Chapter 1: "Ascension" Again

  In the early morning, in a small Miao village of 10,000 people in the mountains, all the villagers rushed out. Three helicopters were hovering above the edge of the village. The children, seeing them for the first time, ran back and forth on the ground, looking up and shouting, while the adults ran to the highway outside the village.

  This is a national highway passing through the mountain village, and over the years, the villagers have become accustomed to the people coming and going. Relying on these passers-by, many families in the mountain village have also become wealthy. Now, most households in the mountain village are half-inn and half-guesthouse, where travelers can rest and eat. Some tourists even deliberately stay here, saying that their home-cooked meals are called "specialty dishes".

  On the road to Jinru Mountain, there is a parking lot built by themselves. Usually, dozens of large trucks or buses are parked here until late at night, and even luxury cars have been seen before. But today, people in the village were amazed.

  It caused a stir among the people in the village, who were all discussing and speculating about what had happened. So many people were kneeling down, and there were so many men in black clothes, as well as those long, unidentified vehicles that they had seen on TV but didn't know the name of.

  "It's so early, what's going on? Is it a fire drill or something?" Huang Tianhua yawned, he lived in the nearest bamboo building at the entrance of the village, and now looking down from the second floor was the clearest. Huang Tianhua was an elite figure in the business world, nearly 32 years old and already the deputy general manager of a financial securities company in Sichuan, young and promising. This time he drove himself with a few friends on a self-driving tour, and was awakened by the thunderous sound of planes in the sky, and then looked out and was stunned.

  Six stretched Rolls-Royces, twenty-four Mercedes-Benz cars, nearly a hundred burly men dressed in black suits, rushed to the scene, causing the fake mountain people and tourists who came to eat, including passersby, not daring to speak loudly.

  Next to those six stretched Rolls-Royces, six people between the ages of 40 and 60 knelt there one by one.

  From this angle, he just saw the appearance of those six people and almost fell out of the bamboo building window.

  Good heavens! Am I seeing things?

  Singapore's richest man, Wang Xinpeng, known as the first rich man in Southwest China, Zhang Haoran, chairman of Huaxuan Group, one of the top ten domestic companies, and four other people he didn't know. But those who can be with Wang Xinpeng and Zhang Haoran are not ordinary people either. What's going on? Is he dreaming? Why are these big shots kneeling here?

  ………………………………

  "Boss, the bill..." Wentao finished washing up in the Miao-style bamboo building and walked down, but found that the boss was leaning against the window looking outside, completely ignoring him.

  "Boss, it's time to pay. What are you so absorbed in?" Wentao walked up and patted the forty-something Miao ethnic boss on the back.

  The Miao boss finally reacted, and hurriedly revealed a simple smile similar to Wentai's. He returned to the counter, opened his account book, and said in non-standard Mandarin: "Today is also an unknown day, planes are flying outside, I heard that there are black-clad people at Zhai Kou, and good cars that can only be seen on TV."

  Zhai Zi Kou is a distance away from here, looking out from here can only see three black dots the size of toys in the air, Wen Tao looked and shook his head, it seems that his vacation is about to end.

  The boss settled the bill with Wentai, seeing that he was about to leave, and couldn't help but remind him: "Young man, you can't go into the mountains without preparation. Why don't I introduce a guide for you? Don't worry, we mountain people won't overcharge you."

  Wen Tao, only twenty-three years old this year, has a gentle and refined appearance, giving people the feeling of being a student. In fact, Wen Tao had not attended school for many days, but he had an unusual encounter many years ago and had read a lot of books over the years. He came in saying that he wanted to enter the mountain, but the boss saw that he was only wearing the clothes on his body and nothing else, repeatedly advising him that he couldn't do so. However, the boss didn't notice that the clothes and shoes Wen Tao wore today were not what he had worn when he checked in yesterday.

  To the kind-hearted people, Wen Tao said with a warm smile: "Thank you, don't worry, I don't need to climb the mountain alone now."

  Saying so, laughing and waving goodbye to the boss who still didn't understand what was going on.

  Everyone was watching from a distance, only Huang Tianhua on the bamboo building discovered that Wentai slowly walked out of the mountain stronghold, his eyes were immediately attracted by this young man.

