No matter where one is, geniuses always easily gain more attention.

Yanshou was once a frail and sickly ordinary child who didn’t know when he might die young, until at age six, he was discovered by a passing immortal elder who brought him to a magical place. Only then did he learn that such a thing as “cultivating immortality” existed in the world.

After the senior brothers and sisters heard about his origins, they shook their heads and sighed: “So he’s from the Mortal Realm. That person also came from the Mortal Realm back then.”

Mortal Realm? That person?

Young Yanshou couldn’t understand. But because his aptitude was good, the senior brothers and sisters worried that being young, he’d be influenced by the outside world’s distractions and corrupted in temperament, so they didn’t often tell him about outside matters.

He only knew the sect was called Yuanji Sect, the eleventh largest sect in the cultivation world. As Yuanji Sect’s only five-spirit-root disciple, the head senior brother took good care of him, though some fellow disciples had quite a few critical words about him, their speech full of disdain for the Mortal Realm.

“You all must not speak such nonsense!” The head senior brother’s expression was stern. “What does it matter if one comes from the Mortal Realm? Our Lingyou Realm also has great powers who came from the Mortal Realm. If these words of yours reach Yunhua Sect’s ears, won’t that bring trouble?”

Hearing this, the gossiping fellow disciples’ faces changed color. Seeing his fellow disciples so frightened, Yanshou asked curiously: “Head Senior Brother, is Yunhua Sect very formidable?”

“Yunhua Sect ranks eighth among the ten great sects. They’re very formidable.” Head senior brother Zhou Xiao smiled at him gently. “Don’t take these people’s words to heart. I’ll take you back to the cave dwelling.”

“Ranked eighth?” Yanshou thought about it. “Our sect ranks eleventh. We’re not that much worse than them.”

Why did several fellow disciples look like they were very afraid of Yunhua Sect?

“You don’t understand.” Zhou Xiao sighed, patting his shoulder with an air of profundity. “When you’re a bit older, you’ll know.”

Seeing the head senior brother say this, Yanshou didn’t ask more. He buried this curiosity in his heart and spent twelve years transforming from a child who understood nothing into a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He’d heard a senior sister say that many cultivators couldn’t establish their foundation even until death. Cultivators who could successfully establish foundation within fifty years were the cream of the crop in the cultivation world. So he was very satisfied with his speed of establishing foundation in just twelve years.

At age twenty-five, his cultivation was already at Foundation Establishment great perfection. He only lacked an opportunity to leap into becoming a Heart Movement Stage cultivator. Such fast cultivation speed made him his master’s most valued direct disciple. Even the head senior brother had to give him some face. In the sect, no one dared mock his origins anymore.

His master said the cultivation world had an exchange conference and wanted him to come along to broaden his horizons.

Yanshou joined Yuanji Sect at age six and still hadn’t left the city. Hearing his master say he’d take him to join the excitement, he immediately agreed.

“At the exchange conference, perform well. Don’t give other sects any face. Go all out, understand?” Master patted his shoulder, his expression especially serious. “Especially Yunhua Sect’s disciples. If you encounter them, absolutely don’t be polite. Do what needs to be done!”

Yanshou: “…”

Listening to Master’s tone, their sect’s relationship with Yunhua Sect wasn’t very good?

Before departure, the sect brought out the most luxurious flying magical treasure and custom-made two new sets of sect robes for all disciples participating in the exchange conference. The robes had several defensive rune patterns on them.

He could see his master’s determination to neither lose face nor lose ground.

Along the way, stopping and starting, they encountered quite a few others heading to Liuguang Sect in Pei City.

Liuguang Sect’s great name was like thunder piercing the ears. Even Yanshou, who’d never left the city, often heard people mention this sect.

“Over a hundred years ago, the exchange conference Liuguang Sect held was canceled midway. It was really a pity.”

“Alas, in the blink of an eye, over a hundred years have passed, and my cultivation still hasn’t broken through.”

