Chapter 2, The Immortal Master Comes from the West

The vehicle is not large, and the decorations are quite simple. The one pulling the cart is a lackluster black thin horse, whose four hooves are indeed the size of a bowl. It is evident that although this horse does not have an appealing appearance, it possesses a precious lineage

"Alright, alright, alright..." Tian Murang responded repeatedly and soon led his son, Tian Yingdong, inside.

What has come?

Brother, you passed! Haha, you passed!" Sun Chun exclaimed with great joy, suddenly leaping into Sun Li's arms and shouting.

The act of worshiping ancestors is something the mother cannot participate in. Sun Li and his two sons lit incense, bowing sincerely. The father recited incantations, his face glowing with a hint of red, clearly feeling proud that Sun Li had been chosen by the immortals. The father believed this brought honor to the family, feeling that he had raised such a son, thus living up to the ancestors.

The yellow paper talisman suddenly shattered into a burst of light, expanding to envelop the entire carriage, and ascended into the sky. The emaciated horse twisted its neck and let out a neigh, its four hooves flailing in the air, as the carriage, driven by the wind, soared towards Lianhua Tai Village.

He was overlooked since childhood; apart from his parents and siblings, it seemed that hardly anyone would pay attention to such a boy. However, Sun Li always knew deep down that he was different from the other children in the village

The entire village was in an uproar: this is a selection of disciples by the immortals. If one could be chosen, it would be a leap to greatness, far more promising than participating in any imperial examination!

... ...

Before this, Chief Tian personally poured fine wine for the two immortals and, smiling, asked, "Esteemed immortals, this... this old man has a humble request. May I ask if you could first take a look at my son?"

Chong Zhao quickly said: "Red, blue, white, and green! This is... the Baoliu Wisdom Root! Among the top ten wisdom roots, the Baoliu Wisdom Root is particularly focused on magical techniques! Congratulations, Junior Brother Tian!"

The father waved his hand vigorously, his eyes, wide open like bronze bells, were already reddened, but he was merely enduring it.

Amidst admiration and envy, Chong Pu cast a cold glance at the remaining crowd. By allowing Tian Yingdong to test first, they aimed to make it clear to everyone that Tian Yingdong was qualified to have them wait outside

The mother agreed and hurried away

"Mother, why are you crying? Didn't you tell Father that this is a great joy for our family?" Sun Chun asked, bewildered.

Ah ... ...

Sun Li gritted his teeth for a long time before finally saying, "I understand"

Sun Li knelt down heavily and bowed three times to his parents. He felt a lump in his throat, as if a wad of wet cotton was stuffed inside. He wanted to say something, but when he opened his mouth, his tone was somewhat off. He quickly turned around and rushed back to his room, closing the door behind him

Father pulled Sun Li and said, "Let’s go and offer incense to the ancestral tablet, to express our gratitude for the ancestors' blessings"

Among the two voices, one lazily said: "Luo Huan, explain to the little one what the Dao Heart is."

His words, however, addressed both the inquiries of the village chief and those of his junior disciple.

The children were astonished, and even the village chief, Tian Cun, did not expect that Sun Li, who had always been inconspicuous in the village, could actually pass the test

In fact, when he entered, his inner feelings were far from the calmness he displayed on the surface. Upon learning that he had been selected, he was overwhelmed with joy, and after a lengthy conversation with the two Daoist brothers, he unknowingly drank a bit too much.

That voice immediately said: "The full name should be 'Small Mixed Origin Void Array Independent Storage Space'. Storage bags and storage rings are merely appearances; the specific principle is to utilize the array to capture an independent space drifting in an endless void"

The children dispersed in small groups, still captivated by Tian Yingdong's radiant presence. Sun Li, who also passed the test, did not attract anyone's attention, nor did anyone come over to chat. Only his younger brother, Sun Chun, kept expressing his joy, continuously talking along the way.

