Chương 1: The One Who Escaped

The great dao counts fifty, the heavenly dao derives forty-nine, and one escaped. Lin Yi had read this phrase countless times in cultivation novels from his previous life and had never known it might apply to him. The great dao was the whole and completeness of the entire universe, the heavenly dao was the rules and governance of the world, and the one who escaped was the infinite possibilities of heaven and earth, and the independence of the human will.

It represented that anything was possible, even in the most hopeless situations, striving for that sliver of vitality of survival and hope could bring an unexpected outcome. For example, the almost nonexistent chance of Lin Yi reincarnating into a cultivation world and regaining his memories. It was this phrase and meaning that came to his mind as he waited in his room for the immortals of the Charging Bull Sect. The Charging Bull Sect was the local overlord in the Luan Province of the Huang Kingdom.

Every five years, the immortal sect would send envoys around the province to test for immortal seeds. Fortunately for the common people, they didn't discriminate between those above and those below. From the province and prefecture capitals to the various county capitals and the cities and small towns below them. The immortals of the Charging Bull Sect visited everyone. Old Pine Town was one of these places, and Lin Yi's hometown. The town's name has a lofty meaning, at least in the heart of mortals.

At the center of the town stood a giant pine tree, at least several hundred meters tall. It was said that hundreds of years ago a great immortal emerged from the town. Later, he returned and planted this pine tree. It grew and grew and never stopped. Some stories said the tree had already become a spirit and started on the path of cultivation, others mentioned that the great immortal had fused his soul into the tree to attain an alternative path of immortality. However, no one in Old Pine Town knows the truth.

Nevertheless, the pine tree was the guardian spirit and religious symbol for centuries, and ever since the town was named after it. The opening of his room's door awakened Lin Yi from his daydreams. A mature woman, in her late forties, stepped over the threshold and looked at the young child with a small smile.

"Yi, the town chief called for everyone to gather for the immortal examination. The Immortal Envoys should be here soon, get ready." Lin Yi looked at his Aunt Mei and answered with a smile. His voice could only let his excitement show.

"Yes, auntie. I'm ready. What about Yang?" Aunt Mei nodded.

"Come then, Yang is already waiting with Yu`er and your uncle." She waved, beckoning him towards her.

"Mhmm!" Lin Yi gave a confirmation sound and followed Aunt Mei, as they left his room and walked towards the front of their courtyard. He couldn't help but reminisce about the past four years. Aunt Mei's full name was Wuang Mei, she was the wife of his uncle, Lin Wang, the younger brother of his father. Lin Yu`er and Lin Yang were the children of his uncle and aunt. Lin Yu`er was already over twenty and couldn't participate in the aptitude test for immortal cultivation.

Lin Yang was eighteen years old, and this would also be his last chance to be accepted by the immortal sect. The Charging Bull Sect tests for immortal seeds every five years, and everyone from unborn infants to young adults under the age of twenty could participate. Not much is known about the aptitude to cultivate immortality, but some knowledge was passed down, like that at every age one could awaken immortal talent.

Though starting to cultivate at the age of twenty or above is apparently not a good enough investment for the sect, and thus they don't even test those people. Lin Yi was born shortly after the last immortal examination and was currently four years old. His father and mother, for a long time, had no luck with conceiving a child, and only in their old age did a miracle happen. But the happiness was not lasting.

Due to her old age, his mother perished in childbirth, and his father afterward worked too hard in the fields and one day collapsed. After desperately struggling for multiple days, he also returned to the earth in the end. Thus, Lin Yi was raised by his uncle and aunt. Luckily, his Uncle Wang was not a greedy man. He continued the arrangement with his older brother and worked the fields that Lin Yi inherited from his father, who inherited them from his own father.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. They also lived together in the Lin Family ancestral courtyard. While it was not big, it was also not small. More than enough for a family of five to live in. Maybe because he awakened his past-life memories, Lin Yi was precocious from a very young age. He learned to speak smoothly before his first birthday and walked independently before his second. Or it had to do with the supernatural nature of this world.

His early development was not seen often in this world, at least in Old Pine Town. Because of this, his family had the slight hope that he might have the potential for immortal cultivation. Aunt Mei and Lin Yi arrived at the entrance of their courtyard and saw three people waiting for them, two men and one woman. The two men looked similar. Both wore rough clothes, had sturdy builds, and their skin was darkened by the sun. Only their age prevented anyone from mistaking them for brothers.

Beside them stood a younger version of Aunt Mei.

"Uncle Wang, Big Brother, Big Sister."""Yi."" Lin Yang and Lin Yu`er nodded and greeted back with a smile, while Uncle Wang tried speaking some calming words.

"Are you prepared?" Lin Yi only nodded, and Uncle Wang continued.

"Don't worry about the examination too much. We can't influence it anyway. You have some hope, and even if it doesn't work this time, you still have three more chances. Look at Yang, today would be his last chance."

"And if nothing works, you still have us and the farm, you won't have a bad life."

"Only a bit of a hardworking one." Uncle Wang muttered the last part. Lin Yi could only answer with a wry smile. He knew his uncle didn't mean anything bad and only wanted to take some pressure, but these words were not quite suitable for a small child. Even Lin Yang, who was passively criticized, didn't have quite a sincere smile.

