Hatzu's second adventure on sea was more pleasant than the first. He took control of the ships main room having the captain bring in several maps to allow him a better insight into the business and their travels.
More than that, the captain noticed some different languages in Hatzu's library and offered some books of translation; eventually allowing Hatzu to further his studies.
One day coming across a small island the spotter yelled out below.
The salt blew over the sails as the teams worked to take them down folding, rolling, wrapping and tying the boat began its anchoring procedures.
The sun cusped the clouds casting shades of red and orange across the sky. "How long will we be here?" Hatzu asked walking out – several people in his wake.
"Five days should be enough to make all our purchases." The first mate commented as he flipped though some paperwork.
"This can you have it done in three, I don't care if we make profit just break even and fill the storage enough to sail" Hatzu responded walking up to the edge of the boat.
"Yes sir!" The group responded as they watched the child, who looked to be about thirteen years old, jumped headfirst into the water as he began to swim ashore.
As the group watched the scene the first mate looked to the captain and asked bluntly; "is that child a cultivator?"
"We will know soon enough." She replied
Entire nations away, in between three small mountains, was a small log house with several young cultivators crowded around.
In this small group a couple friendly faces stood out but two where quite noticeable. The red robed woman who helped Hatzu first start his business and the man who nearly crushed it sat side by side as a master gave pointers.
"The Dao is decided into several realms for cultivators. First is Qi condensing, it is the absorption and specifically accumulation of spiritual Qi. Qi Formation Stage allows one to form the Qi in the physical world, allowing it to be used as a physical weapon and finally the Core Construction. After forming a core, a cultivator becomes known as an immortal cultivator." The old man said as he walked around the group.
"Why is core formation the stage when cultivators become known as immortal cultivators?" A student asked flipping though the course book.
"Core formation experts can build several cores allowing them multiple chances at reincarnation. It the chance to obtain this second life that truly makes one different from the mortals." He quickly replied.
"What is the highest level a cultivator can achieve?" The woman dressed in red asked.
"Well Sarah, I am a foundation expert, in my two hundred years of life I have once seen a nascent soul fight a dozen core cultivators." The old man did not look to the children as he spoke but instead looked far beyond them.
"Is Nascent soul the highest cultivation level, and what is an Astral?" The boy asked having his book closed in front of him.
Sarah took notice but kept her look shallow. "Where did you hear of that?" The old man quickly asked.
"In my travels here, I came across a mortal trading in immortal secrets. Naturally, I made an exchange and this term 'Astral Being' came up several times in one of the selections he had.
"Well Markus this is an old tale, I suppose one so famous even some mortals remember it." The old man took pause before pressing forward; "once this planet was owned by another species but an Astral Being came too turn this place into a cultivation planet. He created a species in his image and gifted us this place before falling into a deep sleep."
"So, they are like us?" The group began to ask.
"No" the old man said in awe, "planets are their playthings, I was told by my master that a Nascent soul is equal to the soul of an astral. It's stage that only gods can comprehend."
"How powerful was the Nascent soul battle you witnessed?" The group continued.
"This valley and those mountains where formed when the Nascent soul cultivator eliminated all his enemies with a single strike. He did not even require an incantation, weapon, or tool. Simply raised his hand and brought fire down from the skies."
As the old man spoke the children where left in awe. Many where still young and like mortals who had never seen the passing of time, they had yet to grasp fully the immortal understandings. Before he spoke these mountains seemed timeless now it was a simple as a spell.
"Why are some born mortal?" Sarah asked as the group's discussion took one of the many winding turns before its eventual end. These cultivators could fast for days and would chat endlessly for hours with out stop.