ã€ŠThough the Heavens Should Fallã€‹


 Prologue - Hidden Hands

    The sound of dripping water echoed out of the darkness. The air was moist and heavy with the scent of mildew and rot. Shadows lay in every direction, making it hard to see more than the vaguest outline of the chamber¡¯s walls. The only light came from a small candle that had been placed on a table in the center of the room. The table itself was of a simple circular design and completely made of white stone.

    Heavy footsteps broke the quiet, until a heavily built man in workmen¡¯s clothes stepped up to the table and stopped there.The simple brown pants and shirt he was wearing made him look like a laborer you would find at a dock or warehouse, except the wooden mask concealing his face and his unusually athletic body ruined that impression. He bulged with muscles, as only a dedicated martial artist could. Two small horizontal eye slits and a wide mocking grin were the only features on his mask¡¯s smooth surface.

    The man waited patiently for a few moments, his mask leering at nothing. Then, there was a series of wet slopping noises and another figure approached the light. This one was robed and hooded. His grey robe was so torn and dirty that it looked like it was about to come apart as it dragged across the ground, and while he wore no mask, an unnatural darkness lurked under his robe, completely concealing his face and most of his body.

    The two figures sized each other up, but neither spoke. Although muffled wheezing sounds escaped the newcomer¡¯s robes, and where the light hit the exposed greyish skin on his hands, it caused them to shine queerly as if his skin was wet or slimy.

    Then, a woman suddenly appeared around the table. Not a whisper or hint of noise had preceded her arrival, but the other two figures didn¡¯t flinch or look shocked. They both merely turned to study her.

    ¡°All are here, and I must return soon. Let us commence,¡± the robed figure hissed in a raspy voice.

    The woman nodded in agreement. She was nothing like either of her companions and couldn¡¯t have looked more out of place in the shadowy dank room. No mask hid her face. Instead, her beautiful smiling visage was plainly visible. Long black hair hung down to her shoulders and her skin was pale and white like porcelain.

    Her thin and striking body was barely concealed by her clothes, which were little more than thin semi-translucent bands of red silk wrapped around her chest and waist. A golden choker set with a ruby adorned her neck, and other golden jewelry such as bands and piercings decorated her body. Many of them were connected together by thin intricate chains. It was only after a few seconds of study that several oddities stuck out: her skin was so pale it almost glowed in the darkness, her eyes were completely without human warmth, and she was oddly still. She didn¡¯t fidget or sway even a little. It was hard to tell if she was even breathing.

    ¡°Have you contacted our new ally, the traitor?¡± the masked man asked the woman in a voice completely devoid of emotion.

    ¡°Yes, they have agreed to go through with their part. I can be quite convincing,¡± the woman answered in a sweetly amused voice.

    ¡°And the engine of destruction that you promised?¡± the man asked the person in the hood.

    ¡°It sleeps still in the depths, but it will rise at my call. Long has it waited for such a day,¡± came the raspy reply.

    ¡°Then this is the end,¡± the woman exclaimed in excitement. ¡°The sacrifice shall be bled and offered. The shining city will fall, and we will be raised high.¡±

    ¡°As we have agreed,¡± the masked workman remarked.

    ¡°I must admit, I¡¯m surprised that you¡¯re supporting us in this,¡± the woman replied as she smiled at him. ¡°It¡¯s far less¡­ subtle than your usual fare.¡±

    ¡°Long past is the time of other options. We must be free now or be shackled forever,¡± the robed figure interjected in a voice that seethed with hatred.

    The sound of dripping water filled the room as everyone was silent for a moment. The man in street clothing fidgeted ever so slightly. He seemed to be weighing what to say.

    ¡°Do not doubt that my god¡¯s will is served by this endeavor. He has sent a Splinterseed,¡± he eventually explained emotionlessly.

    The grin slipped from the woman¡¯s face for a brief moment, and the wearer of the grey robe shifted his weight nervously. They were both clearly upset by this news.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    ¡°Directly? You were contacted directly?¡± the woman asked in hushed tone that betrayed her sudden nervousness.

    ¡°A fragment of a god¡­ Why deliver such a thing here? Why have you told us of this?¡± the shrouded figure exclaimed as he stared suspiciously across the table.

    There was no reply. The masked man didn¡¯t move or even acknowledge the questions. His thoughts and emotions were hidden behind his smiling mask. There was an impatient growl from the cloaked figure, but the man still didn¡¯t reply.

    A second later, the masked man turned and disappeared back into the shadows; he knew that he¡¯d outstayed his welcome. An angry hiss followed him, but there was no slapping noise as his feet hit the wet stone floor. He was utterly silent as he ran through the darkness at a surprisingly quick pace. He seemed almost to be gliding along the ground. Shadowy corridors and grimy stone walls flashed by.

    After a few moments of running, the man stepped into a patch of light, took a deep powerful breath, and then leapt upwards. His clothes flapped in the wind as he sailed upwards with startling speed, and then he burst out of a circular hole in the ceiling. Suddenly, he was outside, and he began descending towards a dirty cobblestone street. Rows of squat buildings rose up on either side of him and the sky overhead was dark and cloudy. It looked to be late in the afternoon.

    Without missing a step or stumbling at all, the masked man landed on the ground and began walking towards the entrance of the alley. His stride was powerful and purposeful, but he didn¡¯t reach his goal. Once he was within a few feet of the street corner, a pair of dark figures stepped into sight and cut him off. The masked man immediately stopped and studied the newcomers as they stepped apart to block off the exit.

    They were both wearing the uniforms of imperial patrollers, but the details were off. Their eyes were pitch black and their skin had a shinny cast, as if it was wet and slimy. A creepy aura surrounded them that seemed to chill the air. It reeked of dark ki, unlike anything used by the empire. There was also no reason for imperial patrollers to be out here in this alley or to be waiting for him. If the Empire knew who and where he was then they would have sent Sect Elders and Seraphim, at the very least.

    ¡°Our master wishes to talk to you further,¡± the fake enforcer on the right said.

    ¡°I decline.¡±

    ¡°It was not a request.¡±

    The masked man laughed confidently. ¡°Nothing can order a servant of chaos to go against his own will. Come test your might against mine if you dare, but I think myself far ahead of you on the road to ascendance.¡±

    The dark-eyed pair exchanged a quick glance. Something unseen seemed to travel through the air between them, and then they turned toward him at exactly the same time. It was an unsettlingly coordinated movement. Their faces were expressionless as they both drew long knives and leapt forward.

    The masked man took a deep breath. Ki built up within his chest as he widened his stance and raised his hands up into a defensive position. The coiling energy circled throughout his body and strengthened every fiber of it. The lunging forms of his attackers seemed to slow, and the masked man shifted his stance slightly in preparation as he tracked their movements.

    Then, the masked man exhaled, stepped forward, and threw a punch at the nearest assailant. At the same time, he ignited his ki. His fist shot forth with incredible speed as the energy within his body combusted and dumped power into his muscles. A slapping noise filled the alley as his fist sank into the first attacker¡¯s stomach. The man gasped from pain and shock as he was lifted clear up off the ground by the power of the blow. And his eyes rolled back into his head.

    One enemy was down already, but the second one hadn¡¯t been idle. Before his companion had even started to fall, he shot forward with a sudden burst of speed and slashed at the masked man¡¯s exposed arm with his dagger. The masked man wasn¡¯t caught off guard, and he sped up to match the pace of his opponent. He pulled his arm back and twisted away from the attack. Behind him, the first attacker hit the ground.

    Without hesitation or mercy, the second patroller stepped forward and tried to stab the man in the side, but it had been a trap. The masked man¡¯s twist became a full spin. He dropped his center of balance and his back foot came up into a lightning-quick spinning back kick. The unexpected blow came in from the attacker¡¯s blind spot and smashed into his face before he could react. There was a spray of blood and a crunching sound as the man was sent flying into a nearby alley wall. He hit the bricks with a thud and then slid down to the ground.

    The masked man quickly dropped his foot and began walking towards the alley entrance. He didn¡¯t bother to spare a look back at his fallen foes. It was time for him to leave, past time. There was no way any of his enemies would have sent only two ambushers. None of them would be foolish enough to think cultivators at such low Realms could do anything but slow him down. That meant there were more on the way.

    As the man stepped out of the alley and into a larger street, he looked up and saw a white spire rising up above the rest of the city. The massive tower shone as it reflected the sunlight. It was the tower of the Archon, the so-called god whose minions ruled this place with an iron fist. Even from miles away, the man could feel the dampening effect the structure had on the natural ki around him. Its stifling chill was an unwelcome reminder of the empire¡¯s seemingly endless power.

    ¡°But even the mightiest can be humbled and chaos takes everything in time,¡± the man muttered to himself before turning away and focusing on the street in front of him.

    Beneath his mask, the man grinned as he felt a flash of excitement. Great and terrible things were now in motion. No one could be trusted and there was no time to waste. Even his fellow co-conspirators were potential enemies. The fate of an entire world hung in the balance, but the risks were outweighed by the rewards. He was a follower of the god of chaos, and his god gave him no guarantees, only opportunities.

 Broad is the Road 1

    And newly risen to immortality, the Archon did gaze across the endless stream of worlds and` see a thousand horrors. Terrible was the suffering of man, so he stretched out his hand to shield them. Wretched was their ignorance, so he sent his shepherds to teach them. This done, the holy light of the Heavenly Empire spread across all existence, and the false gods and demons could but scream as they were driven into shadow. ¨C The Path of Illumination 2:4

    <hr>

    ¡°The cultivation of Ki is the path towards enlightenment. Only through ki can you transcend your flawed mortality and reach for the divine as the Archon did,¡± the robed elder told his students as he stood in front of them. ¡°Focus on your breathing. Draw the Ki into yourself. You must let go of yourself and become one with the spiritual flow that surrounds you. Ki is everywhere under the endless heavens. Let your soul bask in that power and gather it to itself, then cycle that energy throughout your body. That¡¯s how a cultivator opens their meridians and forms their spiritual core.¡±

    Eyes closed, Verus sat cross-legged on the floor and did as he was told, like all the other students. It wasn¡¯t difficult, even though the afternoon air was brisk. This was an old exercise, one that he¡¯d done countless times. Years of practice made ignoring the cold and the hard stone beneath him easy, and he¡¯d long ago learned how to gather ki using this method.

    After a brief pause, the elder resumed his speech. ¡°Every cultivator gathers ki to themselves in order to transform their body and spirit. Only upon acquiring certain levels of ki, will you gain the opportunity to ascend to a higher Realm of cultivation. You must never grow lax or proud. As cultivators of the Heavenly Empire, it is your duty to meditate and train whenever you have an opportunity.¡±

    If he hadn¡¯t been holding perfectly still, Verus would have nodded in agreement. Reaching a new Realm greatly increased a cultivator¡¯s spiritual strength and came with other benefits as well. He knew this from experience since he¡¯d already created his ki core and reached the Foundation Realm. The elder¡¯s words were mostly for the younger students who were still in the Origin Realm.

    Every person that began cultivating started in the Origin Realm. Through meditation and intensive exercise, they used ki to open their meridians and build themselves a proper ki core at the center of their being. It had taken Verus years to do that and reach the Foundation Realm, but he¡¯d done it, and it had been worth all the effort. Reaching a higher Realm made a cultivator stronger and live longer, and having a ki core allowed them to use proper ki techniques.

    Verus¡¯s calm meditation was momentarily disturbed by an inner burst of excitement that made his heart flutter. He couldn¡¯t help but think of the future. His time at the temple where he¡¯d grown up was almost over. Soon, he would be progressing onto the next chapter of his life. One full of new opportunities. Although, there would be at least one more test that he could fail terribly. Really, his entire life could still be ruined quite easily¡­ All it would take is an unlucky tumble or perhaps a plague. Verus¡¯s stomach twisted painfully for moment before he calmed himself by taking a deep breath. Soon, he fell back into tranquil mediation, all thought of disease and ruin momentarily forgotten. He was quite familiar with fighting off sudden bouts of dark thoughts and there was no better tool for it than meditation.

    After a few more minutes of silence, the elder spoke up again. ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. Today¡¯s lessons are over, and you are dismissed. However, as I doubt any of you have forgotten, I¡¯ll be seeing all of you who have reached the Foundation Realm later in the main hall. It would be unwise to be tardy.¡±

    Immediately, Verus opened his eyes, climbed to his feet, and gave the elder a quick bow of respect. He wasn¡¯t alone. Over a hundred other young students around him were doing the same. All of them were male and wearing the same style of loose initiate robes, but their ages ranged from twelve to sixteen years old. Each and every one of them also had shaved heads. This made them all look somewhat similar, but they were all used to it, so they had no problem telling each other apart. They¡¯d grown up together after all.

    Elder Balint nodded in approval, so the initiates ended their bows and started walking across the training ground and toward the main temple. None of them spoke. Elder Balint was a strict teacher who didn¡¯t tolerate unnecessary chatter. Like all the other elders at the temple, he was wearing a green robe with sliver trim. Seemingly middle-aged with a neatly trimmed black beard that had more than a little grey in it, Elder Balint had an outer appearance that matched his stern personality. His shadowy eyes seemed to hold no warmth as he watched his charges leave.

    Verus had no problem with walking quietly. He grinned as he moved and studied his surroundings excitedly. They were familiar, but this was going to be one of the last times he ever saw them, so he wanted to remember them. The courtyard he was leaving was covered by square paving stones, which made it a perfect place for training. Behind it and to the right stood tall stone walls that ran around the exterior of the temple complex. Beyond those walls, lay a tall mountain range with snow-capped peaks. The temple was built right into the side of one of those mountains, which explained the invigorating chill of the air.

    Over to Verus¡¯s left was a large ornamental garden that contained several koi ponds. It was usually forbidden to the initiates, although they were the ones that maintained the gardens and fed the large golden fish. Ahead of Verus, stood the main temple building. It stood out from the blue sky thanks to its bright white walls and red ornamental pillars. Every floor of the buildings was capped by a roof made of green tiles, from which hung white banners with a green swirl symbolizing the wind on them. It was all very ornate, but it still managed to give off a restive and contemplative aura that befitted a temple ran by the Great Wind Sect.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    This was one of the many temples that the sect ran in this province. Although it was the only one Verus had ever seen with his own eyes, he imagined most of them looked much the same.

    Still smiling, Verus was the first of the initiates to enter the building and began heading over to his room. Training might be over for the day, but there was still much to do. Every initiate was given afternoon chores they had to do before supper. Life at the temple was strict and regimented, but it was the only home Verus could really remember. He¡¯d lived here for over six years, ever since his mother had died. He barely remembered her, and he had no recollection of his father at all.

    After his mother¡¯s death, Verus had been tested by an imperial official and found to possess a talent for cultivation, so he¡¯d been sent to the Great Wind Sect to be trained as a cultivator. That was common story among the initiates. The imperial sects routinely took in orphans or bought children with talent from their parents. Few parents resisted. By imperial law, every cultivator had to be registered and trained, and that required resources no commoners possessed.

    As Verus headed to the kitchen to help get supper, he encountered several more elders and servants, and he made sure to give each of the elders a formal bow before passing them. Some gave him a nod back, but most simply ignored him. Verus didn¡¯t know most of the elders. They came and went from the temple, and the majority didn¡¯t bother to talk to the initiates. They were busy on missions for the sect or doing their own mysterious training. The elders had an entire wing of the temple to themselves that the initiates were never allowed to enter. It was rumored that the elders¡¯ wing contained incredible chambers that allowed them to draw in immense amounts of ki to speed their cultivation. It was also whispered that a massive cave system full of monsters lay underneath it, but none of the initiates had ever seen such things. Personally, Verus doubted the rumors were true.

    Even many of the servants were strangers. They took care of the younger children but were frequently rotated out of the complex so that the initiates didn¡¯t grow too close to them. None of the many woman who¡¯d looked after Verus when he was young were still around. Despite himself, Verus felt a tinge of loss that made him feel hollow, but before it could spread, he quickly suppressed the feeling.

    ¡°Pain is an illusion. The unbound soul seeks balance,¡± he chanted under his breath as he walked on as if nothing had happened. He was an initiate of the Great Wind sect and an ascetic. He¡¯d been trained until his self-discipline was as iron. He was strong. He controlled his emotions; they didn¡¯t control him.

    Once at the kitchen, Verus reported to the head chef and helped some of the assistants chop vegetables. It was one of the easier chores and didn¡¯t take too long. When he was done, the head chef let him join the other initiates who¡¯d finished their tasks in the dining hall.

    Taking a seat on a chair at one of the wooden tables that filled the plain hall, Verus sat silently and waited for the other initiates to arrive. It was several minutes before most of the chairs were filled by initiates and the food was served. However, even with the food in front of him, Verus ignored his hunger and continued to wait. The initiates had not yet been given permission to eat.

    Thankfully, there was an immediate flash of gold as Minister Levi strode into the room and took up position at the end of the tables where everyone could see him. He was plain-looking man with a long grey beard and bald head that that been shaved like those of the initiates. Skinny of build, he looked middle-aged, with only the smallest hint of wrinkles. His white and gold trimmed Lightbearer robes were so clean they gleamed. That, combined with his ever-present dutiful expression, gave him a dignified air.

    Shaved heads were common among Lightbringers and mandatory for initiates because they were considered a sign of humility and respect. Despite this, most the elders preferred having much longer hair, even though it was considered vain for both male and female cultivators.

    As usual, when the minister appeared, Verus found himself growing attentive and eager to hear him speak. This wasn¡¯t because his speeches were interesting or because Verus particularly liked the man. Rather, it was an effect of the minister¡¯s powers. Lightbearers were not only the priests of the official imperial church, but they were also all cultivators. Most of them weren¡¯t very powerful or warriors. They were trained to soothe people and help them develop spiritually.

    Minister Levi coughed to clear his throat and then began orating. At the same time, there was a rustling noise as all the initiates in the huge hall bowed their heads in prayer. ¡°Let us give thanks to Archon, for his might shelters us. It is by the grace of his empire that we enjoy this bounty. His wisdom guides us toward enlightenment. Let us be thankful and always vigilant against temptation.¡±

    ¡°Always vigilant against temptation,¡± all the initiates repeated. Their combined voices echoed through the room before dying down.

    There was a moment of silence as Minister Levi looked around. ¡°Some of you will be leaving this place soon, called to greater service to your sect and the empire it serves. I pray for your success and hope that the Archon is with you as you strive to serve his will. The duty of all cultivators is a heavy one, but we have his light to guide us. Always remember your responsibilities and do not stray from the way.¡±

    Head bowed as he sat at the table, Verus felt a determination to do his best fill him. If he questioned the feeling and steadied his ki core, he could tell it was a foreign influence, but he didn¡¯t bother. The Lightbearer was simply helping them feel more confident and assured. Verus enjoyed the feeling and let it soothe his worries about tomorrow. He knew he tended to get worked up about nothing.

    ¡°Now, you may eat,¡± Minister Levi announced before turning to leave, presumably to get his own food.

    As soon as he was gone, the initiates all began digging into their food. It was a simple meal of rice and vegetables, but it filled Verus¡¯s stomach. He was finished soon, so he sat back in his chair and took some time to relax. None of the initiates were allowed to leave until supper was officially over, which wouldn¡¯t be for several more minutes.

    Two young students were talking over at a table to Verus¡¯s left, and they weren¡¯t being quiet enough. This drew the attention of the elder supervising the room. ¡°You two, you are here at this temple to learn and cultivate, not to spend your days in idle gossip. Report to the kitchen after you¡¯re done eating to help with the clean-up. If you value the knowledge of the Great Wind Sect so little then you can be sent away.¡±

    The two students hastily apologized, but the elder just sniffed disdainfully and ended dinner a few minutes later. Like most of the elders, he was impatient with the initiates and thought that looking over them was a waste of his valuable time.

 Broad is the Road 2

    Once supper was over, Verus exited the dining hall and began walking toward the main hall. It was time to meet back up with Elder Balint. Verus wasn¡¯t alone either. A dozen other initiates were going to the same place, so they ended up walking together.

    Of the over a hundred students in the temple, these thirteen were the only ones to reach the Foundation Realm, marking them as gifted. It took years of training for most people to gather enough ki to ascend out of the Origin Realm, if they ever did, and Verus was among the youngest initiates in the temple that had accomplished it. He was only fifteen.

    Every year new young students arrived, and older ones left. Now it was finally Verus¡¯s turn to graduate. That¡¯s what the meeting he was headed to was about. It was the final test before graduation.

    Among his peers, Verus saw his roommate Warin, who gave him a smile. Verus gave him a grin back. Warin was his closest friend as well as his roommate. They did almost everything together, although they weren¡¯t much alike.

    Like all the other initiates, Warin was a boy with a shaved head. He was a little heavier set than most and had darker skin though. Despite the spartan and regimented lifestyle of the initiates, he had somehow managed to keep a bit of belly and had chubby cheeks. It was almost impressive.

    ¡°This is it! We¡¯re going to get to show off our talent to the elders and leave this place with our heads held high!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s supposed to be a test of some sort. That means we can fail and embarrass ourselves in front of everyone,¡± Verus pointed out as they came to stop. Failing might also have more physical consequences. The elders could be merciless when it came to their lessons.

    Around him, all his peers stopped walking as well. The large wooden double doors that led into the main hall were closed. That meant the initiates would have to wait out here in the hallway until the elders were ready for them.

    Warin chuckled. ¡°Stop being such a nervous mouse, it is unworthy of a proud cultivator of our sect!¡±

    ¡°Maybe he should be worried,¡± a patronizing voice announced as someone stepped up behind Verus. ¡°I think it was a fluke that little Verus here got to the Foundation Realm. The elders undoubtedly know this too and will fail him right away.¡±

    Turning, Verus saw his fellow initiate Lee and frowned. Lee was the tallest and biggest of all his peers. He was also the rudest and quite obnoxious to be around. He had a very unascetic-like habit of using his bulk to push others around. Unsupervised fighting was forbidden by the elders, but that didn¡¯t stop him from subtler forms of harassment. Behind Lee were two of his friends, although they were more like his followers. They basically did whatever Lee told them, including laughing at his lame jokes.

    Meeting Lee¡¯s gaze, Verus ignored his fears and gave him a frosty look. ¡°I¡¯ve more than earned my advancement. Perhaps you¡¯re the one that should be nervous. You¡¯re among the oldest of the students here, while I am one of the youngest. I hear age is an important consideration when the elders are judging initiates.¡±

    Usually he just avoided the bigger boy and the trouble he brought with him, but this time he was going to stand up for himself and not back down. Soon, he¡¯d be leaving the temple, so there was very little Lee and his followers could do to him now. Besides, it wouldn¡¯t be strange for the elders to be watching and judging the initiates already. They were all at lofty Realms that gave them incredible powers.

    A look of surprise flashed across Lee¡¯s face. He was clearly unused to being confronted, but soon fury overtook his confusion and he glared at Verus. ¡°Well, you better hope they don¡¯t test our strength, because you¡¯re a puny little rat. If we fought, I¡¯d beat you like a drum.¡±

    Any reply Verus could give was cut off by a sudden loud creaking groan. The doors to the main hall were swinging open. All the gathered initiates fell silent and then slowly approached the door. The mood was suddenly tense and uncomfortable.

    The main hall of the temple wasn¡¯t a room that the initiates entered often. The huge cavernous hall was saved for special occasions and use by the elders. Usually, the only reason the students came in here was to help the servants clean up. Now though, it had been opened just for them.

    Gulping, Verus walked through the doorway with his peers. The room had no windows. It was lit by bright spirit lights that hung from the tall arched ceiling. The mysterious orbs glowed gave off white light that illuminated the rows of banners hanging on the walls. Rectangular in shape, the huge chamber was almost empty, except for several elders.

    Off to one side, five elders were sitting in chairs along the wall. They looked mildly interested as they studied the students, and Verus recognized them as being among the most senior elders in the temple. Even Elder Caius was there. The old man with the long white beard was in charge of the entire temple and the initiates rarely ever saw him. Most the elders were mysterious. As per sect tradition, they all went by their first names without any reference to their family names. This was supposed to show their dedication to the sect.

    Two more elders were standing in the middle of the room. One of them was Elder Balint, but the other was unknown to Verus. He was about the same age as his companion and was wearing a similar robe but looked quite different. He was several inches taller, wore his long black hair in a ponytail, and had a clean-shaven face. Despite this, he still looked disciplined and authoritative thanks to his straight posture and reserved manner.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Elder Balint stepped forward as the initiates approached. ¡°Attention, initiates of the Great Wind Sect! This is Elder Sevus from the main branch of the sect. He has graciously come here in order to choose several students from among you to take back to the main branch. Show him the proper respect due to an illustrious elder such as himself.¡±

    All the initiates, including Verus, quickly stopped and bowed.

    Elder Sevus¡¯s gaze swept over the gathered youths. He seemed utterly unimpressed. ¡°Greetings young initiates. Know that any of you I select will travel with me all the way to the capital in order to train at our glorious sect¡¯s main temple, where you will have an opportunity to join the inner sect there and become known as one of our sect¡¯s young geniuses. However, this is an honor you will have to earn. Only the best will be chosen.¡±

    ¡°Those that fail this test will still graduate, but they will be taken to other lesser temples in order to train and serve the sect,¡± Elder Balint explained.

    Verus bit his lip nervously as he studied the elder. This opportunity seemed like everything he could have hoped for. There were many paths a cultivator¡¯s life could take in the empire, but all his life, Verus had known he wanted to follow the way of the ascetic and become an elder of the sect. A simple life detached from petty concerns and focused on pursuing enlightenment suited him. Not everyone had this option though. There was a lot of competition among cultivators, but if he managed to get into the inner sect of the main temple then his path would be secured. He couldn¡¯t fail this test!

    ¡°My test will be simple,¡± Sevus told the students. ¡°You will be split into pairs and spar. There is a circle on the floor in front of me where you will fight. If you get knocked out of the circle you lose, although winning is no guarantee of passing. I will judge each initiate¡¯s performance and decide who is worthy, so you should show me your best.¡±

    Noticing his friend''s worried expression, Warin leaned his way. ¡°Ha, this shouldn¡¯t be too hard. Very few of our sect brothers can match our skills. We¡¯ve got this!¡±

    Verus smiled. Warin was always cheering him up. He couldn¡¯t have asked for a better friend or sect brother. ¡°Maybe, I just hope I don¡¯t have to fight Lee.¡±

    Really, the test didn¡¯t sound so bad. All the initiates were used to sparring. There was no better way to judge how proficient you were with a technique and to test your will power. None of them feared violence. They¡¯d been taught time and again that pain and strife had to be overcome to reach enlightenment. The path of a cultivator was not for the weak of heart.

    Wasting no time, the visiting elder picked out two initiates and ordered them into the white circle that had been drawn on the stone floor. Verus wasn¡¯t close to either of them. Both fighters took up position, bowed to each other, and then began fighting.

    Although they¡¯d only just reached the Foundation Realm and were barely considered to be cultivators, all the initiates in the temple were trained in martial arts and possessed strength beyond that of a normal person. The combatants came together in flurry of swift punches, solid blocks, and agile kicks. Every blow was powerful but controlled as they attempted to knock their opponent out of the circle. After a few moments, it became clear that the larger of the fighters had the advantage. He advanced steadily with a series of jabs that drove his opponent back toward the edge of the circle, and then he managed to land a solid kick to his adversary¡¯s chest. There was loud thud from the impact, and then his adversary was sent flying out of bounds. The defeated initiate coughed as he hit the stone floor hard, but he got up a moment later and conceded the match with a quick bow that his victorious peer matched.

    ¡°Next,¡± Elder Sevus announced as he pointed to two more initiates. This time he¡¯d chosen Verus and Lee.

    Verus groaned and felt a twinge of fear, but he quickly leapt to obey. He knew better than to hesitate in front of an elder. Ugh. Sometimes life made it difficult for him to ignore his negative thoughts, by proving even the worst of them right.

    Smiling smugly, Lee leered at Verus before swaggering into the circle as well.

    ¡°You¡¯re not so chatty now, eh?¡± the bigger boy chuckled as he eyed his opponent.

    A grimace appeared on Verus¡¯s face. Fighting Lee wasn¡¯t going to be fun. Not only was Lee one of the toughest fighters among the initiates, he also now had a grudge against Verus and wouldn¡¯t be inclined to hold his punches. A sparring match like this was the perfect place to humiliate and beat an opponent, and that was exactly the type of bullying that Lee enjoyed.

    Verus¡¯s mind worked furiously as he took his position in the circle and bowed. He was already controlling his breathing and circling ki throughout his body in order to strengthen himself. That wouldn¡¯t be enough though. It had been quite a while since Verus had last seen Lee fight, since before he¡¯d ascended to the Foundation Realm. That meant he didn¡¯t have a lot of information to use to make a plan. Lee was also bigger and stronger than him. Even worse, he was far from dumb and had a talent for underhanded moves. Verus was going to have to keep his eyes open.

    Verus¡¯s Wariness paid off immediately. Lee bowed in return, but he ended his bow with surprising swiftness and immediately leapt at Verus. The bigger boy¡¯s fist shot forward as he exploded forth with a lightning-fast punch. The blow was aimed right at Verus¡¯s face and it was accompanied by a loud martial yell. The suddenness of attack combined with the loud noise almost made Verus flinch back ¨C which would have been a costly mistake ¨C but instead he steeled himself and stepped forward to meet the attack. All of Verus¡¯s doubt vanished as the clarity of combat took over. Nothing but the exchange of blows and the battle of wills mattered.

    A flick of Verus¡¯s hand diverted Lee¡¯s punch to the side as he began to counter with a hopping knee strike. However, his enemy was already dodging to the side. The big boy was fast. Undoubtedly, he was enhancing himself with ki as well.

    Deflecting another punch with a raised forearm, Verus charged in close to his foe and distracted him with a jab before going for a kidney strike. Lee¡¯s bulk made getting in close a gamble, but he also had longer arms, which made trading blows at a distance even riskier.

    Lee snarled as he turned away from the punch aimed at his kidney and countered witha swing at Verus¡¯s chin. The younger boy ducked under the attack and tried to sweep his opponent¡¯s feet out from under him with a low kick. Instead, Lee jumped back out the way of the sweep, so Verus followed after him with a hopping sidekick. This blow landed, piercing Lee¡¯s guard and hitting his chest with a thud. It knocked the bigger boy back and made him stumble, but it didn¡¯t appear to do much damage.

    ¡°You¡¯ll pay for that,¡± Lee hissed as he recovered and threw himself back into the fight.

 Broad is the Road 3

    Verus frowned as he dodged a series of jabs followed by a scythe kick. After the failure of his kick to do any real damage, it was obvious to him that normal attacks wouldn¡¯t hurt Lee¡¯s ki enhanced body. He was going to have to use a ki attack.

    Initiates were only taught the most basic ki techniques, but Verus did know how to enhance his attacks. Taking a deep breath, he subtly altered the flow of ki in his body and began gathering some of it in his chest. Then, he charged toward Lee and unleashed a flurry of punches. His opponent managed to block or dodge all the strikes, but Verus followed them up with low kick. Lee jumped back from the kick aimed at his thigh and raised his leg to absorb the power from the blow, but that was what Verus had been waiting for. He lunged after his foe and threw all his power into a punch aimed straight at Lee¡¯s face. As he exhaled, the ki in Verus¡¯s chest flowed into his arm, empowering the blow and giving it a subtle smoky glow.

    Lee attempted to deflect the punch, but it bashed right past his guard and slammed into nose with a loud crack. The bigger boy stumbled back as blood streamed from his nose, but Verus didn¡¯t let up. He jumped up and launched a flying sidekick at his opponent.

    However, Lee recovered quickly. It seemed like Verus had underestimated his ability to use the body reinforcement ki technique. Lee planted his feet and blocked the flying kick with his crossed arms. Verus bounced off his opponent¡¯s guard and began to fall, but then Lee counter attacked with an agile scythe kick that slammed into Verus¡¯s exposed ribs.

    Pain flared through Verus¡¯s side and a gasping cough escaped his mouth, but he managed to make a rough landing and retreat away from his opponent. Lee let him go with nasty smirk. It seemed the old boy was in no hurry to finish the fight. That made sense since they were here to show off.

    A deep breath and a quick mental exercise allowed Verus to ignore the pain in his side. It didn¡¯t seem like he¡¯d cracked anything anyway, although there would probably be a lot of bruising.

    A trickle of blood was still leaking from Lee¡¯s nose as he advanced steadily toward his foe in an obvious attempt to pressure him toward the edge of the circle they were fighting in. Verus held his ground and gathered his ki. Lee was too big and tough to be hurt by anything but Verus¡¯s most powerful attack. That wasn¡¯t great. Verus wasn¡¯t confident in his ability to use his most advanced technique in these conditions. It required some focus¡­ and more than a little luck.

    Lee charged forward and jabbed at Verus¡¯s face. He deflected the blows, but the attacks made him realize that he had no choice but go for it. He just hoped he wouldn¡¯t trip over his own feet in front of the judge. That would be embarrassing and costly.

    Lee ended his flurry of jabs with a heavy punch aimed straight at Verus¡¯s face. He seemed determined to get even with the other boy by bashing him in the nose. Verus wanted to avoid that, so he altered his internal ki flow and attempted his technique. Ki flowed to his legs as he kicked the ground and then performed a quick series of precise footsteps.

    Instantly, Verus seemed to disappear from Lee¡¯s sight. The older boy blinked in surprise and gaped at the empty air for a moment, before turning to look around for his vanished foe. He was too late. Verus had slipped into his blind spot and was already throwing a ki enhanced uppercut. The blow smashed into Lee¡¯s chin, snapping his head back and lifting him off his feet. As Verus watched, the bigger boy wobbled for a moment and then fell over like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

    Verus quickly cushioned his foe¡¯s head with a deftly placed foot so that it didn¡¯t slam into the hard stone. He didn¡¯t want to be responsible for seriously injuring Lee, despite his terrible personality. That done, he glanced hopefully over at the watching elders.

    There was a hint of a satisfied smile on Elder Balint¡¯s face, and Elder Sevus nodded in approval. ¡°Excellent ki control and timing for one so young. The Vanishing Feather Step isn¡¯t easy to use in real combat without extensive practice. He has good focus as well.¡±

    ¡°Every initiate here is trained to master themselves according to the teachings of our sect,¡± Elder Balint responded.

    A happy grin appeared on Verus¡¯s face as he bowed toward the Elders. Then, he grabbed Lee and dragged his body out of the circle. He got nasty looks from Lee¡¯s followers, but they were easy enough to ignore. None of them would dare try anything in front of the elders, and they were all weaker than Lee anyway.

    ¡°Great job. That befuddled look on Lee¡¯s face when you disappeared was one of the funniest things I¡¯ve ever seen. I will remember it fondly for years!¡± Warin whispered to his friend as he grinned.

    ¡°I was simply doing as the elders instructed and attempted to show off my best.¡±

    ¡°Well, I think you¡¯re definitely going to be chosen by Elder Sevus. Not that it was ever in doubt. You¡¯re a genius when it comes to using ki.¡±

    Before Verus could reply, they were silenced by a stern warning look from Elder Balint. A moment later, Elder Sevus selected Warin and one of Lee¡¯s followers to fight in the next spar.

    Verus watched the fight, but Warin managed to win without much of a problem. His chubby friend dominated the fight from the start with a series of palm strikes and low kicks. Eventually, he forced his opponent to the edge of the circle and pushed him out with a ki enhanced body check. There were some advantages to weight.

    The remaining fights were interesting to watch but not spectacular. As initiates, none of the combatants knew how to use elemental ki or use any flashy moves. They had to rely on basic ki techniques and martial arts.

    Lee woke up before the final fight and climbed unsteadily to his feet. He threw Verus a nasty look, but Verus simply repeated a focusing mantra and ignored him, so Lee soon turned away and began glowering despondently at the floor. Verus didn¡¯t feel sorry for him at all. He should have trained more and spent less time pushing the other initiates around.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    When the last spar was over and the initiates had left the circle, Elder Sevus stepped forward to study all the gathered initiates for several seconds. His intense gaze swept over them one-by-one. Then, he briefly pointed to five of them, including Warin and Verus.

    ¡°You¡¯ve passed. Congratulations, tomorrow you will be travelling with me to the capital to join our Great Wind Sect¡¯s main temple.¡±

    An uncontrollable tingle of excitement and glee went up Verus¡¯s spine as he turned to look at his friend. They¡¯d both been chosen!

    Other smiles broke out on the faces of the selected few. The less lucky initiates looked far less happy, but they remained silent and dignified. They knew better than to embarrass themselves in front of the elders, and they¡¯d still be moving on to the next phase of their training, just not at the main temple.

    It was at this time that Elder Caius got up from chair and drew the attention of all initiates by banging his gnarled walking stick against the ground.  There was a polite smile on the ancient elder¡¯s bearded face as he gazed at his temple¡¯s latest graduates. ¡°For years you have grown strong under the watchful eyes of this temple¡¯s elders, but now you are no longer children. No matter where you all end up training next, you are men of the Great Wind Sect and you will have many opportunities to distinguish yourselves. Be proud of your abilities and your training, but humble before the glory of the empire and the Archon. I expect to hear of your accomplishments in the future, so always strive to do yourself and your sect proud.¡±

    A few other elders got up and made brief speeches, but they said nothing of real value. When they were done speaking, the initiates who¡¯d passed the test were instructed to be ready to leave early tomorrow and then all the students were dismissed.

    Leaving the main hall as quickly as possible, Verus practically ran all the way to his room. Opening the door, he rushed inside and glanced around. The room was tiny and dominated by two small beds that were next to opposite walls. There was barely room for two straw mats and a small table with a candle on it in the rest of the space.

    Finally alone, Verus walked over to one of the straw mats and sat down. Crossing his legs, he entered a meditative position and took a deep breath to calm himself. He was practically vibrating as a storm of uncontrolled emotion raged within him. Terror warred with hope and gleeful excitement as he attempted to keep it all under control. It was too much for him. He¡¯d almost lost control of it back in the main hall and embarrassed himself before the elders and his peers. That was why he¡¯d run here, to get his control back in private. In public, he had to project a reserved and dignified manner at all times.

    ¡°Fear is an illusion. The unbound soul seeks balance,¡± he chanted quietly. ¡°The ascetic rises above the feelings of the flesh towards enlightenment. He strives always against temptation.¡±

    This mantra dampened the twisting feeling in Verus¡¯s guts, but he struggled to sit still, and he found himself biting his lip again. There was too much going on. Leaving the temple was a major change, and as much as he wanted to believe it would lead to great things, it could also easily lead to ruin and despair. The temple had been his home for as long as he could remember. He could barely imagine leaving, but tomorrow he would be.

    Suddenly, the door in front of Verus opened with a whoosh that sent a slight breeze through the room. Opening his eyes, he saw his roommate Warin enter their room.

    ¡°Verus, what are you doing?¡± Warin asked as he gave his roommate a curious look.

    ¡°Um, I thought I¡¯d do some ki exercises to help by ribs heal before going to bed, and maybe do some practicing. I want to make sure I have them down before we leave,¡± Verus explained as he struggled to hide his inner turmoil.

    Honestly, Verus had almost forgotten about his injury. It was nothing next to the storm of emotions he was feeling.

    Warin sighed. ¡°Some of us are going to meet in the outer gardens, do you want to join us?¡±

    The last thing Verus wanted was to be around a crowd. ¡°No, I should focus on healing and meditating.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure? Someone said they thought they saw a spirit hiding among the bushes. They said it looked like a small ghostly fox. We were going to look for it.¡±

    ¡°No, but thank you for asking. Besides, there¡¯s no way the elders would allow a spirit onto the grounds. They¡¯re far too dangerous. They enflame human emotions in order to feed off our ki, and they especially like defenseless young cultivators at the Foundation Realm like us.¡±

    ¡°Most spirits aren¡¯t nearly as dangerous as the elders claim. They just trying to keep us out of trouble. Those stories about weasel spirits cutting people and sucking out their blood are just stories.¡±

    ¡°Maybe, but I¡¯d prefer to stay here,¡± Verus replied. Quiet meditation and ki practice were exactly what he needed right now. He enjoyed the repetition involved in training basic techniques. They were reassuringly simple and reliable, allowing you to advance toward enlightenment and peace one step at a time.

    Warin looked Verus over with a frown. He looked like he wanted to say something but knew better than to argue with Verus when he was in a mood and being stubborn. ¡°Very well then, I¡¯ll see you later,¡± he said before ducking back out of the room.

    Now alone, Verus settled down on his mat and began concentrating on his internal energy. Breathing in through his nose, he sucked the air down toward his belly, before breathing it out through his mouth. Then, he repeated the process, as was second nature to him by now. Slowly his emotions came back under his control and his nervousness about the future faded to a tolerable level.

    Once his shivering had stopped, Verus had to decide on a technique to practice. All this talk of spirits made him want to practice the Faithful Soul Ward, since it was the only way he knew to defend himself from spirits and mental influences. The technique was simple and effective, even if it wasn¡¯t a Great Wind Sect secret. Instead, it was taught by the Lightbearers to anyone that wanted to learn, as part of their duty to defend humanity from spirits and demons. Despite its availability and common usage, the technique had spread throughout the empire because it was extremely effective, especially for low-tier cultivators.

    The key to the Faithful Soul Ward was to focus on your devotion to something external to yourself as you channeled your ki accordingly. The Lightbearers taught that devotion to God through his representative the Archon was best, but Verus had never had much success with that. The dogma of the Lightbringers could be a little hard to believe sometimes. Instead, he got better results if he focused on his devotion to pursue enlightenment. When he meditated and cleared his mind, Verus sometimes thought he could feel a peaceful connection to all things. The elders were very vague about what enlightenment was actually like, saying it was different for everyone and they¡¯d know it once they ascended, but that seemed right to Verus.

    On top of shielding his spirit and mind from attack, the Faithful Soul Ward also allowed him to ignore temptations and focus better when used. Amusingly, Verus could also use it to block the aura of the Lightbearers, even if he rarely bothered except for training purposes.

    Concentrating, Verus moved his ki through his channels according to how he¡¯d been taught. While he could perform the technique at a basic level, the more he practiced, the more reliable and powerful it would become. Defending his core and mind from spirits seemed very important, because tomorrow Verus and the other sixteen-year-old initiates who¡¯d reached the Foundation Realm would be heading out into the world as cultivators for the first time. It was time for them to leave the temple that they¡¯d all been raised in and travel to the sect headquarters so that the next part of their training could begin. The outside was supposed to be very dangerous, full of spirits and hungry beasts. Verus couldn¡¯t change that, and he couldn¡¯t wish away his moods, but he could minimize them by being as prepared as possible.

 Broad is the Road 4

    The next morning, Verus awoke at the crack of dawn to the sound of ringing metal. A servant was walking down the hallway outside his room while hitting a bell. This was a normal occurrence when the elders wanted the initiates up early, so Verus just sighed and got out of bed. Across the room, Warin was doing the same.

    ¡°All graduating students are to meet in the dining hall,¡± the servant yelled as he passed by their door.

    Both Verus and Warin quickly got dressed and headed out. As initiates, they had no possessions of their own, so they didn¡¯t need to pack up anything.

    ¡°We¡¯re finally going to the main branch to become real cultivators! Can you believe it?¡± Warin asked his roommate as they stepped into the hallway. There were plenty of sleepy-looking initiates shambling their way to the dinning hall around them.

    ¡°We¡¯re already real cultivators. We''re of the Foundation Realm. We have ki cores and can use them,¡± Verus reminded him.

    ¡°Maybe, but once we get to the main branch, we¡¯ll have the chance to train for real and discover our talents and attunements. We might even become elders eventually!¡±

    Verus didn¡¯t reply. He just frowned nervously. Becoming an elder was his life goal. He could picture no better life than that where he wielded the aloof power and dignity of a senior cultivator of the sect. However, getting there would not be easy.

    The elders had never explained exactly how their training would continue after they left the temple that had been their home for most of their lives, but it would undoubtedly be difficult. Verus knew there would be some testing so that they could be assigned cultivation techniques, and then everyone who passed would become official disciples of the Great Wind Sect, but that was about it. The uncertainty bothered him more than a little, despite all the time he¡¯d spent meditating and training last night. What if he wasn¡¯t ready?

    Upon reaching the dinning hall, Warin and Verus both found seats and sat down. Servants immediately began bringing out gruel for breakfast while an elder watched.

    ¡°Go ahead and eat. You have a long journey ahead of you, and nothing to gain from waiting,¡± the elder told all the initiates.

    Silently agreeing, all the young cultivators wasted no time and dug into their food. Most of them finished eating quickly, including Verus and Warin. They didn¡¯t have to wait long though. Within a few minutes, the elder excused all of the initiates and sent them to the front gate. There, they met Elder Sevus and several servants. Elder Sevus simply ignored the initiates, but the servants began handing out packs, one for each young cultivator. Verus took his pack and looked it over. It wasn¡¯t light, but it seemed to contain everything he¡¯d need for a long journey, including a sleeping roll, a spare robe, a flask of water, and some dried food.

    When every initiate was assembled and had his pack, the tall gates of the temple swung open with a loud creak and clatter of chains, revealing a narrow path leading down the mountain. There were excited murmurs from the initiates, but Elder Sevus ignored them.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± was all he said as he turned and exited the temple. Nervously, the initiates went after him.

    Verus glanced around nervously as he stepped outside the temple. He¡¯d been out here many times of course, but he¡¯d rarely gone far. This time he wouldn¡¯t be returning to High Mountain Temple for a long time, if ever. Looking back over his shoulder, Verus studied the home he was leaving ¨C with its stone walls and proud architecture ¨C before turning to focus on what was ahead of him. Behind him, the banners of the Great Wind Sect flapped in the cold breeze.

    Off in the distance, white-peaked mountains rose proudly into the sky and split the clouds floating by overhead, but the path the elder was leading the initiates down was cobbled and well maintained. Stairs made even the steep inclines easy to traverse, but the path was not very wide and was surrounded by sharp stones. It also occasionally veered near tall rock walls or ran next to dizzyingly high cliffs. The young cultivators had to carefully walk in line as they made their way down the mountain path.

