A Visit from an Esteemed Guest

After dinner, Zhou Er said goodbye to his father and stepmother and returned to his room.

With Cai Huan, the maid, attending to him, he washed up and went to bed.

Zhou Er began recalling his experiences in this life. They were now in Great Qi's capital, Yunyang City.

His family were wealthy merchants in Yunyang City, dealing in medicinal herbs.

Zhou Er had heard that his grandfather, Zhou Can, had made his fortune after befriending an Esteemed Guest.

That Esteemed Guest was the one who had once said Zhou Er wouldn't live past sixteen. His prediction had been remarkably accurate.

If not for the effect of the trait in his Equipment Slot, Zhou Er might really have died yesterday.

Back then, Zhou Er's grandfather, Zhou Can, had believed the Esteemed Guest's words completely.

There was no other reason: the Esteemed Guest was a legendary cultivator.

When Zhou Can was young, the Esteemed Guest had looked like a boy. By the time Zhou Er was six and Zhou Can was nearing death, the Esteemed Guest still looked exactly the same, without a single change.

Even now, Zhou Er could vaguely recall what had happened back then. The Esteemed Guest seemed to have mentioned something about spiritual roots.

That man said I didn't have spiritual roots!

Zhou Er suddenly remembered the man's words.

Back then, the Esteemed Guest had tested everyone in the Zhou family for spiritual roots. Not one person in the entire family had them; they were all ordinary mortals without spiritual roots.

So what if I don't have spiritual roots? I have a cheat. Do I even need them?

Thinking this, Zhou Er closed his eyes and began to rest.

Though he had no spiritual roots, he had an Equipment Slot.

Once he obtained higher-level traits in the future, he wouldn't be any worse than people with spiritual-root talent.

"My lord, I think there's something strange about that child, Xiao Er."

After thinking it over for a long time, Zhou Er's stepmother, Zhang Shi, decided to bring it up.

"What's strange about him?"

Zhou Zefa had watched Zhou Er grow up. From what he had observed, apart from being healthier, there was nothing unusual about him.

"My lord, don't you find it strange? Just a few days ago, Xiao Er couldn't even get out of bed. Today, he's running around everywhere and even fighting with people. I suspect some Evil Spirit has possessed him."

Zhang Shi said anxiously.

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Zhou Zefa would never believe a woman's words.

"My lord, don't we still have that last stick of incense the Esteemed Guest left us? Why don't we light it and ask the Esteemed Guest to come take a look? That way, he can also see whether Qingyu has the talent for spiritual roots."

Zhang Shi said.

Ten years ago, when the Esteemed Guest had visited the Zhou family, Zhang Shi had not yet had a child. Her son, Zhou Qingyu, had missed the Esteemed Guest's spiritual-root test, and she had often fretted over it.

After hearing Zhang Shi's suggestion, Zhou Zefa began to consider it too.

The next day, Zhou Zefa went to the ancestral hall and lit the stick of incense his late father had left behind.

"Immortal Master, I'm Zhou Can's son. I ask you to come and take a look at my boy. Ten years ago, you said he wouldn't live past sixteen. Now he's made it past sixteen. Please take a look and tell me what's going on with him."

Though it was their last stick of incense, Zhou Zefa used it without hesitation.

After all, if an Evil Spirit really had possessed Zhou Er, the Zhou family would be finished.

At the same time, at the Xiayun Sect, a handsome young man raised his left eyebrow.

"A descendant of the Zhou family?"

"Back then, I left them three sticks of God-Summoning Incense, telling them to light one if something urgent came up and they needed to summon me. They've finally used the last one."

The handsome young man opened his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.

Back then, before he had begun cultivating, he had owed Zhou Can a favor, so he had left the family the incense as a means of contacting him.

Though he had left them the incense, he had always worried that he might never repay the debt, and that it would weigh on his Dao Heart.

Now, at last, the matter could be settled.

A day later, the handsome young man appeared outside the Zhou family estate and knocked on the door.

After the door opened, he vanished before the gatekeeper had even stepped outside.

"Who's there? Who's got nothing better to do than knock on the Zhou family's door?"

The gatekeeper grumbled, thinking some mischievous child from another household had been playing knock-and-run.

By then, the cultivator from the Xiayun Sect had already arrived in the main hall and taken the seat of honor. He circulated spiritual energy and sent his voice throughout the Zhou family:

"Descendants of the Zhou family, what matter brings you to summon me?"

In less than the time it took an incense stick to burn, all the Zhou family members had gathered in the hall. Even Zhou Er had been called over.

The handsome young man had cast a spell so that only Zhou Can's descendants could hear him.

"Esteemed Guest!"

Seeing the handsome young man, Zhou Zefa hurriedly knelt and kowtowed.

His children followed their father's lead and knelt at once. Only Zhou Er froze for a moment. Just as he was about to copy the others, the young man appeared beside him.

"Zhou Er! I remember you. When you were born, your ears were big and you looked blessed, so your grandfather named you Zhou Er."

