Majestic East Sea, endless azure waves.
Immortal mountains stand tall, Divine Islands tower.
The Taiyang Star leaps from the sea surface, while other stars hide behind the Heavenly Vault.
Above the rolling azure waves of the East Sea, a magnificent and imposing island also slowly materializes from the void into reality.
Looking around:
Neon lights hang high in the sky, while purple mist steams through the mountains.
Evergreen pines and cypresses, exquisite Yao Grass never wither.
Occasionally hearing the call of Immortal Cranes, often seeing Phoenixes soar.
Auspicious beasts hide among the mountains, Qilins rest upon the cliffs.
Pavilions and towers are decorated atop the steep cliffs, Heavenly Palace's treasures are dotted among the peaks.
Yu Yuan yawns as he steps out of the Tian Yuan Palace, wearing only black trousers, his robust and well-proportioned upper body glistening under the morning light.
This is his cultivation of the Upper Pure Immortal Technique operating automatically, capturing the essence contained in the sunlight through his pores.
[Cultivating: Mana -1]
[Cultivating: Mana -2]
Yu Yuan quickly focuses his mind to stop the Grand Circulation.
This cultivation method taught by the Saint has many perks but its automatic activation often gives him a headache.
Is this how one should cultivate?
With a forceful push of his feet, his body suddenly shoots out at a speed that escapes the limit of human vision, like a lightning bolt heading towards the distant mountains.
"Boom boom boom—"
A series of loud noises follows.
Yu Yuan, having burst through seven large mountains, appears on the sandy beach, a rapidly updating text interface emerging before him:
[Chest injured: Muscle and Bone +78, Qi-Blood +88]
[Left arm injured: Strength +50, Qi-Blood +98]
[Head injured: Defense +18, Qi-Blood +72]
...
Now this feels right!
Yu Yuan nods in satisfaction, his gaze turning toward a relatively intact cliff by the seaside.
Then, he starts his morning cultivation.
...
Accompanied by morning light, a seven-colored clouds arrives from the west, carrying a Treasure Car that exudes a strong fragrance from afar.
Colorful canopies surround the Treasure Car and under the sunlight, a silhouette of a lady can be vaguely seen on the curtain.
Next to it, a handsome young boy closely follows behind the side of the Treasure Car.
The boy looks about eight or nine years old, dressed in splendid clothes, with a tough facial outline, thick brows, big eyes, and an air of righteousness.
There is one peculiar feature.
A vertical eye is present on his forehead.
"My disciple, look ahead. That's Penglai Island."
A woman's voice from inside the Treasure Car, clear like a bubbling stream.
The boy nods, his gaze fixed forward, his face filled with uncontrollable excitement and anticipation.
"Master, is this the Saint's Dao Field of the Jie Sect's Sect Hierarch?"
"That's right. This is your grandmaster's Dao Field. Only the Inner Sect Disciples of Jie Sect can cultivate here, while the Outer Sect Disciples mostly cultivate on Golden Turtle Island."
Hearing this, the boy is full of anticipation, "Can your disciple also cultivate in this Saint's Dao Field?"
The owner of the Treasure Car speaks indifferently: "You are my disciple of the Golden Spirit, naturally you are qualified to cultivate here. However, our disciples of Jie Sect always live in harmony; treating each other with respect. Do not be arrogant or demeaning to the Outer Sect Disciples just because you are a direct disciple of the Inner Sect. If I find out, I will not be lenient!"
Seeing her stern demeanor, the boy is startled and quickly prostrates on the cloud: "Disciple will keep Master's teaching in mind and dare not commit such a mistake."
"Mm, good that you remember. Also..."
The Golden Spirit Saint Mother recalls something, speaking solemnly: "You have an older disciple brother called Yu Yuan, who was taken as my disciple over a thousand years ago. Nowadays, he is also… well… well… in any case, you should diligently cultivate on the island, and if there's anything you don't understand, just come and ask me. Definitely do not imitate him!"
The boy frowns slightly, somewhat confused, but still obediently nods: "Disciple will obey the Master's command."
The Golden Spirit Saint Mother looks through the curtain at the boy kneeling on the cloud and listening intently to her lecture, and nods in satisfaction.
"Get up, Jie Sect doesn't have so many formalities. If no outsiders are present, there's no need for such grand salutation."
"Thank you, Master."
The boy breathes a sigh of relief and stands up again, following the Treasure Car as it slowly drifts toward the Penglai Holy Realm.
As they approach the island, the Golden Spirit Saint Mother suddenly has a thought, and the Seven Fragrant Treasure Car comes to a halt once again.
"Your grandmaster has called me for something. You wait here for now, do not wander around."
The boy quickly bows: "Disciple sends Master off."
The Golden Spirit Saint Mother nods slightly, the Seven Fragrant Treasure Car instantly passes through a rainbow light and disappears into the sky.
With the Master no longer by his side, the boy standing on the cloud slowly exhales a long breath, easing much of the nervousness in his heart.
Just yesterday, he was just an ordinary Human Race boy from Chaoge City, but due to his extraordinary talent, he caught the passing Golden Spirit Saint Mother's favorable attention, and was thus brought back to the Dao Field for cultivation.
To say he wasn't nervous or scared would be impossible.
He just hopes everything the Master said is true.
The boy silently murmurs to himself, turning to survey the surrounding environment.
