Chapter 1 - Taishan Mountain

Atop the majestic peak of Taishan Mountain, a lone figure stood at the edge of a vertical cliff, his dark robes billowing dramatically in the howling wind.

His long black hair flowed behind him like ink spilling across the heavens, and his gaze was locked onto the endless horizon, profound and unfathomable.

To an unaware observer, he might have looked like a sage pondering the mysteries of existence, unraveling the great truths of the Dao.

In reality, he was simply trying to look as cool as possible.

Behind him, the quiet crunch of footsteps echoed through the crisp mountain air, followed by a familiar, exasperated voice.

"There you are, Junior Brother."

Hearing the voice, he exhaled a long, weary sigh. He turned his head just enough to let the wind catch his hair at the perfect angle, ensuring that his sorrow appeared both profound and picturesque.

Standing a few steps away was Lan Yue, his senior sister. Silver-haired, graceful, and elegant as an immortal fairy. Unfortunately for her, she also had the lifelong misfortune of knowing Xie Ren.

"Ever since Master passed away," Xie Ren murmured, his voice filled with melancholy, "you were the only one who remained by my side. And now… even you are abandoning me to these desolate mountains, alone and forsaken."

He paused for effect, eyes misty with artificial sorrow as he gazed wistfully into the distance.

"Junior Brother-" Lan Yue said, only for Xie Ren to raise a trembling hand, cutting her off before she could utter another word.

"Say no more." He choked back an imaginary sob. "I understand. You've grown beyond me. You long to spread your wings, to step into the vast world beyond these peaks, to chase your own destiny. And I-"

His voice broke slightly, adding just the right amount of emotional depth. "I would never stand in your way."

Lan Yue rubbed her temple, already feeling the headache forming. "Junior Brother… I'm just going down the mountain to restock our supplies."

Xie Ren finally turned, staring at her as if she had just declared her intent to ascend to the heavens and never return. "And… how long will you be gone?"

"Two days."

"Two. Days?!" Xie Ren clutched his chest as though he had been struck by a divine tribulation. "Senior Sister, do you have any idea how long that is in mountain years?"

"That's not a real thing."

"It is if you're lonely enough!" Xie Ren spun back toward the horizon, his robes fluttering dramatically. "Left to the mercy of time, I shall waste away like a forgotten plum blossom in the snow drifting into obscurity, alone."

A sharp flick to the forehead cut off his lament mid-sentence.

"OW!" Xie Ren staggered back, clutching his forehead. "Senior Sister, I am in mourning!"

Lan Yue crossed her arms, entirely unmoved. "Just tell me what you actually want me to bring back."

"Well… since you insist…" He cleared his throat and straightened his back. "The new volume of master Duck's Invincible young master."

"Another one already? You just got one recently." She shook her head.

This was her Junior Brother, Xie Ren. He loved reading novels and would sometimes act as if he was in those scenes; she didn't know when he began to show interest in these novels.

They weren't far apart in age, she, the responsible child at twenty-one, and he, forever the childish junior at eighteen.

Both had been street orphans once, struggling to survive until fate led them to the Taishan Sect.

At the time, they had no idea that their so-called Master was nothing more than an old swindler desperate to recruit disciples for his barely-functioning sect.

And yet,

For all his trickery, their Master had never let them starve. Their sect might have been hidden deep in the mountains, far from the prestigious halls of the great cultivation clans, but there was always food on the table.

Thanks to that, the two of them had grown up well-fed, fair-skinned, and healthy. In fact, if one didn't know better, they might mistake him for the spoiled son of a noble family rather than a disciple from a crumbling backwater sect.

Now, ten years had passed.

Lan Yue had advanced in her cultivation, reaching a level where she could finally leave these mountains to see the vast world beyond. The grand sects, the legendary cities, the divine wonders, everything she had dreamed of experiencing was now within her grasp.

And yet, Xie Ren remained exactly the same.

Despite ten years of training, he was still stuck at Qi Refinement Level 1, the very first step on the path of cultivation.

It wasn't due to laziness, either. She had seen him train, had watched him meditate, had even caught him monologuing dramatically to the sky, as if sheer theatrics would grant him enlightenment.

Something had to be wrong with his body. A hidden illness, A blocked meridian, or A rare constitution that rejected spiritual energy?

She had begged him to leave the mountain so they could consult a proper doctor, but every single time, he refused with a ridiculous excuse,

"The mountain air is so pure and fresh! Why would I trade it for the smog of the mortal world?"

"What if bandits attack us on the road? It would be irresponsible to risk my unmatched handsomeness!"

"You know… I heard that people in the city have to wake up early just to go to work. What a tragic, miserable existence."

"If I step into society, people will immediately recognize my greatness. I'd rather not cause an incident."

Her Junior Brother was utterly, completely, hopelessly lazy.

Lan Yue inhaled deeply, and said. "Alright, I'll get your novel. But in return, I expect you to train properly while I'm gone."

Xie Ren gasped, clutching his robes. "Senior Sister, how could you doubt me? Have I not always been a diligent, tirelessly striving for greatness?"

Lan Yue stared at him.

"…Okay, fine," Xie Ren muttered. "I'll train."

She narrowed her eyes. "Train seriously."

"I will train seriously!"

"You say that, but last time I left, you spent the entire day napping under the peach tree."

"That was cultivation of the soul!"

"And the time before that, you got drunk and started yelling at the moon about your tragic fate."

Xie Ren sniffed. "The moon was very understanding."

Lan Yue exhaled slowly. "Just… try, alright? If you can't break past Qi Refinement soon, you're going to be left behind."

…

[A/N: Here's the cultivation realms, Each realm has 10 minor levels before one ascend to next realm.

Qi Refinement

Foundation Establishment

Core Formation

Nascent Soul

Spirit Transformation

Void Refinement

Void Fusion

Mahayana

And Each realm was further divided into Early, Mid, Late, and Peak stages.]