“You’re already at Nascent Soul Stage cultivation. Not breaking through in over a hundred years isn’t surprising. In our cultivation world, not everyone is like the two Zhenren, Zhong Xi and Kong Hou.”

Yanshou listened quietly, feeling vaguely curious in his heart. What kind of formidable figures were the two Zhenren, Zhong Xi and Kong Hou, that these seniors already at Nascent Soul Stage cultivation spoke of them with such reverence?

“I heard that in recent years, the two Zhenren have been living at Yunhua Sect. Hopefully at this exchange conference, we’ll be fortunate enough to see them.”

Yunhua Sect?

Yanshou hastily turned his head to secretly observe his master. There was no displeasure on Master’s face. He even took the opportunity to praise Kong Hou Zhenren a few sentences. Could it be that Master had no aversion to Yunhua Sect, and everything was just his overthinking?

Along the way, they continuously encountered more cultivators traveling together. On the day they arrived at Pei City, the entire city was packed with people. Quite a few people actively came to greet them, and before leaving, didn’t forget to praise him lavishly.

Five-spirit-root genius disciple…

Amidst everyone’s praise, he couldn’t help feeling somewhat elated.

“Look quickly, Yunhua Sect’s Flying Gold Palace flew directly over the city gate.”

“They actually didn’t pass through the city gate?”

“They’re Liuguang Sect’s in-laws. Moreover, Zhong Xi Zhenren is definitely on the flying ship. No need to worry about safety issues.”

The surrounding cultivators mentioned Yunhua Sect and Liuguang Sect with tones full of longing and admiration. Yanshou thought that he was a five-spirit-root genius. In the future, he would definitely be more formidable than these two Zhenren and more respected by cultivators.

After entering Liuguang Sect, the news he heard most was about the ten sects. Which disciple formed their Nascent Soul, which disciple formed their Core, Jiufeng Sect and Zhaohan Sect had a conflict again, Yuexing Sect sent word they wouldn’t participate in the exchange conference, and so on.

Who would have thought these cultivators who’d lived quite a few years also liked discussing such trivial matters?

Yanshou vaguely felt that the cultivation world he’d held as mysterious and noble in his mind didn’t seem so mysterious after all.

After the exchange conference began, Yanshou performed excellently, receiving admiring gazes from countless people. At the final Dao discussion session, the discussion room he was assigned to actually had a Yunhua Sect disciple.

This Yunhua Sect disciple had dual-spirit-root aptitude. This kind of aptitude wasn’t considered good in major sects. He really didn’t understand why Yunhua Sect would let a disciple with poor aptitude participate in such a good exchange opportunity. Wasn’t this wasting a slot?

Remembering his master’s instructions, he didn’t hold back at all, speaking eloquently before the other nine cultivators.

“Daoist Yanshou speaks correctly!”

“Said too well!”

That Yunhua Sect cultivator nodded repeatedly, eyes revealing amazement, finally even clapping in praise. The other party had no jealousy, no dissatisfaction, praising with complete sincerity. This made Yanshou… feel no sense of achievement whatsoever.

What about a major sect’s competitive spirit? What about a major sect disciple’s dignity?

A Foundation Establishment cultivator with a bone age of fifty or sixty lost to him, a young person with a bone age of only twenty-five, in Dao discussion. Didn’t he feel it was embarrassing?!

After the Dao discussion conference ended came the martial combat conference. Yanshou had insufficient practical combat experience, but because his aptitude was there, he won more than he lost and entered the finals.

Then he encountered that Yunhua Sect disciple who had clapped enthusiastically for him at the Dao discussion conference again.

“What a coincidence, we’ve met again. Daoist Yanshou, please.” This Yunhua Sect disciple smiled brilliantly. He wore sect robes with layer upon layer of rune patterns, even more elaborate than his law robes as the sect master’s direct disciple. But for fairness in the competition, he wore a jade pendant at his waist that suppressed the defensive effects of the rune patterns.

