High above the skies of Yunwun Senlin Forest, four individuals soared swiftly, each riding their own spiritual weapon. At the front was a figure gracefully riding a guzheng (古筝) — a plucked zither. "Do you think the artifact is high grade?" one of the companions asked.
Sect Master Han Feng of the Heavenly Dao Sect responded, "We won't know until we get there. Let's move faster." The three elders flying alongside him nodded in agreement, their expressions growing serious as they made their way toward the dense expanse of Yunwun Senlin Forest.
After several minutes of flight, they finally reached the location where the mysterious artifact lay buried beneath the lake. Below, a number of cultivators had already gathered—most of them from the Soul and Spirit Realms—patiently waiting near the water's edge, eager to witness the artifact's emergence.
"I didn't expect you to have reached the Sovereign Realm, Han Feng," a voice suddenly called out. Han Feng's gaze shifted immediately to his right, where two cultivators hovered in the distance atop their spiritual weapons. He saw Sect Master Yu Yan of the Flaming Sun Sect, a mid-stage Sovereign Realm cultivator, standing beside an elder from the Peak Stage Void Realm.
Han Feng offered a slight smile and replied, "The heavens have heard my prayers, and with the proper preparations, I was able to break through."
Yu Yan simply responded with a laugh, his gaze shifting to the opposite direction as he felt a powerful surge of qi approaching. "Hahaha, I didn't expect him to come," he said, looking toward the dense forest on his left. At his words, everyone turned their attention to the spot where he was looking.
A fast-moving yellow aura appeared in the sky, swiftly heading toward their direction. As it drew closer, they saw that it was Sect Master Jin Yu of the Thunder God Sect, riding a saber with a dragon-shaped hilt. "It seems I arrived just in time," Sect Master Jin Yu, a late-stage Sovereign Realm cultivator, said as he fixed his gaze on the artifact submerged beneath the lake.
A few seconds later, a powerful surge of qi approached their direction. Jin Yu shook his head as he watched it draw near. As the intense white qi aura arrived, a flying carriage emerged, pulled by two Profound Beast Draco Horses. Behind the carriage, six guards, all early-stage Spirit Realm cultivators, followed, riding their spiritual weapons.
As the carriage came to a stop, an elderly man stepped out. He was tall and dignified, with long silver hair flowing down his back. His robes were luxurious, decorated with intricate patterns that shimmered in the light. His sharp, piercing eyes reflected the wisdom and authority that came with years of experience. Upon seeing him, the cultivators immediately performed a kowtow, while some cupped their fists in respect. The elderly man raised his hand, signaling that such formalities were unnecessary.
Just as Emperor Yun Wudi, a Peak Stage Sovereign Realm cultivator, arrived, the artifact began to react. Slowly, it rose from beneath the surface of the lake, glowing with a rainbow of colors. As it ascended above the water and into the sky, its brilliance gradually faded, signaling that it could now be approached.
At that signal, the four Sovereign Realm cultivators quickly moved forward. However, when they were only a few meters from the artifact, they all halted in unison, realizing that the artifact was only of Mortal Grade.
The disappointment was evident on their faces, and when the emperor noticed this, he quickly vanished from his position. In the blink of an eye, he appeared at the door of his carriage, signaling his guards to prepare for departure. As the emperor left, Yu Yan spoke up. "So, what should we do with the artifact?"
"How about we play rock, paper, scissors to decide who gets it? After all, it's just a mortal-grade artifact. What do you all think?" Jin Yu suggested.
Both of the others agreed to his proposal, and when the nearby cultivators by the lake heard this, they could only watch in silence. The three-sect master's and their accompanying elders were far too powerful for anyone to challenge them for the artifact by force.
After a few rounds, Yu Yan emerged as the winner. "Hahaha, the one who suggested it ended up losing!" he laughed, placing the dagger into his storage ring. Jin Yu, clearly frustrated, said nothing. He simply flew off, quickly leaving the area. As the event came to a close, the cultivators began to disperse, each heading their separate ways.
...
As soon as Madara entered the library, he made his way straight to the shelves to pick up the book he had been reading. Once he sat down, he began to immerse himself in its contents.
