Quantum Immortal

Wuji's days in Green Willow City had settled into a comfortable routine. Every morning, he would rise early, wash up, and make his way to Master Zhang's talisman shop, where he dedicated himself to honing his skills. The shop was modest but filled with a quiet air of diligence. Rows of parchments, inks, and brushes lined the shelves, each material meticulously prepared for the art of talisman crafting.

Wuji had now spent weeks learning from Master Zhang, practicing the basics of talisman creation. He prepared parchments from the hides of demonic beasts—tough, resilient, and able to hold spiritual energy. Despite being unable to use Qi himself, Wuji took great care in each preparation. He would stretch the hide, cut it to precise dimensions, and treat it with special oils that made it receptive to Qi when the time came.

Each day, Wuji would sit at his workstation in the back of the shop, his brow furrowed in concentration as he drew runes onto the treated parchments. The strokes were simple but had to be made in one continuous motion, an uninterrupted flow, lest the rune lose its power. It was a test of precision and control, two things Wuji valued greatly as an engineer and scientist in his previous life.

While Wuji had no access to Qi, the practice of crafting was more than just a physical act. As he drew each rune, he imagined the flow of Qi that would one day move through it. He practiced as if the ink was infused with spiritual energy, envisioning the moment when he would reach the Qi Gathering realm and activate these runes with a mere thought.

When he wasn't practicing his strokes, Wuji would immerse himself in Runic Foundations, the book given to him by Master Zhang. The text was dense with information, but Wuji found himself strangely at ease with its contents. The runes, the laws they were connected to, and the Dao that governed them—it all felt familiar.

Wuji had realized after living in this world for some time that many of its aspects were similar to the ancient cultures of Earth, particularly ancient China. The architecture of Green Willow City, with its sweeping roofs and ornate carvings, reminded him of the old palaces and temples he had seen in history books. The clothing, the way people dressed, and even the way their language was written bore striking resemblances to ancient Chinese script.

What fascinated Wuji the most, however, was the cultivation system itself. The understanding of the Five Elements—Fire, Water, Earth, Wood, and Metal—seemed to mirror Chinese philosophy, particularly the Five Element Theory from ancient Chinese texts. This was a different paradigm from the five elements in Indian philosophy, where the elements were Prithvi (Earth), Apas (Water), Agni (Fire), Vayu (Air), and Akasha (Space or Aether). These subtle differences intrigued Wuji and made him spend extra time studying the elemental runes.

Using his engineering background, Wuji approached talisman crafting like a scientist. He compared the elemental resonance of the runes to circuit diagrams and energy flow models he had studied in his previous life. The Dao was like the laws of physics, governing the way Qi moved through the world. It was a complex system, but one Wuji felt he could understand through rigorous study and observation.

Weeks turned into months, and Wuji's days passed in quiet contemplation and steady progress. He grew more confident in his understanding of the Dao, the laws governing the elements, and the nature of Qi. But his cultivation had yet to begin. Though he had not yet reached the Qi Gathering realm, Wuji's confidence in his future abilities grew each day.

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One evening, after finishing his practice at Master Zhang's shop, Wuji decided to visit the tea house where he had first arrived when he entered Green Willow City. It had become a place of comfort for him, a space where he could relax and reflect on his studies. He frequented the establishment often, enjoying the tea and the quiet chatter of the patrons.

But today, the atmosphere was different. As Wuji entered the tea house, he noticed that the usual hum of conversation was hushed, and the focus of attention was on a single man—a middle-aged fellow with graying hair and a rough, weathered face. He stood at the center of the room, his voice carrying above the murmurs of the crowd.

Curious, Wuji made his way to a table where two other men were seated, quietly sipping their tea. After sitting down, he leaned over and whispered to the man beside him. "What's going on? What is he talking about?"

The man glanced at Wuji before replying in a low voice. "He's talking about the recent tension between the Golden Phoenix Sect and the Iron Mountain Sect. Something about a ruin they both discovered. It's got everyone on edge."

Wuji raised an eyebrow. The mention of ruins piqued his interest. He focused his attention on the middle-aged man, who was now speaking animatedly to the crowd.

