In the depths of the forest, I encountered an intriguing boy whose attire—a hoodie and jeans—stood in stark contrast to the traditional garments of our time. Most astonishing, however, was his apparent lack of knowledge about the Jadian Empire, one of the renowned Four Great Empires; even the most basic villagers in these woods would likely recognize its significance.
Positioning herself directly in front of him, Emilia's voice cut through the silence. She demanded, "What name have you just mentioned? Do you even grasp its meaning?"
His expression shifted, confusion melting away into understanding as though a light had flickered on inside him. "Adam," he replied, meeting her gaze. "That boy looked… dead inside, or at least his demeanor gave that impression."
Meanwhile, Adam was still grappling with his unexpected surroundings in the dimly lit chamber he had entered. Frowning as he surveyed the odd space, a hollow chuckle escaped him, quickly giving way to tears. As he wiped his eyes, he turned to face his reflection in the mirror.
"Okay," he murmured to himself. "What can I remember? My name… it's Adam." He focused on gathering fragments of memory in this strange place, raising a finger to mark his thoughts.
First, vibrant images of the Jadian Empire surged forward, showcasing cultivators soaring through the sky on swords, prompting him to lower that finger.
Next, his attention was drawn to the peculiar artifacts he had encountered. Eight items had sparked his curiosity, but one particularly captivated him—a blank mask paired with a monocle and a cane, which intriguingly transformed into a clock dotted with stars. The cane at least permitted some teleportation, albeit over short distances; he had yet to ascertain its full limits, but he could manage to teleport within the confines of the room.
He recalled a moment in the forest when shadows loomed ominously overhead. During his frantic search, he had lost one of the artifacts, only to find it again at the exact spot where it had vanished. His experiments revealed that none of the eight items could be permanently lost. Following these tests, he crossed paths with Jackson, who appeared to be either wealthy or powerful, as evidenced by the luxurious quality of his surroundings compared to the locals. For the moment, Adam found himself with food and a temporary refuge.
A plate of delicious fried rice with chicken lay before him. Once he polished off his meal, he returned to teleport around the room, realizing he could do so up to ten times in rapid succession. However, after the eleventh attempt, the strain of exertion took hold, causing him to pant heavily. After quenching his thirst with a glass of water, waves of fatigue overwhelmed him. His eyelids fluttered, and he collapsed onto the bed, feeling the mask, monocle, cane, and other artifacts merging with his very being.
A sudden rap at the door startled him awake. "Come in," he responded. The door creaked open to reveal Emilia, her icy gaze sweeping across the room until it finally settled on him. Her tone was both frigid and commanding. "Senior Jackson requests your presence, Adam," she announced, her light blue dress sharply contrasting with her authoritative demeanor.
Rising from the bed, Adam draped himself in a long, flowing black cloak, its high collar and hood framing his figure, the vibrant gold lining catching the light. With an impassive expression, he replied, "Lead the way," pinching the monocle against his right eye with his left arm, prepared to uncover any clues that awaite him
As they made their way toward Jackson, Emilia nonchalantly asked Adam whether he had heard of the top ten sects. His expression shifted to one of astonishment at the mention of these elite groups within the realm of cultivation, suggesting a potentially beneficial opportunity. After a brief silence, he responded, admitting, "I can't claim to be knowledgeable about them, but visiting them must be quite an honor. May I inquire about your reasoning for bringing this up?"
Emilia revealed, "You'll soon be heading to the Holy Emperor Sect. A representative is currently traveling with Jackson, who will escort you there." Instantly, a sense of unease crept into Adam's stomach, weighing heavily and filling him with suspicion. Why would they extend such an honor to someone they hardly knew?
The dialogue faded as they entered a room where Jackson awaited them, accompanied by another figure who clearly belonged to the cultivation world. Emilia bowed respectfully, her hands clasped in front of her, and greeted, "Young Master Gu Yufein." Adam mirrored her action, feeling slightly out of place.
After a brief moment, Gu Yufein raised an eyebrow, examining Adam with keen interest. "So, this is the chosen one? I expected a lengthier wait." He gestured toward a large blue orb hovering beside them. "Go ahead and touch it."
With a mix of caution and curiosity, Adam stepped forward and placed his hand on the orb. It responded by shifting colors—from blue to purple, then dark blue, before finally settling on orange. Gu Yufein's expression revealed a hint of disappointment. "It appears you're merely above average. I'll arrange for your admission as an outer disciple at the sect." With that, he took off, leaving Adam to contemplate the significance of his words.
Turning to Jackson, Adam sought clarification. "Can you explain why you're sending me to that sect?" After a brief hesitation, Jackson replied warmly, "We're simply helping you get established. That is all you need to know for now. We want to support someone of your potential in flourishing."
Adam considered this, tilting his head and raising an eyebrow before finally expressing his gratitude: "Thank you, Jackson. Perhaps one day I can return this favor." Jackson maintained an upbeat tone, encouraging Adam to prepare for his impending journey.
Once they parted ways, Adam hastily ensured he was out of view. After feeling secure, he teleported five times until he arrived in a secluded room. Along the way, he spotted several pills and quickly grabbed six before continuing. Once inside, he donned a plain white mask, ready for the next phase of his journey.