    There was no shortage of awe-inspiring scenery to take in. Verus and his peers passed crystal clear lakes and tumbling falls of white water. Leaning over a cliff, Verus saw a vibrant forest growing in a sheltered valley as the piercing cry of hunting eagles echoed through the air.

    However, the hours passed by, and eventually the heavy packs began to tire the initiates out. Despite their trained physiques and their ability to bolster themselves with ki, the young cultivators were unused to so much running and Elder Sevus kept them moving at a very fast pace. Gliding along the ground with graceful steps that made him move deceptively quickly, the elder seemed unwilling to let the students slow him down any more than absolutely necessary. With his arms clasped behind his back, he didn¡¯t even bother to look at them. He simply kept running. Meanwhile, the initiates were too busy sucking down air to talk among themselves, so the long journey was done without anything in the way of conversation. At one point, Verus thought he saw a huge creature fly into a bank of clouds off in the distance, but it was gone before he could get anyone¡¯s attention.

    Thankfully, the path of cobbled stone didn¡¯t go on forever. After a few more hours, they entered a dark forest at the base of the mountain. The shadowy branches overhead formed a dark canopy that hid the sky, and the entire place was eerily silent. However, upon following the trail past a row of thick bushes, they finally reached its end and found themselves next to a road. The road wasn¡¯t empty either. A large merchant caravan was parked on it. Made up of a long line of beasts and wagons, it stretched out of sight. It was also full of people, more than Verus could remember seeing in one place. He gaped in surprise, and he wasn¡¯t the only one among his peers.

    ¡°Oh, thank the Archon!¡± Warin groaned as he stopped beside Verus. He was hunched over and huffing and puffing. The chubby initiate had struggled more than everyone else during the run. Endurance wasn¡¯t his strong point.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Elder Sevus stopped running as soon as he reached the road, and after looking around for a brief moment, he stepped over to talk to a large man in a blue robe and a floppy silk hat. The chubby merchant had several gold chains around his neck and a gleaming bald head. With his neatly trimmed beard, he was the picture of a successful merchant.

    ¡°We have been expecting you, Elder Sevus. It pleases me beyond measure to greet an elder of the Great Wind Sect as illustrious as you,¡± the merchant announced before giving a deep deferential bow. ¡°Your might and wisdom will be a great boon to us on this journey.¡±

    ¡°It is good you are here on time, Master Husen,¡± Sevus replied. ¡°As decided, the initiates and I will be travelling with you to the capital. I hope you have made the proper arrangements.¡±

    The merchant swiftly bowed again. Despite his riches, as a non-cultivator, his status was technically lower than any of the initiates and far below Sevus¡¯s. ¡°I believe you will find everything to the satisfaction of yourself and your storied sect. I have personally labored to make sure it is so.¡±

    Elder Sevus nodded and turned to face his students. ¡°We will be travelling with this caravan since it would be difficult to move all of your frail bodies using quicker methods of travel. I expect you all to be on your best behavior and to be grateful for the effort and time being used to get you to the main temple.¡±

    The initiates immediately all bowed and gave their assent. That done, the elder began walking toward the caravan and the merchant hurried after him. Unsure of what to do, Verus and the other initiates hesitated, but a servant stepped forward to guide them to their place.

    ¡°This wagon is for your use,¡± the man announced after leading them to a long wooden wagon that had a brightblue cover made from cloth.

    Some of the other initiates began climbing into the wagon through the back, but Verus took a moment to look around. Beside him, Warin was still sucking down as much air as possible.

    They were surrounded by other colorful wagons, most of which were piled high with trade goods and crates. There were also lots of people around, way more than Verus was used to seeing. There were guards with leather vests and swords at their hips, porters in dirty work clothes, and several more merchants in luxurious robes. It seemed like some of the merchants had brought their families, because Verus also caught sight of some women and children. Everyone was bustling about and barely spared the initiates a second glance.

    However, what caught Verus¡¯s eye was the beasts pulling the wagons. While a few of the smaller ones were pulled by horses, all the larger wagons had huge ox-like beasts tied up in front of them. Covered in shaggy brown fur, the giant beasts were far taller than a man and had two spiraling horns growing from their heads. Snorting and huffing, the creatures looked incredibly strong. This impression was only reinforced by the ki Verus could feel radiating from them.

    ¡°Are those soul beasts?¡± Verus asked aloud as Warin looked up at the beasts.

    The nearby servant chuckled. ¡°Of course. What did you think they were? Demons?¡±

    ¡°I apologize. I¡¯ve just never seen anything like them,¡± Verus replied. Soul beasts were animals that could naturally cultivate. They were very rare in the empire¡¯s lands, since cultivators hunted them in the wild and raising them in captivity was difficult. They were also dangerous and thus heavily regulated by the imperial authorities.

    ¡°Yes. Well, they cost a pretty penny to keep, so I¡¯m not surprised. However, the caravan master is quite proud of them, so he doesn¡¯t mind paying the imperial fees,¡± the servant explained cheerfully before nodding and stepping away to tend to something else.

    The carts at the front of the caravan creaked as they began rolling forward, so Verus jumped up into the wagon that had been assigned to him and his peers, and then turned to help Warin up. Soon, the entire caravan was heading down the road.

    ¡°At last, a place to sit. I wasn¡¯t made for so much running,¡± Warin said as he sat down next to his friend.

    Verus smiled. ¡°We each have our strengths and weaknesses.¡±

    ¡°Disguising snark as wisdom isn¡¯t one of yours, brother,¡± Warin replied with a laugh.

    The other three initiates were deep in conversation with each other, so Verus ignored them and continued talking with Warin for a while. There was a lot to talk about thanks to their novel surroundings, but eventually all the young cultivators fell silent and simply took in the scenic countryside as the caravan moved. Peeking out through the blue covering, Verus had quite a good view.

    Vast plains and forests stretched out in every direction, except for behind them, where they could see towering grey mountains they¡¯d just come down from. There was very little sign of human habitation though. They were near the borders of the empire here, where the lands were wild and dangerous. Back at the temple, the elders had guarded the mountain and warded it using their power. However, out here, spirits haunted the night and beasts stalked through the grass, waiting for a moment to strike at the unwary. The caravan would have protections, but nothing like that of an entire temple full of cultivators.

    However, Verus didn¡¯t see any hideous monsters lunge out onto the road or appear mysteriously from the shadows, and not because he wasn¡¯t looking. After spending so long in one place, he was fascinated with watching the scenery as it went by. The caravan was moving surprisingly quickly considering the large size of some of the wagons. The soul beasts appeared to have no problem pulling them, which shouldn¡¯t have surprised Verus. Not only were they massive heaps of muscle, but as soul beasts, they had access to ki to enhance their strength.

    Eventually someone tapped on Verus¡¯s shoulder, so the young initiate turned to see who it was. Unsurprisingly, Warin¡¯s somewhat pudgy face greeted him. ¡°What are you looking at?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I was just taking in the view.¡±

    Warin smiled with barely contained excitement. ¡°It¡¯s almost too much, isn¡¯t it? We¡¯re actually on our way to the capital! We¡¯ll get to stay in the main temple and see the imperial palace!¡±

    ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll get attacked by bandits?¡± another initiate asked.

    This earned him a dismissive chuckle from one of his peers. ¡°In a caravan this size? I don¡¯t think so. Besides, we have nothing to worry about with Elder Sevus here. He could easily deal with some bandit riffraff.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯ve heard that savage cultivators from the untamed tribes sometimes join with bandits. There might even be bloodthirsty demi-humans lurking about. Monsters such as them might pose a threat to Elder Sevus.¡±

    Warin just laughed. ¡°As if the army would let savages roam the empire as they please. Besides, Elder Sevus would crush any such attacker. There is a reason the empire is ever expanding. Our martial arts and traditions are far superior to those of the savages.¡±

    This started a massive argument between the initiates about how strong demi-humans and Elder Sevus were, but that didn¡¯t interest Verus much. Rolling his eyes, he turned to study the scenery again.

    Eventually, the caravan stopped for the night and Elder Sevus came back to check on them. However, he had his own lodgings near the front of the caravan, so he didn¡¯t stay long. Instead, he simply ordered them to lay out their sleeping rolls on the ground and reminded them to behave before leaving.

    Most of the initiates, including Verus, had great difficulty falling asleep. Verus was used to a hard bed, but his unfamiliar surroundings had him worked up. Thus, he simply laid on his back and stared at up the starry night sky until he eventually began to drift off. Around him, he heard his peers rustle their blankets and the occasional creak of a wagon or sleepy snort from the soul beasts, which was oddly comforting. Verus smiled as he fell asleep. He was finally off on a real adventure. Despite the danger, there was no where he¡¯d rather be. Ahead lay ascension through the Sacred Realms and enlightenment.

 Broad is the Road 5

    The next morning, Elder Sevus woke all the initiates up with a clap of his hands that sent out a wave of shimmering ki. The ki washed over the initiates, sending shivers down their spines and causing them to bolt awake. Startled, Verus sat up and blinked the sleep from his eyes. It was still dark out and the sun was barely peeking over the horizon. Nonetheless, he saw plenty of porters up and about as they prepared the caravan for departure.

    ¡°All of you get up. We¡¯ll be going through the basic forms before resuming our journey. There¡¯s no reason for you all to skip out on your training. Many of you will need all the help you can get if you want to succeed at the sect headquarters,¡± Elder Sevus told the sleepy initiates as they jumped to their feet. ¡°The competition there will be fierce for temple wards such as yourselves. Many other disciples will be coming from loftier backgrounds.¡±

    The stern elder then led them through the usual early morning routine they¡¯d done every day back at the mountain temple. It was comprised of full body stretching and some martial art forms that woke the body up, got the blood flowing, and aided ki circulation.

    As he exercised and concentrated on controlling the flow of ki through his body, Verus wondered about the other disciples Elder Sevus had mentioned. He knew that young cultivators from all stations of life joined the sects, including nobles. Obviously, they¡¯d have access to expensive resources such as herbs and medicines that boosted cultivation, but how much of a difference would that make? The journey from Origin Realm to Foundation Realm was supposed to take years of diligent practice. It was also supposed to be hard to do quickly, regardless of resources. Only skill and discipline would allow you to build your ki core and open your meridians, and no one at the temple had lacked discipline.

    When they were done, Elder Sevus left, and some porters brought over their breakfast. They didn¡¯t have long to eat because the caravan soon began moving again, forcing them to pack all their stuff up and jump back in their wagon.

    This was basically the routine for the next several days. The initiates were woken up by Elder Sevus to do their morning exercises, then they grabbed a quick breakfast before getting on their wagon and travelling for the rest of the day. There was very little deviation from this schedule, although the scenery did begin to change. The wild forests and grasslands started to be replaced by fields of rice or wheat, and the caravan passed the occasional village as they approached more civilized lands. Many of the villages were new, having just been founded by colonists from other imperial lands. The empire was ever expanding and developing.

    In fact, on the fifth day, the caravan passed a large group of colonists being escorted to their new lands by a force of a hundred soldiers from the imperial army. Despite Elder Sevus¡¯s annoyance, the caravan had to stop and clear the road for the army. Elder Sevus was probably a much higher ranked cultivator than anyone in the small escort force, but even the Great Wind Sect couldn¡¯t afford to interfere with the duties of the imperial army.

    Verus watched the soldiers and colonists walk past with interest. The soldiers marched in formation and were very different from the caravan guards. They all wore the same armor and uniform, a thick shirt made from gold-like metal scales over a white robe. The rest of their armor was comprised of vambraces, heavy boots, and metal caps with nose guards. To stand out, their officers had red plumes rising from the top of their helmets. However, the most important difference was the ki they radiated.

    Reaching out with his senses, Verus tried to get a feel for their cultivation level by sensing the ki they gave off. It was difficult since they were pressed so close together, but he got the impression that they were almost all stronger than him, but weaker than an elder of the sect. Most of them were probably at the Tempered Realm, which was what came directly after the Foundation Realm. That was the first Realm that cultivators were considered combat ready and able to look after themselves. While an elder might look down at someone of that Realm, getting so many soldiers to that level was still very impressive, and the result was a truly powerful fighting force. Verus knew the imperial army used a special method to do it, to make up for the fact that they didn¡¯t get the best or most talented recruits.

    ¡°I hope I don¡¯t end up in the army, marching all over the place like that,¡± an initiate to Verus¡¯s left moaned.

    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be so bad. I like their uniforms, and even if we do badly on the tests we¡¯d end up as officers, not grunts.¡±

    ¡°Even the officers were marching on foot. Sect elders get to travel through the sky on flying swords or clouds,¡± Verus pointed out. He knew which he¡¯d rather be.

    Soon, the soldiers and colonists had marched past though, so the caravan got back on the road and the young initiates found other things to discuss. Most of their conversations were dominated by what they thought the capital would be like. Verus had his own ideas, which he tentatively aired.

    The conversation between the initiates lasted until the end of the day when the caravan came to stop. Thankfully, the initiates had exhausted both the topic and themselves by bed time, and they fell asleep with ease under the night sky.

    Verus woke to screaming. The jarring and unexpected noise violently scattered his pleasant dreams. Despite the commotion, his body felt oddly heavy and his eyes refused to open completely as he tried to get up and failed. What? Shouldn¡¯t he be panicking right now? Instead, he was still lying on his back. It was like something was pulling him back to sleep, preventing him from waking up properly. Maybe something was. Focusing, Verus began performing the Faithful Soul Ward, and as his ki surged through his body, the dark power stifling his mind was violently dispersed.

    With the unnatural fatigue gone, Verus¡¯s heart immediately began pounding. Something was very wrong! His eyes popped open as he threw his blankets off and jumped to his feet. Nearby, his fellow initiates seemed to be struggling to get up, but Verus quickly spotted the source of the sound. Several feet from him, an initiate was struggling with a glimmering transparent shape. It loomed above him, pulsing with sinister light in darkness before dawn.

    ¡°Help me!¡± the initiate screamed as he tried to kick and punch at the figure. His actions seemed futile, as his blows simply passed right through his attacker.

    Wide-eyed, Verus stared at the thing as goosebumps rose on his skin. It looked sort of like a giant ghostly cat, although its proportions were eerily skewed. Its limbs were elongated and its eyes were black pits, like pools of living midnight. It had to be some type of spirit. Raising a glimmering paw, the spirit cat clawed at the face of the boy it was fighting, and he fell screaming with a bleeding gash across his face.

    Verus stepped forward to do something. Taking a proper stance, he began circulating his ki and trying to come up with a plan of attack. As he watched, the spirit cat then turned toward a still body on the ground beneath it and growled hungrily. Was that another initiate? Was the beast going to eat him? Steeling his resolve, Verus prepared to leap at the huge ghostly beast that was about to tear his fellow initiate apart. A subtle glow appeared around his fist as he channeled power to it. Physical attacks apparently didn¡¯t work, but maybe ki enhanced ones would.

    However, Verus didn¡¯t get chance to attack. There was a loud crack as a blast of lightning swept past the initiates and slammed into the violent spirit. The cat spirit screeched and reared back as if in pain, and then Elder Sevus was there. Appearing out of nowhere with his green robe swirling around him and a furious scowl on his face, the senior cultivator slashed at the spirit. In his hand was a steel blade that glowed and left a faint trail in the air as it cut the spirit in half. There was another cat-like scream, and then two halves of the spirit simply faded away, leaving nothing behind. A moment later, the sword disappeared as if it had never existed, leaving Elder Sevus standing amidst a crowd of wounded initiates that were too terrified to speak.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Standing there slack-jawed, Verus felt a horrible crushing pressure he hadn¡¯t even been consciously aware of dissipate. He wobbled, suddenly unsteady on his feet.

    ¡°Get me the caravan master this instant!¡± Elder Sevus yelled at some porters and guards that had run over to see what was going on. Seeing the furious look on the cultivator¡¯s face, they immediately spun around and hurried away to obey his command.

    Elder Sevus swept his intense gaze across his students. His expression grew darker after seeing that one of them was cradling a wounded face and another was unconscious on the ground

    ¡°What happened here?¡± he asked as he knelt next to the unconscious initiate and turned him onto his back. Thankfully, the young student seemed to be breathing.

    It was the student with the claw marks on his face that answered. Verus knew his name was Chet, but not much more about him. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep, so instead I was practicing Faithful Soul Ward while I lay in my roll, Elder. Then, all of a sudden, I felt a cold sensation wash over me, so I opened my eyes and saw that thing looking down over Davos. That¡¯s when it noticed me and turned my way, so I got up to defend myself and yell for help. That was when you arrived.¡±

    Elder Sevus nodded. ¡°The ward saved you from the spirit¡¯s slumber spell. You were lucky and it was brave of you to try and fight, but next time, at least remember your training. That was a spirit. Physical attacks couldn¡¯t hurt it. You should have used ki based techniques. You¡¯d have died if I hadn¡¯t showed up.¡±

    ¡°Ah, sorry, elder!¡± the initiate responded as he bowed his head. ¡°Please tell me, is Davos going to be alright. What was that spirit trying to do?¡±

    ¡°Davos does not appear to have been permanently injured, although his ki system has been shook up. He should wake up before too long. As for the spirit, that should be obvious, it wanted you all asleep so that it could rip out your ki and devour it.¡±

    That was when the caravan master appeared with several guards. The furious glower reappeared on Sevus¡¯s face as he went over to face to him. ¡°You assured me that this caravan was properly warded! My charges were injured by a spirit that penetrated your supposedly secure perimeter!¡±

    Clearly terrified, the merchant shook as he bowed deeply. ¡°My caravan is warded properly. I swear it upon the heavens! I purchased the wards from a proper Lightbearer devotary myself, and I spared no expense. Only the best would protect us when we travel near the border. I¡¯m no greedy fool, looking to save pennies and lose blood!¡±

    Elder Sevus huffed disdainfully. ¡°That remains to be seen.¡±

    Several servants then hurried over to tend to the wounded as the merchant and the elder walked away to converse. Verus simply let out a deep breath and sat back on his bed roll. It was earlier in the morning than he usually woke up, but there was no way he was getting back to sleep now. Not only was his heart still beating harder than normal - echoing in his ears, but people were rushing around and yelling. It seemed like the caravan would be setting out early today.

    All the other initiates seemed pale and shocked as well, even the usually unflappable Warin. Davos didn¡¯t wake up right away, so he was taken away to rest by several porters. Elder Sevus returned soon after that ¨C after apparently coming to some agreement with the caravan master ¨C and led them through another series of forms as if nothing had happened. Verus found the exercise to be exactly what he needed. Focusing on his core and controlling his muscle movements energized him and helped him relax after the shock of the attack.

    When the exercises were over, Warin wasted no time in striking up a conversation with Verus. ¡°Wow, can you believe that we finally saw a spirit! It was quite the sight.¡±

    ¡°It tried to devour us and almost succeeded!¡± Verus replied in disbelief. ¡°So much for spirits not being so dangerous.¡±

    ¡°It was still amazing. Don¡¯t give me that look. You do enough worrying for both of us, my brother. One of us has to look at the bright side, otherwise we¡¯d both be hopelessly depressed.¡±

    Verus glanced over to the tall grass growing along the side of the road and the wild lands beyond it. ¡°Well, perhaps I haven¡¯t been wary enough. It¡¯s dangerous out here. There are bandits and demi-humans, and spirits can appear almost anywhere at any time.¡±

    A shiver went down Verus¡¯s spine as he remembered the insidious aura of the cat spirit. It horrified him that a limitless number of creatures like that lurked unseen in the spirit realms beyond the physical world. Some of them could be watching him right now. It was just a good thing that Elder Sevus was here.

    The caravan set off after that and the rest of the day continued mostly as normal. The one small change was that it began to rain that afternoon and the initiates were forced to sleep in their wagon. Pressed up against each other, there was no room for them to stretch out, but the proximity was comforting after the attack in the morning. Verus slept next to Warin, which ended up being a mistake. In the middle of the night, the chubby student rolled over and almost crushed him. Verus had to shove him off and readjust before he could get back to sleep. Sometimes his friend could be a pain.

    The next two days also passed without incident, and the caravan made great time. The huge soul beasts pulled the wagons forward with startling speed. The mountains were now long gone, and the forests had been completely replaced by field after vibrant field. The road was also wider, and the caravan began passing more and more travelers. They even came across other merchant caravans, although none of the were pulled by soul beasts of any sort. They used simple horses or mundane oxen.

    Then, on the third day after the spirit attack, the capital city finally appeared off in the distance. At first it was just a blurry outline on the horizon, but it quickly came into focus and grew larger in their sight as they approached. An hour later, the speedy pace of the soul beasts carried the caravan close enough that they had to slow as the traffic around the city grew thicker. A few minutes later, they came to a complete stop as something up ahead blocked the caravan¡¯s way.

    Leaning out over the side of the wagon, Verus gasped as he took in the sights. All around him, his fellow disciples were doing the same. Shining white walls stretched out before Verus, completely filling his view to either side. Beyond the walls, stood row after row of tall buildings with tiled roofs of various colors. Some were large bulky buildings while others were graceful towers. The capital was far bigger than Verus had imagined!

    However, the walls and everything else were dwarfed by the huge tower in the center of the city. It rose up into the sky, seeming to challenge the heavens and lord over all the world. Square at its base, it gleamed as the sunlight played across its smooth crystalline exterior, until the tower peaked at a triangular top with no overhang or proper roof. Its design was nothing like that of every other building in the city. With little in the way of decorations or features, it almost seemed to have been made from one huge piece of crystal.

    Most impressively, despite the vast distance to the top of the structure, Verus could easily sense the thick clouds of ki that swirled around its peak. The subtle energy glimmered like a rainbow storm. This was no simple building, but an incredible piece of architecture created by the empire¡¯s cultivators to display their power and ability to dominate the world.

    As the disciples gawked, Elder Sevus suddenly appeared in front of his charges and gave them a solemn look. ¡°Don¡¯t be blinded by the wonders you will soon have before you, young initiates. Prepare yourselves. The Great Wind Sect has sheltered and aided you your entire lives. That ends now. Heed my warning. Here you will be tested and your true worth as cultivators discovered. Some of you will fail and lose your lives, while others will stall in your cultivation and never amount to anything as members of the sect. If you wish to rise to greater heights than that, like a true cultivator of the empire, you will have to struggle with everything you have and face countless dangers.¡±

    A chill went through Verus as he listened. He didn¡¯t believe for a moment that Elder Sevus was trying to scare them, not after the spirit attack. He was telling them nothing but the truth.

    Turning, Sevus then laughed darkly. ¡°We will leave the caravan now and enter the provincial capital on foot. This may only be a backwater world that has recently been conquered by the Heavenly Empire ¨C one among countless others ¨C but to sheltered young disciples like you wards, it will probably be the grandest place you will visit for many long decades.¡±

 The Measuring of Souls 1

    Fear not the endless dark or those that watch unblinking, for the Archon is with you. Though seas of fire burn your very soul and ravenous mouths tear you apart, all pain earned in service to him is rewarded. Every soul is reborn anew. ¨C The Path of Illumination 3:2

    <hr>

    His short speech done, Elder Sevus led the initiates down the road and toward the city. They left the caravan behind and proceeded on foot. Soon, the reason the caravan had come to a stop was obvious. A long lineup stretched out from the city gates as the gathered people waited for their turn to enter. There were common folk in dirty homespun clothing and straw hats, merchants in colorful silks, plenty of hired servants in various uniforms, and no shortage of animals. Chickens clucked from within cages piled in the back of wagons pulled by oxen, and horses snorted and neighed as their riders slowly moved up the line.

    Elder Sevus simply strode past all of these people as if they weren¡¯t there, and the initiates could only scurry after him. They got more than a few looks, but no one raised a fuss. Elder Sevus was obviously a highly ranked cultivator, which meant his social status was leagues above mere mortals. However, he needed no status to back him up. Verus was used to powerful cultivators thanks to his upbringing, but to normal people, their very presence could be a shock. Common folk gasped and flinched as the elder¡¯s natural aura of ki pressed down on them. Some stumbled away, gasping for breath, and no one dared meet his eyes. Dark and cold, they seemed to see right through everything, as if normal people and the physical world were nothing but fog. In Verus¡¯s experience, almost all elders had that same gaze.

    Up ahead, the open city gates loomed. The Heavenly Empire liked to build things big. The gates were massive, taller even than the walls. They were also quite wide. A dozen oxen could fit through them at one time, although people were being let in at a far slower pace than that. On top of their size, they were also incredibly ornate while still being solid looking. Roofed in red tiles and made from the same white stone as the walls, the gates were decorated with metallic golden highlights that shone in the sun. It was an awe-inspiring sight, especially for young monks that had spent most of their life isolated in an isolated temple.

    As they approached the gate, city guards dressed similarly to the imperial soldiers came into sight. They had the same armor, but with red sleeves. They also carried truncheons instead of being reliant on more deadly weapons such as swords or spears.

    It wasn¡¯t until they reached the shadow of the gate itself that Elder Sevus came to a stop. Here, a dozen soldiers were watching while three more searched the wagon of a protesting merchant. They seemed to oversee who got into the city. As their sergeant stepped forward, Verus flinched in surprise after he noticed that the guards weren¡¯t alone.

    Standing on opposite sides of the road were a pair of tall humanoids wearing bronze masks that had been shaped to resemble stern human faces. Verus couldn¡¯t help but shiver as he studied them. Their entire heads were sealed with their masks, and huge bronze wings were folded up behind the backs. The rest of their bodies were hidden by pure white robes and bronze armor. They radiated a cold, malevolent ki and they were utterly still, inhumanly so. Like statues, they didn¡¯t fidget or shift their weight. Only their heads occasionally turned slightly as they surveyed everyone passing by.

    Verus knew what these were, seraphim. Unflinching enforcers created by the Archonite church using secret means. Their bronze wings and masks identified them as being of the lowest rank of seraphim, but Verus had no doubt they could tear him and all his fellow initiates apart with ease and without remorse if they were given such a command.

    ¡°Please state your identity and business,¡± the guard sergeant asked Elder Sevus respectfully.

    Ignoring the seraphim completely, Sevus reached into his robe and pulled out a golden medallion. ¡°I¡¯m here to deliver these young ones to my sect.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. Welcome to the capital, sir,¡± the man replied with a formal bow before stepping back out of the way.

    Without comment, Elder Sevus proceeded on his way. As the initiates passed through the gates, Verus saw that a pair of huge golden lion heads had been emblazoned on the open doors. Verus was distracted by the incredible art, but he thought he saw Elder Sevus give one of the seraphim a brief disgusted look. He apparently didn¡¯t like them any more than Verus did, maybe less.

    Thankfully, they soon left the seraphim behind, and the city on the other side of the gates took Verus¡¯s breath away. He could only stare in awe at the rows of homes and crowds of people. Right in front of him, there was a sparking marble fountain in the center of the square. Although there were hundreds of people in sight, everything looked clean and orderly. The wide streets were all properly paved, and flowers grew in front of many homes and shops. There was no sign of refuse and even the clothes of the common folk were unusually clean. There was quite a bit of diversity when it came to fashion though, everything from robes and dresses to shirts and trousers. The empire encompassed countless worlds and new colonists were always arriving.

    Verus wasn¡¯t alone in his awe. All the initiates couldn¡¯t help but stop and stare. With uncharacteristic patience, Elder Sevus stopped and took a moment to let them gape, although there was a disapproving look on his face. Verus definitely wouldn¡¯t miss him when they parted ways. He was unbearably cold and impatient, even for an elder.

    Rising above the rest of the city were several incredible sights. On a tall hill on the other side of the city stood the imperial palace complex. Its stunning gold and white buildings were an artful mix of soaring towers and incredible domes that looked to be many times larger than Verus¡¯s old home. It was less a palace and more a shining city within a city. Verus knew the world gate used to bring in more colonists and the docks ¨C the capital was located next to the ocean- were somewhere in the city too, but he couldn¡¯t see them.

    However, the palace wasn¡¯t the only incredible sight. The heaven piecing tower that Verus had seen from afar dominated the skyline, rising up far higher than any other building, although the city contained no shortage of towers, most of which were rectangular with large overhangs on their tiled roofs.

    Noticing his charges awed gazes, Elder Sevus answered the unasked question on many of their faces. ¡°That tower is this world¡¯s central Heaven and Earth Array. One is built on every world claimed by the empire. They not only help connect this world to the rest of the empire, but in collaboration with the other lesser towers scattered across the world they manage and collect all this world¡¯s ki. If you are lucky enough to gain access to a cultivation room, it will be powered by that array.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    Verus nodded along with the elder¡¯s words. He¡¯d heard of the Heaven and Earth Array, but seeing it was something else entirely. Gazing upon it really made him feel insignificant. He was a simple temple ward on a recently conquered world. A mere cultivator of the Foundation Realm. The heavens were truly endless, and he was nothing before their majesty or the might of the empire.

    ¡°Now, close your slack jaws, and let¡¯s continue on our way. You will have plenty of time to gape at everything like back country rubes later,¡± Elder Sevus added a moment later before turning and beginning to walk away. The initiatives had no choice but to hurry after him. Without a guide, they would be lost and alone in the unfamiliar city.

    The road Elder Sevus headed down took them into a market district full of colorful stalls, although even here everything was orderly. No one was yelling and the people in the crowds were calmly walking from stall to stall.

    ¡°What is that delicious aroma? It¡¯s so rich and tangy!¡± Warin said as he suddenly swerved away from the group and toward a stall selling steamed buns.

    ¡°Get back here! You don¡¯t even have any money,¡± Verus hissed as he grabbed his friend¡¯s arm and dragged him back.

    ¡°I just want to ask what they are! What if the seller leaves and I never find him again?¡±

    ¡°The life of a cultivator is one of many sacrifices,¡± Verus told his struggling friend.

    Next, the group entered a large city square. In the center, stood a larger-than-life statue of a warrior with a raised sword, and raised gardens full of flowers surrounded him. The square was largely empty of people, but there was a small crowd listening to a Lightbringer preach at the base of the statue.

    ¡°Blessed are we by his protection. Dedication is always rewarded, for the Archon and the empire look after us all!¡± the white robed cultivator orated as he radiated a calm and reassuring aura. Verus took a moment to listen as he walked past. The sermon was familiar and thus comforting to him after being thrust into the unknown.

    Elder Sevus led them through the square without comment and then down another street that took them to a small ornate gate. This one was guarded by a single pair of guardsmen who simply nodded as Elder Sevus passed.

    The buildings and atmosphere on the other side of the gate were markedly different on the other side though. It was quieter, and the homes here were further apart with bigger yards. Many of them had garden walls encircling them to give the residents some privacy.

    ¡°This must be the cultivator district,¡± Warin whispered to Verus as they walked. Verus could only nod back in agreement. He supposed that made sense. Cultivators would want to separate themselves from the shorter-lived mortals, but a lot of them had to live in the city. They ran everything after all.

    The golden palace on the hill was now much closer than before, and it got closer still as they walked down the idyllic residential street. However, Elder Sevus eventually turned away from it and lead them in another direction while they were still some distance away. Soon, the houses on the street gave way to shops and then to a familiar looking temple complex. White flags with green wind symbols hung from its grey stone walls and below its red tiled roofs. They¡¯d arrived at their destination, the Great Wind Sect¡¯s headquarters.

    The walls were only seven feet tall and obviously more decorative than functional. The gate also didn¡¯t have any doors and was capped by an arch that supported a small roof that probably served no purpose but to provide shelter from the rain. However, there were two guards on duty. They weren¡¯t soldiers. Rather, they looked to be disciples from the sect. Although their heads weren¡¯t bald, they were young and wore loose green robes that weren¡¯t so different from that of the initiates.

    ¡°Greetings, Elder. Welcome back to the sect,¡± both disciples said at the same time as they bowed deeply toward Sevus.

    ¡°Thank you. Attend to your duties,¡± Elder Sevus told them before walking past and entering the temple complex.

    The buildings on the other side of the gate greatly resembled the temple that Verus had grown up in, and he felt some bittersweet nostalgia. However, despite the identical style, this complex was at least four or five times the size of his old home. He was standing in a huge courtyard that was surrounded by three long halls, and he could see parts of over two dozen other buildings peeking out from behind those halls, including three rather tall towers. Also, a huge statue of a snarling beast loomed in the center of the plaza. Staring up at it, Verus didn¡¯t know quite what to make of it. It resembled some sort of savage tiger, except it had short horns, a long lizard-like tail, and a huge pair of feathered wings. It looked like it could come alive and start tearing people apart at any moment. Why was there such a menacing statue in such a place of prominence within the sect?

    However, movement drew Verus¡¯s attention away from the immobile statue. The courtyard was occupied. There were several elders and servants passing by and one smiling servant walking right toward them.

    Elder Sevus came to a stop and turned to face his young charges. ¡°My duty is complete, and our journey together is over. This servant will take you where you need to go. I hope all of you work hard to honor the attention the sect and I have given you.¡±

    The Elder then gave the initiates a nod and began walking away without another word. Warin snorted when he was a safe distance away. ¡°Ya, I¡¯m really worried about his approval.¡±

    Verus agreed but was distracted as the servant hurried over to take the elder¡¯s place. ¡°If you would please follow me, young masters, I will take you to the initiation ceremony.¡±

    Some of the initiates gave the servant a polite greeting, while other simply stared in confusion. Unfazed, the servant simply kept smiling and began herding them over toward the hall to their left. However, instead of entering the building, they walked past it and kept going. Verus was still studying his surroundings with wide eyes, and it was then that he noticed that some of the buildings in the distance that he¡¯d taken for towers were moving. They weren¡¯t towers at all, but floating buildings of some sort. Amazing! Were they using wind ki? Verus could feel a lot of it blowing through the temple.

    The servant led them past several more buildings until they came to another huge courtyard that was even larger than the one at the complex¡¯s entrance. The servant then quickly stepped away, leaving the initiates behind.

    Verus and his fellows could only stare around in surprise. There was a small raised stage at the far end of the courtyard, and there were people everywhere. Crowds of young men and woman in various types of clothing milled about the courtyard. They were all about Verus¡¯s age and there must have been over a hundred of them. Were they all initiates of the Great Wind Sect?

    Verus had expected most the people joining the sect to be temple wards like him, but that didn¡¯t seem to be the case at all. Shaved heads and simple robes were rare in the crowd. Rather, almost everyone looked like some sort of noble or warrior. None of them looked weak. It was intimidating, and Verus immediately began to doubt he was in the right place.

    One shirtless young man with bronzed skin towered over Verus and had chiseled muscles despite his young age. Some well-groomed others wore fancy robes and jewelry that clearly marked them as the children of powerful cultivators, and despite their finery, they moved gracefully and wore swords at their hips. Scars decorated more than a few bodies and faces, marking their bearers as having far more combat experience than Verus and his peers. Across the courtyard, Verus briefly caught sight of one young man whose eyes glowed with blue light the color of a clear sky. He had no idea what that meant. Even most of the women looked dangerous. Whether they had painted faces or were dressed like soldiers, they had fierce gazes and no shortage of weapons.

    The presence of so many women surprised Verus. Objectively, Verus had known that as many women became cultivators as men, but his home temple had been gender segregated to prevent distractions among the initiates, and the few female elders around had almost never interacted with the students.

    Out of his depth, Verus suddenly felt very inadequate. He was a simple ward of the sect with no real talents, family, or experience. He really hoped he didn¡¯t have to compete with all these people.

    ¡°Whoa, I really hope the elders don¡¯t make us fight to retain our place in the sect,¡± Warin remarked, echoing his friend¡¯s thoughts. ¡°That fellow over there looks like he could pick me up and rip me in half!¡±

 The Measuring of Souls 2

    As Verus was nervously studying the crowd of young cultivators around him, some of them looked his way in return. For the most part, their gazes were dismissive, as if Verus and his companions were beneath their notice. That did nothing to make Verus feel less agitated.

    He was far from an expert on nobles, but he did know that actual landholders with imperial title were quite rare. There was no way that most of the highborn here were from actual noble families. Instead, most cultivator families gained wealth and power though service in imperial organizations. That didn¡¯t make them much humbler or stop them from hoarding a lot of political power though.

    There was a pair of young highborn men in crimson robes standing to Verus¡¯s left. Both of them had pale skin and long black hair, although they looked too dissimilar to be brothers. The shorter one frowned as he studied Verus¡¯s group. ¡°Hmm, who are those monks?¡±

    His companion chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them. They¡¯re simple temple wards. Poor orphans here to fill spots and give us someone to beat up. They probably have no idea how far out of their depth they are.¡±

    As the first noble nodded in understanding and agreement, movement up on the stage drew Verus¡¯s attention. The elders had stepped forward to the center of the stage to address the crowd. The first was an older man with a long white beard. Slightly hunched over, he looked older and less vigorous than most other elders Verus had seen. His two companions were a sour-looking younger man with messy black hair and a stern woman with her brown hair up in bun. Behind the elders, Verus noticed a large dull crystal of some sort. It had a hexagonal shape that ended in a sharp point, and although he couldn¡¯t see the bottom of it, it looked to be about 5 feet tall.

    The crimson robed nobles noticed the elders as well. ¡°Three elders? They really want to intimidate us.¡±

    His friend nodded. ¡°I¡¯m surprised there are no great elders here to awe us.¡±

    The other snorted rudely. ¡°Don¡¯t be a fool. As if a great elder would ever waste his time with lowly beings such as us. Most of them are centuries old and spend all their time in closed cultivation. They almost never emerge from their chambers unless summoned by a representative of the empire. Besides, I doubt you¡¯d enjoy meeting one. Those old monsters are barely human anymore. Their very presence can kill mere mortals.¡±

    ¡°Attention. You will all be silent and listen,¡± the female elder announced in a loud ki-enhanced voice that washed over the entire courtyard.

    The voice hit Verus like a physical wave. He almost stumbled backwards from the pressure, and he saw many other people be affected the same way. One foppish noble actually did manage to trip over himself and fall. Thankfully, the pressure soon dissipated, and the gathered disciples straightened and turned to gaze at the elder with meek respect. They were all utterly silent now.

    Seeing this, the brunette elder began speaking in a commanding tone. ¡°Greetings, new disciples. My name is Elder Chu, and I serve as the Master of Discipline here at this temple. That makes me responsible for the training programs of the Great Wind Sect¡¯s new disciples. Congratulations, on becoming official members of the Great Wind Sect. A path full of incredible rewards and achievements lays before you, but you will have to earn them through hard work and dedication to your sect and the empire. The Great Wind Sect is one of the four most powerful sects upon this world, so make no mistake, the competition for the best rewards will be fierce. However, should you succeed, you will gain far more than you can even imagine. Immortality, true enlightenment, and the endless heavens lay before you now.¡±

    Verus gulped nervously as he eyed the other people in the courtyard. It seemed like he would be competing with them after all. He had strongly suspected that would be the case. He¡¯d been taught that the path toward enlightenment was one of constant struggle. There was no other way to grow in understanding.

    ¡°Many of you come from diverse backgrounds, from commoner to noble, which means the knowledge you possess will necessarily vary as well. To remedy such deficiencies, I will explain to you how your first years in the sect will be structured. All of you are currently outer disciples, which means the sect will offer you residence here at the temple and a generous stipend of cultivation resources for your first two years. You are expected to use this time to train yourselves to better serve the sect, and once it is over you will need to purchase resources using your own coin. For most of you, this means you will need to seek employment, and the sect will aid you in finding it. The empire is always in need of cultivators to serve it in many different ways.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, a job. I hate working,¡± Warin remarked with complete sincerity.

    Verus gave him an amused look. He wasn¡¯t sure how his friend had kept that attitude after growing up back at the temple. They¡¯d spent almost all their time working there. Still, he had a point. It would be a serious let down if after coming here to the capital they were forced to leave after two short years and find a job.

    ¡°However, this is not the only path that you could follow,¡± Elder Chu announced. ¡°At the end of every year, the sect holds the inner disciple selection test. If you earn a spot among the inner disciples, you will be granted access to substantially better resources than those given to outer disciples, and you will even have a chance at receiving personal lessons from the elders. Also, unlike outer disciples, inner ones may stay here and train for as long as they wish. They are recognized by the sect as young geniuses with the potential to reach lofty Realms.¡±

    Verus couldn¡¯t help but grin now. This was more like it. Despite the challenges, he knew exactly what he wanted. He needed to join the inner sect so that he could stay in the temple, meditate on enlightenment, and eventually become an elder.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    ¡°Now, Elder Lamar will now instruct you in what to expect during this initiation ceremony. He is the Master of Cultivation here, and thus one of the wisest experts on cultivation techniques upon this world.¡±

    The old elder with the long white beard stepped forward and began talking. ¡°One-by-one you will be called up to the stage where you will place your hand on the crystal behind me to be tested for elemental attunements.¡±

    The crowd of disciples gasped and murmured excitedly now, despite their earlier fear. Even Verus, who had lived almost his entire life being wary of sect elders, couldn¡¯t help but grin broadly. He had been waiting to get his attunements tested ever since he¡¯d reached the Foundation Realm.

    Elder Lamar frowned at the crowd but simply kept explaining. ¡°Regardless of their Realm, all human cultivators can use basic ki, which is truly called human ki, since it is produced solely within humans and is an innate part of us. However, upon reaching the Foundation Realm, a cultivator becomes able to train themselves to use elemental or mental ki as well. As the heavens are endless and the worlds beneath them uncountable, so too are the number of possible attunements, but most cultivators only have a talent for the basic elements. Although, technically any cultivator could train to use almost any element, the depth of your attunement to a type of ki determines your talent in using it. The deeper the attunement, the faster and easier it will be to absorb ki of that type and learn to use its techniques.¡±

    Verus nodded along and even Warin grinned hungrily. They both knew this theory, and Verus suspected everyone else here did as well.

    ¡°Every individual has a unique ability to attune and use different forms of ki. After examining your results, and discussing what the crystal has shown us, we will recommend you a cultivation technique, although you aren¡¯t required to use it. Currently, you only know a very simple technique to gather human ki and use it to form your core, since that is all you need to reach the Foundation Realm. However, a proper cultivation technique that matches your attunements will allow you to greatly increase the rate at which you absorb external ki. Every cultivation technique has its strengths and weaknesses, but our ancient sect has access to many powerful and unique techniques that we have guarded for centuries. For instance, those of you that are lucky enough to possess a strong wind ki attunement will be offered our sect¡¯s prestigious Way of Gathering Storms technique. As some of you know, this technique is considered one of the strongest upon this world. It allows you to gather and control not only wind ki, but several other ki elements as well, such as water and thunder, if you possess those attunements.¡±

    Verus had to resist the urge to jump for joy. He couldn¡¯t believe it. They were handing out proper cultivation techniques on the very first day! This was way more than he could have hoped for! He couldn¡¯t wait to get his own and begin using it. His attunements and cultivation technique would decide his path as a cultivator, allowing him to use advanced ki techniques that suited his strengths.

    ¡°Your hearts should be filled with gratitude to your sect, young ones. We are granting you a great honor today. Only a proper cultivation technique will allow you reach the next stage in your enlightenment, the Tempered Realm. For ascending to that Realm requires a cultivator to not only gather a large amount of ki, but also to gain insight into the nature of ki itself by becoming fully attuned to at least one aspect of it. Now, please wait and approach the stage only when your name is called,¡± the old man explained before stepping back to allow the younger male elder to come forward and began calling out names.

    As Verus shared an excited look with Warin, the chubby young man spoke up. ¡°I¡¯m surprised they have everyone¡¯s names. There¡¯s a lot of people here, and most of them don¡¯t come from within the sect, like us.¡±

    ¡°I think the elders of a great sect can manage that much without difficulty,¡± Verus replied as he watched the first disciple go up on stage with interest. There was flicker of light within the crystal after the young man touched it, and then he had brief conversation with elders before stepping back off the stage. The next disciple was then called.

    This went on for half an hour before Warin was called. The chubby disciple jumped in surprise upon hearing his name. He then threw Verus an excited grin before hurrying over to the stage. There, the same process Verus had seen many times by now repeated itself, although Warin had a satisfied expression on his face as he left the stage. Verus let out sigh of relief as he watched. It seemed his friend had gotten at least half-decent attunements.

    That was when Verus heard his own name. A shot of nervousness flickered within his chest, but he stifled it and began striding quickly over to the waiting elders. It wouldn¡¯t do to waste a single moment of their time.

    Bounding up the steps, Verus stopped in front of the bearded old man. However, the elder simply motioned toward the crystal.

    ¡°Place your hand on the stone and attempt to push your ki into it,¡± he told Verus in a bored tone.

    After a brief respectful bow, Verus did as he was told and hurried over to the crystal. He placed his hand on the crystal and began using his core to circulate ki through is body and push it out through his hand. That was simple enough, thanks to all the training he¡¯d undergone back at his home temple, but being put on the spot in front of three unfamiliar elders and a crowd of strangers made him extremely uncomfortable. How exactly did this test work? What if it revealed something embarrassing? He wasn¡¯t the most faithful or dedicated student¡­

    His cascading thoughts were only interrupted when a light flickered within the depths of the crystal. All three nearby elders glanced down at the light and studied it for a few seconds.

    ¡°No strong attunements outside of human ki,¡± Elder Lamar commented dryly.

    Verus frowned as his stomach wobbled nervously. That didn¡¯t sound great.

    The woman nodded. ¡°Even his attunement with that is only average.¡±

    This really sounded bad to Verus now. His legs grew weak beneath him as his lofty expectations crumbled, leaving him with nothing but dread. It would be hard to get a worse result.

    ¡°The Way of Imperial Might is the obvious cultivation technique for you,¡± the bearded elder said as he turned to look at Verus, who could only gaze back with poorly concealed shock.

    ¡°Yes, you seem destined for a career in the army, where your aptitude for human ki can be developed best,¡± the woman added in a conciliatory tone as she handed him a small scroll.

