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The cart rumbled on, endless and slow. In her lap, a book opened new worlds, and the young girl sought to know the secrets of medicine.
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The large eagle continued flying, wings slicing through the crisp morning air as they followed the river northward. The wind roared in Long Tianyu's ears. The river below glittered under the faint light of dawn, bending and twisting like a blue serpent across the fertile lands.
Small boats floated along its surface, some carrying fishermen casting nets, others loaded with goods bound for nearby villages or Moondragon City. Along the riverbanks, smoke rose from humble chimneys, and farmers worked the early soil, their fields bursting with lush greenery. The land here was rich and alive, nourished by the river that flowed endlessly toward the great lake ahead.
Long Tianyu held tightly to the eagle's reins. The beast beneath him was larger than a house. There was a small compartment strapped on the eagle, where he had tucked away the Shadow Pulse Twinswords. They rested quietly, sheathed in plain leather scabbards that looked ordinary.
He still didn't know what they were made of, so he would try his best to find out at the sect, only then would he feel safe to use them. Maybe they were just made of an ordinary ore for cultivators? Long Tianyu thought.
The eagle flew on. After a few hours, the river widened, spreading out into a great expanse of calm water that seemed to stretch endlessly across the land. The sect members called it Dragon Lake, vast, shimmering, and eerily silent. There were few boats here, and the air carried an odd stillness.
Mu Qian, who sat on the lead eagle, turned slightly and shouted back over the wind. "If you ever to go Dragon Lake, you have to be careful. There are demonic beasts beneath, though they rarely go down the river for some reason."
Long Tianyu looked down. The lake's surface reflected the dawn like a sheet of glass, but beneath it, faint shadows moved. He remembered what Mu Qian had said earlier, that while beasts from the lake rarely traveled down the river, the waters hid creatures of all kinds.
As the hours passed, the first light of the rising sun painted the horizon. The sky turned crimson and gold, streaked with faint hints of purple. Clouds floated like drifting islands, their edges touched by light. The air grew warmer, softer, brushing gently against Long Tianyu's face.
The others, less experienced in cultivation, were faring worse. Some of the new disciples clung to the eagles, trembling from the fierce wind and thin air. Long Tianyu knew from before that only him and Mu Qian had reached the Elementary Qi Stage.
Mu Qian sat upright at the front, his robes fluttering behind him. His voice continued across the wind again. "If there is anything you wish to know, ask now. I know not all of you come from great clans." His gaze lingered briefly on Xie Wuji, whose family name carried a certain weight, another Xie member... "I'll answer what I can."
Long Tianyu raised his hand. "Senior Brother Mu, can you tell us more about the world… and about the Golden Windblade Sect?"
Mu Qian almost lost his balance. He turned back, eyebrows raised. "You? You're asking that?"
A few chuckles came from the other disciples. It wasn't meant mockingly, more out of surprise. The strongest among them, the one who had displayed the most potential during recruitment, asking something so basic.
Mu Qian stared for a moment before asking, "You… how did you cultivate? Who was your teacher?"
Long Tianyu scratched his cheek. "Our village bought a book. I don't remember its name, but it was written by someone called Daoist Zhen. It had a breathing method, so we practiced that."
For a long second, no one said anything. Then Mu Qian's mouth twitched. "Just that? No guidance? No spiritual mentor?"
Long Tianyu nodded. "Our teacher taught us, but… well, he can't cultivate. He was a mortal. But he helped all of us!"
Mu Qian blinked, stunned. "You learned from a mortal man? All nine of you?"
"Uh, yes? Why, is that bad?" Long Tianyu asked, his expression innocent. Inside, however, he was already piecing together the truth, what they had considered normal in their remote village was absurd to real cultivators. He understood that once they had heard rumors of the clan members cultivation levels.
Mu Qian took a deep breath. "Nothing. Forget it." He sighed and turned back to the sky.
For a while, only the wind spoke. Then he continued, his tone more instructive. "Our Golden Windblade Sect lies within the Dragon Province. Beyond it are three others, Shadowrift, Celestial Tide, and Suncrest. Together, they form what we call the Eastern Radiance Domain. To the west is the Western Radiance Domain, and together they form the Azure Dragon Empire."
He paused, letting the information settle before continuing. "The Feng Family rules the empire. They've held the throne for generations. But to the east lies another empire, the Storm Dragon Empire. Our province borders theirs, and between us lies the Scarlet Battlefield. The two empires have been fighting over it for centuries. Countless lives have been lost."
His voice hardened. There was a bitterness there that didn't go unnoticed. Mu Qian's gaze turned distant, focused on the glowing horizon ahead. He didn't explain, but Long Tianyu sensed anger and sadness in his voice.
Mu Qian didn't explain it to them, but long ago his own brother joined Scarlet Battlefield instead of going together to the Golden Windblade Sect, and eventually Mu Qian got the news of his brother's death.....
Another disciple, Wen Li, called out. "Senior Brother Mu, can you tell us about the sect itself? I've only heard rumors."
Mu Qian nodded. "Of course. The Golden Windblade Sect has many layers. Most who join start as outer disciples. They should focus on cultivating and getting stronger, there are many things you may do in the sect to practice, you'll see once we get there. Most outer disciples are teenagers. Some never progress beyond being an outer disciple, those who fail to reach the Elementary Qi stage remain there, usually specialising in other areas like taking care of demonic beasts."
He looked around at them. "Inner disciples, on the other hand, have already reached the Elementary Qi stage. They receive better resources and guidance. Then there are the core disciples, chosen personally by the peak masters. They must have reached the Qi Infusion stage."
"The sect's nine peaks each belong to a peak master, all at the Qi Exertion stage. Some of the sect's ancestors are said to have lived for centuries, having reached the Extreme Qi Exertion stage."
Mu Qian turned his head slightly. "Little Brother Tianyu," he said, a faint smile appearing. "This is just my guess, but I assume you don't know any techniques, no combat arts, no defensive skills, no real sword manuals."
Long Tianyu hesitated. "No, I don't."
"Then listen carefully. When we reach the sect, don't show your cultivation to anyone. If you do, you'll immediately be tested and likely promoted to the inner sect. But without techniques, you'll be an easy target. Even someone with lower cultivation could defeat you."
He spoke with quiet seriousness. "Earn merit points. Do small tasks. Buy scrolls, manuals, even basic information. Build a foundation before revealing your true strength. Talent is important, but the world doesn't favor the unprepared."
Long Tianyu nodded. He understood. The path ahead wasn't one of glory yet, it was survival.
Mu Qian continued saying ''However, even if you lay low for a little while, I feel sorry for anyone trying to step on you while you're in the outer disciple area, haha!''
Hours later, as the sun climbed higher, the eagles began their descent. The clouds parted, revealing a breathtaking sight.
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End of chapter 1 - Guidance