The beads of sweat stung my eyes, blurring my vision as they streamed down my face and drenched my hair, clumping it together in a mess. The air was thick and heavy with humidity, made worse by the scorching sun that beat down relentlessly upon me, exacerbating the discomfort of my sweat-drenched clothes that now clung to my skin.

Despite the physical discomfort, however, nothing else mattered to me at that moment, Because I was finally, cultivating.

I continued to circulate Qi, an energy that I had recently discovered within myself, I realized that I was no longer just an ordinary person.

I had always thought of myself as average, with no special talents or unique abilities. I was just me - nothing more, nothing less. But everything changed when I woke up to these new senses, these newfound abilities that had awoken within me.

It started with a tingling in my fingertips - a sensation I had never felt before. At first, I thought it was just a strange numbness, but as I focused on the feeling, I realized that it was something more. It was as if a door had been opened, and a new world had been revealed to me.

As I explored this new sense, I discovered that I could feel things that I had never felt before. I could sense the vibrations of the earth, the movement of the wind, and the warmth of the sun like never before. It was like a whole new layer of reality had been revealed to me.

At first, it was overwhelming. The world was so full of sensations, so rich and vibrant, that I didn't know where to start. But as I practiced and honed my new sense, I began to see the world in a whole new way. I saw patterns and connections that I had never noticed before, and I began to understand the subtle interplay of energy that underlay everything around me.

As I stood there, with my eyes closed and my senses open, I felt a sense of wonder and awe. I had been given a gift - a new way of experiencing the world. And I knew that, from that day forward, nothing would ever be the same.

I sat cross-legged on the ground, basking in the warmth of the early morning sun as it kissed my face. For days on end, I had been diligently practicing my cultivation technique, pushing myself to the brink of exhaustion in search of a breakthrough. And now, as I focused on my breathing, I felt a sudden and unmistakable shift in my energy.

At first, I wasn't entirely sure what had happened. But as I slowly opened my eyes, I saw the world around me in a new light. The colors seemed brighter, more vivid, and the sounds that reached my ears were crisper, sharper. I felt a profound sense of peace and clarity wash over me, as if a veil had been lifted from my eyes, revealing a whole new realm of existence.

In that moment, I knew without a doubt that I had achieved a new level of cultivation. My spiritual roots, once feeble and stunted, had now grown robust and vibrant, reaching deep into the fertile soil of my inner world. A surge of pride and joy coursed through my veins, knowing that all the hours of diligent practice and unwavering determination had finally paid off.

As I stood up, I felt the power of my qi coursing through my body. I was stronger, faster, and more agile than ever before. But it was more than just physical strength - I felt a sense of connection to the universe as if I was a small part of something much greater.

It had been two months since I had awakened in my humble hut, after the encounter with the vampire woman that changed my life. I remembered how I had been enveloped in a sense of weightlessness as if I was floating on clouds. The vampire woman had kept her promise, and I had been immersed in a whirlwind of cultivation ever since.

As I reflected on the past two months, I was filled with wonder and gratitude. I had come a long way from the ordinary person I once thought I was. This newfound freedom, this ability to cultivate my inner power, was a gift beyond measure. I felt a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment, knowing that I had unlocked a path to endless possibilities.

With each passing day, I eagerly delved into the mysteries of cultivation, thirsting for knowledge and honing my skills. I was no longer the same person I used to be, and I relished in the transformative journey I was on. The world seemed to hold infinite wonders, and I was determined to explore every nook and cranny of it.

As I stood there, basking in the warm glow of my achievements, I realized that this was just the beginning. There were challenges and obstacles ahead, but I was armed with newfound strength and determination. I was ready to embrace whatever lay ahead, with the unwavering resolve to continue cultivating and uncovering the mysteries of this world.

In that moment, I felt an indescribable sense of gratitude toward the vampire woman, who had inadvertently set me on this path. Without her, I would have remained oblivious to the hidden potential within me. I was filled with a sense of awe at the serendipity of it all, and I pledged to make the most of this gift I had been given.

With renewed purpose and a heart brimming with excitement, I took a deep breath and set my sights on the future. This was my second chance a new life now - a life of cultivation, of endless possibilities, and of unshackled freedom. And I was determined to make every moment count.

But how was I going to get out of here?

I had made up my mind - the plan hadn't changed. There was nothing left for me in the sect, so I was going to leave. I had decided to become a casual cultivator, venturing away from the confines of society and the sect, and forging my own path of cultivation. As I glanced down at the black obsidian ring adorning my forefinger, one of the two items I had found after waking up, my resolve only grew stronger.

The other item was a letter, written in an alien language that, somehow, I could understand. The letter revealed that the ritual I had undergone had been successful, and I had awakened a single attribute water spirit root. Although it was not as powerful as a heavenly spiritual root, as it had been forcefully awakened, it was still slightly better than a three-attribute true spiritual root. I found a silver lining, however - I had also awakened an innate ability to control and manipulate water. Currently, my water manipulation ability was weak, but the letter indicated that it would grow stronger as my divine sense and cultivation progressed.

