Soft burbling sounds could be heard as the slow-moving current of water brushed against the bordering pebbles, seemingly the only active force fighting against the peace and quietness that dominated the area.

Not far from the current of water, an isolated building stood tall, like a supreme being imposing its aura on the surrounding lands. It was a simple archaic structure without any spectacular architecture, yet it still attracted the attention of any passers-by that happened to be walking through that area.

On its roof, there was an open-air pavilion with a decent amount of greenery. Sitting on a wooden bench inside the pavilion, there was a young man.

He wore a greyish robe seemingly made of the finest materials. Complimenting it was a fine-looking medallion hanging around his neck.

Anyone who viewed him from afar, they would think that he was a refined scholar. However, if they had to move closer and take note of his rough physique and the hidden savagery in his eyes, they would quickly change their minds.

This young man was none other than Jack, the newly appointed inner sect disciple of the Sky Water Sect!

The shocking news of Jack becoming an inner sect disciple had long since spread out, and almost everyone in the sect had heard about it. Most disciples quickly assumed that this whole affair was one of Dai Jun’s weird pranks. They also supposed that once the Grand Elder returned from his mission, this entire mess would be rectified.

Still, during the last few days, Jack could notice the shadows of some curious disciples that spied on him from time to time, though none of them bothered to disturb him, much to his relief.

The truth was that some jealous minds wished to teach him a lesson. They wanted to show him that the difference between a cultivator and a mortal was like the difference between the heavens and earth, and the difference between an inner sect disciple and a mortal and was like the difference between a god and an ant.

However, when they noticed that Jack didn’t brag about his status and remained inside his dwelling like a coward, they decided to leave him alone and instead observe how the situation played out. Besides, Jack seemed to be under Dai Jun’s protection, and nobody wished to mess with that guy.

As for Jack, he couldn’t be any happier. This place offered him much more than he had hoped for. Most importantly, this place provided tranquillity, something that he craved since the calamity at the lake.

He opened the bottle of medicinal pills and swallowed one without any efforts. As he felt the energies of the pill invading his body, he pondered about the fates of the fighting bulls. He also wondered if his Master bothered to search for him, although he didn’t have high expectations.

In the end, he was just a lowly servant.

He sighed as he rotated the bottle on the floor, suddenly missing the calming effects of his smoking plants.

Dai Jun was really a man of few words he thought. A week ago he had accompanied him to this place and explained some basic stuff, then left and never returned.

However, regardless of his strange attitude, Jack still felt immense gratitude towards that man. It’s thanks to him that he is still alive after all.

At least, during the short time together, he had obtained some vital information.

As an inner sect disciple, he was entitled to a residence in the administrative region of the Sect. Of course, he was also eligible for other benefits, but he refrained from obtaining them, at least not until he had a better understanding of the sect.

Jack also learned that the Sect was divided into four districts, separated by the four different currents of streams.

Located on the eastern side, the administrative region was where the elites of the sect resided. Only those of special status or pure bloodlines were allowed to enter this region. Jack, him being one of the inner sect disciples, naturally had the necessary qualifications.

To the north was the home of all those born with exceptional bloodlines, bloodlines that in the past had contributed for the glory of the sect. These included the main bloodline which consisted of two branches, the Shui and the Tian Families.

Then there was the western district which housed the remaining disciples. This was the residence of all those with unimportant bloodlines or recruits approved by the Ancient Divinity. If Jack had passed that test, he would have been allocated there. However, the incident at the temple had changed this fate.

And lastly, there was the southern district, the busiest of all. Housing the central market, it saw large numbers of cultivators exchanging trades and buying goods, including the hosting of daily auctions. It was the central hub of the sect where all cultivators could gather, regardless of their statuses. Jack had already planned to visit this place in the future so that he gets a better understanding of the consumables and products of this world.

Besides the market, this southern region also contained numerous gardens. It was precisely in one of these gardens that Jack had first met Elder Tian.

Unfortunately, the temple of the Ancestral Divinity was also located there.