Rich in Spiritual Energy, with beautiful scenery, truly worthy of the Saint's Dao Field!
"Thump!"
A loud boom shattered the tranquil and peaceful world in the boy's eyes.
Following the direction of the sound, he looked ahead to the left and saw a steep cliff next to the azure waves shrouded in dust and debris, as if something heavy had just struck it.
"Boom!"
Another loud sound, from the same cliff.
Dust spread everywhere, and cracks appeared on the rocky surface of the mountain.
Driven by curiosity, the boy activated his third eye on his forehead to look in that direction, and everything near the cliff instantly came into view.
He saw a tall and bare-chested young man performing a "Barbarian Bull Charge" towards the mountain.
"Boom!"
Another loud boom, and the mountain also shook violently; the cracks on its surface becoming denser.
Yet the tall young man seemed unharmed, stepping out from the human-shaped indentations he created, which were translucent from front to back.
On the neighboring mountain, similar human-shaped indentations were not uncommon, and each of them was uniquely shaped, together creating a strangely beautiful pattern.
Perhaps noticing the boy's spying, the tall young man suddenly turned his head and glared, his gaze sharp as blades.
"Ah!"
The boy let out a scream, feeling intense pain in his third eye, as tears naturally started flowing.
"It turns out to be just a kid..."
A voice sounded, and shortly after, the boy felt someone appeared in front of him.
It was the bizarre person who had been crashing into the mountain!
Although his eyes were still painfully sore and hard to open, the boy could imagine the scene of the other standing right in front of him examining him.
What does he want to do?
The boy panicked inside. Just as he was about to introduce himself, he heard the man mumbling as if to himself, "Born with three eyes, weak breath, even the cloud he rides is borrowed... probably another Immortal Family kid from East Sea running away to seek the teachings of a Saint, huh? You second-generation immortals really don't know the dangers.
If you want to seek a Saint's teachings, why not go to Kunlun and find Chan Sect? Why seek out Jie Sect?
What's so good about this Lansong Jie Sect!
It's either a bunch of demons that don't spit out the bones they've eaten or evil spirits who slaughter countless beings for alchemy...
You second-generation immortals just happened to bump into me first; otherwise, both you and your mount would have been devoured!"
The man stated these words lightly, but they struck the boy like thunder, leaving him utterly stunned.
Could it be… Is this what Jie Sect is really like?
Suddenly, he felt air moving in front of his face, as if the man waved his hand in front of him.
Then he felt the pain in his eyes swiftly dissipate.
He slowly opened his eyes and indeed saw the tall young man standing before him.
The man wore only black trousers, his well-built upper body bare, muscles well-defined and prominent, his face chiseled, his eyes cold as stars, eyebrows arched as if painted.
What a commanding and handsome figure!
"I've healed your eye. Now hurry back where you came from. If you wander around here and get caught for alchemy, I won't help you!"
While speaking, the tall young man reached into the air and produced a thumb-thick brown cylinder, looking like it was made from dried herb leaves, skillfully tossed it into the air, caught one end in his mouth, and brought his right index and middle fingers together, a small flame appearing at the fingertips to light the other end of the cylinder.
"Hiss~"
A wisp of blue smoke rose from the lit end of the cylinder, carrying an irritating scent.
The boy instinctively frowned and took two steps back.
The smoke is poisonous!
Although the boy hadn't formally started his cultivation journey, his extensive family knowledge and outstanding talents allowed him to make this accurate judgment.
Surprisingly, the tall young man seemed to enjoy it, taking a deep inhale and then slowly exhaling.
"Hoo~"
Thick white smoke tinged with blue billowed from his nose and mouth, forming a slowly rising ring.
The boy swallowed hard, filled with shock and fear.
This man is on Penglai Island, so he must be an Inner Sect Disciple of Jie Sect.
An esteemed Inner Sect Disciple of Jie Sect emitting poisonous fumes; could it be that Jie Sect is as bad as he described?
Perhaps… I should not become his disciple after all?
"Wait… a disciple?!"
The tall young man raised an eyebrow, "What disciple are you talking about?"
Oh no!
The boy was alarmed, not expecting the other to read his thoughts.
He was clever, knowing he couldn't hide his thoughts, he simply replied honestly, "Reporting to the Immortal, my master is the Golden Spirit Saint Mother."
"Cough cough!"
The tall young man seemed to choke, coughing violently before waving his hand in the air, resulting in him wearing a light cyan cloud-patterned Daoist robe, and he spat out the brown cylinder from his mouth with a "ptui".
After composing himself, he gravely said, "Wen Zhong, fellow disciple, everything I said earlier was just to tease you. Our Jie Sect is a grand teaching led by a Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal, with over ten thousand disciples and being the largest sect in the primordial times!
And your master being a disciple under the Sage of Jie Sect, certified Daluo during the Heavenly Emperor Era!
You being able to take her as your master is your good fortune and blessings; you must not miss out!"
Wen Zhong: "..."
That change of face was too quick, wasn't it?!
Weren't you the one who just criticized Jie Sect as poor?
And how do you know my name?
Wait… fellow disciple?
Wen Zhong stared at the tall young man in front of him, a possibility suddenly dawning on him.
"Correct, I am your senior brother, a Primordial One Qi Immortal, Yu Yuan!"