Chapter 4

Itachi's eyes locked onto the floating island as it came into view. It was enormous, far beyond what most would expect from something suspended in the sky. The island held entire cities, towering mountains, winding rivers, and vast forests. It wasn't just a sect, it was a realm of its own. Like someone had carved a piece of a country from the earth and hung it in the sky.

And as he looked upon it, one thing was certain in his mind.. This wouldn't be one of those kind of cultivation story. He wasn't going to hide his strength. He had done enough of that in his past life. No more pretending. No more restraint. This time, he would be arrogant. Reckless. Hot-headed to the absolute limit. He would shake this world—and let them know it was him.

The massive hawk descended gracefully onto a designated landing zone atop the floating island. One by one, they dismounted from the beast's back.

All around them, other flying beasts came and went. Some were different species of giant birds, while others were awe-inspiring treasures—flying artifacts ridden by sect elders, gleaming with power.

It became clear that this was part of a larger system. Elders were dropping off potential disciples before immediately setting out again, continuing their search for more talent across the 7 Lotus sect domain. The more promising recruits they brought back, the greater their rewards. Each elder appeared to be responsible for specific regions—cities, villages, or provinces assigned to them by the sect. It was organized and Efficient.

The elder who brought them wasted no time. He rushed his group forward for registration, completely ignoring the mocking glances thrown his way from other elders—many of whom had returned with far larger groups of potential disciples. After all, he had only brought three. But he didn't care.

"I need to see the Sect Master immediately," he said the moment he reached the registration table. "I have a recruit whose talent couldn't even be measured by the low-grade talent assessment orb."

The woman behind the desk, just an outer sect disciple, stiffened at his words. She didn't dare question an elder's urgency. Without hesitation, she turned and relayed the message to her superior.

Before long, Itachi found himself inside a special chamber, where the Outer Sect Leader of the Seven Lotus Sect personally arrived to meet him.

The sect was divided into three tiers: the Outer Sect, the Inner Sect, and the Core Sect. Each had its own leader, responsible for managing affairs within their division—while all ultimately answered to the Sect Master.

As the head of the Outer Sect, this man oversaw all outer sect matters—discipline, recruitment, training, and resources. So when word reached him of a recruit whose talent surpassed the orb's limit, possibly even exceeding a score of 99… He had no choice but to come see for himself.

"Itachi, go ahead," the elder who had brought him to the sect said, gesturing toward the orb in the center of the room.

Itachi let out a small sigh, then stepped forward and calmly placed his palm on the orb. Instantly, a blinding light exploded from its core, flooding the entire room. Even the Outer Sect Leader had to raise a hand to shield his eyes.

When the light finally faded, what was revealed nearly made everyone's eyes fall out of their sockets. Etched clearly on the surface of the orb were the numbers… 999.

This wasn't the low-grade orb used back in the village—this was a high-grade talent-measuring orb, capable of assessing all known types of talent… and Itachi had reached its absolute peak.

'It was endless when Mom measured it…' Itachi thought, staring at the orb for a moment longer, expression unreadable. His gaze slowly shifted to the Outer Sect Leader, whose widened eyes spoke volumes.

"The heavens have blessed our Seven Lotus Sect!" the man exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. "Itachi, quickly—we must report to the Sect Master at once!"

Itachi gave a simple nod and reached out, placing his hand in the elder's. With a flash of light, the two vanished.

'Nascent Soul…' Itachi thought, feeling the spiritual energy that had just enveloped him. He hadn't expected the Outer Sect Leader to be this powerful.

Then again, he wasn't exactly clear on how the sect's ranking system worked. From the cultivation novels he had read in his past life, Outer Sect leaders usually had much lower cultivation than Inner or Core Sect elders, often barely above their own disciples.

Regardless, they arrived in an instant, reappearing just outside the Sect Master's office. They had traveled several miles in the blink of an eye. What the Outer Sect Leader hadn't expected… was that Itachi had followed the movement effortlessly.

"Earth Lotus, what's the matter?" the Sect Master asked, his deep voice carrying a hint of irritation beneath a furrowed brow.

In this world, names held power—and danger. To prevent enemies from gaining an edge, most high-ranking cultivators used titles instead.

"Earth Lotus" was the formal title given to every Outer Sect Master of the Seven Lotus Sect.

"Sect Master," Earth Lotus said, eyes gleaming with excitement, "we've discovered a genius… someone who scored 999 during the talent measurement."

The Sect Master's eyes widened slightly—his calm demeanor cracking just enough to reveal his shock. A score of 999? Only one other person had ever reached that level. The Crown Prince.

Naturally, the Sect Master wanted to witness it for himself. Without delay, he had another high-grade talent-measuring orb brought in and instructed Itachi to place his hand on it.

