Early in the morning, Jin Eryndor woke up to find the sun already high in the sky.
Outside his window, birds chirped cheerfully as they hopped from branch to branch, filling the air with their melodious songs.
As if she knew exactly when he’d wake, Serene Skyshade entered the room just as Eryndor stirred. She approached his bed, picked him up, and carried him off to wash his face. Although Eryndor could already walk on his own, he was still a very small child. He didn’t mind letting his mother take care of him, and before long, his face was clean, his clothes were changed, and his hair was neatly combed.
Usually, by the time Eryndor woke, his father was already out of the house. But today was different—Jin Valen was still home, clearly waiting to take him to the Library Pavilion as promised.
When Serene brought Eryndor into the main room, Jin Valen greeted them with a smile. “Dori, today we’re going to the Library. Serene, let me carry him,” he said, reaching for Eryndor.
Eryndor was handed over to his father, who held him securely. Jin Valen then summoned his flying sword, and with a light step, they took to the skies, heading toward the Library.
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The Skyshade Sanctum was built across a series of towering mountain peaks at the edge of the Endless Mountain Range. The terrain was majestic, with layers of mountains stretching as far as the eye could see. The Library Pavilion was situated on an unnamed peak, centrally located between the inner and outer sect areas.
Jin Valen carried Jin Eryndor as they flew through the sky. After a short flight, they arrived at the Library Pavilion.
Guarding the pavilion was an elderly man with a long, snowy-white beard and hair, seated on a simple wooden stool. In front of him was a small table holding a few books and a tea set. Despite his age, the old man’s eyes were sharp and lively. Stroking his beard, he exuded an air of wisdom and tranquility befitting a cultivator.
When he saw Jin Valen approaching, the elder smiled warmly and said, “So, this is Eryndor? What an adorable little one. He will surely become a pillar of the sect in the future.”
Jin Valen returned the smile and replied, “You flatter him, Elder Willow. I’m here to pick out a few books for Eryndor from the first floor. I hope that’s alright.”
“Oh?” The elder raised an eyebrow, a faint gleam flashing through his sharp eyes before quickly subsiding. “Eryndor is only a few months old and can already understand books?” Stroking his beard thoughtfully, he added, “Hmm, his mental strength does seem to be a bit higher than usual.”
His tone carried a hint of curiosity and approval, though he kept his thoughts to himself, observing the child with interest.
Eryndor felt a wave of energy sweep over his body, leaving him with a slight shiver. Under its scrutiny, he felt completely exposed, as if nothing about him could remain hidden from the elder’s penetrating gaze.
"This old man must be a true expert," Eryndor thought to himself, his mind racing.
The Library Pavilion was a critical location for the sect, and it made sense that Elder Willow, its guardian, was no ordinary cultivator. Observing how even his father, a Nascent Soul cultivator, treated the elder with respect, Eryndor gained a clearer understanding of his standing. Furthermore, Elder Willow seemed to be ever-present at the Library Pavilion. He hadn’t even attended the Sect Master’s celebration for Eryndor’s birth, which made Eryndor suspect two possibilities:
1. Guarding the Library Pavilion was a critical duty, requiring his constant presence.
2. Elder Willow’s rank and status were so high that attending such events was unnecessary for someone of his standing.
Eryndor leaned toward the latter.
“Dori not only understands books, but he can also write and hold conversations!” Jin Valen said proudly, turning toward Eryndor. “Dori, greet Elder Willow.”
Without hesitation, Eryndor, ever polite and sweet, said in his soft, babyish voice, “Hello, Elder Willow. I hope we’ll meet often in the future. Please take care of me!”
“Haha! Truly extraordinary!” Elder Willow laughed heartily, clearly impressed. “To be this articulate at such a young age—your future in cultivation will surely be bright. Alright, go ahead and browse. Once you find something you like, let me know so I can register it. You’ll receive a copied version to take with you.”
His warm smile and kind tone made Eryndor feel welcomed, while his words hinted at high expectations for the young child’s future.
Jin Valen nodded slightly and walked inside. Although it was still early in the morning, a few outer disciples were already scattered around the Library Pavilion, quietly reading through various books. When they saw Jin Valen enter, they quickly stood and bowed respectfully before returning to their studies.
Jin Valen turned to Eryndor and asked,
“Dori, what kind of books do you want to read?”
Eryndor thought for a moment before replying innocently,
“Father, can we take all the books home to read?”
Jin Valen’s eyes widened in disbelief. I just praised you for being smart, and now you ask such a silly question? He sighed internally. Technically, it was possible—these books weren’t particularly important. Any truly valuable texts wouldn’t be kept on the first floor of the Library Pavilion. However, it would be embarrassing to haul back so many books at once. Besides, there was no way Eryndor could read through all of them.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Dori,” Jin Valen said patiently,
“how can you possibly read so many books at once? Let’s take a few home first. Once you finish them, we can come back for more.”
Eryndor’s eyes darted mischievously as he rolled his eyes.
“Then how about taking half of them home?” he suggested, a cheeky grin on his face.
This time, Jin Valen was completely speechless.
After much back-and-forth, and under Eryndor’s relentless pleading, Jin Valen eventually relented. He ended up taking one-fifth of the Library Pavilion’s first-floor collection, carefully storing the books in his spatial ring before bringing them over to Elder Willow for registration.
Elder Willow, upon seeing the sheer volume of books Jin Valen was borrowing, couldn’t help but widen his eyes in disbelief.
What in the world? Are you planning to use these books as kindling? he thought.
Most disciples borrowed one or two books at a time, but Jin Valen was casually taking one-fifth of the entire first-floor collection.
And to think you’re an elder—what a scene you’ve caused.
