Many servants whispered among themselves, relieved that the chicken thief was interested only in poultry and not people. They cautioned each other not to provoke him, for otherwise, the safety of the Lin household—masters and servants alike—would be at risk. Only a celestial from the Taixuan Sect could possibly subdue such an audacious poultry-pilfering fiend.
The awkward reality, however, was that the Great Xuan Dynasty covered vast territories, and monsters and demons were not uncommon. The primary duty of the Taixuan Sect immortals was to slay the most heinous of these creatures; who would concern themselves with the petty grievance of a wealthy family losing a few chickens?
Later, the brazen thief began stealing more than just chickens; he started pilfering the books the young masters and misses used to learn their letters.
Yelin needed to master the common language of the Great Xuan Dynasty within two months. As a low-ranking servant, Yelin had no right to be literate. He usually did chores in the private study where the young masters and misses were taught, picking up a little knowledge here and there, but it was far from enough. Thus, he had specifically sent Xiaoqiang to steal some books so he could study while practicing body tempering.
When Yelin read, Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang would lie to the side, bobbing their heads. Yelin could occasionally hear Xiaobai trying to mimic his pronunciation, while Xiaoqiang would only squeak. Yelin guessed this might have something to do with their respective species.
Every so often, Xiaobai would fetch a pearl of similar size for Yelin to ingest. Each time he consumed one, a great deal of grime was purged from his body, and with each cleansing, Yelin’s physique grew significantly stronger. When he practiced his breathing exercises, the threads of spiritual energy he inhaled became noticeably thicker. He could feel his Spiritual Root growing more robust as a result.
Unknowingly, Yelin had become as strong as an ox and as agile as a mountain monkey. He was no longer someone any random Lin household guard could push around!
And so, two months of constant study and training flew by.
According to news from the Lin household steward, the Taixuan Sect celestial would arrive the next day. Under the busy hands of servants like Yelin, the entire estate was polished until it shone. Faces throughout the Lin household were filled with unconcealable excitement—happier, even, than during the Lunar New Year.
When an immortal descended, they would grant supreme immortal destiny to those with Spiritual Roots and bring peace and good fortune. For ordinary people, even a fleeting glimpse of an immortal or the chance to bathe in their spiritual aura was an immense blessing.
After dinner, once the masters had been served their wash water and had gone to sleep, Yelin and his roommate, Wang Er, returned to the dilapidated and filthy servant quarters.
Wang Er, whose face was covered in pockmarks, usually appeared even more timid and lowly than Yelin. Now, however, he clenched his fists, his body trembling slightly, and asked Yelin anxiously:
"Yelin, what if the immortal arrives tomorrow and senses that I am a legendary supreme prodigy, and insists on taking me away to teach me the path of immortality so I can save the world? What should I do?"
"B-but, I, Pockmarked Wang, am only fit to serve my masters. It’s impossible for me to learn such profound and mysterious paths of immortality. Wouldn't I be failing the great duty of saving the world? I’m truly too stupid, I don’t know a single character, and all I can do is chop wood and scrub floors..."
Yelin gazed at the starry sky and said slowly, "Perhaps in the immortal sects, chopping wood and scrubbing floors is also a form of cultivation that can extend one’s lifespan? It’s just that they might chop wood made of gold, and their floors might be paved with fine jade."
Wang Er’s eyes brightened, and he said excitedly, "Yes, yes! Why didn't I think of that... wait... where are you going?"
"Going to bathe?"
"Forget it. Last time I bathed with you, I was almost eaten alive by mosquitoes. I really envy how you’re naturally immune to them... even the steward says your life is so lowly that even the mosquitoes despise you."
"I need to get some good rest. Who knows? After tomorrow, I might be able to go to an immortal sect to chop wood and scrub floors to save the world. Perhaps, like the protagonists in those storytellers' tales, I might even be able to marry an immortal maiden as my wife!"
*Yeah, dreams have everything,* Yelin mused to himself.
Seeing Wang Er enter the dormitory, Yelin slipped into the darkness. He quickly reached the wall surrounding the Lin estate—a wall one story high—and with a single leap, vaulted over it. No guard noticed anything amiss.
***
By the river, in a hidden corner where Yelin often stayed, Xiaoqiang had already stolen five fragrant roasted chickens. Xiaobai was lying lazily on a large rock with a book in front of her; whenever a breeze blew by, the pages would turn.
After two months of feeding, Xiaoqiang’s size had increased by another notch, growing from the size of a palm to that of a small watermelon, his carapace becoming thicker and harder.
