Chapter 1: Looking Up
In the lower world, where the sun, moon, and stars had not been seen for years...
There were fragmented lands known as Northern Qi, which made up the northern region of the Fourth World. The sky above it was in a tumultuous state, punctuated by loud rumbles of thunder and majestic cascades of rain.
The outskirts of Northern Qi were close to a boundary wall, where bizarre mist would sometimes appear. A long, uninterrupted mountain range called the Solitary Mountain Range bordered this boundary wall. If someone were to look down at it from the sky, the mountain range would resemble a large snake in brumation[1] that had been slithering forward with all its might as if trying to escape. At the “snake’s head” were steep canyons, where the winds whistled like weeping ghosts.
Unexpectedly, in the wilderness ten li[2] away, stood three stone houses. The terrible weather had the fence around the houses shaking and rattling, as if about to collapse at any moment.
A huge, green divine bird was flying overhead. With its large wings spread wide open, it simply hovered in the air without flapping.
The divine bird had wings several mu in size.[3] Its feathers were like divine jade and refined iron, radiating a brilliant green light that blanketed the stone houses and their surroundings, making it seem as if it were a fine spring day.
In the courtyard stood a girl in her early teens, who had just changed into her new clothes. She gazed into the distance with an apprehensive restraint in her eyes, hands gripping the hem of her gorgeous skirt as she seemingly waited for something. At the same time, Sun Bin was looking intently at the girl as though beholding a rare treasure. The longer he stared at her, the more satisfied he felt.
After the teenage girl had cleaned her face and changed out of her coarse linen clothes, her appearance had unexpectedly changed into that of an elegant beauty, which had caused Sun Bin’s eyes to light up. He had never imagined that the best thing he’d find on his journey to the lower world would be the teenage girl in front of him.
There was someone else in the courtyard; it was a short, fat, middle-aged man dressed in yellow robes. After a long period of waiting, the man had no choice but to remind Sun Bin, “Elder Sun, we still have some important matters to attend to. We cannot delay for too long.”
The teenage girl's eyelashes fluttered anxiously as she pleaded, “My brother will be back soon!”
Sun Bin nodded with a smile. “Okay. We will wait a little longer.”
Turning sideways, he glanced indifferently at the two people behind him. The two people with bellies full of complaints immediately fell silent, not daring to say anything more.
As time passed, Sun Bin's gaze began to waver. However, as he stared at the muddy path before him, a blurry figure in a straw raincoat slowly appeared in the pouring rain.
Under the gray sky, the tall, powerfully built figure strode forward. He carried a bow and a bamboo basket on his back, with a long saber hanging from his waist.
Sun Bin narrowed his eyes and took a closer look.
Stunned, he asked, “Girl, is your brother really just two years older than you? He’s only fifteen years old?”
Pang Lin could not see as far ahead as Sun Bin because of the torrential rain, but she replied in a low voice, “That’s right.”
Sun Bin laughed softly with a strange look in his eyes and nodded. “Well, perhaps there is another surprise waiting for me.”
When Sun Bin examined Pang Lin, he found out that Pang Lin’s navel region contained a naturally formed lightning vortex. With a little push, she’d gathered the spiritual qi of the heavens and the earth during this special weather phenomenon and condensed it into a lightning bolt in her lightning vortex.
A cultivation genius like Pang Lin was rare, even in the upper worlds. Sun Bin had never expected to find such a rare, unpolished gem in this lower world, where the spiritual qi was sparse. Naturally, he was very excited. When he saw that Pang Lin’s brother also had an unusual aura, Sun Bin’s heart burst with anticipation.
…
Rumble!
Thunder suddenly erupted from the gray sky like the wrath of the gods, causing the beasts in the depths of the Solitary Mountain Range to tremble in fear.
Pang Jian, who often hunted in the Solitary Mountain Range and was much taller and more robust than other teenagers his age, frowned as he looked at the distant mountains that were being ravaged by the violent storm. Even under the dim sky, the young man’s features were distinct, and his eyes were clear and bright.
Strange, Pang Jian thought.
