Xiao Yao opened his eyes as he felt the cart come to a stop. Standing up, he beheld an enchanting town seamlessly integrated within a majestic forest. Houses, finely crafted from wood, rose amidst towering trees whose branches formed a dense, protective canopy. Bridges and walkways connected the dwellings, creating a complex, fairy-tale-like network. Light filtered through the foliage, illuminating architectural details and hanging gardens. This town, bathed in a magical atmosphere, seemed straight out of a fairy tale where man and nature coexisted in perfect harmony.
'I love this architecture,' Xiao Yao thought with a smile, observing two guards at the city gate conversing with the driver.
The guards, clad in light leather armor and armed with finely engraved spears, approached the small cart laden with fruits. The driver exchanged a few words with them, but Xiao Yao did not understand their language. Yet, he could sense vigilance and curiosity in their voices.
One guard stepped forward and began to inspect among the fruits, carefully shifting some baskets. When he spotted Xiao Yao sitting calmly at the back of the cart, his gaze widened slightly in surprise. The guard exchanged a quick glance with his companion, who also approached to see what had caused this reaction.
The two guards, somewhat taken aback to find a stranger in such a situation, remained silent for a moment. However, sensing the man's serene aura, they decided not to intervene, especially since his face was not among the wanted posters they had memorized.
The first guard nodded towards him and gestured for the driver to proceed. The cart then resumed its journey towards the heart of the town, with the guards flanking each side to ensure everything proceeded without incident.
Xiao Yao watched the scene with a slight smile, appreciating the guards' courtesy. In the cultivation world, they would have already demanded spirit stones and used unnecessary intimidation if they found you weak. But here, things seemed to follow a completely different path.
Xiao Yao selected a fruit from the baskets of colorful goods and stepped down from the cart. His steps carried him through the cobbled streets of the enchanting village. At every corner, residents went about their business; some exchanging goods at bustling stalls, others tending to the hanging gardens adorning house balconies. Children played joyfully near a fountain, while artisans, seated in the shade of ancient trees, skillfully worked their crafts.
Curious gazes from people settled on Xiao Yao as he crossed the main street. His foreign presence did not go unnoticed, yet unlike expectations from the cultivation world, no one intimidated him. Instead, people simply seemed curious, perhaps intrigued.
Xiao Yao savored the warm and welcoming atmosphere enveloping the town. Arriving in front of what he had initially mistaken for a church, where people sat and prayed on benches, a slight sense of confusion washed over him before he understood.
'In a world without cultivation,' he thought, 'people can create their own gods to find an anchor on which to hope for a living.'
Xiao Yao contemplated the gracefully carved designs on the outer walls. Solar symbols and motifs representing the cycle of the sun captivated his gaze. He immediately understood that this church venerated the sun.
He entered and found a chair to sit in, keeping a low profile to avoid drawing attention from the worshippers. His gaze focused solely on the priest conducting the service, garbed in attire that expressed profound faith towards the sun.
The priest wore an immaculate white robe, adorned with shimmering golden embroideries that sparkled in the light filtering through stained glass windows. Around his neck, a scarf of gold adorned with solar symbols wrapped elegantly, symbolizing his dedication to the solar deity. His silver hair was carefully combed back, framing a serene face marked by years of prayer and meditation.
With each gesture, the priest seemed to absorb the sunlight illuminating the altar, his eyes reflecting inner tranquility and deep faith towards the entity he served with devotion. His words resonated softly in the small church, imbued with solemnity and respect for the power and warmth of the sun, revered as a source of life and spiritual guidance by the worshippers listening devoutly.
As Xiao Yao enjoyed his fruit, his mind wandered through the room. The atmosphere reminded him vaguely of a Christ church, especially seeing what looked like a confessional. Despite some doubts raised by this observation, he decided not to delve into the issue. He had a specific goal in staying for some time in this city before pursuing his quest in search of the sparrow.
