Volume 1: The Spring of Qi
Chapter 1: Rain Terrace Mountain
On the edge of the Eastern Continent lies Rain Terrace Mountain.
Surrounded by spiritual energy, Rain Terrace Mountain boasts refreshing air. Several mid-sized islands float in the sky above, connected by only a few iron chains. An unknown, immense power suspends them aloft. Lush flowers and grass adorn the islands, resembling a celestial paradise. Though clearly visible, they possess an ethereal quality, like a mirage.
Rain Terrace Blessed Land, nestled on Rain Terrace Mountain, takes its name from the mountain itself.
Rain Terrace Blessed Land is a renowned celestial haven in the region. Numerous noble families send their children here, hoping they’ll awaken to the path of cultivation. A child’s success in cultivation could dramatically alter the family’s fortunes.
In this world, a chasm separates cultivators from mortals. Even the lowest-level cultivator can easily obliterate a mortal. Those with terrifyingly high cultivation can move mountains, fill seas, and even pluck stars from the sky.
On a stone path halfway up the mountain, a little girl clung to a young man, her hands tightly wrapped around his arm, her voice sweet and childish.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step… Brother Mingyan, how do you open the spring of Qi in your body? I’ve tried many times according to the book, but I can’t seem to grasp it. How did you do it?”
The girl, about six or seven years old, resembled a delicately crafted porcelain doll, lovely and charming. The young man beside her, around fifteen, had long black hair and heroic features. Despite his young age, he exuded a sense of reliability.
“Mengli, I know you’ve reached the Spring Gushing Realm. Master told me earlier.”
“Then why don’t you praise me? Hmph, Brother doesn’t care about me at all.” Mengli pouted. “But I won’t hold it against you. As long as you accompany me down the mountain to the market and buy me two candied hawthorns, I’ll forgive you!”
Despite her small stature, the girl named Mengli, whose full name was Liu Mengli, was already eight years old and a cultivator who had stepped onto the path of immortality.
“I need to go out and gather herbs later. I’ll accompany you to the market later, okay?” Mingyan felt helpless, but he couldn’t refuse this little girl. His master, having a daughter late in life, doted on her excessively. If he knew Mingyan spoke harshly to her, he’d likely make him practice horse stance for a week.
“I want to go now!” Liu Mengli tugged on Mingyan’s arm, protesting.
“Gathering herbs is Master’s order. Be obedient, Mengli. I’ll be back soon.” Mingyan gently stroked Liu Mengli’s head.
Liu Mengli pouted, snorted heavily, and released Mingyan’s arm. “Then you must come back before dark, or I’ll tell Daddy you stood me up.”
“I won’t…” Mingyan nodded. “When have I ever lied to you?”
Liu Mengli snorted again, stared at Mingyan for a moment, then turned and ran off.
Mingyan sighed with relief. Liu Mengli was adorable, but she was too clingy.
Just a year ago, when he first arrived at Rain Terrace Blessed Land, Liu Mengli was a quiet child who rarely spoke.
Speaking of which, it had already been a year…
Mingyan was sixteen. A year ago, in the year 1500 of the Qingzi Calendar, he arrived at Rain Terrace Blessed Land and became the disciple of Elder Liu Yunfeng, formally entering the sect.
In fact, starting cultivation at fifteen was considered late. The optimal age was under ten. After ten, it became increasingly difficult to open the Spring of Qi and step onto the first rung of cultivation.
Past the age of ten, if one hadn’t yet opened their spring, the body’s interaction with spiritual energy diminished with age, making cultivation difficult. Even if one managed to reach the Spring Gushing Realm, further progress would be challenging.
However, Mingyan possessed a special physique, perfectly suited for cultivation. Although his master, Liu Yunfeng, couldn’t pinpoint the nature of his physique, Mingyan seemed unaffected by his late start and cultivated much faster than others.
Not only did he open his spring and enter the sect within his first week at Rain Terrace Blessed Land, but he also reached the second stage of cultivation, the Gathering Stream Realm, six months ago. This speed was among the fastest in the entire Rain Terrace Blessed Land, earning him the favor of his master, Liu Yunfeng. The elder clearly intended for his daughter, Liu Mengli, to spend time with Mingyan, so much so that other elders joked that Liu Yunfeng was grooming Mingyan to be his son-in-law.
But Mingyan had other aspirations, not to mention Liu Mengli was only eight years old…
“Elder Li, I’m here to register. I’m going down the mountain to gather herbs on Master Liu Yunfeng’s orders.” Mingyan arrived at the Hall of Affairs at the foot of the mountain and found Elder Li, the person in charge.
Rain Terrace Blessed Land strictly managed its disciples. Leaving the mountain without permission or registration was forbidden. Therefore, Mingyan had to register and verify his purpose before leaving.
