The continent of Hōfu is a large piece of land where cultivators reign supreme and admired. A world where the strong humiliates the weak.
It is divided into nine major regions – Kōrudo Territory, Kita Region, Kyōryoku Empire, Tsuki Government, Taiyō District, Demon Realm, Elven Nation, Beast Domain, and Holy Land.
Although it is huge, the Kōrudo Territory is the smallest of all regions. It is in the north of the Continent of Hōfu and people there enjoy its cold climate. This is the haven of cultivators that specializes in ice skills and techniques.
The Kita Region in the south is where you can find many powerful sects and clans. This is because of the energy crystal mines that can be found there. Energy crystals are very important resources to cultivators. They contain pure spirit energy of heaven and earth that can strengthen their divine energy and martial spirit.
The Kyōryoku Empire is the largest empire and located in the east. It boasts many powerful cultivators from the different clans and family that lives there. Its emperor is known as one of the strongest cultivators on the continent.
The region has a lot of cultivation resources and ancient cultivation arts attracting more cultivators to settle there.
Cultivators of the Tsuki Government are all women and they strictly prohibit men from entering the region. If one was caught, they will be attacked and killed right away. There were only a handful of occasions when some men were allowed to enter it.
The Taiyō District in the west can be considered as the commerce center of the continent. You can find almost anything you need from the thousands of businesses there. With enough energy crystal, you can purchase everything you need, from herbs and plants, pills, talismans, armors, and weapons, to powerful martial skills and techniques. You can even find rare ancient cultivation arts.
The Ember Kingdom is one of the small kingdoms in the periphery of the region. The center of the Taiyō District is where the strongest cultivators in the region can be found.
Demon Realm is a mysterious region in the southwest part of the continent. Most of its cultivators practiced demonic arts. The leader of the region is also considered one of the strongest cultivators in the continent. It is said that a long time ago, the leader of the Demon Realm fought the Kyōryoku Emperor and won after a single attack.
Kyōryoku Emperor was ashamed of what happened and entered a very long seclusion to become stronger. On the other hand, no one had seen the leader of the Demon Realm after that battle.
Another mysterious region is the Elven Nation in the northeast. This is the haven of all elves. Elves were born beautiful. They were usually stronger than humans. They practice unique and powerful martial arts. The elves specialize in formation and herbology. They also create talismans that they sell in the Taiyō District.
Located in the southeast is the territory of the beasts – the Beast Domain. There are hundreds of beast clans in the area. Cultivators in the continent usually visit the place to hunt powerful beasts and collect their beast essence in a crystal form. The beast essence is very helpful in strengthening martial spirits and achieve a breakthrough.
Some clans and sect also send their geniuses there for them to experience real battles and improve their understanding of their martial skills and techniques.
The Beast Domain is connected to the wilderness which branches to several forest lands in the continent.
In the center of the continent lies the Holy Land. It is the most mysterious region in the Continent of Hōfu where only the strongest of the continent can enter. It is a sacred land for cultivators.
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In the wilderness, a young man in a black robe was sitting cross-legged on the ground. He was absorbed in meditation and suck up the essence of the earth around him. There were also strands of colorful energy that floated around his body.
It has already been a month since he survived death and left Crystal City.
Migo has become a cultivator since then.
During the day, Migo will look for fruits and hunt animals for food. He also fought low-level beasts allowing him to get better at using his new strength and further stabilized his cultivation.
At night, he persistently meditated and repeatedly absorbed the essence of the earth to open the hidden channels in his meridian. As the owner of the sacred temple, he was able to utilize the power of the different elements using the Celestial Orb. This increased his success of opening the hidden channels in his meridians several folds.
Gādian constantly reminded him that cultivators should not focus on how fast they can increase their strength, but instead build a solid foundation.
During his travel, his potential in battle has been stimulated several times when encountering stronger low-level beasts. There were times when he was almost killed but was able to retreat in time.
Due to this, he was able to successfully open two hidden channels within a month – the Chishiki and Shiryoku channels. His thought processing and eyesight improved significantly. He can also feel that his body became stronger.
This motivated him to continuously go in meditation and use the essence of the earth and the power of the different elements from the Celestial Orb to unblock the other channel.
Excitement can be seen in his eyes when he was done meditating for the day.
"Congratulation in unlocking the Chōkaku channel." He suddenly heard Gādian's voice in his head. "I didn't expect that you will be able to unlock three channels within a month."
Migo smiled and remembered all the battles he had with the low-level beasts in the wilderness. Aside from getting battle experience with them, he was able to collect beast crystals too.
The beast crystals have energy within them that can also be used for cultivation. However, Gādian strongly advised not to use them on himself as what he has were only from low-level beasts.
Beast crystals can also be used in creating talismans, formation, or concocting pills.
So, when they passed some villages and small cities on their way, Migo decided to sell them instead. One low-level beast crystal was equivalent to ten gold coins. Using what he earned, he was able to purchase some new clothes, talismans, and food.
"It has already been a month since we left Crystal City." He said to Gādian. "We have traveled so far but we still have not reached the place you were talking about."
"We are still far from that place." Gādian answered. "Besides, it can only help you once you successfully breakthrough to the Celestial Body layer. I didn't even think that there's a suitable place to increase your success in creating an embryo of your martial spirit. But you are lucky because there is one.
You need to continue opening the remaining hidden channels. Continue absorbing the essence of the earth and use the Celestial Orb to provide you the different powers of the elements. I will be preparing in the sacred temple and will let you know once we have reached the place. Don't disturb me until then."
Migo was surprised but he understood that it's something important. He was thankful for his guidance in the past month as he was reborn anew. He was no longer that weak man abandoned by his clan. Although he can't consider himself strong at this time, his cultivation and strength were constantly improving.
