The Immortal Ascension

Chapter 6: The Nameless Chant

"Get up! Get up!"

A faint call, seemingly from the distant horizon, jolted Han Li awake from his deep slumber. As he opened his eyes, he was startled to find a large face pressed close to his own. Startled, Han Li instinctively recoiled, only to realize that the owner of this terrifying face was none other than the other boy, Zhang Tie.

"Quick, eat something. After dinner, we need to go see Old Mo," Zhang Tie said, handing Han Li two steaming buns.

"Where did you get this food?" Han Li was momentarily stunned before accepting the offering.

"There's a big kitchen near the valley. I saw everyone getting food there, so I went and got some too. After I finished eating, I realized you hadn't eaten yet, so I got you two more buns," Zhang Tie explained with a simple, honest smile.

"Thank you, Brother Zhang," Han Li said, feeling a surge of gratitude. Seeing that Zhang Tie appeared more mature than himself, the term "Brother Zhang" naturally slipped out.

"It's... it's nothing. I'm used to doing things at home. If I don't do something for a while, I feel a bit... a bit uneasy. If you ever need help with anything, just let me know. I may not have much, but I do have some strength," Zhang Tie stammered, seemingly a little embarrassed.

Having missed both breakfast and lunch, Han Li was famished. He devoured one bun in just a few bites, and in no time at all, both buns were completely gone.

"It's getting late. Let's go see Old Mo," Han Li said, letting out a few satisfied burps. He glanced at the setting sun outside the window, calculating the time and deciding it was time to visit Doctor Mo.

Zhang Tie had no objections and followed Han Li to Doctor Mo's room.

Inside Doctor Mo's room, rows of bookshelves lined the walls, densely packed with all kinds of books.

"Old Mo!"

"Old Mo!"

Doctor Mo was leaning back in his armchair, engrossed in a book, seemingly oblivious to their arrival and their greetings. Being just children, Han Li and Zhang Tie were at a loss, unsure of what to do, and could only stand there awkwardly, waiting.

It wasn't until Han Li's feet began to go numb from standing that Doctor Mo leisurely placed the book on the nearby desk, gave them a cold once-over, and then picked up a cup of tea, taking a few sips before finally speaking in a slow, deliberate manner.

"From this day forward, the two of you will be my nominal disciples. I will teach you some basic knowledge about gathering and refining medicinal herbs, and perhaps even some medical skills to heal others. However, I will not teach you martial arts," Doctor Mo said expressionlessly, setting down his teacup.

"I have a set of chants for cultivating the mind and body that I will teach you. While it won't help you defeat enemies, it will strengthen your bodies. If you truly wish to learn some martial arts, you can go to the instructors. I won't object. However, in six months, I will only assess your progress in mastering this chant. If you fail, you will be sent to the Outer Sect as Outer Sect Disciples. Do you understand?" Doctor Mo's tone suddenly became serious, indicating the importance he placed on this chant.

"We understand," Han Li and Zhang Tie replied in unison."You two may leave now. Come back early tomorrow morning," Doctor Mo waved his hand dismissively, signaling for the two to leave, and then picked up the book again to continue reading.

Before stepping out, Han Li couldn't help but glance at the book in Doctor Mo's hands. Unfortunately, he couldn't read, so he only knew that the title consisted of three large black characters. It was a pity—they recognized him, but he didn't recognize them.

As he walked out of Doctor Mo's room, Han Li couldn't help but let out a soft sigh of relief. For some reason, he had been holding his breath and keeping his mind tense while inside the room. Now that he was out, he immediately felt lighter and returned to his normal self.

In the following days, Han Li remained excited because he had finally become a disciple of the Seven Mysteries Sect, even if he was only a registered disciple. This was still better than being sent home like the other children. Even if he failed the assessment six months later, he could still become an Outer Sect Disciple like his Third Uncle. In Han Li's mind, his Third Uncle was already a person of considerable status and prestige, so he didn't take the upcoming assessment too seriously. In fact, deep down, he even vaguely hoped he wouldn't pass, as that would allow him to leave the mountains sooner and reunite with his parents and his beloved younger sister.

In the days that followed, Doctor Mo taught them some medical knowledge in the mornings. In the afternoons, they were sent to a study room with other children to learn how to read and write, as well as the basics of martial arts, such as the twelve main meridians, the eight extraordinary meridians, and the locations of acupoints throughout the body. They also practiced horse stances and basic techniques by striking straw dummies.

A month later, Han Li and the other child were finally separated from the rest of the group. They no longer had time to learn other things because Doctor Mo began teaching them an unnamed chant. Practicing this chant took up most of their time, and Doctor Mo strictly forbade them from sharing it with anyone else. If they leaked it, they would face severe punishment and be expelled from the sect.

During this period, Han Li gained a more detailed understanding of the Seven Mysteries Sect and Doctor Mo through conversations with others. The Seven Mysteries Sect had a Sect Leader named Wang Lu, who was a direct descendant of the Seven Wonders Sage, along with three deputy sect leaders. The sect was divided into two main parts: the Outer Sect and the Inner Sect. The Outer Sect consisted of four halls: the Flying Bird Hall, the Treasure Gathering Hall, the Four Seas Hall, and the Outer Blade Hall. The Inner Sect had four halls as well: the Hundred Refinements Hall, the Seven Wonders Hall, the Offering Hall, and the Blood Blade Hall. Additionally, there was a Council of Elders, which stood just below the Sect Leader and was on par with the deputy sect leaders.Doctor Mo was not originally a disciple of the Seven Mysteries Sect. Several years ago, during an outing, Sect Leader Wang Lu accidentally fell into an enemy's trap and was ambushed by his adversaries. He suffered severe injuries and was on the brink of death, with those around him at a loss for what to do. By chance, they encountered Doctor Mo, a skilled physician. With his miraculous hands and effective medicine, Doctor Mo managed to save Sect Leader Wang's life. Naturally, Sect Leader Wang was immensely grateful to Doctor Mo. Later, upon discovering that Doctor Mo not only possessed exceptional medical skills but also considerable martial prowess, Sect Leader Wang invited him to join the sect. He even selected a small valley in the mountains and had a residence specially built there, allowing Doctor Mo to settle comfortably within the Seven Mysteries Sect. Thus, Doctor Mo became a revered member of the sect's Hall of Offerings. During his time in the Seven Mysteries Sect, although the disciples had never witnessed his martial abilities and were unaware of the extent of his skills, Doctor Mo's remarkable medical expertise saved the lives of many disciples within the sect. As a result, despite his often expressionless demeanor and sparse words, he was deeply respected by the sect's disciples.

(End of Chapter)