As far as he could remember, the Solitary Mountain Range and its surrounding areas had not seen such severe weather in years.
Pang Jian had returned early from the mountain so that he could head to Linshan Town to exchange his spoils for some supplies. However, there was another reason why he returned early; it was this strange weather. It had caused a flash flood in the Solitary Mountain Range, making it difficult for him to traverse.
The thought of potentially not being able to hunt in the mountains for a while irritated Pang Jian as it meant he would not have spoils to exchange for silver. Without enough silver, his plan for his sister’s education would be delayed.
In the midst of the torrential rain, Pang Jian continued to take long strides forward, getting closer and closer to his home. Moments later, Pang Jian stopped in his tracks, eyes widening as he gazed incredulously at the sky above his home.
A large, green divine bird was hovering high above it. The bird's enormous wings shone with a magnificent light. Its wing bones were as bright as gold and as beautiful as jade, so much so that they were visible through the feathers. It was an astonishingly imposing sight.
Rays of bright green light shone from the edge of the divine bird’s wings, covering the stone houses and their courtyard like a tent and protecting them from the onslaught of the torrential rain.
Pang Jian had been wandering around the Solitary Mountain Range under his father’s guidance ever since he was a child, but he had never seen such a mythical creature before. The sight of the divine bird hovering in the sky, emitting an imposing and dazzling sacred light, shocked him deeply.
After staring dazedly for a while, the young man gradually came to his senses. He suddenly remembered his sister, who had stayed at home.
“Pang Lin!”
In a moment of panic, Pang Jian rushed home as fast as he could in the torrential rain, fearful that something might have happened to his sister.
Pang Jian was torn with anxiety. The thunder roared and the rain pummeled the earth. His face was wet from the rain, and his vision gradually turned blurry.
The heavy rain formed puddles along the uneven path home, causing him to stumble and fall repeatedly. Nevertheless, Pang Jian ignored his sorry state. Despite being covered in mud, he just kept scrambling to his feet and continued running as fast as he could.
When he finally almost reached the hovering divine bird, Pang Jian shouted with all his might, “Pang Lin!”
However, there was no response.
Without hesitation, he drew his bow and nocked an arrow, aiming directly at the divine bird's forehead before releasing the shot.
Dang!
The divine bird remained motionless. The arrow that had struck its forehead only produced a few sparks; no wound could be found.
When Sun Bin and his two bodyguards, Yin Shan and Yin Hai, saw the young man draw his bow and shoot, they could not help but laugh.
The divine bird, a Green Condor, was annoyed by Pang Jian’s arrow. Its cold eyes narrowed slightly, and a change occurred in the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Multiple bolts of lightning fell from the sky and bombarded the muddy ground around the young man’s home, forming huge, deep pits. These pits were scorched black, with sparks of lightning flying in all directions.
At the same time, a vast and mighty aura suddenly enveloped the area.
Pang Jian was horrified. He felt like the violent lightning surrounding him could blast him to pieces. If he dared to make a sudden move, his body and soul would be instantly destroyed.
“Brother!”
Under the brilliant green curtain of light, Pang Lin had been anxiously calling out to her brother. However, her voice could not reach beyond the divine green light.
“That’s enough,” Sun Bin growled.
The curtain of light, which looked slightly opaque from the outside, suddenly became translucent.
Pang Jian could finally see his sister’s eager scream and make out what she was saying from the shape of her mouth. However, he could not hear her voice.
Pang Jian was instantly wary. He realized that both the divine bird in the sky and the strange curtain of light surrounding the house were extraordinary. Even the strangers standing with his sister seemed strange.
Despite being separated by the bright green curtain of light, Pang Jian could see that his sister was unharmed, and her usual hemp garment was replaced by a gorgeous, colorful dress.
Pang Lin’s brand-new dress suited her lovely face well. Her whole appearance had changed because of it. She no longer looked like a girl from the countryside; it was as if she had become a lady of a noble family.
Beside his sister stood a skinny old man in green clothes, who was obviously of a high status, and two middle-aged men, one tall and one short.