    Verus was too horrified to reply. All his plans had come to nothing. He could only stare as the woman handed him a small scroll and then shooed him toward the far edge of the stage. ¡°Now, off with you. We have many other disciples to get to before the ceremony is over.¡±

    ¡°More talented ones,¡± the old man huffed as Verus began walking stiffly away.

    The young disciple felt hollow inside, and dreadfully cold. He couldn¡¯t keep his hands from shaking as they clutched the scroll. Was he really so talentless? With no real attunements whatsoever? He didn¡¯t want to join the army! He¡¯d spend his life marching around the country until he died in battle, while barely advancing toward enlightenment. You couldn¡¯t meditate while marching! How could this have happened to him? In one moment, all his dreams had crumbled.

 The Measuring of Souls 3

    Despair and cold shock made Verus feel hollow as he walked past the youngest elder and off the stage.

    The tired-looking man with messy black hair gave Verus a gloomy look, appraising him, but acting as if he was barely paying attention to his surroundings. Verus met his gaze and thought he saw a hint of empathy flash there in his dark eyes.

    ¡°It¡¯s not so bad as all that, young one,¡± the man remarked with sad awkward smile. He didn¡¯t seem able to be able to muster the effort to do it right. ¡°The Way of Imperial Might really is the best technique for you, and you could do far worse. It is a powerful cultivator technique, one of the pillars that support the empire, and it has produced quite a few exalted masters and generals who have earned great honors.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯ve only average aptitude for even basic human ki. I want to be more than just average,¡± Verus found himself telling the man. The emotionally charged words simply poured out of him. ¡°Please, wise elder, is there any way that the test could be¡­ mistaken?¡±

    The man frowned and reached down to a flask hanging from his hip. He took a quick drink from it and seemed to hesitate. The scent of strong alcohol washed over Verus. If he hadn¡¯t already been shocked to his core, seeing an elder drink in public would have done it. What kind of enlightened ascetic was this man?

    The elder¡¯s frown became bitter, but then he sighed and nodded. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t get your hopes up, but nothing under the heavens is truly perfect, including a test such as this one. The Ten-Point Attunement Array is simply the easiest way by far to examine so many young disciples within a reasonable time. Its biggest flaw is that it can¡¯t possibly measure every single attunement that exists, so it simply looks for the most common ones.¡±

    A spark of life returned to Verus¡¯s eyes as hope stirred within him. ¡°What should I do?¡±

    ¡°Bah, it seems I¡¯ve become soft and foolish. How far I¡¯ve fallen. If you¡¯re so dead set against advancing along the Way of Imperial Might, I would suggest going to the library as soon as possible and looking up how to test yourself for rare attunements. You will find everything you need there, and if you do somehow attain a rare attunement, I will aid you in acquiring a suitable cultivation technique. I am known as Elder Caligo. Now, you should get off the stage before you draw the other elders¡¯ ire. That would be foolish.¡±

    After hurriedly bowing thrice in gratitude, Verus rushed off the stage as he had been instructed. There was still a chance! Maybe he could avoid the horrible fate of being sent to the army. He couldn¡¯t imagine anything worse than that.

    Throwing a glance back over his shoulder, Verus saw that Elder Caligo was taking another swig from his flask. He hoped the man didn¡¯t get so drunk that he completely forgot about his promise.

    After stepping down to the ground, Verus found himself not far from where the crowd of other tested disciples were standing. Most of them ignored him, but one began walking over to him. It was Warin.

    His chubby friend was smiling happily as he approached. ¡°Verus, what cultivation technique did they recommend for you? I got the Way of Conquering Faith. Apparently, I have some talent with projecting Devotion ki! If I practice it, I¡¯m practically guaranteed a place with the Lightbringers!¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s what you want?¡± Verus asked in surprise. He was glad his friend had already rushed past enquiring about his own cultivation technique, but Warin had never struck him as particularly devoted to anything, except maybe snacks.

    Warin shrugged. ¡°It seems like an easy path to a good life. I can help people and serve the Archon¡¯s will without worrying too much about fighting. That¡¯s never been my thing. I don¡¯t mind it, but it¡¯s not what I want out of life. It¡¯s not like I stand much chance of getting into the inner sect anyway, and being a Lightbringer sure beats joining the army! What was your cultivation technique again?¡±

    Verus winced. ¡°Um, it doesn¡¯t matter¡­ I¡¯m still choosing which one to use.¡±

    Thankfully, Warin didn¡¯t press the issue, and immediately went back to talking about himself and how easy he thought life as a Lightbringer would be. Verus thought he was seriously underestimating the difficulties a novice Lightbringer would face. They probably went through rather harsh training and had to travel a lot, but he didn¡¯t contradict his cheerful friend. He¡¯d find out eventually, and it was entirely possible he¡¯d change his mind tomorrow.

    Eventually, the last disciple was tested, although it took another hour. The white bearded elder then gave a brief speech congratulating everyone, before dismissing the disciples and disappearing alongside the other elders. One second, they were standing on the stage. The next, they were just gone.

    Verus blinked and stared at the stage, but that was when several servants began calling to get the disciples attention. In loud voices, they made it clear that it was time for a tour of the disciple section of the temple. The servants were to divide up the disciples into smaller groups and show them the areas of the sect temple that were open to them.

    As the other disciples began splitting up to join the tour groups, Verus and Warin did likewise and walked over to the closest servant. Seeing that he¡¯d gathered quite a few followers, that servant began leading them across the plaza and toward a tall building. The other servants led their groups in different directions, which made sense. Having over a hundred disciples in one big mob would making taking a tour difficult.

    ¡°Oh, a tour!¡± Warin exclaimed excitedly as he walked next to Verus. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see all the wonders of the sect!¡±

    Verus frowned. ¡°Those probably won¡¯t be included in a tour for newly arrived outer disciples.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the main temple of one of the most powerful sects on our world! Of course, there will be something grand to see.¡±

    The first place the servant took their group was the outer disciples¡¯ cafeteria. It was a rather plain building and Verus found it utterly lacking in wonder of any kind. Warin disagreed vehemently. Apparently, they could go there at any time and order as much food as they wanted. This was a rather large change from the carefully regimented diets they¡¯d had growing up, and Verus had needed to pull Warin away lest the tour leave them behind.

    His friend''s gluttony was embarrassing. In the Heavenly Empire, everyone was supposed to value discipline and sacrifice in the name of the Archon and in service to all of humanity. Stuffing your face full of pie in no way reflected theses ideals. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The next building was huge and far fancier looking than the cafeteria. Several stories tall, it was made from solid looking stone and its large entrance was flanked by a pair of tall ornate pillars. However, regardless of its decorations, it looked heavy and fortified. There were only a few tiny slit windows that were way too thin for someone to slip through. It seemed designed to hold off a siege, or at least a band of robbers.

    ¡°This is the disciple library. It contains all the gathered knowledge and techniques available to disciples of the Great Wind Sect. However, most of it requires special permission to access. There is also an even larger library that only the elders have access to, but that won¡¯t concern you for years yet,¡± the servant explained proudly.

    Verus was tempted to leave the tour and enter the library right away to look up how to test for rare attunements, but that would be folly. He might miss important information and he could come back when the tour was over.

    The servant then pointed toward a wall behind the library. ¡°That¡¯s the edge of the outer disciple area. You are forbidden to venture beyond it unless accompanied by an elder or given special permission.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s over there?¡± one of the other disciples asked.

    ¡°Many things. That¡¯s where the elders¡¯ residences are and where several special training facilities are located. Do not go exploring. The punishment for trespassing is quite severe, and in some cases, disciples have ended up being executed. The sect guards its secrets closely.¡±

    Curious, Verus took a second to relax and try to sense what lay beyond the wall with his ki, but he wasn¡¯t able to find out anything. Powerful ki radiated out from several different directions, overwhelming his meager Foundation Realm senses.

    After that, they briefly visited several other nearby buildings, passing by other tour groups as they walked. They were shown various offices, some shops operated by the sect, and a few training facilities. Of particular interest to the gathered disciples was the dueling ground, although it looked like nothing special to Verus. It seemed many of his fellows were eager to begin fighting.

    The servant ended the tour by bringing the gathered disciples over to a long rectangular building that was quite long and two stories high. It was right beside another identical building, and there were some other tour groups already there.

    ¡°This is the housing hall for this year¡¯s outer disciples. Fighting inside is not allowed,¡± the guide explained to the nearby disciples. ¡°You get to choose your own rooms, but they are all basically the same. Now, please listen carefully as I explain the rules for disciple housing and stipends.¡±

    The entire tour group fell silent as they began listening intently. None of them wanted to miss this.

    ¡°Three red ki shards have been set aside at the requisition office for each of you. Every outer disciple will also receive one shard every week, and another two as long as they¡¯ve fought at least one challenge the week before. These official duels will only count if they are supervised and at least one ki shard or something of equivalent value is wagered. This is to discourage throwing fights and make sure everyone is fighting their hardest. You also won¡¯t be able to challenge the same person twice in the same year.¡±

    Verus¡¯s eyes went wide in surprise and several disciples near him murmured excitedly. He¡¯d heard of ki shards. They contained crystallized ki that could be absorbed by a cultivator to boost their cultivation speed and help them reach a higher Realm faster. The red ones were the weakest variant, and were considered a basic cultivation aid, but such things had limited worth for someone in the Origin Realm, so he¡¯d never seen any before.

    Apparently, not every person was so excited by the stipend. There was a disdainful huff from one woman with long black hair. ¡°Three red shards or thirty is still petty change.¡±

    Ignoring the comment, the guide went on. ¡°Shards can be absorbed or traded for other items at the shop, and duels aren¡¯t the only way you can earn more. All of your ki levels were measured during the initiation ceremony, and special medallions will be given out to the ten disciples with the highest ki levels. The holders of these medallions will get an extra two shards at the beginning of each week. However, should they lose a challenge, their medallion will go to the winner.¡±

    All these incentives for the disciples to duel were more than a little concerning to Verus considering his tough competition, but there had to be some people here he could beat. They couldn¡¯t all be unparalleled geniuses from incredibly rich families. He may only be a temple ward, but he¡¯d still been raised to be a cultivator his entire life.

    After the explanation was done, the disciples split up and entered the hall through different doors. Verus and Warin stuck together, and they chose to avoid the crowds and walk around to the far side of the building. There, they found a pair of empty rooms next to each other.

    ¡°It will be interesting to see who gets the medallions,¡± Warin remarked as they stood outside Varus¡¯s new room.

    Verus nodded in agreement. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind watching those fights. If I can find the time. I¡¯m sure I could learn a lot.¡±

    Neither of them had any illusions about their ability to claim any of the medallions. Many of the disciples obviously came from powerful families. A lot of them also looked like they had a lot of combat experience, with their scars and weapons. They¡¯d probably rip Verus apart in a fight.

    After parting with Warin, Verus stepped into his new room and studied its interior. As he looked around, a felt a weird mix of nostalgia and novelty. Although the style and layout reminded him of his old room, it was much larger and clearly for a single person. That was expected given his new station. He was a real disciple of the Great Wind Sect now.

    Square in shape, the room held a large bookcase and sturdy chest. There were also a table and two chairs, while at the far side of the room there was a slim bed big enough for one person. It wasn¡¯t much too look at, but it was surprisingly soft and comfortable. Almost too soft; Verus was used to much harder.

    After his examination of his new home was complete, Verus sighed and sat down on his bed and faced his present circumstances. Despite what he¡¯d accomplished simply by getting here, his position in the sect wasn¡¯t good. On top of his obvious lack of attunements, he had no real resources. Other disciples would undoubtedly have resources given to them by their families, while he had nothing.

    Actually, he did have the Way of Imperial Might cultivation technique, even if he had no intention of using it unless forced to. Frowning, Verus took the scroll out and glanced over the diagrams and script on it. Understanding most of it was beyond him, but he knew quite a lot about this technique already.

    The Way of Imperial Might was the Imperial army¡¯s most commonly used cultivation technique. It was designed for a single purpose, to take mediocre cultivators to the tempered realm and beyond. All it required was the ability to use human ki, which meant basically anyone could use it. Despite that, it was not a simple technique. The Heavenly Empire had spent centuries developing and perfecting it. The massed Tempered Realm cultivators it produced formed the Imperial Army¡¯s backbone as they conquered world after world, and it had other strengths. Humans naturally produced human ki, especially if they were cultivators and in large groups. That made army divisions great places for users of this technique to cultivate, and the technique itself was designed to take advantage of this. Practicing it made cultivators resonate with each other, allowing them to cultivate easier and making up for its user¡¯s lack of talent.

    However, the techniques strengths were balanced by its weaknesses. The technique couldn¡¯t be used to develop other attunements except for human and devotion. It also focused the user¡¯s power inward, making outward manifestations of power less efficient even as it reinforced the body. Thus, no one who had any other options used this cultivation technique. It simply had too many costs.

    Verus needed to find a better cultivation technique, or he¡¯d never have a chance at becoming an inner disciple. Elder Caligo from the stage had recommended that he head to the library right away and find out if he had some rare attunements, so that¡¯s what he¡¯d do.

 The Measuring of Souls 4

    Getting up, Verus walked out of his new room and into the dormitory hall. There were two unfamiliar disciples around, but neither of them paid him any attention, so he ignored them in turn and headed for his destination. All the other disciples were probably busy unpacking or studying their new techniques.

    After leaving the disciple hall, Verus began walking along a paved path that led to the library. Around him were quite a few little gardens that the tour had rushed past before he could study them. They were full of flowering bushes and jagged pieces of black rock. It was odd how twisted and sharp some of the stones were. They certainly looked interesting, although falling on them would hurt a lot. They also had a sinister aura, almost as if they¡¯d been placed there to be hazard on purpose. They were just rocks though, so Verus moved on.

    The Great Wind Sect¡¯s main temple was a huge place. Almost a small city within a city. There were dozens of huge structures around Verus, and plenty of small ones as well. Off in the distance, beyond the short wall that encircled the inner disciple area, Verus thought he saw several rows of large houses. They probably belonged to elders or were given to respected visitors. There were probably only about a thousand cultivators in the temple but there were also about twice that many servants.

    Really, the edge of a city was an odd place for a cultivator sect¡¯s temple. They were usually located in remote locations with high concentrations of natural ki. Verus supposed that being near the palace and the political center of the world was important for the elders who lived here. Looking over his shoulder, Verus studied the huge white tower that dominated the skyline for a moment. It was undoubtedly the other reason all the sects had their main temples here. The Heaven and Earth Array could supply them with all the ki they could ever need, since it sucked up ki from all around the world. Hmmm, he wanted some of that. What would it take to get access to a cultivation chamber?

    A few minutes of walking brought Verus to the edge of the outer disciple area. There, he found himself outside the disciple library. Gazing up at the huge building and its ornate columns, Verus felt nervous and out of place again. It towered above him, solid and radiating power. Verus had just arrived in this unfamiliar temple full of strangers and wasn¡¯t sure of the rules and expectations, but he pressed on. This was something he needed to do.

    Cautiously, he approached the doors. Finding them unlocked, he slowly opened them and stepped inside.

    The inside of the library was even more impressive than the outside. On the other side of the doors was a large entrance lobby that¡¯s floor was covered in large white and grey tiles. A row of statues ran along the far end of the entrance area, and each one was at least twice as tall as a person. They seemed to be of a diverse group of cultivators, representing both men and women, scholars and warriors. All their unmoving faces were gazing toward Verus with haughty disdain though.

    Behind the statues stretched countless ranks and rows of bookshelves, and not just one floor¡¯s worth. The ceiling above the lobby went all the way up to the roof of the building, were there was a stained glass ceiling, allowing people standing in the lobby to peer up at all four floors of the building. Ornate brass railings were the only thing stopping someone above from falling down onto the first floor.

    There were far more books here than Verus had ever seen before. He couldn¡¯t imagine how much knowledge was contained within them. It was just too much. The library had a cavernous feeling. The silence within was an almost physical presence, which was reinforced by the stern and unblinking gazes of all the statues. With the door behind him shut, it was easy to imagine this place as a small isolated world of its own.

    Looking around, Verus noticed a huge wooden desk over to his left, at the side of the entrance lobby, so he headed over to it. There was a woman seated behind the desk. With a quill in hand, she was writing on some papers and hadn¡¯t looked up yet.

    Walking up to the desk, Verus coughed politely to get the attendant¡¯s attention. It was hard to tell since she was sitting down, but she seemed tall for a woman, and she had steel grey hair and a severe expression. He wasn¡¯t sure if she was a servant or an elder. Her plain brown robes were probably some sort of uniform, but she seemed to radiate ki like a cultivator even though the feeling was weak and muted. Maybe she was suppressing it?

    The librarian kept writing for several seconds before looking up and frowning at Verus. ¡°A first-year visitor already? You move quickly. Your class just arrived.¡±

    ¡°I apologize for the disturbance, but an elder told me to come here right away and look into rare attunements.¡±

    ¡°Oh, one of those. I see,¡± the librarian remarked coldly as she studied him with narrowed eyes, causing Verus to squirm uncomfortably. ¡°Well, I suppose I can allow you access. Normally you¡¯d need to use a pass, which you don¡¯t have, but all new disciples get a single use one from the requisition office. I¡¯ll simply send them a note that you¡¯ve already used yours.¡±

    ¡°Ah, thank you for your generosity. It is much appreciated,¡± Verus replied as he gave her a respectful bow. It seemed like a good idea to be as polite as possible to this woman.

    ¡°At least you temple raised brats have good manners, unlike some of the others. The books you¡¯re looking for are on the first floor in section three. Ask any library worker about searching for rare attunements and they¡¯ll help you find them. You can take out a single book and won¡¯t be allowed back here until you earn another pass, so choose wisely. Also, you¡¯ll be wanting a channeling orb, so I¡¯ll have one brought here from the requisition office.¡±

    ¡°You are too kind. Thank you again for your wisdom.¡±

    The woman rolled her eyes. ¡°Good luck in your search. You¡¯ll need more than your fair share. Almost all the young disciples that go searching for rare attunements end up deeply disappointed. They¡¯re called rare for a reason.¡±

    Verus simply nodded and began to turn away, but the librarian wasn¡¯t done yet. ¡°This is your first visit, so I¡¯ll give you the same warning I give to all the others. Don¡¯t go touching random stuff. At the Foundation Realm you¡¯re as blind as a mortal. If you know what¡¯s good for you, you¡¯ll keep your hands at your side until you find what you¡¯re looking for. Even here in the disciple library, some of the books and items are dangerous to lower Realm disciples. Also, if you damage anything, you could spend the rest of your life working off that debt.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°Thank you for the warning. I will do my utmost to obey,¡± Verus told her before heading off in the direction she¡¯d indicated. The library was certainly far more perilous than he¡¯d thought it would be, but there was no going back now. He¡¯d already used his pass, so he needed to concentrate on finding this section three and the books it contained.

    The library was just as vast and maze-like as Verus had been afraid it would be, but also much darker. The rows of tall wooden shelves blocked the light, casting deep shadows that shifted as distant unseen light sources flickered and moved. The shelves were full of thick books and piles of rolled up scrolls, but it was almost too dark to read them in most places. Verus tried to peer over the shelves to see what the source of the flickering lights was, but they seemed to vanish when he looked their way. Should he have brought his own lantern?

    Unsettled by the gloom, Verus wandered through the library, occasionally passing numbered signs, but never managing to reach the right area. The only break in the seemingly endless shelves was the occasional piece of art, such as a statue of a mythical beast or a porcelain vase. Thankfully, the art displays were usually lit by small light crystals, so he could actually see them.

    These treasures were beautiful and intriguing, but not what Verus was looking for, although one particular oil painting caught his eye. It was masterpiece full of complex detail and vivid strokes that gave it a surreal look. On the painting, a hero on horseback was stabbing a large snake-like spirit with a spear, except both the hero and the spirit were warped and twisted. Their proportions were skewed so that even the hero¡¯s expression looked malevolent. The snake spirit was worse. Many of its scales could be mistaken for eyes - dozens of them, and where it was cut, the ki spurting from the wounds almost resembled grasping tentacles. It was a nightmarish sight, like nothing alive. Were there actually spirits like that? Weren¡¯t most of them supposed to resemble animals closely? Verus hoped he never ran into any spirits that creepy.

    Keeping the librarian¡¯s advice firm in his mind, Verus moved on. However, he soon managed to get turned around and became completely lost. Now, he didn¡¯t even know how to make it back to the front desk. The dark rows of books seemed to stretch on forever in every direction. The library wasn¡¯t quite a normal space. It seemed larger on the inside than the outside and all twisted up so that navigating was difficult. Walking one direction should have brought Verus to a wall, but it rarely did. Instead, some of the rows simply seemed to go on forever, like an inescapable trap. He began to grow nervous about his chances of finding what he was looking for and leaving. Borrowing a book shouldn¡¯t be this hard!

    As Verus was walking down a shadowy row of shelves, the sound of footsteps reached his ears, and he looked over to see a dim light shining up above the bookshelves and moving his way. Cautiously, Verus crept over toward the light and peeked around the corner of a shelf, only to come face-to-face with an annoyed looking man in brown library robe.

    ¡°What are you doing creeping around here in the dark?¡±

    Flushing red in embarrassment, Verus stammered a reply. ¡°The librarian at the front desk sent me to look for section three, but I can¡¯t find it.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± the man said as he gave Verus a look that left no doubt as to what he thought of the young disciple¡¯s intelligence.

    The man then pointed to the light floating over his shoulder. It was an orb of white light surrounded by a solid ring of white essence with glyphs written on it. Seeing the glyphs, Verus realized he was looking at a construct of some sort, and not a spirit or technique.

    ¡°All visitors can summon a library wisp,¡± the man explained as he told Verus the commands used to control the wisps. Apparently, they also functioned as guides that could take you to any section. That would have been really nice to know earlier. The librarian at the desk must have kept him in the dark on purpose, probably just for her own amusement.

    Obviously not trusting Verus to manage on his own, the library worker led him over to section three and the books he was looking for. Verus wanted to ask the man if he was stuck working off a debt to the library for all eternity, but he thought he probably seemed like enough of an idiot already.

    As the library worker left, Verus examined the section of books on ki channeling. Some of the books were written in a weird language he didn¡¯t know. Its script looked like spiders being tortured, so he put them carefully aside.

    Ki channeling turned out to be a very basic topic. It referred to some simple techniques that did little more than allow a cultivator to gather and hold a small amount of elemental or emotional ki. The techniques had no real practical applications, but using them was one of the best ways to see if you were attuned to that element. All you had to do was hold a channeling orb filled with the type of ki you were trying to fuel the technique with. The ki in the orb made sensing the ki much easier, and the brighter the orb glowed, the more talented you were with that element. The downside was that the orb had to be recharged after each use.

    Sighing, Verus went through the books. He wanted one that contained channeling techniques for as many rare attunements as possible. Learning and performing so many techniques wouldn¡¯t be easy, despite how simple they were, but it was what he needed to do.

    Verus eventually selected one thick dusty tome. Its writing was a little cramped and hard to read in places, but it seemed to contain more techniques than any of the others. Thus, with his prize tucked under his arm, he headed back to the librarian¡¯s desk. His newly summoned library wisp lit the way and guided him there, so the return journey was much easier and faster.

    The librarian was still seated behind her desk, although this time she did look up as he approached.

    ¡°Good choice,¡± she said as she glanced at the book under his arm, she then placed a small transparent marble on the desk in front of him. It was undoubtedly the channeling orb from the books. ¡°I¡¯ll lend you this orb for free, but you¡¯ll have to go to the requisition office and pay a red shard to fill it with whatever ki you want to test yourself for.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much for your generosity. I will be ever grateful for the help you have given me,¡± Verus replied as he picked up the orb and tucked it into his robes. Bringing up how she¡¯d sent him into library unprepared would do him no good. It wasn¡¯t like she was actually hostile.

    ¡°Wait until you¡¯ve worked your way through that book,¡± she told him before waving him away and going back to her writing. ¡°It will be a slow and expensive process. There¡¯s a reason we don¡¯t test every disciple for every rare attunement.¡±

    Since he¡¯d obviously been dismissed, Verus turned and exited the library. His heart beat excitedly as he hurried back to the outer disciple dormitory. The halls outside his room were deserted, making it easy for him to slip into his room unmolested. He supposed that everyone else was studying the cultivation techniques they¡¯d just been given in the privacy of their new rooms. Jealousy flared up within Verus, but he quashed it and hugged the book he was holding tighter. He¡¯d soon get a great cultivation technique of his own. All he had to do was find a rare attunement first.

 The Measuring of Souls 5

    Sitting down at the desk in his room, Verus opened the book from the library and began reading. In order to test himself for rare attunements he¡¯d first have to learn one of the channeling techniques detailed in the book, but which one should he try first? Thankfully, the intro to the book explained which attunements were commonly tested for in initiation ceremonies, so he was able to eliminate those. There were quite a few, including the five main elements: fire, wind, earth, water, and metal. After that were some slightly rarer elements like light, shadow, lightning, and wood. Verus was disheartened to learn that he had no talent for using any of those types of elemental ki. He would have loved to have been able to learn to throw lightning around. To him, that was the very image of being an elder, an immortal powerful enough to stand tall in the strongest storms and wield the power of the heavens themselves.

    The initiation ceremony seemed to test for far fewer types of emotional ki, mostly because practicing many types of emotional ki was incredibly illegal and could get a cultivator executed.

    The empire prohibited almost everything but devotion, which Verus understood and agreed with. To properly cultivate emotional ki, you needed a strong source of that emotion, and there was only one real option for that, the mortal populace. Fostering devotion within the populace to aid cultivation was nothing but beneficial to them, but the same could not be said for other emotions. A fear or rage cultivator would be a plague upon society. In fact, horrifying tales of demi-humans or spirits that fed on fear and despair had been common even among the youth back at Verus¡¯s old home, alongside more colorful ¨C but in the end no less horrifying - stories of lust spirits. Guarding against such monstrosities was one of the principle duties of the Lightbringers.

    Still, as sensible as the restrictions on emotional ki were, they left Verus with few options. In the empire, the second most cultivated brand of emotional ki was dream or sleep ki. It was both easy to gather at night when everyone was sleeping and quite useful. You could use it to tire opponents out and even put them to sleep. That made it a good first rare attunement to test for.

    His mind made up, Verus headed to the requisition office to get some dream ki. It was a building near the dormitory and inside an inner disciple was sitting behind a desk. There was no one else present. After giving the attendant his name, he was informed of his current account, three red ki shards. Verus gave his options a moment of thought and then decided not to withdraw his shards. Instead, he simply asked for his orb to be filled with dream ki. The attendant subtracted one shard from his account and then took the orb into a back room. He emerged a few minutes later and handed the orb back to Verus. It was glowing faintly purple now and he could feel the strange ki within it. It swirled in slow messy loops that were hard to define. That seemed like dream ki to Verus, so he thanked the attendant and left.

    Once back in his room, Verus flipped through his book until he got to the page with the dream channeling technique on it. The detailed ki patterns weren¡¯t that complicated, but Verus knew performing the technique wouldn¡¯t be easy. He¡¯d never used dream ki before. To do it, he¡¯d need to meditate on the nature of the ki until he somehow managed to get a feel for it. Even with the technique helping him and having the dream ki available in the orb, that could take a while. It was frustratingly imprecise, relying more on intuition and luck than skill.

    After making sure he¡¯d memorized the breathing and ki movement necessary to gather dream ki, Verus sat down on the mat in the middle of the room. Closing his eyes, he began performing the technique and tried to reach out to feel for the dream ki in the orb. He didn¡¯t have any immediate luck, so he sighed and settled down for a long, frustrating training session.

    Verus didn¡¯t get any sleep that night. Instead, he stubbornly worked on testing his attunements until the break of dawn. Dream ki turned out to be very difficult to grasp, and despite his hopes, it didn¡¯t become easier the more tired he got.

    The sun had already started rising before he managed to sense the elusive energy. Nonetheless, there was a smile on his face when he pulled out the small attunement crystal he¡¯d gotten at the library and activated the channeling technique again. The smile swiftly disappeared though, when the orb failed to glow at all. He had no talent with dream ki. The realization was almost physically painful, leaving him feeling hollow. On some level, he¡¯d been expecting to succeed on his first try and easily acquire a rare and powerful ability.

    Verus felt the channeling crystal¡¯s power fade away and the dream ki it was holding disperse. The orb was dead now and would need to be recharged. As a wave of despair washed over him, Verus realized that the librarian had been right. This was going to be a very slow and very expensive process. Worse, everyone else would be pulling ahead of him while he struggled with this.

    By then, it was almost time to get breakfast. Feeling terrible and exhausted emotionally as well as physically,

    Verus sat alone on his floor. He didn¡¯t want to get up¡­

    ¡°The unbound soul seeks balance. A true cultivator grows stronger through struggle and overcomes despair,¡± Verus chanted quietly as reluctantly stopped his training and got up to go to the cafeteria. He wasn¡¯t going to give up. ¡°Enlightenment awaits.¡±

    There was a board out in the hallway with all the class schedules on it. Verus had seen it last night after returning from the library and briefly looked it over, but now he examined it more closely. The first lesson on cultivation theory was today, and it would be foolish to go to it without both food and sleep.

    It seemed that every disciple would be attending five classes: cultivation theory, theology, math, literature, and history. The three-hour classes would happen once a week on different days at the start of the week. The final two days were a free day and the holy day of Surkisti.

    The outer disciples had also been split into four groups of around thirty people for classes, so that all of them wouldn¡¯t be shoved in a single room. Unfortunately, Warin had been put into another group, but that probably wouldn¡¯t be a big deal. There was nothing preventing them from meeting up the rest of the time. The only other activity mentioned on the board was daily physical training, and that wasn¡¯t mandatory.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    Thankfully, the cafeteria served some rather strong tea that helped Verus deal with the fatigue from skipping sleep. So, after a quick breakfast that included some delicious fruit, he headed over to class while feeling only slightly tired.

    The lesson was taking place in a huge hall in a building near the dormitory. Inside, several raised rows of seating formed a half circle that was wrapped around a podium. There was more than enough room for thirty disciples, which was good, because they all soon filtered into the room and sat down. Unsure of what was supposed to happen next, Verus looked for an open seat. However, when he moved toward the first empty seat, the male disciple in the next seat over swung his feet over to block his way. He was well-dressed, had long brown hair, and a symbol of a hawk in flight had been emblazoned on his robe. It was undoubtedly a family crest although Verus didn¡¯t recognize it.

    ¡°That seat is taken. Go somewhere else, peasant,¡± the disciple explained with a sneer.

    Versus doubted anyone else was going to show up and take the seat, but he didn¡¯t want to cause a scene. Punching the rude fool in the face would cause too much trouble, and there were other places he could sit. Yes, controlling his emotions and being the better person would only help him grow stronger. Giving in to temptation was giving in to self-destruction.

    However, as he approached his second choice, the nearest group of disciples all turned to give him nasty looks, so he promptly stopped and headed toward another empty seat. There, the other disciples sitting nearby ignored him completely. Fighting to keep a calm expression, Verus fumed inside. It appeared that everyone in his classes were arrogant asses. He wished he could deal with them like he¡¯d dealt with Lee, but this was a very different situation, and they were much more intimidating than Lee had been.

    A few minutes later, an elder strode through a door at the back of the room and went over to the podium. She was a younger woman with short black hair and an average looking face that Verus had never seen before. He guessed that all the teaching duties had been dumped on the younger and less powerful elders, although that didn¡¯t mean they lacked the presence that all higher Realm cultivators had. Even though she made no noise, every eye in the room was drawn to the woman as her powerful commanding aura washed over them.

    As the disciples all fell silent, the woman briefly studied them and then began speaking. ¡°I am Elder Ling and I will be giving lectures on basic cultivation theory and the natural philosophy of ki. These lectures will happen once a week for the first six months of your time here. Then, you will be expected to branch out and choose your own areas of research. Please pay attention as I speak and attend every lecture. I will not be going over the same material twice.¡±

    The elder looked over the students, as if looking for any signs of disagreement, but everyone was silent, so she moved on. ¡°The first thing we will discuss is the basics of cultivation techniques and how to use them. This topic requires jumping ahead a little, but that¡¯s necessary because you have all gained access to cultivation techniques and need to know more about them before proceeding. We will get back to the basics of ki and enlightenment after introducing this topic.¡±

    At his seat, Verus perked up, shedding some of his fatigue from lack of sleep. This lecture seemed like it might be interesting and touch on his problems. He needed all the help he could get.

    ¡°Cultivation techniques are usually referred to as Ways, such as the Way of the Gathering Storm. This is because every cultivation technique sets you on a unique path toward enlightenment. Choosing your cultivation technique is one of the most important decisions you will make, so I advise you all not to rush into it. I know that you are all under pressure to compete but rushing this decision could hold you back for your entire journey as a cultivator. Consider multiple options. Practicing a cultivation technique slowly changes the essence within your core, building it up and creating unique patterns so that you grow in strength. This mean you can only use one, and changing techniques is very difficult.¡±

    This was very basic stuff so far. Everyone knew that ki cores were made from essence, which was in turn created from compressed and transformed ki.

    Still, everyone in the class listened patiently for the lecturer to get to something new. The part about not rushing to pick a cultivation technique made Verus feel better about himself though. Now, if only he actually had a choice¡­

    ¡°For instance, practicing the Way of Gathering Storms gathers up wind ki and refines it into wind essence within your core. This essence is then used to alter the flow of ki within your core to create a powerful spinning vortex of wind ki that can also hold water ki and lightning ki. Further cultivation enhances and condenses that essence, increasing the amount of ki and essence your core can hold until you begin advancing to a higher Realm.¡±

    The information on the Way of Gathering Storms was new to Verus. He¡¯d never learned much about real cultivation methods before. The incredibly basic one he¡¯d been taught at the Origin Realm used human essence to create a simple orb to store and circulate ki with. Having a permanent vortex of wind ki in his core sounded a lot more exciting.

    ¡°Many cultivation techniques also have special effects. One of the reasons the Way of Gathering Storms is considered to be so powerful is that its internal vortex can be used to create an external one as well, and this movement of air allows the user to absorb more wind ki, speeding their cultivation. The Way of Imperial Might also uses delicate formations of human ki to produce the resonance effect with other users that it is so famous for.¡±

    The lecture lasted for a while longer before the elder dismissed her students. After discussing cultivation techniques some more, she spent the rest of the first lesson talking about the format of her lectures and what her students could expect.

    As he left the classroom, Verus mostly ignored his classmates. He was focused on what he¡¯d learned during the lesson and if he could use any of this new knowledge to help find his attunements. Despite thinking it over, nothing sprang to mind though.

    Physical training came after theory classes, so Verus went over to the training ground to join in. However, it turned out that the physical training wasn¡¯t even taught by an elder. Instead, a senior disciple from the inner sect led them through a warmup and then some exercises designed to push the body of a cultivator to its limit. Verus was sweating and sore by the time he was dismissed but had already decided to skip the next physical training session. Finding an attunement and getting a proper cultivation technique was simply far more important to him.

    The training grounds were next to the challenge arenas, so as he was walking back, Verus heard an unexpected boom followed by some scattered applause. Intrigued, he went over to the challenge ground to see what was going on. There, he saw a dozen disciples and an elder standing around a ring, in which two disciples were fighting. The elder was obviously the referee, and judging by the crowd size, this had to be a challenge match with a medallion at stake.

 The Measuring of Souls 6

    After a brief moment of hesitation, Verus decided to go over and observe the fight. It would be useful to know about the fighting styles and skill levels of some of the best disciples in his year, and it would be a pleasant distraction from his problems. He watched the fighters carefully as he approached. They both were both obviously high born and quite skilled. Many of the outer disciples looked like powerful fighters and could never be mistaken for mortals despite their current low Realms, but these two were particularly unique.

    The first combatant was a muscular young man with messy brown hair and tanned skin who stood half a foot taller than everyone else present, even the referee. He was wearing brown pants and no shirt, but he did have on a tan leather vest, tall boots, and metal bracers on his arms. The gear looked tough, personalized to his build, and expensive. With a determined expression on his blunt face, the muscular disciple used one of his vambraces to deflect a sword slash that had been aimed at his thick neck, sending sparks flying.

    Only then did Verus realize what he was really seeing. Those weren¡¯t metal bracers at all, but shaped metal essence. The male combatant was using a technique to solidify metal ki and turn it into armor. That was beyond anything Verus could do. It not only required a cultivation technique for metal ki but enough skill to compress that ki into solid essence outside of the body. Different types of essence could be manipulated to do different things, but generally they mimicked their element. Metal essence was as tough and sharp as steel and thus incredibly useful, while human essence was more variable and much harder to use effectively. Verus didn¡¯t know a single human essence technique. He could barely create it at all, and when he did, all he got was a leather like mass that wasn¡¯t particularly useful.

    The muscular disciple¡¯s opponent was a young woman in a slim yellow martial artist¡¯s robe with white flower patterns decorating it. It looked like it had been designed for both form and function. While it was almost as pretty as a traditional woman¡¯s robe, it obviously allowed her a greater range of movement and didn¡¯t slow her down at all. The blade in her hand was oddly short and straight, but she used it with great skill. Her black hair was pulled back into a long ponytail that bounced as she danced around her larger opponent, looking for weak points in his defense. Every movement she made was graceful and fluid in a way that was as beautiful as it was dangerous. It was fascinating to watch, and so different from the straightforward martial arts Verus had been taught.

    Suddenly, the large male fighter abandoned his defense and went on the attack. He shouted in a deep voice as he ducked down low into a horse stance and put his entire body behind a sideways punch at his opponent. Ki rippled forth from his skin as he empowered the attack.

    Startled, the robed woman jumped back, but was a little too slow to dodge completely. As the man¡¯s beefy fist zoomed toward her face, she brought up the flat of her blade to block it. The defense looked meager, but right before impact, her weapon suddenly unfolded to catch the blow. It wasn¡¯t a short sword at all, but a metallic fan.

    The force of the punch slammed into the fan and threw the woman back. However, she was already in the air and somehow managed to keep her balance. There was a swirl of wind around her as she deftly landed on her feet without injury. Then, she twisted her upper body around, dragging her fan through the air as she waved it in the direction of her opponent.

    Much to Verus¡¯s surprise, this whipped up a mighty gust of whirling wind that slammed into the large disciple she was fighting. He stumbled back and shielded his face as the wind tore across his skin, drawing blood as it gave him several shallow cuts. The woman took advantage of this opening to throw herself at her opponent and force him back on the defensive with several swipes of her bladed fan. Its somewhat awkward shape didn¡¯t stop its edges from being razor sharp.

    As a cool breeze caused by scattered wind ki swept over him, Verus glanced around. Most of the audience seemed like the usual arrogant scions of cultivator families that looked down on temple wards like him, but he did see one nearby spectator who seemed approachable. A young man in plain shirt and trousers that would have looked normal on a mortal walking down the street. He had short black hair and an excited grin on his face as he watched the fight. Other than that slight savage twist to his smile, he looked like a regular friendly young man though.

    Coughing to get his fellow disciple¡¯s attention, Verus then gave a quick respectful bow. ¡°Excuse me. My name is Verus, and I was wondering if you could inform me as to what is going on here. This fight seems to be at a high level.¡±

    Glancing toward Verus, the young man rolled his eyes. ¡°You temple brats are all so polite and humble. It¡¯s obnoxious, although I suppose that¡¯s simply how you were raised so you don¡¯t know any better. Meat for the hounds.¡±

    Confused, Verus could only stare. Why did he consider politeness to be such a bad thing? Verus¡¯s first instinct was to apologize, but that probably wasn¡¯t the proper response.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    The man then turned back to the fight, but he didn¡¯t ignore Verus. ¡°I¡¯m called Fang, and what¡¯s happening is simple. Selesta Guus challenged Adev Ironheart for his medallion. Now they¡¯re fighting to see who gets to keep it.¡±

    Verus had been hoping for a little more information than that, but he doubted pressing the issue directly would help. ¡°She is quite talented to have developed her wind attunement so quickly. Even using a tool such as that fan, that wind ki emission technique was rather impressive. I wouldn¡¯t want to face it,¡± he observed politely instead. He couldn¡¯t help himself.

    Fang laughed. ¡°Oh, she¡¯s talented without a doubt, and you¡¯re right about the Billowing Gust technique being more dangerous than it seems, but your naivety is showing. Her father is an elder of this sect. She¡¯s had had far more than a few days to train the Way of Gathering Storms. The same goes for her opponent and his cultivation technique. He¡¯s from the Ironheart clan, and they all use the same Way. It runs in their blood.¡±

    ¡°I see. Thank you for illuminating me,¡± Verus replied with grimace. He should have expected this. Of course, nobles had such advantages over temple wards such as him. If they had the resources, why would they hold themselves back from learning cultivation techniques until the initiation ceremony? Their parents could simply pass their techniques on directly.

    That was especially true for people like this Adev. Fang had mentioned that his method ran in his blood. Verus had heard of that, although he¡¯d never been sure if it was real. Apparently, it was. The children of powerful immortal families could inherit a measure of their ancestors¡¯ power, giving them the same attunements as their ancestors and instinctive knowledge of their cultivation technique.

    ¡°That¡¯s a rather daunting advantage,¡± Verus mused aloud.

    Fang nodded in agreement. ¡°Every noble that can is taking full advantage of their lead to seize the medallions early and get even more resources for themselves. The outer disciple competition is a rigged game, which is to be expected since their parents run this place.¡± He didn¡¯t seem too concerned about it, even though he talked as if he wasn¡¯t a noble himself.

    Verus on the other hand was quite concerned. It would be extremely difficult for him to catch up to either of these fighters, even without the system favoring them. Maybe the nobles who¡¯d remarked that he was only here at the main temple to be a steppingstone for others had been speaking the truth after all. That was troubling. He really didn¡¯t need more problems right now. Ugh, why did everything have to be so complicated and unfair? All he wanted to do was meditate on enlightenment. Why was that so difficult? The Archon - if he existed - was seriously testing him.

    ¡°Pardon me, but I¡¯d like to ask how you know so much about the fighters,¡± Verus asked Fang. ¡°Are you from a prominent family yourself?¡±

    Fang laughed. ¡°Ha, no. My common origins are no secret. My parents work for Selesta¡¯s family, and when my talent was discovered at a young age, they sponsored my education in return for my oath of service. It¡¯s not a bad deal, and Selesta at least is tolerable. Unlike some of her peers.¡±

    At that moment, Selesta won her match by forcing her opponent out of the ring with another gust of air. Bleeding from several shallow wounds, Adev tried to hunker down and resist the wind, but he failed and stumbled out of bounds a moment later. The referee then called the match, so Fang quickly went over to congratulate his mistress. As he bowed, she spared him a quick glance and a single word before turning to address the small crowd of other outer disciples that flocked over to congratulate her on winning a medallion and taking a place in the top ten.

    Fang¡¯s sudden departure left Verus standing alone, so he walked away from the dueling ground and went to grab some food and tea from the cafeteria. Lacking sleep as he was, he needed to get all the energy he could get. He had to stifle a yawn as he entered the building.

    When he was done eating a quick lunch, Verus went to the requisition office to recharge his channeling orb with a new type of ki. Last night, he¡¯d studied the book from the library some more and decided on testing himself for a poison ki attunement. It was rare and had a bad reputation, but wasn¡¯t illegal and had some obvious uses. You could use it to poison people, usually temporarily and non-fatally. Verus liked the idea of being able to disable someone with a touch or smother them in poisonous fumes.

    The man behind the counter at the requisition handed the orb full of poison ki over without comment. However, after spending a shard on the dream ki and another on poison ki, Verus only had one shard left. The little crystal shard seemed packed full of invigorating ki to his senses as he held it in his hand. He wanted to absorb it right away to fuel his ascension, but he knew that would be a mistake. He needed to spend it wisely.

    Thus, he kept the shard and hurried back to his room. There, he sat down on his meditation mat and immediately began to perform the poison channeling technique from the library book. Unfortunately, even after skipping supper and training until it was dark out, he failed to make any progress in sensing the poison ki in the orb. Refusing to give up and fall behind even more, he kept going, but he failed to make any headway even as it grew closer to morning. Tired and dispirited, Verus could only sulk over to his bed and try to get an hour or two of sleep before class.

    Closing his eyes, Verus considered his situation. He¡¯d managed to make it to main temple of his sect, where the young geniuses congregated and trained to become elders, but it seemed like he was falling further behind every day. If he had been more devout, he would have prayed to the Archon for a miracle, but he¡¯d always had a hard time believing prayers got granted. Surely, God and the Archon ¨C if they existed - were constantly being bombarded by contradictory prayers. So, that meant it was up to Verus to solve his own problems. He¡¯d simply have to do what he¡¯d done all his life. Work hard and use every trick at his disposal to fight off despair.

 The Measuring of Souls 7

    The next day, Verus got up and dragged himself to his first theology class. He wasn¡¯t looking forward to this. He was tired from lack of sleep, in a bad mood from failing another channeling attunement test, and he¡¯d heard Lightbringers preach enough to have a good idea of what to expect. Although, it was sometimes uplifting, rarely could it be considered useful.

    Once in the lecture hall, Verus immediately noticed that the lecturer was already standing at the podium, so he sheepishly took a seat. Thankfully, the class hadn¡¯t started yet. The lecturer was simply early. He was a tall man with a neatly trimmed graying beard. As expected, he wore the white and gold robes of a Lightbringer and had a shaved head to display his modesty. However, despite his stiff and straight posture, there was a genuine seeming smile on his face as he studied his students. That was as unusual for a Lightbringer as for any other advanced cultivator.

