News traveled fast, especially something never seen since countless years. By the time the sun had risen over Fenglin City, the destruction of the Xuanyuan Sect was no longer a secret to the major forces.
Everyone sold jade slips recording the tale like wildfire: the Xuanyuan Sect, one of the Five Great Sects with hundreds of thousands of years of accumulation had been obliterated by a suddenly appearing Void Refining Realm big shot just like that.
The news spread like a raging inferno.
Information jade slips were sold, copied, and passed from hand to hand at terrifying speed. In less than a day, the entire cultivation world realized one of the Five Great Sects, a massive behemoth in the cultivation world, was annihilated.
To explain the significance of this matter, the jade slips also included common information about the Five Great Sects of the Yuanling Domain:
1. Xuanyuan Sect — Northern Continent
The Xuanyuan Sect is renowned as the top body-refining sect of the Northern Continent. Although still a qi refining sect, its cultivators repeatedly temper flesh, bones, and blood until their bodies rival divine artifacts. Legends say that when Xuanyuan Sect disciples advance far enough, their bodies alone can endure heavenly tribulations and calamities.
2. Heavenly Sword Sect — Eastern Continent
Dominating the Eastern Continent, the Heavenly Sword Sect walks the path of pure sword cultivation. Its disciples cultivate sword intent rather than spiritual techniques, forging unity between body, will, and blade. For the Heavenly Sword Sect, their blade is more important than their life. A single sword strike from a high-level cultivator can split rivers and create massive valleys. Among the Five Great Sects, they are acknowledged as the most lethal in direct combat and the most simple-minded sect.
3. Myriad Pill Pavilion — Southern Continent
The Myriad Pill Pavilion reigns supreme over alchemy. Their pill formulas can extend lifespan, mend broken foundations, reverse cultivation collapse, and even interfere with heavenly tribulations. Though their disciples are not the strongest fighters, every major sect maintains cautious respect. After all, their sect is the manufacturer of most of the pills circulated in the world, and has friendly connections with almost all major forces in the world. If you target their disciples and get a bounty, you wouldn't even know how you got killed by a cultivator willing to cling to the Myriad Pill Pavilion's boots.
4. Ten Thousand Machinations Valley — Western Continent
The masters of artifact refining, Ten Thousand Machinations Valley forges treasures worthy of the strongest Half-Step Void Refining existences in the world. From gauntlets to world-sealing weapons, their creations are coveted across the domain. Many Soul Transformation cultivators rely on artifacts born from this sect, and it is also the sect where most of the man-made artifacts in the world come from.
5. Heavenly Dao Mountain — ???
The Heavenly Calculation Sect does not reside on any continent, nor has its true location ever been confirmed. It is the most mysterious sect of the Five Great Sects. The Heavenly Dao Mountain has only 10 competitors for the Sect Leader position each time, with Dao Protectors guarding the disciples. The sect disciples only shows itself to outsiders when the world is in danger. Sect disciples cultivate deduction, fate calculation, and heavenly secrets, peering into karma, destiny, and future possibilities. It is said that when being targeted by Heavenly Dao Mountain, you have no secrets that can be hidden from them. Because of this, not even colossal forces like the five great sects would provoke them fearing their inheritances leaked for the world to see.
One of the Five Great Sects, renowned colossal forces with millions of years of history.... gone just like that.
"Hiss! A Void Refining big shot is too strong!"
"Immediately announce to the sect to take back all disciples, close the gates, and stop making enemies! If you do, check their background first!"
"Foolish! You still dare to go through brothels in this chaotic era? What if that person appears and finds you annoying to the eye? Even the Xuanyuan Sect was annihilated, let alone you! Kowtow to the ancestral hall and never go out again!"
Across cities, sect halls, and forbidden lands, cultivators all in different places of the four continents were terrified of the mysterious Void Refining big shot.
But what they didn't know, was that the big shot they were terrified of was happily drinking wine in a simple thatched hut.
...
Central Sky Heaven.
Legend says that the battle which split the Four Continents took place at Central Sky Heaven, hundreds of millions of years ago. Now, Central Sky Heaven is a place with unstable, wobbling space, silently showing the devastating battle that happened here.
However, Qi Zui couldn't be bothered for history. All he wants is free will, wine, and comfort.
Mm... It's about time.
With a single step, space twisted.
Qi Zui's body flashed across mountains, rivers, and plains, moving at a speed mortal eyes couldn't perceive.
Within minutes, he arrived at the Central Sky Pillar: the core of Central Sky Heaven, and the very center where all four continents intersected.
Qi Zui stood atop the ancient stone pillar, hands behind his back, long hair swaying slightly in the wind. Taking a deep breath, he shouted.
"Four Continents—listen well!"
His voice exploded like divine thunder.
"I am a Void Refining expert beyond the Endless Domain Sea!" He declared. "I shall give this hopeless domain a chance! Defeat me, and gain the opportunity to traverse beyond your domain!"
"That voice?! It's him!"
"What does he mean? Traverse beyond our domain?!"
"No way.. A opportunity to travel beyond our world?!"
Qi Zui continued, his tone steady yet shocking:
"I now extend my challenge to all continents! Whoever can defeat my clone, cultivation suppressed to Quasi-Void Refining, will gain the opportunity to travel beyond the domain! With countless opportunities beyond the void!"
Qi Zui raised his arm, and a massive ship appeared out of thin air above the Central Sky Pillar.
The ship was long and sleek, forged from dark, unknown metal etched with faint star-like patterns. Ancient runes lined its hull, glowing softly, with the purpose of stabilizing space and cutting through the chaotic currents of the Endless Domain Sea.
It had no sails, only ethereal void wings formed from condensed spatial laws, allowing it to glide through the Endless Domain Sea. An invisible barrier surrounded the deck, shielding it from massive void beasts.
"A Void Refining Spirit Treasure!!"
Whoosh!
Qi Zui waved his hand again, and the massive ship disappeared out of thin air once again.
The demonstration left no room for doubt.
Qi Zui laughed, and his voice echoed once more:
"If you desire the power to transcend this world, then come! Only the brave can go beyond this world!!"
Then, his expression returned to tranquility once again.
He raised his wine gourd, Gulp..
-then muttered silently:
"I wonder if Half-Step Void Refining was enough... Should i have made it Void Refining instead?"