.
.
.
---
/Later that day…/
"Interesting."
'The Jade Eye Tempering Art is quite effective. It's a supportive technique meant to transform the eyes, granting someone augmented vision.'
'Its final stage is likely a perfect mimicry of the constitution it was based on. And even with minor enlightenment and barely any time for my eyes to transform, I've already grown considerably more sensitive.'
'My ability to observe Qi has increased, and I can see further as well. This is quite considerable. But I don't believe this is the full extent of this technique.'
'I should try to increase my interactions with her. Cooking every day should do for once. And try to convince her to stay…'
/Knock knock…/
"Guan? Come inside."
/Creak…/
"Master."
"Hm?..."
'She looks a little upset.'
[Nulan Xuexi - 18
Cultivation Stage - Foundation Establishment 8th Revolution
Affinity: 10
Mood: Tense-3, Frustrated-4, Angry-3
Cultivation Techniques:
>Sutra of the Grand Moon - ???
>Three Season Skipping Blade - ???
>Jade Eye Tempering Art - ???
>38 Maneuvers of the Dancing Lion - ???
(Information Locked - Low Affinity)
]
'Something definitely happened.'
"Reporting my return."
"Did you see the city? How was it?"
"It was… Alright. I'm a little tired now and would like to rest first. Is that okay?"
"Of course. You don't need to report to me whenever you want to come and go. Feel free to do as you wish, although an update every once in a while wouldn't hurt."
"Thank you for your understanding, Master… There's only one thing I'd like to say before leaving."
"The Inner Disciple Competition will be in two months, correct?"
"Yes. Every two months after accepting new disciples, the Sect will perform the Inner Competition to see who amongst those is qualified to be sorted as an Inner disciple."
"Inner disciples received quite a few benefits compared to ordinary ones. You should definitely participate in it."
"I shall… And I'd like to ask for a favor… I would like to represent the Ritual Peak in the competition!"
"Hm?... Is there a need to ask me of that? You're already a disciple of the Peak."
"But… I'm just…"
"It doesn't matter, Guan. For as long as you're here, this place shall be your home. This is Ritual Peak. If you wish to represent us… Go wild!"
"Ha… In fact, I should be the one to thank you."
"... Alright."
[Nulan Xuexi's affinity has considerably increased]
[Nulan Xuexi's profile has been updated]
"I'll be taking my leave now, Master. Have a nice night."
"You as well… But this time, make sure to rest properly."
"!"
"Do you think I wouldn't have known? It was evident you slept nothing yesterday. Dedication is good, but try not to push it too far. Meditating for days on end is something only those old farts should do and not something we should aim for."
"Try not to flatten your ass, alright?"
"..."
/Chuckle/
"Alright, Master, I'll rest today."
With a light bow, Nulan left the room, closing the door gently behind her.
"..."
'I think I did quite well. Let's see what changed…'
[Nulan Xuexi - 18
Cultivation Stage - Foundation Establishment 8th Revolution
Affinity: 18
Mood: Tense-2, Frustrated-2, Angry-1, Determined-3
Cultivation Techniques:
>Sutra of the Grand Moon - Minor Enlightenment
>Three Season Skipping Blade - Minor Enlightenment
>Jade Eye Tempering Art - Minor Enlightenment
>38 Maneuvers of the Dancing Lion - Minor Enlightenment
(Information Locked - Low Affinity)
]
'Hum… I can see how far she went in her techniques now.'
'Minor Enlightenment is usually seen as the entry to most techniques. But honestly, it's relative. There's no way to properly quantify such things since each technique is unique.'
'That said, if I take the technique's creator as its base, things become a little more straightforward. Albeit it's hard to define things when your metric of measurement is someone who died ages ago…'
"Looks like something upset him… There's more to this story than it seems."
'Why would a member of such a distant clan come all the way here? She's definitely after something and that thing prickled her rather hard today.'
'Well, as long as her affinity grows, it'll be fine.'
That night, Nulan did not cultivate.
…
/Three days later…/
/Crack… Shaa!!/
"Hoo… I did it… I broke through!"
'I never thought it would be this easy. Thanks to Nulan's help, I cultivated like a rocket without limits!'
'I had been stuck in this realm due to stagnation, but Nulan isn't; she's cultivating extremely fast with the help of the items I gave her, and because of that, she forcibly raised mine.'
'And with me cultivating as well, it went even faster. And to top it all off, my foundation is extremely stable. Contrary to what I had expected.'
"After that night, Guan locked himself in his room, cultivating throughout the entire day, leaving only to eat and shower."
'I'm thankful for the fact I spent some money a few months ago to repair the entire inner section of the Peak. It paid off now since she can do her things without having to leave the dormitories.'
"At this rate, I may actually be able to break through before I lost all my money in a few months… That is, if I can keep up with his consumption."
'There is a saving grace though. She wants to participate in the competition as a representative of the Peak. That alone would do if she can get in the top ten. I may even have the chance to look for another disciple.'
'However, there's something I fear, and that is her cultivation… Most people likely think she's at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, but she's not. With her current speed of Cultivation, she may reach that stage, but breaking through Heavenly Core is impossible.'
'If she enters the competition with the same cultivation everyone thinks she already has, they'll just blame me for being useless. Even though that's not true at all. Alas, I can't defend myself and nor do I think she will step out either.'
'That said, even if she broke through, things would still be hard as I imagine there'll be at least ten to twenty Heavenly Core disciples in this competition. If she breaks through or not things won't be easy.'
"Still, it's not like I'm without ideas."
'With the power of the Rune of Return, as my affinity with her rises, I may be able to offer her some assistance with her techniques as I gain enlightenment. Albeit I wouldn't be able to teach her directly due to the obvious question of me getting her secret techniques from nowhere… Much less using them before her.'
"If only I had some of the Sect's techniques to impart to her… No… Even if I had them, I wouldn't be able to use them properly due to my lack of time learning from them, although that would be remedied in due time…"
'It doesn't matter if I know little about a technique, if my disciple studies it I'll learn it as well at their pace. So I'll always be able to at least follow their learning, but that's not enough for a master. I need to be beyond them even if just slightly to give them something…'
"Sigh…"
'There's nothing to be disappointed about here. This much is already excellent.'
[Nulan Xuexi - 18
Cultivation Stage - Foundation Establishment 8th Revolution
Affinity: 32
Mood: Determined-5, Satisfied-3
Traits:
>Hardworking; Easy to Anger; Overly Serious; Heart of Ice;
Constitution:
>Eyes of Stone (Sealed); Blood of the Pale Beetles (Sealed)
Cultivation Techniques:
>Sutra of the Grand Moon - Minor Enlightenment
>Three Season Skipping Blade - Minor Enlightenment
>Jade Eye Tempering Art - Minor Enlightenment
>38 Maneuvers of the Dancing Lion - Minor Enlightenment
(Information Locked - Low Affinity)
]
'Her affinity has risen considerably. When it became twenty, her Traits became visible. And when I reached twenty-five, I got another chance to receive enlightenment, and this time, I received more memories from her ancestor. However, those were related to something else he made.'
'The Three Season Skipping Blade. A Sword technique.'
'Once it reached thirty, the Constitution option was opened. But there's not much else. I now know she has something within her, but I don't know how to help her awaken it if I even should.'
