Morning mist clung to the stone paths of the Embercloud Sect like a silken shroud. Dew glistened on the leaves of spirit herbs as Li Yao made his way up the quiet trail toward the inner compound of the Herbal Garden. Unlike previous days where he would tend to plants, today his steps carried a different weight- he was no longer just a worker or an outer disciple. He was Bai Renshu's personal disciple.
His heart beat steadily but with anticipation. Though Elder Bai had always appeared reclusive and silent, the revelations of the previous night still echoed in his mind like a thunderclap. A hidden powerhouse. A test of character. A legacy to be inherited.
He arrived before a moss-covered courtyard enclosed by verdant bamboo. The gate, though ancient in style, shimmered faintly with defensive formations. As he approached, the gate opened on its own.
Li Yao bowed respectfully. "Disciple Li Yao greets Master."
Inside, Bai Renshu sat beneath a gnarled peachwood tree, sipping spirit tea as if he had been waiting. The air around him carried a sense of harmony with the world, like wind and leaves responding to his breath.
"Come," the elder said calmly. "You've taken your first steps into the world of cultivation. Now it is time to walk a warrior's path."
Li Yao knelt in front of him. "Disciple is ready."
Bai Renshu reached into his sleeve and drew out three scrolls. He set them down one by one, the air pulsing faintly with qi as he did.
"The first is a footwork technique: Leafshadow Steps. It draws upon the natural balance and subtlety of wind and wood, allowing you to maneuver like a drifting leaf caught in breeze. Your axe techniques require agility as much as power. This will serve you well."
Li Yao carefully accepted the scroll, opening it slightly. The diagrams and accompanying insights already teased his perception.
"The second is a fist technique called Mountain Root Pulse," Bai Renshu continued. "It was created by an elder of the Verdant Pine Sect. It enhances the body's internal resilience and striking power. Although you wield a weapon, unarmed combat is crucial."
Li Yao nodded, the name of the technique reminding him of the sheer strength needed to uproot trees or break boulders- something he could already relate to through his body refinement.
"The third scroll," Bai Renshu said, his gaze sharpening, "is a battle technique one passed down in my lineage. It is called Nature's Severance- a very valuable technique that can help in comprehending battle intent. You should never reveal to anyone that you possess this technique. Even within the sect, only a handful of people know of it."
He paused, his tone becoming more solemn.
"You may use it freely- it is an internal mind art and unnoticeable to others- but beware: it narrows your focus to a single target during battle and leaves you vulnerable to sneak attacks. Always remain mindful of your surroundings when invoking it."
Li Yao took the final scroll with both hands, reverently bowing his head.
"Master… These are too precious."
"You are my successor," Bai Renshu said, eyes calm. "In time, you'll receive more. For now, focus on mastering the essence of each. Techniques are not for display- they must be wielded with clarity of heart and precision of intent."
Li Yao placed the scrolls into his pouch carefully. "Yes, Master."
Bai Renshu rose to his feet. "Go. Begin your cultivation. I will call for you again when it is time to learn further."
As Li Yao left the courtyard, the wind rustled through the bamboo. Though the path ahead was long, for the first time, he no longer walked it alone.
Across the sect's peaks, the aftermath of the annual tournament stirred hushed discussions. Inside the Meeting Pavilion atop Main Peak, seven peak elders had gathered. Among them were Elder Zhao of the Swordwind Peak, Elder Lin of the Verdant Jade Peak, and Sect Leader Yu Zhen himself.
"So," Elder Zhao said, swirling tea in his cup, "Elder Bai has finally taken a disciple."
"Unexpected," Elder Lin added. "He has declined every prodigy we've suggested for over a hundred years. What is it about this boy, Li Yao?"
Sect Leader Yu sipped calmly. "That question matters less than what it implies. Elder Bai has chosen to pass down his legacy. He would never do so lightly."
"Does the boy even know who his master truly is?" one of the other elders asked.
Elder Zhao chuckled. "Doubtful. Most of the sect sees Elder Bai as a harmless herbal caretaker."
