The tremor faded as quickly as it had arrived, leaving behind a deep, uneasy silence over the Supreme Void Sect.
Birds had fled the treetops.
The wind stilled.
Even the waterfall's rhythm felt unusually restrained, as if the mountain itself was holding its breath.
Nathan stood at the plateau's edge, eyes scanning the shadowed forest stretching beneath them.
Lumen perched on his shoulder, fur bristling, tiny body tense.
Ash trembled a little behind him.
"Master… you sure that wasn't the mountain burping…?"
Cyril shot him a cold glance.
"Mountains do not burp."
"But what if—"
Nathan raised a hand.
Ash shut his mouth instantly.
"Whatever it was," Nathan said calmly, "it came from the deeper regions."
Lia clutched her sleeves.
"Master… is something dangerous approaching us?"
Nathan didn't answer immediately.
The fox on his shoulder let out a soft chirp—
and Nathan felt a faint pressure against his mind, like a gentle tap.
A sensation.
Not a word.
Not an image.
But an instinct.
Danger.
The system chimed softly in his mind.
*DING*
[Spirit Beast Link Activated.]
[Lumen's perception indicates:
Disturbance originates 3 kilometers east, deeper into Dawnshadow Mountain.]
[Possible causes:
• Territorial clash between beasts
• Minor beast awakening
• Chaotic energy surge]
[Threat Level: Moderate, not immediate.]
Nathan exhaled quietly.
So the danger isn't aimed at us—for now.
He turned back to his disciples.
"For today, none of you leave the sect barrier. Understood?"
"Yes, Master!"
Ash answered loudest—too loud—almost slipping on a stone.
Nathan looked at each of them carefully.
"Complete your morning missions.
Cyril, train behind the pavilion.
Lia, sit near the waterfall.
Ash…"
Ash stood straight like a soldier.
"Yes, Master?!"
"…Pick a quiet spot and sit still for two hours. Do not move."
Ash's expression collapsed into the expression of a man sent to execution.
"But Master—two hours is—two hours is—"
"Two hours," Nathan repeated calmly.
Ash saluted with a shaking hand.
"I… will do my best not to die."
Cyril shook his head.
Lia giggled quietly behind her sleeve.
Nathan turned away from them.
"Begin."
As the disciples left to begin their tasks, Nathan strode to the center of the courtyard.
The sun now warmed the plateau thoroughly.
Spirit energy drifted lazily in the air—soft, ambient, and yet unusually rich.
Like the mountain was concentrating spiritual essence around his new sect.
Nathan closed his eyes.
The moment he did—
the system activated again.
*DING*
[Sect Management Interface Activated.]
[Current Sect Level: 0-Star (Unrecognized)]
[Disciples: 3]
[Resources: Limited]
[Sect Territory: Dawnshadow Plateau (Small)]
[Protection: Natural Concealment Barrier – Active]
[Recommended Actions:
• Establish Training Grounds
• Create Sect Rules
• Develop Resource Storage
• Begin cultivation assistance]
Nathan inhaled a slow breath.
So the foundation is ready. Now it grows.
He opened his eyes and studied the land:
the open courtyard, the waterfall, the thin path leading to the trees, the natural stone walls enclosing the plateau.
Perfect for what he needed.
He moved toward the broadest section of the courtyard and placed his hand on the stone tiles.
"System," he whispered in his mind, "show me training ground options."
*DING*
[Available Training Grounds (Authority Level 2):
(1) Basic Combat Arena – Free
(2) Meditation Field – Free
(3) Wooden Dummy Zone – Free
(4) Qi Flow Circle – Requires 10 Spiritual Stones
(5) Elemental Chamber – Locked
(6) Gravity Room – Locked]
[Recommendation:
Begin with Basic Combat Arena + Meditation Field.]
Nathan nodded.
"Build the combat arena and meditation field."
*DING*
[Confirmed. Constructing selected structures.]
[No one except Host will perceive construction sequence.]
A soft pulse drifted through the ground—too subtle for the disciples to notice, but Nathan felt it like a breath beneath his feet.
Within moments, the plateau shifted slightly.
The empty western section flattened sharply, stone rearranging just enough to form a large circular combat arena lined with sturdy tiles.
To the north, a gentle area of level grass thickened, forming a natural meditation field infused with soft qi.
Nathan inspected both.
