Tyler relaxed, as he could clearly tell that if this man really wanted to harm him, he could simply talk really loud and he’d potentially die. After a few seconds, he settled on a simple unambiguous question.

“What is this place?”

A few seconds went by before Lo Shen, his brow slightly furrowed, answered. “As I mentioned before, this is Sword King Mountain and we are in the outer city at the base of the mountain. The mountain is home to the strongest sect in Veridian Peaks. My turn. How did you get to the pre-shattering city?”

Pre-Shattering…? So something did happen to the world… Where was I this whole time? Thought Tyler. Considering carefully his answer, he continued his line of questioning.

“It’s my home.” As soon as he uttered those words, Tyler saw the light inside Lo Shen’s eyes shine with a bright golden hue, causing a sense of unease to wash over him. It felt as though an apex predator fixed its gaze upon him, scrutinizing his every action!

Tyler took a few moments to formulate his next question as he did not want to reveal too much information while getting as much as he could without straight up lying as he felt that Lo Shen could somehow tell if he did so. “What is today’s date?”

Lo Shen was pondering on the mortal’s words and questions as all the hair on his body suddenly stood up. The inner sect elder had just sent him a message to return immediately!

“The specific date I do not know, but it should be around 10,000 years PS. Tyler, while I wish we could continue this conversation, I have been summoned back to the Sect. I will order the Head Servant to settle you down and bring you to the library and you can search for the answers yourself. Since you seem to be genuinely ignorant of everything that’s happening here and where this place is, we’ll employ you as a librarian for the time being… How does that sound?”

Somewhat shocked at the date, mainly the “PS” which he assumed meant Post-Shattering as Lo Shen mentioned Pre-Shattering cities before, Tyler answered as calmly as he could to hide his feelings towards the date.

“Fine, it’s not like I have anything else to do… But I do have a question before you leave… Is there a nice running route around here somewhere? Seems like it would be kinda nice to run along this dragon shaped mountain overlooking the lake, assuming this is indeed that mountain I saw from the lake-side.”

Raising his eyebrow, Lo Shen answered without even turning his head as he headed for the door.

“Head Servant Troy will answer all of those questions for you, as I honestly have no idea. If that is all, I must bid you farewell.” With that, Lo Shen stepped out of the infirmary. What an Odd Ball, this mortal. He thought.

Now alone in this place, Tyler got up and opened the curtains on the nearest window and stared out at the unfamiliar city. As far as he could tell he was surrounded by various conventional buildings made out of mostly stone, his room facing inward to the facility he was currently in. Many people walked about while others were simply sitting in meditation in a few spots. Most, if not all, seemed injured in some shape or form.

This was definitely a hospital, not unlike most modern cities before the shattering. Lost inside his own head about his current predicament, Tyler came to a conclusion. He’d have to go with Lo Shen’s plan for now.. Seeing as he literally had no other options or plan or any idea about literally anything as of right now.

Suddenly, he was startled out of his pondering when the door to the infirmary opened once more to reveal the youth known as Lo Xin. He had brought clothes and food.

“As my older brother ordered. Here are your new clothes and some food. I shall be taking my leave now.” With swift movements, the youth had come and gone. He seemed to still be seething at Tyler due to the earlier perceived disrespect and having his technique forcibly canceled by his senior brother due to this mortal.

The clothes that had been brought seemed to be made of a form of soft cotton and silk mix, which felt oddly comfortable. After dressing up in the blue and brown apparel, Tyler moved around a bit and found it extremely flexible to movement while being extremely light! This would make for great PT clothes, weirdly enough.

Sitting down on the bed, he devoured the food as he was starving and he didn’t even pay attention to what it was he ingested. It tasted heavenly and filled him with an unforeseen energy, but he couldn’t care less. He was too hungry to care. Half an hour went by before the head servant knocked on the door.

“Tyler, may I enter? This is the Head Servant.”

“Sure thing Troy! That’s your name right, Troy?”

