Qin Chen stepped through the final gate, entering the Core Sect of Azure Sky.
The moment he did, his surroundings changed.
The world became brighter, sharper, more refined.
The very air was thick with spiritual energy, so dense that even breathing felt like absorbing pure cultivation essence.
Towering jade palaces floated in the sky, suspended by formations too profound for most cultivators to comprehend. Waterfalls of liquid Qi cascaded down from celestial peaks, shimmering in hues of gold and silver.
In the distance, mystical spirit beasts—some resembling ancient dragons, others akin to phoenixes—soared through the clouds, leaving behind trails of radiant light.
The land itself was divine, filled with untamed pockets of raw spiritual energy, some areas burning with primordial flames, others shrouded in eternal frost.
At the center of it all stood a single, majestic peak—the Heavenly Pillar Mountain.
This was the sacred ground where only the strongest Core Disciples resided.
Qin Chen's golden eyes flickered as he took it all in.
This was where he belonged.
The Core Sect Elder beside him observed his reaction before speaking.
"You understand now, don't you?"
Qin Chen nodded slightly. "It's different. This place… is on another level entirely."
The elder smirked.
"Of course it is. The Core Sect is the foundation of Azure Sky's true power."
He gestured outward.
"As a Core Disciple, you will receive resources beyond what any Inner Disciple could dream of."
Unrestricted access to the sect's top cultivation grounds.
Personalized guidance from Nascent Soul Elders.
Monthly spirit stone allocations in quantities that could make an Inner Disciple go mad.
Access to the Heavenly Library, where forbidden cultivation techniques and lost arts were stored.
Core Missions—tasks assigned by the sect that could reward disciples with ancient relics, divine treasures, and even direct cultivation breakthroughs.
Qin Chen listened, absorbing the information.
In the Azure Sky Sect, he already knew most of the intricacies.
Most outer court elders were at the Core Formation Realm, which was the minimum qualification to become an elder, and what many of the sect did once they became older.
The benefits of being an elder were more than that of being a disciple, so they had about the same status as an Inner Disciple.
Inner Court Elders were usually at the Nascent Soul Realm, and they were part of the true foundation of the sect.
They were geniuses in their own right, and often guided Core disciples in exchange for more resources.
Core Elders on the other hand, were a different story. There are only 3 Core Elders in the sect, each of them were at the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm.
They mostly stayed in seclusion to attempt to break through.
Above them, there was only the Sect Master and the Supreme Elder.
There was no need to even mention them, they were giants in the Soul Formation Realm.
Way beyond the current Qin Chen.
The elder's voice lowered slightly.
"But remember this…"
"The Core Sect is not like the Outer or Inner Sects."
He met Qin Chen's gaze.
"There are no rules here."
Qin Chen raised an eyebrow.
The elder smirked.
"Power determines everything."
"The strong rise. The weak… disappear."
Qin Chen's smirk widened.
"Perfect."
While Qin Chen was stepping into the pinnacle of cultivation, far away in a different territory—a storm of rumors was brewing.
Inside a sprawling estate, surrounded by towering spirit-gathering formations, sat the Qin Clan.
One of the stronger clans in the region, they had deep roots but were ultimately below the Azure Sky Sect.
Despite their strength, their members rarely reached the level of a true sect disciple.
And Qin Chen?
He was from here.
But he had never been regarded as special.
His father, Qin Heng, was an ordinary cultivator, someone who had never reached beyond mid-stage Foundation Establishment.
His mother, Lin Rou, was kind but unremarkable in status.
And as for Qin Chen himself?
He had been a decent talent, but not enough for the clan to pay much attention to.
So, when the news arrived—
A messenger rushed into the Qin Clan's main hall, breathing heavily.
"Clan Leader!"
Qin Tian, the patriarch of the Qin Clan, turned from his seat, his brows furrowing.
"What is it?"
The messenger bowed deeply before handing over a jade scroll.
"This… this is the latest report from the Azure Sky Sect!"
"Your grandson, Qin Chen—he… he has become a Core Disciple!"
For a moment, silence.
The entire hall froze.
Then—
"WHAT?!"
The elders leapt to their feet, disbelief written across their faces.
"That can't be true!"
"A Core Disciple?! That's impossible!"
"Even our best prodigies have only ever made it to the Inner Sect!"
Qin Tian's hands trembled as he read the jade scroll.
It was real.
Qin Chen, the boy they had once ignored, had surpassed all expectations.
At that moment, the entire clan erupted into chaos.
The same elders who had once dismissed Qin Chen as an ordinary disciple were now rushing to praise his name.
"We must prepare a banquet!"
"Someone inform his father immediately!"
"Send gifts to Azure Sky Sect! We must let Qin Chen know that the Qin Clan fully supports him!"
The hypocrisy was so blatant that it was laughable.
They had never cared when he left.
They had never sent him extra resources, guidance, or even checked on his progress.
But now that he was someone worth flattering?
They were scrambling to claim him as their own.
Away from the main clan hall, two figures sat inside a modest courtyard.
Qin Heng and Lin Rou.
They were not part of the central branch of the Qin Clan.
They had always been looked down upon.
Yet today, people were coming to them, smiling, congratulating them.
Lin Rou covered her mouth, her eyes shimmering with tears.
"Chen'er…"
Qin Heng, usually a man of few words, gripped the jade slip tightly.
"He really… did it."
Unlike the rest of the clan, they weren't thinking about benefits.
They were simply proud.
Meanwhile, far away in the Core Sect, Qin Chen felt something shift in his heart.
A strange, lingering sensation.
Memories.
For so long, he had been ignoring them.
The faces of his mother and father, the warmth of a family he had disregarded.
Because in his past life, he had been a soldier.
He had no attachments. No bonds.
He had always believed that strength was the only thing that mattered.
But now…
Now, he felt something else.
Regret.
He had discarded his past too quickly.
He had assumed that he didn't need connections.
But his parents had always believed in him.
They had let him go to Azure Sky Sect without hesitation.
Even though they hadn't expected anything from him, they had never abandoned him.
And now, he realized—
Neither should he.
His golden eyes shone with determination.
"...I've ignored them for too long."
A slow smile formed on his lips.
"It's time to change that. Let's send them a gift."