Although the qualifications are average, the determination is as solid as a rock, very well

What Sun Chun said was completely unheard by Sun Ligen

"That's right, Ali, hurry up. If you ask me, it's all because the feng shui of our ancestral grave is good..."

Senior brother, did the village of Lianhuatai really experience a natural disaster two years ago? But why have I never heard of this village suffering from a disaster?

At this moment, Chong Zhao and Chong Pu seemed to have forgotten about the people outside, and they enthusiastically began discussing various anecdotes from the realm of cultivation with Tian Yingdong

Young one, have you thought it through? If you wish to pursue the path of cultivation, there will be many such separations in the future. The realms of immortals and mortals may indeed mean a permanent separation!

Suddenly, a voice popped up in Sun Li's mind, filled with disdain: "How dare you show off with such a low-grade storage bag."

The young Taoist glanced outside the car and said, "Senior brother, it seems we are almost there"

With his intelligence greatly enhanced and bearing the grand title of a talented scholar, he now exudes a certain demeanor in his every gesture and movement

Indeed, the previous criticisms have vanished without a trace, and everyone displayed an expression of disbelief on their faces

Like everyone else, they seemed to be forgotten, waiting outside the house all the while

The young Taoist suddenly chuckled coldly: "Hehe, two years ago, no one would have thought that the natural disaster would bring so much raw talent to the cultivation world!"

In the grand residence of the Tian family, Chong Zhao sat still, while Chong Pu simply stated the purpose of his visit

The voice continued to ask: "Do you know that once tomorrow is gone, it is uncertain in which year or month it will return? It is very likely that by the time you return to your hometown, your parents and relatives will have all become a pile of yellow earth, and even this Lianhuatai Village may have turned into a heap of rubble"

Upon encountering the two, although fully aware of their extraordinary nature, he maintained a measured demeanor, slightly bowing as he said: "Student Tian Yingdong, I have the honor of meeting both esteemed masters"

Chong Zhao and another person requested the village chief Tian to send someone to bring a table, which was placed in the courtyard. Chong Zhao intended to intimidate the village children, and with a mere gesture, he conjured a jade ruyi from thin air.

Tian Yingdong was filled with immense excitement. Although he had great confidence in himself, he had also heard that cultivating immortality was an elusive endeavor. It was not merely a matter of being clever and astute to achieve immortality; it seemed that the immortals had some stringent requirements.

Finally, it was Sun Li's turn, but the people around showed little interest.

It was nothing more than a few clean clothes. After finishing the laundry, the mother hurried to boil water for eggs and cured meat, all to send with him

He can keep Sun Chun in check, but he does not need to concern himself with others

The senior brother nodded slightly, and with two fingers, he pointed into the void, causing a yellow paper talisman to appear out of thin air, on which a swirling cloud was drawn in bright red cinnabar.

What is the meaning of "Dao Heart"? Sun Li was perplexed

... ...

Ah

Wu Yao resembled a firecracker, easily ignited with just a tease: "Hello, as a teacher, what is there to explain that is inappropriate? You still want to argue with me over such trivial matters..."

Suddenly, two voices burst into laughter together, and Sun Li felt immense pain, as if his head were about to explode

Tian Yingdong and his son, along with Chongpu, are pleasantly surprised

The senior brother who was meditating slowly opened his eyes: "The information obtained from the door should not be wrong. Even if it is, it won't matter if we made a wasted trip. If it is true, then we might gain a talented disciple, and the merits of both you and I will not be insignificant."

At this moment, Tian Mu Zhang recalled the people around him and said, "Masters, have you begun testing the others?"

In fact, it is merely Sun Chun who is happy for Sun Li, while Sun Li himself remains truly composed; this outcome is not unexpected for him.

Wiping away a tear, his hand inadvertently brushed against the three stone figures in his pocket

Upon seeing the two immortals emerge, the murmurs finally subsided.