    ¡°Welcome to my lessons, young cultivators. I hope you come ready to learn. You may address me as Gerath,¡± the lecturer explained in cheerful tone. ¡°As you can doubtlessly see, I¡¯m both an Elder of this sect and a Lightbringer of the Archonite, but using my titles is unnecessary. It can be difficult to decide which one to use anyway and using both just sounds ridiculous. Don¡¯t you agree?¡±

    There was a shocked silence from the students as they stared in confusion at the Lightbringer before them. Verus was one of them. This wasn¡¯t how any Lighbringers had acted before. They¡¯d all been rather stiff, if not uncompassionate. This Gerath was practically friendly.

    ¡°I see you all want to jump right into it. Very Good! As you all know, this class will be on the vast and valuable subject of theology. We will of course be studying passages from our holy book The Path of Illumination. The text has much to say about the moral and spiritual duties of cultivators, but we will also be dissecting the meaning of those words and how they can aid your cultivation and your quest for enlightenment. While the hoarding of ki within your core is necessary to ascend to higher Realms, enlightenment is perhaps the greater barrier. Ascending always requires a cultivator to come to some new understanding about the endless heavens, and many a would-be ascendant has faced stagnation along their way due to an inability to gain such insight. It cannot be forced, and no number of shards or resources will aid you. For how does a man benefit if he gains all the ki under the heavens but loses his soul? He does not.¡±

    Verus frowned thoughtfully. This class had just started, and it was already going very differently than he¡¯d expected. He hadn¡¯t thought it would so practical, and he¡¯d never really considered some of the things Gerath had brought up.

    ¡°Unlike ki shards or rare medicines, The Path of Illumination is available to every man and woman within the empire. And what better place to look for enlightenment than the holy book of the Archon? He ascended all the way to godhood, to the highest Realms imaginable, and his words and the records about him contain unimaginable wisdom."

    That was true, Verus supposed. He¡¯d read through all of The Path of Illumination - although he¡¯d skimmed through a lot of it - and he¡¯d heard Lightbringers preach from it countless times, but he¡¯d never really considered it a cultivation resource before.

    Gerath smiled as he saw the thoughtful look on many of his students faces. ¡°I¡¯d like to start our first lesson with a short passage that I think all young cultivators need reminded of. And the eternal soul lies at the center of all things. All else is but a trick of shadows cast by the mind, which is itself a lie. Only what the soul does is true and beautiful.

    ¡°What do you think this means?¡± Gerath asked as he looked up to study the seated disciples.

    No one replied. They hadn¡¯t been expecting to have to answer questions. Cultivation theory had just been one long lecture.

    Gerath sighed. ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll simply tell you the most common interpretation. A cultivator¡¯s core is usually thought of as the origin of their power, but that isn¡¯t true. Cultivators of the Origin Realm have no core and can still gather and circulate ki, but many overlook this fact. So, what do cultivators use to control ki, if it isn¡¯t their core? The answer is their soul. The soul is almost impossible to detect but every animal and spirit has one. Many scholars have dedicated themselves to studying the nature of souls, but they are still incredibly mysterious, as befitting something created directly by the hand of God. What we do know is that although souls can change and be damaged, they are ultimately indestructible and interact with the world almost solely through ki. They have no physical presence, but they do possess a unique ability to use ki to create essence. A soul is absolutely necessary to craft essence, and that¡¯s not all they do. Memories and attunements seem to be recorded within a soul, as shown by observations of spirits, although the exact relationship between soul and body is not well understood.¡±

    Verus listened with interest as the elder talked. He already knew most of what he¡¯d said, but he was going into more depth than anyone else who he¡¯d heard talk about such things before.

    ¡°As you all know, a cultivator¡¯s core is located in the middle of their chest, around their soul, and it is formed during the Origin Realm. When the core is complete, the cultivator ascends to the Foundation Realm. Upon death, the essence that forms a core is destroyed, but the soul itself simply fades from the world as it is pulled back into the heavens. There, it is believed that the nature of the endless heavens purifies the soul of worldly concerns, until it eventually returns to the physical plane and reincarnates within a new body with new attunements and no memories of its past life.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    As intriguing as the lecture was, it ended without any talk of attunements, which disappointed Verus. He could use all the help he could get, and some new insight into the nature of his own problems have been nice. Thus, upon the ending of the lecture, he felt dissatisfied as he got up from his seat with a sigh and began following the other disciples as they left the lecture hall.

    He was looking down and thinking about channeling as he walked outside, so Verus didn¡¯t immediately notice when someone stepped in front of him and cut him off. Startled, he barely managed to stop himself from walking into the person. As he jerked his head up, he saw a young man from his class. He was dressed in dark blue robes covered in some kind of black script that was impossible to read and looked incredibly expensive. It seemed to shift when gazed at directly.

    Verus¡¯s first thought was that he¡¯d annoyed some arrogant noble and was about to get insulted and berated, but then he noticed the boy¡¯s expression. The young man was staring intently at Verus¡¯s chest without saying anything. Unsure of what was going on, Verus could only stare back. The weird disciple had his long black hair pulled back into a ponytail and his skin was a very pale white. He was so thin he looked more than a little unhealthy, which was quite unusual for a cultivator, but his most striking feature was his forehead. There was a dark purple gem embedded in it. With its thin oval shape, it greatly resembled a partially closed third eye.

    The creepy disciple didn¡¯t look up, but he began to speak in an intrigued tone. ¡°There is a scar upon your soul. The merciless tides have not worn it to nothing. Fascinating. It must have terrible purpose to have resisted the will of the heavens so. Such pain. It is difficult to even imagine and truly dreadful to behold.¡± The pale disciple then chuckled darkly. ¡°Of course, all truths are horrible to those that do not blind themselves. At least this is novel.¡±

    A shiver went down Verus¡¯s spine. He had no idea what the disciple¡¯s words were supposed to mean or what was up with this person. He was rather creepy and rude. Still, there was no point antagonizing someone who obviously came from a powerful family. ¡°Greetings. My name is Verus. May I know who I am addressing?¡±

    The pale disciple blinked and looked up at Verus¡¯s face as if surprised that he could talk. Their gazes met, and Verus saw nothing but confusion and uncertainty in the boy¡¯s eyes. It was almost like he¡¯d needed reminded that Verus had a body as well as a soul.

    A moment later, the pale disciple gave him a dark yet amused smile. ¡°Other people call me Inanis Praestigiae, but that matters little, another lie among endless others. We drown regardless. How will you react to the truth, I wonder? When enlightenment comes, will you break or flee? I look forward to seeing such choices being made.¡±

    That said, the creepy youth turned and calmly began walking away, as if his actions had been the most natural thing in the world. Verus couldn¡¯t help but notice that many of the nearby disciples had been staring at the scene the pale youth had made and that everyone was now giving him a wide berth. Whoever Inanis was, he wasn¡¯t popular. Verus could guess why.

    Someone detached from the crowd and walked over to Verus. It was Fang, the disciple from the dueling ground, and he had a curious expression on his face.

    ¡°How do you know Inanis? I thought you were a simple temple ward,¡± he asked while looking Verus over as if reevaluating him.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know him and have no idea who he is. He just came over and started talking to me, although it was more like rambling at me,¡± Verus replied. He didn¡¯t feel like sharing what the conversation had been about. It may have been nonsense, but it had still felt personal and raw.

    ¡°Really? I think you¡¯re the first person he has talked to here. I heard he ignores everyone who tries to speak to him, like they¡¯re dirt and beneath his notice. Even Highcloud got snubbed, and he¡¯s considered the most powerful of all the disciples. What did he say to you?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. He was hard to understand. Who exactly is he?¡±

    ¡°Inanis¡¯s father is one of the most powerful grand elders on this world and he made his name during the original conquest of it. His bloodline is incredibly powerful, probably too powerful. Supposedly, it grants special sight that can perceive ki and souls, but lower Realm cultivators aren¡¯t supposed to see such things. They say it has driven most of his offspring raving mad, and Inanis seems proof enough of that.¡±

    ¡°I suppose there are some downsides to being from powerful families,¡± Verus mused.

    Fang laughed. ¡°Oh, trust me, there are plenty. You see a lot as a servant. Anyway, I should get going, although I think I¡¯ll be keeping an eye on you from now on. You might be more than you appear.¡±

    After saying farewell to Fang, Verus skipped physical training and headed back to the residential hall. He needed to work on his channeling techniques. He still hadn¡¯t managed to get a feel for poison ki yet and find out if he was attuned to it.

    Once back in his room. Verus briefly skimmed though his book on channeling for a few moments to refresh the technique in his mind, before sitting down on his meditation mat and trying to get it right. As always, the nature of poison ki eluded him so he couldn¡¯t get a hold on it and thus couldn¡¯t perform the technique. Dream had been much easier. Ugh, it was so frustrating. He could perform the technique but not grasp the ki, and no amount of practice or knowledge could help him with that. Like enlightenment, understanding a type of ki could only happen naturally. It would come to him or it wouldn¡¯t, and it couldn¡¯t be forced. Once again, the only insight he gained was about why so few people searched for rare attunements.

    Hours passed and Verus made no progress. As he grew increasingly more frustrated, his ability to focus degraded, until he eventually called it quits and went to bed. There was no point in missing sleep. Maybe tomorrow he would gain some new insight.

 The Measuring of Souls 8

    The class scheduled for the next morning was math, and it ended up being quite a disappointment after cultivation theory and theology.

    ¡°I will not tolerate any slacking or absent-mindedness in my class,¡± the lecturer explained. He was an older man whose face seemed permanently bunched up into a disapproving grimace.

    ¡°My time is not to be wasted. What I teach is valuable. If you fail to meet my standards, you will be penalized shards or even banished from the sect. As cultivators of the empire, your responsibilities are great and will require far more than brute strength. Immortals staff much of the imperial bureaucracy, military, and religious organizations. You will not embarrass the sect by failing to become proficient in these matters. Besides, math is the key to enlightenment. It is the ultimate language and it¡¯s simply impossible to understand the endless heavens without mastering it. Understanding by definition requires measuring something according to objective standards.¡±

    As the lecturer spoke, many disciples exchanged doubtful or amused glances when they thought he wasn¡¯t looking. Verus was also skeptical. If math was really the key to enlightenment, someone would have probably mentioned it before. More likely, this elder was simply eccentric. Still, Verus kept his head down and focused on the lessons. Luckily, he¡¯d never had any problems with math and the subject matter wasn¡¯t too hard. Some of the other students looked frustrated, especially the more martial ones, but Verus doubted any would fail. Being at the Foundation Realm increased not only a cultivator¡¯s strength but their concentration and memory as well.

    When the class was over, Verus got up and left the classroom. However, three disciples intercepted him as soon as he stepped outside. Surprised, Verus looked up and studied them. At their head was a young man that stood out from the crowd. He wasn¡¯t from Verus¡¯ class, but he¡¯d seen him before. The approaching group¡¯s leader was tall and wearing a dark blue silk robe that looked quite expensive. As he walked, he seemed to glide effortlessly across the ground, almost as if he was floating. He had a handsome face, well-groomed light blond hair, and his glowing sky-blue eyes were staring right at Verus. The eyes made his identity unmistakable. This was Highcloud. The number one ranked disciple in the outer sect. Even Verus had heard of him.

    Deciding to play it safe, Verus gave the young man a polite bow. ¡°Greetings. How may I help you?¡±

    ¡°You can tell me what you discussed with the Praestigiae,¡± Highcloud responded coldly. He made no move to return the greeting, but at least he didn¡¯t seem outright hostile.

    Ah, so this was about the creepy pale kid. ¡°Nothing of significance. He remarked upon the nature of my soul, and much of it escaped my understanding. That was all.¡±

    Highcloud frowned and Verus felt him scan his spirit. It tickled, but he didn¡¯t resist.

    It wasn¡¯t until a few tense moments had passed that Highcloud stopped. ¡°I see. I shouldn¡¯t have expected anything. This was a waste of my time,¡± he announced as he turned and left without another word, taking his two followers with him.

    Verus stared after him. What a pompous ass. Also, why did his eyes glow like that?

    Now that Verus was alone, Fang wandered over with a grin on his face. Verus hadn¡¯t known the scruffy disciple was nearby, but he¡¯d apparently watched the entire scene.

    ¡°Still attracting trouble, I see, Verus.¡±

    All Verus could do was shrug and sigh. ¡°It¡¯s nothing I did. He wanted to know what Inanis talked to me about. Why are all of the cultivators from established families so arrogant and disrespectful?¡±

    ¡°It is the nature of immortals to compete for resources and only respect the strong. You¡¯re weak so they look down on you. In fact, you seem to be among the weakest of all of us here in the outer sect.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not how anyone is supposed to behave according to the teachings of the Archon and the Lightbringers. The strong are supposed to protect the weak.¡±

    Fang snorted rudely. ¡°There¡¯s the teachings of the church and there¡¯s reality. They don¡¯t usually mix much, especially not for cultivators. In the empire, the powerful make the rules, and the weak obey them. All that nonsense Lightbringers preach is simply to keep the mortals in line.¡±

    Verus was shocked at Fang¡¯s bluntness, especially in public where disciples and elders might overhear. Back at the mountain temple, any initiate who said something like that would earn a stiff punishment from an elder. He didn¡¯t agree with Fang¡¯s position either. He wasn¡¯t exactly a devout follower of the Archon, but he recognized the wisdom in the Lightbringer¡¯s teachings.

    ¡°There¡¯s more to the teachings of the Lightbringers than that,¡± he replied. ¡°Not only do they lead people to enlightenment, but they are what allows the empire to prosper and grow.¡±

    This earned him a look from Fang. ¡°You¡¯ve seen quite a few sect elders, how many of them were emphatic defenders of the common folk? If anything, the enlightened become detached from the world and the other people in it as they begin thinking of nothing but their own advancement. They only pretend to care about the common folk because they¡¯re a useful resource.¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Now Fang was questioning enlightenment itself! How could it be anything but the ultimate good? Anything else made no sense. ¡°Enlightenment is oneness with the endless heavens and God; striving for it brings all of humanity together.¡±

    ¡°Believe what you want, but if you¡¯re expecting anyone else to believe that nonsense, you¡¯ve got some unpleasant surprises headed your way. I¡¯d grow up fast if I were you,¡± Fang remarked before walking away.

    Verus didn¡¯t try to stop him. He¡¯d already said enough to put Verus in a bad mood. How could you question enlightenment itself? A lot of what the Lightbringers preached was probably not strictly true, but enlightenment had to be the ultimate good¡­

    After grabbing a quick lunch, Verus went back to his room to try channeling again. Even with the channeling orb full of poison ki clutched in his hand, he still had no luck trying to grasp the ki within it. Logically, Verus knew that a few days was nothing, but he also knew that he was falling further and further behind everyone else. He had to do more than succeed. To get into the inner sect he had to stand out from the crowd. That wouldn¡¯t be easy even if he immediately successfully performed the channeling technique and learned he had a strong poison attunement. As it was, he could struggle for weeks or even months and never gain a real attunement.

    It soon grew dark, but Verus kept pushing himself. Sleeping hadn¡¯t helped him grasp the ki yesterday, so this time he¡¯d go without it if need be. Despite the frustration and despair that grew stronger as the hours went by, Verus stifled his feelings and focused on keeping his mind clear. At least he had a lot of practice with that thanks to his mood swings and nervous outbreaks.

    The next morning, Verus stumbled out of his room and dragged himself to his next class. Now, he was seriously beginning to despair about finding a rare attunement, but stopping now would be pointless. If he started training the Way of Imperial Might, he¡¯d still never get into the inner sect. He could do nothing but double down on his channeling strategy.

    Today¡¯s class was writing. Verus had some difficulty focusing on the boring subject thanks to his lack of sleep, but he managed to get through the class without a problem and then return to his room. Surely, today would be the day he finally figured out if he had a poison attunement, right?

    However, once inside the dormitory, Verus saw Warin waiting for him outside his door. Hiding an irritated frown behind a polite smile, Verus greeted his friend and sect brother. ¡°Brother, what brings you here?¡±

    Warin gave him an annoyed look. ¡°I¡¯ve barely seen you since we got here. You¡¯re almost always training in your room. You only leave to eat and go to lectures, and even then you run back to your room right away. It¡¯s almost like you¡¯ve been avoiding me, your sect brother and closest friend!¡±

    ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve simply been trying to learn my cultivation technique as quickly as possible. It has turned out to be significantly more difficult than I¡¯d thought it would be and has been taking up all of my time.¡±

    His chubby friend did not look satisfied by this answer. ¡°That¡¯s everyone¡¯s focus, including mine, but you¡¯re the only one that looks like you¡¯re going without sleep and about to fall apart. You¡¯re pushing yourself too hard, brother. I know you want to get into the inner sect and become an elder, but that won¡¯t happen if you work yourself to death in one of your moods and let yourself get obsessed. Remember, peace of mind is required to reach enlightenment and obsession blinds you.¡±

    ¡°Not everyone¡¯s content as long as they get to stuff their face,¡± Verus mumbled darkly. The words slipped out of his mouth.

    Rather than being insulted, Warin simply gave Verus a dry and unamused look, like his point had just been proven.

    How could his friend understand his failures? Verus¡¯s first instinct was to respond with another insult and to tell Warin to leave, but he held his tongue. As soon as he recognized the seething frustration within himself, they began to die down, and it became obvious that he was the one being unreasonable. More than that, Warin was giving him very good advice. It wasn¡¯t his fault that Verus hadn¡¯t told him about his lack of attunements.

    ¡°Sorry, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m in a bad mood. Please forget my ill-considered words,¡± he mumbled a moment later, feeling ashamed.

    ¡°They¡¯re already forgotten!¡± Warin exclaimed with a smile as he stepped over and put a hand on Verus¡¯s shoulder. ¡°How could I hold anything against you?¡±

    Verus smiled back through his exhaustion. ¡°Thank you for your concern and wisdom. I will keep your advice in mind, and it will be very helpful, but I really do need to keep training. I don¡¯t have much choice if I want to stay in the sect.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t see you at physical training yesterday,¡± Warin said as he studied his friend. ¡°I understand your need to excel, you¡¯ve always been that way, but you can¡¯t stay cooped up in your room all the time. You should at least get some exercise and train your body. That will help your cultivation as much as meditation, so you should join me in going to the training now.¡±

    Verus sighed and reluctantly turned away from his door. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Some physical training would definitely help clear his mind and even help with some of the aches that he was experiencing from being in the meditation position so much. Warin was right, he really had become way to obsessed with channeling to the detriment of his cultivation as a whole.

    The pair managed to get to the training ground just as the training session began. The hour-long workout strained his muscles and ki circulation exhausted his core, so he was feeling weak and huffing and puffing by the time they were finished. However, it was a good pain. He felt much more awake and his mind was definitely clearer. Even his mood was quite improved.

    Verus gave Warin his thanks again as they walked away from the training grounds together. It was nice to have a friend who looked out for him.

    His friend simply dismissed his concerns. ¡°It was no problem. We temple wards need to stick together. Do you want to go to the cafeteria with me now? I¡¯m feeling hungry after that work out.¡±

    Verus laughed. ¡°No, I need to get back to training.¡±

    ¡°Your loss. Personally, I find a full stomach helps me concentrate.¡±

    ¡°Maybe, but you won¡¯t get much done if you need to constantly snack to keep it full,¡± Verus laughed as he waved goodbye to his friend.

    ¡°Good luck,¡± Warin told him. ¡°And if you need anything, don¡¯t be afraid to simply ask, brother.¡±

 The Measuring of Souls 9

    Heading back to his room, Verus once again sat down and attempted the poison channeling technique. He felt much better now though, thanks to Warin¡¯s intervention, and he was hopeful that he¡¯d finally pull the technique off. A shift in his perception was exactly what he needed.

    A few hours later, he was proven right. All of sudden, new understanding dawned within his mind and he managed to grasp the basic nature of poison ki. It was very different from human ki or sleep ki. Instead of smoothly flowing through the body, it seethed and lashed out, seeking to damage and degrade everything around it. Only tight control and constant movement could render it harmless.

    As the heady rush of victory filled Verus, the power of the poison ki was drawn into the technique he was performing and channeled through the orb as the power within it was consumed. Unfortunately, there was no flicker of light, and Verus could feel that that he wasn¡¯t attuned to poison ki. After all his effort, it was another failure. His excitement was replaced by an even deeper despair. Was he truly so talentless or was it the sect¡¯s fault¡­

    ¡°Damnation and demon piss!¡± he swore vehemently as rage against all the world filled him, mingling venomously with his despair. A moment later, the anger faded, leaving him feeling hollow and weak. Blaming others wouldn¡¯t help. A true ascetic worked with what was.

    Chagrined, Verus shyly glanced around to make sure no one had heard him. His room was still empty though, which was to be expected. If this had been his room back at the mountain temple, he might have been overheard by the inhuman senses of an elder, and they strongly discouraged blasphemy. However, they were probably far less strict here. He imagined the spoiled nobles swore a lot.

    Groaning, Verus leaned forward to place his head in his hands. He¡¯d been feeling so sure of himself! Now, not only was he back to square one, but he had another problem. He had only a single red ki shard left. If he used it to refill his orb and didn¡¯t find a strong attunement, he¡¯d have wasted all his shards and would be unable to try any more channeling for the rest of the week. He hadn¡¯t even absorbed any of the shards to fuel his own cultivation, which would put him at a disadvantage against everyone else when it came to ki power. Should he absorb his last shard? No, that wouldn¡¯t do him any good.

    His only other option was to gamble on a duel using the shard. However, he¡¯d lose that shard if he dueled and lost, leaving him with no way to search for attunements until next week. Also, he had no idea who to even challenge. He hadn¡¯t been paying attention to how strong his fellow disciples were. Most of the family scions would probably defeat him with ease.

    Straightening his posture and taking a deep breath, Verus put himself through a quick mental exercise meant to clear his mind of distracting emotions. Wallowing in misery wouldn¡¯t solve anything and giving in to despair was never an option. He needed to figure out what to do to reach his goals.

    As a strained sense of peace washed over him, Verus decided to get up and go for a walk. Moving fit his desired state of mind better than sitting in his room, and a change of scenery might give him some inspiration.

    It was late in the afternoon now, so the dormitory hallway was almost empty. There was only one other person in sight, and they were walking away from Verus. That was a relief. Verus had no desire to deal with any spoiled nobles. It was infuriating that they had so much when he had so little. He hadn¡¯t even managed to get a proper attunement, when all of them had. Their descent from powerful cultivators had given them even that.

    Stepping outside, Verus began walking down one of the paved paths that cut through the nearby gardens. The sun had already set almost completely, so that only an orange glow was visible behind the buildings on the horizon. The temple was thus washed in shadows and darkness, giving everything an eerie cast. The bushes and buildings all looked slightly warped and unreal, and the trees swayed creepily in the night breeze. Even the local ki seemed darker and more menacing than normal. Verus knew the temple was warded and guarded by elders, but he couldn¡¯t help but think that malicious spirits could be lurking just out of sight.

    Despite that, the peace and quiet did help him think and the chill of the night breeze was invigorating. Thus, Verus stared at the distant glow of the setting sun as he thought about his options. His problem was a lack of resources and attunements, but what did he have? At first, nothing came to mind, but then Verus realized he did have one thing. As he¡¯d recently been reminded, he had a good friend.

    Perhaps he should go talk to Warin and take him up on his offer of help. He hadn¡¯t thought he¡¯d do it so soon, but his friend was probably in his room now. It couldn¡¯t hurt. Nodding to himself, Verus left the darkness behind and walked back into the dormitory to knock on his friend¡¯s door. A few moments later, the door swung open to reveal Warin¡¯s chubby from and smiling face.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Verus! Come in,¡± Warin announced as he stepped out of the way and beckoned his friend inside.

    Feeling awkward in the face of his friend¡¯s unquestioning hospitality after avoiding him for days, Verus stepped inside. As he hesitated, Warin shut the door and then turned back to him. ¡°So, my brother, what do you need?¡±

    Sighing, Verus decided to come clean with his friend. There was no point in hiding anything if he wanted Warin¡¯s help. Really, he should never have kept his problems from his friends. It was stupid, but he¡¯d been ashamed to talk about his lack of strong attunements and look like a failure.

    ¡°I have a serious problem, and I was wondering if you could help me,¡± he said before telling Warin all about the initiation ceremony and his own lack of attunements. He knew his friend would understand, but he felt guilty for hiding this in the first place.

    There was a sympathetic and thoughtful look on Warin¡¯s face as Verus finished his explanation. ¡°That¡¯s terrible. I didn¡¯t realize the initiation didn¡¯t test for every attunement. Really, that¡¯s just lazy on the elders¡¯ part.¡±

    ¡°I imagine they don¡¯t see much need for it. From what I¡¯ve read, rare attunements are almost always found in special bloodlines or tribes that focus on them. Those families already know what to look for, so even they don¡¯t have to test for everything.¡±

    Warin huffed in disagreement. ¡°Or maybe temple wards like us never get tested so that our special abilities don¡¯t get found and developed, and thus the powerful families can keep those special attunements for themselves and face less competition.¡±

    ¡°Maybe, although I think the elders just can¡¯t be bothered. It¡¯s not like they¡¯re stopping me from doing the testing myself,¡± Verus replied. He didn¡¯t like bad-mouthing the elders, even in private.

    ¡°Doing all that work yourself sounds like it''s practically impossible. I bet there are quite a few young masters and their families - including some elders - that are quite happy that talented young cultivators like you are disadvantaged this way. It means their family members can compete easier and earn more prestige and resources.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right, but blaming others won¡¯t help me, and finding a rare attunement isn¡¯t completely impossible. I just need shards and time,¡± Verus remarked with renewed determination. It was nice that Warin was being supportive and assuming he had a rare attunement to find. That was far from guaranteed.

    ¡°Well, I could lend you a shard. I¡¯ve still got one¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not, brother,¡± Verus immediately responded. ¡°I¡¯m not going to hold back your cultivation. You¡¯ve already helped me enough.¡±

    Warin gave him a reluctant nod. ¡°Then, it seems like you need to win a duel and get your hands on some shards.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t even know where to start with that. Is there anyone I could even beat? They all look so strong.¡±

    ¡°Uh, I was just thinking you could pick on someone who looked weak, but I suppose that won¡¯t really work. It sounds like losing a gamble could really set you back.¡±

    ¡°Then, how am I supposed to find someone I can beat?¡±

    Warin gave him a thoughtful look. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re acquainted with Fang, the battle maniac. You could ask him.¡±

    Caught off guard, Verus blinked in surprise. ¡°What? How do you know about that?¡±

    ¡°People in the cafeteria talk about almost everything,¡± Warin explained as he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. ¡°Good food and drink fill people with cheer even as it fills their stomachs, which loosens tongues and makes people seek conversation. Then, there I am, looking soft and harmless with a smile on my face.¡±

    It was all too easy for Verus to picture that. Warin had always been far more social then him. ¡°Er, I barely know Fang. Do you think he would really tell me anything?¡±

    ¡°It couldn¡¯t hurt to ask.¡±

    ¡°I suppose not,¡± Verus admitted. It wasn¡¯t the sort of thing he would normally do, but these weren¡¯t normal circumstances. ¡°I could approach him tomorrow, right after class. Will he really know who I should fight though?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard he watches almost all the fights, and he¡¯s already won two duels. I can¡¯t think of anyone better to ask.¡±

    Huh, Verus hadn¡¯t known that, although it didn¡¯t surprise him.

    ¡°Ah, then that¡¯s what I¡¯ll do,¡± Verus remarked. ¡°Although, I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯ll do until the duel. Do you want to do some training tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I could use your input. You¡¯ve always been a genius when it came to ki techniques,¡± Warin replied. ¡°Your help is the only reason I¡¯m here.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about being a genius, although I like to think I have some talent,¡± Verus replied humbly.

    Warin gave him another look. ¡°None of the other disciples back home could hold a candle to your ability. You learned to enhance your strikes with ki in a single day. I took a week, and that was with your help. Some people took a month or never learned it the entire time they were there.¡±

    ¡°It just comes to me sometimes,¡± Verus explained with a shrug. ¡°I get a strange feeling, like I¡¯m watching myself, and I just know how ki should move through the body. It¡¯s obvious and not something I¡¯ve earned through effort, so I don¡¯t feel that taking pride in such a thing would be appropriate.¡±

    ¡°That seems like genius to me. Just believe in yourself. Regardless of this attunement situation, you''re still way more talented than everyone else in the outer sect. I know it.¡±

    ¡°Whatever. Let¡¯s get to work. We have some training to do,¡± Verus replied as he blushed in embarrassment from the praise. ¡°First off, I¡¯ll master the Vanishing Feather Step footwork and teach it to you. Then, there is one other trick I¡¯d like to try.¡±

    Maybe Warin was right. As he circulated the ki within his body, Verus could already feel himself falling into one of his bouts of enhanced awareness. It would be nice to have a plan and some real techniques he could develop properly instead of relying on the random bouts of inspiration channeling required. If he mastered the basic ki techniques, there was no reason he couldn¡¯t defeat disciples with proper cultivation techniques and earn shards until he got his own attunements. He still had the basic cultivation method he¡¯d used to get to the Foundation Realm. It wouldn¡¯t allow him to break through to the Tempered Realm, but it would allow him to absorb ki and grow stronger in the short term.

 The Measuring of Souls 10

    ¡°¡­and when you leave, don¡¯t forget to take your textbook with you,¡± the history lecturer reminded his students as he finished up the class.

    Verus looked down at the book in front of him. He was unlikely to forget it. It was hard to miss since it was the biggest book he¡¯d ever seen in his entire life. Its spine was thicker than his fist, and the book¡¯s title was written across its face, A Brief History of the Heavenly Empire and its Most Important Worlds, From the Pre-Founding Era to the Time of the Third Expansion. Even the title was ridiculously long!

    Grunting in effort, Verus picked up the heavy tome and looked around for Fang. The other disciple was already leaving, so Verus jumped out of his seat and hurried after him as fast as he could manage while carrying such a thick book.

    Fang saw him coming. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you. What do you want?¡± the scruffy disciple asked as he stopped just outside the classroom. He was laboring under the weight of his own book and not in great mood.

    ¡°Excuse me. I was wondering if you had a moment to talk about dueling.¡±

    ¡°Dueling? You¡¯re not planning on challenging me, are you?¡± Fang asked as he chuckled and gave Verus a disbelieving look. It was slightly insulting.

    ¡°No, I simply wanted to get your opinion on something. I¡¯m looking for someone to challenge that¡¯s about my own level. I need to win my first challenge and I¡¯ve been told that no one knows more about the strength of the disciples in our group than you.¡±

    Fang snorted. ¡°I suppose I could help you out. We commoners should stick together, and you¡¯re no competition of mine, but you¡¯ll owe me one.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, I will.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, how strong would you say you are? Don¡¯t exaggerate. I need to know the truth.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m well trained in hand-to-hand combat and have quite a bit of experience with it. I¡¯m also capable of using all the basic ki reinforcement techniques as well as Vanishing Feather Step.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, not bad. You could definitely use Vanishing Feather Step to defeat a few of the lesser nobles if you caught them off guard, especially the more arrogant ones,¡± Fang remarked as he looked Verus over. ¡°You¡¯re not exactly intimidating, and they all look down on temple wards anyway.¡±

    ¡°What about their elemental or emotional ki? I haven¡¯t developed any of my own yet,¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s practically an advantage for you right now. At this stage, most elemental ki is simply for show. Only the truly scary fighters like Highcloud will be capable of using it for anything but simple tricks. Avoid taking any elemental blasts head on and you¡¯ll be fine. Dodging works wonders and you know a movement technique.¡±

    ¡°What about emotional ki?¡± Verus asked. Some of the outer disciples must be developing it.

    Fang just rolled his eyes. ¡°You know the Faithful Soul Ward, so that shouldn¡¯t be problem. Emotional ki is even harder than elemental ki to develop into something you can use in combat, especially since absolutely everyone in the empire learns to counter it and fight the spirits and monsters that use it. If you start to feel weird, punch your opponent in the face until the feeling stops. Simple.¡±

    Verus had a strong suspicion that punching people in the face was how Fang solved most of his problems, but he did seem to know what he was talking about. After a bit more conversation, Fang gave him a list of several targets he thought Verus could beat and they went their separate ways.

    That done, Verus met up with Warin and they both went through the daily physical training together. Verus then wanted to jump right back into training ki techniques but Warin stubbornly insisted they take a quick break and go to the cafeteria for a snack. They did manage to get a few hours of good practice in and make some progress after that though. Warin wasn¡¯t wrong about training being easier if you ate properly.

    The next day, Verus got up early and went to challenge his chosen opponent, a young man named Katar. He knocked on the disciple¡¯s door before he had a chance to leave, so he wouldn¡¯t have to chase him down.

    When the door opened, it revealed a sneering young man with brown hair. He was a little taller and more muscular than Verus but not by much, and even though it was so early in the morning, he was well-groomed and his hair was done up in a bun. It seemed he was also wearing more than a few hints of make-up, so he was the very picture of a young scion from a powerful cultivator family.

    ¡°Why are you bothering me so early in the morning? The likes of you better not waste my time,¡± he asked in a contemptuous voice after seeing Verus. His directness was very rude but expected. Verus had chosen him as his opponent because of his arrogance after all. He was the first-born son of cultivator parents who served as imperial functionaries. While not a particularly high position, it was more than lofty enough for one to grow proud and rich enough to afford quite a few cultivation resources.

    Verus kept a polite smile on his face as he gave a quick bow. ¡°Good day, fellow disciple. As you know, the end of the week is approaching, and I was wondering if you¡¯d do me the honor of accepting my challenge. I wish to experience combat. The stake will be one red ki shard if you accept.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Frowning thoughtfully, Katar eyed Verus for a moment. Verus felt the other disciple¡¯s attention on him, measuring his ki level and type. He didn¡¯t resist, but let the other disciple sense his weak basic human ki, while briefly sensing Katar¡¯s level. He had slightly more ki than Verus and some of it was definitely flame attuned.

    A smug smile appeared on Katar¡¯s face a moment later. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll do you the honor of taking a shard from you. Do you want to fight right now? We may as well get this over with.¡±

    ¡°No, thank you. I wouldn¡¯t want to inconvenience you with such an abrupt challenge. Rather, I was thinking we should do it tomorrow, after the holy day service.¡±

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll meet you at the training grounds tomorrow then. Is that everything?¡±

    ¡°Yes, thank you for your time,¡± Verus replied as Katar shut the door, leaving him alone in the hall.

    Immediately, a satisfied grin appeared on his face. Everything was going perfectly to plan. Katar had accepted the challenge and obviously didn¡¯t consider Verus to be a threat. If Fang was right, that meant he had a good chance of winning.

    Today was a free day without classes, so Verus went to meet up with Warin and do some more training. Every little bit helped, and he still hadn¡¯t mastered the technique he was working on. If he could get it down, it would greatly increase his odds of victory in the duel. Thus, Verus trained with his friend until it got dark outside.

    The next day was the holy day at the end of each week, so all the disciples got out of bed early and headed off to the sect¡¯s devotary for the Lightbringers¡¯ service. Everyone, regardless of rank or power, was required to attend the weekend service in the Heavenly Empire. Even powerful cultivators could get into trouble if they missed it without a good reason, like closed meditation or open war.

    The sect¡¯s devotary was technically within the disciple area, but at the far end of it, where few of the disciples usually had reason to go. Made of chiseled marble and lined with tall windows full of colorful stained glass, it stood out from all the other buildings thanks to its different architecture and the steeple on its roof. There was a slow stream of disciples entering the building through the front door, over which looked the symbol of the archon, a golden eye with lines of light radiating from it.

    Verus slipped in among the other disciples and entered the devotary. They were all respectfully silent as they found seating in the pews that looked up at the altar. Hanging above the disciples¡¯ heads, there was a second floor of seating for the elders, and Verus could feel the heavy presence of several powerful cultivators there, although he couldn¡¯t see them.

    Light filtered in through the stained-glass windows that lined the walls, each one showing a different scene from the life of saints who¡¯d ascended to join the Archon and martyrs who¡¯d died for him. At the back of the altar, looming over everyone in the devotary, was a statue sitting on a golden throne, the representation of the Archon. His handsome face looked down at Verus and his peers with a stern piercing gaze, as if he could see their secrets and disapproved.

    As always, Verus found himself both repulsed and drawn to the Archon¡¯s image. It had always bothered him for reasons he couldn¡¯t explain. Was this really what the Archon had looked like? Was he really an ascended being that was looking out for humanity? It looked and felt somehow wrong to him.

    A few minutes later, a Lightbringer walked up to the altar and turned to face the gathered worshippers. ¡°Please bow your heads as we contemplate the great sacrifice of the Archon. He sits upon the Golden throne not because he desires dominion, such things are nothing but a burden to the enlightened. No, it is his love for humanity and his fierce desire to protect us that keep him from leaving us and all his worldly desires behind. Let us be thankful and always vigilant against temptation.¡±

    Immediately, the gathered disciples repeated the familiar refrain. ¡°Always vigilant against temptation.¡±

    Nodding in satisfaction, the Lightbringer continued preaching. Verus calmly sat through it and listened. However, his thoughts quickly turned away from worship and to his upcoming fight. The gamble and its effect on his future dominated his attention. He was thankful that Lightbringers couldn¡¯t read thoughts, despite their other powers.

    The service lasted about three hours before the Lightbringer dismissed everyone, but Verus didn¡¯t rush out of the devotary. Instead, he collected himself and calmly walked out amidst his peers. Once outside, Warin joined him.

    ¡°Are you ready for the fight?¡± his friend asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m as ready as I¡¯m going to get,¡± Verus replied.

    Upon making his way to the dueling fields, Verus saw that his opponent was already there. Katar was waiting for him at the edge of a ring, which was a square made of square paving stones. He wasn¡¯t alone either. He had a friend with him.

    Unsure of what to do next, Verus headed toward his opponent. However, the moment he stepped onto the ring, there was a loud whoosh sound and an elder appeared out of nowhere near the center of the ring. His shimmering black robe flapped briefly in an unseen wind before falling flat, and his dark eyes studied the gathered disciples from behind a grey owl mask.

    ¡°Take your places on opposite sides of the ring so that we may begin,¡± the elder announced in disinterested and formal voice. His powerful aura was being held back, but Verus could still sense it.

    Verus bowed in acknowledgement at the elder and then hurried to do as he was told. He was eager to get this over with as well. Winning was his only way of getting more ki shards. If he lost, his ability to test himself for attunements would be heavily restricted next week.

    As Verus took up position across from him, Katar grinned confidently at his opponent and summoned a small flame above his palm. ¡°This is going to be easy. Your shard is as good as mine, but try not to get burned too bad. I don¡¯t want to look like a bully.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s way too late for that,¡± Verus mumbled under his breath as he eyed his opponent and took a martial arts stance.

    ¡°The stakes of this duel are two red ki shards,¡± the judge remarked in dismissive tone. ¡°¡­ and it will continue until one contestant is disabled or surrenders. I will intervene at any time if I think someone¡¯s life is danger but don¡¯t expect me to save you from the consequences of your own actions.¡±

    Both combatants nodded in understanding.

    ¡°Begin!¡± the judge announced in a louder voice as he chopped his hand down to punctuate the declaration. That done, he jumped back and sailed smoothly through the air until he landed at the edge of the ring, where he would be out of the way.

    Grinning with savage glee, Katar immediately charged toward Verus and punched the air in his direction. Swirling red flames formed around his fist and shot toward Verus with a crackling hiss. Verus eyed it warily. He could sense that the burning ki was more than powerful enough to burn flesh down to the bone. He could easily imagine what it would do to him if Katar landed a solid blow. Maybe he shouldn¡¯t have chosen a fire user as his first real opponent.

 The Measuring of Souls 11

    As the fireball flew toward him, Verus clenched his teeth and charged straight toward it. Surprised, his opponent could only watch. However, right before the flames hit, Verus used his foot technique. Altering the way that he circulated ki throughout his body, he pushed a stream of the energy down through his back leg as he kicked off the ground, activating the Vanishing Feather Step. The ki burst out of the bottom of his foot and blasted into the ground, throwing Verus forward and slightly to the side. As he zoomed past the fireball, Verus altered his ki circulation again, and ki began streaming from his skin, protecting it from the heat of the flames as they sizzled through the air next to him.

    A moment later, Verus was past the fire and charging straight toward Katar, whose smirk had completely disappeared.

    Katar might be overconfident, but his ability to use fire ki gave him good reason to be. It¡¯s ability to burn its target even if it didn¡¯t hit straight on was one of the reasons that fire was considered one of the best offensive ki types. It didn¡¯t require great technique or aim to use. You could simply spray it out and expect to damage and disable other people on your level.

    Human ki was very different. It was fine for reinforcing, but it quickly evaporated once it left the body. You couldn¡¯t expect it to travel far. It had its uses and quirks though, and Verus had been training hard over the past few days.

    Katar reoriented to face Verus and punched the air again, sending another fireball at Verus. This time, the flames were almost right in his face, so he had to dodge immediately.

    Using the Vanishing Feather Step, he threw himself to the side of the fireball, while still managing to land closer to his foe. According to Fang, Katar wasn¡¯t a hard worker or a genius of any kind. He was a spoiled kid who''d gotten lucky with his attunement. He¡¯d played around and learned a single fire technique, while forgoing his human ki completely. The ability to throw fireballs was certainly powerful, but it wasn¡¯t some unbeatable technique. It had plenty of weaknesses.

    Verus landed heavily and took a defensive stance as Katar turned to face him. There was an angry snarl on the disciple¡¯s face as he twisted around and threw a punch at his foe. Verus blocked the punch and then skipped forward to deliver a sidekick to Katar¡¯s ribs. The other disciple huffed in pain as he stumbled back from the impact, but he quickly recovered and came at Verus again. He threw a flurry of light punches that Verus had to dodge and block. One got through, hitting Verus¡¯s nose hard enough to make his eyes water. The jabs were just feints though, Katar followed them up with a jumping kick aimed right at his face.

    Ducking down low, Verus let Katar¡¯s foot zoom right by his head, and then he threw his entire body into an explosive punch aimed right at his opponent¡¯s gut. Ki cycled through his body and down his arm, enhancing the blow. Thus, while Katar was still in the air, his fist smashed through the other disciple¡¯s guard and rammed right into his stomach.

    The impact knocked Katar back and he grunted as air was forced from his lungs. Still, he landed without falling and didn¡¯t look too hurt. Verus hated fighting people with more ki than him. It gave them a noticeable increase in strength and toughness. Maybe he should have absorbed some of those ki crystals after all.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m done taking it easy on you,¡± Katar hissed as he stared daggers at the temple ward.

    Dropping down, Katar did a sweep with his leg. From a safe distance, Verus hesitated and watched in confusion, until a wave of fire washed forth from the glowing trail his leg left in the air. The flames swept across the ground, and Verus was forced to jump up to avoid them. Okay, it seemed like he¡¯d underestimated Katar a little. The spoiled brat actually had two techniques.

    As Verus hung in the air, Katar twisted around and used another punching motion to send a fireball straight at his foe. Damnation in a handbasket, Verus swore mentally. This was obviously a combo move, and it worked.

    ¡°Pickles,¡± he cursed aloud as he landed too late to dodge the fireball. There was an elder present and some of them could be picky about blasphemy.

    As the fire slammed into him, Verus raised his arms up in front of his face. Ignoring the terrible heat and thoughts of blackening flesh, he concentrated on his ki and reinforcing his skin as much as possible. At his direction, human ki oozed out of his skin to repulse the heat, but he didn¡¯t stop there. He pushed a blast of ki out of his hands, directly at the fireball, in an attempt to disperse it.

    A scream escaped Verus¡¯s lips, and searing pain ripped into all of his exposed flesh as the fire savaged him. A moment later, the flames died down and Verus got a look at himself. His arms were red and blistered, and he expected his face was almost as bad. His robes were also quite singed, although he didn¡¯t care all that much about them. It seemed like his defenses had only been partially effective, but they¡¯d stopped him from getting any permanent damage.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Moving his arms and their tortured skin caused Verus agony, but he didn¡¯t stop.

    ¡°Pain is an illusion. The will triumphs over all,¡± he hissed as he took up an offensive stance.

    He hadn¡¯t been defeated yet. He needed to win. Verus felt his battle focus reassert itself. If anything, the pain made it stronger. Everything but the match faded away. He couldn¡¯t take another blast like that, so it was time for him to give everything he had.

    Without warning, Verus charged forward using a Vanishing Feather Step to close the distance between him and his opponent. Unfortunately, charging straight in had a serious downside. No matter how fast you were, it was a predictable movement. Katar saw him coming and unleashed a flurry of punches at the spot he was headed for. Verus was forced to shield his head and absorb some of the hits. The impacts on his damaged skin were incredibly painful, but he was almost beyond pain now.

    ¡°Ha, take this, you peasant,¡± Katar roared as he stepped back and sent a powerful scythe kick straight for Verus¡¯s ribs.

    The kick slammed into Verus¡¯s side and then blew through his body, dispersing it into smoky ki. It was an afterimage. That was when Verus ¨C who¡¯d used a Vanishing Step to dodge to the side while his enemy was distracted ¨C lunged forward and grabbed the collar of Katar¡¯s robe.

    Verus grinned savagely as he pulled himself closer to his opponent and twisted Katar around so that he was off-balance. While useless for long range emissions, human ki did have its own quirks. It was the ki of humans, so it naturally took their shape. It was thus easy to create a momentary image of himself using it. All he had to do was leave a cloud of shaped ki behind as he moved.

    ¡°What?¡± Katar exclaimed in shock as he tried to figure out what had happened. Struggling, he tried to pull back away from his opponent and regain his balance.

    Verus didn¡¯t give him a chance. Using his weight, he dragged the other disciple¡¯s head down and then used an altered Vanishing Step to empower a short jump that ended with him slamming his knee into his opponent¡¯s stomach. The improvised move required some complicated ki manipulation that he would have never tried unless he was fully in the grips of his battle focus, but it was the only thing he¡¯d come up with that had a chance of ending the fight fast. Despite his ability to ignore the pain, Verus really wanted to get his burns looked at.