  Because those six people knelt in the direction of the main road facing the village, although many people surrounded them to watch, no one dared to stand in front of them.

  Joke, who dares to stand there and bear the kneeling of such a person? What if they get angry, they all hide on both sides or watch from afar. But Wentai indeed walked over from a distance in front, neither fast nor slow, and when he approached, everyone discovered him.

  Everyone's eyes widened in surprise, this young man actually dared to take advantage of them, really didn't know life or death.

  However, when he got closer, he found that the six people who were originally kneeling there had all kowtowed.

  "If there's anything we can do, but on your orders." The most formidable of the six people, the former head of the Dongfang family, now the eldest elder Dongfang Zhi, humbly and truthfully said, with this one sentence, he could command any of these six people to do anything.

  It seems they didn't keep a low profile after all, and yet another big commotion has been stirred up. Fortunately, I made an impromptu decision to meet him in a town even smaller than my hometown, or else it would have been a real headache if they had ambushed me in my own hometown. Wentai hadn't expected such a grand arrangement this time either; fortunately, no one here recognizes me as that particular scallion.

  "Alright, there's nothing for you here, go and attend to your own business. I'll take the helicopter directly." As he spoke, Wentao waved his hand without even looking at them, dismissing them. Dongfang Zhi and the others had received orders to come and pick up this person, say these words, and then no matter what he said, they would follow his instructions.

  When Wen Tao said this, they didn't dare delay for a single moment and immediately left. In less than a minute, the entire scene was cleared out completely.

  The helicopter came down and Wentai stepped forward.

  The helicopter gradually went away, but the shock left in everyone's heart lingered for a long time and could not dissipate.

  The divine realm's earth energy changed, the divine tree burst forth a myriad of feet, its roots like clouds hanging from the sky, deeply entering Pangu's heart. Pangu's heart radiated and gathered the surrounding soil and rocks, gradually expanding, forming a suspended mountain, known as 'Shu Mountain'.

  Shu Mountain is the hub connecting the four realms of human, demon, immortal and god. It is also the central axis of the earth's pulse, where the twelve regular meridians converge. The twelve regular meridians are interdependent in yin-yang harmony, balancing the yin-yang energy of the human world, sustaining Shu Mountain suspended between heaven and earth without falling. The earth's pulse corresponds to the five spirits, changing with the ebb and flow of the five spirits between heaven and earth, harmonizing yin-yang, constantly generating life.

  Shu Mountain Sword Immortal was a general term, and there were many schools on Shu Mountain. Among them, the four schools of Kunlun, Emei, Qingcheng, and Qiongshan were the most prestigious. These four major schools had ancient traditions, all with tens of thousands of years of heritage, but in the past two thousand years or so, a new school emerged, named after Shu Mountain - the Shu Mountain Sword School.

  Shu Mountain Sword Sect was originally a sect composed of some Shu Mountain wandering sword immortals, with a focus on internal skills and swordsmanship. They cultivate to accumulate virtues and do not seek ascension, actively entering the world to slay demons. Renowned for their powerful attacking strength, they stand out among the hundreds of large and small sects in Shu Mountain, becoming one of the five major powers of Shu Mountain.

  In Shu Mountain, everyone knows that among those with the same level of power, Kunlun disciples have the most magical treasures, Shu Mountain Sword Sect has the strongest attacking power, and Emei people are the ones who cannot be provoked.

  At this time, hundreds of miles away from the small village of Qingcui in the Great Mountains of Ten Thousand, on a mountain top, Gu Han, the current leader of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, stood in mid-air with his feet on the legendary Fire Sword. He had been managing the Shu Mountain Sword Sect for over 200 years. The once arrogant and competitive Gu Han was no longer the same, as he gazed at a helicopter slowly approaching from afar, his heart was filled with anxiety.

  Just now, I have received a report from the disciples at the door. Those Shu Mountain Sword Sect forces controlled by the secular world did not ask him for anything, which made his heart even more uneasy. In the past, Gu Han's master told him in his last spiritual message before flying up that this person was a benefactor of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect and also the hope of the rise of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, only...the price is a bit expensive.

