan said, "Big Brother Big-Head, I believe you can do it. Here, this is what I have left from this morning."

Erdan handed over an intact Enlightenment Herb to Shu Han.

"Erdan... you..."

Erdan laughed heartily, "I don't need it anymore. Immortal Master Zhang told me long ago that I'm sure to enter the Mystical Dragon Sect. By then, I can have as many Enlightenment Herbs as I want, and even more valuable treasures than the Herb! Big Brother Big-Head, we must go to the Mystical Dragon Sect together."

"Alright!"

Returning home, Shu Han hurriedly ate his breakfast, pocketed a bag of tattered Enlightenment Herb, and walked towards the upper reaches of the creek. This secluded place had few visitors and no disturbances. After washing the bag of Enlightenment Herb in the creek, Shu Han immediately started to consume them.

The bitten Enlightenment Herb had lost most of its medicinal power, yet still gave a burning sensation in his chest and lungs.

Gritting his teeth, by the time Shu Han consumed the second one, he felt a scorching heat all over his body, wishing he could plunge into the creek to cool off.

"I feel I'm so close! Immortal Master Zhang will take Erdan and Goudan away soon. I must awaken my spiritual root before they leave!"

There were eight Enlightenment Herbs in the bag, but these eight caused Shu Han to suffer from morning till evening.

As the sun set, the reddish light bathed Shu Han's young face. Slowly opening his eyes, the look in them revealed more despair than anything else.

All of the collected Enlightenment Herbs had been used up, yet the feeling of awakening his spiritual root was just a bit off. It was like the saying among the elders, "Don't beat a dead horse." The goal seemed close enough to touch, yet no matter how hard Shu Han tried, he couldn't reach it.

"Ah!" Shu Han cried out in frustration. Goudan's taunting words echoed in his ears. He clutched the intact Enlightenment Herb left by Erdan, feeling nothing but bitterness. At this point, he realized that even if he had ten more herbs, he still wouldn't be able to awaken his spiritual root.

Looking at his reflection in the creek, Shu Han laughed in despair and mocked himself, "You're not destined for this. You might as well stay in the village for the rest of your life."

With that, he tossed the Enlightenment Herb into the creek, along with the tiny hope in his heart. After sitting by the creek for a while, Shu Han gathered his emotions and began to walk home along the creek.

As he walked, he saw the Enlightenment Herb he had just thrown away floating in the creek. Suppressing the urge to pick it up, Shu Han continued walking.

Suddenly, he saw another Enlightenment Herb flowing past him. Strange! Had he thrown two? No, that wasn't right! As he puzzled over it, another one flowed down from upstream.

Shocked, Shu Han hastily stepped into the creek and picked up the Enlightenment Herb. Then, he looked upstream and sure enough, another one was coming down. With a belly full of questions, Shu Han went upstream and astonishingly picked up nine herbs along the way!

Holding back tears of joy, he looked further upstream and saw that the source of the Enlightenment Herbs was a pitch-black jar sunk in the creek. Shu Han pulled out the jar with effort and in the setting sun, he was astounded to see the jar was full of fresh Enlightenment Herbs!

"How is this possible?"

He poured out all the Enlightenment Herbs from the jar and was astounded to find there were as many as thirty-eight! Shu Han was dumbfounded, not knowing why this ancient jar contained so many fresh Enlightenment Herbs, but he knew that his awakening of the spiritual root now held hope!

He picked up the small jar and examined it, but the dark jar gave no indication of its special properties. He tried to put an Enlightenment Herb into it, and then a magical thing happened. The jar began to emit a faint blue light, and the single Enlightenment Herb at the bottom of the jar had actually become two!

Next, two became four, four became eight, and in the time it took to make a cup of tea, Shu Han had another jar full of Enlightenment Herbs! This miraculous phenomenon had a massive impact on Shu Han's young heart. His mind went blank for a while before it started spinning again.

To confirm his suspicions, he emptied the jar of Enlightenment Herbs and threw a stone in it. Very quickly, the stones multiplied at an even faster rate, filling the jar. The black jar could actually duplicate items! Shu Han might have been young, but he knew the value of this jar.