The handsome young man looked Zhou Er over as if he had seen something extraordinary. Because of that, Zhou Er did not kneel.

As he studied him, the young man said in puzzlement:

"How strange. Back then, I calculated that your fate was weak and you wouldn't live past sixteen. It seems I was wrong. You still have ten years left."

Zhou Er said nothing. He hadn't expected the Esteemed Guest to calculate that he had only ten years left to live. The man was truly impressive.

At that moment, Zhou Zefa stood up and said to the young man:

"Esteemed Guest, I asked you here because of my son."

"I was wrong in my calculation back then."

The young man admitted it openly. He hadn't yet formed his Golden Core at the time, and his magic power had been weak. It was only natural that he might make a mistake.

Now, he had broken through and would not make such mistakes again.

"Then there's nothing wrong with my son?"

Zhou Zefa asked.

Over the past two days, his second wife, Zhang Shi, had been whispering in his ear, and he had begun to wonder whether some Evil Spirit had possessed Zhou Er.

"What would be wrong with him?"

The young man looked at Zhou Zefa in puzzlement.

"Good, good. As long as there's nothing wrong."

Zhou Zefa breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, Zhou Er hadn't been possessed by an Evil Spirit, as Zhang Shi had claimed.

"Esteemed Guest, I invited you here for two reasons. First, I wanted you to look into my eldest son's situation. Second, I'd like you to test whether my younger son has spiritual roots."

Zhou Zefa said.

"A small matter, a small matter."

Even without Zhou Zefa telling him, the young man already knew who his younger son was and where he was.

He went to Zhou Qingyu and carefully examined him with his Spiritual Sense. He reached a conclusion at once.

"I'm afraid he has no spiritual-root talent."

The young man shook his head and said.

Only one person in ten thousand had spiritual-root talent. This was perfectly normal.

"Is that so?"

Zhou Zefa was a little disappointed, but he could accept it.

"You asked me to come, and I thought your family had gotten into some kind of trouble. It turns out it's only these trivial matters."

The young man hadn't expected Zhou Zefa to use the last stick of God-Summoning Incense over such minor things.

"Esteemed Guest, is it truly impossible to cultivate without spiritual roots?"

Zhou Er spoke up.

"Cultivation is a matter of defying Heaven and changing fate. Naturally, it's possible to cultivate without spiritual roots, but it's extremely difficult. Without perseverance and resources, one can spend an entire lifetime without accomplishing anything."

The young man looked at Zhou Er and said.

"Then forgive this junior's boldness, senior, but I'd like to make a wager with you. Though I have no spiritual roots, as long as you lead me through the gate of cultivation, I'll prove to you that even without spiritual roots, one can still cultivate the Great Dao!"

Zhou Er said.

He wanted the cultivator before him to guide him through the gate of cultivation.

"You have only ten years left to live, and you still want to cultivate the Great Dao?"

The young man's lips curled slightly, his expression half a smile and half a sneer.

"Even a mayfly can aspire to the bright moon!"

Zhou Er said fearlessly.

He lacked one thing: an opportunity, a chance to cultivate immortality.

In Yunyang City, there were few cultivation-related things he could get his hands on.

He had only ten years to live. He couldn't afford to search for an immortal at his leisure.

"Good! I'll give you one chance. Once I bring you into the Xiayun Sect, there will be no further ties between us. The debt between your grandfather Zhou Can and me will be settled too."

The young man thought for a moment, then decided to give Zhou Er a chance.

That would let him finally settle the debt he owed Zhou Er's grandfather, Zhou Can.

Zhou Zefa hadn't expected that even without spiritual roots, the young man could still get them into a sect.

If he'd known, he should have used that stick of incense when he was young.

Unfortunately, there was no remedy for regret.

Still, it was a good thing that his son could set foot on the Immortal Path.

Besides, Zhou Er could cultivate immortality and extend his life.

"You have the time it takes one incense stick to burn to say goodbye to your father. After that, I'll take you away from here and back to the Xiayun Sect."

The young man said to Zhou Er.

Zhou Er hurried to bid his father, Zhou Zefa, farewell.

They exchanged a few words, and time was up. Zhou Er had no choice but to leave with the young man.

The young man knew a Cloud Soaring Technique. Without a magic artifact, he could conjure a cloud, ride it, and soar away on the wind.

In half a day, Zhou Er had traveled ten thousand li to the Xiayun Sect, nestled among the mountains.

At that moment, he could see the rosy light reflecting off the clouds, a truly beautiful sight.

As he followed the young man through the Xiayun Sect's barrier, Zhou Er saw immortals flying back and forth.

"Master Jide!"

Quite a few young cultivators greeted the young man.

Zhou Er realized that the young man standing before him held a high rank.

Master Jide took Zhou Er to the place where new sect members were processed and found a disciple.

"Help him complete the enrollment formalities. Just send him to the Outer Sect. No need to fuss over him."

"Yes, Master Jide."

The disciple nodded at once.

