Night crept in, and the silence in the small cave was broken only by the crackling of firewood. In front of the warm campfire, Zhong Li sat with a blank stare, trying to process all the information he had just heard. Before him, Grandmaster Yuan patiently explained the world they were in.
"This is the Immortal Realm, Lord Zhong Li," Yuan said, his voice calm. "A realm that exists above the Mortal Realm, where cultivators achieve immortality. Many worlds and sects exist here, all vying to reach the peak of cultivation."
Zhong Li listened intently. "Immortal... cultivators..." he murmured. A part of his memory seemed to return, faint like a dream. "In my realm, we call cultivation the pursuit of the Great Dao, the Dao Path."
"That's exactly right," Yuan continued. "In this world, the Dao Path is divided into several stages. Starting from the lowest: the Qi Foundation Stage, where a cultivator gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Then there's the Foundation Establishment Stage, where that energy solidifies into a spiritual core. After that, there are the Golden Core Stage, the Nascent Soul Stage, the Soul Transformation Stage, and so on."
Li Wei, the senior disciple, added proudly. "The higher stages like the Great Divinity Stage or the Grand Ancestor Stage have incredible power. It is said that with just one punch, they can turn mountains into dust, dry up oceans, and even tear the sky apart!"
Hearing that, Zhong Li only nodded slowly. All the stages mentioned sounded like the early stages of cultivation in the Celestial Realm he came from. He, as the Heavenly Flame God, was at the very top of a pyramid far above the Great Divinity stages. But why was he now trapped here, without a shred of his power? A black hole in his memory bothered him, making him feel frustrated.
Morning arrived, bringing warm sunlight. Grandmaster Yuan and his disciples were ready to return to their sect. Their wounds had been bandaged, and their spiritual energy had recovered slightly.
"Lord Zhong Li," Yuan said, approaching him respectfully. "We are very grateful for your help. Without you, we would all have surely perished. As a token of our gratitude, we invite you to come with us to the Moon Sword Sect. We will host you properly and provide you with suitable clothes."
Zhong Li, still confused about his situation, nodded in agreement. He realized that he needed help to restore his memory and find out what had happened to him. Following them was the best option for now.
Grandmaster Yuan took out his flying sword, which radiated a gentle spiritual aura. "Since your strength has not yet recovered, let's ride on my sword," he said, motioning him on.
Zhong Li nodded, then stepped onto the flying sword. Beside him, the other disciples also mounted their respective swords. Gracefully, they soared into the air, leaving the valley full of bad memories. During the journey, Zhong Li could only observe the scenery below with a blank gaze. He had once traveled through galaxies and leaped across stars, but now he had to ride on a small flying sword of a low-level cultivator. This irony made him feel as if he had fallen into the deepest abyss.
After a few hours of travel, they finally arrived at the Moon Sword Sect. The sect was located on a mountain whose peak was shrouded in mist, with traditional wooden buildings neatly arranged. The other disciples and masters welcomed their arrival with relief and joy. However, their expressions turned to astonishment when they saw Zhong Li, the foreign man with silver hair and a flame mark on his forehead.
Grandmaster Yuan quickly gathered his disciples and whispered, "We must not reveal Lord Zhong Li's identity as a god. His presence could bring unforeseen dangers. We will introduce him as a wandering cultivator who saved us."
Li Wei and the others nodded in understanding. They knew the cultivation world was full of greed. If anyone found out there was a fallen god without power, many would try to exploit him.
Grandmaster Yuan then brought Zhong Li before the Sect Leader, a wise old man named Shao Feng. "Sect Leader, allow me to introduce Lord Zhong Li. He is a wandering cultivator who happened to pass by and saved us from the attack of the Purple Lightning Wolf King."
Sect Leader Shao Feng, with his sharp eyes, observed Zhong Li. He could feel an extraordinary aura hidden within the young man's body, an aura so powerful it was almost imperceptible. He smiled faintly. "Welcome to the Moon Sword Sect, Lord Zhong Li. We owe you our lives. Please, come in and rest. The banquet will begin soon."
Zhong Li simply nodded in response. After that, he was escorted by a servant to a room to change clothes.
In his room, Zhong Li found a set of Hanfu clothes that had been prepared for him. He took the Hanfu, looking at it with a strange expression. The clothes were pure white with a dark blue pattern at the bottom, made of high-quality silk. He awkwardly put them on, feeling the soft fabric against his skin. Accidentally, he forgot to wear an undershirt, making the contours of his chest and abdominal muscles slightly visible through the thin white clothes.
After he was done, he left the room and walked toward the banquet hall, which was already bustling. Along the way, many of the sect's disciples who saw him were fixated. They saw the grandeur that emanated from him, even though he was just a simple cultivator. With his silver hair flowing, the flame mark on his forehead, and his perfect posture, he looked like a celestial being who had descended to the mortal world. The female disciples, especially, blushed and whispered in awe.
Upon reaching the hall, Grandmaster Yuan welcomed him with a wide smile. "Come, Lord Zhong Li, sit here!"
The banquet began with delicious food filling the tables. Zhong Li sat gracefully, his eating manner different from the others. He ate calmly and slowly, as if he were attending a feast in a heavenly palace. He didn't speak much, only occasionally giving short answers to questions.
After a while, he felt he had enough. The banquet, though delicious, could not fill the emptiness he felt. His lost memories continued to haunt him. He stood up, bowing slightly to Grandmaster Yuan and Sect Leader Shao Feng.
"Thank you for the feast," he said in a calm voice. "I will return to my room to rest."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked out of the hall, leaving everyone in a state of confused silence. His sudden departure made the lively banquet seem to lose some of its light. Behind the closed door, Zhong Li walked back to his room, his eyes still radiating a deep confusion. Deep inside, he felt a power waiting to awaken. He just needed to remember... who he truly was.