'Still, its good to know. At this rate I'll maybe learn more about her preferences and talents. So if I can guide her on the right path, I may be able to incur more favour and as a consequence, keep her by my side.'
'I'm excited to see what'll come next. It's only been four days since she joined the peak after all.'
Wuizi returned to his Cultivation, feeling the energy enter his body as he grew used to his renewed power.
Four days later, Nulan broke through the 9th Revolution, giving Wuizi an immense boost.
With their relationship increasing every day, soon enough, it broke through its first milestone…
…
/Ten days since Nulan joined the Ritual Peak…/
"Hoo… I can feel it. At this rate, within two weeks I'll break through again."
'This is all thanks to Nulan's efforts! But as a consequence, my resources are running low… Not that I mind.'
'They're better spent on her anyway. With her talent, she used them far more than I would've been able to. But it still feels gruesome to some degree…'
'Yesterday, I went to the market and exchanged two Grade 3 Spirit stones for Grade 2 and 1 Spirit stones to fuel Nulan's cultivation and maintain the Peak's formations.'
'I really need to break through and get those resources…'
"Everything's flowing rather well… Were it not for how useless I am."
'I'm happy for my disciple, but I haven't done anything for her aside from cooking and being a talking partner. I can't even discuss cultivation with her since her techniques are far more advanced than mine, and I feel she knows that… It's embarrassing.'
'I really need to find a solution for this… And that's why I'll go down the mountain today.'
'I'll use my authority as a Peak Master to request the basic techniques of the Sect. And even if they're useless to her if I can learn something from them and can impart it to her, then it'll make the difference.'
'The ideal scenario is one where I have multiple disciples that can just cultivate while I provide them with the means to do so. Once I have many disciples I can cross reference their enlightenments so everyone may improve together!'
'But that's just a far-fetched dream…'
[Nulan Xuexi - 18
Cultivation Stage - Foundation Establishment 9th Revolution
>Affinity: 54
>Mood: Determined-6, Satisfied-2, Tired-3
>Traits:
Hardworking; Easy to Anger; Overly Serious; Heart of Ice;
>Constitution:
Eyes of Stone (Sealed); Blood of the Pale Beetles (Sealed)
>Cultivation Techniques:
Sutra of the Grand Moon - Minor Enlightenment
Three Season Skipping Blade - Minor Enlightenment
Jade Eye Tempering Art - Minor Enlightenment
38 Maneuvers of the Dancing Lion - Minor Enlightenment
>Talents:
Intermediate Swordsmanship Talent
High Cultivation Talent
Intermediate Combat Talent
Low Alchemy Talent
Low Refining Talent
Pinnacle Bewitching Talent
>Impression:
Nulan believes you are a powerful Cultivator who hides his Cultivation Level for the sake of asceticism.
(Information Locked - Low Affinity)
]
'Raising Nulan's affinity is rather easy. I just have to make food and praise her, this seems enough to make her trust me more and each day she's growing closer to me.'
'As a reward, I've now successfully acquired all of her Cultivation arts and unlocked two new options in her profile. The Talent and Impression options.'
'Impression is pretty straightforward; it's what she thinks of me. And I was quite surprised when I first heard of it, but I think it makes sense.'
'I've been trying to give her some pointers, but now that I think about it, I realize there's no way for someone of my level to have realized everything I told her.'
'I would always mention when she would take a pill as if I could feel it. Or even try and give her pointers on her techniques despite not knowing much about them. From her perspective, it'd be as if my senses were extremely precise and my awareness of Cultivation was so high I managed to grasp her techniques from her mere execution of it.'
'Honestly, I don't mind this way of seeing me, but I fear it may distance us too much…'
'For her talents, its as I expected. She has a great talent for combat and swordsmanship, and thanks to her senses she has some fate with crafting jobs as well, such as Alchemy, but her personality being prone to anger kind of put a short road to this path.'
'What surprised me was her talent for Bewitching… But I think it makes sense.'
'It may be due to her bloodline and appearance. People love these types of cold beauties… I assume she is one from her face. She may have tried to pass herself as a man, but she still quite feminine.'
'If she throws away the persona and lives on as a woman, she may indeed bewitch the hearts of many.'
"That isn't all."
'Once her affinity became 50, the potency of the rune of Return increased to 125%! This means that from now on, I'd always be ahead of her, which solves one of my previous issues.'
'As long as I raise my affinity enough, I'll always be ahead of my disciples which in turn I can then give back, fueling the cycle.'
'If I raise it even further, there may be higher returns as the rune of Return grows stronger on the individual.'
'However, if I were to complain about something, it would be that Nulan is growing tired. Cultivating non-stop would take its toll even on her.'
'No matter how hard I try to ease her mind, given something is weighing on her mind, it's hard for me to solve it unless she tells the truth directly to me.'
'In the end, there's quite a lot for me to think about but I have time.'
Wuizi left his room with a bright expression, meeting with Nulan outside in a surprising twist.
…
"Guan… What are you doing here out here in the middle of the night? It's quite cold at this time."
Wuizi approached Nulan as she stood at the edge of the mountaintop, gazing at the stars above with a cold expression.
"Master… I'm just resting. Nothing much."
"Hm… Resting is good. I can tell you're tired. Don't push yourself too much, slow and steady is the way to go."
"... But what if I don't have time?"
"..."
'How the fuck should I know? I'm not some elderly master…'
"Does that change anything?"
"?"
"Life… Is already ticking."
"We're born with our life planned ahead by the Heavens. Regardless of what we do, being slow or fast, we'll always, eventually, reach its end."
"It's in the process of Cultivating and pursuing enlightenment that we may ascend beyond those mortal coils and experience immortality, but until then…"
"Are you saying it's all meaningless, master?"
"On the contrary. It's because our lives are numbered that we struggle. It's because we can dream that we pursue."
"Those without vision run ahead with their hands before their eyes, fearful to face reality. The talented put their hands around their eyes, yet their vision is still narrow."
"Only geniuses will face the world for what it truly is."
"I don't…"
"You're escaping from something. And by running, you're stumbling."
"!!!"
"In a life that is already short. What is it that makes you run with such zeal? What is it that forces you to jump and attempt to fly rather than to learn how to walk?"
"..."
"I say... If you rather you wish to run and flee or fly and pursue. Even if insignificant, a single step is better than crashing onto the ground."
"I don't know what's taking hold of your heart, but if you continue to move with such fear and euphoria, the only thing waiting for you at the end of your journey will be a brick wall."
"Some can break past it. But let me ask you something… Is that the correct way? Should you stubbornly move and shatter everything before you?"
"What is that which you live for? What is that which fuels your determination? Yourself? Others? An ideal?..."
"Is that the path you wish to take? What your heart truly seeks?... If so, go after it!"
"..."
"... There are many ways to solve all things. The Heavens will never pursue to give us a hurdle without a solution. Even if painful."
"... What if there's none."
"... Then we shatter it… Aren't we, Cultivators?"
"!... I… I understand, master."
Nulan looked at the stars in the sky, they seemed to twinkle in response to her thoughts.
As if a weight had been taken from her chest, Nulan smiled, seemingly for the first time since they met.
