Chapter [B3] 7 — Lab Developments
Flying really was super convenient. The realization became more and more apparent as I made my way around the sect, soaring through the skies. It was a wonder that a cultivator ever decided to walk after they learned how to use sky stepping.
Drawing on the Chi from my environment basically allowed me limitless flight time, which is probably the defining factor for other cultivators. Not everybody had a giant source of Chi to draw from with a Divine Tree attached to their soul.
As I flew around I eventually found the place that I was looking for. I decided to repurpose one of the buildings used as a storage unit, into a new lab within the sect. There were certain projects in my mind that I wanted to develop, for which the proximity to the sect would be quite beneficial.
Now that I had access to the resources of the sect, including the herb gardens, I could finally get started on them. But before that, I needed to set up the lab. One of the main things that I wanted to work on was creating a research division here, that would invite scholars from all over the empire.
I was not nearly arrogant enough to think that I could figure out how to create, refine, and manage the entire process needed for the development of the Chi crystals. Neither was I stupid enough to dismiss the intellectual capacities of people living all over the empire.
The fact that most of them were uneducated did decrease my chances of finding such people, but geniuses are born in all periods of history. It would be foolish of me to overlook the hidden talents that currently lived within the Azure-Jade empire.
Slowly descending down to the ground, I stood in front of the building. The workers, formerly newly awakened mortals taking up work within the sect, bowed their heads to me. I nodded towards them, and stepped inside. I quickly found Qiao Ying guiding the workers as they moved around various objects and worked on setting up the place properly.
Noticing my arrival, Qiao Ying bowed his head lightly. It had taken the man some time, but he had finally grown to be a little more casual in my presence.
"How has the progress been?" I asked.
"Slow, but steady. It took us some time to make the craftsmen, and especially the blacksmiths that were asked to develop the equipment, understand the new system of measurement that you have provided us. But, I believe they have started to get used to them, and progress has been speeding up."
I nodded. That had been one of the decisions I've made when I had taken over as Elder of the sect, to switch the units of measurements which had been rather haphazard and difficult to translate, to instead be the metric system.
I'd spent some time making sure that the reference points were exactly right, before writing down the entire unit of measurement for everything that would be required.
It had been fine before to use the local measurement units when we had still been making prototypes for rather simplistic designs. But as the systems and devices got complicated, the need for more precise units of measurement began to increase. And the earlier I got them started with a newer system, the smoother the process would go.
After giving some instructions to the craftsmen, we began to walk around the building, taking in the progress that had been made so far.
"I also have some questions regarding some of the math that you have shown us. Are you sure that such complex topics would be required to be taught to craftsmen? These seem like things that scholars such as I would use," Qiao Ying asked.
"Yes, indeed," I said. "A lot of this is still relatively simple, and once they learn it, they will be able to teach it to their apprentices, and them to theirs. Adding on to their knowledge and making it a part of their process should improve the quality of their work over generations."
"I see, I had not considered that," Qiao Ying said.
"It's fine, this is not something that every single person thought up and learned within a day. Humanity's greatest strength is that we learn from the people who come before us. We can pool our knowledge, and every new generation that comes after us will know more than we did. It takes generations, and the collective work of many brilliant minds all gathering together and slowly building up, which results in the formation of society and human civilization. The thing that the empire holds onto as its pride, and the difference between them and the so-called barbarians," I explained to the man.
"Indeed, you are correct. And while we are on the topic of these things, I have also managed to locate some of the missing pieces — I believe the word you used was technology — that are needed for the projects that we are creating here," Qiao Ying said.
"Oh really?" I asked, intrigued.
"Indeed. For example, one scholar had managed to figure out how to make certain mixtures of sand and seashells, among other things, to create this liquid rock sludge—the cement, I believe. He had gotten the inspiration from one of the merchants who brought it over from the western continents. But the man himself had been unable to earn any money from his discovery, as the masons and bricklayers had protested and threatened him from sharing his findings. The recipe that he had found was superior to ours, and I managed to acquire it."
I shook my head in disappointment, reflecting on how some things never change, regardless of the world one is in.
"I hope you gave him fair compensation," I inquired, concerned about the scholar's treatment.
"I did, or I tried to. He seemed very skeptical about why a cultivator would want his recipe, since traditionally we had just used those capable of manipulating earth elements to directly form structures instead," Qiao Ying explained.
"Right, which I'm sure doesn't cause problems due to a lack of people who have said skill," I said, my tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
"I also managed to find a firecracker craftsman who was willing to share how he created firecracker powders. I have some scholars currently trying to work out a mixture of crushed Chi crystals and the elements of the powder, to create the kind of explosion we are looking for. The process is slow-going right now, as not enough people have the expertise or knowledge to work on something like that."
I hummed thoughtfully as Qiao Ying continued to report on the various avenues and projects he had been overseeing, as I had requested. The man had been invaluable in managing the sect, and I truly appreciated his efforts.
Listening to Qiao Ying, I was struck by how many little things I had taken for granted in my previous life. For instance, I had no idea how sewing machines worked. It seemed like such a simple concept, but when I had discussed it with Qiao Ying, he had simply looked at me in confusion, not able to grasp how it would function, and I had been unable to explain it adequately, as my memory could only retain so many details.
There were countless other examples like this—little innovations that seemed straightforward but had laid the foundation for the grand achievements of humanity. These small yet significant advancements were things I had previously overlooked but now realized their importance in the grand scheme of progress and innovation.
After all, we didn't immediately start creating rockets and sending them to the moon. Someone had to first figure out how to create fire, and someone else had to figure out how fire could be used to propel things. And there were a hundred other little details that went into it.
I had spent my childhood reading encyclopedias, books about animals, chemistry, biology—anything and everything that caught my eye. All of which had served me in my life here, but I still regretted not taking the time to truly understand how many of these things worked.
Qiao Ying noticed my silence. "Is there something wrong, sir?"
I shook my head. "No, I'm just wondering how nice it would have been if I could remember all the little things I had read about. Many of the innovations you are looking for right now, I'm sure I would have had answers for them."
"Oh, in that case, why don't you create a mental palace?" Qiao Ying asked.
"A what?" I looked at the man, confused.
"A mental palace. It's a form of inner world, but one dedicated to storing and recording information. Upon reaching the seventh realm, cultivators become capable of forming inner worlds that serve all kinds of purposes. One of them is a mental palace, a place where a cultivator can go to meditate, and it allows them to never forget anything, and to be able to recall almost everything they have ever seen or heard with perfect memory. It is a rare technique, but with your resources, it should not be too difficult to find one."
I looked at Qiao Ying, before laughter bubbled out of me. The man was taken aback at my reaction, and I wiped tears from my eyes, a smile lingering on my face.
No matter how long I spent time here, I couldn't help but feel one thing.
I really love magic.
Chapter [B3] 8 — A Royal Summon
I flew through the skies, making my way to Lord Zhou's manor. By opting to fly rather than take a carriage, I kept my journey short. The concerned look of the messenger who had informed me of this meeting did not bode well. As I descended, the guards watched me warily before recognizing me and giving a light bow.
As I stepped down, a servant rushed out, bowing her head deeply. "Elder Jie, the Lord is awaiting you."
I nodded, following her as she escorted me through the manor. The gates slid open, and I walked in, bowing my head deeply. "My lord."
"Raise your head, Lu Jie," the lord said. "We have just received a summons from the Jade Court, inviting us to the banquet held in honor of the Shie clan gaining a new Divinity. But it was not just us that a letter came for. You got one as well," he informed me.
I walked closer, receiving the letter from the lord, examining the pristine Jade seal with the symbol of a dragon carved in Azure color. I looked up at the lord.
"Once you open that scroll, you will have to obey its words, no matter what. But if you choose not to open it, there will be people who will come here to test your loyalty to the empire. And we will be powerless to stop them."
