All Things in the World Should Be Handled with Free and Easy Spirit

If you were to ask about recent major events,

nothing would be more talked about than the disciple recruitment ceremony of a sect in Yuzhou City.

Not only was the event endorsed by the Demon Suppression Bureau, but even Abbot Yuanjing of Zen Forest Temple spoke highly of this sect.

It seemed as though all the celestial opportunities in the world had gathered there.

With the joint promotion of these two renowned institutions, most eligible individuals were eager to participate in this grand ceremony.

After all, who wouldn’t want to become a cultivator soaring through the skies?

In the past, sects didn’t exactly have the best reputation.

People were often hesitant to join, fearing the worst.

After all, which major sect didn’t have one or two eccentric individuals?

And it was always those one or two who tarnished the sect’s name.

At the foot of the sect’s mountain...

"Hey, buddy, move aside! The ceremony doesn’t start until the day after tomorrow. What’s the point of queuing up now? Don’t you need to use the restroom?"

A burly man with a thick beard nudged a scholarly-looking young man in front of him.

The young man turned his head with difficulty, took one look at the man’s face, and said in disbelief,

"Uncle, didn’t you check the requirements? They’re only accepting those under thirty."

The man’s eyes widened in anger. "Uncle?! I’m only eighteen! I just look mature for my age. Watch your mouth!"

"If you can’t afford a mirror, at least take a piss and look at your reflection. If you’re eighteen, then I’m no older than eight."

A mocking voice came from behind the burly man. He turned around furiously but could only see a sea of heads in the crowd.

Amid the chatter, he couldn’t even tell who had spoken such nonsense.

"If you say queuing now is useless, then why are you here?" someone in front of him asked.

"Doesn’t everyone know that celestial opportunities favor the sincere?"

Not far away, Lin Luoyu, dressed in a light-blue martial outfit, was also squeezed among the crowd. A short sword hung at her waist as she gazed bewildered at the lofty sect gate towering above.

Indeed, most immortal sects emphasized sincerity.

Who knew if this was part of the trial?

In this world, the grand path seemed to lead only to immortality—everything else appeared to be the futile struggle of insignificant ants.

A warm voice came from behind Lin Luoyu.

"Brother, here for the ceremony too?"

Cui Hao, who had just greeted her, was surprised when the person turned around. The somewhat effeminate figure he had mistaken for a man was actually a woman.

Her face was smudged with dust, but her features were quite pleasant, especially her sharp, lively eyes. The only downside was her slightly underwhelming figure, which had led to his mistake.

However, Cui Hao was well-read in the classics and knew the basic principles of propriety—what shouldn’t be seen or heard should be avoided.

He quickly apologized, "My apologies, my eyesight hasn’t been great lately. No offense meant. Are you here for the ceremony too?"

Lin Luoyu glanced at the scholarly-looking man. He seemed decent enough, like a proper gentleman.

She gave a slight nod before turning away, ignoring him.

Cui Hao, sensing her disinterest, didn’t press further.

The two silently held their ground in the crowd.

As the midday sun climbed higher, its heat grew unbearable.

This wasn’t even winter, yet the sun felt scorching enough to kill.

Their spots were near the center, far from any shade the trees on either side could offer.

Lin Luoyu wiped the sweat from her brow and took a deep breath when she heard a grumble behind her.

Cui Hao fanned himself with his sleeve. "This crowd is suffocating. Couldn’t the immortals at least give us some instructions?"

No sooner had he spoken than a streak of rainbow light flashed across the sky.

Both Cui Hao and Lin Luoyu looked up immediately.

High above, a little girl sat atop a radiant jade willow branch, shimmering with brilliance. She seemed to be speaking, but her voice should have been too faint to hear from such a distance.

Yet her words rang clearly in everyone’s ears.

"All participants of the sect’s disciple recruitment ceremony must go to the Demon Suppression Bureau in Yuzhou City to collect numbered tokens. Only those with tokens for the day may return here to queue. Three thousand candidates will be assessed daily until all have had their turn."

"Queuing now is pointless. Go to the Demon Suppression Bureau immediately! No entry without a token!"

"Wait a moment—I will erect a notice at the mountain’s base!"

As her childish voice faded, the jade willow branch transformed back into a rainbow streak and vanished into the distance.

Truly a sect endorsed by the Demon Suppression Bureau—even a little girl possessed such divine abilities!

Without hesitation, Cui Hao turned and pushed his way out of the crowd, muttering,

"Perfect timing. I could use a cup of tea."

As he squeezed past people, he called out, "Make way! I’m giving up my spot."

His words spurred others still pondering the announcement to clear a path for him.

Lin Luoyu watched as Cui Hao left with ease, unsure what to think.

This spot was relatively close to the front—once gone, it would be near impossible to reclaim.

Stepping onto this path and standing here now, every single thing might very well be a hidden trial. Perhaps this was a test to see if his pursuit of immortality would waver because of outsiders.

Why could he walk away so freely?

Lin Luoyu pondered for a moment before also beginning to push her way out.

By the time she made it through the crowd, Cui Hao’s figure had long vanished.

This place was still some distance from Yuzhou City, yet many people continued to surge toward it.

With the crowd growing larger, the Demon Suppression Bureau, fearing chaos, had already dispatched officers to maintain order. To ensure safety, horseback riding had been prohibited further back, so now Lin Luoyu had no choice but to walk the rest of the way.

Yuzhou City.

Cui Hao sat inside a tavern, downing a bowl of wine in one go before letting out a hearty laugh.

He had already visited the Demon Suppression Bureau and received his token. His turn was scheduled in just a few days—quite early, all things considered.

He had always been open-minded about it. The chance to attain immortality was like searching for a needle at the bottom of the ocean.

Success or failure wasn’t always determined by effort alone.

Sometimes, being born with the right advantages saved a great deal of trouble.

After all, among the crowd waiting in line, how many had no spiritual roots at all?

And even among those who did, how many were stuck with the most common, worthless ones?

This time, he simply wanted to fulfill a long-held wish in his heart.

If it didn’t work out, he’d just return to his old way of life.

How many things in this world were trapped between desire and inability to let go?

Cui Hao took another sip of wine. He was different—he truly could let go.

Life was hard enough; why burden oneself further?

Suddenly, a figure appeared beside him. He glanced up—it was the girl he had mistaken earlier.

Cui Hao picked up an empty bowl, poured wine into it, and slid it toward her as a gesture of apology. With a carefree smile, he said,

"Thirsty? Have a drink to quench it?"

Lin Luoyu hesitated briefly before sitting down. Then, she asked the question that had been on her mind:

"Why could you leave so easily? Do you know something?"

Cui Hao drank another bowl and laughed heartily.

"No inside knowledge. I just do as I please."

"I’m Cui Hao. Might I ask the name of my fellow traveler?"

Fellow traveler?

Lin Luoyu found the man before her rather intriguing. She lifted the bowl of wine and downed it in one go.

"Lin Luoyu."

"Good! Then I’ll toast first to Miss Lin’s smooth and prosperous immortal path!"

Cui Hao laughed loudly and drained another bowl.

If only everything in this world could be faced with such ease.