"Don't worry, Uncle Wang. I am prepared for both."

"Good!" Lin Wang nodded repeatedly.

"Then, let's go. The immortals could arrive at any time. The town chief already waits at the town square." Aunt Mei already started to walk after she reprimanded the four of them. They could only follow her. Though Aunt Mei said the immortal envoys could arrive any time, from the town's experience, they might have to wait several hours. Lin Yi looked into the sky. Only a few hours had passed since the sun began to rise. It was only known that the immortal envoys would arrive today, not the exact time.

So, it might be that they would have to wait till the sun had already started to sink again. But Old Pine Town and the surrounding towns all experienced this every five years, they were used to it. Furthermore, to show respect and witness this special event, the entire town takes a day off. Not much later, they arrived at the town square. It was already packed full with families. From children to young men, followed by their parents or guardians. All kinds of families were waiting here.

Even the few solitary older folks gathered. Families came after another for nearly an entire hour before almost every citizen of Old Pine Town was here. Now, the waiting began. Children and teenagers became restless and anxious during the hours of waiting, but no one ran around or played with their peers as they would on other days. Today was too much of a special occasion.

"Look!!! There, what is this?" It was when the sun stood at its highest that the voice of a child cried out. The child pointed in a direction, and everyone's gaze followed, Lin Yi's included. Deep in the distance, he could see a point of light. At first it was minuscule, but soon it grew bigger and bigger. Soon it was near Old Pine Town, and its true form could be seen. It was a flying metal ship, several tens of meters big. Its metal gleam reflected the light of the sun and made it shine like a jewel.

Cries echoed from the crowd of townspeople.

"The immortal envoys!"

"An immortal flying ship! What grand view!"

"Mommy, are they immortals?"

"Look, look!"

"One day I will become an immortal too!" The town square erupted in small chaos. Lin Yi, too, was mesmerized by the supernatural sight. In his past life, he had seen airplanes of various sizes and known of numerous ways of travel, but as he watched the flying ship enter the town and stop above the town square, he couldn't suppress his excitement. A wide smile was on his face, and his eyes gleamed with yearning for the immortal path. The flying ship lowered itself, and the crowd opened a landing spot.

Atop the ship, two groups could be seen. One group was in the back and mostly consisted of young teenagers with some older or younger ones occasionally appearing. At the front was the other group, two men and one woman. These three people stood at the helm, each wearing expensive-looking flowing robes or dresses. Their posture was upright, and they possessed the feeling of transcending the mortal world. This must be the immortal envoys of the Charging Bull Sect, Lin Yi thought.

When the flying ship finally landed, the man in the middle descended from the immortal artifact. He looked like a middle-aged man. As if he already knew what would happen next, his gaze turned toward a certain part of the square. The crowd in his view slowly parted as an old man emerged, who was walking towards the man with surprisingly fast steps. Lin Yi recognized him as the town chief. The town chief bowed and exchanged some words with the immortal envoy.

The immortal envoy then looked towards the crowd and started to speak. His voice emerged in a normal talking tone, but everyone in the crowd could hear him clearly through some immortal arts.

"Most of you already know me. My name is Dou Ling. I am an Outer Court Elder of the Charging Bull Sect and responsible for seeking immortal seeds for the sect."

"I will soon start today's testing for immortal aptitude. From every pregnant woman and every newborn child to young men under twenty, step forward. Everyone else, step back. Infants who cannot yet walk can be carried by their guardian." Lin Yi felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw it was Uncle Wang. He also patted his own son's shoulder with his other hand.

"Go, boys. Good luck, make us proud!" He pushed them both forward. Uncle Wang, Aunt Mei and Big Sister Yu`er followed the instructions of Immortal Elder Dou to leave them a wide berth. The trio left as they gave Lin Yi and Lin Yang encouraging smiles.

"Let's go, Yi." Big Brother Yang led him towards Immortal Elder Dou. It didn't take long for everyone to organize. In only a few minutes, the crowd retreated, and only a few hundred children, youths, young men, and mothers or soon-to-be mothers gathered. Lin Yi and Lin Yang didn't stand at the front, so they didn't have a good view of Immortal Elder Dou, Lin Yi even less so with his minuscule height. Nevertheless, they still could understand him clearly.

A few whispers and exclamations of wonder could be heard in the front before Immortal Elder Dou started to speak.

"This is a pseudo-magical artifact, the Spirit Discernment Pearl. One of the pearl's functions is to discern between those who possess the talent for immortal cultivation and those who don't."

"Once I activate it, its magic power will envelop everyone here gathered. Those of you who will emit light from your body have the aptitude for cultivation. You will stay here for the second part of the examination."

"Those whose bodies show no change have no aptitude and will return to your families." Without any warning, Lin Yi could only feel a mysterious sensation from the direction of Immortal Elder Dou, which soon washed over him. In the next moment, he could see light escaping from his body, and a pressure in his chest he didn't realize he had vanished. As gasps could be heard around him, Lin Yi could only feel relief, incredulous joy, and excitement.

If someone were to ask in the future, this would be the beginning of his path of immortal cultivation!