During the scorching hours of the sun, in a small village built on the mountainside, there were a few wooden houses. Outside one of these houses, an adult man and a child were chopping wood.
"Tian Han, don't just stand there. Come and help your father. Take these logs to the storage; we'll need them for the winter."
Tian Han sighed as he got up from the stool he was sitting on. He looked quite bored, but without saying anything, he started carrying the logs. Every time he placed the chopped wood in the storage and returned, he found that more had appeared, making him sigh deeply. Eventually, he started complaining.
"Why do I always have to carry wood? I want to sit and play like the others."
Tian Zhi paused for a moment before bringing his axe down and looked at Tian Han with the stern yet loving gaze of a father. Seeing this, Tian Han felt his hairs stand on end. He knew this look well. If he continued whining, he would certainly be punished, so he quickly shut his mouth and resumed carrying the wood.
A few hours later, as the sun began to set, there were no more logs left to chop or carry. Tian Zhi wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, then turned to look at Tian Han, who was lying on the ground, exhausted and drenched in sweat. Smiling, he said:
"Tian Han, you worked well today. When we get home, I'll tell your mother to make your favorite meal."
Hearing this, Tian Han suddenly felt a surge of energy, jumped up, and grinned.
"You're the best, Dad! Let's go eat!"
Tian Han and Tian Zhi gathered their things and went inside the house. The interior was quite simple, with a kitchen and two bedrooms. As they entered, a woman greeted them.
"Welcome home, dear. And you too, little Han."
She smiled as she spoke, looking at the two of them covered in sweat and dirt. It was clear they were exhausted, but they tried their best not to show it. After all, children often took after their parents.
"Rest for a bit while I prepare little Han's favorite meal."
Tian Zhi pulled out a chair and sat down, chatting with his wife as she cooked. Meanwhile, Tian Han went to his room and lay down on his back. As he stared at the ceiling, countless thoughts ran through his mind. He reached for the book on his bedside table. The cover read "The Life of an Immortal." This was Tian Han's favorite novel, and he read it whenever he had free time.
The book told the story of immortals who lived for hundreds of years, moving mountains and splitting rivers with their powers. Tian Han longed to be like them one day, but he knew he was just an ordinary child living in an ordinary village. He understood that becoming an immortal required innate talent, and the chances of someone like him possessing such a gift were extremely low.
He pushed these thoughts aside and continued reading his book. He was so immersed in it that he lost track of time, only snapping out of it when he heard a voice calling from outside.
"Little Han, dinner is ready! Come quickly!"
Upon hearing these words, Tian Han quickly closed his book and rushed out. He was starving—so hungry that he felt like he could eat an entire roasted lamb by himself.
As he entered the dining area, the delicious aroma of freshly cooked food filled his nose. It smelled incredible—the kind of meal only a mother could prepare, the most delicious food a child could ever have. He saw his parents already seated at the table, waiting for him, and quickly took his place.
As they ate, they chatted and laughed together. Suddenly, Tian Wan turned to Tian Han and asked:
"Tomorrow, you'll be turning ten, little Tian. Are you excited?"
"I'm not really sure. I don't think much will change in my life."
Tian Zhi put his spoon down and looked at Tian Han with a mysterious smile.
"I'm planning to take you somewhere special tomorrow. Maybe that will make you excited."
Tian Han's face lit up with curiosity, but he didn't ask any questions. He knew his father wouldn't reveal anything yet—it was meant to be a surprise.
After finishing their meal, Tian Wan cleared the table while Tian Zhi continued chatting with her. Tian Han returned to his room.
Once inside, he picked up his book again and resumed reading. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.
In his dream, he found himself flying on a sword, soaring through the clouds. He felt as if he could reach out and touch the stars.
He flew forward, caring about nothing but the endless sky. It was so beautiful he wished he could stay in that moment forever. But suddenly, his dream took a turn. The sword beneath him began to shake violently. Before he could react, he started falling. He plummeted at an alarming speed, and just before he crashed to the ground—
"Tian Han, wake up! If we don't leave soon, we'll be late!"
Tian Han jolted awake, breathing heavily, his body drenched in sweat. His eyes still held traces of fear. Seeing his son's condition, Tian Zhi frowned and asked:
"Did you have a nightmare?"
Tian Han took a deep breath to calm himself before responding.
"Yeah… It started out great, but then everything went wrong."
"Don't worry, son. It was just a dream. Now get ready—we're going somewhere, and I'm sure you'll love it."
Hearing this, Tian Han's curiosity grew even more. He quickly got dressed and stepped outside, where his father was waiting for him by the door.
"Ready?"
Tian Han nodded, and they set off toward the village center.
On the way, they encountered a few villagers, stopping briefly to chat before continuing on their way.
Eventually, they reached the heart of the village. As usual, it was bustling with people gathered around a small pond, chatting, playing games, or shopping.
Tian Zhi glanced around before heading toward a particular shop. Seeing this, Tian Han felt a spark of excitement—he knew this place well.
It was the very shop where he had bought his favorite book, "The Life of an Immortal."
The store was owned by a young man who wrote and sold novels about immortals. Most people in the village considered the shop pointless and unnecessary, but to Tian Han, it was a treasure trove of adventure and wonder.
They stepped inside. The shop was neatly arranged, with shelves filled with carefully placed books. Anyone who looked around could see the care put into maintaining the place.
Tian Han's eyes sparkled as he took in the sight. Seeing his son's excitement, Tian Zhi smiled warmly and said:
"Go on, son. Take a look around and pick the book you want."
The moment Tian Han heard those words, he dashed off, running between the bookshelves. He scanned the shelves, looking for the book that intrigued him the most. Then, he saw it.
"I Want to Be an Immortal."
For some reason, this book captivated him. Yes—this was the one. He had to have it.
He grabbed the book and rushed over to his father.
"This one! I want this one!"
Tian Zhi nodded in approval and took the book, approaching the shopkeeper to ask for the price. After paying, he handed the book back to Tian Han and ruffled his hair with a smile.
Meanwhile, Tian Han was so excited he could hardly contain himself. It felt like he was about to burst with joy.
Just as Tian Han was bursting with excitement, a man entered the shop. He had long white hair and a beard, his face clearly showing his old age. Wearing an indifferent expression, he walked inside and picked up a book from the shelves.
As he grabbed the book, he glanced at Tian Han out of the corner of his eye. His face suddenly froze in shock. To be sure, he observed Tian Han for a few more seconds, and the shock on his face gradually transformed into excitement and joy.
With quick steps, he approached Tian Han and Tian Zhi. Seeing this, Tian Zhi turned to look at the man, while Tian Han, still lost in his excitement over the book, remained completely unaware of what was happening.
The man stopped three steps away from them and spoke.
"Hey, young man, what is your name?"
Tian Zhi responded.
"I am Tian Zhi. And yours, sir?"
"This old man's name is Ye Feng. I have an offer for you."
Tian Zhi looked at the man in surprise. Where had this offer suddenly come from? And who was this man?
"Your son possesses an extraordinary talent. If you allow it, I would like to help him become an immortal."
Hearing this, Tian Zhi was utterly shocked and frozen in place. Even Tian Han, who had been too engrossed in his book to notice anything, dropped it to the ground, completely stunned by what he had just heard.
The man continued speaking.
"If you agree, I would like to take your son in as a disciple of my Floating Leaf Sect."
Tian Han, his voice trembling, finally managed to speak.
"Can… can I really become an immortal?"
"Yes, you can."