I gulped, looking down at the scroll in my hands. Nodding, I sent a pulse of Chi, cracking the seal open. The scroll unfurled, revealing some of the most beautiful paper I had ever seen since arriving here. It was soft to touch, with a firm surface and the most intricate embroidery that glowed with Qi present on it. Opening it, I began to read through the contents.
"Lord Lu Jie,
Baron of Taizhou and Elder of the Divine Tree Sect,
In the enlightened realm of the Azure Jade Empire, and under the benevolent gaze of His Imperial Majesty, it is with great esteem and respect that we extend to you this formal invitation from the esteemed Jade Court.
The Empire rejoices as we prepare to honor the Elder of the prestigious Shie Clan, whose ascension to the ranks of Divinity marks a momentous occasion in the annals of our illustrious history. After a prolonged period of closed-door cultivation, their emergence as a beacon of celestial prowess and wisdom is a testament to the enduring legacy of our cultivation heritage," I paused, skipping a few paragraphs of similarly long-winded formal talk.
"In celebration of this auspicious event, a grand banquet will be held at the Jade Court in the Imperial Capital, coinciding with the Winter Solstice Festival. This event will not only pay homage to the newly risen Divinity but also serve as a gathering of esteemed figures from across our vast empire.
Your presence, Lord Lu Jie, as the Baron of Taizhou and the revered Elder of the Divine Tree Sect, is eagerly anticipated. His Imperial Majesty invites you to partake in the grandeur of the festivities and to affirm your fealty to the throne and the Empire within the hallowed halls of the Jade Court.
Sincerely,
Wei Xun
Chancellor of the Jade Court," I finished, reading through the entire scroll, feeling a pulse of Qi travel through the chamber.
"What was that?" I asked.
"An art. The Jade Court now knows that you have received the invitation, and failure to arrive will likely be considered treason unless a sufficient explanation is provided beforehand," the lord said.
"That's quite…" I trailed off, not sure what to say. Hardcore, perhaps? I definitely felt the authority of the emperor within the scroll, only a hint of it, but even just that was enough to remove any ideas of disobeying the orders.
"Normally, provincial barons such as you do not receive a direct invitation from the Jade Court, and will instead follow a higher-ranking member as a part of their entourage. The fact that the Jade Court has specifically called you to the banquet means that they have taken note of what you are doing, and more importantly, what you represent," the lord said, shaking his head. "Truth be told, I have never seen such a strongly worded letter from the Jade Court before. So you would need to make sure that you can convince the emperor that you're loyal, and at the very least, useful to the empire."
"Strongly worded?" I asked, confused, given how polite the entire thing had been.
"Yes, the letter directly asks you to affirm your fealty to the throne. That's basically asking you if you're a traitor. I could feel my heart drop as you read the letter," Lord Zhou said, showing a rare display of nervousness which did not help my own nerves.
"We had anticipated this, just earlier than expected," I said.
"The Alchemy Halls' likely have put pressure on the Jade Court. Given that they lost an elder, they will likely grow fearful of you and intend to crush you while they can."
Delightful.
"But it is not completely hopeless," Lord Zhou added. "The nobles will be waiting to see whose side you are on. Whose pawn you truly are. No one expects you to be independent; rarely has anyone ever been in a position like yours without some sort of backing. This will be beneficial for you to gain favors and form connections. But if they learn of the threats you pose to them…"
"I am aware, my lord. And I am working on the problem as we speak. There are lots of potential connections that have already been formed; the people who are aware are starting to reach out to learn more about me. The Shie have already shown some interest in supporting me, having found out earlier about some of the things I'm doing through Liuxiang. The sect patriarch of Cloudy Peaks has also shown some interest, but his knowledge is more limited, and his intentions are to test me," I said.
"That is good. The Shie are powerful, as one of the ducal clans within the empire, their backing is powerful support. Especially now that they have regained a Divinity. But at the same time, they are not very well liked by the Jade Court and have been historically isolated, partly due to the bloodline, and their descendants being settlers from outside the empire. The Cloudy Peaks Sect, on the other hand, is not nearly as powerful but has many more allies within the court and can leverage its connections to allow you to gain a broader foothold," the lord said, leaning forward in his seat.
"We are curious which one you intend to choose as your ally."
"Neither, my lord," I replied.
"Oh? Do you intend to rely on us instead? As flattering as that may be, we are still the lord of one of the seven peaks, and as such, our essence within the Jade Court itself is not as powerful, as we are seen to be one of the provincial lords. It would not be enough to navigate the politics of the Jade Court, or the pressure from the Alchemy Halls."
"No, my lord, I intend to rely on no one but instead to do something else entirely," I said, a smile forming on my face.
The lord raised his eyebrow, his interest piqued as I continued. "My lord, the problem with the Azure-Jade Empire is that it does not seek progress, and to some extent, actively works to hold it back. A centralized empire looking to have absolute control over its citizens. The system only works because of how isolated the empire is. There are no threats outside of the demons. And until very recently, demons had been more like wild animals, dangerous if allowed to go rampant, but manageable and predictable. In my world, history has given examples of what empires like these go through. More often than not, upon the death of their leader, they fall apart into warring states, until someone unites them again. But due to the long lives of cultivators, no, rather, the immortal lifespan of the Divinities, the process has instead gotten stuck. As a single powerful ruler continues to hold command, and the empire stagnates, dying a slow death instead."
The lord's eyes widened. "You… are correct. That is indeed what we are seeing within the empire. But, things such as these are treason, Lu Jie. And even the walls have ears."
I shook my head. "I do not believe so, my lord. The emperor is powerful, but what we need is not someone else in his position. But instead to bring changes from within the empire itself. Now that the threat of the demons grows to be something more significant, it is high time for the nobles to start seeing the errors of their ways," I said.
"Your sentiment is admirable, but how do you intend to achieve this? The empire has stood in its ways for over a thousand years. To change now… it will be a difficult task."
I nodded. "I'm aware, my lord. But my answer is simple and is a tried and tested method. Greed and economic prosperity."
"Greed?"
"Yes, my lord. Currently, any advancement has to be registered with the empire's halls, with only paltry rewards at best for doing so. Most of these innovations never see the light of the day. They are hoarded, and stored in the vaults, kept safe within treasuries. And also useless. No one can use these without the permission of the emperor, or the vaults such as the Alchemy Hall. It's the exact same method that they themselves used to control alchemical pills and their spread. Are you aware of how the Alchemy Hall keeps such a tight grip on all pill recipes?" I asked.
"We do. The halls themselves, beyond just using their authority, also incentivize selling any form of new recipe to the halls themselves. Upon doing so, they decide what the cost of the pill will be, and take a share of any money those pills make. This gives them a massive hoard of recipes that only they have access to, which means most alchemists never even consider going independent. But if that wasn't enough, if anyone decides to be independent and use their own recipe, the Alchemy Halls use their vast resources to make their own pills much cheaper in contrast, to the point where no single alchemist could ever even hope to earn a living. If that doesn't work, they have their... other methods," the lord said.
"Precisely. But that won't work with me. The method of production I own means that even mortals can create these pills. It is why I went to such lengths to make sure that every part of the process could be replicated and created by mortals, because when done so, they instead become part of the labor, and no respectable alchemist would ever agree to a wage as low as mortals. But even if not just that, the production of the Qi crystals, and soon other pills, is not half or even a third of the price, but as low as one-tenth. So their usual methods will not work here," I said, smiling.
"That is true, but at the same time the Alchemy Hall's vast resources, and their respectable reputation within the empire, will be used to apply political influence and pressure to crush you and restrict the use of your Alchemy methods," the lord said.
"Or alternatively, they will send spies to try and steal the information. They have probably already sent some," I said.
"But what about their spies and attempts to steal your methods?" the lord asked, concern still evident in his voice.