If one were to say what the greatest change in Sun Li's mind over the past two years has been, it would be composure, a composure that far exceeds that of his peers—otherwise, he would likely have been driven mad by that voice long ago

After a while, Chong Zhao impatiently exclaimed, "Failure, next one!"

Sun Li patted his younger brother's head and said, "Stop messing around, it's your turn."

Suddenly, a voice erupted in his mind like an explosion: "Young man, why do you pursue the path of cultivation?"

Chongpu is also unexpected: "Really? What a coincidence. In such a small mountain village, there are actually two qualified individuals."

Sun Li was momentarily taken aback: Why should I pursue the path of cultivation?

For the past two years, he has kept the three stone figures by his side, taking them out to caress whenever he is alone, and the surface of the stone figures has become incredibly smooth

Sun Li silently wondered: is this a compliment or a criticism

The three prominent surnames in the village are Tian, Li, and Sun. Before Tian Yingdong, the third son of the Li family was always regarded as the top student in the eyes of the master. If there was anyone else who might pass the examination, it would certainly be the third son of the Li family

Sun Li was momentarily taken aback, and his father casually waved his hand, saying, "Most of it is probably from the money you made selling herbs, quickly put it away."

This boy belongs to the Li family in the east of the village, only eleven years old, extremely nervous yet filled with anticipation. He stepped forward and pressed the jade talisman against his forehead, but the jade talisman showed no reaction at all

However, the most peculiar thing is that this carriage actually has no driver

Tian Yingdong has already confirmed that he possesses the ten great innate abilities. Regardless of which ability it is, as long as one is initiated, they will undoubtedly become a direct disciple in the future, with a status surpassing that of Chong Zhao and Chong Pu. At this moment, the two of them would absolutely not dare to act arrogantly in front of Tian Yingdong.

Chong Zhao raised his hand and said, "Those willing to participate in the test, please line up in order, one by one."

He formed a hand seal, silently reciting an incantation. With a sudden flick of his fingers, he shouted: "Go!"

The voice conveyed a rigid stubbornness

Mother was also in high spirits: "Ali, you have passed the test, and you have brought honor to our Sun family. From now on, when I go out and meet those sisters-in-law, I can hold my head high..."

Sun Li habitually ruffled his younger brother's hair, suddenly realizing that perhaps for a long time to come, he would no longer have the opportunity to be so intimate with his brother. What was originally a very ordinary action nearly brought him to tears.

Luo Huan was furious and shouted, "Bah! Wu Yao, you ignorant fool, on what grounds do you think you can command me?"

On such a bumpy mountain road, the interior of the vehicle is surprisingly more stable than that of a boat

The few who were eliminated could not help but feel a sense of jealousy; however, since they were all from the same village, it was difficult to express these feelings. In their hearts, they believed that when comparing these two brothers to Tian Yingdong, the difference was clear.

Take it with you; I don't know if it will be useful, but it's better than having nothing

The two individuals, wishing to cultivate a good relationship with Tian Yingdong, naturally lowered their own status. They flattered Tian Yingdong, the future direct disciple, in a manner that was seamless, leaving him with a favorable impression while avoiding any appearance of being mercenary, demonstrating exceptional skill in their approach

The senior brother also expressed his sentiments: "Indeed, it is surprising that in every location where a meteorite has fallen, we have discovered promising individuals endowed with wisdom. In the past decade, there may not have been even one such individual among the top ten, yet this time there are at least seven or eight. It is no wonder that the elders from various sects are doing everything they can to thoroughly search every site of meteorite falls."

He is also unable to explain clearly

I simply wish to cultivate myself

Tian Yingdong is no longer the lazy figure from two years ago, mocking Sun Li's name along with a group of idle village youths.

The young man from the Li family, feeling immensely disappointed, retreated.

This is the answer

Just as everyone was waiting for him to be reprimanded, when it was finally Li's third son's turn, the jade ruyi suddenly emitted a ray of light. The light was not intense, only a faint golden hue, far inferior to the grandeur of Tian Yingdong's four-colored rainbow, but the jade ruyi indeed lit up!

