The moon cast long shadows across Shi Yao's room. Settling into a deep lotus position, the only sound was his measured breathing. Each inhale drew the subtle energy of qi from the world around him, a faint, almost imperceptible shimmer enveloping his form as he concentrated.The arduous process of refining the residual, impure energy from the monkeys he had devoured earlier was now underway, testing his focus and inner discipline.
Within his meridian, Shi Yao forcefully condensed his own purified qi, channeling it like a hammer against the stubborn pockets of impure energy. Each focused impact shattered the tainted remnants into minuscule fragments, making them significantly easier for his body to assimilate and refine.
He mused internally, a flicker of satisfaction in his thoughts, "If this continues at this pace, it won't be long before all the impurities are completely refined, leaving only pure qi flowing through my meridians."
For half an incense stick's time, Shi Yao relentlessly continued his practice, his focus unwavering as he drove his pure qi like a battering ram against the impure energy, tirelessly refining the resulting fragments.
Suddenly, a sharp, searing pain shot through his meridians, like a thousand needles simultaneously piercing his flesh. His hand instinctively flew to his mouth as he convulsed, a mouthful of blood erupting forth.
Shi Yao clutches his chest, a look of confusion and pain etched on his face. "Something's wrong... what is happening?"
He tried to focus his inner sight, attempting to trace the source of the searing pain that now wracked his meridians. However, the pain intensified, each pulse more violent than the last. It felt like his very life force was being torn apart from the inside, each breath a struggle.
His concentration wavered, and the chaotic storm within his body made any attempt at rational investigation futile. Another cough wracked his body, and more blood spilled from his lips, staining his robes a grim crimson. He felt a sharp stab of agony, momentarily blinding him behind his eyelids.
His breath grew shallow and ragged, and beads of cold sweat plastered his hair to his forehead. The sheer agony made coherent thought nearly impossible.
"This... this is too dangerous to continue," he gasped, his voice trembling. "I'll stop here for today."
As he slowly lowered himself from the lotus position, a wave of exhaustion washed over him. What went wrong? he wondered, his mind racing through the possibilities. Had the monkeys' energy been more potent than he anticipated? Was there a flaw in his technique? He pondered over the various aspects of his cultivation, but one thought kept returning: his crude method of refining impure qi. He had always known it was a forceful and somewhat reckless approach. He often justified it by the need for quick progress, but perhaps he had been too impatient.
A sigh escaped his lips. "I'll go to the library tomorrow," he muttered to himself, a flicker of hope igniting within him. "Maybe there'll be a solution there, a safer way to purify this energy."
Exhaustion weighed heavily on Shi Yao. He cleaned up the blood from the floor and his robes, the lingering metallic scent a grim reminder of his ordeal. Despite the persistent ache in his meridians and the throbbing in his chest, he knew that rest was the only thing he could do for now. He extinguished the lamp, plunging his room into darkness. Lying down on his bed, he tried to find a comfortable position, but every movement sent a jolt of pain through his body. Eventually, sheer fatigue overcame the discomfort, and he drifted into an uneasy sleep, the events of the night replaying in his dreams.
The world breathed deeply under the cloak of night. The crescent moon cast long, silvered shadows, lending an air of quiet mystery. A hush fell, broken only by the whisper of wind through leaves and the distant call of nocturnal creatures. Dew kissed the night-blooming jasmine, releasing its subtle fragrance. Across the land, most lights had dimmed, yet a few persistent flickers remained. The subtle flow of qi, the world's essence, shifted with the darkness. Unseen energies danced in the moonlight, unaware of the turmoil within a lone cultivator's room. The night held its breath, a silent observer awaiting the dawn.
As hours trickled by, the world began its slow awakening. The first tendrils of dawn painted the eastern horizon in soft hues of rose and gold, pushing back the darkness of night. As the sun ascended, its rays, like curious fingers of light, started to filter through the world, chasing away shadows and illuminating the landscape with a gentle warmth.
In Shi Yao's room, these nascent rays crept through the gaps in his window coverings, slowly overcoming the gloom. A soft, golden light fell across his face as he lay sleeping, a subtle warmth coaxing him from the depths of his uneasy slumber. The gentle illumination gradually intensified, painting the dust motes dancing in the air with a luminous glow, a silent herald of the new day.
His eyes began to flutter open, heavy with the lingering traces of sleep, slowly adjusting to the gentle light filtering into his room. He blinked a few times, the world gradually coming into focus as a new day dawned. Pushing himself up into a sitting position, a wave of stiffness rippled through his body.
He instinctively covered his mouth as a yawn escaped his lips, stretching wide as if to greet the morning. Raising his hands above his head, he extended his arms, feeling a series of satisfying cracks and pops as his muscles stretched after a night of restless sleep.
He sat up, pushing the blanket aside, a slight grimace crossing his features as his muscles protested the movement. The memory of the sharp pain from the night before flickered through his mind. He looked down and placed his hand on his stomach right where the meridian had flared, "I wonder if it's fine by now."
Shi Yao closed his eyes and focused his inner energy, carefully tracing the pathways of his meridians, checking for any lingering damage or blockages. After a moment of focused introspection, he opened his eyes. "Looks like it has calmed down a little." A thoughtful expression crossed his face. "Still, I should be careful. That was a close call."
