Entering the Qingyun Sect (1)
Four days had passed since we set out for the Qingyun Sect. I was floating high in the sky right now. Beneath my feet, an endless mountain range slowly receded into the distance. The spot I occupied was atop a flying magic tool controlled by Yang Lim.
Before heading to the Qingyun Sect, Yang Lim had pulled out what looked like a small wooden boat from his storage ring. Intricate formations were engraved into the ink-black deck, and as I followed him aboard, it silently rose into the air. And now, the ink-black wooden boat glided smoothly through the clouds.
Peering over the railing, the familiar places I'd frequented were already lost in the distant haze below. The landscape unfolding now felt just like gazing down from an airplane.
"So, what's your impression of riding a flying magic tool?" Yang Lim's voice came from up ahead.
I pulled my gaze back and replied, "It's... more comfortable than I expected."
I'd been pretty startled at first. Flying at this altitude without any real discomfort was surprising. Aside from the whisper of wind, there was almost no noise at all. It felt like slipping across the air itself.
Yang Lim chuckled softly. "Heh, of course. What did you take a top-grade flying tool for?"
With that, he lightly formed a hand seal with one hand. The formation etched beneath the boat faintly glowed, and it smoothly banked in a new direction.
As the boat pierced through another layer of clouds, I unconsciously held my breath. Beyond them loomed a colossal peak. Dozens of summits stretched out, but five among them towered far above the rest, defying comparison.
Yang Lim smiled. "We're almost there."
Hearing that, I looked ahead again. From what I'd heard on the journey, the Qingyun Sect was the largest immortal sect in the region. But all I could see were towering mountain peaks. Even from afar, structures of that scale should have been visible.
A formation, maybe.
I slowly circulated qi to my eyes. Suddenly, a faint curtain-like veil appeared in the empty sky. It was as if transparent waves enveloped the entire range, distorting the light.
Yang Lim glanced at me and chuckled. "Not bad eyesight."
He pointed toward the mountains. "That's the Qingyun Sect's mountain-guarding grand formation."
His tone was casual, but a subtle pride laced his words. I turned my gaze forward again. The massive veil shrouded the entire range. It looked like nothing from the outside, but with qi drawn to my eyes, its structure faintly revealed itself—spiritual veins threading between peaks, complex formation patterns hovering in the sky. The whole mountain range was one enormous formation.
Seeing it with my own eyes was worlds apart from book knowledge.
Then Yang Lim drew a small jade token from his bosom. About half the size of a palm, its face bore an engraved pattern of blue clouds—the Qingyun Sect's signaling token. As he placed a finger on it, the pattern softly glowed. At the same time, he pulled out a sheet of yellow talisman paper with his other hand and casually infused it with qi.
Crackle—
The paper ignited like burning embers, disintegrating into light in an instant.
Moments later, the air ahead rippled faintly. Like waves parting, a section of the veil over the mountains quietly split open. The ink-black boat advanced slowly through the gap.
Once fully past the veil, the scenery transformed completely. Just moments ago, it had been nothing but mountains, but inside lay an entirely different world. Countless halls and pavilions crowned the peaks, stone bridges spanned cliffs, and staircases wound along sheer faces.
I stood speechless for a while. "...Whoa."
The exclamation slipped out unbidden.
"Everyone reacts like that the first time." Yang Lim smirked and formed another hand seal. The boat began gently descending.
We landed on a vast stone platform at the range's center.
I stepped off the magic tool and surveyed the surroundings. Halls and pavilions ringed the platform, bustling with cultivators hurrying to and fro.
Then, a figure approached swiftly from afar—a young man in a sky-blue robe. His aura suggested he was in Qi Condensation, but at a higher layer than me.
He stopped before us and cupped his hands respectfully toward Yang Lim. "Uncle Yang Lim."
"It's been a while, Do Won."
Only then did the young man look at me. "Is this the child Uncle mentioned via voice transmission?"
Yang Lim nodded. "Yes."
The young man gave me another appraising glance. "...Understood."
"I am Do Won, an inner disciple of the Qingyun Sect."
I quickly cupped my hands. "Ryu Yeon-hwa."
Do Won nodded curtly. "Follow me. The elders and sect leader have already been informed via transmission."
He turned and continued, "The Qingyun Sect consists mainly of five peaks, each presided over by Core Formation elders."
As we walked, Do Won went on. "This is the heart of the sect."
He gestured toward the tallest peak, a colossal summit piercing the clouds, crowned by a palace of unparalleled grandeur. "That's Qingyun Peak, where the sect leader resides."