Undisturbed by the stranger's peculiar behavior, Troy remained composed, having already been briefed on his idiosyncrasies by Master Shen.

With unwavering poise, he entered the room, only to be greeted by the sight of a tall young man in his mid-twenties, standing at an impressive height of 6 foot 4 inches. The youth was staring outside, but turned his way once he entered.

The man possessed short brown hair and deep, captivating dark blue eyes. Having encountered numerous cultivators throughout his life, Troy was not easily taken aback by the profound purity emanating from the man's gaze, although it did cause his heart to skip a beat momentarily.

Following Master Shen's instructions, Troy's duty was to guide this individual on a comprehensive tour and introduce him to the librarian as their newly appointed assistant.

“Yes, that is my name. If you would please follow me, I was ordered by Master Shen to show you around and bring you to the library as their new helper.”

“Please lead the way Troy! I can’t wait to see this library of yours.” Tyler responded enthusiastically. He couldn’t lie, what Shen had thought of was probably the best choice for him. He loved to read and had a lot to catch up on so working at a library was probably the best outcome he could’ve hoped for.

While traversing through the bustling mountain city, Tyler couldn't help but be taken aback by the starkly modern appearance that surrounded him. Mere hours ago, or so it seemed to him, he stood amidst the heart of Kingston—a Canadian city that bordered Lake Ontario. There, modern edifices, asphalt roads, vehicles, and sprawling malls extending over kilometers comprised the scenery. Now, in jarring contrast, he found himself immersed in an environment dominated by stone structures of various nature.

While these structures retained a modern appearance, the undertones of antiquity lingered within their design. Another striking disparity emerged in the form of the road underfoot—it wasn't the typical asphalt he was accustomed to, but rather a flattened expanse carved from the mountain's own surface. Notably, the absence of automobiles was glaring. Pedestrians, as far as he could discern, formed the sole mode of travel, each person relying on their own two feet to navigate the cityscape.

Numerous structures dotted the landscape, labeled to him by Troy as inns, craftsmen's workshops, eateries, and entertainment venues. Yet, a common thread united them all: they were fashioned entirely from the mountain's stone, as if hewed directly from the living rock itself.

Amidst the structures, a few caught the eye with their prominent presence, constructed from exquisite gemstones, jade, white marble, and sturdy rustic wood. Meticulously carved designs adorned these remarkable buildings, showcasing their opulence and uniqueness.

The Head Servant carefully detailed the name and function of each establishment, underscoring their exclusivity and the associated high costs for guests aspiring to experience such luxury.

Occasionally, Tyler passed by tall shop windows, revealing a variety of wares, ranging from what seemed like medieval relics to arcane and mysterious goods along with the expected numerous tailoring shops that sold clothes.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Some structures housed restaurants, often accompanied by bustling terraces, reminiscent of vibrant city life. Merely from this visual tableau, Tyler gathered that Sword King Mountain hosted an extraordinarily dense population.

Noticing Tyler's captivation with the unfamiliar environment, the head servant intentionally slowed his gait, seizing the chance to furnish more intricate descriptions. It became increasingly evident that Master Shen's assertion about Tyler's memories appearing to have been erased held true. Alternatively, it was plausible that this mortal was encountering a substantial cultivation city for the first time.

In that instance, a pang of sympathy coursed through Troy. The young man's plight was palpable from Troy’s perspective. He was clearly bearing the weight of someone who, as a mortal, might have undergone considerable suffering at the hands of an extremely powerful cultivator, one who forcibly obliterated all recollections from his consciousness in order to hide his secrets but disdained from staining his hands with mortal blood.

It wasn’t until an hour later when they arrived at the library. During the trip Tyler had gotten a fairly good grasp of the structure of this mountain from Troy. It was separated into several cities with increasing status the higher one went.

