Chapter Four: The Mysterious Man in the White Robe

“Who governs this world?”
“A mortal?”
“So frail…”
“Who… who is speaking?” The sudden voice startled Lin Cheng, sending him looking about in all directions, anxious and uneasy.
Unbeknownst to him, a figure materialized in the space ahead.
His features were sharp and chiseled, eyes deep and intense, a trace of stubble on his face, and a mane of thick black hair cascading down.
Clad in flowing white robes, both his garments and hair drifted freely, unbound, swaying gently.
Suspended in midair, he seemed a god descending to the mortal realm.
Lin Cheng stared, dumbfounded at the man’s sudden appearance, wonder flickering in his gaze.
“Senior, was it you who spoke?”
The white-robed man remained silent.
He floated over to Lin Cheng, reached out, and took Lin Cheng’s right hand.
He gazed intently at the azure sword mark in Lin Cheng’s palm and murmured, “So that’s how it is…”
“What is your name?” the white-robed man asked, raising his head to look at Lin Cheng.
“I am Lin Cheng, from Lin Family Village in Qingyang Town…”
“May I ask who you are, Senior?”
“Why have you appeared here? And what is this place?” Lin Cheng asked several questions in succession, curiosity growing stronger about all that was happening.
“Who I am matters not. Now that this trace of my soul has awakened, it means I have found the one I’ve been waiting for…”
“Boy, do you wish to cultivate the sword?”
A mysterious smile played on the white-robed man’s lips, his gaze bearing unfathomable meaning as he looked at Lin Cheng.
“Cultivate the sword? Is it the same as cultivating immortality?”
“There are countless paths in the world, all leading to the same end. Cultivators defy the heavens, wresting fortune from earth and sky, seeking the immortal road of everlasting life…”
“If you are willing, I will impart to you my method of sword cultivation…”
At the mention of the sword, the white-robed man stood with hands clasped behind his back, exuding a presence that seemed to look down upon the starlit firmament.
Lin Cheng’s eyes brightened at his words. “I am willing, Senior!”
The white-robed man extended his hand, fingers together, and pointed. A beam of white light surged into Lin Cheng’s mind.
Before long, Lin Cheng recovered himself, joy spreading across his face.
“The Five Elements Sword Technique…”
“Senior, what grade is this cultivation method?”
“It says I must temper my body with the essence of the five elements and expand my dantian…” Lin Cheng asked in puzzlement, looking at the white-robed man.
“It has no grade…”
“For others, cultivating this technique would be impossible, but you can…”
“Though you have only awakened the metal attribute of your spiritual root, you actually possess the constitution of the Five Elements…”
“The reason all have not awakened is due to the sword mark in your palm… It is also to avoid drawing too much attention. Know that a body of the Five Elements is the most supreme among all worlds and realms…”

