It had to be said — those buns weren't bad at all. Their juicy, sweet flavor, paired with the warm, slightly bitter tea, left a pleasant taste lingering in his mouth.
Still, Jin was convinced that nothing could surpass the flavor of the fish he'd cooked himself by the pond.
When the waiter—apparently a servant of the sect—brought him the bill, Jin noticed how the man used his token to transfer something into another one engraved with the establishment's name.
Intrigued, but not enough to start asking questions, he simply observed the process and calmly finished his meal. Before leaving, he searched for the girl who had attended him earlier. Seeing her too busy to notice his gaze, he smiled faintly.
| "I'll thank her later," he murmured.
Once outside the restaurant, he resumed his walk.
The stone paths beneath his feet were perfectly uniform, each tile emitting a faint glow that hinted there was more to them than just beauty.
| "What could these be made of?" he muttered while walking.
As he approached the central area, the number of young disciples increased. They wore robes of various colors — black, red, blue, silver, green — though the strangest were those in gray, whose expressions were dark and heavy.
He knew black belonged to the Peak of the Jade Body, but he still didn't fully understand the sect's structure.
Without realizing it, his steps carried him to a grand gate radiating majesty. When he looked up, a colossal pagoda greeted him — a towering structure that seemed to pierce the clouds.
From afar, he hadn't noticed its splendor, but now… now he could see each carved relief in divine detail. It was as if countless master artisans had worked on it for centuries. The entire structure shimmered — not with blinding brilliance, but with a quiet, restrained light flowing through its walls like veins of living energy.
| "This thing's huge… reminds me of the tallest building in the world back on Earth," Jin muttered, sighing as he crossed the threshold.
Inside, the view was no less grand. A vast hall stretched before him, quiet yet brimming with movement. Dozens of disciples wandered among shelves, tables, and ancient statues. In one corner sat an old man in gray robes, meditating with his eyes closed.
Jin felt an odd pressure when he looked at him — as if the elder, even with his eyes sealed, could see everything.
Shaking off the feeling, Jin stepped forward. Before he could even speak, the old man's voice broke the silence:
| "You're a new disciple, aren't you? You've come for the basic cultivation manual."
With a lazy motion of his hand, a small jade slip appeared, floating before Jin.
| "Here it is. There aren't many rules. New disciples have one month to cross the threshold into cultivation. Even with mediocre talent, if you cultivate without rest, you'll make it."
| "...Understood," Jin replied, a bit surprised by the elder's abruptness.
| "Also, don't share the technique with trial disciples or servants. They're not qualified yet.
As for doubts — that's your problem. Each week there's a lecture for newcomers. They usually explain the first steps there."
As he spoke, the old man took Jin's token without asking, performed a few hand seals, and handed it back.
Then, without another word, he simply closed his eyes — as if Jin had ceased to exist.
| "…What a strange sect. Do they treat everyone like this?" Jin thought, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.
He finally gathered his courage and asked,
| "Excuse me, honorable elder. This disciple wishes to know if there are any books about the continent's history or geography."
The old man frowned.
| "Why would you want that sort of thing? You should be spending your time cultivating."
Jin smiled respectfully.
| "I appreciate your concern, Elder, but I enjoy learning. There's a saying I follow: knowledge is power."
The old man opened one eye, a flicker of amusement in his gaze.
| "Knowledge is power, huh? Heh… I like that, boy. If you're that interested, on the right section of the first floor you'll find books about myths, history, geography, and much more."
A brief chuckle escaped him before he returned to his silence.
Jin bowed lightly in thanks and walked away.
As he left, the old man murmured to himself,
| "What a strange boy… He shouldn't be in the outer sect. I couldn't sense much, but his talents… they're not inferior to that monster the Sect Master recruited. Interesting… but not my concern."
He closed his eyes once more.
Jin climbed the stairs to the first floor. The higher he went, the stronger the feeling of being watched became. Shelves stretched endlessly around him, filled with scrolls and manuals.
His gaze fell on a nearby rack — a collection of fist techniques with names so ridiculous he almost laughed: Rock-Splitting Fist, Organ-Shattering Fist, Bone-Tempering Fist…
Until one, in particular, caught his eye: Nine Heavens Returning Fist.
| "What the hell… who comes up with these names?" he muttered, picking up the booklet.
It smelled old, but nothing happened — no light, no surge of energy, no mysterious voices. Only strange symbols rearranging themselves into legible words.
After a few minutes of reading, he sighed.
| "All that pompous naming… and it's just a body-tempering technique. Not even useful beyond the Qi Gathering stage."
Putting the booklet back, he shook his head, disappointed.
| "My first technique, and it's a scam. Great start, Jin."
With a soft snort, he continued down the right corridor, remembering the elder's directions.
Even though he was eager to begin cultivating, he knew there was something just as valuable as strength — understanding the world he now belonged to.