Chapter 06: Interweaving Realms: The Transition from Mortal to Cultivation World.

"That boy is indeed not simple, if nothing else at least he has more guts than the rest" elder Tian Ping said in a tone that was filled with a little amazement. 

Elder Yu Hui regarded the scene with a knowing nod, his gaze following Luo Tian as he walked away. "Indeed, his demeanor belies a depth of experience and understanding beyond his years. His actions were calculated, measured. It's as though he's lived through countless battles and confrontations." 

Elder Xuan Zhen chimed in; his amber eyes still fixed on Luo Tian's retreating figure. "His response displayed a wisdom that goes beyond his age. The way he dissected and defused Xiao Honghui's accusations revealed an astute mind at work." 

Elder Zhuo Ren's calm voice joined the conversation, "And yet, it's fascinating how he managed to do so without escalating the situation unnecessarily. His control over his power and emotions is commendable." 

Amidst their observations, Elder Tian Ping's gaze lingered on the leaving silhouette of Luo Tian, his thoughts deep in contemplation. "This confrontation has revealed a little about Luo Tian's character and capabilities. But what's even more intriguing is the attention it has garnered from the other disciples. The way they reacted to his display of strength." 

Elder Xuan Zhen nodded in agreement, "Indeed, the disciples are now witnessing firsthand that strength and cultivation are not just about the grade of one's spiritual root. Luo Tian's actions have disrupted their assumptions and planted seeds of doubt." 

As the elders continued their analysis, the scene before them gradually returned to a state of uneasy chatter among the disciples. The weight of Luo Tian's actions continued to linger, casting a shadow over the interactions that followed. In the wake of his confrontation, the once-boisterous atmosphere had shifted, leaving behind an undercurrent of uncertainty. 

Observing Luo Tian's departure, the elders exchanged a knowing glance. 

And so, amidst the backdrop of a rapidly changing narrative, the elders' gaze remained fixed on the enigma that was Luo Tian, a young disciple whose actions had ignited a spark of transformation. 

… 

Luo Tian remained oblivious to the assessments that his actions had triggered among the esteemed elders, he didn't think a mere child fight between some nameless mortal disciples will garner the attention of elders. Unbeknownst to him, the elders who had observed the confrontation held positions of great authority within the Profound Sword Palace. Each of their decisions influenced the fates of countless disciples, and the events they witnessed today were no exception. 

The significance of these elders' deliberations was beyond Luo Tian's comprehension. As far as he was concerned, he was weary from the recent commotion and sought a moment of respite. Tapping into the ranks of servant disciples, he beckoned one of them to guide him to a place of rest. 

The ark itself was an impressive structure, spanning a vast expanse that stretched far beyond Luo Tian's initial estimation. The sheer magnitude of the ark was awe-inspiring, the very embodiment of the Profound Sword Palace's grandeur. Within its sprawling layout, a multitude of facilities catered to the needs of its occupants. 

There were the open decks, where disciples could bask in the open air and witness the breathtaking scenery beyond the confines of the ark. The resting areas provided a haven for those seeking solace or casual conversations. Private rooms offered a semblance of privacy for more intimate discussions or personal time. Bars allowed for relaxation and socialization, while training areas beckoned those yearning to hone their martial skills. 

Despite these enticing options, Luo Tian's current status as a newly selected disciple limited his access to only a portion of these facilities. He could freely traverse the resting areas, where disciples could unwind and find a semblance of peace. The open decks granted a glimpse of the expansive world outside the ark's walls. Lastly, the disciple quarters, a humble yet personal space, provided a haven for each individual cultivator. 

Luo Tian's exhaustion was palpable as he finally entered his own disciple quarters. The space was modest, yet comfortably furnished, serving as his sanctuary within the grandeur of the ark. He let out a deep breath, feeling the tension of the day slowly dissipate. A sense of solitude enveloped him, offering a reprieve from the prying eyes of the outside world. 

The walls bore no ornate decorations. A simple desk sat against one wall, offering a space for study or reflection. A bed, inviting in its simplicity, stood opposite, ready to provide a well-deserved rest. The air held a hint of tranquility, a haven that Luo Tian welcomed. 

As he settled into the calm of his disciple quarters, Luo Tian allowed his thoughts to drift. He recalled the events of the day, from the spiritual qualification test to the confrontation with Xiao Honghui. His mind replayed each interaction, analyzing the reactions and motivations of those around him. 

Beyond his closed door, the ark continued to bustle with activity. The conversations of fellow disciples, the footsteps of servant disciples, and the hum of the environment outside were a reminder of the world he was now a part of. It was a world of intricate hierarchies, power dynamics, and hidden agendas. 

