Chapter 10: Kunwu Mountain's Challenge: Luo Tian's City Exploration.

Name: Luo Tian.

Qi Cultivation: 1st Layer of Qi Gathering Realm.

Body Cultivation: None.

Inventory: Spirit Stones X100, Qi Gathering Pills X5.

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"After cultivating for more a whole night, I have finally reached 1st layer of Qi Gathering realm but cultivating ahead will be difficult. This time I broke through only because of sudden comprehension of "Five Elements Sovereignty Scripture-Supreme Synthesis" normally cultivators start by memorizing the cultivation technique, then they try to sense the spiritual Qi in the air more clearly, after all of this is done they would try to absorb the spiritual Qi in order to unblock their blocked meridians, after their meridians are unblocked they would be able to circulate the spiritual Qi through their meridians, that is how one starts to cultivate and prepare for breakthrough to first layer of the Qi gathering realm" Luo Tian tough of all of this as he smiled "But that wasn't the case for me, through the system function of comprehending the cultivation technique I was able to skip all of these steps, or should I say all of these steps were completed on their own, normally this will only happen to those who have heavenly bodies"

Luo Tian let out a surprised gasp as another blue screen suddenly appeared before his eyes, interrupting his thoughts.

Text began to appear on the blue screen, "Ding! You have reached the first layer of the Qi Gathering Realm. Would you like to use 50 low-grade spirit stones to unlock the first stage in the explore function 'Westmount'? This function allows for instant dungeon exploration and can yield bountiful rewards upon completion."

He hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether he should spend his hard-earned spirit stones on this new opportunity. But then again, he knew that every experience point, and reward would only serve to make him a powerful cultivator.

"Fine, I'll use my spirit stones to unlock the first stage," he muttered resolutely, hitting the confirm button on the screen.

As soon as he did so, a map of Westmount appeared in front of him. The details were astounding - every mountain range, valley, and river was intricately marked out.

Luo Tian felt a surge of excitement as he imagined all the treasures and challenges that awaited him in this uncharted territory.

With a deep breath, he selected 'Westmount' and purchased a ticket for entry. As clicked on purchase button another one of his Low-Grade Spirit Stones was deducted from his inventory, a blinding light enveloped him, he opened his eyes only to find that he was in the Westmount.

Westmount was also known Kunwu mountain. Outside the mountain it is surrounded by thick mist all year round where demonic beasts overrun inside. On this day a powerful cultivator in white robes carrying a sword appeared in the northwest side of the of the Kunwu Mountain.

The powerful cultivator in white robes stepped out of the thick mist with grace, his sword glinting in the sunlight. He surveyed the area with a keen gaze, taking in every detail of the surrounding landscape.

He had heard rumors of a powerful demonic beast residing in Kunwu Mountain and he had come to test his skills against it. But as he made his way deeper into the mountain, he realized that there were far more dangers lurking within than just one demonic beast.

The mist that surrounded Kunwu Mountain was not just ordinary fog, it was infused with spiritual Qi that could enhance the strength and abilities of those who could harness it. However, it also attracted all kinds of demonic beasts and creatures that were drawn to its energy.

As he walked further into the mountain, the cultivator encountered numerous beasts and creatures. With his powerful swordsmanship and cultivation level, he easily defeated them one by one. But each encounter only fueled his excitement for what lay ahead.

Finally, after hours of traversing through treacherous terrain and defeating countless enemies, he arrived at a cave hidden deep within the mountain.

Without hesitation, he entered the cave and soon found himself face to face with a massive demonic beast. Its sharp claws scraped against the rocky ground as it let out a deafening roar.

But instead of being intimidated, the cultivator smiled confidently as he unsheathed his sword. He had been waiting for this moment since he entered Kunwu Mountain and now it was time to put his skills to test.

Without wasting any time, he lunged forward towards the beast with incredible speed and agility. The beast tried to strike back but its attacks were no match for the cultivator's lightning-fast sword strikes.

After what seemed like an eternity of intense battle, the cultivator emerged victorious. The beast lay dead at his feet.

The sun slowly descended on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the courtyard. Luo Tian's mind was suddenly filled with a chiming sound.

"Ding! You have completed the 'Westmount' once. Congratulations, you have obtained 20 Low Grade-spirit stones, 5 Top Grade-Qi Gathering pills and a Low Grade level 1 Sword-Cosmic Sword."

A smile spread across Luo Tian's face as he opened his eyes to see the notification. "These rewards are better than I expected," he thought. "Not only did I get valuable spirit stones and pills, but also a level 1 sword. It came just in time; I was in need of a reliable weapon." He couldn't help but feel grateful for his luck.

Luo Tian chuckled "Normally, new disciples have to use 15 sect points to purchase a sword. But I got one without spending a single point."

Luo Tian carefully brought forth the cosmic sword from his inventory, marveling at its intricate design. The blade glinted, sharp and deadly, while the golden guard added an air of elegance to the weapon. The handle, crafted from a deep, rich brown material, fit perfectly in Luo Tian's hand. As he held it up, he could feel the power emanating from the sword, ready to be wielded against any foe.

Luo Tian's fingers traced the sharp edge of his new sword, admiring its craftsmanship. "This is a good sword," he murmured in approval. Even within the scope of Low Grade level 1 weapon, it was undoubtedly the best quality.

"Now that I have a weapon, I should go out and test its performance!" he declared with determination, ready to put his new blade to use.

