Within every human body lies the Jade Gate—a barrier as unyielding as a golden beam, sealing off the connection between heaven and earth. The world brims with spiritual energy, yet mortals cannot sense it, absorb it, or wield it. They can only passively bathe in its presence, and the Jade Gate is to blame. To walk the path of immortality, one must first shatter this gate, stepping onto the Spirit Platform to commune with the heavens. This is why the first realm of cultivation is called the Spirit Platform Realm—a threshold marking the dawn of an immortal journey.
Breaking through the Jade Gate demands energy. Since mortals typically lack spiritual energy within their bodies, achieving this feat through sheer will is rare. Most rely on a seasoned cultivator to channel external energy into them, guiding them across the divide. But spiritual energy isn't the only key. Raw courage and vital force—blood and grit—can sometimes force the gate ajar. Legends tell of martial heroes who, amidst the chaos of battle, erupt with newfound power. This phenomenon is known as the Jade Gate Heavenly Surge: a solitary breakthrough, unaided by others.
Yet, a Heavenly Surge isn't always a triumph.
The Jade Gate of the Spirit Platform has nine turns—stages of opening that determine its width. Picture a target with nine concentric rings: each turn pierced creates a channel for spiritual energy to flood into the cultivator's body. Opening one turn carves a single path; opening three turns breaches the seventh, eighth, and ninth rings at once. The more turns unlocked, the greater the flow of energy, and the brighter the cultivator's future. Once the breakthrough concludes, the Jade Gate solidifies forever—a singular, defining moment.
Thus, the number of turns opened shapes a cultivator's potential.
A Jade Gate Heavenly Surge, though free of external aid, often falters due to its reliance on raw, unguided strength. Many barely crack the gate, achieving less than a single turn—a mere sliver too narrow to truly reach the Spirit Platform. It's a feat akin to a child sketching a masterpiece without a teacher: admirable, yet incomplete.
At this moment, a brilliant light flared from Evan Reed's crown—the hallmark of a Jade Gate Heavenly Surge. But the spiritual energy within him wasn't rising with heroic vigor; it was surging chaotically, spiraling out of control. This wasn't a breakthrough—it was qi deviation. He hadn't even begun proper cultivation, yet here he was, teetering on the edge of disaster. Evan Reed might just be the first in history to stumble into qi deviation before taking his first step as a cultivator.
Fortunately, his novice status kept the chaos manageable. Like a child's tantrum, it was disruptive but not yet deadly. Still, Lorian Vale stared in disbelief. How had spiritual energy appeared in Evan's body?
"What's happening?" Lorian demanded, urgency sharpening his voice. Had some wandering cultivator carelessly infused Evan with energy, leaving him to flounder without guidance?
Struggling against the pain, Evan rasped, "Big Brother Lorian… I was practicing the Hidden Form Sutra…"
The Hidden Form Sutra?
Lorian froze, stunned.
He knew the sutra well. When he'd first obtained it, he'd marveled at its ability to absorb spiritual energy without requiring an open Jade Gate—a rare and precious gift. Others drew energy solely through the gate, but this method promised a dual intake, potentially doubling cultivation speed. He'd treasured it, practicing tirelessly, only to discover that the energy it gathered was a pitiful trickle—far less than what his Jade Gate could muster in a single breath. Worse, it even hindered his usual cultivation, dragging his progress down.
At first, he'd assumed he simply hadn't mastered it. Crafted by a legendary figure and hidden with care, it couldn't be useless. Perhaps with time, its true power would emerge. But as weeks passed with no improvement, he'd dismissed it as a trinket, which was why he'd shared it with Evan so casually.
Now, witnessing Evan's runaway energy crashing against his Jade Gate, realization hit Lorian like a thunderbolt.
"Of course!" he cried, smacking his forehead. "Hide within, manifest without; what's manifested returns within, breaking the Jade Gate unaided… This sutra was forged by the Warlord of the Nine Li for his reincarnation—a method to open the gate from scratch!"
He groaned at his own folly. No wonder it had failed him—it was never meant for someone who'd already crossed that threshold.
