Tianzu World, Profound Heavens continent, Riverside Province.
Wu clan, located in the remote regions of the WinterStream county, might sound mighty, but is actually just a declining clan in a dangerous world.
The WinterStream county accommodates more than four large clans, and twelve surbodinate clans.
Beyond the county is a vast wasteland, considered dangerous for mortals.
The Wasteland connects the WinterStream county to the rest of the Riverside province and Tainzu world.
With enough money one could also be able to book the carriages that traverse through the wastelands.
With such an environment, it was difficult to gain resources let alone produce a strong man, but some factions and even families were willing to set their homes in this place, clearly because they were weak.
This was the accepted consensus in this world, the strong took over the best resources.
In a way, it was a matter of using one's ability to grab something you could be able to keep.
*****
On a ragged road, just a mile from the Wu clan, a young man could be seen sitting on a meter tall brown bull.
It's eyes didn't seem to resemble normal cows at all as it had some signs of human intelligence in them.
The man was dressed in course clothes, but they were very neat.
He clearly resembled a cowboy.
But he didn't seem to care, as he kept his eyes half closed and let the bull walk further from any civilization.
The road he was on was becoming abandoned, and when he reached an elevated space, he could see further.
His half opened eyes fully opened and looked into the distant, only to see a heaven reaching pillar, it resembled a sword.
That was his destination, he had little interest approaching it, but he had to go.
The massive pillar was extended beyond the reach of even his eyes.
He wasn't normal, as he had reached the peak of the mortal realm, and couldn't see the end of it.
He didn't think anyone would be able to wield such a massive sword.
After looking at the pillar, one could see clear determination in the depths of his eyes.
The bull stood beside him in a daze unsure of why its master was suddenly in a daze, but it probably couldn't understand.
Wu Shuang standing at the highest point in the Northern WinterStream county, the Northern Plateau.
He was finally venturing outside this county, he wanted to see what existed beyond the wasteland, but his sight just couldn't accomplish this.
The main reason he wanted to leave the country was about his biggest secret.
Since he was about nine years old in the Wu clan, he obtained some opportunity after after almost loosing his life once.
This was what changed his life and made his life in the Wu clan bearable.
Even though Wu clan was stingy with resources and even forced him to leave, he didn't resent them.
It wasn't because he was a good and understanding person, rather it has something to do with the chance he got at nine.
It was an Ancient Martial arts inheritance as well as a soul of a strong powerhouse. She even ended up making Wu Shuang accept her as a master.
She indeed lived up to this tittle too.
When he looked into the distance, his past seven years flashed by his eyes and he sighed.
"As long as I can reach within the vicinity of the sword shaped pillar, master said I should be able to breakthrough to the True Martial realm."
His eyes were bright and even unleashed a certain sense of oppression just standing there.
The True Martial realm was almost the same as those in the second level of Innate Ability stage.
Talking about Innate Ability, it could be understood as the current path of seeking extraordinary powers in the world.
It was also the reason that Wu Shuang was currently homeless. He didn't take this as anything abnormal, perhaps due to the being a tradition in the Wu clan. But his master expressed her suspicions about it.
It was even more so with the generous compensation the clan provided them.
But she didn't dwell on the issue and just asked him to rush and leave this county.
Wu Shuang was unaware of why, but left the clan as the first person, as per her instructions.
The mortal realm is the name of the first realm in the Ancient path.
Ancient path, is a name clearly used to show that this path is no longer what is pursued to strengthen oneself.
Back on topic, Wu Shuang's coming to this location wasn't just an accident, as his master guidance was involved.
The mortal realm is just the foundation stage and it involved practicing some boxing and movements to temper his body.
The result of all this is that his body is stronger than most that had have cultivated their First stage of Innate Ability.
But his body is strengthened in almost all aspects, but had reached the limit and to continue strengthening it, he had to enter the second stage.
He didn't achieve all this on himself, rather depended on the guidance of the mysterious soul he accepted as a master.
But since the soul of his master continued to guide him, Wu Shuang persisted until this point.
He was eager to see what transformation would occur if he took another step forward.
As if sensing his urgency, a voice sounded in his mind.
"Stupid disciple! You don't want to live anymore?"
Wu Shuang suddenly retracted his gaze and asked, "Master! What is wrong?"
Right! The soul he called master was able to help him out in many things, and this moment it was the same.
As for why she persisted he should study the Ancient path, Wu Shuang didn't know, he was just happy to become stronger because it made a lot of things convenient.
Wu Shuang was as also able to think clearly compared to those his age not because he was born inteligent but rather had been affected by the soul of his master. The woman would often times comment on things and even make some sarcastic remarks, that allowed him to understand a lot.
At the moment, she was clearly hinting at something.
Wu Shuang looked towards the massive sword like pillar without any change in expression. He was indeed still eager to go, but decided to listen to the old lady first.
"Do you think the wilderness is some place you can just step in without enough preparations? Even if you could manage to avoid all dangers, are you going to eat air?" Her voice sounded in his mind.
It was just now that he realized he wasn't carrying anything else with him. That was not all, he actually knew nothing about the wilderness.
"You should still have that money your clan elder gave out right?" Had she not mentioned this issue, he had almost forgotten about it.
Just a few hours ago, the Wu clan elder passed them each a few gold coins and silver coins to use on their path.
Other than being given money, they were required to swear that in the future if they had the ability they could do something for the clan.
He didn't understand a lot, but he knew the importance of money.
According to what he knew, the amount they had each been provided was enough to live a comfortable life as a mortal for a few decades.
It was just that things become different for those that wanted to follow the path of excavating their Innate Ability.
Other than the fruitr that could speed up the process of entering into the first stage, necessary guidance was required by those of the same or related Innate Abilities.
Wu Shuang failed to even find any related information about his Innate Ability, but what he was sure of was that it had nothing do with fighting or speeding up his cultivation.
Without having a path similar to existing innate abilities, it was also impossible to gain a mental method to practice with.
The reason the Wu clan only kept five individuals in the clan, while the rest were chased out to seek their own paths was also related to this. The other issue was obviously the lack of resources to support a large number of people.
As for anyone walking out of the group chased out and making a name for themselves, it was not impossible, but difficult.
For Wu Shuang, the WinterStream county was no longer capable of supporting his growth. Or as said by his master, 'if you don't walk out of this place, you will never know the vastness of the world!'
"It's still with me!" Wu Shuang replied.
"That's good! Make sure to head to the nearest market and spend it, only hide the gold coins, as you might use it in the future. The coper coins all should be converted into resources." He voice sounded again.
"Okay!" Wu Shuang did as he was instructed and had the bull turn back.