As Li Feng and the cultivator descended the ridge toward the Weeping Willow Sect, the world seemed to shift around him. What had once been a distant dream was now close enough to touch. His heart raced as the towering stone buildings came into sharper focus. Unlike the simple wooden structures of Willowbrook, the sect’s architecture exuded an ancient majesty, as though it had been carved from the mountains themselves. Wide stone stairways, intricately detailed bridges crossing streams of crystalline water, and towering willows with flowing silver leaves surrounded the sect, swaying in the gentle breeze as if the trees themselves were alive with spiritual energy.
The closer they got, the more Li Feng could feel the pulse of Qi in the air. It thrummed through the stones, the water, even the trees. Every breath he took felt more alive, charged with a vitality that was almost overwhelming. The stories he had heard growing up—about how the great sects were places where the heavens and the earth met—felt truer than ever.
They passed through a grand archway of white jade, its surface engraved with intricate characters that glowed faintly with power. As they crossed beneath it, Li Feng felt a shift in the air, as if they had passed through an invisible veil. The energy was stronger here, more concentrated, and it made his skin tingle.
"We’re inside the sect’s formation," the cultivator explained, noticing Li Feng’s reaction. "This barrier protects the sect from outsiders and regulates the flow of Qi within the grounds. You’ll grow accustomed to it with time."
Li Feng nodded, trying to remain calm, though the intensity of the atmosphere was like nothing he had ever felt before. It was as if he had stepped into another world—a world that had its own rules, its own flow of energy.
As they walked deeper into the sect, other disciples came into view. Some were moving with purpose, robes flowing behind them as they carried out various tasks, while others sat in meditation by the river or beneath the willow trees, their eyes closed, their bodies radiating a serene focus. Each one seemed to exude a quiet power, the result of years of dedicated cultivation. These were the people he would soon be joining. The thought filled him with both excitement and unease.
After a short walk, they arrived at a large stone courtyard. In its center was a towering statue of a weeping willow, its branches cascading down in graceful arcs. Surrounding the statue were several buildings, their stone walls adorned with the emblem of the sect—a willow tree with its roots deep in the earth and its branches reaching toward the sky.
The cultivator stopped and turned to Li Feng. "This is where we part ways. You are now an outer disciple of the Weeping Willow Sect."
Li Feng felt a jolt of surprise. "Already? But… I haven’t gone through any initiation or testing."
The cultivator gave him a small, amused smile. "You were accepted the moment I chose you. The test for you will not be a simple trial; it will be surviving in this sect. Many outer disciples never make it past their first year. Your true test begins now."
Before Li Feng could respond, another figure appeared from one of the side buildings. He was a tall, older man with graying hair tied back in a neat bun, wearing the same robes as the other disciples but with more elaborate embroidery around the sleeves. His face was stern, his eyes sharp and calculating as they settled on Li Feng.
"Elder Zhou, this is Li Feng," the cultivator said, introducing the man. "He has potential. See that he is registered properly and given the appropriate accommodations."
Elder Zhou nodded, though his expression remained unreadable. "Very well," he said in a low, gravelly voice. "Follow me, Li Feng."
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
The cultivator gave Li Feng one last glance, then turned and disappeared into the mist, leaving him alone with Elder Zhou.
----------------------------------------
As they walked, Elder Zhou led Li Feng through the sprawling sect grounds, his steps steady and deliberate. The atmosphere within the sect was both peaceful and charged with potential, a place where the natural world and the world of cultivation coexisted in perfect harmony. Streams of water wound between buildings, crossing under bridges and feeding into large, clear pools where disciples sat in meditation, their energy radiating out in subtle waves.
"You’re lucky to have been brought here by a sect elder," Elder Zhou said as they walked. His voice was calm but laced with a note of warning. "Most outer disciples arrive after begging for a chance, spending months or even years waiting for approval. You were chosen without the usual process, which means expectations for you will be high."
Li Feng nodded, absorbing the elder’s words. He understood the gravity of his situation, even if the full weight of it hadn’t yet settled. "I’ll work hard," he said, his voice firm. "I won’t waste this opportunity."
Elder Zhou glanced at him, the barest hint of approval flickering in his eyes. "Work hard, yes. But understand that hard work alone will not be enough. You are one of many, and in the world of cultivation, only those with true strength rise. The rest… fade away."
They stopped in front of a large, stone building, much plainer than the other structures they had passed. It was simple and utilitarian, with rows of doors lining the outside, each one leading to a small room.
"This is the outer disciple dormitory," Elder Zhou said, motioning to the building. "You’ll find your living quarters inside. Your name will be added to the roster, and from here, you’ll be assigned tasks and given access to the basic cultivation resources. As an outer disciple, you’ll have to earn your place. Your time will be divided between menial tasks for the sect and your own cultivation. Only those who prove themselves may advance to inner disciples."
Li Feng glanced at the dormitory. It was modest compared to the grandeur of the other buildings, but he felt a surge of determination. It didn’t matter where he started. He would make his way to the top.
"Understood," he said, bowing respectfully.
Elder Zhou studied him for a moment longer, then nodded. "Report to the Mission Hall tomorrow morning for your first assignment. Do not be late. As for cultivation, you will find the basics written in the manual in your quarters. You are on your own from here."
With that, Elder Zhou turned and walked away, leaving Li Feng standing alone in front of the dormitory.
----------------------------------------
Li Feng pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside the building. The air inside was cooler, the stone walls giving off a faint chill. A row of simple rooms lined the corridor, each with a wooden door marked with a number. He walked down the hall until he found his assigned room, marked with a small placard that read #27.
The room was small, but not uncomfortable. A single bed, a desk, and a set of shelves lined one wall, and a small window let in light from the courtyard outside. On the desk, a neatly folded set of sect robes waited for him, along with a thin manual titled "Foundations of the Weeping Willow Sect".
Li Feng sat down on the bed, the reality of his new life settling in around him. He was here—finally here. But as he glanced at the manual on the desk, the weight of what lay ahead hit him. The life of a cultivator wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t about immediate power or grand battles. It was about dedication, struggle, and, as the cultivator had said, sacrifice.
He reached for the manual and flipped it open. The pages were filled with basic information on cultivation—how to harness Qi, the importance of meditation, the early stages of cultivation. He skimmed the sections, but one sentence stood out to him, written in bold at the start of the manual:
"The path of cultivation is the path of hardship. Only those with the will to face endless trials will ascend beyond the mortal coil."
Li Feng’s grip on the manual tightened. He had no illusions about the difficulty of the road ahead. He knew it would be filled with challenges, both from within and from others who would seek to crush his dreams before they even began.
But he was ready. He had to be.
He set the manual down and stood, walking to the small window. Outside, he could see other disciples moving about, going about their tasks, talking in groups, or sitting in quiet meditation. Soon, he would be among them. Soon, he would begin his journey to power.
And deep down, he knew that this was only the beginning. The mountain he had to climb was far steeper than he had imagined, but the thought of reaching the summit drove him forward.
Li Feng took a deep breath and closed his eyes, letting the energy of the sect wash over him.
Tomorrow, his true training would begin.