As the crowd dispersed and the grand gathering came to an end, each chosen participant began to leave the grand plaza and return to their own home.
But what stirred murmurs among the children and their guardians was the starter benefit package. It varied depending on the disciple's path.
Some children gasped in awe as they received spiritual beast eggs resting in warm incubation boxes. Others trembled with excitement at high-grade cultivation manuals sealed with protective runes. A few—those selected by alchemy or support sects—received shining bottles of rare elixirs, pills said to increase lifespan or strength.
Li Qingyun's package from the Sky-Reaching Sword Sect came in a rectangular black-lacquered box. When he opened it beneath the shade of a maple tree with his parents beside him, three items gleamed softly inside. They did not stayed there and did not divulged to others what he received.
_______
When they arrived home that day, the sun had already begun its descent. Golden rays stretched across the tiled rooftops of the Li Estate, painting every stone and tree in hues of amber and peace. But inside Li Qingyun's mind, there was only quiet movement — gears turning, decisions forming.
Li Qingyun then took out the sect initiation gift he had received and then examined them carefully.
—A pristine, sky-blue flying sword – Lightweight, its surface engraved with flowing cloud patterns. It thrummed faintly with a dormant formation. A scroll accompanied it: Cloudveil Flight Method – Beginner's Manual for Sword Control.
—A silver-edged talisman – For emergency use. It could shield the bearer from a single Nascent Soul attack or below.
—A refined Qi Condensation Pill – Warm and fragrant, enough to clear a path to the next stage. Only applicable to those who are in Qi gathering realm.
Unlike the wild excitement of his peers earlier, Li Qingyun regarded these treasures with calm gratitude. He ran his finger along the scroll's edge and smiled faintly.
"A sword sect that teaches how to fly with swords. Seems fitting," he murmured.
But more than that, the scroll contained deeper notes — not only for flight, but for remote sword control. As he skimmed its early instructions, realization sparked in his eyes.
"Not just for the flying sword. This… could even apply to Shadowfang."
A new possibility entered his mind.
____
That evening, the quiet was comforting. The courtyard was bathed in the soft flicker of lanterns. His parents sat with him as the breeze rustled through their family's bamboo garden.
Li Qingyun looked up from the token he had received from Sky-Reaching Sword Sect and finally asked the question that had nestled quietly in his heart for days.
"Father… you're a Golden Core cultivator. Mother's an alchemist. We have our own cultivation grounds, a spirit vein, and even some pills. Why… why do I have to go to a sect?"
His voice wasn't rebellious. Just curious. Quiet. Thoughtful.
Li Tianyang looked at his son for a long time. Then he sighed, resting his teacup down gently, as though his next words carried weight even the porcelain could feel.
"Because what we have… is enough for a solid foundation. But not enough to stand at the peak."
He gestured toward the sky, toward the unseen mountains where the great sects rested.
"Sects aren't just groups of cultivators. They're legacies. They have scriptures refined over millennia, mentors who've seen a thousand talents bloom and die, secret realms, ancient artifacts, formations that bend reality. Alone, even geniuses can become lost. In a sect, your path is clearer, and more demanding. But far more rewarding."
Li Qingyun didn't reply. But he looked back down at the sword token in his hand.
Then nodded.
______
Later that night, Li Qingyun sat cross-legged in his training chamber, eyes closed, system interface open within his mind.
[System Interface]
[Host:] Li Qingyun
[Realm:] Qi Gathering Realm (8th Stage)
[Physique:] Primal Chaos Vessel Physique
[Slots:]
Slot 1: Jade Body Tempering Scripture — Transcendent stage (Passive: Unshakable Core)
Slot 2: Ninefold Essence Sutra — Perfect (Transcendent locked – requires 500 points.)
Slot 3: *Locked (Requires 100 points to unlock.)
[Techniques]: Jade Body Tempering Scripture — Transcendent stage
Ninefold Essence Sutra — Perfect
Voidcleave Sword Manual — Perfect (Sword Intent: Advancing Edge)
Phantom Step Art — Perfect
[Bound Weapon:] Shadowfang – Spirit Grade
[Weapon Traits:] Adaptive resonance, enhances Sword Intent, evolves with usage
[Energy:] 0 Points
As he trained, he could feel it clearly now — the Jade Body Tempering Scripture no longer improved. No matter how he pushed his energy, the cultivation path it offered had grown silent.
"It's reached its true limit… Transcendent must be the cap for this technique," he realized.
After a moment's silence, he took a deep breath — and with a thought, released it.
[Jade Body Tempering Scripture has been removed from Slot 1.]
A second later, he moved the Voidcleave Sword Manual into the first slot.
[Voidcleave Sword Manual placed into Slot 1.]
[Stage:] Perfect → Cultivation initiated.(Transcendent stage locked →requires 300 points to unlock).
Even though system notified him that he will need 300 points to reach transcendent stage in voidcleave sword manual. He could feel the connection between his will and Shadowfang deepening, his Sword Intent sharpening with every heartbeat.
He opened his storage ring and looked over what remained: old spirit tools, half-broken formations, mid-grade herbs with no clear purpose, talismans he had outgrown.
He hesitated.
Not because of greed.
But because these items once represented options. Just in case. What if he needed them? What if something came up?
But then he looked around. His room. The house. The warmth of family.
And smiled faintly.
"If I ever need something again… I'll just ask."
A Flashback_____
Just hours earlier, upon returning home, he had gone to his room to sort the herbs he had gathered over the past weeks. After carefully dividing them, he walked to the alchemy courtyard where his mother, Lin Meiyu, was tending to her furnace.
"Mother," he called, "I have something you might find useful."
He offered her a neatly arranged bundle. The moment her eyes landed on the contents, they widened with surprise.
"Qingyun…" she breathed, fingers moving reverently over the stalks and leaves. "This is Nine-Bloom Spirit Grass, and these ones… this is Soulroot Orchid, Moondew Clover, Starlight Rain Lotus. These are not common herbs. Where did you find these?"
"From the forest in the secret realm," he replied." The secret realm was not only a test site but it was also brimming with opportunities and I brought every herb I came across."
She looked at him, eyes glimmering with pride — and something else too, a trace of melancholy perhaps, she thoughts that Li Qingyun must have suffered so much to bring these herbs from many dangerous areas in secret realm.
If the other participants heard her thoughts, they will roll their eyes and tell her that, why not ask your son about who suffered.
"These… can be used in high-purity stabilizing pills. Soulroot Orchid alone enhances spiritual awareness. The Nine-Bloom will help strengthen body cultivation pills. With the right base, I might be able to concoct something that even helps your father…"
Her words trailed off as she smiled and gently touched his shoulder.
Flashback Ends.
______
With firm conviction, he initiated the energy charge.
Item after item disintegrated into light before his mind's eye—drawn into the system like falling embers. A pulse of golden light resonated within him with each successful absorption.
Minutes passed. Then a soft tone echoed in his mind.
[Charging complete.]
[Energy:] 345 Points
He exhaled slowly.
Everything he'd saved until now — everything he'd deemed "maybe useful" — was gone. Not because he was wasteful, but because he was ready to advance.
And yet… he didn't feel empty.
He felt lighter. Focused.
"One step closer," he whispered.
Tomorrow, he would train with the flying sword, practice the sword control method, and begin preparing for the journey to the Sky-Reaching Sword Sect.
But tonight, he would return to the courtyard.
He would sit with his parents again, listen to their laughter, and memorize the warmth of their presence.
Because no matter how bright the stars above the sect shone—
Nothing ever truly replaced home.