But just as he was about to leave, his stomach let out a loud growl. He realized with a jolt that it was already sunset - he hadn't eaten anything since he descended from the ark over 12 hours ago. As a cultivator now, his body's needs for sustenance had significantly increased compared to before.

"Looks like I should grab a bite before heading out," he chuckled to himself, feeling slightly embarrassed by his forgetfulness. He scanned the room for any food but found none. With a sigh, he headed out into the bustling streets of the city, his sword strapped securely to his back. Little did he know, this quest for food would lead him towards something else.

...

The outer court disciple area of the Profound Sword palace was very vast covering the distance of more than a hundred kilometers, and not just that according to the booklet Luo Tian read previously which contained information about the sect and its rules, the Profound Sword Palace's outer court was split into fifteen cities, corresponding to fifteen palaces'. each of the cities spanned for more than a hundred kilometers.

Out of these cities, 12 cities belonged to the 12 peaks and the outer court disciples in these cities would join the corresponding peaks the city belongs to, the only exception to this rule were the leftover 3 cities, they were made exceptions for various unknown reasons.

As Luo Tian walked towards the bustling downtown area of the outer court city, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and excitement. This was his first time in such a large and lively city since becoming a cultivator.

He passed by numerous shops and stalls, each one filled with various items including but not limited to treasures, weapons, and other cultivation resources. His eyes widened as he took in the sights.

But as much as he wanted to stop and browse through the shops, his stomach reminded him that he was on a mission for food. He quickened his pace, following the delicious smells that wafted through the streets.

Finally, after several minutes of searching, he arrived at a grand pavilion. A signboard outside proclaimed it to be the 'serene breeze pavilion'. As Luo Tian stepped inside, he noticed many disciples in outer court robes talking and eating with each other, many of the tables were already full. It seemed that the business was booming.

He scanned the room until his gaze rested on one corner of the pavilion where a single figure sat. Xie Fang! Despite being some distance away, Luo Tian could clearly make out Xie Fang's features, he must've just started eating, judging from how his plates were still full.

A man in grey servant disciple robes approached Luo Tian with a warm smile. "Welcome, young master. How may I be of assistance to you? Would you perhaps like me to guide you to an empty table?" The man's initial shock at seeing Luo Tian's otherworldly features slowly faded, although it was not uncommon for cultivators to possess exceptional looks. However, even among cultivators, Luo Tian's appearance still stood out. His handsome face had been further refined by the tempering of spiritual qi, making him even more alluring and captivating. It was no surprise that he drew attention wherever he went. the man waited for Luo Tian's response; he couldn't help but feel envious of the young cultivator's innate charm.

"No need I will dine with a friend of mine" Luo Tian responded "if that is the case, please do call me if you need" the servant disciple said and went to tend other customers.

Luo Tian quickly strode towards the table and took a seat beside him. "You came here without me," he commented casually as he gestured towards the waitress to bring him some dishes and wine.

Xie Fang smiled at him and said, "Brother Luo, it's not like that. I actually called out to you before coming here, but there was no response. I figured you must be deeply immersed in your cultivation, so I didn't want to disturb you."

"A good decision to cultivate," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "I just finished and came here as I was feeling hungry." He poured wine into two cups and handed one to Xie Fang.

"I should learn something from you," Xie Fang exclaimed, taking a sip of the rich, red liquid. "You were able to cultivate for hours without getting distracted. Oh yes, Brother Luo, I was able to sense the spiritual Qi last night. I also began to unblock my meridians after that. If everything goes well, I should be able to start breaking through to the Qi Gathering Realm in a week."

"Good guy," Luo Tian praised, genuinely impressed by his Xie Fang's progress. It had to be known that just sensing spiritual Qi took weeks for an average cultivator. And as for cleansing and unblocking blocked meridians, it could take up to a month. The exceptions were geniuses or those fortunate enough to have expert elders personally help them cleanse their meridians. Luo Tian himself was a special case, being able to start cultivating in just one day. He suspected that even in this world filled with opportunities, people like him couldn't be found everywhere like Chinese cabbages. So, the fact that Xie Fang spoke with such confidence about reaching the Qi Gathering Realm was worthy of praise.

The two friends, Luo Tian and Xie Fang, sat in a cozy corner of the bustling restaurant. The aroma of flavorful dishes filled their noses as they chatted about various topics.

After finishing their meal, the waiter brought over the bill. To Luo Tian's surprise, the food and wine only costed him 2 Sect Points. He chuckled to himself, knowing that they didn't order anything too extravagant since both of them knew as newly arrived disciples they should be saving their sect points for more important things.

Once they settled the bill, Luo Tian couldn't help but think about how he needed to start earning more sect points for himself. "I need to find a way to earn sect points," he thought inwardly.

Although he was already a cultivator and could take missions, he wanted to at least reach 2nd layer or even 3rd layer of Qi Gathering realm before taking any missions.

Xie Fang and Luo Tian came out of the serene breeze pavilion "Brother Luo," Xie Fang rubbed his belly as he said, "I plan to return to our courtyard to continue cultivating. What will you do now?"

Luo Tian nodded. "I have cultivated enough for today. I believe it is important to explore the world outside our secluded courtyard. I plan on taking a tour around the city."

Xie Fang looked surprised but then smiled, "That sounds like a good idea. Well then, we shall part ways here, brother Luo. See you back at the courtyard." He cupped his hands in respect before leaving. 

Luo Tian watched him go before standing up himself. As he stretched his limbs, he couldn't help but feel excitement at the thought of seeing the outer court city. Without any specific direction in mind, he simply followed his instincts and let his feet guide him through the bustling streets and markets.

...

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