Chapter 3- The rise of the demonic sect

It was believed that there are two paths to immortality: the first is the path of fate, and the other is the path to cultivate.

According to the first path, a person's fate was already written, so was his ascent to immortality. Whatever that fated person does, if heaven had chosen him to become an immortal, he would become one no matter what. But on this path, hardly anyone got a chance to walk.

But everyone in Xifeng believed that Lanyao was the chosen one. Before joining the sect, he was just an orphan and a beggar in the small town named Foxtale. If Su Xin hadn't gone there, saved his life, and adopted him, was he still just a beggar? If you asked someone, they would say “yes,” “ maybe,” but if you ask the same question to anyone in the Xifeng sect, or in the Xīzhōu, they would clearly deny.

When Su Xin found him, Lanyao had already formed his core without any cultivation. Some say he was born with a core, which was highly unusual.

He must be born to be an immortal. He has the fate of an immortal.

But looking at Lanyao now, everyone in the banquet hall had an expression of disbelief. Undeterred, Lanyao listened to the discussion and continued eating. It was his first time attending such a banquet, and the food here was tasty.....

Yet the eyes on him were unending and unabashed, as Lanyao couldn’t see so, they stared at him without restraint or shame.

The sect leader could no longer ignore it and scoffed to get everyone’s attention.

The second path is of cultivation. Cultivate your mind, body, and soul, and ascend to immortality.

“But nowadays a new saying was circulating— ahem," the sect leader continued-” The first path to immortality is of fate, and the second is the path to cultivate the Elixir of life”, the sect leader continued-” this phrase spread across all the nine provinces, turning the world into chaos”

Lanyao, who had heard little about this Elixir, didn’t know whether such a thing existed or not, but the phrase circulating said nothing about cultivation, just fate and some potion, perplexed and asked, “What does this phrase mean? Cultivation has always been a way to immortality.”

The sect leader answered, ”Yes. Indeed. Cultivation has always been seen as a means to attain immortality. The phrase in general means the first path to immortality is of cultivation, and whether you can cultivate or not is up to your fate; still, if someone wants to attain immortality without walking down the path of cultivation, they can do so by having the divine elixir.”

“Regardless of what you are, a mortal, a cultivator, a demon, a ghost, or a fae, anyone can get immortality just by drinking the elixir of life”.

Lanyao frowned a little. If this were true, an elixir could give immortality, then everyone wanted to get their hands on this elixir, and soon, the chaos turned this world upside down.

If everyone in the world became immortal, then heaven only goes farther; hell would become closer.

“I think it's quite absurd,” the sect leader said, slapping his lap. “How can people believe this. A simple potion can turn you immortal. Hah, only the coward and wretch walk on this path.”

Everyone agreed with the sect leader.

“How can such a thing exist. No medicine, no potion can make anyone immortal,” — elder Da Yi commented. he possessed extraordinary skills in medicine. Currently, there are three prodigies in the fields of medicine and healing: the primordial elder Yuanshi, the Minister Elder of medicine and alchemy Yu Suyun, and Xi Feng sect’s elder Da Yi.

Although everyone agreed, they secretly hoped it to be true. a Potion that can make you immortal. Who doesn’t want it?

“Su-Xiaobèi, you are considered to be a half-immortal. What are your thoughts about immortality?” - Da Yi asked. Everyone in Xizhou knows that Su Xin had taught Lanyao to be an immortal; they excitedly looked at Lanyao for his opinion.

“I think immortality is not just limited to live forever, it is more philosophical .‘A being who can carry or endure the pain of others without breaking, without resentment, has transcended the limits of ordinary existence — and thus becomes immortal."

“The one who delights at another’s sorrow is a demon,

The one who perceives another’s sorrow is a human

The one who labours to lessen another’s sorrow is a cultivator

and the one who bears another’s sorrow is an immortal ”

A being who can carry or endure the pain of others without breaking, without resentment, has transcended the limits of ordinary existence — and thus becomes immortal.

These were not just empty words; Lanyao had walked this path, and soon he realised it wasn't meant for him.

“Su huzi, those words of the Elixir spread like wildfire, and from then on, there was a sudden rise in demonic sects. Their numbers grew so rapidly that the Demonic Suppression Ministry issued an order: any sect that reported or eradicated such demonic groups would be rewarded,” — the Sect Leader said and sighed.

“I was happy that my son became deputy chief in the demonic suppression ministry, but now he has to go in and out, and he doesn’t have time to visit us. Poor Bù’èr”- the sect leader sighed.

