Chapter 2221: The World’s Many Races

"You old geezer, how dare you hit my brother!"

Seeing Qin Sang spitting blood, Luan thought the old beggar had struck him. His eyes turned red, and he swung his fist at the old beggar.

Outside, their parents heard Luan's shout and rushed in anxiously.

Just as Luan's fist was about to land on the old beggar's face, the courtyard suddenly fell silent, and all three of them froze in place.

The old beggar walked up to Qin Sang and helped him steady himself. "You foolish boy, you just got the cultivation method and already dared to cultivate it forcefully."

Though his words were reproachful, his tone contained a hint of appreciation.

Qin Sang's face was pale, his eyes wide with fear, as if startled by the old beggar. He abruptly recoiled, dropping the bamboo scroll to the ground. "What exactly did you give me?"

"You should be able to feel the benefits yourself! If you hadn't been so audacious, trying to forcibly draw in spiritual energy and break through the meridians the moment you sensed it, not only would you not have been injured, but your illness would have been 80 to 90 percent cured immediately."

The old beggar shook his head, grabbed Qin Sang's wrist, and transferred a wisp of true essence into his body.

Qin Sang's breathing stabilized, and color gradually returned to his face.

Everything was going according to his plan, but he still needed to act like a frightened youth. His lips trembled slightly as he stammered, "Who... who exactly are you? What did you do to my parents and elder brother?"

"Didn't you just ask if I was an immortal? Did you forget?"

The old beggar chuckled, and clouds began to form beneath him. The clouds lifted him and Qin Sang slowly, reaching the same height as the mountain peak in an instant.

Mountains, rivers, and plains stretched out in all directions, and the people in the city below looked like ants, all clearly visible.

Qin Sang's mouth hung open. He clutched the old beggar's sleeve tightly, too stunned to speak.

The old beggar stroked his beard, secretly observing his future disciple, feeling very satisfied.

"You're an immortal?" Qin Sang murmured.

"I am no true immortal; merely a cultivator. Only when one reaches the very end of cultivation does one attain the realm of an immortal."

The old beggar clasped his hands behind his back, gazed at the distant mountains, and said softly, "Of course, in the eyes of mortals, cultivators like us do possess the abilities of immortals."

Then he turned to Qin Sang and spoke directly, "Are you willing to become my disciple and return to the mountain with me to cultivate?"

"Me?"

Qin Sang pointed to himself, incredulous. "Can I become an immortal too?"

"Of course. Cultivators are merely mortals who have embarked on the path of cultivation. As long as your Dao heart is firm and your destiny is profound, you will eventually achieve immortality, though that will be a very long time from now."

Qin Sang's mouth opened slightly. The shock seemed too great for him to process at once, and he suddenly blurted out, "But my family can't afford a teacher."

"Haha..."

The old beggar burst into laughter.

Qin Sang seemed to realize he had said something foolish and blushed crimson.

This performance was truly painstaking. Qin Sang considered every tiny detail, making sure his words and actions matched the demeanor of a village youth as much as possible, successfully avoiding any slip-ups in front of the old beggar.

Naturally, the old beggar was extremely satisfied with Qin Sang. Even if Qin Sang had said something unconventional, he would have simply attributed it to his disciple being unique and pure.

The two slowly descended, their master-disciple relationship already established while they were still in the air.

The old beggar said, "Other Daoists call me Reverend Tong Shen. My sect's mountain gate is on Yuanjing Mountain. Since you have agreed to become my disciple, you shall come with me to Yuanjing Mountain to cultivate. I will give you three days to say goodbye to your family."

Qin Sang pleaded, "Master, can you take my parents and elder brother to Yuanjing Mountain with us?"

Reverend Tong Shen shook his head decisively. "The Dao cannot be lightly passed on; they are not destined for immortal cultivation. My disciple, rest assured, I will ensure they live a life of prosperity, wealth, and freedom from illness and disaster. Once you achieve success in your cultivation, you may descend the mountain to visit them at any time."

He paused, patted Qin Sang's shoulder, and sighed, "My disciple, you must understand that to embark on the path of cultivation, you must first endure loneliness and the pain of separation before you can achieve anything!"

Next, Reverend Tong Shen removed the restraints on Qin Sang's family members and explained the situation to them.

Qin Sang's parents and elder brother were half-believing, half-doubting, until Reverend Tong Shen demonstrated a few minor spells. Only then did they dare to believe that Qin Sang had truly been favored by an immortal and was to be taken as a disciple.

After their initial euphoria, they learned that Qin Sang was to go with Reverend Tong Shen to cultivate in a distant place, and it would be rare to see him even once a year. His mother couldn't help but weep softly.

Reverend Tong Shen offered to help them relocate their entire family to a place not far from Yuanjing Mountain, but they had lived there for generations and were unwilling to leave their homeland. Moreover, even if they lived closer, Qin Sang would not be able to easily descend the mountain.

Reverend Tong Shen then suggested buying them a large house in Fengcheng, but they also refused to move into the city, only accepting some silver and money from him.