"The Ascension and the Fall: The Price of Immortality"
The discovery of cultivation billions of years ago brought profound changes to both human society and individual appearances, as people learned to harness spiritual energy. This newfound power extended their lifespans drastically, allowing them to remain youthful for millennia. Their bodies became stronger, more refined, and radiated a subtle glow of power. At higher cultivation stages, individuals developed visible auras of qi, with some acquiring spiritual markings or tattoos as symbols of their mastery. However, as they sought to transcend the mortal realm, cultivation introduced both incredible advancements and catastrophic consequences.
Society, once anchored in mortal kingdoms, began to collapse as powerful cultivation sects and clans ascended to prominence, each devoted to their own unique paths of spiritual and martial growth. The pursuit of immortality and enlightenment became the central driving force of civilization, with wars breaking out over rare resources, secret techniques, and ascension paths. As conflict spread, the strong grew increasingly dominant, while the weak were reduced to mere servants or expendable resources in the eyes of those more powerful. With this dominance came a deep division: the talented and privileged were granted access to cultivation, while the rest struggled in a world where power alone determined one's fate.
The pursuit of ultimate power also led to ethical decay, as some cultivators, obsessed with immortality, resorted to soul devouring, human experimentation, and mass slaughter of weaker beings to refine their cultivation. This disregard for morality turned the world into a battlefield, where the strong thrived, and the weak perished. Meanwhile, the overreliance on spiritual energy began to deplete the world's natural resources, leaving barren lands, collapsing ley lines, and scarce spiritual veins. Cultivators fought brutal wars over dwindling heavenly treasures and divine herbs, further exacerbating the chaos.
As cultivation progressed, the natural cycle of life and death became disrupted. Cultivators, refusing to die, overcrowded the realms, leading to stagnation and a lack of progress. Some ascended to higher dimensions, abandoning the mortal world, leaving it in a state of decline without guidance from its strongest individuals. The balance of reincarnation faltered, and the once-thriving mortal world became a shadow of its former self.
Though cultivation granted unimaginable power, it also introduced greed, violence, and an unending cycle of destruction. The very quest for ultimate strength, wisdom, and transcendence resulted in the imbalance of the universe, showing that such power often came with devastating consequences. The struggling to survive in a world governed by the harsh laws of power...
...
In the second room of the library, a pale-skinned young lady sat in a reading area, her attire consisting of a simple, flowing robe in pale blue and white. The fabric was lightweight yet durable, crafted from a special woven silk infused with faint spiritual energy to assist in cultivation. The robe featured wide sleeves and a high collar, subtly embroidered with cloud patterns, and a plain sash secured it at her waist, marking her as an outer disciple. Her footwear consisted of soft cloth shoes, designed for both comfort and mobility. Her long black hair was typically tied back in a simple ponytail, reflecting her discipline and practicality. Unlike the inner disciples, she wore no ornate accessories or precious materials.
She sat in one of the chairs, her attention fully focused on the book she was reading. "I still don't understand what this phrase really means. I've already perfected the basic sword techniques required. What do I need to do to develop sword intent?" Luo Feiyan murmured to herself.
After browsing through the bookshelves once again, she was disappointed to find no concrete answer to her question. Determined, she decided to leave the library and seek guidance from any elder sect member who could enlighten her about forming sword intent.
After retrieving her Talisman token from the elderly librarian guarding the library, she hurriedly left. As she walked, she suddenly realized that there was no sword elder in her sect. She stopped in her tracks, recalling that there were two sword cultivators in the sect. "Shen Xiu and..."
...
After finishing the book, Madara returned it to the shelf from which he had taken it. He then moved to another shelf and selected a book; its title having piqued his interest. Sitting down once more, he began to read.
"The Five Domains and the Wild Beyond"
Lantian World is divided into five grand domains, each ruled by a powerful empire that governs vast lands filled with cultivators, sects, and noble clans. At the heart of the realm lies the Central Domain, ruled by the Qingyun Empire, the most prosperous and influential of all. Known for its towering mountains and celestial temples, and it is a hub of cultivation advancement. The Central Domain also possesses an abundance of spiritual qi, as the world's qi naturally gathers here first before spreading outward, making it an ideal location for cultivation breakthroughs.