A few minutes later, the priest took a small collection basket, making his way around the room to collect offerings from the worshippers.
After a few minutes, the priest finally reached Xiao Yao, displaying a slightly surprised look, perhaps due to his appearance, before a hint of excitement crept in.
"He thinks I'm wealthy and about to make a generous donation?" chuckled Xiao Yao inwardly, thinking, "If you want me to donate, I'll grant your wish."
Father Monsterrat had already noticed from afar this solitary worshiper who seemed to be quietly eating his apple while observing them. Initially, he hadn't seen him clearly due to the distance and his duties in the religious office.
But now that he was closer, seeing this face up close, a face that exuded nobility, he suddenly felt excited. Almost instinctively, his nose imagined the smell of copper coins.
He wasn't corrupt, quite the opposite. Father Monsterrat was a man of absolute devotion, so faithful to his beliefs and his church that he saw every coin offered as a divine blessing. His true excitement came from hoping that the Church of Luminara, this town nestled in the heart of the forest, could benefit from more resources to help the needy, beautify their place of worship, and further spread the light of their solar god. For him, each donation was a way to strengthen the community and glorify their deity.
With a friendly smile, Father Monsterrat pushed the collection basket towards the young man. Xiao Yao returned an equally friendly smile before spitting something from his mouth into the basket.
Perplexed, Father Monsterrat looked down to see an apple core. His face suddenly turned as dark as coal.
He was on the verge of revealing his identity as a 7th-rank priest and offering this arrogant young man a swift introduction to hell. The contrast between his friendly smile and the apple core in the basket left him wavering between sacred indignation and nervous laughter. "Ah, these young people today," he thought, his face showing all shades of consternation.
As he pondered how to react, a strong gust of wind struck the church doors, drawing the priest's attention for a few seconds. When he looked back at Xiao Yao, he saw the young man open his hand and drop six copper coins into the basket.
Realizing he had been teased but slightly angered, Father Monsterrat prepared to give the young man a lesson in manners with his most eloquent speech. But before he could begin, he saw Xiao Yao stand up and leave without even glancing back.
Slightly amused by this strange character, he decided not to take it to heart.
Returning to the altar, he couldn't help but notice that the collection basket was lighter than before. He ceased thinking about it when a worshiper approached to greet him, redirecting his attention to more pleasant concerns.
Outside the church, Xiao Yao bought a loaf of bread, leaving behind a puzzled vendor. Intrigued by this silent customer with a distinguished appearance, he sighed, lamenting that such a handsome young man seemed to be without a voice. Yes, he believed Xiao Yao was mute.
Xiao Yao had purchased his bread with the copper coins he had "borrowed". He had taken twelve and returned six, a kindness he believed transcended the heavens.
Xiao Yao settled in a small public garden, in the center of which stood a delicately sculpted fountain. Sunlight danced on the clear water, adding a touch of magic to the place. Around him, people went about their business but couldn't help casting intrigued glances at this stranger.
He crumbled a piece of bread and dropped it on the ground. Soon, small birds came to peck at the crumbs, creating a scene of tranquility and natural beauty. Xiao Yao watched the birds' ballet with a faint smile, then in a movement so swift it was almost imperceptible, he caught one of the birds. The poor creature didn't even have time to understand what was happening, caught in Xiao Yao's expert hand.
Xiao Yao gently stroked the bird, his soothing gestures calming the small creature. He even offered it some bread crumbs, and the bird, reassured, pecked peacefully from his hand.
Once the bird finished eating, Xiao Yao lifted it in front of his face, as if to kiss it, and whispered a few words in its ear. Then, with infinite delicacy, he opened his hand, allowing the bird to fly away, liberated and happy, into the azure sky.
Xiao Yao closed his eyes, savoring the peace of the moment and the gentle breeze caressing his face.
This would be the place where Xiao Yao would make his triumphant entry into cultivation, marking the beginning of a new era for him without the Celestial Dao and announcing his return to the world.
