"This is your robe."
Li Chen hands me a dusk-colored robe similar to Yi Kuang's.
"Master said that in the past, other items used to be provided along with the robe and the name badge, but because of the sect's current condition, we can't provide anything… or no, wait, I almost forgot this."
As he remembers something, Li Chen suddenly takes out a blue crystal from his pocket and hands it to me.
"Take this spirit stone. It's like a small reservoir of spiritual energy, and it will help you gather spiritual energy faster than from the air, especially since this is a desolate area where spiritual energy barely exists."
I take the spirit stone, which resembles a radiant diamond, and bow toward Li Chen in gratitude.
"Thank you, senior brother."
"Oh, there's no need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, you should thank Master—he's the one who provides every disciple in the sect with a low-grade spirit stone every month."
Li Chen's face reddens, feeling embarrassed by Salem's exaggerated behavior.
"Oh, and come with me. I'll show you where your room is while explaining how to cleanse your body and form a dantian along the way."
I nod my head seriously, with a bit of excitement.
'Finally.'
As I follow Li Chen, I focus on every word he says, afraid of missing anything.
"In truth, cleansing the body and forming a dantian are merely preparatory stages for entering the path of cultivation. You must wash your body with spiritual energy to remove all impurities, then form a dantian slightly below the navel, which will allow you to gather and store spiritual energy and officially become a cultivator of the Qi Gathering Realm."
"Is that all? I just gather spiritual energy from the spirit stone? And how do I gather it in the first place? And what do you mean by the Qi Gathering Realm? What are the cultivation realms?"
Li Chen does not react to my many questions with annoyance; instead, he begins explaining with some enthusiasm.
"The method of gathering spiritual energy is very simple. All you need to do is focus your mind on spiritual energy, and you'll feel the ability to move it. Well, actually, it's hard to explain the process—it would be better for you to try it yourself. As for the cultivation realms…"
"Cultivation realms are an officially recognized classification used by cultivators to divide the different steps and stages of cultivation. I don't know all the cultivation realms; I only know the first three stages, which are Qi Gathering, Qi Condensation, and Foundation Building."
"Qi Gathering is the stage where a cultivator gathers spiritual energy from the world, which cultivators call 'Qi,' although I've heard from Master that there are other races and different arts that call spiritual energy by different names."
"As for Qi Condensation, it is the stage where the cultivator must condense their Qi in preparation for building their foundation. As for Foundation Building, I don't know anything about it, because Master told me he would explain it to me when I reach the peak of Qi Condensation. Oh, I forgot to tell you—there are small realms within the greater realms, which are divided according to the cultivator's achievements within the greater realm itself. For example, in Qi Gathering, one's level is measured by how much Qi they can gather and store: early Qi Gathering, then middle, then late, and finally peak."
So far, everything seems like any traditional xianxia novel, which only increases my excitement about exploring this world further.
'I feel more and more like the protagonist of a xianxia novel—only missing the discovery of a hidden jewel containing the spirit of an immortal fairy who lost her body a million years ago or something like that.'
"Oh, we've arrived."
Lost in my random thoughts, I didn't notice that we had arrived at what looks like a residential complex within the sect building, with dozens of doors lined up facing one another.
"Since only you and I live here for the most part, you can choose whichever room you like. And although I want to continue talking with you, I need to return to cultivation. However, you can look for me or for Master if you run into any problems while trying to cleanse your body."
"Thank you, senior brother. Your explanation helped me more than you can imagine."
"You're embarrassing me."
I sigh in relief as I watch Li Chen leave, and at last I have time to clear my mind and review the information I obtained after the series of shocking events.
I enter the nearest room, which turns out to be an empty room filled with dust, but I don't care. I lean against a corner of the wooden wall while reviewing what happened and thinking about the chaotic events I got caught up in.
I can't help but feel a sense of surreality as I recall a strange old man appearing out of nowhere and dragging me to a ruined sect to join it out of the blue.
"Hah, damn it… I feel like the protagonist of a third-rate xianxia work."
"By comparison, this world is truly strange—it resembles the cultivation stories popular on Earth to an extreme degree. Even spirit stones themselves exist."
I look at the spirit stone in my hand as I realize how strange this world is.
When I used to read reincarnation and otherworld-transmigration stories, I never focused on these details, but now, when I find myself transported to a world identical to cultivation novels, I can't help but feel that something is wrong.
"If another world exists, shouldn't it at least be different from some fantasy stories on Earth? Or am I inside one of the xianxia novels I used to read, and because I'm in a ruined sect at the edge of the world and know nothing about the major sects and the like, I just haven't noticed it? Or is the origin of cultivation stories someone who transferred from this world to Earth?"
"Damn it, all I have are meaningless theories. Focusing on cultivation and becoming stronger in order to explore the world will be more useful."
Thinking this, I tightly squeeze the spirit stone in my hand and feel my lips curl into an excited smile.
After all, who hasn't ever imagined obtaining supernatural power and living for thousands of years?
"Today, my legendary path of ascension begins."