"Are you not worried about that? Them stealing your method of production? Crushing you with political power? We do not have the influence needed to protect you from them. We can merely stall them at best," the lord said, his expression a mix of worry and contemplation.
"I'm aware, my lord. Neither of us have enough influence to outright stop the Alchemy Halls, but… what if we didn't have to?" I said, a hint of a plan forming in my words.
The lord looked at me, intrigued but still cautious. "Explain."
I grinned, unable to hold my excitement, as I began to reveal my plan. "I intend to hold an auction in the capital. I'll be using the Shie clan's influence and the Cloudy Peaks Sect to invite as many sects, clans, and nobles as I can. Everybody is welcome, all with the means and resources. And there, I will start selling the things that I have created, and will be creating. Artifacts, relics, foreign technology never seen before within the empire," I said, as the mental image unfolded before me.
"But that is just the first step. Afterwards, I will send an invite to the largest clans and sects, to hold a private auction. One of these invites will be to the royal court itself. Here, I will provide them with the best resources. The things that were not public. Special offers available just to them. But alongside these things, I will also give them the ability to buy the patent."
"The… what?" the lord asked.
"The patent, my lord. It is the right of ownership of a piece of information, or a method of production and technology, given to the one who registers it as such under an official body. It is not a recognized system in the empire, of course, there is no such concept of this thing. But, what the Alchemy Halls effectively do, is already this. They buy the recipes, the techniques, and hold the right to use them perpetually. I will be selling those techniques and the rights to use them," I said.
"And… you're sure that's a good idea? To simply hand these things to these sects?" the lord asked.
"I've thought about it. And I do believe so. I lack the resources and power to distribute the things that I wish to create on a wide enough scale with a capital that could allow me to truly utilize them to their full potential. But at the same time, for everyone who is wise, they will see the opportunity that these things present. The ability to make their own territory stronger, clan members powerful, themselves more prosperous. And thus we go back to what I said at the start. Greed. That is what will fuel the changes that are to come. But I also intend to make sure that those changes are not abused to go out of hand. Part of it will also be that I will be taking a percentage of the income from any piece of technology I sell that the clans use, which will allow me to begin step three," I said, raising three fingers.
"What else could there be?" the Lord asked.
"I intend to keep some things that I create to myself. Some weapons, some tools. I will not share everything that I have, of course. But more so than anything, the primary reason to do this is to get my name out there. That I have these things that have been created. That they have been created by mortals. This will create many rumors, some possibly false, most true. After that, I will spread one more rumor myself, a true one. That says, any mortals who join the Divine Tree Sect can unlock their cultivation," I said, as the Lord's eyes widened in shock.
"Rather than try to hide it, you intend to leverage that as a tool? That… that's brilliant," the Lord said.
My grin widened, unable to hold my giddiness, as I let my ambition bare. "I will call upon scholars, mortals, craftsmen, any and all who would listen to my voice. And I would offer them a home, and a dream, that their lives could be far better than they currently are. And using these people and their ability to innovate, I will create a merchant empire right here, on the Seventh Peak and Taizhou. A thriving new capital of prosperity.
Chapter [B3] 9 — Young Paths
Chi circulated around Labby as she sat in her chamber meditating. Her Path had shifted when the heavens had changed. Her Qi had changed, alongside the heavens, as Chi had taken its place instead. As a result, her lightning had shifted subtly as well, though she couldn't quite tell how.
It was as if before her lightning had a constant shape, a defined form where it knew exactly what it was, but now it felt fuzzier, like instead of something fixed, it was more a bundle of potential, possibilities that could go in any direction she wanted.
Labby took in a breath, trying to meditate as best as she could while following the cultivation arts that she had read. She couldn't help but feel a little frustrated, her goal had been to follow in the footsteps of her great master, but now it felt like she had just been left behind, while he soared far ahead of her.
Labby let out a breath, the feelings of frustration interfering with her cultivation. She opened her eyes, looking at the cultivation book sitting in her lap. She had spent a lot of time and effort learning through the books. But even as she read through multiple cultivation books, she could not find any that could really tell her the direction her Path was supposed to take now.
Diagrams were drawn in the book in front of her, depicting various cultivation arts regarding the moon's eight lunar forms, and the various arts corresponding to them. She looked at the one talking about the dark moon, the moon of hunger, and war. The moon of endings, the moon that was most tied with strength.
She already had the crescent moon and the full moon of new beginnings. Now her Path was supposed to take her onto a third moon, and according to Xian Yue, the dark moon would be good for her next.
But, despite her readings, she could not really make sense of this moon. It was supposed to describe hunger and longing, two things Labby was inherently familiar with. She had always longed to be more, and even before she had become Labby, hunger had been a constant part of her life.
The thing that bothered her was how the moon did not run away from these things but embraced them. Labby could not understand it. How can one embrace being incomplete? Being hungry? The new moon was supposed to show both the end and the beginning, but how could one thing be both? None of it made any sense!
Labby's eyes spun around, as she tried to make sense of the words. As she sat there, feeling frustrated at her lack of progress, a squeak came from nearby. A girl shrieked, rushing into the chamber with tears in her eyes, as one of her rats chased her around.
"Help me!" she shouted.
"Stop!" Labby commanded, and the rat immediately froze in place.
She extended her hand, and the rat scurried towards her, squeaking as it relayed that the girl had been spying on her. Labby turned her gaze to the girl, not recognizing her.
"What are you doing here?" Labby asked, her head tilted in confusion.
"Uhh… I… Well, I was getting some lessons, but the instructor got busy, so I… sneaked out. I saw you reading, so I was curious what you were reading about…" The girl said, looking nervous. "Sorry."
Labby stood up, the rat perched on her shoulder. "What's your name?" she asked the girl.
"Mo Lin," the girl replied. "I just joined the sect."
Labby nodded, giving her rat a reward as it scampered off. She was about to return to her book and her cultivation, not particularly interested in the girl, when suddenly a doll peeked out from Mo Lin's dress, looking angrily at the rat and swinging a small blade around.
"Mei!" the girl shouted.
Labby looked at the doll, curious. "What's that?"
"Oh… this is Mei, she's my doll. She can move because of my ability," Mo Lin explained, bringing Mei out.
Labby looked at the doll with fascination. The little doll stood on Labby's hand, then bowed respectfully like a cultivator.
"Your ability lets you move dolls?" Labby asked, her eyes shining with curiosity.
"Yes! Well, Mei is a bit special since she kind of moves on her own. But yeah, I can move dolls! We were trying to figure out if that was all I could do, but the practices are exhausting, so I came here instead," Mo Lin said, looking up at Labby. "Are you… a cultivator too?"
Labby gave a nod.
"Is your ability to talk with rats?" Mo Lin asked.
Labby shook her head. "No, it's this," she said, extending her hand as purple lightning crackled around her.
"Heavens!" Mo Lin exclaimed. "That's so awesome! Can you do it again?"
A smile formed on Labby's face. "That was nothing, Labby can do a lot more," she said, as the lightning crackled all around her body. Labby curved the lightning bolts, forming different shapes around her hand.
"You're amazing! Wow… I'm kinda jealous. I love Mei, but I wanted a cool ability too. I know I shouldn't say that since it's a new kind of Chi and everything but…" Mo Lin trailed off.
"New kind of Chi?" Labby asked, curiously.
"Yeah! Apparently it's very rare. I met someone else who also had one! Her name was Yan Yun. She's been teaching me some things. I only just found out about it. The elder just came to me one day and just asked me to come with him. I was so scared, but he's nice. He told me I have an ability that's not been seen before, and they're trying to study it," Mo Lin replied.
Labby looked at the girl in surprise. She knew her Great Master had been doing a lot of things, and that many of the kids also had Chi now, but somehow it felt a little bad to know that someone who just got Chi awakened something new before even she did.