True cultivation, with all its depth and mysteries, was the only path capable of granting him true and lasting power. Though Xiao Yao possessed the destiny rune engraved in his soul, he knew it could only be used a limited number of times. Each use of this rune to conjure spells could cause profound disturbances in his soul due to his lack of spirituality and the weak capacity of his meridians to channel the necessary energy.
He closed his eyes and began to breathe deeply, aligning his mind with the surrounding natural energies. The gentle murmur of the fountain and the birdsong created a soothing melody that helped him focus.
In this state of deep meditation, Xiao Yao felt the Qi of the destiny rune and his Dao Heart harmoniously merging. Each inhalation and exhalation seemed amplified, as if he were absorbing the very energy of the cosmos itself. The outlines of the public garden seemed to blur, giving way to a heightened perception of the energy flows around him. The sounds of birds pecking at bread crumbs became clearer, each heartbeat resonating in echo with the pulsations of the universe.
The spiritual veins within him, previously dormant, began to awaken. Xiao Yao focused intensely, guiding energy through his meridians with precision. Each breath deepened the connection between his inner self and the surrounding Qi, harmonizing his body and mind with natural forces.
A faint luminous glow surrounded his body, a testament to his concentration and absorption of Qi. His features relaxed, and an expression of absolute calm settled on his face. After what felt like an eternity, Xiao Yao sensed a profound change within him: he had crossed the first step of immortal cultivation, Qi Refinement.
He remained with his eyes closed, savoring the newfound vigor that animated him, a renewed strength pulsing through his veins.
If other cultivators were present to observe Xiao Yao, their surprise would be twofold. First, they would be astonished to see someone cultivating without any visible spiritual energy surrounding him. This was unprecedented and went against the logic accustomed to practitioners who typically displayed external energy manifestations during cultivation.
Secondly, their shock would be heightened by how swiftly Xiao Yao attained the first level of Qi Refinement. Normally, this stage required weeks or even months of intense meditation and rigorous practice to achieve. The fact that he accomplished it so quickly challenged not only established norms but also the perceived abilities of even the most experienced cultivators.
And it wasn't solely due to his talent but also his perfect mastery of this realm and a cultivation technique he had created back in the second era with one of his disciples, which he perfected over the subsequent two eras.
It was known as the "Dao of Celestial Eclipse," a unique method exclusively cultivated by Xiao Yao and a few of his most valued disciples.
This technique was named to express Xiao Yao's determination to one day rule the celestial dao and the heavens.
Another significant reason is that the spiritual energy derived from his destiny rune represents one of the highest qualities primarily harvested from the Celestial Dust continent during the fourth era.
Under the influence of the energy enveloping his meridians, Xiao Yao smiled faintly. A deep ambition grew within him; at this time, he aimed to become the next Celestial Dao, or even surpass it.
However, his primary ambition would have to wait as he still had many secondary matters to resolve. He also needed to uncover the mystery of their era's forgotten downfall.
He slowly opened his eyes, realizing his "nap" had lasted for two hours. Across the garden from him, a young woman sat on a chair, lost in her thoughts. When their gazes met, she startled slightly, surprised to have been caught observing him. A veil of shyness quickly passed over her face as she hurriedly looked away, trying to conceal her embarrassment at being caught in the act.
Xiao Yao gave her a gentle smile before rising to leave. The young woman, momentarily captivated by his smile, felt her mind return to her. As Xiao Yao stood up, she wanted to say something, to invite him to stay a little longer, to discover who he really was. A simple question about his favorite color lingered on her lips, but she couldn't find the words in time.
She watched him walk away with an almost unreal grace, his dark hair flowing gently over his shoulders, his robe floating lightly in the breeze as if he were in perfect harmony with the nature around him. It was like gazing upon a living painting, a tableau of tranquility and beauty that slowly drifted away into the shadows of the trees.