IRBTCI CH1

Chapter 1: Do You Serve Meals at the Xuan Mountain Immortal Sect?

Green mountains of varying shades broke through the clouds and mist, their outlines blurring into the distance. Amidst the clouds and mountains, palaces and pavilions were faintly visible, with occasional streaks of light from flying swords flashing by, presenting an air of an immortal paradise.

Closer, a platform of gold and jade floated high in the air, seeming to look down upon the many aspirants gathered on the flat ground below.

They shared the same purpose: to join the Xuan Mountain Immortal Sect, renowned throughout the land, and become its disciples, thereby embarking on the long path to immortality.

The heavens were divided into twelve fields, and the earth had twelve continents. The people of the continents observed the heavens and the earth, seeking long life and the path to immortality.

The Xuan Mountain Immortal Sect had established itself ten thousand years ago, its fame known across the twelve continents.

Although there were many aspirants each session, not all could enter the sect; they still had to undergo trials. Successfully navigating the dangers of the thousands of mountains and valleys to find the location of the Xuan Mountain Immortal Sect was the first trial.

Those who were able to gather here had all passed the first trial. This initial test examined one’s innate constitution and physical strength.

However, the examiner had yet to appear, and some of the less composed aspirants were already gathering in small groups, whispering amongst themselves.

But Bai Lu had no companions and simply stood alone in one spot.

He looked around innocently. How had he become isolated?

Perhaps it was because Bai Lu was quite conspicuous among the diverse group of aspirants. He wore a strange, fluffy outfit, and aside from a gemstone ring on his finger, he had no other adornments. His long black hair fell loosely, not tied up like most others, but it did not give an impression of disarray. His features were handsome and striking without appearing effeminate. Most peculiar were his eyes; under the shadow of long, thick lashes, his pupils were the color of molten jade, shimmering with life and adding to his mystique.

This eye color and his strange, animal-like attire led onlookers to secretly surmise that this person must have an unusual background, perhaps with demon clan lineage or having had some extraordinary encounter.

His uncommonly captivating appearance made most people want to keep their distance, not daring to approach.

However, Bai Lu’s eye color was not the result of an extraordinary encounter; it was natural.

He was an unlucky wizard from the magical world. His half-Eastern and half-Western heritage gave him this face, and his name was derived from the Eastern solar term at the time of his birth.

A few days prior, Bai Lu had been attending a wizarding forum when he was inexplicably transported to this other world, one similar to ancient China yet vastly different. He was still in his pajamas, his broom was broken, and he had nowhere to go.

With almost no resources on hand, after unsuccessfully trying to repair his broom, Bai Lu had intended to find a human settlement and a temporary way to make a living.

As it turned out, his landing spot was near the Xuan Mountain Immortal Sect’s recruitment site, right at the end of the first trial. He had wanted to ask if they were hiring, but people assumed he was also there to apply.

Just like that, he muddled his way into becoming one of the aspirants. But considering the Xuan Mountain Immortal Sect had even served some snacks, Bai Lu figured it was a different path to the same goal.

Therefore, he was not as nervous as the others, though he had his own worries.

Being “isolated”, Bai Lu pricked up his ears to eavesdrop on the conversation nearby:

“It’s said the Xuan Mountain Immortal Sect’s entrance trials are strict. This first trial was already incredibly difficult. I’m not from a noble family, so I don’t know if I can pass the next ones…”

“Brother, don’t sell yourself short. I can see you are no ordinary person. You will surely pass!”

These two were not just blindly flattering each other. Since they were not from noble families, they must have some aptitude, as the previous trial had already filtered out countless ordinary people.

Sigh, so it’s a cultivation world, Bai Lu thought. This Xuan Mountain Immortal Sect sounds like a prestigious school.

Bai Lu lacked the environment to be immersed in this culture; he only had a rough idea that it was an Eastern system different from magic. If he had known he would be transported, he would have diligently studied those TV dramas his mom had downloaded!

The thought of his family… he wondered if they had noticed his disappearance yet.

Before he traveled through time, Bai Lu was on a video call with his dad, who claimed to have met a powerful diviner that had told Bai Lu’s fortune. The result was that Bai Lu would have an early marriage to a partner more than two hundred years his senior.

His mother, who was nearby, overheard and chimed in, “Who’s dragging him off for a ghost marriage?”

At the time, Bai Lu also found it ridiculous. There were old people in the magical world, but over two hundred years older? What kind of earth-shattering May-December romance was that? Others grow old and gray together; he’d be getting married when old age was a given. Was the white hair a prerequisite?

Bai Lu, lost in his memories, was brought back to reality by a voice.

“Respected brother, you seem so calm. You must have a strategy in mind.” The person walked up to Bai Lu, striking up a conversation under the watchful eyes of others.

This person was dressed in a moon-white robe, his hair impeccably styled, with a jade pendant and a sachet at his waist. His features were quite handsome. He should have looked like a dashing young master, but the dark circles under his eyes were severe, and his face was pale, which diminished his aura somewhat.

This was the first person to speak to Bai Lu, but Bai Lu was a bit hesitant.

Although he had Chinese heritage, his linguistic environment growing up was different, and sometimes his Chinese expressions were not quite authentic.

The people in this cultivation world also liked to use classical Chinese, which, when Bai Lu first heard it, almost made him think the language was completely different. The more he listened, the more his head ached.

It was one thing not to understand the internet slang from his hometown… but who would have thought he would encounter classical Chinese in this life! Was this to make up for the academic suffering he had avoided in school?

In short, at this moment, Bai Lu was a little worried about expressing himself inaccurately.

He paused for two seconds before returning a sincere compliment, “Thank you, you have a strategy in mind too!”

