Chapter 5: Visiting the Immortal Sect

The next day.

Under Ling Kun's urging, Ling Feng packed his belongings and set off on a journey to seek the Martial Dao with his grandfather.

Traveling from Yunxi County all the way north, they entered the region known as the Seven Northern Prefectures.

Because Ling Feng had activated his "Heavenly Eye" and slaughtered the entire household of the Kaiyang City Lord's manor, Ling Kun had been leading Ling Feng toward the north to minimize the possibility of being plagued by trouble.

In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed.

During this time, Ling Kun had sought out countless sects that held some degree of prestige in the local areas, hoping to have Ling Feng join a sect for cultivation.

Unfortunately, as soon as those people saw Ling Feng's age, they immediately shook their heads in refusal.

The path of the Martial Dao generally requires tempering one's bones and muscles from a young age. The children of martial families typically begin body tempering and refinement as early as ten or twelve years old. Although Ling Feng was only eighteen, he had clearly already missed this golden age.

Starting the Martial Dao at eighteen was essentially considered a waste of effort and resources.

Consequently, even though some martial artists from various sects had once received favors from Ling Feng's grandfather, they were still unwilling to accept Ling Feng; they either avoided him altogether or simply sent people to drive him away.

By today, it was already the twelfth sect to ruthlessly cast the grandfather and grandson down from their mountain.

"Get lost! With your grandson's aptitude, thinking he can step onto the path of the Martial Dao is nothing but a pipe dream! Elder Jian said he doesn't know you two beggars. Now, get lost!" a mountain guard shouted derisively.

"Dammit! If not for the Old Master back then, how could you still be alive today!" Having been rejected by yet another sect's mountain guard, Ling Kun finally couldn't hold back his rage. "You low-life, short-sighted bastards! It is your loss not to take Feng'er in!"

"Forget it, Grandfather," Ling Feng sighed softly. "Why waste breath on these watchdogs?"

"You brat, who are you calling a watchdog?"

Upon hearing this, the mountain guards swarmed forward, raining blows and kicks upon the grandfather and grandson, driving them out of the mountain gate.

Ling Feng looked up at the plaque above the gate, which read "Flowing Cloud Sword Sect," and silently committed the name to memory.

The humiliation of today, he would surely repay twofold in the future!

...

In the dead of night, the grandfather and grandson camped out under the stars, huddled around a campfire.

"It has been almost a month," Ling Kun clenched his fists and let out a long sigh. "Feng'er, tomorrow Grandfather will take you to the Immortal Inquiry Sect. There is an outer sect elder there who is somewhat acquainted with me... he should be able to help us."

"Forget it, Grandfather. Don't sacrifice your dignity anymore because of me," Ling Feng said through gritted teeth. "Even if I don't join a sect, I can still cultivate!"

"Feng'er, Grandfather knows you are filial, but you don't even have a manual for Qi Induction. How can you cultivate?"

Ling Kun patted the back of Ling Feng's head and smiled faintly. "As long as it is for you, Feng'er, what does it matter if Grandfather loses this old face? If it weren't for Grandfather's greed for wealth and honor, how could I have caused you... never mind, let's not speak of it..."

Ling Feng's expression darkened. Leaning against a large tree, he sighed softly.

Indeed, without even a method for Qi Induction, how could one speak of the Martial Dao?

...

As dawn broke.

Ling Kun urged Ling Feng to head toward the Immortal Inquiry Sect he had mentioned.

The area around the Immortal Trace Mountain Range was densely populated with sects, but only the so-called "Top Three Sects"—the Immortal Inquiry Sect, the Heaven and Earth Sect, and the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect—could truly be considered great powers.

Ling Feng had already visited the other two, but unfortunately, both had turned him away. Now, the Immortal Inquiry Sect was their last hope.

After reporting to the mountain guard, it wasn't long before a dignified middle-aged man descended from the mountain.

"Are you not... Old Master Ling Kun?"

The man wore wide robes, possessed a square face and silkworm eyebrows, and appeared very majestic.

"Master Wang!" Ling Kun hurriedly bowed to meet him, beckoning to Ling Feng with a smile. "Feng'er, come here! Quickly, greet Master Wang!"

Knowing that one must bow when living under another's roof, Ling Feng stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting to the man surnamed Wang. "Ling Feng greets Master Wang."

He knew that whether he could join the Immortal Inquiry Sect depended entirely on this man.

