Sacred Cloud Mountain Range.
It was located on the eastern reaches of the Yuande Continent and had a history that stretched back countless years and was famous throughout the region.
This landmark was under the control of a powerful cultivator named Liu Changsheng, better known as the Heavenly Sword Patriarch.
He founded the Sacred Cloud School, a dominant sect that became one of the most prominent in Yuande Continent.
Through the cloud-covered mountains and across the rivers rich in spiritual energy…
Liu Changsheng sat on the veranda of his manor with his grandson, Liu Ming.
Liu Ming, a lively five-year-old, had short dark-brown hair, bright blue eyes, and a joyful smile on his round face.
He lay on the smooth wooden floor of the veranda, listening intently to his grandfather. To him, Liu Changsheng was a hero, the biggest figure in his life.
His grandfather was just as he pictured him──the epitome of a cultivator.
An elderly man with long white hair, he wore a flowing white robe. His face was gentle and kind, with only a few wrinkles despite his age, and his eyes shone with a piercing light.
Grinning at his grandson, Liu Changsheng said, "Ming Ming, what I'm about to teach you is very important, so listen carefully, okay?"
The little boy nodded with a carefree expression.
The elderly man smiled and continued…
"Cultivation starts with the First Order, known as the Spirit Realm. It has seven major stages: Grotto Spirit, Refined Spirit, Heavenly Grotto-Spirit, Foundation Spirit, Core Spirit, Great-Circle Spirit, and Dao Spirit realms."
He glanced at Liu Ming to ensure he was paying attention, and, as expected, his little angel was fully engaged.
The old man went on…
"By refining the spiritual gifts of heaven and the essence of earth, one can ascend to the Second Order, known as the Body Realm. This realm also has seven major stages, each granting immense physical power. But there's no point in diving too deep into it now. Otherwise, I'd have to teach you about Third Order cultivation, and even your old man doesn't know much about that."
Liu Changsheng chuckled after.
Liu Ming's eyes sparkled with excitement as he showed his toothy smile. "Wow, Grandfather, how long does it take to reach the peak of First Order cultivation? Ten days?" He hoped it was that short so he could achieve it quickly.
Liu Changsheng couldn't help but laugh at his grandson's innocence. "Reaching the peak of First Order cultivation in ten days is unheard of. Even for a genius, it would take three years just to reach the Foundation Spirit Realm!"
Liu Ming tilted his head.
There was a look on his face… like he doubted his grandfather.
"But my body tells me I can reach that in a few minutes."
He spoke with absolute certainty, as if it were an easy feat.
Liu Changsheng, taking his grandson's words seriously, replied, "Then do it."
He never joked about cultivation.
But neither did Liu Ming.
The little boy sat in a meditative position and formed a unique hand seal that immediately catching Liu Changsheng's attention. He had never taught him this, so seeing it was refreshing; it meant the boy had been studying on his own.
Soon, a small aura of spiritual energy began vibrating from Liu Ming's body, producing a calm ringing noise. The spiritual aura steadily increased, and Liu Changsheng could feel the growing pressure of his grandson's spiritual energy.
The elderly man folded his arms and grinned.
"Heh! It seems you have excellent talent for cultivation. I suspected it, but now I have all the confirmation I need. If you continue on this path, perhaps in a few months you'll reach Peak Grotto Spir──!"
His words trailed off as he realized they no longer made sense.
"Wait… you've already broken through the Grotto Spirit Realm?!"
Liu Ming didn't stop his meditation.
Instead, he drew in more spiritual energy like a camel drinking water.
With each passing second, Liu Changsheng's eyes widened further.
"Peak Grotto Spirit?!"
"Refined Spirit Realm?!"
"H-, Heavenly Grotto-Spirit Realm?!"
He jerked forward in shock.
"Ming Ming, you just broke through two realms in succession and stabilized your cultivation base without any bottlenecks!"
The old man's mouth fell open as he squealed like a little girl.
MID HEAVENLY GROTTO-SPIRIT!
With that, the powerful surge of spiritual energy surrounding Liu Ming dissolved, and he exhaled softly. The boy then placed a hand on his chest and sighed, "Grandfather, I'm sorry I couldn't break through to Foundation Spirit."
Instead of congratulating his little angel, Liu Changsheng wept tears of joy. "Oh, my grandson, you are an act of providence. I love you so much~"
Liu Ming held his head in his hands and cried.
"NOOOO! Grandfather's crying, he's disappointed in me!"
━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━
Thirteen years later.
As a child, Liu Ming showed great promise and people thought he'd become a top genius or a formidable Daoist master.
But reality was different.
Liu Ming was just an ordinary young man leading a very ordinary life.
Every morning, he'd wake up early, before the sun even came up, in his simple cottage on the edge of a quiet village called Clear Water Village. His place was surrounded by fields full of rare herbs.
