Chương 5: Chapter 6: The World of Cultivation

A streak of azure light tore through the heavens, piercing the firmament before descending like a falling star upon the slope of the Ascension Path. As the radiance dissipated, revealing the figure within, Elder Hu's eyes widened in genuine shock. He immediately bowed, his voice laced with profound respect.

"Fifth Senior Brother? What brings you here?" This newcomer was none other than Dan Chenzi, the fifth disciple of the previous Sect Leader of the Xuanxiao Sect. A cultivator at the Great Circle of the Foundation Establishment realm and a Grade 3 Alchemist, his status within the sect was nothing short of monumental. Despite both holding the title of Foundation Establishment cultivators, Elder Hu's posture was one of humble deference, bordering on sycophancy.

"Salutations, Martial Uncle!" The dozen or so Xuanxiao Sect disciples nearby dropped to their knees in unison, their voices echoing with reverence. Dan Chenzi offered a casual wave of his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips as he gestured toward Reyn.

"This little fellow is quite intriguing. His temperament is as unyielding as tempered steel." Standing amidst the crowd, Reyn forced his heavy eyelids open. His lips twitched in a ghost of a smile before his strength finally failed. His body tilted backward, collapsing toward the hard earth. He had pushed himself far beyond the physical limits of a mortal, sustained only by a soul-deep refusal to submit.

Now that the finish line had been reached, that iron will relaxed, and the strength maintaining his frame vanished instantly. A gentle, invisible force caught him before he could strike the ground. In the blink of an eye, Dan Chenzi had appeared behind the boy, supporting him with a soft cushion of spiritual energy. The elder frowned slightly as he inspected the unconscious youth.

"Exceptional character, yet he possesses no spiritual roots. What a pity," Dan Chenzi sighed softly.

"Still, a meeting is a matter of fate. I shall keep him by my side. As for his future, that will depend entirely on his own fortune." Turning to the other elder, Dan Chenzi spoke with an air of finality.

"Junior Brother Hu, this boy shall serve as a registered disciple under me. Have his identity jade token delivered to my residence later." Before the surrounding youths could even process their envy, a flash of light enveloped Dan Chenzi and Reyn. In a heartbeat, they vanished, streaking toward the horizon. Hundred Herb Valley held a position of unique importance within the Xuanxiao Sect.

Its master, Dan Chenzi, was not only at the peak of Foundation Establishment—poised to strike at the Golden Core realm—but his mastery of alchemy made him indispensable. The valley spanned thousands of feet, filled with rows of rare spirit herbs that exhaled a fragrance so potent it could clear a man's mind with a single breath. Scattered among the greenery were several simple stone houses. Inside one of them, a youth lay on a bed, his brow furrowed in a restless sleep. Did I pass? Where am I?

Reyn's eyes snapped open. He immediately began scanning his surroundings with practiced caution. The room was modest but impeccably clean. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating an unknown green plant sitting on the sill. Reyn's memory was a blur; he remembered the agonizing crawl up the Ascension Path, the weight of the world on his shoulders, and then... darkness. He had clearly collapsed, yet here he was. Did I actually make it? The door creaked open, and a graceful figure stepped inside.

Her eyebrows were like crescent moons, her nose delicate, and her lips as red as cherries. Even without a trace of makeup, she radiated an aura of ethereal nobility. Her skin was as pale and smooth as fine jade, and her long black hair cascaded down her back like a silken waterfall. It was Ji Yueli. Seeing that Reyn was awake, Ji Yueli paused for a fraction of a second, her expression remaining cool and detached.

"Master has instructed that you are to drink this medicine once you wake. Afterward, find him in the valley," she said tonelessly. She set the bowl down on a side table and turned to leave without another word. From beginning to end, her gaze never lingered on him for even a moment. Reyn didn't take her coldness to heart; he knew she was a favored child of heaven with top-tier spiritual roots. It was only natural for her to be proud. His mind was occupied with a more pressing concern: his fate.

While the fact that a True Inheritance Disciple was delivering him medicine suggested he had passed, he wouldn't be at peace until it was confirmed. He downed the bitter brew in a few gulps and stood up. To his surprise, his body felt rejuvenated, brimming with a vitality he had never known. The wonders of the immortals, he thought, suppressed his shock as he walked out into the sunlight. He crossed the courtyard, ignoring the envious stares of the Outer Sect disciples tending the gardens.

Spotting a figure in the distance, Reyn didn't hesitate. He knelt deeply, pressing his forehead to the soil.

"Mortal Reyn greets the Immortal! Thank you, Great Immortal, for saving my life and granting me this rebirth!" The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Dan Chenzi turned around. He was currently wearing a common herb basket and had soil staining his hands. With his warm, gentle smile, he looked no different from an ordinary old herbalist in the mortal world. Yet, Reyn remained perfectly still, his respect absolute.

"Hoho, stand up, little fellow. Consider that kowtow your formal greeting to your master," Dan Chenzi chuckled. He pressed a jade slip into Reyn's hand.

