Feng Yao stood among a sea of new disciples in the grand hall of the Celestial Sovereign Sect.
The massive chamber was a marvel of architectural beauty, with jade pillars carved with intricate patterns and a crystal chandelier that bathed the hall in soft, ethereal light.
Excitement and anticipation buzzed through the crowd as the new disciples, all dressed in simple, unadorned robes, whispered to each other.
At the front of the hall, an imposing figure stepped onto a raised platform.
Elder Huang Zhen, a tall man with a sharp, hawk-like face and penetrating eyes that seemed to see through everything, commanded immediate silence.
His dark blue robes, adorned with golden patterns of clouds and dragons, swayed with each step, reflecting his status within the sect.
"Welcome, new disciples of the Celestial Sovereign Sect," Elder Huang began, his voice steady and authoritative.
"You have passed the trials to enter our sect, but this is only the beginning of your journey."
"Cultivation is a path filled with trials, challenges, and sacrifices. The weak will fall by the wayside, while the strong will forge ahead."
His gaze swept over the gathered disciples, pausing briefly on Feng Yao, who met his eyes with calm determination.
Satisfied, the elder continued, "As new disciples, you will receive the basic necessities to begin your training such as your sect robes, a storage bag, your identity token, and a foundational cultivation technqiue."
"Master this technique, and you will lay the groundwork for your future in our sect."
Elder Huang paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Your first task is to reach the initial stage of the Qi Refining Realm."
"Only then will you be eligible to join one of the sect's halls, where your training will become more specialized."
With that, Elder Huang gave a curt nod to the group of senior disciples standing nearby.
These senior disciples, all clad in the same deep blue robes as the elder, stepped forward and began distributing the items to the new recruits.
Without further ceremony, Elder Huang Zhen turned and left the hall, his robes billowing behind him like a storm cloud.
Feng Yao received his items: blue sect robes in a simple but elegant design, a deep green storage bag, an identity token engraved with his name and the sect's insignia, and a slim book titled Celestial Refinement Art.
The robes were sturdy, the storage bag though small contained a pocket dimension that could store non-living items, and the identity token held his unique sect ID, essential for accessing various sect resources.
Once the distribution was complete, the senior disciples began organizing the new recruits into smaller groups.
Feng Yao found himself in a group of about twenty, led by a senior disciple with sharp eyes and a calm demeanor.
"I'm Chen Jianyu," the senior disciple introduced himself.
He was a tall young man with neatly tied long black hair, sharp features, and a confident air.
"I'll be guiding you for the next few days. Follow me, and I'll show you to your quarters."
As they walked through the sect grounds, a sprawling complex of elegant pavilions, gardens, and training fields; the new disciples began to chat amongst themselves.
"I'm Li Xin," said a young man with a relaxed smile. Li Xin was of above average height, with long, neatly tied hair and a lean build.
His eyes were sharp, yet there was an easygoing aura about him that made him seem approachable.
"Looks like we'll be seeing a lot of each other from now on."
Feng Yao returned the smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Feng Yao. Let's hope we all survive the first few months, yeah?"
Li Xin chuckled. "If we stick together, it shouldn't be too hard. I hear the real challenge is when you start competing for resources."
"True," Feng Yao agreed. "But that's a problem for another day."
Gao Shan, a tall and muscular youth with a strong jawline and long, unruly brown hair, chimed in.
"Gao Shan, at your service! You can count on me if you ever need a sparring partner. I'm more interested in testing my strength than anything else."
Li Xin gave Gao Shan a quick once-over and grinned. "You look like you could break a boulder with your bare hands. I'll keep that in mind."
Mei Ling, a petite girl with delicate features and long black hair tied into a neat braid, introduced herself next.
Her soft-spoken demeanor was contrasted by the intensity in her eyes. "Mei Ling. I'm looking forward to training with all of you."
Feng Yao nodded, noting the mix of personalities in their group.
