The faint mist of dawn coiled along Azure Veil Peak, softening the jagged cliffs into clouds of silver.
Beneath the crystalline sky, two figures sat within the quiet of a bamboo pavilion — one serene as still water, the other humble and uncertain.
Before Li Shen, steam rose gently from a cup of Verdant Spirit Tea, its aroma calming, yet invigorating. Across from him sat Elder Zhang Rui, his gaze distant, eyes reflecting the golden hues of sunrise and the weight of centuries.
After a long, contemplative silence, Elder Zhang began to speak.
"The World Does Not End with Our Walls."
"Li Shen," he said, his tone steady but resonant, "you have now stepped into the gates of cultivation. But to truly walk the Dao, one must see beyond the narrow valleys of one's sect."
He lifted his teacup slightly, the faint swirl of tea reflecting shimmering Qi.
"Our Verdant Cloud Sect stands upon the Celestial Verdura Continent, a land divided into five vast regions. We reside within the Emerald Sky Dominion, a realm blessed with life, forests, and spiritual rivers that run for ten thousand li. But remember this — though we call it Dominion, it is but one corner of the world."
His eyes glimmered with faint pride.
"Within the Emerald Sky Dominion, our Verdant Cloud Sect is the sole Tier III Sect — a title that can only be earned, never claimed. To become Tier III, a sect must possess at least one Dual Harmony Realm expert, an unbroken heritage spanning a thousand years, and a Dao lineage recognized by Heaven's laws itself."
Li Shen bowed slightly. "Master, then… how many can claim such heights?"
"Few," Zhang Rui replied. "In the Emerald Sky Dominion, only we have earned that right. Beneath us stand five Tier II Sects, thirteen Tier I Sects, and countless lesser factions struggling for survival."
He extended his hand, and with a flick of his sleeve, luminous spiritual energy gathered in the air — forming a vast illusionary map. Mountains rose, rivers flowed, and the silhouettes of sects, cities, and territories shimmered like living constellations.
The Sects of the Emerald Sky Dominion
Elder Zhang's voice carried the rhythm of a storyteller, the tone of one who had seen generations bloom and fade.
"Listen carefully, Li Shen. For though sects rise and fall, names etched in the scrolls of time endure."
Tier II Sects
Crimson Star Pavilion – Forgers of the blazing Dao, their flame never dies. They temper not only steel but the will of their disciples.Silver Frost Valley – Sword cultivators who wield frost and silence; their blades sing only once — when it is time to kill.Golden Meridian Sect – Practitioners of body refinement who temper their meridians until they shimmer like molten gold.Azure Wind Hall – Masters of movement and assassination, swift as lightning and unseen as the breeze.Celestial Sound Temple – Cultivators of harmony and sound Qi; their chants can shatter illusion or soothe the maddened heart.
Tier I Sects
Among them: Ironwood Forge Sect, Thousand Petal Garden, Sky River Sect, Earth Dome Sanctuary, White Crane Monastery, Shadow Mist Hall, Vermilion Feather Sect, Burning Blade Pavilion, Misty Orchid Sect, Stone Mirror Sect, Rainflow Valley, Sunfire Gate, and Iron Root Sect.
"These are the children of our Dominion," Zhang Rui said softly. "Each walks a different Dao — flame, frost, steel, water, illusion — but few truly understand the path beyond power."
The Clans That Rival the Sects
Elder Zhang brushed his sleeve again. A series of crests appeared in the glowing air: a phoenix, a lotus, a dragon, a lake of stars.
"In addition to the sects, there are four clans whose bloodlines carry power equal to the heavens. They are not bound by sect hierarchy, for their strength lies in the purity of their lineage."
The Bai Clan of Frost Plains – Their bloodline carries the mark of ice; their progenitors were born beneath a frozen star.The Zhao Clan of Skyreach City – Masters of trade, politics, and influence. Even sects borrow from their coffers.The Lu Clan of Crimson Dunes – Fire-walkers of the desert whose blood burns hotter than molten sand.The Qin Clan of Star Lake – Ancient array masters whose formations defend entire cities.The Long Clan of Verdant Ridge – The Ancient Clan, said to bear faint traces of true dragon lineage. Their Patriarch once faced our Sect Master in combat and lived to tell the tale."
Li Shen bowed respectfully. "Their might must be vast, Master."
Elder Zhang smiled faintly. "Indeed. Yet, their path is bound by blood. When the blood weakens, their strength withers. A sect, however, lives on through comprehension. The Dao can be inherited by any who understand it — blood, however noble, cannot escape decay."
The Nations of the Mortal Domain
Zhang Rui turned his gaze toward the south, where faint golden light crept across the peaks.
"Now, Li Shen," he said with solemnity, "beyond the sects and clans, there are also three nations that stand as the pillars of the mortal world. Do not mistake them for ordinary kingdoms — their foundations are steeped in cultivation as deep as any sect."
He waved his sleeve again, and the illusion shimmered to reveal sprawling empires, fortresses, and armies glowing faintly with Qi.
The Empire of Xuande — The Heavenly Furnace
The largest of the three. Their emperor, Xuande Tianlong, is rumored to have stepped into the Core Refinement Realm and governs the empire through the flow of its national Qi.
