The young man bowed deeply, presenting two intricately carved jade boxes to Ming Xuan, pleading, "Senior, I beseech you to accept these tokens and take me under your wing as your disciple."

Regret tinged Ming Xuan's words as he gently declined, "You misunderstand. I'm just an ordinary dweller on this mountain, not a revered master. I cannot take you in as my disciple. Please, go your way."

...

Ming Xuan was a transmigrator who came from another world to this planet called Wu Xian. When he transmigrated into this world, Ming Xuan was very excited. He had read about these types of situations in web novels.

Every transmigrator like him would get a golden finger. With that cheat, they would crush every opponent and reach the pinnacle.

However, harsh reality dashed his dreams. He waited for a total of five years, but there was nothing like cheating or a system.

He resided on a mountain that was surrounded by steep cliffs and harsh terrain. Walking down the mountain was more difficult than words could convey. Ming Xuan endured five years sustained by the mountain's meager offerings—wild fruits, indigenous plants—cobbling together a humble wooden abode from gathered sticks and foraged wood.

Initially, living alone was very difficult for Ming Xuan. Being alone with his own thoughts was not a good thing. The absence of companionship left him adrift in a sea of his own ruminations, an unfamiliar and unwelcome state for someone accustomed to the constant hum of the modern world, social media buzzing with connectivity and conversation.

This seclusion atop the mountain, isolated from the rest of the world, made his mind a breeding nest for negative and even self-destructive thoughts.

Sometimes there were inner voices inside his mind that were constantly telling him that he was beneath humanity, an outsider to this world, and plagued by an inherent flaw.

Listening to these disquieting inner voices only amplified his feelings of alienation and inadequacy, heightening his sense of being an outsider in a realm that felt increasingly unfamiliar and inhospitable.

Despite the continuous onslaught of these intrusive thoughts, Ming Xuan persisted in his secluded existence, exploring the labyrinth of his mind's darkest corners while struggling with the overpowering solitude. Days melted into nights, each one a never-ending battle against the encroaching talons of self-doubt and despair.

But despite this desolate and bleak landscape of the environment, he harbored glimmers of resilience and hope. Ming Xuan took solace in the rugged beauty of the mountain, finding small comforts in the whispering winds, the rustling leaves, and the stillness of nature. He was comforted by the rhythmic beauty of the natural world and started to see the creation of life within the wilderness that surrounded him.

Gradually, he unearthed some kind of calm in the middle of the chaos of his own thoughts. The raw and untamed majesty of the mountain strengthened his mental fortitude, which helped him gradually silence the voices that had once tormented him.

With each passing day, he became stronger from the small and simple acts of survival and gained a renewed sense of purpose in his struggle against the mountain's challenges.

I thought I'd be immortal, soaring through clouds, slaying demons, and standing above all for eternity. Turns out, just a fart.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Self-mockingly, Ming Xuan continued, "I can't even leave this mountain, yet I'm aiming to take down celestials like they're chickens and dogs!"

"Defeating celestials as easily as chickens and dogs? What confidence! Esteemed elder, please take me under your wing as your disciple. I'm willing to serve you in any capacity, even as a mere horse."

"Sigh! I'm hearing the eerie sounds of ghosts now. Have I truly sunk into such deep despair?" Ming Xuan said it with a sigh.

"Senior I am here behind you. Please teach me unparalleled skills that will make me powerful."

"What?" Ming Xuan was taken aback; his eyes widened as he gazed at the young man, aged around fourteen or fifteen, adorned in lavish attire and carrying a lengthy sword at his side.

Bewildered by this unexpected sight, Ming Xuan hadn't encountered another human for a full five years, and now, unexpectedly, a young boy appeared on the mountain.

"I'm Long Aotian from Hundred Miles City. Ever since I was young, I've aimed to achieve immortality. I've roamed in search of a senior to guide me in cultivation. Today, I've encountered an unparalleled master. Please accept me and impart cultivation teachings." With these words, Long Aotian began bowing deeply before Ming Xuan.