The old man's eyes were bright. They were even more glaring than the light curtain separating Pang Jian and his home. The old man’s hands were tucked into his loose sleeves as if he were brewing a terrible storm within them.
Pang Jian was stunned. He had no idea what had happened in his own home, but seeing as his sister was unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief and put down his bow.
Then, he stared at Sun Bin with a cold gaze and inquired without a hint of fear, “Who are you?”
Sun Bin closely examined the young man in front of him. When he noticed the young man was not afraid, he could not help but smile.
He said, “A benefactor with the ability to change not only your fate but also your sister’s.”
Pang Jian was unusually tall for someone of his age. His years of hunting alone in the mountain range had given him the figure, gaze, and bearing of a ferocious wild beast. Sun Bin was astonished by both the extraordinary air that Pang Jian had about him and his unusual presence. Still, Pang Jian was too far away for Sun Bin to determine his cultivation aptitude.
“Let the wild boy come in,” Sun Bin ordered the Green Condor without raising his head.
When the Green Condor heard this, it raised its head and let out a soft, pleasant cry. The rumbling thunder immediately died down.
It was like a heavy load had been lifted off Pang Jian’s shoulders, and he realized that he could finally hear the voices within the bright curtain of light.
Sizing up the unfamiliar trio, Pang Jian tightened his grip on his long saber and proceeded cautiously as if he were heading toward a herd of beasts. As he crossed through the light curtain and stepped into his home, Pang Jian felt warmth emanating from within.
Outside the light curtain, it was raining heavily and the temperature made Pang Jian cold to the bone. However, in the courtyard under the light curtain, it was as warm as spring, without a single drop of rain. It was almost like they were somewhere else, which made Pang Jian feel even more surprised.
“Boy, we think that Pang Lin is a gem. Living here with you in the lower world will only bury her talent. So, whether you or Pang Lin agree or not, I will take her to the upper world today and have her cultivate there,” Sun Bin said bluntly, making his intentions clear.
He continued, “This is not a decision that you or Pang Lin can change. From today onward, she will step into the upper world and completely break away from this lower one, where the spiritual qi is sparse and tainted.
“As for you...”
Sun Bin's voice trailed off, eyebrows twitching slightly.
A beam of green lightning suddenly shot out from the depths of Sun Bin’s eyes and instantly disappeared into Pang Jian’s body.
The young man was riddled with pain, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. As the green lightning flowed back and forth between his limbs and his internal organs, the young man felt as if numerous thin blades were stabbing him.
Sun Bin used the lightning as his eyes, delicately controlling it to probe Pang Jian’s whole body.
The young man was in agony because of the torturous probe. However, he endured it with gritted teeth, not letting any sound escape from his mouth.
Pang Lin’s pretty little face was filled with anxiety. She could see that her brother was in agony, but she did not dare to express her anger, fearing she would ruin his good fortune.
She had it all figured out in her mind. She knew that this moment would decide if her brother could win Sun Bin’s favor.
“He has a really good temperament!” Sun Bin exclaimed in admiration.
Yin Hai and Yin Shan behind him were just as surprised.
Mortals who had yet to officially embark on the road of cultivation were often unable to bear the torturous pain when they were subjected to the brutal Bone and Marrow Probing and often passed out within a short time. Only a few people could hold on, but even they ended up wailing like ghosts.
The trio had never met someone like Pang Jian, who could remain standing throughout the probe without making a sound.
“Elder Sun, we really hit the jackpot this time!” The short and chubby Yin Hai could not contain his joy and congratulated Sun Bin in advance, before the latter was done probing Pang Jian. “This has been a worthwhile trip!”
“We almost missed out on another gem!” the tall and thin Yin Shan said as he glared at his younger brother, who had impatiently urged them to leave earlier.
Sun Bin grinned and laughed happily.
He waved his hand and said, “After examining the little sister, I knew that her brother wouldn’t fall far behind. It seems that it was not in vain that I waited for such a long time.”
“Sea Convergence!” Sun Bin shouted swiftly.
The Soul Seeking Nether Lightning roaming all over Pang Jian’s body suddenly converged in his navel region.
