Void Cultivation

--Beginning of Volume 3--

Flying high above Sky Mist City, Grey and Violet could see the entirety of the sprawling city beneath them. From such an astonishing altitude, every district, street, and landmark that had once appeared distant and indistinct now revealed itself with remarkable clarity. Vast stretches of buildings intertwined with winding roads, bustling marketplaces, and tranquil residential areas painted a breathtaking panorama beneath their feet.

At this height, Grey could also clearly see the colossal mountain they were steadily approaching.

It towered tens of thousands of feet into the heavens, its immense silhouette dominating the surrounding landscape like an ancient titan that had stood since the beginning of time.

Encircling the mountain was an endless sea of dense white mist. The mist continuously poured forth from the summit before cascading down every slope and cliff face like an enormous heavenly waterfall. It never seemed to diminish, endlessly flowing until it completely engulfed the mountain’s foothills.

It was precisely because of this extraordinary phenomenon that the Sky Mist Sect had earned its name.

Despite his enhanced eyesight, Grey was unable to discern anything hidden within the mountain. The thick mist concealed everything beyond it, while the remaining distance between them further obscured his vision. The mountain appeared mysterious and unfathomable, as though countless secrets were buried beneath the endless veil of mist.

As a result, Grey gave up trying to peer any further.

Besides, the elder flying ahead of them had only moments ago warned him against recklessly prying into secrets that could bring disaster upon himself.

Although Grey was not someone who easily succumbed to fear, he was exceptionally cautious whenever his life was concerned.

In this vast cultivation world, caution and vigilance were instincts every cultivator possessed. Countless experts had met tragic ends not because they lacked strength, but because they had underestimated hidden dangers or allowed curiosity to cloud their judgment.

Such instincts could never be ignored.

This was especially true in a world where bizarre entities, ancient existences, and incomprehensible beings lurked in places beyond ordinary understanding. Many of them did not abide by the conventional laws of life or cultivation. Even the strongest cultivators would rather avoid provoking such unknown existences than risk inviting calamity upon themselves.

As they continued flying, Grey’s gaze wandered across the magnificent city below.

Among everything he witnessed, the most striking sight was undoubtedly the seventeen colossal magic vessels lying dormant within their respective harbors.

Even from thousands of feet above the ground, their overwhelming magnificence was impossible to ignore.

Only now did Grey truly realize how unimaginably enormous those vessels were.

Each magic vessel rivaled the size of an entire district, resembling floating fortresses rather than ordinary ships. Their hulls shimmered faintly beneath the sunlight, while countless intricate formations covered every inch of their surfaces. They radiated an ancient majesty that made them appear less like tools of transportation and more like sleeping beasts waiting to awaken.

Even while remaining completely motionless, terrifying waves of Spirit Energy continuously emanated from within them.

Those fluctuations spread across the surrounding area like invisible tides, carrying an oppressive pressure capable of making even powerful cultivators hesitate before approaching.

It was also because of these overwhelming energy fluctuations that the ordinary boats and merchant ships had abandoned the nearby harbors, relocating to safer ports farther away.

The aura emitted by the magic vessels alone was enough to intimidate nearly anyone.

Grey himself was no exception.

A faint sense of danger instinctively arose within him as he looked upon the massive vessels. His intuition repeatedly warned him not to act recklessly.

Suppressing the curiosity bubbling within his heart, Grey resisted the urge to investigate the vessels any further.

He especially refrained from extending his perception toward the compartment that housed their power source.

After everything the elder had said earlier, Grey had no intention of testing whether his curiosity was worth risking his life. Some secrets were simply not meant to be observed before one possessed the strength to bear the consequences.

Although Grey was curious, he was very aware of the consequences it invoked.

Because they were flying through the skies instead of weaving through the countless streets below, the journey to the mountain was remarkably swift. In only a few minutes, the towering peak that had once seemed distant rapidly expanded before their eyes until it filled their entire field of vision.

The middle-aged man continued to soar ahead at an astonishing speed, his hand firmly gripping the unconscious Kaien. He neither slowed down nor glanced over his shoulder to see whether Grey and Violet were following. His figure transformed into a brilliant streak of light that pierced through the air, disappearing into the drifting mist ahead.

It was almost as though he had already assumed that Grey and Violet possessed the ability to keep pace with him.

And, unsurprisingly, they did.

Although they remained several thousand meters behind, neither of them showed the slightest sign of struggling. Their movements remained smooth and effortless as they cut through the air, leaving faint ripples of Spirit Energy in their wake.

