The sky, with its tints of blue resembling the murky depths of the sea, welcomed the arrival of the stars.
Crown Prince Ming Fei left Li Ming's house and returned to his imperial residence.
Li Ming stood outside his house as he watched Ming Fei leave.
After Ming Fei left, Li Ming's gaze lingered on the warm orange light emitted by the paper lanterns on the house across from his.
Then Li Ming went inside his house and grabbed the matchsticks. With Matchsticks in hand, Li Ming lit a fire inside the lanterns present in his house.
After lighting the last paper lantern in front of the house, Li Ming looked up at the sky and smiled.
"The sky in Beijing is the same as the sky in Hangzhou."
Li Ming shook his head and headed inside his residence.
A new tomorrow awaits.
Imperial Palace, Crown Prince Palace
Under the witness of the Starry sky, the first shi began, indicating the arrival of Midnight.
Inside the luxurious study, brightened by elegant candles and decorated with the finest silks, Ming Fei was reviewing court documents sent to him by court officials.
The study table, at the center of the room, contained the cravings of dragons created by the master craftsmen recognized by the mortal world. Now, this study table is filled with numerous stacks of paper.
Ming Fei paused while looking through the court documents as he reminisced about the conversation he had with Li Ming.
"As expected of a scholar recognized by the heavens."
To Ming Fei, the mortal world was his home.
The Ming Dynasty is his responsibility and life's work.
So Ming Fei had considered his longing for the immortal world a betrayal of his duty.
Thus, knowing that there was no difference between the Mortal and the immortal world relieved Ming Fei.
Maybe this was the answer he had longed for.
Under the rising sun, the gentle breeze carried the cries of birds marking the beginning of a new day.
Li Ming opened his eyelids from the stinging rays of sunlight coming through the closed curtains.
After reluctantly waking up, Li Ming brushed his teeth and cleaned himself. Li Ming had worn the expensive white robe from his closet for a special occasion.
Li Ming headed towards the street vendor selling steamed buns to eat breakfast.
After quickly getting his steamed buns, which Li Ming attributed to his garments, Li headed towards the Yan Pavilion while eating his steamed buns.
After promptly eating and washing his hands, Li Ming headed inside the Yan Pavilion with his precious gold coins.
After reciting the phrase to access the transaction room, Owner Wei and Li Ming sat opposite each other, ready to begin a new transaction.
"It's nice to see you again, Esteemed Customer?"
Wei Xan began the conversation.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Owner Wei?"
"Oh, please, you humor me. Now, what would be your request, dear customer?"
"I would like to know my qualifications?"
At those words, Wei Xan nodded his head, with his eyes and face screaming 'As expected'.
Seeing that expression, Li Ming couldn't help but joke about it.
"It seems that owner Wei had expected my request?"
"Oh yes! Many customers who ask for information on immortal sects would request an informal qualification test?"
Owner Wei had gotten up from his seat and opened one of the cabinets in the room to take out a hand-sized rectangular stone tablet made of an unknown black ore.
As Owner Wei brought the stone tablet closer to him, Li Ming could see the faint silver glow coming from the stone tablet along with the intricate runes carved onto the stone tablet.
This marks the beginning of the story.
The story, known as 'Empty Fate'.
Owner Wei Yan placed the mysterious yet enchanting stone tablet on top of the wooden table separating Wei Yan and Li Ming.
"Okay! Then an appraisal of spiritual veins will cost about 20 gold coins."
Li Ming felt like his ears were bleeding when he heard the cost.
"Can't you lower the cost for your loyal customer?"
"No, can't do, Esteemed Customer. The Yan Pavilion conducts and gives an official recognition card on your spiritual vein's purity rate that can be used within the immortal world."
"Owner Wei, if I may be so rude as to ask. Why do you always call me "Esteemed Customer'?
"Esteemed Customer, Sorry for coming off as rude, but the truth is that I don't remember your name."
"Then, owner Wei, can a loyal customer get a discount if you've forgotten the name of the said loyal customer?"
"No." Owner Wei refused without a moment's hesitation.
After that, Li Ming haggled with Owner Wei for 15 minutes to get the price down by 5 gold coins.
In the end, seeing that Owner Wei won't compromise further, Li Ming took out exactly 15 gold coins and gave them to Owner Wei. Li Ming's heart bled seeing his hand giving out the coins that could buy him enough food for another year.
"Okay then, Esteemed Customer, shall we begin?"
"Please proceed with the appraisal, Owner Wei?"
Though Li Ming's heart was bleeding from his loss of money, Li Ming put on a smile and decided that he was going to experience this appraisal to get his money's worth.
"Esteemed Customer, can you put your right hand on top of the appraisal tablet?"
Wei Yan spoke as his hand gestured towards the black stone tablet. Li Ming understood Owner Wei's intention and put his hand on the stone tablet as Owner Wei indicated.
The moment Li Ming put his hand on the stone tablet, the mysterious runes on the stone tablet glowed with the light of melted gold, mesmerizing Li Ming.
