“Senior brother Ye Feng is so cool!” a young disciple exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with admiration.
The preparatory disciples’ mess hall buzzed with activity. Thousands of disciples were gathered, eagerly eating their meals during the fixed times allotted by the sect. At this stage of Qi Refining, they still needed to eat regular food, and the Bigu Dan was far too expensive for most of them. Missing these meal times meant spending money in the nearby market—an option few could afford.
Among the crowd, three disciples sat together, animatedly discussing recent events.
“I know, right?” another disciple chimed in, excitement coloring his voice. “It’s only been a year since senior brother Ye Feng won the preparatory disciple competition and got promoted to the outer sect, and he’s already making a name for himself. He’s defeated so many famous disciples in the outer sect!”
The Qinglian Sect held a competition between the preparatory disciples every three years, and last year had been one of those times. To even qualify, a disciple needed to have reached at least the third stage of the Qi Refining Realm.
The competition was a huge deal. Not only did it give disciples a chance to make a name for themselves, but the top ten participants would be promoted to the outer sect regardless of whether they had reached the fourth stage. And then there were the rewards—coveted treasures and resources that could accelerate one’s cultivation. It was no wonder that so many disciples were eager to participate.
But the real allure of the competition wasn’t just the rewards or the promotion to the outer sect. The top performers had the rare chance to catch the eye of a sect elder. While getting noticed by a Golden Core elder was a near-impossible feat, even becoming the disciple of a Foundation Building elder could make a world of difference in a disciple’s cultivation journey. It was a shortcut to success, a way to ensure smoother sailing through the treacherous waters of cultivation.
That’s why some disciples, even after reaching the fourth stage, would hold off on reporting their progress. They’d bide their time, waiting for the next competition, hoping to make it into the top ten and secure a brighter future.
The previous Ling Tian had been one of those disciples, pushing himself relentlessly to reach the third stage so he could compete. He dreamed of making it into the top ranks, but his ambition had driven him to the brink, leading to his tragic demise.
Ye Feng, on the other hand, had become the stuff of legend. He had been the dark horse of the last competition—a disciple with inferior-grade spiritual roots, mocked and dismissed by his peers. But in the competition, he had stunned everyone by revealing his fourth-stage cultivation and defeating all who stood in his way, claiming the first-place spot.
Disciples with inferior-grade spiritual roots were often treated as little more than future servants. The consensus was that they would fail the sect’s test after ten years and spend the rest of their lives in servitude. Few deemed those future servants their equal. Low-grade roots offered a glimmer of hope, but even those disciples faced condescension.
For six long years, Ye Feng had endured the ridicule of his peers. But rumors swirled that during a mission outside the sect, he had stumbled upon a fortuitous encounter that not only improved his spiritual roots but also advanced his cultivation.
The sect offered these optional missions to give disciples a chance to earn money or gain combat experience. For Ye Feng, it had been an opportunity to change his fate.
“I also want to become like senior brother Ye Feng,” the third disciple said, his voice tinged with longing.
The second disciple scoffed, shooting him a disdainful look. “You? Like senior brother Ye Feng? Dream in moderation, brother.”
The third disciple’s face flushed with embarrassment, his confidence crumbling under the harsh words. He opened his mouth to retort, but no words came. Instead, he cast his gaze downward, feeling the sting of the second disciple’s scorn.
Unfazed, the second disciple continued, puffing out his chest. “It will take me at most three months to reach the fourth stage. Then I’ll become an outer sect disciple,” he declared with a smug grin. “Once that happens, I’ll approach senior brother Ye Feng and request to become his follower,” he added, his voice brimming with self-assurance.
His two companions exchanged surprised glances, taken aback by his bold ambition.
“Congratulations, brother Han,” the first disciple said, quickly recovering. “Please don’t forget us brothers after you become an outer sect disciple.”
“Congratulations, brother Han,” the third disciple echoed, though his voice lacked the same enthusiasm.
“Haha, how could I forget my brothers?” Han laughed, the gloating in his tone unmistakable. “But you should practice hard and aim for an early breakthrough. Otherwise, the distance between us might become too great,” he advised, though the hidden pride in his voice didn’t go unnoticed.
“Thank you, brother Han. Oh no, I should start calling you senior brother Han,” the first disciple corrected himself with a smile. “I’ll work extra hard to reach the fourth stage as soon as possible. When I do, would you put in a good word for me with senior brother Ye Feng? Maybe he’ll take me as his follower too,” he asked, his eyes filled with hopeful anticipation.
“Sure, sure,” Han said with a dismissive wave of his hand, though he couldn’t hide the pleased smile that spread across his face at being called “senior brother.”
“Thank you, senior brother Han. We’ll work harder,” the third disciple said with an eager nod. But then, his tone turned mocking as he glanced at another disciple sitting nearby. “At least we’re sure to be promoted to the outer sect, unlike some others.”
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Lu Yang, who had been quietly eating his food while listening to their conversation, finished his meal. Without a word, he stood up and walked away, his expression unreadable.
The third disciple watched him go, sneering. “How dare he act so indifferent in front of senior brother Han? Senior brother, do you want me to teach him a lesson for disrespecting you?” he asked, his voice dripping with flattery.
Han waved him off with a dismissive hand. “Forget it. We, with middle-grade spiritual roots, are in a different league than someone with just a low-grade spiritual root. Even if he does manage to become an outer disciple, he’ll always be at the bottom. We belong to different worlds.”