  The Shu Mountain Sword Sect was founded for a short time, without foundation, and no ancient treasures. Even in the Shu Mountains where the spiritual energy is dozens of times thicker than this mundane world, only less than ten seniors have successfully ascended to immortality in over two thousand years. At least hundreds of other seniors died under the heavenly tribulation when they attempted to ascend, not one in a hundred survived. The power of the heavenly tribulation is awe-inspiring.

  This is still the strong attacking power of Shu Mountain, and other sects, such as Kunlun and Emei, which have ancient immortal artifacts left behind, only have a slightly higher chance of passing the heavenly tribulation.

  As for the last sentence, Gu Han still hasn't quite figured it out, so ten years later he will use all of Shu Shan Jian Pai's power in the mortal world to see what that person needs. After all, he is not a cultivator.

  The helicopter dropped Wentao on a mountain top in a deep mountain and left immediately.

  "Gǔ Hán saw Mr. Wén for the first time" Gǔ Hán had also never met Wén Tāo before, although he had already passed on the position of sect leader to his disciple. With his identity and status, in the mortal world, he was a god-like figure. Even in the cultivation world, he was one of the top figures. However, facing the young man in front of him who was only in his twenties, with an extremely gentle and humble demeanor, he showed unusual respect for Mr. Wén.

  Not to mention that when he was over ten years old, he saved his master's life and helped him ascend smoothly. Even if he didn't have his help for nearly a thousand years of bitter cultivation, it would likely be ruined overnight, so he is extremely respectful.

  "Where are the documents you've been handling and the few medical books and foreign family secret recipes?" Gu Han had already asked this for the fourth time, Wen Tao should have understood everything by now, and at this point, he didn't bother to waste any more words with him. However, if not for the following sentences, it would be easy for people to misunderstand that this was a transaction for fake certificates, but the scene of this transaction was too exaggerated.

  "This is a copy of the Shaolin Outer Family Kung Fu from a Buddhist friend, as well as several other families' methods for physical training in the Shu Mountains. And here are some ancient medical texts, all with proper documentation."

  Wen Tao didn't even glance at the income ring, then sized up Gu Han from head to toe and smiled: "Alright, let's not waste any more time, let's start the tribulation. However, you're about to ascend to the immortal realm soon, so except for your personal flying sword, I'll help you keep things like storage rings, elixirs, flying swords, and moonlight treasure boxes. Oh, and remove the array formations inside, and I'll set up a few new ones according to my spiritual power frequency, and re-recognize the master with fresh blood."

  "Ah..."

  Looking at his surprised look, Wentao explained to him in a thick tone: "Although I can't cultivate the truth, now for those rich men and money you brought, I'm not interested either, do you understand?" As he spoke, he made a hook-hand pointing gesture.

  Gu Han only now understood what Master's last sentence "the price is a bit expensive" meant, listening to Wen Tao's words, apart from his own Lihuo Sword, he wanted everything else!!! No wonder he looked down on those rich people he sent out, anything in his storage ring couldn't be bought with money.

  The price is a bit expensive, how could Master's old man... be wrong, how can you randomly guess Master's things.

  "You're going to be an immortal, why are you still so concerned about these worldly things?" Wentao pointed to the sky and said: "There's plenty of good stuff up there, like fairy maidens and peaches of immortality."

  Gǔ Hán naturally understood, compared to flying up, these didn't count for anything. He busily took off his two storage rings and removed some personal items, putting them in a small storage ring. The rest of the thousand-year accumulation was all given to Gǔ Hán.

  "Mr. Wen, this Moonlight Treasure Box doesn't actually exist." Gu Han said very seriously.

  Gǔ Hán threw his ring directly into his storage ring, laughing and waving his hand: "I just said that, okay, you can ascend now."

  Guhan still didn't understand until now, but there were three examples before that made him believe. He immediately triggered the heavenly tribulation, and the dark clouds of the heavenly tribulation covered the sky. In the mortal world, without any preparation, Guhan had confidence in withstanding at most three of the nine heavenly thunderbolts to become an immortal. Now, everything was pinned on this Mr. Wen, but he didn't know how he could help him get through the heavenly tribulation. This problem had puzzled Guhan for the past ten years.

