Grand Dawn Dynasty, Clear Sun Sect.
The final stage of the sect entrance examination, ascending the Spirit Platform.
Below a flight of steps crackling with blue electric arcs, a seemingly lifeless youth suddenly twitched his arm.
He slowly regained consciousness, propped himself up, and leaned against the steps. Opening his eyes, he surveyed his surroundings with a trace of confusion.
Didn’t I die? Where is this place…
Before Li An could ponder further, a flood of information surged into his mind, overwhelming him with pain and dizziness.
Not far away, a few Clear Sun Sect disciples were pointing and whispering.
“Huh? He’s not dead?”
“To charge through the Thunder Spirit Path and still survive, that’s practically a miracle… Too bad his spirit root was damaged by the thunder spirit qi. His path to immortality is ruined.”
“From the earlier test of resolve, this kid’s will was firm, but in the final stage, he got greedy, trying to conquer the Thunder Spirit Path that no one has ever passed…”
Above the steps, the pain in Li An’s mind finally subsided, and a complex glint flickered in his eyes.
Failed to break through to Nascent Soul, yet somehow, I’ve been reborn! …
In his previous life, he had crossed from Earth to the cultivation world. Though he lacked the legendary golden finger, luck was on his side, and he reincarnated into a powerful cultivation clan.
Through relentless effort, he finally formed a true core.
But that was his limit. Li An stagnated at the Core Formation stage for centuries until his lifespan ran out.
To push further, he ventured into a secret realm seeking opportunities, only to perish there.
Yet now, he was reborn here.
The Grand Dawn Dynasty… some obscure corner of the world, unfamiliar to Li An. The cultivation world was simply too vast.
He examined his condition and gave a bitter smile.
A Low Grade Yellow Tier Spirit Root with no attribute, far worse than my previous life…
In his past life, Li An had a High Grade Yellow Tier Spirit Root!
Even so, cultivation had been grueling, with Core Formation as his ceiling.
Li An knew well that the stronger the spirit root, the smoother the cultivation journey.
In the path of immortality, talent comes first, resources second.
Talent is the root, resources are the support.
Sadly, in both lives, he wasn’t blessed with exceptional cultivation aptitude.
This life’s talent was even worse, utterly mediocre, with no background to rely on…
Even Foundation Establishment seemed like a pipe dream.
“Fortunately, the Art of Nurturing Life and Forging Immortality is still with me!”
He scanned his mind and let out a slight sigh of relief.
The Art of Nurturing Life and Forging Immortality was the secret technique he had obtained from that secret realm before his death!
“This art can extend a cultivator’s lifespan. This advantage might let me, with such lowly talent, glimpse the Great Path…”
Li An murmured to himself.
In the last time of his past life, he had reflected on his failures to reach Nascent Soul. The reasons were many.
First, he was swayed by mortal desires. After achieving some success in cultivation, he took countless wives and concubines, indulging in worldly pleasures, wasting time, and accumulating karmic burdens.
Second, he was too brash, fighting and killing too often, which left his body riddled with hidden injuries and his spirit root damaged.
The third, and most critical, reason: his lifespan was too short.
If he had three hundred more years at the Core Formation stage, success would have been certain…
After all, ordinary people with poor talent can only match geniuses by spending far more time.
With even worse talent this life, I must stay resolute in my pursuit of the Dao, avoid worldly attachments, and never fight unless absolutely necessary.
With steady cultivation through the Art of Nurturing Life and Forging Immortality, I might have a chance to touch the Great Path!
His resolve was set.
“Li An, are you okay? Can you stand?”
At that moment, an anxious voice called out.
Following the sound, Li An saw, on another path lined with fiery steps, a young man resembling a farmer’s son, looking at him with concern.
He was sturdy, with a dark, honest face, now drenched in sweat from the flames’ heat.
Wang Dazhu, someone who had come with Li An to the Clear Sun Sect for the entrance selection.
Li An and his group were “immortal seedlings” sent from Sky Sun County in the Grand Dawn Dynasty, including noble heirs, refined ladies, and commoners like Li An and Wang Dazhu.
Because of their similar humble origins, Wang Dazhu and Li An got along well.
Besides Wang Dazhu, a few others from their batch, while passing their trials, were also glancing at Li An.
