Chapter 2: The Immortal Blesses My Head

The deep forest was silent, and the Ascension Steps lay empty.

A cold wind blew, causing Jiang Yuebai to shiver. She hugged herself tightly and limped upward, step by step.

With each step, she felt as though a stone was being placed on her shoulders, weighing her down.

Gritting her teeth, Jiang Yuebai resisted the pressure and charged up ten steps in one go. Suddenly, a woman lying on the ground, barely alive, appeared before her.

"Mother!"

Tears spilled from Jiang Yuebai’s eyes as she scrambled toward the woman.

The woman was emaciated, her skin stretched thin over her bones, her lips cracked and dry. She reached out a trembling hand to touch Jiang Yuebai’s face.

"Yue’er, Mother is too tired. I can’t go on anymore, and I can’t find any food for you. Let’s rest here, okay? After we sleep, Yue’er will wake up and be reborn into a good family."

Jiang Yuebai shuddered and suddenly stood up, backing away from the woman.

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

Jiang Yuebai remembered when she was four years old, during a time of drought and chaos.

Her hometown had suffered three years of severe drought, and everyone had fled as refugees. Her father had died, her younger brother had died, and in the end, her mother couldn't hold on either. Only Jiang Yuebai, with her stubborn will to live, had crawled out of the pile of corpses.

"Yue’er, crawl. Even if you have to crawl with your last breath, you must crawl out. Even if you’re the only one left, you must live on for Mother. Otherwise, even as a ghost, I won’t rest in peace!"

Jiang Yuebai pressed her lips together, holding back her tears. She watched as the woman before her smiled and disappeared, transforming into a gentle breeze that wrapped around her, easing her burden.

"Mother, Yue’er misses you so much."

Jiang Yuebai knew it was an illusion, but her heart ached nonetheless. She wiped away her tears and, with the help of the breeze, pushed herself upward with all her might.

Twentieth step!

The breeze vanished, and a tremendous pressure forced her to her knees on the stone steps. Before her appeared a group of young beggars she had once fought with for food. They held sticks in their hands, their faces fierce and menacing.

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 maid serving the young lady, yet you dare to secretly learn how to write? Since that female scholar praised you for being clever and eager to learn, why don’t you go to the brothel and learn there instead? 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 me learning to write? Let me go! I won’t accept this! I will not submit!"

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

When she had served as Lin Suiwan’s study companion, Lin Suiwan had no interest in learning, but Jiang Yuebai had to memorize the assignments the teacher left for her. If she failed to remember, she would be scolded. But how could she remember without any way to take notes?

She could only listen intently during Lin Suiwan’s naps and practice writing with a stick on the ground when she had free time. She never dared to touch Lin Suiwan’s paper and brushes.

Later, when Teacher Shen discovered her efforts, she taught Jiang Yuebai to read and even gave her the name "Jiang Yuebai." Teacher Shen had praised her in private, but another maid overheard and reported it to Lin Suiwan, leading to Jiang Yuebai being sold off.

Using the same tactic as before, Jiang Yuebai bit down hard on the servant’s arm and scrambled upward with all her strength. When she reached the plump woman, she tackled her to the ground.

"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."

Jiang Yuebai gritted her teeth, enduring the increasingly crushing pressure as she continued to climb. No matter what she saw, she told herself not to be afraid.

This Ascension Path had been pointed out to her by an immortal.

That day, when she had escaped from the brothel and fled deep into the mountains, nearly being caught again, she had seen the most beautiful light of her life.

Like moonlight descending from the heavens, the few villains chasing her were sent flying in an instant.

She had looked up and saw the moon rising over the high mountains, amidst the vast sea of clouds.

A female immortal in green robes had sat atop a sword, her expression lazy, her ribbons fluttering in the wind. She held a jug of wine, exuding an air of carefreenes.

"Little one, you knew you couldn’t outrun them. Why did you still 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 the wine from her lips with her sleeve and lazily replied, "I can’t take you, I can’t. I’m about to... well... ascend soon. Today, I’ve had too much to drink and acted recklessly, interfering with your fate."

"Since that’s the case, I might as well interfere thoroughly and grant you an unparalleled immortal opportunity. This old thing is useless to me now, so I’ll give it to you."

As soon as she finished speaking, the female immortal suddenly appeared in front of Jiang Yuebai. The hem of her gossamer skirt brushed against Jiang Yuebai’s cheek as a hand gently rested on her head.

The Immortal strokes my head, and with bound hair, I embrace eternal life. (1)

A flash of golden light passed, and Jiang Yuebai blinked in confusion, not feeling any immediate difference.

"Head east, cross the Nine-Heavens Mountains, and reach the summit of Qingyun. There lies the gate to the immortal sect."

Jiang Yuebai’s face was filled with apprehension. The Nine-Heavens Mountains were fraught with danger. How could she, a small and frail child, possibly cross them?

