Chapter 1: Just Rely on You

With a series of thuds, a torrential rain poured down, and Jiang Shou, dressed in tattered clothes, rolled down the hundreds of stone steps like a gourd. His stiff and trembling body continuously collided with the steps, and after several dozen breaths, he finally lay at the foot of the mountain, his head bloodied and bruised, with mud covering his entire body.

Gu Lieyang's expression froze for a moment, and then he burst into loud laughter, "You fool, did you really take that seriously? I just said it casually. Have you really been kneeling here for so long? You... Hahaha"

... ...

"You really are surprising, but surprisingly foolish. Get lost!" Gu Lieyang's expression changed, and with a cold smile, he stepped forward to reach Jiang Shou's side. He extended a foot, and with a loud bang, kicked Jiang Shou, who was still kneeling there, crashing backward.

... ...

Time passed quickly, and after about a quarter of an hour, two figures rushed in from another entrance deep within the main hall, shrouded in a curtain of rain. One figure was surrounded by a blue light, while the other was engulfed in rising flames. Once they entered the hall, the figure enveloped in flames reined in the fiery aura, revealing a handsome and spirited young face, which approached Jiang Shou's location with a peculiar expression.

In the past two years, the young Jiang Shou has traversed thousands of miles on foot, journeying through countless mountains and plains. He has participated in the initiation ceremonies of four to five dozen sects, passing every assessment of character and temperament. Yet, each time he has been turned away due to his poor aptitude. Shouldn't this fool have realized by now that he is simply not cut out for martial cultivation? Yet this young man continues to persevere

The skinny young man rolled his eyes and began to curse, "Idiot!"

... ...

During the recruitment of disciples by the Great Yuan Sect, there were over ten thousand young individuals who came to pay their respects. The applicants were divided into more than ten groups for assessment, and there were many responsible for the evaluations. The ancient Lie Yang before us was in charge of the group that included Jiang Shou. When Jiang Shou made his request, Lie Yang smiled and stated that as long as he demonstrated sincerity, an exception would be made.

"No, that kind of person from ancient times would never play tricks on a small character like me. Thank you both for your kindness; I will hold on a little longer." Amidst the curses, Jiang Shou's face turned pale, and a flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes, but he still gritted his teeth and spoke.

Fool

The assessment site erupted with excitement; many of the young participants were animated, and the senior brother from the inner sect of Piaoxue Peak, who was responsible for the final group of assessors, also found it amusing. He smiled and said that he would make an exception, but insisted that they must show sincerity. As a result, Jiang Shou knelt outside the entrance of the Dayuan Sect, remaining in that position for three days and three nights, without a drop of water and never rising. Even when the heavens poured down with heavy rain, he continued to persist in his kneeling.

Thud

In the end, out of thousands of young men and women, only a few hundred were accepted into the sect, while many more were turned away. Jiang Shou, who was outside the gate, was one of those rejected. However, no one expected that this young man would actually plead with the martial artist from the Great Yuan Sect responsible for the assessment, requesting leniency and asking to be accepted into the sect as an exception

Really been played? Really been played!

Unfortunately, the next moment was marked by a loud thud as Jiang Shou fell heavily to the ground, his legs completely devoid of sensation at that moment

With a loud bang, the back of his right fist was smashed open, and Jiang Shoucai, with a hoarse voice, said, "Thank you, Senior Gu, for your guidance. Jiang Shoucai will surely repay you in the future"

The rain continued to pour heavily, and the young man was not only drenched to the skin but also swayed repeatedly in the rain, on the verge of fainting. At that moment, two young men in black emerged calmly from the grand hall. Upon glancing at the young man, a tall youth's eyes flickered with a hint of strangeness. "Jiang Shou, come in and take shelter from the rain."

In a world where martial arts are revered, individuals with talent can continuously strengthen themselves through cultivation. The first step in cultivation is spiritual connection, which involves absorbing the spiritual energies of metal, wood, wind, fire, and earth into the body. While accumulating cultivation, one's physical body also gradually evolves towards a spiritual form. Spiritual connection is divided into nine levels, and those who surpass the ninth level are known as Martial Saints. A powerful martial artist can suppress the heavens and the earth with a mere thought, controlling the weather and traversing the skies and the earth. The talent of a martial artist is often reflected in the number of spiritual systems they can cultivate. Cultivating a single system is ordinary, dual systems indicate genius, while three or four systems signify super-genius or unparalleled talent. Although legends speak of individuals who can cultivate five or six systems, it is said that six systems represent the limit of a person, yet this remains merely a legend. In such a world, various martial arts sects dominate different regions.

Inside the grand hall, the two figures were momentarily taken aback, and only after a moment did they mutter curses as they retreated from the hall. Even as they left, there was still an unmistakable strangeness in their eyes, a strangeness that encompassed not only mockery and disdain but also a hint of admiration.

Thank you for your kind intentions, senior, but I would like to persist a little longer. Senior Gu once said that as long as I demonstrate sincerity, I would be accepted into the sect as an exception. I will continue to hold on to this.

Thud

A person is so foolish to this extent that there is no hope left

Accompanied by a hoarse growl, Gu Lieyang, standing above the stone steps, let out a soft sound and swiftly stepped down to the foot of the mountain. Dressed in a black robe with red swirling patterns, the heavy rain evaporated upon nearing him. Gu Lieyang stood in the rain, furrowing his brow as he glanced at Jiang Shou a few times, then twitched the corner of his mouth, questioning what it meant

He truly could not believe that such a high-ranking individual would come to toy with someone as insignificant as him. However, after being played with, Jiang Shou felt not the most anger, but rather heartache, a heart-wrenching pain.

