5 years passed in an instant. Xuan Wok was now 17 years old. It was time. The Eternal Starfire sect held a recruitment every 5 years. The last time he was too young, this time he was old enough. Most started cultivation at a younger age than him, however he couldn't due to lack of materials. Afterall, the son of a mortal farmer wouldn't have any materials for cultivation.
He wasn't hoping for much. The past 5 years had opened his eyes a bit. He still wanted to be the top Cultivator like Xiaolong or Galr, but he knew that he couldn't do so. Still, even being a low ranking Cultivator meant being above mortals. Even if he never got off Qi Gathering stage, he would still live a relatively comfortable life. And above all, he would be able to support his mother, who was the only one taking care of him after his father died due to a disease.
The Eternal Skyfire Sect was located at the top of Mount Jingzhou, the highest peak in the entire world. The evaluation was held at the bottom of Mount Jingzhou, many kilometres away from his home.
He had to make his way over there, and so he left, a week before the evaluation actually began. Right before departure, his mother handed him a jade pendant.
"Xuan....this pendant belonged to my father..handed to him by his father, passed down for many generations. It's said that it brings goodluck to us. Be sure to keep it safe."
She said with a shaky voice. She was worried about her son, afterall, which mother wouldn't be? Her son was young off to a world foreign to them, far beyond than their original scope, so worry was natural.
Xuan smiled, taking the jade pendant in his hand and hugging his mother, who couldn't hold it anymore. Tears of joy and sadness began seeping down her face.
"Ill miss you mom."
"Ill miss you too son."
The two then separated, the mother waving goodbye.
"Be sure to eat well soon! And sleep early too! Also get a girlfriend while you are at it! Be sure to write letters to me and visit occasionally!"
She said while waving. Xuan smiled, waving back.
"Sure mother! Ill be sure if that!"
And so began Xuans first journy to immortality.
------
Xuan quickly stocked on supplies, a few days worth of food and water, camping equipment, a handy sword as a sidearm incase things went south and some extra stuff. Spears were more useful for combat but inconvenient to carry around.
He began his trek, leaving his village of Shiqui to head to Mt Jingzhou.
For the past five years, Xuan had trained his body for this very moment. Standing at a height of 6'2, his body was athletic, not too overly muscular. His bright yellow eyes sparkled under the morning sun, his black long hair reached till his waist even though it was tied in a ponytail. His face was clean shaven, wearing a traditional dress.
He continued walking forward, a large bag on his back that carried all his equipment and supplies alongside a short sword strapped to his waist.
As he continued walking, he encountered a sign that pointed to two directions. Gwezhi, 'The Forever Woods' or Beizhou. There were two ways to Mt Jingzhou, either through Beizhou or Gwezhi. Beizhou was safer, a trade city at the center of the continent with little to no crime. But it would take extra time as it was farther. Xuan might not even make it in them.
The forever woods, or Beizhou was closer and took a shorter amount of time, but it was also more dangerous. Numerous bandit activity had been heard off from the forest, also earning it the nickname "Bandit Forest".
However that was many years ago. The forest was relatively safe these days as long as someone didn't leave the trail, so Xuan decided to risk it, heading towards the Forever Woods.
Xuan soon arrived at his destination. The dense oak trees of the Forever Woods was unquestionable. From his perspective, Xuan couldn't even see the sun, the shade from the tree top canopies blocking everything. Thankfully there was a path through the forest.
Xuan didn't see anything interesting of note. The occasional deer or small critters are squirrels, but nothing too out of the ordinary. 'At this rate ill reach outside of the forest in a day or two, and reach Mt Jingzhou within 5 days.' Xuan thought optimistically.
The scenery shifted around him, the sun was at high noon, scorching heat from the blazing ball increasing temperatures to near unbearable degrees, even under the shade of the dense trees, so Xuan decided to take a break and sit down. He took out a waterskin and greedily drank the water, he had alot.
Sighing in satisfaction, he continued to remain sitting for a few more moments before deciding to continue walking, only to be interrupted by a voice.
