After a day of rest at the Xi Hotel, Marcus decided to explore the village further. He headed to a local restaurant, a quaint establishment bustling with patrons. The aroma of various dishes filled the air, and Marcus felt his stomach growl in response. He found a seat near a group of villagers who were deep in conversation.
The villagers were talking about a place where there was a detector of people's talents that would kill those who weren't deemed worthy. They mentioned stone-like creatures guarding the place.
Eavesdropping on their discussion, Marcus heard them talking about a mysterious place underground. According to the villagers, there was a rock that could detect a person's talent. However, it was rumored to kill those whose talents exceeded what was shown. The villagers also spoke of a recent attempt by someone who had not returned and how only those with exceptional talent could survive the trials. The conversation hinted that the rock had an additional aspect related to combat.
Intrigued, Marcus leaned closer. "Excuse me," he said, addressing the group. "I couldn't help but overhear. Can you tell me more about this mysterious place?"
One of the villagers, a generous man with a kind face, nodded. "Ah, you must be a cultivator. The place you're asking about is known as the Stone of Fate. It's located about ten li (approximately five kilometers) from here, deep in the forest. Many have sought its power, but few have managed to return. The rock is said to test those who approach it, and only those with extraordinary talent can overcome its challenges."
Marcus's eyes narrowed with interest. "How can I find this Stone of Fate?"
The villager gave him detailed directions, and Marcus thanked them before leaving the restaurant. He prepared his gear and set out towards the forest, eager to uncover the secrets of the Stone of Fate.
The journey to the rock was fraught with the usual dangers—dense foliage, hidden pitfalls, and the occasional spirit. But Marcus navigated these obstacles with practiced ease. After a few hours, he reached a large, ancient rock deep in the forest, emanating an eerie glow.
Approaching cautiously, Marcus saw a small crowd of cultivators already gathered around the Stone of Fate, although their faces were obscured and not clearly visible. They were watching intently as one individual stepped forward to challenge the rock. The cultivator, brimming with confidence, placed his hand on the stone. For a moment, everything seemed calm. Then, the rock began to glow fiercely, and the atmosphere grew tense. The crowd observed in hushed anticipation, but the challenger’s face remained obscured by the brilliance of the light.
Suddenly, the energy from the rock surged violently. The cultivator fought to maintain his footing, and the glow intensified. In an unexpected turn, the figure vanished, swallowed by the stone’s light. The crowd gasped, whispering among themselves, uncertain of what had happened.
Marcus, intrigued by the mysterious scene, decided to try his hand at the Stone of Fate. He approached the ancient rock, its eerie glow casting long shadows in the dim light. With a deep breath, he placed his hand on the stone. Instantly, he felt a surge of energy coursing through him. The rock began to glow brighter, and Marcus sensed it probing his very being. Suddenly, the energy turned hostile, trying to attack him. With a surge of his own spiritual power, Marcus fought back, neutralizing the threat.
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Just as he thought it was over, a hidden mechanism within the rock activated, revealing a staircase leading underground. Marcus descended, his lightning sword at the ready. At the bottom, he found a vast chamber with ancient inscriptions covering the walls. In the center, a pedestal held a glowing orb. The unseen cultivators looked at him in shock.
Drawn to the orb, Marcus reached out and touched it. Information flooded his mind—a powerful inheritance technique that granted him the ability to detect and steal destiny or fortune/favors from the heavens. He also learned that his current destiny was favored by the heavens in this world, making him incredibly lucky. However, the ability had its limits; he could not detect those whose cultivation was higher than one level above his own, up to the Core Formation stage. The Stone of Fate also revealed the names of those who had previously sought its power, including renowned cultivators from various sects.
As Marcus processed the information, he learned about the fates of those who had failed the trials. Many had perished, unable to withstand the rock's judgment. The lower-tier cultivators had their talents drained, leaving them weak and powerless, while those with higher talents often met violent ends. Marcus, in Yusup's body, found himself lucky as no one present was stronger than him. He realized this inheritance was from the first human cultivator, as his master had mentioned. Somehow, others had found this place, but they didn't know its true origin.
