Everything around Su Jing was blurry.

  She tried to look around and distinguish things, but as if someone covered her eyes, Su Jing could not sense anything.

  "Aish, you shouldn't have over-exhausted your inner Qi like that."

  The voice was loud enough to kick her senses awake. Su Jing froze and rapidly breathed as a rush of air hit her lungs. This was almost painful, scratching her dry throat.

  "What's with her?"

  "She's clearly holding on to the master to make him pity her!"

  The voices around her grew more restless. Su Jing felt nauseous, and while she tried to stop the uncomfortable sensation around her throat, the first man again talked.

  "Why did you use so much of your Qi? Your cultivating vessels are wasted, young girl."

  Immediately after, a warm sensation slowly surrounded her cold body.

  Su Jing focused her eyes, and soon, the once-blurry shapes morphed into objects and people. In front of her was a man with a long white beard cascading down his chest, seeming to be the one who was talking.

  She also noticed how poor her condition was - her legs hurt, her back was sweaty and painful, and her lips were dry. Her hands felt heavy, and she couldn't help but stare at the strange orb she was holding.

  Glimpsing at it, Su Jing almost felt lost in its white mass.

  "This young girl should give me back the testing sphere. It may ease down your disturbed Qi."

  Su Jing's trance was cut short, and she felt an odd energy leaving her body as he took the orb. In the next moment, it turned grey in his fingers, looking like a rock. Strangely, Su Jing felt numb in her chest, like she had lost something.

  "And remember not to overuse your roots. If you continue to do that, they will certainly turn weaker."

  Now that her head was slightly more clear, Su Jing couldn't help but get confused by his words. Roots? Was she a tree? She looked down at her hands and was sure her body was human.

  "Have you understood me? You do not seem like listening to me at all."

  The master stared at her, furrowing his brows.

  Su Jing flinched, only now observing the aura around him - a powerful one. She nodded quickly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Y-yes. I understand."

  The intense, disapproving glares from around bore into the back of her head, becoming unbearable for her.

  "So be it then," the old man said, leaning his head slightly, "Heavenly Clouds Sect only opens its door to the best, but fear not, the Dao is vast and ever-flowing. Your journey may take unexpected turns with enough patience."

  Once more, Su Jing was puzzled by what he said, but one thing was obvious—she was being turned away.

  She did not belong here or in that place.

  As the realisation sank in, Su Jing's confusion grew. She wanted to ask him, but he turned towards someone else walking in this direction.

  Her words got stuck in her throat.

  "Greetings to the old master. This one is grateful for the opportunity."

  The girl's voice sounded as she bowed, side-glancing at Su Jing fugitively. Her eyes had a cold allure, albeit beautiful - as if stars were scattered in the black, bottomless irises.

  Su Jing unexpectedly felt mesmerised by her beauty. Although her red dress was a little coarse, it enhanced her natural traits.

  The master nodded to the newcomer before returning to Su Jing. "Remember what I have said. The path of cultivation is not to be taken lightly. Take care of your Qi and roots. Perhaps you will find your place in Dao."

  With that, he turned away, leaving Su Jing feeling more lost and chaotic than ever.

  Her only option was to walk away. Hesitantly, Su Jing left and passed through the crowds. Some deliberately obstructed her path, jostling her shoulder as she passed.

  After finding a peaceful corner in the back, Su Jing trembled, massaging her inner palm as she looked back towards the master and the other girl.

  "Feng Zhi Hao is a shameless one for coming here."

  "Did not she get almost evicted from her clan?"

  "Perhaps she thinks she can get to the immortal realm to meet her fiance, Prince Jin."

  "Hahaha, as if! Wishful thinking to be as good as her talented sister, Feng Huo Hua!"

  Su Jing could not understand the gossip the nearby people were sharing. They seemed to like to belittle the beautiful miss.

  Ignoring them, she tried to search throughout her overused clothes for hints about her identity. Su Jing only found a few coopers and a bunch of old red fruits, which also appeared almost withered.

  The situation wasn't looking too good. Su Jing could only persist in assessing the affair here.

  The girl from before held the rocky sphere, which looked like a measuring tool. She chanted something, and soon, the sphere shone in many pretty colours—red, green, blue, grey, and even gold.

  "You have an affinity with all five elemental roots—water, wood, earth, fire, and metal..."

  The people immediately erupted in an uproar when they heard that.

  "Hahaha, what did I say? Still a disgrace to the bone!"

  "No wonder the Feng Clan did not even send one servant - it's clear they had abandoned her!"

  This perplexed Su Jing. Feng Zhi Hao was clearly apathetic to the whole situation.

