Crow Immortal
Chapter 6: Name Registration Reveals Roots

"Reporting to Elder Fang, this disciple is Li Quan, ninety-three years old." The white-haired Taoist spoke cautiously.

Elder Fang slightly furrowed his brows. "At your age, you still wish to cultivate immortality?"

"Please show mercy, Elder. This is my life's only obsession," the old Taoist pleaded quietly.

"Very well. Since you've brought our Wangu Valley token, you must be admitted regardless of your cultivation potential. Otherwise, there would be no meaning in disciples passing tokens to descendants." Elder Fang pointed to the stone tablet behind him—the same one used for distributing "minor merits." "Go place your hand on it for name registration and root revelation."

"If your name isn't recorded, you cannot learn immortal techniques. You'll remain a servant for life after joining."

Old Taoist Li nervously swallowed and stepped forward, placing his hand on the tablet.

Characters slowly appeared on the stone: "Li Quan, ninety-three years old, lowly servant disciple, five spiritual roots."

The old Taoist looked hopefully at Elder Fang. "Does this mean I have spiritual roots? I won't be a servant?"

"Merely the worst spiritual roots." Elder Fang didn't even lift his eyelids, keeping his narrow eyes half-closed. "Next."

After Han Yu reported to Elder Fang and received no response, he approached the tablet and placed his hand on it.

A slight warmth spread through his palm before characters appeared: "Han Yu, twelve years old, lowly servant disciple, four spiritual roots."

Elder Fang showed mild surprise. "Not bad. With four spiritual roots, you might qualify for the outer sect."

Old Taoist Li cautiously inquired, "Elder Fang, with my five spiritual roots, might I also qualify for the outer sect?"

Elder Fang scoffed. "Entering the outer sect requires reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining. With his four spiritual roots, it'll take at least ten years of cultivation to have hope."

"If he can cultivate for ten years to reach the fourth level, how many years can you cultivate at your age with worse roots? Being a lowly servant disciple instead of a servant is already good enough for this lifetime!"

The old Taoist immediately became dejected, tightly closing his mouth.

Elder Fang continued, "Li Quan, Han Yu, you two will work as lowly servant disciples in the spirit fields, cultivating while tending the sect's spiritual crops."

"You may keep twenty percent of the harvest."

"Every half-year's harvest earns five minor merits for the sect."

After speaking, he waved his hand over his waist, producing two sets of gray servant disciple robes and two pale gray jade slips on a nearby table.

Old Taoist Li and Han Yu collected their robes and jade slips. Elder Fang then called over a green-robed outer sect disciple. "Jin Qi, take them to assign spirit fields."

Jin Qi nodded agreeably, cheerfully leading them out. "Junior brothers, follow me."

He produced an enormous green banana leaf—one zhang long, six chi wide, and only two cun thick—gesturing for Han Yu and Old Taoist Li to board.

Seeing their hesitation, Jin Qi smiled. "Don't worry. This spirit leaf is naturally sturdy and has been refined by our Wangu Valley's artifact smiths. There's no chance of breaking it."

Only then did Han Yu and the old Taoist step onto the giant leaf.

Jin Qi formed hand seals, making the spirit leaf float away from the sect center, over two mountain ranges, before gently landing in a flat valley.

Upon landing, a rotund green-robed man came smiling toward them. "What brings you here, junior brother?"

"Senior Brother Wang, I'm delivering these two servant disciples." Jin Qi then introduced to Han Yu and Old Taoist Li, "This Senior Brother Wang is one step from entering the inner sect and oversees these spirit fields. You must follow his orders diligently, focusing on cultivation and farming to hopefully reach Qi Refining level four and enter the outer sect."

Senior Brother Wang looked surprised. "The Immortal Fate Ceremony isn't for another year. How did these two come?"

"They entered with tokens."

"Ah!" Senior Brother Wang suddenly understood. "Leave them to me then!"

Jin Qi nodded and turned to leave on his spirit leaf, then remembered something and returned. "Since you're newcomers without backing, life will be difficult. Here's some basic sect knowledge."

He specially disembarked to hand a jade slip to Han Yu.

Warmth filled Han Yu's heart as he quickly expressed gratitude.

"No need for thanks. Perhaps we'll meet again in the outer sect." Jin Qi laughed and floated away on his spirit leaf.

Han Yu and Old Taoist Li watched his departing figure, thinking what a good senior he was.

"Hey! What are you two staring at? Names? Come register!" Senior Brother Wang impatiently shouted.

"Senior Brother Wang, this humble one is called Li Quan..."

Before Old Taoist Li could finish, Senior Brother Wang's face darkened. "You dare call me 'senior brother'? A worthless old servant with no future! You're lucky you weren't assigned as a common servant!"

His attitude had completely changed.

Old Taoist Li's expression soured as he clenched his teeth and lowered his head.

Senior Brother Wang spat. "Disgusting! Just because you entered with tokens, you think you're real disciples? You're merely servants! Hurry up and register!"

Under his scolding, Old Taoist Li and Han Yu registered their names, spiritual roots, and ages before being led to two fields—each several mu in size—with stone houses at the ends.

"Start farming tomorrow. Ask others if you don't understand anything!" With that, Senior Brother Wang turned and left.

Old Taoist Li and Han Yu stood in the fields, exchanging bewildered looks.

Compared to Jin Qi, Senior Brother Wang's attitude was utterly vile.

"Truly, distant superiors can't compare to immediate managers..." Old Taoist Li muttered. "Even immortal sects aren't exempt from this!"

Han Yu nodded in agreement, glancing at the large crow on his shoulder—it had been unusually quiet throughout the journey. The immortal masters of Wangu Valley, being well-traveled, hadn't paid it any mind.

"Old Taoist, which field will you choose?"

"Which field will I—" Old Taoist Li turned sharply, raising his hand. "I choose neither field! I just want to smack you!"

That damned Han family!

This brat's grandfather had stolen his beloved Wan'er long ago, and now the kid had used one of two tokens to make him lead the way into the immortal sect!

How do you Hans always manage to take advantage of me!

"If I were you, I wouldn't openly fight like this," a voice interrupted.

Old Taoist Li immediately stopped and turned.

Han Yu also quickly retreated to a safe distance.

From nearby fields, three people emerged from their stone houses—a man around thirty with a mustache who had spoken approached and explained to Old Taoist Li, "Private fights are strictly forbidden outside designated dueling platforms or the annual disciple tournament. Getting caught means severe punishment!"

He introduced himself, "I'm Zhang Shan, entered twenty years ago. Call me Senior Brother Zhang."

The other two approached—a tall, brawny man with thick eyebrows named Sun Kang, and a lively-looking sixteen-year-old girl named Liu Lan.