“Yes, your master informed me earlier. You’re going to the vicinity of Dragon Ridge. Remember not to venture too deep. It’s dangerous there. Gather your herbs quickly and return. Don’t linger.” Elder Li was a white-haired elder. His actual age was unknown, but Mingyan had heard from his master that Elder Li had looked the same when he first arrived at Rain Terrace Blessed Land. Although Liu Yunfeng appeared middle-aged, he was actually over sixty. His youthful appearance was due to his high cultivation and extended lifespan. Therefore, Elder Li’s age was likely over a hundred. His cultivation was unfathomable, probably second only to the sect leader.
“Understood,” Mingyan nodded, registered, and left the mountain gate.
Dragon Ridge was a range of mountains near Rain Terrace Mountain. Legend had it that an ancient dragon perished there, its remains forming the mountain range. However, this event was so distant, perhaps tens or hundreds of thousands of years ago, that it was impossible to verify.
Even cultivators with extended lifespans lived only a few thousand years at most. For ordinary mortals, tens of thousands of years was an unimaginable expanse of time.
Moreover, although cultivators existed in this world, dragons were only heard of in legends. No one seemed to have ever seen one, making their existence questionable.
It didn’t take long for Mingyan to reach the outskirts of Dragon Ridge.
Before coming to Rain Terrace Blessed Land, he was a hunter in his village. Due to his excellent physical condition from a young age, he began hunting at twelve. Although certain events led him to leave his village, his hunting experience remained. Gathering herbs wasn’t difficult for him.
Before today, Mingyan had visited Dragon Ridge several times. A medicinal herb called Dragon’s Blood Flower grew in the forests on the outskirts. It typically bloomed in summer with five petals, each a vibrant crimson like fresh blood. It had no fragrance but a faint, fishy smell. Combined with its location in Dragon Ridge, it earned the name Dragon’s Blood Flower.
Dragon’s Blood Flower was a valuable ingredient for medicinal concoctions. Several healing and body-tempering pills used in Rain Terrace Blessed Land required this herb. However, the harvesting season had passed, and Mingyan wasn’t sure if he could find any.
It was strangely quiet today. Dragon Ridge was excessively quiet, and Mingyan felt uneasy.
Many animals and ferocious beasts lived in Dragon Ridge. Usually, one could hear the calls of birds and beasts, but today, it was eerily silent…
His hunter’s instincts told him this wasn’t a good sign…
However, with his current Gathering Stream Realm cultivation, he could handle most ordinary beasts and ferocious beasts. Mingyan heightened his vigilance and entered the forest.
The silence wasn’t Mingyan’s imagination. After entering the forest, the stillness was even more pronounced. He cautiously scanned his surroundings while searching for Dragon’s Blood Flowers.
It was late summer, past the blooming season of Dragon’s Blood Flowers. Moreover, Rain Terrace Blessed Land had already organized a harvest. Finding any would be purely by chance.
As Mingyan searched cautiously, a deafening dragon’s roar echoed from the depths of Dragon Ridge. An immense pressure instantly descended, pinning Mingyan to the ground. He felt as though a mountain was crushing him, making it difficult to breathe. The roar left him dizzy and disoriented, unable to struggle to his feet.
Before Mingyan could understand what was happening, a second roar followed, an enraged bellow that resonated through the world. The violent pressure immobilized him.
Was that… a dragon’s roar?! Could dragons truly exist in this world?!
Mingyan was shocked. The world-shaking roar resembled the legendary dragon’s roar. He began to worry about his situation.
According to legends, dragons were ancient beings capable of dominating the world. Judging by the roars, this one seemed incredibly furious. A single breath of dragon fire could probably kill him.
As Mingyan pondered how to escape, a gentle force enveloped him. The immense pressure vanished instantly. He climbed to his feet, bewildered, unsure of what had happened. He thought for a moment, then found a higher vantage point to survey the surroundings.
What he saw shocked him. A blood-red dragon soared in the sky. Mingyan suddenly realized that the legend of Dragon Ridge being formed from a dragon’s corpse might be true. The dragon was colossal, its immense body filling the sky like a floating mountain, blocking the sunlight and casting a shadow over the entire Dragon Ridge. Its blood-red scales emitted a sinister glow. The whiskers on either side of its head were incredibly long and thick. Compared to it, Mingyan was like a speck of dust. He had no doubt those whiskers alone could crush him. But it seemed… to be struggling in pain?
Indeed, the blood-red dragon appeared to be gripped by an invisible hand. It struggled mightily to break free, but its efforts were futile. It writhed in agony, its tail thrashing wildly in the sky… Wait? Was something flying towards him? A small black dot suddenly appeared in Mingyan’s vision, likely flung towards him by the dragon’s tail.
What was that? As the black dot drew closer, Mingyan could gradually make out its shape… It seemed… like a person? Before he could get a clear look, the blood-red dragon in the sky exploded, shattering into countless crimson fragments. As he stared in disbelief, a powerful shockwave accompanied by a blinding red light swept towards him. The shockwave sent Mingyan flying, and he crashed to the ground, unconscious.
The falling figure slammed into the ground not far from Mingyan, creating a large crater.
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