"Arius De Molinos, mid-stage Blood Tempering realm, failed his fifth attempt to advance to the Inner Sect..."
"According to sect regulations, those who fail five times to enter the Inner Sect must leave the sect within three days."
"Take this decree. Your descendants, if they possess spiritual roots, may use it to directly enter our Albigensians Sect for cultivation."
In Aragon Kingdom, Pyrenees Mountain County, within the Albigensians Sect, Arius, his hair white with age, accepted a token from the imposing sect official. The official's presence was overwhelming, his aura unyielding. Arius gave a respectful bow, then slowly departed the assessment hall.
A gentle breeze brushed against his face as Arius gazed at the setting sun on the horizon, his heart tinged with melancholy.
One hundred and ten years ago, he had unexpectedly transmigrated to this world of cultivation, born into the De Molinos family of Nezier Town as their young master.
At the age of three, Arius had been discovered to possess spiritual roots.
Initially, he had believed, as a transmigrator, he would naturally awaken some kind of golden finger or possess extraordinary fortune. Surely, he would rise step by step, eventually standing atop the pinnacle of the immortal path, overlooking the endless cycles of time!
But cruel reality, like a sharp sword, had shattered all his illusions.
Since formally entering the sect at the age of ten, enduring a century of hardship and painstaking cultivation, Arius had barely managed to reach the mid-stage of the Blood Tempering realm.
In this world, the cultivation system was divided into four foundational body-tempering stages: Skin Tempering, Blood Tempering, Bone Tempering, and Organ Tempering.
The Skin Tempering stage alone granted practitioners a lifespan of a hundred years. Those in the Blood Tempering stage could live around 120 years.
Breaking through to the Bone Tempering stage extended life by another 20 years, enabling practitioners to live up to 140.
At the pinnacle of body tempering, the Organ Tempering stage granted a lifespan of 160 years. Beyond these were immortal levels from 1 to 5.
The Albigensians Sect, the premier sect in Pyrenees Mountain County, housed tens of thousands of disciples. Among them, most, like Arius, could only hope to reach the Blood Tempering stage at best. Few ever dreamed of advancing to higher realms like immortal levels .
The immortal path was merciless.
"Enough…"
With a deep sigh, Arius set aside his turbulent thoughts.
Following a winding mountain path illuminated by the golden glow of the setting sun, Arius left the sect step by step.
At the sect's grand entrance, a group of young newcomers, just inducted into the sect, followed closely behind a sect official. They were brimming with energy, their eyes alight with excitement, eagerly taking in their surroundings, their minds filled with dreams of the immortal path ahead.
Watching them, Arius couldn't help but see a reflection of his younger self.
Back then, he had also been full of youthful ambition…
But as they say, the zeal of youth often fades into the melancholy of old age.
Passing by the enthusiastic youths, Arius exited the Albigensians Sect's gates. He hired a carriage in a small town at the base of the mountain and began a slow journey toward Nezier Town.
Arius's remaining lifespan was no more than ten years. He intended to return to his birthplace and spend his final days there.
A century had passed. Would the De Molinos family of his youth still be the same?
Seated within the carriage, Arius gazed out at the passing scenery, his expression complex. Childhood memories had grown faint over the years, but the De Molinos family of Nezier Town should not have declined.
Though Arius had spent the last century as a low-ranking disciple in the Albigensians Sect, in the eyes of ordinary mortals, he was still a revered immortal cultivator.
Moreover, the reputation of being a disciple of the Albigensians Sect was enough to deter most forces in Pyrenees Mountain County from targeting the Molinos family.
And while his cultivation of the mid-stage Blood Tempering realm was unremarkable within the sect, it was far from weak in the lands surrounding Nezier Town.
After all, even a Skin Tempering cultivator could wield the strength of ten thousand pounds and withstand conventional weapons with their flesh alone.
