Tian Ling entered the outer palace of the Serene Mist Sect. The place was breathtaking, with majestic architecture that combined elegance and grandeur. The floor was covered with gleaming white marble, reflecting the soft lights that illuminated the hall. The columns, made of carved jade, stood like sentinels, adorned with intricate details of dragons and phoenixes that seemed to come to life in the daylight. It was a place designed to inspire reverence.
As he walked through the hall, Tian Ling carefully observed the outer disciples, many of whom were cultivating with great seriousness. He noticed the determination on their faces, the rigid posture of those who had a clear goal: to gain the approval of an elder and become an inner disciple of the sect. Only as inner disciples could they learn advanced spells and dharma techniques, as well as receive direct guidance from powerful elders, some in the Spiritual Core Realm, others in the feared True Soul Realm.
Tian Ling felt excitement growing within him. The prospect of becoming stronger motivated him, and he quickly began to search for a suitable place to cultivate. The hall was vast, offering a variety of spaces, from quiet areas for meditation to combat arenas for the more daring. But today, Tian Ling was not interested in fighting; he was focused on his personal growth.
"Hello, are you the new outer disciple?" A soft yet firm voice broke his concentration. Tian Ling turned abruptly, surprised by the closeness and suddenness of the voice. His eyes locked onto a stunningly beautiful girl. Her jade-green eyes looked at him with curiosity, and her golden hair shone like the rays of the sun. The smile on her face was so radiant that it made him think, "Who is this beauty? She is... beautiful."
Before he could respond, a screen appeared in his vision, surprising him:
[NAME: JIN YU - OUTER DISCIPLE OF THE SERENE MIST SECT
AGE: 19 YEARS
REALM: MORTAL (ADVANCED)
SPIRITUAL ROOT: MEDIUM]
Tian Ling frowned, still startled, but quickly remembered the system. It had been over a month since he last saw that screen, and he had come to believe that it was all just a dream or hallucination. But there it was again, clear and vivid before his eyes.
“W-who are you?” he stammered, taking a step back, still dazed.
“I am Jin Yu. A pleasure to meet you!” she replied with a warm smile. “I heard from the master that you were arriving, but… she mentioned that you were just starting to cultivate. How have you already reached the intermediate level of the Mortal Realm?” The surprise in her voice was evident as her eyes scanned Tian Ling from head to toe, as if trying to uncover his secret. “This boy is incredibly handsome… It’s a pity that the master said he has a mediocre spiritual root; otherwise, he could have been my Dao companion,” she thought, holding back a sigh.
Tian Ling forced a smile, trying to regain his composure. “I am Tian Ling. Pleased to meet you, senior sister. I just had some luck in my cultivation, that’s all.”
Jin Yu smiled again, this time with a friendly glint in her eyes. “Alright! Let’s do our best to become inner disciples!” She clenched her fists with determination, her gaze firm and resolute. Then, she bid farewell to Tian Ling with a friendly wave, walking away with light but determined steps.
Tian Ling watched her leave for a moment before heading to a more secluded corner of the hall. He needed to focus on his cultivation. To reach the Foundation Realm, he knew he had to become an inner disciple, no matter the cost. Despite his concerns about the guardian system, it had not caused him any harm so far; on the contrary, the system had gifted him an incredible technique, valuable items, and even a spiritual root. “A being capable of such things would have no reason to harm me,” he reflected.
He sat down in the lotus position, crossing his legs, and began to circulate his energy as instructed by the Path of Inner Flow technique. The energy around him seemed denser, almost tangible, and he could feel a deeper connection with the heavens and the earth.
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Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, in a remote corner of the Nine Stars Realm...
"Did you manage to infiltrate the Serene Mist Sect?" The deep and authoritative voice echoed through the dark walls. The man sitting on a black throne had an overwhelming presence. He wore a black robe draped over his broad shoulders, and his imposing stature, nearly two meters tall, only increased his menacing aura. His disciple, kneeling before him, responded with absolute respect:
"Yes, master. We have four spies in the Serene Mist Sect at the moment, as previously ordered."
