Chapter 31 – The first master
The wind screamed around them.
Jin had never felt speed like this before. One moment they were in the council hall, the next—blurs of mountain ranges, rivers, and vast clouds tearing past him as if the world itself had turned into streaks of color. The old man didn't ride a beast or summon a flying artifact; he simply walked through the air, Jin held by a wisp of essence that cradled him like a feather in a storm.
Yet it was calm around the old man. A sphere of utter serenity surrounded them, separating them from the chaos of the wind. Jin could still breathe, still think—but he could barely process what his eyes were seeing.
The land below wasn't just terrain—it was life. Stretching valleys pulsed with elemental veins, lakes sparkled with condensed essence, and mountains radiated different elemental hues. All things Jin had only heard about in books or from passing cultivators.
He had always known Detrox was vast.
Now he understood how small he truly was.
The old man didn't speak. He simply flew, crossing hundreds of miles in moments. He carried no blade, wore no grand robes, and didn't emit any visible pressure. But Jin could feel it—this man was a mountain wrapped in fog, his power hidden, but too immense to fully conceal.
They slowed after an hour—or what felt like it. The world finally began to settle. Below them, a forest glowed faintly under the light of the twin moons. Nestled within was a modest hut made of plain wood and stone, smoke gently curling from its chimney. There were no guards, no formations, no protective beasts or talismans.
Just a hut.
But as they descended, Jin felt it.
The essence in the air grew heavier. Not oppressive, but dense—so thick he could almost see it as mist floating just above the ground. Breathing it in sent warmth through his limbs. His meridians stirred without him trying. Even his soul realm twitched as if recognizing the abundance of power around him.
The old man landed softly in front of the hut. Jin followed, his boots sinking slightly into grass saturated with essence.
"This is where you'll stay," the old man said simply.
Jin blinked. "This is... your base?"
"Base?" The old man gave a dry chuckle. "Call it what you like. It's enough."
Jin looked around again, disbelief bubbling in his chest. There were no obvious signs of power, and yet... the sheer purity of the air here was more valuable than gold. Cultivating in this place for even a day would equal weeks elsewhere.
The old man reached into his sleeve and tossed something toward Jin.
A ring.
Its black surface shimmered with dull light, engraved with patterns Jin couldn't recognize. It was heavier than it looked.
"Thousands of techniques, skills, manuals, cultivation paths—all stored in that ring," the old man said, his voice calm. "Scan it with your soul sense when you're ready. It'll respond."
Jin stared down at it. "Why are you giving me this?"
"You have two elemental affinities," the old man said. "High-grade in both. That alone makes you worth the investment."
He didn't mention the ancient symbol. Didn't bring up the terrifying power Jin had unleashed. If anything, he seemed to ignore it.
"That... symbol from the arena," Jin ventured. "You're not worried about it?"
The old man raised an eyebrow. "You couldn't control it. That makes it a one-time trick—good for saving your life if you're lucky, and nothing more. The rest... is up to how hard you train."
Jin nodded slowly. For some reason, he appreciated the bluntness.
"I don't take disciples," the old man said after a moment. "And I won't hold your hand. You'll prepare on your own."
"For what?"
The old man looked toward the sky. "Three years from now—the Grand Ascension Tournament. Every top sect, rogue cultivator, and hidden faction sends their best."
He turned his gaze back to Jin. "If you can rise there, the world will take notice. Even your enemies will hesitate."
The weight of those words settled in Jin's chest.
Varek.
The sect that let him suffer.
The world that had scorned him for being too average, then feared him for being too strong.
He nodded.
"I'll be ready."
The old man gave a rare smirk. "I hope so."
With that, he turned and vanished into the trees, not saying another word.
Jin stood in silence for a moment longer before walking into the hut. It was plain, with a single mat for meditation, a water basin, and a wooden floor that hummed with quiet energy. He sat cross-legged and placed the ring on his finger.
He took a breath.
Then he closed his eyes and reached inward, letting his soul sense stretch into the ring.
And that's when it hit him.
His body shuddered.
His breathing caught.
His indifferent expression cracked—and his eyes flew open, widened in pure, unguarded shock.
The contents of the ring had just changed everything.