“Please.” Yanshou glanced at the viewing seats. His master sat there. He had to defeat Yunhua Sect’s disciple to win face for his master.

Win… face…

Looking at the sword only three inches from his spiritual platform, Yanshou was somewhat dazed. He lost?

Lost to this Yunhua Sect disciple with ordinary aptitude who had no highlights during the Dao discussion?

“I yield.” The Yunhua Sect disciple withdrew his sword, bowed to him, and turned to descend from the duel platform.

Yanshou didn’t know how he walked down from the duel platform. He’d always been proud. He never expected to lose to someone inferior to himself. He had no face to look at his master, no face to face his fellow disciples. In a daze, he walked toward a secluded and quiet place.

Not knowing how long he’d walked, he stopped between a cliff face.

The wind from the mountain ravine gradually cleared his mind. The more sober he became, the more embarrassed he felt, feeling he’d failed his master’s expectations and lost face for the sect.

“Hey, what are you squatting here for?” A young woman arrived on a sword from the clouds. She wore her hair in a flying immortal bun, and the flowing immortal dress on her body glowed and shimmered—who knew how many rune patterns were added to it.

The most eye-catching thing wasn’t the dharma robe on her body but those lively eyes. Being looked at by such eyes, Yanshou felt somewhat embarrassed and stood up. This person could fly freely on a sword at Liuguang Sect, and the dharma robe she wore was so precious. Perhaps she was some relatively high-status direct disciple of Liuguang Sect?

“Are you Yuanji Sect’s Yanshou, young martial nephew?” The young woman jumped down from her flying sword. The phoenix-headed hairpin at her temple swayed slightly. Yanshou looked at her fair cheeks, feeling somewhat embarrassed, and secretly retreated a step.

“If you retreat any further, you’ll fall down.” The young woman pulled out several spirit fruits from her storage ring and stuffed them into Yanshou’s hands. “I heard you’re from the Mortal Realm?”

Yanshou pursed his lips and nodded. He knew many people in the cultivation world looked down on cultivators from the Mortal Realm, but he couldn’t afford to offend the other party, so he didn’t dare conceal it.

“How wonderful.” The young woman sat on a boulder. Such a casual movement, when she did it, looked extraordinarily good. Yanshou couldn’t see through the other party’s cultivation level, but judging by her appearance of no more than eighteen years, she was probably a cultivation genius even more formidable than him.

Having been struck down by a Yunhua Sect disciple, most of the solitary pride in his heart dissipated. He no longer felt his bit of talent was unique. Hearing the other party say “how wonderful,” he somewhat doubted his ears. What was good about being from the Mortal Realm?

“How is the Mortal Realm now?” The young woman turned to ask him.

Yanshou was startled: “When I left the Mortal Realm, I wasn’t yet seven years old. I don’t have many memories of the Mortal Realm. I only vaguely remember everyone’s days were going fairly well. Mother once said the Emperor was a rare enlightened ruler.”

The young woman nodded: “That’s good then.”

Yanshou didn’t know what to say. He didn’t understand why this young woman specifically asked about the Mortal Realm and even showed a smile when hearing the common people’s days were going well.

He carefully observed the young woman, inexplicably feeling the other party was somewhat familiar, as if he’d seen her somewhere before. Just as he was about to open his mouth to ask, he heard a crane’s cry from the sky.

“Kong Hou.” On the crane’s back stood a man in white clothes pure as snow. Yanshou looked up at the man. If immortals existed in the world, none could be more beautiful than this.

The man saw him and nodded slightly toward him.

Yanshou hastily clasped his hands in salute.

“Weren’t you watching the competition between disciples in the viewing seats?” The young woman climbed up from the stone and stretched out both arms.

Noticing this action, Yanshou was somewhat puzzled. What did this mean?

The next moment, he saw the man fly down from the crane’s back and scoop up the young woman by her waist: “Increasingly lazy.”