But for now, within the sanctuary of his disciple quarters, Luo Tian found a moment of reprieve. The events of the day had left an indelible mark, and the road ahead promised challenges and discoveries yet unknown. As his eyes closed and fatigue finally began to overtake him, his thoughts remained focused on the unfolding journey that lay ahead within the grand world of cultivation. 

Like this the first night of the journey to the Profound Sword Palace came to an end. 

…

BOOM!

The reverberating sound of an explosive thundered throughout the ark, instantly shaking the beds in the disciples' quarter.

Luo Tian was jolted awake from his slumber and nearly thrown off his bed due to the tremors. He sat up abruptly and took in a deep breath. His anxious mind raced at the possibilities that could have produced such a loud boom. 

"An earthquake? But we're in the middle of the clouds, how can there be an earthquake? I must go out to investigate, but I hope nothing too serious has happened."

by the time he donned his robes almost 15 minutes had passed, wasting no more time he quickly rushed out of his room.

...

The sound of a creaking door echoed, and Luo Tian emerged from his quarters. It had been several days since he and the other newly chosen disciples had set foot on the ark. They had left behind their homeland, the Quilong Kingdom, crossing vast distances and route to their enigmatic destination, the Profound Sword Palace. 

"After almost a week here, I reckon the Profound Sword Palace must be getting closer," Luo Tian thought to himself. 

His musings led him to the ark's deck, where his presence stirred whispers among the crowd of disciples. 

"Look, it's him." 

"That's the guy who took down young master Xiao Honghui." 

"I heard the elders got wind of it, but they didn't make a big fuss. They treated it like a minor squabble between us disciples." 

Amidst his arrival, murmurs swirled around him like a quiet storm. 

Unlike before, when their glances were filled with scorn, this time the eyes that met his held reverence and a touch of fear. 

This shift had followed his defeat of Xiao Honghui. However, it wasn't merely the victory itself that prompted this change. Luo Tian had gone beyond that; he had broken the guy's bones and publicly humiliated him. 

This display sent a clear message even to those with ordinary spiritual roots. No one should underestimate him. As a result, those with mortal-grade spiritual roots were wary, while even the earth-grade individuals kept their distance. 

Something else to consider was the elders' response. After returning from their absence during Luo Tian's showdown with Xiao Honghui, they didn't intervene much. They issued a warning and left it at that. 

Luo Tian wondered why no one was talking about the strange tremor they felt before. As he walked around, the conversations varied some were even focused on his previous fight with Xiao Honghui but not the tremor. He began to notice that everyone appeared relaxed; their faces void of any anxiety or fear - as if he was the only one who had felt the tremor.

"Hm," he thought, 'this makes one thing clear - whatever caused that tremor wasn't a threat to us. Otherwise, these spineless brats wouldn't be so calm.' The expression on the disciples faces confirmed this for Luo Tian and made him feel relieved; at least now he knew their ark was still safe.

'Maybe I should ask someone regarding that' Luo Tian's narrowing eyes swept the crowd in front of him, eventually resting on a disciple with average features and short black hair.

Luo Tian slowly strode towards the trembling disciple. The disciple had witnessed Luo Tian's brutish power when he fought Xiao Honghui and was now petrified at the sight of Luo Tian advancing on him. With an unsteady stutter, the disciple managed to say "Ehh, greetings, fellow disciple…" before Luo Tian could even utter a word.

The acrid smell of fear permeated the air as the disciple fidgeted under Luo Tian's unfaltering gaze. Every part of his body screamed run, but he kept his ground. His heart raced as if it were about to burst through his chest while tiny droplets of sweat formed on his forehead. He prayed for this encounter to come to an end soon.

Luo Tian observed the trembling disciple carefully and thought to himself, 'Does he think I'm some sort of devil? Why is he so scared?' He then smiled lightly at the disciple and said, "Greetings, fellow disciple. I was asking if you also felt a mild tremor a few moments ago?"

The disciple immediately calmed down on seeing Luo Tian's courteousness. He took a deep breath and replied, "Yes, all of us here felt the tremor. But one of the deacons presents assured us that there was nothing to fear, and it was just caused by something we passed through. We were told that more details about this occurrence would be revealed by the elders later." His expression changed to one of relief as he muttered to himself, 'Thank goodness - I was really worked up over nothing.'

"Good," he said, relief washing over him. "I thought we were in danger when that tremor nearly sent me flying from my bed." He tried to lighten the mood with a weak joke accompanied by an awkward chuckle, while casting a furtive glance at Luo Tian. 

The disciple replied without noticing the tension, "Actually not just you…we all felt it. I was literally thrown out of my bed."

Emboldened by the small exchange, another disciple chipped in, "Same thing happened to me!" 

