Fang Han couldn't believe he had made it through this ordeal so easily. "I didn't expect to pass this test so effortlessly…" he thought. "But this was somewhat predictable. With my current status and strength, Fang Qingxue had no reason to probe into my background too much."
Indeed, Fang Han, whether in terms of power or status, was nothing compared to the true disciples of the Feather Immortal Sect. Even a prince or an emperor would be insignificant in her eyes.
However, Fang Qingxue had no reason to dig deeper. If she had known about the Nine Aperture Golden Pill and the Serpent's Secret Map hidden inside him, it would have been a different story. But she didn't.
With the immediate threat gone, Fang Han relaxed and fell into a peaceful sleep, filled with hope. His hope was simple: to witness firsthand what the legendary Feather Immortal Mountain and the path of immortality truly looked like.
Days passed as the group traveled, and aside from the constant journey, there was little else to do. Fang Han's group of hundreds traveled across Longyuan Province, Wuling Province, Huayang Province, Taigu Province, Jiuhu Province, and several others, covering thousands of miles. After a month, they finally reached a stretch of endless mountain ranges.
"Up ahead is the Feather Immortal Mountain, the very foundation of our sect," Fang Qingxue announced.
Fang Han, mingling with the many servants, gazed at the mountain range in awe. The peaks stretched far into the horizon, piercing the sky like arrows. Some mountains were adorned with flourishing flowers, and countless palaces stood atop them.
Waterfalls cascaded down from the mountains in a breathtaking display, resembling white dragons. The sky was a flawless, crystal blue, free of clouds, with the sun shining brightly, casting pure, warm rays.
The pine trees, ancient and gnarled, dotted the mountain peaks, exuding an air of primordial power. In the distance, beyond the clouds and mist, massive floating cities could be seen, resembling the mythical realms of the immortals.
Fang Han was stunned. The grandeur before him struck him with awe, the sheer scale of it filling him with reverence.
"Immortal Dao! This is Immortal Dao!" he thought to himself. "The sects of Immortal Dao, unlike the imperial courts or noble families, are on a completely different level. When I was young, my greatest wish was to become a prince in the Great Li Dynasty, to hold power and rule. But now… how foolish that dream seems."
Fang Han chuckled at his past ignorance.
As the group neared the Feather Immortal Mountain, the sky was suddenly pierced by the long cries of immortal cranes.
Seven or eight white dots appeared from the distance, swiftly approaching like arrows. They started small but grew larger, eventually revealing themselves as cranes larger than cattle, their majestic forms cutting through the air. These cranes had striking red crowns on their heads, and their wings created fierce gusts of wind. Their claws, sharp as steel, could tear through metal.
To Fang Han's amazement, each crane bore a young Daoist dressed in feathered robes. As the cranes landed, the wind became violent, knocking over people and horses alike.
Fang Han, leading Thousand-Mile Snow, had to act quickly as the giant cranes descended. The horse panicked, shrieking and bolting away.
"Hey!" Fang Han called out as he rushed to restrain Thousand-Mile Snow. But just as he reached the horse, the cranes were nearly upon them, and he was about to collide with one of them.
"Stop, mortal!" a young Daoist from one of the cranes shouted as he smacked the crane's head. The giant bird's claws reached down and seized Thousand-Mile Snow with crushing force.
At the same time, another Daoist swung a long, black whip from the back of his crane and aimed it at Fang Han, as though trying to lift him into the air.
Fang Han rolled swiftly on the ground, narrowly avoiding the whip's strike. However, Thousand-Mile Snow was not so lucky. The crane's claws tore into the horse's back, leaving bloodied gashes, and the horse collapsed to the ground, struggling in pain.
The group of Daoist riders landed gracefully. They looked down on the mortals, their eyes filled with haughty disdain, as if they were gods judging mere insects. Their cranes stood towering over the humans, further magnifying their imposing presence.
"You mortals, why have you come to the Feather Immortal Mountain?" one of the Daoists asked. "You there, come here!" He pointed at Fang Han, whose horse was injured.
Fang Qingxue's voice suddenly rang out from behind, "Are you the welcoming disciples under Senior Brother Jin's command? Is this how he trains you to greet guests?"
The Daoists froze, their faces changing slightly upon hearing her voice. They quickly grew respectful. "Ah, it's Senior Sister Fang Qingxue, our true disciple. We were just here to greet you, but your servant caused some trouble, violating the rules of the mountain."
"Yes, Senior Sister, Senior Brother Jin specifically asked us to remind you about the rules when bringing mortal servants to the mountain. They must be careful not to offend any taboos," another Daoist added.
Fang Han quietly observed. "So this is how the Immortal Dao sect treats mortals… they call us 'mere mortals,' clearly looking down on us."
He noted that these Daoists were clearly of a lower rank than Fang Qingxue, and their cultivation was nowhere near hers. If they had reached the Divine Ability Realm, they would be flying through the air without the aid of cranes. Even so, their strength was formidable enough to command respect.
Fang Qingxue, however, was unimpressed. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she replied coldly, "So, Senior Brother Jin has a problem with my becoming a true disciple?"
The leader of the Daoists, the one who had pointed the whip at Fang Han, quickly gestured to his comrades. "If Senior Sister Fang doesn't wish for us to greet you, then we'll leave. We've done our duty."
"Not so fast!" Fang Qingxue sneered, her voice dripping with coldness.
She suddenly rose into the air, her robes fluttering around her as she gathered energy. A storm of violet lightning crackled around her, making her appear like an untouchable goddess, beyond reach of mortal hands.
With a flick of her finger, a blade of lightning tore through the air, striking the young Daoist who had pointed the whip at Fang Han. He let out a horrible scream as he was engulfed in flames, burning to ashes in seconds.
His crane, sensing the danger, flapped its wings to flee, but it was too late. Another blast of lightning struck the creature, reducing it to nothing but ashes.
The remaining Daoists scrambled to mount their cranes and flee. "Fang Qingxue, you dare kill us? What will Senior Brother Jin think? What will Elder Tianxing say?" one of them shouted.
"True disciples have the right to live and die as they please," Fang Qingxue replied coldly. "You offend my dignity, and I must act. If you're unhappy, you can go to the Feather Immortal Palace and face the Elder yourself. I'll be waiting for you."
She flicked her fingers again, and seven more bolts of lightning shot out, obliterating the remaining Daoists and their cranes. They all exploded midair, falling to the ground in a fiery ruin.
Fang Han was completely stunned, his mind racing with shock. This is power—real power.
Watching her, he couldn't help but think, One day, I'll wield that kind of strength—domineering, unstoppable.