The dirt road gradually widened as he walked, turning into a stone-paved path. The air changed too — from the wild, raw scent of mountains to the subtle trace of incense and smoke.
At the end of the path, an enormous gate stood tall.
Cloudspire City.
A wooden signboard hung beside the entrance, characters carved with a blade so sharp that even time refused to dull it.
> "Under the protection of Azure Sky Sect — offenders will be punished."
So there were people here. Actual civilization. And a sect controlling the entire area.
He blended into the crowd entering the gate, head lowered, sleeves covering his wrists. No one needed to know that he could punch a mountain into dust.
Inside, life thrived. Shops lined both sides of the street — weapon forges, herbal stalls, talisman vendors shouting over each other.
A child pointed at a flying sword in the distance.
"Look! It's an Azure Sky disciple!"
The sword zipped through the air and landed at the sect's outpost tower. A young man in blue robes stepped off it, elegant and aloof. The crowd parted around him with instinctive respect.
MC didn't even glance at the disciple.
He simply kept walking.
He passed a group of merchants bargaining loudly in the market square.
> "Beast cores! Grade-2! Fresh!"
> "Qi-gathering pills! Direct from the sect's alchemist!"
He stared at the glowing stones with mild curiosity. In his world, these would be impossible treasures. Here, they were just … commodities.
A building caught his eye — a massive structure with curved roofs and banners fluttering in the wind.
Azure Sky Hall – Recruitment Tests.
Hordes of hopeful teenagers lined in front of it, trembling with nervous excitement.
He stood there silently, watching from a distance.
No one approached him.
No one questioned him.
He was just one face in a sea of people.
Good.
The less attention, the better.
---
He headed to a food stall where smoke curled from a grill. The sizzling sound made his stomach growl unexpectedly.
The stall owner placed a steaming bowl in front of him without judging his plain clothes.
"Spiritual beef noodles. Eat well."
He nodded and quietly ate.
The broth was rich, infused with just a hint of spiritual energy. His system flickered faintly in the corner of his vision, reacting to even that trace amount.
> [Energy Absorption (Passive) : Active]
Energy absorbed: +0.002]
He nearly choked on the noodles.
From just eating? Seriously?!
He paid the stall owner and moved away, curiosity burning inside him.
This world was more than dangerous — it was overflowing with opportunities.
---
As evening painted the sky red, a sudden loud bell echoed throughout the city.
DONG—
People froze. Shopkeepers shut their stalls at once. Even the noisy cultivator hopefuls from the recruitment hall stopped talking.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Azure Sky Sect has spotted movement in the north forest!"
"Beast tide rumors are back?"
"No, it's worse… A tear in spatial barrier…"
MC's steps halted.
A tear in space?
The air trembled for a split second.
His system pulsed.
> [Quest Triggered] Investigate the Spatial Distortion. Reward: Unknown. Risk: Extreme.
He looked up toward the distant mountain range where the sun dipped into the horizon.
He didn't speak.
But the gleam in his eyes said it all.
Looks like staying 'low profile' won't last long.
---