Chapter 10: "Desolate Extreme Continent"

The faint glow of dawn stretched across the sky, painting the horizon in shades of gold, orange, and pink. The quiet stillness of the forest was broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves and the soft chirping of birds waking to greet the new day.

In a small clearing by a gently flowing river, Ye Xiaotian stirred. His eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the soft light filtering through the trees. He lay still for a moment, staring up at the canopy above, watching how the leaves danced gently in the morning breeze.

It's peaceful here… he thought.

But beneath the calm surface of his thoughts, he could still feel it the lingering strain on his soul. Though the rest overnight had helped him recover, he wasn't fully healed. His soul still felt slightly heavy, like an invisible weight pressing down on him.

With a sigh, Ye Xiaotian sat up slowly, leaning against the large tree he had rested under. He closed his eyes briefly, focusing inward.

Better than yesterday, he noted. His soul had stabilized a little more, and he could sense his connection to this body becoming stronger. But it wasn't perfect. His soul still hadn't fully adjusted to the vessel it inhabited.

After a moment, he stood up and stretched, rolling his shoulders to ease the stiffness in his muscles. 

As he stretched, his gaze drifted to the river. The water sparkled in the morning light, its gentle flow soothing to watch. He took a deep breath, enjoying the crisp morning air.

Then he turned his attention to Qin Lian.

She sat cross-legged beneath a nearby tree, her fiery red robes glowing faintly in the light. Her eyes were closed in meditation, her breathing steady and calm. Her posture was graceful, yet there was an air of quiet strength about her.

Ye Xiaotian watched her for a moment, appreciating the serene beauty of the scene.

As if sensing his gaze, Qin Lian's eyes fluttered open. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the light, then met his gaze with a soft smile.

"Good morning," she said, her voice gentle but firm.

Ye Xiaotian nodded. "Good morning."

She stood gracefully, brushing off her robes. There was no sign of the injuries she had sustained during the battle with the Yuan brothers. After a full night's rest, she had completely recovered.

"How do you feel?" Qin Lian asked, studying him carefully.

Ye Xiaotian gave a small smile. "Better. My soul has recovered a bit."

Qin Lian nodded. "That's good. You've been pushing yourself too hard."

Ye Xiaotian chuckled softly.

They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, listening to the gentle sounds of the forest around them.

Then Qin Lian spoke again. "Shall we head to my sect?"

Ye Xiaotian nodded. "Yes."

Qin Lian approached him, a curious expression on her face. "Can you fly?"

Ye Xiaotian frowned slightly. "I can. But… my soul will drain quickly. I'll need to stop and rest every now and then."

Qin Lian nodded in understanding. "That's fine. We're not in a hurry. We'll stop whenever you need to rest."

With a graceful movement, she gathered her spiritual energy beneath her feet. A glowing red platform formed, shimmering with heat like embers from a fire. She stepped onto it effortlessly, hovering a few feet off the ground.

Ye Xiaotian watched her for a moment, then took a deep breath. He gathered his own spiritual energy, forming a golden platform beneath his feet. It felt steady, but he could already sense the strain on his soul.

This body… It's too heavy.

His soul was powerful as powerful as a Soul Awakening expert's. But without a Nascent Soul to anchor it, the connection was unstable. Worse, his body was no ordinary vessel. It was far heavier, more robust, and required soul energy to function properly.

Despite the strain, Ye Xiaotian lifted off the ground, flying beside Qin Lian.

They flew in silence for a while, the wind rushing past them as the vast Desolate Forest stretched out beneath them. The trees below swayed gently, their tops like a sea of green waves.

The forest seemed endless, stretching far beyond the horizon.

Qin Lian glanced at Ye Xiaotian as they flew. His face was calm, but she could see the tension in his expression. His soul wasn't fully recovered, and every moment of flight was draining him.

She admired his determination. Most cultivators would have collapsed from exhaustion by now, but Ye Xiaotian pushed forward, showing no signs of slowing.

He's stronger than he realizes, she thought.

After half a day of flight, Ye Xiaotian's breathing grew heavier. His vision blurred slightly, and his body trembled from the strain.

"Let's stop," he called out.

Qin Lian nodded and guided them toward a small clearing near a riverbank. They landed gently, the grass crunching softly beneath their feet.

Ye Xiaotian collapsed to the ground, leaning back against a tree. His face was pale, and his hands trembled slightly from soul exhaustion.

Qin Lian started a fire with a flick of her hand. From her storage ring, she pulled out a slab of meat and began preparing it for cooking. She glanced at Ye Xiaotian, her gaze concerned.

As the meat sizzled over the fire, the aroma of cooking filled the air. The smell was rich and inviting, and Ye Xiaotian's stomach growled in response.

Qin Lian chuckled. "Hungry?"

Ye Xiaotian nodded. "I haven't had a proper meal in days."

They sat in silence for a while, listening to the crackling of the fire and the gentle flow of the river.

Then Qin Lian broke the silence. "We haven't properly introduced ourselves," she said. "Let's start with me."

Ye Xiaotian nodded, curious to learn more about her.

"My name is Qin Lian," she began. "I'm the new sect master of the Vermillion Flame Sect, and I'm also the daughter of the previous sect master."

Ye Xiaotian raised an eyebrow. "You're the sect master?" he thought in his mind "Why did he came in contact to a sect master every time." he sighed.

