Stepping into the Mortal World

The ancient forest stretched endlessly, untouched by time. The world beyond had changed, but within this place, silence reigned. The air was thick with spiritual energy, carrying the lingering presence of their master's cultivation.

A man stood at the entrance of a secluded cave, his long white hair flowing in the cool breeze. His black eyes, cold and indifferent, pierced through the dense trees as if seeing far beyond them—toward the world he had abandoned.

After two hundred years of seclusion, it was time to return.

"Come," he said, his voice calm yet commanding. "We are leaving."

The two figures behind him stirred.

"You wish for us to accompany you, Master?" the female puppet asked.

The man nodded. "The world has changed. I do not know what awaits. Your presence may prove useful."

A grin stretched across the male puppet's face. "Heh. It's been too long since I've moved properly."

The female puppet merely bowed. "Understood."

And with that, they departed.

Their movements were light, yet their speed was terrifying. The dense forest blurred around them as they flickered through the trees, crossing vast distances in moments. The man led the way, his presence subdued yet undeniable. The puppets followed closely behind—silent shadows of death and power.

For two centuries, no one had dared step near the cave. Even the beasts of the forest had long learned to avoid this forbidden place.

But now, three figures moved toward the city—a forgotten legend returning to the mortal world.

As they neared their destination, Noyan City's towering walls came into view. Unlike the majestic capitals of the empire, this city was unimpressive. The stone walls were old, the air carried the stench of mediocrity, and the streets beyond bustled with mortals and low-ranking cultivators.

The guards at the city gate stood lazily at their posts. Their cultivation barely reached the Qi Gathering Realm—the second stage of the Mortal Realm.

(Cultivation was divided into four major stages: Mortal, Earthly, Heavenly, and Immortal.)

Mortal Realm: Body Refinement → Qi Gathering → Foundation Establishment

Earthly Realm: Core Formation → Nascent Soul → Soul Transformation

Heavenly Realm: Dao Comprehension → Void Rebirth → Ascendant Saint

Immortal Realm: Immortal Foundation → True Immortal → Heavenly Sovereign

Beyond Immortals lay the Supreme Realm, where true gods existed—Dao Lords, Eternal Monarchs, and Invincible Paragons.

Qi Gathering cultivators could harness spiritual energy, but their bodies were still weak. To true experts, such cultivators were nothing more than ants.

The female puppet scanned their surroundings, her sharp eyes noting every detail. Meanwhile, the male puppet scoffed. "This is what they call a city?"

Their master remained silent, stepping forward.

"Halt!" One of the guards straightened up, raising a hand to stop them. "State your name and purpose!"

The man's gaze fell upon him. An ant.

But he did not speak. He simply walked forward.

A suffocating pressure descended upon the guard. His breath hitched, his face paled, and his legs trembled involuntarily. Without realizing it, he stepped aside.

The other guards glanced at each other in confusion but dared not speak. An instinctive fear gripped them—these three figures were not people they could afford to provoke.

And so, without another word, the man and his puppets stepped into Noyan City.

The first step into a world that had long forgotten them.

But soon, they would remember.