Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56The cultivation world is heartless.
The cultivation world is cold.
It's law of the jungle out there.
I grew up cultivating hearing all these things.
Were these lies? I still don't think so, but what does any of it matter when I have a sword piercing through me. The cold eyes of a kid 10 years younger than me and two realms below me in cultivations reflect my gloomy and miserable sight, on the verge of dying.
My 'crime'? I didn't help him when he was bullied by my peer when he joined the sect.
How stupid is this? Oh, how stupid it is that a whiny teenager is preaching to me about morals and regretting my actions when he's simply flexing his strength as well.
Originally, this was the guy that had the lowest penchant possible for cultivation, a black spirit root. Why would I have cared about his well-being?
Oh, you're asking how did manage to poke a hole through me if he's two realms below me? I DON'T FU**ING KNOW!
It's his superior cultivation art or something I guess.
For the first and the last time in my life, I look at him deeply, the ring on his hand is shining. As my spirit leaves my body, I peek at the faintly discernable withered soul that looks like an old man floating behind him.
'Hm? he looks familiar... ah, it's the legendary founder of our sect, Daoist Grand Void.'
What a da**ed creep he turned out to be? Residing 'inside' a little child, leeching off of him and helping him cheat.
Why do they even need to fight for the resources in a sect? I'm sure he would have some better ways but no, he just had to go through this bullish**.
Oh well, I'm just a bitter loser here. I'm sure this guy has other defining traits other than mooching off his luck and cheating, hehe, yeah, it's 'preaching'.
The last sight that I see before I close my eyes forever is just everyone is cheering for him, wow, just... wow.
...
The sect tournament drew to a close as a new dark horse rose against all odds and killed an 'evil' cultivator and bagged all the rewards.
The outer sect disciples were delighted upon hearing the news about the 'tyrant's' death, praising the hero in return.
The elders and the sect leader focused their attention on the bizarre flying sword art that drew all eyes on him which he claimed to have been taught by someone in his dreams.
Author's note:
"What do you mean my tens of years of training had been an absolute waste?"
"Oh, he was taught by dead grandpa spirit? Then, no wonder,"
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
The Stepping Stones Master
I'm a fiction made real.I'm a lie that turned the truth.A spirit cast into reality through the power of a thousand lies.I don't remember when I gained consciousness at first but the first thing I remember was the face of a filial young man that used my name to hide his inheritance."Mother, my master is very kind and helpful in his teachings. You don't have to worry about me, I'll definitely sort out all of our family's troubles by learning from him. It is my luck to be taught by him, otherwise how else would I have become so strong in such a short period." This was the first anchor of my existence, the voice of my first indirect disciple.It helped me sort out my thoughts as I became aware of who I was and the reason for my existence.Since then, I keep becoming more and more aware as the kids kept pinning their wildest immortal skills and manuals to have come out of my inheritance.I'm a free and unfettered old immortal, and also
The Stepping Stones God of Farts
I conquered every land.I killed all my enemies.I slept with every 'heavenly' beauty.Everything I wished to do, every limit I aspired to overcome, I did but after that? It's just loneliness, a gloom that you carry within your heart everywhere, all the time.I... am an immortal.I've met the creators, the Gods that created the multi-verse, time has left a much deeper and crueler scar on their souls. Most of them are mad already.They do weird things for entertainment. They creep me out.Only the God of Life and God of Death deserve their title. Everyone else is a bitter loser, suffering from a disease I recently acquired, immortality.There's one God that transformed his entire body into that of a machine at first and then went to earth as a truck to transport people from there to different worlds.Another one created a whole new body of a teenager and built a fake set of memories for him where he was bullied and
The Stepping Stones 16th Generation Saintess(New Arc)
