Zhang Xiaohu was twenty-one years old.
It seemed that the greatest misfortunes in the world had all befallen him.
At eighteen, he had just been admitted to university when his mother died of cancer.
At nineteen, his father, while working at a quarry, was crushed by a crane, resulting in a high-level amputation and leaving him paralyzed in bed ever since.
He then dropped out of school and returned home to care for his wife and grandparents by himself.
His grandparents were also eighty years old and had no ability to work. Zhang Xiaohu essentially bore the entire family's income alone.
One day, he returned from working outside to find his father attempting to commit suicide by drinking pesticide.
Zhang Xiaohu angrily beat his father and berated him, "You scoundrel! Do you want me to become an orphan?"
His father wept, covering his face, and said humbly, "You are still young, and I have delayed your entire life. It's not worth it..."
"Shut up! If I say it's worth it, then it's worth it!"
The father and son argued for an entire night, with Zhang Xiaohu doing most of the scolding and providing his father with all sorts of ideological education.
From that day on, Zhang Xiaohu dared not go out to work anymore. He grew vegetables and various crops at home as his source of income. 138 Reading Network
A while ago, Zhang Xiaohu saw Li Qingyun on the news.
According to news reports, less than half a month prior, Li Qingyun had been one of ten cancer patients lying on their deathbeds.
However, due to cultivating a wood-element cultivation technique, his late-stage cancer, which was a death sentence, was cured in just a few days.
This was not an ordinary news report; it was a news interview conducted by the Central Television Station.
Coupled with the recent widespread discussion about immortal cultivation, Zhang Xiaohu finally became certain that immortal cultivation was indeed real.
"If even cancer can be cured? Then can my father's legs grow back?"
With this thought, Zhang Xiaohu could no longer suppress his impulse.
He decided to go to the capital, to the **Gongfa Pavilion** to obtain cultivation techniques, and then find a way to heal his father!
Fate had been too unfair to him. At his age, he should have been in school absorbing specialized knowledge, but now he was confined to this small mountain village. He was unwilling to accept this!
So, he took out more than half of his savings and implored Aunt Wang next door to help him take care of his father and elderly relatives for the next few days.
With the money, Aunt Wang readily agreed.
Thus, Zhang Xiaohu embarked on his journey to the capital.
While browsing his phone, he saw the recruitment for the trial posted by Xiong Miao's live streaming platform, along with the trial rewards.
These rewards were enough to make his eyes turn red and his breathing quicken.
If he could obtain just one top-grade spirit stone, he could escape his family's predicament!
Even if there was a risk to his life, it was worth a try!
So, as soon as the registration link was released, while others were still hesitating due to the danger, he, without even obtaining a cultivation technique, resolutely signed up.
However, fate did not seem to favor the brave.
When he touched the **Talent Identification Stone** that everyone yearned for, he was informed that he only had lower-tier talent.
At such cold words, others didn't even bother to mock him.
He didn't cry, but his eyes were hollow.
Luo Xiaowei was directing this batch of people: "Hurry up and choose your cultivation techniques, don't block the way!"
The pale-faced Zhang Xiaohu walked up to Luo Xiaowei, grabbed his hand with trembling lips, and knelt down, "Help me..."
Luo Xiaowei was startled and quickly pulled Zhang Xiaohu up, "What are you doing? Speak properly!"
Zhang Xiaohu said with a hoarse voice, "My father, due to a high-level amputation, can only lie in bed for the rest of his life. You must know Li Qingyun, right? Can you ask him to help me? I can pay! I can even give you my life!"
Luo Xiaowei was currently live streaming, so he quickly muted his microphone.
"No, I know him, but he might not be able to help you. A high-level amputation, regrowing two legs. Even with his extraordinary talent, he can't do it at this level yet, right?"
"Is there... is there no way...?"
Seeing his helpless eyes, Luo Xiaowei's heart softened a little, and he patiently said, "If you sign up for the trial, maybe there's a way..."
"I signed up!"
Luo Xiaowei's mouth twitched slightly. What a tough guy! He signed up for the secret realm trial before even identifying his talent or obtaining a cultivation technique.
But looking at him, it was likely that his talent identification had been rather unsatisfactory.
"If you signed up, there's a chance. If you can rank in the top five hundred, you can enter the ruins of the **Lihuo Palace**. There might be various immortal elixirs and spiritual herbs there, and possibly some high-level cultivation techniques that might be useful for your father."
"But I only have lower-tier talent..."
Luo Xiaowei patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Don't let your talent define you. Not everyone is Li Qingyun. In school, why were there only a few with good grades, but more than just those with good grades succeeded! Moreover, talent is not immutable. Senior Brother Xian said that some rare treasures or special elixirs can improve our talent."
"Also, how many days have we all been cultivating? Most participants are in the early Qi Refining stage, all at the starting line. Even with top-tier talent, the advantage isn't that much greater than yours!"
Zhang Xiaohu was stunned for a moment. Although Luo Xiaowei was a bit like feeding him poisonous chicken soup, he had indeed rekindled his hope.
"You're right! Thank you! I will rank in the top five hundred in the trial, I definitely will!"
Luo Xiaowei showed a gratified smile and patted Zhang Xiaohu on the shoulder, "Go for it! You can do it!"
Watching Zhang Xiaohu resolutely walk into the Gongfa Pavilion, Luo Xiaowei wiped the sweat from his face.
"Damn it, when I'm feeling down and melancholic online at night, I'll be emo-ing for hours about my own talent, and now I'm feeding this guy chicken soup!"
"Damn it, I'm not sleeping after work! I'll cultivate straight through the night! Otherwise, I won't be able to compete with these formidable individuals!"