Despite his good looks and the potential he once had, Liu Ming chose a calm and simple path. He'd start his day with some exercises to balance his energy, doing basic Tai Chi moves. One could even hear leaves rustling and birds chirping softly in the background as he moved. Even though he wasn't aiming to become some super cultivator anymore, Liu Ming still felt connected to the Dao through these routines.
After his exercises, he'd take care of his herb garden.
Clear Water Village might be small and unknown, but the soil was great for growing medicinal plants, thanks to a perfect little climate.
Liu Ming knew more about herbs than anyone around.
He'd carefully look after each plant, checking leaves, trimming stems, and tending to the soil like it was second nature. The smell of herbs like ginseng, goji berries, and lingzhi mushrooms always put his mind at ease.
The villagers trusted him a lot.
They'd often come to him for advice and remedies.
He'd listen to their problems patiently and then offer them simple herbal mixtures that actually worked. Also, his kind words did wonders for them.
"Ahh~ I'm finally finished!"
With a bright smile, Liu Ming dusted his hands, picked up his large basket of herbs, and slung it over his back. Straightening his pale blue jinbei, he started walking back to his small home.
As he walked along the path through tall grasses that reached his shoulders, other villagers greeted him warmly.
"Morning, Liu Ming!"
"Oho~ Liu Ming, how was the harvest this fine morning?!"
"You look as handsome as ever. Haha, you know, you're already of age to marry my precious daughter!"
Liu Ming chuckled nervously and waved at them, continuing his walk through the vast fields.
A small group of women saw him, and literal red hearts sparkled in their eyes.
"EEEEEK~! Isn't that Darling Liu?"
"Wow~ he looks handsome as ever. What I wouldn't give to become his wife."
"He's the most educated and hardworking man in this village. I'm certain he'll become a respected political figure, and we won't be worth his time."
"Shhh! You're always so naive. It's silly to think like that… Yes, he's unbelievably handsome, but it's not like the solution to his problems will just fall from the heavens!"
As if to mock her words, the skies suddenly darkened. Powerful rumbles echoed as lightning flashed through thick, dark clouds. Everyone in Clear Water Village looked up at the sky, sensing an impending storm.
"Hm?" Liu Ming murmured.
Suddenly, the skies tore open, and from a great path of white light carved through the dark clouds, a woman emerged… an Immortal beauty!
Su Yan…
That was the name of the attractive young woman who seemed incredibly mature.
She had the appearance of an extremely attractive woman, possessing huge, round breasts and a large, plump backside that could turn heads. Her long brown hair flowed like silk down to her buttocks, framing a face as round and fair as a full moon. Despite her cold expression, there was a sense of holiness about her, as if she hailed from a divine realm. Her beauty was mesmerizing yet not imposing, much like a celestial fairy or a flawless immortal peach.
Wrapped in a snug red Daoist robe, every curve of her voluptuous body popped out, displaying a charm that captivated all who beheld her.
Su Yan opened her mouth and spoke, "I am Su Yan, a disciple of the Sacred Cloud School. I have come here on the orders of the Great Demon Immortal Dragon Emperor, Maomao."
The title sounded significant, but the villagers just stared blankly, the silence growing louder.
Liu Ming showed a hint of familiarity but remained silent.
Su Yan's expression changed from emotionless to mildly surprised.
'Has our sect really fallen this far? Nobody even knows the name of our interim sect master, even though he claims he's famous in every cultivation world in the Lower Regions.'
She sighed and continued, "I have come here to retrieve the grandson of the Heavenly Sword Patriarch and Young Master of the Sacred Cloud School, Liu Ming."
To her surprise, that name resonated with the villagers.
Immediately, all eyes turned to Liu Ming.
That gesture was enough for Su Yan to identify him. Her cold gaze fell on the ordinary-looking Liu Ming, and her eyebrows rose. She was surprised by how much he resembled her revered patriarch, Liu Changsheng. She hadn't seen him in his younger days, but she had seen several paintings of him.
'Hrmm, but his cultivation level is still only Mid Heavenly Grotto-Spirit. Even though that's impressive, the way Sect Father always talked about him made it seem like he was a genius above everyone else. Still, I shouldn't judge too quickly. I remember Sect Father saying he only let him cultivate for a year before sending him here.'
The villagers whispered among themselves, casting curious side-glances at Liu Ming.
"Wow, I always knew Liu Ming was special, but I never thought it would be something this significant."
"Yeah, if a sect is interested in him, he must be really talented!"
"He should get engaged to my daughter before he starts his cultivation journey. It would greatly benefit my bloodline!"
"Ha! Even if he did, it wouldn't make you important at all!"
There were already several speculations and pieces of gossip flying back and forth.
Naturally, Su Yan ignored the mortals. Her only interest was in the man she came here to find. "Are you Liu Ming, the grandson of Patriarch Heavenly Sword?" she asked.
Liu Ming's face instantly shifted to one of complete hatred.
His eyes filled with venom as he stared back at Su Yan.
"No. I'm nobody to him."
With that, he started walking away, ignoring the beauty floating in the sky above him.
