[ Black Lotus Cult - The Wailing Isle ]
[ The Twin Dragon Estate ]
The morning sun had just begun to rise over the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the quiet mansion. Its ancient walls, adorned with intricate carvings, seemed to bask in the gentle light, as if awakening from a long slumber. As the first rays of light filtered through the delicate silk curtains of Xie Dongyi's room, the gentle tinkling of a tanggu could be heard in the distance. The sound gradually grew louder, merging with the rustling of leaves and the songs of birds, until it was accompanied by the soft shuffling of feet as servants moved through the mansion, busying themselves with their daily tasks.
Xiaolan, a young female servant with long, raven-black hair that cascaded down her back, made her way through the mansion's ornate corridors. Her footsteps echoed softly against the polished jade floors, creating a rhythmic pattern that blended seamlessly with the distant tanggu. She wore a simple yet elegant sky-blue silk dress, adorned with delicate embroidered flowers, which accentuated her slender figure.
As she approached Xie Dongyi's room, she hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering above the elegantly carved wooden door. Gathering her courage, she knocked gently, the sound like a soft drumbeat against the silence. Receiving no answer, she frowned and carefully pushed open the door, the hinges creaking faintly in protest.
Her eyes widened as she caught sight of Lü Bu's muscular back, the sweat dripping down his skin as he stood motionless in the center of the room. The steam that enveloped his body seemed to dance and shimmer in the morning light, creating an ethereal aura around him. Xiaolan couldn't help but gulp, feeling a flush of arousal at the sight of his powerful form.
Lü Bu took a deep breath, his skin glistening in the morning sunlight. The room was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood incense, which mingled with the earthy aroma of his sweat. Sensing her presence, he turned to face her, his eyes meeting hers. "Is there something I can help you with?" he asked, his voice calm and steady.
Stammering, Xiaolan managed to relay the message. "Master Yue Fei has called everyone to the training grounds."
Lü Bu nodded, his gaze lingering on the blushing woman before him. Xiaolan opened her mouth, as if to say something more, but he quickly cut her off. "You may leave now."
Disappointment tugged at her heartstrings, but Xiaolan obediently turned to leave. As she reached the door, she mustered the courage to make a flirtatious joke, hoping to catch his attention. "It's a shame I can't stay to admire the view," she said with a coy smile, her eyes darting briefly towards his sculpted body.
Lü Bu, however, remained stoic, his focus unwavering as he stared at the mirror and took in the results of his transformation. The corners of his lips twitched slightly, betraying the hint of a smile, but he said nothing in response. With a soft sigh, Xiaolan stepped out of the room, closing the door gently behind her.
...
As Lü Bu, strode confidently out of his room and onto the field, he couldn't help but reflect on the incredible transformation that had taken place within him. The Body Refinement Mantra had worked wonders, granting him newfound strength and vitality incomparable to how Xie Dongyi was previously.
As he walked, Lü Bu silently reviewed the progress he had made since he began practicing the Body Refinement Mantra. His once-average muscles had become a formidable force, bulging with raw power and capable of feats that Xie Dongyi would have previously thought impossible. His endurance and stamina had also increased exponentially, allowing him to push his body to new limits without succumbing to fatigue.
Even his senses seemed heightened, as if the world around him had become sharper and more vivid. The scent of the freshly cut grass underfoot was more pungent than ever before, and the distant tanggu seemed to resonate deep within him, as if speaking directly to his very soul.
As Lü Bu continued to contemplate the remarkable transformation of his body, he understood that he still had a few months of dedicated training with the Body Refinement Mantra ahead of him. This would ensure that his body was fully prepared to handle the immense strain that came with the foundation of cultivation: the Martial Skeleton.
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The children huddled together in the open field, their gazes fixed upon Yue Fei with a blend of awe and confusion. It had been a full month since they had last seen him, and even now, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he took in their wide-eyed expressions.
From my vantage point at the back of the crowd, I observed the scene before me. I noticed that although most of the children seemed content and unaware of the precarious nature of their situation, there were a few who had started to piece together the puzzle. They had begun to understand that the luxurious paradise they found themselves in might not be as perfect as it appeared. Yue Fei was well aware that sooner or later, the truth would come to light.
I couldn't help but overhear their whispers and sense the intent behind their words.
One of the children in the group nervously spoke up, "Shouldn't he be locked away? How can they let a murderer walk among us?"
Another child chimed in, "I know, it's terrifying. What if he decides to hurt one of us?"
As the children whispered and murmured amongst themselves, I continued to stand apart from the group, my attention focused on the journal I held in my hand. My piercing purple eyes scanned each line with unwavering intensity, absorbing every detail.
