A ray of sunlight streamed through the window, landing gently on Chen Fan's face and stirring him awake. Slowly, he opened his eyes, blinking against the morning light. Sitting up on the bed, he began his morning routine—showering, eating breakfast, and cultivating. A faint smile played on his lips, a reflection of the pleasant thoughts lingering in his mind.
After finishing his routine, he picked up his phone and glanced at the marked location on the map.
"Should I go check out my new place now?" he mused aloud. Yesterday, Ye Lan had given him the contact information of a landlady and the details of a house she rented. Intrigued, Chen Fan decided to see this potential new home for himself.
Without hesitation, Chen Fan left the hotel and headed toward the address. Soon, he found himself in a lush residential area surrounded by greenery. Tall trees lined the streets, and the houses were spaced generously apart, creating an open and peaceful atmosphere. Nearby, he noticed a small park, complete with benches and a playground.
Chen Fan glanced at his phone, which showed the destination still a kilometer away. Deciding to take his time, he began walking leisurely, letting his gaze wander as he familiarized himself with the serene surroundings.
As Chen Fan walked past the park, his eyes were drawn to a middle-aged man with streaks of white visible in his hair. The man was seated on a bench, holding a piece of bread and feeding the flock of birds gathered eagerly around him. A serene smile graced his face as he scattered crumbs on the ground.
Chen Fan stopped in his tracks, his gaze lingering on the man. Something about him felt different, commanding a quiet but undeniable presence.
A cultivator, Chen Fan thought, his eyes narrowing slightly. He's definitely above the Gold Core realm.
As though sensing Chen Fan's scrutiny, the man turned his head, their eyes meeting in an unspoken exchange. For a brief moment, surprise flickered in the man's expression as he gauged Chen Fan's cultivation level.
"Young man, are you new here?" the man asked, his voice calm yet tinged with curiosity. A faint smile played on his lips as he paused his movement, no longer crumbling the bread for the birds.
"Yes, sir. I'm planning to move here," Chen Fan replied politely, a small smile on his face as he began walking toward the bench. His approach startled some of the birds, causing them to flap their wings and take flight.
"You should," the man said with a knowing look, resuming his task of feeding the remaining birds. "You won't regret it."
When Chen Fan reached the bench, he sat down about a meter away from the man, keeping a respectful distance. Although intrigued by the mysterious figure beside him, he maintained a calm demeanor, quietly observing.
"I think I've just found another reason to live here," Chen Fan remarked with a faint smile.
The man chuckled as though catching the underlying meaning in Chen Fan's words. "You're pretty direct, aren't you?" he said, his tone light and amused.
For a moment, a comfortable silence settled between them.
Chen Fan recalled his master's teachings—how cultivators often distanced themselves from the mundane world, dedicating their lives solely to cultivation. That made finding another cultivator here, seemingly at ease among ordinary people, all the more surprising.
"Is this your first time in the city?" the man eventually asked, breaking the silence.
"Yes," Chen Fan replied. "I've been here for three days."
"Why?" the man asked with a teasing tone. "Already bored of cultivating?"
"Pretty much," Chen Fan admitted with a light chuckle. "Life here is definitely more interesting."
The man laughed heartily. "You're an unusual one, aren't you? Most young cultivators your age are obsessed with getting stronger, cultivating like madmen without pause."
"I've already moved past that stage," Chen Fan said with a sigh, feigning the melancholy of someone much older. The act drew an even louder laugh from the man.
"You really are unusual," the man said, clearly amused. He turned his gaze to Chen Fan, his good mood evident. "What's your name, young man?"
"I'm Chen Fan," he replied with a polite nod.
"You can call me Uncle Xu," the man said warmly.
"Have you been living here long, Uncle Xu?" Chen Fan asked curiously.
"It's been ten years now," Uncle Xu replied.
Chen Fan's lips curled into a playful smile. "Bored of cultivating already?" he asked, mirroring the man's earlier teasing tone.