During their idle chats these past few days, Qin Sang had often heard Luan mention a girl from a family on the east side of the village. So, he urged his parents and elder brother to propose marriage and bring a sister-in-law home before he left.

His parents hesitated for a moment, then carried gifts to the girl's house that very evening. Coincidentally, the girl also harbored a secret affection for Luan.

The girl's family felt the timing was too rushed, but understanding that Luan's brother was about to embark on a distant journey, they could comprehend their difficulties. Furthermore, the betrothal gifts were generous enough. Everything was kept simple, and the entire process from proposal to wedding was completed in just three days.

On the evening of the third day, the house was adorned with lanterns and streamers, and a grand banquet was held. Everyone joyfully escorted the newlyweds into the bridal chamber, and Reverend Tong Shen also presented gifts to the couple and Qin Sang's parents.

The next day, before dawn, the master and disciple left the village without disturbing anyone.

The moonlight was dim, barely illuminating the path beneath their feet.

The village was still asleep. Qin Sang looked back frequently, able to see the red lanterns hanging by his home's entrance.

On one hand, this was for Reverend Tong Shen's benefit; on the other hand, those few days of mundane life had indeed left a deep impression on Qin Sang.

"Good disciple, tell me, how much of the cultivation method I gave you did you understand?"

"Yes, Master."

Qin Sang withdrew his gaze and deliberated before speaking, "This disciple actually didn't understand anything; I just followed what was written there..."

Qin Sang carefully controlled his demeanor, spoke a little, and deliberately revealed a few errors.

As Reverend Tong Shen listened, the joy on his face grew more intense. Although his disciple's answer was very naive, it revealed exceptionally high comprehension, truly unlike anyone he had ever encountered!

At dawn.

Everything was silent.

An old man and a young boy walked along the main road. The surroundings were empty, and as a sliver of dawn light appeared in the east, two long shadows stretched out on the ground.

From time to time, the voices of the master and disciple could be heard conversing; mostly Reverend Tong Shen speaking, and Qin Sang listening.

Reverend Tong Shen was mainly explaining the profound principles of the cultivation method to Qin Sang, which Qin Sang, of course, didn't need. He pretended to study diligently, but his thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.

From Reverend Tong Shen's explanations, Qin Sang discovered that the concept of "spiritual roots" seemed not yet to exist in this era. Reverend Tong Shen's understanding of cultivation also differed from that of his present world, though they ultimately led to the same path.

He was eager to find out what was going on with the wanted poster and who had issued it, but he also knew he couldn't rush. He could only be patient and act as a docile disciple in front of Reverend Tong Shen.

As the conversation between master and disciple deepened, Reverend Tong Shen's eyes were filled with increasing delight. His good disciple's comprehension was even higher than imagined; he could not only infer from one example to three or even ten, but his seemingly innocent questions, upon closer thought, actually hit the core issues!

This was intentional on Qin Sang's part. By portraying himself as an unparalleled genius before Reverend Tong Shen, his subsequent rapid advancement in cultivation would seem logical.

Reverend Tong Shen finally couldn't hold back. He took Qin Sang, ascended on a cloud, and flew towards the mountain gate, eager for Qin Sang to quickly pay homage to the patriarchs and be officially registered with the sect, as if fearing his disciple might be snatched away.

After these days of interaction, Qin Sang judged that Reverend Tong Shen's cultivation was at least at the Nascent Soul stage.

"Master, since you can fly on clouds, why were you still a beggar?" Qin Sang tilted his head back, feigning innocence.

"Your master encountered a bottleneck in cultivation and wished to seek opportunities in the mortal world. Although I didn't find the chance to break through, heaven has been kind to me by allowing me to meet a good disciple," Reverend Tong Shen said, stroking Qin Sang's head with a beaming smile.

Qin Sang felt goosebumps rising, but he endured it and continued to ask his master various naive questions.

Though he felt awkward, Qin Sang could sense that Reverend Tong Shen was genuinely sincere towards him. This was a pure master-disciple affection. Reflecting on his journey into immortal cultivation, he had never encountered such a master before.

In the past, when he saw deep master-disciple bonds where a master wholeheartedly paved the way for a disciple, it would be a lie to say he wasn't envious. He never expected it to come true in an illusion.

Qin Sang sighed inwardly.

The two sped through the high sky, mountains and rivers rushing past beneath their feet.

After flying for a while, Qin Sang suddenly saw Reverend Tong Shen frown. He pointed his staff downwards, and a burst of green light formed a barrier, concealing them.

Then, Reverend Tong Shen looked left and right before taking Qin Sang into a cave in a cliff face, the light barrier blocking the entrance.

"Master, what's wrong?" Qin Sang already had a guess, but he asked anyway.

"Some unpleasant fellows are approaching," Reverend Tong Shen said. "You've seen them before."

No sooner had he spoken than a long rainbow appeared in the sky, flying boldly and unconcealed over their heads, without discovering them.