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Time and again, struggling and helplessly falling, my legs numb, my upper body drenched in blood, yet Jiang Shou in the heavy rain has never wavered, never given up, only gritting his teeth and trying again and again

A torrential downpour fell in torrents, draping the endless, magnificent mountains in a frenzied curtain of rain. In the mountains, at the end of a wide black stone path built from the foot of the mountain to its waist, a ragged figure knelt on a flat, imposing stone platform, indifferent to the rain soaking through their clothes, simply supporting their back as they knelt towards the grand hall within the stone platform.

However, the thin young man at the entrance of the main hall could not help but mutter under his breath, "You idiot, Senior Brother Gu is just playing with you. With your aptitude, our Dayuan Sect has already been rejected by forty-nine sects. You are simply not suited for cultivation. Have you really been kneeling here for three days and three nights? If you keep kneeling, your legs will be ruined!"

Straining to prop himself up with both arms, as his legs had lost all sensation after kneeling for three days and nights, he supported his upper body with his arms. Rainwater mixed with blood trickled down from his head, blurring his entire field of vision. Jiang Shoucai took a deep breath and forcefully slammed his fist down onto the ground

In the midst of a cold smile, Jiang Shou below was pushing himself up from the ground with both hands.

"Ancient Senior? I beseech the Ancient Senior for mercy!" Jiang Shou was overjoyed at this.

Not only did the tall young man have a strange expression, but the eyes of another, slimmer individual also held an eerie quality

This fellow must not die at the entrance of our sect; dying here would certainly not look good. Should I go and consult Senior Brother Gu?

Even though the youthful and handsome face had lost all color, and his whole body was trembling uncontrollably, feeling both cold and hungry, the sensation of hunger and cold swept over him. The terrifying torment nearly caused the young man to faint, yet he still gritted his teeth and knelt there, his expression resolute.

Amidst the shouts of criticism, the tall young man moved slightly, and a layer of blue light emerged around him, protecting his garments as he vanished within the hall, heading straight towards the inner sanctum of the Great Yuan Sect

His body was in pain everywhere, but this was far less than the pain in his heart, for the other party had given him a glimmer of hope. He could almost see the possibility of entering a world filled with martial artists, a hope of finding a way to save his father. Just as he was eagerly anticipating this moment, he was told that it was merely a joke.

... ... ''

Blood mixed with rainwater slid down his face, and he did not know if there were any tears left; he only knew that he had to stand up

After the low scolding, the two figures exchanged glances once more. The tall young man couldn't help but roll his eyes; he truly could not understand the youth outside.

Whenever various sects open their doors to recruit disciples, numerous young men and women from all corners of the world dream of joining these sects. Although the Great Yuan Sect is also a first-rate sect, it is considered a prestigious one among the hundreds of first-rate sects in Wangshan County. Each year, when it opens its doors to recruit disciples, at least ten thousand young men and women come to pay their respects, and this year is no exception

Given his status, it would not be a problem to make an exception and accept a miscellaneous disciple into the sect. However, how could he possibly take in a waste who has been rejected by four or five sects? Does the other party think that the Dayuan Sect is just any place? The Dayuan Sect is a prestigious sect among the first-class sects in Wangshan County, not a refuge for the useless

The territory of Wangshan County in Laiguo Lingyazhou stretches several thousand miles in both length and width, and is home to more than one hundred martial arts sects. Aside from three prestigious second-tier sects, all the others are first-tier sects

What?

Do not pay attention to him; if he wants to kneel, let him kneel. I have never seen such a foolish person. Clearly unsuitable for cultivation, yet he is so stubborn. If he dies here, he deserves it

In the midst of boisterous laughter, Gu Liyang nearly laughed himself to the point of pain.

At the moment of her disappearance, Jiang Shoucai, kneeling on the stone platform outside the hall, trembled and could not help but respectfully speak to the interior of the hall, "Thank you, esteemed seniors."

... ...

Thud

In the midst of Gu Lieyang's hearty laughter, Jiang Shoucai, who was filled with surprise, suddenly froze. He stared at Gu Lieyang with a pale face, his eyes filled with disbelief, "Senior Gu?"

He initially just made a casual remark, teasing this fool

At this moment, no matter how much Jiang Shou has experienced, it is increasingly difficult to suppress his feelings

Once again, bruised and battered on the bluestone path, the pain piercing to the bone, Jiang Shou continued to try, even as he felt his mind growing increasingly dizzy, on the verge of losing consciousness

Even though his right hand, bloodied and bruised, was pressed against the ground, causing him a pain so intense it felt as if his soul were about to leave his body, he still gritted his teeth and propped himself up.

Thud

You are still here?

"Just because of you? You will forever only deserve to kneel before me, wagging your tail in supplication. And as long as I am displeased, I can take your life at any moment! Don't believe it? If you have the ability, stand up in front of me and say it again!" With a slight curl of his lips, Gu Lieyang then looked down with a cold smile.

Once again feeling dizzy from bowing, Jiang Shou took a deep breath, propped himself up with both hands, and exerted himself to rise.

He does not mind being toyed with, nor does he care about being kicked and insulted. After all, in the past, during assessments at certain sects, when he announced his name, the assessors would kick him away simply because of his "notoriety." He has long been accustomed to such treatment, but he cannot tolerate the other party casually trampling on and playing with his hope of saving his father

Because of a joke made by that senior brother from Piaoxue Peak during this assessment conducted by the Great Yuan Sect, he has been kneeling outside the hall ever since