His explanation continued as he pointed to the right. "That's Thunderclap Peak." Then, in turn, "Golden Glow Peak" and "Mystic Mechanism Peak."
Finally, "And that's Qingling Peak."
The wood qi emanating from it was far denser than elsewhere.
"The peak responsible for growing spirit herbs and medicinal plants."
I stared at it silently. Do Won spoke again. "That should cover the basics."
He glanced at me. "You probably don't know much about sect life, so I'll explain briefly."
I nodded lightly.
"Upon joining the Qingyun Sect, you receive twenty low-grade spirit stones monthly as a base allotment."
I recalled the mid-grade spirit stone I'd used up in the Spirit Gathering Formation before coming here. One mid-grade was worth a hundred low-grade. Just for reaching the 3rd star of Qi Condensation, I'd burned through the equivalent of over two thousand low-grade stones. Relying solely on the basics wouldn't get you far.
Do Won continued. "Of course, that's not enough."
He raised a finger. "You can earn more spirit stones through missions—gathering spirit herbs, slaying flood dragons, managing herb fields, and so on."
A major sect needed labor to sustain itself. The monthly stones were just the bare minimum to retain disciples.
"And you can't just take cultivation methods or spells freely."
He pointed to a distant hall. "That's the Scripture Pavilion. Manuals and spells are exchanged there for spirit stones or contribution points."
In other words, resources were essential for training.
Once his explanation wrapped up, Do Won paused. "Finally, you need your spirit root tested."
He turned. "This way."
We left the platform and headed to a nearby hall. It wasn't particularly large. A plaque above the entrance read Spirit Measurement Hall.
Do Won pushed open the door. A quiet air filled the interior. At the center stood a massive crystal orb on a stone pedestal, flanked by a middle-aged man in a gray robe.
His aura was on another level entirely from Qi Condensation—a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Do Won cupped his hands. "Steward Seo."
The middle-aged man cracked open his eyes and looked at us. "A disciple brought by Uncle Yang Lim. Here for spirit root testing."
The rat-faced man nodded slowly. "Place your hand."
His words were curt.
Tensing, I stepped to the pedestal and laid my palm on the crystal orb. As I channeled a bit of qi into it—
Hummm—
The orb vibrated lowly. The hazy light within gradually shifted to green.
Soon, the glow intensified, spreading like a forest blooming inside the sphere.
The steward's eyes widened. Finally, the orb filled completely with pure green light.
At that instant, a small formation on the ceiling flashed.
Rumrumrum—
The next moment, a deep, resonant toll echoed across the entire sect.
Dong~ Dong~ Dong~
A massive bell pealing through the mountains. Startled, I looked up.
Do Won said in astonishment, "A single spirit root... How long has it been?"
The steward glanced at me. "First single spirit root in the Qingyun Sect in fifty years."
Before he finished, the air shimmered, and several figures materialized in the hall. I held my breath instinctively. Their auras dwarfed anything I'd felt before.
Do Won and the steward quickly cupped their hands. "Elders."
An old man spoke first. "I heard a single spirit root appeared..."
His gaze shifted from the orb to me. "So it's true."
Another elder said, "Send her to Thunderclap Peak. I'll take responsibility for her training."
Immediately, another scoffed. "Nonsense. Golden Glow Peak suits her better."
"Mystic Mechanism Peak's not bad either."
I listened in a daze as the once-quiet hall erupted in chatter.
Then, a calm voice cut through. "That's enough."
The hall fell silent instantly. A woman in a cyan-green robe stood there, her presence rivaling the others.
She eyed the orb, then me, pondering briefly before saying, "Send her to Qingling Peak."
The other elders frowned. She replied steadily, "Is there anyone whose wood attribute methods surpass mine? Qingling Peak is the best environment for her growth."
A few elders nodded. "...Makes sense."
"Tch." The Thunderclap Peak elder clicked his tongue in regret.
Soon, the gathered elders dispersed one by one. The woman in cyan-green approached me.
"Your name?"
I cupped my hands hastily. "Ryu Yeon-hwa."
She studied me, then nodded. "Good."
"I am Cheong Nan-seo."
Her voice was low and quiet, yet carried an inexplicable weight.
"From today, you are a disciple of Qingling Peak—and my direct disciple."
Without further explanation, Cheong Nan-seo turned. "Follow."
I stood blankly for a moment before snapping to and hurrying after her.
How long had it been since she put me on her flying magic tool? There was Qingling Peak ahead. Herb fields and spirit fields dotted the valleys. Unlike the other peaks, thick wood qi permeated the air.
The moment I encountered that qi, my body quietly resonated.