Good. The basics are set.
Lumen hopped down from his shoulder and scampered across the new combat arena, sniffing curiously.
Ash, from across the courtyard, shouted:
"MASTER! THE GROUND MAGICALLY CHANGED!"
Nathan kept a straight face.
"No. You are hallucinating from hunger."
Ash nodded slowly.
"…That makes sense."
Cyril pressed a hand to his forehead.
Lia laughed softly.
Lia settled herself on a smooth rock beside the waterfall.
The water's mist kissed her cheeks as she steadied her breathing, guiding qi through her meridians.
Her expression relaxed, confidence beginning to blossom anew.
The system whispered to Nathan:
*DING*
[Observation:
Disciple Lia adapting well to Qi circulation.]
[Potential increase: +1]
Cyril practiced slow, measured movements in the new combat arena.
His arms cut through the air with precision, each strike sharp yet fluid.
He was progressing faster than expected.
*DING*
[Observation:
Disciple Cyril demonstrates high control and growing adaptability.]
[Potential increase: +1]
Ash…
Ash sat cross-legged beneath a tree, expression pure suffering.
He had been still for only ten minutes.
But by the look on his face, one might assume he had been meditating for a decade.
He whispered to himself:
"Don't move…
Don't scratch…
Don't scream…
Don't explode…"
His eye twitched.
Nathan felt Lumen nudge his cheek, as if asking:
Is he broken?
Nathan sighed.
*DING*
[Observation:
Disciple Ash attempting meditation.]
[Result:
…It's trying.]
[Potential increase: Pending]
Once satisfied, Nathan walked toward the waterfall's meditation pavilion.
He had not cultivated since arriving.
There had been too many responsibilities, too much planning, too many dangers emerging too early.
He sat down, letting the waterfall's mist cool his face.
Lumen curled up beside him.
Nathan closed his eyes, drawing in a slow breath.
His body warmed.
A soft, pulsating energy—his own internal qi—began to stir gently.
But unlike the disciples, Nathan possessed a monstrous manual:
"Void Asura Sutra."
The system responded to his intention.
*DING*
[Host initiating cultivation.]
[Warning:
'Void Asura Sutra' is extremely demanding.
Host's current realm: None.]
[Beginning Qi Sensitivity Phase.]
Nathan exhaled slowly.
Qi entered his body—
but instead of following simple pathways, it shifted, twisted, spiraled like a chaotic vortex.
It felt like holding lightning.
Sharp.
Cold.
Raw.
Most humans would collapse instantly.
Nathan remained still.
He guided the chaotic qi carefully, channeling it through the first meridian.
It resisted him.
It strained violently.
He didn't flinch.
Gradually…
the qi bent—
and the meridian glowed faintly.
*DING*
[Qi Sensitivity Established.]
[Progress: 1%]
Nathan did not smile.
This was only the beginning.
And yet—
the moment his meridian opened fully, Lumen lifted its head sharply, ears twitching.
Nathan sensed it too.
Something shifted in the wind.
It was faint—just a tremor of intent—
but unmistakable.
A presence.
A beast aura.
Far away, yet coming closer.
Nathan opened his eyes.
Through the trees…
a shadow moved.
Not a cub.
Not small.
Something larger.
Something strong.
Cyril sensed it first among the disciples; his movements froze.
Lia's eyes flickered open.
Ash stopped breathing.
The shadow vanished just as quickly as it appeared.
Nathan stood.
*DING*
[Warning:
New Beast Signature Detected.]
[Location: 1.8 km from sect boundary.]
[Strength: Unknown]
[Potential Rank: Low-tier Mortal Beast]
[Recommendation:
Observe. Do not engage yet.]
The mountain whispered with danger.
Nathan looked at his disciples—each watching him with trust, fear, determination.
He exhaled slowly.
"The world will not wait for us to be ready," he said.
Ash swallowed.
"What does that mean…?"
Nathan's voice was calm.
"It means we begin true cultivation tomorrow."
He straightened.
"Your missions today are preparation.
Tomorrow… you will learn to fight."
The disciples tensed—but excitement burned behind their fear.
A new era was beginning.
And somewhere in the depths of Dawnshadow Mountain…
a beast opened its crimson eyes.
Searching.
Hunting.
And it had sensed something new—
something strange—
something born only last night:
A sect.
The Supreme Void Sect.