Chapter 0: A Withered Plant

After three months of arriving in this world and familiarizing myself, I bid goodbye to the orphanage to find my destiny in this world. In this world, ascending and becoming immortal is possible through cultivation. The sects hold the power and balance of the world in their hands. As an orphan who has no connections, my journey towards living a fulfilling life and even cultivation would be a very hard one.

In my past life, I was a countryside boy who helped my family tend to the fields. One day, a plant swallowed me, and my soul was inserted into this body, a not-so-good body. I know some things about farming and that’s it. My education was sparse and I do not have that much attainment in my past life. In this life, I would change that and I would explore this new world that I came to.

In every world, food and sustenance are a must for living beings. I checked my bag to see the rations I prepared for the journey toward the city. I hitched a ride to a carriage that is passing by and paid two copper coins to the man driving the carriage. The ride was bumpy due to the uneven and rocky road. The sun was up above my head and it is very hot. It must be noon and time for lunch. I ate some of my rations to fill my stomach and the journey went on.

I listened to some of the people talking inside the carriage. There were a lot of topics but one thing caught my attention. “There is a farming sect recruiting inside the city for a week,” said an aged man to his companion. That’s it! That is where I would start on my journey to living a fulfilling life. A sect that can hold the power would me live a better life.

As I entered the city, I asked for some information about where the farming sect was recruiting. I walked towards the plaza to gather more information and maybe see some sights, too. I chanced upon rows of tents and signage saying “Sect Fair”. This must be it. I saw a fortune-telling tent and entered. I saw that it is free if you can draw a red ball out of the box. My hand went into the box to pick a ball and I prayed to my luck to help me get a red ball to at least have some guidance. I closed my eyes before peeking what the color of the ball I got. It was red! I redeemed my free fortune-telling and I gave the red ball to the attendant. I was led deeper inside where there is a woman with a tattooed third eye on her forehead. “Touch this crystal,” she said. I touched the crystal and it showed some symbols which I cannot read. The fortune-teller's third eye shone and after a while, the light dimmed. She looked at me with shock and pity. “Your life would be hard, treasure the memories you would make, you are a dark child, everyone you would be friends with, would suffer some misfortune,” she said. I was shocked and confused. “Only when you fulfill the destiny of the magnolia would this misfortune end,” she ended. I walked out of the tent in a daze.

While thinking about the fortune teller’s words, such as what is magnolia? What misfortunes would I suffer? Do I believe her? I came upon the recruitment for the farming sect. The area was not that crowded and the recruiters does not have that good of clothes. I asked how do I join the sect and they pointed me to another crystal which is supposed to measure my talent.

I touched the crystal and it shone with a green light and then a withered plant. “You have connections with plants, but I am worried about that withered plant afterward,” the recruiter said. “Anyways, you are welcome to join our sect, if you would like,” he followed. “The withered plant might mean you have a more attacking nature not nurturing nature,” he added. “As a farming sect, our main priorities are taking care of our fields and your nature might not be suited in the long run,” the woman beside him said.

“I would like to try and join,” I said. This is where I would start my journey. This might be a bad start but I would persevere and find my path in the future, even when it is not in this sect.