Chapter 1

“Lin Shao, how could you do such a thing!”

Outside the house, dark clouds gathered, and torrential rain accompanied booming thunder, the angry flames of lightning filling the pitch-black sky. Though it was the height of summer afternoon, the heavens appeared as dark as midnight, making it impossible to see anything.

In the Grand Hall of the Golden Tripod, the flickering lights created an atmosphere as heavy as the one outside.

Elders with extremely high seniority and immense prestige stood in two rows like a formation, their brows furrowed, and their faces fierce.

Among them, the one standing at the very front, the most senior in experience, spoke with a voice like a bell, “Lin Shao! You have disgraced our sect, tarnishing our reputation! You are no longer worthy of ascending the path of immortality! Today, I, as the Head Peak Master, will cleanse our doors and expel you from Apricot Grove Peak!”

The elderly man’s every word was like a piercing blade, his voice resonating through the empty valley, leaving no room for rebuttal.

The woman known as Lin Shao knelt on both knees in the hall, looking disheveled. Her face was beautiful, with her lips tightly pressed together, remaining silent and stubborn.

She was bound by a spell that silenced and immobilized her, rendering her unable to defend herself.

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Lin Shao was quickly dragged to the peak’s edge.

Due to the heavy rain, most of the senior disciples had dispersed, leaving only the woman’s master behind.

Her master was a frail-looking old man. He gazed at her with a long sigh and then bent down to dispel the silencing and immobilizing spell on her.

As soon as Lin Shao could speak, she coughed several times. The long period of restraint had left her throat unusually dry, and her body was stiff.

With great difficulty, she squeezed out words from between her teeth, saying, “Master… I haven’t… I’ve never done anything wrong… Why…”

The old man sighed with sorrow and said, “I believe you.”

He said, “But in this world, the victor becomes the king, and the vanquished becomes the bandit. Where is there no conflict? Shao’er, perhaps you have no intention of causing trouble, but you have hindered others’ paths! Blame me, blame me for not teaching you these things.”

Apricot Grove Peak is a sect of immortal cultivation, and its members all follow the path of healing. Besides alchemy and medicine, they also understand the techniques of the immortal sect, capable of flying and fighting, combining both scholarly and martial prowess.

The old man had little power within Apricot Grove Peak; he was just the modest peak master residing in a corner. Thus, when he had the opportunity to accept such a remarkably talented disciple as Lin Shao, it was an exhilarating surprise. However, he never expected the situation to end up like this.

Bending down, he placed an umbrella in front of the woman and said, “With the situation having come to this point, even if I want to keep you, it’s no longer possible for you to stay. Shao’er, when you go elsewhere, try not to repeat what has happened here.”

The old man hunched over and disappeared from the peak’s edge.

Shortly after, the woman slowly picked up the old umbrella, struggling to support herself, and walked into the dark and pouring rain on the other side.

Though the senior disciples of Apricot Grove Peak had dispersed, there were still many junior disciples gathered at the peak’s edge, coming to watch the commotion.

They didn’t dare to get too close to avoid being noticed by the senior disciples. Instead, they stood at a distance, stretching their necks to listen, but they couldn’t make out the conversation clearly. The crowd chatted cheerfully.

“Senior Sister Lin Shao was so famous back then! Who would have thought it was all a lie!”

“I knew it! How could an ordinary person possess such extraordinary medical skills? If she truly had such abilities, she wouldn’t still be cultivating at Apricot Grove Peak; she would have ascended long ago!”

“After Senior Sister Lin Shao’s departure, the most outstanding disciple in Apricot Grove Peak would once again be the Senior Brother of the Head Peak!”

Two other disciples were conversing in hushed voices.

One disciple said, “You know very well that the so-called evidence is not something belonging to Senior Sister Lin Shao. Why didn’t you speak up?”

The other disciple replied, “Why should I speak up? What’s wrong with Senior Sister Lin Shao leaving? Besides…”

At that moment, before the disciple could finish his excuse, a bright white light suddenly broke through the clouds. The intensely radiant light almost seemed to pierce the eyes of everyone present.

“What–“

The disciples couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment, using their hands and umbrellas to shield themselves from the brightness. However, right after that, they were amazed to see a group of figures walking out from within the dazzling light.

As they saw the figures clearly, an instant silence fell upon the crowd.

This group consisted of around ten people, both men and women, who arrived on clouds, effortlessly traversing the nine heavens’ void, a feat that had been an enigma to them throughout their lives. The men wore flowing robes, exuding an air of elegance as they gracefully walked on the blue skies. The women possessed an ethereal beauty, akin to a clear moonlight, and they moved with graceful steps, seemingly gliding above the waves.

The group arrived bathed in radiance, exuding an aura of immortality, and landed effortlessly in front of Apricot Grove Peak’s entrance. The heavy rain surrounded them from all sides, leaving no place to hide, yet they remained untouched, their robes fluttering gracefully, not a single drop of water touching them.

They were immortals!