Turning around, Labby went back to her book. "Labby needs to cultivate," she said, taking her seat again.
"Okay!" Mo Lin exclaimed, and for a moment Labby thought the girl would go away but she remained standing there, simply smiling at her.
Labby tried to ignore the girl and return to meditation. She took a breath, circulating her Chi. Yet despite her best efforts, the girl's searing gaze continued to distract. Labby opened her eyes for a few seconds, looking at Mo Lin.
"Do you need something?" Labby asked.
"Oh, no, I just - I'm curious. What are you doing right now?" Mo Lin asked.
"Labby is trying to understand a new moon. She is supposed to cultivate through it, to reach the next realm, but Labby doesn't really understand it."
"New moon?"
"Yeah, it's about hunger and longing. New beginnings, but also endings. It's all very confusing. Labby wished her great master was here to teach her, he would be able to explain everything to her easily. But he is very busy now, so Labby has to do this on her own."
"That sounds really difficult. I don't know much about war and so on. War is scary. My dad almost got sent to war, but he was too weak so they left him. He always felt ashamed and sad about that but… to be honest, I was happy that he didn't get picked. A lot of people never come back," Mo Lin said, her enthusiasm dying for a few moments.
Labby thought over it. If her great master had to go to war… she couldn't see him losing. But, for a moment she pictured it, and her heart dropped. No, that would never happen. Her great master was really strong!
Trying to think of a different topic, Labby looked towards the girl. "What is your Path, Mo Lin? What do you want to be?"
Mo Lin thought over it for a few seconds. "I really want to be like Mei. Beautiful, and graceful and strong," she said, as the doll brushed her hair, feeling happy to be praised.
Labby hummed. "How will you do that if your ability is controlling dolls?"
"I don't know," Mo Lin replied.
The two girls sat in silence for a few seconds.
"Well, Labby can teach you. Labby knows how to fight, she learned it from a dragon!"
"Ooh!" Mo Lin exclaimed, looking at Labby.
A smug smile was on Labby's face, as she stood up. "Here, come, I'll show you."
Mo Lin nodded, standing up. Labby took a stance, centering her Chi, as she took in a deep breath. "Put your stance like this, and then… you must call upon the Chi around you, with power and command, like a dragon," Labby said, closing her eyes. Lightning crackled all around her, power surging as a storm of lightning descended with her movements.
"Dragon's Tempest!"
The lightning bolts crashed, all around Labby, before settling down. Mo Lin's eyes were wide in shock, as she stared at Labby.
"Wow, that was… amazing. A dragon taught you that?" Mo Lin asked, giddy with excitement.
Labby puffed her chest out. "Yup! Labby even rode on the dragon's back all the way into the skies, and to the moon's court."
"Labby is awesome!" Mo Lin shouted, as Labby stood proudly.
"Okay, your turn now," Labby said. "Just do what I did. Call on the Chi with command to strike lightning. Draw it inwards, like that."
Mo Lin gave a hesitant nod.
Mei jumped down besides Mo Lin, also taking the stance alongside her.
"Oh, you're gonna try too, Mei?" Mo Lin asked.
The little doll nodded, jumping up and down. Labby stood, watching as Mo Lin closed her eyes. Chi moved around the girl, as she gathered it around her body, swirling powerfully. Opening her eyes, Mo Lin moved.
"Dragon's tempest!" she shouted, striking her fist out as Chi flowed through her body.
A second passed in silence, as nothing happened.
"That's okay, you won't get it in—"
Crack!
Labby jumped back, as a strike of lightning struck around her, little clouds forming overhead that dissipated quickly. "What was that? Was that you Mo Lin?" she asked in surprise.
Mo Lin shook her head. "No I think that was…" the girl trailed off, as both of them looked at the small doll, crackling with lightning all around her, before patting her chest with a smug look on her face.
Chapter [B3] 10 — Secret Lab
I walked through the village of Taizhou, which was now a lot emptier. Not every villager had moved to the city; some still remained, looking after their homes and working. But most of those who remained were people who were under my sect, or had work related to it and could get the necessary security all the way out here. Almost everyone else had moved to the city, in fear of the demonic beasts, leaving the village silent and still.
It had snowed last night, covering the village in a sheen of white. I could sense the life throughout this place, trying to preserve whatever warmth it could, snuggled underneath the embrace of the earth.
Spirit animals roamed around, some noticing my presence and walking closer. Many had gone into hibernation, knowing the threat the demonic beasts that winter represented.
There was a strange kind of beauty in this landscape, even within harsh winters. I was more aware now than ever before of how life persevered, how it maintained, and how it kept going, no matter what, biding its time, waiting for the snow to melt, the warmth to return alongside spring, and then from a sleeping embrace within the earth, life would return once more, taking roots, and the cycle of life and death would begin anew. Quite poetic, certainly, but in a world like this, more meaningful than just the beauty, with a prophetic nature to it as well.
The winter had come, the demonic beasts had not; something had clearly altered their movements, and I did not like the possibilities that I foresaw.
My stroll took me to the cave, where I immediately sensed the miasma swirling inside, feeling my presence. Ash rushed out, jumping and pushing me to the ground as the giant wolf began to lick my face and ground with a powerful rumble, excited to see me.
I laughed, brushing Ash's fur as I slowly rose back onto my feet. "I missed you too, friend," I said, making sure to give some well-deserved scratches and belly rubs to my giant demon wolf.
At the edge of my senses, I felt the presence of some others as well, fear and worry in their form, looking at me or Ash from a distance, their Gu swirling within their bodies, ready to prepare for the threat of an attack.
I glanced towards Ash in surprise. "Your friends?" I asked.
Strays. Lost. Needed home. Ash replied.
I walked closer and saw two wolf pups growling, their guards up. The pups stepped back fearfully at my approach and I simply looked at them in fascination. I stopped as Ash moved closer, and with a growl brought the two pups to me.
They looked up at me in both fear and respect, cowering themselves to the ground, to act subservient, and to show that they did not pose any threat to me.
I smiled, bending down on my knees, and I gently caressed one of the pups. The creature was confused at first but soon began to enjoy the sensation. I made sure to give his brother the same amount of affection as well, and soon, the two pups were climbing up onto me, asking for more.
The commotion drew attention, as Yin felt not just my presence and walked out to the entrance. "Elder Jie, you should have informed me that you were going to visit, so I could have come to greet you."
"You really don't need to. And I have talked to you about calling me an elder before; it makes me sound like some kind of old man," I replied to him as I pulled my attention away from the pups and began to head inside.
This was my big secret. The demonic spirit herb garden that I had formed somewhat by accident, which had now become a lab for developing and researching miasma, Gu and more about the demonic creatures as a whole.
After Yin had learned and helped with the development of the process of creating Alchemy, she had been one of the few people I could trust and believed had the ability to make something of this place. She could use it to understand our opponents better, and perhaps find better ways to create more Gu nukes or other weapons using these herbs.
"So, how has your research been going? I hope Qiao Ying has been providing you with all the texts that you require and have asked of him," I asked
"Yes, I've received the materials. So far, we have been working on learning more about these demonic spirit herbs and how they can survive miasma when it is intense as it stifles life itself, and we are also trying to improve our understanding and capabilities of forming alchemical pills with these," Yin said, glancing back at me as she led me into the little chamber that we had created.
A third of the room was a counter with all sorts of little devices and facilities: a burner, some glassware that had been rather difficult to source, and other items set within the cave itself next to rows of bookshelves filled with all kinds of information and research that previously had been on demons and demonic beasts, all of which had been marked as classified texts and burned away by the empire, but clearly some had remained, which had been rather difficult to find and get my hands on.
I walked up to what looked like some kind of prototype, with porcelain utensils, all containing certain demonic spirit herbs, alongside regular plants and growths. The Gu seemed to corrupt whatever it touched; any soil it filled became transparent, unable to sustain life. It could also escalate and increase the aging process. But curiously enough, it did not always kill what it touched.
