Chapter 2: The Unseen Forces
Zhang Xian sat at his desk, his fingers tracing the smooth surface of a jade tablet. His mind raced with thoughts of the strange woman who had appeared before him. There was something peculiar about her arrival, and he couldn't shake the feeling that her presence was no accident.
The 36 cultivators who had gathered around her were powerful, but it was his own strength, nurtured by the sect he had unknowingly created, that he felt most attuned to. His mind still struggled to comprehend the transition from his previous life as a top-tier player in the game Great Sect Master to this real world of cultivation.
But despite the confusion, one thing was clear: this world was real, and so was his newfound power.
"Master Zhang, we've brought the girl to the infirmary," one of the disciples, a young man named Liu Fang, reported as he entered the room.
Zhang Xian nodded. "Good. I need answers, and I need them quickly."
Liu Fang bowed. "Understood, Master."
As the disciple left, Zhang Xian leaned back in his chair, his thoughts drifting to the woman's sudden appearance. Her aura was faint, yet there was a latent power she hadn't tapped into, and it intrigued him. She had been on the run from three Golden Core cultivators—an impressive feat for someone at her apparent level.
He knew that the 36 cultivators who had gathered at his sect were not ordinary beings. They were not just NPCs from a game; they were real people, each with their own histories and purposes. But what about the woman? Was she someone sent by the forces beyond the sect? Was she a pawn or a player in a larger game?
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden presence entering the room. It was one of his trusted cultivators, Xian Long, the Celestial Swordmaster.
"Master Zhang," Xian Long began, his voice calm but tinged with concern. "The girl, we've learned she's from a small sect, but the energy around her… it's strange. It's unlike anything we've encountered."
Zhang Xian raised an eyebrow. "A small sect? Are they aware of her actions?"
Xian Long shook his head. "Not yet, Master. But the cultivators who chased her—there's no mistake. They're from a powerful sect, one known for its ruthless nature."
Zhang Xian stood up, his eyes narrowing. "She's lucky to have escaped their pursuit. But what makes her different?"
Xian Long hesitated, then spoke slowly. "She has a unique energy signature. Something... familiar."
"Familiar?" Zhang Xian repeated, a sense of unease settling in his chest.
Xian Long nodded. "Yes, Master. I've seen it before. It's similar to the energy signatures we use to activate our sect's core, but hers is more erratic, almost as if she's drawing on something outside her own power."
"Outside her own power?" Zhang Xian murmured to himself, deep in thought. He couldn't deny the similarity. The woman might be connected to forces that even he didn't fully understand yet.
---
Meanwhile, in the infirmary, the girl awoke slowly, her body still aching from the battle. Her eyes fluttered open, and she found herself surrounded by unfamiliar faces. The 36 cultivators from earlier stood in the room, all gazing at her intently.
"Where am I?" she whispered, her voice hoarse.
"You're in the Supreme Celestial Sect," one of them, Guo Zhen, the Swordmaster, replied. "You were found injured and pursued by powerful enemies. We brought you here for healing."
The girl tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness hit her. "I didn't mean to trespass... I was just trying to escape," she muttered, more to herself than to anyone else.
"You did not trespass," Guo Zhen reassured her. "You are safe here. The Master will see you soon."
As the girl gathered her thoughts, she glanced around the room, observing the cultivators who stood watch. Each of them was different—some wielded weapons, while others had an almost ethereal presence. They were all powerful, but one man stood apart from the rest. He was taller, his aura more refined, and his gaze more intense. It could only be the sect leader—the one they called Master Zhang.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively lowered her gaze.
---
Back in his study, Zhang Xian stood before a large mirror that reflected the grand hall of the Supreme Celestial Sect. His thoughts returned to the woman, but a deeper sense of responsibility began to take hold of him. She was not the first to arrive at the sect under mysterious circumstances, and he knew she wouldn't be the last.
He could feel it—the stirring of the unknown, the coming of something larger than what he could currently understand. As the Sect Master of the Supreme Celestial Sect, it was his duty to protect this place, to nurture the power that had been entrusted to him. And that included uncovering the truth behind the girl's arrival.
His fingers traced the Dao patterns etched into the desk, symbols embedded within the walls of the sect. These patterns were not only an expression of power but the very essence that sustained the sect's limitless resources. The sect had no need for external aid; its strength was derived from within, from the Dao that flowed through every stone and tree.
If there was one thing that gave him confidence, it was the knowledge that the sect was invincible—at least for now. But would it remain so if the girl's presence was more than just a coincidence?
Zhang Xian pondered this. Her arrival could be the first step in expanding his sect beyond its borders—if her strength and connections were as unique as they appeared. She could be the catalyst the sect needed to step into a larger world of cultivation, a place where it could grow beyond the confines of its own power. But he would need to understand the full extent of her abilities before making any decisions.
---
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"Enter," Zhang Xian called.
The door opened to reveal Xian Long, who bowed respectfully. "Master, the girl is awake. She wishes to speak with you."
Zhang Xian nodded, his gaze steady. "Bring her in."
---
When the girl entered, she was immediately struck by the vastness of the room. Everything about the sect was grand, and the man sitting before her exuded a power that was both overwhelming and calm. He was undoubtedly the Sect Master.
"Welcome to the Supreme Celestial Sect," Zhang Xian said, his voice warm yet commanding. "I trust you're feeling better?"
The girl hesitated but then nodded. "Yes... thank you. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused."
Zhang Xian studied her carefully. "You didn't cause any trouble. But your arrival is... unusual. You've been pursued by Golden Core cultivators. And yet, you managed to escape them and enter my sect." He leaned forward slightly. "How did you do it?"
The girl remained silent for a moment, then spoke softly. "I didn't mean to come here... it just happened. One moment, I was flying, and the next, I was here."
Zhang Xian raised an eyebrow. "I see. It seems your arrival is tied to something... much larger than you realize." He didn't fully understand it, but the girl's presence could very well be the first step in expanding his sect's reach beyond the current borders.
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(End of Chapter 2)