Every 30 years, geniuses of the Lesser Ancient Continent gathered over the Dao Gathering Platform. There were martial sects, mortal academies, cultivator mountains, and immortal families that trained their best without holding back anything for their every generation, trying to place their progeny in the top eight of the Dao Gathering Platform. The platform didn't care about cultivation, combat power or talent; it only tested one's understanding of one's path. Ascension to the Immortal Sect was only possible through this or cultivating to the Nascent Soul Stage of Immortal Cultivation.
Wei Yan followed the other members of the Wei family out of a sense of duty, but he failed to understand any path. The Wei family had Cultivation scriptures, Daoist scrolls, martial techniques and other foundational teachings gathered over the years. There were even some documents originating from the Great Above. However, Wei Yan couldn't understand any of them, not even touching upon the Spiritual energy. He tried every method in the Wei family library, even visiting other ancient families, to find a path for himself. Aside from making himself a laughing stock at every family, he didn't succeed.
So he rode his ancestor's carriage while the other progeny of the Wei family rode Spiritual Wind themselves. A few of them stole pitiful glances at him, but most of them laughed at him. Wei Yan was the oldest of the generation born during the last descent of the Dao Gathering Platform. They hoped for him to enter the top eight, as he had the most time on the Continent to advance in a Path. But he wasn't born for it, he became a laughing stock, broke his mother's heart and was cast out by his father.
He wanted the Platform to descend and for him to be forgotten by the next generation. He had done more than could be asked of him, yet everybody still treated him as a lazy fool. He reviewed every available path and felt that the Heavens and the Immortal Sect had forsaken him.
More and more people joined the Wei family procession. The Lesser Ancient Continent housed three kingdoms and an empire. The Council of the Ancient Families ruled the Piety Kingdom, and they usually travelled together to the centre of the Continent to the Heavenly Ascension Lake, where the Dao Gathering Platform descended.
The Huo Family, the Xia Family and the Long Family were equal to Wei, and only the Medici Family, which descended from Great Above during the creation of the continent, was greater than them. They all formed up and travelled together. Soon, the plains and waterways of the Piety Kingdom gave way to foothills, then the Immortal Barrier Mountain Range. One needed to step towards the Nascent Soul Stage to fly above these mountains. Those who did touch it in the families were hibernating, stretching their lifespan to the limit, waiting for their descendants to ascend and bestow them Immortal Medicines.
So the Immortal Sect bestowed teleportation formations to the nations of the Lesser Ancient Continent to cross the Mountain Range and arrive at the basin of the Heavenly Ascension Lake. The Immortal Sect only supplied one action talisman, so the families gathered together before activating.
"Big Brother Wei, I see you could still make it here," said a playful voice behind him. "Your family still humours your nonsense. You should just retreat to a library and truly become a bookworm."
"Then at least you won't be useless, haha." A powerful voice laughed next to it.
The Scions of Huo and Xia were the most familiar with Wei Yan as he visited them for years and searched their libraries and scripture repositories for a suitable Path. During that time, amicable relationships and friendships turned into indifferent greetings, then into derision and bullying. He was somebody that every member of the Four Families could blame for being useless and a waste of resources.
"Shh, children," said one of the elders. "Who are we waiting for?"
"Aside from a few smaller families, who might not have suitable candidates this time around, only the Medicies are late," answered the elder of the Wei Family.
"They call being a little late fashionable. What a laughable and strange belief."
"It is not as strange as belittling the effort of the weak," said a cold and deep voice from the Immortal Barrier Mountain Range. "But we are not late, we were waiting for you."
The only Spiritual Soul expert of the Lesser Ancient Continent appeared from behind a mountain. The Founder of the Medici Family was surrounded by the talent of the family as he descended towards the crowd. He was there when the Immortal Sect created the continent thirty thousand years ago, and some believed he would still be there when the continent's foundation decayed.
Medicis dressed in brocade clothing adorned with white gold and rubies compared the silk and jade of the other families. They were a strange bunch, but they treated Wei Yan the nicest, and the Founder even allowed him to peruse his collection. Wei Yan's only enjoyable moments were exploring that collection. There were some books made of light called holograms, other books made out of animal and human skin, etched in blood, bamboo and papirus scrolls. And the prime descendant of the Medicis even helped him read spiritual books and jade slips.
"Honourable Founder, why did you come for such a small matter?" asked the Elder of the Long Family. "We would never betray your trust."
In the past, a few foolish elders tried to rob the Medici Family, but those fools were long forgotten as their heritage was extinguished by the mightiest of the continent.
"My great-granddaughter wanted me to come and watch her win the Dao Gathering Platform's debate," said the Founder nonchalantly. "And what do you care that I am here? Even if I invaded your ancestral grounds, you would only bow even harder before me."
He then nodded towards Wei Yan and entered the pavilion housing the teleportation formation. Most of the disciples followed him, but his prime descendant, Gergonia Medici, hopped next to Wei Yan while shooting angry glances at everybody who previously laughed at Wei Yan.
"Let's go," said the elders as they entered after the Founder.