Chapter 1: Chapter One: Starting from Menial Work

The sky is blue, with not a single white cloud.

It should have been a pleasant day, but Wei Yuning feels utterly desperate, because he cannot see any familiar scenery under this sky.

The sun's diameter is twice that of Earth's.

There is no sunrise or sunset, only three moons that regularly block the sun's light.

The moons are huge, covering about one fifth of the sky; these three planets at varying distances obscure it, and he can even see massive canyons on the moons.

He never imagined that a summer trip to Qingcheng Mountain would end up in a pit, and the tragedy is that when he awoke from his coma, he found himself in this strange world.

All around are towering stone forests; he tried to leave, but each time he turned a circle he returned to the same spot, and eventually he gave up.

He spent two nights in wandering, surviving only on morning dew from the grass. The dew here is magical; it has a fresh fragrance and, when drunk, gives a feeling of fullness.

In his despair, the sun once again peeks out from behind the moons, and a new day begins.

"Creak—creak—", suddenly a stretch of stone forest slides aside to both sides.

"Which little thief dares to break into the Nine Clouds Peak Stone Array?" a dashing young girl suddenly leapt out, upper body.

"Han‑fu enthusiast?"

The girl has a delicate nose and ruby lips, a graceful appearance, wearing a blue top and a light pink skirt, radiating ethereal aura; if not for her stern expression and the long sword in hand, she would look like a neighbor's little sister.

"Miss, may I ask, is this Hengdian?" Wei Yuning clings to his last sliver of hope, thinking perhaps this is just a massive indoor set and the sky is fake. Everyone knows the film industry now has deep pockets; it's no longer the era of cheap five‑cent effects.

"Little thief, stop spouting nonsense! This is a sect stronghold; how did you get in?"

"I…"

Wei Yuning looks down and realizes his clothes are tattered, making him look like a beggar; the original combat jacket and jeans have turned into thin strips of fabric, though the vital parts remain covered.

"I… am a nearby farmer; I ran into a beast, panicked, and accidentally stumbled into this place!"

"A farmer? You look so clean, you don't seem like one at all!" The little fairy girl hears Wei Yuning's claim, does not relax her guard, and raises her sword a bit higher.

"Indeed a farmer, but I am also a scholar!"

"Scholar? That does sound about right!"

Clearly, the little fairy girl lacks social experience, believing Wei Yuning's words, or perhaps in her eyes someone like him has no right to be a thief.

"In that case, I'll take you out!" The little fairy girl says nothing more, grabs Wei Yuning's arm, and heads outward.

"Hey, you have a wood‑type spiritual root!" As soon as the little fairy girl touches Wei Yuning's body, she stops, her previously cold, stern face showing surprise.

"Spiritual root? What is that?"

The little fairy girl rolls her eyes, her expression brightening, then smiles: "A spiritual root means you can learn Daoist arts, kid—do you have any interest in learning Daoist arts?"

"Daoist arts?" Wei Yuning is stunned.

We're doomed; this place really isn't Earth!

Qingcheng Mountain is also one of the Daoist sacred sites; Wei Yuning suspects this place may be linked to Qingcheng Mountain, otherwise he wouldn't have arrived here directly from it.

"Fine, I agree!" Wei Yuning says with a grimace; what else can he say? He's in unfamiliar territory and needs a place to settle, perhaps even earn a living.

"Good. I'll take you to see a Steward Master Uncle." The little fairy girl's standing in the sect seems high, her words exuding confidence. She finds Wei Yuning's complicated expression puzzling; after all, who among mortals here wouldn't want to learn Daoist arts?

They weave through the rubble for a few minutes before reaching a bluestone path. Wei Yuning finds it familiar; aren't the stones paving the path the same material as the great pit of Qingcheng Mountain?

After walking another minute, they arrive at a wide road. Wei Yuning's mouth suddenly opens wide enough to swallow a fist.

At the same height as the road stretches an endless sea of clouds, like the tranquil lake by West Lake in autumn; several majestic or treacherous peaks rise from the clouds. Bathed in sunlight, the cloud sea turns golden, a spectacular sight. Among the clouds, a few gigantic, unfamiliar birds soar freely.

Wei Yuning glances at the little fairy girl ahead and can't help shouting, "Could this be a fairyland? Did I accidentally step into the Heavenly Palace?"

The road is dotted with pedestrians, most dressed like the little fairy girl, both men and women, all strikingly handsome, hairstyles varied—topknots, braids, flowing hair, and even short hair like Wei Yuning's.

"Senior Sister Qing Ling!"

"Junior Sister Qing Ling!"

"Uncle Qing Ling!"

Along the way, people greet the little fairy girl. Those behind her, including Wei Yuning, draw curious looks, while some cast disdainful glances at his beggar‑clad figure.

Wei Yuning had already noticed their expressions, but he simply ignored them.

As someone from the information age, being among a crowd in ancient attire gives him an uncontrollable sense of superiority. Moreover, when he meets a hostile gaze, he returns a provocative look.

"What are you looking at?" "What's it to you?" Wei Yuning wishes to engage in such a friendly banter, but the other party shows no interest in a serious exchange.

Suddenly, a serpentine monster several meters long lunges from the mist; the man who had just exchanged a challenging glance with Wei Yuning swiftly draws his waist‑long sword and shouts "Swift!" A light chain erupts from the blade's tip, striking the giant snake, after which the creature screeches and plunges into the clouds.

Seeing the monster repelled, the man casually sheathes his sword with a flamboyant flourish, as if it were a trivial act.

Wei Yuning, frightened, quickly averts his gaze, watching his eyes, nose, and heart, daring not to look at the other again.

"That disciple belongs to Heaven Sword Hall; the Lightning Chain attack is one of the sect's foundational techniques. Don't worry, the sect's stronghold is protected by a great array; anything that slips in is just a common beast, nothing dangerous," the little fairy girl explains to Wei Yuning.

"You call that safe? That snake's body is thicker than my waist!" Yet Wei Yuning of course cannot say that, so he pretends to be amazed and says, "Senior brother, you're impressive!"

"Senior brother? Ha, it's too early to call anyone senior brother! A disciple just entering the sect must start as a menial worker; now you should be calling him a senior uncle!" the little fairy girl says.