Great River Bank Settlement.
The inconceivably large white river stretched from beyond the Northern Border of the Western Region to beyond the South-Eastern Border.
It was vastly wide, capable of swallowing entire mountains in the violent, surging waters. The roaring current was deafening, incessant, and shook the air like thunder.
Its pale radiance was like a flawless stroke of white paint across the canvas that is the world.
Somewhere along the bank of the Great River was a large Settlement.
Its semicircular shape was pushed against the bank and divided into a myriad districts.
Yet, the most captivating sight was the five black columns, which protruded from the white waters, resembling a hand outstretched to the Starlit Sky.
The lusterless material did not degrade nor sway in the river's raging current.
On one of those black columns was a monastery dominated by black and red aesthetics, a low wall lined the perimeter, and a bridge, which seemed to have been abruptly cut off, extended from the western border of the black column.
"You will find the neighbouring Immortal Seeds quite secluded. Fortunately, your Senior Sister is quite the outgoing one."
"That's interesting to hear..."
A woman stood in the monastery's front courtyard, looking out to the west.
She wore robes of black and red. Neither the hem of her robes, nor the sleeves, nor even her hair moved in the winds.
However, that was not the case for the girl standing beside her, whose short hair waved gently.
"As I've told you, I won't be around often as you cultivate. So, try to get along with your Senior Sister. She will be responsible for passing down my Way to you."
At the same moment, the bridge, which seemed to be abruptly cut off, shone with red light.
The light extended to the west and connected to another structure similar to this black column's incomplete bridge.
But with the appearance of the red light, the bridge now seemed complete.
After the burning of an incense stick, another woman gradually came into view, walking over the red light.
Her attire was similarly black, but embroidered with more red imagery, and adorned with white and gold ornaments.
"Your disciple Jiye An greets you, Master Adamant."
Wrapping her fist in her palm, she bowed with modest grace.
"I can't remain for too much longer. As I have requested before, look after and help raise your new Junior Sister."
"Of course."
"When the date of the first summoning arrives... that will likely be the next time I will see the two of you."
"I understand. Please, do not worry, Master Adamant."
"...Do ensure that you leave the Settlement sparingly during this time."
"Will do." Jiye An bore a reassuring smile towards Immortal Adamant, who sighed with a hint of contentment in response.
Immortal Adamant then turned to the girl beside her.
"Again, I will not be around, so you must rely on your Senior Sister during my absence. Do cultivate earnestly, and achieve a great height by the arrival of the first summoning."
"..."
Having left those words behind, Immortal Adamant walked away and turned into a small storm of white wisps of wind, dispersing into the distance.
The two she left behind watched her depart, and Jiye An held a peculiar look in her eyes.
But she shook that off quickly and turned to the other girl, the peculiar light turning to one of excitement as she quietly remarked,
"I finally have a Junior Sister...!"
However, the other girl did not share that excitement, which did not bother Jiye An.
While her mind was cluttered with an unreasonable amount of excitement, she still maintained some reason and collected herself with a cough.
"As our Master had said, your Cultivation is in my hands. However, before we start, what is your name?"
"...Yue. Just Yue."
"That so? Right, Sister Yue, I'll show you around the monastery. There are a few key areas that will aid your Cultivation."
With a simple nod, Yue followed behind Jiye An as she took her within the monastery.
Past the main chamber was a hallway, decorated with plants, hung on the walls or potted and placed atop benches.
Otherwise, it seemed like an ordinary hallway.
"This room is quite small, but it holds the most valuable material. I will be retrieving some of your Cultivation material from this room, too."
Jiye An spoke as she gestured to a blank wall. Pressing her hand on the wall and waiting a breath of time, the faint outline of a door gradually revealed itself.
She only took a moment to walk in, gather three books, and some sort of ornament from within the room.
After exiting, she concealed the door again.
"These will help you achieve a stable foundation in the First Realm. I'll take you to the spot where you will spend most of your time cultivating."
Yue remained silent and nodded again.
Jiye An did not mind the silence and simply brought her junior sister along.
That also did not stop her from holding a one-sided conversation, pointing out certain rooms and amenities in the monastery.
Eventually, they would arrive at the back of the monastery, where the walls that surrounded it seemed to open towards the north.
A faint gale entered this area, playing with one's hair and robes.
"The main Cultivation method we Immortal Seeds use begins up here. As our Cultivation grows stronger, we move further down this plateau."
"We...?"
"Oh. To you, it would just be you and me. But on those other two plateaus, the Immortal Seeds there also use the same method as us."
Jiye An pointed towards two of the other black columns, which protruded from the Great River.
"The other Immortal Seeds under the other Immortals, Monolith and Blade, reside on those plateaus.
"They are the ones we will be contending against for ownership of the fourth plateau!
There was excitement in Jiye An's eyes. She turned to Yue as she calmed herself.
"What exactly is the 'first summoning'?"
Jiye An tilted her head. There was a contemplative look in her eyes, which gradually shifted to one of confusion.
"...You haven't heard it...? Ignoring whether or not Master Adamant has told you about it, even the most reclusive of Great River Bank Settlement should know of the Immortal Ascension Ceremony... But you haven't heard about it?"
"No."
"Then... you aren't from around here?"
"No... Not at all."
"That explains it. I figured that Master would have chosen you from Great River Bank Settlement, but if that isn't the case... where are you from?"
"Star Gazing Settlement."