At this moment, Li Ming felt like a child watching a magic trick for the first time.
The wonder, the magic, the unknown blended to create a moment of child-like wonder that Li Ming had forgotten.
Li Ming didn't know what to call this feeling. But it felt like the first time he saw a butterfly. The first time he grazed into the endless blue sky filled with traversing clouds, and wondered why the sky was blue.
Just as Li Ming had wondered about the working of the world as a child, Li Ming now wondered about the working of those mysterious ruins.
How did they glow the moment I put my hand on those ruins?
Is it due to the human DNA in his palm or the pressure he put on the stone tablet?
How do those ruins glow? How can they produce light out of nowhere?
Curiosity was the spark that had created a forest fire in his Soul. But Li Ming never tried to put out the fire, nor did he intend to.
Li Ming wanted that flame. Needed that flame in his soul to burn the rules in his mind.
Needed to feel his orderly soul to burn. Because an orderly soul can never be human.
Chaos is needed. And curiosity is the spark of chaos.
Li Ming developed a strong drive to know everything about the immortal world from witnessing the glowing ruins.
"Um...Esteemed Customer..., you can take your hand from the tablet."
At those words, Li Ming came to his senses and took his hands away from the glowing stone tablet.
After taking away his hand, the mysterious ruins stopped glowing, and a number had appeared at the blank space upon the stone tablet.
[50]
Li Ming assumed the [50] displayed on the Appraisal tablet indicated his Spiritual vein purity.
Although Li Ming doesn't know the workings or the meaning of the number displayed within the cultivation world, Li Ming's unconscious mind leaned towards believing this assumption.
For a simple reason.
This assumption worked in his favor.
This assumption, if Correct, would state that he had a Spiritual vein purity of 50%. Meaning that he had the qualification to practice immortality.
Though Li Ming felt his assumption had a high probability of being true, he also knew he couldn't jump to conclusions.
Fortunately, Li Ming confirmed his assumption by observing Owner Wei's reaction.
The glint in his eyes, as well as the curve on Owner Wei's face after looking at the glaring number on the black stone tablet, told Li Ming everything he needed to know.
Though it may also maybe the words that Owner Wei uttered that confirmed Li Ming's doubts.
"Congratulations!! Esteemed Customer"
But who knows for sure?
So Li Ming double checked with Owner Wei just to make sure he hadn't misunderstood anything.
"Owner Wei, does this mean that I can cultivate immortality?"
"Yes"
Owner Wei replied instantly.
At those words, Li Ming felt relieved.
When Li Ming decided to become a cultivator, he was uncertain about the path he would take in this world.
Would he conquer the heavens, slay demons, defy fate, and destroy the avenues like the transmigrators in novels?
Or
Would he die, be stuck at a bottleneck, be a passerby and a stepping stone in the lives of others, like in his past life?
After all, there is no certainty that luck always favors the transmigrators.
No law states that the best opportunities would always go to the transmigrators.
No one decides that a transmigrator has to be the protagonist.
Having the expectations of the protagonist with the ability of a passerby would only lead to disappointment.
Li Ming had already been disappointed enough in his mediocre past life.
He didn't dare have high expectations in this life.
But knowing that he could at least cultivate and live a long life was reassuring in his life.
After confirming the purity of his spiritual vein, Owner Wei took out a bronze jade pendant with intricate patterns.
"Lord Li, this pendant with the symbol of the Yan family can be used as your qualification identification that can be used during your admission into the sect."
Li Ming took the pendant with a feeling of being cheated.
A bronze pendant that cost about 20 gold coins.
With that money, Li Ming felt that he could buy a jade pendant for half that price.
In the end, Li Ming spent a fortune to get a brand name.
For some reason, Li Ming felt that the path of immortality was a gold-swallowing beast.
Leaving Li Ming with nothing but the illusory Tao
But Li Ming didn't regret it.
That noon, when the sun was at its brightest, Li Ming headed towards the Teleoperation array, which Li Ming had paid for.
Following Owner Wei into the yard, Li Ming felt that his future was shining at him like the sun.
So bright yet so unreachable
Owner Wei and Li Ming had finally reached their destination. They stood in front of a circular platform engraved with intricate patterns, about 5 to 10 meters in diameter, carved from an unknown black metal and stone.
The Circular platform seemed to be cold and lifeless, faintly glowing with silver hues, until Owner Wei crushed a semi-transparent shard that contained a faint mist within them.
The circular platform, now blazed with radiant light coming from the intricate patterns, was accompanied by a low hum.
The air around Li Ming and Owner Wei became distorted.
Time seemed to slow down. And Space rippled like water.
Taking Li Ming and Owner Wei to their destination.
6 hours
It's been 6 hours since Li Ming ate anything.
But Li Ming didn't regret his actions.
'Finally! Everything has been settled.'
Within the first 2 hours, Li Ming had tested his immortal qualifications.