Shi Yao put on a simple robe and stepped out of his room, into the courtyard. The morning air was crisp and clean, carrying the scent of dew-kissed earth and blooming flowers. As he walked, the sunlight, now fully risen, washed over him, enveloping him in a warm and comforting embrace. He paused at the edge of the courtyard, his gaze drawn to the horizon where the sun had just broken free, painting the sky in vibrant shades of orange, pink, and gold.
"What a beautiful sunrise," he murmured, a sense of tranquility settling over him despite the lingering memory of the previous night's ordeal.
As Shi Yao continued to gaze at the breathtaking sunrise, a subtle shift in the air alerted his senses. He could feel someone approaching, their presence growing stronger with each passing moment. Turning around, he scanned the path leading up to the courtyard.
At first, all he could make out was a large, dark shape moving against the backdrop of the rising sun. As the figure steadily climbed the final stretch of the mountain path, the details became clearer. Perched on the newcomer's broad shoulder was a massive boar, its tusks gleaming in the morning light. And as the figure finally reached the courtyard, Shi Yao's eyes widened slightly in surprise. It was his master, a man whose imposing figure was often softened by a perpetually jovial expression.
Rui Feng let the large boar slide off his shoulder, the hefty animal landing on the ground with a soft thud. He grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hey, I've found our breakfast for today." He dusted off his hands on his simple brown robes, his jovial nature seemingly unaffected by the early morning climb.
Rui Feng's eyes widened, scanning the well-maintained courtyard behind Shi Yao, contrasting sharply with the rugged mountain landscape. He rubbed his chin, a deep furrow appearing on his brow. "Hold on a moment... that's not the dilapidated hut I left you with, is it? Where in the heavens did this courtyard come from?"
Shi Yao turned slightly, a hint of pride and perhaps a touch of exhaustion in his voice. "Ah, Master. Well, after winning the sect entrance competition, I was fortunate enough to be rewarded with this courtyard. The old hut? Oh, I disassembled that one and discarded the pieces. This courtyard, however, I carried up here, just as it is." He gestured around with a satisfied nod, the implication of his incredible strength hanging in the morning air.
Rui Feng clapped his hands together. "Alright, let's get this beast prepared!" He gestured towards a fire pit set up in a clearing in the middle of the mountain as Shi Yao quickly gathered some firewood. Soon, the aroma of roasting meat filled the morning air, mingling with the scent of pine and earth.
Shi Yao took a hearty bite of the first piece of roasted boar, his eyes widening in surprise and delight as he chewed and swallowed. "Wow, Master! This is incredibly delicious."
Rui Feng chuckled, patting his own stomach with satisfaction. "Of course it is! Years of experience hunting and a few secret family techniques for roasting make all the difference, wouldn't you say?"
After finishing the satisfying meal and taking a refreshing bath in a small, secluded lake he discovered down the mountainside, Shi Yao made his way towards the sect's library.
Having only recently joined the sect after his competition victory, the sprawling grounds were still largely unfamiliar to him. He wandered through winding paths and past grand buildings, feeling a bit lost in the sea of unfamiliar faces. After a few polite inquiries to fellow disciples, each offering slightly different directions, he finally found himself standing before an imposing structure – the sect's library. Its towering gates were flanked by ancient stone pillars, and the building itself seemed to stretch endlessly, its tiled roof disappearing into the sky. A palpable aura of knowledge and history emanated from its aged walls.
Before Shi Yao could reach the heavy wooden doors, a calm but firm voice echoed, "Stop right there, young man."
Shi Yao halted in his tracks, a flicker of apprehension in his chest.
He turned to see an elderly man seated at a small table just to the side of the library entrance. The elder had a neatly trimmed white beard that flowed down to his chest, and his eyes, though aged, held a sharp and discerning gaze. Elder Li, as he was known by the few disciples who passed by, was one of the library's custodians.
Shi Yao immediately bowed respectfully. "I'm sorry, Elder Li. Is there something I've done wrong?"
"Yes, to enter the library, you need to pay some contribution points," Elder Li stated calmly, adjusting the spectacles perched on his nose.
Shi Yao looked at him, a little confused. "But last time when I came here, I didn't need to pay."
"Ah, young lad," Elder Li chuckled softly, a hint of a smile touching his lips. "That time you entered for free, as a reward for your outstanding performance in the sect entrance competition. Now that you are a full disciple, standard rules apply."
"Alright then," Shi Yao conceded. "How many contribution points do I need to pay to enter the library?"
"You just need to pay 20 contribution points," Elder Li stated.
Shi Yao took out his jade token, a simple, dull green in color. He looked at the elder, rubbing the back of his head in confusion. "Uhm, how exactly do you pay with contribution points?"
Elder Li sighed, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He brought out his own jade token, which shimmered with a faint golden hue. "Put your jade token forward, kid."
Shi Yao extended his hand, holding out his green token. Elder Li mirrored his action, and as their jade tokens made contact, a small spark of light flickered between them, briefly illuminating the air at the point of connection. The light intensified for a moment before fading away.
Shi Yao brought his jade token up close to his eyes and saw the number '30' now faintly engraved on its surface. It seemed the transaction had gone through successfully.
"That's how you exchange contribution points, lad. Don't forget it," Elder Li said, returning to his seat with a nod.
"Thank you for the knowledge, Elder Li," Shi Yao replied respectfully.
He bowed one last time towards the elder before turning and pushing open the heavy, intricately carved doors, stepping into the hushed grandeur of the sect's library.