A Mortal's Journey to Immortality

The Qingzhu Sect is located on Songzhu Mountain, twenty miles away from Qingyang Town. Its influence covers more than ten small towns, including Qingyang Town, and it has more than a thousand disciples. It is the undisputed number one sect within a radius of a hundred miles.

Zhou Ping carried his bundle and trekked all the way from Qingyang Town.

As he approached Songzhu Mountain, he saw many children of similar age gathering from all directions and heading towards the mountain.

Some children rode in magnificent carriages, clearly from wealthy families, but such people were few and far between.

Many more were like Zhou Ping, poor young men dressed in coarse cloth, carrying simple bundles, and covered in sweat from the journey.

"How can there be so many people? Luckily, I have the Green Bamboo Token as a trump card."

Zhou Ping looked around, a hint of doubt creeping into his heart. He touched the pocket on his chest, which put his mind at ease.

His "Green Bamboo Token" was obtained by his father at a high price, and it also involved the "bonds and favors" accumulated with the Weapon Pavilion over the years.

He didn't believe that everyone else had such connections.

Filled with questions, Zhou Ping followed the crowd up Songzhu Mountain. After climbing countless steps, he finally arrived at the reception platform of Qingzhu Gate.

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, the platform in front of the door was filled with teenagers.

Zhou Ping glanced around and saw that there were at least several hundred people. With so many young people gathered together, the platform was filled with a noisy buzzing sound.

Just as Zhou Ping was getting a little bored, a loud voice suddenly rang out, instantly drowning out the noise on the platform.

Immediately afterwards, the door burst open.

"Welcome to the Green Bamboo Sect, young friends!"

An elderly man in brocade robes with white hair stepped out, his gaze sweeping over the bustling crowd, and raised his hand to make a "please" gesture.

Cheers erupted from the crowd as everyone excitedly surged towards the door.

Zhou Ping was squeezed in the middle and was pushed and shoved by the crowd into the Green Bamboo Gate.

"Are these all the children?"

The old man in brocade turned his head and asked Steward Liu, who was standing respectfully to the side.

"Reporting to Pavilion Master Yang, there are about a hundred more people following. Due to the long distance, they should arrive before dark."

Deacon Liu answered in a low voice.

"Very good. Take them to Hsinchu Institute later to rest for the night. They will be on standby at the training ground tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir!"

Dressed in black, Steward Liu bowed his head and accepted the order.

As Zhou Ping walked with the crowd, he saw many disciples of the Green Bamboo Sect dressed in blue robes along the way.

They carried broadswords at their waists, walked hurriedly, and exuded a fierce aura.

The new children were intimidated by this imposing presence and fell silent, as quiet as chicks the whole way.

The group was led to a spacious courtyard, where a plaque above the gate bore three ancient and vigorous characters: Hsinchu Courtyard.

The courtyard was extremely spacious, even larger than the platform at the entrance.

All around were rows of houses of varying heights, filled with young disciples coming and going, who appeared to be five or six years older than Zhou Ping and the others.

Under the guidance of the disciples of the Green Bamboo Sect, Zhou Ping and the others were settled in one by one, with three newcomers assigned to each room.

After packing his bedding and belongings, Zhou Ping took a few bites of the hard steamed buns he had brought from home, eating them with unusual relish as he was excited.

Still a child, Zhou Ping was inevitably reserved in the new environment. He didn't dare go anywhere and, filled with anticipation for the future, nestled in bed and drifted off to sleep.

......

Early the next morning, Deacon Liu led everyone to the trial grounds.

The trial grounds are a huge square plaza. After entering from the entrance, you can see a large, tightly closed iron gate at the southernmost end. At the front of the plaza is a wooden grandstand about the height of a person. There is nothing else there.

Zhou Ping tiptoed and glanced at the stands. In the distance, apart from a tiger-skin armchair, there was no one there.