    The power of the knee strike lifted Katar¡¯s feet off the ground, and Verus took the opportunity to lift the other disciple up and throw him aside. That turned out to be a good move, because as soon as Katar had collapsed onto the ground, he began vomiting uncontrollably. Verus thought he saw some blood mixed in before he grimaced and turned away. Ugh, disgusting.

    ¡°I believe this fight is over. Ward Verus is the victor and will be awarded the prize of two ki shards,¡± the refereeing elder announced as he stepped forward. He then eyed both the combatants and grunted, as if doubting that the prize had been worth the damage they¡¯d taken.

    After a quick bow and a promise to visit the sect infirmary, Verus claimed his prize. By then, Katar had managed to pull himself up into a sitting position and was glaring at Verus with undisguised fury, although he still seemed unable to talk.

    ¡°I will pray for your quick recovery,¡± Verus told his defeated foe as he clasped his hands together and gave him a polite nod. Ha, Katar had gotten exactly what he¡¯d deserved. After being so rude, he should be happy that Verus hadn¡¯t kicked him again while he was down. That would be unbecoming of a cultivator seeking enlightenment though.

    There was a smile on Verus¡¯s lips as he walked off the dueling arena, despite his painful injuries. Not only had he put down an annoying spoiled brat of a cultivator, but now he had two shards to use for training and would be getting more next week. Maybe he could even absorb one or two instead of using them all for channeling.

    However, his first stop was the infirmary. Now that he was no longer fighting, his burnt skin was really starting to ache. Katar¡¯s flames had done a lot of damage. Reaching up, Verus felt his face, and was relieved to find that that he still had his eyebrows.

    ¡°Wow. Are you sure you should be walking? You look like a boiled beet,¡± Warin said as he hurried over to his friend¡¯s side. There was a concerned look on his face.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ I think. I won and I can still walk, so it¡¯s all good. Winning was the important part.¡±

    ¡°You look like you¡¯re about to fall over and pass out. I¡¯d take your arm to steady you, but I don¡¯t want to touch you, lest I open your wounds and get slime from your sores all over myself.¡±

    Verus knew he was wobbling a little now that the excitement and rush of fighting was wearing off, but it wasn¡¯t that bad. True, he wasn¡¯t quite managing to walk in a straight line, but he was still pointed in the right general direction.

    ¡°I said I¡¯m fine, but if I do fall over, just call for someone from the infirmary to come. I¡¯m sure they¡¯d be able to move me without tearing off any of my remaining healthy skin,¡± Verus joked half-heartedly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do that,¡± Warin replied as he rolled his eyes and walked beside his friend. They stayed together right up until they reached their destination. Only then did Warin leave to attend to his own business.

    The infirmary was a clean and spartan looking building. As soon as Verus stepped inside, a servant in white walked over and led him to a side room, where an inner disciple that was also wearing a white robe had him sit down on a bed. Neither of them seemed to find his injuries odd or even worthy of comment. Apparently, disciples came in here all the time with burns across their entire bodies and their skin peeling off.

    The attending medical disciple had Verus remove most of his clothes before applying a salve to his skin. Thankfully, he was a man. Verus was still uncomfortable around women, even when he wasn¡¯t half naked and getting rubbed down. As the man applied the salve, he also pushed ki into Verus¡¯s skin. Thus, when he was done, Verus immediately felt much better and a lot of the inflamed redness of his burns had been replaced by a healthy pink color.

    ¡°Your burns should clear up without any complications by tomorrow, but return here if they persist,¡± the medical disciple told him.

    Verus thanked the healer and then set off to the requisition office. Now that he had some shards to spend, it was time to try testing the next attunement.

 The Measuring of Souls 12

    Sound was an odd but useful attunement that could be used to fuel some powerful emission techniques, so it was what Verus selected to test himself for next.

    Unfortunately, grasping the nature of the ki and performing the technique proved difficult. He made no progress for the rest of the day, or until the start of his Cultivation Theory class the next.

    Verus didn¡¯t let that keep him down though. His victory in the dueling ground was fresh enough in his mind to keep him happy. Thus, he was still hopeful as he made his way to class and took a seat.

    His classmates¡¯ behavior towards him was slightly different. Although some of them were still openly hostile, most of them simply ignored him now. Apparently, Fang had been right. Beating Katar and proving he wasn¡¯t weak had changed their opinion of him, if only a little.

    Elder Ling soon arrived and began her lecture. The young female elder looked the same as last time. ¡°Today we will be discussing the basics of attunements and how they relate both to the Tempered Realm and techniques.

    Attunement is a term used to describe how strongly you resonate with a specific type of frequency of ki. There is some debate about how much a cultivator¡¯s attunements are determined by the soul or the body, but for your purposes that doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    Verus knew all that already.

    ¡°Each frequency or type of ki is associated with either an element of the physical world or an emotion, and each variant of ki has different strengths and uses. Elemental ki is mainly used to produce energy or control matter. For instance, fire ki produces heat and earth ki can be used to alter or move the earth around a cultivator. Elemental ki can also be transformed into essence to form weapons or create other special effects. Emotional ki is different. Its main use is to alter the emotional state of others near you, and by nature it is far more malleable and subjective, so it is often used to craft illusions. The more someone is affected by an emotion, the more real such illusions appear.¡±

    This was more interesting, and matched Verus¡¯s own experiences. The Lightbringers back at the mountain temple had frequently emitted an invisible aura of ki that made all the wards pay attention and focus better. He¡¯d never seen them craft illusions though. Er, or had he? How would he know?

    Elder Ling took a moment¡¯s break before continuing. ¡°The more you use a type of ki the stronger your connection to it grows. This is because using the ki causes natural essence glyphs to be inscribed within your core and even alters your soul to a small degree. This can also affect your attunements in subtle ways.¡±

    Verus perked up. Finally, the lecturer was talking about his own problem. He couldn¡¯t afford to let this opportunity pass. No one had ever asked a question in class yet, but that didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t allowed. It certainly hadn¡¯t been forbidden, so Verus gathered his courage, carefully ignored all his peers, and raised his hand.

    Elder Ling noticed right away. She frowned and studied him a moment before speaking up.

    ¡°Yes, do you have question?¡± she asked impatiently.

    All the other disciples turned to look at Verus, but he focused on a breathing exercise and continued ignoring them. ¡°Honored elder, I wish to know if you can you gain an attunement that you weren¡¯t born with.¡±

    Verus had decided not to ask about finding existing attunements because he¡¯d already talked to an elder about that and he had a book on the topic. If an easier way existed, he¡¯d already know.

    Elder Ling nodded. ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s very difficult and not practical for disciples. Extensive use of a channeling technique over many years could allow you to strengthen an attunement, but It¡¯s usually only done by elders on certain flexible ways. For instance, someone on the Way of Gathering Storms could develop a lightning attunement if they wanted to increase the breadth of techniques available to them. An elder would have the time and resource necessary, and their ascension wouldn¡¯t be held back much because they could still ascend by gathering wind ki. Now, let¡¯s get back to the main topic.¡±

    A mix of excitement and disappointment warred within Verus. Elder Ling¡¯s explanation wasn¡¯t immediately helpful to him, but at least he¡¯d learned something. You could gain attunements. Even if he didn¡¯t have years to wait until choosing a cultivation technique, that was still good to know.

    ¡°This brings us to the topic of the Tempered Realm, the next step for all you young cultivators,¡± Elder Ling continued. ¡°Reaching the Tempered Realm requires not only amassing a certain amount of ki and essence within your core, but also gaining some spiritual understanding of ki. It¡¯s a small hurdle along the way to enlightenment, that can usually be overcome by simple practice, but a necessary one. More advanced Realms require much deeper understanding of the nature of the heavens.¡±

    The rest of the lecture was uneventful, and when it was done, Verus headed to the physical training with Warin and then went back to his room to practice channeling sound ki. He made no progress, which was expected, but nonetheless dampened his previously good mood. Having learned his lesson, he didn¡¯t over-train though, and got five hours of sleep that night. As a cultivator, that was all he really needed.

    The next lecture in theology was on the endless heavens themselves and went into more technical detail than any speech by a Lightbringer that Verus had ever heard. Usually they were more focused on obedience to doctrine and less on discussing the details.

    ¡°Another term for the heavens that is frequently used by scholars is the eternal plane. In particular, this term refers to the non-physical dimension that lies parallel to worlds such as ours,¡± Gerath explained. ¡°It is within this dimension of pure energy that spirits dwell and souls return to upon death. There, they reunite with the Archon and God, before being purified and returned to the physical Realm. Travel between worlds is also done through the eternal plane, either by advanced cultivators or via gates such as the ones the empire builds to transport settlers.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    When the class was over, Verus headed over to physical training to do his daily exercises with Warin. However, when they were done, Warin asked Verus to stick around.

    ¡°I want to do some more ki technique training,¡± his friend explained. ¡°And I was hoping to get your help.¡±

    ¡°Sure, I guess. What do you need?¡± Verus replied. He owed Warin quite a lot, so he couldn¡¯t really refuse.

    The pair started walking over to a training area over at the edge of the disciple compound. As usual, there were few people in sight and the temple had a sedate atmosphere.

    ¡°Great. I invited another person along as well, so I¡¯ll introduce you when we get there.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ what? Who is it?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll see when we get there.¡±

    When they reached the field, there was another disciple present, and it was a girl. Verus tried not to stare as he awkwardly walked over to her. Thankfully, Warin handled the introduction, allowing him to just go along with it.

    ¡°Escora, you came! That¡¯s great. This is my close friend Verus. He¡¯s the genius I told you about!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, but I don¡¯t know about being genius¡­¡± Verus stammered.

    Escora eyed him skeptically, in an almost hostile manner. She was a tanned young woman with shoulder-length dark brown hair that had been intricately braided and tied back so that it didn¡¯t get in her eyes. She was wearing clothes that were quite different from that of most other disciples. Instead of a robe, she wore a black slit skirt that went past her knees and a brown long-sleeved shirt. She has had a wooden bead necklace around her neck. It was obviously traditional garb, which meant she was probably from one of the Telhri tribes that had joined the empire.

    Verus didn¡¯t know much about them, but he did know that many of the tribes had allied with the empire when the first imperial expeditionary forces had arrived on the world. They¡¯d been happy to side with other humans to drive out the demi-humans that had plagued them. Most of them had then been completely absorbed into the empire¡¯s superior culture as it established its borders. Only a few of the tribes in the empire still maintained their tribal lifestyle, but there were others outside the empire borders who were hostile to imperial authority and sometimes launched raids on villages and merchants. The Telhri had thus gained a reputation for thievery and banditry among the common folk.

    Still frowning, Escora turned to Warin. ¡°This is the other person that¡¯s supposed to help me? He looks like he can¡¯t even help himself and his ki feels pathetically weak.¡±

    Warin didn¡¯t lose his cheerful smile. ¡°Looks can be deceiving. Verus is simply having some difficulty deciding on a cultivation technique. He is nonetheless the greatest genius among all the disciples of the Great Wind Sect when it comes to the understanding and practice of ki circulation. Just wait and see.¡±

    ¡°I suppose I was usually was one of the first at the temple to figure out ki techniques, if only by a little,¡± Verus mused humbly.

    ¡°Ha, everyone else only learned those techniques soon after you because you always turned around and helped them,¡± Warin replied before turning to Escora. ¡°That¡¯s why I know he can help you.¡±

    Embarrassed, Verus turned to Escora and tried to change the subject. He was uncomfortable being praised too much. ¡°So, you¡¯re having some sort of problem? May I enquire as to what is it?¡±

    For a moment, Escora¡¯s confident demeanor cracked and she looked uncertain. ¡°It¡¯s not a large issue, but I¡¯m the only person from my tribe here in this sect. My earning of the invitation was considered a great achievement by my clan, and by being here I give my family much honor, but I have no one to turn to for help with my legacy techniques. I¡¯m sure some of the elders could give me advice, but they don¡¯t teach outer disciples directly. That means I must either figure everything out myself or abandon my clan¡¯s techniques and learn the sect¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°So, what exactly do you want from me and Warin?¡±

    The young woman straightened up and looked down at Verus. ¡°First, just some simple sparring and practicing, so you¡¯ll need to be able to hold your own despite your runty spirit or you¡¯ll be useless to me.¡±

    How rude. Was this how she asked for help? Verus stifled an angry scowl and focused on not letting his emotions getting the better of him. Yes, he just had to think of her crude behavior as a test, or as practice for dealing with jerks.

    ¡°I won my last duel against a fire cultivator,¡± Verus told her. He still had some of the burns as proof. ¡°Have you done any dueling?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not one to pay attention to the rumors on the wind or partake in petty squabbles,¡± she replied dismissively. ¡°So, I don¡¯t know anything about that, but I suppose we¡¯ll soon see how good you are.¡±

    As Escora turned and walked over to the center of the training ring, Verus leaned close to Warin. ¡°Why did you invite her to join us? She seems the roughest woman in the entire sect!¡±

    ¡°Sparring and sharing advice is what we already do during our training sessions. We¡¯ll get more out of it if we have another person.¡±

    ¡°Fine, but why her? She doesn¡¯t seem like the best training partner. Instead of exchanging advice, she seems more eager to exchange insults.¡±

    Warin patted Verus on the shoulder. ¡°She could use some friends. Trust me, the family scions look down on tribesmen like her even more than they do us. She puts up a brave front and likes to act tough, but she¡¯s not exactly skilled at making friends and she¡¯s all alone here. I think I¡¯ve talked to her more than anyone else in the sect.¡±

    Verus¡¯s expression softened. He supposed he could empathize with that. Anyone would develop some prickly defensive thorns after facing the hostility of other outer disciples alone. ¡°And how did you meet her?¡±

    ¡°Everyone has to go to the cafeteria.¡±

    Sighing, Verus walked over to where Escora was now waiting for them in the ring.

    ¡°Which one of you wants to go first?¡± she asked them.

    ¡°Verus does. He¡¯s eager to prove his skills,¡± Warin answered with a mischievous grin.

    A tired groan escaped Verus¡¯s throat, but he entered the ring anyway. Warin wasn¡¯t actually wrong. He had enough people looking down on him already, so he wanted to at least show Escora that he could hold his own.

    ¡°I assume this is going to be gentle spar with no weapons?¡± Verus asked as he took up position across from her and assumed a martial arts stance.

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll start off nice and easy so that you don¡¯t get hurt. This is about feeling each other out.¡±

    Her words brought some very uncombative images to mind, but Verus didn¡¯t let his focus slip. He kept his eyes locked on hers, instead of letting them roam her body. He was an ascetic and refused to end up a vapid fool the moment he talked to a woman. Especially this one, after she¡¯d just announced her intention to attack him. Still, her tribal dress was quite immodest in places¡­

    ¡°Begin!¡± Warin announced with a gleeful laugh from safely outside the ring.

 The Measuring of Souls 13

    Immediately, Verus sensed Escora begin circulating her ki as she charged forward. He stepped forward to meet her, and they traded a series of quick punches. Verus could tell that she was holding back, but there was still a fair amount of power behind her blows. As usual, he had less ki than his opponent, which put him at a serious disadvantage.

    Grinning confidently, Escora increased the pace. Her fist suddenly blurred and zoomed toward Verus¡¯s face, but he was ready for it. A quick sidestep allowed him to push the strike harmlessly aside. He was relaxed and focused on the fight now, which allowed him to study Escora¡¯s style as he defended himself. It was quite unique. Her footwork and strikes were quite different from his own or that of the other disciples he¡¯d seen. There was a snake-like quickness to them, and they seemed designed around deception, allowing her to launch attacks from unexpected directions. However, Verus could keep up thanks to his state of mind. The shifting of her muscles betrayed her next move. It was like he just knew what she was going to do even before she did it; like he¡¯d seen it all before.

    ¡°You¡¯re a slippery one, I¡¯ll give you that,¡± Escora said with a grunt of effort.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Verus replied politely as he batted aside another flurry of blows and then struck back with a punch of his own. From experience, he knew that questioning the source of his instincts would cause them to fade, so he simply let himself flow along with them.

    Esocra dodged the punch and countered with a swift kick that came up at Verus from his blindspot. It was a tricky move, but he managed to jump back away from it. The spar continued for another minute before Warin called for it to end. Neither of them had landed any good blows, but that hadn¡¯t been the point. The spar had been about feeling each other out.

    There was a satisfied expression on Escora¡¯s face. ¡°Hmm, I guess you¡¯re not too bad. That wasn¡¯t terrible practice.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. You¡¯re quite skilled yourself. I look forward to working with you,¡± Verus replied with forced politeness.

    It was obvious that she¡¯d held back since she hadn¡¯t used anything but human ki and basic attacks during their spar, just like he hadn¡¯t used Vanishing Feather Step. Either she was concealing her best moves because she wanted to keep them secret, or her pride had made her want to match him without using them.

    Warin said as he walked into the ring. ¡°I think it¡¯s my turn. I hope Verus didn¡¯t tire you out too much.¡±

    ¡°As if. That was nothing but a warmup to me,¡± Escora replied confidently.

    Verus stepped out of the ring and let his two companions have a quick round. It ended with Warin being knocked off his feet fairly quickly, but the chubby disciple just laughed it off.

    ¡°You know, judging by your looks, I¡¯d say you have a fair amount of Telhri blood yourself,¡± Escora remarked as they left the ring.

    ¡°Maybe. I¡¯m an orphan and have no memory of my family however,¡± Warin answered without losing his grin. ¡°Verus here is my only brother. We grew up together at the temple.¡±

    Escora winced and changed the subject. Apparently, she wasn¡¯t completely insensitive to others. ¡°Ah. Well, Telhri blood isn¡¯t exactly rare. It¡¯s just that most of the old tribes have integrated completely into the empire. Mine is one of the few that have managed to resist assimilation and being drowned out by the constant waves of colonists.¡±

    ¡°Well, the empire has offered them a much better life and they have freely chosen to partake in its riches,¡± Verus observed. This was something he¡¯d been taught all his life.

    Escora sighed and made a complex expression. ¡°Er, yes. We were certainly much worse off before the arrival of the empire. All the humans on this world used to be hunted down like animals or treated like cattle by Miststalkers and other powerful demi-humans, but that doesn¡¯t mean things couldn¡¯t be better or that the empire is perfect. It can be brutal and unjust to anyone that dissents. In other tribes, entire families can be wiped out for even the whisper of the old worship.¡±

    ¡°Nothing is perfect but the endless heavens themselves. That is why we must struggle toward enlightenment,¡± Verus remarked.

    ¡°Which is part of the problem. My tribe doesn¡¯t produce nearly as many powerful cultivators as it used to. We¡¯ve grown soft and been stifled by the empire¡¯s control while the sects grow ever more powerful.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll all just have to become powerful immortals. That will solve everything,¡± Warin remarked with a laugh.

    ¡°That would be nice, for sure,¡± Escora replied. ¡°So, anyway, I think we¡¯re done training for today. When are you two planning on doing this again? I might join you, if I¡¯m not too busy or anything.¡±

    Her words were confident and haughty but there was an almost needy tone to her voice. A sudden realization hit Verus. Despite her bluster, Escora was feeling just as out of her depth and vulnerable as him. She just had a different way of dealing with it. She was all alone at the sect headquarters without even someone like Warin to support her.

    Verus exchanged a glance with Warin and then gave Escora a reassuring smile. ¡°We train fairly regularly, and please feel free to join us at any time.¡±

    ¡°Sure, I mean¡­ I might show up occasionally if I have nothing better to do.¡±

    After splitting up with Warin and a now noticeably happier Escora, Verus headed back to his room to cultivate. That was what he did for the rest of the night, except for a break to eat supper alone.

    The rest of his classes that week were uninteresting, math, literature, and history were little more than memorization that had nothing to do with cultivation. His efforts toward channeling were also unproductive. He meditated for long hours without accomplishing anything of note.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    He did spar and train with Escora and Warin twice more, and that was the only activity that he felt was truly productive towards his goals. With practice, his movements became smoother and performing ki techniques began to feel more natural. Escora was still holding back, but that didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t push Verus. To keep up and make sure he was ready for his next duel, Verus consumed a ki shard. He was going to need all the ki he could get to keep from falling further behind.

    After meditating in his room after history class and training with his companions, Verus finally managed to get a feel for sound ki, but he wasn¡¯t surprised to learn that he had no talent with it. He was used to failing attunements by now, and to be honest, sound ki had seemed more than little lame anyway. Thus, he simply got up and headed to the requisition office to refill the orb with a new type of ki. He¡¯d find his attunement eventually, and then nothing would hold him back.

    To procure another shard, Verus challenged another disciple on the rest day. His opponent was an arrogant young man named Lorem whose father was a minor cultivator that worked in the imperial bureaucracy. That didn¡¯t stop him from being incredibly arrogant though. He refused to be intimidated by a temple ward, and Verus promptly took him apart in the ring. He didn¡¯t even have a chance to use any fancy moves. Verus simply charged in and danced around while striking at his foe¡¯s weak spots. It was obvious the other disciple was unused to real fighting and had skimped out on his training.

    On the holy day, Verus went to the devotary once again and listened from the pews alongside his fellow disciples as the Lightbringer preached. As usual, the sermon made him feel better, so he then spent the rest of the day meditating and absorbing the shard he¡¯d won to fuel his cultivation. He¡¯d just refilled his orb, so it was unlikely he¡¯d need to do again soon, and he couldn¡¯t spend all his shards on channeling. Thus, his second week at the temple came to an end.

    The next few days of the third week also went by quickly as Verus settled into a routine. In cultivation theory class the lecturer discussed the types of ki techniques.

    ¡°Ki can be used in countless ways, but the most fit into several broad categories,¡± Elder Ling explained from the podium in the lecture hall. ¡°The first is the most natural and many people and animals do It subconsciously. Cycling ki through your body to strengthen yourself is called reinforcement. When you use ki to produce energy such as heat or attack directly with the ki itself, this is an emission technique. Control techniques use ki to move and command the physical world, such as when the air-attuned rotate air to create cyclones. The last basic technique type is conjuring, which is when a cultivator condenses ki into essence. This is usually used to create armor or weapons.¡±

    This was very basic information and Verus was sure everyone here knew it already. Thankfully, Elder Ling didn¡¯t stop there.

    ¡°There are several more advanced functions of ki, but they usually require a cultivator to be at a higher Realm than any of you are currently at. Sealing, creating domains, and summoning entail connecting to the endless heavens and the spiritual plane of existence.

    Verus was very curious about sealing and summoning techniques, but Elder Ling didn¡¯t mention them again. He could guess what they were about though. Plenty of stories mentioned both the summoning of spirits and sealing them away.

    As he left the class, Verus felt several hostile gazes and saw some of his fellow disciples glaring at him. It was a good thing that none of them were among the strongest in the outer temple. It seemed like mostly the weaker family scions were angry at him for beating some of their fellows. That could be a problem, but Verus had no idea how to deal with it, so he just ignored them. He was certain they wouldn¡¯t reduce themselves to ambushing him on the temple grounds.

    Over the next few days, Verus worked his new channeling technique. Darkness had both a bad reputation and was supposed to be hard to learn, so he¡¯d avoided it at first. Thieves and assassins were famed for using it. It was also a negative ki type, meaning it cancelled out energy instead of creating it. All the ki types Verus had tried so far had been positive, which meant he had no experience channeling negative energy.

    Darkness ki turned out to be as difficult for Verus to work with as the writing suggested. It took him several days to even sense the elusive energy, even though he had an orb full of it in front of him. It would have been easier if he could see raw ki, but that wasn¡¯t an ability cultivators at his Realm had, so he had to rely on his ability to sense it flowing around him. That was hard because the dark ki didn¡¯t announce itself to the world in the same way positive ki did. It wasn¡¯t until he had an epiphany in the middle of his afternoon meditation that he figured out how to sense what wasn¡¯t there. Doing such a thing sounded simple, but actually using his ki senses that way was extremely difficult.

    The darkness ki swirled within the orb, devouring all the light it could. If it hadn¡¯t been trapped within the orb, the ki would have naturally diffused into nothing as it expanded itself in a futile attempt to cancel out all the light in Verus¡¯s room. It was very different from fire or even poison ki. Struck by a sudden thought, Verus stood up and walked outside. Once out there, he opened his senses to the ki of the temple around him and concentrated.

    His suspicions were almost immediately proven correct. All around him he sensed faint traces of a now familiar type of ki among the strong gusts of wind ki that filled the temple.

    ¡°Huh, that¡¯s creepy,¡± Verus muttered to himself as he studied one aura coming from a shadowy building off in the distance that he¡¯d never noticed before. It loomed in his imagination now, the dark ki giving it a hungry feeling and making its shadowy windows seem menacing.

    Darkness ki had been around Verus his entire life, and he¡¯d simply never known it. That was probably true for most other negative types of ki as well. It seemed like they were much harder to sense than positive ki unless you knew exactly what you were looking for. No wonder darkness users had such a reputation for being criminals.

    What else was Verus completely ignorant of? Were there other invisible forces around him right now? The mental shift that had allowed Verus to sense darkness ki had been like a minor enlightenment, even though it had been more than little eerie as well. He¡¯d become more in tune with the world and the heavens as he¡¯d perceived a greater part of reality, a darker fragment of it. That was progress, even if it chilled his spirit¡­

    Despite the nervous flutter in his stomach, Verus smiled to himself. There was nothing that he enjoyed more than gaining new understanding of himself and the world. Everything simply made sense when he meditated and advanced. It made the vast chaotic world seem more manageable. That was why he wanted to be an elder so badly. Maybe at higher levels of ascension he¡¯d feel more comfortable in his own skin¡­

    Sensing darkness ki was simply the first step though. Actually, performing the channeling technique would require more effort and time. He still had lots of work to do, so Verus put the minor revelation out of mind and went back to his room.

    However, as he entered the dormitory, he noticed another disciple hanging outside his door. With his short brown hair and muscular build, he looked vaguely familiar, like one of the young cultivators that had been giving him nasty looks lately.

    ¡°Greetings, may I help you?¡± Verus asked.

    The muscular disciple glared at Verus. ¡°Yes, you may. My name is Tellus Montem and I¡¯m here to challenge you to a duel and avenge the defeat of my cousin Lorem. If you¡¯re not a conniving coward, you will accept, little temple ward.¡±

    Caught off guard, Verus stared. It was possible that he''d made a serious mistake.

 The Measuring of Souls 14

    Verus stood before the muscular disciple that had come to challenge him. He really should have seen this coming. He¡¯d annoyed quite a few young family scions by daring to beat their peers in a duel. They couldn¡¯t gang up and ambush him on the temple grounds, but they could send one of their stronger members to challenge him to a duel. He didn¡¯t have to accept though.

    Tellus glared angrily as if reading his mind. ¡°If you refuse my challenge, know that everyone in the sect will see you to be a conniving coward and refuse to duel you in turn. There will be other repercussions as well, for you won¡¯t always be able to hide behind the rules of the sect.¡±

    That was a problem. Nothing he did was likely to make the entitled and insecure family scions among the outer disciples not hate him and work against him, but he did need to keep dueling to procure extra shards.

    ¡°Excuse me, but I need a moment to think. You¡¯ve surprised me,¡± Verus told the entitled ass that had come to harass him as he reached out with his senses to scan his spirit.

    The other disciple seemed to have more ki than him, which was to be expected, but not by all that much. Really, with access to all the resources from their families, Verus was surprised most of the other outer disciples didn¡¯t have even more ki than they did. It didn¡¯t take all that long to absorb a ki shard, or was that just him? Maybe absorbing ki shards was something he took for granted but other people had to struggle with, like his ki circulation skills.

    Tellus¡¯s ki did have a distinct feeling to it, cool and earthy. Yes, he was probably an earth ki cultivator. That was another advantage he had over Verus, but it was possible that he was still being underestimated. Since he¡¯d started dueling, Verus had paid attention to the competition a lot more, and he knew all the strongest fighters in the outer sect now. Tellus wasn¡¯t among them. Verus didn¡¯t think he¡¯d ever dueled before.

    Since it seemed like choosing his own fights and picking off the weakest outer disciples wasn¡¯t going to work anymore, Verus knew he was going to need to adapt, and that meant fighting stronger opponents. However, if he was going to Tellus, he needed to be smart about it.

    ¡°I accept your challenge and look forward to facing you combat. The stakes will be two shards each.¡± That was all Verus had at the moment.

    Tellus grinned, but Verus kept talking. ¡°Four days from now, after history class seems like a good time.¡±

    ¡°Why wait that long?¡± the other disciple replied as his grin became a frown again.

    Verus would have put it off longer if he thought he could get away with it. He wanted time to train, look into his opponent, and absorb some more ki. He was willing to bet he could make some significant gains in a few days if he gave it his all. According to Warin, he was a genius after all.

    ¡°That¡¯s when I have time.¡±

    ¡°Bah, whatever. A few days won¡¯t matter.¡±

    Tellus left after giving Verus one last scornful look. Verus simply smiled back politely. He was going to enjoy punching Tellus right in his smug face.

    It was late in the evening already, so after spending some time cultivating, Verus went to bed. The next day was the holy day, so he had to go to the devotery with all the other disciples, but after the sermon was over, he met up with Warin and Escora to get in as much training and as possible. Escora gladly threw herself into sparring with him, so that he could work on mastering his battle focus and fighting style.

    During class the next day, the usual group of disciples from minor families kept throwing Verus smug and vicious looks, but he ignored them. It was obvious they expected Tellus to put him in his place, but that wasn¡¯t going to happen.

    Soon, Elder Ling took her usual place at the podium and began lecturing. ¡°Glyphs are created from essence by cultivators, which means they are a type of conjuring and can only be created by creatures with souls. While considered mysterious by many, glyphs are essentially symbols imbued with intent that can be used to effect ki in very complex ways. Their shape gives them function, making them a natural language of ki. Cultivators usually draw them in essence to subtly change what essence constructs do or make them perform certain actions automatically. This makes them useful for creating artifacts and arrays, but they can also be used to boost ki techniques if you have the time to create the glyphs.¡±

    Elder Ling then raised a hand and began using her finger to draw glowing white symbols in the air. When she was done, the symbols flashed brightly. Verus shielded his eyes with a raised hand, but the glyphs and the light soon vanished.

    ¡°I used those glyphs to power that light spell,¡± she explained. ¡°Thus, they drew power from their surroundings instead of using ki from my core. Such techniques are severally limited by the availability of natural ki around them though, so they are usually of limited use in battle. The type of essence you use also matters, with light essence being the best for affecting light ki, so your attunements still matter when using glyph boosted spells.¡±

    Glyph scribing was an interesting topic, but quickly got very technical and Verus couldn¡¯t think of any way that glyphs could help him solve his problems or duel better. He simply didn¡¯t have the knowledge required or time in a fight to use them.

    During theology class the next day, Verus got more nasty looks from some of the other students, but they stopped when the lecturer showed up. Gerath¡¯s cheerful demeanor also made it difficult for Verus to feel bad about himself and his lecture was also quite interesting.

    ¡°Cultivators of all levels are connected to the eternal plane. This connection grows stronger and is obvious at higher Realms, but it still exists even at the lowest Realms, when simply glimpsing the eternal can drive cultivators insane. The enlightenment brought along by ascension is required to safely interact with the eternal plane, for its majesty is too much for the merely mortal to comprehend.¡±

    That reminded Verus of Iniais and his odd behavior, and he had to suppress a shudder. Was he truly tormented by visions of the eternal? What would that be like?If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Gerath continued. ¡°Still, many of you are wondering what the nature of this connection is and if it has any practical applications. The answer is complicated, of course, but we do know some things. The eternal plane is infinite, an endless ocean of ki. However, it reflects the physical plane even as it helps shape it. Different parts of it are thus associated with different types of ki. The soul of every cultivator is unique and tied to the eternal plane in subtle ways. The eternal plane is the source of souls after all, and they are drawn back there after death to be reborn. This connection is heavily influenced by a person¡¯s natural attunements, or perhaps it¡¯s the other way around. The answer isn¡¯t clear. However, someone with a strong fire attunement will thus be drawn to an area of the eternal plane that is heavy in fire ki.¡±

    The mention of attunements drew Verus¡¯s interest, but he couldn¡¯t think of any way it was useful. He had no way to peer into the eternal plane and apparently it would drive him insane and destroy his mind if he did. That didn¡¯t seem like a price he was willing to pay.

    Two days quickly passed and the day of the duel arrived. After history class, Verus meet up with Warin and they went to the challenge arena. Verus was feeling nervous despite all his preparation. He had gambled a lot on this fight, and he didn¡¯t want to get beat up.

    ¡°Just remember, he¡¯s supposed to use earth ki, so use your movement techniques to get the upper hand,¡± Warin reassured his friend as they walked. ¡°Earth ki is no good for movement or emission attacks. This should be easier than fighting Katar and his fire.¡±

    Verus nodded along.

    When the arena came into sight, Verus was surprised to see Escora there. They¡¯d never interacted outside of their training exercises before.

    ¡°After all the training, I thought I¡¯d stop by and see how you fare when the blows aren¡¯t being held back,¡± Escora told him. Verus was fairly certain she was trying to be friendly, fairly. She certainly wasn¡¯t very good at it.

    ¡°Thank you for coming and for your help preparing,¡± he told her before turning to face his opponent.

    Tellus was standing in the ring next to the referee, looking calm and controlled, so Verus walked over to him.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with. You¡¯ve made me wait long enough already, stray.¡±

    ¡°As you wish,¡± Verus replied as he raised his hands and took his stance. Yes, he was going to enjoy smacking that stupid look of Tellus¡¯s face.

    ¡°Begin,¡± the referee yelled.

    Following his plan, Verus went on the offensive immediately. Tellus held his ground. The muscular disciple took a wide stance and raised one hand up defensively while the other stayed at his side, in preparation to strike.

    Verus started his offensive with several jabs, but he kept light on his feet. The probing attacks were easily blocked or dodged by Tellus, but Verus took the opportunity to try and slip past his opponent¡¯s guard by circling around as he threw some more jabs. He was trying to get a good feel for Tellus¡¯s style and draw him out.

    Tellus¡¯s responding movements were minimal but effective. He kept his steady stance as he pivoted around to keep his sights on his opponent, and the calm and determined look on his face didn¡¯t drop for even a moment. He parried one jab with a flick of his raised hand and then leaned just out of the way of another. He was making next to no unnecessary movements.

    Verus decided to take the fight to the next level. Taking a deep breath, he cycled ki through his body to enhance his power. Then, he launched a new barrage of punches at Tellus. This time, he mixed in a few heavier blows though, in the hopes of catching his opponent off balance.

    After the initial series of quick blows, the first ki-enhanced strike slammed through Tellus¡¯s guard. Shimmering energy rose up like steam from Verus¡¯s arm as he stepped forward and channeled his ki. The blow zoomed toward Tellus¡¯s face. However, Tellus quickly leaned back out of the way of the attack and threw a low kick at Verus¡¯s front leg. Verus slipped to the side of the blow and tried to resume his offensive, but Tellus simply blocked the first blow and then countered with a flurry of blows of his own. They were in close now, and Tellus¡¯s heavy punches quickly put Verus on the defensive. After parrying one, Verus felt a shiver work its way down his arm from the surprising power of the blow. Trying to block would obviously be a mistake, so he focused on dodging. However, that came with its own downsides. He was quickly pushed back away from Tellus, who didn¡¯t have to move as much, and found himself on the defensive. As a punch grazed his nose, Verus decided to disengage. This wasn¡¯t working, so he jumped back away from Tellus to catch his breath.

    Tellus didn¡¯t let him go without a fight though. The muscular disciple charged after him and threw another low kick at Verus¡¯s front leg. As Verus dodged to the side, Tellus then threw a powerful punch straight at his opponent¡¯s face.

    Instead of panicking, Verus simply calmly watched the blow fly his way. It was a perfect set up for vanishing feather step, so that was what he did. Cycling ki to his legs and skin, he burst to the side, leaving a cloud of ki behind to confuse his enemy. As Tellus punched through the after image, Verus rose up from his blind spot and channeled all his ki into one strike aimed right at his opponent¡¯s jaw.

    However, if the muscular outer disciple was surprised at all by how Verus had disappeared in cloud of ki and reappeared right next to him, he didn¡¯t show it. His expression remained steely, and right before Verus¡¯s blow landed, he adjusted his posture slightly to help absorb the blow. His shoulder came up to protect his chin and he twisted to the side a little.

    Verus¡¯s blow still landed, but not right on Tellus¡¯s jaw. Instead, it deflected off his opponent¡¯s shoulder and then glanced off his cheek. Tellus barely budged, and Verus saw wisps of dark grey earth ki rise up from his body. The ki had a solid and cool feeling that was unmistakable, like fresh dirt. It was obvious that Tellus was using an earth ki reinforcement technique to protect himself. It may not do much for his speed, but it certainly made him tough as er¡­ earth.

    Rather than be discouraged, Verus twisted around and launched a follow up attack, a flying side kick. The strike slammed into Tellus¡¯s chest, but the muscular disciple stepped forward and widened his stance to take the blow straight on. As a result, Verus bounced off him. That earth ki reinforcement technique was very impressive, and the ki level difference didn¡¯t help. Verus was still behind the curve there, since he hadn¡¯t been absorbing shards.

    Landing clumsily, Verus quickly tried to regain his balance, but Tellus acted first. The muscular disciple raised a leg as if it to kick, so Verus began to jump back. The kick never came though. Instead, Tellus stomped the ground as hard as he could.

    As he landed, Verus felt confused for a moment, but then the ground beneath his feet shook. Tellus had used the stomp to push earth ki into the ground and cause it to vibrate. Caught by surprise, Verus stumbled and lost his balance.

    Tellus ruthlessly took advantage of this and charged straight at Verus and threw a heavy punch right at his face. All Verus could do was desperately try to block. He raised his hands just in time, and Tellus¡¯s punch slammed into them, pushing Verus back. At the same time, pain seared through Verus¡¯s arms form the power of the blow, and he thought he heard an ominous crack. Ow! Tellus hit like a horse.

    Worse than the pain was the numbness that followed. He needed his arms to win! Verus gritted his teeth as he tried to escape out of Tellus¡¯s striking zone. He readied himself to use a desperate vanishing step, but Tellus seemed ready for that. Instead of attacking, he stomped the ground again.

    Caught halfway through the footwork of the Vanishing Feather Step, Verus stumbled and the technique fell apart. He was thus helpless to do anything when Tellus stepped forward and punched him right in the gut, lifting him off the ground slightly. His already weakened arms reacted far too slowly, and the full force of the blow pierced straight through him.

 The Measuring of Souls 15

    Verus hung in the air, too stunned to move, as the power of Tellus¡¯s punch burst through him. Pain flowed through his stomach and up through his entire body. Weakness and nausea were next, but he fought not to spew the suddenly acidic contents of his stomach. Instead, he concentrated on landing on his feet and then throwing himself sideways.

    He was just in time to avoid another punch from Tellus. The other disciple¡¯s fist glanced off his cheek as he stumbled away, but Verus manages not to fall. He fought off the pain and turned to his opponent as he raised his hands defensively.

    Tellus snorted rudely. ¡°You should just give up and fall, little ward. You can¡¯t beat me.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Verus hissed back furiously. It was completely against his nature to surrender in the face of adversity like this. A voice within him screamed to keep fighting and never give up. Of course, it would have been nice if the voice told him how to win as well. Verus knew his chances weren¡¯t good.

    ¡°Fine, but it would have been much easier on you if you¡¯d just stayed down.¡±

    Verus didn¡¯t reply. He was an ascetic. To him, pain was nothing but an illusion. Only struggle brought about growth and enlightenment.

    Tellus charged forward, throwing a flurry of punches at Verus, who barely managed to block or deflect them. However, Tellus followed up with a low kick. Verus tried to dodge, but his poor condition made him slow, and the kick slammed into his thigh.

    Verus found himself falling to his knees. He couldn¡¯t stop it no matter how much struggled internally. There was simply no strength left in his legs. The kick had turned his muscles to jelly.

    As Verus struggled to get back up, he saw Tellus lean back and launch a kick straight at his head. He flinched as the other disicple¡¯s foot smashed into the side of his head. Stunned, Verus fell over, but he didn¡¯t lose consciousness. It felt like Tellus had held back, otherwise he would have been thrown sideways and knocked unconscious.

    That was enough for the referee though. ¡°The match is over and the winner is Tellus Earthy! The prize of four red ki shards is his.¡±

    Verus felt the ki-infused voice of the elder echo through his body despite his pain and hazy consciousness. The loud speech had a deep finality to it that chilled him to the bone. Verus let his eyes fall shut. He¡¯d lost. He now had no shards and would fall even more behind the other disciples. His chances of becoming an inner disciple had just crashed.

    Tellus gazed down at Verus and shook his head. ¡°Fool. You cannot see the mountain before you. You should have spared yourself a beating by not challenging your betters. A few shards mean nothing to us. We have all we need and more, but my peers¡¯ pride would never let them accept the defeat of any of their fellows at your hands. Your scheme won¡¯t work anymore. No one you have a hope of beating will accept your challenges. Accept your place and they will forget about the insult you have given them. Fade into the background like the nobody you are.¡±

    That said, Tellus walked away to claim his prize. Verus was left on the ground as his emotions roiled amidst the concussed haze of his mind. He¡¯d lost.

    Seeing that his friend wasn¡¯t moving, Warin hurried over to his side. The referee and Tellus had already both left.

    ¡°Are you okay? Can you walk?¡± Warin asked.

    Verus considered the question for moment. ¡°No.¡±

    With a concerned look on his face, Warin reached down to help his friend up and Verus went along with it. Thinking was hard. He didn¡¯t want to think.

    ¡°It¡¯s just two shards. You¡¯ll get more next week,¡± Warin pointed out. Verus didn¡¯t bother replying. He focused on the pain in his gut and keeping his breath steady as they walked out of the ring together. It turned out that walking was almost as hard as thinking.

    ¡°That was a good fight,¡± Escora added in a comforting tone from where she was still standing next to the ring. ¡°You just got unlucky in your match up. He was ready for your techniques and his earth ki gave him some good counters.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Verus replied curtly. It was all he could manage. Escora meant well, but she didn¡¯t understand his position. This was more than a small set back for him. He needed those shards badly. It was true that Tellus¡¯s techniques had given him an advantage, but Verus couldn¡¯t help but feel that he still could have won if their ki levels had been the same.

    Feeling a little steadier on his feet, Verus stepped away from Warin to stand on his own. He wobbled but didn¡¯t fall.

    ¡°Are you going to the infirmary?¡± Warin asked.

    Verus shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯m already feeling better. I just need to catch my breath. This isn¡¯t anything some meditation and rest won¡¯t fix.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll walk you to your room.¡±

    Verus nodded in agreement, so Warin led him back to the dormitory. Verus then said goodbye to Warin, pulled his door shut behind him, and collapsed onto his bed to stare at the ceiling for moment before covering his eyes with one of his arms.

    His head was still spinning and his body was covered in bruises, but that was nothing compared to his roiling emotions. Doubt and self-loathing swirled within him, eating away at his guts and darkening his thoughts. It was overwhelming, and despite his training and self-discipline, he wanted to cry like a child. It felt like all his dreams had just died. He¡¯d never become an elder, find enlightenment, and ascend past his own pain-filled weakness.

    Pain and fatigue weighed heavily on Verus when he tried to get out of bed the next day, but he was far too disciplined to let that stop him. Years of living as an ascetic allowed him to ignore any emotion and perform his morning routine. It couldn¡¯t make happy though. He felt utterly miserable.

    It was a free day, so he avoided going out and concentrated on channeling. The mediation and focus on ki sensing allowed him to avoid thinking about anything else, but he couldn¡¯t do it forever. Verus couldn¡¯t stop his mind from wandering whenever he took breaks to eat or exercise, but he remained on task with grim determination.

    Later that day, after several hours of meditation, Verus finally performed the darkness channeling technique. The result was a complete lack of a darkness attunement. Still, the expected despair hadn¡¯t come. Maybe he was already as miserable as possible, but he had felt something when holding the darkness ki though. It had felt familiar and right to his senses. The negative power called to him. Maybe he¡¯d actually gained a hint that would lead him to a hidden attunement. It was the first evidence he¡¯d encountered that he wasn¡¯t just wasting his time, so he actually felt somewhat relieved.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    Verus sighed as he put the channeling crystal away. Unfortunately, he had no shards left so he couldn¡¯t refill his orb. That was the problem he¡¯d been avoiding thinking about.

    Was channeling really what he should be doing right now? He¡¯d lost his duel against Tellus and the shards he¡¯d gambled. All the channeling he was doing was consuming his shards and leaving him further and further behind his peers when it came to ki levels. Winning another duel was going to be difficult even if he could find someone to accept his challenge, and he probably couldn¡¯t. Maybe it was time for him to just give up on finding a rare attunement and just accept that he had to start cultivating using the Way of Imperial Might.

    Despite the logic of that plan, Verus simply couldn¡¯t make himself do it. It would mean giving up all hope of his dream and throwing away all the effort he¡¯d already put into channeling. He simply didn¡¯t want to ascend using the Way of Imperial Might. A life in the army was not for him. He needed more.

    Most of all, conceding would be giving the victory to the spoiled brats who¡¯d conspired against him and sent Tellus after him. He was not going to do that. The dull ache of his bruises were a constant reminder of his grudge. Verus had come to really despise most of the other outer disciples. They were a shameful mix of pride and greed with little in the way of redeeming features. Every fiber of Verus¡¯s being wanted to defeat them and show them what a true ascetic could do.

    Verus¡¯s thoughts were interrupted when Warin showed up at his door. The chubby young disciples knocked and then stepped into the room after getting permission to enter.

    ¡°Greetings, how may I help you?¡± Verus asked his annoyingly persistent friend.