He looked around to see if anyone was nearby, then quickly started to dig a hole to bury his hoard of Enlightenment Herbs. Carrying only one herb and the jar, he pretended to have found nothing and ran back to the village.

Chapter 2. The Boy Leaves Home

"Big Head, where did you find this broken jar? Don't tell me you're scavenging now. Uncle can make you a better one."

"Uncle Fei, this is my treasure!"

"Heh, you're usually so smart. But you're just like the rest of these kids, thinking every broken bowl or cracked plate is a treasure."

Despite his calm exterior, Shu Han's heart was pounding. The children of Shu Village often lacked toys, so many scavenged around the village outskirts. Even finding a broken bowl could make them blush and grin for half the day. Shu Han was banking on this behavior to hold his precious black jar in plain sight without arousing suspicion.

In the poverty-stricken mountains, people had killed for a bag of grain before. Immortal Master had said, "Wealth should not be flaunted." As for the saying, "An innocent man could be guilty if he carries a precious jade," Shu Han didn't quite understand. The black jar was too valuable; he couldn't let anyone else know about it.

Thinking about the pile of Enlightenment Herbs he'd left behind, Shu Han felt a slight pang in his heart. But he couldn't risk carrying a pile of Enlightenment Herbs back to the village. The villagers knew they were precious for awakening, a pile of Enlightenment Herbs was even more conspicuous than a pile of silver.

When Shu Han got home, it was almost dark, and his parents were not home. His father, the village carpenter, had gone to a neighboring village to help. His mother was in the village's spinning room, doing some needlework to supplement the family income.

Adults in Shu Village were always busy, and the children were used to running around on their own.

"Brother!" As soon as Shu Han walked in the door, his little sister with two pigtails clumsily came over. She was less than half his height. Her chubby little hand held four dates, and she hurriedly said, "Brother, these are the dates Erdan gave us. I've already eaten mine. These are for you, try them! They're really sweet!"

Shu Han smiled and ruffled her hair, "Ayun, you can eat them."

In Shu Village, surrounded by harsh mountains and poor water sources, a few dates were already a rare treat for the children.

Ayun swallowed her saliva and said with a lisp, "Thank you, brother."

Just as she was about to put the dates into her mouth, Shu Han quickly snatched them away. Ayun's face flushed red, and she shouted, "Bad brother, you said you wouldn't eat them. You tricked Ayun."

"Ayun, do you want to have dates to eat every day?"

"I do!" Ayun pouted, "But..."

"Stay here and close your eyes."

Ayun obediently stood still outside with her eyes closed. Shu Han went into his hut and threw the four dates into the jar. Soon, he had a jar full of fresh dates. After pouring out the dates, Shu Han hid the black jar under his bed. Then he grabbed a handful of dates and came to his sister.

"Open your eyes."

When Ayun opened her eyes, she saw a handful of glossy dates, and her eyes sparkled.

"Brother, where did you get so many dates?"

Shu Han explained, "I performed well at the shrine today, and Immortal Master Zhang rewarded me. Once I join the Mystical Dragon Sect, not only will there be dates, but I'll also send Ayun maltose every day."

He expected Ayun to be overjoyed, but her little mouth puckered up. She hugged Shu Han and sobbed, "Wuwu, I don't want dates or candy, I want my brother!"

This completely baffled Shu Han. It took him quite some time to coax Ayun to sleep.

After Ayun fell asleep, Shu Han made sure no one was around the house. He closed the doors and windows, brought out the black jar, and replicated a whole jar of Enlightenment Herbs.

Looking at the jar of Enlightenment Herbs, he felt a bit daunted.

No matter how painful it was, he had to absorb all these Enlightenment Herbs!

With determination, Shu Han started a sleepless night of torment.

In a daze, not knowing how many Enlightenment Herbs he had consumed, Shu Han suddenly felt the burning sensation throughout his body disappear. His forehead seemed to be kicked open by something, and suddenly everything became clear.

The burning effect of the Enlightenment Herb started to gather at the top of his head. Amazingly, once the heat entered his brain, it became incredibly cool.

Shu Han was thrilled. He finally understood why Erdan and Goudan were so energetic after absorbing the Enlightenment Herbs. This was the difference between awakened and unawakened spiritual roots!

Finally, he made it!