According to the Head Servant, traversing the entire mountain on foot at a leisurely pace by following the main road from the shores to the summit might require several months. Tyler found this estimation quite believable. The mountain appeared even more massive than he had ever imagined when viewed from the lakeshore. Gazing upwards, he gained a newfound perspective as he noticed that way before what he assumed to be the halfway point, the mountain was veiled by a thick layer of clouds obscuring his view.

Then, Troy went on to give a general explanation of each of the main cities.

The first among them bore the name "Edge City," primarily catering to mortals and wandering cultivators at the lower echelons. Serving as a haven for rest during travels, it was also host to the most expansive market within all of Sword King Mountain’s surrounding region and a giant port to provide safe passage to shore thus attracted a lot of traffic.

The second, "Permanence City," predominantly accommodated the mortal families affiliated with the Sword Sect and extraordinary mortals that hoped to one day join the Sword Sect. These inhabitants held a status deemed paramount among the mortal populace within the mountain's realm. Further ascending, the landscape unfolded with three more such places.

"Sword City," the third city, predominantly comprised of cultivators from the inner sect and their corresponding mentors. Generally, only those of considerable influence and extreme affluence within the cultivation lineage ventured into this third city. This was of course unless their association fell under the umbrella of the sect, or they were craftsmen of repute or a correspondingly powerful wandering cultivator.

Following suit was the fourth city, aptly christened "Profound City," a realm seldom ventured into by the majority. This domain held exclusivity for the inner sect, encompassing esteemed family heads, astute political leaders, and cultivators of unparalleled might within the jurisdiction ruled by the Sword King. The repercussions of decisions made within Profound City reverberated across millions of kilometers, resonating through the very foundation of the entire province. It was a realm where the privilege of movement was bestowed solely upon the profoundly potent cultivators who called it home.

Finally, crowning the majestic peak of the mountain, rested not merely a city, but an enclave known as the "Eternal Palace." The epithet resonated well, befitting the space that housed the palace initially constructed by the inaugural Sword Founder, countless years in the past. Nestled alongside this grand edifice resided a handful of meticulously chosen core disciples from the Sword Sect, as well as the prominent regional hegemons. Dotting the landscape of this cultivation haven were the sprawling villas belonging to these notable figures.

The Sword King was a title held by the most fearsome cultivator of the region and the sect master of the Sword Sect. Of all the cultivators within the mountain, none could rival the Sword King. At best, it was rumored that some could potentially escape with their lives if push comes to shove, but that wasn’t a guarantee.

All in all, Tyler’s guess was confirmed. He had indeed been shot into the future, probably by 10,000 years or so and this new reality was straight from a cultivation novel or an isekai anime.

Upon Tyler's arrival at the library, the Head Servant introduced him to Theressa Hill, the librarian who would be responsible for his well-being during his stay. Theressa was a fair skinned woman of relatively short stature, standing at about 5'4", but she possessed an extraordinary beauty that could captivate anyone, regardless of gender. Her long black hair was neatly tied up in a ponytail, and her presence was undeniably enchanting.

Following a brief introduction, Theressa took charge of guiding Tyler to his lodgings within the library premises and showed him around to the facilities within the library’s basement that was reserved for staff. During their short journey, words were exchanged sparingly, but Tyler couldn't help but be mesmerized by her magnificence. It had been a while since he had been stunned by a woman’s beauty.

During a brief exchange between the librarian and the head servant, it became apparent that Tyler was to be given space and solitude for a few days, hinting at the likelihood of a traumatic encounter with a formidable cultivator that resulted in his memory loss.

Tyler had unmistakably discerned the subtleties of this situation and, to some degree, felt a twinge of guilt regarding his decision to withhold the genuine narrative behind his presence within these unfamiliar surroundings.

Yet, considering his past familiarity with fantasy novels and cultivation novels, he wouldn’t be casually divulging such an astounding tale to individuals he had only just encountered.

