The Primordial Realm.
After the Era of the Great Beginning.
A flourishing age, abundant in spiritual energy, shrouded in ethereal mists.
Fortuitous opportunities abounded, and heavenly prodigies were commonplace.
In this era, immortals walked the earth, mortals were like ants, and lives were as fragile as blades of grass.
From a small mountain village, two figures, about fourteen or fifteen years old, emerged from the vast mountains.
Clad in fine clothes, riding spirited horses, filled with grand ambitions.
The young man, Mu Changqing, with a tender face and clear eyes, filled with aspirations for cultivation, resolutely left his homeland with his companion to enter the cultivation world.
"Goudaner, one day, will we also be able to ride the clouds and mist like those immortals, soaring through the heavens and traversing the earth?"
Mu Changqing tilted his head, gazing at the figures of immortals who occasionally broke through the sky above, his eyes filled with boundless yearning.
The boy named Goudaner wiped his nose, scratched his head, and grinned foolishly.
"I don't know, but Brother Mu, you're so smart, you definitely can. Whatever Brother Mu says goes, I'll follow you."
Mu Changqing looked helplessly at the honest, simple boy beside him, dressed in a tattered cloth shirt.
This fellow had followed him since childhood, unconditionally supporting whatever he did.
When he had a sudden whim and a surge of inspiration to cultivate.
This fellow, without a word, secretly followed him out of the village and embarked on the path of cultivation.
Mu Changqing wiped his somewhat dirty, tender face, and looked down at his cloth shoes, which were worn through at the big toe.
"Let's go. Second Uncle said a sect is recruiting disciples. We'll go take a look and see if we can be accepted."
Upon hearing this, Goudaner looked at Mu Changqing with anticipation, swallowing his saliva.
"Brother Mu, if we're accepted and become disciples, will we have hot, big white steamed buns to eat every day, and nice clothes to wear?"
Bang!
Mu Changqing tapped the honest boy's head, exasperatedly saying,
"Goudaner, we need to become strong, and then return to protect the village from beast invasions, understand?"
Goudaner scratched his head a bit indignantly. Although he couldn't grasp Mu Changqing's grand aspirations, he still nodded firmly.
"I'll listen to Brother Mu."
The two figures, under the setting sun, walked resolutely towards the distance.
Their figures grew longer and longer, gradually disappearing on the horizon.
...
The next day, two figures curled up beneath a giant tree were awakened by a commotion.
Mu Changqing groggily woke up and couldn't help but shiver.
As winter approached, the two, clad in tattered thin clothes, were naturally cold.
Looking ahead, they saw a sect recruiting disciples.
Mu Changqing quickly woke Goudaner.
"Goudaner, quick! An immortal sect is recruiting disciples, Second Uncle wasn't lying to me."
After Goudaner woke up, the two quickly jogged over.
"Everyone, don't be in a hurry. Come one by one. As long as you are under eighteen years old and possess cultivation aptitude, you can join our Great Universe Immortal Sect."
An elder with an immortal demeanor in front, his face kind, gestured for everyone to quiet down.
Dozens of disciples with slightly arrogant expressions followed behind him.
Mu Changqing and the other boy looked at each other with joy and lined up obediently, awaiting the assessment.
"So many people, Brother Mu, how long will we have to wait?"
Goudaner said, patting his rumbling stomach.
Mu Changqing sighed softly and, with a hint of indulgence, took out half a hard pancake from his embrace and handed it to Goudaner.
"Eat up. If we want to cultivate, we need to follow the rules, understand?"
Goudaner eagerly bit into the hard, tooth-chipping pancake, and mumbled incoherently at Mu Changqing.
"Brother Mu, aren't you hungry?"
"Not hungry, eat!"
A forced smile appeared on Mu Changqing's somewhat gaunt, clear face. He patted Goudaner's head and said.
Soon, it was their turn.
The elder glanced at the two thin, sallow youths in tattered clothes and motioned for Mu Changqing to go first.
After the assessment, Mu Changqing was found to be merely a mortal body, while Goudaner, astonishingly, possessed the acquired Dao Body, naturally inclined towards the Dao.
Mu Changqing was somewhat taken aback, and also somewhat disappointed.
He had failed to be accepted. For a fourteen or fifteen-year-old, who had just stepped out into the world with grand ambitions, this was a crushing blow.
However, he was also genuinely happy for Goudaner.
"Goudaner, go with the immortal master with confidence. I'll be fine."
Mu Changqing comforted the reluctant Goudaner.
Goudaner shook his head fiercely, looking resolutely at the elder who treated him as a treasure.
"Wherever Brother Mu goes, I go."
The elder sighed helplessly and took them both in, bringing them back to the Great Universe Immortal Sect.
However, before they left, he looked at Mu Changqing and advised,
"In this era, a mortal body cultivating is destined to be lost in the crowd. Even if you put in a thousand times the effort, it will not be as effective as what this little fellow can achieve with casual cultivation. Are you sure?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Changqing nodded with a resolute expression.
"I'm sure. I want to cultivate."
The elder looked at Mu Changqing's resolute state of mind, despite his youthful appearance, and nodded slightly, saying no more.
...
Ten years later, in a wild area of the Great Universe Immortal Sect.
Mu Changqing had now grown into a handsome and dashing young man, his face firm, but a trace of weariness lingered around his brow.
At this moment, he sat alone atop a towering ancient tree, feeling a bitter smile creep onto his face as he perceived his cultivation level of the Five Palace realm, gained through ten years of arduous practice.
In this era, those with average talent, in ten years, could reach at least the Core Formation realm from nothing.
And he... was still refining his five internal organs, stuck in the Five Palace realm. It was too laughable.
Not long after, a streak of light tore through the sky, instantly appearing beside Mu Changqing.
The newcomer stood tall with an extraordinary demeanor. It was Goudaner.
"Brother Mu, you're here. I apologize, I was late due to my breakthrough."
Sensing the lingering aura of the Spirit Transformation realm on Goudaner, Mu Changqing shook his head helplessly.
"It's fine, Goudaner. I want to leave."
"Leave? Brother Mu, where will you go if you leave this place? Here in the Great Universe Immortal Sect, I can still... take care of you. Out there, your cultivation...!"
Goudaner sat on the ground, shaking his head.
After a moment of contemplation, Goudaner sighed.
"Brother Mu, thank you for giving me most of your cultivation resources over the years. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to cultivate so quickly. If not for that, you probably would have broken through long ago."
Mu Changqing's gaze drifted into the distance, tinged with weariness.
"Forget it. Elder Su was right back then, I'm not suited for cultivation. It has nothing to do with cultivation resources."
The two fell silent. After a moment, Mu Changqing looked at Goudaner, whose face was now calm.
"Goudaner..."
"Brother Mu, can you please not call me that from now on? My name is Tang Si. Next month, I will contend for the position of Sect Holy Son. If you still call me that..."
Upon hearing this, Mu Changqing's face stiffened. He quickly smoothed his inner turmoil and smiled.
"It was my mistake. I overlooked that you have grown up. Tang... Tang Si, this departure is not me giving up on myself. I accidentally obtained an immortal artifact that can enhance my comprehension of the Dao. Such a treasure, I dare not use it within the sect, so I wish to leave and find a quiet place to cultivate diligently."
As soon as these words were spoken, Tang Si's eyes flickered.
"Brother Mu, if that's the case, you absolutely cannot leave alone. Possessing such a treasure in this world of the weak preying on the strong will bring you disaster."