Another day, Marcus set out to find the rare Silver Moon Orchid, a precious herb needed for his mission. The orchid was rumored to grow in a hidden cave deep within the Valley of Azure Clouds. As he approached the cave, he noticed a group of cultivators gathered near the entrance.
Approaching one of the cultivators, Marcus, in Yusup's body, asked, "I couldn't help but notice the diversity of sects present here. Could you tell me more about these other sect members and your own sect?"
The cultivator, a young man with a friendly demeanor, smiled. "Hi, I'm Mo Nan. I admire you and am impressed that you have the jade cultivation talent and have become a core disciple of the Righteous Sword Sect founder's course. Even though we aren’t important much, I belong to the Jade Mountain Sect. We are known for our proficiency in earth-based techniques. As for the others, there are many notable sects here: the Heavenly Flame Sect (disciples: Li Wei, Chen Yong), the Mystic Water Sect (disciples: Feng Wu, Zhang Hao), the Silent Wind Sect (disciples: Wang Lei, Liu Min), the Axe Sect (disciples: Zhao Yun, Sun Qiang, Deng Wei, Hu Fang), and the Thunderclap Sect (disciples: Lei Ming, Yu Shan, Ning Bao, Jian Rou).
Lei Ming, in particular, is incredibly formidable. He is a true prodigy who completed his Foundation Establishment in just two months and a few days. His exceptional speed and skill have made the Thunderclap Sect a force to be reckoned with. In fact, many other sects are now looking to align with or even surrender to them, given their growing influence."
Marcus couldn't help but remember the old man from the bar and wished him to find himself a sect in his next life.
Meanwhile, the old man in the bar suddenly sneezed and wondered, 'Who on this planet is talking about me?'
Marcus asked then, "Thunderclap Sect? Aren't they the third?"
Mo Nan's admiration was evident as he continued, "Yes, they were once the third, but they’ve become the second most powerful sect after the collapse of the East Demonic Sect."
Marcus nodded, absorbing the information. "And the demonic cultivators? I've heard they're not welcome here."
Mo Nan suddenly glanced at the demonic cultivators and lowered his voice. "Yes, they're from a smaller sect that emerged after the fall of the East Demonic Sect. They’re not well-regarded, and their presence often causes tension."
Thanking the young cultivator, Marcus proceeded into the cave. The journey to find the Silver Moon Orchid was long and fraught with challenges. As he navigated the cave's winding passages, he encountered a group of cultivators from the Thunderclap Sect, the second-best sect in the world. One of them, a haughty and arrogant disciple, approached Marcus with a condescending smirk.
"You must be Yusup," the Thunderclap cultivator Lei Ming said. "I've heard of you. Are you the Jade Cultivation Talent disciple of the founder of the Righteous Sword Sect?"
Marcus raised an eyebrow, responding coolly, "Who else would I be? Your mom or your dad? Don’t worry, I respect your family’s gender privacy."
Lei Ming thought angrily in his heart but as the saying that goes to not make bad reputation to the top sect, sneered, and said "Let's have a sword fight and let’s see if you're as impress as they say. Show me what you’ve got."
A fierce battle ensued. Despite the Thunderclap cultivator’s arrogance and the overestimation of his skills, Marcus demonstrated his superior strength and determination. The fight was intense, with Marcus prevailing through sheer skill and tactical advantage. After his victory, the arrogant cultivator grudgingly acknowledged Marcus's abilities.
As a token of respect, the Lei Ming gave Marcus a pill to help with the foundation establishment bottleneck breakthrough to Core Formation and faster cultivation, noting, "Fate might let us meet again later. You never know."
Marcus, in Yusup's body, replied, "If fate allows, may it fix your brain in this life or the next."