Chapter 2: The Immortal Blesses My Head

 The deep forest was quiet, with no one on the immortal steps.

A cold wind blew, making Jiang Yuebai shiver. She hugged herself and limped up the steps.

With each step, she felt a heavy stone pressing on her shoulders, making her pace cumbersome.

Jiang Yuebai gritted her teeth and resisted, rushing up ten steps in one breath. Suddenly, she saw a woman lying on the ground, barely breathing.

"Mother!"

Tears welled up in Jiang Yuebai's eyes as she rushed to the woman's side.

The woman was emaciated, her lips cracked. She reached out and touched Jiang Yuebai's face.

"Yue'er, mother is too tired, can't walk anymore, and can't find anything for you to eat. Let's rest here and stop walking, okay? After a good sleep, you will find a better family."

Jiang Yuebai trembled, standing up suddenly, distancing herself from the woman.

"You are not my mother. My mother would never say such things."

Jiang Yuebai remembered when she was four years old, during a time of famine and chaos. The region suffered from a three-year drought, and everyone fled for their lives. Her father died, her younger brother died, and her mother couldn't hold on any longer. Only she survived, crawling out from the pile of dead bodies.

"Yue'er, crawl, fight with all your might to crawl out. Even if you are the only one left, you must live on for your mother. Otherwise, even if I become a ghost, I won't rest in peace!"

Jiang Yuebai held back her tears, watching the woman in front of her smile and disappear, turning into a breeze swirling around her, giving her a sense of relief.

"Mother, I miss you so much."

She knew it was an illusion, but her heart still ached. She wiped away her tears, relying on the cool breeze to push herself upward.

Twentieth step!

As the gentle breeze dissipated, the immense pressure made her kneel on the stone steps. She saw a group of beggar children who used to fight with her for food, holding sticks with fierce expressions.

"You've got some skills, actually begging for steamed buns. Hand them over, or we'll beat you to death today."

Jiang Yuebai trembled, scared deep down, but she clenched her fists and shouted, "I'm not afraid of you!"

With determination, she climbed upward, enduring the pain as a stick hit her leg. She knelt down but continued to crawl, using her hands and feet together.

Thirtieth step!

The beggar children behind her vanished, replaced by a refreshing breeze that healed her wounds.

Before she could rejoice, a slap landed on her face.

Smack!

"You're just a young lady's servant girl. How dare you secretly practice writing? Since that lady praised you for being clever and studious, then go to the kiln to study! Take her away!"

A fierce plump woman blocked her path, and a servant boy appeared out of nowhere and dragged her down the stairs.

"What's wrong with practicing writing? Let me go, I won't submit!"

Jiang Yuebai roared, but the more she struggled, the farther they pulled her, and she couldn't break free.

That kind lady taught her to read and even changed her name for her, but some people were just wicked.

Resorting to the same tactic, Jiang Yuebai bit the servant boy's arm and climbed upward with all her might. When she reached the plump woman, she was pushed down.

"I did nothing wrong. I don't just want to learn writing; I want to learn even more powerful things in the future. I'm not afraid of you!"

The illusion disappeared again, but this time, there was no cool breeze, only bone-chilling cold.

"I can't stop. Mother said, as long as I have strength, I have to climb with all my might."

That day, she escaped from the scriptorium and ran into the deep mountains. Almost being caught again, she saw the most beautiful light in her life. Like moonlight descending, the few bad guys were instantly blown away.

Looking up, she saw the moon rising above the mountains, surrounded by vast clouds and seas.

A young immortal woman sat on a flying sword, with a lazy expression and flowing robes, holding a wine pot, carefree

Jiang Yuebai gritted her teeth, enduring the increasing pressure, telling herself not to be afraid of anything.

This path to immortality was shown to her by an immortal.

When she escaped from the scriptorium that day and ran into the deep mountains, almost being caught again, she saw the most beautiful light in her life.

Like moonlight descending, the few bad guys were instantly blown away.

Looking up, she saw the moon rising above the mountains, surrounded by vast clouds and seas.

A young immortal woman sat on a flying sword, with a lazy expression and flowing robes, holding a wine pot, carefree.

"Little girl, knowing you can't escape, why did you run?"

Jiang Yuebai's pupils trembled. It took her a while to regain her voice.

"What if... I actually ran away?"

"Foolish."

The female immortal raised her wine pot and drank. Jiang Yuebai knelt down and kowtowed with force.

"Please, immortal, take me as your disciple. I want to learn immortal techniques."

The female immortal wiped her mouth with her sleeve and lazily said, "I can't take you as my disciple. I'm about to ascend. Today, I fought a bit too much after drinking, and it messed up your fate. I don't need this broken thing anymore, so consider it compensation for you."

