Amidst the ethereal mists, a mountain thousands of feet tall gradually revealed its true form from a thousand miles away.
Unlike ordinary mountains, this one was inverted.
It seemed as if someone had uprooted the mountain and planted it upside down with its peak thrust into the ground.
"Remember, the sect's flying ship will only stay for one hour. Say goodbye to your families quickly, as it will not wait!" Elder Jia said calmly, gazing at the Inverted Mountain, which he had seen countless times, from the Golden Sun Sect's flying ship speeding toward it.
"The disciples will comply with the elder's command!"
On the deck of the flying ship, twenty-nine youths sat cross-legged, but only four spoke in reply with cupped hands.
Among the remaining twenty-five, some instinctively wanted to respond in the same manner but suddenly realized the futility and put their hands down in resignation,
most showing faces of dejection, uncertain about the road ahead.
Three days earlier, they had all been young Immortal seedlings with cultivation potential, initially tested by the Golden Sun Sect at Inverted Mountain.
After three days of detailed assessment, only four were honored to become disciples of the Golden Sun Sect, their path henceforth paved, the Immortal Dao flourishing.
"Do not despair, for even though the Dao gives fifty, heaven uses forty-nine, and there is a way out for mankind. There is always a sliver of hope in all things.
Even if you do not enter our Golden Sun Sect, you can still cultivate. Whether as a Loose Cultivator or by joining an immortal cultivation family, the path to immortality remains within sight." Elder Jia, sensing the unstable emotions of the youths who did not pass the examination, offered a few words of consolation.
Then, as he turned his gaze once more to the approaching Inverted Mountain, he added another sentence, "Just like… Daoist Venerable Mo Li from two thousand years ago…"
The title of Daoist Venerable reached their ears, and the group of youths seemed to awaken from a dream, their previous gloom swept away, eyes suddenly bright with hope.
Only Li Jizhou, a youth distinguished by his appearance and demeanor, chuckled softly and shook his head slightly.
Among millions, someone rising from nothing would inevitably become an idol and hope for countless commoners.
This aligns with the higher intent, preventing despair from breeding disastrous thoughts.
In his past life, before and after his traversal, he too had been spurred forward by a sliver of hope, persevering with unwavering determination.
In this life, just during the Golden Sun Sect's third trial of core temperament, he awakened to his Innate Wisdom from his previous life, finally gaining clarity.
A high-rise building begins from the ground up.
Without foundations laid by forebears, without extraordinary talent, if one cannot face oneself and steadily accumulate, far-reaching desires will entangle oneself!
"Big brother Li, Elder Jia is right. Don't be discouraged, as a blessing may indeed be disguised as a misfortune, perhaps not entering the Golden Sun Sect is for the best.
The Tier Three Spirit Vein on the Inverted Mountain is comparable to our sect. You have been wise and intelligent since childhood, so although... you can at least cultivate,
perhaps the next time we meet, we'll be calling each other fellow Daoists." The young woman seated in front of the others turned to look at Li Jizhou, her voice gentle.
Her name was Lin Caiwei, whose fair looks and serene demeanor made her one of the four selected to enter the Golden Sun Sect, and she was Li Jizhou's childhood sweetheart.
Li Jizhou smiled and nodded, "Thank you."
The plum blossoms had withered, the rocking horse grown distant.
They wished each other well as they parted for their individual paths.
Though Lin Caiwei's beauty and grace were exceptional, considered one of the prime beauties nearby and with a near future promised to Li Jizhou, his newly awakened Innate Wisdom flooded him with past life's affections and entanglements, the ethereal visages of fairies and beauties vividly before him.
Before confirming the Dao, matters of love in this life were fated to remain untouched.
He would naturally not be swayed by her subtle change in demeanor after entering the sect.
"Ji Zhou, don't succumb to despair. Caiwei and I might come back to see you at any time. If I find out you've given in to despair, don't blame me for disregarding your face." The young man next to Lin Caiwei turned his head, speaking admonishingly.
"I will remember Brother Zhao's words. Thank you!" Li Jizhou sincerely thanked his former younger acquaintance Zhao Qian with cupped hands.
