The Nine Provinces Continent was vast beyond imagination.
Across endless mountains and rivers lived countless mortals and cultivators. Some pursued wealth, some pursued power, and some pursued the ultimate dream—immortality.
But the path of cultivation was cruel.
Out of ten thousand mortals, perhaps only one possessed the talent to cultivate.
And even among cultivators, most would never escape mediocrity.
Above them all stood the Heavenly Dao, controlling fate itself.
At the edge of the Azure Cloud Mountains, there was a small settlement known as Azure Village.
The village was quiet and poor.
Wooden houses lined muddy roads, smoke rose from cooking fires, and farmers worked tirelessly in nearby fields.
.
Among them lived a young boy.
His name was Lin Feng.
Sixteen years old.
Thin body.
Worn clothes.
Sharp eyes.
Right now, he was chopping firewood beside a small wooden hut.
Thud!
Thud!
The axe struck the log again and again.
Sweat dripped down his forehead.
Inside the hut, an elderly man coughed weakly.
"Feng'er…"
Lin Feng immediately stopped.
He rushed inside.
An old man lay on a straw bed. His face was pale and thin.
This was Old Lin, the man who raised him.
Lin Feng quickly poured some water.
"Grandfather, drink slowly."
Old Lin smiled faintly.
"You work too hard…"
Lin Feng shook his head.
"It's nothing."
Although he spoke calmly, worry flashed across his eyes.
Old Lin was getting weaker every year.
Medicine was expensive, and Lin Feng had no money.
To survive, he chopped wood and sold it in the nearby town.
Life was difficult.
But Lin Feng never complained.
Suddenly, loud shouting came from outside.
"Everyone come to the village square!"
"The Azure Sky Sect has arrived!"
Lin Feng froze.
His eyes widened.
"The sect…?"
Old Lin also looked surprised.
"The recruitment day already?"
Every five years, a cultivation sect called Azure Sky Sect came to recruit disciples.
Anyone under twenty could participate in the Spirit Root Test.
If they passed, they could become cultivators.
To mortals, this was a chance to change fate.
Old Lin looked at Lin Feng seriously.
"Go."
Lin Feng hesitated.
"But grandfather—"
"I'm fine."
Old Lin waved his hand.
"You've always dreamed of this."
"Don't miss the opportunity."
Lin Feng clenched his fists.
For years he had watched cultivators flying above the mountains like immortals.
Power.
Freedom.
Longevity.
Those things felt so far away.
But today…
The chance was finally here.
The village square was packed with people.
Dozens of teenagers stood nervously in a line.
At the center stood three cultivators wearing blue robes embroidered with cloud patterns.
Their presence alone made the villagers feel pressure.
One of them stepped forward.
He was a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a long beard.
"I am Elder Xu of the Azure Sky Sect."
His voice carried easily across the square.
"Today we test your spirit roots."
"If you possess cultivation talent, you may join the sect."
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
Beside him floated a crystal sphere, glowing faintly with spiritual light.
"This is the Spirit Testing Crystal," Elder Xu said.
"Place your hand on it."
"It will reveal your spirit root."
The test began.
One by one, teenagers stepped forward.
A boy nervously placed his hand on the crystal.
It glowed faintly with yellow light.
Elder Xu shook his head.
"Impure Earth Spirit Root."
"Not qualified."
The boy's face turned pale.
Next.
Another stepped forward.
The crystal flickered briefly.
"Ordinary mortal."
Rejected.
Again.
Rejected.
Rejected.
Out of twenty participants, none passed.
The atmosphere became heavy.
Cultivation talent was extremely rare.
Finally, someone called out.
"Lin Feng!"
Lin Feng stepped forward slowly.
Many villagers looked at him curiously.
Some whispered.
"That woodcutter boy?"
"No way he has talent."
"He's poor and weak."
Lin Feng ignored them.
His eyes remained calm.
He walked toward the crystal.
Elder Xu glanced at him.
"Place your hand on it."
Lin Feng took a deep breath.
Then he touched the crystal.
For a moment…
Nothing happened.
The villagers sighed.
Another failure.
But suddenly-
CRACK!
Lightning erupted inside the crystal.
BOOM!
Silver light exploded into the sky.
Wind roared violently across the square.
Everyone froze.
Lightning arcs danced around Lin Feng's body like living serpents.
The crystal trembled violently.
Then—
SHATTER!
It exploded.
Fragments scattered across the ground.
Silence fell.
Elder Xu stared in shock.
His voice trembled.
"This… this is…"
"Impossible…"
He looked at Lin Feng as if seeing a monster.
Then he spoke slowly.
"Heavenly Lightning Spirit Root."
Gasps spread across the crowd.
Even the other sect disciples were stunned.
A variant spirit root was already rare.
But a Heavenly Lightning Spirit Root was legendary.
A talent capable of shaking the cultivation world.
Elder Xu suddenly laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha!"
He walked toward Lin Feng quickly.
"Young man!"
"What is your name?"
"Lin Feng."
Elder Xu nodded repeatedly.
"Good!"
"From today onward…"
"You are a disciple of the Azure Sky Sect!"
The villagers erupted in shock.
Moments ago, Lin Feng was just a poor woodcutter.
Now…
He was destined to become a cultivator.
A person who could challenge the heavens.
Lin Feng looked toward the distant mountains.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
His life…
Had just changed forever.
..( ͝° ͜ʖ͡°)ᕤ