"Ha! So you're askin' about the mess between those pampered brats from the Golden Phoenix Sect and the Iron Mountain Sect, eh?" the man began, a grin spreading across his face. "Let me tell ya, it's all greed—plain and simple. You think those kids care about honor, tradition, or whatever nonsense they spout in public? Nah, it's all about power, treasures, and gettin' ahead."

The man chuckled, taking a swig from a flask before continuing. His voice was rough, but it carried the weight of someone who had seen enough of the world to know how things truly worked.

"It all started when the Golden Phoenix Sect found this ruin. At first, they thought they had it all to themselves—big mistake. Turns out, the damn thing is right on the border between their land and the Iron Mountain Sect's territory. You can guess what happened next—fists, swords, spells flyin' all over the place. None of them willing to give an inch, all claimin' the ruin as their own birthright. Sect pride, they'll say, but it's really just a fight over who gets the spoils."

The man scratched his chin thoughtfully, his eyes gleaming with the kind of greed he was accusing the sects of. Wuji listened carefully, his mind already running through possible scenarios.

"Now, this ain't just any ruin, mind you. Word got out it belonged to some ancient Nascent Soul cultivator! Heh, now that's the real prize! Nascent Soul stage, you understand? Practically gods walkin' among men in our world. Rare as phoenix feathers, powerful as a thunderstorm. The treasures and techniques in there? Worth more than entire sects! So, once the news broke, every sect in the nearby regions caught wind and flocked to the border. Golden Phoenix and Iron Mountain weren't the only players anymore—no, no. It became a damned feeding frenzy."

Wuji's interest deepened. A Nascent Soul cultivator? The sheer power that such a figure would wield was beyond anything he could imagine. If there truly were treasures from a Nascent Soul cultivator in that ruin, it made sense why the sects were so desperate to claim it.

The man leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, though it was still loud enough for the room to hear.

"Fights broke out. Bloody skirmishes everywhere. At one point, it looked like the whole area was gonna go up in flames. You know how cultivators are when there's a whiff of power—hell-bent on killin' each other for even the smallest advantage. It wasn't until some of the higher-ups stepped in that things calmed down a bit. They finally struck a deal—after enough blood was spilled, of course. Decided to open the ruin to everyone. But here's the kicker."

The man laughed, a raspy sound filled with amusement. "Turns out, only those in Qi Gathering realm or lower can enter the damn place! Can you believe that? All those big shots, all those mighty elders, gathered there like vultures, only to find out they're too powerful to even set foot inside. Ha! Serves 'em right. Now, they're sendin' in the younger generation—those fresh-faced disciples who don't know any better—to do the dirty work."

Wuji frowned. A ruin that could only be accessed by those in the Qi Gathering realm or lower? That was highly unusual. If this ruin truly belonged to a Nascent Soul cultivator, the restriction seemed odd. Wuji had read enough in his studies to know that such ancient figures often set traps and challenges for those seeking their treasures, but the Qi Gathering realm was low for something of this magnitude.

The man continued, shaking his head. "Everyone's hopin' their disciples come back with something valuable, something to give their sect the edge. But me? I say it's just another excuse for more bloodshed. Those kids will be at each other's throats the moment they step inside. And the ones who come out? If any do, that is... they'll be different. Seen too much, done too much."

His eyes narrowed, a dark gleam flickering across his face. "But then again... that's the way of cultivators, ain't it? Take what you can, leave nothin' behind, and always, always watch your own back."

Wuji leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. Something didn't add up. A Nascent Soul cultivator's ruin restricted to the Qi Gathering realm? That was suspicious. If this were truly the resting place of such a powerful cultivator, the barrier should have been set higher, perhaps at the Foundation Establishment or Core Formation realm.

His instincts told him that there was more to this than met the eye. If he were to venture into such a ruin, he would do so only after advancing to the Body Refinement realm—or, ideally, after reaching the Qi Gathering realm. Until then, he would watch and wait, learning all he could about the ruin and the chaos it was causing.