Before long, more disciples hopped into the conversation and soon enough. Soon they were all talking at once, the prior fear now replaced by an intense curiosity. Luo Tian grinned inwardly; his plan to reduce his image as a cold and domineering person was working perfectly.

Although it was important for him to appear stern before this new assembly of people whom he did not know, it didn't mean that he wanted to be so intimidatingly austere that even glancing at him would make them tremble. Thus, he decided that he needed to employ communication as a tool to get closer and more familiar with everyone before venturing forth into the Profound Sword Palace.

... 

"All disciples, assemble on the deck!" A deacon's booming voice cut through the air. this halted Luo Tian's and other disciples' conversation. 

"Ugh, I was enjoying the conversation. but now that it is time to gather at the deck, ley's go the elders would be reveling why we almost fell on our faces" a disciple said while grinning.

the other disciples hearing him laughed "Ha, Ha, ha. No kidding. let's go to the deck we should at least know why we were almost thrown out of our own bed."

"We should also be nearing the Profound Sword Palace."

"Let's go fellow disciple Luo Tian" said the disciple with short black hair, his name was Xie Fang.

Xie Fang, hailed from a small village nestled in the foothills of the Misty Peaks of the langue kingdom, it was another one of the numerous mortal kingdoms under the rule of the Profound Sword palace, he had a rather ordinary upbringing. Born into a family of farmers, he spent his early years helping tend to the fields and animals, he had a simple rural life. The village, far removed from the bustling cities and prestigious Cultivation families, had little to offer in terms of martial training or education, let alone immortal cultivation.

Despite the lack of grandeur in his background, Xie Fang harbored an unassuming passion for the art of the sword. In his spare time, he would fashion makeshift wooden swords and practice basic techniques he had observed from passing travelers. His fascination with the sword was met with skepticism from his family, who saw little practicality in such pursuits for a farmer's son.

However, fate took an unexpected turn when a wandering martial artist, impressed by Xie Fang's determination and the genuine love for the sword, offered him some basic guidance, the wandering martial artist also thought him about the stories of free immortals, powerful gods and demons, of powerful sword cultivators. This encounter lit a spark within Xie Fang, igniting a desire to explore the world beyond his village, beyond his kingdom even, he didn't want to just pursue the path of martial artist he wanted to go beyond that and pursue the path of immortal cultivation.

Determined to improve his strength and become an immortal cultivator, Xie Fang left his village and embarked on a journey across the kingdom, he didn't know where this journey would lead him, but he wanted to still go on a journey no matter where he would end up at, at least it wouldn't be this backward village. His travels were humble, marked by encounters with various mentors who imparted fragments of knowledge regarding swords upon him, but he still remained a simple, unassuming disciple of the sword.

During his journey, Xie Fang heard whispers of the disciple assessment ceremony of the Profound Sword Palace, a place where one could learn to refine spiritual Qi and start their cultivation journey, a place where he could learn the true meaning of the word 'swordsman'. Intrigued by the prospect of starting his immortal cultivation and breaking apart his mortal shackles, of honing his swords skills further as a majestic sword cultivator, he decided to join the disciple recruitment ceremony.

His fortune was great, as he had been found to possess a spiritual root of peak mortal grade. While his talent paled in comparison to disciples like Zhang Ying who possessed an Earth grade spiritual root, it still granted him access to the journey of immortal cultivation.

While talking earlier Luo Tian had gotten to know quite a few disciples and he also talked a little about himself.

In a matter of minutes, the deck teemed with eager disciples. The deacon was conspicuously absent, leaving them to chat among themselves. 

Their conversations floated through the air. Most discussions revolved around the previous tremor now.

'Is it just me or the air feels more...alive now' Luo Tian thought inwardly.

Swish! 

Suddenly, the sound of air being sliced apart drew their attention as deacons and elders emerged onto the deck. 

The disciples all over the deck quit down and looked at the elders that walked in front of everyone. 

Unlike previously when Luo Tian only saw elder Yu Hui and the deacons, this time all the elders that were escorting the disciple different regions also stood side by side with elder Yu Hui.

Ahem, ahem, Elder Yu Hui cleared his throat, his voice commanding attention. "I want all you disciples to grasp this moment—soon, we'll step foot into the great world of Cultivation." 

"Beyond the boundaries of mundane nations," he continued, his words resonating with weight. 

Elder Yu Hui's voice echoed through the tranquil deck of the ark "The tremor you felt before, was because the mortal continent you lived on was merely one of dozens of small islands ruled by Profound Sword Palace," Elder Yu Hui said, "these so-called 'mortal worlds' are divided from the cultivation world by a natural boundary domain. They are referred to as 'mortal islands', as the concentration of spiritual Qi within these boundaries is too low to allow for any immortal cultivation that is also the reason the people within the mortal 'world' follow the martial path. However, judging from your reaction just now, it seems that you have already noticed how much denser and more pleasant the spiritual Qi here is compared to what you were used to back in the mortal world."