Qin Lian smiled. "Yes. My sect is one of the most powerful sects on the Desolate Extreme Continent, and we're the largest producers of spirit pills. Because of that, we're quite wealthy."

She tossed a few herbs into the fire, enhancing the aroma of the meat as it cooked.

"Our sect is based in the Eastern Plains, which we rule completely. We've held that position for centuries."

"The forest we are currently in is the Great Azure Forest, the largest forest on the continent. We are still in the outer skirts. I came here because my mother, the previous Sect Master, sensed a powerful energy outburst from this region. She instructed me to investigate, suspecting the emergence of rare spiritual herbs or something extraordinary. However, I encountered the Yuan brothers from the Black Serpent Sect. Their sect is notorious for its evil deeds, capturing women and children, and using them as vessels for their cultivation. As our sects have been enemies for centuries, they immediately attacked me upon seeing me here."

Ye Xiaotian nodded. "Tell me more about the Desolate Extreme Continent and the powerful individuals here."

Qin Lian looked at him with a curious expression. "Aren't you from this continent?"

"No, I am from other continent." Ye Xiaotian replied.

Qin Lian was shocked. "Then how did you arrive here? It's impossible for even an intermediate soul-awakening expert to cross the Abyssal Sea and reach this continent. The journey is fraught with danger, even for them."

"I wasn't the one who came here," Ye Xiaotian said, his thoughts turning to that woman who had thrown him here.

"I was… thrown here."He mumbled under his breath, "How could she open a portal that teleports me across millions of kilometers? How powerful is she? It's impossible, even for Energy Mastery Realm titans."

His expression darkened as he contemplated the incident, as he thought about her his expression became downcast.

Qin Lian's eyes widened. "Thrown here? How could someone possibly throw someone as talented as you onto a backwater continent like this?"

She quickly changed her thoughts. "Well, it's done now. Since they've thrown a monster like you here, it's a good thing for my sect. I will accept you. You will be mine!"

She quickly caught herself upon seeing his downcast expression. "I'm sorry. Don't be sad. Since they've abandoned you here, I and my sect will accept you. We will make them regret their actions."

Ye Xiaotian felt a warmth spread through his heart. After so long, his expression softened. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me," Qin Lian said. "Who wouldn't want to accept a genius like you? By the way, you haven't introduced yourself."

Ye Xiaotian smacked his forehead. "Oh, I forgot. My name is Ye Xiaotian. I'm from the Xuanlong Continent."

Qin Lian's mind went blank. "No wonder you're a monster. You're from the Xuanlong Continent!"

Her mother had mentioned that only monstrously talented individuals were born on the Xuanlong Continent.

She snapped out of her daze. "I must make him mine," she decided, then she started explaining about the Desolate Extreme Continent.

Ye Xiaotian listened carefully, digesting the information.

"The Desolate Extreme Continent is divided into five regions," Qin Lian continued. "The Northern Wilderness, in which the Great Azure Forest was located, it was ruled by spirit beasts. The Southern Peaks, it was full of mountains which touch the sky it homes the abnormals races like stone giants, orcs, and trolls. The Eastern Plains, where my sect reigns. The Western Wastes, controlled by the Black Serpent Sect. And finally, the Central Core, ruled by three ancient sects that rival my own."

After that she started explaining about her sect as she spoke, her expression turned serious.

"Our sect follows a strict hierarchy. Disciples are divided into three ranks: Outer Disciples, Inner Disciples, and Core Disciples."

She explained each rank carefully:

Outer Disciples: "New recruits who've just broken through to the Foundation Realm. They handle the sect's basic tasks."

Inner Disciples: "Those who've reached the Divine Vessel Realm. They're given better resources and have more responsibilities."

Core Disciples: "The elite. You must reach the Core Formation Realm to become one. Core Disciples are the future leaders of the sect."

She continued, "Beyond the disciples, we have the Elder Council, made up of Advanced Core Formation experts."

"And the leaders?" Ye Xiaotian asked.

"The sect is led by the Sect Master, the Vice Sect Master, and the Grand Elder. All must be in the Soul Awakening Realm."

Ye Xiaotian nodded thoughtfully, digesting the information.

Qin Lian's eyes lit up. "And there's the Alchemist Hall, It is a separate division within the sect. It's made up of talented alchemists who specialize in creating spirit pills."

She leaned in slightly. "If you're talented in fire control and want to become an alchemist, you can join the Alchemist Hall. My younger sister is the Vice Sect Master, and she oversees the hall."

Ye Xiaotian processed all the information carefully. "So… with my current cultivation level, I could only join as a disciple?"

Qin Lian's eyes widened in surprise. She had been planning to offer him a position as an elder.

"If you want, I can make you an elder," she said eagerly. "You'll need to demonstrate your strength to the council, but"

Ye Xiaotian shook his head. "No. I don't want to draw too much attention. Just make me a disciple. I want to rest and cultivate for now."

Qin Lian was overjoyed. "Alright, I'll make you a core disciple and give you a private pavilion where no one will disturb you."Ye Xiaotian agreed to her arrangement and nodded. They then fell silent, enjoying the rest of their meal.

The two continued their journey, flying for half a day and resting for the other half. Each day, Ye Xiaotian felt his soul growing stronger. His body and soul began to harmonize more, allowing him to fly longer without exhausting himself.

On the ninth day, as they flew over the final ridge, Qin Lian pointed ahead.

"There it is," she said softly.

End of Chapter 10