Shu Han was so excited he wanted to shout out loud! But he was afraid of waking Ayun and held it back.

The next day, in the shrine of Shu Village.

Immortal Master Zhang was just about to sip the freshly brewed tea when he almost choked. Because he saw that Big Head also had a misty spiritual light appearing on his forehead. He and the village chief looked at each other, and their eyes were filled with joy.

Shu Village had three spiritual roots prodigies at once, and this news spread quickly. The village chief was so happy that he held a feast in Shu Village. Good wine and good food were brought up, and the atmosphere was as festive as the New Year.

At the feast, Immortal Master Zhang boldly declared that because Shu Village had contributed three spiritual root children, the assistance from the Mystical Dragon Sect would increase by fifty percent in the future!

When Shu Han's father heard the news, he rushed back from the neighboring village. His parents were overjoyed as they patted Shu Han's head. Being chosen by the Mystical Dragon Sect was even better than getting the top spot in the imperial examinations.

Everyone was very happy at the banquet, except for two people. One of them was Goudan. Thinking back to his sarcasm and mockery towards Shu Han a few days ago, his face felt hot with shame. The other one was his little sister, Ayun, who clung tightly to Shu Han's hand and wouldn't let go.

That night, Ayun insisted on sleeping with Shu Han and clung tightly to his neck. Although Shu Han was excited, he also felt a pang of regret. He touched his little sister's head and silently vowed that he would come back as soon as he learned something so that his parents and sister wouldn't worry about him. By then, he would have some skills, and with the black jar, the family's life would certainly get better and better.

After a sleepless night, when the dawn was just breaking, he gently unclasped Ayun's hand, picked up his prepared luggage, and walked out the door. The black jar was carefully placed in his bundle, padded with thick cotton, for fear of breaking it.

At this time, his parents were already waiting outside the door. Although they were happy, they couldn't help shedding tears at the sight of their eldest son leaving home.

Shu Han was clever, but he was still a child, trying hard to hold back the tears welling up in his eyes. The carriage of the Taoist priest was waiting at the entrance of the village. Erdan and Goudan were also sent over, both crying their eyes out, clinging to their parent's hands.

Immortal Master Zhang was accustomed to such things. After all, they were just children. He gave them plenty of time to say goodbye.

The three children got on the carriage with Immortal Master Zhang.

As the carriage set off, Shu Han looked at his parents who were gradually fading into the distance and bit his lip. Suddenly, he saw a little figure running over, and he seemed to hear his little sister sobbing in his ears. The tears he had been holding back for so long finally flowed down. The three children in the carriage cried together.

Meanwhile, the rice jar in Shu Han's house was quietly filled with rice. Shu Han naively thought that by the time the rice was eaten up, he would be back.

Chapter 3. Sudden Change

The carriage swayed, and it took several days to travel out of Canglang Mountain. A vast plain appeared in front of them.

For these few days, the greatest joy for the three children, who had never traveled far from home, was to squat at the window and watch the scenery along the way. Everything was fresh to them.

Immortal Master Zhang was patient, explaining things along the way and telling many exciting stories about the region.

This part of Northern Yan, with its rugged mountains and miasmas, was difficult to traverse, and the government found it hard to manage. Thus, it had become a gathering place for many outlaws. But instead of calling them outlaws, it would be more accurate to say that they were a group of desperately wicked bandits, who exploited the surrounding people while the incapable authorities could do nothing.

Among the famous ones were the Hungry Wolf Gang, Sky-aspiring Sect, and other groups with martial arts backgrounds.

Twenty years ago, Master Mystical Dragon, the founding master of the Mystical Dragon Sect, came here. He couldn't bear to see these gangs oppressing the people, so he established the Mystical Dragon Sect, using his Taoist magic to scatter these ragtag groups and bring peace to the local people.

Shu Han had heard adults talk a lot about martial arts, which they described as being magical. He asked Immortal Master Zhang what exactly was magic, and if it was stronger than the martial arts skill of walking on roofs and vaulting over walls.

Immortal Master Zhang laughed heartily and said that no matter how strong martial arts were, they were still mundane. Mundane things should never be compared with immortals. Once one entered the way of immortality, mortals were like ants, the difference was as vast as heaven and earth.