Genuine immortals!

After years of cultivating the dao, they naturally could discern what true immortal aura was like.

The disciples of Apricot Grove Peak were nearly driven to madness. Though they often addressed others as “fellow daoists” and “immortal friends,” deep down, they were still mortal beings seeking longevity, far from being true immortals. To see, let alone hear, even a trace of immortal presence was a great honor.

At this moment, the disciples of Apricot Grove Peak completely disregarded their umbrellas and the rain. They hurriedly knelt on the soaked ground, showing utmost respect to these true immortals.

The senior disciples of Apricot Grove Peak, who had previously gone back, also hurriedly returned. Not only them, but also the guests from other sects who had come to visit today, all gathered at the peak’s entrance upon hearing that true immortals had descended.

The Head Peak Master respectfully bowed, not daring to lift his head, and nervously asked, “May I inquire, why have the esteemed immortals graced us with their presence today?”

The fairy standing at the forefront asked gently, “May I ask if Fairy Lin Shao is present here?”

No one expected the true immortal to inquire about Lin Shao right away. The Head Peak Master was so nervous that his fingertips trembled. In his fluster, he unconsciously asked, “May I ask what the esteemed immortals seek from Lin Shao?”

The fairy replied, “It’s for our young master.”

As she spoke, the fairy took a half step to the side, revealing what was behind her.

There, a male immortal stood, carefully cradling a young boy in his arms. The boy appeared to be only two or three years old, mostly in a human form, but with snow-white ears and a tail resembling that of a wolf. He was currently in a deep slumber, his face pale, and his breathing rapid. The male immortal held him protectively in his embrace, making sure he wouldn’t be exposed to the cold wind any further.

The fairy explained, “Lin Shao is the reincarnation of the Heavenly Melody Fairy from the Nine Heavens. She herself is a primordial snow lotus capable of reviving the dead, possessing innate knowledge of medicinal herbs and their healing properties. Before our young master was born, his mother battled a demon beast, suffering severe injuries and enduring the bitter cold, which resulted in his birth with an affliction that causes him to sleep deeply and be difficult to awaken. This kind of extreme cold illness is rare even in the immortal realm, and only the Snow Melting Technique of the Heavenly Melody Fairy, born in the frigid snow and transformed from a medicinal lotus, can cure him. Unfortunately, the Heavenly Melody Fairy has been undergoing a tribulation in the mortal realm in recent years, and her whereabouts have been unpredictable. It took us over two years of calculations to barely figure out that the mortal form of the Heavenly Melody Fairy should be here, known as Lin Shao. We wonder if you could ask Lin Shao to come out and take a look at our young master?”

The Head Peak Master was originally curious about the little immortal boy’s wolf tail and ears, even though he, as a cultivator, had heard about the various appearances of immortals in the divine realms. However, upon hearing the fairy’s words, he immediately trembled as if shaken by a strong wind.

Not only him, but the disciples who had been lighthearted and joking earlier also lost their laughter.

A tribulation?

(Translator’s note: “历劫” is a term used in Chinese mythology and cultivation stories. It refers to a trial or tribulation that cultivators must overcome to advance to a higher level or attain a new power.)

After all that, could it be that for Senior Sister Lin Shao, it was just an ordinary mortal tribulation?

Seeing the uneasy atmosphere, the fairy furrowed her brows and asked, “What happened? Where is Fairy Lin Shao now?”

The Head Peak Master trembled, fearfully pointing ahead into the dark and dim rain, saying, “You arrived a step too late. She… she has already left…”

On the other side, a woman’s figure walked alone in the vast expanse of pouring rain.

The rain poured down like a curtain, and the fierce thunder and rain almost drowned out all signs of life. The sound of raindrops hitting the umbrella’s surface repeatedly made it impossible for the woman to hear her own footsteps.

The cloth shoes she wore when she came out of the room were already muddy, and besides the old umbrella her master had given her, she only had this thin summer shirt on her. At this moment, it was soaked by the rain, making her feel cold and sticky.

She had lost everything.

Unconsciously, she walked in the rain for a long time, her heart feeling ice-cold, and her steps heavy.

She was utterly disappointed with everything that had happened in her sect, finding it hard to believe that this was the same Apricot Grove Peak she had grown up in.

Desolation, coldness, despair, and unwillingness, she couldn’t determine which emotion dominated. But as she looked at the road ahead, confusion seemed to be the prevailing feeling.

Not knowing where she was and where to go, she felt lost and directionless.

“Sob, sob…”

At that moment, amidst the pouring rain, she heard a faint crying sound, resembling that of a young child and a small animal.

“Sob, sob, whimper… sob…”

After a few steps, Lin Shao saw an exquisitely crafted bamboo basket, similar to a cradle, placed in the middle of the hillside where it shouldn’t have been, left alone without any shelter.

Approaching the basket, she found a small white fox inside.

Clearly very young, more like a fox cub, it seemed that the little fox couldn’t even open its eyes yet and lacked the ability to crawl out of the bamboo basket.