Such methods were unheard of in the cultivation world. Creating a way to absorb energy without the Jade Gate was a monumental feat, yet pointless for those who could do it. Established cultivators simply infused their heirs with energy to open the gate—why bother with such a convoluted technique? Centuries of tradition had blinded Lorian, leading him to mistake it for a cultivation booster rather than a tool for beginners.
Elation at the discovery warred with frustration over his wasted efforts, leaving Lorian's emotions in turmoil. Meanwhile, Evan writhed on the ground, his groans pulling Lorian back to the crisis at hand.
"Big Brother Lorian… help…" Evan pleaded.
Lorian's gaze softened, a mix of pity and resolve flickering in his eyes. He extended a hand, pointing at Evan. The wild energy within him steadied, no longer tearing through his meridians, though it still churned uncomfortably.
"Do you truly wish to cultivate?" Lorian asked, his voice low.
"Yes!" Evan's shout was raw, resolute.
At last, he laid bare his heart. "I want to learn! That's why I followed you, why I studied the Hidden Form Sutra. Even knowing the risks without proper guidance, I had to try!"
"Why?" Lorian pressed.
Evan laughed, a jagged, defiant sound. "A man should aim high, stand tall, and gaze upon the heavens—not waste away in mediocrity. If immortality is within reach, why not chase it? What reason do I need?"
To Evan, pursuing immortality was as natural as seeking wealth or power. Ambition needed no justification—complacency did.
Lorian stared, caught off guard. "That's your answer?"
"Isn't it enough?" Evan grinned through his agony, the restless energy gnawing at him. Summoning his strength, he met Lorian's eyes. "If you need more, here's another: I refuse to end up like the villagers of Riverside—slaughtered like lambs!"
His roar unleashed a torrent of buried pain—the grief for his lost home, the fury at those who'd destroyed it, and the unyielding will that had driven him here.
Lorian nodded slowly. "So, you're the last survivor of Riverside Village. Clever—I've been outwitted by a twelve-year-old."
Evan held his gaze, unflinching. "You suspected, didn't you? Is that why you wouldn't take me as a disciple?"
Lorian wasn't naive. Over time, he'd pieced together Evan's story but chose to let it lie, warmed by the boy's loyalty despite the deception.
"I don't blame you for hiding it," Lorian said. "You saved me, cared for me—by rights, I could teach you a few techniques. But I refused discipleship because I didn't want to drag you into this. The immortal path is treacherous."
Evan coughed blood, laughing bitterly. "Is anywhere in this world safe? What sin did Riverside commit to be wiped out?"
"Not every fate is theirs," Lorian countered. "But immortality is a relentless struggle—against heaven, against man, with no peace."
"Then one more won't tip the scales!" Evan fired back.
Lorian fell silent, weighing the boy's words. Finally, he nodded. "If you're set on this, let's see what destiny holds. Your energy's running wild—now's the time to strike the Jade Gate. Succeed, and the immortal path opens. I'll teach you the full Hidden Form Sutra. Use it to guide that energy and break through."
He tapped Evan's neck at the Wind Mansion acupoint. The subdued energy flared anew, pain ripping through him. Evan nearly cried out, but Lorian's sharp command cut through: "Don't scream! Focus, hold your breath, draw the energy into the Wind Mansion. Only fearless resolve can breach the Jade Gate and ascend to the Spirit Platform!"
Evan clenched his jaw, swallowing the scream. To break through, he needed energy as a battering ram. Shouting would bleed it away; fear would choke his meridians, halving his effort. Even success might yield only one or two turns. Courage was the key—fearless, relentless courage.
Yet, blind recklessness could shatter him. The body had limits; overreaching risked damaging the Spirit Platform—or worse, death. That's why disciples faced this trial with safeguards and a guardian's watch.
Under Lorian's guidance, Evan felt a spark of light pierce his Wind Mansion, guiding him upward. His vision blurred, then shifted—he floated amidst clouds, and above him loomed a majestic nine-ringed Jade Gate. At its core, a swirling black vortex pulsed, tugging at his soul…