Chapter 2: Immortal

The carriage sped along the small road, Wang Lin's body swaying with the bumps and dips of the ground. He hugged the package in his arms, his heart turbulent with his parents' expectations, as he left the mountain village where he had lived for fifteen years.

The distance to the county town was not short. Wang Lin gradually fell asleep, and after an unknown period, he was gently nudged awake. Opening his eyes, he saw Fourth Uncle smiling at him, teasing, "Tie Zhu, how do you feel about leaving home for the first time?"

Wang Lin realized the carriage had stopped and said with a simple smile, "No particular feelings, just a bit scared, wondering if I can be accepted by an Immortal."

Fourth Uncle laughed heartily, patted Tie Zhu's shoulder, and said, "Alright, don't overthink it. We've arrived. This is Fourth Uncle's house. You go rest first, and in the morning, I'll take you to the Family."

After getting off the carriage, a cluster of tiled houses appeared before Wang Lin. Following Fourth Uncle to a room, Wang Lin sat on the bed but couldn't fall asleep. Scenes of his parents, villagers, and relatives' words flashed through his mind, and he sighed softly. His desire to be accepted as a Disciple by an Immortal grew stronger.

Time passed bit by bit. Before long, the sky began to lighten, and the sun gradually rose. Although Wang Lin hadn't rested much all night, he felt energetic. With a hint of apprehension, he followed Fourth Uncle to the grand mansion of the Wang Family.

This was the first time Wang Lin had seen such a large house, and he was dazzled. Fourth Uncle sighed as they walked, "Tie Zhu, you must bring honor to your father this time. Don't let the relatives laugh at us."

Wang Lin's heart grew even more nervous. He bit his lower lip and nodded.

After a short while, Fourth Uncle led him to the large courtyard in the center of the mansion. Tie Zhu's father's elder brother, the old man, stood in the courtyard. Seeing Tie Zhu, he nodded slightly and said, "Tie Zhu, when the Immortal arrives later, don't make a fuss. Just follow your elder brother Wang Zhuo in everything. Do as he does, understand?!"

The old man's tone was stern in the last few words.

Wang Lin remained silent. He looked around and saw that besides Wang Zhuo, there was another young man. The young man's skin was slightly dark, he had a sturdy, honest look, and a hint of shrewdness in his eyes. His clothes were bulging, as if he had something tucked inside.

When he saw Tie Zhu looking at him, he made a funny face and ran over to ask, "You're Second Uncle's Tie Zhu Ge, right? My name is Wang Hao."

Wang Lin chuckled and nodded.

The old man was slightly annoyed that Tie Zhu ignored him and was about to scold him.

Just then, clouds suddenly billowed in the sky, and a sword light streaked across the Void Realm like lightning. After the sword light dissipated, a white-robed young man stood on the ground. The young man's eyes were bright and spirited, exuding an extraordinary and elegant aura. His demeanor was cold, and his gaze swept over Tie Zhu and the other two young men, particularly lingering on the bulge in the shrewd young man's clothes. He said coldly, "These are the three candidates from the Wang Family?"

"This is an Immortal?" With just one glance from the other party, Wang Lin felt a chill run through his body, his heart pounded uncontrollably, and his pale face was devoid of color as he stared blankly at the other party.

Looking at the shrewd-faced young man again, he also had his hands at his sides, standing respectfully, with a look of fanaticism in his eyes.

Only Wang Zhuo casually glanced at the other party and let out a soft snort from his nose.

Wang Zhuo's father hurried forward, his face full of respect, trembling with fear, saying, "Esteemed Immortal, these three are indeed the clansmen recommended by the Wang Family."

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

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

The young man gave Wang Zhuo a deep look, his expression softening slightly. He nodded and said, "Junior Brother Wang is indeed a talented individual; no wonder Junior Martial Uncle Dao Xu thinks highly of him."

Wang Zhuo smugly looked at Tie Zhu and the other shrewd young man, and said proudly, "Of course. Immortal Dao Xu praised my Spiritual Root for Cultivation greatly."

The young man frowned, but quickly relaxed, looking at Wang Zhuo with a half-smile. He flicked his sleeve, and with the three young men, he rode the clouds and mist, transforming into a long rainbow, instantly vanishing from the spot.

Fourth Uncle looked up at the sky, muttering to himself, "Tie Zhu, you must be chosen!"

Wang Lin felt his body lighten, and the fierce gale whipped painfully across his face. Looking closely, he was immediately shocked to find himself tucked under the young man's armpit, rapidly moving through the air. The villages on the ground became tiny black dots, quickly receding behind them.

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

"If you three don't want your eyes to go blind, close them," the young man's cold voice came. Wang Lin's heart trembled, and he quickly closed his eyes, not daring to look again. His yearning for Cultivation grew even stronger.

Before long, Wang Lin could feel the young man panting slightly, and his speed noticeably decreased. Then, his vision blurred, and the young man rapidly descended. The moment they landed, the young man released his arms, and the three young men fell to the ground.

Fortunately, the impact was not heavy. The three quickly got up. What appeared before Wang Lin was a paradise-like fairyland, like a secluded haven, with green mountains, clear waters, and the singing of birds and fragrance of flowers.

Directly ahead, a towering mountain peak, reaching into the clouds, displayed a thousand competing peaks, shrouded in mist, making its details unclear. Occasionally, one or two animal calls could be heard. A winding stone path snaked down from the peak, like a scene from a painting, with beautiful mountains and clear waters. A sense of being in another world spontaneously arose.

Looking up from afar, there was a grand hall at the summit of the mountain. Although obscured by mist, flashes of colorful light shimmered, causing anyone who saw it to feel an urge to worship.

Beside the main hall, a long stone bridge, extending horizontally, curved like a crescent moon, reaching into the Void Realm's clouds and connecting to another mountain peak.

Such a blessed land, naturally, was the location of the Heng Yue School's mountain gate. The Heng Yue School was one of the few Cultivation Schools in Zhao State. 500 years ago, it once dominated the entire Zhao State Cultivation world, possessing several old monsters in the Nascent Soul Stage, enjoying boundless glory. Unfortunately, with the passage of time, it experienced several upheavals. To this day, the once mighty School has shrunk to the point where it can barely maintain a foothold in the Cultivation world.

Nevertheless, for the Mortals within ten thousand li around, the Heng Yue School remained something unattainable and beyond reach.

"Junior Brother Zhang, are these three the young men recommended by the Wang Family?" A black-robed middle-aged man, with an air of an Immortal, floated down from the mountain.

The young man's face showed respect as he said, "Third Senior Brother, these three are indeed recommended by the Wang Family."

The middle-aged man's gaze swept over them, focusing on Wang Zhuo for a few moments, and said with a smile, "Sect Leader knows you've reached a critical point in your Cultivation, so he sent me to conduct this test. You go Cultivate."

The young man assented, moved his body, and along the mountain path, vanished in the blink of an eye.

Wang Lin stared blankly at the scene before him, his heart surging. Suddenly, he felt someone tugging his clothes. Turning his head, he saw the shrewd-faced young man. The fanaticism in the young man's eyes was even more intense as he whispered, "This is where Immortals live! Damn it, I, Wang Hao, will be chosen no matter what!" After saying that, he felt the bulge inside his clothes.