There will likely be even more hardships and many unexpected events in the future, most of which are beyond one’s control.

To say one isn’t discouraged would be a lie.

Becoming an immortal cultivator once made the entire Weichi City envious; at that time, Ian Quinn was also high-spirited, feeling that after ten years of hard work, he had finally reached the end of his suffering and was about to enjoy success!

Only now does he realize how foolish that thought was—the real challenge was just beginning!

Yet, despite the shock, for some reason, Ian Quinn did not feel afraid or timid. Instead, his heart was filled with determination and strategy. After all, heaven rewards diligence, and the facts proved that as long as he was willing to work hard, his efforts would pay off. See, everyone else had been disqualified, and only he had gained the recognition of the Immortal Sect.

Wasn’t it precisely because he worked hard enough?

Thinking this way, Ian Quinn felt his chest open up, all his frustration dissipated, and he became high-spirited once again. The road ahead may be full of obstacles, but there’s no need to fear—so long as he works hard, any difficulty can be overcome.

……

Setting aside Ian Quinn’s inner journey for now, after a short while, the sword light had already brought him to his destination.

White clouds drifted by, and what came into view was a vast plaza, covering at least a hundred acres, with carved beams and painted rafters. Around the square stood several stone pillars, and in the center was a gigantic bronze cauldron.

The cauldron stood over seven or eight zhang tall. On one side were carvings of birds, beasts, insects, and fish; on the other, the patterns were even more peculiar—part picture, part script—exuding a chilling aura.

Just over a dozen steps in front of the cauldron, a group of about twenty or thirty young men and women stood in a loose cluster, all dressed in splendid attire.

Needless to say, they were the children of immortal cultivation families, here to participate in the Spirit Awakening Ceremony.

The dazzling sword light naturally caught their attention.

“That’s Ian Quinn, I heard he’s the only mortal disciple admitted by our Immortal Sect this time.”

“That’s right, that’s the guy. I heard he’s quite exceptional—without using any medicinal aids, he managed to cultivate the internal energy from the ‘Immortal Seeking Manual’ to a deep and enduring level, and his results are impressive. Even counting us, he could rank in the top three.”

“Really? He could even endure the agony of the ‘Ten Thousand Ants Devouring the Body’?”

“Hmph, so what? He’s just a mere mortal. Even if he has great perseverance, without the support and care of a family, how far can he go on the path of cultivation? The Immortal Sect is being too merciful, wasting precious Spirit Awakening Pills on someone like him.”

“Exactly. What right do mortals have to stand alongside us? If the Immortal Sect wants new blood, they can just select from the cultivation families. Why waste valuable pills on mortals who are no better than ants?”

……

Ian Quinn’s arrival stirred up a small commotion. After all, everyone else was born into cultivation families, and he alone, a mortal, stood out too much.

The difference in status was like night and day, yet now they were placed together. Naturally, these proud scions of noble families felt uncomfortable and instinctively rejected and excluded him.

Facing their unfriendly gazes and hearing their mocking words, Ian Quinn was neither shocked nor angry, nor did he feel inferior. His expression was calm—he had expected this all along.

“Silence! This is sacred ground of the Immortal Sect. No noise is allowed.”

On the plaza, besides the young disciples, there were also two men and one woman, all in their forties, with an immortal air and an extraordinary presence. Needless to ask, they were senior immortal masters of the Luoxue Sect. At this moment, the man in the center, dressed in a bright red brocade robe, spoke sternly. The crowd was startled and fell silent, though their expressions toward Ian Quinn remained unfriendly.

“You, go to the end of the line.” The red-robed immortal master turned and gave the mortal youth who had arrived on the sword light a deep look, with a trace of disdain in his eyes.

“Yes, sir!”

Ian Quinn bowed in salute and, as instructed, walked to the end of the line of young disciples.

As he approached, the children of the cultivation families all moved away from him, as if he carried the plague.

Hostility and exclusion—their attitudes were plain to see.

Ian Quinn let out a soft sigh. To say he truly didn’t care and could take it all in stride would be a lie. After all, he was just a boy not yet eighteen. He had done nothing wrong, had worked harder than anyone else, endured countless hardships to reach this point and earn a place in the Immortal Sect. Yet simply because he came from humble origins, just an ordinary mortal, he was looked down upon and excluded. Of course he felt sad and indignant, but what good would it do?

Still, he did not remain dejected for long, because frustration was useless. If others looked down on him, that was their problem, but he could not belittle himself.

What’s so great about you all, anyway?

In the world of cultivation, the strong are respected. The fact that he had made it this far was all due to his own effort and hard work. Who could say who would be stronger in the future?

So there was no need to be discouraged. As long as he put in enough effort, there would always be a chance to turn things around. With this thought in mind, Ian Quinn’s expression became calm again. Whether it was ridicule or exclusion, it was all just part of his training.

“All right, everyone quiet down. The upcoming Spirit Awakening concerns your future path of cultivation. Each of you must clear your mind of distractions.” The red-robed immortal master’s voice rang out again, his expression stern.