With a flick of her sleeve, Elder Lin summoned a jade slip. As spiritual energy flowed into it, an image projected above the table- an image of a younger Bai Renshu, clad in green robes and wielding a spiritwood bow, unleashing volleys of techniques in a long-forgotten tournament.
"Ranked first in his generation eight hundred years ago," Elder Lin began, her voice carrying a hint of awe. "The only disciple from that era to enter the Soul Ascension Realm before age five hundred. Holder of an Earth-grade Wood Spirit Root, and a unique physique- the Verdant Heart Vessel, a rare Dao Physique perfectly attuned to the Dao of Nature."
She paused and added, "He was once known as the greatest genius the Embercloud Sect ever produced. His attainments in wood, wind, and spatial techniques were unmatched. He is still deeply respected by the current elders and sect master of his generation across the six continents."
Elder Zhao leaned forward. "I recall hearing that he frequently visits Ancestor Peak… to discuss the Dao with the old ancestors."
"Indeed," Elder Lin confirmed. "Though he lives quietly, few in the sect fail to grasp the weight of his legacy."
"And yet," Sect Leader Yu said solemnly, "he vanished from public life after returning from the ruins of the Primal Extremes Continent. Injuries… or perhaps something more."
"It was said he was caught in a spatial collapse during that exploration," Elder Zhao added. "Since then, he's dwelled quietly among plants and soil. We assumed he was nursing his wounds or awaiting something."
"Yet here he is, choosing a disciple at last," Lin murmured. "There must be a purpose. That Li Yao… we should keep an eye on him."
"Or perhaps," Sect Leader Yu said with a small smile, "we should not interfere at all."
Back in the outer sect, the atmosphere was growing hushed. Wei Shan, after his impressive fourth-place performance in the tournament, had made a quiet announcement: he would be going into seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.
In his small courtyard, Wei had closed the stone doors and drawn formation lines across the ground. A soft blue light glowed around his form as he began to refine and merge his qi threads, preparing for the crucial formation of the Foundation Pillar.
Li Yao visited briefly before the doors shut. He left behind a small gift,an essence-boosting herbal incense he had refined with the help of a Heavenly Observation insight.
"Break through, Brother Wei," he murmured. "I believe in you."
The following days passed in quiet cultivation. Li Yao divided his time between basic sect duties and practicing the three techniques bestowed by Elder Bai.
Leafshadow Steps proved elusive at first. Unlike the brute strength of his axe forms, the footwork required him to become fluid, to let go of force and adapt to the wind and terrain. But slowly, he began to grasp the technique- drifting between movements, appearing lighter and faster.
Mountain Root Pulse was more familiar, enhancing his body refinement progress. After a week of continuous practice, he noticed that even his base punches struck with the weight of a falling boulder.
But Nature's Severance was something else entirely. Its use of spirit rhythm, breath, and timing has to blend seamlessly with his axe forms. At the height of one training session, Li Yao combined his footwork, fist strength, and axe into a single motion-splitting a training dummy in half while seeming to barely move at all. A faint smile touched Li Yao's lips.
Master was right. Battle arts weren't just about strength or speed- they were about harmony with the Dao itself.
As dusk fell one evening, Bai Renshu stood silently atop a mountain cliff, looking out over the peaks. In his hand was a single bamboo slip- the record of Li Yao's progress.
"A seed worth cultivating," he muttered.
Just then, a quiet voice sounded behind him.
"Still watching him?"
It was Sect Leader Yu.
Bai Renshu didn't turn around. "I must ensure he takes the right path. The world has changed much. What we could not protect back then, they must protect in the future."
"You believe he's the one?"
"I believe he has the heart," Bai Renshu said, "and the potential to awaken more than just roots."
They stood together in silence as the stars began to rise.
Back in his modest hut, Li Yao sat cross-legged, refining his qi threads. The soft glow of his spirit core pulsed within him. Three scrolls lay neatly arranged by his side, each one representing a step forward, a piece of the legacy now entrusted to him.
The path is long, he thought, but I will not fail.