This wasn't just about making friends; these were the people he would be relying on and competing with in the days to come.
As they reached the outer sect disciples' housing area, Chen Jianyu stopped in front of a row of modest rooms.
"These are your quarters," he said, gesturing to the simple but comfortable accommodations.
"Each of you will have your own space. Inside, you'll find everything you need to start your cultivation."
The rooms were small but well-kept, with a bed, a desk, and a meditation mat in each.
Feng Yao entered his room, setting his belongings on the desk before sitting down on the mat with the cultivation manual in hand.
Chen Jianyu stood at the door. "Your first task is to begin cultivating using the Celestial Refinement Art."
"Once you reach the initial stage of Qi Refining, you can choose to join one of the sect's halls, where your training will become more specialized."
"The halls include the Martial Hall, for combat training; the Alchemy Hall, for those interested in pill refinement; the Array Hall, for formations and seals; the Crafting Hall, for forging weapons and artifacts; the Beast Hall, for taming and raising spiritual beasts; the Agriculture Hall, which grows all the herbs and food needed by the sect; the Shadow Hall, for espionage and intelligence gathering; the Enforcement Hall, which enforces the sect's rules and punishes wrongdoers; and the Cooking Hall, which focuses on spiritual cuisine that can enhance cultivation."
As he spoke, Chen Jianyu's gaze swept over the group.
"Remember, each hall offers unique benefits, but you must reach the first stage of Qi Refining before you can join one."
"Once you do, you'll also be eligible to select a second cultivation technique from the sect's library, focusing on combat or another area of your interest."
Feng Yao nodded, already feeling the weight of his new responsibilities. Chen Jianyu gave them a final nod before leaving them to settle in.
Back in his room, Feng Yao unrolled the Celestial Refinement Art manual and began reading.
The technique was unique to the Celestial Sovereign Sect, designed to help new disciples build a strong foundation by absorbing spiritual energy from the surroundings and refining it into Qi, the vital essence needed for any cultivator.
The instructions were clear, and the method seemed straightforward, but Feng Yao knew it would take time and effort to master.
He sat cross-legged on the mat, closed his eyes, and began his first attempt at cultivation.
He focused on his breathing, slowing it down until it was steady and even.
Gradually, he began to sense the faint flow of spiritual energy in the air around him, guiding it carefully into his body and towards his dantian.
The process was slow, requiring intense concentration, but after several hours, he felt a small, warm current of Qi beginning to form within his core. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Taking a break, Feng Yao reached for the identity token and activated the embedded sect manual, which began to project information directly into his mind.
The manual covered the basic rules of the sect: loyalty above all else, the importance of completing missions, and the earning of contribution points, which could be exchanged for resources and privileges within the sect.
It also explained the stages of cultivation in detail.
The journey of a cultivator began with the Qi Refining Realm, followed by the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Core Formation Realm, the Nascent Soul Realm, and beyond.
Each stage was a significant leap in power, with the early stages focused on refining one's internal energy and building a solid foundation for future breakthroughs.
The manual went on to describe the structure of the world, including the four great empires and the major sects within them.
The Celestial Sovereign Sect was one of the most prestigious, known for its strict discipline and powerful cultivators. The Phoenix Empire, Northern Lands, and Verdant Realm each had their own unique cultures and sects, with rivalries and alliances spanning centuries.
Feng Yao absorbed the information carefully, committing it to memory. He knew that understanding the broader world was just as important as mastering the techniques within it.
As the day came to a close, Feng Yao lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
The weight of the day's events finally settled in, but instead of feeling overwhelmed, he felt a growing sense of excitement.
He had taken his first step on the path of cultivation, and there was no turning back.
Outside, the night was peaceful, the sounds of distant waterfalls and rustling leaves filling the air.
Feng Yao closed his eyes, letting the serenity of the sect grounds lull him to sleep, his mind already dreaming of the journey ahead.