Chapter 7: Eyes Above the Crown
The tripod stands over seven or eight zhang tall, with one side engraved with images of birds, beasts, insects, and fish. On the other side, the patterns are even more peculiar, resembling both illustrations and characters, exuding a chilling aura.
In the square, besides the young disciples, there were also two men and one woman, all in their forties, exuding an ethereal presence and an air of otherworldliness. Without needing to ask, it was clear that they were the senior immortal masters of the Falling Snow Sect. At this moment, the man in the center, dressed in a bright red brocade robe, spoke sharply, startling everyone into silence. However, the expression on Qin Yan's face still brimmed with hostility.
"Enough, everyone be quiet. The upcoming enlightenment is crucial to your future path in cultivation. Each of you must eliminate the distractions in your hearts." The voice of the red-robed immortal master once again reached their ears, his expression serious
Riding on the sword light of the white-clad celestial envoy, Qin Yan's expression was somewhat bewildered. On the surface, he appeared unaffected by this recent upheaval, yet everything that had just transpired revealed to him the harsh realities of the cultivation world
How could this happen
The future is likely to encounter more setbacks and many unforeseen events, which are not entirely within one's control or grasp
To say one is not frustrated is a lie
In the past, Qin Yan was still somewhat skeptical, but this time, he has truly gained insight.
The qualification for opening the spirit has stirred up such a great uproar. Ultimately, it is due to the extreme rarity of the spirit-opening elixir, and during this particular refinement of the elixir, unforeseen circumstances occurred, resulting in a significant reduction in the quantity of the spirit-opening elixir.
Qin Yan let out a gentle sigh. To say that he truly did not care and remained calm would undoubtedly be a lie. After all, he was merely a boy under the age of eighteen. He had done nothing wrong; through his own efforts, he had endured much more hardship than others, overcoming countless difficulties to reach this point and earn the qualification to enter the realm of immortals. Yet, simply because of his humble origins, being an ordinary mortal, he was looked down upon and ostracized by everyone. It was certainly difficult for him to suppress the sadness and resentment in his heart, but what was the use of that?
On the surface, this is indeed correct, but the actions of the Immortal Gate are still somewhat disheartening
That person is Qin Yan, who is said to be the only mortal disciple admitted by this sect this time
Indeed, it is that individual. It is said that this person possesses exceptional qualities, having cultivated the inner energy from the "Seeking Immortality Manual" to a profound and enduring level without the aid of any external drugs or substances. His achievements are remarkable, and even when considering our group, he would still rank among the top three.
"Silence, this is a sacred place of the Immortal Gate, no loud noise is permitted"
Hostility, exclusion, and the attitudes of the crowd are laid bare
But now he knows that the path of cultivation is by no means smooth sailing; even if one has obtained the qualifications for cultivation, it does not mean that one can rest easy.
Despite having heard some legends beforehand, cultivators are not truly transcendent beings; in fact, the troubles they face may be even greater than those of ordinary people.
The brilliance of the sword caught the attention of these individuals as well
The path of immortality is fraught with difficulties, a fact that has been mentioned in many books. However, to be honest, Qin Yan had not paid much attention to this before, as he had never experienced it personally
However, amidst the shock, for some reason, Qin Yan did not feel fear or trepidation; instead, his heart was filled with a sense of strategic combat. After all, the way of heaven rewards diligence. The facts have proven that as long as one is willing to put in hard work, the efforts made will be worthwhile. Look, while others have been disqualified, only he has gained the recognition of the immortal gate
White clouds drift by, and what comes into view is a vast square, covering an area of at least 100 acres, with intricately carved beams and painted rafters. Surrounding the square are several stone pillars, and in the center stands a gigantic bronze cauldron
Upon seeing him approach, the disciples of the immortal cultivation families hurriedly avoided him, as if he were carrying a plague upon his person
Indeed, what qualifications do those mortals have to stand alongside us? If the immortal sect wishes to absorb new blood, it should select from the families of cultivators. Why waste precious spiritual elixirs on those insignificant mortals?
In the realm of cultivation, the strong are revered. Today, reaching this point is solely due to one's own efforts and hard work. In the future, it is truly uncertain who will be stronger than whom
... ...
About ten steps in front of the bronze cauldron, there stood approximately twenty to thirty young men and women, all dressed in splendid attire
The hearts of the young were filled with solemnity, and they followed the instructions as given. The once noisy square suddenly became much quieter, and only then did the faces of the three immortal masters reveal expressions of satisfaction. In the blink of an eye, a little more than half an hour had passed.
Due to insufficient supply of the elixir, their qualifications were directly revoked without any explanation, let alone an apology
Becoming an immortal cultivator once made the entire city of Weichi envious. At that time, Qin Yan was also full of vigor, feeling that after ten years of hard work, he had finally reaped the rewards of his efforts
"You go to the end of the line." The red-robed immortal turned around and cast a deep glance at the mortal youth who had fallen under the sword light, and in his gaze, there seemed to be a hint of disdain.
Hmph, what is so remarkable about that? A mere mortal, even with great perseverance, without the support and care of a family, how far can he truly go on the path of cultivation? The immortal sect's actions are still too lenient, wasting precious resources like the spirit-opening elixir.
With this thought, Qin Yan's mind expanded, and all his worries dissipated. He became spirited once again. The road ahead is fraught with challenges, but there is no need to fear. As long as one works hard, any difficulty can surely be overcome
Only now do I realize how foolish such thoughts are; the challenge has only just begun
Is it true that he can endure the pain of ten thousand ants biting his body?
The identities of the two parties are as different as clouds and mud, yet they now stand side by side, which naturally makes the proud scions of noble families uncomfortable. Instinctively, they harbor feelings of resentment and exclusion towards him
Without mentioning Qin Yan's emotional journey, it is worth noting that the sword light has already brought him to his destination
Therefore, do not be discouraged; as long as you invest enough effort, there will always be opportunities for a comeback. With this thought in mind, Qin Yan's expression became calm once again. The cold mockery and exclusion from others are merely a form of training.
... ...
Next is the spirit awakening ceremony. I will distribute the spirit awakening pills to each of you. Please come up to receive them when your name is called.
However, he did not remain dejected, for being gloomy serves no purpose. The disdain of others is their own affair, but one must not belittle oneself.
The arrival of Qin Yan stirred up a small commotion, as the others were all born into cultivation families, making him, a mere mortal, stand out rather conspicuously
What is so remarkable about you guys
Facing the unfriendly gazes of the crowd and hearing their cold mockery, Qin Yan remained neither angry nor self-deprecating; his expression was calm, as this was entirely within his expectations
Without needing to say, they are naturally the descendants of a cultivation family, here to participate in the awakening ceremony
It is ! ''
The crowd grew increasingly excited, as the elixir was extremely precious. After more than ten years of hard work, was this not the moment they had been waiting for? Even the young masters and young ladies born into the immortal cultivation families held their breath one by one
Their efforts were in vain, and all of this had a profound impact on Qin Yan's soul
Isn't it simply because one has worked hard enough
Qin Yan bowed in respect and, following the instructions, walked towards the end of the group of young men
Once full of ambition and vigor upon being accepted into the immortal sect, he has now come to realize that the road ahead will certainly not be as smooth as he had imagined