A sect is a massive machine. It's not up to a single individual to make it work. From basic education, discipline, and determination, it's a sect's responsibility to make its disciples conform to its teachings and ideals.There's also a certain sense of freedom that one has in a sect. As youths, it's very natural that they have their internal hierarchies and hot-blooded competitions and as Elders, all we need to do is make sure there are no accidents or death and we're all set.To any sect, whether it be a small one with a hundred members or a heavenly sect with branches across the universe, the mission center is the oil that runs this machine and makes it work. Our revenue, vitality, and stability come from these very missions.But at any point in time, the missions in the outside world are limited and internal ones, that are given by our Elders or Chief disciples, although serve to motivate the disciples to make no difference to sects as entities.There
The Stepping Stones 16th Generation Saintess(2)
As soon as the matter of her marriage was brought up, most of the elders present revealed miserable and dissatisfied expressions, fighting for the 'freedom of choice' of women in the sect or the noble name of 'equality'.After hundreds of arguments and debates over a few days, like whether traditions should hold when no one was satisfied with them, or whether old dead rules could bind the spirited and lively lives of the people running the machine.Imagining the wronged expression on the charming face of 'our' Saintess, we looked at each other and guessed the thoughts going on.Soon, we came to a uniform conclusion, we would ask the 'maiden' herself. If she wanted to marry, then so be it, even at cost of our hearts, but if she wasn't then the sect today would defy the rules of the past and advance forth into a brand new era.Few days were enough to redden the faces of this group, and so after a small fight over who would go over to ask her, we decided to
The Stepping Stones 24th Generation Saintess(3)
After a certain period, I stopped noticing the changing seasons as well, passing most of my time in sexclusion, ahem, seclusion.What surprised me the most was the decreasing 'drive' of 16th Generation Saintess along with time.The 'Hero' had given her a unique pill that let her maintain her youthful looks regardless of her age, but it wasn't something to stop the decaying and maturing of her soul.Living through seven ages is enough to leave a permanent effect on any soul. She still had her flings here and there for a couple of generations but after that, she rarely even went out, much like me.Over time, we became known as the mythical transcendental figures within the sect and something of a legend in the outside world as well. Our existence allowed the sect to still be one of the ruling factions of the world.Gradually, she had turned into a demure and kind old lady that spent most of her time in seclusion. My admiration for her only increased
The Stepping Stones 24th Generation Saintess(4)
After the delusional bi*ch was taken away, we went back into seclusion and enjoyed our final decade of peace in this world.But it wasn't the same for everyone, unlike us, who had been blessed with comfort after cutting our ties with the deranged family, the family's troubles were only beginning.The vultures that were eyeing them for a long time finally made their move. Some motivated by a chance to curry our favor, some in it for the monetary reward offered by some organizations that wanted to pry open the duo's skulls for any skills or manuals that the former Saintess might have left behind for them.In just three days, the hobo and his son were cornered. The hobo spewed nonsense again, preparing to battle to save some time for his son, but now that the protection umbrella of our sect was lifted, the people that chased after him weren't as limited in their options as our kind and wronged elders that couldn't retaliate wholeheartedly.Now a cripple, the
The Stepping Stones Epic Battle of Heroes(5)
After mourning for my son and becoming increasingly agitated with the things that happened recently, I ordered the execution of that little crazy bastard.I also rounded up the people who were directly at fault for their lax security detail and allowed it to happen, which increased the efficiency of the disciples after frightening them.For the first time since I saw the 16th Generation Saintess, this was also the first time I saw her genuinely disheartened. It broke my heart as well.The pain lessened when the time passed but the presence of that 'Hero' roaming around there disturbed me.To draw him out of his hole, I had the execution of the 24th Generation Holy maiden announced. The results were fascinating.Two days earlier than the set date, we managed to draw the rat out from the sewers he was hiding in but his cultivation was mind-boggling. He was beginning to resemble someone I remembered from long ago.We knew of his improved cultiv
The Stepping Stones Not so Epic Battle of Heroes(6)
