In the restaurant of Qingyun Town, the aroma of wine mingled with the fragrance of dishes, drifting through the air. Dozens of young men and women sat together, their faces bearing both anticipation for the future and reluctance at parting. The Spiritual Root Awakening Ceremony had just concluded, and they were about to step onto the path of immortality, heading to their respective sects for cultivation.
In a corner of the restaurant, several elders from Qingyun Academy conversed in low voices, their gazes occasionally sweeping toward Yuyi.
"This child's spiritual root may not be outstanding, but his temperament is steady. Perhaps he can travel further on the path of cultivation," an elder said softly.
"A pity he is too withdrawn, not skilled at socializing," another shook his head and sighed.
Yuyi sat in the corner, silently sipping his tea. His frame was slender, his features refined, yet his eyes held an indifference inconsistent with his age. Beside him, Lingxiao was patting his shoulder, his voice resonant: "Yuyi, when you reach Xuantian Sect, you must actively use the Sound Transmission Jade Talisman to contact us! Don't always go about alone—we brothers cannot lose touch!"
"I understand," Yuyi responded indifferently, his gaze directed out the window.
Lingxiao shook his head helplessly, turning to Liuchen on the other side: "Liuchen, when you reach Xuesha Sect, don't forget the friendship of Qingyun Academy."
Liuchen nodded, a trace of reluctance flashing in his eyes: "Lingxiao, when you reach Tianjian Sect, take care as well. I hear Tianjian Sect's cultivation methods are extremely domineering—don't push yourself too hard."
"Rest assured!" Lingxiao laughed boldly. "I, Lingxiao, was born for cultivation. A mere Tianjian Sect cannot trouble me!"
Yuyi listened to their conversation, his heart undisturbed. He had been a withdrawn child since youth; at Qingyun Academy, apart from Lingxiao and Liuchen, he had almost no other friends. Lingxiao was warm and straightforward, always actively looking after him, yet he always passively accepted, never actively responding to this friendship.
Lingxiao sighed, pulling a jade talisman from his robes and pressing it into Yuyi's hand: "I specially bought this Sound Transmission Jade Talisman—it already has my aura imprinted. When you reach Xuantian Sect, just infuse spiritual power to contact me. Remember, you must actively contact me!"
Yuyi held the jade talisman, feeling its warm, smooth texture, and something stirred within him. He looked up at Lingxiao, seeing the concern filling the other's eyes, and finally nodded: "Alright."
Lingxiao smiled with satisfaction, raising his wine cup: "Come, let us brothers drink this cup. May we all make our mark in the cultivation world!"
Liuchen also raised his wine cup. Yuyi hesitated for a moment, but ultimately raised his teacup. The three cups met; wine and tea swirled within, reflecting their youthful faces.
Outside the restaurant, the setting sun dyed Qingyun Town in golden light.
---
The next morning, on the plaza outside Qingyun Town, dozens of young men and women stood in neat formation, awaiting the arrival of the sect recruitment envoys. The air carried a faint trace of spiritual energy, invigorating their spirits.
Suddenly, the sound of something piercing the sky came from above. Everyone looked up to see several streaks of sword light breaking through the clouds, flying toward the plaza. The sword light dispersed, revealing several cultivators in daoist robes, their feet upon flying swords, suspended in mid-air with extraordinary presence.
"Xuantian Sect recruitment envoy has arrived!" a cultivator announced loudly.
Yuyi looked up to see a middle-aged daoist descend from his flying sword, walking steadily toward the group. The daoist had a lean face, bright piercing eyes, and exuded a faint fluctuation of spiritual power.
"I am the Xuantian Sect recruitment envoy, my daoist title is Qingfeng," the daoist surveyed the crowd. "Today, I will guide you to Xuantian Sect. Xuantian Sect is a major sect in the Nine Provinces Cultivation World with strict rules. After you join, I hope you will cultivate diligently."
Having spoken, Qingfeng the Daoist waved his hand, and dozens of sets of coarse daoist robes and ordinary iron swords appeared before everyone.
"These are entry-level dharma artifacts. Keep them safe. After joining, the sect will teach you the basic mental method incantations."
Yuyi stepped forward to take a set of daoist robes and an ordinary iron sword. The robes were rough, the sword heavy—far from the immortal treasures he had imagined. Yet he was not disappointed, for he knew the path of cultivation was one of progressing from mortal to immortal, step by step.
Seeing that everyone had stored their artifacts, Qingfeng the Daoist rose upon his sword and announced: "Follow me!"