Her eyes grew clear as she looked past the horizon, seeking something…
[Your disciple, Nulan Xuexi, has overcome a Heart Demon, unleashing a portion of her slumbering potential!]
[Nulan Xuexi's mastery over the Sutra of the Grand Moon has risen to Intermediate Enlightenment]
[Nulan Xuexi's mastery over the Three Season Skipping Blade has risen to Intermediate Enlightenment]
[Nulan Xuexi's mastery over the Jade Eye Tempering Art has risen to Intermediate Enlightenment]
[Nulan Xuexi's mastery over the 38 Maneuvers of the Dancing Lion has risen to Intermediate Enlightenment]
[Nulan Xuexi's talent in Swordsmanship has changed from Intermediate to High]
[Nulan Xuexi's talent in Combat has changed from Intermediate to High]
[Nulan Xuexi's talent in Alchemy has changed from Low to Intermediate]
[Nulan Xuexi's talent in Refining has changed from Low to Intermediate]
[Your disciple, Nulan Xuexi, has lost the Trait: Easy to Anger, being replaced with the Trait: Calm]
[Your disciple, Nulan Xuexi, has lost the Trait: Overly Serious, being replaced with the Trait: Focused]
[Nulan Xuexi's Trait, Heart of Ice, has weakened]
[Nulan Xuexi's affinity has massively increased]
[Nulan Xuexi's profile has been updated]
"Hum…"
'I'm glad all the crap I talked about worked in the end. I was just spitting whatever came to mind in the end…'
'Also, what's going on? Where's the rebound of information?... Something's wrong…'
[Nulan Xuexi - 18
Cultivation Stage - Foundation Establishment 9th Revolution
>Affinity: 80
>Mood: Determined-9, Satisfied-6, Happy-5, Relieved-7
>Traits:
Hardworking; Calm; Focused; Heart of Ice;
>Constitution:
Eyes of Stone (Sealed); Blood of the Pale Beetles (Sealed)
>Cultivation Techniques:
Sutra of the Grand Moon - Intermediate Enlightenment
Three Season Skipping Blade - Intermediate Enlightenment
Jade Eye Tempering Art - Intermediate Enlightenment
38 Maneuvers of the Dancing Lion - Intermediate Enlightenment
>Talents:
High Swordsmanship Talent
High Cultivation Talent
High Combat Talent
Intermediate Alchemy Talent
Intermediate Refining Talent
Pinnacle Bewitching Talent
>Impression:
Nulan sees you someone who gave her the very thing she had always been looking out for. A home.
>Inner Desires:
Due to her trauma, Nulan seeks acknowledgment and comfort, but due to her personality, she doesn't accept either easily. She wishes to find a place where she can be accepted for who she is and strive to be someone she can be proud of. All the while being pushed forward by those she cares about.
>Description:
Eldest daughter of the Pale Lion Clan. She lived a sheltered life full of expectations and harsh requirements. She has recently fled home after a disagreement with her parents, unwilling to accept their control over her any longer.
She went as far away from them as she could, stopping at the Fingers of Heaven Sect upon noticing their recruitment, believing this would be the most opportune time to change her fate and prove everyone wrong.
In truth, she only wished to be acknowledged by them.
She has recently found peace with herself after hearing supportive words from someone she previously thought to be nothing but a puppet, taking her first steps in living life for herself and no one else.
(Information Locked - Low Affinity)
]
"Master… Thank you. I'll take my leave now… I can feel my Cultivation loosening."
"Oh? Good luck, then! Actually, I came here to say I was going down the mountain to fetch some things, but since you said this, it would likely be better for me to remain…"
"No need. I'll be fine, I promise…" She said with a faint smile after she shook her head
"Well, if that's what you say… I won't take long anyway. If everything goes well I'll be returning in a few hours at the latest."
"I'll be around if something bad happens." Wuizi said as he smiled in reply
"..."
Although she didn't say anything, it was pretty obvious she was thanking him again.
[Your disciple's impression of you has changed]
"..."
'A lot has changed far too quickly for me to process…'
Lost in thought, Nulan took a few steps aside, leaving with a faint nod soon after.
'I never thought my words would have this much of a reaction… I guess she was that much on edge. Poor girl.'
'I'm glad my words helped her. That's all that matters.'
[The Rune of Return grows stronger, Nulan Xuexi's Cultivation Speed increases]
[The Rune of Return grows stronger, Nulan Xuexi's Comprehension Ability increases]
[Nulan Xuexi's profile has been updated]
[The Rune of Return grows stronger, increasing the potency of the Law of Return]
[Nulan Xuexi's profile has been updated]
"Oh…"
'These must be the pending notifications. Then, this means…'
[By the Law of Return, you received Intermediate Enlightenment on the Three Season Skipping Blade]
[By the Law of Return, you received Intermediate Enlightenment on the Sutra of the Grand Moon]
[By the Law of Return, you received Intermediate Enlightenment on the Sutra of the Grand Moon]
[By the Law of Return, you received Intermediate Enlightenment on the Three Season Skipping Blade]
[By the Law of Return, you received Intermediate Enlightenment on the Jade Eye Tempering Art]
[By the Law of Return, you received Intermediate Enlightenment on the 38 Maneuvers of the Dancing Lion]
"!"
'D-Dammit! It's far too many! I don't think I…'
But before he could react, he was thrown away into the void.
"!!!"
Once his vision resumed, he wasn't in his body anymore but someone else's.
Holding a broken blade in hand, they looked upon the setting sun, training at the edge of a mountain.
'This person must be… The Ancestor who made the Three Season Skipping Blade.'
'So far, there were only three Ancestors in Nulan's memories. The one who created the Jade Eye Tempering Art and eventually the Sutra of the Grand Moon.'
'The one who made the Three Season Skipping Blade. And finally, the one made the 38 Maneuvers of the Dancing Lion.'
'I don't know anything about them. Only a few details of their clan due to my grown as a scholar… I should pay attention now.'
/FWOOSH!/
Wuizi swung his blade, starting a long but gruesome training.
One day, one week, one month, six months… One Year.
Of those twelve months, he only moved for nine.
At the end of it all, he reached a conclusion.
When his blade was sheathed, it would be Winter; when his blade was drawn, it would be Spring, when swung, it would be Summer, and once it delivered its blow, it would be fall.
Each movement had a reason, one he understood faintly but not fully.
As he reached this final conclusion, something was left at the tip of his tongue:
'Why is the technique called Three Season if its creator originally envisioned the entire cycle to be contained with his sword?'
'Why did he skip Winter?'
But before he could receive the answer to his question, he was pulled away, being thrown inside another memory, but this time, not in a first-person perspective but as a spectator.
The ancestor of the Jade eyes, he followed his journey once more, braving through the ancient past, he saw his struggles and trials as he grew to become the legend he would be known for.
Once an unknown amount of time had passed as he skipped through multiple visions, he was thrown back to another memory, this time of another person, a woman of incredible beauty…
'Her again, the actual Ancestor of the Pale Lion Clan… The most famed, that is… The Moon Fairy. The creator of the 38 Maneuvers of the Dancing Lion.'
'Not much is known about her. And I perused the archives of the Sect… The ones I had access to. But found nearly nothing about her.'