The graveyard is always cold and silent. When it rains, the soil becomes damp. I feel it in my coffin. I can't take a breath, I can't risk it. In two months, I'll run out of my lifespan. My wife would then lie here with me, but until then, I'll be wearing a hat while lying here. Well, in a way, it should be the immortal who's wearing it but still. I'll miss some action. ... My husband is dead again, sigh, what bad luck. Now, it's my responsibility to deal with my ex. Oh well, he is very pitiful undoubtedly, but I can't pity him right now. It was my lust that made me start to act this out. Now with my acting, I'll put an end to this as well. I smear my make-up across my face, stop cultivating and stop eating, to make myself look bedraggled and miserable. Then I dig a hole just like my husband did and jump right in. But unlike my husband, I release my 'unstable' aura around, waiting for my 'love' to find out his main wife,
Latest Chapter
- The Stepping Stones
The Rise of the Fallen(last)
Of course, mindlessly rampaging wasn't allowed by the managing elder, the organizers, and the leading elder of the women sect team.He was put down quickly by these guys but he was still staring at my Goddess with killing intent.I didn't miss this chance to attack his rationality again, "SHE WAS ALSO THE ONE THAT ORDERED US TO BEAT SENSE INTO YOU, PIECE OF TRASH BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT. YOU'RE NOT MY COUSIN, YOU'RE A MONSTER."My words triggered his sensitive spots because as soon as he heard them, he stood up with a dangerous aura sizzling out of him. Even the elders were feeling a bit afraid of him now, but he still wasn't set free. They needed to abide by the rules after all.Being suppressed by the elders made him livid, as his turbulent rage found an outlet.At this moment, everyone that stopped him from killing us was his mortal enemy, if he had to slaughter the world, then so be it.Blood covered his eyes and body as
- The Stepping Stones
Can't Bear it Anymore
Yo, why is everyone looking at me like that? You guys were shouting even more creative insults than I had given you credit for.I almost thought it wasn't even the cultivation world anymore, no one said, 'trash', 'grandfather', or 'sneered', just good old trolling.Watching the ultimate moves of the two guys gave me nausea for an unknown reason. Just as I drank some water to quench my thirst, the fight was already over and everyone was giving me weird looks.I looked at the stage where only the violent guy was standing now, holding a golden crystal in his hand. Eh, where did the other one go?People around me were far too shocked and horrified to answer me. My miserable helpless cousin was bawling like a child, as usual, and my manipulative cousin was wiping her tears as well.What the f*ck happened in a few moments? Guys, I have FOMO, can anyone cue me in, to the really cool thing that just happened?Before I could ask anyone, the previous
- The Stepping Stones
The Fall and the Rise
Amidst the jarring cheers of the crowd, the fight between the two characters continued on the stage without a hint of affection.They were like two machines that didn't know how to stop. Now and then, the regressor, the 'ex-vegetable guy' would face another few punches while being distracted by the creative insults being thrown his way.The elder managing the fight didn't have the authority to shut all the spectators up. They could have set up noise cancellation, but who would be willing to spend spirit stones without any personal interest? He wasn't from the sword cultivation sect anyway.This tournament was supposed to be an easy victory for him. Just how much did he change the world by traveling back in time? He was panicking a little inwardly."MOLEST THIS VIOLENT CHILD~~"Moreover, cheers like these weren't helping him either.As a powerful and authoritative figure in his previous life, if he admitted his defeat here, it wou
- The Stepping Stones
Crowd Versus the Regressor(6)
I looked at them for a long time, prepared to enjoy their fight. It was funny how they were both at the peak of the Qi Refining realm and yet had contemptuous expressions on their faces as if they were fighting a block of wood instead of an adversary.The violent guy was the first to attack. At this point, it just seemed natural when that happened. It was a sharp and nasty punch.The ex-vegetable's expression quickly changed as he used his palm to narrowly deflect it.In a single move, both of them were shocked by each other's ability and reaction. The ex-vegetable's killing intent was soon palpable for an unknown reason.I was now thinking, did I take it too far? After all, to have him killed didn't seem like an appropriate punishment for what he did to me but that feeling quickly faded away when I recalled that these two guys would probably fight to death sooner or later.All I did only brought that day forward, nothing more, nothing less.<
- The Stepping Stones
The Regressor and the Reincarnater(5)