.....
[ Dear Diary, It is day 28 in the Twin Dragon Estate and I say with certainty that I don't think I am in Kansas. Yes, finally, I always wanted to use that line. This world is quite the gem of intrigue for a scientist like me. Did my "soul" jump into a parallel dimension or am I in the same universe, just a different planet? So many questions, so few answers, especially in this goddamn prison.
As I write these words in my journal, I am struck by the sheer immensity of the world around me. It is a world that is both similar and yet vastly different from the one I left behind on Earth. Here, beings such as Specters, Demon beasts, and Cultivators exist, and they can traverse multiple dimensional planes of existence that they call realms.
Currently, I find myself in the Xuanjie Realm, on the Wuji continent. According to Kunlan, this continent is bigger than the entire mortal plane of existence. It is a thought that boggles the mind and fills me with wonder.
The Xuanjie Realm is a world of contradictions, where beauty and danger exist side by side whereas below the Xuanjie Realm lies the Human realm. ]
The entries were filled with scientific observations and philosophical questions about the world they found themselves in.
As I turned the page, I was abruptly interrupted by Yue Fei's booming voice. "Children!" The sound echoed through the field, causing the birds to scatter and take flight. As much as I hated being shouted at, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as I watched him speak. His words were powerful, and his presence commanded attention. I wondered if he was always like this, or if he just turned it on when he was training others.
As I tried to focus on Yue Fei's words, my attention was drawn to the servants standing behind him, each holding a large gunny sack in their hands. But before I could ponder any longer, Yue Fei's booming voice caught my attention once again. "Attention!" he yelled, causing everyone to snap to attention. "Seeing the result of your training has been a pain in the ass for me as I stand here looking at you pathetic pieces of shit." His words were like daggers, cutting through the air and piercing our ears.
I watched as the children in the crowd gulped nervously, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of pity for them. "You all must have thought that I was a son of a bitch, right?" Yue Fei asked, and I could see the fear in the children's eyes. "I must correct a little misunderstanding. I am merely not a son of a bitch, I am the fucking son of a bitch! Seeing the result of the last few weeks in front of me, I must say I am disappointed. Those techniques were wasted on trash like you!"
I watched as Yue Fei snapped his fingers, causing the servants to pull out a giant sack from their gunnies. The sound echoed through the field, and I couldn't help but jump at the sudden noise. I had to remind myself that I was here to observe, not to be startled by every little sound. Gazing upon the servant's actions, I thought that those gunnies were similar to the cape of darkness I was wearing. The sacks opened up, revealing a pile of bronze bracelets that left everyone except Lü Bu and me confused.
"Great, now it looks like everyone is going to use weights," I mumbled to myself.
"The Earthen Body and Heavenward Soul technique was to help you bastards sense Spiritual Qi while the techniques given after were there to help you flow spiritual Qi through your bodies and strengthen them," Yue Fei continued. "But seeing your pathetic physique, none of you are ready to begin laying your foundation for cultivation. So your training will have to increase. If you have a complaint, then lube it up and shove it up your ass!"
His words were like a slap in the face, and I could see the children squirming uncomfortably. I wondered if Yue Fei was always this vulgar, or if he was just trying to get a rise out of his students. A few snickers escaped from the crowd, but they were quickly silenced by the fierce glare of Yue Fei.
"The foundation of a human cultivator is their martial skeleton," Yue Fei said, his voice low and menacing. "What is a martial skeleton, you ask? I will not tell until you are ready!
What you need to know is that, for an individual to gain a Martial Skeleton, they need to possess a strong physique. Those of you who are smirking at your strength, pipe down! While your physiques might be considered inhuman by mortal standards, we aren't using mortal standards; are we?!"
The crowd of children yelled in unison, "No!"
"Good, at least you aren't that retarded," Yue Fei sneered. "For you pieces of shits to become ready to wield Martial Skeletons, you need strong physiques and these weighted arm guards that have been inscribed with inscription arrays that can increase their weight upon the individual wearing them channeling their spiritual Qi into it. These Jade Gold Armguards will not only help you physically but also your ability to flow Spiritual Qi and manipulate its amount."
He gestured to a stack of arm guards piled high next to him, their surfaces gleaming in the early morning light. The children eagerly surged forward, their hands reaching out to claim a pair of the heavy guards. I couldn't help but notice the anxiety and excitement on their faces, mixed with determination and fear.
"Now that everyone has their armguard, visualize flames around your arms and recite the mantra of the Earthen Body and Heavenward Soul if you have trouble flowing your Spiritual Qi and give, me, a horse stance!" Yue Fei bellowed out.