CHAPTER 102: CHAPTER 101: TWO MORE RETAINERS, THE MISERABLE BOY (PART 2)

Looking at the Clan Contribution Points panel finally not showing zero, Fu Changsheng felt a sudden surge of confidence. However, he planned to exchange intel closest to the opening day of Qingcheng Mountain, as the information available then would be the most comprehensive.

Arriving at the council hall, Fu Changsheng called over his elder brother, Fu Changren:

"Brother, the construction of the Spirit Testing Platform will soon be complete. I plan to enter closed cultivation for a period; thus, I’ll have to trouble you to host the upcoming Immortal Ascension Assembly."

Fu Changren was momentarily stunned.

Unexpectedly,

Fu Changsheng assigned such an important task to him. Deeply grateful, the previously disheartened Fu Changren was suddenly filled with passion and vigor:

"Rest assured, Patriarch, I will certainly handle everything beautifully."

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly and turned towards the backyard.

Meizhen had already heard the good news that the Fu Family had conquered Niushou Mountain. She looked at her husband with pride written all over her face. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to participate in the battle. The two of them shared a brief affectionate moment.

Fu Changsheng strung together the three Cyan Lotus Seeds he won in a lottery to make a necklace, and hung them around his three children’s necks.

The seeds faintly glimmered with cyan light.

Each time they glimmered, they absorbed the surrounding Spiritual Qi, which then entered the children’s bodies through the seeds.

Meizhen observed the Cyan Lotus Seeds closely, her eyes flickering with joy:

"Husband, these lotus seeds look like treasures. With these lotus seeds, our eldest and youngest daughter will surely become healthier, and our second child might overcome the ailments they were born with."

Let’s hope so.

Fu Changsheng said apologetically:

"Meizhen, I might have to enter closed cultivation for a year and will miss the children’s full month and hundred-day celebrations, so I’ll have to trouble you a bit."

"It’s no trouble. We are cultivators after all, and these mundane matters need not burden us. You can focus on your closed cultivation without worries, and once my postpartum period is over, I can help brother manage the family’s miscellaneous affairs."

Elder brother Fu Changren is almost equivalent to an ordinary mortal.

He’s often powerless despite having the desire to help.

This was also why he sought Meizhen out, hoping she could take on some burdens.

Seeing Fu Changsheng’s intent to begin cultivation immediately, Meizhen hurriedly reminded:

"This year’s Immortal Ascension Assembly is significant. It’s the first since the clan reactivated the Spirit Testing Platform after a seven-year hiatus and it’s your first time leading as the clan leader. Besides, the Spirit Testing Platform will be engraved by the day after tomorrow. I suggest you personally preside over this Immortal Ascension Assembly before entering closed cultivation, as it won’t be too late even then."

Fu Changsheng initially thought about the tough battle awaiting him at Qingcheng Mountain a year later and wanted to quickly enhance his cultivation and train in the Purple Qi Divine Light. After pondering for a moment, he nodded and said:

"Then I’ll heed your advice, Meizhen."

After all, a delay of ten days or so won’t make much difference.

.....

The Fu Family’s Immortal Ascension Assembly was reopened after seven years.

Such a grand event.

The entire Qili Village was more bustling than it was during New Year upon receiving the news.

Every family was busy buying new clothes for the children eligible for Spiritual Root testing in the past seven years, slaughtering pigs and sheep, each aiming to be the first to offer incense at the Fu Clan Ancestral Hall and seek the ancestors’ blessings for detecting Spiritual Roots in their children.

Every household was happily busy with preparations.

Thirteen-year-old Stone was carrying a load of freshly cut wood from the mountains, steadily walking toward the large blue-bricked tile house at the end of the village. His clothes were tattered, and his hands resting on the pole were covered in calluses. His young face bore a maturity beyond his years.

