Ki Meets Qi: Murim Reborn in Cultivation World

Riu Xian emerged from the underground with a soft shift of the earth, his presence unnoticed until he stepped fully into the light. Around him, a dense forest stretched out, sunlight dappling through the canopy above. In front of him stood two groups of cultivators locked in a fierce standoff. Both groups wore matching robes, yet their hostility was palpable.

The first group consisted of three young women and one young man, all appearing to be between the ages of 17 and 20. The second group was made up entirely of young men, roughly the same age. Between them stood a majestic tree bearing seven shimmering spirit fruits. These fruits, glowing faintly with a golden hue, held immense power capable of boosting cultivation.

"We found the spirit fruit first," one of the young women from the first group argued. "We'll take four, and you can keep three. That's more than fair."

The leader of the all-male group sneered. "Fair? We deserve all seven. Hand them over, or prepare to suffer the consequences."

As tensions flared and weapons were raised, Riu Xian's sudden appearance startled everyone. They turned, their eyes widening in shock. One of the women spoke first, her voice trembling slightly. "Senior, who are you? How did you appear here without any of us noticing?"

Riu Xian held up a hand, signaling them to calm down. "I was in seclusion and just came out. Can someone explain what's going on here? And while you're at it, tell me the current state of affairs. What happened to the war between the Cloudspring Sect and the Bright Snow Sect?"

The mention of the war silenced the quarrel. One of the young women stepped forward respectfully. "Senior, the war ended five years ago in just two days. Our sect surrendered, and the Cloudspring Sect is now under the control of the Bright Snow Sect."

Riu Xian's expression darkened, though he kept his thoughts to himself. "Who is the current chief of the Cloudspring branch of the Bright Snow Sect?" he asked.

Another member of the group answered quickly, "The former sect leader, Lu Wen, became the branch chief. The Lu family has been hunting the killer of their young master ever since. Some of his friends who escaped during the war reported the incident after the merger."

Riu Xian's mind raced. It was a mistake to let them escape after I killed Lu Hao. Now, those lackeys have exposed everything about me.

One of the young men from the second group squinted at Riu Xian, suspicion creeping into his voice. "Senior, there's a high-reward mission posted for capturing the man who killed the young master. It's been five years, though, and no one actively searches for him anymore. Honestly… you bear a resemblance to him. But that man was weak, just some crippled outer sect disciple. You, on the other hand, are clearly far too strong to be him."

Before the conversation could spiral further, one of the young women snapped, "Enough! Senior, please, can you help us resolve the matter of the spirit fruits?"

Riu Xian glanced at the glowing fruits, then back at the two groups. "Very well. There are seven fruits, two groups, and myself. Each group will take three fruits, and I will take one."

The leader of the all-male group bristled at the suggestion. "Why should we listen to you? You're only at the Foundation Establishment stage. If we join forces, we can kill you and take all the fruits for ourselves!"

A faint smile tugged at Riu Xian's lips. Without a word, he released the full pressure of his cultivation, his middle-stage Foundation Establishment aura rolling over them like a tidal wave. The air grew heavy, and the cultivators from both groups stumbled, their faces pale with fear.

The male leader quickly dropped his weapon, his bravado gone. "We're sorry, Senior! Your arrangement is fair. We'll distribute the fruits as you said."

Satisfied, Riu Xian nodded. "Good. But I have one more condition. Whoever provides me with a detailed map of this area, marking the location of the Azure Immortal Sect, will receive my share of the spirit fruit."

The groups exchanged uneasy glances, but one of the young women stepped forward. "Senior, I have a map that marks the locations of major sects in this region, including the Azure Immortal Sect. I'll share it with you."

Riu Xian's expression softened. "Excellent. Hand it over, and the seventh fruit is yours."

The chapter ends with Riu Xian studying the map while the young woman retrieves the spirit fruit as promised, her group's faces lighting up with relief. Meanwhile, the male group silently retreats, too intimidated to make another move. Riu Xian's thoughts turn to the Azure Immortal Sect, his next destination in this vast and perilous world.

Riu Xian unfolded the map handed to him by the young woman, his sharp eyes scanning its details. The intricate markings revealed the geography of the region, with major sects and key landmarks clearly outlined. His gaze lingered on the symbol representing the Azure Immortal Sect, his next destination. As he studied the map, the young woman carefully plucked the spirit fruit from the tree, her group's faces lighting up with relief at their unexpected fortune. Meanwhile, the all-male group silently retreated into the shadows of the forest, too intimidated by Riu Xian's overwhelming presence to dare another challenge. Holding the map tightly, Riu Xian's thoughts turned inward, planning his journey toward the Azure Immortal Sect and the mysteries it might hold. The forest around him grew still, a fitting prelude to the trials and opportunities awaiting him in this vast and perilous world.