The Invincible Sect Leader

Under the cover of night, Chan Li left the Azure Cloud Empire, stepping into the vast and ruthless world of cultivation.

The grand palace that once surrounded him with luxury and privilege was now nothing more than a distant memory. His royal name, which once commanded respect, was now meaningless. He was no longer a prince. He was no longer bound to the fate of a kingdom.

For the first time in his two lives, he was free.

Yet, freedom came with its own dangers.

The cultivation world was not kind to the weak. Power dictated everything respect, wealth, and survival. Without a sect, a clan, or a master, a lone cultivator was little more than prey for those stronger than them.

Chan Li knew this well.

But what the world didn't know was that he was no ordinary wanderer.

He was armed with the knowledge of countless generations, a lifetime of studying alchemy, formations, and martial arts. Though he had yet to showcase his power, he understood something that most cultivators never grasped knowledge was the sharpest weapon of all.

His first destination was a nearby city the Cloudveil Market, a hub where rogue cultivators, merchants, and sect disciples gathered to trade resources. If he was going to build his foundation, he needed to start somewhere.

As he entered the city, he saw young disciples wearing fine robes, their sect emblems embroidered in gold. They carried swords and talismans, laughing arrogantly as they walked through the streets.

Commoners bowed their heads in fear. Rogue cultivators watched from the shadows, too weak to challenge those from powerful sects.

Chan Li observed everything with cold eyes.

"This world only respects strength… but they have no idea what true power looks like."

He passed by an open-air market filled with medicinal herbs, weapons, and cultivation manuals. He had plenty of gold, but he knew better than to waste it on inferior resources. Instead, he sought something much more valuable information.

Stepping into a quiet tea house, he listened carefully to the conversations around him.

Rumors. News of warring sects, lost treasures, and hidden realms filled the air.

But one piece of information caught his attention.

"Did you hear? A ruin has appeared in the Blackwood Mountains. It is said to contain the legacy of an ancient formation master."

"Impossible. The Blackwood Mountains are crawling with demonic beasts. No one under the Nascent Soul Realm would dare enter."

"That's exactly why it's untouched. The weak don't dare, and the strong don't care."

Chan Li's eyes flickered.

A legacy of an ancient formation master? That was exactly what he needed. If he could acquire such knowledge, it would accelerate his plans.

Finishing his tea, he stood up and left the city without hesitation.

His first true test awaited.

And the world was about to witness the rise of a cultivator unlike any other.