Cultivation initiated with body transformation. Starting with skin and then progressively moving inward. Muscles, organs, meridians, and eventually bones. Completion of those stages would result in a cultivator achieving the peak of the very first stage. But to even begin on the path, one needed a manual and the resources for the tempering.
Adjacent to the path of body transformation was the very first stage of energy formation, called Qi Gathering. One needed anywhere from 33 to 333 motes to proceed to the next stage. Though there was a stringent requirement proceeding forward. Once more, a manual and resources were needed.
In the world of cultivation, where most of the strength was centralized and clans and sects kept a monopoly on the techniques and resources, to even initiate on the path of cultivation, one needed to align themselves with an influential force.
Despite all that hassle, though, if there was one thing a cultivator could be sure of, it was that they would never walk far on their path. Due to the lack of proper manuals and inadequacy of resources, they would eventually encounter a wall they couldn't break free from. It was sad and disheartening, yet it was reality.
In all that gloominess, though, there was a flicker of hope that never vanished from most of these cultivators. Even if their path forward was cut short, there was a remote chance, a spark of hope that they too could have their own fruitful opportunity.
As Su Yan stared at the shining beacon of hope that lay within his palm, his will had grown as firm as the strongest metal. There was a look of grim determination etched on his face. It was the face of someone who was ready to risk it all.
In his opinion, the best path forward would be to slay all his companions, including the young master. But that was a pipe dream. Even without his cronies, the young master was not only stronger than him but also better. His cultivation lay at the apex of body transformation, compared to his barely viscera stage. While Su Yan had a paltry number of motes that only amounted to 20, the young master had more than 80. If anything, the young master's showoff personality prevented him from 'courting death'—as some might say.
Under such circumstances, his only real option was to run away while keeping the young master occupied. That brought his attention to the talisman in his hand. One of the only few treasures he had accumulated over the years; the rest were just some pills and a bone dagger.
The talisman was called 'Earth Rumbling Talisman,' made by an apprentice inscription master. In a more stable environment, the best it could be used for was as a distraction. In an unstable cave system like this, where roots grew every which way—a sign of weak foundation—this talisman had significantly better functionality. Like collapsing the cave, for example.
Su Yan grinned and decided to get on with it. A talisman usually required a small period of activation time, during which one needed to transfer their Qi to act as the trigger. He would have to use it someplace from where he could boost his chances of escape, all the while minimizing his companion's favor.
This act was essentially betraying not just the young master but the Yang clan also. He knew this trick was at best a half-measure and that young master would eventually realize his absence. It wouldn't take long to connect the dots and reach a logical conclusion. Once the news spread to higher-ups, it would only be a matter of time before they put a bounty on his head.
Despite all these risks, Su Yan felt no hesitation as he stood right where the young master had designated an entrance to them. Planting the talisman on the cave ceiling, he supplied a strand of his own Qi and watched as the inscriptions came alive, emitting a dangerous glow.
Just as the activation reached a critical point, he removed his hand and dashed toward a predetermined position. The talisman flashed a pale yellow before a tremor swept through the cavern. And that was all it needed.
With the right conditions met, the cracks widened, spreading along the floor and the ceiling. A rumble echoed through the mountain, and Su Yan felt the ground beneath him shiver in apprehension.
"This is the only chance I will get..." Thinking such, the Qi gathering in his soles blasted him forward, and with a mighty swing of his sword, rocks exploded outward, hastening the collapse even more. Despite the boost from his momentum and the entire strength of his cultivation backing the swing, the hole was barely wide enough to slip his body through.
"No second-guessing my choices now." He gritted his teeth and spat a line of curses, but his feet never stopped. If he didn't get out of there soon enough, young master would catch up with him.
Praying to the high heavens above, hoping the ceiling wouldn't collapse on his head, he hastily slipped through the opening and emerged on the other side. Thankfully the entrance seemed to have held better than the deeper parts, although signs of imminent collapse were appearing rapidly. Su Yan wasn't going to wait for any of that, though.
With a mad dash, he sprinted right out of the cave and into the woods. Without even looking back, he was already making hasty strides toward the deeper parts. By now the cave entrance was almost not visible, yet he couldn't help but imagine the rage-induced cry that would echo through these mountains anon.
A laugh bubbled within his chest, and finally he couldn't hold it any longer and laughed out loud. He laughed at the young master and his clan. He laughed at all those fools who dreamed of making it big yet never had the courage to risk it. He laughed at the heavens for making him suffer for all those years, only to reward him with such a risky opportunity. At last he laughed at himself for his youthful courage and will to risk it all.
The legend of Su Yan had only just begun!