Now left alone with Tyler in front of his future accommodations, Theressa addressed him directly. “Now that you’ve got a bed to sleep in and you know where to get food and clean up, I’ve been told to leave you alone for a few days. But come back to me in 3 days and I’ll start training you in your future role as my helper for the library of Edge City. Oh, and be mindful where you go as this library has restricted parts to mortals that are reserved to the potential candidates of the outer sect and paying cultivators. If you’re unsure, come find me and I’ll do my best to guide you in the next few days.” Then, she bowed out of Tyler’s room.

“Thank you, Theressa. You will most likely see me browsing the library for the next couple of days.. I have a lot to catch up on!” answered Tyler.

Turning around suddenly, Theressa said. “Ha! I almost forgot, here.” She handed him a token hanging on a tiny hemp-like rope. “Your official librarian token! Luckily for you, entrance and reading fees for books are waived as part of your position as my helper! See you around!” she finished with a large radiant smile before turning around and disappearing upstairs.

Now in the solitude he had longed for ever since encountering the Lo brothers, Tyler surveyed his newly assigned accommodations and was content with the arrangement. Taking into consideration that he bore no financial burden apart from his future service as a librarian helper, it was more than acceptable. Not that he would have been able to pay anything anyways as he had lost his wallet and he was pretty sure his bank account was long closed!

The room boasted a single bed, an empty bookshelf, a reading desk adorned with a fascinating luminous crystal, seemingly powered by some form of magic, as conventional electricity appeared to be obsolete in this era and finally, a wardrobe with multiple basic outfits of different colors.

Adjacent to his quarters, a compact bathroom awaited, featuring an intriguingly peculiar shower and toilet. Following the instructions provided by Theressa, Tyler activated the shower, and to his astonishment, a condensed cloud materialized above the shower area, unleashing a gentle rainwater cascade seemingly out of thin air.

Fascinated, Tyler took a quick shower, changed into a fresh set of dark blue pants and grey shirt that were in the nearby wardrobe and attached his newly received token to his waist. Then, he headed for the library itself.

He had just eaten not too long ago and was anxious to get answers to some burning questions. It was time to catch up on the missing history he had somehow magically disappeared from!

After a few minutes of navigating in the enormous library, Tyler reached the front desk where Theressa worked. “Hello again, Theressa. May you be so kind as to point me towards the history section?” Tyler asked.

“Already diving into books? My kind of man!” She jokingly answered. “History books are pretty common amongst the younger generation as most of them retell the tales of the Sword King and the continent as a whole so they are fairly easy to find over here.” She continued while pointing to a section on the map located on her desk.

“Yeah… I’m a bit of a bookworm when I want. Thanks for the help, Theressa.” Tyler said while he slightly nodded his head to her before slowly walking away to the designated area.

Along the way, Tyler stumbled upon a few sections of the library that contained books that piqued his interest namely; Cultivation for Novices, Basic Meditation Techniques and their benefit to your cultivation and The Sword King Sect’s admission exams! Curious, he noted down in his mind where he found the books and swiped them up for himself while walking down to the history section where he set those books on a remote table before starting to browse around.

The library bustled with a steady stream of visitors, people flowing in and out, yet Tyler remained largely unnoticed, relegated to the status of just another mortal.

A handful of cultivators perused certain sections, among them the same ones from which he had selected a few books earlier. However, these individuals paid him no heed, deeming him inconsequential. In their estimation, he occupied a station far beneath their own social standing, particularly evident given his lack of affiliation with any prominent cultivation family or the distinctive aura of a cultivator.

After gathering up another 5 books, all of them were related to a specific period in time and focused on various heroics throughout this new history he had never heard of. Deciding to take a chronological approach to things, he grabbed up the only book that even mentioned the shattering in its title or pre-amble.

Tyler sat down at the nearest desk and started looking into the first one and steeled his mind for what was to come. He truly had no idea how any of this made sense yet and while he seemed calm and collected on the surface, his psyche was all over the place.

If he truly had lost over 10,000 years, all of the friends and family he knew were probably dead. Quietly sighing, he opened the first book.