The next morning, Yi Feng stood before the entrance of the Firmament Sword Sect.
He looked up.
The mountain was enormous.
Stone steps stretched from the foot of the mountain all the way toward the clouds, while several ancient buildings could be seen scattered across the mountain.
Disciples wearing blue robes walked in groups.
Some carried swords.
Others carried books, medicinal herbs, or strange weapons.
For the first time since escaping slavery, Yi Feng felt something unfamiliar.
He felt like he belonged somewhere.
He looked down at the wooden token in his hand.
The Firmament Sword Sect.
From today onward, this is where I cultivate.
"New disciple?"
A voice suddenly came from behind him.
Yi Feng turned around.
A young man stood there with a large bag hanging over his shoulder.
He looked around Yi Feng's age.
"Yes."
The young man smiled.
"Then we're in the same boat."
He pointed at himself.
"My name is Chen Hao."
"Yi Feng."
Chen Hao looked at the sword hanging around Yi Feng's waist.
"You're a sword cultivator?"
Yi Feng shook his head.
"I just use a sword."
Chen Hao laughed.
"Isn't that the same thing?"
"Not really."
Yi Feng smiled.
Before Chen Hao could answer, a bell rang from somewhere deep within the mountain.
DONG!
The sound echoed across the entire sect.
The disciples who had been talking immediately became quiet.
An elderly disciple walked toward the newly accepted disciples.
"All new disciples, follow me."
The group began moving.
Yi Feng and Chen Hao followed behind.
They soon arrived at a large square.
Several hundred disciples had gathered there.
At the front stood a tall stone monument.
The elder pointed toward it.
"Before you begin your life in the sect, there is something you need to understand."
He raised his hand.
Words slowly appeared on the stone monument.
CULTIVATION REALMS
Body Tempering Realm
Qi Gathering Realm
Foundation Realm
Core Formation Realm
Nascent Soul Realm
The disciples stared at the monument.
The elder continued.
"Each major realm is divided into nine stages."
"Early stages consist of the first three."
"Middle stages are the fourth to sixth."
"Late stages are the seventh to ninth."
"Above the ninth stage is the Peak of that realm."
Yi Feng carefully memorized every word.
Until now, cultivation to him had simply been reaching one level after another.
He had never understood how large the world actually was.
The elder pointed at the first realm.
"Body Tempering strengthens the physical body."
"Qi Gathering allows a cultivator to absorb and circulate spiritual energy."
"Foundation establishes the foundation for true cultivation."
"When one reaches Core Formation, the cultivator forms a spiritual core."
The elder's expression became serious.
"As for Nascent Soul..."
He stopped.
"That is not a realm you new disciples need to worry about."
Some disciples laughed nervously.
But Yi Feng didn't.
His eyes remained fixed on the monument.
So I'm only at the beginning.
He had thought reaching Level 2 made him powerful.
Now he realized how foolish that thought had been.
The world was far larger than he imagined.
The elder continued explaining the rules of the sect.
"New disciples will begin as outer disciples."
"Every month, the sect will distribute cultivation resources according to contribution."
"You can obtain contribution points through missions, competitions, and completing tasks."
"Contribution points can be exchanged for cultivation resources, martial techniques, pills and other items."
Yi Feng's eyes lit up.
Resources.
That was exactly what he needed.
He couldn't rely on luck forever.
If he wanted to become stronger, he needed a stable way to cultivate.
The elder looked at the disciples.
"Remember this."
"Your cultivation is your own responsibility."
"The sect can provide opportunities."
"But whether you become strong or remain weak depends on yourselves."
After the explanation, the new disciples were taken to their residences.
Yi Feng's residence was a small wooden house halfway up the mountain.
It wasn't luxurious.
There was only a bed, a table, a chair and a small courtyard.
But Yi Feng liked it.
He dropped his belongings onto the table and walked outside.
A gentle breeze passed through the trees.
He closed his eyes.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
No guards.
No chains.
No orders.
No one shouting at him to work.
He opened his eyes.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I can finally cultivate properly."
Yi Feng sat cross-legged beneath a tree.
He began circulating his cultivation technique.
Spiritual energy slowly entered his body.
Unlike when he had been a slave, there was no need to hide.
He could cultivate during the day.
He could cultivate at night.
He could practice whenever he wanted.
But after only half an hour, Yi Feng opened his eyes.
His expression was disappointed.
"The spiritual energy here isn't enough."
He had expected the sect to have an enormous amount of spiritual energy.
But his residence was located in the outer disciple area.
The spiritual energy was only slightly denser than outside.
If I want to cultivate faster, I'll need to find a better place.
Yi Feng stood up.
He suddenly remembered something.
The elder had mentioned contribution points.
"Then I'll earn them."
Later that afternoon, Yi Feng arrived at the Mission Hall.
The hall was crowded.
Hundreds of disciples moved around while discussing missions.
"Collect ten Spirit Grass!"
"Escort a merchant caravan!"
"Kill three Ironback Wolves!"
"Anyone interested in joining a team?"
Yi Feng walked toward the mission board.
He scanned the available missions.
Most of them were simple.
But one caught his attention.
Mission: Clear the Blackwind Forest
Requirement: Outer disciple
Objective: Eliminate five Blackwind Wolves.
Reward: 100 contribution points.
Yi Feng smiled.
"Perfect."
He reached for the mission token.
But another hand grabbed it first.
Yi Feng looked sideways.
A young man stood beside him.
The young man was dressed in blue robes and carried a sword on his back.
He glanced at Yi Feng.
"I'll take this one."
Yi Feng frowned.
"There are several missions."
"So?"
The young man looked at him.
"I want this one."
Yi Feng remained silent for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Fine."
He reached for another mission.
The young man suddenly laughed.
"You're quite easygoing."
Yi Feng looked at him.
"What?"
"I expected you to argue."
"Why would I?"
The young man shrugged.
"Most new disciples are eager to prove themselves."
He walked away.
After taking a few steps, he looked back.
"What's your name?"
"Yi Feng."
The young man nodded.
"Remember mine."
"Zhao Ming."
Then he left.
Yi Feng looked at the mission board again.
He picked up another mission.
Mission: Gather Moonlight Grass
Reward: 80 contribution points.
Yi Feng turned around.
Let's see how far I can go without relying on treasures.
He walked out of the Mission Hall.
The ancient sword remained quietly at his waist.
It didn't react.
It didn't speak.
It didn't reveal another secret.
And Yi Feng didn't care.
For now, he had something more important to focus on.
Cultivation.
He looked toward the distant mountains.
His fists slowly tightened.
"I'll become stronger."
Not because of the sword.
Not because of some mysterious inheritance.
But because he had finally decided what kind of person he wanted to become.
A cultivator.
A survivor.
And one day...
Someone strong enough to decide his own fate.
Yi Feng stepped onto the mountain path.
Behind him, the Firmament Sword Sect's enormous bell rang once more.
DONG!
His new life had officially begun.
To be continued...