    ¡°I just thought I¡¯d check on you and make sure your injuries from the last fight weren¡¯t bothering you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you for your concern.¡±

    ¡°What about your spirit? I imagine it took quite the beating as well.¡±

    Verus gave his friend an irritated look. ¡°I have not flagged in my commitment to my goals. I would be working diligently right now if it weren¡¯t for this visit. Is there something else you wish to discuss before you leave?¡±

    ¡°Ah, there was one thing. Here, have this,¡± Warin replied sheepishly as he pulled a red ki shard from his robe and tossed it to Verus.

    ¡°I told you that I wasn¡¯t going to accept shards from you. They¡¯re yours!¡± Verus said as he caught the item.

    Warin sighed. ¡°I appreciate that, but allow me to be honest, brother. I have no intention of joining the inner sect, and I don¡¯t possess the genius required even if I did. Your need for shards far surpasses mine, much like your talent. I¡¯m happy enough getting a job in two years and becoming a normal cultivator in service to the empire, so just take the shard and stop letting your pride blind you.¡±

    Disbelief showed on Verus¡¯s face. ¡°Why are you here if you have no intention of competing?¡±

    Warin sighed again. ¡°You know the answer to that already. I¡¯m here because of you. How could I abandon my most precious sect brother to this horrible place? The atmosphere here is dark and horrible. The disciples are voracious beasts, and the elders aren¡¯t much better. ¡°

    That was further than Verus was willing to go, but he saw Warin¡¯s point. The temple was certainly far different than he¡¯d imagined.

    ¡°Your guidance on ki circulation is the only reason I earned a spot here, but you need my help as well,¡± Warin continued. ¡°You may be a genius, Verus, but you still need help. Without me, you would have already let your inner darkness overcome you several times. I know you well.¡±

    ¡°You do,¡± Verus agreed as humble gratitude overcame him. He couldn¡¯t have asked for a better friend. ¡°I¡¯ll accept this shard, but I¡¯ll definitely repay you one day.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect any less. Don¡¯t lose hope. I know you can become an elder,¡± Warin replied before leaving his friend to his meditation.

    However, a few hours later, a wave of oppressive ki washed over Verus, jolting him to his feet as it squeezed his heart. Pain and surprise made him jump out of bed, but a quick look around revealed that his room was empty and that the source of the ki was outside the dormitory.

    Before Verus could decide what to do next, a deep commanding voice echoed through the entire building. The way it reverberated clearly through the walls was obviously unnatural and the effect of some ki ability. ¡°All outer disciples are to come to me and gather in the courtyard immediately.¡±

    Since this was obviously an elder, Verus had little choice but to obey. He exited his room at the same time as all the other disciples in the dormitory and thus found himself among a teeming crowd headed for the exits. Warin quickly joined his friend since their rooms were right beside each other¡¯s, but neither of them knew what was going on.

    ¡°Whatever is happening, it doesn¡¯t seem equally unexpected to everyone,¡± Warin remarked as he gestured at a group of disciples that were smiling confidently and whispering excitedly amongst themselves. ¡°They seem to have been given some warning.¡±

    ¡°Probably,¡± Verus remarked with a grimace. ¡°There seems to be no shortage of advantages that connections can get you in the sect.¡±

    Once outside, the disciples got a look at the elder that had summoned them. He was standing the middle of the courtyard right next to the dormitory and extremely hard to miss since he was still radiating waves of ki that sent shivers down Verus¡¯s spine.

    The oppressive aura only died down when it looked like all the disciples from the dormitory had gathered in front of the elder and fallen still. He was a tall man with dark hair and piecing eyes.

    ¡°Outer disciples of the Great Wind Sect, you¡¯ve had enjoyed the abundant resources and knowledge of the sect for a month now. During that time, you¡¯ve built up the foundation of your styles and began ascending toward the Tempered Realm. Normally, you¡¯d enjoy some more time to train in safety, but now a great opportunity is in front of you. An emissary from Capitar, the imperial throne world, will soon visit this plane. A huge celebration is planned to welcome them, including a tournament.¡±

    The mass of gathered disciples stirred excitedly. Even Verus was affected. A tournament to honor a visiting emissary? That sounded interesting, but why had every disciple been called out? Surely, they all stood no chance of participating. Verus certainly had no illusions about being among the best on the planet even among outer disciples.

    ¡°To properly show the emissary the might of our world¡¯s cultivators and the potential of our world¡¯s disciples, the imperial governor has decided to open up the Algorian Reaches to all of the young disciples of the major sects below the Grasping Realm. The Reaches are a vast stretch of spirit-inhabited forest that are kept as a training ground by the imperial palace. It is the hope of the governor and the grand elders of the sect that exposure to the rich ki and dangers of the Reaches will prompt some of the outer disciples to reach their full potential in time for the tournament. Normally it takes far longer than two or three months to reach the Tempered Realm, but properly motivated geniuses sometimes manage it.¡±

    Verus grinned. This sounded exactly like the kind of opportunity he needed. He was finally getting a break!

    ¡°All of you will be participating, and make no mistake, the Reaches are dangerous. The loss of a few disciples is considered a low price to cultivate some worthy geniuses for the tournament. There, no one will be holding your hands. You will live or die by your own actions, for enlightenment cannot be handed to you, you must earn it by overcoming yourself and struggling beyond your limits. Either you will be tempered into proper tools of the sect or you will break.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Warin hissed in alarm as Verus¡¯s grin winded. Yes, this was a heaven-sent gift!

    It would be difficult, without a doubt, but it would also be a chance to prove himself. Undoubtedly the family scions would have various advantages, but out in the Reaches, he¡¯d find a way to beat them. He could feel it in his bones. They were practically vibrating with anticipation. This was exactly the opportunity he needed to overcome all his deficiencies.

    ¡°The test will last a month, and anyone who distinguishes themselves can expect further resources and training for the tournament upon returning to the sect. That is all. Gather what you need and report to the front entrance of the temple tomorrow morning for transportation.¡±

    The elder then turned and began walking away. After four quick steps, he disappeared, leaving nothing but a hazy black after-image that vanished a moment later.

    Warin and Verus threw each other startled glances and then immediately began running back to their room to beat the rush. Verus was planning on bringing his channeling gear and seeing what else he could requisition. Warin had other priorities.

    ¡°I need to grab a bag and get to the cafeteria!¡± the chubby disciple exclaimed as he ran.

 Under the Shadow of Death 1

    Many are the gifts of god to his people, of which enlightenment is the greatest of all, given by grace of the Archon. Praise him. For only through true insight do we shed our meager mortality and touch the face of our creator above. The eternal awaits the enlightened. Yet insight requires experience and knowledge of what is. We must touch upon both good and evil while never averting our eyes. To ascend, we must suffer and overcome, resolute in our devotion to our Way, ever aware of the chasm below. ¨C Reflections on Light

    After hurriedly packing up some supplies, Verus and Warin spent the rest of the day trying to figure out what else they¡¯d need for an extended trip into the wilds. When morning came the next day, they both hurried to the meeting place. Anticipation and nervousness filled them both. They¡¯d only done basic wilderness training before back at their home temple, and that had been done under supervision. This would be something very different.

    Once they arrived at the gate that they¡¯d first entered the main temple through, the pair saw that most of the other disciples had already arrived. It definitely seemed like many of them had been forewarned. Many had large packs on their backs.

    Verus was studying his peers as he waited for the elder to appear when he noticed Escora standing off to one side alone. The young Telhri glanced his way and hesitated, so he gave her a friendly wave. She awkwardly returned his gesture, and after looking around for moment, walked over to him.

    ¡°Hey, I haven¡¯t seen you in a while. Not since you got beat up,¡± she told him as she straightened up and tried to put on an aloof front. Now that Verus knew her, it was not convincing in the least, just fustrating. She was obviously nervous and insecure, even to someone as socially unobservant as Verus.

    ¡°I had some meditation to do. Such is the life of cultivator.¡±

    Warin stepped forward and smiled cheerfully. ¡°You¡¯re welcome to join us as we wait.¡±

    Escora visibly relaxed and nodded in agreement. ¡°That sounds fine. I guess hanging out with you is as good as anywhere until we get going.¡±

    ¡°Can you believe this?¡± Warin asked her. ¡°They¡¯re just throwing a bunch of disciples out into some spirit infested woods!¡±

    Escora chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s about time they did something. Just training in this temple was getting quite boring. I was expecting them to shake things up soon, but not quite like this.¡±

    ¡°We could die!¡±

    Escora simply shrugged and looked unconcerned. ¡°That¡¯s life as a cultivator. Doesn¡¯t your holy book say so? It¡¯s full of conflict and danger.¡±

    ¡°Your struggle is supposed to be spiritual, not necessarily physical,¡± Verus pointed out.

    ¡°Good luck ascending peacefully by meditating. The Archon battled across several worlds and smited armies of heretics and demi-humans. I don¡¯t think trying to be slightly less angsty will cut it.¡±

    ¡°Huh, that¡¯s true.¡± Verus gave her a thoughtful look. Huh. It was possible that he¡¯d severely overestimated how peaceful seeking enlightenment would be. Then again, he wasn¡¯t afraid of fighting or risking his life. It was the uncertainty of life and other people that he hated.

    ¡°I suppose,¡± Warin agreed. ¡°Although, the sect doesn¡¯t actually have to threaten our lives. All that matters is that we feel as if we¡¯re in real peril and thus try our hardest. Thus, they¡¯re probably exaggerating the danger. I mean, as if the spoiled scions around us are going to be put at risk.¡±

    Fang suddenly walked into sight and sneered condescendingly at Warin. ¡°That¡¯s a good way to get yourself killed, fatty. I¡¯m not usually big on giving out advice for free, but your pal Verus already owes me, thus it¡¯s in my interest to keep him alive, so listen up. If you drop your guard during this little expedition, you¡¯ll die. The sect is being very serious about this, and the elders don¡¯t care about losing some outer disciples. Even the noble families won¡¯t blame the sect if their kiddies get offed. They understand that those that die simply failed to advance and were of no use to the family or the sect.¡±

    ¡°That seems harsh,¡± Verus said as he gave Fang a nod in greeting.

    ¡°It¡¯s just how high-level cultivators think. Their children are only useful as long as they can ascend to high Realms, otherwise they¡¯re just an embarrassment, so it¡¯s better to weed out the failures that won¡¯t be able to comprehend enlightenment early on. Some of them view it as mercy or as giving their children one last chance to succeed.¡±

    Escora nodded along with Fang¡¯s words. ¡°Sounds about right to me. It¡¯s traditional for young cultivators from the Telhri to go out on hunts in the wilderness when they¡¯re nearing a new Realm and looking for enlightenment. Even the children of the chief go to face their challenges alone, otherwise it would be pointless.¡±

    Fang looked Escora over. ¡°You¡¯re that Telhri girl. I haven¡¯t seen you around, but you seem to be less na?ve than these two temple wards.¡±

    ¡°I know you; you¡¯re the one they all call Fang, the battle maniac.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to be famous. Try not to die.¡± Fang laughed as he walked away and rejoined a small group of outer disciples that included Selesta, who barely paid him attention.

    Before Verus and his companions could discuss what was going on any further, Elder Lamar appeared right in front of the gate. Dark smoky ki rippled off of him as he landed and then turned to face the disciples. They all snapped to attention as he barked out a series of quick orders, and they were soon marching out of the temple and into the city streets.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    It was the first time Verus had left the temple since he¡¯d arrived over a month ago, but the neighborhood hadn¡¯t changed at all. Not that Verus had expected it to. All the buildings in the upper-class district were probably owned by cultivators that had lived for over a century and didn¡¯t change much. Most of the homes seemed cared for but unoccupied.

    Soon, the elder led the disciples out of the residential area and onto a busy street. They passed many mortals going about their lives, who hurried out of the way of the cultivators lest they offend someone more powerful than they could comprehend. There were many laws protecting mortals from abuse by cultivators, but none of them could truly protect against the wrath of a powerful immortal. They wielded too many types of power, from physical and spiritual to political.

    The long walk quickly got to Warin. ¡°Are we walking all the way to the Algorian Reaches? They sound like they¡¯re very far away. I don¡¯t think I brought enough food for such a long journey. Maybe we should grab some more from street vendors?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re actually headed into the city, not toward any gates,¡± Verus observed.

    ¡°Oh. What¡¯s in this direction?¡±

    Verus looked at the buildings in the distance before answering. ¡°I think it¡¯s just more markets and residences all the way to the imperial palace.¡±

    ¡°Odd, I doubt we¡¯re going there. Maybe we¡¯ll turn soon and head for the port or something?¡±

    The imperial palace loomed ever larger as they headed straight for it, and despite Warin¡¯s doubt, it eventually became obvious that it was their goal. Soon, it¡¯s white walls and golden spires stood right before them. The huge palace complex had many gates and entrances, but the Elder took them up to a mid-sized one that was guarded by a pair squad of soldiers in golden scale armor. They stood perfectly straight and still, each of them radiating the power of the Tempered Realm.

    After a brief discussion between the elder and the guards, the group from the Great Wind Sect were let into the palace complex and found themselves in a large paved courtyard. More golden soldiers could be seen watching from the walls and there was a small group of people in the center of the courtyard. Ringed by half a dozen more soldiers, stood a man with a long white beard and a dignified ancient woman. They both held the power of elders and were wearing many golden ornaments. Each of their fingers had a ring and there were golden chains around their necks. The ancient woman also had golden earrings and a hairclip in her long silver hair. There was no mistaking their lofty status.

    However, Verus¡¯s eyes were drawn to the structure that stood right behind them. It was made of two steel pillars with lines of glyphs etched onto every visible spot on them. Energy crackled between the pillars, creating some sort of rift in the middle where space was twisted in on itself.

    ¡°Incredible, a spatial gate. I¡¯ve always wanted to see one,¡± Escora remarked in awe.

    Verus¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°A spatial gate? Why would they use that to move some mere disciples?¡±

    ¡°It makes sense to me. The palace runs the Reaches and you imperials are masters of spatial teleportation techniques.¡±

    ¡°We are?¡±

    ¡°You routinely use it to move from world to world. Before you arrived, the Telhri didn¡¯t even know such things were possible.¡±

    That was true. Verus had just never really thought about it before. This was his first time ever seeing a spatial gate personally.

    There was loud shuffling sound as the soldiers suddenly spread out to either side of the gate, clearing the way to it. The two imperial officials then stepped forward and the woman addressed the crowd of young cultivators.

    ¡°Welcome disciples of the Great Wind Sect. I am Gatekeeper Aldura and this is my partner Gatekeeper Martell. At the command of the imperial governor, we have opened the way to the Reaches for you and the other sects in preparation for the arrival of the imperial dignitary from the capital. The gates will close behind you and only reopen in a month.¡±

    Her partner then spoke up. ¡°Make no mistake, you will have to struggle to survive, as is the fate of all cultivators who seek ascendance. The lands on the other side of this gate are as dangerous as they are bountiful. The palace uses the Heaven and Earth array to keep the environmental ki high and the local spirits and beasts in check, but they are still more than capable of injuring or killing a mere Foundation Realm cultivator. Even weak parasitical spirits are a grave threat to cultivators at your level.¡±

    ¡°Ugh.¡± Warin made a disgusted face, and Verus grimaced in agreement.

    Cultivators at the Origin and Foundation Realm were very vulnerable to spirits. In particular, weak parasitical spirits loved burrowing into their bodies and attaching themselves to their ki system so they could drain their ki away. Verus had heard many horror stories of such parasites growing until they devoured their host¡¯s core and burst out of their body, killing them. Thankfully, it was easy to keep such weak spirits away with wards, but there would be no wards out in the Reaches.

    ¡°Thus, we will be giving you each a weak protective amulet,¡± the man explained as he held a small golden pendant for them to see. It was shaped like the Archon¡¯s eye and hanging from a simple cord. ¡°These will mimic the natural defenses of a Tempered Realm cultivator and draw on your own ki to protect you from spiritual intrusions. They will also allow your minders to track you down once the test is over, but they won¡¯t protect you from larger spirits. That would defy the point of this exercise. It is to be a brutal battle of wills and a test of faith.¡±

    The woman picked up after the man feel silent. ¡°You will also have to compete with disciples from other sects who have been teleported to other parts of the Reaches. The prizes scattered about the land will draw you together and force you to battle if you wish to claim them. So, struggle to survive and advance your understanding of ki and yourself. Then, perhaps then you will find enlightenment enough to advance to the Tempered Realm and gain an opportunity to represent your sect and this world in the upcoming trials. May the Archon¡¯s grace be with you.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s make sure we all go through together,¡± Warin suggested as the gatekeepers began herding small groups of disciples through the portal. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be separated.¡±

    Escora nodded as she eyed the portal warily. ¡°Ya, I¡¯d feel bad leaving you two all alone in such a dangerous place with no one to protect you. I don¡¯t think you¡¯d last long.¡±

    Verus doubted she was so concerned about them, but simply voiced his own agreement and a few minutes later, the three of them were being ushered toward the spatial gate. Between the two shinning metal pillars, bursts of crackling energy lashed out at the grey slit hovering in the air. It was barely wide enough for one person to step through, and everyone who had walked into it had disappeared without a trace. They had probably been taken to the Reaches, but Verus also couldn¡¯t help but think that maybe they¡¯d simply been disintegrated. It was silly, but so was walking into a tear in reality.

    Staring apprehensively at the portal, Verus fought his fear and kept walking toward it. No one else seemed worried, and he didn¡¯t want to look like a fool.

    Just as Verus was about to walk through the gate, he felt someone grab his hand. Glancing back, he expected to see Warin, but it was a pale and nervous Escora who¡¯d taken his hand. The next moment, everything faded to grey.

 Under the Shadow of Death 2

    Hazy grey nothing filled Verus¡¯s vision and mind. His body felt light and numb, as if he was detached from it and floating. It was difficult to even think or observe his surroundings. His thoughts moved slowly, if at all. Time had no meaning anymore. There was only the grey nothing.

    Then, the grey vanished in an explosion of color and noise that overwhelmed Verus, causing him to panic. Air whooshed by him as he found himself falling. He let out a scared yelp and heard someone else make a similar noise but couldn¡¯t see them. He tried to reorient himself, but he hit the ground before that could happen.

    Thankfully, he didn¡¯t fall far and he landed on something soft. Groaning, Verus tried to clear his fuzzy thoughts. What had just happened? Oh, right. The portal!

    Verus tried to sit up, but something was holding him down. He looked over to see Escora still clinging to his hand. Warin was right beside her, and she had grabbed his shirt with her other hand. They were both gasping and shockingly pale, but Verus doubted he looked any better.

    All three of them had landed on a damp heap of moss in the middle of a forest. A thick canopy of leaves lay overhead, supported by countless thick tree trunks that lay in every direction. More clumps of green moss and tall ferns covered the ground.

    ¡°Where are we?¡± Warin asked. He sounded more than a little disoriented.

    Verus blinked. ¡°The Algorian Reaches, I¡¯d guess.¡±

    Escora shuddered and then quickly let go of the other two disciples. ¡°I thought spatial gates would be a much more comfortable way to travel. That was horrid.¡±

    ¡°Maybe they aren¡¯t all like that? It was our first time too,¡± Verus replied as he got to his feet and looked around. The numbness from before had already faded away, although his hand was a little sore from being squeezed so hard.

    He didn¡¯t see much other than trees and ferns, but a chorus of birds and frogs chirped and croaked in the distance. The forest air was hot and muggy. He could already feel himself beginning to sweat. It was much warmer here than he was used to, and the humidity made it worse.

    Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes for a moment, Verus reached out with his senses. The ki flowed strongly here. It was a vibrant mix of all the basic elements and almost suffocating in its intensity. It felt like he could cultivate using the nearby aura just as easily as if he was using a shard.

    ¡°Incredible. Feel this ki! Why was I fighting so hard for shards?¡±

    Escora grunted and got to her feet. ¡°Your imperial palace would never let us come to a managed ki reserve like this unless they stood to benefit greatly from it. There must be more to this visit by the emissary than we know.¡±

    Her choice of words annoyed Verus. ¡°You¡¯re an imperial too. Your tribe has been part of the empire and taken oaths of loyalty for generations, and you¡¯re a member of the Great Wind Sect.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s more to me than my imperial citizenship though,¡± Escora replied with a frown.

    ¡°And there isn¡¯t more to me than being an imperial?¡±

    ¡°Like what?¡±

    Verus hesitated. He couldn¡¯t think of anything.

    ¡°Maybe we should concentrate on our surroundings,¡± Warin said. ¡°I think I sense something nearby.¡±

    ¡°What do you think it is?¡± Verus replied as he scanned the nearby trees. He wasn¡¯t trying to change the topic. This was just more important.

    That was when something slammed into his side, knocking him over as it crushed his ribs. It was Escora. She¡¯d tackled him, and as they both flew sideways, something huge dropped down onto the spot Verus had been standing less than a second ago.

    Verus and Escora hit the ground and then scrambled back to their feet as they studied his attacker. Larger than a horse, it glowed subtly in the shadow of the trees and its form was faintly transparent. The thing hissed angrily and its form shifted as it turned to face its prey. A spirit.

    It took a moment for Verus¡¯s eyes to make sense of the glowing energy that made up the spirit, but then it came into focus. The spirit had four legs, a scaly hide, a long thin tail, and a triangular head with a mouth full of sharp little teeth.

    ¡°It¡¯s a lizard spirit of some kind!¡± he yelled as the specter turned to glare at him. Its eyes glowed a red color and were brighter than the rest of its body.

    Escora was already facing it and had taken up a fighting stance. ¡°Obviously!¡±

    ¡°What do we do?¡± Warin asked fearfully as he stumbled back away from the spirit.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    Before Verus could try to calm his friend down, the spirit hissed angrily again, and a blast of ki swept over the disciples. It hit Verus like a freezing wave of cold dark water, sending shivers down his spine and causing his insides to freeze up. The cold was only a side effect though. Verus instantly recognized the ki as being fear based. The malevolent energy tried to squirm under his skin and drill into his heart to paralyze him, but he resisted by falling back on his lifelong training. He begin circulating his ki and chanting a quick mantra as he activated the Faithful Soul Ward. As the power of devotion sprang into being, it pushed the fear ki from his body and cleared his mind.

    It seemed like Warin had also activated the Faithful Soul Ward, because he was chanting something under his breath and was standing straighter and looking less afraid now. However, Escora fell to her knees and let out a pained gasp as she clutched her chest. Verus spared her a glance before turning back to the spirit, which was now headed her way.

    ¡°I¡¯ll distract it. Help Escora!¡± Verus yelled as he ran ahead to draw the specter¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Alright! I know just the thing. I¡¯ve practiced for this!¡± Warin replied as he headed over to Escora¡¯s side.

    Verus couldn¡¯t spare his allies another thought. The lizard spirit opened its jaws wide and lunged his way. Verus was ready though. He used Vanishing Feather Step to dodge the creature¡¯s attack, and its jaws snapped shut inches from his arm as he blurred away from it.

    Spinning around, Verus channeled ki through his body and into his arm before punching the lizard spirit in the face. His fist sank an inch into the spirit¡¯s transparent body. The thick ki resisted Verus¡¯s attack but not completely. Some of the ki that made up the spirit¡¯s body dispersed away like smoke, leaving a small smoking gash.

    ¡°Damnation. This thing is hard to hurt,¡± Verus swore as he jumped back to avoid a slash of the lizard¡¯s claws. There was no way he was going to be able to finish it off with just ki-enhanced punches and kicks.

    The lizard spirit¡¯s red eyes swirled with intense alien madness as it regarded Verus for a moment, but as he backed away, it turned to look at Escora and growled hungrily. An understanding came over Verus. This was a predator that fed on the fear of its prey to grow stronger. Torturing them until it they had been reduced to nothing, and Escora was its target. Warin was helping her to her feet, but her defense against the spirit¡¯s supernatural fear aura seemed weak, and she was still in no shape to fight.

    ¡°Over here, you ugly abomination!¡± Verus yelled as he charged back into combat and kicked the lizard in the leg.

    His attack did next to no damage, but it got the spirit¡¯s attention. It glanced away from Escora and tried to bite him again, however Verus wasn¡¯t hit. Grinning, he countered by jumping to the side and kicking the spirit¡¯s leg again. For something made of ki that probably weighed next to nothing, the spirit wasn¡¯t all that fast.

    Whack. The lizard¡¯s long thin tail smacked into Verus¡¯s ribs, throwing him sideways. His feet skidded across the ground and then he gasped in pain as he fell to his knees.

    Verus sucked down three deep breaths before climbing to his feet, but he was too slow. The lizard spirit had ignored him and charged straight for Escora. Still unsteady, there was no way he could catch up to it.

    Warin hadn¡¯t been idle though. The chubby young disciple was standing next to Escora with one hand on her shoulder and his eyes closed. He was chanting loudly as the spirit approached, seemingly unconcerned and lost in the technique he was using. Escora looked much better. She looked to have thrown off the spirit¡¯s emotional attack and new resolve shown in her eyes as she gathered her ki.

    Blue water ki pooled between Escora¡¯s hands, spinning as it condensed into essence. The Telhri disciple then twisted around and snapped her arm toward the charging spirit. As she moved, the water essence extended into a long whip. It cracked loudly as it cut through the air with incredible speed. Almost too fast to see, the whip slammed into the spirit¡¯s head, raking across its eyes before bursting.

    A large cloud of ki rose up from the spirit¡¯s head as he it screamed in pain and stumbled back, but Escora didn¡¯t let up. As she and Warin moved out of the spirit¡¯s way, she summoned another whip and then lashed the spirit¡¯s side. The essence technique did far more damage than Verus¡¯s punches and kicks. It bit deep into the spirit and tore apart the ki that made up its body.

    Escora yelled as she prepped a third whip. ¡°Even without its eyes it can still sense us. We need to destroy its core or make it retreat back to the eternal plane.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to keep the spirit back with a ward, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s working. It''s too powerful,¡± Warin added as he opened his eyes and stepped away from Escora. Gesturing with his hands, he went right back to chanting after finishing talking.

    ¡°Right,¡± Verus shouted back as he eyed the lizard. It was now hissing madly as it spun around blindly in an attempt to defend itself from the water ki attacks, but it was still dangerous. As a spirit, damage to its body wasn¡¯t permanent, and it still had its claws and ki abilities. Where was its core? Verus couldn¡¯t see anything he thought resembled a core within the spirit¡¯s transparent body. Also, what was he supposed to do if he found it?

    Wait. He shouldn¡¯t be trying to use his eyes. They would only deceive him. This was a spirit. He needed to use his ki senses. Closing his eyes, Verus reached out with his spirit. The lizard specter immediately dominated his awareness. Even among the thick ki of the Reaches, its power stood out. It was a deep shifting blob of dark alien ki. The power repulsed him, but Verus stiffened his resolve and pushed his awareness deeper into the spirit. Where was the core?

    Verus sank deeper into the darkness, letting the corrosive and hateful power flow past him. The spirit was a creature of terror and horror that preyed on the weak and vulnerable. Fear pressed down on him from all sides, alien and terrible, but he kept it at bay with the Faithful Soul Ward. Devotion to his goals and his allies filled him, leaving no room for anything else.

    Then, something brushed against Verus¡¯s awareness. A concentrated bundle of essence that hung in the center of the spirit, like a lurking fish in muddy water. The core! He¡¯d found it.

    Verus¡¯s eyes flew open and locked on the location of the core. He could see it now that his spirit had touched it. It was a dull round shadow in the center of the lizard¡¯s belly. It seethed with revolting ki.

    Instantly, the shimmering form that comprised the lizard spirit convulsed and turned toward Verus. Its newly regenerated eyes flashed red as it glared at him, and Verus flinched in surprise as the effect of its fear aura doubled, pressing down on him like a heavy blanket soaked in tar. The predatory spirit had sensed what he¡¯d done, and it now considered him the greater threat.

 Under the Shadow of Death 3

    Turning away from Escora and Warin, the lizard spirit lunged toward Verus. Its eyes glowed red with rage and it radiated an aura of gut twisting and soul crushing terror that pressed down on all the nearby disciples. However, Verus didn¡¯t cower or retreat. As he stared into the specter¡¯s glowing eyes, the battle focus overcame him, banishing his doubt and nervousness. Steely resolve and an almost eager drive to fight filled him instead. He would be tested and he would overcome. He just needed a plan to get at the spirit¡¯s core.

    Leaping up, the spirit tried to slash Verus with both its claws as it landed on top of him. Instead, Verus kicked off the ground and dodged to the side after leaving an afterimage that confused his attacker for a moment. He then spun around and kicked the spirit in the ribs as hard as he could. Ki cycled through his body and shimmered from his leg as he unleashed the blow, but it caused only a small wound that didn¡¯t slow the spirit at all or go anywhere near its core.

    As Verus retreated, he was forced to jump over another swipe of the lizard¡¯s long tail. The spirit hissed furiously and tried to follow him, but Escora whipped its exposed back. The water essence burst on impact, creating a long smoking gash and causing the spirit to flinch and stumble for moment.

    ¡°Why¡¯s it suddenly going after you?¡± Escora yelled. She sounded almost jealous.

    ¡°I found its core!¡±

    ¡°Can you destroy it?¡±

    ¡°Give me a moment,¡± Verus told her. He had no idea if he could. Even Escora¡¯s whips weren¡¯t going deep enough, but he had a feeling that there was a way. An idea was trying to form in his mind, but it wasn¡¯t clear yet. The feeling was weird. It was more like an unclear whisper than inspiration or a normal memory.

    Dodging another whip strike from Escora, the lizard spirit charged toward Verus again and opened its jaws wide in preparation to bite. In response, the young disciple held his ground and readied himself, trusting in his combat instincts. He immersed himself in them, for he could feel that was his only chance to win or even survive.

    It was only when the dread lizard¡¯s jaws began to close that Verus suddenly used the Vanishing Feather Step to jump clear of the attack. The lizard spirit¡¯s teeth snapped shut on empty air. However, its eyes immediately turned to lock on to its prey¡¯s new position and it quickly followed up with another attack. Spinning around, it slashed at Verus with an outstretched claw.

    As the glowing claw of ki sped toward his face, Verus felt the thought that had been bothering him finally crystallize. Intent filled him, and he began to move even before he understood what he was doing. It was like someone else had stepped into his body for a moment.

    In preparation for this test, Verus had acquired and packed some basic tools and gear, including a long steel knife. It was less a weapon and more a tool since he had no training with it, but now he drew it from the sheath beneath his robe as he ducked under the swipe of the spirit¡¯s claw. The blade gleamed as it reflected the light from the spirit. It was sharp and strong, but almost completely useless against a spirit. Thus, acting without thought, Verus sliced the blade across his open palm before throwing himself beneath the lizard.

    The disciple¡¯s blood stained the steel and then Verus began cycling. Ki flowed through his body in a new pattern and then streamed into the dagger, reinforcing it as if it was a part of his body. Humans were tool users, and their ki could be used to enhance items, especially if there was a connection between the user and the item. The dagger was a new acquisition, but the blood bridged this gap, allowing Verus to pour ki into it.

    The lizard spirit hissed in surprise as Verus slid beneath it. As he moved, the disciple¡¯s eyes were locked on one particular spot within the spirit, the shadowy orb that was its core.

    Verus rolled across the ground until he was with range, and then he stopped and lashed out at the core with his now shimmering dagger. The blade sliced into the spirit, parting the ki that made up the spirit¡¯s body like it was butter. As Verus pushed, it sank deep and then its tip hit the core.

    There was a loud cracking noise as the essence that made up the core fractured, and then the lizard spirit exploded. Streams of colorful energy blasted Verus, forcing him to shield his eyes. Thankfully, the loose ki didn¡¯t do any damage.

    When Verus opened his eyes again. The spirit was completely gone and he was unhurt, staring up at shadowy treetops. He was suddenly feeling tired and sore, so he didn¡¯t bother getting up yet.

    Escora walked over and looked down at him with a frown. ¡°It probably would have retreated if I kept damaging it the way I was. There was no need to throw yourself into danger like that.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Verus replied as he closed his eyes and smiled. Knowing Escora, she was giving him a backhanded compliment. He¡¯d won. He¡¯d defeated the spirit without backing down, like a true cultivator.

    ¡°It¡¯s dead! We actually killed a spirit by ourselves. I already feel like I¡¯ve ascended a little,¡± Warin laughed before peering down at his friend. ¡°Did you cut yourself?¡±

    ¡°Er, yes,¡± Verus replied as he raised his hand so he could look at it. Why had he done that again? ¡­it had been part of a technique? When had he learned that?The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°Here let me help you up,¡± Escora said as she grabbed Verus¡¯s undamaged hand and pulled him to his feet.

    ¡°Thanks.¡±

    Once up, Verus blinked and collected his thoughts as he studied the vibrant forest surrounding him. His head was still a little muddled.

    ¡°I knew you were holding back in our spars, but I didn¡¯t realize how much,¡± he told Escora. ¡°What sort of technique was that?¡±

    ¡°Revealing my clan¡¯s techniques in a spar would be foolhardy, and it wasn¡¯t like I needed them. However, condensed essence is the best thing for damaging the living ki that makes up a spirit¡¯s body, so Twisting River Whips was my best option.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a very impressive technique,¡± Verus agreed.

    Escora nodded. ¡°In legend, it is said my tribe, the Val-Telhri are descended from a powerful soul snake that took human form thousands of years ago and that we inherited our attunements and techniques from it.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think soul beasts turn into people,¡± Warin told her.

    ¡°It¡¯s just an old tale. It could mean anything, and the empire announced our bloodlines clean during the conquests. That¡¯s why they let us join instead of wiping us out. We certainly inherit less than Highcloud or Inias, and they¡¯re simply the descendants of powerful cultivators, so it¡¯s probably just a tale,¡± Escora replied before turning to Verus. ¡°What was that technique you used to finish the spirit off?¡±

    ¡°Um, it was a simple reinforcement technique. Nothing fancy.¡± Truthfully, Verus couldn¡¯t remember the details of the technique. He was just glad it had worked.

    ¡°Well, it certainly worked. You gutted that specter like a fish!¡±

    ¡°I helped too,¡± Warin interjected with mock concern. ¡°You both would have gotten eaten without me!¡±

    ¡°Yes, you did,¡± Escora told him. ¡°Thanks. I obviously need to practice that Faithful Soul Ward a lot more. I usually prefer my clan¡¯s techniques, but mine didn¡¯t work nearly as well.¡±

    ¡°So. What do we do now?¡± Verus asked his allies. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t waste any time.¡±

    ¡°You heard the elders. This is a competition. We need to find some good loot before any of the others and try not to get ambushed along the way.¡±

    ¡°I meant right this moment.¡±

    ¡°Well, this isn¡¯t so different from some of the hunting trips my tribe does, so I¡¯ll take the lead.¡±

    ¡°Go right ahead,¡± Verus told her as Warin nodded along. Neither of them had a problem with her being in charge.

    ¡°Right,¡± Escora said as she turned to study the forest around them. ¡°Then, the first thing we need to do is survey our surroundings and get an idea of where we are.¡±

    ¡°I could climb a tree,¡± Verus suggested.

    No one had a better idea, so Verus soon found himself scaling the tallest nearby tree. His strength and agility made it easy, but he still had to be careful. He had no idea what was up in the canopy. That was where the lizard spirit had come from after all.

    Verus managed to reach the top of the leafy canopy without a problem. Pulling himself up onto a branch near the top of the tall tree, he got a good view of land around him.

    A sea of shifting leaves surrounded Verus, made from the tops of countless trees. They blew in the wind, filling his ears with whispery rustling sound as he looked around with wide eyes. He could see for miles in every direction, and it was a lot to take in. His group had been teleported into a huge mountain valley. Snow-peaked mountains encircled them, like the rim of a huge stone bowl with jagged edges.

    Verus and his companions were currently on the slope of one of the mountains at the edge of the valley, which was why he had such a great view. Most of the land below him was covered by shifting treetops, but he could see several large clearings and a river that ran through the valley.

    There was also a very familiar tower in the center of everything. It rose to heights that challenged the mountains, even if it was smaller than the one in the capital. It was another Heaven and Earth Array. Verus easily recognized the crystal structure and the shimmering ki around it. Well, now he knew how the imperial palace managed the ki in the Algorian Reaches.

    Escora had firmly instructed Verus to look for signs of other competitors and loot to steal¡­ prizes to claim. However, he didn¡¯t see any sign of either from his vantage point. Trees blocked his sight of the ground in most places, although he did see hints of what he thought were buildings. It was hard to tell from this far away.

    Climbing back down, Verus informed his allies of what he¡¯d seen. Warin simply nodded but Escora immediately began planning. Since they weren¡¯t in imminent danger, she had them all take an inventory and pool their resources.

    ¡°Hunters that don¡¯t move as one invite trouble,¡± she told them.

    Verus had no idea if that was some sort of tribal wisdom or if she¡¯d made it up on the spot, but it didn¡¯t really matter. She was already in charge.

    The requisition office had been handing out basic packages of gear for the trip, so they all had the essentials of what they¡¯d need to survive in the wild, and Warin had brought an extra bag of food on top of that. As cultivators, they were all also quite hardy and could survive in places mortals couldn¡¯t. On top of being strong and tough, they needed less sustenance, could go with little in the way of sleep, and could eat and drink things that would kill normal people. It turned out Escora had also brought a ward to keep bugs away and shield a small area from rain. Apparently, she never went anywhere without it.

    ¡°Alright, I think our best bet is heading toward the center of the valley. That¡¯s the obvious place to go if we want to find some valuables,¡± Escora said when they were done going over their gear.

    Verus and Warin exchanged a quick glance.

    ¡°Won¡¯t everyone else think the same? That would guarantee that we run into competition, and we¡¯d have to race there, or others would beat us to the prizes.¡±

    ¡°Not exactly, even if we¡¯re not first, all we need to do then is ambush the other disciples and take what they¡¯ve found.¡±

    Verus frowned. This plan sounded like it would quickly degenerate into an endless bloody melee.

    Escora noticed her allies¡¯ hesitation. ¡°Do you have a better idea? Wandering around in the forest hoping to stumble into something won¡¯t work. It¡¯s not like we have a map or a guide, and I can¡¯t sense anything through this haze of ki.¡±

    ¡°True enough¡­¡± Verus admitted as he began thinking. There had to be another way¡­

    ¡°I¡¯ve been training my senses,¡± Verus added a moment later. ¡°I might be able to detect any strong sources of ki near us.¡±

    All that channeling he¡¯d done had involved sensing and recognizing many different types of ki so he could isolate the ones he wanted to try channeling.

    ¡°You can try it as we move,¡± Escora replied with a shrug. ¡°But we still need to head for the center. No hunt ever succeeded without shed blood.¡±

    Warin leaned over to whisper at Verus. ¡°Maybe we shouldn¡¯t have invited her to join us after all.¡±

    ¡°We?¡±

 Under the Shadow of Death 4

    Verus¡¯s first attempt to sense his surroundings failed to detect anything noteworthy. After meditating for a moment, he felt like he¡¯d been able to sort through the muddle of ki around him and extend his awareness. It was simply that there was nothing to find within his admittedly short range. He was still at the Foundation Realm so that couldn¡¯t be helped.

    Upon hearing this, Escora simply nodded and ordered him up so that they could get moving. She didn¡¯t seem disappointed, which was a relief.

    As they hiked through the dense brush, they began to see glimmering lights floating off in the distance. Verus eyed them warily. They were far too large to be fireflies, which left only one real possibility.

    ¡°Ignore them,¡± Escora told her companions. ¡°Wisps and lesser spirits like those are no threat to us if we have the wards the gatekeepers gave us. They¡¯re just coming out of hiding because we killed the lizard spirit that dominated this area.¡±

    ¡°There are way more wisps here than back home and they¡¯re much bigger. To tell you the truth, it¡¯s creeping me out,¡± Warin said in a nervous tone. ¡°What if they¡¯re leading us to our doom?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not following them,¡± Verus pointed out.

    ¡°Maybe we¡¯re under their influence and we don¡¯t even realize it! Look at the way they¡¯re weaving and blinking, it could be some sort of spell.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be an idiot. The ki is much thicker here, that¡¯s all. Ignore them,¡± Escora told him without stopping.

    An hour of trudging through the sweltering forest left the disciples in much the same environment they¡¯d started in, but at least the wisps gradually faded away. It was difficult to say how much progress they¡¯d made, but Verus would guess next to none. Thus, he suggested they stop for a moment so that he could try scanning the surroundings again.

    ¡°Make it quick. I don¡¯t want to stay still out here,¡± Escora told him.

    Verus found a nearby rock and sat on it as he opened himself to the outside world. At first, he sensed nothing but the thick haze of many colored ki that swirled around him, but as he analyzed every stream and glimmer, he noticed a cool pool of energy that didn¡¯t shift or move at all.

    Opening his eyes, he glanced over to his left. He saw nothing but trees, but he was sure there was something there.

    ¡°That way. There¡¯s a source of water ki,¡± he told his allies.

    Escora looked surprised. ¡°Really? Let¡¯s go check it out.

    Past the trees lay a large patch of thorn bushes, but after carefully cutting through them, Verus found a patch of clear ground with single blue flower in the center of it. It had a single bloom that was shaped like a blue bell. He¡¯d have never seen it if he hadn¡¯t sensed it first.

    ¡°A spiritual herb. Huh, I guess your senses really are better than mine,¡± Escora remarked as she gave him friendly pat on the shoulder.

    ¡°What do we do with it?¡± Warin asked.

    Spiritual herbs were rare treasures and could be worth quite a few shards. Sometimes certain species of plants would begin absorbing ki and gain special properties that made them invaluable for crafting medicines and training aids. However, they were difficult to grow in captivity because you never knew which plants would start absorbing ki.

    ¡°First, I need to deal with its guardian,¡± Escora said as she carefully stepped over to the plant.

    Before Verus could ask what she was talking about, there was a loud buzzing noise, and a glowing blue blur zoomed straight at Escora¡¯s face. About the size of a man¡¯s head, it had wasp-like wings, but the rest of its form was hard to make out.

    Escora just chuckled and slapped it aside with a small water whip. The small spirit popped as the attack hit it, dissipating into a cloud of water ki.

    ¡°Most spiritual herbs in the wild form a symbiotic bond with a guardian spirit of some sort,¡± Escora explained as she picked the flower. ¡°The spirits feed off their ki without harming them and hides and protects them from predators.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be taking this, since I¡¯m the only water cultivator in our group,¡± she added as she wrapped the flower up and put it in her bag.

    The outer disciples continued their trek as before, but now Verus didn¡¯t need to suggest stopping so he could scan the area. Escora frequently asked him to, even though they usually found nothing.

    However, they did encounter some mundane dangers. Sweating and tired, Warin stopped to lean against a tree, only to have a giant centipede with a head the size of his fist climb around the tree trunk and glare at him. Screaming, he stumbled back, but the big brown centipede simply withdrew back out of sight.

    ¡°What was that? A soul beast?¡± Verus asked as Warin calmed down.

    ¡°Did you see the size of that thing? I hate bugs!¡± Warin said.

    Escora shook her head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a soul beast, just a normal centipede. They sometimes get that big in hot places like this, but they¡¯re mostly harmless. It¡¯s the smaller red ones that have deadly venom and bad tempers.¡±Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    ¡°Ah, thank you for sharing your knowledge,¡± Verus told her as he quickly studied his surroundings for any sign of red bugs. He didn¡¯t see any.

    Escora grinned at Warin. ¡°Even they aren¡¯t as bad as some of the spiders though.¡±

    The chubby disciple just groaned.

    Eventually, the forest grew darker as afternoon gave way to night and the sun started to set, so Escora had them find a place to set up camp. ¡°We don¡¯t want to be stumbling around in the dark out here. Especially not you two. You have no idea how to move quietly yet.¡±

    The camp site Escora settled on was atop a hill where the ground was dry and the thinner trees allowed a cool wind to disperse the stuffy air of the forest. The first thing they did was set up their spirit wards. It turned out that Warin had some skill with this.

    ¡°Since I have a devotion attunement, I¡¯ve been studying up on all the Lightbringer duties, including warding,¡± Warin explained as he got to work placing some paper talismans around their camp.

    There was a reason Lightbringers handled most of the spirit warding in the empire. Devotion ki was extremely good for protecting the spirit from foreign influences, and some simple glyphs could extend the effect to cover a larger area, creating a field that naturally repulsed weak spirits and would warn them if anything more dangerous approached.

    With their protections up, Escora got a small fire going to light the night and warn off beasts. They then laid out their bed rolls around it and she set up her personal anti-bug ward. Warin wanted to get to sleep right after eating, but both Escora and Verus wanted time to cultivate the thick energy of the forest, and they forced Warin to meditate along with them. Even when they were done, Escora wanted someone on watch all night. She volunteered to go first, but everyone would have to take a turn.

    Thus, Verus found himself being woken up after getting only a few hours of slumber. When Escora went to sleep, he tended the fire alone in the darkest part of the night. The light of the stars and moon were dampened by the branches overhead, but the fire was enough. Verus found himself enjoying the hum of the insects that filled the night air, and the occasional glimmer of a spirit off in the distance was easy enough to ignore. It was a unique experience for him, relaxing in its own way, and he could be alone with his thoughts. Still, he needed his sleep, so after an hour and a half had passed, he threw some water on Warin and laid back down on his roll.

    The next morning, the disciples packed up and started hiking toward the center of the valley again, stopping only for Verus to scan the surroundings every half hour. The first scan revealed nothing, but Verus sensed a source of earth energy on his next try. Unfortunately, upon rushing to the source of the ki, all they found was a startled rat spirit that quickly scurried away.

    ¡°I apologize, this method of searching is rather hit or miss,¡± Verus said as the rat spirit vanished from sight.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Escora told him. ¡°Wasting a few minutes here and there is much better than missing something valuable.¡±

    They continued on their trek through the humid forest for another hour before Verus sensed anything else. This time it was a larger source of earth ki.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s momma rat?¡± Warin suggested.