The words of Immortal Master Zhang were often puzzling to the three children, but they had a vague sense that for ordinary people, immortals were unreachable.

Immortal Master Zhang was especially kind to these three children from the mountain village.

According to Immortal Master Zhang, he himself had come out of a mountain village. Seeing Shu Han and the other two children reminded him of when he and his village brothers first stepped out of their mountain village.

Speaking of this, Immortal Master Zhang couldn't help but laugh at himself. He said that the two brothers who came out with him, because of their exceptional talents, were sent by the head of the Mystical Dragon Sect, Master Mystical Dragon, to train in a higher-level immortal sect after a period of intensive training in the Mystical Dragon Sect. He, on the other hand, due to his stagnant cultivation, could now only do chores in the Mystical Dragon Sect.

Shu Han didn't mind this. He thought Immortal Master Zhang was already mighty and impressive. He said that if he could become an immortal like Immortal Master Zhang in the future, that would be enough to bring honor to his ancestors. These words greatly pleased Immortal Master Zhang. When they passed a village, he even bought some cakes for the three children to eat.

On the way, the three children didn't miss home at all, and there was constant laughter and joy. However, this joyful atmosphere ended near the bamboo forest close to Mystical Dragon Sect.

The carriage had been jolting for nearly ten days, and Immortal Master Zhang said they would reach Mystical Dragon Sect in another day or two. As the bamboo swayed, the three children's moods also fluctuated, looking forward to their bright future. However, the sound of whizzing through the air shattered their fantasy.

Sitting in the carriage, Shu Han only heard continuous whizzing sounds, followed by the painful neighing of the horses. The carriage suddenly accelerated and ran a distance before it stopped with a crash.

Immortal Master Zhang protected the three children under him, his fingers forming a series of seals, and he recited a mantra along with the seals. Then a green barrier rose around them. The whizzing sound became more and more dense. First, the roof of the carriage was lifted off, and then the carriage suddenly had countless holes.

Shu Han's frightened eyes saw numerous arrows attacking the carriage from all directions, but they were all deflected by Immortal Master Zhang's green light barrier. Soon, the carriage was disintegrated by the rain of arrows.

When Shu Han looked closely, he saw that the coachman and the horses in front of the carriage had been shot into hedgehogs by the chaotic arrows, and the harsh blood flowed from the holes in their bodies.

The bloody scene made Shu Han's head turn white, and his stomach churn. Erdan and Goudan had already fainted from fear.

Immortal Master Zhang stood up, and dozens of men crawled out of the bamboo forest, their bright blades pointed at the carriage.

"Hungry Wolf Gang!"

Immortal Master Zhang discarded his usual kindly smile, and said angrily, "I see you mortal fools are really not afraid of death! Dare to ambush this immortal! Today you won't be going back, you'll all die here!"

After speaking, a fire rose in Immortal Master Zhang's palm.

Shu Han had never imagined that someone could play with scorching fire in his palm. This was the first time in his life that he saw magic.

The leader of the Hungry Wolf Gang was a large man with a long and rugged beard, holding a wolf-tooth club.

"Zhang Ruoshan, your Mystical Dragon Sect has been bullying people for more than a day or two! What immortals! What immortality! Bah! Today it's either you die or I die, brothers, go, chop off his head!"

"Seeking death!"

Immortal Master Zhang moved quickly, sending a fireball with each palm.

As soon as the fireballs touched the people, they immediately ignited with a crackling sound, and several pillars of fire ran wildly on the scene, accompanied by heart-wrenching screams and the pungent smell of scorching.

Seeing such a tragic situation, Shu Han didn't feel fear in his heart, but instead revealed infinite admiration. The green light shield protected Immortal Master Zhang's body, and the fireballs were used to fight off the enemies. Immortal Master Zhang was alone, but he was invincible.

Suddenly, a piercing sound of breaking through the air, followed by a crackling sound. A giant arrow was shot from somewhere. The green light shield was broken with one hit, Immortal Master Zhang spit out a mouthful of blood, and a thick arrow pierced his chest. The fire in his hand suddenly extinguished, and the green light shield also instantly dissipated. Immortal Master Zhang's body swayed and fell to the ground with a thud.