Soon, the group arrived at the mountain.

The moment Grey’s feet touched the mist-covered ground, his expression changed ever so slightly.

He immediately felt an unfamiliar energy rising from beneath his feet. It seeped silently through his body before gradually flowing toward his dantian, as though an invisible current had connected him to the mountain itself.

The sensation was difficult to describe.

It was neither uncomfortable nor particularly pleasant.

Grey did not dislike it, yet he could not say that he enjoyed it either. It simply felt... strange.

It was as though his body had instinctively begun cultivating on its own without any conscious effort from him.

Even the Spirit Energy circulating within his meridians seemed to become noticeably more active.

However, Grey was not unfamiliar with this feeling.

Any disciple who had cultivated the Sky Mist Breathing Art or any cultivation technique related to mist that originated from Sky Mist City, would immediately recognize this peculiar resonance.

This was the sensation of becoming one with the mountain’s mist.

The endless sea of mist surrounding Sky Mist Mountain was not merely ordinary water vapor. It possessed a mysterious spirituality that harmonized naturally with Mist-attribute cultivation arts, allowing practitioners to absorb Spirit Energy more efficiently while gently guiding the circulation of their techniques.

Grey slowly inhaled a deep breath.

The surrounding mist flowed into his lungs before being refined almost instinctively.

"If I had cultivated on this mountain while I was still in the Qi Accumulation Realm, my cultivation speed would have been several times faster. Coupled with the Purple Crystal’s assistance, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm wouldn’t have been nearly as difficult."

Grey muttered softly to himself, ensuring that no one else heard his words.

A trace of regret surfaced within his heart.

If he had discovered this place much earlier, perhaps his journey through the Qi Accumulation Realm would have been considerably smoother.

Unfortunately, there was little point dwelling on such thoughts.

The past could not be changed.

Furthermore, although he could clearly feel the mountain resonating with the Sky Mist Breathing Art, he experienced no such reaction from either the Life Demon Art or the Soul Severing Dao.

The profound aura surrounding the mountain seemed unable to influence those techniques in the slightest.

Still, Grey did not pay it much mind.

Those cultivation arts possessed origins far beyond ordinary cultivation methods. It was hardly surprising that they remained unaffected by the mysterious mist.

Beside him, Violet wore an expression of pure bliss the instant her feet touched the mist-covered ground.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, allowing the cool mist to surround her body.

For a brief moment, she looked as though she wanted to say something.

However, noticing that Grey was silently observing the phenomenon himself, she patiently held back her excitement.

Only after waiting a few moments did she finally speak.

"Hey, Little Grey," she called out cheerfully. "Do you feel that strange energy seeping into your pores? That’s the Heavenly Mist born from the depths of Sky Mist Mountain. It’s because of this extraordinary mist that Sky Mist City earned its name."

She stretched out both hands as though embracing the surrounding mist.

"Not only that, but the low-grade cultivation arts taught to Qi Accumulation cultivators throughout Sky Mist City were all derived from this very phenomenon."

A hint of nostalgia appeared on her face.

"If we were still in the Qi Accumulation Realm and cultivating the Sky Mist Breathing Art, advancing our cultivation here would have been incredibly easy."

She sighed dramatically before adding,

"Oh... what a pity."

Despite the mournful tone in her voice, Grey completely ignored the greedy sparkle hidden within her eyes.

After spending so much time together, he already knew exactly what she was thinking.

He could almost picture her secretly wondering whether there were valuable treasures somewhere on the mountain that she could quietly borrow...

Or simply steal.

"Hmph."

The middle-aged man, who had overheard Violet’s words, finally glanced at her.

"If cultivating on this mountain were truly that easy, then why don’t you think the sect simply allows every Qi Accumulation cultivator in Sky Mist City to cultivate here?"

His calm question immediately caused Violet’s smile to stiffen.

Before she could think of an answer, the captain burst into amused laughter.

"That’s because she’s only telling half the story."

She smiled mischievously before continuing.

"Yes, the mist here can greatly accelerate cultivation for those practicing Mist-attribute techniques. However, that same mist also contains countless corrosive substances invisible to the naked eye."

She crouched slightly and scooped up a handful of mist before allowing it to drift through her fingers.

"Although we can’t sense them directly, those corrosive substances are constantly seeping into our bodies. Alongside them are countless other impurities capable of gradually eroding flesh, damaging meridians, and even affecting one’s foundation."

Her smile widened.

"If a Qi Accumulation cultivator remained on this mountain for too long, they wouldn’t simply suffer severe internal injuries."