"Don’t worry. With my guidance, you will surely reach it. You need not fear wolves, tigers, or leopards. The only question is how long you can endure."

The female immortal soared away on her sword, disappearing into the vast sea of clouds, leaving behind a drunken murmur.

"The path between immortals and mortals lies beneath your feet. Soar through the heavens and roam the

rivers and lakes. To the east lies Danqiu, to the west, Taihua. Travel the northern seas in the morning and rest in the southern forests by night... Remember, the path to immortality is one of struggle!"

The endless Ascension Path stretched on, its end nowhere in sight.

Jiang Yuebai lowered her head and crawled forward, a faint golden character flickering between her brows.

Struggle!

Struggle for breath, struggle for a path.

Dang—

The toll of a bell resounded, solemn and majestic.

The last glimmer of light in the sky vanished, and Jiang Yuebai was frozen in place. Around her, the figures of others gradually appeared.

She didn’t know which step she was on now. Ahead, the staircase still stretched far into the distance, with seven or eight people scattered across its steps.

The farthest she could see was a girl, and slightly behind her was the fair-skinned boy who had earlier called her a fool. "To climb so high, they must be incredibly talented." Jiang Yuebai couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. But she quickly took a deep breath and looked back to see how many people had fallen behind even her, the one with the worst aptitude. on the lower steps, the number of people were more. And among them, she saw Lin Suiwan. Their eyes met. Jiang Yuebai raised her chin slightly, while Lin Suiwan’s eyes instantly reddened, and she squatted down, crying pitifully. She had given her all to pass the sixty-sixth step and enter the outer sect. How could she be surpassed by a lowly, filthy girl like Jiang Yuebai? The others also looked at Jiang Yuebai with surprise, envy, and jealousy, making her the center of attention. At this moment, she stood on the eighty-first step. Hong Tao, standing on his flying sword, looked down at the entire staircase. When he had tested their spiritual roots and recorded their backgrounds, he had already formed some expectations about the children’s abilities. Seeing Lu Nanzhi, Shen Huaixi, and Xie Jingshan, who had reached the ninety-ninth step, he wasn’t surprised. Most of the others were within his expectations as well—until he saw Jiang Yuebai standing tall on the eighty-first step. His eyes widened in shock. According to the ancient teachings of the Tianyan Sect, one must cross the Nine-Heavens Mountains and ascend the Ascension Steps. The fact that she had climbed the steps without a token proved that she had indeed crossed the Nine-Heavens Mountains, without any shortcuts. Now, she stood surrounded by children with triple and dual spiritual roots. As a five-spiritual-root individual, she stood out, making everything around her seem dim and turning all the prodigies into mere background characters. Hong Tao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Indeed, a child who could follow the ancient teachings and cross the Nine-Heavens Mountains possessed a determination and willpower far beyond ordinary people. Yet, her aptitude simply didn’t match her perseverance and spirit. "What a pity…" After recording the rankings, Hong Tao waved his hand, and all the children instantly appeared on a vast square paved with white jade. Towering green peaks stood tall, with waterfalls cascading down. The mist-shrouded scenery was majestic and awe-inspiring. Nine giant cauldrons stood on either side, emitting wisps of blue smoke. The faint, lingering fragrance cleared the mind and sharpened the senses. Hong Tao, leading the sect’s disciples, stood at the front with a solemn expression. "Congratulations on passing the trial of the Path of the Heart. However, the sect has its rules. Today, the Tianyan Sect will only accept three hundred and sixty-five children. This number was divined by the Grand Elder and cannot be exceeded. Therefore…" As his words fell, Lin Suiwan nervously clutched her sleeves, while Hong Tao’s gaze settled on Jiang Yuebai. Jiang Yuebai clenched her teeth and met his gaze without flinching. Hong Tao raised his hand, and Lin Suiwan let out a scream, covering her ears and squatting down. A gust of wind swept past Jiang Yuebai’s ear. A cry of surprise followed as a boy was sent flying, disappearing into the distance behind the square. He was the last on the Path of the Heart, with a four-spiritual-root aptitude. Without even a chance to plead or fight for his place, he was expelled from the sect. He had done nothing wrong—he simply hadn’t done enough. Jiang Yuebai bit her lip, her small fists gradually clenching tighter. She was beginning to understand the brutal reality of the immortal path: it was a path of struggle. "Within the three central provinces and nine domains, there are twenty-five major sects. Among them, the Guiyuan Sword Sect, the Vajra Platform, and our Tianyan Sect are the leaders. Today, you have the fortune to join the Tianyan Sect. I hope you will cultivate diligently in the future and not tarnish the sect’s reputation." "Next, based on your rankings, we will distribute disciple tokens, cultivation resources, and arrange your accommodations. The first place on the Path of the Heart, 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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