"Oh ho!"

The people around danced and cheered.

Looking at Immortal Master Zhang's bloodied body, Shu Han fell into a state of life-doubting stupor.

Didn't the Immortal Master say that mortals could not be compared with immortals? How could an Immortal be killed by a group of mortals?

At this moment, another group of people walked out of the bamboo forest. They were carrying a crossbow bed, and seeing Immortal Master Zhang's body, they couldn't help but be overjoyed.

The leader of the Hungry Wolf Gang took up a big knife, chopped off Immortal Master Zhang's head directly, stuck it on a spear, and roared with a coarse voice, "Look! This is the so-called Immortal! Not undying! Just like us, they can get injured, they can bleed! From now on, we will strike back against Mystical Dragon Sect and take back our once territory! Let these immortals see how much fury we mortals can have!"

The people around let out a wild cheer. The big man stepped on the carriage, his scarred face staring at the bloodless Shu Han.

"Mountain kid?"

Shu Han frightened out of his wits, nodded his head.

The big man laughed, "You have a lot of guts, seeing so many people die, you didn't faint."

Someone shouted, "This is a disciple that Mystical Dragon Sect wants to take in, a little Immortal!"

"If he is an Immortal, he should be killed!"

The stubble-faced man sneered, "Right! Exactly! Chop these three little Immortals!"

"Wait!"

A woman in blue walked out from the crowd operating the crossbow, she looked at the stubble-faced man with disgust and said angrily, "Boss Gao, I think you have lost your mind! They are just children, and you actually want to kill them, has the Hungry Wolf Gang become so unscrupulous now?"

The stubble-faced man laughed, "Miss Wan, our Hungry Wolf Gang is not like your Sky-aspiring Sect, we don't have any bottom line. For us, as long as they are enemies, they should be killed! But seeing that this time it was your Sky-aspiring Sect's divine crossbow that made a contribution, how do you suggest we deal with these three kids?"

"Let them go, these three kids are not even ten years old, they can't make it big, we have serious business to do."

The stubble-faced man turned to Shu Han and roared, "Did you hear that, little devil! I'm letting you off, now scram!"

Chapter 4. Spiritual Roots

Mystical Dragon Sect was located in the middle of Yandang Mountain.

Yandang Mountain was a famous mountain in the Northern Yan, every 15th day of the first lunar month, at sunset, one could see the purple qi coming from the east from the top of the mountain, a sign of good fortune!

Legend had it that Master Mystical Dragon once traveled here, and feeling a deep connection with this mountain, he established Mystical Dragon Sect.

At this moment, in front of the stone steps at the foot of the mountain, two disciples were about to change shifts when they saw three children stumbling from a distance.

These three children were helping each other, all of them pale and skinny, with dirt-covered faces. Before they even reached the stone steps at the base of the mountain, two of them fainted, leaving only the child with the larger head dragging them along.

"Erdan! Goudan! Hang in there, we're almost there! We're really almost there this time!"

However, Shu Han himself was also exhausted, almost on the verge of fainting.

After leaving the bamboo forest, the three children fell into confusion. Goudan was crying and making a fuss about going back, while Erdan also wanted to go home, but was waiting for Shu Han to make a decision.

Having experienced a bloody fight and the death of Immortal Master Zhang, Shu Han also wanted to go home.

However, he knew that they had already strayed far from Canglang Mountain and it was impossible for the three of them to return by themselves. With some persuasion, he managed to drag Goudan along, ask for directions everywhere, and step by step they moved towards Mystical Dragon Sect.

The children's physical strength was limited, and it took them five days and nights to complete a journey that would normally take two days. The three of them barely made it, relying on the little bit of charity along the way and enduring hunger. Many times Erdan and Goudan fainted from hunger on the road, and Shu Han had to wake them up by finding some tree bark and leaves to feed them.

Seeing this, the two mountain-watching disciples immediately ran over and asked, "Where do you children come from? What are you doing here?"

Shu Han took a deep breath and said weakly, "Immortal... We are children from Shu Village of Canglang Mountain... We are here to join Mystical Dragon Sect..."

"Canglang Mountain Shu Village?"