'Actually, there's very little about the Clan as a whole. There's nothing on her nor the other Ancestors to be read about. Aside from a few mentions of them existing, there's essentially nothing.'
/Fwoosh…/
Just as he was lost in thought, the fairy began to dance, and with it, thoughts began to flow inside his mind.
Before he knew, he was lost in a trance, tracing her movements back and thought.
The day turned to night and day again, multiple times over until…
"!"
He woke up.
"Huff… Shit."
'To think I'd be entranced by a dead woman… No. It doesn't matter; beauty is beauty even if it was thousands of years ago.'
'All of these techniques are considerably more profound then I originally expected. And to some degree, I'm starting to think the way Nulan sees them is quite different from what the Ancestors intended. And this likely goes all the way to her clan members as well.'
'I'd love to assist her, but I can't exactly explain myself. Besides, all of my knowledge of these techniques comes from experience and observation rather than through manuals. I could even say this is the purest form of knowledge.'
'No matter how great they originally were, if the ancestors were incapable of passing down what they knew in a way others could understand, then it doesn't matter at all. So I could say that regardless of what she knows, my interpretation is the closest to the original… But I can't say that, nor do I wish to claim that.'
'If I can see a little more of the memories, I believe I'd be able to write down my own version of their techniques, once I do so, I wonder how close I'd be to the original. It would be an incredible learning experience to compare the texts then… If I have the chance, that is.'
'But maybe, if this goes on, I'd be able to see the ancestors writing down their thoughts into paper; once that happens, it would be perfect. After that, I would just need an excuse to assist Nulan… Maybe have her pass down her arts to me if I can get her trust.'
'With the Rune of Return effects, regardless of what she does, I'll always receive considerably more than what she achieves, so I'll always be ahead. But I need her trust to put myself in a position to help her… Otherwise, it'll only incur suspicion.'
'I need time to internalize these thoughts… I believe I may be closer to another minor breakthrough, not in my Cultivation but in my thought process.'
'I don't think I'll reach High Enlightenment anytime soon, but there are many layers for what "Intermediate" can be taken for. But without a doubt, right now, my understanding is higher than Nolan's…'
'Would I be stronger than her now? Even if my realm is underneath her's, with this level of understanding… No… There's much more to combat than just understanding of techniques.'
'Nolan was trained for combat, I wasn't. Even if I can invoke more of these arts, she'll still surpass me in pure combat.'
"But I wouldn't say I'm far from her…"
'A few more enlightenments and I'll likely surpass her in this aspect as well!'
"Now… Hupp… I should get going."
'Given the moon's position, it has likely been a few hours. I won't be able to enter the library at this rate. Not that I'm complaining. I've essentially witnessed years of experiences in a few hours. There's little to complain about here.'
'But that's that. I have a promise to fulfill… Even though it's not that important now since the Rune has strengthened… Even so, I'd like to do something proactively.'
Wuizi got up from his seat, making his way down the mountain; he went through the bright streets, entering a tall building soon after.
Gangou Town's sole library, containing a copy of the official Cultivation Techniques of all Peaks in the region!
…
"... so… You wish to access the third gate?"
"Correct."
Inside the library, it was mostly empty with few disciples reading every now and then.
On the side next opposite to the entrance, Wuizi could be seen discussing something with the manager of the library, an old lady with sunken eyes:
"... While all documents are in order… Peak Master Wuizi's cultivation is not up to par."
"But I must peruse the archives to find an appropriate technique for my disciple who's about to break through."
"There is no such rule… Usually, Peak Masters are given full access of the third and fourth floors, so whenever one comes, they're under their own privileges and not under anyone else's."
"If a disciple asks someone else to fetch something for them, that individual is taking away from their own credit and no one else's… If your disciple wishes to acquire a technique to assist with his breakthrough, then he must come here himself."
"... Sigh. Fine. I should be granted access to the second floor at the very least, right?"
"That you do. However, due to your peculiar circumstances, you have to follow the ordinary disciple rules, which are 300 annual hours for the first floor and 30 annual hours for the second floor."
"Given you never accessed the library ever since you were nominated Peak Master, and with the recent changes that make the minimum age of acceptance for disciples twelve years. With Peak Master's age of twenty-two. I can give you 3000 hours on the first floor, and 300 hours on the second floor."
"Is that fine with you?" She asked slowly without even looking at him
"... Very well."
/STAMP!/
The old lady stamped something on the side before handling the document to him.
"What's this?" Wuizi asked with a frown
'It looks like some sort of… Calendar.'
"With the recent changes, the time management within the libraries has changed."
"That paper before you contains one hundred empty boxes. You must come to the reception whenever you enter the library and stamp how long you'll stay there and on which floor."
"Each stamp is equivalent to four hours, and regardless if you fulfill all of the time or not, those four hours will be deducted from your total time."
"The Blue stamp is for the first floor, and Green is for the second floor. If you have issues with the distinction, I can help."
"Don't try to remain for longer than the number of times you stamped the paper. There is a formation in place that will read how long you've remained inside, once time's up you'll be notified to leave, if you refuse to leave your library pass will burn, and you'll lose your hours, so make sure to leave or renew them on time."
"Lastly, do remember that now that you've been registered, hours won't accumulate. This was an exceptional scenario and once the year passess, your hours will reset and become equal to everyone else."
"Any questions?"
"... No… Give me the green stamp…"
'I hate bureaucracy.'
/Stamp!/
…
/Step…/
The second floor of the library was mostly empty. Having only a handful of disciples sitting down as they read their manuals intently.
'Everyone here must be amidst the more competent Cultivators of the sect, those that are either trying their everything to catch up or those that really care about cultivation and learning as a whole.'
'Maybe I can find a talent amidst them.'
Wuizi's eyes shone with faint pale light as he scanned his surroundings, but he stopped soon after as he sighed lightly.
'Their energies are far too faint. They're about average or even below average. That said, I've only ever used this technique on Nulan, so my expectations may be far too high.'
'If only the Rune of Return could reveal one's talent without me having to raise their Affinity with me. Otherwise I could just go around seeking the talented amidst the common folk. Or even someone with a unique talent and bloodline to copy later…'
After scanning his surroundings, Wuizi chose a corner to sit down after picking a few sword art manuals. They were all rather simple but comprehensive, which was his objective. To complement his understanding of the Three Season Skipping Blade so he could push his Enlightenment to High once the time was right.
/Flip/
'Let's begin.'
…
"...?"
'Something's wrong… I can't understand any of it.'
'The words… The more I read, the less I understand. The words are seemingly moving around, mixing with one another. And this isn't the only book I've seen this.'
'I've read ten different books so far, only a few pages, but they've all shown the same unusual condition.'
'What's going on?!'
/Sheen…/
Distracted by the books, Wuizi failed to notice the strange rune forming around his right forearm.
[Condition fulfilled]
[By questioning reality, one can peer into the truth. Beyond the confines of the mind, remove its lies and face creation for what it truly is]
"!!"
'This notification… Could it be…'
[This is my second gift to you, one that shall represent your struggle. One that shall guide you through darkness until you can tread it on your own]
[Everything I had to say has already been spoken. Call what you must, but if I were to give it a name, it would be… The Rune of Disassembly]
'A new Rune!'
