Qianhe Is Sixteen, Seeking the Dao on Maoshan

Late Qing Dynasty...

The advent of troubled times brought with it the rampant spread of demons. In the twilight years of the dynasty, it was truly a chaotic dance of monsters.

Zhong Family Village.

Overnight, the once peaceful and prosperous village became eerily quiet, permeated by an invisible aura of death.

Sorrowful sobs emanated from every household.

In an open space at the village entrance, sixteen-year-old Zhong Bai's eyes held not only grief but also intense disbelief.

"It's been a year since I came to this world, and while I didn't have a deep emotional bond with you two elders...

...you two ultimately raised me!"

Zhong Bai's eyes were bloodshot, and his crimson gaze flickered with both the relief of survival and lingering fear.

He truly hadn't imagined that in the chaotic Late Qing Dynasty, demons would actually massacre a village!

Yes, this world had demons and evil spirits. Last night, a Wolf Demon entered the village.

The entire village suffered, countless villagers died, and the slaughter only ceased at dawn.

Zhong Bai was fortunate enough to survive.

But at this moment, looking at the graves of the two elders, Zhong Bai also fell into a daze.

The world was vast; where could he call home?

"Being in such an era is unfortunate. It won't be easy to survive.

If that's the case, why not go up the mountain and seek the Dao?"

With a decision made in his heart, Zhong Bai's previously dazed expression gradually cleared.

He took a deep breath, kowtowed deeply before the elders' graves, and then quietly departed.

Hundreds of miles from Zhong Family Village was Zhong Bai's destination: Maoshan!

As one of the Three Talisman Sects, Zhong Bai had heard no shortage of its mystical renown.

As for Longhu Mountain, a thousand miles away, though its reputation was even greater, it was also much farther from Zhong Family Village.

Traveling away from home, Zhong Bai understood that every extra day on the road meant an increased risk.

Official road.

Along the way, Zhong Bai traveled during the day and lodged in small towns at night.

His clothes were noticeably worn and tattered, and his face was covered in grime.

He looked comparable to a beggar on the roadside.

When traveling, one shouldn't flaunt their wealth. Zhong Bai didn't have much money, but he still had to be careful.

Though this appearance was a bit shabby, for three consecutive days, Zhong Bai didn't encounter any danger.

In the twilight years of the dynasty, while demons were certainly dangerous, human hearts were no better.

Stumbling along, night fell.

Lodging in a small inn in a small town, Zhong Bai looked at his worn and blood-stained straw sandals and smiled bitterly in helplessness.

"I've only walked about two hundred li, and my feet are already like this. This is really..."

He shook his head.

He poured a basin of hot water, first washed his feet, and then used half a pot of spirits provided by the innkeeper to clean and disinfect them.

After gritting his teeth and finishing all this, Zhong Bai was covered in cold sweat.

At night, lying on the hard bed, he fell into a deep sleep, the day's fatigue easing.

As dawn broke the next day, Zhong Bai resumed his journey...

Ten days later.

Maoshan Town.

As a town at the foot of Maoshan, it naturally enjoyed Maoshan's protection.

The town was bustling. When Zhong Bai arrived, it was precisely noon.

The scorching sun beat down. Zhong Bai had just arrived at a tea stall, intending to cool off, when he overheard the tea drinkers discussing something that piqued his interest.

"I heard that tomorrow, the Daoist masters on the mountain will open their doors to accept disciples.

I wonder which child will be fortunate enough to become a disciple this year. That's a place to seek immortality!"

"Oh, Old Man Wu, you worry too much."

"Exactly, Old Man Wu, you don't even have a wife.

Instead of worrying about Maoshan accepting disciples, you should hurry up and find yourself a wife.

You're already in your thirties, and your neighbor Old Man Liu is almost holding his grandchild by now!"

Though the conversations were mostly about everyday trivialities, the fact that Maoshan would be opening its doors for new disciples tomorrow truly came as a surprise to Zhong Bai.

Originally, he had only intended to try his luck at Maoshan, hoping his sincerity could move the Daoist masters there.

