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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/RecentFeature1646 on 2025-10-21 20:32:00+00:00.

Ke Yin has a problem. Well, several problems.

First, he’s actually Cain from Earth.

Second, he’s stuck in a cultivation world where people don’t just split mountains with a sword strike, they build entire universes inside their souls (and no, it’s not a meditation metaphor).

Third, he’s got a system with a snarky spiritual assistant that lets him possess the recently deceased across dimensions.

And finally, the elders at the Azure Peak Sect are asking why his soul realm contains both demonic cultivation and holy arts? Must be a natural talent.

Expectations:

• MC’s main cultivation method will be plant based and related to World Trees

• Weak to Strong MC

• MC will eventually create his own lifeforms within his soul as well as beings that can cultivate

• Main world is the first world (Azure Peak Sect)

• MC will revisit worlds (extensive world building of multiple realms)

• Time loop elements

• No harem

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Chapter 296: The True Winner

The exit from Black Mist Valley felt like passing through a membrane, one moment we were surrounded by churning mists and spatial distortions, the next we emerged into the clear night air, the full moon hanging serenely overhead as if the chaos we’d just experienced had been nothing but a fevered dream.

I kept my head down, leaning heavily on Liu Chang’s shoulder as we crossed the threshold, every bit the picture of a defeated junior disciple while the weight of the real Moonlit Dew Flower rested in my storage ring.

The scene before us was exactly what we’d expected.

Representatives from each major sect stood in a loose semicircle beyond the warning markers. Their faces shifted from anticipation to disappointment as Yan Zixian emerged victorious, the supposed flower in his possession.

Unlike every other major faction, we had no Elemental Realm backup waiting to receive us. No powerful elder ready to whisk us to safety should things go wrong.

“Thanks for nothing, Madam Butterfly,” I thought bitterly.

The powerful old woman had assigned me this mission, dangling the promise of answers about the sect’s secrets, yet she couldn’t be bothered to send proper support. Despite not being part of the Azure Peak Sect, she could have sent someone from the Formation Guild or even her own sect. Either she considered me expendable, or she had far more confidence in my abilities than the situation warranted.

Neither option was particularly comforting.

Beyond the gathered cultivators, I noticed a tense exchange unfolding. The Black Palm Sect’s representative was engaged in what appeared to be a barely civil conversation with Yan Zixian. Even from a distance, the threat in his posture was unmistakable.

“Lu Fang’s senior is not pleased,” Su Yue observed quietly.

“Let’s not stay to watch the show,” I replied using spiritual transmission. “The longer we linger, the more likely someone notices something’s off.”

We skirted the gathering, keeping to the shadows as we made our way toward the path leading back to Wuqi City. I noticed several cultivators giving us dismissive glances, failed competitors weren’t worth their attention. Their contempt was our greatest advantage right now.

Once we’d put sufficient distance between ourselves and the gathering, Liu Chang spoke using spiritual transmission. “We need to move quickly. When will they discover the switch?”

“Hard to say,” I replied, checking our surroundings for any observers. “The replica should fool Qi Condensation cultivators completely. An Elemental Realm cultivator with experience in formations might spot inconsistencies, but they’d need to examine it closely.”

“And a Stellar Realm cultivator?” Su Yue asked.

I grimaced. “They’d know instantly.”

“Then we need to be well away from here before the City Lord examines Yan Zixian’s prize,” Liu Chang concluded.

We picked up our pace, heading not away from Wuqi City as might have been expected, but directly toward it. The city walls loomed ahead, their ancient stone gleaming softly in the moonlight. Lanterns hung from poles along the main road, creating pools of warm light that seemed to push back against the darkness.

“Are you sure about this?” Su Yue asked, eyeing the approaching city gates with obvious concern. “Going through the city seems risky.”

“It’s actually safer,” I explained. “They’ll expect us to avoid the city entirely, circling around to escape. Going straight through is the last thing they’d anticipate.”

“And it saves us valuable time,” Liu Chang added. “Going around would add at least half a day to our journey.”