"But from now on, you will tread the path of immortal cultivation," Elder Yu Hui proclaimed, igniting a chorus of excited exclamations among the disciples. At last, they were on the brink of becoming true cultivators. 

The chatter of the new Disciples filled the deck, every disciple was excited to explore the vast cultivation world.

Xie Fang also began to talk with Luo Tian, telling him what he wanted to do after they get to the Profound Sword Palace. He said, "I want to learn how to refine spiritual Qi and venture out into the wild, I heard that cultivation world has many fierce beasts with boundless might, after we become a true cultivator, we can also go to hunt beasts. I want to use those fierce beasts to sharpen my sword."

Luo Tian nodded in agreement as he felt Xie Fang's determination. Xie Fang continued "If I can reach a higher level of cultivation, even if I don't have an innate talent like senior sister Zhang Ying and others, then I'm sure I can make something of myself too!"

Seeing everyone so excited and filled with motivation, Xie Fang smiled warmly as he thought back on his own journey here. It was time for him to fully embrace his destiny as a sword cultivator!

Swordplay was his obsession, and that obsession had led him from his humble village to the grandeur of Profound Sword palace, from a world of mere mortals to the infinite realm of cultivation. 

… 

As the elders continued to converse, their words wove a tapestry of intricate knowledge about the world of cultivation. With each passing moment, the disciples' understanding expanded, and the veil that shrouded the fabled boundaries of the Profound Sword Palace began to lift. A sense of anticipation hung in the air, mingling with the growing realization of the immense journey that lay ahead. 

The Profound Sword Palace, a grandeur beyond mortal comprehension, revealed itself as a celestial edifice. Crowned atop a sacred mountain range, its towering spires and meticulously crafted architecture reached toward the heavens. 

Lands unfurled beneath its dominion, stretching over hundreds of miles in a sprawling tapestry of mountains. Rolling foothills gave way to serene valleys, and ancient forests whispered secrets to those who listened. The very essence of profound energies interwove with the beauty of nature, creating a harmonious blend that evoked both tranquility and power. 

The architecture of the Profound Sword Palace was a marvel in itself. Its Celestial Palace in the center of a gigantic city, a testament to the sect's might, ascending the mountainsides are a dance of interconnected halls, pagodas, and pavilions. This fusion of human ingenuity and divine inspiration captured not only the eye but also the essence of the spirit. 

Within its expansive grounds, diverse training arenas catered to the needs of every disciple's journey. Those who sought mastery over the sword roamed through meditation gardens, while students of elemental arts found solace beside reflective lakes. Grand pagoda's held ancient scriptures, and vast dueling arenas resonated with the symphony of clashing blades. 

The Pillars of Wisdom, also known as the wall of fame, towering to the sky, bore the weight of accumulated lore. As guardians of the sect's legacy, they stood as monolithic embodiments of profound insights. Each pillar held the teachings of past masters, waiting for the worthy seekers who would unlock their wisdom and shape their destinies. 

The Profound Sword Palace was a stage where factions and clans intertwined their stories. The northern reaches housed the Frost Sword Clan, masters of ice-attuned arts, while the southern expanses thrived with the Flame sword mountain, flames a testament to their mastery of fire. There were many such factions, and all these factions wove an intricate tapestry of alliances and rivalries, they were all the core vassals of the Profound Sword Palace and held important positions within it, forging the very destiny of the sect itself. 

Guiding the Profound Sword Palace were its revered elders, paragons of cultivation who had transcended mortal boundaries. Their presence was both a grounding force and a beacon of wisdom, nurturing the sect's grandeur through their guidance and protection. 

At the summit of the Celestial Palace stood the Celestial Observatory, where disciples communed with stars and skies. It was a place of astral patterns and prophetic destinies, a compass guiding cultivator along their paths of enlightenment. 

Within the surrounding lands, the Profound Sword Palace stood as a beacon of boundless potential. Its expansive grounds became a canvas for trials, its architecture a testament to the grandeur of cultivation, and its teachings a melody harmonizing with heaven and earth. Here, within these vast borders, mortals traversed the bridge between earth and heaven, embracing their destiny as cultivators of the extraordinary. And as the elders continued to share their insights, the disciples' excitement grew, for they were on the cusp of entering this realm of wonders and ascending to new heights of power and enlightenment. 

'This is where my journey will begin' Luo Tian muttered as he gazed at the territory of the profound sword palace which spanned too unknown. 

[Ding! Detected the host has entered a place rich with spiritual Qi] 

[Booting the Immortal Cultivation System...] 

To be continued... 

… 

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