Chapter 3: The Covenant of Immortality

“Are you still upset about my grandmother?”

Wang Yuyan, tears glistening like pear blossoms, could no longer contain the emotions swelling within her heart.

“This isn’t fair to me.”

The awakening of a young girl’s first love all stemmed from the immortal boy before her.

His gentleness, his burdens...

Everything about him was so perfect.

But why, before meeting her, did he first encounter her grandmother?

Qin Changsheng said nothing. He quietly withdrew his complicated hands, rose from the bed, and pointed toward the immortal mountains not far from the town.

“We’ve arrived...”

“Do you really want to discard me like a burden?”

“I know, Grandfather asked you to help raise me, and it has delayed you...”

“But Changsheng, I can try very hard not to be a drag on you. I’m going to cultivate immortality too—I will become strong.”

“Why does this path end so soon? I tried so many ways to walk longer... to never reach the end, but... why is it here already?”

Wang Yuyan burst into tears. It was the first time in over ten years that her emotions had so utterly collapsed.

Qin Changsheng hesitated, then reached out to wipe away her tears.

“Changsheng... please don’t leave me behind. I only have you now...”

Wang Yuyan buried herself in his embrace like a child afraid of losing her most cherished toy.

All these years, they had depended on each other—her entire family gone, only Qin Changsheng remained.

And now today, he was about to leave.

“All journeys must come to an end, Yuyan...”

“In the end, the only one who can accompany you through life is yourself.”

“A few days ago, I met your master. She said you have the finest immortal spiritual root, and your body retains immortal energy. You will become very powerful in the future.”

Qin Changsheng had long noticed that Wang Yuyan’s master had not left; the veiled fairy-like woman had protected Wang Yuyan from the shadows throughout their journey.

Three days ago, the woman had approached him for a conversation.

She spoke of Wang Yuyan’s spiritual root.

She explained the divide between immortals and mortals in cultivation and expressed her wish that Qin Changsheng not hold Wang Yuyan back.

Qin Changsheng found her words reasonable...

So he agreed.

Besides, she could fly and wielded a sword—he was new here and couldn’t refuse.

In the world of cultivation, power was the ultimate truth. Qin Changsheng knew he had no grounds to object, and it was indeed better for Yuyan to join a grand sect than to stay by his side.

“If one day you miss me, I will come find you.”

After Wang Yuyan finished crying, she tidied her tangled hair and clung to Qin Changsheng’s words. “Really? If I miss you, you’ll come find me?”

“Mm...”

“What if I miss you every day? Could you come see me every day then?”

“Silly girl, then what’s the point of leaving? Wait until you become immortal...”

“...”

Knowing Qin Changsheng wouldn’t be by her side every day, knowing their separation was inevitable, Wang Yuyan finally nodded firmly, “I will become immortal soon...”

Early the next morning, Wang Yuyan’s master appeared at the inn to escort her—a woman in flowing white robes, whose cultivation was profound and inscrutable.

Her name was Bai Yi, known in the cultivation world as the White-Robed Sword Immortal, sect leader of Xuanyuan Sect.

“Yuyan, it’s time to go.”

Bai Yi forced a faint smile onto her usually cold expression.

She bore no particular dislike nor fondness for Qin Changsheng.

A wandering cultivator stuck in the Qi Refining stage, with no spiritual root, he was no match for the immortal spiritual root like Wang Yuyan’s.

So a few days ago, she had sought out Qin Changsheng, essentially telling him it was best to disappear for Yuyan’s sake—or else she wouldn’t hesitate to act personally.

It was to sever this mortal entanglement, allowing Wang Yuyan to devote herself entirely to becoming an immortal emperor and claiming her heavenly destiny.

Qin Changsheng neither agreed nor disagreed but consented nonetheless.

He understood well that his unique path of immortality could not always accompany Wang Yuyan.

He would eventually fall into slumber, just as he once parted reluctantly from Qinghe. If Wang Yuyan stayed with him, what would happen when he awoke next time?

Would she still be there?

Waiting was torment.

Immortality was the loneliest curse under heaven.

“Farewell, Yuyan.”

That day, Wang Yuyan entered Xuanyuan Sect, becoming the direct disciple of sect leader Bai Yi, hailed by all as the Fairy Yuyan...

Also on that day, Qin Changsheng left the town. Without glancing back at Xuanyuan Sect, he hurriedly bade Wang Yuyan goodbye and departed.

Qin Changsheng wandered the world alone, encountering many cultivators and truly witnessing the lives of immortals—leaping across rooftops, flying on swords—a world that filled him with endless longing.

The following year, Qin Changsheng joined Kaoshan Sect as an ordinary outer disciple.

For three consecutive years, Qin Changsheng remained unable to advance beyond the Foundation Establishment stage due to his failure to break through.

He had long since come to terms with this.

After all, he had reached the four hundredth level of Qi Refinement.

“Alas, in four years’ time, Yuyan has become the most revered prodigy in the Eastern Lands, while I remain stuck in Qi Refinement.”

Qin Changsheng worked managing the spiritual herb fields in the outer sect, weeding diligently.

Kaoshan Sect was a respectable sect, comparable in rank to Xuanyuan Sect, both top-tier. The difference lay in their approach: Xuanyuan Sect prized talent, admitting only the elite and fostering them wholeheartedly.

Kaoshan Sect was different—anyone who could cultivate was accepted. They valued quantity over quality, and inner disciples received no special resources; everything had to be earned by oneself.

As the name implies, one needed considerable backing here.

Qin Changsheng disliked Xuanyuan Sect for its overbearing ambition and disdain, but he held Kaoshan Sect in high regard.

As a newcomer, even with treasures like the Immortality Stele and the Longevity Dao, he felt terribly weak. Kaoshan Sect’s willingness to accept someone like him was truly precious.

For four years, he struggled in the outer sect, taking on low-risk tasks to earn resources during spare time.

The only difference was—

Others reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement before entering Foundation Establishment, with rare geniuses hitting the tenth level.

But he had reached the four hundredth level and still failed to establish his foundation...

He had kept this secret, fearing ridicule.

In these four years, the cultivation world witnessed a dazzling prodigy—Wang Yuyan! In just four years, she had advanced from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment, then to Golden Core, stunning the entire cultivation realm.

Many declared she had the potential to become an immortal, even to challenge the elusive Heavenly Fate Immortal Emperor...

Xuanyuan Sect cherished her as their hope, selecting her as the sect’s sacred maiden.

Over the years, countless suitors had sought the Fairy Yuyan, all rejected.

Because in her eyes, there was only “Changsheng.”

Later, everyone came to know that Fairy Yuyan’s sole ambition was to increase her cultivation and attain immortality.

When told this, Fairy Yuyan affirmed it confidently: she was determined to achieve the Dao of Immortality.

To become immortal.