The Unveiling

Shen Liang continued to integrate himself into village life. The villagers knew him as the quiet and observant boy who helped wherever he could. However, beneath his unassuming exterior, Shen Liang was constantly studying the world around him. He discovered that while the villagers practiced a rudimentary form of cultivation, they lacked the profound understanding of Qi and spiritual energy that he possessed.

One day, during the village's annual festival, Shen Liang noticed a group of wandering cultivators performing martial arts demonstrations. Unlike the villagers, these cultivators had a basic understanding of Qi manipulation, though it was crude and unrefined. They called themselves members of the "Blue Cloud Sect," a small sect in a nearby region.

Intrigued, Shen Liang approached the group, curious to see how this world's cultivation methods differed from his own. As he conversed with them, he realized that the world's spiritual energy was thin and scattered, making advanced cultivation difficult. The sect members spoke of ancient legends, powerful artifacts, and mythical beasts that had long since disappeared.

During the conversation, Shen Liang sensed a flicker of spiritual energy in the crowd. He discreetly followed it to an old woman selling herbs. To his surprise, she possessed a faint aura of spiritual energy, though she seemed unaware of it. Shen Liang purchased a rare herb from her, sensing its hidden potential. Later, in the privacy of his home, he used a small portion of his vast cultivation to refine the herb, releasing a burst of pure Qi. This confirmed his suspicion: the world still held remnants of its once-great power.

Determined to learn more, Shen Liang decided to join the Blue Cloud Sect under the guise of a novice cultivator. He hoped to uncover more about the world's history and the reason for its decline. Little did he know, his presence would soon stir forces that had lain dormant for centuries.