The Legend of Fangren

The three of them traveled by carriage and horse, and a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Kongming and his two children did not linger along the way, no matter how much they wanted to see the bustling scenes in the towns along the way. They only slowed down after the three of them entered the Cangmu Valley.

Another morning arrived, and Luohe finally asked with suspicion, "Master, why was our journey so rushed the past few days? Could something have happened within the sect?"

"No."

Zhang Kongming shook his head slightly and said, "It's to make it in time for the Dragon River Sect's entrance trial this year."

He stood up and looked into the depths of Cangmu Valley. In the emerald forest, countless cloud-piercing peaks and towering trees clustered together, with a colossal peak standing in the very center, its summit nowhere in sight, as if what was seen below the clouds was merely the foot of the mountain.

Although Cangmu Valley is called a valley, its territory encompasses mountains, forests, and rivers spanning thousands of miles. Within it are countless rivers and forests, and if outsiders stray from the main road, they can easily get lost if they venture deeper into the valley.

"In a few days, the Dragon River Sect will open its gates to recruit disciples. Countless towns and families in the Eastern Realm will try their best to send their children to the sect for cultivation. Although your aptitude is exceptional and you can be called a prodigy, you still have to go through the sect's trials like them before you can step onto the Heavenly Staircase. Otherwise, you will lose your status as a sect disciple and will not be able to obtain cultivation resources such as cultivation grounds and spiritual items."

"Ascending the long staircase to heaven?"

Upon hearing this, Luohe also looked into the distance. At this moment, they were on a high ground with a good view.

Presumably, this Heavenly Staircase is the ladder to that towering peak. Although the name is grand, for the ordinary people at the foot of the mountain, it is also a kind of "ascending to heaven".

"How's your practice of the boxing style I had you start last week going?"

"This disciple will practice more diligently."

"Do you find it difficult?"

"This..." Luo He hesitated. Having been influenced by Fang Shi since childhood, he believed that people should be humble.

"Speak frankly." Zhang Kongming broke off a slender branch, gently picked up the dew, and turned it into beads in his palm.

Luohe could only say, "I don't know if there's something I haven't learned yet, but I feel like I've mastered these few movements very quickly."

"Speed ​​is good." Zhang Kongming nodded and said, "I see that the woodcutter's village is remote and sparsely populated. You are an orphan, and it's not easy for you to have grown up to this age. Although you look well, I'm afraid you may have some hidden illness. That's why I'm having you practice a basic boxing technique. This technique can slightly mobilize the internal energy, so it can help identify any hidden health problems. If you can easily master it, there shouldn't be any major issues."

These words were a compliment, which made Luo He scratch the back of his head shyly: "Master, it's all thanks to Fangzi for taking me to find food since I was little, otherwise I would have gone hungry."

"I can tell."

Zhang Kongming looked down at the water droplet in his palm, which seemed to float on his fingertips like a living thing. Suddenly, he flicked his hand, and the water droplet flew out and hit Luo He's brow.

"Oh dear, Master, what's going on?"

Luohe wiped her forehead. The water droplets weren't strong, but the cold, sticky feeling was still uncomfortable. Fortunately, they dried quickly.

Zhang Kongming glanced sideways to confirm, then explained, "The sect trials forbid the use of external objects; they aim to assess ability, not status. However, having family support does offer more options. Sect disciples are divided into three ranks: Heaven, Earth, and Human. There's no limit to the number of Human-rank disciples, but there's a limit to the number of Earth and Heaven-rank disciples. Everyone has to compete. This little drop of water can protect you from some underhanded tactics, but it won't benefit the trial itself. It all depends on yourself."

Luohe was overjoyed: "Thank you, Master."

"You don't need to be too nervous. Although those family prodigies have abundant resources, their future cultivation still depends on their sect. As long as you remain humble, dignified, and diligent, you will definitely be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with them in the future."

"Your disciple will remember this."

"Good, get ready, it's time to leave. Where's Brother Fang?"

"He went out early this morning."

Luo He was naturally worried. Even his master had said that this place was not safe. The Cangmu Valley was not like Cangzhou. It was closer to the Eastern Wilderness and much more dangerous.

However, he always managed to bring back some spiritual fruits.

"Hezi, I'm back!"

Right on time, Fang Shi emerged from the bushes with a new backpack on his back, which looked even more bulging.

Zhang Kongming and Luo He were already used to it.

Such a consistent finding of spiritual fruits cannot be explained by mere skill, but in the cultivation world, there are also those who are born with good fortune and are luckier than others.

This only makes Fang Shi's fate all the more regrettable, as he had such good fortune but lacked the necessary talent.

Zhang Kongming said to the two, "Let's go, we'll arrive in less than five days."

The three boarded the carriage and continued their journey.

On the back of the vehicle, Fang Shi, sitting on the tailgate, took out the Sky Fruit to eat as usual.

Luo He sat down next to him and watched him eat: "Fangzi, why are you eating so many spiritual fruits? Even if they're good for your health, you can't eat too many."

"Of course I know that, but your master told me that those of you with the qualifications only need to train at the foot of the mountain, and after that, the elders of the sect will use magic treasures to take you up the mountain. But I am different. Those tens of thousands of steps to the heavens are prepared for me. If I don't train my body well, I'm afraid I will die of exhaustion on the way."

"...Fangzi, you can actually wait for me at the foot of the mountain. I will definitely come to pick you up."

"What did you say?"

Fang Shi raised his hand to knock him on the head, but remembered that his hand hurt from knocking him a few days ago, so he had to put it down. But he still said stubbornly, "I can go up to whatever I want to see in the sky. Even if I don't find a way to cultivate, I can just come down by myself. Once you're on the mountain, you should focus on cultivation and not waste time going up and down the mountain."

"Um……"

Thinking she was about to be hit again, Luo He quickly covered her head, but upon hearing what he said, she obediently nodded, though she couldn't help feeling lonely.

How many more days will it take for the two of them to talk like this?

The master did not tell Fangzi that although the long staircase to heaven was prepared for "mortals", this mortal was not the same as that mortal, but a disciple of the human level.

Becoming a Heavenly or Earthly disciple depends on aptitude, and only then can there be competition. Even if you lose, you will still only reach the Earthly rank. Those with average aptitude must climb the long staircase to the heavens step by step before finally knocking on the mountain gate.

Thus, those who arrive first can be classified as Earth-rank disciples.

This is not discrimination, but the path of cultivation is long and arduous. Since one's aptitude is insufficient, one can only make up for it with diligence. If one does not even have this much diligence, then one is not even worthy of being a human-level disciple.

As they ascend to the heavens, the elders of the sect keep a close eye on them to prevent young people from using magical treasures and props to take shortcuts.

"Prescription."

"Um?"

"I will definitely find you lots of delicious spiritual fruits in the future."

"Are you trying to stuff me to death?"

"You were the one who said you wanted to eat it."

"Then let's talk about it when I'm about to die."

"Okay." Luo He stared blankly at the road beneath the carriage, swinging her long, slender legs.

"Prescription."

"What now?"

"When I've mastered my cultivation and can come down from the mountain without wasting time, may I visit you often?"

"Of course you can... but there's something strange about what you're saying."

Fang Shi glanced at the guy and suddenly realized that he had become more handsome since he started practicing boxing.

Could it be that there aren't many beautiful women in Qiaocun, and Hezi's tastes have become skewed after being brothers with him for over ten years?

That would be terrible!

When you get back to the city, quickly check if you've gone astray.