[Everything in creation contains intent. Innate or not, beings of intelligence and instinct give meaning to their surroundings so they may exist and function]
[There can be no existence without confines, that's the root of ascension, to ride oneself of their bindings and rise to broader, sturdier barriers]
[An eternal struggle, a thorny path. Bleed and heal, seek and desire, break and assemble, all of reality can be built and shattered]
[The rune shall reveal the intention of that which is superpositioned on, breaking and reassembling that which is false, recreating the origins and intent behind its existence. Has it been or shall come to be]
[However, be careful not to drown in the truth it can reveal for reality is built for the well being of those within. For that purpose, I have limited its power, linking it to your own conceptualization of the world]
[As you change so will the rune, it shall respond to your wishes and assist you in unveiling the truth, or even, in constructing a new reality fitting your desires]
/Sheen…/
Once the notifications ended, he finally noticed the light coming from his arm. And in fear of others noticing him, he got up and moved to another corner, one without a window or direct angle for others to observe him.
Thankfully, or rather, as expected, none seemed to react to the strange light.
"Phew… Alright."
'A new rune has manifested! I wondered if there would be such a thing but here it is.'
'It's simpler than the other one, taking the shape of a line connecting my palm to my shoulder. Maybe there's a connection between the runes, a way to use both at the same time…'
'Anyhow, the Rune of Disassembly… Let's see how it works.'
/Sheen…/
The feeling came naturally to him. He focused on it, invoking the rune.
/Scramble…/
The moment he did so, the letters on the books began to organize themselves, forming new patterns and symbols, sometimes even images.
'This is… The manuals are being rewritten?... It looks similar to what I would've expected from them but… What's being changed here?'
Wuizi had never read those manuals before. He spent all his life on Ritual Peak reading the old scrolls and mastering whatever techniques he had available to him.
When his master and his disciple died, leaving him alone, Wuizi barely had time to stop and read books like this, focusing solely on the far future.
Before he knew, years had passed of him living day by day. And when he finally had the time to come and study, he thought it was far too late to begin with these basic techniques.
'It's strange how it never activated before… Was the condition to take in a disciple? How odd… But if that's the case, then it could mean there are other Runes left to be awakened, waiting for me to perform their conditions of awakening.'
'It's also a reminder for me to try new things… It took me ten days to even consider reading a book… How lazy can I be? I'm the Master of Ritual Peak, one meant for scholars for God's sake!'
Wuizi focused again, and like magic, the orderly words vanished, and the original manuals returned to their original looks.
'Great. I'll first study them in this form before reading the one rewritten by the rune to figure out what it changed.'
Even if Wuizi wasn't the most talented Cultivator out there, he was proud of his ability to read and understand things.
Having spent nearly two lifetimes doing that very things, he had grown quite good at it!
…
/Three and a half an hours later…/
At the end of the night before sunrise…
"..."
'I understand now, the true value of this rune…'
/Clench…/
Wuizi clenched his fists in excitement.
'This is enough to revolutionize the world.'
'The Rune of Disassembly breaks down the texts and reveals only their essential components while recreating its original intent, putting them in a way I would most easily comprehend.'
'No matter how many times they were reinterpreted or how damaged they are, the rune can bring forth their original, most faithful form.'
'This means that every single one of these manuals is being brought back to their creator's intentions. Revealing ancient mysteries lost to man, if they were recorded or not!'
Wuizi looked down at the manual in his hands.
'Even this simple sword technique, Rising Falcon Blade, can become an incredible asset for it is actually part of a considerably more complex Sword Art, one that was broken into multiple pieces long ago…'
'I'm unsure what happened to the other pieces, but now that I have the original text, I can sell it as my own envisioned Cultivation Technique and others would definitely buy it. Unless I end up clashing with someone who possesses its original form, or someone who has one of its pieces and realizes I "copied" them.'
'Even these other manuals, they've been severely misinterpreted while others went down a completely different path from their original creators over the centuries. They may have gotten stronger or weaker, but regardless of what they are, the intentions of their creators, even if they failed to realize them, are manifested before me.'
'This means that these manuals have been upgraded and their creator's wishes fulfilled!'
'This is huge… Ridiculously so… Just thinking about all of the ancient Arts that are broken and incomplete, every clan that wishes to bring forth their past glory… If I could offer them services, a new era of Cultivation could be upon us.'
'But I must be careful… My main goal is to cultivate my disciples in peace so I can grow stronger as well. The benefit of my powers is that they're easy to hide under the pretense of extreme talent. But there's a limit to how much I can do.'
'To benefit the most from this I must hide myself as much as possible so others can't track my progress and methods. That way I can work at my own pace without having to worry about others.'
'There's much to think and improve. For now, I'll take my leave.'
'Manuals can't be brought outside, but there are no rules about making simple copies here. I'll come back tomorrow and make copies of some arts to study them back home.'
'Once I become a Heavenly Core Peak Master, I'll be able to borrow these books and make my own library of advanced manuals.'
'In the meantime, I can go back and study the remaining scrolls within the peak, given the way the rune works they'll definitely show me interesting results!'
'Hundreds of years of study are contained within those scrolls, if the rune can reassemble them and improve them to their final forms, I'll massive increase my understanding of the world without needing to raise my Cultivation at all.'
'Basic knowledge is extremely important to broaden one's horizons. It can be a shackle but it's usually beneficial to know more.'
'... It's settled!'
With a large scheming smile, Wuizi left the library with a few minutes left on his stamp, returning to the peak with a satisfied expression.
He could feel Qi entering his body. As even now, Nulan Cultivated…
Truly, what an incredible power!
…
/Later in the morning…/
/Crackle…/
"Master… Good morning."
"... Morning…"
"Master? Is something wrong? You look a little tired."
"It's nothing much. I spent the entire night pondering over an issue and before I knew, morning came."
"You just told me yesterday to mind my actions and go with the flow, and now you do this?"
"Cough… I was quite excited you see… That said…"
'Who the fuck are you?!'
Guan… Or rather Nulan, had changed significantly.
Instead of wearing large coats and hiding her hair, she had fully decided on embracing her feminine side and acting like a girl, albeit her clothes were still extremely conservative.
Long dark hair and pale blue eyes, a true beauty as he expected her to be.
All of her makeup to help her disguise was gone, and while she wore no makeup, she didn't need any at all.
It was odd seeing someone who once acted as a man appear as a woman. It made Wuizi's feelings conflicted…
"Went for a change of pace, huh?"
"... Aren't you surprised? You know…"
"You're a girl? Not at all."
"... I see."
With a faint smile, Nulan sat down next to the bonfire, waiting for the food to be ready.
"That said… What made you change so much?"
"I… Realized it was meaningless trying to deny something innate to me… While I still hate how others will look at me. I've realized nothing would've changed regardless of how I looked, so I chose to remain how I truly am and seek out what I desire like this so it may be genuine."
"Hum… Self acknowledgement is a constant pursuit. In life, one must learn to love themselves before others. Only this way can we interact with one another."
"Do you love yourself, master?"
"Of course. I'm very satisfied with who I am."
'Albeit not as much with the conditions around me…'
"..."
While she said nothing, her meaning was evident.