To his shock, Earth Lotus hadn't exaggerated. The orb blazed with radiant light, and once it faded, the number 999 shone brilliantly within.

"Haha! The heavens have truly blessed my Seven Lotus Sect!" the Sect Master roared with laughter, grinning from ear to ear.

With a talent like this, their standing could skyrocket. From being unranked among the top 100 sects, they now had a chance to break into the top ten.

Turning to Itachi, the Sect Master's smile softened into one of genuine warmth. "What's your name, young man?"

"I'm Itachi Uchiha," Itachi said with a faint nod.

The Sect Master paused. He had never heard of a clan by that name. With a slight glance, he looked toward the Outer Sect Master, but he, too, shook his head.

"My clan name is Uchiha," Itachi explained. "I'm from a clan that doesn't place the clan above the individual. We believe that, in the end, one's cultivation journey shouldn't depend too heavily on family background…"

His words trailed off. A strange stillness settled in his mind as realization struck. Those weren't his words. They were his mother's, She had told him that once. Now, saying them aloud, he understood something he hadn't before.

She must have used the chaos, the combined assault of the immortal realm against him, as a chance to send him away.

"…" The Sect Master's eyes narrowed slightly as he caught the subtle shift in Itachi's expression—a flicker of realization that hadn't been there before.

He understood instantly. Itachi's background wasn't simple. He had to be from some distant, powerful land, sent here to gain experience. It wasn't unheard of. Many top-tier clans often sent their most talented disciples or children out to temper themselves in unfamiliar regions, away from the safety of home.

But this is rare. He had never seen a clan so confident in their beliefs that they placed the individual above the clan name. It was rare. Commendable.

"…Itachi, would you take me as your master?" the Sect Master asked softly, noticing the quiet, downcast look on Itachi's face.

Itachi looked at him for a moment, silent, before letting out a small sigh. Then, he stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed in respect.

He didn't mind taking a master's. Especially in a world like this, there was still much he needed to learn… although he would quickly master everything his master could offer.

"Did you hear? The Sect Master has taken in a personal disciple."

Ling Han was walking through the Outer City, heading toward a location he remembered from his past life—a place that held a hidden opportunity. But his steps came to an abrupt halt when he overheard the passing voices of two outer sect disciples.

"Really? He's always refused to take on disciples," one said in disbelief. "Who's the lucky guy? Wait… it can't be a new disciple, right?"

"Yes, it's this new disciple called Itachi. There was a banquet held, I was lucky enough to be on cleanup duty, so I saw him," one of the disciples said, his voice low with awe. "All I can say is, he's a genius. To show off his talent, he fought a level 4 Body Tempering cultivator… and won."

"He doesn't even have cultivation. The fight was so one-sided, most people think it was staged. Honestly, even I still think it was an act. I mean… how can a nine-year-old be that capable?" His words left the nearby disciples stunned.

Ling Han's eyes narrowed. So Itachi wasn't just a fluke. Itachi was so talented that they increased his age by 2 years to shield him…

A fire of determination lit in Ling Han's gaze. Without a word, he picked up his pace. His footsteps quickened, and soon, he slipped into the forest beyond the city, heading toward a place burned into his memory. He needed to find the waterfall.

Ling Han's mind flashed back to the moment of his death. He had been with Su Yan. The two of them had fled into the ancient tower, their enemies closing in fast. And in that desperate moment… Su Yan had burned her own lifeforce. She'd gone so far as to destroy her very chance at reincarnation—just to give him a way to escape. She had died for him.

He clenched his fists. He had to win her back. No matter the cost, he would not lose her a second time. Su Yan was his wife, he refused to let her go.

"Thanks," Itachi said with a nod as he accepted the book Su Yan had brought for him.

Su Yan's face lit up with a smile. But as Itachi opened the book and began reading, her smile slowly faded. Memories came rushing back. She remembered the past all too well.

Itachi had never liked her, not in the way she had hoped. He had always been more focused on cultivation, more serious than the other kids in their village. But she hadn't cared. She refused to leave him alone. She'd pestered him day after day, dragging him to play with her and the others. If he refused, she simply wouldn't let him be.

She could tell that a part of Itachi did enjoy being a kid, just existing without the weight of expectations. But he was too prideful to admit it. So, she made it her mission to draw that part of him out.

To make him act his age. And for a while, it worked. They spent more and more time together, and naturally, the adults started talking. It wasn't long before someone suggested they'd make the perfect pair. The time they spent together only fueled the rumors.

Su Yan wasn't sure how she felt about it at first. But when she overheard Itachi instantly rejecting the engagement… she couldn't help but cry. That reaction, those tears, had gotten to him.

Itachi had reluctantly accepted the engagement after that. But from that day on, he'd kept a careful distance, acting like she was some walking calamity—like if he got too close, some cultivation-world FBI would show up and drag him off.

