Chapter One: The Metal Spiritual Root

Qingyang Town, a remote little settlement within the Zhao Kingdom on the Qingzhou Continent of the Heavenly Azure Realm.

Today, the town was unusually lively.

For it was the annual recruitment day when the Qingyang Sect descended from the mountain.

Every year at this time, the Qingyang Sect would send envoys down to the various towns and villages, seeking to recruit disciples with the innate talent for cultivating spiritual roots.

For the townsfolk, being chosen by the Qingyang Sect meant seizing a chance to become an immortal.

“Is that an immortal from Qingyang Sect? He certainly looks extraordinary…”

“Of course! Last year, the Wang family’s boy was found to have a spiritual root by the immortals, and now he’s already joined their ranks…”

“If only I could be chosen…”

“Oh, give it a rest! At your age, aren’t you ashamed to say such things…”

At this moment, the central square of the town was packed to overflowing.

Voices clamored everywhere, marveling and speculating in endless excitement.

At the center of the square, upon a raised platform, stood an elderly man in grey robes, his demeanor ethereal as he gently stroked his beard.

Flanking him stood a young man and a young woman.

Just then, the elder was looking at one of the two before him—a plump, round-faced youth—and shaking his head with a sigh.

“Your spiritual roots are incomplete by nature. The path to immortality is closed to you…”

“Go now. Living an ordinary life is no bad thing…”

Upon the platform, the two youths, who had come brimming with hope, now wore expressions of deep disappointment.

“It’s all right. We never really expected anything, did we…” one of them said.

“Let’s just go back to the village and be top dogs again…” Lin Cheng patted the other’s shoulder comfortingly.

Yet even as he tried to console his friend, Lin Cheng knew that deep down, the plump boy had always yearned for the world of cultivation.

He remembered how, in days past, the two of them would lounge on the grass, chewing blades and gazing up at the clouds.

More than once, Fatty Lin had shouted that one day he’d soar through the skies upon a sword, roaming the world at will.

Lin Cheng had laughed and told him that with all his blubber, if he tried flying, he’d probably fall out of the sky and be dashed to pieces.

“Come on, let’s go…”

Hearing Lin Cheng’s words, Fatty Lin slowly collected himself.

He wasn’t one to dwell on disappointment. If he couldn’t be an immortal, so be it—he’d still be king of the village.

“Wait… you haven’t tested yet…”

“I’m out of luck, but what if you make it? Go on, give it a try.”

“Forget it, let’s just go…”

Fatty Lin shot Lin Cheng a sidelong glance.

“What, are you afraid I’ll feel bad if you pass?”

“Come on, we’re already here…”

Lin Cheng: “…”

“Young man, since you’re here, why not give it a try?” Elder Zhou Qing of Qingyang Sect looked at Lin Cheng.

Lin Cheng bowed respectfully. “Thank you, honored master. I will try.”

He strode forward and placed his right hand upon the deep black stone used to test spiritual roots.

Three seconds passed.

Five seconds passed.

—

The stone remained as dark as ink, unchanged.

The crowd shook their heads, recognizing another failed candidate.

Just then, Lin Cheng’s tightly closed eyes trembled faintly.

Whoosh!

It was as if a clear chime rang out.

Suddenly, a blinding golden light shot from the black stone, piercing through like an arrow too brilliant to face.

The onlookers gaped in astonishment at the stone in Elder Zhou’s hand.

This—!

Zhou Qing was momentarily stunned.

As for Lin Cheng, his eyes remained closed, his consciousness drawn inward.

He found himself standing amidst a vast starry sky, rivers of stars swirling all around.

Though there was nothing beneath his feet, he stood upright upon the void.

Full of wonder, Lin Cheng hopped and stamped his feet, taking in the scene.

Looking down at himself, he was lost in confusion.

Sensing something, he suddenly looked up.

Above him, a mirror-like world unfolded.

Five-colored light wove layer upon layer, within which thunder rolled and lightning flashed, as if chaos itself was being born anew.

Time and space overlapped and merged, displaying the cycle of blossoms and decay, winter’s end and spring’s return, all things dying and reviving in endless succession.

Within this mirrored world, a streak of golden light was especially dazzling, circling like a dragon around the heavens.

At that moment, the other four colors flickered as if about to burst forth after long dormancy.

Suddenly, as if guided by some divine hand, Lin Cheng’s right palm traced a green sword-shaped sigil upon itself.

The sword mark flashed, and the erupting brilliance of the four colors instantly subsided.

—

While everyone was still lost in shock, no one noticed that a green sword-shaped sigil had appeared faintly on Lin Cheng’s previously empty right palm.

“Well… well…”

Elder Zhou Qing of Qingyang Sect recovered from his astonishment and laughed heartily three times.

He was clearly delighted; in past years, he’d considered himself lucky to find even one or two disciples with spiritual roots.