"I'd like to show you this experiment, one that I learned from watching something you did," Yin said. She walked up to the bowl of demonic herbs and carefully picked one up with metal tongs and placed it on an empty plate.
Afterwards, she took another plant, a regular one, and set it next to the demonic before adding a little bit of water onto the plate and some soil. I watched, waiting for something to happen. As a few seconds passed without much change, I asked, "Is something the matter?"
Yin shook her head. "Just watch; it's starting," she said. I saw the plants begin to move first, withering as if turning sick. But then the demonic herb began to change the color of the earth that it sat on, slowly seeping into the regular plant. Its leaves began to gain bright red spots, purple veins running up its body, and within moments, the plant had turned into a demonic-looking herb as well.
"Does that always happen?" I asked.
"Not always. Some plants die, but it happens often enough that out of every 10, roughly 4 change, becoming something entirely new. Suitable to an environment filled with miasma," Yan replied.
"We've been looking at the demonic beasts as well. Besides the wolves, there have been other creatures coming up from further within the cave, seeking the Gu present. It has taken us some time to get used to their presence, but Ash keeps them in check, and we eventually managed to do some tests. These creatures all have gained the ability to channel miasma in contained manners, so that it does not corrupt their bodies and does not kill them, as we see with most creatures. There is an entirely new kind of life that seems to thrive and exist in these environments. Learning to grow in an atmosphere filled with death," Yan said, showing me a bundle of mushrooms growing within the cave.
"It's fascinating, but it's also been teaching us a little about how these creatures control miasma within them. The biggest factor seems to be the altered pathways. Unlike normal Qi pathways, they are reinforced, a form of dark mark that prevents the flow from escaping into other parts of the body. And Ash's breed has also learned how to contain miasma within their bodies, which proves vital in these demonic beasts' abilities to control it. To totally understand how it works, I have brought the topic up with Qiao Ying before, but we do know that something within the Gu itself changes them. These beasts had to adapt to miasma-filled environments, and Qiao Ying suggested that perhaps they'd simply developed new techniques to be able to survive with miasma within their bodies, eventually turning them into demonic beasts. The difference seems to be in whether the creatures have been corrupted by the miasma or not. The beasts use it in a controlled manner. All the demons from the books I have learned are creatures of death and Gu, that are not truly living, more just corpses that can walk and cause decay," Yan said, her expression darkening.
I frowned, remembering the deathless. But another word came to my mind as well. "undead," I said, looking at her.
"Undead… That would be an apt way to describe creatures that are not alive yet not dead, since they're a defiance of nature itself," she nodded, as if pleased at the existence of the word. "I certainly felt curious and wanted to try something of my own, but I'm afraid I don't quite have the courage to experiment on a demon," Yin added.
I laughed. The idea itself was a little funny, especially coming from someone as esteemed as Yan, with her gentle nature. Yet more than anyone else, she seemed to have taken to what I taught. Having spent hours and hours reading through my notes. Perhaps it made her feel more connected to her grandfather. Perhaps it was simply her upbringing that she was better able to understand all these concepts.
"But there's one more thing…" Yan said, glancing sideways. "It seems that, if these creatures go a long time without having sufficient miasma or Gu in the environment, they start to lose the ability to contain it at all, and eventually revert to regular beasts. Their body still rejects Qi, but neither are they able to conduct Gu anymore."
"So, they revert to a modified state? Is that what you're saying?" I asked.
"As far as I know, but it seems like it. We found one creature who was in that state, and rather than being able to reabsorb Gu and become normal again, it instead suffered from exposure to miasma as it could no longer control it and eventually perished," Yan said, a sad expression on her face. "We tried giving it Qi, but that only seemed to hurt the creature more."
"That's a pity," I said, thinking over her words. Perhaps that was part of the reason why the demons did not attack unless it was winter. It could be one of the reasons, and certainly a big part of why the empire's war existed. Currently, demons surely outnumbered cultivators by one to ten.
"We are also trying to work on the aforementioned weapon and have tried to merge all kinds of different Qi and Gu using herbs and different methods. We did gain some insight into how we could make the reaction more violent and get more energy for the weapon that you have described, but any attempts at the formation of Chi have failed, as the Qi and Gu simply annihilated each other and fizzled out of existence. It seems to be some other missing component that is required for the formation of Chi, or perhaps it can only occur within a living spirit, though I have doubts about that idea because Chi exists here in this world. And yet, it refused to form when I brought Qi and Gu together and tried to make more," she said, her voice a mix of frustration and curiosity.
That makes me feel that there's a part of the flow that I'm missing. I understood the duality of early Chi. It was the very first law I discovered of cultivation itself. Yet that law simply broke Chi into Qi and Gu, it did not create it but something else had instead. Back when my spirit had merged with Lu Jie's, when our souls had become one again, something else had also been at play.
I put my hand on her shoulder, as the feeling of pride filled my heart. Perhaps this was what the old man felt while teaching me. Although I'd never been a very fervent disciple, unlike Yin.
I gave Yin a smile, "Great work so far."
Yin gave me a bow, and I nodded, before turning my attention to Ash. An idea began to form in my mind. There was something I wanted to test out.
Chapter [B3] 11 — Purification
I walked towards Ash, petting the giant wolf on his head. I could feel the Gu pulsing inside of him. It was shallower now, his ties to the earth and the energy of death weakening as he spent more and more time above the surface. There was no danger of Ash losing his abilities, but I could tell that his spirit was growing weaker, albeit very slowly.
I didn't need to speak; I simply sent my words to the wolf's mind, my intent conveying itself to him.
Ash looked up at me, dark eyes showing trust. I had seen the same look before, from Zhang, Labby, and others who I cared so much for. It filled my heart every time and made my back heavy from the burden of it.
"Change is natural. With you, we change as well," Ash spoke, his words resonating through my mind. It was hard to describe what the bond between a spirit and a human felt like. But if I had to put it into words, it was akin to a thread made out of love and empathy that both sides extended forward and bound together to create a single rope. And the more time passed, the tighter this bond became. We all share the same thing with people, but with spirits, it is a physical, palpable thing. Like a limb for your spirit and heart, the loss of which would hollow someone out.
Even now, occasionally, I still remembered what it felt like to have briefly lost my bond with Labby when she had gotten hurt. It was hard to put into words. Nothing was more terrifying than it. Nothing hurt more. And with each new bond I forged, the things that I could lose grew. And the fear in my heart did along with it.
I let all these emotions flow through, my fear and insecurity that I'd tried hard to hide. In this moment, I let them flow through our bond, towards Ash. And the wolf accepted it all. Accepted my fear, my flaws, and my mistakes, and somehow, instead of losing the trust I had seen in those eyes, they grew stronger.
"We are not afraid," Ash said, stepping back before he glanced down at the wolf pups hiding behind him. Unlike him, they were weaker. Though this place provided a sanctuary, it would not last forever.
Ash looked back up at me, and I understood immediately. Just like me, he too had things to lose and things to protect. I clenched my fist, grasping onto that fear, making sure it never went away. The day I stop being afraid of losing them will be the day I will lose myself.
"Alright," I said, preparing myself as I took a deep breath in.
I sat down on the ground, crossing my legs. Ash sat down as well, and together the two of us began to focus on our shared bond. Chi pulsed in my core, and Gu pulsed in Ash's. I let our spirits grow closer, as Ash's spirit began to become clear in my mind. I felt the miasma pulsing. My spirit began to accept the Gu within itself, drawing more and more of it from Ash. I felt slightly alarmed as I tried to slow down the draw of Gu within me, but the energies continued to flow, draining Ash.
