Chapter Three: The Newcomer's First Battle

After ordering his meal, he browsed for a few more minutes and found a merchant guild selling magical treasures.

Today was the last day the guild would provide training; tomorrow he would have to fend for himself and venture out to level up, so he needed to prepare some equipment.

There was no need to overthink this. Before awakening to the data of the Law of the Body, special instructors taught them the basics of cultivation.

Newcomers embarking on their first journey had to prepare a few standard items besides their cultivation techniques. After a brief overview, he selected several items and placed them into his shopping cart.

First was a defensive magical treasure: the Dark Iron Bell, costing 20 taels of silver.

Dark Iron Bell (Tier 3 Treasure): forged from dark iron, this treasure possesses extremely strong defensive power.

Attributes: Defense 2500, Mana Conversion Rate 10.

Equipment Requirements: At least level 10 in Qi Refinement Mind Techniques of both the Mystic Sect and the Sect of the Fringe.

Next was an offensive magical treasure: the Three Suns Fan, slightly cheaper at 18 taels of silver.

Three Suns Fan (Tier 3 Treasure): crafted from the feathers of the Three-legged Fire Crow, this fan can release three blazing orbs of fierce sunlight to damage enemies.

Attributes: Each orb deals 100 fire elemental magic damage, magic damage increased by 20%, mana consumption 50, cooldown 3 seconds.

Equipment Requirements: At least level 10 in Qi Refinement Mind Techniques of both the Mystic Sect and the Sect of the Fringe.

He also bought a Small Teleportation Talisman: after 15 seconds of activation, it allows teleportation within a 1,000-kilometer radius to towns, with priority teleportation points settable. It cost 10 taels of silver per talisman.

Premium Mana Restoration Pills: upon ingestion, restores 600 mana points within one second, priced at 50 copper coins each. He bought two large bottles containing 200 pills in total, spending 10 taels of silver.

Finally, five disposable Heavenly Thunder Orbs, which upon throwing deal 2,000 lightning and fire damage within a 20-meter radius. Each orb cost 5 silver coins, totaling 25 silver.

In the end, he spent a full 83 taels of silver, consuming about one-third of his entire fortune.

Su Yu was not wealthy. Before arriving at the Blue Mountain Archipelago, he carried a mere 3 taels of gold. In the last three days, he had used three Advancement Jade Talismans for double experience while traveling by carriage, costing 60 silver. Deducting some miscellaneous expenses, he was left with 2 gold taels, 38 silver taels, and 569 copper coins.

That 3-tael gold was the last support from his parents in their lifetime. After this, he would likely have to rely solely on himself.

The Blue Mountain Archipelago lay tens of millions of kilometers from the ancestral lands of human civilization, which had been cultivated for over a hundred thousand years. Traveling back and forth was exceedingly difficult. The ticket for the transoceanic giant ship cost hundreds of taels of gold, so he could not expect to return home before making a name for himself.

Moreover, returning served little purpose. His retired parents remained in the human hinterland, while his siblings mostly resided in the Blue Mountain Archipelago.

Also, his innate talents were not the best in the family. His parents had long entrusted all relationships and assets accumulated over decades to his second older brother, who was the most gifted. The other siblings had only received a few taels of gold to see them off.

Su Yu neither envied nor resented this.

This was normal. In the Other Shore, most couples with modest achievements would have many children after retirement, hoping one would emerge outstanding enough to inherit all connections and assets, thereby elevating the family’s status.

Su Yu had a dozen older brothers and sisters. The most gifted was his second brother, who, according to their father, had innate roots surpassing twenty and an innate comprehension exceeding thirty points—truly a prodigy.

His brother had arrived at the Blue Mountain Archipelago over a decade ago, successfully joining a major sect called the Mystic Truth Sect.

When Su Yu came, he heard that his brother had taken a mentor who was an elder ranked at level 170 within the sect and had married his mentor’s legitimate daughter. His career was flourishing.

As the family’s most promising member, while taking the majority of the family’s resources, he bore the responsibility to look after his siblings if he succeeded.

If he could overcome his first Great Heavenly Tribulation and become a scattered immortal, his strength and status would rise dramatically. As his brothers and sisters, they would gain tangible benefits.

Not to mention, simply having such a scattered immortal brother would immediately earn Su Yu the guild’s high-level attention, facilitating his promotion to an elite member at minimum. If he performed well, he might even become a core member, securing a mid-level official position with ease.

