Comprehension Ability: I Forge a Villainous Longevity Family

Whoosh—!

The fierce sound of wind echoed in his ears. Wang Lin was already covered in wounds, leaving a deep trail of blood on the stone steps he crawled over. Under the ever-increasing pressure, every bone in his body felt shattered, incapable of exerting any strength. He moved solely by a force of will, his breath barely hanging on.

In his ear, a series of ethereal voices drifted in and out.

"Alas, give up already. You're not cut out for this, why force it?"

"Haha, Wang Lin, a mere mortal like you is destined to achieve nothing in this life. Do you think you deserve to yearn for Immortal Fate?"

"Wang Lin, you're bound to a life of toil! Stop chasing foolish fantasies!"

"Wang Lin, cultivation requires going with the flow. Why insist on defying the heavens?"

These voices came and went, some earnestly persuading him to give up, others mocking him incessantly, or speaking coldly to shatter all his beliefs!

"No, it's not like that!"

"Following is mundane, defying is immortal, it's all a matter of the heart!"

Wang Lin clenched his teeth tightly, with blood seeping through his teeth, yet he showed no hesitation or doubt.

"This is the chance my fourth uncle fought hard to give me..."

"Father, mother, fourth uncle... so many people trust me, carrying the hopes of my parents..."

"How can I... How can I selfishly choose to give up!!!"

A fierce expression surged on Wang Lin's pale face as he roared slightly and crawled forward again.

Bang bang!

His knees exploded into two bursts of blood mist.

Yet he ignored it, using his hands to crawl when his legs failed, using his body to move when his hands failed!

Even if he dies on this stone staircase, he would never choose to give up!

Dong—!

A sound of an ancient bell rang loudly.

The heavy fog covering the stone steps quickly dispersed to both sides. In his blurred vision, he seemed to see the end of the stone steps, but a merciless voice came like thunder, shaking his heart.

"Time's up, only seven qualified, the rest… failed!"

Wang Lin glanced at the seven ahead, let out a bitter smile, his body slumped, and he fell unconscious on the stone steps.

At the top of the stone steps.

The Nine Great Peak Masters and a crowd of Elders exchanged glances, all showing signs of regret.

In this new recruit session, this boy named Wang Lin undoubtedly had the most resolute mind, no one else had injuries as severe as his.

Clearly, he had no strength left, his bones were breaking, barely conscious.

Yet he persisted, his belief unwavering!

Even these Peak Master Elders, seasoned in recognizing talent, couldn't help but feel a bit shocked. They questioned themselves, if placed in this boy's position, they definitely couldn't have persisted till now.

"It's just a pity that cultivation isn't solely achieved through perseverance."

"Wang Lin failed, not due to a lack of will or poor talent... but because his physical foundation is too weak!"

"Indeed, the other seven, although not extremely gifted nor of grand background, clearly had fairly good family conditions among ordinary people, not only strong and robust, but some even prepared nourishing pills. Only Wang Lin truly relied on himself to reach this point..."

"Though cultivation involves financial, relational, methodical, and environmental factors, family power is also a part of one's own strength."

"If possible, I really wish he could pass, alas, rules are rules and cannot be easily broken..."

The Peak Master Elders discussed softly, shaking their heads slightly.

And the seven who passed instantly showed expressions of wild joy, couldn't help but cheer and leap.

The seventh was a young man in brocade clothes, who managed to secure the final spot by taking pills all the way, quickly looked at Wang Lin, who lay unconscious on the stone steps covered in blood, couldn't help but laugh out loud:

"Hahaha, almost got surpassed by this destitute fool! Pity my father is a wealthy man in Dongyang City, I prepared over a hundred bottles of Replenishing Essence Pill, what do you have to compete with me?"

Elder Zhaoguang couldn't help but frown at those words, his voice turning cold: "Barely qualified by relying on pills, yet instead of keeping your head down, you ridicule someone with a resilient mind?"

The young man's face stiffened, hastily cupping his hands in agreement, but his eyes couldn't hide his pride regardless of how hard he tried.

The Elders and Peak Masters present, have seen many storms and waves, recognized countless talents?