The other person sensed something was not quite right…

But he couldn’t put his finger on it, so he just scratched his head.

Never mind, he wouldn’t overthink it. The newcomer introduced himself, “My humble surname is Liang, Liang Mangu. May I ask for your esteemed name?”

Bai Lu couldn’t help but chuckle, which made his green eyes seem even more brilliant.

Liang Mangu: “???”

He couldn’t help but touch his face. There was nothing on it.

“It’s nothing… My name is Bai Lu.” Bai Lu couldn’t hold back his laughter.

Why did they talk like they were in a play?

“Brother Bai, you are truly remarkable. Everyone who passed the first trial looks disheveled, yet not a leaf has touched you.” Liang Mangu did not hide his curiosity.

More importantly, Liang Mangu had not seen Bai Lu at all during the entire process of entering the mountain and passing the trial. It was only at the very end that Bai Lu had appeared as if from thin air. What kind of ability was that?

That’s because you didn’t see what I looked like when I crash-landed, Bai Lu thought to himself. However, he was a wizard, after all, and cleaning spells were the most basic.

“Because I have some foundation,” Bai Lu said. A foundation in magic was still a foundation, right?

“Hahaha, I knew it!”

Liang Mangu’s pale face flushed with excitement. Seeing Bai Lu’s surprised look, he explained, “I won, I won! I just made a bet with someone that although you appear gentle and don’t know any breathing techniques, you were likely just being low-key.”

Bai Lu looked at Liang Mangu’s dark circles and pointed to the area under his own eyes, “You’re also very low-key. One can’t tell at all that you’re a good student.”

“…” Liang Mangu said sheepishly, “This isn’t an act. I have an innate circadian rhythm disorder. I’m sleepy during the day and can’t sleep at night.”

Should have put on some foundation, Liang Mangu thought, not wanting to lose too much face. He straightened his neck and added, “Since we’re able to come to Xuan Mountain Immortal Sect, our aptitudes aren’t bad. Although I’m not as composed as Brother Bai, a cultivator elder in my family said that my constitution is perfect for stargazing and divination.”

If you don’t sleep at night, stargazing is pretty much all you can do.

What Liang Mangu didn’t say was that his initial interest in cultivation came from hearing that meditation could help with sleep…

“I wonder what path you wish to cultivate,” Liang Mangu said, his eyes filled with an eagerness that even his dark circles couldn’t hide. He had done so much homework to come to Xuan Mountain. “Alchemy? Artifact refining? Body cultivation… that doesn’t seem likely.”

Bai Lu looked back at him and blinked. He didn’t quite understand what “artifact refining” was; it sounded to him like “auto repair,” but he felt it probably wasn’t what he thought.

He guessed it was probably about choosing a major.

Bai Lu didn’t know much about this place yet and tentatively inquired, “Is there demon cultivation?”

Liang Mangu’s face was a picture of astonishment. “Huh?”

Bai Lu stood there with an innocent look on his face. What? Are there no magic cultivators?

“Uh… Xuan Mountain is a righteous sect. Brother Bai must be joking.” Liang Mangu suspected Brother Bai was tired of his idle chatter and took his leave with a sigh.

“What’s wrong?” The other candidates who had bet with Liang Mangu grabbed him and asked, “Did you find anything out?”

They had all been too shy to approach Bai Lu; only this kind sir had dared to.

“Don’t mention it. He didn’t want to talk to me,” Liang Mangu sighed, but he quickly perked up. “Hey, why don’t we bet on when the examiner will show up instead.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, a resonant bell chimed from the gold and jade platform, echoing through the sky. Immediately, jade steps materialized out of thin air, extending down several dozen feet. A young female cultivator, riding a white cloud, arrived and stopped at the last jade step.

The girl looked to be only sixteen or seventeen, her hair in youthful buns, but her eyes were cold. She looked down and said, “Everyone, you have waited long. The second trial for entering Xuan Mountain is about to begin. You may enter from here.”

“Everyone, please proceed.”

The girl gestured towards the jade steps.

The candidates walked up the jade steps in rows of two or three. Bai Lu saw that the people at the front had only taken a few steps before their figures rippled like water and disappeared, as if entering another world.

It was like some kind of spatial magic. Bai Lu became curious, wondering how these cultivation spells worked…

If he had the time, he really wanted to study them.

The first dozen or so people went up in tense silence. But when it was Liang Mangu’s turn, he paused and asked, “Senior, are you the examiner?”

The girl glanced at him, accepting the title of “Senior” with composure, and answered, “I am not. The examiner is up there.” She pointed to the gold and jade platform.

“Thank you, Senior, hehe.” Liang Mangu also walked up.

The aspirant behind Liang Mangu had an idea and also asked, “Senior, if we pass the trial, can we choose our own master upon joining the sect?”

The girl replied with the same cold face and patience, “You can’t. The top three can.”

“…Oh. Thank you, Senior.”

“May I ask, Senior, how many have passed the trials in the past?”

“The number of recruits is not fixed. If no one passes, the session remains vacant. If all are talented, all may enter the sect.”

“Senior, how old are you?”

“Three hundred and eighty years old.”

The girl numbly answered the various questions from the aspirants as they entered the gate. So annoying, so annoying, so annoying. Being a senior sister is a real pain.

This continued until a young man in a strange, fluffy outfit stood before her. His brilliant green eyes stared at her, tinged with a slight shyness.

The two looked at each other for two seconds.

Bai Lu asked, “Senior, when is lunch served? Do we have to wait until after the trial is over?”

The girl’s wooden expression cracked slightly. “?”

Bai Lu’s face wore an extremely sincere and innocent expression. After all, he had only eaten some snacks since he had arrived.

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