“Su Huzi, you probably don’t know this, but Bu’er had become the deputy chief at the demonic suppression ministry. He had achieved all this on his own. I am so proud of him”

“That Zhen Wei boasts about the Zhen’s strength in the court, but where is he now? he has become useless after losing the fight with you, and his sons—they are just as useless”

“My son, even being younger than his first one, became a deputy chief on his own, and his son was just a mediocre, staying at home like a dog”

“Actually, Dogs are better than him, at least they bark at outsiders, that son of Zhen can’t even have a face to show in public”

The rivalry and enmity between Zhens and fengs were as old as time. The Feng had their influence on the west, whereas the Zhen rules the east. Their conflict stemmed from an endless struggle for power, money, and influence. The rift between them deepened further when Lanyao defeated the current Leader of East- Zhen Wei.

“Yes”,— everyone agreed and laughed at the incapability of their rivals, Zhen.

“Now the time for Zhens was over. Their generation would end soon.”

The sect leader's Feng mood became better as he thought of the Zhen’s downfall. He was so proud of his son and thankful too that he didn’t turn out an invalid.

“Lanyao, you would be excited to meet him; he also wanted to meet you. When you left the sect, he missed you. You two were childhood friends. Now if he sees you like this….”

“Sect leader,” Yinghua interrupted him. “Juexing sent a messenger, saying he would be away for a while as he was in the east.”

“when. Why don’t you tell me?” — The sect leader said in shock, mixed with excitement.

“I only received the message this evening,” Yinghua replied.

“he never writes to me. He really likes Su Peak more. Always sneaked out there and even now he didn’t write to me but to Su Peak,” —the sect leader complained with a pouty face.

Who wants him in the su peak? Who wants his letter? Yinghua rolled her eyes internally. If he were not your son, I would have already thrown him out of Su Peak like a dog and banished him from entering the peak.

“I will write him,…” The sect leader sighed. His son Feng Bu’er always liked this. He never listened to the sect leader. From the day his mother, the sect leader’s wife, had died, He became more detached from his father. And always do the opposite of what he tells him to do.

He can easily become the sect leader. Once he enters the council as the province head of Xizhou, he could rise high up in the ranks, and if he were capable, could secure the primordial elder position. His path to power was clear, and knowing Bu’er’s personality, he would definitely walk down this path without any objection.

But to everyone’s surprise, he chose to start from the very bottom. At the age of seventeen, he decided to attend Central Cultivation Academy; however, it was late in his age, and he worked hard, passed the exam, and secured the position of deputy chief in the demonic suppression bureau. He had achieved everything on his own, without resorting to nepotism or power play.

“…though he never replied to any letter I wrote. If I tell him that Lanyao is back, he would definitely come back…. ” - the sect leader continued, but got interrupted by loud coughs.

Ah, who the hell is this, trying to interrupt me…… Fēng Gūchén was furious, but when he saw the person, he swallowed.

The cough belongs to Lanyao; he had spilled the tea all over him and the table.

The serving lady came rushing to help him. Yinghua too reached out.

“I am really sorry, cough cough, I'll leave first, you, cough cough, should continue” — Lanyao couldn’t bear to listen anymore.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

A horse galloped through the Alpine meadows, cutting the evening breeze. The evening was beautiful and raw. A man in black-blue attire rides the horse at full speed.

The man in white robes watched the magnificent horse riding from behind the wired boundary. He stood there for a long time. Waiting for the horse rider to finish.

The rider was a burly man with broad shoulders. He was in his late forties or fifties, but despite his age, he looked surprisingly young. As he galloped forward, the muscles beneath his clothes bunched with every movement.

With the corner of his eye, he saw a man in white standing over the fence. He strode towards the fenced boundary.

“What is it. Why did you come here?”— the burly man, sitting on his horse, looked down at the man in white.

“Province Elder Zhen”— the man cupped his hand. The man in white was actually the informant under the Province leader of Zhen Wei.

“I had heard from the sources that Su Huzi had returned to the Xifeng sect,”—the man continued.

Upon hearing this, Zhen Wei looked at the vast mountain and sighed —” Now it's time. Where is Xuming?”—his eyes bright and a smile on his face.

“He was at the capital right now, I’ll send him the letter to return”, — The informant replied.

Zhen Wei nodded. The moment had finally arrived; the moment he would wash away the stain of an invalid and a loser from the Zhens. And take his revenge on Lanyao.