After all, the Daoist sects emphasized fate when taking on disciples, and it wasn't something just anyone could get into, especially Maoshan, one of the Three Talisman Sects!

"Against the current, one becomes immortal; with the current, one remains mortal."

Whether I succeed tomorrow or not, it's always right to give it my best shot!

Having made up his mind, a cup of clear tea went down, instantly bringing a refreshing coolness to his heart, and the summer heat gradually receded.

Zhong Bai still needed to find lodging quickly today and clean himself up.

Those who sought to enter the mountain gate should be pure and unblemished.

The next morning.

At the foot of Maoshan, Zhong Bai looked at the endless stone steps before him.

Gazing at the handful of young faces like his own, his heart suddenly felt remarkably serene.

"Success or failure, it all comes down to this!"

With that, Zhong Bai stepped forward.

An hour passed quickly.

At this moment, Zhong Bai's forehead was covered in sweat, and the other youths who had come with him were also in quite a state.

Gasping for breath, he looked up.

It was a tall and massive stone gate, inscribed with: Shangqing Maoshan Dao Sect!

The characters flowed like dragons and snakes, accompanied by a light, clear sound.

An old man in a blue Daoist robe appeared before Zhong Bai and the others, holding a horsetail whisk.

His hair was completely white, yet he exuded vitality and spirit; he looked ancient but his face was unlined, and his demeanor was casual yet perfectly natural.

Hmm, with just one glance, Zhong Bai understood that the old Daoist before him was definitely not one of those charlatans from later generations who deceived the world for fame!

The accompanying youths, one by one, widened their eyes.

They were clearly much more familiar with Maoshan's disciple-recruitment process than Zhong Bai was.

"This junior, Zhang Wanming, greets the Venerable Immortal!"

"This junior, Liu Yu, greets the Venerable Immortal!"

A dense crowd of young figures scrambled to kneel down sincerely, hoping to impress the old Daoist before them in this way.

As for Zhong Bai…

Cough, cough, he was still a bit bewildered. What was wrong with these people, acting so crazy?

The Daoist sects emphasized fate in taking disciples; wouldn't acting so subservient seem overly utilitarian?

Hmm, perhaps the Buddhist sects would like this kind of disciple, sincere?

Not like him, Zhong Bai.

He took a deep breath, not kneeling, because he knew it wasn't the right time. Instead, he bowed respectfully.

"Disciple Zhong Bai, I have long heard of Maoshan's prestige. My parents met with disaster, harmed by demons. In this life, I only wish to dedicate myself to the Dao, to learn the art of demon-slaying, and to cleanse the Nine Provinces of evil!

I beg for the senior's compassion and to accept this disciple as your own!"

Zhong Bai's words were filled with determination; what he said was not false.

Both for personal reasons and for the greater good, he had to avenge his deceased parents.

Of course, sweeping away the evil from the Nine Provinces in the process was just a bonus.

Hmm, no one could find fault with that.

A flicker of light passed through True Immortal Qianyuan's eyes. He didn't pay attention to the kneeling youths but stared intently at Zhong Bai, who was bowing respectfully.

His eyes were profound, as if he wanted to see through Zhong Bai completely.

However, this was only for an instant.

A moment later, True Immortal Qianyuan's expression was no longer stern.

Instead, he chuckled softly, "Are you Zhong Bai? You're quite a clever young man.

However, to think you can cleanse all the demons from the Nine Provinces with just that glib tongue of yours is rather laughable.

This old Daoist has cultivated for a hundred years.

Even if it were just one province, let alone the Nine Provinces, this old Daoist wouldn't dare utter such a boast…

Well, if a young person doesn't have a bit of youthful spirit, they're nothing more than someone waiting to die."

After saying this, True Immortal Qianyuan looked again at the kneeling youths, the deep meaning in his eyes self-evident.

"Those who wish to enter Maoshan, go ahead. Whether you can enter the mountain depends entirely on your own abilities!"

With that, True Immortal Qianyuan waved his hand.

In front of the originally empty mountain gate, an old house shrouded in mist instantly appeared.

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