"Master, are you going to start training in the Domain of the Starfall today?" Mira's sweet voice chirped in his mind.
Karma sighed. "Yes, Mira. Let's go." but the words felt hollow...
Ha? Wait...
The thought hit him with the force of a tidal wave, a sudden, brutal clarity that shattered his routine. What am I doing? He stood on the precipice of another grueling week, another mindless cycle of hunting and consuming, and for the first time, he saw it for what it was. A grind. An endless, pointless climb.
On Earth, he had worked himself to exhaustion, chasing money so he could one day rest. Here, in a world of magic and power, nothing had changed. He was still a machine, a mindless automaton chasing a strength that had become his new currency. He had forgotten how to breathe.
He stopped in the middle of the bustling street, feeling the raw chaos of the city for the first time—the clamor of voices, the scent of a thousand different spices, the dizzying dance of cultivators and merchants. A purpose, a true purpose beyond the relentless, selfish pursuit of power, blossomed in his chest.
And there was no hurry. Unlike the frantic race for money back on Earth, the Dao of Devour granted him the power to increase his strength whenever he wanted. He could make a living from hunting, yes, but he didn't need to do it relentlessly. He could take a break. He could breathe. He decided he would spend this week doing just that: taking a break. He would look around, enjoy the simple pleasures of this world, and simply... go with the flow.
He began his day with no destination in mind, wandering the bustling city streets, and his feet carried him to the most opulent structure he had ever seen. The building was a spectacle of shimmering gold and jade, with a roof that seemed to touch the heavens and a grand entrance carved with intricate symbols. This was the Alchemy Hall, run by the Alchemy Association. He walked in, his eyes wide with awe, and watched as alchemists in pristine robes meticulously crafted pills from glowing herbs.
He spent an hour in a designated visitor area, trying to replicate a simple detoxification pill, a process that should have been as easy as boiling water. The spiritual energy in his hands fizzled and died, refusing to cooperate. The herbs, instead of blending into a cohesive paste, crumbled to dust. He tried again and again, his frustration mounting with each failed attempt. The air grew thick with the acrid smell of scorched ingredients, and he felt the gazes of a few nearby apprentices on him, their curiosity slowly turning to a mild disdain.
He left the hall, the quiet sneers of the apprentices burning in his mind. The scent of scorched herbs seemed to follow him, a physical reminder of his failure. But beneath the bruised pride, a new feeling took root: a deep respect for those who could master such an impossible craft.
He then found himself in front of the Blacksmith Association. The building was a fortress of dark stone and polished steel, and the rhythmic clang of hammers on anvils echoed in the air. Master blacksmiths, their arms rippling with muscles, wielded fiery hammers that pulsed with light, forging weapons that hummed with power. The air was thick with the scent of molten metal and raw power. He was mesmerized by their craft, but he quickly realized he had no interest in it himself.
Besides, the sword Su Liana had given him was a masterpiece. He ran a hand over its perfectly balanced hilt, the cold steel a stark contrast to the memory of her cool, calm demeanor. It wasn't just a weapon; it was a link to the woman who had both abandoned and saved him, a promise of a future that felt impossibly far away. He knew this blade would serve him all the way to the Golden Core Realm, a level so far beyond him it felt like a lifetime away. With a final moment of silent appreciation for the art and its giver, he moved on.
Finally, he stood before a modest, unassuming building that was easily overlooked in a city of grand halls. This was the Formation Association. Compared to the palaces of alchemy and blacksmithing, it was a quiet, almost humble structure. Yet, as he approached, a profound sense of awe washed over him. He felt the air grow purer and the spiritual energy denser, as if he had stepped into a different world entirely. This was his path.
A complex web of formations, invisible to the naked eye, covered the building like a second skin, each one humming with power, each a testament to the masters who created them. This was their domain.
He learned that the formation association not only laid formations, both for defense and attack, but also created all kinds of talismans. Communication talismans, which worked like Earth's cell phones, allowed people to stay in touch across vast distances. Transportation formations, a series of intricately woven talismans, enabled travel in an instant from one end of the continent to another, making a world of continents and oceans more accessible than his own home planet. They had talismans for a comfortable life, talismans to protect from the elements, and even talismans that could heal and regenerate limbs. They were the engineers and the architects of this world, making a dangerous, monstrous place feel comfortable and connected.
His interest grew. He went to the front desk and asked to join. The receptionist, a kind-faced woman with a gentle smile, handed him a scroll and a brush. The paper felt like smooth vellum, and the brush bristles were stiff against his fingers. "We're always looking for new talent. It's a simple test, just connect the dots on this scroll with spiritual energy. The better your understanding of formations, the faster and cleaner your lines will be."
Karma sat down, his heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and fear. He took a deep breath and focused his spiritual energy. As he began to draw, the symbols on the scroll came to life in his mind. His knowledge of math and logic from Earth, combined with his immense comprehension from the Dao of Devour, clicked into place. The dots were not just dots; they were constellations, and the lines were not just lines, they were pathways. It was a language he had always known, a truth that had been waiting for him.
He finished the test in ten minutes, his hands moving with the grace of a master, the lines glowing with a flawless, stable energy. He looked up, expecting indifference, but the receptionist and a young man standing behind her stared at him in disbelief. The receptionist's mouth hung slightly agape.
"That's... that's a perfect score," she said, her voice a hushed whisper. "In less than ten minutes. I've never seen anything like it." She quickly recovered, her kind smile returning, a hint of genuine awe in her eyes. "Welcome, junior brother. You've just become a member of the Formation Association."
She stamped his application and handed him a small, cold metal badge. The cold metal felt impossibly heavy in his palm, a tangible symbol of a belonging he had never expected.
"What exactly does this mean?" Karma asked, his gaze fixed on the gleaming object.
The receptionist leaned forward, her voice a low, confidential tone. "It's your official membership badge. This branch may seem small, but the Formation Association is a global organization. We have branches in almost every major city and cultivation hub in the world, not just on this continent."
Karma's eyes widened. "Everywhere? Even across the oceans?" he asked, the words barely a whisper.
"That's right," she confirmed, a proud smile on her face. "Our transportation formations connect the world. We are the threads that hold it all together. You can find a sister association anywhere you go, and your badge will grant you entry and access to our resources."
"How do I increase my position?" he asked, a spark of genuine curiosity in his eyes. "I noticed some of the cultivators had different badges."
"Ah, that's a good question," she said with a warm chuckle. "Every member starts as an Apprentice. Once you've mastered a few basic formations, you can take a test to become a Journeyman. From there, you can rise through the ranks to Master, Grandmaster, and so on, with each rank giving you more privileges and a higher reputation."
"What do I need to learn to get started?" Karma asked.
"For now, focus on the fundamentals: line work, spiritual energy flow, and the five basic elements of formations," she advised. "You can specialize later, whether that's in defensive formations, offensive arrays, or talisman crafting. As for contributions, you can earn credit by taking on jobs for the association, or by creating and submitting your own unique formations. The greater your contribution, the faster you'll gain recognition."
With the rest of the week stretched out before him, Karma decided to return to his inn. He was in no hurry. He had a new path now. He would cultivate his spiritual energy and strength, not out of a frantic need for power, but for the sheer joy of the art itself. He would learn formations in a quiet, safe room, a new world of wonder far from the dangers of the Domain of the Starfall. He would walk that path not as prey or predator, but as a cultivator with a purpose he had chosen for himself.