Sun Li was inconspicuous since childhood; apart from his parents, hardly anyone in the entire village paid him any attention. The evaluations from the teacher regarding him had always been low. How could someone like this possibly pass the examination

The aroma wafted from the kitchen, and Sun Chun stood nearby, drooling with desire

"So, does this mean that my family Yingdong has passed?" Tian Village Chief still found it hard to believe

Oh? The two exchanged a glance, and Chong Zhao did not dare to be presumptuous. He slightly inclined his body and said: "In that case, I must first invite you, young master, to enter and have a look."

The thin horse, making a light trot along the mountain path, would emit a faint glow in the air above its head whenever it encountered a fork in the road. This glow would coalesce into a compass, which, with a slight turn, would point towards a certain intersection, prompting the thin horse to obediently proceed in that direction

Chong Zhao revealed a faint smile, becoming particularly courteous towards Tian Yingdong. He stood up and invited, "Young Master Tian, please take a seat. In the future, we may have to regard each other as equals."

Unable to stop the tears, my mother covered her mouth and cried behind the stove

After finishing the incense, my father's calloused hand waved and said, "His mother, please tidy up a bit for the child and pack some good food."

Sun Li's parents wore expressions of joy. His father patted his son's shoulder firmly and said, "Good boy, I knew you would definitely succeed! Over the years, I have always told the people in the village that my son is capable, but they just wouldn't believe it. Haha, how about that? Are they dumbfounded now?"

Tian Mu Chang could not suppress his laughter and cupped his hands towards the two, saying, "Haha, indeed it is my son."

Father gritted his teeth and handed the ingot to Sun Li, leaving the scattered pieces behind

Sun Li remained standing still: "There is no need to rush."

Tian Mu Chang was so delighted that he couldn't close his mouth. Tian Ying Dong, on the other hand, feigned calmness, fully embodying the demeanor of a talented scholar, and instead persuaded his father: "Father, although he has the gift of intelligence, future achievements will still depend on Hai Hai's efforts."

Chong Zhao and his junior brother hurriedly stepped forward to help the two up: "This is absolutely unacceptable; it would be a disgrace to our brotherhood."

Tianmu was overjoyed and pulled his son to kneel, saying: "Yingdong, quickly come and express gratitude to the two masters for their great kindness."

Baoliu Huigen is indeed among the renowned top ten Huigen, and it ranks prominently. Daoist Chongzhao directly changed his words in front of everyone.

After the time it takes to finish a meal, some people grew impatient and gradually began to express their dissatisfaction. Sun Chun tugged at his brother's hand and said, "Brother, what are they doing in there? It sounds like they are having a good time."

Having passed the test, Sun Li faintly felt that he seemed to be treading along an invisible path, embarking on a journey that he appeared destined to undertake.

Chong Zhao and Chong Pu were not surprised at all, and with a slight nod, they said: "Pass."

Mother was busy adding firewood to the stove and working the bellows. A puff of smoke billowed out, and her eyes reddened; she quietly wiped away a tear.

Brother Chong Zhao and the Tian family have already drunk to the point of feeling warm and flushed. Once the relationship with He Tian Yingdong seems to have reached a satisfactory level, he suddenly slaps his forehead and pretends to say: "Oh dear, I must have embarrassed Elder Tian. It is indeed a pity that I met Brother He Tian too late, which has delayed important matters. Come, Brother Tian, let us go out together and see if there are any other talents in Lianhua Tai Village. It would also be good to assess what kind of wisdom Brother Tian possesses, and we can check it out together." Come, Brother Tian, let us go out together and see if there are any other talents in Lianhua Tai Village. It would also be good to assess what kind of wisdom Brother Tian possesses, and we can check it out together.