“By which point the deception would certainly be discovered,” I concluded.

The city gates were still open despite the late hour, though the usual daytime bustle had reduced to a steady trickle of merchants, travelers, and cultivators entering and exiting the city. Two bored-looking guards stood watch, only giving cursory glances to those passing through.

As we approached, I noticed their posture straighten slightly, a subtle sign that they recognized us as cultivators rather than ordinary travelers. I immediately adjusted my demeanor, letting my shoulders slump even further and allowing a hint of defeat to color my expression.

“Follow my lead,” I murmured through spiritual transmission to my companions. “We’re tired, disappointed disciples who failed in our mission and just want to return to our inn for the night.”

The guards watched us approach, their eyes assessing but not particularly suspicious. One of them raised a hand in the casual gesture used to halt travelers for inspection.

“Purpose in the city at this hour?” he asked, his tone suggesting this was routine rather than targeted.

“Returning to our lodgings,” Liu Chang replied, perfectly capturing the weary resignation of a team leader whose mission had ended in failure. “We had business in the valley that didn’t go as planned.”

The guard’s eyes flickered over our dirty, battle-worn appearance and the obvious fatigue in our postures. “Another sect team that lost out on the flower, eh?” he said, a hint of sympathy entering his voice. “Heard the City Lord’s disciple claimed it.”

“News travels fast,” Su Yue remarked quietly.

The guard shrugged. “Everyone’s been talking about the herb for days.” He stepped aside, waving us through. “Go on then. Try not to cause any trouble, the City Lord’s in no mood for disruptions tonight.”

We nodded our thanks and walked through the gates, maintaining our discouraged demeanor until we were well out of sight.

The streets of Wuqi City were quieter at night, though far from deserted. Lanterns hung from buildings, casting warm pools of light across the stone-paved streets. The occasional group of revelers emerged from teahouses and wine shops, their laughter echoing between the close-set buildings.

“Shouldn’t we stop by the inn to gather our belongings?” Su Yue asked as we wound our way through the city streets, deliberately taking a complex route with multiple turns to confuse any potential pursuers.

I shook my head. “We never unpacked anything important. Everything we need is already in our storage rings.”

We continued through the city, keeping to side streets and less traveled paths whenever possible. The architecture of Wuqi City was distinctly different from what I’d seen in other regions. Buildings were constructed primarily of grey stone with intricately carved wooden accents, their roofs tiled in blue and green. Many structures featured small gardens enclosed by stone walls, from which the sweet scent of night-blooming flowers wafted into the streets.

Under different circumstances, I might have found it all quite charming. Tonight, every shadow seemed to harbor potential threats, every passing cultivator a possible pursuer.

As we navigated through a particularly narrow alleyway that would lead us towards the city’s southern gate. We blended with a group of travelers heading out of the city, once again adopting our defeated postures and downcast expressions.

The southern gate was less heavily guarded than the western entrance we’d used to enter, with only a single bored-looking official checking travel documents for those departing. We passed through without incident, no one giving a second glance to three tired cultivators leaving the city after what appeared to be a failed mission.

Once outside the city walls, I felt some of the tension ease from my shoulders. The open road stretched before us, winding through gently rolling hills before disappearing into a distant forest. The stars overhead seemed brighter here, away from the city’s lanterns, their light casting a silvery glow across the landscape.

“We did it,” Su Yue said, a hint of disbelief coloring her voice. “We actually pulled it off.”

“Don’t celebrate yet,” I cautioned, scanning our surroundings carefully. “This is actually the most dangerous part.”

Liu Chang nodded in agreement. “The city’s walls provided a certain protection, even powerful cultivators must respect the City Lord’s domain. Out here, we’re fair game for anyone who realizes what we’ve done.”

We increased our pace, moving with the efficient stride of cultivators who needed to cover ground quickly without drawing attention. The road was mostly empty at this hour, with only the occasional merchant wagon or lone traveler passing in the opposite direction…

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