“It’s all because you spoil me.” The young woman reached out to pull the man’s ear. “If you spoil me rotten, you have to take responsibility. Do you understand, my Zhong Xi Zhenren?”

Zhong Xi Zhenren… Kong Hou Zhenren?!

Yanshou’s eyes widened. Seeing Zhong Xi Zhenren had already flown away holding Kong Hou Zhenren, he only came back to his senses after a long while.

Having seen the legendary Zhenren, Yanshou finally knew how great the difference was between himself and the two.

That evening, he returned to the villa to apologize to his master. Who knew his master didn’t blame him at all, saying that Yunhua Sect disciple who defeated him only won because he relied on Zhong Xi Zhenren’s guidance in swordsmanship. He told him not to take it to heart.

Yanshou could finally confirm that although his master quite admired Kong Hou Xianzi, this didn’t prevent his dislike of Yunhua Sect.

The grudges and grievances of the previous generation were truly complex.

That night, Yanshou had a dream. He dreamed he was still a six-year-old child. It was his last night before leaving the Mortal Realm. His father’s eyes were rimmed with red as he held his hand and came to the ancestral hall, making him kowtow and bow to the ancestors.

In the center of the ancestral hall hung a painting of a flying celestial maiden. The paper had already yellowed—who knew how many times it had been repaired.

“Father, who is the person in the painting?”

“That is our ancestor’s lifesaving benefactor.” Father looked at the person in the painting, his expression somewhat dazed. “The genealogy records say that over a hundred years ago, more than half the nation suffered a plague disaster. Our family’s ancestor, carrying a young sister, was on the verge of death. It was this immortal’s appearance that saved our ancestor and the common people under heaven.”

“Is she the fairy from the fairy temple?” he asked.

“Perhaps so.” Father half-squatted before him. “Yanshou, with this parting, you and I, father and son, may never meet again. This father only hopes your illness is completely eliminated and you live a peaceful life.”

“Father…”

Yanshou opened his eyes, looking at the embroidered canopy above. He finally remembered where he’d seen Kong Hou Zhenren before.

That immortal who saved countless common people was clearly Kong Hou Xianzi.

But Master once said everything had heavenly destiny, and Lingyou Realm cultivators especially couldn’t easily interfere in mortal affairs. With what kind of mindset did Kong Hou Zhenren go to save the common people under heaven?

He finally understood why Kong Hou Zhenren said “that’s good then.”

What he couldn’t compare to Kong Hou Zhenren wasn’t aptitude, but heart.

From then on, he often inquired about news related to Kong Hou Zhenren.

Some said Kong Hou Zhenren and her Dao companion discovered another secret realm. Some said Kong Hou Zhenren and her Dao companion had very good feelings and compiled many cultivation experiences to distribute to all major sects.

Others said Kong Hou Zhenren and her Dao companion never ascended because they couldn’t bear to leave the people of Lingyou Realm. Others said the conditions for ascending in the cultivation world were extremely harsh, but because the two Zhenren told cultivators under heaven their cultivation experiences and insights, this violated the Heavenly Dao, so the two weren’t allowed to ascend.

Later on, the head senior brother resigned from his position as head senior brother because his cultivation couldn’t advance an inch, and he became the head senior brother.

One day, Kong Hou Zhenren suddenly came to find him, saying that in the city under their jurisdiction, a secret realm was about to open, and she was going to the secret realm to keep an appointment.

After that, he never saw Kong Hou Zhenren and her Dao companion again. Perhaps the two had already ascended. Perhaps the two were still touring the world.

However, in Yunhua Sect and Liuguang Sect, people began to ascend. The cultivation world’s curse of no one ascending for a long time was thus broken.

The entire cultivation world had new hope.

But no matter where these two were, Yanshou thought, as long as these two were together, they were happier than immortals.

In life’s cultivation, one cultivates the heart, cultivates the body, cultivates one’s own Dao.

What is the Dao?

Nothing more than a path leading to happiness.