C1 The Heavens Were Jealous of His Talent!

A verdant mountain rose high into the clouds, its ridges stretching endlessly like the dormant spine of a dragon lying upon the earth.

Within it, a myriad of plants and towering trees burst with life, while the constant calls of birds and animals filled the air.

From a distance, the mountain appeared as a solitary peak, its rocks jutting out in odd and fantastical shapes, resembling ancient, fierce beasts. The peak itself stood as if an inverted finger, poised as though to pierce the very heavens.

Atop this lush mountain, a young man with a bamboo basket strapped to his back steadily climbed until he reached the base of the peak, where he settled upon a massive boulder to rest.

Inside the basket, several medicinal herbs released a refreshing fragrance that lingered and twirled in the air.

The young man was striking, with fine features and jet-black hair, though his disheveled locks and slender build gave him a fragile air.

Despite this, his expression was one of determination, his sword-like eyebrows and deep, dark eyes radiating a lively spirit.

He was clad in a worn Daoist robe, cinched at the waist with a grass rope to hug his frame closely.

In his hands, he held a well-worn parchment scroll, engrossed in its ancient tales.

"Legends speak of Immortals dwelling in sacred mountains, ascending to the heavens or plunging into the sea with a single step, transforming all of creation, reigning over the azure sky, plucking stars, and splitting the earth with their fists," he read aloud, his voice tinged with longing.

The young man let out a sigh, the words of the scroll echoing in his mind.

"Immortals, so ethereal and elusive. To join their ranks is a daunting task. And who's to say if they truly exist in this world?"

The parchment in Feng Yi's hands was frayed from countless readings.

"Feng Yi, oh Feng Yi, you're meant for gathering herbs. Dreams of immortality are just that—dreams," he chastised himself.

Feng Yi was an apprentice alchemist in a Daoist hall, his name synonymous with his humble beginnings.

"In a world where the sky is round and the earth flat, one can pluck stars with an outstretched hand and traverse the ends of the heavens in a single stride."

Feng Yi's imagination was captivated by the world of immortals. As the day faded into evening, a chill wind swept through, causing him to shiver and snap back to reality.

Gazing at the gathering storm clouds, a jolt of energy surged through Feng Yi.

"The master was correct; the storm is coming today, and the Clear Sun Fruit will surely ripen."

With his words still hanging in the air, Feng Yi raised his eyes to the towering mountain peak, his face set with resolve.

He hoisted his bamboo basket onto his back and resumed his ascent.

The dark clouds rolled in ominously, and soon thunder cracked the silence.

The thunderous roars echoed as if the heavens themselves were enraged, ready to unleash their fury upon the mountain.

In an instant, the mountain was engulfed by the clouds, and a cold, damp wind swept over the landscape.

As the clouds descended, Feng Yi quickened his pace. In no time at all, he had scaled dozens of feet.

Perched there was a bizarre rock, jutting out like the head of a serpent, its fangs bared and tongue flickering, an eerie sight to behold.

Beneath this rock lay a cave entrance. Feng Yi climbed to it and took refuge.

It was a dead end, yet to reach the Clear Sun Fruit, one had to traverse this path.

Feng Yi reached into his hand and produced a rope with an iron hook tied to one end.

With agility, he swung the hook-tipped rope over the rock.

After a firm tug to ensure its hold, he propelled himself into the air with a push of his feet, landing atop the rock.

Just then, the rain began to pour down, growing heavier by the moment. Clinging tightly to the rock's outcroppings, Feng Yi's eyes shone with unwavering determination as he pressed on.

Time lost all meaning as the downpour continued unabated, blurring the world into a misty veil.

Feng Yi was now less than a hundred feet from the summit.

A small, crimson tree, standing several feet tall, had sprouted unexpectedly less than ten feet from the peak, bearing several fruits upon its branches.

The fruit was still slightly green, not yet fully ripe.

Feng Yi spotted the small red tree with elation; it was indeed the Clear Sun Fruit Tree.

Time passed, and eventually, Feng Yi made it to a spot just below the Clear Sun Fruit Tree.

He secured the rope around the roots of a tree perched on the cliff's edge and pressed his body tightly against the rock face.

The Clear Sun Fruit would only ripen at the precise moment when the morning sun peeked halfway over the horizon. Once mature, there was a mere fifteen-minute window to harvest it before it would fall off on its own.

To claim the Clear Sun Fruit, Feng Yi realized he would have to wait out the night.

The relentless downpour pelted Feng Yi, inflicting a chilling pain throughout his body.