    Verus¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°That¡¯s not how spirits work. They¡¯re beings of pure ki from the eternal plane that merely mimic the forms of things they find on the physical plane. They don¡¯t breed.¡±

    ¡°Regardless, we should investigate,¡± Escora said. ¡°Just be ready for a fight.¡±

    As they headed for their target, the ground grew rockier and uneven. Soon, the ferns and bushes gave way to large grey rocks that jutted forth form the earth. The trees also grew thinner until they arrived at a clearing. It was full of piles of grey and black rocks, and in the very center of it was a tall obelisk made from black stone that looked like obsidian. It was shorter than the trees, and its rectangular shape marked it as being artificial. Nonetheless, it radiated a heavy aura of earth ki that filled the entire clearing.

    ¡°I can definitely sense that now,¡± Escora remarked with a huff as she studied the obelisk warily. Verus had expected her to rush over to it, but instead she was hanging back.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± he asked her. It was unlike her to be so cautious.

    ¡°That obelisk is a perfect ambush spot. Almost anything could be hiding among those rocks and blending in using the thick earth energy to hide their spirits. I also don¡¯t see any sign of a guardian or other spirits, but its ki should be drawing them in like moths to a flame.¡±

    ¡°So let¡¯s not go there and get ambushed?¡± Warin suggested. ¡°Let¡¯s just turn around and leave. It¡¯s that simple.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be a coward. A hunter like me can spring this trap on whatever set it, no problem.¡±

    Verus sighed. He actually agreed with Warin. There was nothing here they really needed, but he doubted he could convince Escora to retreat.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see what we¡¯re up against first, he said. ¡°Protect me while I try to scan for spirits in the clearing.¡±

    Escora agreed, so Verus sat down on a rock and began meditating to clear his mind. Once his idle thoughts were banished, he focused on the ki around him, how it flowed and ebbed. Earth ki dominated the area, covering everything like a heavy blanket. Sensing anything else was difficult, but Verus kept struggling. He had lots of practice at finding and recognizing different types of ki. Peering through the waves of earth ki, he began to see more details that had escaped him at first, small strands of other types of ki. Wind was present, although suppressed by all the earth ki, and so was water. Wait, was that a ball of fire ki? It felt familiar¡­

    ¡°I¡¯ve got them!¡± Verus hissed as he opened his eyes. ¡°There are four disciples from our sect hiding among the rocks, and Katar is one of them.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the fire cultivator you defeated, right? So, he¡¯s got a grudge against you,¡± Escora said as she looked thoughtful.

    ¡°That¡¯s him, and yes, I¡¯d say he is holding a grudge and means me harm.¡±

    Escora nodded and studied Verus for a moment. ¡°I can¡¯t sense them at all. Your ki sense is quite good. Are you sure you don¡¯t have some sort of ability?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ve simply been practicing, and my efforts have been rewarded in some small way,¡± he replied. It appeared that all time he¡¯d spent on channeling hadn¡¯t been wasted after all. Truly, hard work brought blessings, like the Lightbringers said.

    Escora gave him a skeptical look but they had greater concerns. ¡°If it really is Katar and his pals out there, this is undoubtedly an ambush and they¡¯ll attack us if they see us.¡±

    ¡°I agree. The family scions among our peers are prideful and quick to anger. We don¡¯t get along, and they certainly won¡¯t want to share whatever spoils they¡¯ve gained here, to say nothing of them coveting our own.¡±

    ¡°Ya, they¡¯re stuck-up assholes,¡± Warin added as Verus a nodded in agreement.

    Escora smiled. ¡°So, we need to turn their trap against them and beat them down as quick as possible, before they even know what¡¯s going on. Where are they all exactly?¡±

    Warin sighed. ¡°We¡¯re still attacking them?¡±

    ¡°Yes. There¡¯s no rule against fighting your own sect in this event, and no prize for playing nicely.¡±

 Under the Shadow of Death 5

    Slipping out of the trees and into the rocks at the edge of the clearing, Escora carefully scouted ahead and found some paper talismans hidden around the clearing¡¯s perimeter. Warin went up to study them as Verus focused on sensing the position of the enemy. They didn¡¯t appear to have noticed Verus and his allies yet.

    A quick analysis by Warin revealed the talismans to be a simple perimeter alarm. ¡°It¡¯s based around devotion ki. I can disable it easily enough, but we¡¯ll only have a few moments before the caster realizes that it isn¡¯t working properly anymore.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s more than enough time if we strike fast,¡± Escora replied with a grin.

    Verus crept up closer to her. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I would feel right attacking some of our fellow disciples without warning.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯d do it to us without a second thought,¡± Escora told him.

    ¡°Perhaps, but I hold myself to a higher standard than that.¡± This earned him a scornful look from Escora, but he kept talking. ¡°I¡¯m not saying we shouldn¡¯t ambush them. I just think we should let them reveal their malicious intent first. Done right, it would cost us nothing.¡±

    Escora was skeptical, but Verus managed to convince her. Thus, he found himself walking alone toward Katar and the other outer disciples a few moments later. His presence triggered the ward and he was in plain sight, so immediately drew their attention.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Katar asked as he stepped into sight, blocking off Verus¡¯s way forward. Two other outer disciples were right behind the fire cultivator. None of them looked friendly, which suited Verus fine.

    ¡°After finding an herb, I got separated from my companion Warin and I sensed this ki font,¡± Verus said as he leaned against a rock as if he was tired. ¡°I came here hoping that he¡¯d also detect it and we could meet up here, but I¡¯m glad to see some fellow disciples from the Great Wind Sect. The forest is very dangerous and full of nasty spirits!¡±

    ¡°I thought someone like you would have been eliminated within the first hour. What¡¯s this about an herb? Hand it over.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. You¡¯re not trying to rob your fellow disciple, are you?¡±

    ¡°What are you going to do if I am?¡± Katar replied with a condescending sneer as he held out his hand. ¡°Run back into the forest full of spirits? Hand it over.¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Anger gleamed in Katar¡¯s eyes as his hand clenched into a fist. ¡°That¡¯s fine. I can just take it. It¡¯ll be more fun this way.¡±

    Eyeing the three hostile disciples in front of him warily, Verus raised his hands and took up a combat stance. He was ready to defend himself if they launched a sudden attack, but they didn¡¯t get a chance.

    A head-sized orb of water essence fell from above and landed among them, exploding into a wave of concentrated water ki. The force of the blast knocked the two disciples behind Katar right over and staggered him.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Katar yelped as he struggled to keep his balance.

    Neither him nor his allies got time to recover. Verus was already running at them, and he was quickly joined by Escora. She burst out from some rocks behind Katar and charged straight into the fight.

    One of the disciples on the groundsaw her coming and yelled a warning. Getting one foot under himself, he summoned a clump of grey essence between his hands. Then he pushed it toward Escora, and the earth essence shattered into dozens of jagged shards that exploded toward her.

    Escora slid out of the way of the projectiles using some smooth footwork. Her feet slid across the ground as if it was ice, leaving a smoky trail of water ki behind her. Then she shifted her weight and glided straight back toward the earth ki user with surprising speed, kicking him in the chest before he could react.

    Verus had to worry about his own fight though. Katar recovered and lashed out before he could completely close the distance between them. Snarling in fury, the other disciple used a now familiar punching motion to send a fireball straight at his foe. Verus waited until he could feel the heat of the flame on his face, and then he used Vanishing Feather Step to disappear.

    Katar growled and lashed out at the air with a sweeping low kick, sending a wave of fire out at everything in the general direction of where Verus had been, but he was too late. Experience had taught Verus that Katar was most dangerous at mid-range where he could launch wave after wave of fire at his opponents, so Verus had charged in close right away. Appearing at Katar¡¯s side, he unleashed an aggressive flurry of punches at his enemy, who desperately tried to back away and defend himself.

    Meanwhile, the third enemy disciple jumped away from Escora using a technique that caused his robes to flutter as the winds swirled around him and carried him. He got some impressive height and distance, but then a water whip slammed into him, knocking him out of the air and sending him rolling across the ground.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    That was when the fourth enemy stepped into sight, a plain-looking young woman. With a startled look, she took in the fight before drawing a sword and stepping forward to join in. Unfortunately for her, her presence wasn¡¯t a surprise. As per the plan, Warin suddenly appeared right behind her and grabbed her. With one hand on her sword-arm¡¯s wrist and the other around her waist, he picked her off the ground. She squeaked in surprise, but he wasn¡¯t done. A split second later, he slammed her into the ground and quickly disarmed her. With his weight on her back, it was unlikely she¡¯d be able to get back up.

    ¡°It¡¯s just you and me now. All your allies are down,¡± Verus told his foe. ¡°Do you still feel confident enough to take whatever you want from me?¡±

    In response, Katar glanced around fearfully, which gave Verus an opening. He feinted with a jab that drew Katar¡¯s attention, and then kicked him hard in the ribs while he was distracted. The blow landed with a thud that drove the air from the other disciple¡¯s lungs, and he stumbled back.

    ¡°I give up!¡± Katar croaked as he held up his hands in surrender. Verus had been stepping forward to strike again, but he stopped. As much as he disliked him, he had no desire to beat on someone who¡¯d surrendered.

    ¡°Good job being the distraction,¡± Escora said from where she was standing over the fallen forms of her own two opponents. ¡°Now bring him over here. We¡¯ll tie these fools up with their own rope,¡±

    Moving quickly at her orders, Warin and Verus dragged their defeated foes over to Escora and then tied them up. The ropes wouldn¡¯t hold them long, but it would prevent them from causing trouble while they were still around. The two that had fought Escora were unconscious, so they just left them on the ground next to Katar.

    ¡°Now, the good part. The looting,¡± Escora announced as she rubbed her hands together.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Katar said indignantly.

    Escora glared at him. ¡°Shut up. You have no right to complain about a little robbery.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll leave you what you need to survive,¡± Verus added in consolation. That was probably more than they would have left him.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Escora to start rummaging through bags and clothing while Katar watched with growing fury. Most of what she found was basic survival gear like their own, but she did discover some items of value. She claimed the woman¡¯s sword, a ki-powered lantern, and a brass disc with a red gem in the center. Warin also wandered over and took the pick of their food stores.

    ¡°What¡¯s that disc for?¡± Verus asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s a basic scrying tool. I¡¯ve seen them around. It¡¯s supposed to boost your ability to sense your surroundings if you use it as a focus.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that sounds useful,¡± Verus replied with interest.

    ¡°Ya, I¡¯d bet you anything it¡¯s how they found this place, and I¡¯m sure you can get even more use out of it,¡± Escora said as he handed the disc over to him.

    ¡°I wonder how many other groups are using focuses like this,¡± Verus mused aloud as he studied the disc. He could see several glyphs etched in the metal around the red gem.

    Escora huffed. ¡°Probably most of them. They¡¯re expensive, but nothing some spoiled imperials couldn¡¯t beg their parents for. This isn¡¯t really supposed to be a fair competition.¡±

    Warin laughed. ¡°Well, the gap between us and some of the others has closed quite a bit now.¡±

    ¡°Exactly, this is a hunt. There¡¯s no way we¡¯d be able to compete unless we act aggressively.¡±

    An amused grin appeared on Verus¡¯s face. ¡°¡­and loot everything of value from our fellow disciples.¡±

    If anyone had told him this is what he¡¯d be doing at the main temple of his sect, he wouldn¡¯t have believed them.

    There wasn¡¯t really anything of value for them at the stone obelisk since none of them were earth cultivators, so they left their defeated foes behind and headed back into the forest. The plan was still to head toward the tower that lay at the center of the Reaches.

    As they walked, Verus experimented with his new scrying disc. It took him a few tries to figure out how it worked, but operating it was simple enough. Focusing his spirit through the gem extended the range and sensitivity of his ki sense. It boosted him by about half of his own abilities. The glyphs on the disc represented elements and pressing them brought that element to the fore, making them easier to detect and study. It was a quite a useful feature, although it was limited to only the most basic types of ki. Verus proudly noticed that none of the glyphs represented negative elements. Human ki was one of the options, but sensing people was still difficult in the thick ki of the Reaches, especially since it wasn¡¯t always the strongest type of ki cultivators emitted.

    The scryer device proved its worth later that day when they stopped to scan their surroundings. Verus detected another spiritual herb that Escora recognized as having healing properties. He also detected a source of fire ki, but that turned out to be a soul bird of some kind that quickly flew away. Soon, it began to grow dark. Everyone was tired after hiking, fighting, and chasing birds, so they set up camp and went to bed early.

    The next day proved less eventful but still rewarding. Since they¡¯d left the other disciples behind and appeared to be safe, they spent the day resting and cultivating next to a small bubbling spring. It would have more efficient for Verus and Warin if they had elemental attunements, but absorbing the thick ki in the forest still speeded their cultivation progress greatly.

    Over the following days, they hiked toward the center, although their progress was greatly slowed because they ended up scouring the forest for treasure. A lot of what Verus detected turned out to be spirits or more small soul beasts. They also stumbled upon the occasional small ki font, several more herbs, and some stones that emitted light ki.

    On their sixth day in the Algorian Reaches, they pushed through some thick bushes and found themselves almost face-to-face with a huge stag with wide antlers. It was obviously a soul beast, but none of them had sensed it. Thankfully, the stag simply snorted at them and then bounded away. Still, they took the event as a lesson in humility. They¡¯d grown confident and used to the forest, so they¡¯d let their guard drop. As they moved, they moved more cautiously.

    That afternoon, when they stopped to let him scan the forest, he detected something weird. He almost missed it, but he¡¯d gotten in the habit of feeling the nearby ki quite thoroughly in an attempt to use the scryer to develop his own senses and understanding of ki. Thus, when he sensed a oddly muted area behind them, he thought he¡¯d found a source of negative ki, but then he realized it was more like something was purposely camouflaging its ki in with its surroundings. Also, whatever it was, it was moving in their direction along the path they¡¯d left behind them.

    Hurrying over to Escora, Verus leaned close to whisper to her. ¡°Something is stalking us, and it¡¯s coming fast!¡±

 Under the Shadow of Death 6

    ¡°Ready yourselves, but don¡¯t make it obvious or look in that direction directly,¡± Escora said as she threw a glance over her shoulder in the direction Verus had indicated. There wasn¡¯t much to see but trees yet.

    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s going on?¡± Warin asked.

    Verus quickly explained what was going on and then they all pretended to still be hiking and unaware of their unwelcome company. Escora wanted to lure the enemy into attacking and then to surprise them with a hard and fast counterattack. Verus wasn¡¯t sure if that was a good idea, but he didn¡¯t have a better one. Warin looked pale and nervous as he continued trudging forward through the brush, but he went along with the plan.

    All of them were subtly keeping an eye on the forest behind them though, so they had time react when the bushes rustled and several humanoid shapes burst out. Immediately, light flared from the figure in the middle and a blast of bright energy shot toward Verus and his companions. However, the lightning blast missed because they were already dodging and ducking out of its way.

    Verus scrambled to the side and then turned to run toward his attackers. They were human and more disciples from the Great Wind Sect. He recognized two of them. Unfortunately, the lightning hadn¡¯t been the only attack they¡¯d launched, simply the fastest. As Escora, Verus, and Warin charged the enemy, they were met by a wave of black birds that seemed to appear out of nowhere. The creatures shimmered an odd purple as they descended on the disciples with outstretched talons.

    ¡°What under the heavens are these?¡± Warin yelled as he tried to swat one aside.

    Verus couldn¡¯t answer because he was too busy defending himself from two birds that had swooped at his head. Even Escora had slowed and was having trouble protecting herself.

    One of the birds slashed at the hand Verus had raised to protect his eyes, leaving a long gash that left his hand feeling numb. Verus then stumbled as a wave of fatigue washed over him. Were the birds venomous? Why did he feel so tired all of a sudden?

    Wait. Hadn¡¯t he read about something like this. This didn¡¯t seem like poison ki, it was more like¡­ sleep ki! Verus stared at his hand and activated the Faithful Soul Ward. The gash there promptly faded away. His hand was still numb but physically undamaged. It had been an illusion.

    ¡°The birds are illusion-crafted using sleep ki! Ward yourselves!¡± he yelled at his allies.

    Illusions made from emotional ki became more powerful the more you believed they were real and the stronger the emotion they were made of was in their target. Such emotions could fuddle people¡¯s minds, making it difficult for them to tell what was real. This created a dangerous feedback loop. If Verus hadn¡¯t realized what was going on, every attack by the birds would have drained them of more energy until they¡¯d all passed out.

    ¡°Of course! Damned illusionists!¡± Escora growled as she suddenly let out a pulse of ki that drove the birds away, allowing her to continue her charge toward their caster.

    Escora then conjured a water whip that slashed toward where the four enemy disciples were standing. They¡¯d obviously been hoping that the sleep ki attack would finish Verus¡¯s group off, because they were caught off guard by the whip. It slammed into the man in front, knocking him down and spraying the others with water ki that made them stumble back.

    Verus dashed forward to try and finish one of them off before they could recover, but a fifth enemy charged out of the trees to intercept him.

    Tellus roared as he ran toward Verus. ¡°You¡¯re mine! I¡¯m going to put you down for good this time.¡±

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Verus asked as he dodged a series of punches and tried to throw a few of his own.

    ¡°You should have laid low like I told you and not tried to undermine your betters,¡± Tellus growled in reply. ¡°Katar told us what you and your friends did. When we¡¯re done with you, there will be no future at the sect for you.¡±

    Escora leapt to attack the fallen enemy. A skinny young man jumped forward to intercept her, however Escora used her sliding movement technique to slip past him and throw a punch at the lightning thrower instead. Meanwhile, a tall aristocratic looking young man drew a sword and jumped toward Warin. The wind blew around him as he moved. Only the girl who had unleashed the birds stepped back. It looked like she was injured. She was cradling one of her arms, but her illusions were still fluttering around.

    Tellus unleashed a flurry of punches and followed them up with a low kick, but Verus managed to dodge around them. An illusionary bird swooped down at him, so he ducked under it as he threw a side kick at Tellus¡¯s chest that pushed him back a few inches.

    Off to the side, Warin was desperately dodging the air cultivator¡¯s sword slashes. Thankfully, the rough terrain and bushes gave him some cover. He was also far nimbler than he looked. Pieces of ferns and leaves flew through the air as the swordsman hacked his way to his target.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    The chaotic melee terrified and thrilled Verus at the same time. He¡¯d never been in a fight like this before. There was no plan and no rules, only power and skill. Anything could happen. The lack of safety scared him, but the freedom was invigorating. All his life he¡¯d been worried and obsessed with what others thought and if he was doing the right thing. Those feelings had crushed him sometimes.

    Now, Verus¡¯s battle focus came upon him stronger than ever before. Fighting like this felt like been let free for the first time, like he¡¯d come home. His duty was clear, protect and destroy. He¡¯d defeat everyone in his way or die. Nothing else mattered. He could simply be.

    Verus slipped to the side of one of Tellus¡¯s punches and slammed his fist into the bigger disciple¡¯s kidney. The other disciple grimaced in pain and tried to step back, but Verus kept at him, striking again and again. Tellus¡¯s skin took on a grey shade as he tried to use earth ki to absorb the blows, but it was obvious he wasn¡¯t completely successful. His body was tough and hard to hurt, but he was still human and had weak points. Verus punched his kidney again and then kicked at his groin, forcing him to jump out of the way. Their ki levels were much closer now, since Verus had taken the opportunity to absorb a lot of ki from the Reaches.

    Keeping up his momentum, Verus stepped forward to continue his attack, but Tellus changed strategies. Relying on his superior toughness, he switched from trying to defend himself to trading blows. This strategy was familiar to Verus, but still hard to deal with. He tried to hit Tellus¡¯s chin, but the bigger disciple simply raised his shoulder and stepped into the attack to throw a punch of his own. Tellus¡¯s fist grazed Verus¡¯s cheek, so Verus jumped back out of his reach. He shouldn¡¯t be trying to brawl with Tellus. That was the other disciple¡¯s specialty.

    As Verus landed, Tellus used a ki-infused stomp to shake the earth, but the dirt that made up the forest floor was a lot less solid than the stone floor of the arena and didn¡¯t shake nearly as much. So, Verus was able to recover his footing and jump away again long before Tellus could charge him. That gave Verus an idea.

    He glanced down at the ground and then charged toward Tellus. The larger disciple met his attack with a powerful punch aimed straight at his face, but Verus used Vanishing Step to dodge it and appear to his enemy¡¯s left. Tellus was ready for that move and used another stomp to try and disrupt his opponent¡¯s landing. However, Verus had landed on an exposed root from a nearby tree and used it as a springboard to launch a flying knee straight at Tellus¡¯s face. Not being made of earth or stone, the root was far less affected by the earth ki of the stomp.

    Verus¡¯s ki-empowered knee slammed right into the center of Tellus¡¯s face, snapping his neck back despite his reinforcement technique. As Verus landed, his enemy was falling backward, stunned. Thus, as Tellus¡¯s back hit the ground, Verus stepped forward and stomped down hard on the center of his opponent¡¯s chest. As he struck, he pushed as much ki as possible right into Tellus¡¯s core, which was right beneath his foot. That would scatter his ki and render him unable to fight for a while, without doing any permanent damage.

    As Tellus gasped in pain and curled up into a ball, Verus swiped an illusionary bird out of the air and stepped away to study the other fighters. Both his allies were in serious trouble.

    Warin was still dodging the swordsman¡¯s attacks and seemed unconcerned by the illusionary birds, but he now had a deep cut on his arm that was bleeding freely. It seemed like the swordsman had landed at least one attack.

    Escora was fighting the lightning thrower and the other disciple at the same time now. She tried to dash in and strike the lightning cultivator, but he pushed her back by emitting a crackling aura of electricity. She didn¡¯t seem to want to get in too close to that technique. Meanwhile, her other opponent charged in and threw a kick at her back, forcing her turn and face him. She tried to counterattack, but a small blast of lightning lashed toward her, and she had to use her sliding technique to get away from both her foes. It was obvious she was getting tired and using far too much ki. Soon, they¡¯d tire her out and finish her off.

    The wounded sleep ki user was still hanging back, occasionally creating a new bird and sending it out to attack someone.

    In response to what he was seeing, Verus¡¯s battle focus grew stronger and more intense. It hummed through his body and mind, full of intent and power. His comrades were in danger of falling in battle. It was his job to protect them. It was his duty. Something seemed to grab Verus¡¯s spirit, reaching through his core. As he stepped toward the fight, his ki began to rage, cycling through his body with incredible speed that would normally be far beyond his ability to maintain.

    Verus dashed toward the sleep ki user. She saw him coming and sent three birds to intercept him, but a Vanishing Step allowed him to slip past them unscathed. That was when the disciple fighting Escora turned and fired a lightning bolt at Verus. Unconcerned, he used two more Vanishing Steps in quick succession to appear next to his target and deliver a powerful side kick to her core. She was sent flying backwards into the bushes and all her birds exploded.

    Escora used her opponent¡¯s distraction to slide in and deliver a low kick to the lightning thrower¡¯s thigh. He cursed and stumbled. Escora then uppercutted him right on the chin.

    The fight had quickly turned in Verus and his companions¡¯ favor, but Warin was still in danger. Tired from all his dodging, he tripped over a root and fell over backwards. The enemy swordsman rode a gust of wind over to finish him off, but then Verus was there at his side, appearing out of nowhere. Spinning around, the swordsman tried to slash at Verus, but he deftly sidestepped the blow by the thinnest of margins. Verus then reached over and touched two fingers to the disciple¡¯s shoulder. As the swordsman flinched in surprise, ki burst out of Verus¡¯s fingers, empowered by the incredible speed by which it had been spinning through his channels. The force of the deceptively simple attack slammed into the swordsman¡¯s body, blasting him backwards with such power that he dropped his sword before slamming into a nearby tree and sliding to the ground.

    It didn¡¯t seem like he would be getting up soon, so Verus turned back to Escora. He was just in time to see her finish off the second disciple she¡¯d been fighting with a powerful scythe kick to his head. He was far weaker than the lightning cultivator and no threat to her alone.

    Blinking, Verus realized the fight was over, and the battle focus quickly dissipated, leaving him confused but happy to have won. What had just happened?

 Under the Shadow of Death 7

    Looking around, Verus studied the fallen bodies of the outer disciples he¡¯d just defeated. As amazing as defeating them had felt, he had serious questions about his own behavior. It was more than a little strange. He¡¯d been avoiding thinking about it, but it was obvious the trance that overcame him during fights sometimes was more than just a normal mood shift or good instincts. How had his internal ki manipulation abilities increased so much? That powerful touch technique he¡¯d used was incredibly complicated, requiring him to perfectly manipulate all the ki in his body to boost the speed it flowed through him. Was it some sort of minor bloodline ability? That was the only explanation he could think of for the abilities the trance gave him. Had there been a powerful cultivator somewhere in his unknown ancestry?

    Escora laughed gleefully as she walked over to his side and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Wow, I wasn¡¯t the only one holding back. That¡¯s some technique. I could feel the ki speed through your channels when you used that attack. It was faster than white water fresh off a fall.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm, I¡¯m full of surprises I suppose,¡± Verus replied vaguely as he gathered his thoughts.

    ¡°See, I told you. He¡¯s a genius,¡± Warin added as he picked himself off the ground and brushed off his clothing.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for ever doubting you,¡± Escora told the chubby disciple with a roll of her eyes.

    ¡°You should be. I¡¯m always right about friends and food.¡±

    With all the enemies defeated and unconscious or incapacitated, Escora quickly moved on to the looting.

    ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this! Our families will never let you get away with insulting them,¡± Tellus announced as he sat up and coughed. He was unable to use his ki or even stand, but he could still apparently whine.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about your families. They¡¯re not here,¡± Escora replied with a snort.

    Verus wished he was so unconcerned.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really want to make enemies,¡± he told her as he threw Tellus a glance. The earth cultivator had hunched over and closed his eyes. Staying up seemed to require serious effort on his part, and he wasn¡¯t in any condition to talk any more.

    Escora just shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s a little late to be worrying about that, you¡¯re riding the tiger now. You¡¯ve simply got to prove your worth to the sect and then they¡¯ll protect you. It shouldn¡¯t be too hard if you keep fighting like you did just now.¡±

    Verus groaned. ¡°Which means I need to fight even more people, preferably stronger ones.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Escora laughed. ¡°This is the path of a true cultivator, not that mumbo jumbo you¡¯re always spouting. It¡¯s a hunt for power.¡±

    It turned out that the defeated disciples were carrying more valuables than Verus and his companions could comfortably carry. They only had so much space in their bags.

    The haul contained another two ki lanterns, the swordsman¡¯s weapon, two scrying devices, a spiritual herb, and some elixirs in vials that they¡¯d obviously brought along with them. They ended up taking only the herb and the elixirs, while Escora destroyed the scrying devices.

    ¡°They¡¯ll be hard pressed to find us or any more treasure without these,¡± she said as she stomped on the metal discs until they were warped and cracked. Verus winced at the destruction of such expensive and interesting devices, but he couldn¡¯t fault her reasoning.

    ¡°What do these elixirs do?¡± Warin asked as he held up one of the vials.

    ¡°Half of them are for healing or removing parasites. The others are cultivation aids that allow you to absorb natural ki smoother and faster. You can tell by the colors. Imperials like everything standardized and neat.¡±

    Warin took one of the healing elixirs since he was injured and feeling a little unwell. Meanwhile, Verus had not forgotten the odd way Tellus¡¯s group had disguised their presence. Nothing they¡¯d found so far had accounted for that and he doubted it was a technique, so he kept looking. At first, he didn¡¯t find anything and considered shaking Tellus awake and asking him, but then he found a simple loop of cord in the swordsman¡¯s pocket. It looked like a bracelet made from some sort of scaly brown leather, like it was from a lizard.

    Putting it on, Verus immediately felt something happen. His ki senses seemed to blur, as the ki around him shifted to surround his body and camouflage it. A quick search revealed a similar cord on all the fallen disciples.

    ¡°Huh, useful,¡± Escora remarked after he showed them to her. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t use them unless they¡¯re needed though. They seem to blind their users almost as much as anyone looking for them.¡±

    Having taken everything they wanted, Escora led her companions out into the forest again. Their plan was simply to put some distance between themselves and their defeated foe before setting up camp and resting for the night. As they moved, she also employed some tracker tricks to disguise their trail.

    Thankfully, they didn¡¯t run into any problems before finding a secluded spot next to cliff where an overhanging ledge shielded them from sight and the elements. After eating and laying out their sleeping rolls, Verus did a few hours of cultivation and then went to bed. He had last watch.

    Closing his eyes, his consciousness swiftly faded into blackness and his mind relaxed. However, as Verus fell into himself, his inner world began to shift and change. His ki seethed as a dream rose up to overwhelm him, almost as something was happening to his soul.

    Terrible pain washed over him. Everything was fire. He had no eyes, but he could sense it as it burned him. He wanted to scream, but he had no mouth! Not anymore. There was only the fire, an impossibly large ocean of the terrible energy crushed him, wearing him down to nothing. It tore into him, hungry for his very being. He fought it, but the pain never ended. Who was he? He couldn¡¯t remember! What was happening? There was only the pain and his will. Surrender would bring peace, but he would never give in. Never! Duty remained. He could not let the fire claim what was left of him. He had failed, but not yet been released. The voiceless scream went on forever. Yet, he fought and he resisted, twisting in the flames. The oath must be fulfilled! There was yet a chance. But who was he? Why couldn¡¯t he remember!Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Bolting awake, Verus heard the sound of screaming. It took him a moment to realize the noise was coming from his own throat. Snapping his mouth shut, he looked around with wide eyes. He was still in his bed roll, in the sheltered spot under the cliff¡¯s overhang. The forest was darker since it was the middle of the night and the only light came from a nearby lantern, but nothing else had changed. There was no danger. He looked down at his arms. There was no fire ravaging his body¡­ and his name was Verus. Having a name had never felt so important. Just thinking it made him feel safer and more¡­ complete.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on!¡± Escora hissed in alarm as she scrambled over to him. Warin was somehow still asleep and snoring gently off to the side.

    ¡°I apologize,¡± Verus told her in a shaky voice. ¡°I had a nightmare. Nothing more.¡±

    Escora gave him an appraising look. ¡°It must have been some nightmare. I didn¡¯t think you were the sort to scare easy and you sounded like someone was ripping your guts out while you watched.¡±

    ¡°It was unpleasant, but I¡¯m fine now.¡± Verus didn¡¯t want to talk about the dream. The memory was already fading, and that was more than fine with him.

    He shuddered and shifted into a meditation position. He wouldn¡¯t be able to fall back sleep right away. Not with that vision haunting him. So, he cultivated for the next hour to clear his head. Only then, when the nightmare had almost completely faded from his mind did he lay back down and drift off again.

    Their small group did a little exploration and hiking the next day, but mostly they focused on recovering and cultivating. There were three helpful elixirs, so they each took one. As he drew ki into his core, Verus could feel himself reaching the limits of the Foundation Realm. He was approaching the Tempered Realm, so as he cycled his ki, he focused on the insights into the nature of ki and the world he¡¯d acquired from observing the forest and combat. Every ascension required enlightenment. The real problem was his cultivation technique. He was still using the very basic one he¡¯d used to get the Foundation Realm. It had no special abilities and wouldn¡¯t allow him to upgrade his core when he ascended. Well, he¡¯d simply have to find an attunement and talk to the drunk elder when he got back to the sect. Then, he could ascend in the safety of the temple.

    As the sun rose the following morning, Verus and his companions set off toward the center of the Reaches again. Every once and a while, they could see the tower looming up ahead through gaps in the thick leafy canopy overhead. Verus also managed to detect another spiritual herb, although they had to fight off a nasty looking ferret spirit to get it.

    The ground began to slope upwards, but Escora seemed to know where she was leading them. Eventually, the companions found themselves atop a large hill that rose up above the trees. The vantage point gave them a great view of the Reaches. The crystal tower of the Heaven and Earth Array dominated the scenery ahead, but there was plenty of other things to see. The mountains surrounding the wild valley were picturesque and so were the white clouds overhead. Trees filled most the valley, but they were broken up by several landmarks such as hills and bodies of water.

    ¡°This is something you don¡¯t see every day,¡± Warin announced as he glanced around.

    Escora shrugged and focused on the area near the tower. ¡°It¡¯s not a terrible sight, but there are better in my tribe¡¯s territory.¡±

    After being in the humid forest for so long, Verus was too busy enjoying the cool breeze on his face to question her. ¡°Why don¡¯t we rest here and cultivate for a while? It¡¯s as good a place as any. We might even see something important, like another group of disciples.¡±

    Escora had no problem with that as long as one of them stood watch at all times, and she volunteered to go first, so Verus sat down to cultivate. Taking a series of deep breaths, he concentrated on absorbing ki and cycling it through his body and into his core. Using his simple cultivation technique, he turned his ki into human essence and expanded his core.

    About half an hour later, Escora¡¯s voice broke him out from his meditative trance. ¡°Everyone up! Something is happening.¡±

    Jumping to his feet, Verus peered in the direction she was looking. Warin did the same, just a little slower.

    At first, Verus didn¡¯t see anything but the top of trees. That didn¡¯t last long. Not too far from the tower, a blast of flame burst up into the sky, incinerating a tree and rising up into the air before dying down. This was followed by a loud crack, and all the trees near the fire shivered. Flocks of birds took flight, squawking as they sought safety, and Verus could even feel a slight tremor pass beneath his feet.

    ¡°What was that?¡± he asked nervously.

    Escora frowned. ¡°A fight. I¡¯m guessing some disciples from different sects are fighting over treasure near the tower.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no way they¡¯re still at the Foundation Realm,¡± Warin pointed out.

    ¡°Probably not. Our sect contains quite a few outer disciples that are far more talented than the spoiled dregs we¡¯ve run into. Some of them have undoubtedly used the resources here to reach the Tempered Realm.¡±

    That was an important reminder to Verus that all the disciples he¡¯d been fighting had not been among the strongest in the outer sect. Rather, Tellus and Katar had banded together with others against those they considered their inferiors because their lack of skill made them insecure. The real nobles and geniuses had ignored him, because he was beneath them.

    ¡°Should we really be headed down there then?¡± Warin asked.

    It took a few moments for Escora to reply. ¡°As much as I hate to admit it, you might have a point.¡±

    Warin perked up, looking surprised. ¡°Really?¡±

    Escora nodded. ¡°Yes, we should prepare properly first. If we find a good water ki font I¡¯m sure I can break through to the Tempered Realm. Something better than the last one we found. It was weak and I prefer running water. What about you two?¡±

    Verus sighed. ¡°Unfortunately, there are still some issues I need to deal with before I can reach the Tempered Realm.¡±

    ¡°My progress has slowed,¡± Warin admitted. ¡°At first the thick ki here helped me quite a lot, but now it¡¯s just stifling. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to ascend out here in the Reaches.¡±

    ¡°Because there¡¯s no source of devotion ki here?¡± Verus asked. He hadn¡¯t realized his friend was having problems.

    ¡°My own devotion is enough. It¡¯s more that the atmosphere out here in the Reaches doesn¡¯t agree with me, and the heat doesn¡¯t help either. It¡¯s all so dreadful and there are bugs everywhere. Makes it hard to concentrate and find enlightenment.¡±

    Verus eyed his friend. He did seem to have lost a little weight, despite still eating quite a lot. They had plenty of supplies.

    A look of concern flashed across Escora¡¯s face before it was replaced by a neutral expression. ¡°Then, do either of you mind following me and watching my back while I find a place to cultivate and ascend?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s the least we could do after everything you¡¯ve done for us, and anything¡¯s better than going down there,¡± Warin told her as Verus nodded in agreement.

    That decided, the group headed back into the forest to find a font of water ki. While the thick ki of the Reaches was strong everywhere, it would be easier for Escora to absorb water ki since she was attuned to it. A water font would also potentially provide her with more insight into her element, helping her advance.

 Under the Shadow of Death 8

    Escora didn¡¯t find a suitable water ki font that day, so she and her companions were forced to keep exploring the forest until night began to fall. Then, they set up camp and went to sleep.

    They headed out again the next morning, eager to discover their goal. After every half hour or so of hiking, they stopped to let Verus scan their surroundings for water ki using his scrying disk. It wasn¡¯t until after noon that Verus detected a source of water ki, but once he had, Escora immediately led them straight toward it.

    However, they soon ran into a complication. As they peered through some bushes toward the source of the water ki, they were confronted by the sight of a massive glowing catfish floating through the trees. Its long whiskers brushed against the ground as its fat body leisurely swam through the air.

    ¡°That¡¯s not a font. It¡¯s a water spirit,¡± Warin hissed.

    Verus could only agree. He didn¡¯t see anything that could be a water font around. The spirit was the source of the ki he¡¯d sensed.

    ¡°This could still be of use,¡± Escora remarked. ¡°If we hunt the spirit, I¡¯ll be sure to gain some insight into the nature of water and I can absorb some of the ki it leaves upon death. Hunters from my tribe do this all the time.¡±

    ¡°You want us to fight that thing?¡± Warin asked. ¡°It¡¯s twice the size of the last spirit!¡±

    Escora laughed. ¡°It¡¯s a big fat fish! How dangerous could it be?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a spirit. What it looks like doesn¡¯t matter!¡±

    ¡°After everything we¡¯ve done, you¡¯re still afraid of a spirit? We can take it, no problem.¡±

    Verus nodded. ¡°She¡¯s right. If we want to advance, we need to be aggressive and take risks. That¡¯s how we¡¯ve gotten this far.¡±

    Warin grunted sourly. ¡°It¡¯ll work up until it doesn¡¯t, but fine, what¡¯s one more crazy fight?¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Escora laughed as she slapped him on the back in a friendly gesture.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t being serious¡­¡±

    As usual, Escora¡¯s plan was simple but effective. Using their new ki-camouflaging bracelets, they slipped around the spirit as it lazily swam through the trees, placing warding talismans on trees to keep it from fleeing. Then, Warin activated the wards and Escora and Verus attacked as the specter reared up in surprise at suddenly finding itself corralled.

    The fight began in earnest as Escora summoned a water whip and snapped it toward the spirit. It responded by rolling to the side to avoid the strike. Escora immediately attacked with another whip, but the spirit was faster. The catfish¡¯s mouth bulged and then it spat a stream of water at her, knocking her off her feet.

    Verus dove in from the other side with one of the looted swords in hand. He had never had much training with blades, but he had enough to use it against a spirit, and it would be far more effective than his hands or a dagger. The catfish didn¡¯t see him at first, but then it spun in the air and slapped at him with its tail fin. Verus could only slash at the spirit¡¯s tail as he jumped back.

    An exhausting melee ensued. Despite its bulk, the catfish spirit lacked killing power. It had no claws and its water techniques were powerful but did little permanent damage. Still, the spirit was tough and more agile than it looked, so it was hard to damage.

    Thankfully, Warin managed to use a chant to supercharge the wards. This momentarily restricted the spirit and brought it down to the ground, allowing both Escora and Verus to charge in unimpeded. Verus then located its core and destroyed it with a stab of his sword.

    Immediately upon the spirit¡¯s death, it burst into a cloud of thick water ki.

    ¡°See, that wasn¡¯t so hard,¡± Escora huffed before falling into a sitting position.

    Verus choose not to comment. Soaked from head to toe and clearly exhausted, he thought she looked like she¡¯d just climbed up from the bottom of a pond with weights tied to her legs.

    As Escora began meditating in an attempt to absorb as much of the spirit¡¯s power as she could, Verus and Warin stood guard. At the same time, Verus couldn¡¯t help but absorb some of the ki too. Most of it would go to waste anyway. It was very pure water ki, and even he could sense hints of insight within it. It flowed like water over the earth, both a tiny stream and a mighty river. Roaring like white water and gently trickling like a tiny spring. It was a shame he didn¡¯t have a water attunement¡­

    ¡°Are you taking in any of this ki?¡± Verus asked his friend.

    Warin shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯m already feeling bloated. Taking in any more natural ki simply makes me feel sick. I need to take a break.¡±

    That was very different from how Verus felt, but he supposed everyone had different limits on how quickly they could absorb ki. Apparently his was very high, even with a substandard channeling technique.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    The ki only remained plentiful and pure for about half an hour. That was when Escora sighed and got up. ¡°I wish we had an item to absorb and store ki in, but I suppose the insight was really the important part. There are plenty of fonts here in the Reaches.¡±

    ¡°Very true. Enlightenment is the goal, and ki is but the method,¡± Verus replied as he waved his short sword through the air. Being exposed to so many types of ki and insights might even help him discover his attunement. It was unlikely but possible.

    ¡°Why are you still holding that sword?¡± Warin asked him.

    ¡°It worked quite well against the spirit, and it just feels natural in my hand for some reason,¡± Verus said as he flourished the blade and took a stance. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of using it more.¡±

    ¡°Just don¡¯t cut any important parts of yourself off, and watch your swings around me,¡± Escora told him. ¡°If it looks like you¡¯re going to hit me, I¡¯ll put you down. No warning.¡±

    ¡°I do have some training. I know the basic stances and strikes,¡± Verus muttered as he sheathed the blade. He was definitely keeping the sword, if only to counter other disciples with weapons. It was odd how familiar using the weapon felt all of a sudden. He¡¯d never felt this way before.

    The three disciples didn¡¯t discover what they were looking for that afternoon or the next, although they did find several more spirits and a permanent cyclone that was a wind ki font. The swirling vortex slowly moved around a small grassy clearing and was about the size of a person. While quite fascinating to look at, it was useless to them, so they moved on. There were signs of battle in the clearing, meaning someone had already picked the place clean.

    It was during the next morning that Verus detected a font of darkness ki. After some discussion, they decided to check it out. Because negative ki types were harder to find, it was possible there were herbs or resources at the font still.

    However, when they arrived near the source of the ki, they found themselves staring at a dark cave mouth located at the base of a small rocky cliff. No light seemed to be able to penetrate the shadows within, and Verus had no idea how deep the cave was. The only thing they could see was a row of stalactites that hung from the cave ceiling like huge jagged teeth.

    ¡°We should have expected this,¡± Escora said as she fished out their two lanterns from their backpacks.

    ¡°Are we seriously going in there?¡± Warin sighed in exasperation. ¡°I already know the answer, but I needed to say that.¡±

    ¡°Of course, we are. Think of the treasure we might find! I seriously doubt anyone else will have explored these caves recently.¡±

    ¡°Because it will be incredible dangerous inside. Look at it!¡±

    Verus placed a reassuring on his friend¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I believe we can do it. I doubt there¡¯s anything more dangerous than the lizard spirit or Tellus in there.¡±

    ¡°I believe it was a mistake introducing you to Escora,¡± Warin replied as he made a sour face.

    Nonetheless, Warin took a lantern and walked up to the cave mouth with his friends. Escora took the lead and the other lantern, while Verus was at the rear.

    Thankfully, the ki lanterns worked in the cave, allowing them to see where they were going. Their clean white light pushed back the shadows to reveal dripping stone walls and row after row of stalactites and stalagmites. However, they weren¡¯t strong enough to expose everything. The cave was one long passage that went on out of sight, past the light of the lanterns.

    Pressing on, they reached the end of the passage, where an opening led out into a larger cavern. With the lanterns, they could only see a about a dozen feet ahead, so they couldn¡¯t tell how large the underground chamber was. The darkness ki was even thicker here and was dampening the light. Even the ceiling was too high to see.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like this,¡± Warin whispered. His voice echoed in the confines of the cave.

    It was at that moment that the darkness hanging in front of the disciples came alive, exploding toward them in a frenzy of motion and high-pitched shrieks.

    Verus and his companions jumped back defensively, but the incoming wave surged right past them. As he held up his hands to shield his face, Verus got a good look at the things flying around him. They were bats, headed out of the cave. They must have been spooked by Warin¡¯s voice and the light.

    A moment later, the last bat flew past, and the three disciples relaxed.

    ¡°That was unpleasant,¡± Verus whispered. He could still hear the echo of the shrieking in his ears.

    ¡°Actually, it was a good sign. The bats mean nothing nastier is around,¡± Escora said as she stepped into the larger cavern with her lantern held high.

    All Warin and Verus could do was follow her, which they did reluctantly. At first, the gloom prevented them from seeing much more than the rocky floor at their feet, but then they reached the center of the chamber. There, a crack in the floor oozed thick black smoke. Except it had no smell and looked too oily. On closer inspection, the way it moved almost like water revealed it to be distilled darkness, and not smoke. They¡¯d found the font.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like there¡¯s anything too dangerous in here. Let¡¯s split up to search for treasure,¡± Escora told them. ¡°I¡¯ll go alone since you¡¯re both so scared of the dark.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the things in the dark that I¡¯m worried about,¡± Warin muttered.

    Nonetheless, he joined Verus and they went to explore the rest of the cave together. Water dripping from stalactites on the ceiling had created pools of shallow water and there were more than a few jagged rocks around, so they moved slowly and carefully. Soon, they stumbled upon a natural treasure though. A patch of black mushrooms with dark purple veins. The fungus were clearly odd spiritual herbs of some kind.

    Escora also managed to find some black stones that looked like they contained metallic ore of some sort.

    ¡°Spiritual ore is even more valuable than herbs,¡± she explained with a proud smile as she showed it to her companions.

    ¡°Is that everything you found?¡± Verus asked her.

    She shook her head. ¡°No, there was one more thing. Let me show you.¡±

    Escora led her curious companions over to the far side of the cavern, were there was a crack in the wall next to some loose rubble. The crack was wide enough for someone to squeeze through, and there appeared to be another cave on the other side.

    ¡°It must have opened up not too long ago,¡± Escora remarked as she held her lantern next to the gap. ¡°Just think. Maybe we¡¯ll be the first ones to ever explore it! Then we could get our hands on some real natural treasures! Not scraps that regrow every century or so.¡±

    Verus stared into the crack. Maybe Escora was right and incredibly treasure lay within, but maybe there was something else waiting for them. He didn¡¯t know why, but he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something terrible lurked in the ancient darkness ahead.

