The great doors of the Misty Cloud Sect hall creaked open as Sect Master Yán Qīngshēng led the way. Lù Tiān followed in silence, with Liú Yīrán trailing slightly behind, her eyes wide as she stepped into the grand hall for the first time. Though aged and weathered, the hall retained a sense of quiet dignity. Wooden beams soared overhead, carved with faded celestial patterns. At the center stood a low table of dark sandalwood, steam rising gently from a porcelain teapot flanked by two cups.

  Yán gestured for them to sit. “Please.” As they took their places, he poured the tea himself.

  “I owe you more than just thanks,” Yán Qīngshēng said, his tone respectful. “You exposed rot that I should have seen long ago. The Misty Cloud Gate has faltered… and it will take time to restore.” He paused, letting the silence stretch for a moment as the steam curled between them.

  Liú Yīrán sat quietly, her small hands wrapped around the warmth of her untouched cup, glancing between the two men with nervous curiosity. Yán Qīngshēng finally exhaled, folding his hands before him.

  "Tell me, Lù Tiān what is it that you seek in coming to our sect? You do not strike me as a man who wanders without purpose."

  Lù Tiān met his gaze evenly. "I have been in seclusion cultivating for a long time. I am not informed about the current affairs of the world. What I seek now is clarity and perhaps a place to stabilize my foundation."

  Yán paused, his gaze drifting across Lù Tiān's tattered robe and long, flowing white hair that fell past his shoulders. The signs of hardship were evident, etched into every frayed seam and weather-worn thread.

  "Then at the very least," Yán said thoughtfully, "allow us to provide you with a proper set of robes. Misty Cloud Gate may not be grand, but we are not without respect for our guests." With a flick of his sleeve, Yán moved a folded black robe with deep purple accents from his storage ring and placed it gently on the table before Lù Tiān. The fabric shimmered faintly, simple but elegant, imbued with the quiet dignity of the sect.

  Lù Tiān clapped his hands once in acknowledgment, the sound crisp in the quiet hall. "Thank you," he said simply, nodding with measured appreciation. He was quiet for a moment, the silence deliberate. Then he glanced at Yán Qīngshēng, his gaze steady.

  "Your cultivation," he said calmly, "it's unstable. You've forcibly broken through, haven't you?"

  Yán Qīngshēng's eyes widened slightly in surprise. He hadn’t expected anyone let alone this wandering stranger to see through the truth so easily. After a pause, he gave a faint, resigned nod.

  "I have. In truth, the foundation was not ready. But the sect's decline weighed heavily on me. I thought if I could become stronger faster, I could restore it before it fell further." He looked away for a moment. "But the price of forcefully breaking through... is not one easily paid."

  Lù Tiān said nothing. His expression remained unreadable, his eyes cast down toward the steam rising from his tea.

  Yán Qīngshēng studied him for a moment, then asked with genuine curiosity, "How did you see it? You could tell my breakthrough was forced at a glance how?"

  Lù Tiān finally looked up. "Your golden core is unstable. Your Qi lacks harmony and fluctuates too much. It's barely true to call you a Core Formation cultivator." He fell silent again, then allowed himself a moment of thought.

  Although this man’s cultivation is unstable, he has good character, Lù Tiān mused. This girl too... She has no cultivation yet, but there's talent hidden in her veins. Lù Tiān pondered for a moment, then looked up once more.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  "Sect Master Yán," he said evenly, "what if I could help you stabilize your cultivation? Help you become a true Core Formation cultivator not just in name, but in foundation and spirit?"

  Yán Qīngshēng's breath caught for a moment. His eyes widened with a mixture of disbelief and cautious hope. "Is there truly a way?" he asked, his voice quiet but intense. "Can such damage really be mended once it's done?"

  Unable to contain his emotion, Sect Master Yán leapt from his seat, his robes fluttering with the motion. Hope lit his features like dawn breaking through storm clouds. The weight he had carried in silence seemed to lift, even if only slightly, at the possibility.

  Lù Tiān looked at him calmly and said, "A fractured golden core? Tch. I've seen spirit roots regrown and souls reforged. Fixing that? It's hardly worth mentioning."

  Yán Qīngshēng stood stunned, unable to speak for a moment. Souls reforged? he thought, a chill running down his spine. What kind of old monster have we invited into our sect?

  After a moment to compose himself, Yán Qīngshēng asked, "Then... what must I do? If there is truly a path to mending my core, tell me what it requires."

  Lù Tiān’s eyes flickered with a faint crimson glow once more, sharp and cutting. He leaned forward slightly, voice quiet but heavy.

  "Everything in this world has a price, Sect Master Yán. The only question is... are you willing to pay it?"

  Yán Qīngshēng paused, the weight of those words sinking in. He lowered his gaze briefly, then looked back up at Lù Tiān. "Then tell me, Senior... what price must I pay?"

  Lù Tiān’s voice was calm, but the force behind it carried weight. "I ask only one thing. Your sect. I need a force, and this sect will be the starting point to accomplish my goals."

  Yán Qīngshēng froze, stunned by the boldness of the demand. But as the silence lingered and the reality of his fractured core remained pressing in his thoughts, he slowly exhaled. If this man, this mysterious cultivator who could see through his flaws at a glance and speak of reforging souls truly held the means to restore his path, then what other choice did he have?

  He straightened his back and nodded. "If it means I can become a true Core Formation cultivator... I am willing."

  Lù Tiān gave the faintest nod. "Then prepare the following: three key ingredients. Without them, your core cannot be repaired."

  He raised a hand and began to list them calmly, one by one. "First, the core of a Scarlet Vein Thunderboar a Mid-Grade Mystic Beast that stores vast quantities of lightning Qi. Its essence will shatter residual impurities in your golden core.

  "Second, a stalk of Emerald Soulshade Grass. It must be at least one hundred years old. Grown only near untouched spirit springs, its properties stabilize spiritual balance and nourish inner meridians.

  "Third, a bottle of Essence Dew of the Eightfold Sky. Condensed from the mists of eight elemental Qi veins, this liquid binds the other ingredients together and reignites the flow of stable Qi."

  He looked back at Yán, eyes glinting faintly. "Gather them. When you do, I’ll begin the refinement myself."

  Yán Qīngshēng’s brows furrowed thoughtfully. "We have the Essence Dew of the Eightfold Sky," he said slowly, "and a stalk of Emerald Soulshade Grass one we’ve guarded for over a century. But the Scarlet Vein Thunderboar... that will be difficult. Those beasts rarely appear this far south, and they dwell deep in thunder-veiled peaks. It won’t be easy to track one down much less slay it and retrieve the core intact."

  Lù Tiān stood and stretched his arms slightly, his crimson eyes glinting faintly. "Then I’ll go with you. It’s been a while since I stretched my legs."

  He turned to Liú Yīrán, who watched him with wide, curious eyes. "Girl, would you like to cultivate?"

  Her eyes lit up instantly, and she nodded eagerly. "Yes! I want to become strong like you one day."

  Lù Tiān’s gaze softened slightly. He thought back to the early days in the Pavilion the teachings passed down by sages long gone. Quietly, he reached out and pointed to her forehead. A stream of knowledge flooded her mind, the outline of a cultivation technique suited for her potential. Her body trembled slightly from the rush of spiritual insight.

  He withdrew his hand. "Did you understand it?"

  Liú Yīrán blinked, then slowly nodded, her eyes shimmering. "Yes... I understand."

  Lù Tiān nodded. "Good. That technique is called Moonpetal Mist Steps. It nurtures the soul and steadies the breath perfect for someone with no foundation but a steady heart. Train in it well, and it will guide your first steps on the path of cultivation."