After finishing his battle with the cultivators, the Fifth Lord approached the old man who was still standing in a state of shock. The old man had witnessed everything that had happened, from the fight to the laughter, and he felt both gratitude and fear. This powerful stranger had saved him from the bullying cultivators, but he knew that someone who saves you in such a way might bring even more trouble with them.

The Fifth Lord smiled and said, "Old man, I see you know a lot about this city. Why not become my guide here?"

The old man looked at the Fifth Lord cautiously, trying to understand his intentions. "Me? Your guide? But... what do you want to know, my lord?"

The Fifth Lord laughed loudly and said, "Everything, of course! The city, the sects, the powerful people, the interesting places... everything that might catch my interest!"

The old man shook his head hesitantly, but he felt he couldn't refuse. After all, this stranger had just saved him from a difficult situation. "Alright, alright, my lord. I will be your guide. But... where do you want to start?"

The Fifth Lord pointed to the bustling market and said, "Let's start here, in the heart of the city. Tell me about this place and the people who live here."

The old man sighed and began to explain: "This is Yu Zhou City, one of the major cities in the immortal continent. It is bustling with traders, cultivators, and alchemists, each trying to find their place in this world. The market here is the heart of the city, where everything from spiritual grains to rare weapons can be found."

The Fifth Lord interrupted, "I heard there are those called 'immortals' here. Who are they?"

When the Fifth Lord was just fighting, he heard many of the spectators calling him an immortal, which made him wonder, given that his current power and what he had shown were at the lowest levels of human capability.

A look of respect and awe appeared on the old man's face. "Ah, the immortals... They are cultivators who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage. They are considered the strongest among us and come from the great surrounding sects. Their presence is rare here, but when one appears, everyone knows it. It is said they possess great power, capable of crushing mountains and subduing the heavens."

The Fifth Lord looked at the old man with disdain as he talked about the Foundation Establishment warriors, describing them as immortals. He laughed loudly and mockingly and said, "Immortals? These? This must be a joke! If they are the immortals, then what am I? Just the idea that these weaklings are considered immortals makes me laugh." The Fifth Lord thought to himself.

Cultivation was the only way to achieve power and immortality. There was no shortcut, and there was no escape from the difficulties that awaited at every level. Every cultivator knew that their journey began with a step, but no one knew where it would end.

Where cultivators begin by condensing Qi, here, everything begins. At this stage, cultivators learn how to absorb Qi from the heavens and the earth and transform it into energy within their bodies. It is the Foundation Building stage, where the cultivator purifies his body of impurities, strengthens his internal organs, and expands his spiritual meridians. The cultivator begins to learn how to interact with Qi and how to control it. There are nine levels in this stage, and each level requires unmatched dedication and patience from the cultivator. Each level enhances their internal power and brings them one step closer to the next stage.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

After that comes the Foundation Establishment stage. When a cultivator reaches the peak of Qi Condensation, he must face a greater challenge: establishing the foundation. In this stage, the cultivator begins to build his spiritual foundation, a process that requires gathering all the energy gained during the Qi Condensation stage and focusing it into a central spiritual core. This stage is a turning point, where the cultivator transforms from being just a trainee to a true cultivator. The foundation must be strong and solid because any weakness at this stage can lead to the complete collapse of the spiritual path. This stage is also divided into nine levels, each enhancing the depth of the spiritual foundation and strengthening the connection between the cultivator and Qi.

In the small city of Yu Zhou, life was simple and quiet, filled with cultivators who only knew the basics of cultivation. These cultivators were weak and provincial, mostly not surpassing the stages of Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment. For them, reaching the ninth level of Qi Condensation was considered a great achievement and the peak of ambition, while the Foundation Establishment stage was something that only a few dared to dream of.

In this city, no one knew about the higher levels, such as the Golden Core Formation or the Nascent Soul; those were just legends to them. The inhabitants of Yu Zhou had no great ambitions or desire for challenges; they lived simply to maintain their lives in this small, isolated world.

The Fifth Lord continued looking at the old man.

The old man continued explaining: "In our city, most cultivators do not surpass the Foundation Establishment stage. The strongest cultivator here is at the ninth level of Qi Condensation, and that's the highest I've seen in my life."

The Fifth Lord laughed and said, "The ninth level? That sounds pathetic. But I suppose it would be fun to have some interaction to kill the boredom."

The old man shook his head and said, "You should be careful, my lord. Though they are not at the level of immortals, they are strong enough to cause some trouble."

The Fifth Lord smiled and replied, "I like trouble. Trouble means fun."

The old man continued, "In the eastern side of the city, there is the Alchemist Guild, a place where cultivators come to obtain pills that enhance their powers. It is also a place where many rumors and information gather."

The Fifth Lord's eyes lit up with excitement: "The Alchemist Guild? That sounds like a good place to start. Maybe I will find some useful information there... or at least some fun."

The old man looked cautiously at the Fifth Lord and said, "Remember, my lord, that the city is not a place for games. There are laws, and even the great sects respect them."

The Fifth Lord laughed again and said, "Laws? Ah, I prefer the laws I set myself. Anyway, dear old man, you'll stay with me for a while. I want to know everything about this place. And in return, I'll protect you from any trouble."

The old man felt hesitant, but he saw something different in the Fifth Lord. Perhaps this man was eccentric, but the old man had not seen a warrior of such strength in many years. Finally, he said, "Alright, my lord. I will be your guide, and I will tell you everything I know."

And so, the two of them began walking through the city, exchanging conversations, while the Fifth Lord quietly sensed Yu Zhou City with his spiritual awareness.

Upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, a cultivator awakens his spiritual awareness, expanding his perception of the world around him. He becomes able to sense the flow of Qi in the air and communicate with natural spirits, granting him a deeper vision of his surroundings and a greater ability to direct his inner energy with strength and precision.

The Fifth Lord asked with curiosity, "Tell me, old man, what is the story of this city? It seems to be filled with sects and families. Who are these people?"

The old man began to explain, "The first sect is the White Tiger Sect, led by Zhang Xiao, who is at the ninth level of Qi Condensation. The White Tiger Sect is the most influential due to Zhang Xiao's combat abilities and bravery. They control a large part of the market and are always trying to expand their influence to acquire more resources. They are known for their harsh methods of enforcing the law, and many fear them."

The Fifth Lord nodded with a sly smile and said, "Oh, the White Tiger Sect. I bet they think they're the kings of this small city."

The old man responded with a look of frustration and hatred on his face, "Those thieves were formerly from the White Tiger Sect..."

"Oh… interesting," the Fifth Lord replied with a smile on his face.

"Go on, old man, tell me about the other Forces..."