“He’s not dead…”
Zhao Xianchuan, a scion of the Zhao clan, a major cultivation family in Sky Sun County, dressed in fine robes, frowned slightly.
He had a Water Attribute Spirit Root, Low Grade Yellow Tier, the same rank as Li An’s.
But Li An’s spirit root had no attribute, allowing him to practice any elemental technique, giving him a slight edge.
During the test of resolve, Zhao had been neck-and-neck with Li An. If Li An passed the Thunder Spirit Path, Zhao would fall behind.
At the same time, Zhao Xianchuan instinctively glanced in two other directions.
At the Wood Spirit Path, a girl in green was nearing completion—Mu Qingwan, with a Mid Grade Yellow Tier Wood Spirit Root!
Likewise, at the Fire Spirit Path, ahead of Wang Dazhu, another youth led the way. Named Wang Jian, he had only a Low Grade Yellow Tier Spirit Root but had topped the resolve test.
Mu Qingwan and Wang Jian were beyond Zhao’s reach.
To secure a good position in the sect, he needed to hold third place, which meant surpassing Li An.
Seeing Li An alive, Zhao felt a twinge of unease.
…
The Clear Sun Sect’s entrance exam had three stages: testing spirit roots, testing resolve, and the final trial.
A Yellow Tier Low Grade Spirit Root or better was required to pass the first stage.
The resolve test involved climbing a mountain under immense pressure to gauge the firmness of one’s Dao heart.
In the first two stages, Li An performed well, consistently ranking in the top ten!
The third stage required immortal seedlings to tame different “immortal spirit qi.” The stronger the spirit qi tamed, the greater one’s future in the sect.
Thus, Li An, with his attribute-less spirit root, ambitiously chose to tame the Clear Sun Sect’s most difficult Thunder Path spirit qi!
But this body was frail, malnourished from youth. Under the Thunder Path’s onslaught, it had given out and died…
“Li An, are you dazed? Get up, or you’ll miss your chance!”
As he was lost in thought, Wang Dazhu ran over, grabbed Li An, and said, “Come on, I’ll take you to tackle the Fire Spirit Path!”
Li An was stunned. Wang Dazhu was nearly through his trial, yet he came back to help?
“Dazhu, I don’t want to go…”
“No nonsense! We said we’d cultivate and become immortals together. I know you’re weak—I’ll carry you!”
He hoisted the scrawny Li An onto his shoulders, wiped the sweat from his brow, and prepared to charge toward the Fire Spirit Path.
“No…”
Li An panicked. “Dazhu, you’re not helping me, you’re harming me!”
Wang Dazhu, already stepping toward the path, paused, confused. “Huh?”
“Put me down.”
Reluctantly, Wang Dazhu set him down.
“Dazhu, I’ll be honest. My spirit root is damaged. Even with your help, I’d never survive another attempt at the Fire Spirit Path… Thank you.”
In truth, with his past life’s experience, Li An had a seventy percent chance of passing the trial despite his damaged spirit root.
But… only seventy percent!
Ordinary people can’t afford to fail.
Moreover, with the Art of Nurturing Life and Forging Immortality in hand, Li An saw no need to take the risk.
With that, he turned and ran toward the gate without any spirit qi.
“Brother An!”
Wang Dazhu shouted in shock.
Others, watching, sighed with regret.
“He chose that path…”
“All his achievements in the first two stages, gone to waste!”
“Passing through the Spiritless Gate lets you enter the sect, but only as… a menial servant.”
Murmurs arose.
Clearly, for Li An, this was the worst outcome.
In the crowd, a radiant woman in pale yellow robes frowned, glancing at Li An’s retreating figure…
Li An had ranked in the top ten in the first two stages, with a rare attribute-less spirit root. She had taken notice, considering him a promising seedling and pondering which elder he should study under…
But failing the Thunder Spirit Path had broken his courage? He didn’t even dare try another path?
So be it.
The path to immortality is unpredictable. Such people aren’t uncommon.
She paid him no more attention.
In the arena, Wang Dazhu watched Li An pass through the gate devoid of the Great Path’s spirit, gritted his teeth, and declared:
“Li An, I’ll look out for you from now on!”
With that, he plunged back into the Fire Spirit Path!
…
(Chapter End)