"How long does this go...?" Ling Yan said in awe.
In front of him were stairs that seemed to stretch on endlessly, as if he was to venture forth on the path of heaven. Ling Yan was feeling dreadful yet mesmerized. He had expected the otherworld to be anything but normal, but who knew it had to have something as troublesome as this?
"Hah... Hah..."
As Ling Yan approached the grand archway, he noticed a bold inscription above it:
"Jade Crest Sect (翡翠嶺宗)"
The characters glowed with a faint green hue, adding an aura of mystique to the entrance.
According to the system, this was one of the third-grade sects in the Yàn Yún (焰云朝) Dynasty, which was right next to the Tiān Fēng Dynasty. It was the closest sect from where Ling Yan was randomly transported to.
"I had to walk that long in the middle of nowhere... and now this...?" He grimaced, this was too much for his body which was not used to physical activities.
He was yet again transported to a random plain, and learning from his previous oversight, he had now used the system to locate the safest route going to the nearest town/sect. Ling Yan did not want to get mugged again.
[Transporting the Host to the Entrance of Jade Crest Sect, Requires 3 Psionic Stars]
"That's way too impractical... isn't there anything more... long-term?"
Finally stopping to catch his breath, he asked the system. He was way more than willing to spend his Psionic Stars to deal with the adversity that he was about to face.
[Obtain a Random Common-Grade Artifact (Movement), Requires 5 Psionic Stars]
"This costs more... but it will do for now." Ling Yan reluctantly spent his Psionic Stars.
[Confirmed]
[Cleansing Qi Gourd] [Top-tier Common-Grade Artifact]
[It has the ability to absorb the heaven and earth's energy to cleanse the user from fatigue and nourishes them with vital energy and Qi. Perfect for recuperation and traveling. Only effective with cultivators under Foundation-Establishment Realm.]
"Wait... haven't I hit the jackpot!?" Ling Yan's eyes widened.
This meant that he would not run out of energy even if he ran nonstop, making it perfect for his current situation. Receiving the artifact, Ling Yan immediately felt its effects, and as he looks in front with renewed vigor, he could not help but immediately test it out.
"Haha, it's quite odd, recently, I've been acting quite unbefitting for my age—It reminds me of how I used to be back then."
As Ling Yan sped past the stairs, the wind blowing past him, he began to reflect on his journey so far. He, who was a normal professor back then, was living such a carefree life in another world—it had scared Ling Yan a little, the fact that he had held back for so long. It had shown that he had built too many defenses in his old world, and he had many responsibilities as a professional adult—including taking care of those that have asked for his help. In short, he had to always remain in control of everything in his life.
"In truth, we're all a child deep down... huh...?" Ling Yan laughed, wondering where the future might take him.
<<----------->>
"Brother, it seems we're on guard duty again... huh?" An exasperated man sighed.
"Don't slack off, this is our job." The stern man said resolutely
"If only I was as talented as our senior brothers, I wouldn't be standing around doing pointless tasks such as this. I mean, it's already been days since we found someone who was able to climb these ten thousand steps."
The man said in slight frustration, no matter how hard he tried to improve himself—he still couldn't compare to his talented peers. How cruel the heavens were, he thought.
"...? It seems that you're always spot on with these kinds of premonitions." The stern man slightly chuckled.
"Huh...?"
As if calling for the situation, a cultivator was dashing fast toward the duo—each echo of their steps was getting louder than the previous. That's right, this cultivator was no other than Ling Yan.
"Hello seniors, is this the Jade Crest Sect perhaps?" Ling Yan asked politely.
"Oh! brother! Congratulations on reaching it all the way to the top—it seems that this brother is quite talented, what is the brother's cultivation level?" The previously bored man joyfully asked.
"Qi Refining Realm... 3rd Layer"
"3rd... Layer!?!?" The man exclaimed.
The man was in shock—to the point that it looked as if he was stoned to death. Even he, a person in the 5th Qi Refining Realm, still had trouble ascending the ten thousand steps, yet a third-layer cultivator had done it so easily—it was unbelievable.
"There's nothing unbelievable about it, this brother's aura is weaker than ours. His talent is just probably good." The stern man commented.
"You have come too soon brother, the outer disciple's tournament for recruiting new disciples will be held a week from now. Although that is the case, you can stay in the local establishments in our sect—those who have climbed ten thousand steps are considered guests." He continued, gesturing to Ling Yan that he could go.
"Is that so, thank you for the guidance, seniors." Ling Yan bowed out of courtesy.
Unbeknownst to them, Ling Yan was actually still a Qi Refining (1st Layer), he had to lie to avoid suspicion—but it was still for naught in the end. Nonetheless, he was relieved that he didn't need to use his Psionic Stars in case of an emergency.
"Now..."
<<----------->>
*Slam*
"...?"
"Dong He! What the hell did you call me out here for?" A woman exclaimed, addressing a lone seated man in a corner.
A ruckus was brewing in the local Cultivation Pagoda in the small city that the sect has made, where both disciples and travelers gather. Ling Yan was happily eating his fill while watching the drama unfold, he had not eaten since he had sacrificed his cultivation realm, after all.
"Hey... isn't that the Sect Elder Li Yue? She's so beautiful..." The guy who was a seat over from Ling Yan commented.
"Watch your tongue! I heard she kills any men who approach her with ill intentions." Another person warned.
"..."
Ling Yan could also admit that she was indeed beautiful like a flower. Her elegant emerald garments, coupled with a matching veil over her long black hair—she was the first-ever 'Jade Beauty' that Ling Yan had encountered.
"You're still the same as ever since we last met—being angry ruins your beautiful face, you know?" The man stood up and faced her.
"You're still hateful as ever! Why don't we settle our grudges in the arena!?"
"Haha, you act like that, yet you still came out of your way to find me here."
The two proceeded outside after the man had heaved a long sigh—one could still hear the outburst of the woman, it seems that she was really frustrated.
It was a small lover's quarrel, or so Ling Yan concluded. Ling Yan, however, could not care less and proceeded to chow down on his food—events like these were quite common in the university he worked for back then, and he had also dealt with them personally in some cases.
"Hah..."