She was, of course, displeased with Itachi's distance. But even so, she had made it her mission to make him fall for her—one way or another.

That was her goal. At least… until she began to understand just how bright his future truly was compared to hers. They belonged to two entirely different worlds. The realization hit hard.

Itachi had already defeated a level 4 Body Tempering cultivator—no, not just defeated… overwhelmed. That meant he was stronger than their village head, the strongest person they had ever known until coming to this sect. That fact alone was shocking.

Su Yan stared at Itachi for a long while, quiet and thoughtful, before turning and running off toward the training grounds. She had to cultivate. She needed to grow stronger, fast.

It had already been a week since they entered the sect, and in that short time, Itachi had wasted no time exploring everything the lower realm had to offer.

She had become his servant. It was the only path available for someone of low status and uncertain potential to enter the Core region of the sect. For outer sect members without backing or exceptional talent, this was the only way to rise close to power.

Yes, Itachi was a core disciple. And if Su Yan wanted to stay near him… she had to become his shadow. At first, it left her deeply depressed.

She loved him. She still loved him. And the fact that she could only remain by his side as a servant felt like proof that their love was always meant to be one-sided.

But then, Itachi gave her something unexpected. He handed her a cultivation art, one far superior to anything she had access to before. And with it, he told her something else. Something that made her heart skip.

He told her his type. If she was so determined to win his heart…He gave her the blueprint.

So… what was Itachi's type? Well, it was complicated.

He didn't care much about looks—unless someone had a face terrifying enough to make him jump in fright, appearance wasn't really a factor. As for body type? Flat, fat, skinny, tall, short—it didn't matter to him.

Personality? You could be the devil himself, and Itachi wouldn't bat an eye.

But what did matter to him… was usefulness. Itachi hated being slowed down. He didn't like having to wait for others to catch up. If someone could walk beside him, at his pace, without holding him back, he wouldn't mind their company.

That was his standard. If you could grow alongside him without needing him to carry you… If you could face life-and-death situations on your own and come out alive… Then in Itachi's eyes… That was hot.

Knowing this, Su Yan made up her mind. She would become powerful, with or without Itachi.

Yes, she appreciated the cultivation art he had given her. It was a gift she would never forget. But it would also be the last thing she ever accepted from him.

Well… aside from the fact that she was now officially his servant. And that, admittedly, came with quite a few benefits.

'The Outer Sect Tournament is in six months. I'll win first place… just watch me.' Her eyes burned with quiet resolve as she closed them and began to cultivate.

She didn't notice it, but with each breath, a thin mist of icy air slipped from her lips, cold enough to chill the air around her. But Snow noticed. And her feline eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

'She's close to awakening it…' Snow's feline eyes narrowed as she watched the faint mist escape from Su Yan's lips.

'It's strange. In her past life, she didn't even possess a fragment of that physique. It's like she lived another life entirely—one where she managed to obtain it.'

'Time travel? That would explain it. She may have regressed to the past… but then, why does she have no memory of her future self?' Snow let out a quiet sigh.

Regression wasn't unheard of in the cultivation world. But those capable of pulling it off were beings of terrifying strength—masters of space and time. Itachi's mother was one such figure.

Someone of similar caliber must have intervened. Not only had Su Yan regressed, but her future physique had returned with her, sealed, yet present.

'Maybe it was Su Yan herself… maybe she sacrificed something big to bring it back.' Either way, Snow didn't particularly care. She curled up on Itachi's lap and slowly closed her eyes. Sleep sounded far more interesting.

'It kind of makes sense,' Itachi thought as he closed the book he had just finished reading.

It detailed the territorial structure of the sects operating under the Great Ling Empire. One question had always lingered in his mind: Why did the villages have so little Qi in the air compared to the cities and sects?

As it turned out, the answer was simple. Cities were built atop Qi gathering arrays—formations designed to draw spiritual energy from the air and concentrate it within the city. These arrays siphoned Qi from the surrounding regions, leaving the outer lands with only sparse spiritual energy. Villages, lacking such arrays, were simply left behind.

Yes, the cities and villages were all spaced far apart for this very reason. After all, no one wanted the Qi gathering arrays of the two cities to clash. To avoid that, each one was built at a safe distance from the others, and the same applied to the placement of villages… although they suffered from the fact that cities were having Qi gathering away from their villages.

This separation also contributed to the rarity of powerful wild beasts. Since Qi was thin in most areas, not many high-level beasts could thrive. But the few that did exist were strong enough to prevent humans from establishing Qi gathering arrays anywhere near their territory, slowing cultivation in those regions even further.

The Great Ling Empire itself was located near the ocean. While no one had mapped the entire world, a full map of the Great Ling Empire did exist, covering every known city, region, and the territory of all 1,000 registered sects.