The gates of the capital loomed high above, carved from stone that gleamed faintly in the morning sun. Leon stepped through them, his boots clacking against the cobblestones, and immediately felt the weight of the city pressing in from all sides. Streets teemed with merchants, cultivators, and travelers from every corner of the realm, their voices rising and falling in a constant hum of activity. Towering spires and intricate pagodas reached toward the sky, each inscribed with sigils that pulsed faintly with spiritual energy. Compared to the quiet fields and wooden homes of his village, the capital was a world alive with power, ambition, and danger — and Leon felt both awe and the faint tremor of uncertainty in his chest.
As he walked through the bustling streets, Leon's eyes roamed over every detail. Formation arrays shimmered faintly above shop entrances, warding off thieves or amplifying a merchant's wares. Alchemists peddled Qi pills and elixirs from polished stalls, their colorful flasks glinting in the sunlight. Groups of cultivators sparred in open courtyards, their strikes leaving afterimages of light as their spiritual power collided. Even the air seemed charged here, thick with energy that made his senses tingle. Every step reminded him that this was a world far larger and more dangerous than his village, and that to survive and carve a name for himself, he would need not only strength but cunning, skill, and patience.
Leon adjusted the strap of his travel box and moved toward the grand hall of the city's formation society, its gates etched with glowing arrays that pulsed faintly with spiritual energy. Just as he neared the entrance, a young man in a finely embroidered robe hurried toward him, eyes bright with urgency. "Excuse me!" he called, catching up to Leon. "I'm in need of a temporary steward — someone who can assist with minor formation tasks and errands. Payment is fair, and you can stay for as long as you like. Are you interested?" Leon paused, assessing the offer. It wasn't exactly the recognition he sought, but it was a foothold in the city — a chance to prove himself, even in small ways.
The young man caught Leon's hesitant gaze and hurried to explain further. "Working as a steward isn't just menial labor," he said earnestly. "It will grant you temporary clan status, allowing you to openly practice your cultivation and even participate in official tournaments. No formal registration is needed. You'll also have a place to stay, and the pay is five gold notes a day — more than many low-ranking officials earn. It's a rare opportunity for someone like you to prove your skills and build a name before making your own mark." Leon's eyes flicked over the offer, weighing the practicality against his pride. This was not the recognition he dreamed of, but it was a chance — and in the capital, opportunities like this did not come often.
Leon furrowed his brow and asked, "Why are you so eager to hire me? Surely someone else could serve just as well." The young man's eyes flickered with a hint of frustration, then he sighed and introduced himself. "My name is Kai Ava, third son of General Ava," he said. "I need a steward to help manage certain affairs and, more importantly, to watch my back while I focus on cultivation. I walk the path of swords, but unlike my older brothers, I have few friends and almost no supporters. I'm not as talented as they are, and I'm not in line for any position, so most people don't bother knowing me — it wouldn't benefit them in officialdom." He paused, then added, "This job won't be forever. Only until I break through to the Bodiless Realm and fully comprehend Sword Intent. After that… well, I can manage on my own."
Leon considered Kai's words carefully. He knew that, despite Kai's higher status, lacking supporters in a city like this was a vulnerability. After a moment, he nodded and spoke firmly, "I'll take the position — but on one condition. I will serve as Chief Steward. No extra pay is needed." He held out a hand and added, "I am Leon Kai. For now, my path lies in formations." Kai studied him for a moment, then a faint smile appeared on his face. "Chief Steward it is," he said, clapping Leon lightly on the shoulder. "Follow me — I'll take you to my residence, and we'll get started immediately." With that, Leon fell into step beside Kai, the bustling streets of the capital stretching endlessly before them and the first step of his reputation beginning to form.
As they walked through the crowded streets, Kai glanced at Leon and said thoughtfully, "You know… my first name is Kai, and your family name is Kai. That can't be a coincidence." He shook his head with a half-smile. "The way of cultivation is full of mysteries. Fate has a strange sense of humor, weaving paths that even the strongest cannot predict — and that includes the Immortals themselves. Not that they would know much about the lower realms these days. No Immortal has graced these lands in ten thousand years." Leon's brow furrowed slightly, a mixture of curiosity and unease stirring within him. Fate was already beginning to leave its mark, whether he understood it or not.
