The first light of dawn slipped through the small windows of the treehouse, brushing Li Yan’s face with a warm glow. His eyes fluttered open.

  The peaceful night’s rest had restored his strength, but his thoughts were already racing. Today marked the true beginning of his journey—awakening his elemental affinities and stepping onto the path of true strength.

  He rose from the moss bed and stretched, his muscles no longer weighed down by yesterday’s exhaustion. Yet, the memories lingered: Yao Fuhuo’s challenge of gathering a thousand Tier-1 Beast Cores, the sheer odds of success, and the trials awaiting him.

  The weight of it pressed heavily on him—but pressure was nothing new.

  The forest seemed to breathe with him. He steadied himself.

  After finishing the remaining fruits from the basket, Li Yan stepped out of the treehouse. The crisp morning breeze carried the scent of dew-drenched leaves. Birds chirped in the distance as the rays of sunlight fell across the valley.

  True to her word, Yao Fuhuo appeared as the sun rose. Her expression was calm, but her presence carried an air of expectation. "You’ve rested well, I see," she said.

  Li Yan bowed slightly in respect. "Yes, Senior Yao Fuhuo. And I’m ready to begin."

  She moved closer, extending her hand toward his forehead. Before he could speak, her finger pressed lightly between his brows.

  Li Yan had no idea what she intended, but he chose not to resist. If she meant him harm, he wouldn’t stood here.

  A thin beam of light shot from her fingertip and sank into his mind.

  His eyes widened as a rush of knowledge poured into him.

  Yao Fuhuo stepped back, her voice calm and deliberate. "I’ve transferred basic knowledge of various weapons—I don’t know which one you’ll prefer. Along with it, I’ve transferred a fragment of knowledge about using Spiritual powers."

  Li Yan blinked in surprise, his mind still adjusting.

  Before he could speak, she chuckled softly. "But remember—knowledge isn’t comprehension. To access it, you must enter your spiritual consciousness on your own. Think of it as a test… and the knowledge is a reward for you if you succeed."

  He frowned inwardly. "I was in that space once before, when I first arrived here… but I don’t know how I entered there?" He almost laughed at himself.

  "Should I follow what those novels said? No… if I make a mistake, it could cost me my life."

  He exhaled, raised his head, and asked cautiously, "Senior Yao Fuhuo, could you give me a hint? I don’t want to risk harming my soul with experiments. It’s only the start of my life here."

  Her lips curved in amusement. "You really have a way with words. Very well—a hint. Your spiritual consciousness resides in the Soul Core, in your upper dantian between your brows."

  "Just as Qi gathers in Qi Core resident within the lower dantian, your spiritual energy gathers above."

  Li Yan silently absorbed her words. "So, I simply need to focus on the Soul Core in my upper dantian instead of the Qi Core below…"

  Yao Fuhuo gave no further reply, only a knowing look. With a wave of her hand, the world around them shifted once more as Li Yan felt the familiar teleportation pressure on his body.

  They now stood upon a raised platform nestled between towering mountains—the same place where the Darkness affinity cultivators dwelled.

  Before them stretched a vast assembly: nearly two thousand figures in neat rows, from children to elders.

  Their robes varied in color—white, yellow, azure, brown, purple, black—yet each radiated the heavy aura of Darkness elemental power.

  Li Yan’s breath caught at the sheer scale of it. Their presence alone radiated discipline and power.

  The moment Yao Fuhuo and Li Yan appeared, the assembly lowered their heads in perfect unison in front of Yao Fuhuo.

  "Greetings, Goddess of Life," the crowd chorused, their voices rumbling through the whole assembly area like thunder.

  Yao Fuhuo’s gentle smile carried both warmth and authority. "Good morning, everyone. It’s good to see you again. I trust you’ve cultivated diligently."

  "Yes, Goddess!" the crowd answered in unison.

  She nodded in satisfaction, then raised her hand. "Good. Continue with your routines."

  At once, the sea of cultivators dispersed in orderly fashion, leaving only the elders—dressed in deep green and the sect leader in a crimson robe—remaining in a semicircle around Yao Fuhuo and Li Yan.

  Li Yan, standing beside Yao Fuhuo, went mostly unnoticed. Or perhaps ignored. Yao Fuhuo’s overwhelming presence entirely captured their attention.

  He didn’t mind. If anything, it reminded him of his old world. "So it really was the same everywhere. All eyes went to the brightest star."

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

  Yao Fuhuo turned toward the leader of the elders, a stern man clad in crimson robes. His sharp eyes and steady bearing carried the weight of command.

  "Ji Hong," she said evenly, "I’ll be leaving Li Yan in your care. He seeks to hone his combat skills and cultivate here until either he feels ready to move on, or until I decide he has reached the point to leave."

  She paused, and her next words rippled through the semicircle of elders like thunder. "I’ve set his task for now—to gather one thousand Tier-1 Beast Cores and break through the Qi Refining Realm."

  "I will personally verify his progress when I return. And…" her gaze lingered on Li Yan before continuing, "he holds the Darkness element, just like the rest of you."

  Gasps echoed among the elders. The task itself was formidable for a beginner. But what unsettled them more was the goddess’s personal involvement.

  Ji Hong’s eyes flickered with shock, yet his composure returned swiftly. He bowed deeply. "As you wish, Goddess. I will personally see to his care."

  Li Yan stepped forward, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect. "Many thanks, Elder Ji, for your kindness."

  But Yao Fuhuo wasn’t finished. "One more thing, Ji Hong—don’t treat Li Yan like the other kids. He is much more mature than his age suggests."

  The elders raised their brows in surprise at Yao Fuhuo’s praise of Li Yan, but no one spoke.