After everyone had arrived, seeing that there was still no further movement, they began to whisper among themselves.

Does anyone know what this entrance exam is like?

"Yes, yes, yes, if any older brothers know, please tell me. If we become fellow disciples, we can look out for each other."

"I'm willing to pay one tael of silver for information on the assessment, one tael for each piece! The more the merrier!"

A chubby boy in the crowd waved a heavy silver ingot back and forth at the crowd.

Zhou Ping glanced at it and realized it was the person who had been assigned to his room. He secretly marveled at how wealthy the family was; this silver ingot must have been worth at least several dozen taels.

"Once we're inside the Green Bamboo Sect, who would care about this little bit of money!"

From another direction, a mocking voice faintly drifted out, but the tone sounded sour.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a loud shout rang out from the training grounds: "Training Pavilion, Pavilion Master Yang has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, the square immediately fell silent, and everyone saw the white-haired old man from yesterday walk in from the entrance.

He strode through the crowd, ignoring the awe-inspiring gazes of those who followed him, and boldly sat down in the grand chair in the stands.

The aura emanating from Pavilion Master Yang was indescribable, a stark contrast to his smiling demeanor yesterday.

"My dear friends, today's assessment will be overseen by my Trial Pavilion. Let me make this clear from the outset."

"The assessment of the Green Bamboo Sect has always been rigorous. A slight mistake could even lead to death. I hope you understand this before the assessment."

"If you want to back out now, it's not too late. I'll give you half an incense stick's worth of time to consider."

After saying that, Pavilion Master Yang leaned back in his chair with an air of composure and said no more.

The crowd below the stage erupted in chaos, scattering like ants on a hot plate.

"People will die?!"

"I'm only eleven years old! I'm scared!"

"Making money is hard, and life is tough; it's the same everywhere..."

"Recruiting bodyguards! Protect me during the assessment, three taels of silver each! Cash payment!"

The chubby boy raised the silver ingot in his hand again, this time waving it even more vigorously, his fat face jiggling.

Zhou Ping stared at him blankly, then silently raised his hand.

Since we have to take the assessment anyway, we might as well go with him. Three taels of silver is enough for two months' living expenses at home, which is a considerable income.

The key is that more people actually make it safer, the more the better. After all, wealthy families don't lack money, so it's safest to blend in with them.

Having made up his mind, Zhou Ping walked towards the chubby boy without hesitation.

"Alright, alright, one at a time. Only eight people will be accepted, first come, first served!"

The chubby boy handed out silver coins to those who signed up while shouting excitedly, spitting as he did so.

As Yang, the Pavilion Master on the stage, watched the comical scene below, his eyelids twitched repeatedly.

Soon, half an incense stick's time had passed, and more than a dozen people withdrew from the assessment due to fear, while the remaining people were all eager to try.

The saying "a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger" perfectly describes this situation.

Master Yang gestured to the disciples inside the sect to send the dozen or so children who had withdrawn down the mountain. Then, he turned back to the platform and said to everyone, "Now that you have all come to your senses, the entrance examination will officially begin."

"See that south gate? That's the training ground for your assessment!"

Pavilion Master Yang raised his hand and pointed to the southernmost end of the training ground, which was the large iron gate that Zhou Ping had noticed earlier.

"Behind the gate lies the unique forest of Songzhu Mountain, the Bamboo Mist Forest. This place is shrouded in mist all year round. Although there are no fierce birds or beasts within, there are many snakes, scorpions, and poisonous insects. Even our Qingzhu Sect rarely ventures here."

"You only need to follow the signs through this forest to reach your destination, the Pine Cliff."

"Those who can arrive at Cangsong Cliff before noon can become formal disciples of the Qingzhu Sect."

"If anyone encounters danger and abandons the assessment, they can simply shout for help, and disciples from my sect will come to their rescue."

Pavilion Master Yang looked up at the rising sun and said decisively, "The timing is perfect, open the door!"