Even if not now, she would eventually grow the confidence to proclaim the same thing, but for now…
"... Would you like some eggs?"
"Yes."
Time passed like that.
Amidst Cultivation and the continues exploration of his Runes, twenty more days passed in the blink of an eye, making it a month ever since Nulan joined Ritual Peak.
Life was simple yet fulfilling, every day, they both made some progress down their paths.
Fourteen days after joining, Nulan reached the Pinnacle of Foundation Establishment thanks to her enlightenment. And seven days after, underwent her tribulation.
The tribulation to achieve the Heavenly core was simple, it was just about resisting the power of nature with one's Spiritual Sense and gathering Qi directly from the Heavens and Earth.
If one wasn't careful enough, their senses would collapse and shatter. And the shock could be enough to send them into a vegetative state if not worse.
However, Nulan broke through without an issue, and with that, so did Wuizi. In fact, he went even beyond her.
With the many bonuses from her raising Affinity, he went past the 1st Revolution, directly entering the second one and even reaching its pinnacle in one go!
Because of his fast increasing Cultivation and Martial Arts, Wuizi was focused solely on meditation and self reflection, leaving his room only to prepare food and buy groceries down the mountain.
Two days after he broke through, thanks to his disciple's hard work in stabilizing her foundation, he soon established his. And once he did so, he took his chance to go down the mountain and report his renewed cultivation.
He already had an excuse for his unusually high Cultivation speed, otherwise others would frown at how he went from the 7th revolution to the pinnacle of the 2nd one.
He attested to having attained enlightenment in a certain basic Cultivation technique, reporting his renewed art as proof. One he wrote over the last few days exactly for this purpose.
The Pulsing Lake Nourishment Technique was an extremely basic but solid Cultivation Art of the Sect. By using the Rune of Disassembly, he successfully improved it, and upon meditating and mastering it to some degree, he edited it by removing some of its more complex features and simplifying it, giving room for further improvement in case he needed to explain himself further or prove his abilities.
It also helped that a simpler technique was more believable then an extremely complex one. Either way, his achievements made waves to those qualified to hear about it.
Having directly broken through the 2nd revolution with his age, he was now a qualified Peak Master. And with his recent achievement, he made considerable contributions to the Sect as a whole given the basic nature of the Cultivation Art.
It was no wonder that his actions soon reached the Sect Master's ears, but that was only later…
Once his Cultivation was confirmed and his position was cemented. He immediately went to the bank to cash out on his Master account. And while the bank had indeed confiscated his assets, they were forced to repay him with interest due to his position and backing.
Everything going according to plan, Wuizi returned to his peak with considerable wealth and influence. His entire being having made a 180 in a single day!
While he wished to do much more, he took the next few days to organize his situation and send his reports as planned, making sure there was no dirt on him and that his previous transgressions were solved.
He also contracted a formation master from the sect to fix and improve the original formation on Ritual Mountain, improving their condition.
With his position and achievement, he was also allowed to request for some resources. So he immediately asked for as many cultivation materials as he could, sending them all to his disciple as time went by to fuel her progress even further.
He also took this time to begin tutoring her about the world, helping push her Affinity even higher.
In these last few weeks, her affinity went from eighty to ninety four, and after compiling all of his knowledge, this was the conclusion Wuizi reached:
—
Affinity:
5-> Mood Option unlocked
10-> Techniques are revealed & First Enlightenment
15-> Mastery of techniques is revealed
20- Traits Option unlocked
25-> Second Enlightenment
30-> Constitution Option unlocked
35-> Third Enlightenment
40-> Talents Option unlocked
45-> Fourth Enlightenment
50-> Impression Option unlocked & +25% Increase to the Rune's effects
55-> Disciple gains a 25% increase to their Cultivation Speed
60-> Fifth Enlightenment
65-> Disciple gains a 25% increase to their Comprehension Ability
70-> Inner Desires Option unlocked
75-> +25% Increase to the Rune's effects
80-> Description Option Unlocked & Sixth Enlightenment
85-> +50% Increase to the Rune's effects
90-> +25% to both Cultivation Speed and Comprehension Ability
95-> ???
100-> ???
100+ -> ???
—
While there was still much to uncover, he had already learned a lot about the Rune.
Even now, with a little over ninety Affinity, Nulan's Cultivation Speed and Comprehension Ability was 50% higher, and while this number was relative, it was already quite a bit, almost as if she had another her to help her.
And at the same time, the Rune's effects increased by +100% in total, which could mean many things.
Wuizi wondered if this was applied to its previous effects or only to what he received, either way, at a minimum, he was receiving the effects of two Nulan's instead of one. But he could interpret it in many ways.
If the Rune grants Nulan 150% Cultivation Speed. He could be receiving 100% more of that as a return, meaning he would receive a return as if Nulan's Cultivation speed was at 300% instead, or an effective double.
However, this could also mean a flat increase to whatever the rune gave her, going from 150% to 250%. Either way, he was growing incredibly fast.
If one were to base the ordinary progress of geniuses like her, then in ten or so years, Nulan would likely be at the fifth to 7th revolution of the Heavenly Core realm, and with his bonuses, that may be enough to put him at its pinnacle!
If he could break through before reaching his thirties, he would be considered one of the greatest geniuses of the Sect, comparable to the current Sect Master!
In comparison, the Sect Master received the best resources and training from birth, together with the best Techniques of the Sect. He was trained for his position while he was nothing sort of a stray caught by his servants.
This could give rise to quite a few issues, which was why Wuizi chose to remain low profile. At least until he grew strong enough to reveal himself to the world.
And that was how he spent his first month with Wulan.
As the second month came to be and most disciples began to prepare for the competition, that was when something unusual happened…
/STOMP!/
"...?"
The entire Ritual Peak quaked as Nulan stomped her way inside, shocking Wuizi as he meditated in his room.
Confused, he opened up her profile:
[Nulan Xuexi - 18
Cultivation Stage - Heavenly Core 1st Revolution
>Affinity: 94
>Mood: Determined-6, Angry-6, Upset-7
>Traits:
Hardworking; Calm; Focused; Heart of Ice;
>Constitution:
Eyes of Stone (Sealed); Blood of the Pale Beetles (Sealed)
>Cultivation Techniques:
Sutra of the Grand Moon - Intermediate Enlightenment
Three Season Skipping Blade - Intermediate Enlightenment
Jade Eye Tempering Art - Intermediate Enlightenment
38 Maneuvers of the Dancing Lion - Intermediate Enlightenment
>Talents:
High Swordsmanship Talent
High Cultivation Talent
High Combat Talent
Intermediate Alchemy Talent
Intermediate Refining Talent
Pinnacle Bewitching Talent
>Impression:
Nulan sees you as a trustworthy partner who can guide her to greater heights.
>Inner Desires:
…
Fred from most of her concerns, Nulan has begun seeking and exploring emotions she hadn't experienced before…
>Description:
…
(Information Locked - Low Affinity)
]
"Hm… Did something happen again? Given the situation… Did news of my breakthrough reach her ears? That wouldn't be enough to upset her."
'It must've been someone else. How vexing…'
/Flow…/
"Is she cultivating… No can do. I can't let her Cultivate when her mind is in disarray."