I knew that if this continued, Ash would be heavily weakened, and the changes I sought would not occur. Focused my mind, letting the first Law resonate within my spirit. The Golden ring carrying the first Law shone in my soul as the Chi within me broke down into Qi and Gu, flowing and resonating, waiting to be let go to annihilate each other in destruction. I held that state, letting the Qi and Gu both flow back into Ash. The wolf did not even whimper, though I could feel the Qi burning his body from the inside. White flames began to rise from Ash's body, and I almost stopped the process. But the willpower I sensed from the wolf helped me as I continued.
I drew upon the second Law, feeling it rise alongside the first. I had not tried to draw two of the laws together before. I could feel my spirit straining, as if stretching itself beyond its limits. I continued, undeterred, as I called upon the genesis of Chi and the duality of Chi, feeling the two laws resonating with each other in harmony. The pulses from the two sent ripples across my soul. My spirit shook, the Chi around me vibrating faster and faster. The world began to tremble as I let the two laws reach outwards to Ash and into his spirit.
I felt the laws settle within Ash's body, the flames around him growing more intense. I could hear metallic ringing in my ears, only to realize the sound was not coming from my mind, but instead from the shaking of my soul, vibrating the Chi around me in a similar manner. Like two intersecting forces that added onto each other, the two laws formed ripples that threatened to tear my soul. I embraced the resonance of the two as I imparted them upon Ash.
The world shivered around me. I could feel the tree within my soul trembling. It manifested itself around the cave before a leaf broke off, flowing into Ash's body.
Silver flames engulfed the wolf, torrents of Qi swirling around him as Ash began to change. I felt the rising torrents of energy, the resonance in my spirit growing stronger and stronger as the cave around me began to shake from its influence. I could feel my spirit stretching, the pain starting to break my resistance.
The two laws shivered and shook, starting to meld into one. For a brief moment, I forgot everything, simply marveling at the intersection as I caught a glimpse of something greater hanging in front of me. Then the vision shattered as I felt my spirit cave. The Qi rushed back at me in a powerful backlash, shaking my spirit.
I coughed up blood, bending over as my body heaved from the energy. The flames vanished from around Ash, the wolf collapsing as well.
Yan rushed next to me, holding my shoulder as she looked on in panic. "Heavens! Lu Jie - are you alright?" she asked, holding me up as I gathered myself. Slowly regaining control, I wiped the blood from my mouth, feeling its iron on my tongue.
"I'm fine. The technique just failed and sent a backlash to my spirit," I replied, turning towards Ash and walking closer. I put my hand on the wolf as he rose; he was injured as well, but it was light.
"I am sorry about that, Ash. I should have tested it more before trying," I said, brushing his fur.
The wolf shook his head. "No. We are powerful. The others would not bear it. It is our task, to aid you in your discovery."
I nodded at the wolf's words, knowing he was right.
"Thanks for having me, Yan. Take care of Ash and the others. I'm going to head back now," I said, standing up.
Yan gave me a nod before looking down hesitantly and adding, "Please take care of yourself as well."
I smiled at her words. "I will," I said, before stepping out.
***
Returning to the sect, I found myself seated in the spirit herb garden. On my way back, my mind had been replaying the sensation I had felt when trying to channel both laws at once. The resonance and the power of it, and the glimpse of something more that I had seen when the two had come together. Yet, I was clearly missing something.
I looked around myself, noticing the various spirit beasts roaming the gardens. By my orders, I had allowed them entry, and many of the spirit beasts from around Taizhou had followed me here. I could feel their spirits; they were connected to me as well, even if not as strongly as my own spirits were.
But somehow, unlike the mortals, it was harder to try and nudge them to the Path of Chi. My mind went back to the tribulation and how Lord Zhou had been unable to alter his Path because of the weight of it. There was an instinctual understanding within me that the further along someone was in their Path, the harder it was for them to change it to become something new. And unlike a cultivator, spirit and demonic beasts were both tied to Qi and Gu as part of their very nature. I had always known that the further a cultivator progressed upon their Path, the more like a spirit they became, and it was evident with Lord Zhou and the others that this was true.
But despite this, Labby had changed. Her Qi had altered. Was that because she had already altered her nature once? Or was it for some other reason I did not truly understand?
I scratched my head, feeling frustrated to be left with only questions once more.
"You look worried, boy," the old man's voice came from behind me.
I turned in surprise, standing up as I bowed my head. "Master, I did not sense you coming," I said.
"Most people do not. This old man has a feeble presence," he said.
I held back a snort. I knew well enough how strong the old man was. If people did not sense him coming, it only showcased his mastery over his own Qi.
"You did not answer me, Lu Jie. What is worrying you?"
"Well, I am trying to find a way to alter the Path of others. No, not just that. I'm trying to find a way to change their very nature. But so far, I have been unable to. I tried, and I could feel it working, but something held me back, and I don't understand what."
"It seems to me that you are trying to force something to change when instead, you should be asking what is preventing it from doing so on its own? The nature of a living thing is hard to alter, yet also easy. All it needs is the right path to follow. And like a river, our spirits will flow into those paths with ease."
I frowned. "I'm not sure I understand."
"It means that you must change not only from the inside but also the outside. But as you are right now, your spirit is too weak. The things you wish to achieve are beyond your capabilities, and they twist your spirit. You must first stabilize it," the old man said.
"And how do I do that?" I asked.
The old man smiled. "Come, I will teach you. It has been some time since our last lesson."
Chapter [B3] 12 — Balance
I sat in front of the old man feeling a little strange. It had been some time since I had taken a lesson like this from him. Certainly not after the reunification of the two halves of my spirit. The mixture of those memories almost made it feel like this was a third entirely new and separate me that sat here once again.
Unaware of my thoughts, the old man continued, his long sleeves trailing behind him as they often did, while he flipped through a myriad of books that sat in his chamber until he found the one that he wanted to show me.
"Look, Lu Jie, do you see this pill?" He asked me, showing me the recipe of a pill that I wasn't terribly familiar with, but I knew enough.
"I do," I said to the old man. "It is a spirit-mending pill meant for stabilizing the spirit of a cultivator after it has suffered from backlash from a technique gone wrong or from an outside attack," I replied smoothly, feeling just a little proud of myself for remembering that detail which I had studied months ago.
"You're correct," the old man replied. "Do you know what it is made of, then?"
I frowned this time, delving into the depths of my memory, trying to recall the composition of the pill. After a few moments of contemplation, I shook my head. "No, I don't," I admitted.
Closing the book, the old man revealed, "It is made of earth infused with Qi and spirit water. These are the two elements that, when in harmony, ground the others and provide stability."
Surprised, I looked at the old man. "So the pill is just dirt?" I asked, half-amused at the thought of a cultivator consuming cooked dirt mixed with water, almost like some kind of prank.
The old man's lips curved into a smile. "It is indeed just dirt, in a sense of speaking. Amusing, isn't it? How such a trivial and simple thing can provide such a powerful benefit? Of course, there are many other methods of creating similar pills with earth-attuned spirit herbs and water, and much more expensive and complicated ways as well, that many of the grand alchemists use. But ultimately, at the heart of it, it is simply just dirt and water. And yet, it is a powerful pill."
I nodded, finding a poetic resonance in his words. It made perfect sense and aligned with our teachings: the best systems are simple, redundant, effective, and economical.
"Do you know why I am showing you this pill, Lujie?" the old man inquired.
"Because my spirit is not stable, and I need to learn how to make this to stabilize it," I guessed. It wasn't a leap of logic to surmise as much.
"Not quite, though it is not a terrible surprise that you would think as much," the old man replied. "But your path is a very different one. It incorporates Qi and Gu, or Chi as you speak of. An entirely different form of cultivation. As such, this pill will not do much for you, Lu Jie. It cannot balance that which in itself is unbalanced," the old man said.
