People think they understand the world. Most don't.
They see mountains and rivers and think they've seen everything. They point to a map and say, "This is all there is." But those maps don't show how far the sea stretches, or how deep it runs.
There are other lands—far across the ocean. Too far to reach. Too far to imagine. Each place lives like it's alone, because for the most part, it is.
On land, humans cultivate. They train their bodies, focus their minds, and try to live longer than nature allows. Some join sects, some wander alone. Some become strong enough to fly. A few even live long enough to stop aging. But that path takes time, patience, and pain.
In the sea, it's different.
Water makes things slower. Heavier. Qi sinks, pressure bends it. Cultivating down there isn't just harder—it's quieter, older. Sea beasts don't speak much. They train for years without moving. Some never leave the deep. Some build quiet kingdoms in the dark where no sunlight has ever touched.
And above it all—Dragons (Eastern dragons)
No one's seen one in a very long time. Maybe they're gone. Maybe they were never real to begin with. But people still tell stories. Of dragons tied to fire, wind, rain, and cloud. Of names that move the sky. Whether they're true or not… they've never really left.
The Path of Cultivation (As Most Know It),
Whether you're human or beast, the first steps are almost always the same:
1. Body Tempering — We make the body strong enough to hold qi.
2. Qi Foundation — We start pulling in the energy around us.
3. Core Formation — We build a center of power inside our body.
4. Nascent Soul
5. Soul Transformation
6. Void Ascension
After that?
The path changes—beast or human, dragon or not. What comes next depends on more than just training.
Some say it's fate.
Others say it's choice.
Maybe both or pure luck.