To the north, the Tianhe Empire reigns over a land of frozen lakes, vast rivers, and an unforgiving cold climate. The empire's cultivators specialize in water and ice-based techniques, mastering fluid swordplay and battlefield control, often shaping entire battles with torrents of water and deadly blizzards.
In the south, the Yun Empire serves as the balance point of all cultivator types. Unlike the other domains, which tend to favor specific cultivation paths, the Yun Empire fosters a harmonious mix of sword cultivators, elemental masters, body refiners, and spiritual scholars. This balance creates a diverse and competitive environment where various cultivation techniques thrive side by side.
To the east, the Zhou Empire thrives amidst rolling hills, misty valleys, and sprawling plains. Known for its prestigious spiritual academies, this empire produces some of the finest sword cultivators and body cultivators. Honoring tradition and martial prowess, its noble clans and sects frequently engage in grand tournaments to determine the strongest warriors.
In the west, the Sheng Empire dominates a resource-rich land of fertile plains, towering forests, and mystical mountains. Famed for its mastery of alchemy, artifact crafting, powerful talisman/formation masters, and beast tamer experts. It is the center of trade for rare spiritual herbs, precious ores, and high-quality weapons. Blacksmiths, alchemists, artifact refiners, and formation arrays scrolls from this empire are among the most sought-after in the realm.
Beyond the five great empires lies the Outer Domain, a vast and untamed region where spiritual beasts reign supreme. Unlike the structured civilizations of humans, this wild land is ruled by Celestial Beast, powerful creatures that have cultivated for thousands of years. Like the Central Domain, the Outer Domain is also rich in spiritual qi, as it is where the world's qi naturally disperses after flowing outward from the Central Domain.
This makes it an unpredictable land filled with chaotic energy, powerful beast clans, and dangerous spiritual anomalies. Treacherous terrains, qi storms, and forbidden zones make survival nearly impossible for weak cultivators. Some areas contain ancient ruins, profound and celestial beast territories, and cursed lands that even spirit realm cultivators fear to enter. However, despite its dangers, the Outer Domain is also a land of opportunity, containing lost cultivation techniques, rare herbs, and ancient treasures that attract daring adventurers willing to risk their lives for power.
In this vast lantian world, the five great empires each contribute to the balance of civilization, shaping the fates of cultivators who seek enlightenment, strength, and immortality. The Central and Outer Domains, being the first and last receivers of the world's qi, hold the greatest concentration of spiritual energy, fostering both supreme human cultivators and terrifying spiritual beasts. Whether through scholarly wisdom, martial skill, or the pursuit of alchemical mastery, every empire plays a vital role. Yet, looming beyond their borders, the Outer Domain remains a reminder of the untamed chaos that exists beyond human control—a land where only the strongest survive.
...
As he turned to the next page and read through it, he suddenly stood up from his seat and walked over to the reception desk to ask for some paper and an ink pen. After receiving them, he went to a bookshelf and picked up a book on mathematics, planning to study it. Returning to his seat, he resumed reading and focused on the book in his hands.
"The Lantian World approximately..."
...
After several hours of calculations and conversions, Madara sat back, stunned by the results of his research. "No way, I didn't expect that Lantian is 10 times the size and 1,000 times the gravity of Earth." He turned his head when the old man called out to him. "Young man, the library is closing soon. You should wrap up what you're doing." Madara simply cupped his fist in respect toward the elderly librarian. After returning the book and retrieving his sect token, he left the library and headed to his room.
That night, after eating, Madara took the paper from his storage ring—filled with the formulas and equations he had written earlier in the library. He studied it closely, and after a few minutes, he formulated a theory. "If I visualize it like a map of Earth, the central and outer domains would correspond to the north and south poles, and the north, south, east, and west domains would be like the continents on Earth. The problem is, I don't know if the book's information was up to date, but at least I've learned something about this world." With that, he burned the paper using his fire affinity and began his training for the night.