After handing Zhou Er over to the disciple, Master Jide left, no longer concerning himself with Zhou Er.

"Hello, junior brother. I'm Wang Wenlang, an Outer Sect Disciple too."

Wang Wenlang introduced himself.

"Senior Brother Wang, I'm Zhou Er, from Yunyang City in the State of Qi."

Zhou Er nodded.

"Are you related to Master Jide? He actually brought you here in person to complete your enrollment."

Wang Wenlang said enviously.

Anyone addressed as a True Person had Golden Core cultivation.

Golden Core cultivators held extraordinary status in any sect.

"More or less."

Zhou Er didn't deny it. He had indeed entered the sect smoothly thanks to Master Jide's connections.

"Brother Zhou, I hope you'll look after me from now on."

Wang Wenlang said with a smile.

"Senior Brother Wang, you're the one looking after me. How could I possibly be qualified to look after you?"

Zhou Er gave an awkward smile.

Master Jide had made it quite clear: once he got Zhou Er into the Outer Sect, their debt would be settled. He couldn't seek Master Jide's help again in the future.

As they chatted along the way, Wang Wenlang brought Zhou Er to a section of the Outer Sect, nestled in a grove of parasol trees.

"This is the Outer Sect's Wutong District. If you're satisfied, Brother Zhou, how about settling here?"

Wang Wenlang asked.

"I'll follow your arrangements, Senior Brother Wang."

Zhou Er said.

"That won't do. You have to be satisfied, Brother Zhou. Otherwise, if Master Jide asks me about it later, I won't know what to say."

Wang Wenlang said with a smile.

Although Master Jide had told him to arrange things as he pleased, Wang Wenlang had personally seen Master Jide bring Zhou Er here. There was no way he could simply fob him off.

"I'm satisfied, I'm satisfied. I'm happy with everything."

Zhou Er glanced around and had no choice but to nod.

"Good. Then let's register you now!"

Wang Wenlang brought Zhou Er to the steward's residence in the Outer Sect's Wutong District and said:

"Senior Brother Zhu, I've brought a new disciple. He's someone Master Jide brought here. Please pick a good place for him."

The Xiayun Sect recruited disciples in various ways. Every year, True Persons and Elders were given a few spots, allowing them to place people directly in the Outer Sect.

When Senior Brother Zhu, who managed Wutong District, heard that Zhou Er was a nephew of Master Jide, he immediately came out and picked a fine residence for him.

"We Outer Sect Disciples are a level above Servant Disciples. We have our own Detached Courtyard, and every month we receive a stipend of three Low-grade Spirit Stones and a bottle of Bigu Pills."

Senior Brother Zhu Shunyang explained to Zhou Er.

Zhou Er had thought Outer Sect Disciples were at the very bottom, but now it seemed that wasn't the case.

"Three Low-grade Spirit Stones clearly aren't enough to support your cultivation. You'll need to go to the Mission Hall later, Junior Brother, and take on some tasks to earn Cultivation Resources."

Wang Wenlang explained to Zhou Er.

"Once you've chosen a place to live, I'll take you around the sect so you can get familiar with the surroundings."

"Sorry for the trouble, Senior Brother Wang."

Zhou Er said, then looked around the courtyard. He couldn't tell which of these Outer Sect courtyards was better than the others, since they all looked exactly alike. So he said:

"Senior Brother Zhu, I'll take this one."

"Junior Brother Zhou, no one lives in this courtyard right now, so you can move in today. I'll register you. You'll also need to leave a drop of blood from your fingertip so they can make your Identity Token."

Zhu Shunyang said.

"Senior Brother Zhu, what should I do?"

Zhou Er asked.

Zhu Shunyang took out a jade bottle and a silver needle. "No one has used this needle before. Just prick your finger and squeeze out a drop of blood from your fingertip."

Zhou Er nodded, took the jade bottle and silver needle, then followed Zhu Shunyang's instructions. He pricked the tip of his index finger and squeezed a drop of blood into the bottle.

"Good! Junior Brother Zhou, you can go around the sect with Junior Brother Wang. Once your Sect Token is ready, I'll bring it to you. It should take about five days."

Zhu Shunyang explained.

If Zhou Er had been an ordinary Servant Disciple promoted to the Outer Sect, Zhu Shunyang wouldn't have gone out of his way like this, nor would he have been so patient and gentle.

"All right, Junior Brother Zhou. I'll show you around the sect."

Wang Wenlang said as he led Zhou Er outside, explaining along the way.

"Our Xiayun Sect is divided into the Inner Sect and Outer Sect. The Inner Sect is made up of the Elders' personal disciples, and it's not easy to get in. Our Outer Sect is a notch below, but we're still considered disciples of the Elders. The sect's Elders and the Inner Sect senior brothers sometimes go to the Lecture Platform to discuss the Dao. We can go listen. I'll take you to have a look."

Wang Wenlang then flew his sword, carrying Zhou Er to the Xiayun Sect's Lecture Platform.