  No longer suppressing his power, heavenly tribulation immediately arrived. When the first bolt of heavenly thunder struck down, Gu Han finally truly understood.

  Only to see that the mighty thunderbolt was about to strike itself, but when it reached several dozen meters above its own head, it suddenly made a slanting turn and struck towards Wentao.

  "Mr. Wen be careful..." But it's already too late, Gu Han just took a glance and knew that Wen Tao was just an ordinary person, with some external family skills but not even entering the real gate of the sect. This one blow was almost as powerful as his own full-strength strike. Even if it hit a small hill, it would turn to ashes.

  The first thunderbolt of enormous power disappeared simultaneously with the splashing sound, just like a mud cow entering the sea, while Wentao still stood there with a smile.

  "Don't be in a hurry, just stand there for a while and you'll become an immortal." Wentai smiled and told Guhan to go back and stand properly. Guhan, who had rushed over, stared at Wentai in shock, looking at him as if he were a monster. He, who had lived for thousands of years, looked at Wentai with incredulity, wondering if this guy was still human? Where did the heavenly thunder go?

  In his astonished gaze, a second bolt of heavenly thunder struck down with even greater force than before, with the same result. It was only then that he finally understood why his master and the great elder of their sect could ascend to heaven so smoothly - with him by their side, it would be difficult not to ascend. Good heavens, if the people of Shu Mountain were to find out about someone like this, they would probably go crazy - this is more powerful than any treasure or artifact, even the Kunlun and Emei sects' chances of surviving the tribulation are only over 30%, but with him, wouldn't that mean their own sect would never have to fear the terrifying prospect of spending thousands of years cultivating in vain just to die at this critical juncture?

  Just as he was lost in thought, the eight heavenly thunders had already ended, and the ninth heavenly thunder came down immediately.

  "Alright..." Wén Tāo stretched his arm and clapped his hands, saying: "The tribulation is over. I wish you a pleasant stay in the immortal realm. Don't forget to help me pass on my regards to your master and the others. Oh, and remind him that if anyone figures out that secret first, be sure to find a way to let me know."

  At this time, a fairy aura descended, enveloping Gu Han in it. Gu Han's body slowly rose into the air. The fairy aura was constantly transforming his body, and Gu Han could already feel the power of another world.

  "Thank you, Mr. Wen. The Shu Mountain Sword Sect will continue to take care of you." Gu Han bowed deeply in mid-air and also sent a message back to his disciples, a final order from their master, the highest instruction. From now on, anyone from the Shu Mountain Sword Sect who saw Wén Tāo would have to address him as "Mr.", and whatever orders Mr. Wen gave, they had to carry out with all their might. At the same time, they were not allowed to disturb Mr. Wen's normal life. Gu Han thought of those fellow sect members who had been preparing for hundreds of years but still couldn't escape death in the face of the heavenly tribulation, and he felt a mix of emotions. Flying ascension was actually so simple.

  Wen Tao also waved goodbye to Gu Han, this was the fourth immortal he had sent off. Riding his sword and flying through the sky, Wen Tao who had been fascinated with martial arts since childhood couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. Unfortunately, his own body... could casually swallow thunderbolts, yet he himself couldn't cultivate his true self, not even internal energy.

  Otherwise, with his favor towards the Shu Shan Sword Sect and the Xian Dan Fei Jian he collected, it wouldn't be difficult for him to cultivate his true self. Unfortunately, when Gu Han's master had intentionally wanted to recruit Wen Tao into the Shu Shan, he discovered that his body was unsuitable for cultivating his true self, and thus stayed by Wen Tao's side for three years, researching for three years but still couldn't find a solution. It was precisely because of this matter that he would be able to cross the tribulation in the mortal world, and only then did he discover that as long as Wen Tao was by his side, the heavenly thunder would automatically be attracted into his body.

  This is how Wentai and the Shushan Sword Sect had this fate, saying slowly but in reality quickly, Guhan has already disappeared into thin air with a final burst of immortal energy. Wentai looked up, "Another" ascension.

  Strive to surpass oneself, do better than before, even if it's just a little bit. Success cannot be achieved without hard work and perseverance, and also cannot be achieved without everyone's support, please give me more support.