Of course, Su Yan wasn't planning to let him simply leave.
She descended towards Liu Ming, allowing the villagers to get a better look at her appearance.
She was practically glowing, with skin as smooth as jade and as fair as the first snowflake on a mountain.
"Our Sacred Cloud School is declining, and we need you to help us maintain relevance among the Five Great Sects, or we'll be forced into submission." Su Yan's words were gentle but carried a sense of urgency.
Liu Ming, however, didn't even bat an eye at her plea and continued walking.
Su Yan's frustration was evident as she squeezed her fists tightly, feeling the urge to hit something. "Do you not care about your sect?" she asked, her voice firm.
Liu Ming still didn't look back. He simply waved and said, "To be honest, I'm happy that old bastard's sect is declining. That's the best news I've heard in the last twelve years."
Su Yan's phoenix-like eyes widened at Liu Ming's disrespectful words. Her fingers unfurled from her fists but were so stiff they looked like claws.
"That 'old bastard' you speak so ill of has gone missing…"
Liu Ming's body stopped moving despite his mind screaming at him to leave. He turned to get a better look at Su Yan and asked, "Wh-, what do you mean he's gone missing?"
Su Yan's normally elegant and composed features turned worried.
"We haven't seen him in the last three years. He left without a word, and not even the pillars of the sect know where he could have gone. We tried to consult the Sacred Hall, but it's been sealed, along with most parts of the Sacred Cloud Mountain Range."
"That doesn't make any sense!" Liu Ming shouted back.
Su Yan remained unfazed. "If you think so, then come with me. I refuse to say more to someone unwilling to help their own sect."
Liu Ming hesitated. Unsure of what to say, he exhaled to clear his head and relax his nerves before making a decision.
"Alright, take me there."
Su Yan nodded, and suddenly, they were flying.
The villagers didn't even see when Su Yan moved or when she and Liu Ming vanished.
It felt like a frame skip.
Now, Su Yan and Liu Ming were flying together on a sword through a sea of clouds.
The ground was far below.
Such a sight drained the blood from Liu Ming's face. It had been so long since he'd done this that he was no longer used to it. He dropped immediately his basket of herbs and grabbed onto Su Yan's round waist.
"──?!!"
Su Yan was immediately surprised.
She perked up when his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, though she didn't know whether to hit him or ignore him.
Liu Changsheng had always taught her that if any man touched her inappropriately, they should be dead seconds later. However, he hadn't taught her how to react if his grandson touched her that way.
"Hrmm…" she uttered, feeling a bit at a loss.
"Is there a problem?" Liu Ming asked with innocent eyes.
Su Yan shook her head and faced forward. "No." Her response was dry and barely carried any weight.
Soon, they reached the Sacred Cloud School, deep within the Sacred Cloud Mountain Range. A strange mist pervaded the air, and four huge stone statues flanked the gate, two on each side. They resembled asura statues.
Liu Ming was surprised to see that there wasn't a single disciple around, not even a guard at the gates.
It looked vastly different from twelve years ago.
This comparison made Liu Ming frown.
"You can see it... right?" Su Yan asked solemnly.
Liu Ming responded sadly, "Y-, yes..."
Su Yan didn't say anything more and increased the sword's speed, making it fly even faster. They moved like a beam of light across the Sacred Cloud School.
So far, they had flown past six mountains, and Liu Ming realized that during his absence, his grandfather had expanded the sect. This made him even more curious about what had happened.
'The more I try to figure out why Grandfather disappeared, the more confused I get. Considering how it's expanded, the sect was obviously doing well. Even if he wanted to pursue his cultivation in a higher cultivation world, he could've at least said something first. It's really not like him.'
He was starting to look worried.
'What's really surprising is how the sect fell apart in just three years. Weren't there other patriarchs or a sect master? Don't these disciples care about the sect at all?'
Hrmm~
Before long, they arrived.
Ancient Script Mountain.
Su Yan adjusted the angle of the sword until they were descending straight down.
Despite their arrival, Liu Ming was still tightly gripping her waist.
Su Yan gave him a side-eye, not out of anger or irritation, but because it was the easiest way to look at him from her position.
"Hm?" Liu Ming uttered. "We've arrived?"
Su Yan nodded, then glanced down at where he was holding her waist.
Liu Ming followed her gaze and realized. "Oh?!" He immediately jumped off the sword, putting some distance between them. "I'm sorry. I forgot!"
Su Yan gracefully stepped off her sword and sheathed it. "It's fine," she said.
Looking around, this place didn't look familiar to Liu Ming.
"Hmm, so… where are we?" he asked.
Su Yan started walking forward. "It's one of the few mountains that wasn't sealed after Sect Father's disappearance."
"Sect Father?" Liu Ming raised an eyebrow.
"Forget about that. We're going to meet with Sect Master Maomao."
"Oh, he's the Great Drag…"
Su Yan interjected, "Great Demon Immortal Dragon Emperor. Get it right."
"Uh… sure."
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