  Was she really that weak? It was strange to think that - Su Jing remembered her sparkly eyes, but all those gossip words seemed contradictory.

  "Ah, what the hell?! That Feng trash?! What is she doing here?"

  Startled by the voice, Su Jing turned her head. She saw a young man with a proud expression walking toward the crowd.

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  As the guy approached, Su Jing did not wish to be in his way, so she stepped to the side. Unfortunately, because of the big flock, someone from behind accidentally bumped into her, causing her to stumble and lightly hit her shoulder into another.

  "Who is that? Xiu Xiu, let's go. We don't have time to chichat with those mortals."

  Su Jing understood he was talking to the one she hit. She steadied herself and looked towards the person, only to see - a beautiful and delicate young lady!

  "I'm sorry. Are you alright? Did I hurt you?" she said worriedly, grasping Su Jing's palm.

  Feeling her soft hands around her fingers made Su Jing shake her head, at a loss for words, "I'm fine."

  She should be the one saying sorry for crashing into her! Su Jing was just about to say that, but the words seemed to get stuck in her throat, seeing the ugly look the fancy guy was throwing her.

  He looked impatient.

  Perhaps understanding Su Jing's embarrassment, the girl smiled gently and nodded before running back after the guy.

  Su Jing watched as they made their way through the crowd. People started to look curiously at the two of them.

  The wealthy guy quickly went to the master, while the girl seemed hesitant to be in view.

  "Saluting the Sixth Elder of the Heavenly Clouds Sect. "

  The old man stepped closer, frowning once he saw them, "Young Master Zhu, what brings you here? I recall you were supposed to train in this realm alone."

  Young Master Zhu's gaze did not immediately meet his. As he passed Feng Zhi Hao, he gave a contemptuous glance at the shimmering sphere in her hand, while Feng Zhi Hao did not even bother to look at him. This made him angry, but he kept this in since the master was before him.

  "I came here to test my roots, Sixth Elder. Together with my junior sister."

  The master glared over at the girl who came with him.

  "Then you should have taken the test you missed in the immortal realm. I suggest you leave immediately and wait for a few more years. Immortals are accepted differently than mortals in a sect. I thought you were both aware of that."

  His words showed that he had no intention of changing his mind, which made Young Master Zhu furious. Before he could say anything else, the girl from before intervened. She went closer and gracefully stepped in front of the master.

  "Esteemed High Elder of Heavenly Cloud Sect. Please forgive my senior brother. He was asking this because of me."

  The master looked her up and down, clearly conflicted now that this girl had intervened, "Young Miss Bai, you know it's not your place to be here."

  The young girl, whose family name was Bai, seemed embarrassed by the old man's words. Glancing at the ground momentarily, she said, "I don't dare oppose the High Elder. My clan is undoubtedly awaiting my return at our Medical Moon Sect, but now, after I travelled in the mortal realm, I..."

  She paused, taking a deep breath to gather her courage before continuing. "I want to join the Heavenly Clouds Sect and become a disciple."

  The crowd gasped, and the master also looked surprised. Su Jing knew nothing about the places she mentioned, but it appeared that this young lady wanted to escape from her apparent noble family.

  Fugitively, Su Jing saw Feng Zhi Hao gazing at the girl, appearing thoughtful.

  The master kept silent, making the girl nervous that he wasn't responding.

  "Young Miss Bai Xiu Ying had thought about the consequences of this decision? Why drop the path of following into the steps of your alchemist clan?"

  Young Master Zhu seemed to want to intervene, but Bai Xiu Ying signalled that he should stay put.

  "I've learned so much from my clan, especially about medicine, but I want to follow my path. Swordmastering has become my passion, and the Heavenly Clouds Sect is where I can truly prove myself. My clan wouldn't understand—they see me as the young miss destined to carry on our medical traditions. Since the selection happens rarely, I had no choice but to come to the mortal realm to find another way in."

  She clenched her fist, signalling how resolute she was regarding this idea.

  Su Jing could see two small swords attached to her belt, making it more believable that what she said was true.

  But again, swordmastering? Alchemy? Su Jing really couldn't catch up with what was happening around here!

  The master seemed tired of entertaining those two. While massaging his forehead, he sighed and finally turned towards Feng Zhi Hao, who stood unmoving beside them. Su Jing felt terrible for her—just imagining standing there, not related to them at all!

  Feng Zhi Hao caught his look, walked towards him, and bowed, "I will not be of bother anymore. I thank the esteemed master for helping me check my abilities. Now I know what I have to do."

  The sphere changed to its previous numb colour, stopping the shiny play of lights. The master took it back and nodded, as if discontented that those two guests had interrupted her turn.