Yet, with unwavering resolve, he kept his gaze fixed on the Clear Sun Fruit, fearing that a moment's distraction might cause it to ripen and drop prematurely.

After enduring the night, Feng Yi's strength was nearly depleted.

But just as he reached his limit, a sliver of sunlight broke through the sky.

The rain ceased, and the dark clouds began to disperse under the emerging light.

Feng Yi quickly released the rope and climbed with renewed vigor toward the Clear Sun Fruit Tree.

As he approached, a delightful fragrance filled his nostrils. Bathed in sunlight, the Clear Sun Fruit ripened instantly.

Feng Yi, ecstatic, reached out to pluck the fruit. But just as he was about to harvest it, the situation took an unexpected turn.

A massive python, at least thirty feet long, loomed above him. The serpent reared up, flicking its tongue and baring its fangs, as it coiled around the Clear Sun Fruit Tree, eyeing Feng Yi below.

Startled, Feng Yi had not anticipated this formidable challenger, clearly intent on claiming the Clear Sun Fruit for itself.

Was all his effort from the past day and night going to be in vain?

With a silent vow, Feng Yi scanned his surroundings. Moments later, his eyes hardened with determination.

He drew a machete from his belt and struck fiercely at the python, while simultaneously pushing off the ground with a powerful leap.

The blade landed a brutal blow at the vital point of the serpent, and a gush of crimson blood sprayed forth.

With a piercing hiss, the massive python unleashed a harrowing scream, opened its gaping maw, and lunged ferociously at Feng Yi.

In the blink of an eye, Feng Yi's other hand snatched two Sunshine Fruits. His body plummeted towards the base of the mountain.

Thud!

Feng Yi's feet landed hard on a sizable stone, a move he had calculated in a mere instant.

Unexpectedly, the python, driven by fury at the loss of the Sunshine Fruits, disregarded its own wounds and clamped its fangs onto Feng Yi's shoulder.

Pain shot through Feng Yi's shoulder. He attempted to throw off the python, but his footing gave way, and he found himself tumbling down the mountain.

"This is it!" Feng Yi lamented internally, regretting his end. His greed had sealed his fate; had he forsaken the Sunshine Fruits, he wouldn't be plummeting to his death.

His eyes clenched shut, his complexion turning ashen, Feng Yi's body began to numb—a clear sign of the python's venom.

"May I be reborn in the realm of immortals in the next life," Feng Yi wished silently. As he braced for death, a sigh reached his ears.

"Ah, you knew you were outmatched, yet you chose to face death. You're lucky I was here, or you'd be nothing but a splatter," the voice chided.

The voice was accompanied by a soft force that cradled Feng Yi's body, whisking him to the safety of the mountain peak. By then, however, Feng Yi had already lost consciousness.

When Feng Yi came to, the night sky was a canvas of stars.

"You're awake!"

A soothing voice reached Feng Yi's ears. He focused his gaze and was astonished to see a celestial being before him.

Despite the late hour, Feng Yi could make out her delicate willow-leaf eyebrows, cherry lips, statuesque nose, and porcelain skin. She was clad in a dark gossamer gown, and to call her ethereal would be an understatement.

"Thank you, gracious fairy, for saving my life," Feng Yi expressed, his eyes fixed on her, unwilling to look away.

"Now that you're awake, I can rest easy. I've also neutralized the snake venom for you. It's late; you should descend the mountain tomorrow."

As the woman turned to leave, Feng Yi couldn't hold back.

"Fairy, please wait a moment!"

He called out urgently.

The woman paused, her brow furrowing as she glanced back at Feng Yi.

"Are you an immortal?"

"Immortal? Yes, to someone like you, I suppose I am."

A smile graced the woman's face, sending Feng Yi's heart into a flutter. To him, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

"How can one become an immortal?"

"You wish to become an immortal?"

"Yes, I dream of becoming an immortal, to soar through the heavens."

"Soaring through the sky!" she echoed softly, her gaze locking onto Feng Yi.

"In three months, the Profound Heaven Sect in Proud Coming Country will be taking on a new disciple. If you can make it there, give it a try. Who knows, you might just achieve immortality."

With those words, she lightly tapped the ground and ascended into the air.

Feng Yi watched in awe, murmuring, "Immortal."

"Fairy, may I have the honor of your name?"

He called out as she drifted away.

"If you manage to join the Profound Heaven Sect, I'll tell you my name."

With that, she vanished from sight.

"Immortal, I am determined to become one!" Feng Yi's fists clenched in resolve.

"Profound Heaven Sect, Proud Coming Country," he whispered to himself. After spending the night atop the mountain, he descended at dawn, embarking on his quest.