“...Is this real?”

  Amidst a lush green forest filled with colossal trees was a small, abandoned temple.

  Qi Xue had a frustrated expression as he sat on a small boulder in front of it.

  He was completely unaware of what was happening. The last thing he remembered was going to the arena for martial arts training.

  But where in the world was he now?

  Was he lost? How could someone possibly end up in such a place?

  From the shape of these trees, either I suddenly shrank, or the world doubled in size.

  Of course, there was also a possibility of all of this being a dream.

  Without wasting any time, Xue closed his eyes and checked his vital energy. As a genius martial artist, he was already proficient in this aspect.

  So this isn’t a dream after all.

  Patting off the dust from his robe, Xue stood up.

  In any case, he couldn’t just stay here.

  Tomorrow marks the beginning of the grand tournament of the Cai nation. He had to be there. How else would he impress the princess and marry her?

  By far, she was the only one who deserved a genius like him.

  Even though the temple was small, it looked monumental with exquisite carvings on the walls. Such a place should’ve been a popular destination, unlike its current state.

  Inside the temple was a stone statue placed at the centre. The statue was that of a male, sitting in a lotus position. Majestic and alluring; if the world had immortals, this is how they’d look.

  However, the statue had cracks all over it, depicting the time it had stayed here.

  Looking behind the statue, Xue found a bunch of firewood.

  There should be some people nearby.

  Finding them would help him know more about this place and possibly, a way back.

  He took a piece of firewood and walked somewhere sunlight could fully reach. Because of the trees obscuring it, finding such a place took him a while. Afterwards, he drew a circle on the ground and then marked a straight line bisecting his shadow. This was a method to keep track of time.

  Xue then turned to the dense forest ahead and gulped.

  Not that he was scared, he just deeply despised those wild beasts.

  One of the most disgusting things ever!

  ROAR!!!

  As if hearing his thoughts, a loud roar suddenly echoed throughout the forest, which made him tremble.

  Maybe I should rest here for a bit.

  ...

  No way.

  I shouldn’t be afraid of these silly animals.

  Just who was he? The genius young master of the Qi clan and probably the future king of Cai.

  He had so many records of defeating literal immortal cultivators.

  If anything, he should be the last one to be afraid of them– He thought.

  There were three things he hated the most,

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  Wild beasts, weapons, and cultivators.

  Simply because he couldn’t win against them.

  In a fist-to-fist fight, he was almost unbeatable; even cultivators were no match. But everything changes if the opponent wields a weapon.

  As for wild beasts, he once almost got killed by a stray dog.

  But that was several years ago, he was now way stronger.

  Of course, all of this was his deepest, darkest secret.

  Taking a deep breath, Xue walked forward, holding the firewood in his hand.

  In such a large forest, it was easy to go astray. Who knew where he’d end up?

  Thus, he used the firewood to mark the trees he passed by.

  Xue was fast, covering around ten meters with each step. At the same time, his steps were completely silent. The drifting dream technique.

  It was made by a mortal who dreamed of flight. After witnessing several immortals drifting across the wind, he created this technique by submitting his will and sanity to the heavens.

  A mortal and a dream, thus the name drifting dream.

  Speaking of flight…

  “...”

  Xue had a dumbfounded expression as he stared straight at the figure floating above him.

  The figure wore a white robe trimmed in gold that fluttered in the wind. There was a sword placed at his waist and a silver bracelet that stood out. He stared back at Xue without any expression on his face.

  An Immortal!

  As I thought, I’ve somehow reached the upper heavens!

  …

  The upper heavens– a world filled with gods and immortals.

  Xue knew about this place.

  According to the legends, once a cultivator forms a golden core, they’re no longer considered a ‘mortal’ by the natural laws. Such people are expelled to the upper heavens.

  A beautiful and surreal forest with giant trees, just as depicted in the legends.

  Xue had his suspicions earlier, but couldn’t confirm anything. After all, he was still a mortal without spiritual roots. There was simply no way for him to be here.

  Now, after seeing the immortal, he was sure of it.

  Xue cupped his fists and bowed.

  “Qi Xue meets the immortal master.”

  Although he was quite prideful, he knew his place very well. This person could smash him to death like an insignificant bug. Especially because he carried a weapon.

  The immortal, on the other hand, stayed silent.

  Strange. Why couldn’t my spiritual senses detect him?

  As an innate stage cultivator, his precision far surpassed that of most golden core cultivators. Yet he wasn’t able to detect this person.

  He might actually succeed if he were to sneak up on me.

  This guy named Qi Xue was totally powerless; he could understand that at just a glance.

  What was such a person doing in this dangerous place?

  Deathroot Forest was infamous for killing cultivators even above the nascent soul, let alone this weakling.

  The immortal then let out a chuckle.

  “No need to be so respectful, we’re all fellow cultivators.”

  I’m not a cultivator, though.

  “I do not dare…”

  Xue could understand why the other party would think that. In this world, there were no ‘mortals’.

  “You’re really persistent, huh... Anyway, just call me Bai Yang.”

  “As you wish, master Bai.”

  Like hell I’m giving you a reason to trample me.

  “...”

  The atmosphere went silent before Bai Yang spoke again.

  “I’m looking for three people wearing black robes. Have you seen them by any chance?”

  “I have not,” Xue replied quickly.

  Should I ask him the way to any nearby village?

  Xue hesitated.

  Maybe I shouldn’t

  For some reason, this Bai Yang gave him a sense of unease.

  “So that’s the case…” Bai Yang muttered.

  “We’ll meet again. If you ever see them, please do notify me.”

  Saying so, he turned around to leave.

  But-

  “Hmm, just forget whatever I said.”

  Bai Yang straightened his long hair. His sword suddenly flew out of the sheath and–

  “Khuukk!!”

  Blood spurted out.

  What just happened…? – That was Xue’s last thought.

  He brought his hands covered in blood towards his face, only to realise he couldn’t see anything.

  His head was no longer there.

  Xue was dead.