The two disciples looked at each other, "Isn't that the area Senior Brother Zhang is responsible for? Where is Senior Brother Zhang?"

Sadness filled Shu Han's eyes, "Immortal Master Zhang was ambushed by a group of bandits and died in the bamboo forest."

"What?!"

One of them shook his head directly, "Young kid, don't talk nonsense! Senior Brother Zhang is at the sixth stage of Qi Refining, how could he die at the hands of a group of wild bandits!"

Shu Han wracked his brain, trying hard to describe the scene of that day, slowly dispelling their doubts.

"This is serious! We must report this to the elders immediately!"

"Li Heng, take these three kids to the Enlightenment Pavilion and hand them over to the Third Elder. I'll immediately go to the back mountain to report to the Great Elder! These gangs really don't want to live anymore, daring to mess with our Mystical Dragon Sect!"

Soon, the one named Li Heng came over, hoisting the unconscious Erdan and Goudan in each arm. The other disciple quickly climbed the mountain, taking dozens of steps at a time, moving as swiftly as a swallow skimming the ground, and disappeared in an instant.

Shu Han mustered his energy, following Li Heng up the stone steps of the mountain.

Seeing him panting, Li Heng laughed, "Kid, do you want me to carry you too?"

Shu Han gritted his teeth, "No need, I still have strength, I can walk by myself."

"Not bad, being able to walk from the bamboo forest to here with these two kids at such a young age is quite impressive. Kid, what's your name?"

"Shu Han!"

Li Heng squatted down and pointed to a pavilion in the distance, saying, "Little Shu Han, see that? That's the Enlightenment Pavilion of the Mystical Dragon Sect! If you want to walk by yourself, I won't wait for you. Go to the Enlightenment Pavilion to report, the Third Elder will identify your spiritual roots."

"Thank you, Immortal!"

"Haha, don't call me Immortal in the future, just call me Senior Brother Li Heng!"

With that, a gust of wind formed under Li Heng's feet. He carried Goudan and Erdan, swift as lightning, and disappeared in a blink of an eye.

Seeing this, Shu Han couldn't help but feel envious. However, the image of Immortal Master Zhang's death was still haunting him, constantly reminding him that even immortals were not entirely free and easy.

As the sun set, Shu Han, rolling and crawling, finally arrived at the Enlightenment Pavilion.

At this moment, Goudan and Erdan, the two children, were sitting in front of the Enlightenment Pavilion. They had washed away their fatigue and were full of energy when they saw Shu Han finally come. The two kids immediately went to greet him, one on each side supporting the weak-legged Shu Han.

Although Goudan held some hostility towards Shu Han, it was just harmless childish jealousy, jealous that Shu Han was so respected among the village children.

During this journey, Shu Han's encouragement and care for the two made him realize the gap between himself and Shu Han.

Erdan excitedly said to Shu Han, "Brother Big Head, guess what my spiritual roots are! Earth and Wood dual spiritual roots! The Third Elder said I'm a rare talent in Mystical Dragon Sect!"

Goudan also said, "I'm slightly inferior to Erdan, with Water, Wood, and Fire triple spiritual roots! The Third Elder said my talent isn't bad either!"

Shu Han gave them a weak smile, happy for his fellow villagers, but also worried about his own talent. He was very clear about his awakened spiritual roots through the many herbs, and at this moment, he was continuously praying in his heart, hoping that his talent wouldn't be too poor.

Inside the Enlightenment Pavilion, the Third Elder, with a more white beard than hair, was sitting on a cushion.

Shu Han's first impression was that he was very old. He had never seen such an aged old man. The people of Shu Village eat grains all year round and work hard in the fields every day. Most of them passed away from illness in their fifties, and the oldest, the village elder, was only fifty-nine this year.

However, the old man in front of him, Shu Han felt he was over a hundred years old.

The Third Elder slowly opened his eyes and said, "This year, there are quite a few children from Shu Village, and their talents are higher than the last. It's a pity about nephew Zhang, he died so young, otherwise, he would have made great contributions. Come, kid, give me your hand, let me see your spiritual roots."

Shu Han's little hand was grabbed by the Third Elder, the seemingly dry branch-like hand holding an irresistible force.

The Third Elder stroked his beard and closed his eyes in contemplation.