Xiaobai could now do more than just speak simply; she had learned to read and write. She was learning even faster than Yelin. Yelin deeply suspected that his own literacy level was now falling behind hers.
*A person inferior to a snake—what kind of world is this?*
Seeing Yelin emerge from the shadows, Xiaoqiang flashed over to hug his leg, letting out happy squeaks.
"Master..."
Xiaobai’s soft, delicate voice, like that of a young girl of thirteen or fourteen, drifted over. Although she could speak, it was not yet fluent; she could only manage simple keywords. "Master" was a term Xiaobai had taught herself. Yelin had actually suggested that she call him by his name, as he considered her a close partner and friend, but Xiaobai seemed to have a deep fear of addressing him by name.
Yelin nodded and stroked Xiaoqiang’s head and Xiaobai’s scalp.
"Tomorrow, the Taixuan Sect immortal will arrive at the Lin estate to test for Spiritual Roots. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me to ascend to the heavens. If my plan succeeds and the immortal takes me back to the sect, you two... what will you do?"
Speaking of this, Yelin felt extremely sorrowful and reluctant. Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang were large; if they followed him, the Taixuan immortals would surely discover them and slay them as demons on the spot. Yet, all the success Yelin had achieved today relied on their help. He could not simply leave them behind to seek immortality alone.
It was truly a dilemma.
Xiaobai nudged Yelin’s hand and whispered, "Master, ring, blood!"
Yelin was slightly startled, then took off the pale gray ring he had worn for many years. "You mean this thing?"
Xiaobai nodded obediently and repeated, "Ring, take us away!"
The ring looked very simple and worthless. Faintly, one could see densely packed, worm-like curves carved into it—chaotic, without beauty. It was an heirloom of the Ye family. Precisely because it appeared worthless, the Lin family had never confiscated it, and it had been passed down through the generations. Neither his grandfather nor his father had ever heard of it having any magical properties after wearing it for decades.
Yelin asked doubtfully, "I need to stain the ring with blood?"
Xiaobai nodded again. "Yes."
Yelin gave a helpless smile. "I'm afraid that won't work. My grandfather and father both did rough, dirty work; they were always getting cut or bruised, or beaten by the steward. I’m sure this ring has been stained with their blood plenty of times, but clearly, nothing happened."
Xiaobai said, "Master, Insect Emperor!"
Yelin was slightly shocked. "Insect Emperor? What is that?"
Xiaobai said, "The Myriad World Insect Emperor!"
Yelin still didn't quite understand, but it sounded powerful. "I'll give it a try. I hope it works as you say!"
Xiaoqiang fetched a blade from the crack in a rock. Yelin expertly cut his finger and dripped his blood onto the ring. He then watched as his blood quickly fused with the metal. Very soon, the entire ring turned blood-red, and an inexplicable soul connection was established.
Yelin’s vision blurred, and he saw an old man with white, disheveled hair. The old man’s face was covered in wrinkles, and his eyes were like a snake’s—strange and soul-piercing. He smiled kindly at Yelin and reached out to stroke Yelin’s head.
The snake-eyed elder’s affectionate voice rang in Yelin’s mind:
"Child, this is the Ancient Ring of the Insect Emperor, the heirloom treasure of my Ye family, the ancient tribe of insect tamers!"
"The fact that you have activated the ancient ring proves you have awakened the Insect Emperor bloodline. You are a rare genius of insect taming, unseen in a thousand years!"
"The Ancient Ring of the Insect Emperor has three miraculous uses."
"First, it contains a world of its own, capable of housing billions of spirit insects!"
"Second, raising spirit insects within the Ancient Ring Space will greatly increase their chances of mutation and awaken their ancient ancestral bloodlines!"
"Third, spirit insects will grow at a much faster rate, but you must pay a price for this!"
As he finished speaking, the snake-eyed old man’s form gradually shattered, his voice growing weaker. "Child, for the sake of your ancestors and descendants, do whatever it takes to survive in this cruel world of immortal cultivation and restore the former glory of the Ye family!"
With those words, the old man vanished without a trace.
Yelin was terrified to the point of turning pale, his breathing rapid, unable to speak for a long time. After a long silence, he murmured, "So, my Ye family wasn't meant to be slaves during the Lin era, but are successors of an ancient tribe of insect tamers! My ancestors couldn't discover the wonders of this ring because they failed to awaken the Insect Emperor bloodline!"