The revelation left me in awe. I had unlocked a newfound ability, a unique talent that set me apart from others. It filled me with a sense of excitement and curiosity about the untapped potential within me. The prospect of developing my water manipulation ability, along with my cultivation, was both thrilling and daunting.

I couldn't help but reflect on how my life had taken an unexpected turn. I had never imagined that I would awaken such an ability or receive a letter in an alien language. It was a testament to the enigmatic and mysterious world of cultivation that I had stumbled into. Despite the uncertainties and challenges ahead, I felt determined to explore this new path, to unlock the full potential of my water manipulation ability,

So long as I practiced hard enough, it would become stronger.

Additionally, the black obsidian ring was a space ring filled with books, cultivation pills, and spirit stones. According to the letter, it was enough for me to reach the golden core realm or higher.

This was enough money for me to train properly for a while and gain the necessary skills in the path of water manipulation. I had already figured out that water manipulation was a vital element of spiritual cultivation and my body had an affinity for water. Although I wouldn't have expected myself to awaken it, here I was with no need for the sect and plenty of capital to establish my own family. I took a deep breath and smiled. I put the letter back into my robes; I knew I needed to think about the next step and figure out who I would go to next.

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I walked back to my small house and sat down inside. I tried to calm my mind, formulating a plan. I needed to leave in such a way that the sect didn't send anyone after me. There was no one here for me Elder Huang and Xia Changge had gone on a cultivation journey my so-called Fiancé had left me and my family had already kicked me out not to mention I wanted to be alone and explore and study and do whatever I wanted. Leaving was the better choice. My thoughts turned into a jumbled mess after thinking about everything. Finally, after wasting a lot of time, I decided to use the direct approach and see what would happen.

.............................

"You wish to leave the Sect?" Elder Liu asked for a third time, looking very puzzled as he looked at the young boy In front of him wearing the gray robes of handyman Disciple with long unkempt black curly hair that seemed a miss matched the boy's long straight eyebrows, big rounded nose, and almond-shaped brown eyes.

Elder Liu furrowed his brow, looking puzzled as he peered at the young boy standing before him. The boy wore the gray robes of a handyman disciple, his long, unkempt black curly hair seeming out of place with his straight eyebrows, rounded nose, and almond-shaped brown eyes. Never in his wildest dreams did Elder Liu imagine encountering someone who would willingly ask to leave the sect. In most cases, disciples were asked to leave, and in rare instances, disgruntled members would simply disappear. But never in his 112 years as the leader of recruitment had he seen anyone express a genuine interest in leaving their sect and settling elsewhere. Not even the talentless trash had ever expressed such a desire.

"Yes, Elder," the boy repeated himself cordially, showing respect and politeness by adhering to the formalities and procedures for leaving the sect.

"Why?" Elder Liu asked the question that was troubling him the most. He couldn't fathom why someone would willingly choose to leave the sect, and his curiosity was piqued.

The boy bowed deeply, showing his respect, before responding with a hint of sadness in his voice, "This one turned fifteen yesterday and has not yet awakened his spiritual root and has deemed himself as a useless waste, and does not want to impede the sect's generosity."

Elder Liu frowned slightly, feeling a sense of familiarity with the boy's tale.

He had encountered similar cases before, where disciples failed to awaken their spiritual roots.

However, what puzzled him was why the boy would choose to leave when there were others in similar situations who would fight tooth and nail to remain within the sect. After all, they usually were sons and daughters of powerful men and women who had failed to awaken their spiritual roots, but they never requested to leave.

Elder Liu sighed, realizing that he had too many responsibilities to attend to and couldn't afford to pay much attention to a random boy who wanted to leave the sect.

"Very well," Elder Liu nodded, not wanting to argue with the boy and feeling too lazy to do anything else. "I'll write you an exit pass. Just take your items with you. You haven't learned any sect techniques, nor have you entered any secret locations, nor used any sect quotas. The exit fee is five spirit stones."

Elder Liu fully expected the boy to tell him that he didn't have any spirit stones, and he had every intention of waiving the fee, considering the boy's poor appearance. However, to his surprise, the boy nodded and bent down into the woven basket at his feet, retrieving five glowing low-grade spirit stones. Out of the corner of his eyes, Elder Liu caught a glimpse of the contents of the boy's basket, which contained what looked like rice cakes, half a dozen spirit stones, some old ratty clothes, and a bunch of vegetables that he had no idea were edible.

"Thank you, Elder Liu," the boy murmured, bowing again before placing the five stones in front of Elder Liu. Elder Liu sighed, not looking directly at the boy, but instead gazing out at the clear blue sky.

"Very well then, I shall mark your departure for you. From this moment forward, Lin Yun, you are no longer associated with the Yin Yang Harmony Sect," Elder Liu said, signaling for the boy to rise from his kneeling position as he placed both palms together in front of himself.

"Thank you, Elder Liu, for your consideration," the boy said as he rose to his feet. Elder Liu nodded and signaled his assistants to begin picking up the spirit stones, while the boy turned around and began to leave, under the remorseful gaze of Elder Liu.

