Yu Xuan and the others stepped onto the floating continent, their eyes widening in awe.
The scene before them was breathtaking.
Endless mountains hung in the sky like inverted peaks.
Spirit rivers coiled across the landscape like silver dragons, feeding lakes that shimred with ethereal hues.
Vast palaces stood suspended on floating platforms, grander than any kingdom they had ever known.
On the way, Yu Xuan noticed other bubbles arriving one after another—each containing participants from different realms, backgrounds, and races.
With a soft pop, the bubble around them gently exploded into a fine mist and vanished.
The first thing Yu Xuan noticed was the air itself — denser, richer, humming with vitality.
His gaze landed on droplets clinging to a nearby lotus leaf.
They sparkled like dew... but pulsed faintly.
"Condensed spiritual energy?" he thought. "Even the moisture here is like a treasure."
More bubbles descended nearby, one by one releasing other successful cultivators — humans and non-humans alike.
He even saw elves, scaled beings, even a few creatures that looked like walking crystal statues.
And then, just as the last group landed—
Tianling, the artifact spirit, appeared before them once again.
Hovering lazily in the air, arms crossed, he wore that ever-present smirk.
"Congratulations, everyone!" he announced. "You’ve officially beco entry disciples of the Heaven Immortal Sect!"
The crowd stirred.
So cheered. Others simply looked around, stunned.
But Tianling wasn’t finished.
"There are a few things you need to know before you get too comfortable."
His voice took on a more serious tone.
"First, this domain, this mini-realm, won’t remain in the lower realm forever. The maximum duration allowed is ten years. That’s all the ti you get before this place ascends to the upper realm. So—don’t slack off."
Whispers broke out among the crowd.
Ten years? That was both long and short. Depending on how one used it.
"Second, this is one of the richest spiritual environnts you’ll ever experience. If you can’t improve your cultivation here, then you may as well give up. There won’t be a second chance like this in your world."
"Third, although you’re now considered entry disciples, your true status isn’t solidified yet. The 10 Heaven Peaks will evaluate your potential. So of you may be selected as disciples. Others... well, I won’t say but if you’re very unlucky, you might not get selected at all."
The crowd tensed.
"Fourth and a surprise! There are already senior disciples here."
A few jaws dropped.
"Yes, yes, I know. We didn’t tell you earlier. It was funnier that way. So are from the immortal realms. You might be able to befriend them. And if you do — well, after ascending in future you might get a backing as well."
Tianling winked, then pointed toward a crystal standing nearby — about the height of a grown man, smooth and transparent like flawless glass.
"Lastly, that’s your registration crystal. Place your palm on it. It will generate your disciple dallion and assign a temporary residence. It will also suggest which of the 13 peaks you are most compatible with, based on your talents."
People were already beginning to move toward it.
But Tianling’s tone turned a little heavy — just for a mont.
"Now... a warning."
He floated higher, eyes narrowed slightly.
"Don’t cause trouble. While the true elders and top-tier disciples can’t descend into lower realms... their clones can, not everyone is present but so are."
The entire crowd froze.
"If you provoke the wrong person... well, you might die before you even understand what you did wrong."
A cold wind seed to blow through the crowd despite the warmth of the land.
Tianling clapped his hands, cheerful again.
"Alright! That’s it. Shoo! Go on, don’t waste my ti."
And just like that—he vanished.
Leaving behind hundreds of baffled, anxious, and eager new disciples.
***
Standing before the towering transparent crystals, Yu Xuan narrowed his eyes.
There weren’t just a few of them.
There were hundreds, arranged neatly in rows, almost like a gathering of quest boards in so beginner’s village.
Each crystal stood quietly. Their surfaces were smooth and pristine, reflecting the newly arrived disciples in the fragnts.
Yu Xuan muttered to himself, "Looks like a newbie checkpoint from an MMO..."
But he had to admit — it was good.
With so many people arriving from different places and races, at least no one had to queue up for days just to get started.
Around him stood the remaining disciples of the Yu Clan: Lin Fan, Mo Lin, Yu Xueqing, Yu Bo, Yu Hao, Yu Zhen, Ming Tiani, and his sister, Yu Lingluo.
They, too, were observing the crystals with a mix of interest and caution.
Yu Xueqing broke the silence first. "Should we move?"
She gestured toward a few people who had already begun placing their hands on the crystals.
"I don’t think so," Ming Tiani replied calmly, folding her arms, very well knowing the outco but still arguing because she was bored.
Yu Lingluo frowned. "But everyone’s exhausted from the trials. Wouldn’t it be better to get it over with now and rest afterward?"
"We should at least observe the others a bit more," Tiani argued. "There might be hidden tests. This is a sect from the Immortal Realm, after all."
Yu Bo nodded. "Makes sense. You never know what if the crystals explode or drain our blood or ask for weird secret questions?"
"...That’s oddly specific," Mo Lin said, eyeing him sideways.
Yu Hao crossed his arms. "Waiting won’t hurt. We’ll know if there’s danger."
"But while you’re all being cautious," Yu Xuan interjected, "there are tis in life when hesitation is the real trap."
He gave them a aningful nod, clearly drawing from years of Earth-based internet wisdom.
"Opportunities don’t wait. Cultivation doesn’t wait. Sotis, you have to jump in — especially when your competition is hundreds of other geniuses from dozens of realms."
Mo Lin raised a brow. "And what if we jump into a trap, Young Master?"
Yu Zhen added dryly, "Then we die heroically."
Yu Xuan shrugged. "A glorious mistake is still better than a cowardly regret."
"That’s debatable," Ming Tiani said.
Lingluo huffed. "Why don’t we just vote?"
The group exchanged glances.
"Alright," Yu Xueqing said. "Raise your hand if you think we should go now."
Yu Xuan raised his hand imdiately, unsurprisingly.
Lin Fan joined him after a beat, followed by Yu Hao and Mo Lin.
Yu Xueqing, Ming Tiani, Yu Zhen, and Yu Lingluo hesitated... but then slowly raised their hands too.
"Wow, was it pointless?" Yu Xuan blinked.
Mo Lin snorted. "We just didn’t want to listen to your speech again."
The group chuckled, and the tension eased.
"Then let’s go," Yu Xuan said with a grin.
Together, the disciples of the Yu Clan stepped forward toward the glowing crystals ready to begin the next Chapter of their cultivation journey.
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