The Ethereal Elder, circled around Cygni Solis twice, assessing him from head to toe. Stroking his beard, he inquired, "What is your name?"
"I am Cygni Solis," he replied, bowing respectfully.
"Do you wish to join the Celestial Starry Veil Sect and cultivate astral techniques under my guidance?" the elder asked.
As he spoke, he reached into a small bag at his waist, producing a radiant crystal. The crystal, initially small, expanded in the air, forming a glowing shard that seemed to pulse with astral energy.
With a gesture, the elder directed the shard toward a distant rock formation. In an instant, the shard streaked forward like a comet, smashing into the stone and shattering it into countless pieces.
"Boom!"
The massive rock crumbled into dust as the shard danced in the air, shrinking back to its original form before landing in the elder's palm.
Cygni Solis, overwhelmed by the display, stood speechless, his mind racing. The elder, pleased with the reaction, waited patiently, still stroking his beard. The onlookers were equally stunned.
"An astral master! I've only heard myths about them, but now I've seen one with my own eyes. This is a story for a lifetime!"
"If I could join their ranks, imagine becoming an Astral Sage in the future!"
"Why isn't he agreeing already? He's hesitating at the chance of a lifetime!"
After a moment, Cygni regained his composure and turned to look at Seris Velan. He respectfully asked the elder, "Would you also consider accepting my older brother?"
Following Cygni's gaze, the elder found Seris, who looked conflicted, caught between the desire to join the celestial sect and concerns about burdening his younger brother.
The elder shook his head, saying, "Is this your brother? His potential is too limited, his connection to the astral space too faint. Only an Astral Sovereign could grant him entry into the sect, or perhaps, when you yourself ascend to such heights, you might make the case for him."
Cygni Solis, still reluctant, asked, "Is there truly no other way?"
Seris Velan, fearing his brother might persist and offend the celestial master, quickly spoke, "Cygni, don't worry about me. Follow the path laid before you, and when you've mastered the astral arts, you can return to see me."
The elder glanced at Seris, unconcerned as long as there were no conflicts of interest. "There is another path, but it's fraught with hardship. The life of a wandering cultivator is perilous and often lonely," he said, shaking his head. "However, if you grow strong enough, head west to the Astral City of Qingxu, nestled in the Chu State's mountains. There, you may find a way to pursue cultivation, though it's a dangerous journey for ordinary folk."
Both brothers expressed their gratitude for the elder's advice. Turning to Seris, Cygni vowed, "Brother, wait for me. When I am strong enough, I will find a way for you to join the celestial sect."
The two spoke quietly, their parting bittersweet. Meanwhile, the elder continued testing the remaining aspirants for astral potential, but none displayed remarkable talent. With a satisfied smile, he looked forward to the rewards awaiting him for bringing Cygni Solis to the sect.
At this point, many in the crowd had knelt, pleading to become disciples or asking for blessings—some for wealth, others for eternal life or even family matters. One teacher even begged for the celestial master's favor to ensure a son from his next child.
The elder's expression darkened, clearly annoyed by the triviality of their requests. To put an end to it, he released a wave of astral pressure, forcing everyone to bow in submission, some mistaking the gesture as a sign that their wishes were granted and enthusiastically knocking their heads on the ground in thanks.
The elder tossed his radiant shard back into the air, and as it expanded to over ten feet, he leaped onto it, pulling Cygni Solis up with him. Before taking off, he threw two small vials toward Seris Velan and the academy dean.
"These contain two astral enhancement pills. Consider it a gift," the elder said before transforming into a streak of light and vanishing into the sky. Seris and the dean quickly expressed their gratitude, though Seris looked at the pills in his hand with a sense of quiet loss.
The over one hundred individuals who had been brought onto the stage now realized they might have missed their chance at immortality. They wailed in despair, the realization hitting hard. After witnessing the extraordinary power of the celestial being, many had harbored a deep hope for ascension, only to see the opportunity slip away.