  Young Master Zhu superiorly smirked at her. It looked like he said something only for Feng Zhi Hao to hear, but she kept her eyes down and did not comment further as she walked off and got lost in the masses.

  Some people laughed at Feng Zhi Hao's blatant rejection, lovingly over-ridiculing her.

  "Now," the old man said, flinging the sphere toward Young Master Zhu, "you will need to make any further explanations to the Sect Master. As his nephew, you were sent to the mortal realm to train and grow, but since it seems you can't stay here without causing trouble, it's time for you to return. Especially now that you've meddled in the selection to help Bai Xiu Ying enter."

  Young Master Zhu's head was still held high, but Bai Xiu Ying quickly forcibly lowered it down in a bow, and together with hers, "We highly thank the elder benevolence. " She seemed very happy, her smile almost reaching her ears.

  The Elder sighed as he saw those two. Bai Xiu Ying stepped back as she exchanged a quick glance with Young Master Zhu. He rotated the sphere between his fingers.

  Immediately, it sparked a flame coming to life. Su Jing had never seen such a clear red colour, and her eyes burned just by watching it be lit.

  Young Master Zhu, still unruffled by the chaos he had caused, grinned.

  "Wow, immortals are really out of our league! They did not even start cultivating seriously, and look at that power!"

  "Till now, all the best roots from our realm were rather ordinary. Only a few people got accepted."

  "Of course, he is powerful! Have you yet to hear his name? He is from the Zhu Immortal Clan, the one that is part of the Heavenly Clouds Sect!"

  "Oh? Then why did he not enter directly as a disciple?"

  "Of course, he has to prove his power first! That is why he stayed here in our realm to train!"

  Su Jing did not understand what was so different for them to be considered immortals. Of course, they looked powerful, but she felt that Feng Zhi Hao also looked like that, yet she was a mortal.

  Unconsciously, Su Jing looked down at her own body—indeed, she did not have that vibe around her.

  Back to the scene, Bai Xiu Ying held the sphere in her palm.

  Once Su Jing saw the deep blue colour engulf the sphere, she was sure this young lady opposed Young Master Zhu's power.

  Her predictions came true, her flux of energies giving this time a cold, watery sensation.

  "A single heavenly ice root."

  The master checked out her power, appearing surprised. He did not comment further. However, Su Jing could see that Bai Xiu Ying was also expecting this result.

  "My traits are slightly different from my family's. Not the best in alchemy, but good enough for swordsmanship."

  She deactivated the power, giving it back to the Sixth Elder.

  "The young master Zhu's junior sister is powerful, too!"

  "The most powerful one from our realm only had two roots with barely 60 Qi concentration! We were lucky to be here and see this!"

  Su Jing looked at the "winners" people pointed at—two boys and one girl. The girl and one of the boys looked excited when the two young immortals approached their group, readily talking so they could grow close to them. The other stood silent, his arms crossed, looking lost in the crowd, towards the path Feng Zhi Hao took.

  Since no more persons seemed to be left to take the test, the master took the sphere and put it in his sleeves, making a conclusion speech to the crowd. With that, the gathered people began to disperse—many bowing respectfully to the master and sneaking one last glance at the immortals before leaving. By observing their actions, Su Jing noticed a clear divide: the departing individuals were servants, while those lingering near the immortals appeared to be nobles.

  Su Jing hesitated, unsure of what to do next. Alone in an unfamiliar place, the cold air of the surrounding forest clung to her, deepening her unease. Sitting idle only heightened her anxiety. She had no idea how or why she had come to this place. Everything about it felt alien and distant.

  Tilting her head upward, she glanced at the sky. The swirling clouds above seemed unnaturally close, and the sight made her dizzy momentarily. She pressed a hand to her forehead, steadying herself.

  When most of the crowd had dispersed, Su Jing quietly moved toward a random group of mortals who still lingered near the immortals. These people appeared to have been rejected—so why hadn't they left yet? Her curiosity grew, and she decided to stick close, hoping to find some clue about what to do next.

  She wanted to ask them, but one of them gazed threateningly at her. Because of that, she kept her distance, choosing to stay behind.

  Eventually, the entire group began to move, with the masters and chosen ones leading the way. They headed in the opposite direction of those who had left before, ascending a path that gradually became steeper.

  Su Jing found herself trailing behind, feeling intense pain in the soles of her feet. She longed to stop and inspect her legs, but the thought of being left behind in the dense forest kept her going.

  When the group finally stopped, the place where they arrived was the base of a mountain. There was an endless line of stone stairs. The rocks circled the mountain till their way was lost in the clouds, where the summits couldn't be seen.