Wuji sat in silence after hearing the story of Mei's departure. The weight of her absence hung heavily in the air, but he understood why she had left. Opportunity was something they had all been waiting for—training, pushing themselves for the day when they could finally step into the world of cultivation. And Mei had found hers. A rare opportunity to join a powerful sect with a master who recognized her potential.

His fingers traced the edges of the book she had left for him: Ghostly Hand Maneuver. The title alone intrigued him, but as he opened it and began to skim through its contents, he quickly realized something. This wasn't just any martial technique; it was something only those in the Body Refinement Realm and above could begin to practice. The techniques described within required a foundation of Qi and a body already strengthened through cultivation.

Wuji sighed softly and set the book aside. He hadn't even started cultivating yet. His journey, it seemed, would take a different path. The future was still uncertain for him, but he wasn't discouraged. The book would wait for him—just as Mei had.

He looked up from the book to Jinhai and Zhen, who sat quietly across from him. There was a slight tension in the air, as if they too were thinking of Mei and everything that had happened over the past year.

Wuji broke the silence with a simple question, his voice calm but curious. "Have you both started cultivating the techniques Mei's master gave you?"

Jinhai and Zhen exchanged a glance before nodding. Zhen, being the more soft-spoken of the two, spoke first. "Yeah, we've been working on them for a while now. I've reached the third stage of the Body Refinement Realm."

Jinhai chimed in after him. "I'm at the second stage. It's tough, but I'm making progress."

Wuji's eyes lit up with genuine happiness. "That's great! Really, I'm happy for both of you." There was no hint of jealousy or envy in his voice. In fact, he felt motivated by their progress. Seeing his friends advancing only pushed him to work harder, to train more diligently. He had never been one to compare his journey to others, and the idea of them moving ahead only filled him with a sense of pride and determination.

Wuji leaned back in his seat, thinking for a moment. "What kind of spiritual roots do you have?" he asked, curious about what had made the difference for them.

Jinhai was the first to answer, his voice proud yet humble. "I have dual elemental spiritual roots—Fire and Metal. Earth-grade."

Zhen followed up, his tone slightly more subdued but with a hint of pride. "Mine is Earth-grade as well, but I have a single element: Lightning."

Wuji's mind processed this information quickly. Earth-grade spiritual roots, while not the rarest in the cultivation world, were still considered exceptional. Many cultivators would be lucky to have even that, but to find not one, but two people in the same small village like Celestial Harmony with such spiritual roots was remarkable. And Zhen's Lightning Spiritual Root was particularly rare.

The gears in Wuji's mind began to turn. He wasn't a stranger to strange coincidences or hidden patterns—his scientific mind from his past life had trained him to see through the surface. This was no ordinary occurrence. Jinhai and Zhen, both with spiritual roots that were uncommon, and Mei with a rare physique that had drawn the attention of a powerful sect master… it didn't add up.

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Wuji's thoughts began to spiral further. Until recently, he had never even heard of these physiques that cultivators valued so much. Yet, it wasn't just Mei's Phantom Lotus Physique that intrigued him—it was the coincidence of their small village housing such remarkable talents. And then there was his own reincarnation, something he had long accepted but never fully understood.

He didn't know why or how he had been reincarnated into this world. During his time studying in Green Willow City, he had spent countless hours poring over ancient scrolls and texts, searching for anything that could explain it. Reincarnation was said to be possible for some powerful cultivators, but those were just myths—stories passed down through generations. There was no concrete evidence, nothing that truly explained his own situation.

Now, with all of this new information, Wuji began to wonder if there was more at play. His reincarnation, the rare talents of his friends… it couldn't all be a coincidence, could it?

He kept his thoughts hidden, not allowing even a flicker of his suspicions to show on his face. He had learned long ago that there were some things best left unsaid. Discussing his reincarnation openly could attract unwanted attention, and the last thing he needed was for some powerful cultivator to start investigating his origins. If anyone found out that he wasn't from this world, it could lead to dangerous consequences. Wuji mentally shelved the matter, deciding it was best to continue his search for answers discreetly.

Clearing his mind, he focused back on the present. He didn't want to burden his friends with these thoughts. Instead, he smiled and began asking about their lives over the past year. They fell into a more comfortable conversation, talking about trivial things—his adventures in Green Willow City, their training, and how the village had changed since he left.

The laughter and lightheartedness helped ease the tension that had been hanging in the air. For a while, it felt like old times, back when they were all together, training, dreaming of the day they would step into the wider world as cultivators.

After a while, Jinhai and Zhen exchanged another glance. This time, there was something serious in their expressions, something they had clearly discussed beforehand.

Jinhai spoke first, his voice quieter than usual. "Wuji… Zhen and I… we've decided not to participate in the sect exams."

Wuji blinked, caught off guard. "What? Why?"

Jinhai glanced at Zhen, who nodded, signaling him to continue. "We only ever wanted to join a sect to get a cultivation technique, right? That's why we trained so hard. But now that we've got the techniques from Mei's master… well, we don't need the sect anymore."

Wuji frowned, trying to understand their reasoning. "But a sect could offer you more than just techniques—resources, guidance, protection…"

Zhen shook his head, his expression firm. "The sects are too restrictive. Once you join, your freedom is gone. You have to follow their rules, and adhere to their doctrines. And in this dynasty," he gestured broadly, indicating the Golden Lotus Dynasty, "the sects and noble families monopolize everything. The cultivation resources, the knowledge—they control it all."

Jinhai leaned forward, his eyes serious. "That's why we're leaving. We've decided to travel east, to the Rising Sun Dynasty. It's different there. The cultivation resources aren't monopolized like they are here. Cultivation flourishes freely. We'll have more opportunities to grow without being tied down to a sect."

Wuji sat back, absorbing their words. The Rising Sun Dynasty? He had heard a little about it during his time in Green Willow City, but most of what he knew came from rumors. It was said to be a more open and prosperous land, where cultivators weren't as bound by the strict hierarchies that dominated the Golden Lotus Dynasty. If what Jinhai and Zhen were saying was true, it sounded like a place where they could truly thrive without the burdens that came with sect life.

Wuji's curiosity was piqued. He had spent so much time preparing for the sect exams, thinking it was the only path forward. But now, his friends had presented him with another option, another way to approach cultivation.

“Tell me more about the Rising Sun Dynasty,” Wuji said, his eyes gleaming with interest.