He resumed his travel in the wilderness, facing more low-level beasts and collecting their beast crystals. His body has become toned and his reflexes improved significantly.
He also carried on in opening the hidden channels in his meridian. At night, he kept meditating and utilizing the Celestial Orb. This continued for more than a month, and he consequently unlocks all the remaining channels in his meridian - Nioi, Chokkan, and Shisō channels.
With the last surge of the essence of the earth and powers supplied by the Celestial Orb, he successfully broke through to the Celestial Body layer. His intuition and mental state improved remarkably. His body strength was many times stronger than when he was just at the high-level mortal body layer. His energy increased as well.
He became more confident that if he fights cultivators of the high-level body layer, he will be able to defeat them easily.
He continued his journey as he had not heard anything from Gādian. This means that he has not reached his destination yet.
He decided to visit the next city that he will pass through since he intended to sell the beast crystals he collected.
After a few days, he arrived at the entrance of Angel City. There was a long line of people waiting to enter the city. The city was one of the largest cities in the Clear Sky Kingdom.
He decided to fall in line as well.
"Is this your first time in the Angel City?" He heard someone asked. He looked behind him and saw a plump young man of the same age. He was wearing a brown robe and eating a roasted potato. He smiled at him.
Migo smiled back.
"That is right." He answered. "How about you?"
"Well, I am from Angel City." He said. "I went out because I have to complete a mission. I may not look like one, but I am a cultivator."
He looked at him and confirmed that he was indeed a cultivator. He was able to identify that the plump young man was at the peak of the high-level mortal body layer.
"There are a lot of cultivators in Angel City. They don't have to fall in line just to enter the city." He continued. "I can sense that you are also at the peak of the high-level mortal body layer."
"And why did you fall in line?" He asked. If cultivators did not need to fall in line, then why was this plump young man behind him?
"Well, only martial realm cultivators and above have that privileged." He answered. "For cultivators like us who are just starting, we still have to fall in line like ordinary people."
He nodded to show the other party that he understood.
"I am Polter by the way." The young man introduced himself. "And you are?"
"I'm Migo." He said.
The line of people constantly moved forward whenever people were admitted in the city. To enter the city, everyone needed to pay one silver coin each. The guards collected the fee and made sure that one was not a bandit before they will be allowed to enter.
After an hour, he was able to enter Angel City without a problem. The young plump man was walking beside him.
"I can show you around if you want to." He offered. "I have been born and raised here. I know all the corners of the city."
"Aren't you completing a mission?" He asked instead as they continued walking.
"Oh, that? I have already completed it." He cheerfully answered. "That's why I'm back. I will have to report to the sect and hand them the herbs I collected from Arayat Mountain."
"Which sect are you from?" He curiously asked. There were also sects in the Royal City of Ember Kingdom, but he didn't really know anything about them.
"There are four sects in Angel City – Starsky Sect, Raincloud Sect, Floating Peak Sect, and Cloud Mountain Sect. I am an outer disciple of the Cloud Mountain Sect. I am just an insignificant cultivator in the sect since I don't really have much talent in cultivation." He shared. "Outer sect disciples are usually tasked to complete all menial jobs. We barely received resources from the sect. But by completing some mission, we will be rewarded.
I took a mission of collecting a few herbs from Arayat Mounts for one of the disciples of an Elder. With this, I will be able to get at least two low-level energy crystals. It will increase my chance to break through to the low-level of martial spirit layer."
Just at the outskirt of the city, Migo has already noticed many cultivators. It looked as of he was back in the Royal City of Ember.
The buildings and other establishments were bigger and grander. He couldn't help asking Polter which Kingdom they were.
"The Angel City is one of the largest cities of the Clear Sky Kingdom." He shared. "It seems that you are a foreigner since you don't know this. Where are you from?"
He was still looking around when he answered. "I came from the Ember Kingdom."
"I think I heard of that place." Polter said. He was gently stroking his chin while trying to remember where he heard of it.
"Oh, I remember." He exclaimed. "One of the Sect Elders had told us about the surrounding kingdoms, and I remember he mentioned the Ember Kingdom as part of the tier-three kingdoms."
Migo remembered that kingdoms were divided into different tiers – tier-three, tier-two, and tier-one kingdoms. Tier-three kingdoms were the smallest and weakest, while the tier-one kingdoms were many times larger and stronger.
"What tier is the Clear Sky Kingdom?" He asked.
"It's a tier-one kingdom." Polter proudly answered. "Although Angel City is large, there are still larger cities than this. I heard that the Royal City of Clear Sky is ten or many times larger."
He was surprised with what he heard. He realized that there was really a big difference between different tiers of kingdoms. Just one city of a tier-one kingdom is already way better than the royal city of a tier-three kingdom.
Traveling to the Clear Sky Kingdom has taken him a long time. He learned from Polter that they were seven tier-three kingdoms away from where he came from the Ember Kingdom.
For people with high cultivation, traveling from one kingdom to another was easy. But for like him, it will still take months especially if one didn't have a mount.
"What are your plans now?" Polter asked.
"I have some low-level beast crystals with me." He said. "I am planning to sell them"
"Beast crystals?" He was surprised. To get a beast crystal, one needs to fight the beast in the wilderness. Although they were from low-level beasts, their fighting strength is usually higher than the average mortal body layer cultivators. "How many do you have?"
"I think I have a hundred." He answered.
Polter almost dropped his jaw when he heard him and looked at him closely. He felt Migo was stronger than him. After his initial shock, his eyes glistened with excitement.
"I think I can help you with that." He excited said. "I know just the right place to sell them."