A man wearing black robes came to meet Liam not long after he woke up. The man's steps were steady and his expression composed. His robe bore the white cloud symbol on its back, marking him clearly as a member of the Floating Cloud Sect. He stood a short distance away from Liam, his presence calm yet commanding.
"You are currently on the peak of Mount Bao," the man said in a confident tone. "You have successfully passed the trial to become a disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect."
Liam listened silently, his mind taking in every word. The man reached into his sleeve and pulled out a neatly folded piece of cloth — a simple grey robe. He handed it over to Liam.
"You will first become an outer disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect," the man continued. "This grey robe will signify your rank. You are to go to the Martial Hall and request a technique to practice. Once you have fully grasped the basics of your chosen technique, you will be eligible to become an inner disciple. Further information and guidance will be provided to you later on."
His tone was even and formal, clearly something he had said to countless new disciples before. When he finished, he gave Liam a small nod and turned to leave. His figure quickly disappeared through the corridor, leaving only the faint sound of his footsteps behind.
Liam stood there in silence for a moment, looking down at the grey robe in his hands. The fabric was plain, yet fine in quality. He could tell it was made with great care despite its simplicity. Slowly, he nodded to himself. He had fully absorbed everything the man had said.
He knew that, technically, he could become an inner disciple almost immediately if he wanted to. With his limitless comprehension points, mastering the basics of any martial technique would be trivial. But he also understood that doing something like that would draw unwanted attention. His instincts told him that becoming an inner disciple in a single day was not normal — and not safe. The world of cultivation was filled with unknowns, and standing out too early would be foolish.
So, he made a simple decision. He would take things slowly.
He changed into the grey robe, adjusting it neatly before heading out. The air outside was fresh and cool, and the sect's buildings were spread out neatly across the mountaintop. Courtyards, training grounds, and pagodas stretched out in all directions. Disciples in different colored robes could be seen walking about, talking quietly or training in small groups.
Liam followed the directions given to him and made his way toward the Martial Hall — a large building with tall wooden pillars and wide doors. When he entered, the hall was quiet, lined with rows of scrolls and shelves. An elder sat behind a desk near the entrance, glancing up briefly when Liam approached. Liam bowed politely and made his request for a martial technique.
After a short process, he was handed a scroll containing a basic sword technique, suitable for beginners. It wasn't flashy or complex, but it was a start. Liam accepted it with a nod and left the hall, quietly determined to learn it at his own pace.
---
One week later
A vast field stretched out under the open sky, its grass a rich shade of green. The wind blew gently, carrying the scent of nature through the air. Liam lay there on his back, hands behind his head, eyes half-closed as he looked at the endless blue above him.
He took a slow breath and smiled faintly. "Ah, what a good day to be alive."
His grey robe fluttered lightly in the breeze. For a few moments, he just enjoyed the silence. Then, with a thought, he softly muttered, "Status."
A faint, translucent screen appeared before his eyes, glowing with the same gentle light as before.
> [Host: Liam Osbert]
[CP: ∞]
[Skills: Basic Climbing (Perfect Mastery), Basic Archery (Perfect Mastery), Basic Sword Technique (Intermediate Mastery)]
Liam's eyes skimmed the screen briefly. It had been one week since he had joined the Floating Cloud Sect. The sword technique he had chosen was already at the intermediate realm of mastery. Normally, reaching this stage took other disciples at least a month or two of constant practice. For him, however, it had taken less than a day. Of course, he hadn't told anyone that.
He preferred to keep a low profile. Showing off his skills would only bring unnecessary questions and attention. For now, peace and anonymity suited him perfectly.
Closing the screen, he let out a relaxed sigh. His body was comfortable, and his mind was calm. For the first time in a long while, he was living without the pressure of survival or hardship. He had a roof over his head, food to eat, and a place to grow stronger. It was enough.
During the week he had spent in the sect, Liam had also gained a general understanding of the world of cultivation. The elders had given the new disciples a detailed explanation of its basic structure, and Liam had listened carefully.
There were, as he had learned, two main paths of cultivation: Qi Cultivation and Body Refinement.
Qi Cultivation focused on refining and strengthening the spiritual energy within the body — the qi that flowed through one's meridians and dantian. Body Refinement, on the other hand, focused purely on strengthening the physical body itself, making it resilient and powerful. Both paths could lead to great strength, and some cultivators even practiced both.
Body Refinement was divided into stages — Stage One, Stage Two, Stage Three, and so on. No one knew if there was an upper limit to these stages, though few ever reached beyond the higher levels.
Qi Cultivation, in contrast, was organized into realms, each marking a significant step in one's spiritual growth. The basic realms were as follows:
Qi Gathering Realm
Foundation Establishment Realm
Core Formation Realm
Golden Core Realm
Nascent Soul Realm
Soul Forging Realm
Beyond that, there were higher realms still, but those were distant goals — things that only the truly powerful could even think about. For now, these six realms were more than enough for most cultivators to strive toward.
Liam also learned that the strongest people in the Floating Cloud Sect were at the Soul Forging Realm. They were the ones who upheld the sect's authority, ensuring its dominance over the surrounding region. It was thanks to their presence that no other sect dared to challenge the Floating Cloud Sect's position.
Liam had quietly taken all this in. He didn't rush to begin cultivation yet. He wanted to observe and understand more about the sect's structure and the people within it. For now, he was content with the stability he had gained.
The afternoon sun warmed his skin as he lay still on the grass. His thoughts drifted lazily between training and rest. Everything was calm.
Until, suddenly, a loud voice broke through the peaceful silence.
"Hey, Liam!"
The sound came from somewhere nearby, strong and clear, cutting through the gentle breeze. Liam blinked once, turning his head toward the source of the voice. His relaxed expression shifted slightly — not in surprise, but in mild curiosity.
And with that, his quiet moment came to an end