Dao Wei sheathed his sword, his demeanor calm and composed. "I did what was necessary," he replied, his voice carrying the weight of responsibility.
"But tell me, what is this Dragon's Legacy they were searching for?"
The villagers exchanged uncertain glances before the elderly man spoke again. "The Dragon's Legacy is an ancient artifact said to possess immense power. It has been a legend in our village for generations, but none of us have ever seen it. We don't even know if it truly exists."
Dao Wei nodded thoughtfully. "Their search for it brought destruction to your village. If it is real, its power must be significant. I will stay and help protect you until we can ensure your safety."
The villagers' expressions lightened with relief and gratitude.
As they began to tend to the wounded and rebuild their homes, Dao Wei stood at the edge of the clearing, his mind racing with thoughts of the Dragon's Legacy and the new journey it promised.
Dao Wei's presence brought a sense of calm to the village. His formidable skills and unwavering resolve reassured the villagers that they were no longer alone.
Over the next few days, Dao Wei helped rebuild the village, his hands as skilled in construction as they were in combat. He became a figure of respect and admiration, his actions speaking louder than any words could.
During this time, Dao Wei learned more about the legend of the Dragon's Legacy. The villagers spoke of a hidden cave deep within the nearby mountains, where it was said the artifact was kept. Many had attempted to find it, but none had returned.
The cave was rumored to be protected by ancient guardians, spirits of the dragon clan that once ruled the land.
One evening, as the sun set and the villagers gathered around a fire, the elderly man who had first spoken to Dao Wei approached him. "Young master, there is something you should see," he said, his voice filled with a mixture of hope and fear.
Dao Wei didn't even ask what the old man wanted to show him and just followed the man to a small, hidden shrine at the edge of the village. Inside, illuminated by the soft glow of lanterns, was an old, weathered scroll.
The man handed it to Dao Wei with reverence. "This is all we have left of the dragon clan's legacy. It is said to contain a map to the cave, but none of us have been able to decipher it."
Dao Wei unrolled the scroll, his eyes scanning the intricate markings and symbols. He felt a surge of excitement and determination.
This was the key to the next step in his journey, a path that could lead him to greater power and a deeper understanding of his origins.
The next morning, Dao Wei prepared for his departure. The villagers gathered to see him off, their faces filled with gratitude and hope. The elderly man handed him a small, intricately carved amulet. "This was said to be a gift from the dragon clan to our ancestors. It may help you on your journey."
Dao Wei accepted the amulet with a nod of thanks. "I will return once I have found the Dragon's Legacy and ensured your safety," he promised. "Until then, stay vigilant and protect each other."
With those words, Dao Wei set off towards the mountains, the scroll and amulet tucked securely in his pack. His heart was filled with a mix of anticipation and determination. The path ahead was uncertain, but Dao Wei was ready to face whatever challenges lay in his way.
As he climbed higher into the mountains, Dao Wei could feel the ambient Qi growing stronger, the air tingling with energy.
He knew he was on the right path. The legacy of the dragon clan was within reach, and with it, the power to change his world. The journey had just begun, and Dao Wei was ready to face whatever trials awaited him in the depths of the dragon's lair.
The Dragon Mountain was a weird-looking mountain, it looked like a dragon ascending the Heavens. The stairs coiling up looked like gigantic dragon scales.
The higher Dao Wei approached the middle of the mountain, the more he could feel an invisible force reigning down on him as if trying to crush his soul and spirit.
Having just become a Saint, his cultivation was still a bit unstable. He gritted his teeth and summoned the last bit of his willpower, continuing to ascend towards the top. His body was bloodied as his internals were being crushed by the mighty force.
"Is this the power of a God?" Dao Wei muttered as he tried his best not to lose consciousness.
Bones were scattered all over the mountain, proof of the countless cultivators who'd tried their luck in the past to get the Dragon's Legacy.
Some of the skeletons exuded terrible power, indicating how strong those people must have been. Countless riches were left behind, but Dao Wei lacked not for cultivation materials as his enigmatic master had made sure he had everything he'd ever need.
Dao Wei's wealth at the moment was on par with, or even surpassed, some of the top clans and sects.
He decided to keep his eye on the target and continued ascending.
Honestly speaking, Dao Wei had no reason to stress himself in all this power struggle. With all the things his parents had left him with as well as his master, he could just build up a pavilion and live a luxurious life all his days.
However, he had things he needed to do and a simple and fancy life was not something Dao Wei would settle for, thus this cultivation journey.
Dao Wei would stop and sit cross-legged to try and replenish his Qi. However, as he was trying to replenish his Qi, Dao Wei suddenly realized that the force wasn't merely trying to crush him but rather reinforcing his cultivation.
He now had over five million Space precepts in his Sea of Qi, which had also expanded a hundredfold, looking like a real sea. Its waves permeated a golden glow, and the Sword, Palm, Time, and Space precepts all flowed gently.
He had stabilized his cultivation after just a day of breakthrough, an extraordinary fortune enough to excite Dao Wei.
"Come on, let's keep moving. Hopefully, I can break through to the peak of the Early stage of Sainthood." He gathered his strength and continued making his way up the mountain.
The cultivation system was divided into Nine realms of Practitioner and Nine Realms of Warrior. The so-called Practitioners included those who practiced Alchemy and Spiritual Powers, while Warriors were those who pursued martial arts.
Dao Wei practiced both Mental and Martial arts, making him a rare talent.
The Nine Realms of Practitioner where Qi Cultivation Realm, Spiritual Encounter Realm, Spiritual Visualization Realm, Foundation Establishment Realm, Foundation Refinement Realm, Mental Acumen Realm, Transcendence Realm, and Realm of Absolute.
Nine Realms of Warrior were divided into three Realms, each with three stages; Qi Realm, Core Realm, and Spirit Realm. Qi Realm had Body Tempering Stage, Qi Refining Stage, and Foundation Stage.
Core Realm; Core Formation Stage, Core Stabilization Stage, and Golden Core Formation Stage.
Spirit Realm on the other hand was made of Nascent Spirit, Nirvana Stage, and Void Transcendence Stage.
Each stage had four inner stages within which one needed to breakthrough if they wanted to advance to the next Realm or Stage, those are Early, Mid, Late, and Peak Stages. Similarly, the four inner stages had four levels, Initial, Median, Late, and Completion.
The so-called Saint are those at the Nascent Spirit Stage, while Supreme Saints are at the Nirvana Stage.
Those at the second level couldn't be compared to those at the first, as they could crush them like ants. Ascending to a higher level of power allowed a cultivator to manipulate vast amounts of energy and wield incredible power.
Dao Wei was now at the mid-level of Early Stage Nascent Spirit. However, thanks to the Primordial Chaos Scripture, Dao Wei was a Six-Level fighter, meaning he could fight people six levels ahead of him.
"I can now fight a median-level Mid-Stage Nascent Soul," Dao Wei mused at the changes in his cultivation. If he could make it to the peak level, he could stand toe to toe with a Second Tier Saint at the completion level.
Dao Wei decided to multi-task as he ascended the mountain. He used his Soul to enter the Sea of Qi and began comprehending the Saintly Way on the mountain.
He also hoped to comprehend some of the Godly Ways as well, since the mountain was full of godly Qi. Dao Wei would naturally not let it go to waste.