The full moon shone like a silver eye over the quiet woodlands bordering Azure Mist Prefecture. Crickets chirped in rhythm with the rustling of leaves, and the world seemed at peace. But beneath the stillness, Li Tianming sat by a stream, cross-legged, eyes closed, and bathed in faint spiritual light.
His breathing was steady, slow but powerful. Each inhale pulled spiritual essence from the air, compressing it within his dantian, forming denser qi than any ordinary cultivator could manage at his level.
> [Auto-Cultivation Active: Progress +12% | Qi Condensation Stage 2 → Stage 3]
[Estimated Breakthrough in 5 hours]
In his hand lay a Spirit Nourishing Pill, glimmering faintly with blue energy. A treasure many would kill to obtain. But he held it with calm reverence.
Not yet, he thought. Not until I reach the gate of the sect.
Li Tianming had learned discipline the hard way. A single mistake in cultivation could cripple one's foundation, and now that he had the System to aid him, he wanted perfection.
As he opened his eyes, a subtle presence stirred behind him.
He didn't turn.
"I sensed you ten steps ago," he said softly. "No killing intent, no malice—just curiosity."
A gentle laugh responded, melodic and feminine.
"Well said. I had hoped you wouldn't disappoint."
Li Tianming turned and was immediately struck by the sight of a woman—tall, elegant, and dangerous in a way he couldn't explain. She wore sky-blue robes with silver lining, and a jade pendant shimmered at her chest. A long silver sword hung at her side.
Her hair, bound loosely, flowed like moonlight down her back. And her eyes—cold, sharp, yet amused—studied him.
"I am Xu Qingyue, inner disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect," she said with a polite bow. "I've come… on invitation."
Li Tianming stood, his posture respectful but not subservient. "Why me?"
She smiled faintly. "A divine pulse shook the heavens ten days ago. A golden light descended upon Spirit Pine Hill. Since then, the stars have twisted slightly in alignment. We studied the signs. All paths led to you."
"So Heaven marks me as important?"
"Or dangerous," she said flatly. "You have no known lineage. No recorded root. Yet you rise in power faster than any normal cultivator. You defeated six men in seconds. That is… not normal."
Li Tianming considered her words. She wasn't wrong.
"What do you want from me?"
Xu Qingyue extended her hand. In her palm rested a glowing azure token, engraved with the character for Cloud (云).
"Come to Azure Cloud Sect. We will test you. If you pass, you will become an outer disciple. From there, your path is yours to carve. Reject it… and others may not be so generous when they find you."
Li Tianming reached forward and took the token.
"I accept."
---
Three Days Later — Azure Cloud Sect
The journey was long, but the token sped his passage. Along the path, sentinels bowed or let him pass unquestioned, sensing the aura that accompanied the token. And when the mountains came into view—massive, mist-covered peaks that pierced the sky—Li Tianming understood.
This was no simple sect.
This was a kingdom among the clouds.
Floating platforms hovered between peaks. Waterfalls cascaded upward. Sword beams crisscrossed the air like dragons in flight. Cultivators flew with swords under their feet or beasts under their command. The scent of herbs, metal, and incense filled the air.
As he stepped into the main square, hundreds of others stood in line, wearing plain clothes and holding hopeful expressions. A great recruitment day.
Xu Qingyue appeared again, this time flanked by another woman—a striking beauty with violet eyes and a small smile, her presence commanding attention.
"This is Elder Mei, the one overseeing this year's testing," Xu Qingyue introduced.
Elder Mei's gaze pierced into him like needles. "So this is the prodigy?"
Li Tianming bowed. "No, Elder. Just a seeker of the path."
Her eyes gleamed with interest. "You'll begin with the spiritual root assessment, like the others."
Li Tianming walked calmly toward the glowing mirror in the center of the testing arena. Dozens of youths had already failed, their images dim or cracked.
He placed his hand on the surface.
A moment passed.
Then—
BOOM!
The mirror glowed violently. Colors swirled in patterns never seen before. Gold, crimson, violet, black. Then, as quickly as it came, the mirror shattered into pieces.
Silence fell over the courtyard.
Even Elder Mei stood, eyes narrowed.
"No reading…?" one elder whispered. "How is that possible?"
"Was it an illusion technique?"
"No," Xu Qingyue said softly, lips parting in astonishment. "It means… the mirror cannot measure him."
Elder Mei stepped down and faced him directly. "Explain."
Li Tianming shrugged slightly. "I was told I had no spiritual root. Perhaps I still don't."
Murmurs erupted again.
Elder Mei stared at him for a long moment. "Very well. We move to the second test. Combat."
She waved her hand, and a ring of blue light formed around a battle platform.
"You will fight three disciples in succession. Win all three, and you will be accepted directly as an inner disciple."
This caused gasps. Normally, even prodigies began as outer disciples.
"First opponent—Zhao Ren, Qi Condensation Stage 3!"
A wiry youth stepped into the ring, eyes filled with smug disdain. "Trash like you shouldn't even—"
He didn't finish.
Li Tianming stepped forward and slapped him across the face with spiritual force—so hard the boy spun three times before landing outside the ring.
"…Winner, Li Tianming."
Second opponent. Stage 4. A sword cultivator.
He tried to go for speed. Tianming went for control. He parried, dodged, then landed a blow to the stomach that sent the youth crashing.
Third opponent—Qi Condensation Stage 5, and muscular. A hammer user.
This one lasted longer. He roared, summoned a spiritual hammer, and brought it down like thunder.
Li Tianming gritted his teeth.
> [System Activation: Sword Technique – Heaven Piercing Sword: Form 2 – Phantom Spiral]
He twisted, blade moving like a dragon through clouds, and shattered the hammer at the head. The explosion knocked the opponent out cold.
The crowd erupted.
Elder Mei exhaled. "Accepted. Inner disciple. Immediately."
Xu Qingyue stepped forward, handing him a new robe—blue with silver trim—and a jade badge.
"Welcome," she said. "To Azure Cloud Sect."
---
Later That Night – Inner Sect Quarters
Li Tianming sat cross-legged in his assigned room, eyes closed.
> [Congratulations! Host has completed Quest: Join a Sect]
[Reward: +500 EXP, Combat Talent Analysis unlocked]
[Bonus: Inner Disciple Title Acquired – Cultivation Speed +5%]
[System Level: 2]
---
System Perks Unlocked:
– Combat Talent Analysis
– Sparring Replay Memory
– Sect Contribution Tracker
---
Li Tianming opened his eyes, overwhelmed. The path forward had shifted again.
He was no longer an orphan hiding in a forest.
He was now a rising star in a sect of elites.
But he knew this was only the beginning.
For above the Azure Cloud Sect… were greater sects, hidden realms, and immortal clans who played games on a cosmic board.
And somewhere among them… were the answers to his origin.
---
Far away, in a hidden palace beneath the Sea of Stars…
A figure cloaked in golden light stared at a celestial mirror. It showed Li Tianming accepting the jade badge.
A second figure joined him.
"He has begun."
"Yes," said the golden man. "The Heavenly Dao has chosen… but we must find out why. And what he will become."
---
[End of Chapter 3]