The next morning, Yuan Chen woke early, as usual.
He stretched briefly, letting the warmth of the bed and the gentle presence of Little White and Little Red beside him settle in. He stood and adjusted his coat and mask, the weight of the day ahead hanging on him.
With a final glance around the room, he stepped outside, finding the city streets already bustling with life. Merchants were shouting their prices, street vendors called out their offerings, and cultivators were moving quickly through the crowds, no doubt on their way to some task. This world, while familiar, was still strange to him.
As Yuan Chen walked, his sharp ears caught the faintest conversation from the side of the road. A mother and daughter sat under a tree, the mother holding a bundle of steamed buns.
The little girl looked up at her mother, eyes filled with hunger. "Mom, I'm hungry," she said softly.
The mother smiled warmly, her face tired but gentle. She reached into her bag and pulled out two buns, the steam rising off them, almost glowing in the morning sunlight.
"I'll make sure you're full," the mother said in a soothing voice.
The little girl's eyes widened, her hands reaching out eagerly for the buns.
But just as the child's hand moved toward the buns, Yuan Chen froze.
His heavy eyes scanned the scene, and with a slight motion, he activated a subtle bit of cultivation to pause time, allowing him to look deeper.
He focused on the buns and immediately recognized the poison mixed into them. It wasn't much—just enough to slowly weaken the mother and daughter over time—but it was there.
Then, his attention shifted to the mother.
With his enhanced vision, Yuan Chen could see the woman's frail condition. She was suffering from a serious illness—something that had been left untreated for far too long. Time was running out for her, and the fact that she had chosen to poison herself and her daughter spoke volumes about her situation.
She wants to die with her daughter. She doesn't want her to suffer alone in this cruel world.
Yuan Chen felt his heart soften. It was a difficult, heartbreaking choice for the mother. He knew what it was like to care for someone so deeply, to give everything without hesitation.
He couldn't let it happen.
Without further thought, Yuan Chen stepped forward, breaking the time-stopped moment and using his Chaos Dao power to cure the mother's illness instantly. He also threw out a healing elixir, stabilizing the woman's condition and ensuring her recovery.
The woman gasped, a faint color returning to her face as the poison's effects reversed. The daughter blinked in confusion but felt the difference in her mother almost immediately.
The mother looked up at Yuan Chen with wide, grateful eyes, tears welling up. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, she collapsed to her knees in thanks.
"Thank you, Immortal," she said, bowing deeply.
"Thank you for your grace."
Yuan Chen hesitated, watching the woman's kowtow as she pressed her forehead to the ground. The gratitude in her voice was palpable, and he couldn't help but feel the weight of her words.
But Yuan Chen stepped back, his expression impassive. In his previous world, girls and women were highly respected, their lives valued, but this—this was a stranger to him.
He didn't owe her anything more than what he had already given.
Little White and Little Red sat at his side, the former's ears twitching and the latter's feathers ruffling in response to the emotion of the scene. Yuan Chen turned slightly, feeling a slight twinge in his chest, but he brushed it off.
He side-stepped around the mother, who was still in a low bow, and placed a few spirit stones on the ground near them, followed by a small divine consciousness imprint that would activate in moments of peril. This would protect them if danger ever came their way.
He didn't speak. It wasn't his place to comfort them further.
Without another glance, he continued on his way, his footsteps echoing lightly on the cobblestones. The scene behind him grew distant as he moved forward—leaving the mother and daughter behind with their newfound chance at life.
As he made his way toward the martial arts tournament grounds, Yuan Chen remained quiet, his mind already focusing on the challenges ahead.
When he reached the arena, he noticed that there were already four people waiting, and five more were on their way,
Without hesitation, he stepped forward.
After two hours of intense competition, the final ten were selected.
Five from the royal family.
Four from the major clans.
And Yuan Chen—an unknown outsider.
As the everyone gathered, the elders from the Qing Royal Dynasty observed with interest but said little.
The same elderly cultivator who had greeted them earlier spoke up.
"It's time to depart for the Taixu Sword Sect," he announced with a wave of his hand.
"Gather your things. We leave in the morning."
Yuan Chen made his way onto the ship that had been summoned by the elder, his gaze sweeping over the ship.
He hadn't expected the luxurious travel method—flying ships were standard among the most powerful sects. But as he stood on the deck of the ship, feeling the wind ruffle his coat, he remembered his earlier thought.
I'll ask my mother about it later.
With everyone gathered, the ship slowly lifted off the ground, the city below shrinking into the distance.
