Riu Xian walked through the vibrant Thousand Lantern Market under the cover of night. The glowing lanterns above gave the streets an ethereal feel, casting a warm light on the bustling trade and the occasional laughter of merchants and travelers. After the auction ended, the crowd had dispersed, but the energy of the market remained alive. Having secured the scroll at the auction, he felt content but wary. Something was amiss.
After some time exploring the market, he decided it was time to rest. He found a quiet inn tucked into a corner of the district and rented a room for the night. The wooden interior of the room smelled faintly of incense, and its simplicity offered a comforting calm. Yet, as Riu Xian settled in, he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching him.
He looked outside the window and scanned the dimly lit alleyways. He even extended his spiritual sense, but nothing seemed out of place. Still, the feeling persisted. Deciding to focus his mind, Riu Xian sat in a meditative position on the floor and pulled out the scroll he had won at the auction.
Unrolling it, he studied the intricate lines of text and diagrams. The technique’s name, Blazing Phoenix Fist, immediately caught his attention. The first part of the technique described a way to channel fire Qi into one's fists, creating explosive attacks that combined raw strength with elemental ferocity.
He began practicing the basics, visualizing the flow of fire Qi within his meridians as described in the scroll. With every breath, he felt a growing warmth in his core. He focused that heat into his fists, slowly exuding a faint but fiery aura. As he punched the air, a surge of fire shot out briefly from his fist, dissipating in an instant.
A smile spread across his face. “So, this is the Blazing Phoenix Fist,” he murmured. Though he had only scratched the surface, the potential of the technique excited him.
Once he had finished his practice, Riu Xian leaned back against the wall, lost in thought. He realized that since reincarnating into this world, he hadn’t taken the time to learn much about it. He knew very little about the cultivation world’s structure, its countries, cities, sects, and prominent families.
“This ignorance could cost me one day,” he thought, making a mental note to investigate further.
The next morning, Riu Xian descended to the inn’s restaurant for breakfast. He chose a seat near the window, where he could observe the bustling market outside. As he ate, he noticed an interesting detail: some people exuded Qi, a faint glow surrounding their bodies, while others did not.
“Why do some cultivate while others remain mortal?” he wondered. It was a curious thought. Cultivation granted a longer life, strength, and power. Even low-level cultivators enjoyed an extended lifespan. So why wouldn’t everyone strive for at least a basic cultivation level?
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His musings were interrupted by a commotion outside. A man who didn’t appear to have any Qi stepped accidentally on the shoe of a low-level Qi Gathering cultivator.
“You dare to step on my shoes, you mere mortal? I’ll make you pay!” the cultivator barked, his voice dripping with arrogance.
Riu Xian watched silently. “A mortal,” he thought, “but aren’t we all mortals until we reach true immortality? Cultivators only appear immortal to those who cannot cultivate. Yet, why wouldn’t they at least try? Even a small achievement could give them a better life.”
As this thought lingered, the uneasy feeling of being watched returned. His instincts told him he was being followed. To confirm his suspicion, Riu Xian left the inn and walked toward the nearby forest on the outskirts of the market.
Once deep within the forest, he stopped and extended his spiritual sense. Moments later, several figures emerged from the shadows. Leading them was the crimson-robed hooded man who had bid against him during the auction. The veiled woman who had whispered to him earlier stood by his side.
Riu Xian’s spiritual sense quickly assessed their strength. Seven of them were in the Qi Gathering stage, the hooded man was at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, and the veiled woman was an early Core Formation cultivator.
A chuckle escaped his lips. “Qi Gathering and Foundation Establishment cultivators are no match for me. But the veiled woman… she’s dangerous.”
Riu Xian weighed his options. He could use his newly acquired Blazing Phoenix Fist, perhaps combining it with his Murim Tiger Punch. It would be a good test of his strength. However, if the fight turned against him, he had his boat spatial ring. The remarkable artifact could travel underground for up to five kilometers while remaining invisible, making it an ideal escape tool.
The hooded man stepped forward, his voice cold and threatening. “You’ve made a fool of me at the auction. That technique should have been mine.”
Riu Xian tilted his head, a faint smirk on his face. “If it should have been yours, you should’ve bid higher.”
The man’s eyes narrowed, and he gestured for his group to attack. The Qi Gathering cultivators charged first, their movements clumsy compared to Riu Xian’s sharp senses.
He moved like a shadow, his fists igniting as he unleashed the Blazing Phoenix Fist. Fire roared around his hands as he struck, sending two of the attackers flying. Their bodies crashed into the trees, smoke rising from their scorched robes.
A third cultivator lunged at him with a sword, but Riu Xian sidestepped effortlessly and retaliated with a Murim Tiger Punch. The blow landed with a loud crack, and the cultivator crumpled to the ground.
The hooded man growled in frustration and joined the fight, summoning a spear infused with his Foundation Establishment Qi. His strikes were swift and precise, forcing Riu Xian to focus. The fiery aura of the Blazing Phoenix Fist collided with the spear, creating sparks that lit up the dark forest.
“I’ve had enough of this!” the veiled woman said, her voice cold as she raised her hand. A wave of Core Formation Qi surged forward, suffocating the air around them.