A small girl of around twelve was helping her mother comb through the fields, removing weeds from among the wheat. In the late afternoon, the mother and daughter took a break beneath the shade of a lone tree at the field's edge.
The mother was covered in dust from hours of work. She wiped her hands on a clean cloth and brought out flatbreads and pickled vegetables wrapped in a worn cloth bundle. The girl took one and began eating without any apparent emotion, her gaze distant. The woman looked at her daughter with loving eyes. "Meng'er, eat your fill. Mother has brought enough."
Placing a pickled vegetable in her mouth, the young girl looked at the woman and said, "Aunt, you should also eat some."
"You silly girl. How many times do I have to tell you to call me mother?" Since a young age, her daughter had the habit of calling her and her husband aunt and uncle. Over time, it had become so natural that they had begun to simply accept it.
"It just rolls off the tongue. Let's not talk about it and eat quickly. Tomorrow, the immortals are coming to select disciples. We should be in good shape when they arrive," the girl said.
The woman could only nod at this and began eating. After finishing the meal, the mother-daughter duo returned to their work, bent over the rows of wheat beneath the warm sun. Just before sunset, they had completely cleared the fields of weeds. Packing their things, they headed back home.
The sun had set, casting long dark shadows across the world. Luckily, they encountered the bullock cart of a fellow villager, making their route home easier. Reaching the village, the brightly lit lamps pushed back against the growing darkness, their warm glow spilling from windows and doorways.
Soon after reaching their house, they found it already open. Opening the door, the mother and daughter were greeted by a brawny man with a broad grin. He jumped forward to hug them, but both sidestepped with practiced ease, and the man stumbled out the door. Quickly stepping inside, the pair hurriedly closed the door behind them.
"I think Uncle needs some fresh air," the young girl said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
The woman silently agreed, a small smile playing at her lips. "You look very dirty today. Get ready for a bath. I'll warm some water over the fireplace."
The girl nodded. Soon, hot water was heated and brought to the bathroom, steam rising in gentle curls. Inside, Su Xiaomeng soaked in the wooden tub, letting the heat ease her tired muscles. The warmth seeped into her bones, loosening the day's tension.
She looked at her childish body of twelve years and sighed. Finally, after twelve years, she was going to start cultivating in this world. When she had first arrived, she had occupied the body of a stillborn baby. The couple had suspected nothing—they simply thought the baby was a late bloomer who had cried a little late. They had been so overjoyed that their child had survived that they never questioned it.
Of course, Xiaomeng hadn't wanted to take over this body. It felt wrong, but the door had thrust her inside with no chance to resist. For the next twelve years, she had lived as their daughter, growing up in this small village far removed from anything related to cultivation. Though she called them Aunt and Uncle out of habit, she had grown to genuinely care for them. They were simple and kind people who worked hard and loved deeply.
After washing and drying herself, Xiaomeng put on clean clothes and went out. A sweet and sour smell wafted through the house from the kitchen, rich and inviting. Following the scent, she entered the narrow space where Xiao Cao was stirring a large wok. Pieces of pork sizzling in a dark sauce that glistened under the lamplight. Seeing the girl who had just entered, the woman gestured for her to sit.
Xiaomeng made her way to the small, roughly made table and sat down on a worn wooden stool. Chen Bao had also been allowed inside and was busy repairing the windows, the softer sounds of his work drifting through the house.
Soon, all the dishes were laid out: the sweet and sour pork steaming in a clay pot, a simple vegetable stir-fry, and a bowl of rice for each of them. The family began eating, chopsticks clicking against bowls in the comfortable silence of those who knew each other well.
"Xiaomeng, even if you aren't selected tomorrow, don't worry. Your parents are still here for you," Xiao Cao said, her voice tinged with concern. She reached out and briefly patted her daughter's head.
Xiaomeng simply smiled slightly and continued eating, though she paused to meet the woman's eyes with a warmth that spoke more than words.
Chen Bao added a few encouraging words about how proud they already were and received the same quiet smile in return. The couple exchanged worried glances across the table but said nothing more. They had learned over the years that their daughter kept her own thoughts to herself, and pushing rarely helped.
That night, Xiaomeng dreamed she was back in the upper realm with her parents. She saw her mother's gentle smile, heard her father's boisterous laugh, and felt the warmth of their home around her. She was once again enjoying a peaceful meal with them in the courtyard. A single tear slipped from her eye as she slept, disappearing into her pillow.