The flying ship cut through the air, its majestic wings gliding smoothly across the skies. Yuan Chen stood at the deck, his gaze fixed on the world below as it slowly shrank into the distance. The city he had left behind became a tiny speck on the horizon, swallowed up by the vastness of the world.
It was a new experience—flying on a ship like this. He had never been on anything like it before in this world, and the novelty of it caught him off guard. The wind ruffled his hair and coat, a gentle breeze mixing with the hum of the ship's movement.
Curiosity getting the best of him, Yuan Chen pulled out his phone, the device's screen lighting up in his hands. He snapped a few pictures of the stunning landscape—the endless mountains, the clouds floating like wisps, and the vast sea stretching far below.
Once he finished, he stared at the pictures for a moment, admiring the view. He chuckled quietly to himself.
It's a pity there's no internet here, he thought, otherwise, these pics would get hundreds of thousands of likes easily.
He shook his head, chuckling again at the thought, before tucking the phone away.
Focus, Yuan Chen. There's no time for that.
He turned his attention inward, recalling the Taixu Sword Sect and what awaited him there.
His voice rang out in his mind.
"System, what do I need to do at Taixu Sword Sect?"
The system's voice responded, a bit too casually.
"Well, it's a bit long, so I hope you don't get too angry."
"First, you need to enter the Taixu Sword Sect and participate in the discipline recruitment exam. Then, the elders will randomly choose disciples. You'll just have to pick any peak. Honestly, law can't bind us, so there's no need to be picky."
Yuan Chen's face darkened slightly. Randomly choose?
"After that," the system continued nonchalantly, "in a few months, there will be an inner sect exam. The top ten will be chosen to enter the Taixu Secret Realm."
Yuan Chen's expression hardened. The Taixu Secret Realm? That didn't sound like something to take lightly. It seemed like a huge opportunity, but also a potential trap.
"But don't worry," the system added quickly. "In between, you can complete side tasks or choices. That should make things a little more interesting for you."
Yuan Chen sighed inwardly.
So many tasks and options…
He rested for the remainder of the flight, the ship continuing its smooth course.
The next day—as the flying ship neared its destination—a massive island came into view.
Yuan Chen stood again at the deck, his eyes widening slightly as he saw nine massive swords hovering in the air, each one glowing with celestial light. Their auras were imposing, yet strangely beautiful, filling the sky with a soft yet powerful energy.
No wonder they're ranked so high, Yuan Chen thought with a hint of surprise. They've truly earned their place.
As they approached the island, Yuan Chen noticed there were many other flying ships on their way, heading toward the same destination.
The elder's voice rang out from behind him.
"We're about to land. Once we arrive, you'll be on your own for the rest of the way. Get ready."
Yuan Chen nodded, not reacting outwardly but feeling a slight tension in his chest. This was the Taixu Sword Sect, and this was where his real journey began. The path ahead was uncertain, but it was his choice now to walk it.
The ship touched down gently on the ground, and Yuan Chen stepped off onto the solid earth, his boots making a soft sound against the ground.
The first thing he noticed was the sheer size of everything.
There were millions of people scattered across the vast grounds. Practitioners, cultivators, and students from various regions stood in organized groups, awaiting the tests that would determine their fate.
Impressive, Yuan Chen thought, his gaze sweeping across the scene.
He could feel the weight of his smallness among so many. Even for someone like him, who had lived through unimaginable experiences, the sight of so many gathered here made his heart race slightly.
But only inwardly. On the outside, Yuan Chen remained calm, collected, and silent.
The arena stretched ahead, filled with eager participants.
"What a grand show," Yuan Chen muttered under his breath. So many cultivators, so many hungry eyes, ready to fight for their place.
But his thoughts were clear. I'm just a boy among giants. I can't let myself get lost in the crowd.
As the crowd began to gather and form lines, a loud voice boomed across the arena.
"Listen well!"
Yuan Chen's focus shifted. A strong figure, an elder in full ceremonial robes, stepped forward. His presence was undeniable, like a force of nature.
"There are three tests to enter the Taixu Sword Sect," the elder announced.
He raised his hand.
"First—you must withstand the pressure from the elders."
"Second—you will be tested on your bone age."
"Third—the Heavenly Ladder will test your cultivation and endurance."
The crowd buzzed with excitement as the elder continued.
"The top 1000 will enter the Inner Gate."
"The next 10,000 will be accepted into the Outer Gates."
"The next 100,000 will be accepted as Mortal Disciples."
Yuan Chen's eyes gleamed with determination.
As the elder's voice echoed through the air, he could feel the weight of the trials ahead.
He was just one of many—a speck in the vast sea of cultivators. But no matter how large the ocean was, the ripple from his actions would echo.