Two days had passed since Adam Yuan had been thrown into this huge world of Cultivation and knowledge within the palace. In those two days, he had risen to the Mortal Layer 9-the last stage before he would break through into the next realm. The system never stopped pushing him, and his improvement was nothing short of spectacular. Yet now was the time for Adam to step beyond those palace walls and undertake his initial foray into the city ahead of him: the hustling heart of the Sky Phoenix Continent, Phoenix's Landing.
With the power of Mortal Layer 9 coursing through his veins and a total gain of 9,000 experience points, Adam was more confident than ever. The system had indeed opened doors for him, but he knew this was the time to gather information, make allies, and test the power dynamics that held the empire together.
---
System Notification:
Quest Progress: Gather Knowledge of the Empire – 100% Complete
Reward: 1,000 Experience Points, Unlock New Cultivation Techniques
Total Experience Points: 9,000
---
The system reward pushed him closer to his next breakthrough. Still, Adam stepped out into the courtyard of the palace and made his way toward the gates.
Only cursory glances were thrown his way by the guards at the palace gates. His status as consort to the Empress had yet to spread widely, though the whispers had begun. In time, people would come to recognize him. But for now, Adam relished the relative anonymity.
There was a vibrant, high-energy hum on the streets of Phoenix's Landing as Adam walked through the grand stone archways separating palace grounds from the proper city. The sun hung high above the horizon, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. Phoenix banners fluttered with the breeze, and the air buzzed with the sounds of vendors and merchants, the everyday hustle and bustle of life in the capital.
His first stop was the huge marketplace that stretched through the heart of the city. People from every corner of the continent had set up their stalls, everything from rare beast cores to exotic herbs, cultivation elixirs, and weapons forged from rare metals were on sale. The market was teeming with cultivators-many of them no higher than Adam, some clearly more advanced.
Adam strolled through the bustling market, his eyes scanning the many items on display. He had seen enough by now to tell the difference between low-level cultivation materials and actual treasures. Making his way through the stalls, his eyes landed on a merchant selling various scrolls with the symbols of many different sects embroidered on them.
Of the numerous scrolls he saw, one captured his attention-it was emblazoned with the emblem of the Iron Serpent Sect, a group of people distasteful in their reputation and rumored to be gathering resources in preparation for some sinister purpose. Adam had studied it at the palace; they were one of the biggest threats to the Empress's rule.
"Looking for something specific?" the merchant asked, a sly smile crossing his face upon noticing Adam's interest.
"Just browsing" he said casually." But hey, what's the word on the Iron Serpent Sect these days?"
The vendor raised an eyebrow and leaned in closer, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Word is, they're been stockpiling resources-beast cores, elixirs, and weapons from the far east. Some say they're preparing for war. Others think they're looking to challenge the Empress directly.
Adam filed that in his mind, where a mix and brew process began to take place at turbo speed. If the Iron Serpent Sect was mobilizing-then gathering more intelligence would become vital. A precarious balance existed, and war could shake the empire at its very foundations.
As the walk progressed, he found himself in a less and less bustling part of the market, with fewer and fewer cultivators flying around him, and things for sale more and more rare and expensive. A vendor touting rare elixirs and cultivation pills decided to catch Adam's eye. He swam over to the stall, eyes scanning the various vials of shimmering liquid on display.
"You've got good taste, young master," the vendor grinned. "These are Qi-enhancing elixirs, top quality, straight from the northern mountains. Perfect for pushing through to the next cultivation realm."
Adam inspected one of the vials closely. The elixir was pulsating with a faint glow-the higher the quality of the medicine, the more vigorous the pulsation. However, before he could deliberate much, his attention was called to a conversation right next to him.
Two cultivators stood, garbed in the robes of the Ten Thousand Blades Sect, speaking to each other in hushed tones. Adam could just barely make out the words, but it was enough to pique his interest.
"They say the Empress's new consort is rising quickly," one of them whispered. "Already at Mortal Layer 9. If he continues like this, he'll be a real threat to the sects in no time."
The other cultivator nodded. "We must keep an eye on him. Too much concurrence with the Empress, and power will surely shift in her favor within the city.
Adam smiled to himself. His progress hadn't gone unnoticed, it would appear. But this was only just the beginning. He had no intention of being some pawn in anyone's game—neither the Empress's nor certainly the sect's. He would rise, but on his terms.
---
He turned his back to the market and wandered deeper into the city, his mind buzzing with what he had picked up. The balance of power in Phoenix's Landing was precarious: the Empress snug upon her throne, yet it was easy to see the sects were always scheming, waiting for any sign that the balance might shift in their direction.
Soon enough, Adam found himself in a more secluded district: narrow streets lined with tea houses, inns, and small shops to accommodate the more refined inhabitants of the city. Things at this point were much calmer, not frantic at all; relieved, Adam made his way into a small tea house.
Warm and inviting inside, the soft glow of lanterns cast an assuaging light upon the room. Cultivators and scholars were seated at low tables, sipping tea and discussing matters from cultivation to politics and power. Adam sat down near the window, ordering a pot of tea as he listened to the conversations around him.
Across the table, a group of senior cultivators discussed in hushed tones the growing tensions between sects and the Empress.
"I heard the Iron Serpent Sect has been making its move again," one of them said in low tones, not too quiet. "They have been gathering resources, building alliances. It won't take long before they play their card.
Another cultivator nodded, his face grim. "And the Ten Thousand Blades Sect? They've sent their young masters to the capital. If they align with the Iron Serpents, the Empress could find herself facing a united front."
Adam listened intently as the tension in the city seemed to grow even more palpable. The sects were preparing for something, and if Adam wanted to survive-let alone thrive-he needed to position himself carefully.
He sipped his tea, feeling the system pulse in the back of his mind to let him know where his next task was.
---
System Notification:
New Quest: Explore Phoenix's Landing
Objective: Gather information on key sects and factions.
Reward: 2,000 Experience Points, Access to Hidden Information Network
---
Finishing his tea, Adam stood and made his way back onto the streets of Phoenix's Landing, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. There was more to uncover, and Adam had every intention of making the most of it.