Leon furrowed his brow and asked, "Then why don't the Immortals mingle with mortals anymore? Why haven't they set foot in the lower realms in all these years?" Kai fell silent for a moment, his expression growing serious as he walked. "Over time, they realized mortals had grown too complacent, too arrogant, believing the Immortals were always there to protect them. They would provoke wars with the Titans, knowing the Immortals would intervene. Nations with Immortal ancestry conquered vast lands under that protection, growing reckless. Eventually, the balance broke: no new Immortals ascended, the growth of mortals stagnated, while the Immortal Titan population continued to swell."
He glanced at Leon, his gaze steady. "It was Lady Beatrice, wife of Sage Lord Gideon — two of the oldest and greatest Immortals, the very first among them — who convinced him to act. At that time, there was no hierarchy among the Immortals, and so he declared himself Chief Immortal. He forced all Immortals out of the lower realms and created three special domains above the original six for Immortals alone. Those who refused were destroyed — their cultivation and lineage obliterated. The Immortal Titans were barred from the mortal world, though they continue their war against the upper realm Immortals to this day. Since then, mortals have regained the path to ascension, and new Immortals arise from time to time — but once they ascend, they must move to the upper realms to continue the fight against the Immortal Titans."
Leon fell silent, letting Kai's words sink in. The depth of history, the weight of the Immortals' decisions, and the endless conflict with the Titans all pressed heavily on his mind. He could feel the magnitude of the world he had stepped into — far larger, far older, and far more dangerous than his quiet village had ever suggested. As he walked, he couldn't help but glance at Kai with a newfound respect. Not only did the young man carry the burdens of his own struggles, but he also spoke of the cultivation world with clarity and insight far beyond his years. He truly understands the paths we walk… perhaps better than most would dare to admit, Leon thought, the gears of his own ambition already turning, eager to carve his place in this vast, intricate world.
The two of them soon arrived at a sprawling residence tucked into a quieter district of the capital, its walls reinforced with minor formation arrays that glimmered faintly in the afternoon sun. Kai led Leon inside, the polished floors and orderly halls reflecting the care he put into his household despite his personal struggles. At the main hall, a small group of attendants, scholars, and minor cultivators waited, each bowing politely as the young master approached. "Leon," Kai said, gesturing toward them, "these are the staff who will be working under you. They handle household affairs, minor formation maintenance, and errands. Treat them fairly, and they will follow your lead — this is your team while you serve as Chief Steward." Leon gave a brief nod, quietly observing each face, sensing the subtle hierarchy and personalities already forming within the household.
Leon's eyes scanned the room, then he asked, "Who is in charge of the formation arrays in the residence?" A middle-aged man stepped forward, his aura calm but firm, clearly a cultivator at Fetus Realm 6. "I oversee the formations here, Master Leon," he said with a respectful bow. Leon studied the intricate patterns woven into the walls and floor, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Impressive work," he said, nodding. "But I see ways to improve it, make it more efficient and responsive." The man's eyes brightened, clearly eager to learn and adjust. Kai, having observed the exchange, gave a small nod and turned toward his cultivation chamber. "I'll leave you two to it," he said. "Learn from each other — this is your space now." With that, he disappeared into the deeper halls, leaving Leon to begin establishing his authority and testing his first skills in formation mastery.
Gon led Leon down a spiral of stairs beneath the residence, the air growing cooler and thick with the hum of spiritual energy. At the core of the formation, intricate patterns of light and sigils pulsed across the walls and floor, a subtle testament to the man's skill. "This is one of the more practical formations I've maintained," Gon explained, his voice tinged with pride. Leon studied the array carefully, then looked at Gon with steady eyes. "Before I show you how to strengthen and optimize it, you'll need to make a Cultivation Pact," he said firmly. "This will ensure the formation techniques remain secret, accessible only to those bound by the pact." Gon didn't hesitate, bowing slightly. "I understand, Master Leon. I am eager to learn, and I will honor the pact." Leon nodded, satisfied, and began teaching him the principles and refinements that would make the formation far stronger than it had ever been.
Leon and Gon worked in tandem, weaving the new patterns into the core of the formation beneath the residence. Each talisman, sigil, and energy channel was carefully adjusted, flowing in harmony with the existing arrays. When the final connection was made, the formation hummed with an entirely new rhythm, radiating energy in waves that could be felt even aboveground. Kai stepped into the hall, his eyes narrowing as he felt the subtle shift. "Huh," he muttered, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "I can feel it… not just protection. The formation's offensive capabilities are strong, and the spiritual energy it draws in… it's much easier to cultivate inside now." Leon nodded slightly, satisfied, already thinking of refinements that could push the array even further. The residence was no longer just a safe home — it had become a powerful crucible for growth, a hidden advantage that would aid him, Kai, and anyone who trained under him.