Riu Xian sat cross-legged in his underground cave beneath the river, his body surrounded by the calming flow of abundant Qi. Having mastered the Fiery Tiger Palm, he felt a sense of accomplishment. Now, it was time to explore the spoils of his recent battles. He reached for the spatial bag he had snatched from the veiled woman and inspected it with curiosity.

With a flick of his finger, the bag opened, and its contents appeared before him. Among the items was a pristine scroll that radiated faint spiritual energy. Riu Xian recognized it immediately, it was the Supreme-grade technique for women that had been auctioned earlier, the same one the hooded man had acquired.

“So, it ended up in her possession after all,” Riu Xian murmured, unrolling the scroll. As he scanned the contents, he realized it was a profound cultivation technique designed specifically for female cultivators. It emphasized elegance, grace, and deadly precision.

He placed the scroll aside and examined the remaining items. The bag contained a decent number of spirit stones, though it was clear that the veiled woman had spent the majority of her wealth to acquire the Supreme-grade technique.

Riu Xian leaned back, lost in thought. “What should I do with this technique? Should I sell it to a cultivator or at an auction house? It’s rare and valuable, but it’s not useful for me.”

An idea struck him, and a small smile appeared on his lips. “In a few months, I’ll head to the Azure Immortal Sect. Perhaps I’ll give this technique to Xiao Ming. That she helped me when I was new in this world, she is a senior in nascent soul level cultivator, perhaps she doesn't need this technique, but a supreme grade technique is rare, she might accept it.”

Satisfied with his decision, Riu Xian tucked the scroll and spirit stones back into the spatial bag.

Later that day, Riu Xian decided to explore the nearby mortal town, he walked into the bustling market. The town was alive with the chatter of merchants, the cries of street vendors, and the sound of children playing.

He found his way to a small bookshop tucked into a quiet corner of the market. The shop had an old, worn look, with shelves stacked high with scrolls and books of varying sizes.

The shopkeeper, an elderly man with sharp eyes and a friendly demeanour, greeted him. “Welcome, traveller. Looking for something specific?”

“Yes,” Riu Xian replied. “I’m searching for books about the cultivation world—its structure, history, and geography.”

The shopkeeper nodded thoughtfully. “Ah, you must be someone who values knowledge. Not many in this town ask for such books. Follow me.”

The shopkeeper stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Ah, I have just the thing. It’s an old book, but it contains valuable knowledge for someone seeking insight into our world.”

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

He shuffled to a dusty shelf and retrieved a leather-bound book. Handing it to Riu Xian, he said, “This one’s called Foundations of the Cultivation World. It’s a good starting point. It explains the basics, including the different realms and the structure of the world itself. Not many cultivators seek such knowledge these days, as they often rely on their sects or elders for guidance.”

Riu Xian flipped through the pages, skimming the contents. “This will do. How much?”

The shopkeeper smiled. “For someone with your interest in learning, I’ll offer it for ten silver coins.”

Riu Xian handed over the coins without hesitation. “Thank you. Knowledge is a treasure in itself.”

The shopkeeper nodded with a smile. “Indeed, young master. May this knowledge serve you well.”

Riu Xian nodded and left the shop, the book safely tucked under his arm.

Back in his cave abode, Riu Xian opened the book and began to read. The information within was fascinating and enlightening.

He learned that the world he lived in was one of many lower worlds, existing beneath the higher realms (Upper Worlds) where the most powerful cultivators resided or ascend from lower realms. This lower world was divided into three continents, each vastly different in resources and danger. The book described these continents as follows:

* Jade Horizon Continent - A land rich in spiritual veins, teeming with sects and powerful cultivators.

* Obsidian Flame Continent - A harsh and dangerous land, dominated by fire Qi and extreme climates.

* Azure Cloud Continent - The continent where Riu Xian currently resided. It was known for its scarcity of spiritual veins, which made cultivation challenging for its inhabitants.

Traveling between these continents was incredibly dangerous. The seas separating them were filled with ferocious beasts and chaotic storms. Only those at the Deity Transformation Stage or higher could even consider making such a journey, as anyone weaker would face almost certain death.

The book explained that the lack of spiritual veins in the Azure Cloud Continent was the primary reason mortals here were born without spiritual roots. This scarcity of resources made cultivation incredibly challenging. As a result, only a small number of people pursued cultivation, and those who did were either highly respected or greatly feared by the common folk.

It also mentioned that a century ago, the Azure Cloud Continent had only twelve cultivators who had reached the Deity Transformation Stage and approximately twelve hundred at the Nascent Soul Stage. These numbers reflected the difficulty of reaching higher cultivation levels in such a resource-poor environment.

Riu Xian paused his reading and considered these numbers. "If that was the state a hundred years ago, things may have changed slightly," he thought. "The number of high-level cultivators could have increased or decreased, but it is likely no more than a five to ten percent difference either way. Even with slight changes, this continent remains one of the most barren for cultivation."

He closed the book and set it aside, his mind filled with the implications of what he had learned. "The scarcity of spiritual veins limits not only the progress of cultivators but also the power balance across the continent. This must be why sects fight fiercely over even the smallest resources."

With a renewed sense of urgency, Riu Xian vowed to make the most of the opportunities he had, even in this barren land. Riu Xian closed the book and leaned back, processing the information. “So, that’s why cultivation is rare here. The lack of resources makes it difficult for anyone to progress. No wonder mortals respect and fear cultivators so much.”

He glanced at his cave’s walls, which still radiated with Qi from the river above. “But this place is different. “There’s something special about this river. I need to start investigating it once I’ve rested,” Riu Xian muttered to himself, his eyes reflecting a spark of curiosity and determination.