Boundless Origin Expanse
As part of the starry sea domain, the vastness of Hundred Storm islands stretches across hundreds of thousands of miles.
The islands are spread accross the sea, like stars scattered across the sky, too numerous to count.
Fog Lotus Island, a medium-sized island ruled by a Foundation Establishment–level clan.
Under the Sun Clan, the island has transformed into a cultivation paradise with spirit fruits, spiritual veins, and other scarce resources spread around the island.
In one of the Immortal Peaks, there were hundreds of mortals with sparkling eyes waiting in line for examination.
Today was a day where one either leapt the dragon gate and started cultivating or was doomed for eternity.
Inside one of the formations, Sun Li was quietly admiring the complexity of the array.
He was originally a software engineer on Earth, who had transmigrated to this world five years ago.
From his initial nervousness and discomfort to now, he had completely adapted to life in the Sun Clan.
This world was filled with danger. There were demonic sects and rogue cultivator clans that wreaked havoc and looted others. Ferocious sea beasts roamed the ocean depths, whereas some ancient and mysterious races opposed the human race at every turn.
Yet, none of that mattered now.
Inside the testing grounds, spiritual energy surged gently as formation lines lit up beneath the feet of each child.
One by one, the clan elders called names. As each stepped forward, the light either dimmed or burst into different colors: green for wood affinity, red for fire, blue for water, grey for metal and yellow for gold.
"Sun Yao… inferior."
"Sun Mei… no root."
"Sun Di... decent."
The results sparked mixed reactions. Some cried from joy, others wept from despair.
Finally, a voice rang out:
"Sun Li."
He calmly stepped forward.
As his foot entered the center of the formation, a low hum echoed.
Four lights illuminated the ground with all spiritual roots except gold.
"Decent... you may go back"
The classification of spiritual roots are, five element root also called an inferior root, a four element which is decent, the third being genius. Above that were dual spirit roots and heavenly spirit roots both unheard of in the Sun clan.
The selection ended with only fifty out of five hundred children passing.
They were led through winding stone paths toward a grand ancestral building known as the Qi Tempering Hall. Inside, thick spiritual mist lingered, and shelves lined with glowing fruits and elixirs released a sweet, herbal fragrance.
Each child was handed a spirit fruit and a small jade bottle of tempering liquid.
"These will nourish your flesh and bones," an elder said. "Let your bodies slowly adapt to the presence of spiritual energy. For two years, you will train your body, eat well, and meditate. Only then will you qualify to choose a body-refining technique."
Time flowed quickly.
Two years later, on his ninth birthday, Sun Li stood again within the stone courtyard. The same elders, but this time, he wasn't the nervous boy from before.
After checking their progress, two elders led the children along a winding path until they reached a quiet, ancient building nestled between two cliffs.
With seven floors stacked like a pagoda, it towered into the mist. A wooden plaque above the door read:
"Scripture Hall."
One of the elders stepped forward and called out,
"Elder Liu, I've brought the juniors to choose their body-refining techniques."
Moments later, footsteps echoed from within, and a woman in her late forties appeared, dressed in plain but elegant robes. Her gaze swept across the children, sharp and penetrating.
"Only the first floor is open to you," she said. "Choose wisely, as it is the foundation of your strength."
Inside the first floor there were rows of books, Qi cultivation arts, movement techniques even some attack skills.
After screening through the body refining arts, Sun Li was conflicted between this three:
Iron Cloth Art – a technique that allows the user to refine their skin, at its peak the body achieves imperviousness to swords and spears
True body art - a unique body technique of the sun clan it allows the body to unlock its full potential, when the art reaches perfection it it is said to unlock the full hidden strength of the practitioner.
Nine blood transformation art - a body strengthening technique that mainly focus on blood, if one forms 3 blood essence it rejuvenates the body and it is said on perfection one can heal full body from one blood.
After deep thinking Sun li choose nine blood transformation because it had the potential of breaking through its current level, even though Iron Cloth has good defense and true body art could raise one's potential in long term, the nine blood transformation was better.
Days passed.
Then weeks.
Inside a secluded cultivation cave, his body twisted in agony as he forced the first drop of blood essence to transform.
Finally, two years later, at the age of nine—
Sun Li sat cross-legged in a meditative trance.
Suddenly, the world around him seemed to freeze.
In the corner of the chamber, a golden blur materialized, his pupils shrank.
Before him, a glowing panel slowly emerged from the void.
A soft hum rang in his mind.
He smiled coldly and muttered:
"At last... my golden finger."
A light screen hovered before him:
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[Name]: Sun Li
[Age]: 9
[Cultivation]: None
[Skill]: None
[Martial Art]: Nine Blood Transformation (First Transformation) – 1%