**Path to Eternity**
**Chapter 1: Han Li**
The Azure Jade Divine Sect. Once a pinnacle sect, ranked among the top nine within the highest Level 1 category, it had now fallen to the lowest Level 9 in the mortal world.
Its current location was the Ten Thousand Crimson Jade Mountain Range. Perhaps it was a touch ironic that a sect named Azure Jade had been relegated to such a place, forced to endure this humiliation.
Within the sect resided thousands of disciples and hundreds of seniors, yet in the vast world of cultivation, this merely qualified it as a Level 9 sect – barely meeting the minimum requirements for even that lowest tier. For a sect that once stood at the apex, it now found itself at the bottom of the iceberg, struggling under immense pressure just to survive a little longer.
***
*...Servant Disciple Area...*
All the new servant disciples stood before the sect entrance, facing the Senior responsible for them. It was a basic introductory lecture, one the Senior had only agreed to give to earn some contribution points. He was currently explaining how they should begin their cultivation, utterly unconcerned whether the disciples understood or not. Upon finishing, without a moment's delay, he mounted his flying sword and returned deeper into the sect for his own training, unwilling to waste any more of his precious time here.
A strange murmur spread through the disciples; those who had grasped the lecture were reviewing it amongst themselves. Yet, amidst the crowd stood one individual, the fire of determination burning fiercely in his eyes, while envy and resentment cast a cold shadow upon his face.
He was a disciple who had come here seeking immortality, but due to his poor – perhaps disastrous – talent regarding his spiritual root, he had been cast off to this forsaken place. He could still vividly recall the face of the disciple who had tested his spiritual root, and the words spoken to him with contempt and disgust.
It was a middle-aged looking disciple, stern-faced with a cold demeanor, wearing the white robes signifying his status as an Inner Disciple. When he examined the youth's spiritual root, his expression changed drastically, and he spoke in a tone laced with disdain and revulsion:
"Han Li from Sleeping Mist Province, you are genuine trash unfit for the path of immortality. You'd be better off just giving up and making a decent mortal life for yourself."
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Though spoken with scorn, the words still offered him a path – a way to live a useful life instead of wasting his time. But willpower, or perhaps foolishness, or something else entirely, prevented Han Li from surrendering. It spurred his stubbornness, leading him here.
He had managed to memorize and understand the Senior's entire lecture, but there was a problem! He lacked even the most basic prerequisite to start: an ordinary spiritual root! Just as the Inner Disciple had said, in this regard, he was truly considered trash, talentless among the talentless. But this did not deter him from this path!
Before long, a few disciples dressed in simple grey robes approached the group of newcomers, who wore varied clothing. Judging by their direction, they came from a vast wooden structure nearby, likely a dormitory. Many such buildings dotted the landscape at the mountain's lower reaches, while grander structures appeared as the elevation increased, culminating in the Sect Master's residence at the very peak. It was said the Sect Master had lived since the sect's zenith, witnessing its decline under his predecessors. This must have been difficult for him, yet his actions during his tenure clearly showed that his long life had taught him many lessons. While the masters who presided over the sect's fall were like reckless, foolish mutts, this Sect Master was the epitome of a cunning old fox!
He had taken leadership when the sect was on the very brink of dissolution, and in just two years, he had stabilized its position in the region.
Gazing towards the mountain peak, Han Li whispered to himself:
"The leader of this place revived a dead sect... I can too!"
Remembering the story of the fallen sect's leader reignited his determination, doubling his resolve to advance. Just then, the grey-robed disciples reached the crowd. There were ten of them, with one wearing a brown cloth sash standing at the front. He began to speak:
"I am Outer Disciple Team Leader, Song. Today, my team will escort you to the dormitories and show you the surrounding areas so you can familiarize yourselves with your duties. You may call me Brother Song!"
"If you have any questions, you can ask the others! Now..."
Brother Song lightly clapped his hands together. As they met, all one hundred or so youths who had come as servant disciples suddenly floated into the air, swiftly arranging themselves behind the nine disciples standing behind him. He then continued:
"Everyone, follow your respective line leader to your assigned dormitory. Remember, do not break formation!"
This display by Brother Song ignited heated discussion among the young servant disciples. Even as the lines began to move, they were still debating. At this moment, Han Li thought to himself: *("Is this truly the power of someone in Qi Refining?")* The spark of desire in his eyes intensified. He had now gained an insight, a glimpse into the abilities of cultivators – an understanding that would guide him on his future path!
An understanding for advancement!
***
*...End of Chapter One...*
**Spiritual Root Ranking:**
...
Saint
King
Black Star
9-Star
...
1-Star
Variable Root
A Variable Spiritual Root holds no place on the path of cultivation and is considered unsuitable for pursuing immortality. Overall, it is regarded as an unknown.
When examined, a Variable Root appears as an endless mist, its contents indiscernible.
Star Roots, when examined, reveal their designated number of stars (one to nine) arranged in a ring, shining within an endless darkness.
A Black Star Root manifests as a black hole orbited by 9 stars.
The King Root itself comprises three tiers: Earth King, Human King, and Heaven King.
An Earth King possesses 2 Black Stars and 18 stars, with the Black Stars orbiting each other in a ring.
A Human King possesses 3 Black Stars and 27 stars.
A Heaven King possesses 4 Black Stars orbiting a central void, with 9 stars orbiting each Black Star.
Within the Saint tier, there are five ranks: Mortal Saint, Earth Saint, Human Saint, Heaven Saint, and Immortal Saint.
A Mortal Saint has one golden star appearing in the central void of the Heaven King root.
An Earth Saint has two golden stars.
A Human Saint has three golden stars.
A Heaven Saint has four.
An Immortal Saint has five.
Han Li, possessing a Variable Spiritual Root, is considered incredibly unfortunate. Its probability of appearing is millions of times rarer than even an Immortal Saint root. Generally, perhaps only a few nameless instances of it have ever existed throughout history.