Within the next hour, Li Ming paid Owner Wei to act as his guide to the Qinglian Sect and obtain a low-grade space pouch to transport his belongings.
Another hour was spent moving his clothes and daily necessities, along with a considerable portion of his wealth.
Li Ming wasn't foolish enough to carry all his wealth on him.
Li Ming had already transferred the majority of his wealth to his residence in his hometown.
The last 2 hours were spent on Li Ming joining the Qinglian Sect as an outer disciple and getting the keys to his quarters.
Therefore, within those 6 hours, Li Ming had tested his spiritual vein purity and joined the Qinglian Sect under the guidance of Owner Wei.
Sure, it cost a fortune and had permanently damaged Li Ming's wallet.
30 gold coins, to be exact, were spent in a single day.
But Li Ming was at least glad that his wallet wasn't as damaged as when he had to bribe the Yan Pavilion to keep his information under wraps.
I mean, 200 gold coins within one transaction was absurd.
Now Li Ming is lying on the plain bed within the outer disciple room given to him.
Although the outer disciple quarters weren't exactly of high quality, Li Ming had to give credit to the Qinglian Sect, considering that each outer disciple was given a private room of their own, and the huge number of outer disciples present within the Qinglian Sect.
In the wooden room, consisting of a bathroom and a bedroom, Li Ming lay down on a white mattress on top of a plain single bed made of cheap wood.
Staring at a semi-transparent crystal fragment that seemed to contain a mist within it, Li Ming was lost in thought.
'Is this the legendary spiritual stone?'
Though Li Ming has heard a lot about spiritual stones within cultivation novels in his past life, this was his first time interacting with one.
Li Ming couldn't help but be amazed that he was now holding a spiritual stone, which he could only imagine in his soul for the 36 years he had experienced.
Li Ming couldn't help but be amazed that this tiny fragment of opaque blue crystal held qi within it.
Though Li Ming was intrigued by the foreign object he held in his hand, Li Ming wasn't fooled by it.
One low-tier spiritual stone, like the one that was in Li Ming's hands, is worth nearly 5 gold coins.
Of course!! There was no way Li Ming was paying 10 gold coins to obtain 2 low-tier spiritual stones.
These 2 spiritual stones were the monthly benefits given to all outer disciples of the Qinglian Sect.
Knowing these benefits, Li Ming mentally high-fived himself for deciding to join the Qinglian Sect.
As Li Ming smiled to himself, he heard his stomach growling, which wiped the smirk off his face.
Oh! Right! he had skipped his lunch. How come Li Ming had forgotten about that matter?
Maybe it was his excitement at being able to cultivate that he forgot about food?
Realizing that he was hungry, Li Ming took out a slender and cylindrical container made of white jade and opened it by untying the thread around the wooden round cap. Inside the white jade bottle were 4 pills.
The Pills inside the jade bottle were fasting pills.
Fasting pills can replace the food needed by the body for a whole week.
According to the elder administering the outer disciples, these pills were fasting pills given monthly to practitioners below the foundation realm.
As practitioners within the foundation realm don't need to constant energy supply from food.
Practitioners within the foundation realm can live without food or water due to the constant circulation of qi inside their bodies.
There is a simple reason why fasting pills are given to disciples below the foundation realm instead of mortal food.
Materials and preparation of mortal food would cost less than creating large amounts of fasting pills.
It is the consensus of the whole cultivation world to avoid consuming mortal food.
Though Li Ming feels that this is unfair treatment of mortal food, there is a reasonable explanation for this consensus.
Since consuming mortal food would affect the spiritual vein purity, mortal food, in a way, would slow down the cultivation process.
It is advised by many practitioners to avoid excessive consumption of mortal food.
Therefore, Fasting pills are provided as a replacement for mortal food to disciples below the foundation realm within the Qinglian Sect.
Though Li Ming loves mortal food, Li Ming also knows that he cannot sacrifice his cultivation speed just for his petty desires.
Some sacrifices cost too much.
So Li Ming consumed one pill from the pill bottle.
After the pill entered his stomach through his esophagus, Li Ming felt a burst of energy within himself.
The Fasting pill had dispelled his hunger within 15 minutes of consumption.
Li Ming was shocked by the quick effect of the fasting pill.
Li Ming felt that most of the modern medicines in his past life weren't as quick-acting or effective as the pill he just ate.
Truly, Li Ming was fascinated by the world around him.
Looking at the wooden ceiling of his room, Li Ming realized that he had entered the cultivation world within just a week of knowing that immortals had existed in this world.
Still, he wondered why this period of time until he became an outer disciple felt like an eternity.
Maybe because he had his hopes up for the immortal world after being baptized by the novels on earth.
Maybe he was waiting to see the world he had fantasized about for so much that his time perception had been screwed up.
But whatever, it may be.
A new tomorrow awaits.
Brimming with infinite possibilities.
And so, Li Ming slept under the starry sky.
Embracing a new world.