The Martial Hall was packed with nearly a thousand newly admitted Outer Disciples. Some sat with excitement written across their faces. Others looked nervous. A few proudly wore expensive robes, revealing they came from influential cultivation families. Di Tian quietly found a seat in the last row beside a stone pillar. It was shaded. Comfortable. Most importantly... No one would notice him. As soon as he sat down, the familiar voice echoed in his mind. 【Basic Qi Gathering Art is being cultivated...】【Current Realm: First Stage Qi Gathering】【Progress to Second Stage: 13%】 Di Tian smiled faintly. "Looks like I'll learn while the system cultivates." Moments later, Elder Zhou stepped onto the platform. The noisy hall instantly became silent. "You have all entered the Azure Cloud Sect." "Before you begin cultivating, you must first understand the world you now live in." --- With a wave of his sleeve, a giant map materialized above the hall. "The cultivation world is divided into Five Great Regions." "The Northern Region." "The Southern Region." "The Eastern Region." "The Western Region." "And the Central Region." The disciples stared at the enormous map in amazement. "The Central Region is the heart of the cultivation world." "It is home to the oldest sects, the strongest clans, and countless experts whose names are known across the world." "As for us..." He pointed toward the south. "The Azure Cloud Sect resides in the Southern Region." --- The Southern Region The map zoomed inward. "Our Southern Region is divided into five major territories." - Azure Cloud Territory - Blazing Sun Territory - Moon River Territory - Black Mountain Territory - Ten Thousand Beast Territory "Each territory is ruled by several powerful sects and cultivation families." "Our Azure Cloud Sect is among the strongest sects within the Azure Cloud Territory." "Our Patriarch is a Nascent Soul cultivator." "Beneath him are the Peak Masters and Inner Sect Elders, most of whom have reached the Golden Core Realm." Di Tian immediately thought of his uncle. "So Uncle Di Feng is among the stronger elders of the sect." Compared to the Di Family's strongest Foundation Establishment cultivator, a Golden Core expert truly stood at another level. The map disappeared. Four golden words appeared instead. Qi Gathering Foundation Establishment Golden Core Nascent Soul "These are the highest cultivation realms known throughout our territory." "Each major realm contains Nine Stages." "The higher your realm..." "The stronger your spiritual qi." "The stronger your body." "And the longer your lifespan." A disciple raised his hand. "Elder..." "What lies beyond Nascent Soul?" Elder Zhou slowly shook his head. "I do not know." "Perhaps only the great sects of the Central Region possess that knowledge." The disciples became silent. Even a Nascent Soul Patriarch wasn't considered the strongest in the world. How vast was the cultivation world? The elder waved his sleeve again. Six glowing spiritual roots appeared before everyone. "A cultivator's greatest natural talent is their Spirit Root." "It determines how quickly they absorb and refine spiritual qi." "The Five-Element Spirit Root is considered the standard." Another chart appeared beside it. Spirit Root Comparison Five-Element Spirit Root "Cultivation Speed: 1×." "The most common spirit root." "Most cultivators throughout the world possess this talent." "They cultivate slowly, and many never leave the Qi Gathering Realm." --- Four-Element Spirit Root "Cultivation Speed: 2×." "Twice as fast as a Five-Element Spirit Root." --- Three-Element Spirit Root "Cultivation Speed: 5×." "Five times faster." "This is the most common talent among disciples of major sects." --- Dual Spirit Root "Cultivation Speed: 10×." "Ten times faster." "Anyone possessing a Dual Spirit Root is considered a genius." --- Single Spirit Root "Cultivation Speed: 20×." "Twenty times faster." "Such disciples are treasured by every major sect." "They possess extremely pure qi and have excellent chances of reaching the Golden Core Realm." Finally... The last spirit root appeared. Lightning flashed across it. Then ice. Then wind. Then darkness. Even space itself seemed to distort around it. The hall fell silent. Heaven-grade Spirit Root "Cultivation Speed: 23×." "It is born when a spirit root naturally mutates into a higher form." "Lightning." "Ice." "Wind." "Darkness." "Light." "Space." "And many other rare attributes." "The increase in cultivation speed over a Single Spirit Root is small." He raised a finger. "But that is not its greatest advantage." "It possesses nearly perfect qi purity." "It has unparalleled affinity with its element." "It comprehends corresponding cultivation methods and techniques far more easily." "And its elemental power is vastly superior." "If a Single Fire Spirit Root and a Heaven-grade Lightning Spirit Root possessed the same cultivation level..." "The Heaven-grade cultivator would almost certainly win." A disciple nervously asked, "Elder... have you ever seen one?" Elder Zhou smiled bitterly. "No." "Not even once." "They are legends." Di Tian scratched his cheek. "Looks like I should keep quiet." The spirit roots vanished. "Cultivation is divided into two paths." "The first..." "Cultivation Methods." "They determine how you absorb, refine, and store spiritual qi." "The higher the grade, the faster and purer your cultivation." "The second..." "Martial Techniques." "They determine how you use your strength." "A powerful cultivation method without martial techniques makes you easy prey." "A powerful martial technique without sufficient cultivation is equally useless." Another list appeared. Grades Mortal Grade Earth Grade Heaven Grade King Grade "Our Outer Sect only teaches Mortal Grade methods and techniques." "The Inner Sect has access to selected Earth Grade inheritances." "As for Heaven Grade..." "They are protected by the sect." "Only disciples who make extraordinary contributions may even qualify to learn one." "And King Grade..." Elder Zhou laughed softly. "Our Azure Cloud Sect has never possessed one." The elder clasped his hands behind his back. "As Outer Disciples..." "Your greatest objective is simple." "Reach the Ninth Stage of Qi Gathering." "Only then may you challenge the Inner Sect Examination." "Those who fail..." "Remain Outer Disciples." "The sect does not pity the weak." Silence filled the hall. Everyone understood. The Azure Cloud Sect provided opportunities. Nothing more. Strength had to be earned. Just then... 【Basic Qi Gathering Art has reached Great Mastery.】【Cultivation Efficiency Increased.】 Di Tian nearly laughed. He had spent the entire lecture sitting comfortably... Yet his cultivation method had already advanced another level. "Maybe attending lectures isn't so bad after all." Elder Zhou looked across the hall one last time. "Remember." "Talent determines where you begin." "But diligence determines how far you go." Di Tian smiled inwardly. "Fortunately..." "I have both." Not because he was diligent... But because his system never stopped cultivating, even when he was doing absolutely nothing. Outside, the morning sun rose over the Azure Cloud Sect. The era of a future legend had quietly begun.

Chapter 4: The First Lesson