The Immortal Sect's Furnace Cauldron Is Forced to Become Everyone's Favorite

Zhong Yu was one of the most unremarkable disciples in the immortal sect, one of countless others.

His fellow disciples, on the other hand, all came from impressive backgrounds.

There was the sole descendant of the Phoenix in all three realms, the young master of a powerful clan, and even the junior disciple who had joined after him was exceptionally gifted.

Every day, Zhong Yu diligently swept the grounds and practiced, striving to improve his cultivation and avoid bringing shame to the sect.

That all changed during a trial in a dangerous realm, when his junior disciple was poisoned and left on the brink of death.

Zhong Yu was summoned to the inner sect.

It was the first time the Immortal Venerable had ever spoken to him. The man even got his name wrong. "Would you be willing to become a cultivation vessel and save his life?"

Zhong Yu refused.

Cultivation vessels were the most despised people in the cultivation world. They could only depend on others, reduced to playthings.

But Zhong Yu was forcibly transformed into one all the same.

It was only then that he awakened.

He was merely a background character in a book, while his innocent junior disciple was the story's protagonist. Everyone would love him or hate him, and even the aloof Immortal Venerable would be moved by him.

As for Zhong Yu, he didn't even deserve to have a name.

No one cared whether he lived or died. Even becoming a cultivation vessel earned him nothing but envy and ridicule. "How could Junior Brother touch a thing like you?"

-

Under careful treatment, Junior Brother awoke. Not only had his cultivation recovered, it had grown even stronger than before.

The entire sect celebrated, and the Immortal Venerable was pleased.

Meanwhile, Zhong Yu remained the same forgotten, invisible figure in the corner.

But at some point, things began to take a strange turn.

First, the descendant of the Phoenix stopped in his tracks while passing a desolate courtyard.

Zhong Yu was dressed in plain clothes, his long hair cascading down his back. As he swept up fallen leaves, ambiguous red marks covered his slender, delicate wrists.

The man stared for a long time.

Only when someone beside him spoke up did he snap out of it. Frowning, he asked, "...Was he always like that?"

Then the young master of the powerful clan began showing up around Zhong Yu for no apparent reason.

One moment, he complained that Zhong Yu swept too slowly. The next, he criticized his old clothes. Finally, he dumped a whole chest of new garments outside Zhong Yu's door. "You look like that, and you bring shame to our sect."

Zhong Yu pushed the chest back. "No need."

The young master stomped off in a rage, only to show up the next day with all kinds of rare treasures.

Even the Immortal Venerable, who had never bothered to remember his name, summoned him for the first time.

He had become the lowest kind of vessel, and everyone who had once trampled him underfoot was now irresistibly drawn to him.

But Zhong Yu had never been waiting for them to come around.

He was waiting for the ending written in the book:

Junior Brother would face his tribulation, and everyone would sacrifice Zhong Yu to help him reach the pinnacle of the Great Dao and ascend to immortality.

When that day arrived, just as the book had foretold,

the pressure of the Heavenly Tribulation crashed down like a mountain. Junior Brother was covered in blood, and everyone thought of Zhong Yu. "Quick, use the cultivation vessel!"

The Immortal Venerable fell silent. The Phoenix clenched his fist. The young master turned away.

Standing apart from the crowd, Zhong Yu suddenly smiled.

He took a step forward and, in front of everyone, chose to destroy himself.

His spiritual power surged backward, shattering his meridians.

Behind him, the Immortal Venerable called his name in a panic for the first time. His senior brothers came running in confusion, and the young master's voice rang out, choked with tears.

But Zhong Yu didn't look back.

As his consciousness faded, Junior Brother, the one everyone had doted on, somehow broke free of the tribulation and staggered toward him.

Covered in blood, he seemed not to feel any pain. He shaped his fingers into claws and tore open his own dantian.

A hot, blood-scented golden core, still warm from his body, passed into Zhong Yu's mouth.

"Senior Brother, don't leave me..."

Reading Guide

1. Bottom, with self-destructive tendencies

2. Background character awakens + cultivation vessel + adored by everyone + regretful pursuit

Theme: Take your fate into your own hands