Tian Mu Chang once again urged Tian Ying Dong to toast the two of them, and the two repeatedly expressed their reluctance. The four of them drank together

The other two voices had already become accustomed to it, and seeing no response, they began to speak among themselves.

Sun Chun walked ahead towards home, while Sun Li quietly sighed behind him

Why do I practice the way of the Dao

Sun Li was also deep in thought. He recalled when the village head, Tian Cun, went door to door to inform everyone about the testing. At that time, Sun Li did not feel any excitement or joy; instead, he simply thought: it has arrived.

Hmph, the demonic cultivators sent are all true realm experts. How many true realm practitioners can the Seven Great Sects muster in total? Is it possible not to lose...

Inside the vehicle, there were only two Taoist priests. The older one sat cross-legged in meditation, while the younger one appeared somewhat restless, occasionally lifting the curtain to look outside. The scenery in the mountains was quite pleasant, but the Taoist had seen it many times before and had little interest.

Chongpu looked at his senior brother with great anticipation, while Chongzhao's hands were gathered within the sleeves of his Daoist robe. He formed a spell with his fingers, and in his left eye's pupil, a circle of golden light flickered, faint and almost imperceptible.

Chongpu asked softly, "Senior brother, what is the matter?"

If only Sun Li from Lianhua Village passes the test, such an outcome would still be acceptable to Brother Chong Zhao. In that case, Sun Li would become the center of attention. However, at present, Chong Zhao merely nodded slightly at him and said, "Go back and prepare; we will leave tomorrow." He then smiled and entered the house to converse with Tian Yingdong and his son.

When Sun Li entered, Sun Chun had already shared the good news

Their attention was all focused on the third son of the Li family, who was behind Sun Chun

"Nightmare, what do you think?" two voices asked in unison

Indeed, I have heard that the Seven Great Sects have sent people to target the demonic cultivators, but the results have not been favorable. They suffered casualties and even allowed the enemy to escape with promising talents.

Chong Zhaodao: "Young Master Tian has certainly passed. Moreover, he is radiating with spiritual light, likely one of the top ten innate wisdom roots. However, my skill in observing energy is still rudimentary; to determine which specific wisdom root he possesses, a more detailed examination is necessary."

... ...

Why do you practice monasticism? Do you think it is worthwhile?

In the main room, my father slammed the table in anger: "What are you crying for! Useless woman! How many people in the village are longing for this? Just wait, those families who came to propose for our son Ali will all regret it..."

These children are at a clever age, and from Tian Yingdong's performance, one can vaguely infer that the more intelligent individuals are, the greater the likelihood of their success.

Chong Zhao slightly shook his head: "I did not expect that there would still be someone here worthy of cultivation. Although the aptitude is average, it is still sufficient to enter the immortal gate"

Chongpu also inquired: "Senior brother, what exactly is the situation?"

The two individuals conversed about their experiences in the realm of cultivation within the vehicle, and they were not at all concerned about how to gain the trust of the villagers of Qixin Lotus Platform

The interior of the carriage is surprisingly spacious, which is inconsistent with the size of the carriage itself

Is it worth leaving home to pursue spiritual practice

Silence is all that fills my mind

After the initial faint joy faded, he suddenly realized that with this departure, he did not know in which year or month he would return. The images of his parents' faces and voices surfaced in his mind, and he felt a sudden pang in his nose. He grabbed his younger brother, who looked at his older brother with some surprise, noticing the serious and somewhat fierce demeanor: "Brother?"

I have my own path

He looked at his younger brother who was jogging along the narrow path in the village, and suddenly smiled

After a while, that voice seemed to understand and complained in a rather disheartened manner: "Playing the lute to a cow!"

The other voice, which always argued with him, then erupted into a fit of gleeful laughter

The voices of dissent grew louder, and eventually, those inside became aware of it

Sun Liyi smiled but did not respond

The Daoist Chongpu did not dare to take the initiative and glanced at his senior brother, the librarian. Daoist Chongzhao inquired, "Before we arrived here, we heard that there is an outstanding talent in the village. May I ask which family this child belongs to?"