Besides, he was still young and could potentially join the Mystic Truth Sect under his brother’s recommendation.

But all of this depended on his brother’s success in overcoming the tribulation and ascending to a higher realm.

Furthermore, it also depended on whether his brother cared about his siblings. If he did not, then...

Su Yu did not dwell on this too much. Having lived two lives, he knew clearly that ultimately he could only rely on himself. He must not pin his hopes on others.

Besides, although his talents were average, with the assistance of his golden finger, his future achievements would definitely surpass his brother’s, making reliance on anyone unnecessary.

The city’s efficiency was high. Within fifteen minutes, his fast food and items were delivered one by one.

He placed the Heavenly Thunder Orbs, Small Teleportation Talismans, and Mana Restoration Pills into his personal space and equipped the two magical treasures in the treasure slots.

In the Other Shore, all cultivators possess, upon awakening, one flying sword slot and four magical treasure slots, allowing them to equip and fight with four magical treasures simultaneously.

After overcoming the first Great Heavenly Tribulation, the flying sword slots increase by one, and the magical treasure slots by two. Personal space expands from 20 to 40 grids.

Each subsequent tribulation passed further increases flying sword and magical treasure slots.

Additionally, everyone has ten fixed equipment slots: head, necklace, body, belt, feet, gloves, two rings, and two accessories.

However, unlike games, in this immortal cultivation world, cultivation, Daoist magic, divine abilities, flying swords, and magical treasures are dominant; physical equipment holds little importance.

Generally, low-quality equipment only adds modest defense, health, and mana.

Some seasoned veterans who have been around for years fill all their flying sword and magical treasure slots but wear only a few pieces of equipment, mostly special-function items.

For example, storage belts or rings that increase personal space capacity, or rings and accessories that add flying sword or magical treasure slots, or magical robes with special effects and strong defense.

At present, Su Yu had no such equipment.

After finishing his meal, night had already fallen, and the city’s lights lit up. Most players had returned for the evening. The bustling city streets were as vibrant as a modern urban nightscape. Yet, Su Yu had no intention of browsing the night market and returned directly to his room to sleep.

Alone, a quiet night passed.

Early the next morning, he saw a message on his communicator from the guild’s chief instructor for newcomers, Lu Yongyuan. It seemed to be a mass announcement:

“The Guild’s Newcomer Training Rules stipulate that there are no mandatory guild tasks or activities for newcomers in their first year; everyone is free to improve their strength at will.”

“However, to help newcomers integrate better, the Newcomer Department has coordinated with the Personnel Department to allow internal teams and independent squads to recruit newcomers early. After agreement, newcomers may join any team in advance.”

“Recruitment takes place at the central square of the residential area, lasting one week. Those not joining any team after a week may apply in writing to any squad.”

“Finally, we wish everyone smooth sailing and rapid cultivation success!”

“Hmm! Not bad at all,” Su Yu thought.

He closed the communication panel, ate a simple breakfast, then mounted his paper crane and leisurely soared into the sky.

Many others had risen early like him. Along the way, he saw others leaving—guild veterans flying swords or riding mounts, while slow-moving paper cranes were mostly used by newcomers like himself.

Outside the residential area, a large square surrounded by stone pillars had gathered many people.

Numerous newcomers flew in on their paper cranes. Occasionally, sharp sword lights streaked in from afar, or a flying ship descended onto the square from somewhere in the city.

The paper crane hovered briefly above the square. There, many tables were arranged, behind which sat one or two people, resembling a campus recruitment fair.

His keen sight detected plaques on these tables:

“Guild Seventh Independent Squad Recruiting Newcomers. Requirements: Obedient, follow orders. No other conditions.”

Beside it was another similar plaque:

“Guild Ninth Independent Squad Recruiting Newcomers. Requirements: Obedient, follow orders. No other conditions.”

All other tables were similar—recruitments for various independent squads within the guild.

There were no recruitments from the guild’s main forces, which Su Yu understood why.

The guild’s military structure generally consisted of several main forces and numerous independent squads. Independent squads evolved from smaller internal teams, with squad leaders as core guild members.

Main forces were the guild’s core military strength, directly under official command.

Therefore, independent squads needed to develop independently, while main forces received direct guild support.

Each year, a batch of members retired due to age or excessive deaths nearing their lifespan, and many newcomers were recruited annually. These newcomers were mostly recruited by independent squads, some formed their own teams or small groups. At least half were transferred to main forces within a year.

