The Western Regions Continent, Qingyang City, Qingzhou Prefecture!
It took Wang Baoling many days to adapt to life after his world-crossing.
Wang Baoling was not a person of this world. He had been born under the red flag and raised in the spring breeze.
One midnight, he climbed Mount Huang to watch a meteor shower that occurred only once every several hundred thousand years, only to be mercilessly struck by a meteor.
When he woke up again, he discovered that he had crossed into an ancient society.
Looking at the bare-walled house he called home, Wang Baoling had no ambitions of changing the world like the other world-crossers. His most urgent task was figuring out how to fill his stomach.
Fortunately, the writing in this world was no different from that of his previous life, and Wang Baoling soon found work as a schoolteacher.
Having the chance to read books, Wang Baoling quickly gained a clear understanding of this world's overall situation.
"I never expected there to actually be immortals in this world."
At first, Wang Baoling didn't really believe the accounts of immortals recorded in the books.
Many books from his previous life had also recorded all sorts of immortal legends, but those were nothing more than rumors and the delusions of authors with mental problems.
But when he saw that the local county gazetteer clearly recorded who had been recruited into an immortal sect at such-and-such a place and time, Wang Baoling began to waver.
After learning all this, Wang Baoling did not blindly pursue the Immortal Dao. Instead, he kept investigating clues related to immortals. Once he had figured everything out and saved enough travel money, he would set off to seek an immortal opportunity!
After preparing the lesson for the next day, Wang Baoling stretched his arms and turned to leave the thatched schoolhouse.
"Hahaha, Mr. Wang, class is over! These are fresh eggs our old hen just laid. Take a few and try them!" said a fair-skinned middle-aged woman with great enthusiasm.
It was easy to tell that this woman must have been a great beauty in the village when she was young.
A chill suddenly ran down Wang Baoling's back. He thought to himself, "Why did I run into her again? There's no escaping her!"
There was only one reason he avoided her: Mrs. Li wanted to introduce her daughter to him.
At first, Wang Baoling hadn't refused. Since Mrs. Li was so beautiful, her daughter couldn't possibly be ugly.
Although he aspired to seek an immortal opportunity, he didn't mind finding a woman and getting married first.
But the first time Wang Baoling visited her home, he saw Li Cuifen—sturdy, dark-complexioned, and carrying two piglets in one hand.
Wang Baoling admitted that he had been young and shallow. He looked at the graceful, middle-aged Mrs. Li, then at Li Cuifen, who could lift two piglets with one hand, and couldn't help asking the question that came straight from his soul: Was she really your daughter? Your biological daughter?
After receiving an affirmative answer, Wang Baoling hurriedly found an excuse to leave.
Seeing that Wang Baoling wasn't saying anything, Mrs. Li enthusiastically handed him the eggs.
"There's no need to be so polite, Mrs. Li. Keep the eggs for yourself," Wang Baoling said with an embarrassed smile.
"Oh, I know you look down on our Cuifen, but don't worry. Our Cuifen already has someone she likes!"
"She doesn't like skinny, frail scholars. She likes men who know how to farm and raise pigs!" Mrs. Li said with a smile.
The corner of Wang Baoling's mouth twitched. I got rejected too?
"Congratulations, congratulations!"
"Hahaha, the wedding's next month. It's that boy from next door. You have to come and share a wedding toast with us!" Mrs. Li said with a smile.
"Of course, of course. I'll definitely come!" Wang Baoling said, cupping his fists.
"Take the eggs. They're not meant to be eaten for free. Please write us a marriage contract, Mr. Wang!" Mrs. Li said with a grin.
"I can do that. I'll have it written and give it to you tomorrow. You should still take these eggs back!"
"Thank you, but you absolutely must accept them."
With that, Mrs. Li handed Wang Baoling the basket of eggs and turned to leave.
The thatched schoolhouse wasn't far from home, and he returned after only a short walk.
Wang Baoling lit a fire and set a pot over it. He put some water and five eggs inside. Boiled eggs would be dinner.
A few minutes later, Wang Baoling carried the hot boiled eggs to his desk.
He lit the oil lamp and saw that the broad desk was covered with densely packed maps.
"A single village is as large as a city from my previous life. That means even a small town is probably more expansive than an average province!"
"A single prefecture is probably larger than some major countries from my previous life. Just how large must a city be?"
At this thought, Wang Baoling let out a long sigh. On this vast continent, where was he supposed to look for an immortal opportunity?
"Knock, knock, knock, knock!"
Just as Wang Baoling sat there looking worried, a series of urgent knocks came from outside.
"It's so late. Who's coming to see me? Could it be Mrs. Li?"
Creak!
The wooden door opened, revealing two young men standing outside with lanterns in their hands, their faces filled with barely concealed excitement.
"Brother Huang, Brother Sun, what are you doing here...?"
"Brother Wang, good news! Great news! Word came from town that an immortal has arrived to accept disciples. The village chief has already confirmed it!" Sun Fengqiang said, barely able to contain his excitement.
"Really?" Wang Baoling asked, likewise struggling to contain his excitement.
"It's confirmed, it's confirmed! Brother Wang, do you want to take part in the immortal's trial?"
"There's a trial too?" Wang Baoling asked in astonishment.
Sun Fengqiang and Huang Qi said, "Of course there's a trial. Not everyone can pursue cultivation toward immortality!"
Wang Baoling nodded, but his heart was also somewhat uneasy. He didn't know whether he had the aptitude to cultivate.
"Brother Huang, Brother Sun, when will the immortal come to Changtian Village to accept disciples?"
"An immortal will come here tomorrow. Everyone, make sure you seize this opportunity!" Sun Fengqiang said, his face full of excitement.
"If I can't pursue cultivation toward immortality, I'll peacefully take the civil service exams, get an official position, marry, and have children!" Huang Qi had already thought through his backup plan.
"All right, we've delivered the news. We should hurry back and get some proper rest!"
After sharing the news, Sun Fengqiang and Huang Qi left the Wang residence with their lanterns.
Watching the two of them disappear into the distance, a smile spread across Wang Baoling's face.
"I was just worrying about where to look for an immortal opportunity. I never expected one to come knocking so soon."
Lying in bed, Wang Baoling tossed and turned, unable to sleep. His mind was filled with visions of the immortal accepting disciples the next day.
Eventually, Wang Baoling drifted off into a hazy sleep.
"Bang, bang!"
Another series of urgent knocks came from outside.
"Who is it this time? Do Sun Fengqiang and Huang Qi have something else to say?"
As he spoke, Wang Baoling opened the wooden door and saw an elderly man dressed in a blue-gray Daoist robe.
The moment Wang Baoling saw the man's attire, his drowsiness vanished.
"May I ask who you're looking for, Daoist Master?"
"What is Wang Dashu to you?" As he spoke, the man released a terrifying pressure from his entire body.
Wang Baoling's knees went weak, and he nearly fell to the ground. He immediately understood that the man before him was a cultivator.
"Wang Dashu is my father!" Wang Baoling said calmly.
"What proof do you have?" the man asked.
"He's my father, and I'm his son. How exactly am I supposed to prove that?" Wang Baoling said helplessly.
Hearing this, the man burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! You must be Baoling, right?"
"Yes, but you are...?"
Wang Baoling was deeply puzzled. Could this man be an old friend of his father's?
"I'm your second uncle. I'm Wang Lin. I was the one who gave you your name!"