Those who reached the Blood Tempering realm could easily lift boulders weighing tens of thousands of pounds and were immune to most poisons and mortal miasma.
A Bone Tempering cultivator could unleash strength surpassing a million pounds with a single punch, while the final body-tempering stage, Organ Tempering, granted terrifying power—the equivalent of a walking beast capable of wielding strength in the tens of millions.
As Arius pondered these things, the day turned to night.
The chill of late autumn winds seeped through the carriage as it traversed muddy roads, passed through towns and cities, and continued its journey over days and nights.
At last, a sprawling ancient town, home to tens of thousands, emerged in the distance.
Low stone walls surrounded the town, weathered by time. At the main gate, a handful of armored guards stood vigil.
The banner of the De Molinos family still fluttered atop the town's ancient walls, weathered but resilient.
"Halt!"
"Entering Nezier Town at this hour requires proper documentation. Please cooperate, sir."
Just as Arius's carriage approached Nezier Town, it was stopped by two armored guards, clad in heavy plate and brimming with vitality.
Unlike ordinary guards, these two were clearly trained in martial arts. Though they were not cultivators, their physical strength and aura set them apart from common men.
While they would be insignificant in the eyes of cultivators, in the mortal world, these guards were undoubtedly martial experts.
To nurture such skilled guards… it seemed the De Molinos family had developed far better than Arius had imagined over the years.
"Tell the current patriarch of the De Molinos family to come and meet me. My name is Arius De Molinos."
The armored guards exchanged a glance, startled, as Arius spoke in a calm but commanding tone.
And then, his aura surged forth.
It was as if a tidal wave of power swept out from him, stirring the air and conjuring fierce winds that rippled through the surroundings.
The guards' faces paled instantly. Under Arius's overwhelming pressure, their bodies felt heavy, their legs weak. They nearly collapsed to their knees.
Though shaken, these guards were not ignorant. One look at Arius's presence, and they immediately recognized him as a cultivator.
One of the guards seemed to recall something, and his expression shifted to one of awe.
"Y-You're Patriarch Arius…?"
Sitting composedly within the carriage, Arius inclined his head slightly, his expression calm.
A century ago, the young master of the De Molinos family had indeed been named Arius.
In this world, the average lifespan of mortals was no more than thirty to forty years. His elders, peers, and even the generation after them had long since turned to dust.
It was only natural that this guard, hearing Arius's name, would address him as "Patriarch."
"Hmm," Arius acknowledged faintly, his face betraying no emotion, though his heart was steeped in nostalgia.
The passage of time was unforgiving. The youth who had left Nezier Town a century ago now returned as a patriarch of the family.
Hearing Arius's calm response, the guards grew even more reverent, bowing repeatedly in apology.
"Forgive our earlier offense, Patriarch. We did not recognize you."
Arius stepped slowly from the carriage, his movements unhurried, his tone steady as he spoke again.
"There's no guilt in ignorance."
He glanced at one of the guards, his gaze sharp but measured.
"Tell me, what is the name of the current De Molinos family patriarch?"
The question prompted the guard to straighten in alarm. He quickly clasped his hands respectfully and answered, "Patriarch, the current family head is De Molinos Simon. He is the fifth patriarch of the De Molinos family in the past century."
The guard hesitated for a moment before adding, "Patriarch, please allow us to escort you to a place where you can rest and have some tea. I will personally inform the family head. Your return is a matter of great importance—Patriarch De Molinos, the elders, and all the disciples will surely come to welcome you."
Even before the guard finished speaking, the other guard had already moved to organize the sentries, ensuring that a clear path would be made for Arius. There was no chance they would allow anyone to delay or offend this returned patriarch.
Author's Note:
Mortals Realms :
Skin Tempering, Blood Tempering, Bone Tempering, Organ Tempering.
Immortal Realms:
Level 1-5 Each major realm is divided into: Early Stage, Mid Stage, Late Stage, and Peak.
Additional realms will be introduced later.