Will You Like to Bear My Burden and Become My Disciple

Entering the cave, Songtain felt the weight of the world lift from his shoulders. He sat down in a meditative stance, legs crossed, and closed his eyes, allowing the cool, damp air to envelop him. As he began to focus on his breathing, the silence of the cave amplified his thoughts, leading him to a deep state of self-reflection.

"Aah, it's nice to think about cultivating both methods," Songtain mused to himself, "but without a proper cultivation technique, all I will be doing is meaningless. It may even destroy my spiritual core, and there is no way in hell that I'm going to destroy my future."

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Let me first try sensing the Qi energy in the surroundings."

Songtain concentrated, feeling the flow of energy around him. When a mortal starts cultivating, they begin by sensing the Qi energy in their surroundings. This stage is known as the Mortal Rank, divided into three realms: Awakening Realm, Practitioner Realm, and Aura Realm. Each realm is further divided into nine stages. Right now, Songtain was at the Awakening Realm, 1st stage. This realm was crucial, as it dealt with the formation of the spiritual core and deciding the method of cultivation.

As Songtain continued to reflect, he noticed something strange happening inside the cave. The air grew thick with energy, and the cave began to illuminate softly. Space Qi began to surround him, swirling in a mesmerizing dance. Sensing the spatial distortion, Songtain opened his eyes, but before he could utter a word, he felt a powerful force tugging at him. In an instant, he was teleported to a different location.

Songtain found himself in a vast, mysterious hall filled with an otherworldly glow. At the far end of the hall, a man sat on a grand throne, exuding an aura of immense power and wisdom. Despite the man's ethereal appearance, it was clear that he had long since departed from the mortal realm.

"At long last, someone worthy of bearing my legacy," the man intoned, his voice echoing through the hall.

Songtain's eyes widened in awe and apprehension. The man on the throne had left a part of his soul behind, waiting for a suitable heir to pass down his legacy.

"Who are you?" Songtain asked, his voice barely a whisper.

The man smiled faintly. "I am the last master of the Celestial Dragon Sect, a lineage of cultivators who mastered both Qi and Body cultivation. Before I passed on, I left a fragment of my soul here, in hopes of finding a disciple worthy of my knowledge and power."

Songtain's heart raced. The opportunity before him was beyond anything he could have imagined. "What must I do to inherit your legacy?"

The master's eyes gleamed with approval. "First, you must prove your resolve and dedication. You will undergo rigorous trials that will test both your mind and body. Only then can you truly grasp the dual cultivation methods."