News of the celestial visitor at Mistveil Heights Academy quickly spread throughout Mistveil City. The entire city buzzed with excitement, and by the next day, the local governor personally visited the academy to confirm the tale. Upon verifying the story and learning that celestial pills had been bestowed upon the academy, the governor, filled with envy, personally sought out Seris Velan. Offering fifty silver talons as a gesture of respect, he inquired about the celestial's visit.
The story spread rapidly from Mistveil City to nearby regions and even reached neighboring territories. As it passed from one storyteller to another, the tale became increasingly distorted.
By the time the news reached the distant lands, it had transformed into a fantastical account of a great demonic threat at Mistveil Heights Academy. According to these exaggerated versions, a towering celestial warrior, described as a mountain-sized figure with eyes like blazing suns, a mouth that could swallow entire herds of elk, three heads, six arms, and wings that darkened the sky, came to slay the demon. A battle lasting three days and three nights ensued before the demon was finally defeated.
Afterward, the celestial master allegedly chose over a dozen students from the academy as his disciples and left behind dozens of celestial pills. These were said to prevent sickness simply by smelling them, and consuming one could grant a warrior the strength of a hundred years of training. The martial world erupted with excitement over the tale, with enthusiasts flocking to the city in hopes of glimpsing the truth. Though many details were grossly exaggerated, the core of the story—celestial involvement—remained convincing to many.
As outsiders were barred from entering the academy grounds, various individuals began lurking near the gates, hoping to gather any information they could.
On the second day, Seris Velan decided to consume one of the celestial pills. The precious nature of the pill drew many curious onlookers, all eager to witness the moment. Some wished they could steal even a whiff of the pill's scent, and others harbored more dangerous thoughts. Thankfully, Seris still bore the reputation of being a close acquaintance of a celestial master. For now, no one dared make a move against him, knowing the wrath of a celestial being was something none wished to face.
In front of a small group of onlookers, Seris Velan swallowed the celestial pill in one swift motion. His face immediately flushed, and he staggered back to his quarters, seemingly intoxicated by the power surging within him.
The moment the pill reached his stomach, Seris felt it dissolve into a warm energy that spread through his body like a comforting heat. It was as if he were submerged in soothing, heated waters, filling him with an overwhelming sensation of ease and vitality.
Wasting no time, Seris entered a meditative state, focusing on guiding this newfound energy towards his dantian. The warmth flowed as internal energy, pooling more and more into his dantian, which swelled under the accumulating force, nearly to the point of bursting.
Suddenly, there was an internal "boom," and the energy surged from his dantian, descending through the Yin channel. It moved through the acupoints along his spine, from the tailbone's strong point to the backbone point, before rushing up through the Sun channel. The energy continued upward to the point at the back of his head. Seris, in a state of calm concentration, allowed the internal force to ascend further, and within moments, the energy flowed into his upper dantian with a soft "buzz."
It didn't linger there. Seris smoothly guided the energy down through the Ren and Du meridians, returning it to the lower dantian, completing the Microcosmic Orbit. This marked the official breakthrough for Seris as a martial artist, achieving the first level of the Acquired Stage.
In just a few short days of practice, aided by the power of the celestial pill, Seris had advanced to the Acquired Stage. Such a pill, rich in celestial energy, was equivalent to five years of rigorous cultivation.
Moving lightly around his room, Seris marveled at the clarity of his thoughts and the sharpness of his senses. Clenching his fists, he felt the immense strength coursing through him. It was common for martial artists who had reached the Acquired Stage to wield the strength of 600 kilograms, and Seris could already sense the change in his body.
As he pondered finding a place to test his new power, a soft "knock, knock, knock" came at his door.
Opening it, Seris saw one of the academy students standing outside in official attire. "Seris Velan, the dean would like to see you."
Puzzled, Seris asked, "Do you know why?"
The student shook his head. "No, I don't. But you'll find out soon enough."
"Alright. Thank you. I'll head there now."