Yelin cautiously put the ring back on his finger. With a thought, the blood-stained, humble-looking ring vanished. With another thought, it reappeared. At the same time, Xiaoqiang turned into a black shadow and quickly shrank into the ring, and Xiaobai followed suit, turning into a white blur and merging into it as well.
In his mind, a desert with a diameter of about a hundred meters appeared out of thin air, and Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang lay quietly within it. The world had no water, no wind, no plants or animals; Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang entered and began to slumber.
Yelin had another thought, and they appeared back by his side as rays of light. However, his face turned pale, his dantian ached, and he felt dizzy, as if he had performed physical labor for a day and night without sleep.
Yelin rubbed his temples, forcing himself to stay alert. "What a miraculous ring. I feel there are still many secrets hidden within. Once we go to the immortal sect and learn some real skills, I’ll explore them slowly!"
Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang nodded like little chickens pecking at rice. Yelin used his blade to cut another finger, fed them, and then tucked them both back into the ring. Storing the spirit insects consumed no energy, but releasing them cost him dearly.
Yelin returned to the servant quarters and fell asleep the moment his head hit the bed. When he opened his eyes again, the sky was faintly brightening. An exuberant Wang Er was already putting on his newest servant’s tunic.
Yelin rose, feeling refreshed and clear-headed. He put on a freshly washed tunic. After a simple wash, they were summoned by the steward to help the masters rise and eat. Afterward, everyone in the Lin estate excitedly headed to the martial arts arena, looking up at the sky, waiting for the Taixuan Sect celestial to descend!
***
The Lin family had been in the fabric business for generations, with several large textile workshops. The Lin brand of fabric was a top seller throughout the Luoyun Province; it was said that even the prince governing the province ordered batches of their finest silk every year.
The leader of the Lin estate was an old man nearing seventy, with white hair and gentle eyes. Yelin didn't know his exact name, so he always addressed him respectfully as "Old Master Lin." Today, the old master was dressed in gorgeous robes, his face glowing with health and vitality.
The instructor responsible for teaching the children martial arts presented them to the Old Master respectfully: "Old Master, we have clearly sensed spiritual energy in the household. There are three children who have awakened their Spiritual Roots: Miss Lin Xiaoyu, Master Lin Yuan, and Master Lin Xiang."
Old Master Lin stroked his beard, his gentle gaze sweeping over the children as he nodded repeatedly. "Good, good, good. They are all fine children of the Lin family. In the future, as long as one of them can cultivate to the Foundation Establishment stage, our business can expand to other provinces."
"As for the other children, do not be discouraged. The immortals have said that if one can sense spiritual energy, it means the Spiritual Root is robust and the talent for cultivation is high. However, some children may have awakened their roots but have not mastered the breathing and meditation techniques, thus failing to sense the energy. Whether they have truly awakened will only be known when the immortal arrives to test them one by one."
Yelin’s gaze turned to the three Lin children who had already sensed their Spiritual Roots.
Lin Xiaoyu, the legitimate daughter of the estate, was delicate and dressed in beautiful clothes. After receiving the old master’s praise, she said with a look of pride, "I will not fail your great expectations, Great-Grandfather. I will surely achieve the Tao, become an immortal, reach Foundation Establishment, and expand our family business!"
Lin Yuan also added quickly, "Rest assured, Great-Grandfather. We of the Lin family will support each other in the immortal sect to seek the path of longevity. If there is a chance, I will definitely bring you back an immortal pill to extend your lifespan, so you may return to your youth!"
Only the youth named Lin Xiang seemed very dull. He gathered his courage, seemingly wanting to say something, but stuttered and couldn't get the words out. Yelin could see that Lin Xiang was likely from a neglected branch of the family; his clothes were far from the finery of Xiaoyu and Yuan.
The old master laughed heartily. "Good, good, good. All good children. Steward, prepare a sword forged of mysterious iron for each of these three children!"
The other children looked on with envy, as did Yelin. A mysterious iron sword was worth a thousand taels of gold, and it was said that after being refined by the immortal’s methods, it would become a weapon of the immortals, capable of slaying demons with a mere infusion of spiritual energy.
*Clang!*
The steward took three weapons from the storehouse and drew one. The blade’s cold light was biting, and one glance was enough to make one’s hair stand on end. Although Yelin was now strong enough to fight wolves and leopards, he had no doubt that this blade could split him in two with a single stroke.
The steward said, "These mysterious iron swords weigh thirty-six pounds each. They require a master swordsmith to forge for forty-nine days. They can cut iron like mud and slice through hair blown upon them. Even demons would retreat at the sight of them!"
