The desert stretched endlessly before Marcus, now inhabiting Yusup's body, as he made his way to the city of Lianhuo. The sun beat down relentlessly, and the sand shifted beneath his feet, but he pressed on. Lianhuo was known for its wealth, opportunities, and dangers, and Marcus was determined to establish himself there.
As he trudged through the dunes, he noticed a commotion up ahead. A girl, no older than him, was surrounded by a gang of rough-looking men. She looked terrified, struggling to fend off their advances. For a moment, Marcus considered stepping in to help, but he quickly decided against it. In this world, he needed to prioritize his own survival.
He continued on his path, ignoring the girl's plight and pushing forward. The encounter weighed on his mind, but he reminded himself that getting involved in every conflict could jeopardize his mission.
20 days passed, and the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the desert. Finally, the towering gates of Lianhuo came into view. The city was even more imposing than he had imagined, with high walls and watchful guards at every entrance. Marcus joined the line of people waiting to enter, his heart pounding with anticipation and anxiety.
As he approached the gate, situated between the desert and lush grasslands, a guard halted him. "5 cooper for entering. State your business," the guard demanded.
"I seek to join a sect in Lianhuo," Marcus replied, trying to sound confident.
The guard eyed him with suspicion, then laughed derisively. "A native deserter, huh? Many come here seeking to join sects, but only a few have any talent. Still, go on."
Inside the city, Marcus was overwhelmed by the bustling streets and the diversity of people. He made his way to the recruitment center, where hopefuls gathered to join the sects.
At the center, a tall, stern-looking man stood at the entrance. “Wang Jun—no talent!” he bellowed. “Next!”
“Zhang Lei—lower cultivation talent. Next!” he continued.
When Marcus stepped forward, the man scrutinized him with disdain. "Name?"
"Yusup," Marcus replied, using his new body's name.
The crowd erupted in laughter and whispers. A native deserter, many thought. Even among the city’s applicants, most were of lower cultivation talent, with a rare few reaching higher levels, and this immortal seeker is a Native Deserter from countryside.
"Talent assessment first," the man said not caring about identity nor ethnicity, leading Marcus to a small chamber. Inside, a group of evaluators awaited, including a stern man who seemed to be the leader.
"Place your hand on the crystal," Old Chen Hao, the evaluator, instructed. Marcus did as he was told, and the crystal glowed with an unexpected brilliance. The evaluators exchanged stunned glances.
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
"Jade talent," one of them muttered. "This is unprecedented—only one person in the world has achieved this level of cultivation talent, the First Human Cultivator."
The room fell into stunned silence. The evaluators' arrogance melted away, replaced by a mix of awe and reverence. They began to treat Marcus with newfound respect, and bow down to him their previous disdain forgotten.
As word of Marcus's extraordinary talent spread, several sects began to vie for his allegiance, sparking fierce rivalries. The Crimson Lotus Sect, known for their deadly fire techniques, clashed with the Azure Cloud Sect, whose mastery over water made them formidable opponents. Their battles were intense, with flames meeting waves in a dazzling display of power.
Not to be outdone, the Thunderstrike Sect entered the fray, unleashing their devastating lightning attacks. Their swift and brutal assaults struck fear into the hearts of their rivals, forcing the Crimson Lotus and Azure Cloud Sects to temporarily set aside their differences to fend off this new threat.
However, the chaos reached its peak when the Righteous Sword Sect, the most prestigious sect in the world, made their move. Their reputation for unmatched skill and honor preceded them, and their arrival on the battlefield was nothing short of awe-inspiring. With a single, decisive strike, their leader, Grandmaster Li, demonstrated the Righteous Sword Sect’s unparalleled prowess.
The other sects, recognizing the Righteous Sword Sect’s dominance and fearing their might, ultimately conceded. The battlefield fell silent as the rival sects withdrew, acknowledging the superiority of the Righteous Sword Sect. Marcus, witnessing the power and honor of the Righteous Sword Sect, knew where his allegiance would lie.
Two representatives from the Righteous Sword Sect, a girl and a man, approached Marcus with formal invitations.
"We would be honored to have you join us," the girl said, her tone respectful. The man nodded in agreement.
Marcus went directly to the matter “May I know your names seniors”
The girl responded, "I'm Mei Ling, Foundation Establishment outer disciple," and the guy responded, "I'm Wei Chen, Core Formation realm outer disciple too. There's no need for you to call us seniors; just call us by our names."
After a moment's passage of time traversing the skies on their flying sword, they finally arrived at the revered sect headquarters. Marcus, in awe, whispered to himself, 'So this is the true power of cultivation... I can scarcely believe it.'",
the headquarters was a majestic complex situated in the midst of tranquil mountains and lush forests. Its grandeur was awe-inspiring, with towering spires, intricate carvings, and serene courtyards that reflected the sect's long-standing prestige, and rich Qi energy.
As they approached the sect’s entrance, Zhao Feng and Lin Mei explained the various aspects of the sect’s hierarchy and traditions. Marcus learned that the sect was renowned not only for its formidable martial prowess but also for its deep-rooted principles and ancient teachings.
Upon arrival, Marcus was brought to a grand hall where he was to be formally introduced and assessed by the elders. The hall was filled with various sect members, their whispers and glances betraying a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
The leader of the Righteous Sword Sect, Elder Wu, a wise and commanding figure, presided over the ceremony. He was a man of imposing stature with an air of authority that commanded immediate respect.
“Welcome, Yusup,” Elder Wu said, his voice resonating through the hall. “We have heard much about your extraordinary talent. Today, you will undergo a series of assessments to determine your place within our sect.”
As the assessments began, an unexpected development occurred. Master Chen, who was known for his rigid standards and significant influence within the sect, as he’s the creator of sect the Ancestor, sought to claim Marcus as his personal disciple. He approached Marcus with a stern expression.
“You have extraordinary talent, but it would be beneficial for you to become my disciple,” Master Chen declared, his voice filled with authority. “Under my guidance, you will quickly rise through the ranks.”
Before Marcus could respond, a commotion broke out among the sect members. Many were shocked by Master Chen’s bold move, and whispers of discontent and surprise filled the room.
Elder Wu, seeing the potential conflict and recognizing the exceptional nature of Marcus’s talent, decided to take a decisive step. He announced, “Due to the uniqueness of Yusup’s talent and the rare opportunity it presents, he will not be a disciple of any one elder. Instead, he will be honoured as a Core Disciple under the direct legacy of the First Founder.”
The room fell silent, the gravity of the announcement settling over everyone. The Core Disciple title was reserved for those who were deemed to carry on the First Founder’s legacy and were considered to hold a special place within the sect’s hierarchy.
Master Chen’s proposal was set aside as Marcus was formally introduced to the founder headquarters —a revered place dedicated to the sect’s founder and his teachings. Marcus was bestowed with the title of Core Disciple, a position that not only granted him significant respect but also aligned him with the great lineage of the Righteous Sword Sect.