Sun Bin was full of anticipation, but he suddenly frowned deeply when the sparks of lightning dispersed into the young man’s navel region.
“No, why is this happening?!” Sun Bin exclaimed.
He scratched his ears puzzledly, then stared intently at the location of the young man’s navel region, carefully sensing the movement of his Soul Seeking Nether Lightning.
Sun Bin carefully probed Pang Jian several times. Finally, after a long time had passed, he looked toward the sky and heaved a long sigh.
Sun Bin stomped his feet and cried out with regret, “They’re siblings, but their cultivation talents are as different as night and day. What a waste of a good temperament!”
He originally thought that the older brother’s cultivation talent would not be inferior to that of his younger sister. If there was no large difference, Sun Bin would have been willing to bring the brother along to the upper world.
However, there was no naturally formed lightning vortex inside Pang Jian’s navel region. Even worse, his navel region was extremely muddy.
Even if Pang Jiang were to embark on the road of cultivation, his progress would be extremely slow. He was destined to have little success.
“It can’t be, can it?” Yin Hai and Yin Shan asked.
They were unable to comprehend the situation and wanted Sun Bin to examine Pang Jian one more time.
Hearing that, Pang Lin, who had been full of confidence that her brother would be able to gain Sun Bin’s favor, felt as if she had been struck.
She said defeatedly, “How is this possible? Elder, can you take a closer look?”
Pang Lin thought that her brother was the strongest and most extraordinary person in the world. Since she had outstanding cultivation talent, her brother should naturally be even better than her.
She could not accept the result of Sun Bin’s judgment of her brother.
Sun Bin helplessly shook his head. “The matter is already set in stone. There is no need to take a second look.”
The nether lightning flew out of the young man’s body and returned to Sun Bin’s eye.
“Boy, I am sorry to inform you that we can’t take you with us. You’re lacking in cultivation talent. If I were to bring you over, I wouldn’t be able to explain the matter to the higher-ups,” Sun Bin said indifferently. He had experienced many hardships, and in spite of his disappointment, he quickly regained his composure. “The place that we’re going to can’t accommodate you. It won’t do you any good if you go.”
“If my brother can’t go, then I’m not going either!” Pang Lin yelled loudly.
“As I said, this matter is not up to you and your brother,” Sun Bin replied with a snort.
“Little Lin, go with them. Go to a better and wider world. I will come find you in the future.”
Unexpectedly, it was Pang Jian who took the initiative to persuade Pang Lin.
As he took a deep breath and forced himself to endure the lingering pain in his body, he said, “Don’t worry. I will definitely come look for you in the upper world."
Pang Jian had a determined expression, and a captivating light seemed to blossom in the depths of his limpid eyes.
Sun Bin stared at the young man with a thoughtful gaze.
At this moment, the two brothers, Yin Hai and Yin Shan, were also fascinated by the radiance in Pang Jian's eyes. They could not help but think back on the hardships they had experienced and swallowed the sarcastic words that they had been about to say.
“No, I don’t want to go!” Pang Lin cried out.
She knew that it would be hard for her to meet her brother again after parting with him. With teary eyes, Pang Lin repeatedly shook her head.
The siblings had been relying on each other ever since they were young and held deep feelings of attachment toward each other. So, Pang Lin was, of course, unwilling to leave by herself.
“Girl, it might not be realistic for him to come to the upper world to look for you in the future,” Sun Bin said. Then he coughed lightly and made a new suggestion. “However, when you have proven yourself in the sect and broken through to the Profound Abode Realm, you will be able to return to the lower world and look for him. Then you can arrange a place for him in the upper world.”
Glancing at the Solitary Mountain Range, Sun Bin said indifferently, “There's no need to stay here in the Fourth World, where the spiritual qi is sparse. It’s destined to be destroyed at some point in the future.”
“Profound Abode Realm?” Pang Lin shouted, grasping at the shred of hope.
“Yes. In this world, most of the cultivators are in the Qi Practicing Realm, Meridian Opening Realm, and Marrow Cleansing Realm. In the upper worlds, there are more cultivators at the Innate Realm, Profound Abode Realm, and Spirit Condensation Realm,” Sun Bin patiently persuaded Pang Lin. “Girl, you have extraordinary cultivation talent. As long as you cultivate diligently, it will not be difficult for you to reach the Profound Abode Realm within a hundred years.”
