Kepler

Everyone knows that people who transmigrate from the so-called "modern world" to another realm often have a metal spirit root and excel at controlling machines.

Before her spirit root awakened, Qin Shurui, herself one of these transmigrators, thought so too. Then she awakened dual fire and wood spirit roots.

Dual fire and wood spirit roots are naturally suited to alchemy. Though alchemists do not enjoy the lofty status of sword cultivators, they still have a bright future.

But medicinal ingredients and alchemy furnaces all cost money. Penniless, Qin Shurui gritted her teeth and headed for Sword Peak.

In the cultivation world, sword cultivators reign supreme. Tianchen Sect, hailed as "the greatest sect under heaven," has a Dao Sword Peak that everyone yearns to join.

With neither family connections nor a foundation to rely on, Qin Shurui was unsurprisingly eliminated from the entrance trials.

Just as she was preparing to accept her bleak future, a flash of golden light appeared, and she landed among the new disciples of Dao Sword Peak.

Dazed and unable to make sense of what had happened, she saw a slender, long-fingered, fair hand reach into her field of vision.

Qin Shurui looked up and saw a woman, cool and ethereal as an immortal, holding out her hand and asking, "Are you all right?"

Without hesitation, Qin Shurui felt grateful that there was still someone so kind in this world, took the woman's hand, and stood up with a bright smile. "I'm fine. Thank you!"

Then she heard the new disciples behind her all gasp in unison.

Qin Shurui: "Huh?"

One cannot become a great cultivator without both talent and bloodline. Yet spiritual energy is scarce between heaven and earth, and for millions of years, ascension has remained a mere legend. No one has ever succeeded.

Luo Weijin was first a legitimate daughter of the imperial family, then an innate ice spirit-root cultivator. She reached Foundation Establishment just three days after sensing spiritual energy, and mastered Tianchen swordsmanship. Now in the Nascent Soul stage, she is not only the greatest of the younger generation, but also the person most expected to become the first to ascend.

Despite all these accolades, Luo Weijin's cold, taciturn nature makes many people admire her from afar, too afraid to approach.

Recently, however, word has spread through Tianchen Sect that this unprecedented prodigy faces a challenge unlike any she has encountered before.

On recruitment day, the noble daughter of the imperial family drew a lot that placed a lowborn transmigrator in Dao Sword Peak. Everyone expected an inspiring tale of someone overcoming the odds, but Qin Shurui kept coming in last in every swordsmanship assessment.

In the spirit of "looking after her junior sister," Luo Weijin was ordered to observe Qin Shurui's daily life.

When Qin Shurui was bullied by disciples from other prominent families within the sect, Luo Weijin dealt with them behind the scenes and made sure they were punished.

When an enforcement elder gave Qin Shurui a hard time and was about to expel her from the sect, Luo Weijin vouched for her and cleared her of suspicion.

When Qin Shurui was injured and unconscious in a secret realm, Luo Weijin protected her and treated her wounds.

Later, as she held Qin Shurui by the wrist and taught her the sword forms one move at a time, Luo Weijin realized she cared about this person even more than she had imagined.

On the day the empire teetered on the brink of collapse, a beast tide erupted, the land was thrown into turmoil, and everyone feared for their lives.

After years of war, Tianchen Sect sent its elite disciples to search for the legendary gods, hoping to turn the tide and save humanity.

In a remote border town rife with undercurrents, a mechanical prodigy unlike any the world had ever seen emerged. The machines and weapons spoken of by people from another world appeared in her hands, more powerful than ever.

Naturally, such a talent drew admirers from everywhere.

Yet surrounded by a sea of people, she looked only toward Luo Weijin at the edge of the crowd.

Meeting that clear gaze, Luo Weijin knew the person she had been searching for all along had returned.

"I marveled that there could be someone like her in this world, someone who had endured so much yet never lost sight of her original self, bright as the moon and radiant as the stars. I saw her, and wanted to draw closer."

P.S.

1. Not a conventional cultivation progression story; the worldbuilding is original.

2. Some ensemble cast elements, with a slightly slow-burn romance.

3. More to come if I think of anything.

First blurb version, June 10, 2023

Theme: Find yourself, then become yourself