As she spoke, the female immortal suddenly appeared in front of Jiang Yuebai, the immortal's light veil sweeping across her cheek, and her hand pressed against her head.

The immortal caressed my head, knotted it and blessed her.

A golden light flashed, and Jiang Yuebai blinked in confusion, feeling no difference.

"Go east from here, cross the Ninefold Mountain Range, and reach the pinnacle of the Qingyun. That's where the Immortal Sect is."

Jiang Yuebai felt anxious, as the Ninefold Mountain Range was filled with dangers. How could she, a mere child, cross it?

"Don't worry, I'll show you the way, and you will surely make it. Don't be afraid of jackals and tigers. Just see how long you can persist."

The female immortal rode her sword into the distance, disappearing into the vast clouds and seas, leaving behind her slightly drunk words.

"There are paths for immortals and mortals alike. Just need a pair of wings under your feet, soaring between heaven and earth. From the Eastern Danqiu to the Western Taihua, the Northern Sea and the Southern Cangwu... Remember, the path to immortality is to fight!"

The path to immortality was long and boundless.

Jiang Yuebai buried her head and continued climbing forward, a golden word faintly flashing on her brow.

Fight!

Fight with all your might, fight for a path.

Dang—

The sound of a bell rang, majestic and solemn.

The last trace of light disappeared from the sky, and Jiang Yuebai stood still, surrounded by other people.

She didn't know which step she was at now. There were still many steps ahead, and several children were scattered along the steps.

The farthest person she could see was a girl, followed by a slightly less advanced boy who used to call her a fool.

"They must be really amazing to climb so high."

Jiang Yuebai couldn't help but envy them, but she took a deep breath and looked back to see how many people were worse than her.

As they descended, more and more people joined the group.

Among them, she saw Lin Suiwan.

Their eyes met, and Jiang Yuebai raised her chin, while Lin Suiwan turned red and squatted down, crying with grievance.

She had given her all to pass the sixty-six steps and enter the outer sect, yet she was surpassed by a lowly servant girl.

Others were astonished, jealous, and envious of Jiang Yuebai, making her the center of attention.

She was currently at the eighty-first step.

Hong Tao stood on the flying sword, overlooking the entire staircase. He had an idea of the children's abilities during the mind-testing process.

Seeing that Lu Nanzhi, Shen Huaixi, and Xie Jingshan reached the ninety-ninth step, he wasn't surprised. Most of the others were within his expectations until he saw Jiang Yuebai standing confidently at the eighty-first step, making him wide-eyed with astonishment.

Around her were children with three or two spiritual roots, but she, with a five spiritual root talent, outshone everyone else, making them all pale in comparison and turning all the geniuses into her backdrop.

Hong Tao sighed inwardly, indeed, those who could cross the Ninefold Mountain Range according to the ancient tradition were incredibly determined and extraordinary individuals.

Yet, her talent didn't match her character.

"What a pity..."

After recording the rankings, Hong Tao waved his hand, and all the children appeared in a vast square built of white jade.

A majestic waterfall flowed down from the green peak, surrounded by clouds and mist.

Nine huge tripods were lined up on both sides, emitting faint blue smoke, with an elegant fragrance that refreshed one's mind and senses.

Hong Tao, leading the sect disciples, stood in front with a solemn expression. "Congratulations on passing the Heart-testing Trial. However, our sect has its rules. Today, Tianyan Sect will only accept 365 children as disciples. This is a number determined by the elders and cannot be changed. Therefore..."

As his voice fell, Lin Suiwan nervously gripped her sleeves, and Hong Tao's gaze fell on Jiang Yuebai.

Jiang Yuebai clenched her teeth, meeting his gaze without fear.

Hong Tao raised his hand, and Lin Suiwan screamed and covered her ears, a gust of wind passing by Jiang Yuebai's ear.

Only a cry was heard, and the boy beside Jiang Yuebai was blown away, disappearing from the square.

He was the last in the Heart-testing Trial, a four spiritual root talent. Without a chance to plead, he was expelled from the sect.

He didn't do anything wrong, he just wasn't enough.

Jiang Yuebai bit her lips, her small fists slowly clenched. She was beginning to understand the cruelty of the path to immortality—fighting with every breath.

"Next, according to your rankings, we will distribute disciples' tokens, cultivation resources, and arrange your accommodations. The first in the Heart-testing Trial, Lu Nanzhi, will enter the Inner Sect..."

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Tl note:

1- 仙人抚我顶，结发受长生。- idk, what this means in this context. so i roughly translated is at the above sentence. The Immortal strokes my head, and with bound hair, I embrace eternal life. this is how i translated for the synopsis

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