"Young Master, Young Miss, be careful when using them, lest you injure yourselves."
As he spoke, the three swords were handed to Lin Xiaoyu, Lin Yuan, and Lin Xiang. Although they were only eleven or twelve years old, they had long been tempering their bodies and had awakened their Spiritual Roots, so their physical strength was not necessarily below Yelin’s. Using a thirty-six-pound weapon with one hand was not overly taxing for them.
The three said in unison, "Thank you, Great-Grandfather, for the gift of the swords!"
Just as they finished, a long, flat flying boat descended slowly from the clouds. The characters "Taixuan Sect" were written on its side. Everyone’s heart pounded. Old Master Lin shouted, "All five hundred and thirty-one members of the Lin family of Luoyun Province respectfully welcome the Taixuan Sect immortal!"
Everyone knelt in worship, as if they were seeing the Emperor of the Great Xuan Dynasty.
The flying boat hovered dozens of meters above, not touching the ground. A middle-aged man in magnificent green-purple Taoist robes, with the character "Xuan" embroidered on his back, long flowing hair, and two swords strapped to his back, leaped from the bow. He seemed to have no weight, landing lightly before the kneeling crowd. This was the celestial emissary, the immortal responsible for testing the Spiritual Roots of the great clans.
"Rise."
The immortal wore a kind smile. His voice seemed to emanate from within one’s own soul; though kind, it was irresistible, and everyone stood up involuntarily.
Old Master Lin smiled and presented a jade box the size of a palm. "This is a small gift from the Lin estate for the immortal. I hope you will not refuse."
The immortal nodded slightly. As soon as the box reached his hand, it turned into a ray of light and merged into an exquisite pouch at his waist. Yelin knew this was the "Qiankun Bag" used by immortals—a tiny, palm-sized pouch that contained a vast space, said by some to be large enough to hold mountains and rivers!
*I wonder if my Ancient Ring of the Insect Emperor can hold items. Compared to that bag, my ring must be even more powerful. They say the Qiankun Bag cannot hold living things, but mine can!*
Yelin felt a surge of pride. Having been a servant his whole life and only studied for two months, his horizons were not particularly broad; he had no idea that the Ancient Ring of the Insect Emperor was a supreme treasure of the cultivation world—ten thousand Qiankun Bags could not be traded for it. However, he was cautious and understood that one shouldn't show off one’s wealth. The ring on his finger remained completely hidden, and the immortal did not notice anything unusual.
*The gift inside the jade box must be hundred-year spirit herbs, used to refine immortal pills. They are more precious even than the mysterious iron swords!*
The steward of the Lin household said respectfully, "Reporting to the immortal, there are forty-five children in the Lin family to be tested today. Three have already sensed spiritual energy, but we do not know the quality of their roots!"
The immortal patted his Qiankun Bag, a golden glow flashed, and suddenly he held a palm-sized copper compass engraved with the characters for "Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth."
With a flick of his fingers, a ray of spiritual light entered the compass, and a humming sound filled the air. The compass flew out automatically, hovering first over Lin Xiaoyu’s head. Instantly, the compass emitted a bronze light that enveloped her, and the characters "Fire" and "Water" lit up.
The immortal said slowly, "Mid-grade Fire Spiritual Root, low-grade Water Spiritual Root. Excellent aptitude. You may enter the Taixuan Sect and pursue the path of longevity."
Lin Xiaoyu knelt quickly. "Thank you, Immortal, for granting me this destiny!"
The immortal said, "All those permitted to enter the Taixuan Sect, come behind me and wait to board the flying boat."
Lin Xiaoyu took her mysterious iron sword, a look of pride on her face, and stood behind the immortal.
***
From this moment on, she was no longer merely a daughter of a wealthy family, but a disciple of the Taixuan Sect. She had ascended to the heavens, leaving behind the fate of turning to dust after a hundred years!
Then, the copper compass flew toward Lin Yuan.
"Low-grade Metal Spiritual Root. You may enter the Taixuan Sect!"
The compass flew toward Lin Xiang.
"Low-grade Wood Spiritual Root, low-grade Water Spiritual Root. Not bad. You may enter the Taixuan Sect!"
...
The compass tested all the other Lin children one by one, but the remaining forty-two could not be detected with any Spiritual Roots. The young masters and misses of the Lin family looked disappointed, gazing with immense envy at the three who were now standing behind the immortal.
Immortals and mortals were forever separated. Though they had been peers with only slight differences in status, should they meet in the future, they would have to kneel in reverence.
At this moment, a figure suddenly stepped out from the crowd.