Wang Danfeng laughed heartily. "Old Master Ling, if not for the Medical Saint Ling's treatment back then, my arm would have been useless long ago. We are all on the same side; there is no need for such formality. Haha, I am merely a minor outer sect elder; I hardly deserve to be called a Master."

"It is rare to find someone as loyal and righteous as Master Wang, who still remembers old ties. This old man thanks you in advance," Ling Kun bowed deeply to Wang Danfeng once more, then continued slowly, "This is the Old Master's only grandson. I hope Great Elder Wang can introduce Feng'er so he may join the Immortal Inquiry Sect for cultivation."

"Since he is a descendant of the Medical Saint Ling, naturally he must be looked after." Wang Danfeng smiled faintly, sized Ling Feng up, and said with a grin, "Your name is Ling Feng, right? Hmm, indeed quite heroic and extraordinary. You have your grandfather's poise from years ago!"

"Master Wang overpraises me," Ling Feng said modestly.

"What 'Master'? The Medical Saint Ling did me a great favor. Since you are his grandson, just call me Uncle Wang."

"Uncle Wang!" Ling Feng called out respectfully.

Ling Kun gave Ling Feng a deep look, took a sharp breath, and said through hot tears, "Then, Master Wang, I leave Feng'er in your hands!"

"What, aren't you going to stay in the mountain gate to accompany the boy for a few days? Don't worry, although my authority is limited, I have the power to let you stay for a few more days," Wang Danfeng said with a smile.

"There is no need. Feng'er's matter has already caused you enough trouble." Ling Kun took a heavy bag of gold coins from his robe and handed it to Wang Danfeng, saying with tears in his eyes, "Feng'er, I must trouble you to look after him."

"There is no need for this," Wang Danfeng pushed the gold back to Ling Kun and smiled faintly. "These things are of little use to those who cultivate. Keep them for yourself, Old Master."

"Sigh, if everyone in this world were like Master Wang, how could our grandfather and grandson have..."

Ling Kun sighed softly; the warmth and coldness of human nature were burdens only he truly understood.

"Feng'er, remember what Grandfather told you!" Ling Kun turned back to look at Ling Feng, speaking with heavy earnestness.

"Feng'er will engrave it in his heart and never dare forget!" Ling Feng nodded heavily.

"Feng'er, once you enter the Immortal Inquiry Sect, just focus on your cultivation and do not worry about Grandfather. I've lived this long; I am quite shrewd! Grandfather will wait for you at an inn in Yunxi County, hoping for your early success in cultivation."

Ling Kun took a deep breath, fighting back his tears.

For over ten years, Ling Feng had been raised by his own hands; to him, the boy was like his own biological grandson. This parting naturally filled his heart with reluctance.

Understanding his grandfather's feelings, Ling Feng bowed deeply to him. "Grandfather, while I am not by your side... please take care of yourself!"

With that, Ling Kun wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and turned to leave.

Watching his grandfather's departing figure, Ling Feng clenched his fists tightly, silently vowing in his heart: *Don't worry, Grandfather. Feng'er will surely become the strongest in the world! The strongest person!*

Wang Danfeng shook his head with a light sigh and patted Ling Feng's shoulder. "Come, child. Do not let your grandfather's hard work go to waste."

Ling Feng nodded, gave Ling Kun one last deep look, and followed Wang Danfeng as they drifted away.

"This is Mount Nine Immortals. Come, I will take you directly to the inner sect," Wang Danfeng said with a faint smile.

Ling Feng looked around. Mount Nine Immortals truly lived up to its name as a "Celestial Mountain"; the scenery everywhere was like a painting, as if he had stepped into a fairyland.

He clenched his fists: *Starting from today, I will begin my journey on the path of the Martial Dao in this place!*

"Greetings, Elder!"

"Greetings, Elder!"

One by one, the outer sect disciples stepped forward respectfully to salute Wang Danfeng upon seeing him.

Wang Danfeng held a significant position in the outer sect, which was why he possessed a quota to recommend disciples to the inner sect.

Wang Danfeng waved his hand at the greeting disciples and led Ling Feng straight toward the mountain peak.

Watching the retreating figures of Wang Danfeng and Ling Feng, many outer sect disciples paused to sigh in admiration.

"I really envy those disciples who can join the inner sect directly!"

"Alright, stop envying. Just focus on finishing your chores. As long as an outer sect disciple works hard, there is still a chance to join the inner sect!"

"Sigh, I know..."