Translator: Fate Translation Checker: Silavin “I don’t care. Either way, remember to praise my Older Sister in front of that Uncle Gu of yours. If you don’t, I won’t go easy on you.” “I got it already. Why are you so pushy and domineering? No one’s going to want to marry you when you grow up.” “Hmph! That’s none of your business…” Chen Erya and Wang Xiaoniu’s childish argument drew the woman in white out of her thoughts. She regained her composure and observed the children in front of her. Nearly all of the children were offering up their suggestions to help Chen Erya’s Sister. Even though they were quite young, they knew a thing or two about marriage. They all spoke as if they were experts in the subject. Amused, the woman in white shook her head and chuckled. Nevertheless, the scene before her allowed her to clear her mind and put her thoughts away. The past was the past. There was no point in dwelling on it. Even if she spent all her days drowning in these memories, she could not change anything. Instead of allowing her fantasies and hopes to grow fruitlessly, it would be better to face reality and regain clarity. The beautiful dream had long since been shattered. Even its edges have grown hazy. What was there that she dared not face head-on? Wang Erniu’s house was situated by the village entrance. It was not too far from the school as it was less than a few kilometres away. After teaching the children, the woman in white left the place. She masked her silhouette and tagged along behind Wang Xiaoniu, Chen Erya, and the other children as she wanted to see this man surnamed Gu. Along the way, the cheerful and innocent children were still teasing Chen Erya about what happened earlier this morning. “Erya, when you’re all grown up, are you also going to look for a handsome man to marry, just like your Older Sister?” The little girls who were the same age as her teased. “Of course.” Chen Erya’s large eyes twinkled as she smiled confidently and declared, “I’ll definitely be even prettier than my Sister when I grow up, so I’m going to find a Husband who’s even more handsome than Xiaoniu’s Uncle Gu.” “He won’t like someone as domineering as you.” Wang Xiaoniu retorted with a pout. Chen Erya punched him in response, and the two began to quarrel again as they ran towards the village entrance. The other children ran after them. Their lives were simple, blissful, and carefree. The woman in white felt a little envious of them. The feelings they had for each other were pure and untainted by other desires. Perhaps the two children could not notice it yet, but once they were a little older, they would understand just how pure and precious their playfulness and camaraderie were. They were childhood friends with a close-knit relationship. Meanwhile, a bustling crowd had gathered outside Wang Xiaoniu’s house. Many villagers came over looking like they were here to enjoy a spectacle. Some of the nosy ones were even cracking jokes and making fun of the visitors. There was a young woman dressed in a light green dress. She had fair skin and attractive features. Seemingly a little shy, she kept her head lowered and gripped her dress tightly as she stood behind her parents. She had a touch of powder on her face and a dab of rouge on her cheeks that made her appear like a captivating beauty found in the wholesomeness of nature. This was Chen Ya, Chen Er Ya’s Older Sister. She was famous for being the village beauty here in Green Mountain Village and operated a tofu store by the village entrance. Not only was she beautiful and talented, but she was a kind-hearted woman as well, and the tofu she made was delicious. Many busybodies called her the Tofu Fairy, which emphasised her beauty. Numerous young men from the surrounding areas wanted to marry her. Even someone from a rich Family in the city came to ask for her hand in marriage, but she rejected the offer. Standing in front of Chen Ya were her parents and a matchmaker with a kind smile. The matchmaker was holding Wang Xiaoniu’s Mother’s hand and making small talk with her. Now and then, the villagers in the vicinity would say a few words in support too. After seeing Chen Ya and her parents bringing a matchmaker over, they could figure out what was happening and did not need to be told. However, the man surnamed Gu that they wished to see had gone to the market with Wang Erniu. They had gone off to sell the Family’s homegrown fruits and had not returned yet. Many of the young men who rushed over when they heard the news were deeply envious. Chen Ya was like a Goddess to them. She had rejected every proposal of marriage she ever received. Who would have thought that a young woman like her would be bold enough to persuade her parents to bring the matchmaker over in person? “It’s a pity I don’t have his looks. It’s not surprising that Ya isn’t interested in