Wuizi immediately went outside, jumping out the window and into the open plaza.
'Hm… I need a flying artifact. Jumping around the place makes me look like a fool.'
/Step…/
/Knock knock knock…/
"..."
"Nulan, I know you're inside. Stop Cultivating and let's talk."
"..."
/Creak…/
A tiny slip in the doorframe, followed by a pair of angry eyes…
/Fwoosh!/
/Flick!/
"Ouch! Master!"
Wuizi was quick to flick her forehead, causing her to open the door fully.
"Much better. You should face me like someone your age. You're not a kid to throw a tantrum."
"..."
"Shall we talk outside?"
/Nod…/
…
"... So? What happened that made you lose your composure?"
"... It wasn't…"
"You aren't going to say it was nothing after what you did, will you? Unless you're going to tell me you got rejected…"
"No!" She exclaimed out loud as she grew a little embarassed
"Great, then what was it?"
"... Just a few bothersome disciples. They've been getting in my nerves even before the admission ceremony. I met them again and they annoyed me a little."
"... A little?"
"M-Maybe a bit more…"
"... Did you attack them?"
"..."
"Sigh. If you were so upset, you could've just asked for a duel. The Sect has rules about that. Once its officialized, you can beat them up as much as you want."
"They forced my hand."
"How? How did they force your hand?"
"... They grabbed my hair and one of them tried to attack me first."
Wuizi got considerably angry after she said that.
"... Did they do it while you were disguised?"
"Yes? I haven't yet revealed my identity outside."
"Did anyone see it?"
"Yes, several did."
"Good… Then who was it?"
"I don't know their names but they had a badge on their chest. It was a black hammer and dagger…"
/BOOOOM!/
"RITUAL PEAK MASTER! I DEMAND AN EXPLANATION!!!"
/QUAKE!!/
"... Shit."
"Did I made a mistake?..."
"No, defending yourself isn't a mistake. The issue is who provoqued you. They're from the Black Iron Peak known for its Refinement technique. And since they're the only ones who can supply such artifacts to this region of the Sect…"
"COME HERE RIGHT THIS INSTANT!!"
/QUAKE!/
"They can be… Quite arrogant…"
"I'm sorry, I'll…"
"You'll sit down. I'll take care of this on my own."
"If the Black Iron Peak wished to solve this, they would have sent their disciples, but since they sent him, it means they have no interest in actually resolving this peacefully."
"Who did they send?"
"The Junior Master, the Peak Master's son."
/Fwoosh!/
/BAM!!/
Interrupting their conversation, a meteor suddenly crashed beside them, shaking the whole peak while also sending a wave of dust in their direction.
"... Wuizi. It hasn't been long since you broke through and you're already causing trouble?"
"... There is no such thing. Dalmu."
/Step!/
A tall and burly man stepped out from the dust cloud, his arms crossed, he had a fierce and heavy expression as he looked down at Wuizi and his disciple, who by now had already disguised herself.
"Wuizi! You're to refer to me by my title as Junior Master of the Black Iron Peak!"
"I could say the same. Refer to me by my Title as Peak Master."
"Humph, what value does that title even hold?..."
/Crack!/
"Anyhow, I've wasted enough time. Give me your disciple and I'll solve this matter shortly." He said as he pointed at Guan, cracking his knuckles
"And why would you need him for?"
"Humph!"
/Fwoosh!/
A wave of air brushed past them as Dalmu exhaled.
"Stop feighing ignorance! Your disciple has broken the rules and attacked his fellow conrads, this is a crime of the highest order!"
"How odd. My disciple told me no such story. And even if it was true, you do not possess the authority to enact punishment on another Sect Member, not even a Peak Master do."
"That's old news. The Sect Lord has recently changed the rules. As long as its not one of the Major Capital crimes, all other smaller infractions can be resolved by the Peaks without them going through the Law Pavilion."
"And that means I have the authority to detain and punish another Peak's disciple!"
/Fwoosh!/
/Smack!/
Dalmu tried to reach for Guan but was stopped by Wuizi's wrist flicker, sending his arm recoiling back.
"Hum… It seems there's much for me to catch on…"
"Ha! It seems the rumurs about your Cultivation increasing are true, but what do you mean by these actions? You're interfering with punishment!"
"If my disciple is deserving of punishment, he shall be sent to the Law Pavilion and not to your Peak. However, I think neither are necessary."
"My disciple claims he was attacked and there are witnesses. I cannot hand him over without a proper investigation."
/BOOOOM!/
"What investigation?! Your disciple broke the facial bones of two of our elite disciples and my cousin's right arm! No matter what, he has committed the highest of felonies!"
"Junior Master, we're both members of the same sect, such behavior…"
/FWOOSH!/
"Stop spitting crap! Just because you broke through, don't think you're on the same Level as my father and the other Masters!"
/Step!/
Dalmu stepped forward, putting his finger on Wuizi's chest, pressing him back.
"Forget those useless formalities, I, Dalmu Govre will never, ever, address you as that. I'll never acknowledge someone as useless as you to be above me."
"So for your own good, hand over your disciple. Before I destroy this entire mountain!"
"... There would be consequences if you did so." Wuizi replied as his eyes grew cold
"Indeed there would, but do you think anyone would cry over your death? At most, I would be locked away for a few months, maybe a year or two at most, but after it was all over, as long as I keep growing stronger, inheriting my father would still be within reach."
"This is the fate of someone as weak and useless as you!"
"... This is complicated. Why are you willing to go so far and risk your reputation over three dunces who committed such stupid mistakes? Why scale this issue so much?"
"Watch your words!"
/FUAAA!!/
"They have committed no mistakes! It was your disciple who attacked them!"
"If there is no way to peaceful solve this... Then I request…"
/POKE!/
Dalmu pushed his finger even deeper onto Wuizi's chest, but he still failed in pushing him back.
"Whaaat? Are you thinking about suggesting a 'Honor's Duel'? Wuizi, do you take me for a fool? Things won't end well for you if you dare pull something like that off."
"But go on… Do it if you dare!"
*Master… What's an Honor's Duel?*
Nulan's voice echoed in his mind, it was simple telepathy. A technique possible after one forms their Core.
*It's a duel between Cultivators for their Honor. However, given how you trashed your opponents, there's no way they would ever accept it because the end result would be the same if not worse.*
*He's warning me to not choose this path because it would only result in the Black Iron Peak's honor being tarnished because they would either lose again pathetically, or be forced to send someone else in place of the disciples.*
*This is likely all because of me and the Ritual Peak. They're prideful and arrogant individuals. So the issue is not that their disciples were beaten, but that it was us who did it.*
*They want to use force to suppress us and any news regarding this issue to protect their own image. And any legal pathway would only end in their honor being broken…*
/CLAP!/
"Enough whispering! What's your answer?"
"... If a Duel won't do… How about a competition?"
"A competition?"
"Correct. You're aware that the Disciple Competition will occur in a month, right? I propose we make a bet on whose Peak will come ahead."
"If we win, I won't request an apology. I just require that your Peak drops its charges and forgets this issue. But if we lose… Then I shall take the punishment in my disciple's place and face you in battle."
"Master!"
"... HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Dalmu began to laugh loudly, shaking the entire mountain and its surroundings slightly.
