The dawn broke over Willowbrook, casting the village in a soft, golden light. It should have been like any other morning, with villagers waking to tend to their crops or animals, but today was different. Today, Li Feng would leave.
The weight of his decision pressed down on him as he stood at the edge of the village, the pack on his back filled with what little belongings he could take with him. The familiar sights of Willowbrook—the narrow dirt paths, the wooden houses, the fields stretching out toward the horizon—felt distant now, as though they were already part of his past. Everything seemed quieter, more muted, as if the village itself knew that something was ending.
Ahead of him, the cultivator from the Weeping Willow Sect stood waiting, their tall, robed figure appearing even more imposing in the early morning light. Their expression was unreadable, as always, but the aura of power that surrounded them was palpable, an invisible force that marked them as something far beyond the ordinary.
Li Feng took a deep breath, his gaze lingering on the village for a moment longer. He knew that once he took his first step away, there would be no turning back. His path lay ahead, in a world he had only dreamed about, a world where power was everything and where life and death were often decided in the blink of an eye.
"Ready?" The cultivator’s voice cut through his thoughts, calm but firm.
Li Feng nodded, though his heart felt heavy. "I’m ready."
The cultivator gave a curt nod in return, turning toward the path that led up into the mountains. "We have a long journey ahead. Keep your wits about you. The road is not without its dangers."
Li Feng fell into step behind the cultivator, his heart pounding as he left the village behind him. He could feel the eyes of the villagers watching from their homes, could feel their quiet murmurs as they saw him depart. But he kept his focus on the road ahead, on the mountains that loomed in the distance, their peaks shrouded in mist. That was where his future lay, and he would not falter.
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The path they followed wound through the lower foothills of the Greenwater Mountains, the trees thick and the air growing cooler with each step they took upward. Li Feng had traveled into the forests many times before, cutting wood for the village, but never this far. The deeper they went, the more the landscape seemed to change, as though they were entering a different world altogether. The trees grew larger, their branches intertwining above like a thick canopy, blocking out the sun and casting long shadows over the forest floor.
For the first few hours, the journey was silent. Li Feng followed the cultivator in a focused silence, his mind still racing with the enormity of what he was doing. Every step felt heavy with meaning, as if each footfall was taking him further from the life he had known and deeper into the unknown.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of walking, the cultivator spoke. "Tell me, Li Feng, what do you know of cultivation?"
Li Feng blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. "I… I’ve heard stories. From travelers, mostly. And some of the elders would talk about it, though none of them were cultivators themselves."
The cultivator glanced over their shoulder, a faint smirk playing at the corners of their lips. "Stories, yes. The foundation of dreams, but not reality. What you’ve heard is only a fraction of the truth."
Li Feng nodded, eager to learn more. "I know that cultivation is about harnessing Qi—the energy that flows through the world—and using it to strengthen the body and spirit. That’s how cultivators can do incredible things, right? Like controlling the elements, flying, or even living for centuries."
"That is the surface," the cultivator replied, their voice calm but precise. "Qi is the lifeblood of all existence, the force that binds the heavens and the earth. To become a cultivator is to learn how to control that energy, to bend it to your will. But it is not as simple as meditation and training. It requires talent, understanding, and most of all, discipline."
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Li Feng listened intently, his heart quickening. This was what he had longed for—the knowledge, the insight into the world he had always dreamed of. "What does it take to become a cultivator? Really, I mean."
The cultivator paused for a moment, as if considering the question. Then, they spoke again, their voice lower, more serious. "Cultivation is a path of struggle. It is a path where you will battle not only external enemies but also your own weaknesses, your fears, your doubts. Every breakthrough you achieve will come with pain, and every failure will come with consequences. Those who lack resolve fall by the wayside. Those who persevere... may reach the heavens."
Li Feng swallowed hard, the weight of the cultivator’s words settling into his chest. He had always known that the path of cultivation was difficult, but hearing it laid out so clearly made it feel more real, more dangerous.
"And the sect?" Li Feng asked, his voice hesitant. "The Weeping Willow Sect... what is it like?"
"The sect is where you will begin your true journey," the cultivator replied. "It is a place of training, of competition, and of growth. But do not think for a moment that it will be easy. You will be one among many, all of them striving for the same goal—power. Only the strongest, the most determined, will rise through the ranks."
Li Feng nodded, a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach. He had always imagined that the sect would be a place of learning, of honing one’s skills. But the way the cultivator described it, it sounded more like a battlefield, where only the most ruthless survived.
They walked in silence for a while longer, the weight of the conversation lingering in the air. As the path wound upward, the forest began to thin, and soon they found themselves emerging onto a rocky plateau. From here, Li Feng could see the sprawling expanse of the mountains stretching out before them, the peaks rising like jagged teeth into the sky.
The cultivator stopped, turning to face him. "We will rest here for a moment before continuing."
Li Feng nodded, grateful for the chance to catch his breath. He lowered his pack onto the ground and stretched, his muscles aching from the long walk. The view from the plateau was breathtaking—far below, he could see the distant outlines of villages, tiny specks among the sea of trees. The sky above was a deep, cloudless blue, and the air was crisp and cool.
As he rested, Li Feng’s thoughts drifted back to Willowbrook. He wondered how the village was faring after the attack. He wondered if Xiao Mei was thinking about him, if the elders were talking about his departure. He had said goodbye to only a few of them before he left, unsure of what words could capture the enormity of what he was doing.
But as he gazed out over the mountains, a sense of calm settled over him. He had made his choice. There was no turning back now.
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After a short rest, the cultivator stood, motioning for Li Feng to follow. "We are close now. The sect is just beyond the next ridge."
Li Feng’s heart leaped in his chest. The Weeping Willow Sect—the place he had dreamed of for so long, the place where his journey would truly begin. He pushed aside his fatigue and followed the cultivator with renewed determination, his eyes fixed on the path ahead.
They climbed the ridge in silence, the rocky terrain growing steeper with every step. Li Feng’s legs burned with the effort, but he kept pushing, the thought of what lay beyond driving him forward. Finally, after what felt like hours of climbing, they reached the top.
And there, spread out before him, was the Weeping Willow Sect.
The sect was built into the mountainside, a series of stone buildings and temples nestled among towering cliffs and ancient trees. A wide river flowed down from the peaks above, feeding into a waterfall that cascaded down into a sparkling pool at the center of the sect. The entire place seemed to hum with energy, as if the very air was alive with the presence of Qi.
Li Feng stared, his breath catching in his throat. It was more beautiful—and more imposing—than he had ever imagined.
The cultivator stood beside him, their expression unreadable as they gazed down at the sect. "This is where your journey begins, Li Feng. But remember this: the path of cultivation is not walked alone. You will find allies, yes, but you will also find enemies. Trust your instincts, but never let your guard down. This place... is both a sanctuary and a battlefield."
Li Feng nodded, his heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and fear. He could feel it—the power, the potential of this place. It was everything he had ever wanted.
The cultivator began to descend the ridge, and Li Feng followed, his eyes locked on the sect below.
This was it.
His journey had truly begun.