me.” “All throughout history, beauties have always matched with handsome and talented men. It’s only natural.” The young men had enough self-awareness to know it was unsurprising that Chen Ya did not take a liking to them. In Green Mountain Village, the Chen Family could be considered quite well-off. Therefore, Chen Ya and her parents did not think about asking for a dowry. They came over in person to convince Wang Xiaoniu’s Mother to put in a good word for them. Since the Wang Family took in Gu Changge, the Family of three were the ones he interacted with the most on a regular basis. Seeing as how he drifted over to this place and did not have any relatives to speak of, perhaps he considered the Wang Family as his Family now. Chen Ya’s parents had an educated air about them. They came from educated Families and spoke with a sense of propriety. Therefore, even though Wang Xiaoniu’s Mother felt a little helpless, she could not bring herself to reject them. Still, how could she make such a decision on Gu Changge’s behalf? “Ya! Father! Mother!” Just then, Chen Erya and Wang Xiaoniu came skipping back to the house. They saw the crowd and came over to join them. Chen Ya smiled when she saw her Little Sister. She reached out and nudged Erya’s nose. “You shouldn’t be so forward, Elder Sister. People who don’t know you might think you have a hard time getting married. Still, I told Xiaoniu to put in a good word for you. How are you going to thank me for that?” As soon as Chen Erya came over, she immediately informed her Sister of her efforts with a cheerful giggle. Chen Ya poked Erya’s forehead and said in mock anger, “You talk too much.” “Mother…” Wang Xiaoniu came over as well. “It’s good that you’re back, Xiaoniu. The Master Elder you mentioned a while back is here waiting for you.” Wang Xiaoniu’s Mother smiled when she saw him. She quickly pulled him over and spoke to him. Just this morning, an Master Elder dressed in slightly tattered clothing and a noticeably distinguished middle-aged man suddenly appeared at their house. The Master Elder had asked if Wang Xiaoniu lived here. Wang Xiaoniu’s Mother was just a regular farmer’s Wife. She had never seen such visitors before and was thoroughly shocked. However, after recalling what Wang Xiaoniu said about his encounter with an Immortal, she calmed down and answered truthfully. Even though the Master Elder seemed benevolent, the middle-aged man beside him made Wang Xiaoniu’s Mother feel fearful and uneasy. She thought about heading over to the school to bring Xiaoniu back. But, the Master Elder said it was unnecessary, and that he would wait. He ended up waiting an entire morning. “What did you say!?” Wang Xiaoniu’s eyes widened. Once the words registered, a look of excitement bloomed across his face. He could not hide it. He almost thought the Master Elder had lied to him or forgotten about him. Therefore, he did not expect the Master Elder would actually come over and would even be in his house right now. He forgot about everything else. To him, nothing was more important than becoming an Immortal. “That’s great…” Wang Xiaoniu looked thrilled and a little smug. He could not resist boasting to Chen Erya, “Erya, from today onwards, I’m going to become an Immortal. If anyone tries to bully you, just tell me. I’ll keep you safe.” Wang Xiaoniu’s Mother did not bring it up before this. She made no mention of it to Chen Ya’s parents. She simply stood at the door and chatted with them. Therefore, all the villagers were so thunderstruck that they even suspected that they had misheard somehow. Was Wang Xiaoniu going to become an Immortal? Chen Ya and her Family were shocked too. They almost forgot why they were here in the first place. “Are you telling me the truth, Xiaoniu?” Chen Erya was stupefied and gaping in disbelief. Ever since they were children, they knew that Immortals existed. Immortals could fly across the sky. There was nothing they could not do. As mortals, they felt a great deal of respect and awe for the Immortals and hoped to become one someday. Alas, one needed both opportunities and talent to begin their cultivation journey. They did not have either one of those things, so they could not become Immortals. And yet, out of the blue, Wang Xiaoniu said that he was going to become an Immortal. Chen Erya was stunned and envious too. “When I was herding the cows the other day, I ran into a kind Master Elder. He came over on a sword…” Wang Xiaoniu happily shared the story, and his words left the villagers feeling even more dumbstruck. No one else could be as lucky as him. Meanwhile, inside Wang Xiaoniu’s house, a pleasant-looking Master Elder dressed in a somewhat shabby tattered robe was sitting on a stool looking rather serene. “I think the boy’s back…” He smiled faintly when he heard the commotion outside. Then, he took down the gourd