  Yet Li Yan’s mind raced, "Are you kidding me? Here, I’m thinking of staying low, but…"

  Yao Fuhuo turned to him one last time, her gaze softening. "Li Yan, I’ll be leaving now. Train diligently."

  Li Yan bowed again. "I will, Senior Yao Fuhuo. I won’t disappoint you."

  With a final nod, she raised her hand and vanished into the air. Silence fell over the platform, heavy and strange.

  The elders remained frozen, unsettled by the casual way this mortal had spoken to the revered goddess—and by the fact he had called her by name.

  She had even praised him.

  Li Yan noticed their bewildered expressions and, after a little thought, he allowed himself a small smile. "So that’s why they’re staring. To them, she’s untouchable."

  "To me, she’s still someone I’ve spoken with face-to-face. I suppose that makes me unusual here."

  Clearing his throat, he spoke lightly, "Elder Ji?"

  Ji Hong blinked, as though shaken from deep thought. "Ah—yes?"

  Li Yan smiled, but maintained a respectful tone. "Would it be possible if you assign someone to guide me around this place? I’d like to understand how things work here—and, of course, how to reach the Tier-1 Hunting Grounds."

  Ji Hong’s lips curved into a faint smile. "There’s no need to trouble anyone else. I’ll give you the tour myself."

  Li Yan tilted his head, polite but curious. "Elder Ji, as the leader here, surely your time is valuable. Wouldn’t it be better to send someone else?"

  Ji Hong shook his head, amused. "Nonsense. It has been far too long—perhaps the first time—that I’ve welcomed someone entrusted directly to us by the goddess."

  "And since she left you in my care, I intend to fulfill that duty properly."

  Li Yan bowed again. "Then I’ll trouble you, Elder Ji."

  "Not at all." Ji Hong’s smile held quiet warmth as he turned to the others. "You may return to your duties."

  They exchanged glances but said nothing, dispersing quietly until only Ji Hong and Li Yan remained on the platform.

  Ji Hong gestured toward the stone paths ahead, where multiple trails led to different mountains. "Come. Let me show you the way."

  The two began walking, the morning air filled with the faint clash of weapons and bursts of Qi from disciples training in the distance.

  The ground itself seemed to hum with the pulse of dark elemental energy.

  As they walked toward the largest mountain here, Ji Hong finally spoke, his tone steady but carrying an edge of pride.

  "I imagine the goddess told you a little about this place. But there’s much she didn’t explain. Beyond the fact that every one of us carries the Darkness element… and that this valley is hidden from the outside world."

  He glanced sidelong at Li Yan. "I suspect you’re curious."

  Li Yan nodded, his eyes narrowing with interest. "Very much so."

  Ji Hong smiled faintly, his pride unmistakable. "Let me tell you more about us. We are the Shadow Haven Sect (Yǐng Xū Zōng)."

  The name echoed in Li Yan’s mind as he absorbed Ji Hong’s words.

  "We have lived here for centuries, perfecting the cultivation of the Darkness element," Ji Hong continued. "This valley is our sanctuary, where we train, meditate, and grow stronger. As you saw earlier, our robes reflect a clear hierarchy."

  Li Yan nodded at the colors of the robes he already seen.

  Ji Hong pointed out patiently, "White for beginners at the Qi Gathering Realm (Qi Disciples), yellow for the next realm."

  "Then azure, brown, purple… and finally black for those who’ve broken through the Celestial Integration Realm (Qi Emperor). The elders wear green robes, and red—like mine—are reserved only for the sect leader."

  Li Yan silently committed this to memory, impressed by the clear order. The Shadow Haven Sect was no ragtag group hiding in shadows—it was a refined, disciplined community with roots that ran deep.

  Soon, they reached the base of a mountain, where a wide cave mouth yawned open.

  Ji Hong gestured for Li Yan to follow. "This tunnel leads to the core area of our sect," he explained, his voice echoing against the stone. "It has been expanded and fortified over the years."

  Their footsteps echoed against the stone walls as they walked through the ten-foot-wide passage. But after only a short distance, the tunnel opened up—and Li Yan froze in awe.

  What he had expected was a rough cavern, nothing more than crude chambers carved out of rock. Instead, he found himself at the threshold of a sprawling complex.

  The ceiling arched high above, the stone polished smooth and gleaming. The walls were carved with intricate depictions of beasts and symbols tied to the element of Darkness—an artistry that balanced beauty with intimidation.

  To the right, a grand staircase spiraled upward. Beside it, a reception desk stood where seven disciples in yellow and azure robes waited in a neat line.

  Behind the desk, a middle-aged man in black robes—his sharp blue eyes and commanding presence impossible to miss—oversaw their requests.

  To the left, ten closed doors lined the hallway, their purposes unknown. At the far end, a massive double door towered, clearly leading to somewhere of great importance.

  As Ji Hong strode forward, the disciples bowed deeply. "Greetings, Sect Leader," the disciples said in unison, their voices respectful yet restrained.

  Ji Hong acknowledged them with a small smile and a nod, and continued without pause. Li Yan followed close behind, his gaze sweeping across the orderly splendor of the sect’s core area.

  When they reached the massive double door, Ji Hong pushed it open with ease. Beyond it lay yet another sight that widened Li Yan’s eyes.

  The chamber was enormous, its high ceiling glittering with embedded crystals that shed a steady, ethereal glow.

  Rows of racks stretched endlessly, stacked with weapons and artifacts—swords, spears, bows, armor, and stranger devices Li Yan could not yet name. Each exuded an aura of power, their energies pulsing faintly in the air.