"This is your identity token. From this day forth, you are my registered disciple." Looking at Reyn, the elder felt a pang of regret. Such a perfect temperament, yet born without spiritual roots. If not for that, Reyn would have been the perfect candidate to inherit his full legacy. It was only out of rare pity and admiration for the boy's grit that Dan Chenzi had bothered to intervene at all. Reyn froze, his mind momentarily blank before a wave of euphoria crashed over him.

He kowtowed again, his voice thick with emotion.

"Thank you, Master! Thank you!" He had stayed. He had finally secured a foothold. He would make his parents proud, and he would ensure that no one would ever look down on his family again. He was now a disciple of Dan Chenzi, and though he didn't know the full extent of his master's power, it was clear the man was a titan within the sect.

"Enough. You've slept for a full day. Return to your room and rest," Dan Chenzi said, waving him off.

"I had your Senior Sister leave a few jade slips in your room. they contain the basic knowledge of the cultivation world. Study them well. Come find me in a few days." Reyn bowed respectfully and hurried back, his heart racing. The world of cultivation—he had finally stepped through the door. Back in his room, he found three jade slips on the table. Ji Yueli was nowhere to be seen. He picked up the first slip and pressed it to his forehead. Instantly, a flood of information surged into his mind.

Three hours later, Reyn lowered the slip, rubbing his throbbing temples. His eyes were wide with shock. So this was the true scale of the world. There were eight major realms of cultivation: Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Integration, Tribulation Transcendence, and Great Ascension.

Those who reached the peak of Great Ascension and broke through the final barrier would become True Immortals—beings who were eternal, coexisting with the heavens and earth themselves. Each realm was divided into four sub-stages: Early, Mid, Late, and the Great Circle. The gap between each stage was a literal chasm, growing more insurmountable the higher one climbed. To reach the Golden Core realm, one had to survive a Heavenly Tribulation.

Success meant a five-hundred-year lifespan and overwhelming power; failure meant being reduced to ash. The Nascent Soul realm required facing the Minor Heavenly Tribulation of the Three-Nines, granting a millennium of life. Beyond that lay the Soul Transformation realm, the pinnacle of what this world could sustain. To go further, one had to ascend to the Spirit Realm, a journey that required braving the terrifying Lightning Tribulations. One mistake meant eternal extinction. Reyn broke into a cold sweat.

The path of cultivation was a treacherous tightrope over an abyss. Yet, the thought of such god-like power made his blood boil with excitement. Then, reality set in. Without spiritual roots, all of this was likely a beautiful dream he could never touch. Once his heart calmed, he picked up the second slip. It was an encyclopedia of spirit herbs—thousands of images, properties, and harvesting methods. Realizing this would take months to memorize, he set it aside for later. The third slip was a different color.

As he scanned it, a technique appeared in his mind: The Myriad Wood Life-Transformation Art. Below the title was a small note: Reyn, my disciple. Lacking spiritual roots does not mean you cannot cultivate; it simply means your progress will be agonizingly slow. This art is not rare, but its requirements are low. It shall be your foundation. Be diligent, and never succumb to despair. Reyn was overjoyed. He focused every ounce of his mental energy on the text.

"The universe was born from chaos, divided into the Five Elements: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth..." Though it was a low-level manual, the concepts were profound to a mortal. Reyn found the sentences cryptic, yet they seemed to hum with the truths of the Dao. By the time he opened his eyes again, the world outside was shrouded in twilight. Despite his exhaustion, his eyes sparkled. He had memorized every word. For the next several days, Reyn remained in his room, obsessively studying the technique.

He occasionally ventured out to meet the other Outer Sect disciples managing the valley, but his mind was always on his cultivation. Finally, he felt ready. Taking a deep breath, he sat cross-legged on his bed and began to circulate his breath according to the Myriad Wood Life-Transformation Art, attempting to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. One hour passed. Two. Three. His legs grew numb, yet he felt nothing. The manual claimed that even a mediocre student should sense Qi within half an hour.

But for him, there was only silence. The bitterness returned—this was the curse of having no spiritual roots. But Reyn's jaw set in a grim line. If three hours weren't enough, he would sit for six. If six failed, he would sit for twelve. He refused to believe the path was closed to him. Time blurred. Just as he was slipping into a trance, he felt something. Tiny motes of light seemed to be dancing just outside his skin. When he tried to focus on them, they blurred, but he didn't stop.

He kept the technique running, pulling at them with his very soul. Slowly, the motes drifted closer. They merged into a thin, cool thread of energy that seeped into his pores.

"Ah!" The sensation startled him, snapping him out of the trance. He was still in his room, but within his meridians, a tiny, silk-like thread of cool energy was circulating. Spiritual energy! This is the power of a cultivator! Reyn suppressed his excitement and dove back into the meditation. He guided the motes of light one by one, watching as the cool thread grew slightly stronger with every speck he absorbed. He was no longer just a mortal; he had taken his first step into the light.