Endless Continent.

Within the eternal gates of one of the top ten Immortal Dao sects, inside a palace on a mountain peak, a young boy lay on a bed, his body bruised green and purple.

"Zhang Xiandao, I wish you were dead!" Suddenly, the boy sprang up, shouting loudly.

Getting up from the bed, Zhang Ye touched the sore spots on his body, grimacing in pain, his eyes fierce: "Zhang Xiandao, this is the ninth time you've beaten me. You're damned."

"If my father were still here, would you dare to be so reckless?" Zhang Ye's face was furious.

His father, Zhang Lin, was a genuine disciple of the Eternal Immortal Gate, his cultivation reaching the Ninth Turn of Longevity. He was hailed as the successor of the sect master and had a formidable reputation within the sect.

However, six years ago, during an out-of-sect assignment, Zhang Lin disappeared without a trace. Later, his life-and-death token within the sect shattered, and Zhang Lin was declared dead.

At that time, Zhang Ye was only ten. His status plummeted drastically. Many who used to be kind to him became indifferent, and many who used to bow to him shouted at him. The most vicious among them was Zhang Wudao.

Zhang Wudao was also a genuine disciple, but he had been suppressed by Zhang Lin for ten whole years, and always fell short compared to him. When news of Zhang Lin's death arrived, Zhang Wudao let his son Zhang Xiandao target, oppress, and humiliate Zhang Ye.

Thanks to the significant contributions Zhang Lin had made to the sect, he was allowed to retain his residence on this mountain. Normally Zhang Ye would stay in and Zhang Xiandao wouldn't run amok here.

This time, Zhang Ye was severely beaten by Zhang Xiandao because he wanted to go and collect the welfare distributed by the sect every month, to get prepared for the awakening of his 'Meridian Opening' tomorrow. This was his last opportunity. If he missed it, he would lose the chance to open his meridians, the chance to start cultivating, and would be driven away.

Originally, the sect's higher-ups wanted to see if the child of the sect's pride, Zhang Lin, was a genius.

Regrettably, six years had passed, yet Zhang Ye still could not communicate with the world and open his meridians.

On the Endless Continent, everyone sought the way to immortality, but the first step of the Immortal Dao was to open the meridians, worship the earth and sky, communicate with the heavens and earth, receive divine veins, and then begin cultivation to step into the Nine Transformations of Mortals.

The Nine transformations of Mortals were divided into: Condensing Qi, Gathering Spirit through All Apertures, Steel Skin and Iron Bones, Qi as Vast as Wilderness, Merging of Heaven and Human, Qi Becomes Gang, Gathering Magic Power, Golden Pill Seed, Great Cataclysms of Wind and Fire.

Becoming a Qi Practitioner is akin to being an inner door disciple, and upon breaking through the Nine Transformations of Mortals and reaching the Nine Turns of Longevity, one is a true disciple. The Eternal Immortal Sect consists of several tens of thousands of outer door disciples, with thousands of inner door disciples, and less than a hundred true disciples. With this level of power, however, the Eternal Immortal Sect ranks last among the top ten immortal sects.

Just as Zhang Ye was seething with anger, a charming figure came rushing in, excitedly exclaiming, “Young Master, you're awake!”

"Qingqing, did you bring me back after I passed out?" asked Zhang Ye, looking at Qingqing with affectionate eyes.

Ever since the news of his father's death arrived, everyone had been indifferent to him, only Qingqing consistently followed him.

Qingqing was an orphan saved by Zhang Lin six years ago. She was only nine years old then and no more than fifteen now.

Qingqing smiled, revealing a pair of small tiger teeth, portraying pure innocence, like a white lotus. She nodded and said, “After Zhang Xiandao knocked you unconscious, he left, and I brought you back.”

Moved deeply, Zhang Ye looked at the frail Qingqing and nodded heavily, "You have worked hard."

"Young Master, as long as you successfully open the pulse, we won’t fear Zhang Xiandao anymore.” Qingqing encouraged.

Zhang Ye looked determined and said, "I certainly will."