As he passed the village gate’s big banyan tree, Auntie Qiuo, who was chatting with Fat Aunt, paused in surprise. Auntie Qiuo exclaimed hurriedly:

"Stone, why are you still chopping wood at a time like this? The Upper Race has announced that they are coming today to bring the children who haven’t been tested for Spiritual Roots in the last seven years to Luofeng Mountain, and there’s less than half an hour left before their Envoy arrives. Quickly, go home and change into new clothes."

Fat Aunt chimed in hastily:

"You missed the last Immortal Ascension Assembly eight years ago. If you miss it again this time, you’ll be fourteen, and according to the clan’s practice in previous years, you’ll no longer be eligible later. Your father really should’ve informed you about something this important."

Auntie Qiuo winked at Fat Aunt.

Fat Aunt, realizing something, immediately quieted down. After Stone thanked them and hurriedly left, the two gathered together, sighing:

"As they say, with a stepmother comes a stepfather. When Stone’s mother died, he was not even a year old, and his father wasn’t even through the mourning period before he hastily married the village chief’s cousin, Chen. Well, look at that, less than five months after she entered the household, she gave birth to a stout baby boy. Any observant person could see that they had an affair before Stone’s mother passed."

"Exactly, it’s a pity for Stone. Before he was eight, he was already being bullied by this wretched couple, doing all the heavy labor, even the domestic chores typically done by women, by himself. Look at him now, thirteen years old and as skinny as a stick, even shorter than my nine-year-old Gou Dan."

"It’s because of all the hard work."

"I heard that eight years ago, the reason Stone missed the clan’s Immortal Ascension Assembly was because his stepmother secretly locked him in the broken temple on the back mountain. He was locked up for more than ten days, if not for Chunhua’s father who went to chop wood and happened upon a rainstorm, entering the temple to hide from the rain and finding him. And it’s strange, he was only six at the time, the broken temple’s doors and windows were nailed shut, yet how he endured in there is anyone’s guess."

"Some say the Headless Divine Statue in the temple revealed its spirit, allowing him to survive the ordeal."

"Stone’s really had a hard life. If it were someone else enduring such mistreatment, they’d report it to the clan. But his stepmother is the village chief’s cousin, and his father’s such a coward, doesn’t dare make a sound at home, poor kid."

"..."

Fat Aunt and Auntie Qiuo lowered their voices, but every word drilled into Stone’s ears as he approached the gate of his home.

Stone paused.

Placed the wood on his shoulder at the corner.

And immediately ran towards the village gate.

He knew.

If he entered this house, he’d surely be trapped.

That vicious stepmother certainly wouldn’t let him attend the Immortal Ascension Assembly willingly, even if he wasn’t guaranteed to have a Spiritual Root detected. But it was the only chance to change his fate.

It was the motivation that kept him enduring in this house, continuing to work tirelessly.

Otherwise.

He would’ve left long ago.

Looking ahead, Stone saw sunlight streaming and for the first time, a smile spread across his face.

The next moment.

"Bang!" Suddenly a stick heavily struck the back of his head, causing a dizzying whirl, and he staggered, collapsing softly to the ground.

"Mom, how did I do? Not to brag, but it’s a direct hit, every time, ha ha ha."

"Of course, my precious son is about to start learning Immortal Techniques."

In his daze, Stone heard his stepmother and brother’s conversation. At the corner of his house, his father’s figure was half-hidden behind the door, hunched over, but never stepping outside:

"In the end, I still can’t change my fate?!"

This was Stone’s last thought before he lost consciousness.

Yet.

He was so unwilling!

Chen took a step forward, squatted down, checked Stone’s breathing casually, and said:

"He’s not dead. My Kang’er’s aim is precise. Quickly, while there’s no one around, carry him to the ancient temple and lock him up to avoid being discovered by the Upper Race when they check the headcount later."

Stone was too thin, barely any flesh on his body. Chen’s mother easily lifted and threw him into the broken temple, locked the door, and left.

But unknowingly.

After they left.

The gaping wound on the back of Stone’s head, initially bleeding profusely, strangely began to stop bleeding, and the wound healed visibly, smoothing over in no time, leaving no trace of injury.