hanging by his waist and drank from it. There was a middle-aged man standing beside the Master Elder. However, the middle-aged man’s attire and bearing were completely different from the unkempt-looking Master Elder. He wore a golden robe made out of godly flame silk and had a golden crown on his head. Parts of his loose robe were covered in runes. Flashes of golden light flickered when his eyes opened. He had a majestic and intimidating air. It was obvious that the middle-aged man was a powerful cultivator. Even though he reined in his aura, it was still extremely terrifying. “Founding Ancestor, are you certain that the little boy outside is a promising young talent? I can’t detect anything special about him. He’s not even comparable to the other disciples in the Sect…” The middle-aged man was extremely respectful towards the Master Elder. Nevertheless, feeling a little puzzled, he could not help but voice his confusion. How could it be that they would find a promising young talent that even his Founding Ancestor spoke highly of in this remote village? He could hardly believe it, so just moments ago, he used his abilities to scrutinise Wang Xiaoniu. There was no point in talking about the boy’s Physical and cultivation aptitudes as he probably could not even sense the Qi in the air. As for having a Sword Body which was crucial for cultivating Sword Dao, that would only matter if the person could practise cultivation in the first place. In his eyes, Wang Xiaoniu was merely lucky enough that he happened to have the talent for the Sword Dao. There was nothing else remarkable about him. In this glorious era, having a Sword Body was no big deal. Even if he practised cultivation for tens of thousands of years, it would not make a difference. Furthermore, having a Sword Body did not count as anything special or powerful. “Do you doubt my judgement? He has a promising future. Don’t underestimate him just because of what he is now. You should not underestimate someone based on what they lack.” The slightly unkempt-looking Master Elder simply shook his head and chuckled without explaining any further. The smell of alcohol emanated from him. He did not shave his sideburns and seemed rather scruffy overall. If he appeared anywhere else, people would most likely assume he was an old beggar. After hearing his words, the middle-aged man did not speak again, though he remained doubtful. He was well aware of the Master Elder’s identity, so he did not question the Master Elder’s words. “Let’s go out and take a look at the young fellow.” The Master Elder got up and brushed the dust off him before heading out with a smile. The middle-aged man followed closely behind. All of the villagers outside the door were stunned into silence by Wang Xiaoniu’s story. Some even forgot that they came to amuse themselves with the Chen Family’s marriage proposal. Once the Master Elder and the middle-aged man appeared, the villagers who had been disbelieving no longer had any doubts. They instantly conducted themselves with fear and respect. When all was said and done, the Immortals and the mortals belonged in two different worlds. The Immortals were powerful enough to stand with the Heavens and destroy the world. Even the mightiest dynasties would crumble with a flick of their fingers. Just by standing there, the middle-aged man was already exuding a kind of indescribable pressure that terrified them. It was as if their Souls were trembling. They felt the urge to kneel before him. On the other hand, he treated the scruffy-looking Master Elder with the utmost respect. All of the villagers became even more envious of Wang Xiaoniu. It was clear that the Master Elder had an even more startling identity. “Greetings, Immortals.” Some of the villagers were so frightened that they got on their knees and bowed. Chen Ya, Chen Erya, and the others were also terrified. They dared not speak. Before this, they had no idea that there were Immortals in the Wang Family. “Do you still remember me, little boy?” The Master Elder did not care about these things. He looked at Wang Xiaoniu with a kind and cheerful smile. Wang Xiaoniu was not that afraid of him either. He swiftly nodded and said, “I remember you, of course. You gave me this jade pendant. I’ve kept it safe all this time.” He took out the jade pendant with an exquisite sword carving and held it out to the two men before him. Upon seeing the jade pendant, the middle-aged man’s gaze stiffened. He was in shock. He did not expect his Founding Ancestor to give away this pendant. However, he soon noticed his Founding Ancestor glancing at an area nearby before withdrawing his gaze. Not knowing why the Master Elder did that, the middle-aged man glanced over and quickly detected something unusual. He frowned and growled, “Who is that spying from the shadows, too afraid to show themselves?”