"Ha, successfully opening the pulse, what a dreamer," an alienated voice full of disdain broke in at that moment.

Zhang Ye's expression turned angry as he looked at the door. There stood a figure wearing a robe with lightning flashing, quite dazzling; it was a magic robe.

This was Zhang Xiandao.

"This is my private mountain. You trespassing is a violation of the sect rules. I'm going to report this to the enforcement elder," said Zhang Ye coldly.

The private mountain peak, for outsiders and the like, permission must be granted before entry.

This was what Zhang Lin had once obtained.

Zhang Xian sneered disdainfully, saying, "It used to be a private mountain, but not anymore."

Zhang Ye looked startled and asked uneasily, "What did you say?"

Zhang Xian's demeanor suddenly changed, becoming extremely cold. He looked down at Zhang Ye and announced, "The elders of the Enforcement Pavilion unanimously decided to abolish your father's private mountain and hand it over to my father. My father, in turn, handed it over to me, which means... now it belongs to me, not you."

Zhang Ye was dumbfounded.

Zhang Xian laughed triumphantly, "Seeing you so pitiful, I won't hold you accountable for trespassing. Get out of here right now, or don't blame me for being ruthless. There's no one to speak up for you even if I kill you."

Qingqing watched Zhang Xian with anger in her eyes. Her pretty face turned cold, "According to the master's contribution to the Eternal Immortal Sect, this mountain should always belong to the young master."

Zhang Xian shook his head and mocked, "Dead men tell no tales. Even if your master is in heaven, he's dead. And you, a worthless young master who could not open his veins for five years, can blame no one but yourself for not being able to retain this mountain."

Qingqing breathed heavily in anger, ready to retort, but Zhang Ye held her back.

"Start packing, we're moving out," Zhang Ye said through gritted teeth.

He knew he was no match for Zhang Xian now, and picking a fight would only bring disaster upon himself.

Zhang Xian said indifferently, "All things that belong to the Eternal Immortal Sect here will now belong to me. You can only take personal belongings with you."

Without uttering another word, Zhang Ye held a Buddhist scripture that his father had left him. He then stared at Zhang Xian and said determinedly, "I will definitely succeed in opening my veins."

Zhang Xian sneered again, "Even if you succeed, what difference will it make? I have already reached the level of 'True Qi like the Wild'. Do you think you can fight me just because you have opened your veins?"

"You're a loser, and you'll always be. Qingqing is so beautiful, why doesn't she choose me instead of sticking around with such a good-for-nothing like you?" Zhang Xiandao burst into boisterous laughter, leering at Qingqing.

Qingqing glared coldly at Zhang Xiandao, her repulsion palpable. She firmly answered, "Even in death, I belong to the young master. Forget your fantasies."

"Zhang Xiandao, remember this. Today, you embarrassed me. I promise that a hundredfold retribution awaits you in the future." Zhang Ye stated resolutely, pulling Qingqing away from the mountain peak.

Taking a look around at the Everlasting Immortal Gates, there were thousands of towering mountains standing tall, like blades thrusting into the sky.

The landscape was filled with towering pine trees and verdant cypress, cascading waterfalls, and streams all around. One palace after another decorated the mountainside, flourishing unbroken. Among those mountains, there was an enchanting pool of water, by which stood an even more magnificent palace.

That was where the leader of the Everlasting Immortal Gates resided.

White clouds drifted in the sky, while cranes danced gracefully. On the peaks, Sacred Beasts like the White Tiger, White Deer, and Jade Rabbit were kept.

"Master, where shall we go next?" Qingqing asked after leaving.

Zhang Ye thought for a moment and answered, "Let's visit the shrine built in my father's honor by the sect."

After Zhang Lin died, out of respect for his contribution, the sect built a shrine on the Dark Mountain peak.

Coming to the Dark Mountain, Zhang Ye led Qingqing into Zhang Lin's shrine, filled with the soothing scent of sandalwood. In the center was a lifelike statue of Zhang Lin.

"Master, we have nothing to offer in respect," Qingqing regretted, "we were driven out with only a Buddhist scripture to our names."