Free Web NovelChapter 1: Chapter 1: Spiritual Martial Ninth Layer Early Stage
The Outer Sect of the Profound Celestial Sect, in the Eastern Profound Domain of the Celestial Essence Continent.
In a valley surrounded by mountains on three sides, a fresh fragrance wafted from verdant fields lush with flora.
Within the valley stood a simple, unadorned wooden house.
Inside the house,
a young man in a pale green robe sat cross-legged upon a meditation cushion.
The young man’s eyes were as deep as a starry sky. With a high-bridged nose and handsome features, his expression was focused, his determined gaze filled with a thirst for power.
After a long period of building his reserves,
Gu Yun was finally feeling the signs of a breakthrough.
Gu Yun pushed his Cultivation Technique to its limits, performing a Circulation Reincarnation. The Spiritual Qi in his body, like a surging stream, gradually gathered in his Dantian. He dared not relax for even a moment.
As time slowly passed, the aura around him steadily intensified, finally reaching a peak.
Suddenly,
A muffled BANG resounded!
Gu Yun’s eyes snapped open, electric, flashing with an unprecedented sharpness. An extremely powerful, oppressive aura emanated from him.
"Hah..."
"I finally broke through!"
Gu Yun clenched his fists, feeling the boundless, ocean-like Spiritual Qi within him. A flash of excitement crossed his face.
Five years he’d been in this world, and relying solely on his own efforts, he had finally, at long last, broken through to the Spiritual Martial Ninth Layer.
That’s right—he wasn’t originally from this world. He had been an ordinary office worker from a planet called Blue Star. It had been the day after he’d gotten paid, and he hadn’t even had a chance to spend his money.
He never expected that the very next day, he’d be sent flying by a drunk driver. When he woke up, he was in this world.
For a time, Gu Yun had believed himself to be a legendary Child of Destiny, fated to ascend to the very pinnacle of this world and write his own glorious legend.
Unfortunately, reality had been a letdown. He possessed no supreme cultivation talent, nor had he inherited some ancient ring from his parents.
He never met a fiancée who came to break off their engagement, spouting nonsense about how a dragon shouldn’t associate with a snake. His life was devoid of any miraculous encounters, pocket dimensions where time flowed faster, or instantly-ripened Spirit Medicine.
Tripping over a rock on the road didn’t reveal an ancient artifact. Strolling through the market didn’t lead to discovering some overlooked treasure. Instead, he’d been scammed out of his savings by a crooked merchant—a swindler Gu Yun resented to this very day.
He didn’t even get to experience the idiotic trope of being looked down upon by his own servants. On the contrary, he was the son of an Elder from the Gu Family—one of the so-called "Three Royal Families" of Nanming City in the Great Yan Dynasty. His status was middling, neither high nor low.
Five years ago, his family had sent him to participate in the Profound Celestial Sect’s disciple recruitment. With his above-average cultivation talent, he had smoothly entered the Outer Sect to begin his Cultivation.
The Profound Celestial Sect was one of the overlords of the Eastern Profound Domain, a true titan among Sects. It was home to countless geniuses and peerless prodigies.
With his merely above-average aptitude, how could he possibly establish a foothold in the fiercely competitive Profound Celestial Sect, a place teeming with geniuses?
Fortunately, Blue Star never sends its transmigrators away empty-handed.
At this thought, he focused his mind.
Gu Yun gazed at the panel before him. The three gleaming words, "Heaven Rewards Diligence," hovered in the space above.
Name: Gu Yun
Realm: Spiritual Martial Ninth Layer Early Stage
Cultivation Technique: Celestial Thunder Technique (3rd Layer 69%)
Martial Techniques: Wind and Thunder Saber Technique (Great Success 88%), Mountain-Breaking Fist (Great Success 49%), Wandering Dragon Step (Great Success 67%)
Technique: Celestial Thunder Technique (Minor Success 19%)
Saber Momentum: Minor Success (2%)
His system, Heaven Rewards Diligence, allowed his merely above-average aptitude to ignore cultivation bottlenecks. For him, hard work always paid off. Persistence guaranteed success, and once a skill was mastered, it was mastered forever.
It even had a hint of the characteristics of a Daluo.
Of course, the efficacy of Heaven Rewards Diligence was still predicated on his own underlying cultivation aptitude.
After all, the results from the efforts of someone with top-tier talent would be vastly different from someone with ordinary talent; the two paths would diverge completely.
Persistence guaranteed success, and once a skill was mastered, it was mastered forever.
Relying on his "Heaven Rewards Diligence" cheat, he had chosen a Thunder Attribute Technique—one known for its combat power and for being incredibly difficult for the average person to master.
Through his own painstaking effort, he had managed to rank among the top few hundred of the hundred thousand disciples in the Profound Celestial Sect’s Outer Sect.
Now that he had broken through to the Spiritual Martial Ninth Layer, he estimated his strength was enough to rank in the top one hundred. He had finally reached the top tier of the Profound Celestial Sect’s Outer Sect.
In the outside world, his strength would be comparable to that of an Elder or patriarch of a small family.
