A Path Unseen

Her words left me uneasy, but I pushed the discomfort aside for the time being.

After a deep breath, I made my way to the sect's library.

The library was an ancient structure, vast and enduring the passage of time. Its aura was strangely mesmerizing, peaceful—as if the wisdom of countless generations had been woven into its very stones.

Inside, the silence was overwhelming, broken only by the faint rustling of paper. The only other occupant was an elder seated at the counter. His presence was imposing yet calm, like a mountain that could not be moved.

I approached him, requesting books on the basics of cultivation and the realm's history. He gave me a discerning look, then pulled two books from separate shelves and handed them to me.

"Disciple badge?" he asked, his voice low and firm.

I retrieved the disciple badge my master had given me and showed it to him.

Upon seeing the badge, his expression softened in surprise. He nodded in acknowledgment, sending me off with no further words.

After leaving the library, I made my way to my cave abode.

Once inside, I sat down, the weight of the books in my hands grounding me. I had to understand the world I had entered.

The texts offered a clearer picture of this realm—Eternal Sky Realm, a place where cultivators and mortals coexisted.

The realm was governed by four major sects and three powerful beast clans:

Top Sects:

Eternal Star Sect

Mystic Dawn Sect

Rising Sun Sect

Frozen Moon Sect

Beast Clans:

Skyfire Phoenix Tribe

Celestial Wolf Clan

Azure Roc Tribe

Cultivation was divided into six levels:

Body Strengthening

Essence Gathering

Energy Transformation

Core Formation

Rebirth Soul

Divine Body

Each level had three stages: Low, Middle, and Perfect.

I was in the Mystic Dawn Sect, one of the Top Four Sects.

The Sect Master, Jing Xuan, was renowned for her extraordinary powers. She was also a Creator—one of the rarest and most revered individuals. It was said she had reached the Immortal Level of cultivation.

The Mystic Dawn Sect had five Peaks. The first four were presided over by Peak Masters, each with their disciples. The fifth was solely occupied by the Sect Master.

Creators were regarded with unmatched reverence in the sects and beast clans. They had the unparalleled ability to create cultivation techniques, and their status was second only to the Sect Master.

After absorbing all the information, I glanced outside. The sky had transformed from azure blue to a cascade of gold, pinks, and deep crimson. The sun sank toward the horizon, casting its final rays across the land. The clouds rippled, brushed with burnished gold, as though the heavens themselves were painted by a divine hand.

The air grew thick with the scent of dusk—earthy herbs, wild blossoms, and the promise of cool night air. The wind, once warm, now carried a chill, like the breath of ancient spirits. It felt as though the entire world paused, taking a deep breath before the stillness of night took over.

Mesmerized by the beauty, I let my tension slip away. Walking into the courtyard, I sat on a chair, closed my eyes, and soaked in the tranquility. My thoughts drifted, and before I knew it, I had fallen into a peaceful slumber.

YAWNNNN

I awoke with a stretch, the weight of my upcoming meeting with my master stirring my heart. After a quick bath, I took one last look at my humble abode and took a deep breath to steady my racing thoughts.

As I made my way toward the peak, I noticed the desolate surroundings—no disciples, no masters, only trees and a few animals. I knew the other Peaks were home to their respective Peak Masters and disciples, but the Sect Master's peak was different—isolated.

Suddenly, a realization struck me: My master was the Sect Master of one of the Top Four Sects. That was why the elder at the library had been so surprised when he saw my disciple badge.

A rush of excitement swelled in my chest. I was both honored and terrified. My master was an immortal-level cultivator, one of the most powerful beings in the realm. What would she expect of me? Was I meant to simply be a peaceful disciple, or did she want more? Would I have to fight, rise in power, and shape the world according to her will? 

But then again, what choice did I have? To refuse her was to refuse my place in this world.

As these thoughts swirled in my mind, I arrived at the entrance to her abode. My heart raced. Taking another deep breath, I stepped forward, trying to steady my nerves.

Would this meeting decide my fate?

I entered, and the first thing I saw was the ethereal figure of my master, Jing Xuan. She sat gracefully in lotus position on a cushion of delicate lotus petals. Her aura was serene yet commanding, like a tranquil sea hiding immense power beneath.