Everyone hurried to follow. Though they had just awakened their spiritual roots and had not yet cultivated, unable to fly upon swords, Qingfeng the Daoist led the way, spiritual energy lifting them so they too could fly through the air.
Flying over mountain ranges, finally, a majestic peak appeared before their eyes. The peak pierced the clouds, sword energy crisscrossing its surface, with countless disciples flying upon swords, weaving between the peaks.
"This is Xuantian Sect's Sword Peak," Qingfeng the Daoist introduced. "Sword Peak is one of Xuantian Sect's seven peaks, specializing in sword dao cultivation. After joining, you will be assigned to cultivate at Sword Peak."
Yuyi gazed at Sword Peak, a surge of ambition rising in his heart. Though withdrawn, he had an inexplicable yearning for the way of the sword. He gripped the ordinary iron sword tightly, silently resolving to make his mark in sword dao.
After landing, Qingfeng the Daoist led everyone to Sword Peak's main hall. Inside, a white-haired elder sat upon the high seat, emanating powerful spiritual energy fluctuations.
"This is the Sword Peak Elder. Your cultivation after joining will be guided by the Elder," Qingfeng the Daoist said, then withdrew to the side.
The elder opened his eyes, his gaze like lightning sweeping across the group, his voice deep: "Since you have entered Sword Peak, you must abide by its rules. Cultivating sword dao requires unwavering determination and fearlessness in the face of hardship. Sword Peak does not keep idle people—anyone who slackens in cultivation will face severe punishment."
Everyone hurriedly assented.
The elder nodded and began teaching the basic mental method incantations: "The Xuantian Basic Breathing Technique is the entry-level mental method. You must meditate and practice breathing exercises daily, comprehending the mental method to improve your cultivation base. Remember, the path of cultivation requires gradual progress—do not be impatient for quick success."
Yuyi silently memorized the mental method incantations, pondering them in his heart. Though he had just joined, he could sense the profound mysteries contained within the incantations.
After teaching the mental method, the elder dismissed everyone. As Yuyi walked out of the main hall, he felt the Sound Transmission Jade Talisman in his robes grow warm. He took out the talisman, infused it with spiritual power, and Lingxiao's voice came through.
"Yuyi! Have you arrived at Xuantian Sect? I've already reached Tianjian Sect! This place is huge! How is it on your end? Reply quickly!"
Yuyi listened to Lingxiao's excited voice, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, but quickly returning to indifference. Just as he was about to cut off the transmission, Lingxiao's voice came through again.
"By the way, Liuchen has also arrived at Xuesha Sect. Though the three of us have been assigned to different sects, we must keep in touch! Yuyi, don't go about alone like before—remember to actively contact us!"
Yuyi fell silent for a moment, then ultimately cut off the transmission without replying. He knew Lingxiao would be angry, but he truly was not skilled at actively contacting others.
As expected, the Sound Transmission Jade Talisman grew warm again, Lingxiao's voice coming through: "Yuyi! You cut off the transmission again! What is wrong with you!"
Yuyi paid no heed, storing the Sound Transmission Jade Talisman away, walking alone toward the back mountain of Sword Peak. He needed to find a quiet place to begin cultivating.
The back mountain mine was where Sword Peak disciples mined for cultivation. Yuyi chose mining as his sect mission—it could earn spirit stones while tempering his temperament. He picked up a mining pick and began to dig.
Three months—a full three months. Yuyi mined every day, his hands wearing into blisters that hardened into calluses. He never complained, nor did he communicate with others, simply mining and cultivating in silence. In these three months, he gradually adapted to cultivation life, and gradually understood the cruelty of the cultivation world. Realms required day-by-day accumulation; techniques required comprehension; upon falling, one's cultivation base would regress and dharma artifacts would be lost.
In these three months, he discovered a mysterious young woman. Her frame was slender, her features refined, yet she mined with determination. She always wore a simple daoist robe, her long hair simply tied back, her movements efficient and focused. She never communicated with him, but the two silently competed against each other. When Yuyi mined quickly, the young woman mined faster; when Yuyi mined more, the young woman mined even more. The two never spoke a single word to each other, yet each other's presence became motivation for the other to advance.
Yuyi gazed at the young woman's back, a sense of inexplicable familiarity rising in his heart. He did not know who the young woman was, but he could feel that this young woman might become an important presence on his path of cultivation.
As the sun set, ore glimmered in the mine. Yuyi and the young woman each mined in silence, their shadows stretching long in the fading light. This was the beginning of their cultivation journey.