"Hmph, immature." Zhaoguang, Guichen, and other Elders exchanged a glance, shaking their heads slightly.

If possible, they truly hoped to eliminate this boy and let Wang Lin pass.

Yet the rules were set by them, if today were changed for Wang Lin, casually altering rules, it's highly likely a situation would arise in the future.

Then simply don't bother comparing tenacity; just compare who's had it worse.

"Bring them into the Nine Peaks for cultivation. As for those who didn't pass, heal their injuries and send them back to Lin'an City."

Chen Tianchen, responsible for this recruitment, pondered aloud.

Immediately, Chen Tianchen led seven people away.

...

...

Wang Lin didn't know when he woke up, but when he did, his injuries were healed, and the sound of fierce winds echoed in his ears.

An old man with white clothing and white hair lifted him with a grand sleeve, flying towards Lin'an City.

Although the old man was advanced in age, his features were pronounced, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and his posture extremely upright. Even though time had etched numerous marks on his face, remnants of his younger days' looks, undeniably handsome, were still visible.

"Wha...where are we going, Immortal?"

Wang Lin asked with some nervousness.

"You didn't pass the assessment, so naturally you're being sent back to Lin'an City," the white-haired old man said, standing passively with a calm voice.

Wang Lin fell silent upon hearing this.

The expectant gaze of his parents, their hunched backs from farm work, weathered and dark faces, the drafty house...all of it tore through his heart swiftly.

This made his pupils scatter somewhat.

The Wang Clan had sent three people to participate in this assessment.

Besides him, Wang Hao was immediately accepted as a True Disciple by a Peak Master, and Wang Yi smoothly passed the first round and joined the Ziwei Chen Family.

Only he was eliminated.

He could already imagine how the Wang Clan, which already looked down on his family, would mock and ridicule his parents.

His parents, who were always cautious and unable to raise their heads in front of the family, would only lower them further.

Smack—!!!

He slapped himself hard across the face, leaving five crimson fingerprints and a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

The white-haired old man glanced at him indifferently, speaking coldly, "What can a slap solve? It's nothing more than making your conscience a bit easier and reducing some guilt."

Wang Lin fell silent again.

"As far as I know, this assessment's results have been announced to your clan. Your family is hosting a grand banquet, with tables stretched long, celebrating your two clan brothers' achievements joyously."

"Within your family, there are criticisms about you, your parents, and even your Fourth Uncle, saying you wasted a spot. Some even say that a dragon gives birth to a dragon, a Phoenix gives birth to a Phoenix, a rat's son can only dig tunnels. Your parents are farmers, and you're destined to be a farmer too. Participating in this examination was a toad wanting to eat swan meat."

Wang Lin clenched his fists tightly, nails piercing the skin, oozing crimson.

He dared not imagine how his honest, simple, inarticulate parents would face such ridicule and scorn from the clan. It would be an impossibly awkward situation.

"I'm sorry, truly sorry..."

Wang Lin laughed bitterly, tears silently flowing from the corners of his eyes.

"Do you wish to seek death, to end it all?"

The white-haired old man seemed to discern Wang Lin's thoughts, his voice tinged with contempt as he uttered two words:

"Coward."

"Coward? I don't want to be like this, but tell me, what can I do? Huh?!?!"

"If possible, I'd rather die on those stone steps than see my parents disappointed and humiliated!!!!"

"You are an Immortal, your strength is immense, your status is esteemed, so whatever you say is right! You can stand high above, serenely criticizing everything!"

"But if our positions were reversed, what could you do?! Huh?!"

Wang Lin erupted aloud, tears streaming as he cried out to the white-haired elder.

The white-haired elder wasn't angered by this; instead, he smiled slightly, eyes showing a hint of admiration.

Then, the white-haired elder laughed and said:

"I have a way that can help you join the Ziwei Chen Family, and perhaps once you do, your position may far surpass those of your two clan brothers. Would you dare to try?"

"Of course, the result of failure would be..."

Before the white-haired elder could finish his sentence.

"I am willing!"

Wang Lin replied firmly, decisively.