Despite his internal grumbling, Elder Willow dutifully processed the request, completing the registration for Jin Valen. Once the process was finished, Jin stored all the books back into his ring, mounted his flying sword, and headed home.
The moment they arrived, Eryndor couldn’t wait to dive into the books. He eagerly pulled them out and began exploring. The collection covered a vast range of topics—history, geography, cultivation techniques, spiritual beasts, miscellaneous writings, and more. Among them, Eryndor even discovered a book introducing the world of mortal martial artists, describing figures known as “masters of the martial arts.”
His eyes lit up as he flipped through the pages, his excitement growing with every discovery.
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The Skyshade Sanctum was a prominent sect in the cultivation world, known for its strength and heritage. Its foundation was guarded by a Soul Transformation Realm ancestor, who remained in seclusion most of the time, focused on pursuing higher cultivation realms and rarely involving themselves in worldly matters.
The sect’s current leader, Sect Master Long Valen, was at the late Nascent Soul Stage (8th layer). To outsiders, he was simply known as a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, though his exact level remained unclear. Long Valen rarely left the sect and seldom engaged in duels or confrontations.
The sect had ten inner elders, each commanding great respect and influence.
Skyshade Sanctum's primary structure spanned seven main peaks, each representing a specific focus of cultivation:
1. Alchemy Peak
2. Artifact Refinement Peak
3. Talisman Peak
4. Array Peak (Formation Peak)
5. Restriction Peak (Forbidden Peak)
6. Sword Peak
7. Main Peak – The administrative and spiritual center of the sect.
Each peak typically had one or two direct disciples, chosen from the best among the sect’s many cultivators.
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Cultivation and Longevity
Jin Eryndor eagerly turned the pages of his book, soaking up the knowledge about cultivation basics. One section detailed the expected lifespans of cultivators based on their stages:
* Qi Refinement Perfection: 100 years
* Foundation Establishment Perfection: 150 years
* Core Formation Perfection: 300 years
* Nascent Soul Perfection: 500 years
* Soul Transformation: 1,000 years
Eryndor read with fascination, his young mind marveling at the idea of extending life through cultivation. This newfound understanding fueled his determination to pursue the path of cultivation with even greater focus.
The Skyshade Sanctum specialized in swordsmanship, marking it as a formidable cultivation sect. While not among the absolute elite sects, which had two or three Soul Transformation ancestors, it was firmly in the second tier of powerful sects. Comparable sects included:
* One Sword Sect, which also focused on swordsmanship.
* Golden Blade Sect, renowned for its mastery of blade techniques.
* Dawnspire Order, which specialized in spellcasting.
These four sects maintained a long-standing rivalry. Their disciples often competed with each other, striving to prove their superiority in various disciplines. However, while each sect excelled in a specific focus, they weren’t deficient in other areas like formations, talismans, or alchemy—they were simply less adept compared to their primary specialization.
Every major cultivation sect held recruitment drives once every five years, accepting new disciples aged six or older. This age requirement wasn’t just arbitrary—it was rooted in cultivation principles. Starting cultivation before six could lead to stunted growth, both physically and spiritually. As a result, all cultivation sects agreed to only accept disciples six years or older.
At Skyshade Sanctum, new disciples were provided with a year of foundational resources to kickstart their journey. Upon entry, each disciple received:
* One Meridian Unblocking Pill
* One Qi Gathering Pill
* One Low-Grade Spirit Stone
* A foundational cultivation manual
* Guidelines for cultivation practices
* Also a monthly One Qi Gathering Pill and one Low-Grade Spirit Stone
These resources were guaranteed for disciples with average talent. Those with superior aptitude were directly admitted as outer disciples, bypassing the need to complete mundane tasks for the sect.
New disciples had one year to reach Qi Refinement Stage 5 to qualify as outer disciples. Those who failed to meet this standard had to undertake sect tasks to earn resources for their cultivation.
* Task Requirements: After the first year, disciples needed to complete at least 20 sect tasks per month.
* Rewards: Tasks offered small rewards, which, when accumulated, could be exchanged for cultivation resources.
Many disciples without family backing opted to start taking tasks even within their first year. By doing so, they could accumulate additional resources to strengthen their cultivation base, giving themselves a better chance to progress before their time ran out.
This system ensured that even disciples with modest talent had opportunities to grow, provided they were diligent and resourceful.
New disciples received a Meridian Unblocking Pill, which was used to clear their meridians and prepare their bodies for cultivation. How many meridians could be opened depended on the quality of the pill and the disciple’s individual aptitude. As long as a single meridian or even just one acupoint was cleared, the disciple could attempt to draw spiritual energy into their body, officially stepping into the Qi Refinement Stage as an entry-level cultivator.
The Qi Refinement Stage primarily focused on absorbing spiritual energy into the body and progressively unblocking the meridians. Depending on the cultivation method practiced, the number of meridians cleared could vary. However, all disciples needed to eventually unblock the 12 primary meridians, which marked the peak of the Qi Refinement Stage. Achieving this opened the path to further breakthroughs.
For disciples with exceptional talent, senior sect members or elders often provided assistance during this phase, helping them to unblock one meridian. This initial support gave these gifted disciples a significant head start on their cultivation journey.
However, such assistance was limited to unblocking a single meridian. Forcing the process beyond that point was highly dangerous. Excessive external intervention could not only fail to benefit the disciple but could also result in long-term harm. The risks included physical injury, impediments to future cultivation, and—most critically—the loss of personal insight into the process of unblocking meridians and developing bodily awareness. These losses could create severe obstacles in the disciple’s cultivation later on, undermining their long-term potential.
Although, while assistance could provide a helpful boost, it was vital for each disciple to experience and understand the process of meridian unblocking themselves, building a strong foundation for their future path.