Jack’s heart suddenly ached as he remembered that creature. A cute little creature for most, but the equivalent of a freaky abomination for him. Back in the forest, there was a simple karmic connection between the two. However, after the incident of the temple that simple relationship transformed into one of entangled destinies; destinies of everlasting animosity.

While Jack was busy hating on the creature, a thin rapture appeared in the sky, creating a fissure from which a small rock escaped. The rock burned with azure flames as it descended like a falling star towards the eastern district.

Several eyes noted the arrival of the rock, arousing the interests of some of the inner sect disciples, seemingly bringing them back memories.

Next to a bronze column, an attractive woman wearing a greyish robe sat in a meditative pose hovering upside-down over a pool of water. Her golden hair fluttered wildly, almost touching the waters below.

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Her eyes brightened like two little suns. “Azure Fiery Realm…”

At another location, the entire land seemed forsaken. All that was left from a once flourishing land were chunks of burned tree stumps. Black ashes filled the desolate air and no life forms could be seen.

In the middle of these scorched lands, there was a black cauldron the size of a pagoda, releasing towering flames. Deep inside the cauldron, there was a cultivator who was completely naked, his crimson hair dancing along with the flames. Around him were several medicinal pills hovered up and down.

“That Dai Jun… has he gone crazy? If word were to spread out, we would become the laughing stock of all sects!”

Meanwhile, in one of the gardens in the southern district, a young man was relaxing on a bench. His serene eyes were closed and a faint smile was visible over his face. He had long black hair, contrasting greatly against his pure white skin. A white lily was fitted inside his robe, close to his heart.

He was a handsome guy, proven by the number of female disciples that stuck around with him. Two of these were gorgeous brunettes whose heads rested over his shoulders. One was playing with his hair while the other seductively caressed her fingers against his chest.

“This isn’t fair Master Shi…”

His face beamed with peacefulness as the young man looked at one of his maidens, his eyes still shut.

A hint of disdain immediately appeared on her face. “That guy is just a mortal, and he gets to stand in the same rank as young Master! And now he is entering the fiery realm! Who knows what secrets he will uncover? I hate leeches like him the most!”

Perceiving her worrying, the young Master wrapped his arm around her shoulder and squeezed her. Her face immediately blushed as if a captivating godly aura had just descended over her.

“Xue’er, why worry about such a lowly lifeform? This Young Master believes that we should let him enjoy his little adventure. If he amusingly decides to enter the fiery realm, even if he had ten lives, he would lose them all.”

While the various disciples were busy conversing about this event, the burning rock had finally arrived at the border of the eastern district. As it neared the ground, it seemed to slow down, then graciously landed in front of Jack’s residence.

The burning azure flames extinguished themselves shortly after. The rock then split open, revealing a hovering azure talisman. Three sets of butterfly swords also emerged, clashing and rotating around the talisman, seemingly protecting it.

Jack observed the talisman from his pavilion. He could feel a sort of attraction coming out from it as if a soundless voice was calling for him.

He took his time before exiting and walking towards the rock. The butterfly swords danced around observing him, then they lowered themselves, seemingly gaining their approval. As soon as he touched the talisman, he heard the voice of a woman.

“I am Junior Elder Shui Baozhai, the one currently in charge of the Azure Fiery Realm. Hold onto that talisman for a moment; it will summon you to my location. I will explain everything to you later.”

Jack asked some questions towards the talisman, but no voice replied. He quickly gave up, instead sitting down and patiently waited.

As more time passed, he could notice glittering lights spreading around his body and the outside world seemed to be vanishing away. As the lights completely covered his body, a boom was heard, and everything around him distorted.

Jack felt his mind reeling. However, once he got back to his senses, he noticed that he was transported to a different place.

He found himself in a large chamber supported by four central pillars. Even though the hall seemed ancient, it was very well kept. He scanned around, and he couldn’t even detect any dust, let alone spider webs.

