Shi Xia had no idea how long she had been walking. Perhaps she had run too desperately earlier, but now her feet felt almost weightless as she moved. Fortunately, she didn’t encounter any of those oversized, overnourished cats again along the way—otherwise, she wouldn’t have had a second pack of dried fish to bargain with.
It wasn’t until the sun was directly overhead that she faintly heard voices ahead. Her heart leaped with joy, and she picked up Niu Niu, quickening her pace toward the sound.
Pushing through the thicket, her vision suddenly opened up to a vast grassland dotted with clusters of people.
"Finally!" Shi Xia nearly sang praises as she plopped onto the ground, utterly spent. The past day had felt like a desperate escape from certain doom.
"Niu Niu!" The moment she set the child down, a small figure in green rushed over and scooped the little girl into his arms.
"Brother!" Niu Niu’s eyes lit up as she clung to him.
"Are you hurt anywhere?" The boy carefully inspected her for injuries.
Niu Niu shook her head and pointed at Shi Xia. "Big sister helped."
Only then did the boy turn to Shi Xia, immediately dropping to his knees. "Thank you, benefactor, for saving my sister."
What a polite kid. Shi Xia waved dismissively. "No need for formalities. Just doing my civic duty." After all, she was a model citizen.
The boy hesitated but remained earnest. "Your kindness in saving her life is beyond repayment. If you ever need anything in the future, I will not refuse."
"Alright, alright, enough with the grown-up talk, kiddo." Shi Xia couldn’t help but chuckle at this boy—barely two years older than Niu Niu—trying so hard to sound mature. "My legs are jelly right now, so I can’t pull you up. No need to keep kneeling—just stand."
The boy finally rose but, seeing Shi Xia still sprawled on the ground like a ragdoll, seemed to reconsider. He tugged his sister down beside her, kneeling formally at her side. His youthful face, still soft with innocence, wore an oddly solemn expression as he clasped his hands together.
"I am Xuan Lin, of the Liang Kingdom. I brought my sister here to seek immortality. I never imagined the immortal forest would be so perilous. Thanks to you…" He tightened his grip on Niu Niu’s hand, his face scrunching up.
"Seek immortality?" Shi Xia bolted upright as if resurrected. "What do you mean?"
Xuan Lin blinked, confused. "Benefactor… aren’t you also here to seek the path of immortality on this sacred mountain?"
"…" She was just an innocent courier scammed by her system.
"Legends say the gates of the immortal mountain open only once every ten years. Those who enter may become disciples of the immortal sects," Xuan Lin explained. "Though the forest is dangerous, ascending the mountain promises transcendence from the mortal world. That’s why so many have journeyed here."
Shi Xia finally took in the crowd scattered across the grassland. She’d wondered why so many people had gathered—were they celebrating their escape from the forest? Turns out they were waiting for the immortal gates to open.
Wait a minute.
This setup sounded straight out of a fantasy drama.
"Are there really immortals in this world?"
"Of course!" Xuan Lin nodded emphatically, pointing toward the white mist at the edge of the grassland. "Today is the day the gates open. Soon, immortals will emerge from there."
A thrill ran through Shi Xia. If immortals truly existed, there might be hope for her return. Weren’t immortals supposed to be all-powerful? Maybe they could even open a portal through time and space.
"By the way, may I ask your name, benefactor?" Xuan Lin inquired.
"Oh, I’m Shi—"
Before she could finish, a cry erupted from the crowd.
"The immortal gates are opening!"
The crowd surged forward in excitement, and Shi Xia scrambled to her feet, her eyes widening.
The dense white mist ahead split apart as if sliced by an invisible blade, revealing a radiant realm beyond. Floating in the sky was a mountain draped in clouds, straight out of a fantasy game. White palaces perched atop its peaks, and waterfalls cascaded like silver ribbons into the void. The sky above the mountain shimmered with multicolored light.
A true paradise.
A collective gasp swept through the crowd, followed by stunned silence. Then, white blocks rose from the ground, stacking higher and higher until they formed a staircase leading straight to the distant mountain.
"The Ascension Stairs! It’s the Ascension Stairs!" someone shouted. The crowd erupted into cheers, rushing toward the steps.
Shi Xia, too far back to see clearly, tried to push forward but got jostled aside, losing sight of Xuan Lin and Niu Niu in the chaos.
"Hey, why can’t I climb up?"
"Are these stairs alive or something?"
"Oof—that hurt!"
Within moments, frustrated shouts rang out. Shi Xia stood on tiptoe to see people stumbling and falling after just a few steps.
Well, guess the path to immortality isn’t that easy. Shi Xia stopped trying to force her way forward.
Many attempted the stairs, but none succeeded—the best managed fewer than ten steps before tumbling down. The once-enthusiastic crowd deflated, though some stubbornly tried again and again.
"You need an immortal’s guidance to ascend. Stop wasting your time and wait for them," someone called out, finally putting an end to the impromptu falling contest.
But as they waited, no one descended from the floating mountain—not a soul, not even a stray feather. With the sun dipping toward the horizon, impatience simmered among the crowd. Even Shi Xia began to wonder if the immortals were off-duty for the weekend.
Then, another cry rang out.
"Look! Up in the sky!"
A dark figure soared toward them from the floating peak.
"It’s them! The immortals are here!"
"They’ve come to take us! Finally!"
The crowd stirred again, inching forward. Shi Xia craned her neck, letting out an awed "Whoa." Flying—so immortals really do exist!
The figure grew larger, revealing a man clad in black robes, standing atop a levitating sword.
Black robes? Shi Xia frowned, an odd sense of dissonance creeping in. Shouldn’t immortals wear flowing white? This one’s got edge. And—was it her imagination, or had the mountain’s radiant glow dimmed slightly?
In seconds, the figure landed before them. Up close, he was gaunt, his skin unnaturally pale, his lips shockingly red. If not for the ancient attire, he’d fit right in as a vampire from TV.
He stood atop a longsword, hovering four or five meters above the crowd. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he swept his gaze over the people below, his disdain unmistakable. With a cold laugh, he sneered, "I wondered who it might be—turns out it’s just a bunch of ignorant mortals."