"Young man, what is the Dao heart? After you enter the path, remember, do not listen to those fools who try to deceive you. What nonsense is this Dao heart? In fact, it is incredibly simple; it just depends on whether your determination to cultivate is strong or not. You, young man, have significant issues with your aptitude, but your Dao heart is absolutely fine."

Well! Sun Chun went with full confidence, but the result was disappointing. In the subsequent tests, no one was able to pass.

A sudden exclamation arose, and Sun Li looked forward. At the front of the long line, Tian Yingdong had already begun the test first. He was pressing the jade ruyi against his forehead, and a brilliant light was projected from the jade ruyi, coalescing in front of him into a four-colored rainbow

From then on, no one could make Yu Ruyi shine again, and before they knew it, they were approaching Sun Li.

It is said that the "Immortal" is to select a successor in his own village. The village head, Tian, along with several elders, was so excited that they nearly fell ill. While the village head instructed his family to prepare fine food and drink to entertain the two immortals, he also went door to door to inform everyone of this good news

"Good." Chong Zhao waved his hand to the first person and said, "You come here and do it like Junior Brother Tian did just now."

Sun Chun suddenly seemed to have grown up, nodding vigorously and straightening his somewhat slender frame: "Brother, you can rest assured!"

If one can achieve something in the future, one can support their family, which is far better than allowing them to live as ordinary people for their entire lives, only to fall into the cycle of reincarnation, uncertain whether they will be human or ghost in the next life

Sun Li stepped forward, and Chong Zhao's expression was calm: "Let us begin."

Father moved the ladder to climb up to the main room's beam, and retrieved a locked small box from a brick hole. Upon taking it down and opening it, he found a silver ingot weighing ten taels, along with some loose silver coins

The third one remains silent, as quiet as the stillness of the void

Thus, in less than the time it takes to have a meal, all the boys and girls under the age of fifteen in the village gathered outside the village chief's home.

Sun Li stood among the crowd, accompanied by his younger brother Sun Chun

Sun Chun was also left dumbfounded; this little fellow, who had never even left the village, had never seen such celestial techniques before

Sun Li felt puzzled: "Storage bag?"

Younger brother, your elder brother has left, and our parents have entrusted you with their care

Sun Li picked up the jade ruyi and pressed it against her forehead

The voice spoke in great detail, but unfortunately, Sun Li could not understand it at all

Four people went out; the two Taoist priests were fine, having regained their composure after channeling their energy, the smell of alcohol dissipating. However, the Tian father and son were flushed and agitated.

As the young Taoist Chongpu and his senior brother Chongzhao had anticipated, their carriage flew into Lianhuatai Village, and indeed, the simple-minded villagers of the mountains and fields were filled with awe, kneeling in welcome and respectfully inviting the two to disembark.

Senior brother, how are you

A horse-drawn carriage slowly approached along the mountain road

No one expected that a disaster would instead become an opportunity for the entire cultivation world, nor did anyone anticipate that the demonic cultivators would send top experts to infiltrate the Great Sui, secretly seeking out promising talents in cultivation

... ...

In the past, when sects selected disciples, it was not uncommon to find that even in a large city with a population of hundreds of thousands, it was difficult to identify a single qualified candidate. In a small mountain village like Lianhua Tai, with only a few hundred residents, it was astonishing to have two qualified individuals at once, which explains their surprise

Younger brother Sun Chun stood behind him, nervously clenching his small fists: "Brother, do you think I can do it? Can I do it?"

Alright

Chong Zhao and Liang Ren appeared approachable in front of Tian Yingdong, yet they did not need to feign politeness in the presence of these rural children. The two casually glanced around, and Chong Zhao, still subtly employing his skill of observing energy, had already formed a clear understanding in his mind, which involuntarily led him to let out a soft exclamation of surprise