Uncle Xu burst into laughter. "It seems we're more alike than I thought," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
After sharing a hearty laugh, Uncle Xu slowly stood up, brushing the crumbs off his hands.
"You're here to rent a place near the end of the road, right?" he asked casually.
"Yes, Uncle Xu," Chen Fan replied, rising to his feet and meeting the older man's gaze.
"Then let me show you the way. It's about time I head back to my place, too," Uncle Xu offered with a kind smile.
"Thank you, Uncle. I'll have to trouble you, then," Chen Fan said politely.
Uncle Xu began walking, with Chen Fan falling into step beside him. The two walked in companionable silence for a moment, the soft rustle of leaves and chirping birds filling the air.
"Do you have any plans this week?" Uncle Xu suddenly asked, breaking the quiet. His question caught Chen Fan slightly off guard, as he hadn't expected such a personal inquiry.
"No, I don't," Chen Fan replied after a brief pause. "Is there something, Uncle?"
"There's a competition for young cultivators starting next week," Uncle Xu explained, glancing at Chen Fan meaningfully.
Hearing this, a spark of interest lit up in Chen Fan's eyes. He had never encountered other cultivators his age, so he had no real measure of how his progress compared to his peers. The idea of finding out excited his curiosity.
Could this be the reason Master sent me to descend? Chen Fan pondered the possibility, though the lack of information his master had provided left him uncertain.
"When does it start, Uncle?" Chen Fan asked, his tone betraying his eagerness.
Uncle Xu's steps faltered slightly as he turned to look at Chen Fan, a hint of surprise flashing across his face. It was as though something had just been confirmed in his mind.
So, this boy isn't affiliated with the three sects, Uncle Xu thought to himself. Once again, his gaze briefly swept over Chen Fan, assessing his cultivation level. Even so, his talent is extraordinary—genius-level, even among the top disciples of the three great sects.
"Next week," Uncle Xu finally replied, his smile returning. "You might find it worth your time."
"Who will be participating?" Chen Fan asked, turning his gaze to Uncle Xu.
"Anyone who's heard the news," Uncle Xu replied.
After gathering more details about the tournament from Uncle Xu, Chen Fan found himself looking forward to the competition that would begin in six days. The news had only surfaced three days ago, raising Chen Fan's suspicions about his master's intentions. This competition was being held for the first time in an unknown span of time, and even Uncle Xu couldn't understand the reasoning behind it, as no similar events had occurred in centuries.
"How did you find out about it, Uncle Xu? Is there a cultivator community around here?" Chen Fan asked eagerly, hoping to meet more cultivators.
Uncle Xu pulled out his phone and showed the screen to Chen Fan, causing his mouth to twitch slightly. The screen displayed a group chat named 'Awesome Cultivators Only,' with nearly a hundred thousand members. The latest post in the group described the upcoming event.
"We can't fall behind, right?" Uncle Xu said with a playful look. "You have a phone, right? Let me add you."
Chen Fan glanced at the group he had just joined. There was a variety of posts—some serious inquiries for advice, others more peculiar, such as people looking for Dao companions, and some boasting about their achievements. The group had only been active for five years, according to the creation date. Chen Fan decided to explore it further later and slipped his phone back into his pocket, slightly amused by this so-called cultivator community.
"We're here," Uncle Xu's voice broke through as he stopped in front of a medium-sized house with freshly painted walls. The place was well-kept, surrounded by a lush green garden.
Uncle Xu pointed to a house about 100 meters to the right. "My place is over there. Looks like we'll be neighbors from now on. Don't hesitate to stop by if you need anything."
"I'll make sure to trouble you sometime, Uncle," Chen Fan replied with a smile.
"Well then, I'll head back now," Uncle Xu said, turning to leave.
"Alright, thanks again for all your help." Chen Fan offered a nod as Uncle Xu started walking away.
With a soft smile, Chen Fan turned his attention back to the house in front of him, walking toward the door with a sense of anticipation to explore his new home.