Volume One: Storms Over the Small Town Chapter 18: Convergence of Fates

Zhang Heng asked, “When will the next disappearance of the spatial turbulence occur?”

Beep. In three months’ time.

“There are still three months left, so why the rush?” Zhang Heng replied, exasperated.

Beep. The cultivators of the Immortal Realm live for a thousand or two thousand years. Sometimes, a single session of cultivation can last decades. Three months is but the blink of an eye to them.

“Then does that mean my first mission is complete?” Zhang Heng asked. His uncle had always treated him well; there had never been any need to curry favor with him in the first place.

Beep. Yes.

“Damn, then what’s the point of this mission?”

Beep. This mission was mainly to advance the plot.

Zhang Heng, deceased at eighteen.

“So what should I do now? I’m a transmigrator, after all. If I run at the first sign of danger, isn’t that just pathetic?” Zhang Heng asked helplessly.

Beep. The host has three choices.

First, remain in the Zhang family to cultivate. The likely outcome of this choice is being captured and interrogated by a powerful figure, or being slain on the spot.

“Bah! You useless system, can’t you be reasonable? I’m not choosing this one. What’s next? This is a matter of life and death, can’t you be normal for once?”

Beep. Second, heed Zhang Qingcang’s advice and flee for your life.

“That’s too humiliating. I won’t choose that either. Hurry up, what’s the third option?”

Beep. Third, find a secluded mountain and wait to see what unfolds.

“Damn, are you trying to get me killed? There are so many spirit beasts outside. As a Body Tempering stage cultivator, I’d just be delivering myself to death. Is there no other option?”

Zhang Heng felt an urge to curse.

Beep. No.

“No? Then I’ll choose the third option,” Zhang Heng declared with resolve.

Danger and opportunity always go hand in hand. If he left the Zhang family, he could avoid the scrutiny of the powerful. And by staying near Dragon Burial Abyss, he might just get lucky in the ensuing chaos.

But the spirit beasts in the mountains remained a headache. Well, one step at a time. After all, he was the chosen one; surely fate wouldn’t have him end up as beast fodder.

Stepping out the door, Zhang Heng told Xiao Hong he was heading into the mountains for training. He tossed her a bundle of spirit stones and instructed her to prepare all the necessary supplies, then accompany him into the mountains.

Liunan City was at the very bottom rung of this world, with only a hundred thousand or so inhabitants. Cultivators were even fewer, and most were at the lowest stages.

Yet lately, this usually unnoticed little city had seen an influx of strangers.

Some powerful figures arrived openly, treading the air, while others chose to enter quietly, blending in with commoners through the city gate. But whether strong or weak, they all had the same goal: the once-in-a-century Heaven’s Gift, three months from now.

On this day, the Yue family—one of the Four Great Clans of Liunan—welcomed a group of esteemed guests. Over twenty young disciples in identical attire, each with a token at their waist inscribed with the characters “Xuantian Sect.” Every disciple wore an air of pride, and the three at their head were especially imposing, their demeanor filled with disdain for the people and matters of this small place.

The Immortal Realm was filled with countless sects and innumerable kingdoms. The most formidable sects were, without question, the Four Holy Lands, while the seven ancient kingdoms were the largest domains. Kingdoms were mired in worldly affairs, making them far less powerful than the sects.

Some sects focused solely on the Dao, eschewing mundane matters, while others established kingdoms for resources. Regardless, sects and kingdoms coexisted peacefully.

Sects disdained the kingdoms, and the kingdoms dared not provoke the sects.

Xuantian Sect was a major sect within the borders of Liu Kingdom, its strength surpassing even the royal family—no wonder the disciples were so arrogant.

These days, Liunan’s inns and teahouses were filled to bursting, with people still pouring in. Those without status or strength couldn’t even find a place to stay.

By decree of the Holy Lands, cultivators from outside were forbidden from bullying the local populace.

The city was packed, as lively as ever. Cultivators of the Clear Spirit Realm, once a rare sight, now filled the streets, and even experts of the Qi Sea and Spirit Core Realms were everywhere.

Because of Dragon Burial Abyss, every cultivator in Liu Kingdom had gathered here, and even practitioners from other nations had travelled great distances, all hoping to seize some opportunity.

The Immortal Realm was vast and boundless, with countless cultivators. To stand out, one needed not only diligence, but also the courage to vie for fortune amidst life-and-death struggles.

At the Liunan City Lord’s estate, the Liu family was hosting a distinguished guest: the Southern Guardian King, Liu Tianqing, brother to the reigning King Liu Tiannan. He had reached the pinnacle of the Return to Ruins Realm and was recognized as the greatest expert in Liu Kingdom (excluding the sects within the kingdom). Thus, the king had granted him the title of Southern Guardian King, hoping he would protect the people of the south.

The Zhang family had also sent two people: Zhang Qingcang’s son, Zhang Yu, and Zhang Yu’s master, Wang Zewei, the Outer Elder of the Lieyang Sect. The Lieyang Sect was the most powerful sect in Liu Kingdom—no one dared dispute this, for both the sect master and vice-sect master were at the ninth tier of the Heaven’s Origin Realm, just a step away from the Transformation Realm.

Therefore, though Wang Zewei was an outer elder, he was still at the peak of the Return to Ruins Realm, making him an equal match for Liu Kingdom’s greatest expert, the Southern Guardian King, Liu Tianqing.

When Zhang Qingcang saw his son return from training, he swept him into a hug. “Yu’er, you’ve grown up.”

To his amazement, his son had already reached the third tier of the Qi Sea Realm. Six years ago, when Wang Zewei took him away, he had only just entered the Clear Spirit Realm.

The next generation always pushes the last. He himself was only at the eighth tier of the Qi Sea Realm; at Zhang Yu’s pace, it wouldn’t be long before the boy surpassed him.

Clad in white, gentle and refined, Zhang Yu smiled, “Father, I’ve come home to see you.”

After a while, Zhang Yu released his father and went over to Wang Zewei. “Father, this is my master, Elder Wang of the Lieyang Sect. You met him back then.”

Zhang Qingcang clasped his hands and bowed deeply. “Zhang Qingcang greets Elder Wang.”

Wang Zewei quickly stepped forward and helped him up. “Patriarch Zhang, please rise. We are both Yu’er’s elders—there’s no need to stand on ceremony.”

Wearing a Daoist robe, gentle in manner, Wang Zewei truly looked the part of an accomplished, enlightened master.

This put Zhang Qingcang at ease; he had feared his son’s rapid progress might have led him astray.

“Hahaha! Since Elder Wang has said so, I’ll set aside formalities. I’ve already prepared a feast—please, Elder Wang, come inside.” With that, he led Wang Zewei in.

Cultivators at the Spirit Core Realm could forgo food, yet many still indulged in earthly pleasures. Eating spirit beast meat, drinking spring water and spirit wine could all enhance their physique.

Those who showed themselves openly in Liunan were merely ordinary experts. The true superpowers were often those who devoted themselves to cultivation, shunning the world’s affairs, usually choosing to train in the mountains outside the city—many such figures had arrived as well.

Cultivation levels:

Body Tempering → Clear Spirit → Qi Sea → Spirit Core → Return to Ruins → Heaven’s Origin → Transformation → Tribulation Crossing → ?

The first seven realms each have nine tiers. Tribulation Crossing is divided into four phases: early, middle, late, and perfection.