In the middle of the chamber, he noticed a large altar. Standing on it there was a tall woman.

She wasn’t young, but her beauty had yet to show any signs of degradation. Her skin seemed to be made from pure white jade, her stylish robe neatly pressing against her ample chest. A golden coiling dragon belt wrapt tight around her waist.

She jumped and walked towards Jack.

“Canonical Laws of the sect dictate that newly appointed inner sect disciples have to enter the Azure Fiery Realm within one month of appointment.”

“Briefly, this is another dimensional realm left behind by the founder of our sect. His original scope was to assist chosen cultivators throughout the ages.”

“A choice is usually not an option, but…,” she said as she walked back to the altar and leaned against it, crossing her alluring legs.

“You are a special case. Anticipating your immediate expulsion once the Grand Elder returns, I am giving you a chance to refuse this entire ordeal.”

“Frankly speaking, you will be doing me a big favour if you refuse. The Grand Elder can be a really stubborn person to deal with,” she said why crossing her hands, bumping her chests upwards.

Jack appeared pensive. Ever since he joined the sect, he had many questions. He had tried asking some to Dai Jun before, but Dai Jun evaded through most and instead only gave him bits of information related to the sect.

“Senior Elder, ever since I’ve arrived in this world, I could feel strange energies surrounding my body. It feels like my body wants to absorb them, but no matter how much I try, I always fail.”

“Oh?” The woman gazed at Jack with suspicion. “You can sense it?”

She remained to stare at Jack with inquiring eyes. From what she had read, most mortals wouldn’t be able to feel Qi, let alone cultivate it. And those who did, they would only be able to do so after several years, and their future potential would be mediocre at best.

But here in front of her was a mortal who was able to feel qi, and that’s just after being in this realm for a couple of days. Naturally, this young man had distorted her initial expectations.

After pondering for a while, she seemed to have made up her mind. She walked between two opposite silver poles, then elegantly extended her arms and punched with brute force. The powerful impact triggered an elemental reaction, slowly transforming into a portal.

“It’s an impossible bet. The Demonic beasts in there are dangerous even for weak cultivators in the lower seeking stage. So I don’t need to mention what they can do to you, who have no cultivation power.”

“Anyways, once inside, go east through the forest. When you exit the forest, head north towards the Monastery. Inside you will find the spectral clone of the 3rd Patriarch. He will be able to assist you with any questions you might have.”

“Remember, avoid any beast at all costs. If a Demonic Beast detects your presence, there will be no escaping it. Once inside the Monastery, you will be protected by its shield. No beasts can enter in there.”

“The realm will automatically close after six months. Then you will be forcefully expelled outside, specifically at the entrance of the Ancestral Divinity Temple in the southern district.”

“If you still wish to enter and throw away your life, then go ahead,” she said as she sat on the altar, examining him.

Jack frowned at the prospect of meeting that creature again, but that matter was not important right now. After giving it some thought, he concluded that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and he shouldn’t miss it. Whatever questions he had, he was sure that he would be able to find answers for them inside this realm.

Especially now that he was trapped inside this world.

Jack nodded respectfully, then began strolling towards the portal.

“One last advice. The chances of you coming back alive are the same as this senior encountering the legendary phoenix. But if by a miracle of the heavens you indeed prove this senior wrong and you inherit the fortunes of the realm, you should work on integrating into our sect. Because while your eyes shine with determination, maybe too much of that, your heart is full of grievances and loneliness. Power is not the only virtue you should be pursuing.”

Jack listened attentively to her words and lowered his head slightly. He was inwardly shocked at the woman’s ability to detect his inner emotions.

“Thank you for the wise words, Senior Elder. Humble disciple will remember your sound advice.” Jack nodded then passed through the portal.

A slight breeze began blowing inside the chamber as Junior Elder Shui Baozhai observed the vanishing shadow of Jack, her delicate hair softly slamming against her cheek.

After a moment of silence, she couldn’t help but mutter to herself.

“Dai Jun… what exactly are you plotting…?”