The next morning, the family rose early. They dressed in their best clothes that were simple and clean, and made their way to the village center. A crowd had already gathered, mostly families with children between the ages of ten and sixteen. Nervous excitement hummed through the air.
And after some time, the reason for this became clear.
Dark shadows appeared in the sky, growing larger as they approached. Soon, the silhouettes of cultivators riding swords became visible against the clouds. They descended with practiced grace, wearing blue robes with their sect's symbol, a mountain peak encircled by rivers, etched on their chests. They landed in the village center, their swords hovering briefly before being stored away. The villagers stared in awe and fascination; some even knelt in worship, foreheads touching the ground.
A beautiful woman stepped forward. Her presence commanded attention without effort. "The rules of selection are simple. All children between ten and fifteen stand to my left." She produced a small white stone from the golden storage ring on her finger and raised it. "Place your hands on this stone. It will detect your spiritual roots and determine who qualifies."
The parents began guiding their children toward the left side, some with hopeful expressions, others with resigned ones. Xiaomeng gave her parents a wry smile and joined the crowd of children. One by one, they approached the stone.
"No spiritual roots."
A boy walked away with downcast eyes, his parents rushing to comfort him.
"Three-element ordinary spirit root."
A girl squealed with delight as her family erupted in cheers.
"Five-element mortal spirit root."
A tall boy nodded calmly and moved to the side where the selected children gathered.
"No spirit root."
"No spirit root."
The announcements continued, hope rising and falling with each word.
Soon it was Xiaomeng's turn. She flashed a smile toward her parents and placed her hand on the stone. It felt cool against her palm, smoother than river stone. For a moment, nothing happened. Then green, yellow, and blue colors began to swirl within it. The white stone became divided into distinct partitions of these colors, pulsing gently.
"Three-element ordinary spirit root," the disciple administering the test announced, making a note on a small tablet.
Xiaomeng withdrew her hand and walked back to her parents. Their faces held conflicting emotions. They wanted her to become an immortal's disciple; to have opportunities they could never give her. But they also wanted her to stay, to remain their little girl a while longer.
Xiaomeng hugged them both tightly, pressing her face against each of them in turn. "I'll write letters to you both, so don't worry about me." Hearing this, the couple relaxed slightly and hugged her back, Chen Bao's rough hand patted her head with a tenderness that belied his size.
After all eligible children had been tested, the leading girl produced a bottle from her storage ring and smashed it on the ground. The tiny boat inside rapidly expanded, growing larger and larger while floating in the air and only stopping when it was large enough to carry several hundred people. It was made of pale wood that seemed to glow faintly, with sails that unfurled on their own.
All children with spiritual roots were directed to board the ship. Those without received a life-extending pill that would add a decade to their lifespan. The parents of selected children received the same life-extending pill, a gesture of goodwill from the sect.
The crowd's mood was mixed. Some families celebrated, hugging and laughing through tears. Others mourned, though even they understood this was inevitable. Waving one last time to the people who had raised her, Xiaomeng picked up her small cloth bundle and climbed aboard the floating ship. The deck was smooth under her feet, and the railing felt warm despite the morning chill.
Inside, she found separate quarters for boys and girls. The cultivators who had administered the tests had private rooms, while the new disciples shared larger spaces. She entered her assigned room and found several other girls already there.
Xiaomeng greeted the other children from her village. Then, proceeding to sit down at the corner of a bed, she began planning her next move while the ship gently rose into the clouds. Her mind drifted to the three elemental spirit roots she possessed.
Initially, she hadn't possessed a spiritual root at all. However, using techniques from the upper realm that she had studied before her departure, she had artificially created one. It had taken years of careful work, channeling energy in specific patterns until it grew within her. But it was still inferior to a natural root of the same type. She would advance more slowly than even those with worse aptitude than hers.
She also knew many cultivation techniques, far more advanced than anything this lower realm sect likely possessed. But she dared not use them. If the local forces discovered her knowledge, they would most likely hunt her down to extract her secrets.
Once she joined the sect and established herself, she could cultivate without constant fear of exposure. Her only regret was leaving behind Xiao Cao and Chen Bao, the simple couple who had loved her without question for twelve years.
But once her cultivation advanced enough to protect them, she would return and bring them with her and care for them properly. Give them the comfortable life they deserve.
The ship rose higher, and through the window, she watched her village shrink below her. She kept watching until the clouds swallowed everything.