"May the heavens be kind to you, Lin Yun, for the world won't be," Elder Liu spoke the words softly and quietly, making sure that no one would hear his words.

.....................................................................................

As I made my way down the mountain, accompanied by the coolies whom I had grown familiar with during my time in the sect, I couldn't help but reflect on how easy it had been to leave. None of them seemed to notice or pay me much mind, as they were all deeply engrossed in their tasks and duties. Despite the weariness that settled in after our arduous journey, I was in good spirits, knowing that I had finally made the decision to leave the sect behind.

We descended the steep hillside, following the meandering path of the river. I couldn't resist stealing glances back at the summit, where the sect that I had once belonged to was located. A mixture of sadness and pride stirred within me. I didn't want to go back to them; I wanted to escape from the complicated emotions that had plagued me for so long. Today marked the day that I would leave, and I knew that I wouldn't be returning anytime soon.

As I walked out of the main gate, I couldn't help but be struck by the sheer size of the stone slabs that adorned the entrance. They were like colossal buildings, reaching ten stories high, and intricately carved with depictions of the sect's founders, guardians, and cultivators.

The gate guard scrutinized my exit note with a stern expression before nonchalantly pushing aside a door that seemed to weigh hundreds of thousands of tons as if it were an effortless feat. The other guards cast a cursory glances at me but otherwise ignored my departure.

I swallowed nervously and began my descent down the spiraling stairs, surrounded on all sides by solid grey stone and frost. The bitter cold gnawed at me, and I would have succumbed instantly if I weren't a cultivator. Nonetheless, the discomfort was still unbearable as I descended from above the clouds, making my way towards the Dock cum pier where supply ships from various vassals of the Yin Yang Harmony Sect would come to pay homage and taxes.

The first time I had descended this path, I had been in a daze, overwhelmed by the sheer number of people pouring off the docks. It was as if the entire region had decided to converge on this remote island of the sea, and the sight was mind-boggling. It took me a good half day of walking down the seemingly endless stairs before I could even catch a glimpse of the docks, which were surrounded by thousands of boats, barges, and ships of all sizes.

Finally, when I was halfway there, I reached the dock area, which was dominated by a massive wooden building enclosed by high walls of stone. As I entered, the air inside was hot and heavy with steam and moisture, enveloping me in a suffocating embrace.

With my newfound strength and heightened senses, the journey down the mountain was both easier and more challenging at the same time. It was easier because I was no longer bone-tired with each step, and my knees no longer trembled with exhaustion. However, it was also more difficult because my senses were heightened to an extraordinary degree, and I could smell everything, and I mean everything.

The entire place reeked of fish guts. Despite the overpowering odor, I made my way towards the central building of the docks, the only structure that wasn't a boat or a ship. It was a massive warehouse, and as I entered, I saw that it was completely empty, except for a colossal pile of bags stored in one corner. I ignored the pile and made my way to another section of the warehouse, where a large, overweight man was sitting on a mat behind a wooden desk.

The man, who went by the name Fatty Tang, was the dock master and a ninth level Qi refinement cultivator, just one step away from the foundation building realm. He sat amidst stacks of bamboo slips, reading through them with a magnifying glass, his thick greasy beard and bald head covered in white whiskers. When I approached, he didn't bother to lift his head from his book, and asked without looking up, "What brings you here, brother Lin? I don't usually get visitors from the sect. What can I help you?"

I replied, "I need to buy passage for myself."

"Oh, really? And where exactly are you going, brother Lin?" he asked with a smirk that sent a shiver down my spine. "My home island," I lied.

"Hmm," Fatty Tang replied, lowering his book and staring at me with wide, innocent eyes. "It seems to be a little pricey, brother Lin. I think you should choose some cheaper places." He must have used his divine sense to check the contents of my basket, I thought angrily. It didn't really matter where I was going or how much it would cost, as long as it was away from here. But if I simply agreed, Fatty Tang might become suspicious and inspect my basket more thoroughly, leading to the discovery of my hidden ring. So I glared into his eyes, trying to intimidate him.

"Six?" I said, trying to sound hesitant and unwilling. "Senior Brother Tang, please show kindness. That is too expensive for us simple mortals to afford."

Fatty Tang smiled at me and chuckled. "You clever little kid," he mused. "Fine, for the sake of our friendship, I will only charge four spirit stones."

I immediately acted hesitant, and unwilling, and finally agreed. Fatty Tang laughed loudly in amusement. "Excellent, brother!" he exclaimed as he began writing down my purchase slip. I left the warehouse five spirit stones lighter but with a small bag filled with essential supplies, a ticket to leave, and my newfound freedom. It took me another hour or so to locate my ship and negotiate the price of a cabin with the ship captain before finally handing over my so-called last spirit stone. I was ready to leave.

I settled down in my cabin, which was surprisingly big and spacious, with plenty of blankets covering the floor and a few cushions on top of the pile of pillows. I felt safe and warm inside the vessel as if I had been blessed. I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep as soon as I lay down, knowing that my true journey was finally beginning.