"They might permanently damage their cultivation foundation."

"In the worst cases..."

"Their cultivation could even regress."

She spoke as though recalling an interesting story rather than something terrifying.

Grey silently listened to the explanation without interrupting.

After giving it some thought, he ultimately concluded that her words were most likely true.

After all...

Ever since God Descended, the world itself had undergone unimaginable changes.

Countless species had vanished into extinction.

Yet at the same time, countless new forms of life had emerged from the chaos.

The mysterious corrosive substance that permeated the world had altered the very essence of existence, changing not only living creatures but even the environment itself.

Under such circumstances, it was hardly surprising that even something as seemingly harmless as mist could possess both miraculous benefits... and deadly consequences.

If someone ever told you that there existed a treasure, environment, or cultivation resource capable of increasing one’s cultivation speed without any drawbacks, then the wisest course of action would be to remain suspicious.

In the current era, there was no such thing as a benefit without a corresponding price.

Ever since God Descended and the world’s laws had been twisted beyond recognition, every blessing carried with it an equally dangerous curse. The greater the opportunity, the greater the hidden danger lurking beneath the surface.

Sky Mist Mountain was no exception.

The mysterious mist blanketing the mountain undoubtedly possessed extraordinary properties. For cultivators practicing Mist-attribute techniques, it could dramatically improve the speed of cultivation, purify Spirit Energy, and even help smooth the circulation of one’s cultivation art.

However, those remarkable benefits came at a heavy cost.

Mixed within the seemingly harmless mist were countless invisible corrosive substances capable of slowly invading a cultivator’s body. At first, the effects were almost impossible to notice. Yet as time passed, those impurities would gradually erode one’s flesh, damage the meridians, and corrode the very foundation upon which future cultivation depended.

Because of this, the upper echelons of the Sky Mist Sect had reached a unanimous decision long ago.

Disciples in the Qi Accumulation Realm who cultivated the Sky Mist Breathing Art were intentionally kept ignorant of this secret.

The sect would rather allow them to believe that the mountain was a forbidden place than tempt them with an opportunity that could ultimately destroy their futures.

Only after successfully advancing into the Foundation Establishment Realm were disciples officially permitted to step onto Sky Mist Mountain without restriction.

Even then, they were encouraged to exercise caution.

Newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivators could choose to establish their cave abodes near the foot of the mountain, where the concentration of mist was considerably thinner. Doing so allowed them to enjoy the mountain’s rich Spirit Energy while minimizing the harmful effects of the corrosive mist.

Those who possessed stronger physiques or higher cultivation could gradually move farther up the mountain as their bodies adapted to the environment.

Even so, surprisingly few cultivators chose to remain there permanently.

Most Foundation Establishment cultivators had spent years, sometimes even decades, living ordinary lives within Sky Mist City before earning the qualification to ascend the mountain.

They had grown accustomed to the lively atmosphere of the city.

The bustling markets. The noisy taverns, and the familiar streets.

The daily interactions with fellow cultivators.

Even those who considered themselves quiet or solitary had unknowingly become attached to the city’s constant rhythm.

Compared to that, life atop Sky Mist Mountain was unimaginably tranquil.

There were no crowds, no merchants calling out to customers and no sounds of ordinary life.

Only endless drifting mist, towering cliffs, ancient trees, and a silence so profound that it almost seemed alive.

After spending some time cultivating there, many disciples eventually found themselves unable to endure the overwhelming solitude.

One after another, they packed their belongings and returned to their residences within Sky Mist City, choosing instead to travel to the mountain only when cultivation required it.

Grey understood that feeling better than most.

When he had first returned to Sky Mist City after reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, the thought of owning a private cave abode on Sky Mist Mountain had filled him with anticipation.

To cultivate in complete peace, isolated from worldly distractions, sounded like an ideal life.

At least... that was what he had believed.

Reality, however, proved somewhat different.

After remaining on the mountain for some time, he gradually found himself missing the city below.

Although Grey naturally preferred silence and disliked unnecessary social interactions, the silence that permeated Sky Mist Mountain was of an entirely different nature.

It was absolute and ppressive. Almost eerie.

The mountain seemed frozen in time, with nothing but the endless drifting mist and the occasional cry of distant spirit beasts breaking the stillness.

Instead of bringing him comfort, that endless silence sent an inexplicable chill through his heart.

For the first time, Grey realized that there was a vast difference between enjoying solitude... and living in complete isolation.

He didn’t like the feeling at all and soon returned to the City.