Chapter 30: The Bearing of an Immortal Venerable

Wang Family Village is situated on the border of the Yan Kingdom, tucked away behind the vast and perilous Ten Thousand Mountains. It is a remote and desolate place, overgrown with wild weeds and teeming with savage beasts. Located far from the heart of the kingdom, it is a place ordinary people could never reach, let alone survive in, without the abilities of a cultivator.

Lin Jun followed the system’s guidance, taking over ten days to arrive. Upon his arrival, he discovered a determined youth, alone and clutching a wooden staff, wandering through the vast expanse of the border mountains. The boy’s clothes were in tatters, his skin cracked and dry, and his shins were lacerated by countless sharp weeds. Yet, his demeanor suggested he intended to traverse these dangerous mountains entirely on his own, bound for some destination beyond.

[Disciple Potential Detected]
[Name: Wang Nixian. Possesses the potential of an Immortal Venerable. Hidden talent: Rare "Inversion Spiritual Root" (requires "Inversion Intent" to awaken).]
[Disposition: Rebellious and headstrong, yet grateful and loyal.]
[Note: This child is naturally suspicious and obstinate. If he does not fully acknowledge you, the opportunity to take him as a disciple will be lost. Please proceed with caution, Host.]

As the system’s prompts echoed in his ears, Lin Jun hovered in the void, watching the resolute boy below. He stroked his chin in thought. The "Immortal Venerable Starter Pack" offered by the system was something he certainly wanted, as was this potential disciple with the "Inversion Spiritual Root" and a heart capable of gratitude. However, the boy’s suspicious nature made traditional recruitment impossible; a different strategy was required. For a disciple as headstrong as this, him begging to be accepted would be far more valuable than Lin Jun simply offering to take him in.

"I have it," Lin Jun mused. He concealed his physical form and, with a thought, projected his soul outward, imbuing it into a stone lying in Wang Nixian’s path. In his past life, he had often read stories about "old masters" hiding inside rings; becoming a mentor in this fashion seemed like a perfect way to forge a deep, meaningful bond.

In the distance, a glimmer of light flickered briefly on an ordinary-looking stone. Wang Nixian, however, did not notice. He continued to trudge forward, leaning on his wooden staff, his legs bleeding, though he seemed oblivious to the pain.

"They say that beyond the Ten Thousand Mountains lies a demonic sect that accepts disciples regardless of their aptitude," he muttered. "If I, Wang Nixian, am destined to be barred from the righteous immortal sects, then I shall embrace the demonic path! As long as I can provide a better life for my parents, I will do whatever it takes!"

Driven by astonishing resolve, he gritted his teeth and pushed forward, ignoring his physical suffering. He had been rejected by the Hengling Sect countless times; he was exhausted, and he had wept, but nothing was more bitter than returning home a failure to face the scorn of his kin. Compared to that, he would rather die out here. He persisted, holding onto that sliver of a dream he had harbored since catching a glimpse of an immortal.

"Huh? What is this?"

He paused, looking down in surprise. A stone, clearly a treasure, lay before him, pulsating with light as if something were trapped within. It looked just like the legendary encounters he had read about in stories. For a moment, he was overcome with excitement, his imagination running wild, but he quickly calmed himself. A look of wariness replaced his joy—he knew that "pies falling from the sky" were often traps. He circled the glowing stone, observing it from every angle, but he refused to touch it.

Watching from within the stone, Lin Jun nodded approvingly. This level of caution alone proved the boy had what it took to survive in the world of cultivation. Seeing his persistence, Lin Jun decided to test him further, remaining silent and only controlling the stone’s glow.

He waited for three full days. During this time, Wang Nixian ate his dry rations and drank river water, never leaving, yet never coming closer than a cautious distance. Finally, when Lin Jun’s patience began to wear thin, the boy completed his preparations and carefully picked up the stone. His face was filled with irrepressible excitement.

"Hey! Don't go touching your ancestor!"

Seeing the boy’s delicate handling of the stone, Lin Jun, feeling playful, let out a booming shout that gave the youth a start.

"Who! Who is speaking?" Wang Nixian’s face turned pale. He tried desperately to throw the stone away, only to find it stuck to his palm like a plaster, impossible to shake off.

Inside the stone, Lin Jun’s soul curled its lips into a smile, enjoying the thrill of playing the "old master."

"I am an ancestor born before the creation of the heavens. It is your great fortune to meet me today. I shall grant you three wishes. Speak, what is it that you desire?"

*Thud!*

Wang Nixian dropped to his knees. "Please, Ancestor, teach me how to cultivate!"

"That is easily done. Rise first," Lin Jun said, a smirk playing on his lips. He knew the boy was not entirely sincere, but he had his methods; once they were connected, everything else would fall into place.

*Whatever kind of monster or demon this is, I'll just trick him into giving me a cultivation technique, and then I'll run...* Wang Nixian thought, his face displaying feigned ecstasy while he silently plotted his escape.

"Let’s go. Wherever you are headed, take me with you," Lin Jun’s voice echoed in his mind, ethereal and distant. Wang Nixian hesitated for a moment before tucking the stone into his garment.

"Dare I ask, Ancestor, what is cultivation?" he asked as they traveled.

"Cultivation? It is the pursuit of eternal life," Lin Jun replied lazily, feeling quite comfortable within the stone.

"What is the principle behind it? Why do people become immortals?"

"Have you ever seen a blacksmith at work?"

"I have."

"Then how is iron forged into a sword?"

"I think I understand, disciple..."

"Do not call yourself a disciple yet; you are not one of mine just yet."

"May I ask your name, Ancestor?"

"I am surnamed Lin. You may call me Elder Lin from now on."

"Elder Lin, what kind of technique can you teach me?"

"I shall teach you the 'I Wish to Defy the Heavens Manual.' It is perfectly suited to your aptitude. If you can master it, you might just have a chance to become my true disciple."

"What kind of aptitude could I possibly have..." Wang Nixian laughed at himself, but he began to absorb the legacy being transmitted from the stone, practicing even as he walked.

"Elder Lin, what is the core essence of the 'I Wish to Defy the Heavens Manual'?"

"To defy oneself, to defy others, to defy the earth, and to defy the heavens. I want these skies to no longer obscure my vision; I want this earth to no longer bury my heart. My fate is determined by me, not the heavens."

Hearing these words, Wang Nixian’s body shuddered. It was as if he had grasped something profound, touching upon a destiny written in the stars. He felt a sudden, mysterious insight—something just out of reach—that left him feeling both enlightened and maddeningly frustrated. He spent the rest of the journey lost in deep thought, his brow furrowed.

Days later, a comfortable soul-shadow sat in a tree, sipping monkey wine, while in the distance, the ragged boy sat with his eyes closed, breathing rhythmically. Auras of spiritual energy circled his body, infused with a distinct, unyielding will, as if attempting to merge with the world before being drawn back into his core.

*Boom!*

After a long while, a surge of energy signaled a breakthrough into the Qi Refining stage, giving the boy an aura of new life. The youth opened his eyes, filled with joy.