Who would have thought that in this tiny Qingyang Town, not only had he earlier discovered a girl with a rare wind-type spiritual root, but now also a boy with the gold attribute, famed for its powerful offensive potential.

No wonder Zhou Qing was so amazed; he had thought Lin Cheng had no spiritual root at all.

The outcome was entirely unexpected.

The dazzling gold light illuminated Lin Cheng’s face, and the more Zhou Qing looked, the more satisfied he became.

Withdrawing his hand, Lin Cheng opened his eyes, still dazed.

He could hardly believe what he’d just witnessed, yet his instincts told him it had all been real.

Thinking thus, he quickly glanced at his right palm.

Sure enough, a green sword-shaped sigil flickered faintly before fading away.

“Honored master, did I pass the test?”

Lin Cheng bowed to the elder.

Zhou Qing nodded and smiled. “I was mistaken. You actually possess a gold spiritual root…”

“That is a rare trait even within our sect…”

“Young man, what is your name?”

“Honored master, my name is Lin Cheng…”

“So, may I join Qingyang Sect and cultivate?”

Lin Cheng hesitated, then spoke again. “Honored master, I have a small request. May I bring my friend Lin Hu into Qingyang Sect as well?”

The elder fell silent in thought.

At that moment, the male disciple behind him stepped forward and said sternly, “Qingyang Sect does not keep idle hands. Since your friend lacks the gift for cultivation, he would be limited to menial tasks—sweeping floors and such…”

—

“I advise you not to worry about him…”

Lin Cheng was about to object, but thought better of it and bowed sincerely.

“I know it’s a difficult request…”

“But Lin Hu and I grew up together, sharing hardships all our lives. Even if he can only serve as a laborer in Qingyang Sect, we’re both willing.”

Lin Cheng had already decided: as long as Fatty could enter the sect, he would find another way to help him cultivate later.

After a moment’s thought, the elder looked at Fatty Lin.

“Lin Hu, are you willing to enter Qingyang Sect as an outer disciple responsible for chores?”

At these words, Lin Cheng was overjoyed, signaling to Fatty Lin.

Lin Hu snapped out of his daze and bowed eagerly. “I am willing… I am willing…”

Rubbing his hands together, Lin Hu smiled at Lin Cheng, clearly delighted that Lin Cheng had been found to possess a spiritual root.

Though he didn’t know what a gold spiritual root was, the elder’s reaction left no doubt that it was something extraordinary.

He had believed he’d never set foot in Qingyang Sect, but now, unexpectedly, he had the chance.

For Lin Hu, even a menial existence in the sect was more than enough.

Most importantly, he and his brother wouldn’t be separated.

The onlookers watched the pair with eyes full of envy and longing, each wishing such fortune had fallen to them.

Behind Elder Zhou Qing stood Ouyang Bo, who glanced dismissively at Lin Hu, clearly displeased that a mere mortal should be allowed to join the sect.

The girl at his side, however, smiled gently at Lin Cheng and spoke softly, “My name is Bai Lu. Welcome to Qingyang Sect.”

Lin Cheng nodded in return. “My name is Lin Cheng.”

The other two who had passed the test, a young man and a young woman, also stepped forward to offer congratulations.

The burly, bare-armed youth grinned at Lin Cheng and boomed, “I’m Pang Bo.”

“Lin Cheng,” Lin Cheng replied with a polite clasp of his fists, secretly thinking that this fellow looked rather intimidating.

“I’m Xu Xiner,” said the other, a sweet and gentle-looking girl.

Lin Cheng gazed at her, momentarily lost—whether it was her beauty or something deeper, he couldn’t tell. She gave him a sense of inexplicable closeness.

Feeling his stare, the girl’s cheeks flushed, and she glanced at him with a hint of annoyance.

“Uh… I’m Lin Cheng…” He snapped back to himself, his face warming as he touched his nose in embarrassment.

She turned away, refusing to meet his gaze again.

—

“This concludes this year’s recruitment in Qingyang Town…”

Elder Zhou looked around at the emptying square and spoke in a clear voice.

He turned to those who had passed the test.

“You have seven days to return home and settle any mundane affairs. After that, the sect will send someone to bring you to Qingyang Sect.”

He paused before Xu Xiner and asked, “Xu Xiner, would you like to come to the sect with me now?”

Xu Xiner bowed. “Elder Zhou, I must return home first. My mother awaits me there…”

Elder Zhou nodded.

With a wave of his hand, a blue jade talisman appeared in everyone’s hand.

“This is a Qingyang Sect messenger talisman…”

“When the time comes, focus your mind upon it, and the sect will send someone to guide you.”

With that, Zhou Qing led Ouyang Bo and Bai Lu into the air.

In a blink, they became a streaking rainbow, vanishing into the distant sky.

Only a lingering voice echoed between heaven and earth.

“We’ll meet at Qingyang Sect.”