The young fox was extremely weak in the rain, its soft fur soaked by the downpour. Its voice was as faint as a mosquito’s, and it tried to curl up within the soft blanket placed in the bamboo basket. However, the blanket was also thoroughly wet, rendering it useless.

At this rate, death was just a matter of time for both of them. They had reached a dead end.

Lin Shao bit her lip, forcing herself to be resolute.

She had nothing now; when she left Apricot Grove Peak, no one would have let her pack her belongings. She had no money, no food, no place to go, not even her medical kit, which she could use to make a living, was with her. After the incident she had caused in public, no cultivator sect would take her in again. She was barely able to take care of herself at the moment, so how could she possibly have the means to care for someone else?

Moreover, it wasn’t even a human baby; it was just a little white fox.

Lin Shao walked away, holding her umbrella.

“Sob… whimper… whimper…”

The sound behind her gradually weakened and finally ceased altogether.

Lin Shao had already walked quite far away.

Her footsteps suddenly came to a halt, and she spun on her toes, finally turning back. She propped the umbrella above the bamboo basket and crouched down.

“Sigh. You won’t have a very happy life with me either… After the rain stops, I’ll see if I can find something for you to eat.”

Lin Shao gently lifted the little white fox, whose body had turned ice-cold from the rain. However, she felt the warmth in Lin Shao’s palm and weakly moved, wrapping its small paw around Lin Shao’s fingers and lightly licking her palm with its tongue.

Originally, Lin Shao had only intended to hold the fox in her arms to keep it warm. But as she did so, she discovered that beneath the bamboo basket where the fox was placed, there was a palm-sized round jade pendant.

She was puzzled as she took out the jade pendant. The pendant was engraved with characters, and on the reverse side, there was a depiction of a divine fox. As she held the jade pendant, she felt a warmth emanating from it, and there seemed to be a flow of spiritual light within it. Clearly, it was not an ordinary object.

Frowning, Lin Shao was about to examine it more closely, but when she lifted the jade pendant, its edge lightly touched the little white fox. In the next moment, before Lin Shao could react, a dazzling brilliance burst forth from the jade pendant, piercing through the rain and illuminating the entire forest!

Immediately after that, Lin Shao felt a tremendous surge of immortal energy! The level of spiritual energy flowing was beyond what someone with her cultivation as a mortal could withstand or comprehend. She panicked and held the little white fox close to her, assuming a protective stance, as she felt a tremendous gust of wind whistling past her ears.

When everything finally calmed down, Lin Shao opened her eyes again and was astonished to see a rift appearing out of nowhere before her – it was the entrance to an immortal realm!

In the mortal realm, the fierce wind and rain continued, but inside the rift, there was a scene of blooming flowers and chirping birds.

Lin Shao was stunned.

It was evident that this immortal realm was somehow connected to the little white fox in her arms. However, the fox was already extremely weak, and they were still surrounded by the raging storm. With nowhere else to go, and without much thought, Lin Shao took a step forward and entered the immortal realm.

The little white fox curled up in Lin Shao’s arms, seemingly relying on her.

The entrance to the immortal realm closed behind her, vanishing without a sound.

… Almost the moment after Lin Shao and the little white fox disappeared, the immortals who had come from the Peach Blossom Realm arrived one after another at the horizon.

“The aura is gone!”

One of the male immortals caught up to the spot where they disappeared, paused for a moment, and then turned back to the leading female immortal.

“The immortal realm and the mortal realm are two completely separate and distinct planes. Once Lin Shao and the little white fox entered there, they would have no idea that an immortal realm exists here. It’s as if Shao Yin Immortal vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind.”

The female immortal felt a hint of panic and hurried over to check for herself. Indeed, she found that Shao Yin had disappeared as if into thin air. A rare look of anxiety appeared on her otherwise composed face.

Before she could order the others to search the surroundings carefully, a weak cough came from the arms of another immortal who had followed closely behind.

“Cough, cough, cough…”

“Little Lord!”

The female immortal became immediately tense and approached to check on the situation. To everyone’s surprise, the little lord, who rarely woke up since birth, had awakened at this moment. They all were startled and focused their attention on him.

The little lord sniffed slightly, as if sensing something, and slowly opened his eyes. With a hint of confusion, he said, “Can you put me down?”

The immortals didn’t dare to be careless and allowed the little lord to step on the ground. However, despite their efforts, they still surrounded him cautiously, afraid that any mishap might occur.

The young boy, with his wolf ears and tail, was just a very young child. Yet, he had a faint feeling of sniffing something unusual, something he had never encountered in the immortal realm, but he didn’t find it repulsive.

After a while, he bent down and picked up a small cluster of white fur that had fallen from somewhere, dampened by the rain-soaked mud.

The color of this small cluster of fur was slightly lighter than his own fur, and it seemed to belong to a younger creature, but it was difficult to discern its origin.

The young snow wolf paused for a moment and said, “There was another person here before.”