Stonewind City in Uproar
The events at Cloudmist Crane Inn had become legend overnight.
By morning, Zhao Tian's name was on every tongue from rogue cultivators to noodle stall aunties, from brothel madams to outer sect disciples.
"Did you hear? That rogue cultivator flattened a Core Formation disciple like he was a spirit chicken drumstick!" "They say he summoned a Dharma Body taller than a building!" "No no, you got it wrong—he used a sword that cut space itself!" "He refused to give his name! That's the sign of a hidden expert!" "I heard he's actually the love child of a Nascent Soul Empress and a sword spirit."
Zhao Tian was sitting on a rooftop, eating steamed buns and listening to the gossip like it was live entertainment.
"Wow. I didn't even need to hire bards."
He popped a bun in his mouth and admired the city skyline.
Sects Come Knocking
Not long after sunrise, Zhao Tian was bombarded by visitors.
Not one. Not two. But SEVEN sects came knocking with recruitment offers.
Scene: The Parade of Desperation
A sect elder with white robes:
"Fellow Daoist! Join the Jade Mist Sect and you'll get your own mountain! Free spirit herbs every month! We'll even throw in three concub...cough, I mean, cultivation partners!"
A thin elder from the Azure Monkey School:
"We offer… uhh… free bananas? And… a core disciple token?"
A disciple from the Twin Blade Sect, sweating bullets:
"We don't have much but… we can let you skip chores?"
Zhao Tian sat in a bamboo chair like an emperor, sipping tea and playing with a talisman.
"Look, I appreciate the offers, really. But I'm a man of culture. A man of… freedom."
"Freedom?" echoed the Jade Mist elder.
Zhao Tian nodded sagely. "Yes. Freedom to get hit by stronger people and grow stronger. Do your sects offer that?"
They blinked. "…What?"
He stood up. "Exactly."
Then turned and left dramatically, his cloak fluttering in the wind. (He didn't even wear a cloak before, but he manifested one using spiritual energy. Because dramatic exits require proper fashion.)
Dao Seeker Pavilion
Zhao Tian arrived at Dao Seeker Pavilion, a famed scholarly hall known for its archives of cultivation techniques, maps, and historical records.
A huge signboard read:
"KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. BUT POWER IS BETTER."
—Sage Bing Bing, Pavilion Founder
He liked this place already.
Inside, rows of ancient scrolls, glowing jade slips, and cultivators in reading robes filled the halls. Scholars floated on clouds made of spirit qi as they browsed floating bookshelves.
Zhao Tian approached the counter.
"Yo. I'd like to know about cultivation realms beyond Core Formation. Also, can I get a world map? And oh, where's Scarlet Lotus Sect located? And the Nine Heavenly Sects? Preferably on a nice map I can use for plotting revenge—err, academic interest."
The librarian blinked. "That's a lot, Senior…"
Zhao Tian tossed a bag of spirit stones on the desk. "That's why I'm paying you in advance."
Learning the World, Xianxia Style
Zhao Tian sat at a jade table as a holographic spirit scroll unfolded before him. A bespectacled pavilion attendant started explaining in a reverent tone.
Cultivation Realms Beyond Core Formation:
1. Nascent Soul Realm – where your soul condenses into a tiny version of yourself that floats around and occasionally stares dramatically at the moon.
2. Soul Transformation Realm – where that tiny version of you levels up and begins shouting at lightning.
3. Void Tribulation Realm – where the heavens throw everything at you: fire, swords, taxes, heartbreak.
4. Half-Immortal Realm – just one step away from true immortality. Also known as "Elders Who Think They Know Everything" Realm.
5. Profound Immortal Realm – where you become so powerful your sneeze opens spatial rifts and your tea becomes Dao-infused and you might ascend.
Geography of the World:
Central Continent – location of the Nine Heavenly Sects, ruled by immortal patriarchs. Entry forbidden unless you're powerful, suicidal, or both.
Eastern Territories – home of the Ten Earthly Sects, including the Scarlet Lotus Sect.
Southern Wilds – full of beast tribes and wandering daoists who think clothes are optional.
Western Deserts – endless sand, ancient ruins, and cactus demons.
Northern Icelands – cold enough to freeze your soul. Also good for making frozen spirit fish.
Scarlet Lotus Sect Location:
"They're based in the Blazing Ember Mountains, just at the edge of the Eastern Territories," said the librarian. "Why do you ask, Senior?"
Zhao Tian smiled. "I owe someone a dental bill."
Zhao Tian's Inner Monologue (Comedic Gold)
Zhao Tian leaned back, stroking an invisible beard.
"So… the Nine Heavenly Sects are ruled by Half-Immortals or stronger…"
"Meaning if one of their sect masters so much as flicks me…"
"BOOM! I become a Profound Immortal instantly!"
"Then I can just slap everyone and ascend!"
He began giggling to himself in the corner of the pavilion.
A scholar passing by paused. "Is he… okay?"
Another replied, "That's the guy who beat a Core Formation disciple with a smile. Let him laugh."
Training? Nope. Strategy? Kinda.
Normal cultivators would plan months in advance before challenging a stronger realm.
Zhao Tian? He just walked around hoping to get hit.
But only by the right people.
"So Foundation Establishment? Meh."
"Core Formation? Been there."
"Nascent Soul? Maybe next Tuesday."
"Half-Immortal? Jackpot."
He even wrote it in his notebook:
Get punched by Half-Immortal.
???
Profit.
He looked at the world map again.
"So if I head east, I reach Scarlet Lotus territory. That idiot Lu Fan probably went crying to his sect by now. Might be some Nascent Soul elders mad at me. Which means…"
He smiled slowly.
"Time to get promoted."
News Travels Fast
Outside the Dao Seeker Pavilion, rumors kept spreading:
"Zhao Tian rejected SEVEN sects!"
"He's on a journey to become the next Sword Immortal!"
"He laughed for five minutes straight in the pavilion. That must be a secret cultivation technique!"
"He's headed to the Scarlet Lotus Sect ALONE!"
Some called him brave. Others, mad.
But all agreed on one thing.
Zhao Tian was a storm brewing.
Ending Scene: Dramatic (but Silly) Monologue
As the sun set, Zhao Tian stood atop a hill outside the city.
His Void Sword on his back. His robe fluttering.
He looked at the map.
"Nine Heavenly Sects… one day, your Half-Immortal sect masters will descend from the clouds to kill me."
"And when they do…"
"I'll ascend with a smile!"
He turned to walk away.
Paused.
Looked back.
"Wait. Do I even need to fight them? Can't I just provoke them until they slap me?"
He laughed. "This system is so broken or the is author spoiling me rotten."