“A man is condemned for possessing a treasure…” the white-robed man said softly.
Lin Cheng’s confusion deepened at his words, unable to grasp the meaning.
“Sit cross-legged, calm your breath, focus your mind… I will open your dantian, forge the five elements, and create the body of the Five Elements Sword…” the white-robed man said solemnly.
Lin Cheng immediately sat cross-legged as instructed.
The white-robed man touched Lin Cheng’s forehead with a fingertip.
Instantly, it felt as if a surge of electricity coursed through Lin Cheng’s body, his abdomen growing hot, as though something within was about to burst forth.
The white-robed man formed a seal with his left hand and reached toward the chaotic world reflected in the mirror above.
With a sweep, five wisps of gas appeared in his palm.
Each wisp shone with a distinct radiance, darting about like miniature dragons in his hand.
“These are the primordial essences of the five elements. As long as the primordial essence exists, the five elements cannot perish…”
“Boy, your starting point surpasses mine by far…”
“With this primordial essence forging your body, death will be hard to come by…” The white-robed man sighed as he sent the five elemental essences into Lin Cheng’s body.
The five streams of essence rushed through Lin Cheng’s limbs as if dragons returning to the sea.
His flesh felt as though burned by fierce flames, his bones as if struck by sharp swords. Beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead.
Looking at his twisted features, one could imagine the agony he endured.
“Endure this, and the heavens and earth will be yours to roam…” The white-robed man regarded Lin Cheng, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Lin Cheng gritted his teeth, his closed eyes trembling.
Determination was etched on his angular face, and he cried out in his heart,
I… can… do this…!!!
……
Time ticked by, the moments stretching endlessly.
Suddenly, the white-robed man’s eyes flashed with brilliance and he called out,
“Open!”
In a hazy trance,
A soft pop sounded.
In that instant, Lin Cheng’s limbs shone with blazing light, and within him, a sea of golden energy hovered in his dantian.
With a thought, the spiritual energy around him formed a whirlwind, gathering and rushing into his body like a whale swallowing water.
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Letting out a long breath, Lin Cheng slowly opened his eyes.
“Third level of the True Qi Realm… passable,” the white-robed man said, smiling at Lin Cheng.
Lin Cheng clenched his fists, feeling the newfound strength within him, elated beyond measure.
“Senior, what are the realms of cultivation?”
The white-robed man raised his head slightly, gazing at the distant stars.
He mused, “On the path of cultivation, if we must distinguish realms, they are roughly: True Qi Realm, Spirit Realm, Pill Realm, Royal Realm, Saint Realm, and even the Imperial Realm, which you may never encounter…”

“And within each realm, there are further divisions… You will come to know them in time…”
“You now stand at the third level of the True Qi Realm, thanks to the primordial essence of the five elements which reforged your body and opened the sea of pills within you.”
“Ordinarily, only those who reach the Saint Realm can open their own sea of pills… So, do not let others know you have achieved this, lest you invite unnecessary trouble…”
Perhaps still concerned, the white-robed man flicked his finger, sending another stream of information into Lin Cheng’s mind.
“This is the Heaven-Deceiving Formation, containing many secret arts…”
“It can conceal your five-element spiritual root and pill sea, and even hide your cultivation realm. You will understand its wonders in time…”
At this, the white-robed man patted Lin Cheng’s shoulder and said solemnly, “Until your strength grows, never let anyone discover the sword mark in your right palm.”
Seeing the gravity in his demeanor, Lin Cheng nodded with resolve.
“Next, I shall teach you a sword technique. Watch closely…”
The white-robed man opened his right hand and called out,
Sword, come!
In an instant, starlight gathered from all directions, condensing into a sword of stars in his hand.
He turned and thrust forward, transforming in a blink into a soaring azure dragon, appearing far away among the stars.
The sword of starlight in his hand swung slowly, yet Lin Cheng could not follow its motion at all.
In truth, the white-robed man’s sword seemed slow, but was in fact the pinnacle of speed.
He sheathed his sword and returned with a single step to stand before Lin Cheng.
“This sword technique is called the Five Clouds of Heavenly Peak. I created it upon mastering the way of the sword, and have since refined it…”
“As of now, there is none who can surpass it…”
As he spoke, the white-robed man pointed, and the knowledge of the Five Clouds of Heavenly Peak entered Lin Cheng’s mind.
“Go now, and remember… A sword is mere iron, but gains spirit through persistence, moves by heart, lives through blood, and dies without purpose…”
“Practice diligently, and seek us out someday.”
With these words, the white-robed man waved his hand, and Lin Cheng vanished from the starry sky.
In his chamber, Lin Cheng slowly opened his eyes, still lost in confusion and uncertainty.
“Seek you?”
No matter how he pondered, Lin Cheng could not fathom the deeper meaning behind the white-robed man’s final words. Shaking his head, he decided not to dwell on it.
Watching as the azure sword mark in his palm faded away, he pursed his lips.
Clenching his fists, he felt the immense power coursing within, filled with ambitious resolve.
He understood, from this moment, he had truly stepped into the world of cultivation.
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