Grassroots Travel: The Star Lord of Another World

The new disciples were assigned to different masters to continue their training. Gao Xingchen was very talented and was assigned to be a disciple of Elder Zhang, which made many people envious. However, this envy also gave rise to jealousy, especially Zhao Gang, a disciple of the same period, who had long been dissatisfied with Gao Xingchen.

Zhao Gang entered the school earlier than Gao Xingchen, but performed mediocrely in the entrance test. Gao Xingchen's excellence was particularly dazzling in his eyes. What made it even more difficult for him to accept was that the people who originally surrounded him now favored Gao Xingchen.

"It's nothing great. It's just good luck." Zhao Gang said sourly to the disciples beside him, his words full of disdain.

"That's right. The entrance test doesn't mean anything. Maybe he is just trying to be clever." Another disciple echoed.

With just a few words, Gao Xingchen was devalued. It's not that Gao Xingchen didn't hear these words, but he chose to ignore them and concentrate on practicing. He believed that time would prove everything.

However, Zhao Gang did not intend to give up. He secretly joined forces with several disciples and began to isolate Gao Xingchen. In the cafeteria, they deliberately occupied Gao Xingchen's usual seat; in the martial arts training ground, they deliberately avoided sparring with Gao Xingchen; even during their usual rest time, they ignored Gao Xingchen as if he was a transparent person.

Gao Xingchen felt the changes around him, but he didn't understand what he had done wrong. He tried to communicate with Zhao Gang and others, but was met with more ridicule and sarcasm.

"What? Want to curry favor with us? It's too late!" Zhao Gang snorted disdainfully and turned away.

Gao Xingchen's mood hit rock bottom. He was like a stone forgotten in a corner, no one cared about it. He began to doubt whether his original choice was correct, and whether this path to power was really suitable for him.

In the dead of night, Gao Xingchen sat alone on the edge of the cliff, looking at the flickering lights in the distance, his heart filled with confusion and loneliness. He didn't know how long it would take him to walk this road, nor did he know if he could hold on to the end.

The dark clouds blocked the moonlight, and the high star on the cliff felt cold all over. The joy of entering the door seemed to have become a distant dream, and the reality before him was like the night, wrapping him tightly and suffocating him.

In the past few days, Zhao Gang had been bullying him even more severely, and even other disciples looked at him with suspicion and contempt. Gao Xingchen didn't understand why he had to endure such unwarranted malice when he was devoted to the Dao.

"Xingchen, are you there?" An old voice sounded behind him. Gao Xingchen turned around and saw Elder Zhang standing not far away. The moonlight shining on his wrinkled face, making him look even more serious.

Elder Zhang was famous for his strictness, and all his disciples were in awe of him. Gao Xingchen quickly stood up and saluted: "Disciple is here."

"I've heard about your situation." Elder Zhang's tone was calm, yet he carried an aura of authority without even getting angry.

Gao Xingchen's heart tightened. He knew that he was being ostracized, but he didn't know how Elder Zhang would deal with him. Would he punish him for being too weak, or reprimand him for causing trouble?

"Raise your head." Elder Zhang's voice became a little gentler. "The road to immortality is full of thorns and tests. How can those with weak minds reach the pinnacle?"

Gao Xingchen raised his head, his eyes flickering with confusion. Elder Zhang walked up to him, pointed to the brightly lit valley in the distance and said, "Look, those lights seem bright, but they are all surrounded by darkness. Only by becoming strong can we dispel the darkness and illuminate the way forward."

Gao Xingchen nodded, not quite understanding. Elder Zhang patted him on the shoulder, turned around and left, leaving behind only a slightly hunched back.

Gao Xingchen looked at Elder Zhang going away, feeling mixed emotions. He knew that Elder Zhang was instructing him not to be defeated by the current predicament.

Back in the room, Gao Xingchen tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. He decided to go to the library to look for the answer, perhaps those ancient books could give him some pointers.

The library was silent at night, with only the dim candlelight flickering. Gao Xingchen flipped through the books carefully, hoping to find a solution to his dilemma.

Suddenly, an ancient secret book came into view. There was no text on the cover, but it emitted a strange energy fluctuation. Gao Xingchen opened the secret book for some unknown reason, and a strong suction force pulled him in.

"What are you doing?!" A roar broke the silence.

Gao Xingchen suddenly woke up, only to find himself being pinned to the ground by Zhao Gang, with the ancient secret book in his hand.

"Zhao Gang, let me go!" Gao Xingchen struggled, but to no avail.

"Great! You actually dared to hide the secret manual!" Zhao Gang looked very proud, as if he had caught Gao Xingchen's handle. "Someone come here! Someone is stealing something!"

Gao Xingchen immediately realized that this was a trap set by Zhao Gang! He wanted to explain himself, but found that he had no way to defend himself. He could only watch Zhao Gang take him away.

Outside the library, more and more disciples gathered, pointing and talking about Gao Xingchen. Gao Xingchen was filled with grievance and anger. He had never thought that he would be wrongly accused of being a thief.

Outside the library, the noise and accusations surged towards Gao Xingchen like waves, drowning him. He clenched his fists, veins bulging, but he was powerless to refute. The familiar faces now became strange and indifferent, and the suspicious eyes pierced his heart like thorns.

"I really didn't steal!" Gao Xingchen's voice was hoarse and weak, and seemed insignificant in the noisy environment.

In the crowd, a thin figure squeezed to the front. It was Ling'er. Her face flushed and she said loudly, "I believe in Senior Brother Xingchen. He would not do such a thing! It must be Zhao Gang who framed him!"

Ling'er's words were like a stone thrown into a lake, causing a small ripple. Some disciples showed hesitation, but were quickly suppressed by Zhao Gang's sarcasm.

"Ling'er, you have a good relationship with him, so of course you will speak for him. But what evidence do you have to prove that he didn't steal? This secret book was found in his hands!" Zhao Gang pointed at the secret book in Gao Xingchen's hand with an aggressive tone.

Ling'er was speechless for a moment. She just relied on her trust in Gao Xingchen but had no solid evidence.

Another voice rang out from the crowd: "I believe in Gao Xingchen! He is an upright person and would never steal!"

The person who spoke was Xuanfeng. He was on good terms with Gao Xingchen and knew very well that Gao Xingchen was a very upright and kind person in his heart and would never do such a thing.

"You two are on good terms with him, so you'll naturally speak for him!" Zhao Gang snorted disdainfully, "This is a matter of great importance to the sect's secrets, how can you make random guesses!"

He turned to the deacon disciple who had come running over and said, "Brother Deacon, these two people are protecting the thief and must be severely punished!"

The deacon disciple had a blank expression on his face. He ignored Zhao Gang and looked at Gao Xingchen coldly, saying, "Take him away first!"

When Gao Xingchen was taken away, he glanced at the crowd, but saw only indifference and suspicion. His heart felt like it had fallen into an ice cave, freezing cold.

Grievances, anger, and a sense of powerlessness intertwined and wrapped him tightly. He didn't know what he had done wrong, why should he endure all this?

"Is this the path to becoming an immortal? Full of intrigue and evil hearts?" Gao Xingchen murmured to himself, his heart filled with confusion and pain.