Scene 1 — Sect Archives: Forbidden Wing
Three days after the trial, Lin Xun walked through the silent marble halls of the Sect Archive, guided by Elder Hai Chen.
"You should not be here," the elder muttered. "But Heaven has already condemned you, boy. Might as well prepare for war."
They stopped before an ancient bronze door, etched with celestial runes.
"What's inside?" Lin Xun asked.
"Truth. Pain. And power."
Elder Hai Chen pushed the door open.
Inside: shelves of dusty jade slips, glowing softly. These were the Forbidden Techniques, left behind by ancient exiles, cultivators who defied Heaven's Law and paid the price.
"You won't find what you need in clean scrolls and praised paths. You'll find it in the bones beneath the mountain."
Cultivation System Overview (In-World)
As Lin Xun read scroll after scroll, diagrams bloomed in his mind:
Realms of Cultivation
Qi Condensation (凝气) — Foundation stage. Absorb ambient spiritual energy (Qi). Focus on breathing, meridian unblocking, and body tempering.
Foundation Establishment (筑基) — Form Qi Pillars. Meridians strengthen. One begins forming their Dao Core.
Core Formation (结丹) — Golden Core condenses within. Powers become internalized.
Nascent Soul (元婴) — Soul becomes autonomous. Cultivator can separate spirit and body.
Divine Sea (神海) — Ocean of spirit opens. External force manipulation.
Void Tribulation (虚劫) — Heavenly punishment begins. Cultivator prepares for ascension.
Immortal Ascension (飞升) — Mortal world rejected. Break into Celestial Realm.
"But some paths," Lin Xun whispered, holding a cracked jade slip, "don't follow Heaven's ladder…"
Spirit Roots
Every cultivator is born with spirit roots, determining their affinity for elements:
Five Elemental Roots — Fire, Water, Earth, Metal, Wood.
Rare Roots — Lightning, Ice, Shadow, Light, Void.
Heaven-Grade Root — Rare and pure; Heaven favors them.
Chaotic Root — Unstable, often rejected by normal cultivation.
Lin Xun's own spirit root, after merging with the jade pendant, had shifted. He now bore a Dual Root:
Void (Forbidden)
Fire (Destruction)
"A path that consumes," he realized, "not nourishes."
Techniques and Paths
Most disciples practiced orthodox martial arts — designed for stability, safety, and gradual progress.
But Lin Xun uncovered a forgotten technique:
"Crimson Bone Forging Scripture" — A heretical art that melted the user's bone marrow and reforged it using spiritual flame.
Side effects: intense pain, soul scarring, shortened life.
Potential: insane physical strength, regeneration, spirit-bone resonance.
"Perfect."
Scene 2 — His Cultivation Begins (Montage)
Over the next ten days, Lin Xun secluded himself inside a stone cavern, beneath the Sect's waterfall caves.
Day 1–2: Meridian Expansion — He used Silver Needle Qi Flow Method to forcibly widen his meridians. The pain made him cough blood, but the flow of Qi doubled.
Day 3–5: Crimson Bone Forging — He drank molten elixirs at midnight, sat in spiritual flame, and let his marrow dissolve and reform. His screams echoed through the mountain — but he endured.
Day 6: Fire Spirit Integration — Using his pendant as an anchor, he fused a trace of Heavenly Fire Essence into his core. His skin burned, but his soul cooled. It stabilized his Fire Root.
Day 7–9: Movement Techniques — He practiced Void Steps, a teleportation art that blinked the user forward by shattering space. High risk. Failed eight times. On the ninth, he vanished—and reappeared ten paces ahead.
Day 10: Final tempering. His bones now sang with Qi. His dantian glowed like a furnace.
[BREAKTHROUGH: Foundation Establishment - Early Stage]
Scene 3 — Inner Sect Competition Looms
The announcement rang like thunder across the Cloudveil Sect:
"Three weeks from now — the Grand Inner Sect Tournament will be held!"
The top 20 will gain access to the Heaven's Well, a spiritual pool that accelerates breakthroughs.
The top 5 will receive a Celestial Token — a talisman granting a direct mission from the higher realms.
The Champion will be chosen to represent the sect in the All-Clans Assembly held in the Skyreach Continent.
Scene 4 — Planning & Strategy
Lin Xun sat in his cave, drawing battle formations in the dirt.
"Jinghai is still stronger than me... but predictable."
He wrote names of potential opponents:
Wei Lian — Sword cultivator, Wind Root, mid-Foundation.
Gu Tong — Earth cultivator, defensive technique, powerful in close-range.
Mu Yuelin — Spirit healer, but rumored to use forbidden soul arts.
His strategy was simple:
Exploit weaknesses with unorthodox timing.
Overwhelm Foundation cultivators with forged body strength.
Use Void Steps as a surprise movement ace.
"I cannot win as I am expected to."
He picked up his pendant.
"I have to fight as if I've already died once."
Final Scene — Midnight Sky
That night, Lin Xun stood atop Silent Peak.
The wind stirred. He could feel Heaven's gaze, distant but watching.
Somewhere in the stars, the voice of Xu Tianheng whispered again.
"Good. Now… walk forward. Burn what stands in your path."
Lin Xun smiled faintly.
"The path of the righteous is closed to me. But the road of demons? I'll walk it barefoot."