Her robes, a cascade of jade greens, whites, and pale blues, rippled like water with every passing breeze. Celestial symbols and blooming lotuses shimmered in the dim moonlight, testaments to her extraordinary cultivation.

Her hair, long and dark as the night sky, was pinned with ethereal ornaments that sparkled like distant stars. She radiated an aura that transcended mortal understanding, an embodiment of grace, power, and wisdom.

For a moment, I stood frozen, awestruck. She was more than I could have imagined—an almost divine presence. Her beauty, her power—it was overwhelming.

Then, she cleared her throat, the sound cutting through the stillness like a sharp wind. My trance broke, and I quickly lowered my gaze in respect, embarrassed by my staring.

"Come forward," she said, her voice clear and commanding.

I stepped closer, my heart pounding in my chest. The air around her shimmered, distorting as though reality itself bent in her presence. It was as if her very being was one with the world, her cultivation levels beyond anything I had ever imagined.

Her eyes slowly opened.

Jing Xuan's eyes, deep as the abyss and glinting with a faint silver light, met mine. There was no warmth in them, only an inscrutable gaze that seemed to peer through every layer of my being.

"You've inherited this body," she began, her voice calm but edged with authority. "Yet you carry the weight of a soul not from this world. Tell me, Yi Lian, do you know the significance of that?"

I swallowed, unsure how to respond. Her words confirmed what I feared—she knew everything. My voice trembled slightly as I replied, "I… I don't fully understand, Master."

She raised an elegant brow, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face. "You cling to ignorance. Unwise. In this world, ignorance is death. But perhaps you are not entirely to blame. You are like a seed scattered in a storm—lost, unrooted, and powerless."

Her words stung, but I held my tongue.

"You find yourself in the Mystic Dawn Sect, the strongest of the four sects in this realm. We are not a haven for the weak, nor are we merciful to the useless. The path ahead of you is perilous. Only strength will secure your place here—and even that might not be enough."

She rose from her seat, her robes flowing like liquid moonlight as she walked toward me. I instinctively lowered my gaze, but she stopped a mere step away, her presence suffocating.

"You possess something… unusual." Her voice softened, yet it carried a gravity that made my chest tighten. "Your soul has been tempered, twisted by forces I cannot yet fathom. It should have torn you apart when you arrived. But you survived. That alone makes you… interesting."

Her fingers brushed against the air, and a translucent screen appeared before her—my system.

[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]

[HOST: YI LIAN]

[CULTIVATION: NULL]

[PASSIVE ABILITIES: APPRAISAL, MENTAL LOCK]

Her gaze lingered on the screen for a moment before it vanished. "This… system. It is not of this world. It will be both your greatest asset and your greatest curse. Powers such as these come with a cost, and in this realm, the weak cannot afford such luxuries."

I clenched my fists, a mix of shame and determination rising within me. "I don't intend to remain weak, Master."

Her lips curved into the faintest of smiles, though it lacked warmth. "Bold words, but words mean nothing here, Yi Lian. This world respects only action and results. Your resolve will be tested, your limits pushed. And if you falter… I will not hesitate to discard you."

She stood, her robes cascading like flowing water, and raised her hand. The space around us shimmered, distorting as though the very fabric of reality were bending to her will.

"Follow me," she said simply.

I obeyed, my steps hesitant. She led me deeper into her cave abode, through winding corridors lined with strange glowing runes. The air grew colder, the light dimmer, until we arrived at a massive set of doors.

The doors pulsed with an ancient energy, carved with intricate symbols that seemed to move under their own volition.

"What lies beyond this door," she began, her voice soft yet filled with gravity, "will determine whether you live or die."

I froze, my breath caught in my throat.

She turned to face me, her expression unreadable but her eyes holding an intensity that made my knees weak.

"Do not disappoint me, Yi Lian," she said. With a flick of her wrist, the doors groaned open, revealing an abyss shrouded in swirling darkness.

Before I could protest, a force pulled me forward.

The last thing I saw was her faint smile as the darkness consumed me.