The Immortal Ascension

Chapter 5: Doctor Mo

After a while, Han Li felt a tightness around his waist, and his body suddenly became weightless as he was automatically lifted upwards.

Turning his head, Han Li saw that it was the Senior Brother who had been closely following him. The Senior Brother was holding Han Li with one hand while deftly climbing with the other hand and both legs. At the same time, Han Li noticed that the sun was hanging high in the center of the sky.

It turned out that he had ultimately failed to complete the journey. Han Li felt a pang of sadness in his heart. He had tried so hard, so why was he still not as good as others?

In the blink of an eye, they reached the top of the cliff. Only six children were sitting cross-legged nearby, resting. Wu Yan was speaking with a plump, elderly man in his fifties, dressed in a deep blue robe, with his hands clasped behind his back. Hall Master Yue and Protector Wang were standing beside him, accompanied by several others. They were all waiting for the Senior Brothers to bring up the slower children one by one.

After a while, all the children were brought up. Hall Master Yue then stepped forward and faced the children with a solemn expression.

"This time, a total of seven have passed. Among them, six will enter our Hundred Refinements Hall and officially become Inner Sect Disciples of our sect," he said slowly.

"The other one, Wu Yan, was the first to reach the cliff and performed exceptionally. He will be directly sent to the Seven Wonders Hall to learn the sect's secret techniques." Hall Master Yue glanced back at the elderly man in the blue robe, who stroked his beard and nodded in satisfaction.

"As for the others..." Hall Master Yue surveyed the remaining children, gently stroking his chin with his right hand. After a moment of contemplation, he continued:

"Zhang Tie and Han Li, although you did not reach the cliff top on time, your performance was outstanding. It seems you can endure the hardships of martial training. The two of you will first lay your Foundation under the guidance of several instructors in our sect. After half a year, you will be assessed again. If you pass, you will officially become Inner Sect Disciples. If you fail, you will be sent to the Outer Sect as Outer Sect Disciples."

Han Li glanced at the other child who stepped forward, named Zhang Tie. He was the one who had been closely following Han Li, hanging onto the rope and almost reaching the cliff top.

"Protector Wang, give the remaining children some silver and send them all home," Hall Master Yue said coldly, looking at the last group of children.

"As you command!"

Protector Wang stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and led the children who had failed down the cliff.

"Zhang Jun and Wu Mingrui, take these who have passed to our hall and hand them over to Deputy Hall Master Gu and Instructor Li."

Two more young men stepped forward to carry out the order. They divided Han Li and the others into two groups and led them down the cliff. One of them was the cold-faced Senior Brother. As they were about to descend, Han Li couldn't help but glance at Wu Yan, who was still talking to the elderly man in the blue robe, showing no intention of moving.

"He's different from you. He's being sent to the Seven Wonders Hall as a Core Disciple. Once he completes his training, he will at least hold the position of a Protector," the thin-faced Senior Brother seemed to have noticed Han Li's doubts and took the initiative to explain. However, there was a hint of indescribable envy and jealousy in his words.

"It's all because he has a cousin who married Deputy Sect Leader Ma as his second wife. If it weren't for that, how could he, who is already past the age requirement, enter the Seven Wonders Hall?" The cold-faced Senior Brother's words sent a chill down everyone's spine."Zhang Jun, have you lost your mind? The Vice Sect Leader is someone we can casually discuss? If other fellow disciples hear this, both of us will face the punishment of wall-facing and repentance!" The senior brother with a thin, elongated face was startled by Senior Brother Leng Leng's words. He hurriedly looked around and, seeing no outsiders except for these few children, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Senior Brother Leng Leng snorted coldly, seemingly also harboring some reservations, and thus fell silent. It was then that Han Li learned that this cold senior brother was named Zhang Jun. Han Li only vaguely understood their conversation, but he faintly realized that Wu Yan had not entered the Seven Wonders Hall through genuine talent or skill. Instead, he had relied on the backing of a relative who was a Vice Sect Leader to effortlessly secure his place.

As they walked along the mountain path, both senior brothers seemed to recall some disheartening matters within the sect, and they no longer felt like speaking. They silently led the group forward, while Han Li and the others dared not whisper among themselves. Perhaps they had all vaguely begun to sense that the Seven Mysteries Sect was different from their homes in some ways.

As they passed through a dense forest, an elderly man slowly emerged from the woods. He was in his sixties, tall and thin, with a sallow complexion and long, shoulder-length white hair. The old man walked while constantly coughing, hunched over. His coughing was so severe that it seemed he might collapse at any moment, causing great concern.

However, when Zhang Jun and the other senior brother saw this man, they showed no sign of worry. Instead, they hurried forward and respectfully bowed deeply to the elderly man.

"Doctor Mo, how are you, sir? Is there anything you need this disciple to do?" Zhang Jun, who usually had a cold demeanor, now wore an expression full of reverence. To him, this elderly man was more worthy of respect than even the Hall Master or the Vice Sect Leader.

"Oh, are these the new disciples who have just arrived on the mountain?" The old man finally stopped coughing and asked in a hoarse voice.

"Yes. Among them, six are formal disciples, and two are provisional disciples," Zhang Jun carefully replied.

"I’m short on hands right now and need one Medicine Refining Disciple and one Herb Gathering Disciple. These two will come with me." Doctor Mo casually pointed, his finger landing on Han Li and another provisional disciple. His tone left no room for doubt.

"As you command. These two are provisional disciples, and it is their great fortune to be chosen by you, Doctor Mo. Come and pay your respects to Old Mo. If you can learn even a fraction of his medical skills, it will be a blessing for the rest of your lives!" The two senior brothers showed no objection. In fact, the thin-faced Wu Mingrui even began to flatter the old man.

Seeing that the two senior brothers had no objections, Han Li and Zhang Tie naturally had no right to oppose. They followed the old man into the forest.

The old man led them slowly along the winding paths of the woods, turning left and right until suddenly, a lush, vibrant green valley appeared before their eyes.

To the left of the valley was a large field exuding a rich medicinal fragrance, filled with many herbs that Han Li couldn’t name. To the right were a dozen or so houses of varying sizes, connected in a row. Looking around, aside from the entrance they had come through, there seemed to be no other exits leading out of the valley."This is the Valley of Divine Hands. Aside from the disciples within the valley, outsiders rarely come here unless they are ill or injured. From now on, the two of you will live here. Go and rest for now, and come to the main hall to see me tonight. I have something to tell you." The old man stood in front of a row of connected houses and pointed to one of the smaller rooms.

"You can call me Old Mo from now on," the old man said, pausing for a moment before adding, "Or you can call me Doctor Mo."

After speaking, Doctor Mo ignored the two of them and, coughing with each step, walked into another, more imposing large house.

Han Li was already utterly exhausted. Without paying any attention to the other boy named Zhang Tie, he collapsed onto a wooden bed in the room and fell into a deep sleep. For him, no matter what, he could now consider himself half a disciple of the Seven Mysteries Sect.

(End of Chapter)