I nodded, understanding that there was also a deeper meaning to his words. Qi in itself was a result of imbalance, a result of the broken cycle of life and death. How could something formed of an imbalance cure the balance of a greater whole? What I had was like a larger sphere and Qi was just one part of it. No matter how I centered or stabilized it, it would never be able to stabilize the entire whole.
"Then, why did you show me the pill?" I asked.
"To teach you the principle behind it," the old man replied. "The principle of earth and the principle of grounding oneself. Lu Jie, do you remember what I had told you of the five elements?" the old man asked, as he walked up to his cauldron, running his fingers on its lips.
"I do. That an alchemist must master all five elements and that it is the harmony of those from which alchemy is born," I replied.
"That is correct," the old man said. "It is the harmony of the five elements that create alchemy. But what if those five elements themselves were imbalanced? What then?"
"What then?" I trailed off, unsure of how to answer.
"These are the questions we now seek the answer to. What does one do when harmony becomes unharmonious and there is an imbalance within a balance? I have pondered over these questions, thought over them, and I have realized that the answer is nothing," the old man said.
I looked up at the old man, surprised at his words.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
The old man walked away from his cauldron, looking outside the window.
"Our world is a world made of imbalances. It is a world made of things moving, flowing, breaking, forming, and changing. That change is good sometimes, and it is bad other times. And thus, if the answer does not lie in balance, where does it lie?" He said, as if asking himself the question. "That too was a difficult question, and the answer may vary depending on who you ask."
The old man turned to look at me. "And so I ask you of this. If balance is not the answer, what is?" the old man said.
I frowned, trying to think of a suitable answer. When I had first arrived in this world, I would have dismissed his question and what he spoke of as mere poetic nonsense. But I was no longer that ignorant, and neither was I blind to the things he spoke of.
But if balance was not the answer… what was? What was my spirit missing, if not balance? So far I had simply assumed that it was the lack of my ability with Gu, or perhaps simply my lack of master on the elements. But if the balance in those things was not the answer… then what was?
"I'm… not sure," I replied, looking at the old man.
The old man gave a nod. "And that is alright. The ways of the heavens are mysterious, and these are not questions we find the answer to immediately," he said. "Let me ask you this instead. Why does simply water and earth infused with Qi turn the spirit of those with spirit wounds calm and stabalises their mind?"
"Because Earth Qi has a grounding effect? And water can mellow things?" I replied.
"Yes, but does that mean? Why does simple earth and water Qi do this?" The old man asked.
I thought over it for a few seconds. "It's because… earth can disperse Qi, and water can conduct Qi, and together, they distribute it evenly?"
The old man nodded. "And does this balance the spirit of those who eat this pill?" He asked.
"No, because they have an excess of Earth and Water Qi in their body now," I replied.
"And yet, it stabalises their spirit," the Old man said, now smiling.
"The answer to my question, Lu Jie, is not one I can give you. But the first step to finding an answer is understanding the question."
I gave the old man a nod. My spirit was shifting as well, telling me that I was once more, a step closer to a truth.
"The thing about your spirit Lu Jie, is that it holds vast powers. Things it cannot yet control. It is like trying to squeeze an ocean inside a cup. The cup will simply break no matter what you do," the old man said.
"But do you what Earth and Water make? They make clay. And clay is what we use to build," the old man replied.
"So… I need to build my spirit?" I asked.
"Indeed. I heard of your desire to form a mental palace. And that is the right direction, but it is not the path you must take on it's own," the Old Man said. "Your spirit has three balances to math. One of Gu and Qi, one of the five elements. Can you tell me what the last one is?" The old man asked.
I thought over it for a few seconds. "Body and spirit?" I asked, uncertain.
"Indeed. You must form, what is called a Nascent Soul, and a Twin Body. Ordinarily, a cultivator only forms one, or the other but some choose to do both. It is a difficult path, and many fail. But like all things, you path is not an ordinary one. And thus, you must perform both steps to fortify your spirit," the old man said.
"Okay…" I replied. I had some concept of what a Nascent Soul or Twin body was, but that didn't mean I had a good idea.
"So… how do I do that?" I asked.
"Patience. We will tell you," the Old man said, taking a book out as he opened it up. "This is an old technique… from our previous clan. It teaches one how to form what is called an Immortal Twin. You must form a creation of purified earth, with spirit water, forge it in flames, and then, impart a half of your soul into it, giving it life," the old man replied.
My eyes widened in surprise.
"Wait— does that mean…"
"Indeed. You already possess a Nascent Soul. An incomplete one, but it is there, and has been for a long time, growing inside you, and with you. Now you must forge a vessel for it, and create your Immortal Twin. Then, the two of you shall be tied together, in body and spirit. Two halves of a greater whole."
The first law thrummed in my spirit, burning with frenzy at the prospect. Some part of me shivered, almost as if crying out in relief, and my lips shook, forming a smile as the idea took root in me.
An immortal twin. I had couldn't thought that something like that would even exist… and yet… the moment it appeared in front of me, I knew it was what I needed to do.
"But, I will warn you, Lu Jie," the old man said, his expression turning grave. "This is the path to immortality, and upon the end of your path, the two halves of you must unite and form a greater complete whole, forming a true body. And many have fallen to their other halves, or lost sight of their goals upon this journey. This technique is a dangerous one, especially with a path such as yours. So think carefully before you embark upon this journey," the old man said, and after a moment of hesitation, added.
"It is how my grand son, my Yuan, became the demon Yang Shen."
I looked at the old man's grave expression and gave him a nod. "I will."
The Old man gave me a nod, seemingly satisfied with what he saw. "Now, let us begin by forging your spirit by forming a mental palace. Close your eyes, and I will guide you."
I closed my eyes, following the Qi from Old Man, as I began to guide my spirit. As the Chi from my core swirled, reaching into my mind, I felt the world around me shifting.
A part of me shivered, memories of a life lived in the darkness returning, and yet, another part of me sighed in relief, something that had once been broken, healing, as I my consciousness sunk into the depths of my spirit, the old man's voice fading into the distance.
And soon, everything was dark.
Chapter [B3] 13 — Inner Worlds - I
Endless dark surrounded me, infinite and unending. A familiar sight. I opened my eyes, feeling an innate connection to where I was standing. My spirit, and my dantian. Space seemed to lose concept in this place, directions seemingly meaningless. Yet despite that, I could tell where to turn and look to find the anchor of my spirit.
A giant golden spirit ring circled in the dark abyss of my spirit, flashing golden light into its surroundings. Around the gold, was a silver ring, humming with a quiet thrum. The Two Laws. The Two Truths anchored into my very soul.
I looked back down, at the darkness again. It had once been a home for me, a terrible and cold one, yet home nonetheless. Faint memories swirled in my mind. Just how long had I spent in here? The entire period of time felt like a distant dream lost to the waking world, only there in quiet whispers that echoed at the back of my mind, and yet I found my heart ache as I stood here, watching the ruins of what had once been my entire world, now barren and empty, with only darkness in my path.
I paused. No… not quite just darkness. I looked in the distance and saw a light shining from somewhere far. I squinted my eyes and found a gate in the darkness, opening up a path as if leading somewhere new. I walked towards the light, as it slowly began to grow closer. Time moved in a strange manner here, immaterial and unperceivable. But I was familiar with the ways of this place now. The world here was my spirit, and I had spent a lifetime mastering it. The trick… was to get into that state of blissful focus, where time was eternally stretched, and yet just a single moment.
And so I did. I walked, and walked, and the world around me shifted, bending to my command. I believed I was moving closer, that the path was taking me to my destination, and that the darkness beneath my feet was as solid as the earth I stood on.
That was the good part about being ignorant. You didn't think to question the logic of the world, or remind it that it's supposed to not work like it is.
I stumbled, for the briefest of moments as the thought made my certainty waver, but I focused will. I stood on solid ground and nothing else. The darkness turned solid again, agreeing to my thoughts.