Their soldiers cultivate Iron Blood Arts, fusing discipline and spiritual strength. Each general commands legions of cultivator-knights, forming battle formations that can rival even Core Realm elders.
Their empire's cities are arranged as vast arrays, drawing Qi from the land to strengthen their armies.
"They are iron and order," Elder Zhang said. "A nation that forges men into weapons."
The Kingdom of Linhai — The Jade Scholars
Linhai's strength lies in wisdom. Their rulers cultivate the Dao of Governance, harmonizing mortal prosperity with spiritual balance. Their scholars are not mere mortals — many are Qi Refinement or Qi Gathering cultivators who channel spiritual energy through calligraphy and mathematics.
The Linhai Emperor is known as Sage-King Wen, who cultivates through enlightenment and philosophy, merging mortal logic with heavenly law.
"Their armies fight not with brute force," Zhang Rui noted, "but with formation masters, spell weavers, and talisman arrays that shift battlefields like rivers change course."
The Dominion of Kaoru — The Spear of Dawn
A warrior nation founded by wandering cultivators. Its Emperor, Kaoru Renzai, is a late Core Realm martialist, and his generals are peerless fighters who believe strength alone brings peace.
Their armies cultivate through the Heavenly Spear Sutra, and each elite soldier is trained to channel Qi through their weapon.
"They are fierce, unyielding," Elder Zhang said, eyes narrowing slightly. "Their emperors cultivate the empire's Qi itself, binding their souls to their people. Should the nation prosper, the Emperor's strength grows. But should it fall — so too will his spirit scatter."
Elder Zhang set down his cup, the faint sound of porcelain touching jade echoing softly.
"The three nations exist as pillars of mortal order. Yet they are not beneath us, Li Shen. A Tier II sect may wield spiritual might, but these nations cultivate the very essence of civilization. Their soldiers are countless, their formations vast, their emperors bound to the will of millions. They govern mortals — and through mortals, they feed upon faith."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"They and we — sects and empires — walk different Daos. We seek enlightenment; they seek endurance."
Li Shen's brows furrowed slightly. "Then, Master, are we enemies?"
Zhang Rui chuckled, a faint warmth breaking the stillness.
"Enemies? Not yet. Allies? Rarely. We coexist — they govern the ground, and we guard the skies. When beasts invade, when heaven's wrath descends, our sects defend the lands they till. In return, their emperors supply mortals to our ranks, ores to our forges, and knowledge to our halls. It is a dance of necessity."
The Boundary of Beasts and Men
Zhang Rui turned his gaze northward, where the map darkened into a void of forests and mountains.
"But remember this, Li Shen," he said gravely. "Only thirty percent of this continent belongs to humankind. The rest — seventy percent — is the domain of the demonic beasts."
The golden light dimmed as crimson motes filled the illusion — vast territories swarming with shadowed forms.
"These creatures are not all mindless. At low levels, they are beasts — raw, hungry, driven by instinct. But once they reach the Core Formation Realm and beyond, they awaken spiritual wisdom, and their intelligence rivals our own."
Li Shen's eyes widened slightly. "Then… are there beast cultivators, Master?"
"There are," Zhang Rui replied. "Some cultivate their bloodline, others absorb elemental Qi. The strongest even take human form. What separates us from them are not our hearts, but our fortresses, our walls, and our strength."
He let the silence settle.
"Humans survive because we build — because we unify. Beasts, though intelligent, war amongst themselves endlessly. Their clans rise and fall as swiftly as the wind. It is their chaos that gives us time to breathe."
Li Shen's expression grew solemn, awe flickering in his eyes. The enormity of the world — sects, nations, beasts, clans — pressed upon his heart like an unseen mountain.
The Five Regions of the Celestial Verdura Continent
Finally, Elder Zhang lifted his hand one last time, and the map expanded until it spanned the entire pavilion sky.
Emerald Sky Dominion – A region of balance and abundance; seat of the Verdant Cloud Sect.Crimson Sun Barrens – A wasteland of molten rivers and desert storms, where fire sects and beast tribes clash eternally.Azure Frost Reach – Frozen expanse of endless snowfields and icy mountains. Cultivators of ice dwell here, their hearts as cold as their Qi.Obsidian Abyss – A labyrinth of caverns and shadows, home to demonic sects, forbidden arts, and creatures that feed upon spirit.Golden Plains of Dawn – Fertile and vast, cradle of mortal kingdoms, and battlefield of countless wars.
Zhang Rui slowly closed his hand, and the map dispersed into countless specks of light that dissolved into the air.
The Lesson Beneath the Sky
"Li Shen," he said softly, "remember what I tell you now: cultivation is not merely about strength. It is about awareness. You must understand where you stand in this vast tapestry."
He gazed out at the horizon — the mist thinning into gold, the sun rising from behind the peaks.
"The heavens are immeasurable, the Dao boundless. Whether sect or nation, beast or mortal, all are but ripples upon the river of existence. To walk the Dao… is to perceive all ripples as one."
Li Shen bowed deeply, voice quiet but resolute.
"This disciple will remember."
Elder Zhang smiled faintly, the wind stirring his sleeves.
"Good. For knowing the world is the first step to surpassing it."