It had taken Jalen five days to reach the border of the sealed state—a feat that would've taken most cultivators below his realm at least a week, if not two. He made stops along the way—not just for rest, but to observe, to breathe, to feel the land beneath his feet. He wasn't rushing. He was listening.
Now, standing at the edge of the veil, he felt it.
A surge of energy so dense, so overwhelming, it could crush even him if he dared to force his way through. The barrier shimmered like a living wall, woven from ancient qi threads and sealed by laws he didn't yet understand.
But what struck him most was the richness of the qi beyond it—especially the light qi. It was pure, radiant, and vast. His Luminal Heart pulsed in response. His second spirit core stirred. And the Origin Shard vibrated with hunger.
Yet the shard offered no solution. If it knew how to breach the veil, it would have done so already.
So Jalen studied the barrier, tracing its structure with spirit sense, searching for a pattern.
That's when seven figures descended from the sky.
They were radiant.
White-blond hair. White eyes. Dark skin that shimmered faintly with light qi. They looked no older than seventeen, but their life force told a different story—each one a Peak Sage Realm cultivator. Elders of the Light Clan. The oldest and most respected lineage in the state of SunRay—one of the ten great states on the Rale continent, bordering the sealed territory.
SunRay was a land of ten cities and countless towns, all steeped in light cultivation. One city in particular, Sunlight City, was home to the revered Light Sect.
Jalen had chosen this region for a reason. His light physique and Luminal Heart resonated with the qi here. It felt like home.
The seven elders landed gracefully, robes fluttering like sunlit silk. They greeted Jalen with respectful nods.
Jalen returned the gesture, bowing slightly. Though they were in the same realm, he was still their junior—and he honored that.
"What can I do for you, seniors?" he asked calmly.
One of them, a woman with a voice like wind over glass, stepped forward. "We see you've come to breach the sealed state," she said. Her name was Luminous. "But you won't be able to force your way in. Not even a Sky Limit Realm cultivator can pierce this border. It was created by someone realms above."
Jalen's eyes narrowed. Realms above Sky Limit?
He had never heard of such a thing. Sky Limit was the summit. The unreachable peak. But now, a new possibility had been named—and left unexplained.
He didn't press. Not yet. But he would learn.
"I assume you didn't come just to tell me that," Jalen said.
Another elder stepped forward—Zohar. His gaze was steady, his aura calm. "We're curious about you," he said plainly. "Not just because of your rare light physique. But because your light qi is not only strong but pure than any we have seen. And we want to know why."
Jalen respected the honesty. "You don't think I'm going to tell a group of strangers that, do you?"
"We never expected you to," Zohar replied. "No one in the cultivation world spills their secrets. But that doesn't stop us from being curious. And just so you know we're not here to steal treasures."
"That never crossed my mind, senior," Jalen said. "I figured the Light Clan—if that's who you are—was a group of pacifists."
"Is that what the younger generation says about us now?" Luminous asked, amused. "Because we stay out of worldly affairs and refrain from violence?"
"Are you saying the rumors are false?" Jalen asked.
"Oh, they're true," Zohar said. "But that doesn't mean we'll stand still and be walked over. Anyway, we're not here to debate Light Sect morals. We're here for you."
"And what if I refuse to go with you?"
"Then it is what it is," said another elder, Radar. "As my brother Zohar said, we're just curious. As you probably already know, we're the only clan of pure light cultivators in this world. We also have the strongest light qi cultivators alive. So imagine our surprise when we sensed someone with purer light qi on our territory. And he's no older than twenty-one at that. You're either a miracle—or you've had encounters in realms where time moves differently."
Jalen didn't confirm or deny it.
"Why don't you two stop bombarding the young man?" said another elder—Radiance, her tone gentler. She turned to Jalen. "We'd like to invite you to our clan."
"I'm not a pacifist," Jalen said. "And I believe in violence when necessary. Are you sure you want to invite me?"
"You're mistaken," Radiance smiled. "I'm not inviting you to be a member, although we wouldn't have any issue with that. We want you as a guest. I'm sure our patriarch would love to meet you."
"You sure this isn't a trap to get me to let my guard down?"
"You're one suspicious brat, aren't you?" Zohar laughed. "But don't worry. We wouldn't use underhanded tactics. We only attack those who threaten us."
"Are you saying I'm not a threat?"
"Are you coming or not?" Radar asked.
Jalen paused. "I'll be honest—I'm curious about what the Light Sect is all about. But I'm not interested in joining. I'm more interested in getting into the sealed state."
"And what if we can help you with that?" Radiance asked.
"Can you?" Jalen's brow arched. "I thought you said no one could get inside."
"I said no one can pierce the border," Luminous clarified. "But it's not impossible to enter. Getting out, however, is another matter."
"So if I come with you, will you tell me how to get in?" Jalen asked.
"Sure."
Jalen nodded. "Alright. Lead the way."
The seven cultivators turned and flew off.
Jalen followed.