“Well said, senior brother. Does he think he could be like senior brother Ye Feng? Not everyone is that fortunate,” the first disciple added with a scornful chuckle.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang walked back to his abode, a small, sparsely furnished hut that was typical for preparatory disciples. Unlike wealthier disciples who could afford better accommodations, this was all he had.
As he entered the hut, the weight of the conversation he’d overheard settled heavily on him. ‘Will I be able to reach the fourth stage in three years?’ he wondered, a deep sigh escaping his lips. He had been in the sect for seven years, and with his low-grade spiritual root, progress had been slow. It had taken him until just a month ago to reach the third stage, and the thought of reaching the fourth in only three years felt almost impossible.
He knew the difficulty increased with each breakthrough, especially at key stages like the fourth, seventh, and tenth. That’s why the fourth stage was used as the test objective—it was a significant hurdle, one that separated those who would advance from those destined for failure.
Lu Yang was just another face in the crowd, a common disciple in the sect, easily overlooked and often dismissed. He knew what the other disciples said behind his back—whispers that were bitter, harsh, but undeniably true. Even if he somehow managed to be promoted to the outer sect, he was destined to linger at the bottom, overshadowed by those with greater talent.
But despite the bleak reality, Lu Yang refused to give up. He returned to his cultivation, driven by the slim hope of at least having a fighting chance. Even if he remained at the bottom forever, he wanted to give it his all.
As he closed his eyes, seeking to enter a meditative state, he suddenly felt something fall in front of him. Startled, he opened his eyes and saw a black circular medallion resting on the floor. The medallion featured a raised design of an eclipse on one side, its surface gleaming ominously in the dim light of his hut.
Lu Yang’s breath caught in his throat. He knew enough about the world of cultivation to recognize that such a thing didn’t appear by accident. Whoever—or whatever—had placed it there had to possess a cultivation level far beyond his own.
“Senior, do you have any instructions for this junior?” Lu Yang asked humbly, his voice tinged with a mix of awe and fear.
He waited in the silence, straining to hear any response, but none came. The medallion remained still and silent. After several long moments, curiosity got the better of him, and he cautiously reached out to pick it up.
[You are given a chance to become a member of the Eclipse Syndicate. Do you agree?]
A voice echoed in his mind, startling him. He froze, the medallion cold in his hand.
‘Is this the voice of an artifact spirit? But don’t only heaven-rank or higher weapons have a chance to develop artifact spirits?’ he wondered, his mind racing with possibilities.
Before he could ponder further, the voice spoke again.
[You are given a chance to become a member of the Eclipse Syndicate. Do you agree?]
‘Does becoming a member mean binding to this artifact? But then, what is the Eclipse Syndicate?’ Lu Yang pondered. ‘Could someone be creating a new sect and scouting potential disciples to poach? But who would have access to such a powerful artifact? And why would they choose me?’
Doubts flooded his thoughts. ‘Is it a demon sect? The name certainly sounds like one,’ he mused, his heart pounding in his chest. ‘Should I report this to an elder? But what if… what if this is my opportunity to finally change my status? What if this is my chance to change my destiny?’
“Why should I join?” Lu Yang asked aloud, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
[Join us, and your ambitions will no longer be bound by limits.]
The voice’s bold words echoed in his mind, stirring something deep within him. Lu Yang knew that grand promises were often made, but the reality could be disappointingly different. He considered rejecting the offer, but a quiet voice inside him urged him to reconsider. This could be his one chance to break free from the limitations that had always held him back.
After a long moment of contemplation, weighing the risks and the possibilities, Lu Yang finally made his decision. “I accept,” he said, following his intuition, hoping it would lead him to a brighter future.
[Congratulations, Lu Yang. You are now a member of the Eclipse Syndicate.]
The back of the medallion, once plain and empty, now displayed a black zero. It glowed faintly, marking the beginning of his new journey.
[You start at rank 0. To reach rank 1, complete 10 rank 0 missions.]
As the voice spoke, a translucent screen appeared before Lu Yang’s eyes. The interface was sleek and otherworldly, unlike anything he had seen before. The voice continued, explaining the basics of the system, and Lu Yang quickly grasped the essentials. He marveled at the medallion’s design, certain now that it was no ordinary artifact—it had to be an immortal treasure, or perhaps a part or a copy of one, as all members seemed to receive one.
The screen before Lu Yang displayed three tabs: Status, Missions, and Shop. Curiosity piqued, he explored the Status tab first. It revealed his name, rank, cultivation level, and even listed the various techniques and skills he had practiced. The detail was astonishing—far more comprehensive than anything he had ever seen.
He then moved to the Missions tab, which contained several tasks, all at rank 0. His current rank corresponded to that of a mortal, and the voice had informed him that he needed to complete ten rank 0 missions to advance to rank 1, which aligned with the Qi Refining realm.
Eager to see what else the system had to offer, he quickly skimmed the mission list and then clicked on the Shop tab, but it remained locked.
[Complete one mission to unlock the shop.]
Disappointment flickered across Lu Yang’s face. The shop was a crucial component of the system and the promise of what it might contain only fueled his determination to progress. But first, he needed to prove himself.
Returning to the Missions tab, Lu Yang examined the available tasks. There were only three missions listed, and he couldn’t help but wonder if more would appear over time. He knew he needed to complete ten missions to reach rank 1, so he decided to start immediately. Without hesitation, he selected the first mission on the list.
[Mission: I want protection for my caravan during its entire journey to and from Redleaf Town. The mercenaries need to remain hidden and avoid detection. If they are discovered, it must appear as though they are random passersby who decided to help out of goodwill.
Reward: 20 gold coins, 1 mission point]