"Interesting way to escape from this! So you wish to make a secret bet between us, and regardless of who wins or loses, no one will ever know about this happening… Smart! You're looking for a way to have both Peaks retain their prestige regardless of the outcome…"
/BOOOOOOM!!/
Dalmu swung his left arm, causing a wave of energy to crash against the dormitories, smashing it all to pieces.
"The things is, while your plan is nice and concise… I just don't like you. So why should I care about any of this?"
"... If you're interested in pressing till the end, then I'll resist. And regardless of how much you overpower me, the moment two Heavenly Cores begin clashing in Sect territory, not only would every single Peak Master rush here, but so would the Law Enforcement Pavilion, and even the Sect Guard would be invoked."
"Once that happened, regardless of what happened, we'd both be forced to comply with their demands and investigation, and this would likely include Soul Search by the mystics of the Sect Guard. And I wonder what would happen then."
"... Are you threatening me, Wuizi?"
Dalmu's aura began to change, but he did not move.
"Silence Dalmu! What do you think you're doing?!"
/BAM!/
The sky shook as a massive aura approached them from the horizon.
It was a middle aged man riding a gondola as it flew across the sky.
"..."
'Tsk, another problem…'
/Land!/
The moment the man landed, Wuizi was quick to act, clasping his hands together as a greeting, he said:
"Vultus Hammer, it's a pleasure."
'Out of everyone, it had to be his uncle…'
"Uncle…"
/SMACK!/
"Within Sect ground, you're to call me by my official Title. Wait until your father hears of this."
"But Uncle, he…"
"I've heard the gist of it from that bum. And I came here to solve this issue only to hear you say all of that? Is the authority of the Sect nothing to you?! Stay back and let me handle this."
"..."
Dalmu looked back at Wuizi but the latter didn't even glance at him as he turned around.
After throwing him a deep glare, Dalmu left as he clenched his fists so hard Nulan could hear them crack from outside the inner zone.
"Peak Master Wuizi, it's our first time meeting since you broke through. Congratulations on your successful passage."
"It's nothing sir. It was a stroke of luck that I managed to attain enlightenment and unclog the many years of turbid Qi inside of me."
"But it is still true that you managed to control and benefit from this struck of luck, few can advance so quickly and maintain their foundation. It only proves yours was sturdy."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"... That said, while I would've liked to finish this conversation with some tea, it seems something quite unfortunate has happened."
"I've heard the end of your conversation with my nephew. And truthly speaking, it is a great idea. The Black Iron peak would be more then happy in solving this issue true a friendly competition rather then directly combat."
"... So am I."
'Tche, sneaky fox. He must've been there from the very beginning. Only acting after he realized things were about to get my way.'
'Honestly, I didn't want the Sect Guard to get involved as it risks my secrets being revealed, but I'd rather risk that than death.'
'He's trying to play good and bad cop, waiting for his nephew to antangonize me before coming and negotiating with me as a good guy, but he's as bad as him.'
'If he accepted it so easily, then he must be confident that the disciples recruited will win. But even if they do lose, nothing happens… That's why I proposed this idea.'
'While he may look down on me, he doesn't despise me like that dunce does. So once a beneficial deal came, he took it without much consideration.'
'He's someone who'll take deals as long as there's no visible loss, or even if there is, if it's minimal, he won't hesitate in taking it. He's a man of calculated action rather than one blinded by greed.'
"It seems we're on the same page. Let's make this simple then. On the day of the competition, we'll only look at the end results."
"If your disciple ends at a higher position than the disciples of our Peak, we'll have those three apologize and also pay for the damages… Not accounting for what my nephew just broke, we'll pay for that today."
"If you lose, then we'll just ask for an apology and that this matter completely vanishes from the world. Would that be fine?"
"..."
'This guy, he understands the value of this situation. He knows full well that right now, amidst the changes of the Sect, there can be no bad rumors going around.'
'Something like this is easy to spread around. Especially if those idiots had already committed some sort of previous mistake… In fact, they likely did and he's only trying to take everyone's eyes off them in any possible manner.'
'A father protects his son by just locking him up. Maybe he's glad his son was finally put to a stop… That said, this is unfavorable.'
"While I was the one to bring up a competition, don't you think it's unfair to set every disciple of the Black Iron Peak into this issue?"
"You do have a point, but for that, I have an idea…"
"While this competition will still be between our Peaks, as long as your disciple scores higher than the ones involved in this matter, the Black Iron Peak will assume their wrongs as I said before… But…"
"If your disciple scores end up lower than other disciples unrelated to this matter, then we'll call out this matter and bury it forever."
"How about that?"
"..."
'So this is what he was after. He knows Nulan is likely to surpass those fools, but he's still confident in himself. So once his disciples win, he can just bury this matter for nothing.'
'He knows we're in the right. But I wonder why he's being so passive… He could force me to comply. The rules of the Sect have changed to "allow" for such behavior…'
'Maybe he just wants to remain completely clean… Or maybe, someone else has already learned of this issue and is forcing his hand… Either way, this is perfect.'
'The issue, however, is how my disciple will take this… This kind of event could grow to become a Heart Demon or a regret, which can hold her up in the future.'
'Now that she's coming to terms with herself, any sort of guilt and trauma can end up taking place in the void that her heart has…'
Wuizi turned to his disciple and she nodded with determination, so he replied:
"I accept."
"Excellent. It is decided then. I'll send someone to repair this place, is that fine with you?"
"... Of course, sir."
/Fwoosh!/
Once the negotiations were over, Dalmu and his uncle left on the flying ship, vanishing amidst the clouds.
"Master… I'm sorry, it was all my fault for forcing you to accept such a one sideded deal."
"... It's true that its one sided, but it's not your fault. It's their fault for being greedy."
'That fox has already everything planned.'
'No contract means he can back down whenever he wants, and by sending his people here, it means he's blatantly disregarding my authority while also showing his authority suprecedes mine so I shouldn't try anything funny.'
'He can also take this time to observe and even plant incriminating evidence… I'm not stupid but I can't stop these actions.'
"You heard everything, right? They completely disregard us and even plan to toy with us."
"Twenty years ago, the Fingers of Heaven Sect wasn't like that, but the law has changed and now, its one of power and influence."
"Today I chose to remain silent for I prefer a calmer life, but its clear they won't forget what happened here."
"Will you accept being suppressed, or will you fight against fate?"
"... I will fight! I don't want to see them disrespect us like that!"
"Good. Then follow me."
"Master? Where are we going?"
"We cannot stay in the Peak anylonger. It's too dangerous to cultivate now that we've attracted the attention of one of the most influential Peaks in the region."
"I know a hidden place where we can Cultivate in peace and prepare. If we wish to change the odds, then winning isn't enough… You have to crush your opponents."
"This Sect respects strength, so if you triumph against them all, no matter how influential the Black Iron Peak is, they'll have to shut up."
"They'll have to weight in the pros and cons of coming after us, so let's given them a reason to double and even triple think."
"Yes!"
"... Hm, before we go… I'll wait here… See if you can find your stuff within the rubble. I'll grab some items and prepare as well."
"We shall meet at the back entrance within half an hour."
"Understood!"
...
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Notes