"Well well well, what do we have here?"
Xuan heard from behind him. Turning around he saw atleast half a dozen men, all holding swords. Their faces where covered with masks and they wore tattered clothes. What little skin they showed were covered with scars.
'Bandits!? They haven't been spotted in here for ages! Why are they here now!?' Xuan screamed internally as silent panic set in. The man quickly tried to calm himself. One of the bandits, presumably the leader spoke up.
"Kill him and take all his belongings. He will make for a decent meal."
'Not only bandits, these are cannibals as well!?' Xuan screamed internally once more as he took out his short sword. He wasn't confident but he was willing to fight.
The leader seemed amused. "Hoh? The guy thinks he can take us. Men, surround him and kill him."
He ordered. The bandits did as was told, however Xuan wasn't going to allow it. Only a fool would let themself get surrouhded. As soon as the first bandit stepped a little too far away from the group, Xuan rushed forward and tried striking the man in the head, only for the man to block it, the blade mere inches away from his eye.
Xuan cursed as he quickly grabbed the arm of the man who blocked his strike, kicking his balls. The man keeled over and Xuan tried to finish a job, only to be interrupted by a horizontal slash from one of the other bandits. Xuan jumped back, narrowly avoiding the strike. The bandits began trying to surround him once more, but he didn't waste any time, rushing forward towards the bandit who just attacked him.
The bandit was surprised at such a move, not expecting Xuan to do such a reckless move. Xuan swung his sword towards the bandits face, however right before contact, spun around and kicked the bandit legs instead, causing him to fall. Xuan used this opportunity to finish off the other bandit who was still recovering from his kick and stabbed him through the throat, the red liquid oozing out and staining his hands. He then quickly turned around just in time to avoid a slash from another bandit, grabbing the arm of the man and stabbing his sword through the man's armpits and skull, killing him instantly.
Now the bandits were more cautious. Two of them had just died to Xuan and they were pissed. This wasn't just about meat or money, this was about revenge.
The man who had fallen down had gotten up and the three of them began surrounding the Xuan, this time sticking closer to allow for no faults. Xuan cursed audibly. This wasn't good. He had to act.
Before the men could do anything, Xuan quickly grabbed a rock from the ground and threw it at fast speeds towards one of them, causing him to panic. Using this opportunity he rushed towards the closest to him. If he rushed at the distracted man he would just get countered by his buddy, but if he rushed towards the one closest to him maybe he could kill the bandit.
Xuan attempted an overhead slice at the bandit, feinting the blow at the last second to aim for his jugular instead. However the bandit anticipated the blow and parried it with his two handed sword. However, since Xuan was using a one handed sword, he was able to use his free left hand to punch the man right in the jaw and then stabbing him in the throat.
'3 down, 3 to go-'
His thoughts were cut off as an extremely painful sensation was felt all across his body. Xuan didn't know what happened. One moment he had just finished killing a bandit, the other he was know against a tree which had its trunk shattered.
The bandit leader stood infront of him, looking pissed. He has an outstretched fist which was glowing red.
'Q-qi?'
Was the only thing Xuan could think before the bandit rushed forward once again. Instinctively Xuan rolled away, avoiding a punch from the bandit. The tree that the man hit toppled over and fell down. If he had been hit things would've been bad.
"Brat..you sure are skilled. But you die here and now."
The bandit said as he cracked his knuckles.
"W-who the hell are you?"
Xuan questioned. No ordinary bandit should have access to Qi.
"Dead men need no answers."
The bandit said as he prepared to finish Xuan off. Xuan meanwhile closed his eyes. There was no escaping it. His ribs were crushed from the first blow, his body too weak to even move. His journey ended before it even began...or so he thought.
"HALT!"
A booming voice came from overhead. It belonged to a man, currently sitting ontop of one of the trees. Even from here, Xuan could feel it. Everyone could feel it. The unmistakable presence of Qi.
'A Cultivator..'