[Introducing the master]
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"Diligence reveals signs of intelligence.
Vigilance prevents sins by negligence."
About half a million years ago, in the ancient era, the first Martial God of humankind left behind these words that became the cornerstone to the rise of the Cultivation Era.
Numerous cultivators rose in the new era, fully dedicating themselves to attain the immortal realm. Time passed, and people changed, the importance and standings of cultivators never diminished. With it, people's desire for immortality and power only became stronger.
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Whirlava Mountain.
As the tallest mountain in the East Continent, it was well known. The mysterious whirlpool lava piqued the interest of cultivators for ages but the danger it presented deterred them from conquering it.
Humans could advance in strength through cultivation, but enduring and surviving lava was still a difficult task that only the strong old monsters could achieve.
Many cultivators took the risk to get a glimpse of the phenomenal lava whirlpool by climbing to the edge of the volcano. But, mortals only dared to see the proud mountain from far away.
Located North of the eastern continent, in the middle of the Spirit Beast Forest, the mountain served as the landmark of the area. The forest, which was abundant in natural treasures and spirit beasts, became the harvesting ground for cultivators.
The spilled lava never flowed down the mountain slope, and when it cools down on top, the mountain gave an illusion that it was growing bigger with each year.
The weather around the mountain was unusual today.
Fierce winds formed a tornado with the volcano as its epicenter, and pure white clouds with frightening lightning, visible from ten thousand li away, wreaked havoc.
The adventuring cultivators in the forest and the old monsters from nearby towns were surprised by the phenomenon and started gathering.
"Rumble."
A bolt of enormous lightning with its destructive thunder split the sky and descended into the lava, crushing the tall volcanic mountain to smithereens. The iconic mountain that stood proudly from the prehistoric times got dwarfed in a blink of an eye.
It wasn't the end, as a barrage of even bigger bolts struck the mountain. Torrents of rain started pouring down which got swept by the tornado.
Instead of flowing down, the lava inside started to decrease at a rapid pace. When it reached the bottom, a human figure sat in the lava in lotus position with his head raised high.
He wasn't breathing, but his body didn't have a single burn mark. His smooth skin reflected the fiery orange color of lava, making him appear like he was God of fire himself.
The lava rotated around him as it subsided, while the threatening lightning bolts coiled around him. The rain tornado spun around him as its epicenter.
The phenomenon didn't last long as the unmoving man finally opened his eyes with a smile.
"Have I reached the Immortal realm at last?."
Breaking his hands off from the lotus position, he felt the elements surrounding him. He looked like he was in his early twenties with his sharp jaws and clean face with no facial hair. His muscles weren't big but were well defined enough to call him lean. His long hair floated on top of the lava unaffected by it.
"How long did I cultivate for?" He wondered. "How will I be known from now on? Should I add Immortal to my name? Immortal Lu? Or something else haha." He stood up from the lava, revealing his naked body underneath.
'Haha. I completely forgot about protecting my clothes.' He thought as he rubbed his jaws.
The Immortal held his loose black hair together and then cut the hair below his shoulder. He slowly floated up from the volcanic depth, leaving the cut hair behind.
"This is the harmony of nature." He whispered while suspended in the air as he felt the elements harmonizing with him. He was one with nature, and nature was one with him.
The Immortal looked behind at the volcano, which used to be his home for cultivation and breakthrough, one more time.
The gathered elements had crushed the mountain, making it different from what it used to be.
It wasn't just the mountain. The land surrounding the volcano didn't match his memories at all. He couldn't blame it since he had been inside the volcano for a long time.
But the extent of the change still baffled him.
The barren land with a single standalone volcano had changed to a forest brimming with spiritual energy and life. He could sense spiritual plants and beasts around the mountain. Not only that, but there were people as well. Habitats ranging from small villages to large towns surrounded the Spirit forest.
Many people stood close to the volcano.
'Did my breakthrough attracted their attention? It must be since the elements made a ruckus even though I never intended to.'
Most of the people were hunters with low cultivation, while the slightly stronger cultivators attempted to barge into the mountain. They were flung away by the tornado.
The tornado not only made a fierce wall around the volcano, but it also reduced visibility from outside. So, none of the cultivators were able to see anything on the mountain.
'Huh'
Immortal Lu sensed more cultivators rushing towards the mountain from all directions belonging to varied cultivation realms. He who was debating whether he should make his presence known finally made a decision.
He firmly decided not to announce his presence.
He wasn't sure how the people who inhabited the area react when they realize that there was a cultivator inside the volcano. They may not even believe him and attack him mistaking him as a Spirit Beast or something.
And the most important factor is, he didn't have a shred of clothes on him. How could he, a recognized cultivator, make his first appearance after breaking through the Immortal realm clothless?
Even if he could fool the low-level cultivators with his Qi, he can't gamble whether one of the incoming cultivators have enough strength to see through.
People may not recognize him at first, but once the words spread, people of his land will recognize his identity.
'If I leave fast, the tornado will die down, and people will just consider this as a weird natural phenomenon.' Immortal Lu sighed. 'It's for the best.'
He raised his hands and released his Qi. He hadn't familiarized himself with his newly attained Immortal Qi, but he quickly made the Qi docile. He also masked his Qi so that other cultivators won't recognize his strength.
His Qi formed a double-layered red and brown armor that surrounded his entire body except for his head and hands. The red layer acted like clothes and covered him, while the brown layer acted like a protective layer reinforcing the armor.
He opted for a plain design, but still, the solidity of his Qi armor made him stand out. So, he decided to get rid of the red Qi layer on his appear body and made the Qi pants more realistic.
Flying out was the fastest way, but it will be very eye-catching. Thus, he decided to go through the land.
Immortal Lu needed to get back his Spirit Dress very fast. Other than the one he lost in the lava he had spares at home. He remembered leaving one with a friend of his who lived closer to the Volcano than his home. Before that, he needs to get some ordinary cloth from somewhere closeby.
After finishing his preparations, he slowly descended the mountain towards the side with very few cultivators.
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