The key was to not think about it. Which was harder than it sounded, but I managed to keep my eyes on the light, and move forward, paving my way through.
The time it took me to reach the plant felt like an eternity that had passed in a blink and there I was, as I entered the gate made of light, into a flashing bright world.
I closed my eyes for a moment, blinded by the brightness of the place. After settling myself for a moment, I looked around. The walls… no, reality itself, was a pure white here. Covering me in all directions, just like the darkness had. But here, the earth was not, in fact, made of desperate hopes and pleas. It was, in fact, solid, and to undo it would require more willpower than I had to give.
But my sight was quickly shifting to the tree inside instead. Unlike the projections that came out of my spirit when I channeled Chi in large quantities, this tree was… small. Barely taller than me, and white glowing white petals that rustled in an unseen wind.
It's roots intertwined with the ground beneath it, giving it substance with the irrevocable certainty that only a tree could have.
I ignored the usual strangeness of spirit places, as I reached the tree, brushing my hand against one of its leaves. A light glimmer covered the plant, but other than that, there would be almost no way to tell it was special in any other way.
"Have you finally come to your senses and decided to relinquish your power to us, and become a vessel of our will?" a voice spoke to me. I knew who it was. I didn't even have to look.
I snorted. "You wish. I'm not here for you."
"We should have known. Such sense is not to be expected of children such as you," the spirit replied.
"I liked you better when you were Ki. Ki was nice and kind," I replied.
"She was but a mere fraction of our self. Our nature is neither kind, nor gentle. We merely are."
"I know," I replied. "But it still won't hurt you to be nicer."
"Do you ask the hurricane to be gentle? Or the volcano to not burn? It is foolish to as this of us, and you know it, but still you do so anyway. Perhaps we were too hasty in picking a new vessel," the tree shivered and shook for a second.
"I'm happy to give you recommendations," I replied. Somehow I meant that. There were more suitable people to this task than me.
The spirit went silent at my words.
"That was a joke. I'm not abandoning you," I said, sensing a strange emotion rising from the spirit.
"We do not need your consolations, child. It is not your loyalty which we worry of."
"Then, what is it?" I asked, looking at the tree. It shook gently, but did not speak for a while. I frowned. "You've been keeping something from me for the very beginning. You told me the cycle of the world is broken, that death and life need to be reunited and the rebirth of souls restarted. But you never told me what broke the cycle in the first place. Or who," I said, my voice rising. "What're you so afraid of?"
A wind blew past the tree, it's leaves shaking.
"We once had another vessel. One far more prodigious and gifted than you. He, too, was a child lost from your world, moving through the cracks in the primordial Qi of the beyond and arriving here. And he was blessed. We had developed the child, grown with him," the tree said.
"What happened to him?" I asked.
I felt eyes settle onto me, their weight heavy. "He lost his path, when he learned the truth. He rejected it, abandoning us as he left."
"What's the truth?"
"We cannot say. You are not ready. Not yet. And… your Path is incomplete, and weak. If you were to learn the truth… your spirit would cave under it's weight."
"Right, and you're afraid I'll lose my Path as well?" I asked.
"We do not know. You are… different from that child. Less gifted in many ways, but more in some. We did not guide you like we guided him. You found us on your own."
"Thanks? That feels a little insulting somehow, but thanks," I said, before putting my hand on the tree's branch. I felt the chi flowing under it, a gentle stream of energy that pulsed with the beat of my heart.
"What's your name?" I asked, looking at the tree. "You should have one, right?"
"We do not have names, child," the spirit said, and for a moment, I could see the silhouette of a giant creature in front of me.
"Really? That's a shame," I said. "Names are important. Surely, you know that too?"
The spirit seemed to hesitate.
"We do not have any name… but the people have called us many names of their own. The silver dragon, the ancestral spirit. but, if we had to pick, we would be called Xuanwu," the spirit replied.
"Xuanwu," I said, the world rolling off my tongue. "That's a nice name."
The spirit did not speak for a few moments, before finally replying. "Child. We know your nature. You wish to stand as equals with all who you meet. Whether they are beneath you, or above, you see eye to eye with them. It has given you a kind of gift that few others possess. But… do not think you can you can talk to the other Divine Beasts. The Azure Dragon, or the Black Dragon will both crush you mercilessly. They are not creatures you can make friends with."
I frowned at the spirit's words. "Why? And who are they?"
"The two other divine beasts, that children of Heaven and Earth who have been quarreling over something neither of them remember any longer. And our misfortunate siblings."
"So… all of this is happening because… of a sibling fight?" I asked, slightly taken aback.
"If it can be called such when the siblings are two gods of unparalleled power, then yes. But it is not that simple. And we have already spoken too much," the spirit said, before withdrawing into the tree.
"Leave us, if you are done. The remnant you came to seek is beyond this place. A path will show you out," the spirit said, before settling back into the tree.
I tried to reach out, but found the spirit unresponsive to my proddings and words.
Letting out a sigh, I turned around and saw another gate leading the way out to some other place. I walked out the gate, into the darkness once again where the world was held together by mere hopes and dreams. But this time, there was something here.
My eyes widened in surprise as I found a piece floating in the darkness. It was barren, and breaking apart, but the home I had once formed still existed here.
I walked closer to the place, gently stepping on the earth, holding it together by an exertion of my will to stop it from crumbling into nothingness, as I looked around.
This was the place I had created. A home for myself, and a solace in the eternal darkness. I looked at it's sad state, as a bitter smile rose to my face.
"Guess this is as good a place to start as any," I said, sitting on the ground and crossing my legs, as I closed my eyes.
My awareness spread out into the dantian I was residing in. The darkness spread around in a vast expanse, filled with Chi to the brim. It swirled and circled, moving perfectly at my command. The last time I'd been in an inner world, I had been unaware of Chi, but now that I was, I could sense the little patterns moving through the dantian.
Letting out an exhale, I reached out to the vast expanse of energy. My will travelled through the Chi, like a ripple through an ocean. The Chi stirred, responding to me. It swirled and began to move.
The technique the old man had showed me, I utilized, guiding my Chi to follow my will. I focused, trying to think of a place. Many memories came in, my room back in the sect, but the image soon faded, my lab in Taizhou was next. The Chi began to react, burning brighter, as I felt the energy stirring, but the vision faded, the Chi settling back down.
I sat silently, trying to think of the place that was solely me. The Chi began to swirl, moving at my will as an image began to appear. A room with a large shelf filled to the brim with all the books that I'd ever want to read.
I felt a sense of contentment. My place. A place solely for me. I imagined it, and willed it into being.
The walls of my dantian shuddered, as the darkness began to crumble away. Chi swirled, flowing around in torrents. The ground paved itself beneath me, the walls forming with white tiles, shelves stood next to the wall.
The world around me continued to shudder, before turning calmer a moment later. I opened my eyes, and found a piece of reality existing around me now. I stood in a library, a giant one stretching tall up into the skies. Up above, at the top, the two spirit rings of my soul shone with the shimmer of the two Laws.
I looked back down, glancing at the books. As I picked one up to look at, my eyes widened in surprise.
I remembered these. These were… the books I had read during y childhood. A vague memory came to my mind, of a woman's figure sitting by my side, reading through a book that was more complicated than what a six year old should've been reading, and yet my attention was captured by it, and I found myself sinking into the brand new world it showed me.
The memory faded as I closed the book, and I could remember a lot more than I had just a moment ago.
I looked around myself, at the vast library, realising each piece of it, was a moment from my life I had lived at some point. And not just the one life either. But all of it.
A strange emotion filled me, one I couldn't quite place, but somewhere between a great sense of pain, and then relief and happiness. I had regained a piece of myself here, once more.
Taking a deep breath in, I smiled. I had a task to complete.
It was time for me to steal an entire world's worth of knowledge, for the sake of science.