This rainbow had previously appeared in Fengcheng, and Qin Sang recognized it as the escape light of cultivators, suspecting they were the ones who had delivered the wanted poster.

Now, through Reverend Tong Shen's spell, Qin Sang clearly saw the occupants of the escape light.

Within the escape light was an exquisitely luxurious carriage, adorned with tassels and drapes.

Seated in the carriage was a small eagle, wearing a jeweled crown on its head. Its black feathers were edged with golden threads, adding to its regal appearance. Its body was round and about the size of a human head. It sat slumped lazily, with a table of delicious delicacies laid out before it.

On either side were beautiful maidservants, attending to its meal. It was unclear whether the maidservants were humans or transformed demonic beasts.

What was astonishing was that the ones pulling the carriage were also humans—two exceptionally handsome young men.

Surprisingly, they were not drivers, but mounts, with reins strapped to their bodies!

"Alas!"

Reverend Tong Shen sighed deeply. "Proud cultivators, instead of dedicating themselves to arduous cultivation, they willingly become servants and mounts for demonic beasts, utterly shameless!"

Qin Sang realized that Reverend Tong Shen wasn't scolding these people, but rather felt sorrow for them.

This deep sorrow was likely not solely for these few individuals.

Qin Sang recalled the ancient texts he had read. Detailed accounts of the ancient era were hard to find in his present world, and the records in the texts were vague. However, from scattered phrases, it was apparent that the human race's situation was far from optimistic during the time of demonic rule.

"Master, who are they? Is that little eagle also a cultivator?" Qin Sang asked, watching the distant rainbow.

Reverend Tong Shen retorted, "Disciple, do you know why you must worship divine birds, and why harming any avian creature incurs severe punishment?"

Qin Sang's expression shifted. "Could it be..."

"Precisely!"

The sorrow in Reverend Tong Shen's eyes did not fade, but deepened. "Because this is the territory of the Golden Eagle Clan. According to heavenly law, we are all subjects of the Golden Eagle Clan. That small eagle is a king sent by the Golden Eagle Clan to rule this territory. Although it is only in the Spirit Enlightenment realm, even I, your master, must perform a grand bow and salute before it. Otherwise, if it reports me to the Golden Eagle Clan, I could be charged with disrespect."

"Spirit Enlightenment realm?"

Qin Sang asked and learned that the Spirit Enlightenment realm referred to a cultivation stage for demonic cultivators.

This realm was very broad, encompassing the awakening of a demonic beast to the gestation of a demonic core, effectively covering the three later stages: Mortal Demon, Demonic Spirit, and Demonic Core.

Reverend Tong Shen revealed just the tip of the iceberg, allowing Qin Sang to truly grasp the differences between this era and his own.

"Does Master also fear the Golden Eagle Clan? Are we humans born to be oppressed by them?" Qin Sang asked indignantly.

Reverend Tong Shen's expression showed relief. He had initially worried that his disciple's ingrained belief in worshipping divine birds from childhood might be too deep, but it seemed his concerns were unwarranted.

He prepared to let his disciple truly experience the plight of humanity, and his voice became heavy with sorrow. "It's not just the Golden Eagle Clan; among the myriad races in the world, any other race can oppress us. It is precisely our human race whose status is the lowest. Those humans living in the Golden Eagle Clan's territory are considered fortunate, for the Golden Eagle Clan is a vassal of the Phoenix Clan. The Phoenix Clan is said to be born to bear the Heavenly Dao, adorned with five colors and patterns: the first pattern on the head signifies Virtue, on the wings Righteousness, on the back Propriety, on the chest Benevolence, and on the belly Trust. They value benevolence, virtue, propriety, and righteousness, and use these to educate their subjects, regardless of their racial origin. At the very least, humans under the Phoenix Clan's rule can lead normal lives and reproduce. However, our kind born in the territories of other races might face circumstances even more miserable than slaves. Some are even bred as food, casually hunted and slaughtered, living in constant fear."

"What?!"

Qin Sang's face was filled with shock.

Humans were actually this lowly!

"Since there are myriad races in the world, why are only humans targeted?" Qin Sang hadn't expected the human race's situation to be even more dire than what was recorded.

He could now understand why the Jade Emperor was revered for ten thousand generations.

"It is said it wasn't like this when the gods were present. The gods treated all living beings equally, without distinction of rank or status. For reasons unknown, all gods suddenly vanished, and the myriad races rose up, usurping divine positions, which led to the current state of affairs."

Reverend Tong Shen sighed softly, "The biggest reason other tribes target us humans is the Heavenly Tribulation."

Qin Sang's heart stirred. "Heavenly Tribulation?"

Reverend Tong Shen nodded. "You will know in time, disciple. When cultivators reach a certain realm, they disturb the natural order of heaven and earth. Each breakthrough draws down heavenly punishment, and even at ordinary times, heavenly lightning descends periodically. However, the tribulation lightning of other races is golden, while the tribulation lightning summoned by our human cultivators is blue. Because of this, they deem us as anomalies."