| The Birth of Cultivation and the Transformation of Society |
Through their discovery from Qing Yun, the practice of cultivation began to spread. Humans quickly realized that by harnessing spiritual energy (qi) through meditation and martial arts, they could enhance both their physical and mental abilities. This newfound power held the potential for immortality or godlike strength. It was a revelation that marked the dawn of a new era, where cultivation became the central pursuit of human life.
Initially, the cultivation process was a closely guarded secret, passed down only through select sages, shamans, or mystics who acted as the first cultivators. These early practitioners helped build the foundation of a society where strength, wisdom, and spiritual cultivation defined an individual's status. Over time, cultivation spread, leading to the emergence of a more structured system.
As cultivation knowledge continued to spread, people began forming sects and schools dedicated to specific cultivation paths. These sects became the dominant forces in the world, each focusing on different aspects of cultivation—martial arts, alchemy, artifact forging, spiritual healing, and more. As competition for resources such as spiritual herbs, sacred sites, and sect wars arose. Each sect sought to control the flow of qi and dominate the cultivation world.
Societies within these sects became organized into strict hierarchies. Cultivation itself was divided into levels, such as foundation realm, core realm, nascent soul realm, and beyond. The life of a cultivator became defined by the continuous pursuit of these breakthroughs, with each level unlocking new abilities, such as manipulating elements, controlling beasts, or even bending the laws of reality.
The gap between mortal beings and cultivators grew wider. While cultivators transcended the limits of normal human existence, achieving longevity, extraordinary abilities, and near-immortal lifespans, mortals remained bound to the cycle of life and death. This created a hierarchical society where mortals served as laborers, craftsmen, or cultivators-in-training, while the elite cultivators held political and economic power. This divide led to resentment and rebellion in some places, as mortals longed for the power and immortality enjoyed by cultivators. However, over the years, the perception of cultivators towards mortals began to change as they discovered that mortals could also cultivate.
As cultivation became more widespread, the need for laws, codes, and philosophical systems to govern it also grew. One of the proposals and standards established to determine whether someone was an ordinary cultivator involved assessing their spiritual root, bone marrow, and bloodline. To do this, they used the Stellic Stone of Ascendancy to evaluate cultivators.
---Stellic Stone of Ascendancy: It can assess an individual's spiritual root, bone marrow, and bloodline by simply placing their hand on the stone's surface. The stone then releases a cascade of starlight, enveloping the individual in a gentle, warm glow.---
In this era, cultivation was an evolving process. Mortals might begin by practicing the most rudimentary forms of cultivation, but over time, their spiritual practices would lead to significant physical and mental changes. These changes might not be immediately noticeable, but over generations, the bloodlines of cultivators evolved to reflect their deepening connection to the natural world, spirit, and elements.
Certain individuals underwent energy-infusing rituals where the essence of the earth, stars, or spiritual energy was directly infused into their bodies. This process resulted in bloodlines attuned to particular energies, allowing their descendants to cultivate in ways others could not.
Various sects developed different doctrines and approaches to cultivation. Some focused on martial cultivation, where power was gained through battle and conflict. Others emphasized mental and spiritual cultivation, with enlightenment and inner peace as the primary goals. This diversity of paths included sword cultivation, forging cultivation, and alchemist cultivation. The philosophy behind cultivation often stressed the importance of balance, aiming to align one's cultivation with the natural world, the heavens, or even the Dao (the Way).
Many cultivators sought to break free from the mortal realm and ascend to higher planes of existence. This quest for immortality and transcendence has become the ultimate goal for many. Cultivators who reached the peak of their potential were said to ascend to the heavens, becoming immortals or gods. These ascended beings often left the mortal realm behind, but their influence remained through their disciples, artifacts, and the teachings they left behind.
| The Great Sect Wars and the Era of Forbidden Techniques |
After 10,000 years of discovery, powerful sects and clans began to form, each developing unique cultivation techniques and philosophies. The pursuit of spiritual energy (qi) resources, such as mystical herbs and sacred lands, led to intense rivalries and eventually open warfare between these sects. The Great Sect Wars were characterized by massive battles involving thousands of cultivators, with each faction vying for supremacy.
In the quest for greater power, some cultivators delved into forbidden techniques that promised immense strength but came at a great cost. These dark arts often involved the manipulation of souls, blood sacrifices, and demonic pacts. The use of such techniques led to internal strife within sects and sparked conflicts between those who embraced the dark arts and those who sought to preserve traditional cultivation methods.
| The Modern Era of Cultivation |
In the present day, the cultivation world is a complex tapestry of powerful sects, ancient grudges, and ongoing quests for power. The conflicts of the past have left a legacy of both progress and destruction, shaping the lives of cultivators and mortals alike. While the pursuit of immortality remains a driving force, the lessons learned from history continue to influence the balance between ambition and harmony.
Cultivators now navigate a world where alliances are fragile and the pursuit of power is tempered by the need for wisdom and caution. The history of conflicts serves as a reminder of the dangers that come with great power, guiding the actions of those who seek to transcend their mortal limits and achieve true enlightenment.