He had truly, finally made a name for himself in the Outer Sect.
The next step was the Inner Sect of the Profound Celestial Sect. There, True Martial Realm experts could fly through the heavens and tunnel through the earth. They lived for three hundred years, long enough to witness the rise and fall of dynasties.
The Inner Sect was where the Sect truly focused its resources for training disciples. The Inner Sect Disciples were the true foundation of the Profound Celestial Sect.
One hundred thousand disciples in the Outer Sect, but merely three thousand in the Inner Sect.
Then again, any other transmigrator would have probably become an immortal, founded a dynasty, or declared themselves emperor after five years. They’d be a titan ruling over their own Dynasty, an awe-inspiring figure who dominated the world.
Thinking of this, the sliver of pride Gu Yun had just felt vanished like smoke. The path of Cultivation had to be walked one steady step at a time.
Therefore, even after breaking through to the Spiritual Martial Ninth Layer, Gu Yun didn’t rush out. Instead, he continued his closed-door training to consolidate his realm and practice his Martial Techniques.
...
[You have practiced Wandering Dragon Step ten times. Skill Level +1%]
[You have practiced Mountain-Breaking Fist ten times. Skill Level +1%]
[You have practiced Wind and Thunder Saber Technique ten times. Skill Level +1%]
For several days after his successful breakthrough, Gu Yun remained in the valley to cultivate.
Lines of text continuously refreshed on the Heaven Rewards Diligence panel, and though Gu Yun was exhausted, his heart was filled with joy.
One day, Gu Yun left the valley and walked to the Sect’s Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, preparing to go inside and accept a mission.
Just then, a hearty male voice called out from behind him.
"Senior Brother Gu! It’s been a while. Are you here to pick up a mission?"
Gu Yun turned to see a tall, slender young man approaching from behind. He wore a black brocade robe and had a dignified air, with sharp brows and bright, star-like eyes.
"Yes, I’m planning to take a mission," Gu Yun replied. "What about you, Junior Brother Li?"
The young man in black was named Li Xingyue. His cultivation was at the Spiritual Martial Eighth Layer Late Stage, and like Gu Yun, he was a disciple of the Seventh Institute. The two had completed missions together several times and had a good relationship; he was one of the few friends Gu Yun had in the Profound Celestial Sect.
"I’m here for a mission too, Senior Brother," Li Xingyue replied. "I want to get some cultivation resources. The triennial Outer Sect Grand Competition is in half a year, and I’m hoping to get a good ranking this time."
"In that case, let’s go in together," Gu Yun said calmly.
The two then entered the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. Many Profound Celestial Sect disciples were bustling in and out; this was the place where they came to accept missions.
A moment later, the two arrived before the Miscellaneous Affairs Tower. A plaque on the giant golden tower bore the three large, bronze-colored words: "Miscellaneous Affairs Tower." Upon entering, they saw a long golden counter divided into four mission areas—A, B, C, and D—and a group of Deacon Disciples busy assisting the Sect’s Outer Sect Cultivators.
Once inside, the two went their separate ways to find missions.
Gu Yun made his way to Area B.
Area B Missions:
1. Inner Sect Senior Brother Lin has brought back a two-hundred-year-old Silver Moon Grass. For unknown reasons, the Spirit Medicine’s Spiritual Qi is rapidly dissipating. Urgently seeking a disciple with experience in cultivating Spirit Medicine to help care for it. An additional Spirit Enhancing Pill will be awarded if the issue is resolved.
Base Reward: 30 Contribution Points
(Note: The two-hundred-year-old Silver Moon Grass is a graded herb. Those without expertise should exercise caution.)
2. The ten-acre Spirit Field in Hei Shi Town is ready for harvest. Seeking ten Outer Sect disciples to assist. Time limit: seven days.
Base Reward: 3 Contribution Points per person
(Note: 8/10 slots filled)
3. Inner Sect Senior Brother Zhao will be leaving the Sect for a period of time and is recruiting Outer Sect disciples at or above the Spiritual Martial Realm Middle Stage to manage his cave residence and the surrounding Spirit Medicine and Spirit Fields. Duration: six months. The hired disciple may cultivate near the Spirit Fields during this period.
Base Reward: 50 Contribution Points
(Note: Applicants must pass a test administered by Senior Brother Zhao.)
...
Inside the Miscellaneous Affairs Tower,
Gu Yun’s gaze swept across the text displayed on the surrounding Projection Stone screens, searching for a suitable mission. But after looking for a long time, he couldn’t find anything that satisfied him.
After a while, having failed to find a suitable mission, Gu Yun shook his head in resignation.
He prepared to leave the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.
Just then, Li Xingyue shouted, "Senior Brother Gu, wait a moment!"
"So, are you heading out on a mission?" Li Xingyue asked. Gu Yun shook his head and said softly, "No, I couldn’t find a suitable one, so I was about to leave."
Hearing this, a look of pleasant surprise appeared on Li Xingyue’s face.
"Senior Brother, I found a team mission. Take a look," Li Xingyue said.
