Main Text Chapter Two: The Grand Ceremony of Entering the Mountains

Main Peak of Mount Taiyi, Qingxu Summit

From the break of dawn, Qingxu Summit had not known a moment’s peace. Today was the grand annual ceremony for new disciples entering Mount Taiyi—a day when countless eager youngsters, drawn by the mountain’s renown, would climb to pay their respects.

By the time Qin Yi and Zhang Chen reached Taiyi Platform before the Heaven-reaching Hall at the summit, noon had arrived. Qin Yi bent over, hands on knees, panting heavily, his forehead slick with sweat. He couldn’t remember the climb up the stone steps to the main peak ever being this exhausting! Clearly, his body was letting him down. He glanced at Zhang Chen, who stood beside him looking fresh as ever, and laughed, “Well, look at you, Zhang Not-so-capable! Climbing all the way up here, and you’re not even out of breath!”

“Of course. Not everyone’s as lazy as you, always shirking chores back home,” Zhang Chen retorted with a scornful curl of his lip.

Qin Yi grinned in recognition. This was the very trait that had made them fast friends—their stubborn pride, unwilling to admit defeat even as they suffered for it.

“Let’s go see for ourselves whether the immortal maidens of Mount Taiyi are as beautiful as the ones in the paintings,” Qin Yi said, straightening up and lacing his hands behind his head, walking with an easy swagger and a smile.

“If you ask me, they’re bound to be even more beautiful,” Zhang Chen replied with a knowing grin, quickening his steps to keep pace.

Soon they reached the center of Taiyi Platform, which was already packed with a sea of twelve- or thirteen-year-olds—tens of thousands, in fact. Although Mount Taiyi’s fame was modest among the great Daoist sects, and even tainted a year ago by a traitor among their ranks, the prestige of its immortals was unrivaled for a hundred miles. For common folk, whose lives were spent toiling in the fields, the mountain was a place of utmost reverence.

With so many people, conversations buzzed everywhere, each with its own topic. But inevitably, the subject of last year’s traitor—Qin Yi—became a favorite. Qin Yi, for his part, listened with neither anger nor threat. Having died once already, how could he stoop to quarreling with children barely twelve or thirteen?

Then, remembering his own current age, Qin Yi simply smiled and said nothing.

A deep gong sounded from the platform, and the next scene left all the newcomers gaping in astonishment. Figures in azure Daoist robes soared in from all directions, riding upon magical items, drawing trails of light through the air before hovering midair around the crowd. Each one radiated an aura of vitality, like immortals stepping out of a painting.

Some of the more starstruck boys and girls had eyes shining with adoration, unable to tear their gaze away, exclaiming “Immortals!” as if ready to drool.

Qin Yi watched these disciples in their blue robes with a trace of nostalgia. Once upon a time, he had been one of them—and the most exceptional of all. These must be the elite disciples of Mount Taiyi: to ride magical items, they had all reached the Spirit Transformation stage. Qin Yi was pleased to find their numbers considerable—over a thousand, at least.

As the last echoes of the gong faded, six figures emerged from the Heaven-reaching Hall, each with a distinct and commanding presence.

Qin Yi knew them all; they were his senior and junior uncles from his past life, the leader of Mount Taiyi, and the heads of each summit.

He couldn’t help but smile wryly. His master, the backbone of Mount Taiyi—rumored even to be stronger than the sect leader Lingxu—was, as expected, absent from such a ceremony. It seemed Qin Yi would have to fetch his master from Soaring Cloud Island himself. As for Jiang Yao, she was absent as well. Although she wasn’t obliged to attend the ceremony, her status as Mount Taiyi’s most outstanding young talent made her the pride of the younger generation, and all hoped she would show herself.

“Greetings, Grandmaster, and all the Summit Lords,” the disciples hovering in midair intoned in unison as the leaders took their seats on the high platform, their voices resounding even louder than the gong.

Master Qingfu, his beard and hair white, frowned slightly at the sight of the assembled crowd. “There are fewer new disciples this year.”

“Isn’t that the truth,” Chen Yuxuan replied, his usual vigor dampened. But he quickly brightened, declaring, “Still, I’ve always maintained that boy would never betray humanity.”

Li Ding, whose frame was as solid as a bronze cauldron, chuckled, “That boy’s integrity is not just for show.”

“I hope so,” Gu Beishan, always stern and dignified, said in his customary grave tone. “If not, I’ll be the first to deal with him myself.”

Everyone was used to Gu Beishan’s demeanor and exchanged knowing smiles. Yet none doubted his word: if Qin Yi had truly betrayed humanity, Gu Beishan would indeed be the first to act.

Xue Songmei’s expression remained as frosty as ever—a true ice beauty.

Lingxu Master, the sect leader, sat at the head of the platform, ethereal and dignified. He said nothing, but gave Gu Beishan a meaningful glance, signaling for him to preside over the induction ceremony.

Gu Beishan nodded in understanding, stood, and walked to the front of the platform, hands clasped behind his back. His voice rang out, “Welcome, all of you who have journeyed far, to Mount Taiyi’s annual induction ceremony…”

But before he could continue, the restless youths below could restrain themselves no longer. Someone called out, “Master, spare us the speeches—let’s get to the main event!”

The cry was quickly echoed by many others. Youthful impatience—who wanted to listen to long-winded principles after such a journey, no matter how respected the speaker?

Gu Beishan frowned at the interruption, but soon relaxed and continued, “Very well, I’ll be brief. There are two stages to the induction: first, the Seed Test; second, Summit Selection. The Seed Test is simple—it determines whether you possess a Dao Seed. If you do, you pass; if not, you fail. Those who pass become disciples of Mount Taiyi. Summit Selection is for those who pass, to identify their aptitudes and assign them to the appropriate summit for cultivation.”

“I hereby declare the start of the first stage of the Mount Taiyi Induction Ceremony for the Year of Gengmao—the Seed Test.”

With a wave of his hand, tens of thousands of points of light flew unerringly into the hands of each participant, leaving the less worldly newcomers in awe.

Qin Yi, however, showed no surprise. In his past life, although his cultivation was not on par with veterans like Gu Beishan, he had still been the foremost disciple of Mount Taiyi, surpassing many elders in strength.

But after a while, Qin Yi grew puzzled. Every point of light had found its way to a participant—except him.

“Master, why don’t I have a light?” he finally asked.

At his words, every gaze on the platform turned toward him. Suddenly, the entire assembly fell silent.