...
Madara was interrupted from his reading when he heard the old man call him in a soft voice.
"Young man, the library is about to close, so you need to return that book."
Hearing this, he quickly glanced at the window nearby and noticed that it was already getting dark outside. He immediately stood up from his seat and returned the book he had taken from the bookshelf.
Afterward, he approached the desk where the old man was seated to retrieve his sect talisman token, then left the library and made his way to his room. As he walked, he took in his surroundings—the serene environment and the towering buildings that made up their sect. He couldn't help but murmur, "Lantian World."
After a few minutes of walking, Madara returned to his room. Once inside, he quickly began preparing his dinner. After finishing his meal, he began practicing the techniques he had chosen within his inner realm. Satisfied with his progress, he decided to test them out in his room. The next morning, he resumed his swordplay training before heading to the pagoda, where they had discussed cultivation the day before.
Upon arriving, he found many disciples already seated, so he entered. After a few more minutes, everyone had gathered, and their elder sect, Xu Feng, entered. After exchanging greetings, the elder began to speak.
"Who among you possesses the Qi Absorption technique?"
Almost all of the disciples raised their hands, prompting the elder to speak again. To save time, he directed them to a guide where they could find Elder Sect. Meng Qi. Afterward, the disciples left the pagoda to visit the mentioned elder.
Once everyone had left, Madara looked around and noticed that only about 15 of them remained. His attention shifted when their elder began to speak again.
"Now, let's begin." The elder started explaining the importance of the Qi Absorption technique.
"This technique allows you to absorb and refine the natural energy, or Qi, from your surroundings. By drawing Qi into your body and storing it in your dantian, you enhance your internal energy. This accelerates your cultivation, strengthens your abilities, and enables you to break through bottlenecks."
Afterward, the elder took out 15 books from his storage ring, simultaneously sending them into the air with his Qi to distribute them to the disciples. When Madara received his book, the title read "Yin-Yang Qi Absorption Technique."
---Yin-Yang Qi Absorption Technique: is a fundamental cultivation method designed for beginners to harmonize their internal energies. Practitioners use this technique to absorb and refine qi from their surroundings, balancing the opposing forces of Yin (dark, passive energy) and Yang (light, active energy).---
After reading and understanding the content of the book, they were guided by their elder on how to properly execute the procedure.
"Sit in a meditative posture and focus your mind on your dantian, the energy center located in your lower abdomen. You will feel a faint glow emanating from this point, signaling the beginning of the qi absorption process. Draw in Yin energy from your surroundings, visualizing it as a gentle, flowing dark blue or black mist that moves gracefully through your meridians, bringing a sense of calm and tranquility. At the same time, absorb Yang energy, which appears as a vibrant, golden or white light, flowing through your meridians with invigorating warmth."
...
As this happened, Madara noticed that his dantian began to glow as the Yin and Yang energies intertwined, forming a swirling pattern of light and dark, reminiscent of the Taijitu symbol.
...
"Focus on maintaining a perfect balance, ensuring that neither energy overwhelms the other. This dynamic harmony creates a pulsating, radiant glow within your dantian. As you refine the mingling energies through focused breathing and mental discipline, impurities are purged, and the qi becomes a powerful, balanced source of energy circulating smoothly throughout your body."
As a result, a faint, shifting interplay of dark and light hues surrounded each disciple. As the technique progressed, a soft glow began to emanate from their skin, particularly at key energy points like their hands, forehead, and chest, signaling the flow of Yin and Yang energies within. During the intense absorption phases, they noticed small, visible wisps of dark and light energy swirling around them, giving them an ethereal, almost mystical appearance.
"Upon achieving a balanced state, you will radiate an aura of profound calm and equilibrium. The external glow stabilizes into a steady, harmonious blend of light and dark, reflecting the internal balance of your Yin and Yang energies."
Once they completed the technique, many disciples felt a profound sense of satisfaction and marveled at the sensations they had experienced. Even Madara couldn't help but notice that his qi absorption had become noticeably faster using this technique, far more efficient than his usual (normal) method.
Afterward, Elder Xu Feng instructed them to proceed toward Elder Sect Meng Qi.
...
When they arrived at one of the pagodas, they found their fellow disciples already inside, inspecting the pills and medicinal herbs spread across the tables, as if they were conducting some sort of test. As they were doing this, a woman approached them.
"You're the remaining disciples of Elder Xu Feng, correct?" she asked.
They all nodded, and the woman introduced herself with a smile. "I am Elder Sect Meng Qi. But you can call me Big Sister Meng Qi or simply Sister Meng Qi—I don't like being called Elder; it makes me feel so old, haha."
"Come, let's—" she was suddenly interrupted as the ground began to shake beneath them.
"Sister Meng Qi, what's happening?" the other disciples asked in alarm.
"An artifact is emerging..." Meng Qi replied, her tone serious.