After a moment of hesitation, he took out an old and worn-out dark yellow manual wrapped in oil paper and threw it toward Pang Jian.
“This is the Qi Nurturing Divine Cauldron Art that I obtained by chance in a restricted area. I hope it can help you embark on the path of cultivation so that you can stay alive until the day Pang Lin comes and gets you.”
Without waiting for the brother and sister to say their goodbyes, the curtain of green light surrounding them slowly closed in from the outside. In the end, it wrapped around Pang Lin like a glowing cylindrical tube of multicolor lights and dragged her toward the divine bird.
Before the curtain of light ascended into the sky, Sun Bin’s party had already released their spiritual qi to isolate themselves from the torrential rain.
“Boy, we will meet again someday,” Sun Bin said.
After that, the trio soared into the sky and landed on the Green Condor’s long neck.
The divine bird let out a soft cry and flew toward the gray sky in the torrential rain.
Pang Jian lifted his head and watched them leave. The small amount of green lightning remaining in his eyes flickered, causing his vision to improve by several folds. It was as if a hidden thread connected him and Sun Bin, allowing Sun Bin’s movements to stay within Pang Jian’s line of sight. He felt that some of the strange lightning had been purposefully left in his body just so he could watch Sun Bin’s party gradually fly further away.
So, his eyes gazed at the divine bird ascending into the sky.
Pang Jian was not dismayed that they had not taken him with them. He could not help his sister, but he was gratified and proud knowing that she had made a path for herself with her talent.
Under the gray sky, the divine bird spread its wings wide open and soared into the stormy skies, flying higher and higher.
After the divine bird reached a certain height, the brilliant light it emitted allowed Pang Jian to vaguely see beyond the sky of dark clouds. There were countless fragmented lands that were similar to Northern Qi. They were scattered like islands all over the upper worlds.
There were two incomparably huge areas of land hidden deep within the dense clouds, resembling mansions built by towering celestial beings in the void. These two landmasses naturally drew in the spiritual qi of heaven and earth that was surrounding them. These two legendary lands were sacred places that the people of the Fourth World yearned to go to.
Pang Jian knew that it was a whole other world.
It represented the power of the mighty clans; a rich, superior lifestyle; and powerful cultivators with long life spans.
Pang Jian tightly clenched the old manual in his hand. Desire burned in his eyes, gradually growing more intense. He vowed to climb to the upper world for his little sister, and for himself as well.
The divine bird continued to fly higher into the sky. Light flickered in Pang Jian’s eyes as they were still glued to the Green Condor, trying to see its final landing spot so that he could determine his little sister's location.
He saw the divine bird fly over the two continents of the Third World and soar higher still. As it did, Pang Jian saw that there were three other land masses in the sky that were even more lofty and majestic than the ones he had seen in the world one level above his own.
“The Second World!”
Pang Jian trembled violently. He suddenly realized that his little sister's destination was perhaps even further out of reach than he had thought.
It was also at this moment that he saw a bright moon surrounded by stars high up in the sky, illuminating the land below.
Under the bright moon and stars, he saw that there were indeed another two worlds above the Third World.
The upper worlds consisted of three worlds, each one on a higher level than the last.
He had never seen such a magnificent scene before, not even in his dreams.
The innocent young man was greatly shocked. As he looked up at the sky from the lower world where the sun, moon, and stars would remain unseen for eternity, he began to fantasize endlessly.
Pang Jian now had an intense and unquenchable desire to climb to the top and stand on the highest spot in all of the heavens and the earth.
1. Snake’s version of hibernation. ☜
2. The traditional Chinese measurement unit li is about one-third of an English mile and now has a standardized length of a half-kilometer ☜
3. Mu (Chinese: 亩; pinyin: mǔ) is a unit of area measurement used in the Far East, particularly in China, where it is officially standardized. It corresponds to 1/15 of a hectare or about 666.67 m2 ☜
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