Journey of the Scholar

The murmurs of anticipation hung in the air like a thick fog, and as the young man named Li Xiang stood before the crowd, his confident stance left no room for doubt that he was about to reveal something significant.

His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the palpable tension around him, making the moment feel almost surreal.

He raised a hand slightly, motioning for the crowd to quiet down. The chaotic energy simmered as the cultivators, each coming from different sects and clans, focused entirely on him.

"As you know," Li Xiang began, his voice clear and measured, "the Miraculous Orb has a special function — one that many might not fully understand. Its purpose is to increase a person's fate power."

At the mention of the term fate power, the air seemed to shift. A number of people in the crowd exchanged confused glances, their brows furrowed.

Ruchir, who had been standing quietly amidst the True Sun Sect disciples, felt a jolt of surprise run through him.

He had heard many things about artifacts, treasures, and cultivation techniques, but fate power wasn't something that had ever crossed his mind.

"Fate power?" Ruchir muttered under his breath, the words foreign to him.

He wasn't alone in his confusion. Several cultivators, especially the younger and less experienced ones, seemed equally perplexed, whispering among themselves in hushed tones. However, there were others — older, more seasoned cultivators from higher clans and prestigious sects — whose eyes had widened slightly at the mention of fate power. They weren't confused; they understood something the others didn't.

Li Xiang seemed to notice this difference in reaction, and his expression grew even more confident. "Yes, fate power. Many of you might think it's an abstract concept, something unrelated to cultivation. After all, fate is a mysterious force, something that most dismiss as inconsequential."

He paused for effect, letting the weight of his words sink in. Some of the younger disciples began to nod, clearly agreeing with his statement.

"But let me assure you," he continued, "fate plays a far greater role in a cultivator's life than most are willing to admit. Let me give you an example."

The crowd leaned in, eager to hear what he had to say.

"Consider this scenario," Li Xiang began, pacing slightly as he spoke, his voice captivating the crowd. "Imagine a young cultivator, full of talent and ambition. He works hard, trains relentlessly, and strives for greatness. By all accounts, he should be a rising star in the cultivation world. Yet, time and time again, he faces inexplicable setbacks. His progress is halted by unforeseen events — accidents, sudden illnesses, missed opportunities. No matter how hard he tries, something always seems to go wrong. This cultivator is cursed with bad fate."

A murmur of agreement passed through the crowd. Ruchir's eyes narrowed as he processed the words. He had seen such people — those with immense potential but plagued by bad luck. Cultivators who were on the brink of breakthroughs only to be held back by circumstances beyond their control. Could it really be their fate?

"And now," Li Xiang continued, "consider another cultivator. One who, by all standards, should be mediocre. His talent is nothing extraordinary. He doesn't train as hard as others, and his techniques are far from flawless. And yet, he succeeds. Time after time, he encounters fortuitous circumstances. He stumbles upon hidden treasures, finds mentors in the most unlikely places, and avoids disasters by mere chance. This is the mark of good fate."

The crowd was silent now, entirely engrossed in his words. Many of them, especially the younger disciples, had expressions of disbelief mixed with a growing sense of realization.

The concept of fate, which they had once dismissed as nothing more than superstition, now seemed far more plausible.

Li Xiang's lips curled into a knowing smile as he watched the crowd's reaction. "Perhaps some of you are starting to understand."

"Perhaps you're wondering — could it be that my own struggles are due to bad fate? Or, if you've been fortunate, is it because of good fate? You see, fate shapes our lives in ways we can't always comprehend."

Ruchir felt a strange sensation in his chest. The idea was unsettling. Could it really be that fate had a hand in his own limitations, his own struggles as a cultivator? He had always believed that hard work and discipline were the only things that mattered, but now... doubt began to creep into his mind.

Li Xiang let the silence hang for a moment longer before continuing, his voice softer now, more contemplative.

"The Miraculous Orb," he said, gesturing toward the glowing orb atop the mountain, "has the ability to influence fate. It can increase a person's fate power, shifting the balance of their destiny. And that... is what makes it so valuable."

The crowd stirred again, this time with a mixture of excitement and fear. If what he said was true, then the orb wasn't just a treasure — it was something far more profound. Something that could change the very course of their lives.

"Now," Li Xiang went on, "even within the realm of Miraculous Orbs, there are grades and qualities.

A one-turn orb is the weakest, with limited power to influence fate.

A nine-turn orb, on the other hand, is said to be heaven-defying.

It's believed that a cultivator possessing a nine-turn Miraculous Orb could challenge even a phenomenal realm powerhouse."

Gasps erupted from the crowd. The mere mention of challenging a phenomenal realm cultivator sent shockwaves through the minds of those present.

Such beings were revered, their power beyond comprehension for most. To think that an orb could give someone the power to stand against them...

Li Xiang's gaze swept across the sea of faces, all of them hanging on his every word. "The orb before us," he said, his voice steady, "is a four-turn Miraculous Orb.

While it's not the most powerful, it's still incredibly precious. Even a four-turn orb could change the course of a person's life. It could take someone with ordinary talent and elevate them to extraordinary heights."

The crowd was in an uproar now, the excitement and desire palpable. Everyone's attention was fixated on the orb, their minds racing with the possibilities.

To possess such an artifact was to possess the very keys to their future, to unlock potential that had been denied them by fate itself.

Ruchir felt a strange mix of emotions swirling within him.

He had come here searching for treasures and opportunities like everyone else, but he hadn't expected to encounter something of this magnitude.

The idea of fate, of destiny, of the ability to change one's future — it was overwhelming.

As the crowd buzzed with anticipation, Li Xiang stood tall, his sly smile never wavering. He had stirred their hearts, planted the seeds of desire, and now watched as those seeds grew.

The four-turn Miraculous Orb had become the center of their world, and he knew that they would stop at nothing to claim it.

But even as Ruchir gazed at the glowing orb atop the mountain, a part of him remained skeptical. "Is it really that simple?" he wondered. "Can fate truly be changed by an artifact?"

The answers, he knew, would come soon enough. But for now, the orb remained tantalizingly out of reach, a beacon of hope and power that had set the cultivators' hearts ablaze.

Li Xiang stood before the crowd, his voice steady but holding a cunning undertone that only the more experienced cultivators could detect.

"Now, as you've all noticed, the Miraculous Orb rests at the top of the mountain. But if my guess is correct," he paused, scanning the sea of faces, "the only way to reach it is by going inside the mountain."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Some cultivators exchanged nervous glances, while others, particularly the more battle-hardened, looked at the mountain with renewed interest.

Li Xiang continued, his tone taking on a more serious edge. "The journey will not be easy. The interior of the mountain is bound to be riddled with dangers, trials that will test us all. It may be fatal for many of us."

He let the weight of his words settle in the air. Fear flickered across the faces of the younger, less experienced cultivators. The more seasoned ones remained stoic, but even they couldn't hide the tension in their eyes.

"That's why I propose," Li Xiang said, his voice smooth, "that we team up to face these challenges together."