As they left the courtyard, Aziel saw rows of ancient structures and intricately carved pillars, their weathered surfaces telling the story of the sect's long history. Echoes of pained moans drifted from nearby corridors as wounded disciples, many clad in green robes like his, limped indoors. Despite their injuries, most carried themselves with a calm composure that highlighted Aziel's own newness and disorientation.
They soon reached a wooden building with a large sign that read Outer Disciples' Sleeping Quarters. Disciples milled about, entering and leaving with expressions ranging from exhaustion to excitement. Just as Aziel was about to step inside, a tall black-haired man blocked his path. Unlike most disciples—who appeared to be in their mid-to-late teens—this man looked well past his twenties. He wore a sword at his waist and had a gaze as sharp as the blade itself, his eyes fixed squarely on Aziel.
"You," he said tersely, "the new disciple Elder Xun brought in. What's your name?"
"Aziel," he replied. "And you are?"
"I'm Wu Jincheng, the instructor assigned to train you." The man's piercing gaze flicked briefly to Yi Chen. "I believe your room has space for one more person, correct? Get him settled, then return to meet me outside."
Yi Chen pressed his palms together in a polite salute and bowed. "Understood, Instructor Wu."
Instructor Wu nodded curtly and stepped aside, allowing them to enter. Aziel glanced back at him, trying to gauge his character. Wu Jincheng seemed surprisingly decent—much better than the irritable Elder Xun. Aziel felt some relief; if his mentor was as unpredictable as Elder Xun, he wouldn't know how to cope.
Inside the dimly lit hallway, Aziel noticed rows of narrow doors leading to cramped bunkrooms. Yi Chen guided him into a chamber with four beds crammed side by side. A single high window let in a thin beam of afternoon light that illuminated the sparse wooden floor.
"This is where I sleep," Yi Chen said, gesturing to a lower bunk on the left. "That bed over there is empty, so it's yours now."
He pointed to the remaining two bunks. "Those belong to two other disciples. I think they're still at the sparring grounds."
Aziel sat on his new bed, the frame creaking under his weight as he absorbed the reality of his situation. "So, this sect… it's a place where people train in martial arts?"
Yi Chen nodded. "Yes, our primary martial art is called the Soaring Gale Arts. It's actually the main reason I joined this sect."
"I see…" Aziel paused, gathering his thoughts. "Now, how do I break through to what you call the Initiate Realm? Do I need to be chosen for it, or awaken to it like with mana?"
The thought made him uneasy. The system had informed him that he couldn't use Qi, and he had never experienced any form of awakening back in his home city. If Qi cultivation required an innate awakening—just like mana did—this quest was doomed from the start.
Back home, Aziel had learned that to harness mana, you had to awaken to it. If that never happened, no amount of effort or training would allow you to wield it. You had to be chosen. That was the prevailing belief he had always accepted.
Yi Chen looked puzzled. "Awaken? Mana?" He adjusted his glasses, trying to understand Aziel's words. "I'm not really sure what you mean by that. As far as being chosen—no, that's not how it works here. Anyone can become a cultivator if they put in the work. Some people are more talented than others, but you don't have to be handpicked by the heavens or anything."
"Anyone can become a cultivator…" Aziel repeated, looking down at his hands. He exhaled, releasing his tension. At least that part was promising.
Just then, Yi Chen rummaged through a small wooden chest in the corner and pulled out a thick book. He tucked it under his arm as Aziel glanced over curiously.
"What's that?" Aziel asked.
"It's my cultivation manual," Yi Chen replied. "Every disciple gets one. It explains the foundational cultivation technique of the sect. The elders and senior disciples say it's crucial to master it if you want to build a solid base for your future progress."
He held it out for Aziel to see. The cover read: Foundation Core Cultivation Technique. Intricate calligraphy adorned the pages, accompanied by diagrams of the human body overlaid with swirling lines that presumably represented Qi pathways.
As Aziel skimmed the contents, he found it reminiscent of how the Awakened in his city channeled mana—yet this looked more elaborate, steeped in tradition. After a few minutes of careful reading, he handed the book back to Yi Chen, who was tapping his foot impatiently.
"Interesting," Aziel murmured, stepping back into the hallway. "But none of these methods will help me if I can't use Qi. It's like trying to draw water from an empty well."
Yi Chen regarded him with concern. "So you really don't know anything about cultivation? I can't help but wonder why Elder Xun decided to accept you as his disciple."
Aziel shrugged. "You've mentioned that a few times—how significant it is. But to me, he's just an old pervert."
"It's a huge deal!" Yi Chen exclaimed, his voice echoing through the hall. A few disciples passing by slowed, casting him questioning looks. He lowered his voice. "Elder Xun is one of the strongest martial artists in the sect, and he's never taken a disciple before you. It's not something to take lightly."
Aziel recalled how effortlessly Elder Xun had saved him in the courtyard. Despite that display of power, his impression of the elder was far from favorable. It would take more than a dramatic rescue to change his mind.
Before long, they emerged back into the open air, where they spotted Instructor Wu near several sturdy training dummies, gazing toward the sparring grounds, where fierce matches were ongoing.
"They're still at it?" Aziel asked, pausing to watch distant figures exchange blows.
"Well, today's a special day," Yi Chen explained. "They're sparring to finalize the outer disciple rankings, and the top performers might be promoted to inner disciples. Usually, the elders don't bother coming down to watch, so you, uh… caused quite a stir by showing up when you did."
As they approached Instructor Wu, he immediately shifted his attention to them.
"Good, you're here," Wu said, crossing his arms. "Disciple Yi Chen, you may return to the quarters to rest and prepare for tomorrow's training. You've already expended your energy in today's sparring test, so there's no need for you to stay. I'll be going over the basics with Disciple Aziel, and it won't benefit you to watch."
Yi Chen shook his head and offered a slight bow. "Actually, Instructor Wu, I'm not as tired as I look. I plan to do some additional cultivation on my own, so if you don't mind, I'll be practicing quietly over there."
"Suit yourself," Wu replied.
With a quick nod to Aziel, Yi Chen retreated to a corner of the training ground. He sat down in front of a practice dummy, crossing his legs and closing his eyes. Within moments, he seemed absorbed in his own cultivation.
Instructor Wu's attention turned fully to Aziel, studying him from head to toe. Aziel shifted under the scrutiny, unsure what to say. Finally, Wu broke the silence.
"Tell me, Disciple Aziel," he said in a measured tone. "What do you know about cultivation?"