Despite the allure of the Heavenly Observation System's information, Li Yao knew better than to rush in blindly. The system had marked the danger as low, but low was not the same as none.
With that in mind, he sat cross-legged and cultivated until morning light crept through his window. The usual stillness of dawn wrapped around him as he slowly guided qi into his meridians. Once the cultivation cycle was complete, he left his cottage and went about his usual duties, tending to the herb gardens alongside Senior Brother Wei.
Hours passed. By the time the sun was high overhead and his daily work concluded, Li Yao returned to his cottage and began taking stock of his belongings.
Inside the small wooden chest beneath his sleeping mat were only a few items: five low-grade spirit stones, a worn cloth pouch, a set of spare outer disciple robes, and an old iron-handled axe. The axe had been with him since before he entered the sect- its edge dull, its weight uneven- but it had served him well chopping firewood and clearing stubborn roots in the garden.
He held it in his hands for a long moment, then sighed.
"If I do run into trouble tomorrow... this won't be enough."
Even if the system said the danger was low, the idea of venturing to an abandoned field alone gnawed at the edge of his thoughts. If he was to stake his life on a journey- no matter how small- then he needed to be better prepared.
Fortunately, it was still early in the day.
With the sun at its peak, Li Yao left the outer sect and followed the winding road that descended the mountain. The path led through dense trees and open cliffs until eventually, it widened into a stone-paved road. At the foot of the mountain, nestled between green hills and rolling fields, stood Ember City.
Unlike the martial austerity of the Embercloud Sect above, Ember City bustled with life. It had been built for the families of disciples- mortal parents, siblings, and retired cultivators who wished to remain close to the sect. Because of the protective influence of the sect, the area was free from rampaging beasts or demonic threats. It had grown into a modest but thriving hub.
Merchants, craftsmen, cultivators, and ordinary mortals all mingled here. Loose cultivators in worn robes strolled past stalls, and the scent of roasted meat and fragrant tea floated through the air.
Li Yao moved cautiously through the crowds, eyes scanning the people around him. Most were at the Qi Refining Realm- some new there, others clearly experienced. He spotted a few Foundation Establishment cultivators in secluded corners, but they were rare. Loose cultivators at that level were often recruited by sects or left to pursue solitary lives of wandering.
Core Formation cultivators? Not a single one was present. They were powerful enough to alter the fate of towns, and few remained unaffiliated for long. With lifespans reaching four hundred years and abilities that could split rivers, even the Embercloud Sect treated them with utmost reverence.
He pushed aside such lofty thoughts. That realm was far, far beyond him.
Setting his jaw, he turned toward the market district and began searching for a weapons hall.
After wandering through the crowded streets of Ember City, Li Yao finally stepped into a modest but well-kept weapons shop bearing the name Ironbranch Arms. The air inside was cool and heavy with the scent of oil, iron, and old wood.
Weapons lined the walls in neat rows- swords gleaming under lanternlight, spears standing tall in racks, and shelves of daggers, sabers, and cudgels on display. A middle-aged woman with neatly tied hair and calm eyes stood behind the reception counter. Though dressed plainly, Li Yao could sense the steady qi flowing through her. She was a Qi Refining cultivator.
Her eyes briefly flicked to his Embercloud Sect robes, and her expression softened with respect.
"Welcome, young Daoist," she greeted him warmly. "Looking for something specific?"
"I'm searching for a weapon that suits me," Li Yao said. "Something simple, and within a modest price range."
"Of course. Most new outer disciples come around this time of the year." She gestured toward the hall. "Take your time browsing. If you see something you like, let me know."
Li Yao bowed slightly and began examining the weapons on display.
He tried holding a few short swords, but the balance felt strange in his hands. A spear's length was too unwieldy, and the daggers too light. He paused before a rack of axes near the back of the hall. Something stirred in his chest- a faint sense of familiarity.
As he picked up one of the axes, its weight and grip felt natural. Not just as a tool, but as a weapon.
Then, a thought struck him.
The second Binding Gift, the ability to observe and get information for free.
During the past month, he had experimented with it in private, especially while working in the herb garden. Whenever he focused on an herb and willed it, a strange qi would rise from his dantian, flow to his mind, and then vanish- followed by a screen of glowing script, granting him insights into the herb's nature. It didn't cost points, but it did consume his qi. Each time, he would feel drained and would need to meditate to recover fully.
Now, standing before the axe, he narrowed his eyes.
Let's try it again.
He focused on the axe in his hands and activated the ability.
A thin thread of qi stirred in his dantian and surged upward like a whispering stream. It flowed to his brain- and disappeared. A moment later, a translucent screen appeared before his eyes:
[Heavenly Observation System – Insight Function Activated
Item: Ironroot Battle Axe
Grade: Mortal – High Quality
Material: Ironroot Wood Handle, Blacksteel Blade
Edge Sharpness: Above-average for Mortal Weapons
Recommendation: Ideal transitional weapon until Spiritual Artifact can be obtained]
Li Yao's eyes widened slightly. He hadn't expected such detail.
It made the system feel alive, intelligent, like it truly understood his path.
He could still feel the drain of qi from his body, though. It wasn't large- barely a fraction of a strand- but enough to dull his senses slightly. Still, it confirmed that the ability could be used beyond herbs.
His thoughts briefly raced: Could I use this on people? On techniques? On treasures?
But that was a question for another time.
"Show me your best axe under three low-grade spirit stones," he said aloud, now certain of what he wanted.
The receptionist returned with a wrapped bundle and carefully opened it on the counter. Inside lay the very same axe he'd just inspected.
"This one's the best we have in your price range. Two low-grade spirit stones," she said with a smile. "Reliable and well-balanced. Good steel, better than most you'll find in this tier."
Li Yao nodded. "I'll take it."
He handed over the spirit stones and accepted the axe with both hands, quietly impressed by the system's accuracy.
Afterward, he wandered the market a while longer, using a portion of his remaining spirit stone to buy modest items for his cottage- better bedding, a cushion for meditation, a bamboo mat for reading, and a simple incense holder for purification.
By the time he began his return to the sect, the sun was already beginning its descent. Ember City shimmered in golden light as he walked back up the mountain trail, the weight of the axe across his back oddly reassuring.
At the dining hall, he ate a simple meal and exchanged a few quiet words with other outer disciples. Most were still discussing cultivation progress, lectures, or which sect hall they planned to focus on next. Li Yao smiled politely, then made his way home.
Inside his small cottage, now freshly decorated with the warmth of his purchases, he settled into his cushion and took a deep breath.
Tomorrow, after completing his duties in the herb garden, he would go to the North Herb Field.
He didn't know what the forgotten herb would look like.
He didn't know what properties it might hold.
But for the first time since entering the sect, he felt as if the path before him wasn't completely dark.
Li Yao closed his eyes, began to circulate qi through his meridians, and prepared himself for the day to come.