The tournament was about to start after 3 days and to 'protect' me from my 'ice-cold' cousin, the leading elder that interrogated me decided to let me stay with the other inner court and chief court disciples.The violent guy was locked somewhere else in isolation for three days by the elder.The second day after coming into the sect's inn, I had a visitor.I was surprised. It was my manipulative cousin. As I thought, she had arrived with fanfare to boost her reputation.I copied my cool ex-vegetable cousin and replied, "You don't qualify to meet me."But this was a tough opponent. Instead of being enraged, she made an even more pitiable and wronged expression and sobbingly said, "Why brother? WHY? What did I do to deserve this?"With just one move, she made the focus of the proceedings shift from the fight of the two ex-bullied guys in the tournament, cousins from a rival sect, to their 'arrogant bootlicking cousin' behind the scenes.<
- The Stepping Stones
Egomaniac Cousins(4)
As time passed, the idea of my revenge didn't fade away like I thought it would. I was a cultivator as well, and in my humble hut, as I did nothing but cultivate, there was only so much I could think.I did a lot of mental gymnastics and enacted various plans in my head. All possibilities that I could think of though, seemed to be leading me towards a miserable end.One month after the tournament was done, an Outer sect elder came to my doorstep, to ask me of my reasons to admit defeat at the start of the tournament despite having the highest cultivation of our cohort.I shook my head and told him I wasn't prepared to risk my life for a tournament.He then started lecturing me seriously about the perilous cultivation world and the dangers outside. After he was done, he saw my uninterested expression and told me to 'man up' and face my troubles instead of always trying to escape them.After he left my hut, I thought long and hard about his superfici
- The Stepping Stones
The Domineering and the Pragmatic(3)
How did my cousin reach the third realm of Qi refining and become the strongest of our cohort was beyond me, but now that he did, it was bound to cause me trouble. Our sect was divided into the outer court, inner court, and central court. One wasn't allowed entry into the central court until they had established their foundations and transcended the Qi Refining realm. As for the inner court? These were the lifeline of the sect. They didn't have to complete missions, they had abundant resources and each one of them was nurtured lovingly by the sect. The purpose of this competition, in fact, was to select 10 more inner court disciples. Naturally, the disciples were already pumped up, intent on giving it their all to acquire a position in the top ten and change their fate once and for all. The battle spirit and fighting intent of the disciples was contagious but in my eyes, performing in a competition like a monkey with an abused and single-minded idiot
- The Stepping Stones
The Honoured and the Fallen(2)
The crowd held their breath for some reason, waiting for the paralysis boy with a 'trash imagination' to pull off a miracle, and that's exactly what he did.The ball shone with a blinding white light and by the time the glimmer faded away, the five 'immortals' were on the verge of fighting each other, all keen to take him into their sect.The cause of this... was a Low-Heaven Spirit Root, one that hasn't been seen in the millions of miles of the region around us in ages.When the argument was about to scale up, the City Lord, my maternal uncle bowed and asked them to leave the choice to his son.Originally, the 5 of them would have slapped him shut, but considering his status as the father of the supreme genius, they shut up and let the boy decide.As the boy with spirited eyes hesitated to make his choice, I looked around at the rest of my bizarre cousins.The bullies were looking at it with a mixture of fear and uncertainty, probably cursi
- The Stepping Stones
The Bullies and the Victims(1)
"You are an absolute trash,""You're a shame to your family's name,""You don't deserve me, trash,""What are you doing here, trash?"I grew up hearing all sorts of comments like this. It wasn't anything special. It was just the norm but while overusing the word lost its edge to me, it wasn't the same for everyone else.They were blunt to the point of it being scary.How was this even possible? It was an edgy thing until I was over 7 years old.I heard new insults being tossed around every day, like 'I'm your Grandfather', 'Is that all you have?', 'I'll crush you like an ant, brat' but by the time I was 10, even that started to bore me.I could hear it all day with the most malicious intent, yet it wouldn't affect me, at most, it would make me wince a little inside.Now, things were different for the folks around. Every time they screamed, "TRASH", it was a mini victory for them, a cause of celebration, a reason behind t