"There's a fire spiritual root...Water spiritual root...And an earth spiritual root... three spiritual roots, not bad. Hmm? There's a wood spiritual root as well! It's an ordinary four spiritual roots."

Suddenly, the Third Elder opened his eyes, his surprised gaze fixated on Shu Han, and he said, "There's even a metal spiritual root! Five spiritual roots! What's going on, all five spiritual roots are awakened. This is the first time I've seen this in my life."

Shu Han weakly asked, "Elder, my talent..."

"Your talent is top-tier, but the top-tier worst. In my 150 years of cultivation, I have never seen anyone worse than you. It's a miracle that you could even awaken."

Shu Han's eyes dimmed, "Elder, can I cultivate?"

"You can cultivate, but even if you exhaust your entire life's effort, it would be hard to break through the third layer of Qi Refining. Well, well, we've got two good kids, and can't hope to get another one. Kid, you just stay in the Mystical Dragon Sect and do some chores, how much fortune you get depends on you."

Then the Third Elder beckoned Li Heng to come over and said, "These two kids, you take them to Sky Cloud Pavilion tomorrow, and let them become disciples under the Great Elder, let him teach them well. As for this kid, send him to the Second Elder, see if there's any work for him to do."

"Disciple obeys!" Li Heng responded.

Chapter 5. The Seven Major Sects

"Don't worry, Big Head," Erdan chuckled heartily before Shu Han, "The Third Elder said I have great talent and the Great Elder will give me plenty of resources for cultivation. Whatever I get, you'll get a share too!"

Goudan, on seeing this, thumped his chest and said, "Same goes for me! We came out together, my mother said we should always look out for each other!"

Li Heng couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.

"Let's forget about it, kiddos," he said, patting Shu Han's head, "Don't be disheartened by what I'm about to say. Having five spiritual roots isn't much different from being an ordinary mortal. Pouring elixirs into you would be pointless. Instead, you two should focus on your own cultivation. As you progress, you can cover for Big Head. That's more practical than sharing elixirs with him. Besides, you won't get many elixirs anyway. In our Mystical Dragon Sect, elixirs that can aid in cultivation are rare."

Shu Han tilted his head back, asking, "Brother Li, when can I go home?"

"Are you missing home?"

"Uh-huh..."

Li Heng comforted him, "I understand. After all, you're young and have been through so much. But let me tell you this, once you enter our Mystical Dragon Sect, you can't go home for ten years! When you step into the path of immortality, a gap is created between the immortal and the mortal. The sect leader made this rule, fearing that young ones like you would be distracted by familial love and neglect of cultivation. But don't worry, your family will receive gifts from the Mystical Dragon Sect every year. They won't lead a difficult life."

The group continued their ascent along the stone steps until they were suddenly obstructed by a colossal round stone that stood three people high.

Li Heng slapped the stone and said, "This is the Heaven-reaching Stone! From now on, you two will test yourselves here every year. If you can reach the sixth level of Qi Refining and cause this stone to glow before you turn twenty, you will be eligible to cultivate in the Heaven Mystical Sect."

"Senior Brother Li, what is the Heaven Mystical Sect?"

Upon the mention of the Heaven Mystical Sect, Li Heng grew excited.

"The Heaven Mystical Sect! Now that's truly exceptional! Your country bumpkins joining the Mystical Dragon Sect is like a carp leaping over the dragon's gate. But compared to the Heaven Mystical Sect, we are mere carps, while they are the true dragon's gate. Our sect leader is merely at the Foundation Establishment stage, but in the Heaven Mystical Sect, he would only be considered an ordinary disciple."

The three youngsters immediately began to fantasize.

"Senior Brother Li, what is the Foundation Establishment stage?"

Li Heng explained, "Qi transforms into energy, which represents the Qi Refining stage, a realm where the majority of cultivators are at. The Foundation Establishment stage is above that, it is the stage where one lays the foundation for their path, rising to the heavens in a single leap! Foundation Establishment cultivators can cultivate their life's magic treasure, and move mountains and seas, possessing limitless powers! You guys should not be so idealistic! Foundation Establishment cultivators are one in ten thousand! Look at our Great Elder, after cultivating for over one hundred and sixty years, he is still at the twelfth level of Qi Refining, unable to reach Foundation Establishment. For youngsters like you two, reaching above the ninth level of Qi Refining would be a cause for celebration."

