This sect was far larger and more imposing than even the famed Mount Sect.
At that moment, the Sect Leader personally led Shi Wanyuan to a certain place.
> "This will be where you'll live from now on," the Sect Leader said.
Shi Wanyuan replied calmly,
> "Yes."
The Sect Leader then pointed to a tall, strong-looking man beside him.
> "Good. This is your senior martial brother, Shi Lu. If you need anything, tell him. Shi Lu, take care of him properly."
Shi Lu bowed respectfully.
> "Yes, Sect Leader. I'll arrange a place for the junior disciple to live."
> "Good," the leader said before leaving.
Once the Sect Leader was gone, Shi Lu turned to him.
> "You must be Shi Wanyuan. Follow me. I'll arrange your quarters. Later, just call me Brother Shi."
Shi Wanyuan nodded,
> "Yes. My name is Shi Wanyuan. You can just call me Wanyuan."
Shi Lu then led him to one of the sect's buildings.
> "This is the disciples' quarters. It's not considered the top sect in the world, but even the inner disciples here live comfortably like this."
He explained the sect's rules as they walked.
> "The sect's rules are simple. Every morning, you must train in the Grand Pressure Hall. The spiritual pressure there is extremely strong and divided into six levels. Level Six is for the top elite disciples. You'll be training at Level One for now. That's all. If you need anything, come find me."
> "Yes," Wanyuan replied.
After arranging his room, Shi Wanyuan wandered around the sect.
> "This sect is truly enormous," he thought.
> 'I need to find a quiet cave to cultivate. Within these 100 years, I must reach the pinnacle of the Undying Soul Realm.'
Eventually, he climbed to a nearby mountain and dug out a cave to begin cultivating.
> 'The spiritual energy here is dense. Perfect for training.'
He carved out the cave, sat cross-legged, and began meditating.
For thirty years, he cultivated without pause. At the end of that time, a light burst forth from his eyes.
> 'I've reached the peak of the Undying Soul Realm.'
The cave he had built was already starting to collapse after three decades. When he emerged, the mountain around him looked different—completely changed.
> 'Is this… still the Kingdom of Jian?'
He tried to return to the sect, but when he asked for directions, he learned something shocking—the sect had long been destroyed. The entire Kingdom of Jian itself had been conquered and annexed by a neighboring nation.
> 'Fate is truly unpredictable…'
Over those decades, Shi Wanyuan hadn't just cultivated; he had also mastered a special storm-transformation technique.
This technique could temporarily raise his power level but had one major drawback:
After one day, his body would revert to the state of an ordinary human.
> 'I can't use this technique carelessly. Unless it's a matter of life and death… I need another way. Perhaps… an auction.'
With that thought, he set out toward the city.
---
The capital was bustling. It was a grand city where ordinary people were treated fairly, but cultivators' levels were tightly regulated. Those who resisted these rules would face death unless they left the city.
He approached a young man nearby.
> "When's the auction being held?"
The man thought for a moment before replying,
> "In three months."
Shi Wanyuan decided to stay and wait.
> "Hello. I'd like to rent a room," he told the innkeeper with a polite smile.
After renting a room, he strolled through the night market, searching for useful ancient items.
At one stall, an old, faded hairpin caught his eye.
> "How much is this?" he asked the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper, friendly and eager to sell, replied,
> "Thirty spirit stones."
Although the hairpin looked worn out, Shi Wanyuan sensed hidden energy flowing within it. He handed over the thirty spirit stones without hesitation and took the hairpin.
As he walked away, he chuckled quietly.
> "Hehehe… The shopkeeper doesn't even know what this truly is. I got lucky today."
Back in his room, he studied the hairpin for a week, eventually bonding with it. He discovered its secret — the hairpin could absorb spiritual energy.
Two months passed quickly. The day of the auction arrived, and the city was livelier than ever.
A man wearing purple robes walked onto the stage.
> "Ladies and gentlemen, I am today's host — the Purple Elder. I'll be leading today's grand auction."
> "No need for lengthy rules. It's the same as always. Anyone who releases their spiritual power will be expelled immediately."
> "Then… let the auction officially begin!"