The man, Bai Jian, master of the Dark Sect, smiled wickedly as he stroked his long white beard, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Excellent. With this, the preparations are almost complete."
Bai Jian slowly rose from his throne, his voice thundering through the vast halls of the sect. "Summon all the elders of the council for an urgent meeting!"
His order echoed throughout the Dark Sect, a vast fortress shrouded in darkness. The towering, ominous structures loomed like shadows under the black sky, while the central palace dominated the scene with its sinister grandeur.
Quickly, the sect elders gathered in the central palace, all with serious and determined expressions. Bai Jian looked at them with a mix of confidence and disdain.
"Our plans are proceeding as expected. Soon, we will be able to completely absorb the Serene Mist Sect and become the most powerful sect in the Nine Stars!" His voice was filled with certainty.
One of the elders, with a worried expression, spoke up. "Master, we must be cautious. The Serene Mist Sect has several elders in the True Soul Realm. I fear it will not be so simple to bring them down."
All the elders nodded, showing a slight apprehension.
Bai Jian shot a fierce look at the elder. "What is there to fear? I am already on the verge of reaching the Perfected Soul Realm. Who in the Nine Stars will be able to oppose me when that day comes?"
The elders exchanged surprised glances. "W-what? Perfected Soul Realm? Seriously?"
The revelation caused an immediate impact. A cultivator in the Perfected Soul Realm was practically invincible in the Nine Stars. The room buzzed with murmurs of excitement.
Bai Jian, now more confident than ever, clenched his fists. "Just forty more years, and I will surely break through. I want to see who will dare to challenge me then!"
The elders nodded in unison. For cultivators, forty years was nothing. The wait would be worth it.
Time passed quickly, and two years flew by like a breath...
"Fuuu... I finally reached the advanced level of the Mortal Realm," Tian Ling murmured as he slowly opened his eyes. He frowned, sensing something strange. "I’m not just circulating energy; I’m directly absorbing the energy of heaven and earth. But that shouldn’t be possible… I’m still in the Mortal Realm."
In the Mortal Realm, cultivators usually circulated energy around their bodies to strengthen them, causing the energy to flow through their meridians, transforming their muscles and adapting them to the energy of heaven and earth. This process prepared the body to begin Foundation. Only upon reaching the Foundation Realm could someone be considered a true cultivator.
Suddenly, a realization came to Tian Ling’s mind. "It must be because of the Path of Inner Flow technique. This technique is... incredible!" He knew that when he finally broke through to the Foundation Realm, this technique could evolve, making his cultivation base extremely stronger than usual. Excited by this prospect, Tian Ling closed his eyes again and returned to his cultivation, feeling more motivated than ever.
The following year, Elder Lian Ziyue returned to evaluate the outer disciples, observing them as they diligently cultivated. Her experienced eyes scanned the hall, analyzing the progress of each one. It was then that, at the back, she spotted Tian Ling, deeply immersed in his cultivation. What she saw left her speechless for a brief moment. "This boy... he’s already reaching the peak of the Mortal Realm? Did I underestimate his spiritual root?" The thought crossed her mind with a mix of astonishment and admiration. The speed at which Tian Ling was advancing was impressive, almost unbelievable.
Breaking through a minor realm is usually a slow and arduous process, except for those who have fortuitous encounters or the guidance of a powerful master. Lian Ziyue pondered what could be driving this growth. "It’s a pity that he might not yet be ready to become an inner disciple in the next External Battle... but I’m sure he will succeed in the next one." A slight smile of anticipation curved the elder’s lips. There was something about Tian Ling that stirred genuine curiosity in her, as if he could be more than he appeared.
And so, another two long years passed, marked by days of relentless cultivation and nights when the stars seemed to witness the silent growth of a rare talent...