"What about Brother Big Head?"

Erdan did not forget to ask for Shu Han.

As for Big Head...

Li Heng reluctantly replied, "Didn't the Third Elder already say it? He'll peak at the third level. However, living a life of luxury isn't out of the question. Alright, no more questions. Ahead are the lodges, one room per person. Get some sleep early and don't wet the bed!"

This was the first time the three youngsters had stayed in such large rooms. Goudan and Erdan were too excited to fall asleep, only succumbing to their exhaustion and falling into a deep sleep after much frolicking. Only Shu Han sat alone on the bed, burdened with worry.

Five Spiritual Roots!

An unprecedented waste!

A succession of denials dealt a significant blow to his young heart. Back in the village, he was always praised by the adults. But upon leaving the village, he encountered a series of harsh realities.

After a moment of confusion, Big Head's mind began to turn. He carefully took out the black jar from his package and replicated a pile of Enlightenment Herbs. Shu Han didn't know the specific effects of the Enlightenment Herb, but every time he took one, he felt that the small flame in his body grew slightly. He was certain that the Enlightenment Herb was originally for the immortals to cultivate. If he took it regularly, his cultivation level would definitely increase. If his talent wasn't enough, he would make up for it with effort.

...

At the main hall in the Sky-aspiring Sect, Mu Waner stood next to her father, the Sect Leader of the Sky-aspiring Sect, her gaze sweeping over a group of mountain forest heroes in the hall. The leaders of famous martial arts factions in Northern Yan, such as the Hungry Wolf Gang, the Eagle Sect, and the Voidless Pavilion, were all gathered in the main hall of the Sky-aspiring Sect.

The leader of the Sky-aspiring Sect stood up. His body was old, but still imposing.

"I am fortunate to invite all of you heroes to my Sky-aspiring Sect, and I am grateful to everyone here!" he started. "Everyone here knows why you were invited. Twenty years ago, that old, undying Mystical Dragon claimed the mountain as his kingdom, oppressing us martial artists and making life difficult for all factions. Now, the Mystical Dragon has been missing for seven years and is probably dead. It's time for us to fight back against the Mystical Dragon Sect!"

The leader of the Eagle Sect snorted, "How can you be so sure that the old immortal is dead?"

Mu Waner intervened, "Twenty years ago, my father invited a famous Qi viewer to observe that old man's life Qi, and that old man has long since run out of Qi. Moreover, we killed a disciple of the Mystical Dragon Sect halfway through, and the Mystical Dragon Sect didn't react at all. The Mystical Dragon must be dead!"

"Killed a disciple of the Mystical Dragon Sect?! That's an immortal!"

At this statement, the hall erupted into chaos.

The leader of the Hungry Wolf Gang threw a severed head into the middle of the hall.

"Pah! What immortal? Just a bunch of charlatans pretending to be gods! Chop off his head, and he dies just like any ordinary man."

Mu Waner said, "You're right, they are just mortals and they will die. Our seven major factions combined have thousands of people. Do we really need to be afraid of the Mystical Dragon Sect which has less than a hundred?"

Someone whispered, "Their spells aren't to be trifled with..."

Mu Waner nodded and agreed, "Yes, the spells of the Mystical Dragon Sect are indeed difficult to resist, but we have already figured out countermeasures! Bring it up!" On command, a stone garment was brought forward, "The most troublesome thing is their Fireball Spell. With this fire and water-proof asbestos garment, there's nothing to fear!"

Still, there were murmurs of hesitation in the hall.

The old sect leader continued, "Thanks to Heaven's blessings, my second son has become the commander of Northern Yan in the court. Soon, dozens of crossbows and catapults will be sent to support us. Along with our thousands of men from the seven major factions, do we need to be afraid of the Mystical Dragon Sect? Are we, the martial artists, as incapable and cowardly as they say!"

The words of the old sect leader gave everyone reassurance. The crowd was immediately roused.

"Damn it, I'm all in! I've long been fed up with those charlatans!"

"Yes, what do they count as!"