Su Yu had no intention of joining an independent squad and, after a glance, urged his paper crane to depart.

Joining a team offered protection but sacrificed freedom.

Most teams had seniority systems, factions, and interpersonal relationships. No matter how well one performed, if not favored by the leader or if offending veterans, one could easily be suppressed, seriously hindering growth.

Once joined, leaving was difficult.

Rather than wasting time and energy, it was better to become self-reliant early.

The paper crane wobbled as it flew westward, arriving at the banks of the Chen Sha River, then flew upstream.

According to the guild’s newcomer guide, the riverside near Chen Sha was the prime spot for newcomers to level up. The aquatic creatures there were just above level ten, much easier and safer than those near the Yuan River, which were in the twenties.

Many newcomers had chosen to train there, either solo or in teams.

On the river, a massive hundred-meter-long floating building ship was moored, topped with a Divine Thunder Tower. The crew used Demon-Attracting Incense to lure numerous aquatic monsters, then bombarded them with fierce blazing thunder flames, causing the river surface to boil with flames and lightning.

This ship belonged to the guild, though its squad affiliation was unknown. A day’s ride cost 90 silver, extremely expensive and unaffordable for most.

Su Yu did not fly far. About fifty kilometers from Qianyu City, he stopped above a riverside mudflat.

This vast floodplain, stretching over ten kilometers, was submerged with little grass visible, many areas underwater. He could see numerous aquatic monsters between levels 10 and 15—fish spirits, shrimp spirits, crab monsters, and the like—swimming within.

Near the mudflat, several small teams gathered, mostly clusters of three to five. Some were veterans leading newcomers; others were all-new teams, all dressed in guild attire.

Su Yu’s arrival did not attract attention. The mudflat was vast enough for everyone’s use.

He descended on his paper crane, called it back, and fixed his gaze on a two-meter-long green-backed grass fish spirit about forty meters away in the water. Basic info immediately appeared before him.

Grass Fish Spirit (Wastrel): Level 12, aquatic, a spiritualized grass fish.

Attributes: Health 200, Demon Power 60, Attack 50, Speed 22 km/h, Skill: Water Arrow.

In the Other Shore realm, monsters are graded by quality, from lowest to highest: Wastrel, Common, Elite, Terrifying, Peerless, Legendary, Mythical.

Higher grades mean greater intelligence and strength.

The Wastrel rank is purely for experience farming.

No surprise there. Su Yu reached out and conjured a crimson feather fan in his hand. Channeling mana, the fan burst into flames. Raising his hand, he unleashed three burning orbs of fire, each the size of a head, which flew in sequence toward the black fish spirit.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Each orb exploded, dealing 200 damage apiece. The grass fish spirit was instantly blown to pieces.

“Not bad!” Su Yu thought, unsurprised.

The Three Suns Fan’s base damage was 100. As a Tier 3 treasure, it added 20% magic damage, and his tenth-level Purple Origin Qi Refinement Technique granted 400 magic damage bonus, so 20% was an extra 80 damage.

His tenth-level Fire Element True Understanding plus 20% fire spell bonus added another 20 damage.

In total, each orb dealt exactly 200 damage, just enough to kill the grass fish spirit.

“If that’s the case...” Su Yu’s gaze shifted to a small group of level 11-12 carp spirits near the grass fish spirit. He channeled mana again, flames engulfing the fan, then lightly waved it. His will guided three large fireballs to separate and fly in three directions.

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

Three explosions erupted, hitting two grass fish spirits but missing the last orb.

“Close, but not quite.”

“Again.”

Undeterred, he ignored the startled black fish spirit rushing toward him, selected two new targets, and unleashed three blazing orbs once more.

-200

-200

-200

All three orbs hit, destroying a grass fish spirit, a black fish spirit, and a carp spirit.

“Yes!”

He clenched his fist in excitement, quickly switching targets to a group of carp spirits on the riverbank, and fired three more blazing fireballs.

The fish flock, frightened, turned to attack him. The fastest few leapt from the water, spitting arm-thick crystal-clear water arrows.

Su Yu flipped his left hand, conjuring a palm-sized dark iron bell. He infused it with mana, causing spirit runes to glow brightly. Tossing the bell above his head, it hovered, emitting a semi-transparent shield that enveloped his entire body.

Over a dozen water arrows struck the shield, causing ripples to spread across its surface.