Despite Ming Xuan's persistent refusals and denials of being a hidden master, Long Aotian adamantly refused to accept otherwise.

"I'm not a hidden master; trust me. I'm just an ordinary person leading a quiet life in these mountains. I have no knowledge of cultivation. You've mistaken me."

"That can't be true. Given the rugged cliffs and vast mountains, who else would reside here? Senior, please don't deceive me," asserted Long Aotian confidently.

"Why won't you believe me? I truly am not a master."

Ming Xuan did not want to deceive someone from an influential background. Without any system or cheat, if he offends them, he would only be a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

But Long Aotian was adamant about taking him as a disciple. Suddenly, Long Aotian brought two jade boxes from his bag and presented them in front of Ming Xuan.

"Senior, this is my entire savings. Take it as disciple's sincerity for master."

Long Aotian opened one of the jade boxes, which revealed a hundred gold ingots. Without giving him a chance to speak, Long Aotian opened another jade box.

"Senior, this 500-year-old Lingzhi is from my family treasure vault. Consuming this item can increase your lifespan by up to thirty years."

Ming Xuan looked at the two jade boxes in front of him, pretended to sigh deeply, and remarked, "Since you've uncovered this old man's true identity, I suppose I'll reluctantly agree to accept you as a disciple. But heed this: if you struggle to grasp my teachings, don't hold me accountable."

"Master," greeted Long Aotian, visibly excited as he kneeled down and began kowtowing.

Ming Xuan nodded, gesturing for him to rise.

With a solemn demeanor resembling that of an experienced master, Ming Xuan closed the jade boxes. Despite lacking any knowledge about cultivation, Ming Xuan, having been an accomplished philosopher in his past life, felt confident in crafting a fictitious martial technique.

His main concern lay in Long Aotian's ability to grasp it, which he attributed more to the disciple's comprehension skills than any fault of his own.

"Apprentice, update me on the current state of the outside world. I've been immersed in meditation for an extended period, losing track of time."

Believing Ming Xuan to be a hidden master, Long Aotian naturally gave information about the outside world to Ming Xuan, and the less Ming Xuan knew, the more convincing his story seemed to Long Aotian.

Long Aotian openly shared details about the surroundings, revealing that the mountain belonged to the established territory of the Qin Dynasty, dating back nearly a thousand years.

He himself was the young master of the Long Clan, a second-rate martial arts clan within the dynasty. Despite his aspirations for immortality, Long Aotian admitted to lacking the innate talent for cultivation.

In pursuit of cultivation, he journeyed, ultimately encountering Ming Xuan in the mountains.

"Master, when will you impart cultivation teachings to me?" inquired Long Aotian.

Contemplating how to deceive Long Aotian, he feigned a profound sigh before speaking, "Initially, I had no intention of instructing you in this art. However, witnessing your earnestness has stirred something within me. Therefore, dear disciple, lend me your ears and heed my words carefully. This scripture came into my possession during a confrontation with the Forbidden Lord. Understanding its content will grant you a natural Taoist Physique, perfectly suited for cultivation."

"Listen closely, disciple. This scripture is known as the 'Give me Taoist Physique.' Now, let me recite its verses to you:

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; the named is the mother of myriad things.

Free from earthly desires, one can fathom its essence; entangled in desires, one sees only its surface.

Though labeled differently, the spiritual and material stem from the same source, a profound unity, the mystery of mysteries. It stands as the gateway to all spiritual wisdom.

These words hold profound meaning and are the essence of this scripture."

"The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name...This wisdom is the epitome of true Daoism. Everything I've learned about Dao from others feels like pigshit in comparison to these profound teachings. Mom and Dad, I've at last found an exceptional master. Shower your blessings upon your son from the Heavens. Once I tread on the path of cultivation, I want to see who dares to block me from having my revenge." Long Aotian said while crying looking at the sky.