The Path of Immortality is truly this cruel.
The vast majority of people will be declared devoid of immortal fate from the very beginning. As for the few "fortunate ones" with talent, they too will eventually discover, on the long road of cultivation, the truth that this is as far as they can go.
There were still three rounds of assessments remaining, all of them based on the foundation of resonance with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
After all, being able to resonate with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth meant one could use spiritual energy to wash their tendons and bones, stepping into the Body Forging Realm.
Finally, by that afternoon, ten final candidates were confirmed.
Chen Yan entered that group of ten with the highest rank.
He had deliberately obtained first place, of course, because he wanted to leave some impression on those two Inner Court disciples from Qingxuan Immortal Sect.
The reason for such caution was, naturally, still Li Er Niu's fate.
His current identity in the capital of Nanfeng was actually quite similar to Li Er Niu's - both came from remote border villages.
Chen Yan taking first place was specifically to eliminate that possibility.
Judging by the attitudes and reactions of those two Inner Court disciples from Qingxuan Immortal Sect toward him, he had most likely succeeded.
Because they had invited him to visit them often after joining Qingxuan Immortal Sect, which was probably also their way of investing in him, seeing his talent as promising.
Of course, Chen Yan knew very well what his foundational talent actually was.
Entering the Outer Court of Qingxuan Immortal Sect was more than enough, but that was also the limit.
Those two Inner Court disciples of Qingxuan Immortal Sect gave a few instructions to the Outer Court disciples, then departed first, returning to the sect.
Early tomorrow morning, the Outer Court disciples of Qingxuan Immortal Sect would bring these ten newly recruited disciples from Nanfeng back to the sect.
Among these ten new disciples about to join Qingxuan Immortal Sect, Chen Yan was the oldest.
The others' ages generally ranged from thirteen or fourteen to eighteen or nineteen.
There were six males and four females in total. Chen Yan roughly memorized the faces of the other nine new disciples present.
"Go rest now. Gather here again early tomorrow morning."
An Outer Court disciple at the early Martial Spring Realm said this.
This was one of the differences between Qingxuan Immortal Sect and the Five Great Sects of Chenping Continent.
Within the Outer Courts of the Five Great Sects, cultivators at the Martial Spring Realm were already qualified to hold the position of Outer Court Steward and would never be sent out by the sect to do such menial tasks.
Following that, everyone bid farewell once more.
"Immortal Master!"
Before Chen Yan left the square, four soldiers clad in heavy armor approached him, bowing respectfully with clasped fists.
"You're too kind, brother. I'm still just an ordinary mortal right now. I really can't bear to be called 'Immortal Master,'" Chen Yan said politely.
"What are you saying? It's only a matter of time," the leading soldier said.
"Until you leave Changtian Prefecture, Immortal Master, the four of us will protect your safety at all times. Please rest assured."
This was the imperial court's rule.
Only ten people had been chosen from among a hundred thousand - this was truly selecting one in ten thousand.
Among those who failed, there were naturally some who would feel jealousy and develop a vengeful mentality, possibly attempting to harm the chosen new disciples of Qingxuan Immortal Sect.
Therefore, the Nanfeng imperial court would send soldiers to protect the cultivators' safety until they left the capital.
As for Li Er Niu's death, it may not have occurred within Changtian Prefecture.
"Thank you for your trouble."
Chen Yan made a bowing gesture toward the soldiers before him, then allowed the four fully armed soldiers to follow behind him as he walked toward Uncle Chang's place.
Along the way, Chen Yan received countless envious glances.
Uncle Chang's home, in particular, was buzzing with noise.
The neighboring folks had all heard that Chen Yan had been selected by Qingxuan Immortal Sect, so they came to join in the excitement, hoping to soak up some of the future Immortal Master's "blessings."
"Xiao Chen!"
Uncle Chang stood at the entrance of the courtyard, smiling and waving toward Chen Yan.
As a businessman who owned a pottery kiln, Uncle Chang's family was quite well-off in Changtian Prefecture.
Chen Yan smiled and walked toward Uncle Chang, followed by the four heavily armored Imperial Guard soldiers.
"Starting today, you're Immortal Master Chen, right?" Uncle Chang said with a laugh, patting Chen Yan on the shoulder.
This middle-aged man, who had practically regarded Chen Yan as his future son-in-law, was naturally delighted to hear that Chen Yan had been chosen by Qingxuan Immortal Sect. But at the same time, he couldn't hide the melancholy deep in his eyes.
In his view, Chen Yan was nothing more than a poor kid from a remote mountain village who had come to seek refuge with him.
And his Chang family ran a sizable pottery kiln in the capital - their social statuses were worlds apart.
Yet despite that, he was still willing to betroth his daughter to Chen Yan, which was proof enough of how much he cherished this poor young man.
"I'll come back to see you when I have the chance, Uncle Chang," Chen Yan said.
"Don't bother coming back to see me!" Uncle Chang nagged half-jokingly.
"When you come back wearing daoist robes, looking all ethereal and immortal, I'll have to bow to you with my old bones - who could handle that!"
Then the middle-aged man paused slightly.
"Well, coming back to take a look every now and then wouldn't be so bad either."
Chen Yan nodded.
Then his gaze drifted toward the courtyard behind Uncle Chang.
From the entrance of the yard, he caught sight of a slender figure.
A girl with a delicate face was hiding behind the door, revealing only half her face and her slightly swollen, tear-filled, watery eyes, just staring blankly in Chen Yan's direction.
Chen Yan's gaze lingered on that delicate girl for only a moment, then he turned back to Uncle Chang with a smile.
"I'll be going now, Uncle Chang."
"Not staying for a meal?" Uncle Chang asked.
"Better not. I've already troubled you for half a year."
As Chen Yan spoke, he subtly gestured with his eyes toward Qian'er behind the door.
Uncle Chang clearly understood what Chen Yan meant and let out a soft sigh.
"Alright, alright..."
After bidding farewell, Chen Yan didn't linger any longer. Instead, he found an inn in the city.
The inn didn't charge him. Instead, they gave him their best room for free, since the inn also wanted to soak up some of the Immortal Master's "blessings."
Chen Yan was not a cold-hearted person.
Even though his approach to the Chang family was purely to establish a reasonable identity for himself, he couldn't say he was completely unmoved by their genuine feelings toward him.
But he didn't dwell on it either. He merely sighed inwardly and left it at that.
After all, he was already a few thousand years old. He wasn't so sentimental.
He understood the meaning of "immortal and mortal are separate paths" all too well.
...
The next day.
Chen Yan, along with the Outer Court cultivators of Qingxuan Immortal Sect and the other nine new disciples, departed from Changtian Prefecture.
The ten new disciples, including Chen Yan -
There were five males and five females in total.