This kid was from an eastern family of the Inverted Mountain, sent here three years ago waiting to be accepted by the Golden Sun Sect.
Li Jizhou, as the local leader among children of the Inverted Mountain, received quite a bit of respect in the form of tribute from him.
But that was all in the past. Now Zhao Qian had entered the Golden Sun Sect, possessed a Middle Grade Spirit Root, supported by family, and barring any accidents, Foundation Establishment was within reach, Core Formation in sight.
"Li Jizhou, what do you plan to do?" Suddenly, a person behind him clapped Li Jizhou hard on the shoulder.
"Go home," Li Jizhou replied evenly without looking back at the young man behind him.
"Pfft, Li Jizhou? Is this all there is to you? Do you think this qualifies you to be my lifelong rival?" Zhou Cang grumbled and swore.
This was another local leader opposed to Li Jizhou from childhood, daring and with lofty aspirations.
"Zhou Cang, watch it, this is on our sect's flying ship!" Zhao Qian glanced at Elder Jia at the front of the flying ship, and reprimanded sharply.
"I…" Zhou Cang was just about to curse but then swallowed his words, softening his voice as he said, "I got it."
"Everyone, be ready." At that moment, Elder Jia's calm voice echoed.
Soon, the flying ship stopped at the city gate, eight hundred miles in front of the inverted mountain,
As everyone looked up, they could see the mountain's peak piercing into the center of the city, forming a vast, misty Jade Moon Lake!
On the cliff of the inverted mountain, four dazzling characters glowed—no owner in sight!
But none dared to look directly; even Elder Jia had to shift his gaze to the city gate after three breaths.
Above the city gate were three large characters—inverted mountain.
However, faintly visible beneath them, were the words "Thunder Flame Sect."
"Regroup here in one hour!"
After disembarking from the flying ship, Elder Jia reminded them once more.
"Big brother Li, I must hurry home to bid my parents farewell…" Lin Caiwei said apologetically.
"Indeed, do not keep the Immortal Master waiting. You should head back." Li Jizhou nodded in agreement.
Watching the four enter the city gate, Zhou Cang finally spat.
"Pfft!" But he said nothing further.
He instead walked over to Li Jizhou again, reaching to put his arm around his shoulder.
Li Jizhou naturally stepped aside, leaving Zhou Cang grasping air.
"Hey, you don't really plan to go back, do you?" Zhou Cang wasn't annoyed.
"My talents aren't enough, and I have no support, so it's better to go home. What does Brother Zhou intend?" Li Jizhou replied with a smile.
Zhou Cang stared hard at Li Jizhou, then clenched his teeth, saying, "My destiny is my own, not heaven's to determine. Just because they say I lack potential doesn't make it so?
Ha~ I shall not believe it!"
"You could cultivate at the Inverted Mountain, as the Tier Three Spirit Vein here is indeed comparable to the three great sects!" Li Jizhou suggested with a smile.
"Pfft! Li Jizhou, I'm opening my heart to you and you're playing dumb?
Everyone knows the Spirit Vein at the Inverted Mountain weakens year by year; it might degrade to Tier Two next year.
Besides, even if it remains Tier Three, tens of thousands of loose cultivators live here. We can't even enter the core areas, with so many sharing this minuscule vein, it's worse off than some Tier One family veins!" Zhou Cang ranted, sulking.
"At least it's safe!" Li Jizhou earnestly replied.
"You..." Zhou Cang pointed hatefully at Li Jizhou, then finally snorted coldly, "You don't deserve to be my lifelong enemy!"
With that, Zhou Cang strode toward the city outskirts.
"Boss, where are you going?" a few boys who were close to Zhou Cang called out loudly.
Zhou Cang did not turn back nor pause, raising his right hand, clenched in a fist, high above his head as he walked, saying, "A man's ambition should carry him away from home, and he shall not return without making a name!"
Li Jizhou watched Zhou Cang's dramatic departure, wanting to laugh yet unable to.
A man's lofty ambition is not to be mocked.
No one else has the right to mock it,
for in the end, what he reaps is only his to bear!