Even Lin Wei's humble place had been affected by the rain. He was exhausted and soaked when he got home, but to his amazement, his grandfather had already returned and was using the fire to dry his clothes.
"You are back early, Grandpa,
Lin Wei said with a warm greeting. His grandfather grinned. Activity stopped because of the rain. The crew of merchants you enquired about? They are expected to arrive tomorrow. I have spoken to them already. Everything is prepared and packed.
As they talked, his grandfather handed him an ancient, battered storage ring.
Lin Wei's eyes expanded. "A storage ring?" Grandfather, where did you acquire this?
"They are extremely rare!"
The old man laughed quietly. "Rare, indeed. But that is hardly unheard of. This is a low-grade storage ring with basic space, no security mechanisms, and open access. So take care with it.
Lin Wei nodded and inspected the ring. It featured modest carvings and felt cool to the touch. Although it was common by cultivation world standards, he considered it a priceless instrument. He would finally leave his tiny world and visit the famous city marketplaces.
Later that same night, Lin Wei began packing all of the items he planned to sell. From herbs to tiny valuables, everything was well organised. Then he went over to his saving box, a massive metal container hidden behind a panel in his room, and smashed the lock open. Inside, there were loads of gold coins.
He gazed, shocked.
He had forgotten how much he had saved over time. Every spare currency, every conversion from bronze and silver, and even city market tokens are redeemed for gold and store inside his box, and now it is time to make use of it.
564,000 gold coins. For most, enough to last a lifetime. However, what about Lin Wei? Insufficient.
He opened a second box and found more coins inside, his expression resolute.
He now had more than a million gold coins in total.
He wasn't finished, though.
Anticipating more gold, he opened a third box, only to find unknown metals and glowing crystals of unidentified origin inside. They had almost slipped his mind.
Flashback: A sealed box was washed up on the sand by an ocean wave years ago when he was playing by the shore. He pulled it home out of curiosity and opened it to find a collection of crystals and other metals gleaming with an unusual energy and comes with different shapes and colors. He kept them in a different box since he had already destroyed the one it came with while trying to open the lock until now, unaware of what they were.
Within were:
300 Green Crystals,
500 Red Crystals,
50 Gold Crystals,
15 Diamond-like Crystals,
A pile of unknown metals in odd shapes and sizes nearly packed together.
Present:
He carefully packed everything into his storage ring, along with his clothes. The ring was nearly full.
"Maybe I'll buy another storage ring in the city," he muttered, knowing full well how expensive that would be.
After double-checking everything, he lay down and drifted into sleep, dreaming of carriages, markets, and golden opportunities.
"Currency System of the Continent":
The world used many currencies, varying in value and origin. Some were universal, others regional:
Bronze Coins – Commoners' currency.
Silver Coins – Used for basic trade and labor payments.
Gold Coins – Standard medium for noble transactions and savings.
Jade Coins – Used by sects and high merchants.
Spirit Stones – Contain spiritual energy, used by cultivators.
Beast Cores – Sometimes used in barter, especially high-quality ones.
Divine Coins – Rare currency among higher realms.
Void Tokens – Black market or ancient sect currency, rumored to hold teleportation arrays.
"Cultivation System (Dual Paths: Qi and Body)"
Before cultivation begins, a person must complete Body Tempering, preparing the vessel to hold Qi.
Body Tempering Realm (1st–10th Layer):
Strengthens muscles, bones, and organs.
Vital for defense and physical combat.
Optional path after: continue to Body Path, Qi Path, or Dual Path.
After Body Tempering:
Qi Path (1st–10th Layer):
Cultivates spiritual Qi from nature.
Requires Spirit Stones, herbs, and techniques.
Builds foundation for spellcasting, flight, and spiritual senses.
Body Path (1st–10th Layer):
Focuses solely on reinforcing body through treasures, beast cores, and harsh training.
Offers extreme resilience and close-combat ability.
Dual Path:
Cultivates both Qi and body.
Rare due to resource demands.
Offers unparalleled balance.
Beyond the Mortal Realms:
Earth Realm (1st–10th)
Sky Realm (1st–10th)
Heaven Realm (1st–10th)
Saint Realm (1st–10th)
Immortal Realm (1st–10th)
Celestial Realm (1st–10th)
God Realm (1st–10th)
Origin Realm – ???
Unknown Realm – Only legends speak of it…
Departure
He awoke the next morning to the sound of cock crows and birds chirping. After freshening up, he dressed and went outside to meet his grandfather.
Soon, the merchant crew arrived, and Lin Wei was astounded to see a large waggon hauled by thirty muscular horses.
His grandfather chuckled at the boy's surprise. "These Cloud Hoof Stallions were bred for endurance and strength. This is your first time leaving the domain, so go with caution. Don't be too trusting. "Learn".
Lin Wei nodded respectfully and helped load the goods, while his grandfather joked and drank with the merchant leader, an old acquaintance.
After half an hour, everything was packed, and a warm meal was served. Lin Wei was given a private room in the carriage. He gazed out the window at the passing wilderness, lost in thought.
Although not a cultivator yet, he was among others who had some power. Their role was to defend the convoy from threats—bandits, beasts, or worse.
Lin Wei spent the trip eating, bathing, chatting, and learning about the city. He was amazed at the stories.
"The market is so big," one guard told him, "if you're not careful, you'll get lost. People from all over the region gather there."
Lin Wei took notes.
Days turned into weeks. After a month on the road, they finally reached the outskirts of the great city, fate unknown.