 Under the Shadow of Death 9

    Escora was the first one into the opening in the cave wall. She held her light up high as she stepped past the rubble and into the unknown. Verus followed her with wide eyes. He felt jumpy and on edge. Who knew what they¡¯d find in this long-forgotten part of the cavern? Warin took up the rear, with the second lantern.

    ¡°It¡¯s always one more thing with you two. Soon, you¡¯ll both be trying to convince me to explore a hell like it¡¯s a rational thing to do,¡± the irate disciple whispered as he entered the gap. ¡°I bet there¡¯s a lot of treasure in hells!¡±

    Despite the twisted feeling in Verus¡¯s gut, nothing jumped out at them. Instead, they found themselves in a passage with uneven rocky walls and ground. Even with their lanterns, it was hard to see since all the rocks cast a host of shadows. However, there didn¡¯t seem to be much else in the passage, so Escora pushed forward.

    It took them a few minutes to make their way over the rocks, but when they did, they emerged into a circular chamber with a wide pit in the center. The hole took up most the floor, so there wasn¡¯t much floor to stand on. Moving carefully, the three disciples approached the edge and stared down. The light from their lanterns didn¡¯t reveal a bottom, so Escora kicked a loose rock down into the pit. They waited expectantly for several seconds, but none of them heard the sound of it hitting bottom.

    ¡°That¡¯s a long way down,¡± Verus said as he stared into the pitch-black darkness with the hole. It seemed endless, like it went all the way down into the deepest parts of the earth.

    Warin sighed. ¡°I know I complain about this sort of thing a lot, but this time I mean it. I¡¯m not going down there.¡±

    ¡°We have rope. It¡¯s probably not as dangerous as it looks, and we¡¯ve come this far. Just think about what could be down there,¡± Escora said as she turned to frown at the chubby disciple. Despite her words, it sounded like she was trying to convince herself.

    Warin gave her a stubborn look. ¡°Other than a lot of painful exertion in the dark followed by a horrible death? What if we fall or get stuck! How can we defend ourselves if we¡¯re climbing?¡±

    As the pair bickered, Verus glanced back toward the pit and studied it thoughtfully. Like Escora, he was tempted to see what lay down there, but he also recognized how incredibly dangerous it would be. They were only at the Foundation Realm and they weren¡¯t properly equipped for such a journey.

    As Escora and Warin argued, they moved their lanterns so that the edge of the pit fell into shadow. Verus was just about to turn away too, when he saw a hint of movement in the corner of his eye. Startled, he turned to study the spot, but it wasn¡¯t getting much light, so it was hard to make anything out. A moment later, he detected another burst of movement though, which sent a shiver down his spine. The feeling of wrongness that had been bothering intensified, causing the hair on the back of his neck to stiffen. Was something rising up out of the darkness?

    ¡°The pit! Look at the pit!¡± he shouted as he backed away from the dark hole.

    Instantly, Escora spun around and held her light up. Warin was only slightly slower. Their lanterns pushed back the shadows in the cave and revealed the pit again, just in time for the three disciples to get a good look at the thing that had pulled itself up onto the floor and was now climbing to its feet.

    Verus stared with wide eyes. The thing was shaped like a person, but it was shrouded in a wavering cloak of darkness and it radiated a terrible and utterly inhuman ki. Verus felt fear sink into his bones, paralyzing him. This wasn¡¯t the result of fear ki, merely the creature¡¯s aura.

    A wheezing laugh-like sound echoed through the cavern as the thing clad in writhing darkness stepped forward. It had no visible eyes, but Verus could sense the pressure of its gaze upon him, like a biting cold wind.

    Suddenly, Warin began shouting in a wavering voice as the white light from his lantern blazed out stronger. ¡°There is no shelter for evil. No shadow can blind the righteous. Before the eyes of the Archon, reveal yourself!¡±

    This new light burned away most of black cloak around the creature. It left nothing but a few shifting wisps of shadow, and revealed what lay beneath, an emaciated body in rags. At first Verus thought he was looking at a starved person, but he quickly discarded that idea. The thing was too thin, its bones and ribs could be seen clearly beneath its tight leathery skin and the faded rags that were all that remained of its clothes. Verus glanced up at its face and recoiled in horror. Two completely black eyes that shimmered with power stared back at him from the thing¡¯s skull-like visage, and two black horns jutted out from its forehead. The thumb-sized horns were curved and easy to see since the creature lacked hair of any type.

    ¡°Demon!¡± Escora hissed fearfully as she jumped back and summoned a whip.

    Verus also retreated as frantic thoughts raced through his head. A Demon! He¡¯d never suspected they run into anything like this here. The Reaches were warded by the Heaven and Earth Array, so it shouldn¡¯t even be possible.

    Demons were among the most feared creatures in existence, and the Heavenly Empire went out of its way to exterminate them wherever they were found. The result of a spirit possessing a living body or corpse, demons were twisted and dangerous by nature. Spirits were not meant to possess bodies, and the unholy act not only horribly mutated the body but also filled the spirit with a terrible hunger for flesh and ki.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    A stream of water essence lashed at the demon as Escora attacked, but it ducked beneath the whip before lunging forward toward Warin. It moved jerkily but with surprising speed. More like an insect than the human it used to be.

    ¡°Help!¡± Warin yelped as he scrambled backwards.

    Verus shook off his fear and moved to help his friend. There was no way he was going hand-to-hand with a demon, so he drew his sword as he ran to intercept the enemy. Thankfully, the battle focus began to fall into place immediately. Driving away his fear and hesitation.

    ¡°Don¡¯t drop that lantern!¡± Escora shouted. She¡¯d already put hers down.

    Using Vanishing Feather Step, Verus leapt across the rocky ground almost instantly. He appeared right next to the demon and slashed down at it with everything he had. However, the unholy being twisted around and knocked the blade aside with a swipe of its hand. Its fingers ended in jagged black nails that were unnaturally long and strong.

    The demon then swiped at Verus with its other hand, forcing the young disciple to jump away. That left its back exposed though, and Escora took full advantage. She slid forward using her water movement technique and hit the demon¡¯s back with a jumping sidekick. It stumbled briefly but didn¡¯t fall or look hurt.

    Verus grimaced. The creature was far stronger than its thin body suggested. From the power of its ki, he guessed it was at least as powerful as someone in the Tempered Realm. Still, he didn¡¯t hesitate. His battle focus guided him as he attacked again with a slash at the demon¡¯s head. It tried to block the attack, but it was a feint this time. Verus turned his blade and slammed it into the creature¡¯s raised arm. It cut deep, but the demon barely reacted. Instead of shrieking in pain, it growled in annoyance as Verus¡¯s sword was pulled free and its weakened arm fell to its side.

    Warin stopped retreating and began chanting again, while Escora summoned another whip and Verus raised his sword. However, the demon ignored the closer foes, and stared intently at Warin as its ki suddenly began roiling dangerously.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to use a technique!¡± Verus shouted.

    He was too late. Before he was even done yelling, the demon coughed, and a thick cloud of rippling darkness burst out of its mouth. The black cloud ignored the light of the lanterns as it expanded in every direction, engulfing the demon as it kept growing. Stumbling back, Verus hesitated. He couldn¡¯t see the demon and the cloud was quickly filling the cave. He lost sight of both his allies a moment later.

    ¡°Oh, god above. It¡¯s headed my way! Help,¡± Warin suddenly yelled in a terrified voice. Verus doubted his friend was wrong. The demon had been weirdly focused on him all throughout the fight.

    The battle focus reverberated throughout Verus in response, stiffening his spine. Protect! That was his duty. Failure was not an option and danger wasn¡¯t even a consideration.

    As the demonic mass of seething darkness surged forward, Verus threw himself into it. Instantly, he was blinded as everything went black, but he didn¡¯t slow. Instead, he closed his eyes and focused on his ki senses as he ran toward Warin¡¯s location. His spiritual sense was also hampered by the haze of shadowy ki around him, but he could still perceive glimmers of other energies with his trance-enhanced abilities. It would have to be enough.

    There was a shuffling sound up ahead, which reminded Verus that he wasn¡¯t alone in the darkness. There was a powerful demon possessed corpse in here with him. It had long jagged nails, inhuman strength, far more ki than him, and he doubted it was hindered by the impenetrable gloom it had created. No, this would be its element, its hunting ground.

    Something whispered in the back of Verus¡¯s mind. Yes, this would be tricky, but the situation could still be turned to his advantage. Even the greatest of beings could be brought low by overconfidence. Even gods could die.

    A sound like the tumbling rocks reached Verus¡¯s ears. It was swiftly followed by another scream that sounded like Warin, so he shifted his course. His body slid through the darkness as he cycled his ki. The power coursed through him with incredible speed, filling him with strength and grace. However, he knew he was greatly disadvantaged fighting the demon. He would only get one chance, while it still underestimated him. Timing would be crucial.

    Another sound reached Verus and his spirit sensed a glimmer of bright ki up ahead. For a moment, it reflected off something oily black but solid in the dark, the demon¡¯s spirit. It was only the barest of hints for him to work with, but it would have to be enough. Blind, Verus raised his sword as a rasping hiss and the scent of old rot washed over him. The darkness around him grew heavier as the oily stain shifted his way. The demon had sensed him coming and was ready.

    A faint rustle warned Verus, allowing him to lean back out of the way of a claw as the demon leisurely swiped at his face. He could feel the wind of the attack on his face, but still couldn¡¯t see anything. There was a surprised hiss from the demon as he dodged, and then another claw hit his sword, causing it to vibrate in his hands. He stumbled back and lost his guard, but he managed to keep his grip on his weapon.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Warin yelled from out of sight.

    ¡°I can¡¯t see anything. Where¡¯s Verus?¡± Escora shouted back.

    Lost in the dark with a monster, Verus felt terror seethe in his gut, but a greater force kept it in check. The battle focus raged within him, filling him with resolve and unflinching purpose. It spoke to him. A whisper in his soul. This was the way. When it felt like you didn¡¯t fit, when things felt wrong, you didn¡¯t falter. No, you bent the world to your whim. That was righteousness. All it required was the will to strike true, without doubt or remorse.

    Verus¡¯s blade rose. His eyes were closed, but his spirit blazed. He could sense the enemy coming, readying for another strike to swat the petty human it considered to be nothing more than prey. A monstrous thing, a corruption made manifest. To his ki sense, it was currently a barely detectable glimmer, but Verus concentrated and waited. The demon had moved a certain way. It was a creature of instinct, not a warrior, and that made it predictable.

    As a claw flew toward his face again, Verus¡¯s put on a sudden burst of speed. Ducking under the unseen blow, he lunged forward, putting all his weight and ki behind one strike that was aimed at the deepest darkness he could sense. He stabbed forward, and the point of his blade sank through tough flesh and hit something harder. The was a loud crack as that gave way, and then a terrible howl filled the air as the demon screeched in pain.

 Under the Shadow of Death 10

    The supernatural darkness swiftly began to disintegrate, allowing the light from the lanterns to shine through and illuminate the cavern. This revealed Verus standing above the kneeling form of the corpse-like demon, with his blade sticking out of its chest. He¡¯d put his sword right through its core, shattering the essence, and killing it instantly. A demon was still a spirit after all, even if it did have physical body.

    Pale-faced, Escora stared with wide eyes. ¡°Oh ancestors. I thought we were going to die. I was sure of it.¡±

    She then collapsed into a sitting position. Her legs giving out beneath her as unexpected relief washed over her, draining the remaining strength from her weary muscles.

    Verus stepped back from the demon, letting go of his blade. The fear he¡¯d been suppressing burst forth, causing him to shiver now that the fight was over and his battle focus was withdrawing. He glanced at Escora and then over to where Warin was standing. His friend was still holding his lantern, but he had retreated all the way to the chamber¡¯s entrance.

    ¡°What did you do?¡± Warin asked in awe.

    Verus shrugged. He hadn¡¯t really done anything fancy. ¡°I simply stabbed it, and it seems the heavens smiled upon me.¡±

    Coughing, Escora climbed shakily to her feet. She then put on a stoic expression, as if pretending she wasn¡¯t having trouble standing, and studied Verus. ¡°That wasn¡¯t something that luck could save us from. It should have torn three Foundation Realm cultivators like us apart.¡±

    ¡°I really didn¡¯t do anything too fancy. After charging in to save Warin, I thought I heard something move in the dark, so I lashed out with my blade. It seems God and the Archon guided me, because my sword found the demon¡¯s core,¡± Verus informed his companions before taking a deep breath and leaning back over the body of his slain foe.

    He hoped his companions wouldn¡¯t ask questions that he had no answers for. Deceiving them even a little made him feel guilty, but he couldn¡¯t explain what was going on within him. Not yet. Even he didn¡¯t know what was happening with his battle focus.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Escora asked as she watched him move.

    Verus gave her a look. ¡°I¡¯m seeing if this wretched corpse has anything of value on it.¡±

    Warin gasped. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s safe? Who knows what demons can do? Perhaps I should put up a ward or something first?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m quite certain I put a ki-reinforced steel blade right through its core, yes. Thus, it¡¯s very dead,¡± Verus replied as he studied the rags the demon had been wearing. Most of it looked like garbage, but there was one dirty pouch tucked away in its shirt that was at least intact. He carefully pulled it out and opened it as his companions came over to watch. Inside were twenty-two purple ki shards and a small mirror.

    ¡°One purple shard is worth ten red, so that¡¯s over two hundred red shards in there,¡± Warin announced breathlessly.

    Verus took a shard out and studied it. It seemed like he wasn¡¯t going to be short on cultivation resources for a while.

    Escora nodded. ¡°Even split three ways, this ought to last disciples like us quite a while. We¡¯ll burn through purple shards like dry grass when we get to higher Realms though.¡±

    That was true. The higher your Realm, the more ki you needed to reach the next, which meant you needed more and more resources. Verus couldn¡¯t imagine being so powerful that he consumed purple shards like they were water, but the sect elders probably did.

    Turning his attention away from the shards, Verus studied the mirror. It was the size of his hand, roughly rectangular, and completely without ornament. It didn¡¯t even have a frame. Its edges looked sharp enough to cut. Despite that, it shimmered with a subtle silver light and was obviously not a normal mirror.

    ¡°Does anyone know what this is?¡± Verus asked his companions.

    Leaning over, Escora squinted at it. ¡°I¡¯m not an expert, so I could be wrong, but mirrors like this are frequently used to send messages or observe things that are far away. They¡¯re basically small gateways or windows into the enteral plane, so I would be very careful with it.¡±

    ¡°Is that how the demon possessed that poor soul¡¯s body?¡± Warin asked as he glanced down at the corpse. ¡°Did it come through the mirror?¡±

    Escora shrugged. ¡°Maybe, it¡¯s not like there¡¯s a shortage of spirits around here though.¡±

    A window into the eternal plane¡­ Verus stared at the silver mirror as it reflected the light from the lanterns. He could think of several ways to use that, but it was dangerous without a doubt. Touching upon the eternal could easily drive lower Realm cultivators insane. Even a glimpse could destroy him¡­

    ¡°Do you think the elders will confiscate it?¡± he asked, lost in thought.

    ¡°Probably, but it doesn¡¯t do us much good anyway, and they¡¯ll let us keep the shards,¡± Escora replied. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get out of here. I¡¯ve had enough of caves and pitch-black darkness to last me forever, and I don¡¯t want to wait around to see what else crawls out of that pit.¡±Stolen novel; please report.

    Neither Warin nor Verus wanted to stick around either, so the three disciples soon made their way out of the cave. The forest was the same as they¡¯d left it. Hot, muggy, and full of shrieking bird calls and buzzing insects. However, it was still a paradise compared to the oppressive darkness of the cave they¡¯d left behind and the things that had dwelled within it. Who knew how deep that pit went.

    After their run in with death, the disciples decided to take it easy and find a place to relax and camp for the night, so that¡¯s what they did. They ate, talked about their experiences, and cultivated until night fell. Mostly they cultivated, since neither Verus nor Escora were great conversationalists.

    As the sun rose the next morning, they headed out to explore again and look for a water font. They didn¡¯t find one that day, but Verus did detect a powerful source of water the next morning.

    Hiking through thick clumps of ferns and bushes, they headed toward it, ready for anything. From experience, they knew that fonts could attract all kinds of troubles, from rival disciples to soul beasts.

    As they moved, the roar of rushing water grew louder. Eventually, they descended down a tree covered hill and found themselves looking at waterfall. The water raced over a tall cliff and steamed down into a large pool of crystal-clear water that was circular and about twenty feet across. The pool was surrounded by cliffs on three sides and had a rocky bottom. The fast-moving water must have washed all the soil down the stream that led out of the pool.

    Escora grinned as she took in the sight. ¡°This is definitely the type of water font I was looking for!¡±

    ¡°Does it have a guardian?¡± Warin asked nervously as the three disciples carefully approached the water.

    ¡°There, l see a gold flash in the water,¡± she replied as she raised a hand to point.

    Warin flinched. ¡°A spirit?¡±

    Verus studied the shape in the water and frowned. ¡°Is that a koi fish?¡±

    ¡°I think it is. It¡¯s a soul fish,¡± Escora replied with a laugh.

    The fish was about five feet long and its scales shone gold. Its long delicate fins streamed behind it as it swam over to watch the humans approaching the edge of its pool with large intelligent eyes. The koi didn¡¯t seem too afraid of them or hostile either. After looking them over for a few seconds, it turned away and began swimming around its pool again.

    ¡°I wonder if we can catch it and eat it?¡± Escora mused aloud. ¡°Soul beast meat is a great cultivation aid.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s not start a fight with one of the few things in this forest that doesn¡¯t seem to want to kill us yet,¡± Warin told her. ¡°Let¡¯s just leave nature alone please.¡±

    Escora sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not even a native fish. You imperials brought koi with you to this world.¡±

    ¡°We already have more resources than we know what to do with. Let¡¯s not waste time. We came here to cultivate,¡± Verus pointed out.

    Escora sighed again but didn¡¯t argue. Instead, she sat down on a large flat rock at the edge of the water and began to meditate. Warin and Verus took turns on watch and set up their camp while she cultivated. Breaking through to the Tempered Realm would probably take her a few days at least.

    Indeed, Escora meditated for the rest of the day without advancing.

    ¡°I can feel the nature of water ki all around me here,¡± she explained as they were eating supper that night. ¡°The flow of water as it rushes through the air is revealing itself to me. I know I can use that as my enlightenment, but it¡¯s going to take time, and I still need to absorb some more ki before I¡¯m ready to advance anyway. My core isn¡¯t quite powerful enough yet.¡±

    When Escora began meditating again the next day, Verus couldn¡¯t help but throw her a jealous look. She had everything she needed to reach the Tempered Realm, while he was lacking both a strong attunement and a proper cultivation technique. Even if his core grew powerful enough, he wouldn¡¯t be able to ascend until he¡¯d reworked the essence in his core using a real cultivation technique. The only one he had was the Way of Imperial Might but using that would doubtless result in him joining the army and forever put him on the path of mediocrity since his attunement to human ki was below average.

    Verus¡¯s thoughts turned to the silver mirror, but he quickly forced himself to focus on something more practical. When it was Warin¡¯s turn at sentry duty, he found his own spot to cultivate at. That grew frustrating sometimes, so he worked through sword routines when he couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. Having a weapon in hand relaxed him. He was gaining a real affection for swords, although he had no idea why. Perhaps all the danger he¡¯d been in had simply shown him how valuable having a real weapon was.

    Over the next few days, Verus¡¯s progress at cultivating ki grew even slower. He was approaching the maximum amount his core could hold while still in the Foundation Realm. Trying to add more essence to his core while keeping the entire thing stable grew next to impossible.

    ¡°I need to ascend¡­¡± Verus hissed in frustration as he jumped up from his mediation pose and turned to glare at the forest.

    It would be so easy to use the Way of Imperial Might to reach the next level. He already had a core made from human ki, all he¡¯d need to do was reshape it using the cultivation technique, and that would carry him right to the Tempered Realm.

    Logically, he knew why he shouldn¡¯t do that, but not being able to ascend was still extremely frustrating. Escora and most of the other disciples were getting ahead of him. He had the talent and drive to surpass them, but his lack of attunement was holding him back! It was so unfair. No one worked harder than him. If only everything in the sect wasn¡¯t rigged against him¡­

    Taking a deep breath, Verus quashed his feeling of envy and pride. They were distractions and unbefitting of an ascetic. He needed to focus on what was, not what he wished the world to be. The physical plane would always disappoint. That was its very nature. Only by rising above it could you gain enlightenment.

    Warin was out in the forest on sentry duty at the moment, so Verus took out the pouch he¡¯d gotten from the demon¡¯s corpse and looked in it again. His eyes quickly locked on the silver mirror, and a moment later he pulled it out. It was cool and unusually heavy in his hands.

    Simply touching the artifact didn¡¯t suck his soul of his body and throw it into the eternal plane, which was good. Sitting down on a rock, Verus gazed down at the mirror and examined his own reflection. With Warin¡¯s help, he¡¯d kept up his personal grooming in the forest, and his head was still neatly shaved, but he still looked a little worse for wear. He was dirty and he thought his eyes had a harder look to them now. Like he¡¯d seen things beyond what normal people or sheltered temple wards had. Verus liked what he saw, it reminded him of an elder.

    The mirror could do far more than show Verus his reflection though. If he was brave enough, it might even be the answer to all his problems.

 Under the Shadow of Death 11

    As he gazed at the dangerous silver mirror in his hands, Verus¡¯s thoughts turned back to his time at the Great Wind Sect¡¯s main temple, and to what he¡¯d learned in his theology classes in particular. Deep down, he knew he had a strong attunement to an element. He could feel its shape when he meditated now, but he could never pin it down. He had no idea how to discover its nature either. It was unlikely that he¡¯d make any progress by going through the channeling techniques in the book he¡¯d gotten from the library. That would take far too long, if his element was even in the book at all.

    Exploring the Reaches had also exposed Verus to many different types of ki, but he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d sensed any he was attuned to. Further exploration was also unlikely to help him much either, unless he got extraordinarily lucky. In a perfect world, he¡¯d have plenty of time to discover his attunement, but if such a world existed under the endless heavens, he certainly didn¡¯t live on it. No, he needed to find his own way if he wanted to catch up to his peers and fulfill his potential. To be an elder, he needed to seize his destiny. For his entire life he¡¯d been too passive. He¡¯d been taught that was the proper way, but Escora had shown him the folly of that route.

    The mirror in his hands would allow him to gaze into the eternal plane, where all ki came from. According to Elder Gerath, who taught theology, every cultivator was connected to the eternal plane and they were most strongly connected to areas full of ki they were attuned to. The Lightbringer-trained Elder had been very clear about that. If Verus could look into the eternal plane, wouldn¡¯t that reveal his attunements?

    The very idea was insane, and would most likely kill him, but it might be his only chance. Everyone would advise him against doing this. They¡¯d try to take the mirror, so he¡¯d have to do this now, before leaving the Reaches.

    Verus hesitated and closed his eyes. He didn¡¯t fear death. It was life that scared him, especially one filled with uncertainty and failure. The looks people gave him¡­ He couldn¡¯t stand that. As an ascetic, he should be able to overcome those feelings, but it was so difficult.

    There was a slight stirring within Verus. Power, something whispered. Seeking power would grant control and enlightenment. That was righteousness. That was what duty demanded. Verus felt the sensation echo through him and knew his battle focus would protect him. But would it be enough? Even a brief peek into the eternal plane could destroy him utterly in mind and body. It wasn¡¯t something a cultivator of his Realm should even be considering for a moment, but neither was fighting demons. He¡¯d survived that and grown stronger.

    He would do it. He¡¯d go slowly and try to play it safe, but he wasn¡¯t going to talk himself into doing nothing.

    Opening his eyes, Verus stared into the mirror as he cycled his ki into it. The mirror drank of him gladly, shimmering with power. Verus saw his reflection fade away as the mirror glowed with pure light. Then, the light from the artifact enveloped him, turning the world white before he could react.

    Startled, Verus fell back, only to realize he was floating. The ground was gone. There was only a shimmering silver rectangle in front of him that vaguely resembled the mirror, except now it was the size of a door. Was this some sort of illusion, or had he left his body behind somehow?

    Verus studied the doorway for a moment, but then he realized he was slowly being pulled toward it. He tried to stand and fight the pull, but everything he did failed. A few seconds later, the young disciple was dragged into the silver mirror by the unseen force. Even his attempt to grab the edges of the mirror were futile, as his fingers passed right though them. No! He¡¯d only wanted to look through the mirror, but he¡¯d already lost control of what was happening. A cold fearful sensation filled him, and he knew this had been a mistake.

    As his head passed through the mirror, Verus suddenly found himself amidst a storm of spinning colors. Was this ki? As the colors raged, he felt himself falling at a high speed, although there was no clear up or down. Vertigo and nausea assailed him as he flailed around in a futile attempt to orient himself, but he didn¡¯t retch. It seemed that wasn¡¯t possible here.

    Verus¡¯s thoughts went wild and he began panicking. Intense pressure and heat pressed down on him from all sides, burning and crushing him. He gasped and whimpered, unable to orient himself. The pain was incredible, like he was being suffocated in burning ash. It was like nothing he¡¯d ever experienced. No, wait. The dream Verus had experienced a few nights ago flashed through his mind. This was very similar to that in many ways, but not nearly as bad. He still had his form and identity. Both protected him.

    This realization strengthened Verus¡¯s spirit and he began cycling his ki. He felt the pressure and heat grow more tolerable. Then, his fall seemed to slow until he came to a complete stop. His feet touched an invisible floor, allowing him to gain his balance and examine himself. Verus stared down at his hands. They were partially transparent. It seemed he really wasn¡¯t here in body. This was simply a projection of his spirit through the mirror.

    But where was he? Was this the eternal plane? Even thinking was difficult. His head felt stuffed, and his surroundings were far too chaotic for him to look at properly. It was all swirling colors. The heat and pressure weren¡¯t gone either. He could still feel them wearing him down. It was agonizing, and he knew that they¡¯d eventually tear him apart. Verus could feel his ki core struggling to protect him, but it wouldn¡¯t last long. There was also something else working to keep the heat at bay, but it was panicking. Terrified thoughts slid through his mind, incomprehensible but still distracting.

    A part of Verus recognized this place and was frightened by it. It screamed that it was dangerous, but Verus had come here for a purpose. He recognized this voice as belonging to his battle focus. No, it was more than just a state of mind, far more. It had knowledge and intent. He needed a better name for it. The Warrior would work for now. It was resisting him. That needed to stop.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    ¡°I must find my strength. Duty demands it!¡± Verus shouted into the burning storm. The sound of his own voice surprised him as it echoed out into infinity.

    The Warrior relented, falling quiet, but Verus could sense it was still wary. At the same time, his surroundings began to change, causing him to stiffen in apprehension as a thought occurred to him. Maybe he shouldn¡¯t have yelled in here. Perhaps he wasn¡¯t as alone as he¡¯d thought.

    The flashing colors faded into a white haze. Like he was standing in a cloud. However, Verus felt a new pressure fall upon him. Attention. Something had noticed him. A rippling stream of light appeared in the haze. Dozens of them. Unlike the chaotic lights from before. These ones followed a pattern. They moved with purpose, circling him and drawing closer, like snakes through the grass.

    As they swam, the streams of light hissed and crackled. Were these spirits? They seemed hostile.

    Startled, Verus raised his hands to defend himself. Instinctively, he also extended his senses. That was a mistake. The haze around him evaporated before his ki senses, revealing a vast ocean of ki that stretched on seemingly forever. It was far from empty. Countless spirits of all shapes and sizes swam through it, and many were looking his way. All of a sudden, Verus could feel their regard. The pressure on him doubled and kept rising. It was too much. A million alien eyes bore into him as he burned. Each and every one was different, and some were terrible beyond imagining. Horrible and hungry. They swam through the eternal plane like ship-eating leviathans. Others dwarfed anything Verus had ever imagined, floating like moons up above, but twisted upon themselves in impossible ways that hurt to look at.

    Then the whispers began. A mad chorus of incomprehensible voices. Shrieking and gibbering nonsense assaulted Verus, tearing into his mind. None of the voices made sense, but he understood their horrible intent regardless. They promised power, secrets and dark enlightenments that would allow him to destroy his enemies and seize everything he wanted, even as they ate him alive from within and replaced his soul with something monstrous. But even that would be a blessing, for then the pain would finally end.

    Whimpering, Verus could feel his mind begin to crack as his thoughts grew frenzied and jagged. He simply couldn¡¯t comprehend what he was seeing and hearing in this horrible place. How could things like these exist? He was insignificant to them. Everything he knew was insignificant. His existence was a joke. It was all meaningless. There was only pain and a pointless death. The Warrior struggled to shield Verus¡¯s thoughts, but it was failing.

    Nothing could save him now. Nothing would ever want to, for he was worthless¡­. One lost soul among countless trillions. Each as pathetic as the last. Each doomed to be devoured.

    Verus lost his sense of self. He felt it slip away, robbing him of his ability to feel anything else. It was a mercy. He floated there, a single moment away from total destruction as the predators descended to feast on his remains.

    Then, the eternal plane shuddered as a sound like a sole distant trumpet was heard, clear and sweet. The ki swirled and raged with sudden force as something emerged from above. The nearby spirits were thrown aside and banished as golden light descended, like a spear through the heart of darkness. The light bathed Verus in its brilliance. Even the greatest of monstrosities was pushed back. They roared in defiance but couldn¡¯t force their way into the light. For now, they were held at bay.

    The light hummed with emotion and intent as it embraced Verus and went to work. Cradling him like a lost child, it slipped into his mind to reconnect scattered thoughts and flooded into his soul to pull it back together. It examined what it found, reading his intent and purging memories of the eternal plane he couldn¡¯t comprehend. Those would only damage him.

    Verus stared into the golden brilliance with new eyes, overwhelmed and awestruck. It was too vast to understand, but achingly familiar. He sensed great joy and terrible sadness. Great power and unescapable pain. The pain infuriated Verus. He wanted to cry and hold tightly to the light forever. He needed it. It was his everything. He couldn¡¯t lose it again. This was why he fought.

    However, the light was already growing weaker and some of the great predatory spirits were redoubling their efforts to get to their prey. Thus, the being in the golden light pushed Verus away toward that which he¡¯d come seeking. It could only do so much for him, but it could do this.

    The eternal plane raged around Verus as he began falling again. Even as the light vanished, he was pulled by some connection he didn¡¯t understand. Drawn deeper into the eternal until he found himself somewhere entirely new. A vast void. Healed, but terribly alone, Verus simply blinked and floated there, overwhelmed and numb.

    Terrible desolation filled him. He felt hollow now that the being in the light was gone, but it had left him with an impression. It had brought him here for a purpose. A gift. He didn¡¯t want to disappoint it, so he uncurled himself and looked around.

    There was nothing. Truly nothing.

    Empty blackness surrounded Verus. It was an endless expanse of nothing. Still overwhelmed, he stared in confusion. Why had he been brought here?

    Then, the void began to resonate with him. His core vibrated along with it, harmonizing with his surroundings. Ki began to be drawn into him, flowing smoothly and freely. This was solace. Here, he could truly be alone and safe. Here, he was untouchable and there were no worries. No unwanted spirit could find him. It was the ultimate solution. The final ending of fear, of all things.

    Something stirred nearby, awakening to life as Verus¡¯s spirit expanded outward. Verus exalted in the feeling and wanted to simply bask in the ki and let it consume all his worries and memories, but it was not to be. Without warning, someone grabbed his spirit tightly by the shoulders and yanked him back through the mirror and into his physical body. He was powerless to resist.

    <hr>

    Behind him, Verus left an expanse of the eternal plane that had been churned into a frantic sea of activity. A million spirits whispered and a thousand gods stirred. Some retreated in fear, intimidated by the power displayed. Many began to spread word of these happenings all throughout existence, trading the knowledge to both other spirits and powerful immortals. Others turned their gazes to what had yet to come, in an attempt to see how fate and fortune had changed. They sought to discover if these happenings could safely be turned to their advantage.

    One ancient being acted immediately, throwing caution to the wind, as was its nature. Fortunately, it had agents and resources already placed nearby. They simply needed new instructions. Reaching out, the unknowable existence touched the minds of several mortals located on the physical plane. Some were aware of this and rejoiced at the favor of their god, others were completely ignorant of the manipulation. This would throw all its existing plans into disarray, but that was fine. The greater the risk, the greater the opportunity. And this was an incredible chance to spread chaos to areas that had long resisted its blessing.

    Something very like satisfaction filled the ancient being as it turned to examine the new unfolding futures it had put into motion. The possibilities extended into infinity, but few could match its skill at forecasting and manipulating the threads of fate. As it gazed into the yet to be, a hundred previously peaceful worlds burned in the wake of the herald it would unleash. Soon.

 Under the Shadow of Death 12

    Blinking, Verus came to. He was looking up at the cloudy sky. Clouds sure were nice, much better than an endless hungry eternity full of monsters. That was an oddly specific and horrible thought¡­ Why was he making that comparison?

    Ugh, his head hurt. He had a headache like someone had tried splitting his skull with an axe. Why was he lying on the ground? He couldn¡¯t remember what he¡¯d just being doing. It had undoubtedly been something dumb though. He could feel that.

    A face suddenly appeared as someone leaned over him. It was a rather weird face, with purple irises and with a purple gem in the center of its forehead. Oh, it was Inanis! What was he doing here? Where was here anyway?

    Verus frowned. This seemed important. He¡¯d been in a cave¡­ and then at a pond. Had there been a waterfall? Was that what he was hearing? He was certain a mirror had been involved somehow. Had someone hit him with it? That would explain his headache.

    ¡°You are perhaps the most foolhardy person in all of existence. It''s almost commendable,¡± Inanis told him. ¡°You would have certainly perished if I had not retrieved your spirit from the eternal plane. Do you so yearn for utter dissolution that you would feed your soul to the devourers? If you regret overcoming the flames once, could you not simply shed your flesh and let your soul fray as others do?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Verus asked him. He was still confused, which was probably a normal effect of talking to Inanis.

    Sighing, the black-haired young man reached down and offered his hand. Verus took it and was promptly pulled to his feet. Inanis might be skinny and pale, but he was stronger than he looked.

    Once standing, Verus took a moment to look to each side. Some of his memories returned. He was still next to the koi pond and the waterfall. His friend Warin was standing nearby and staring at him with a worried expression.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Verus asked.

    ¡°Great thoughtlessness. You appear to have used that mirror to project your spirit into the great beyond,¡± Inanis replied as he pointed at a pile of broken silver shards on the ground. ¡°There, you caused all kinds of problems and I had to retrieve you, which broke the mirror. Saving you took some effort. Truly, I would not have bothered if you were not so incredibly amusing.¡±

    A genuine smile appeared on Inanis¡¯s face, the first Verus had ever seen. ¡°It is actually amazing how much trouble you¡¯ve managed to cause. They will be speaking of this. Oh, yes. It was quite the unexpected show.¡±

    ¡°They?¡±

    Inanis didn¡¯t answer. He just grinned in a way that hinted at more than a little madness.

    ¡°You were unconscious for over a day,¡± Warin explained a moment later. ¡°Nothing we did woke you, and then Inanis showed up. He managed to help, although I have no idea how.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t remember that,¡± Verus replied as he rubbed the back of his head.

    ¡°That¡¯s probably for the best,¡± Inanis told him. ¡°In your stupidity, you gazed far deeper into the abyss than even I ever have. It is a wonder that you¡¯re not mindlessly repeating nonsense while drooling like my elder sister. Father should let her soul go.¡±

    Warin¡¯s worried frown grew deeper. ¡°Will Verus be alright?¡±

    The pale disciple leaned closer and inspected something within Verus¡¯s chest. ¡°For now, I suppose. His journey has marked him profoundly. He is not as he was. Only time will tell how much he will suffer for this, but I find it best not to dwell on the future too much. It¡¯s full of terrible inevitabilities.¡±

    Inanis looked up and met Verus¡¯s gaze. ¡°Was it worth it?¡±

    A few scattered bits of memories returned to Verus. There had been a restful place, and he¡¯d absorbed some ki. Turning his senses inward, he felt some traces of strange ki within his core, although it was transparent and hard to detect. The energy was slowly dispersing into his body, but Verus had a feel for it now and could replicate it in small amounts. The essence in his core had subtly shifted.

    Despite his headache, an excited grin appeared on Verus¡¯s face. Without a doubt, he¡¯d found his attunement. He could feel it.

    ¡°Yes, I got what I was looking for,¡± he announced proudly to the world. He also had some weird memories about giant moon fish and hugging a golden light, but that was probably just nonsense. Best ignored. They were already fading into a muddle of barely remembered nightmares.

    ¡°Did Verus really look into the eternal plane?¡± Warin asked with a skeptical look on his face. They¡¯d been taught it was a holy place and that looking upon it could destroy the merely mortal.

    Inanis ignored the question and asked the formerly chubby disciple one of his own. ¡°Do you know how to make tea? I brought some leaves and a kettle, but I appear have forgotten how to use them. It is vexing.¡±

    ¡°Alright, sure. Let me start a fire,¡± Warin replied before turning to get to work.

    Verus turned around to help but stopped when he noticed what had been directly behind him this entire time. About a dozen feet away stood a pillar of translucent crystal, and Escora had been stuck inside it. The young woman had a look of surprise on her face but didn¡¯t seem conscious. She was perfectly still. Caught in a moment.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Um¡­¡±

    Warin noticed his attention and winced. ¡°She tried to stop Inanis from getting to you when he first showed up, so he froze her with a wave of his hand. He says she should be completely unhurt though. At least, I think that¡¯s what he said.¡±

    Verus glanced back at Inanis and quickly scanned his spirit. It hadn¡¯t been obvious before, since he seemed to be dampening his presence somehow, but he was definitely at the Tempered Realm. Even taking that into consideration though, the skill involved in such a feat reminded Verus that Inanis was considered one of the most powerful outer disciples. Even Highcloud seemed to consider him a threat.

    Inanis noticed the attention and met his gaze. ¡°Power comes to those tempered by ki and insight, but the line between enlightenment and madness is thin and perilous, as you have seen. Don¡¯t let yourself forget everything and become blind like the others.¡±

    Er, had he just read his mind? No, that was silly.

    ¡°Excuse me. I¡¯d like to know what you did to my companion,¡± Verus asked him politely.

    Inanis blinked and turned to frown at the figure in the crystal. ¡°She was annoying and inconsequential, so I sealed her away. Why are we talking about this?¡±

    ¡°A seal? Can you unseal her?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m perfectly capable of using proper sealing techniques despite my low Realm,¡± Inanis answered as he turned to look at Verus again. ¡°You should already know that my bloodline deepens my connection to the eternal plane. It¡¯s a simple thing to phase out the material.¡±

    ¡°Pardon, but I was actually asking if you would do it.¡±

    ¡°If you wish,¡± he said before turning to wave a hand in Escora¡¯s direction.

    Immediately, the crystal shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow and then vanished. Escora stumbled forward a moment later, looking incredibly confused.

    ¡°You! What did you do?¡± she growled as she pointed at Inanis.

    Thankfully, the pale disciple completely ignored her and began walking over to where Warin had set up a fire.

    Despite that, Verus hurried over to Escora and raised a hand in warning. ¡°Shhh, don¡¯t anger him again. He¡¯s here to help. I think he saved my life. If you act politely, he probably won¡¯t do anything more to you.¡±

    Escora glared at Verus. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of the likes of him.¡±

    ¡°Maybe you should be,¡± Verus told her before explaining what he knew about Inanis Praestigiae and his capabilities.

    This seemed to mollify Escora enough that she stopped visibly seething, so Verus hurried over to join Warin and Inanis at the fire, before anything else unexpected happened.

    Warin poured their visitor a cup of tea as Verus sat down next to him.

    ¡°This is quite good tea. I envy your mastery,¡± Inanis remarked after taking a sip from one of the cups he seemed to have brought with him.

    ¡°Thank you, I make tea a lot,¡± Warin replied with an amused grin.

    As Verus watched the pair discussed several different snacks, with Inanis going into oddly detailed descriptions of what each food tasted like. Verus mostly listened, although he did join in a little to be polite.

    ¡°Yes, I enjoy tasting things,¡± the pale disciple explained. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasant distraction from my sight and the memories of the things I¡¯ve seen. Taste is a much simpler and more personal sense. I never have nightmares about things that tasted horrible.¡±

    This remark led to moment of silence that Escora exploited. She¡¯d approached so that she was standing nearby, and she was still glaring hostilely at Inanis. ¡°What do you want from us? You didn¡¯t come here to have tea.¡±

    Inanis frowned as Warin and Verus both tensed up.

    Slowly, the pale disciple turned to look at Escora, and she flinched away from his cold stare. ¡°What do I want? Ignorance would be nice. Can you give it to me? No. How about peace? If I snuff out your spirit, will I get that? No, I think not. Thus, you have absolutely nothing of value. I am here simply to distract myself. That is all I want from Verus.¡±

    Escora hesitated before nodding, and Warin quickly spoke up to change the subject. ¡°Yes, peace and quiet is always nice. I rather like it myself.¡±

    Inanis turned back to Warin, studied his spirit for a moment, and smiled. ¡°Then you have nothing to worry about. For peace will find you soon enough and you are well endowed with ignorance.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Warin replied sincerely as he poured Inanis another cup of tea.

    A thought had occurred to Verus as he listened. ¡°Excuse me, but I¡¯m curious. Even if you could see that I was in trouble, how did you get here so quickly.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been watching you and keeping close since our last meeting,¡± Inanis answered with a perfectly straight face. ¡°Even before this you were still the most interesting soul around.¡±

    Verus suppressed a shiver at the thought of being watched. None of them had seen any sign that they were being followed. Just what was this strange and powerful disciple capable of?

    ¡°Well, I really should be going,¡± Inanis said as he got up and began gathering his things.

    Warin glanced up at the sky. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to stay the night? It¡¯s going to get dark out soon.¡±

    This earned him a glare from Escora, but she didn¡¯t say anything.

    ¡°No, but thank you for the wonderful tea. I will have to remember how you prepared it,¡± Inanis said as he shook his head and turned to look at Verus. ¡°You¡¯ve attracted too much attention for me to remain with you for long. I can feel the eyes from beyond began to turn their attention this way. You cannot hide here.¡±

    That said, the pale disciple began walking toward the forest.

    ¡°Wait, do you have any advice for me before you go?¡± Verus called after him. Despite all the nonsense he spouted, the pale disciple was both powerful and knowledgeable.

    ¡°Don¡¯t die,¡± Inanis replied as he kept walking. ¡°The flames would be the least of your concerns this time.¡±

    What? Verus wished he knew what Inanis was talking about, but at the same time, he was very glad he didn¡¯t.

    Warin watched their guest disappear into the trees with a concerned look. ¡°Is he really travelling through the Reaches all alone? How does he sleep?¡±

    ¡°Maybe he doesn¡¯t,¡± Escora remarked darkly. ¡°Anyway, good riddance. We don¡¯t need a creepy imperial noble like him around.¡±

    ¡°He would have made a powerful ally,¡± Verus replied.

    ¡°We don¡¯t need him. We¡¯re doing fine. Soon, I¡¯ll hit Tempered Realm and then I¡¯ll be able to defend myself from the likes of him.¡±

    Warin and Verus shared a skeptical look, but they didn¡¯t challenge their companion. It was clear she was feeling defensive after being defeated so easily.

    With their guest gone, Escora seemed to remember that Verus had been unconscious before he¡¯d shown up, so Verus had to explain to her that he was feeling fine and had actually made some progress toward his ascension to the Tempered Realm.

    ¡°I should have something to show you soon,¡± he remarked proudly to his companions.

    Escora gave him a dubious look. ¡°During a hunt, you need to know your own capabilities and your prey¡¯s. You can¡¯t go charging after the lord of the forest and expect to catch him. Next time, ask before doing something as insane as peering into the spirit world. There are far easier ways to gain enlightenment.¡±

    Verus was sure he¡¯d accidentally done far more than merely look into the eternal plane, but he didn¡¯t correct her. When she went back to cultivating and Warin took guard duty, he immediately began experimenting with the new type of ki he¡¯d drawn from the eternal plane. Here was his path to becoming an inner disciple and then an elder. Now that he had a rare attunement, he could ask the drunk elder for a cultivation technique once he got back to the sect temple. In the meantime, he needed to figure out what type of ki he was attuned to and how to use it.

 Under the Shadow of Death 13

    Verus reached down and poked a leaf with a finger. He then cycled some of his strange new ki through the digit as he withdrew it, and the leaf was lifted up as result. A second later, the ki dissipated and the leaf fluttered back to the ground.

    Verus groaned and looked up at the sky. ¡°How I¡¯m I supposed to use this?¡±

    Maybe this attunement was so rare because it was completely useless.

    For the last few days, Verus and his companions had stayed at the waterfall so that Escora could cultivate. Meanwhile, Verus had spent all his time experimenting with the translucent ki and meditating on its nature. It had turned out to be a frustrating experience. So far, he¡¯d only managed to use it to stick things together. That was less than ideal.

    Without a cultivation technique to reshape the essence within his core into a proper shape and composition, Verus could only use small amounts of the ki for now. His core was currently still a simple hollow orb of human essence. This situation was made even worse because the new ki seemed to disturb human ki and dissipate upon contact with it, which made storing it in his body next to impossible.

    He wasn¡¯t even sure what the ki was called. He¡¯d meditated on its nature for hours, but it was still mysterious. It was definitely a negative type of ki, but it acted differently from the others. They negated different forms of energy. Cold devoured heat, and darkness absorbed light.

    Verus¡¯s new ki seemed to work differently. It pulled and pushed on matter in weird ways. For instance, emitting the ki in an uncontrolled way stirred the air, pushing it away, until the ki dissipated and then the air rushed back. The force generated by this was too weak and soft to be useful as a weapon. It would be like hitting someone with a pillow. Even human ki was better for emissions, and that was terrible.

    However, the invisible ki had another effect if he emitted it as a controlled beam and hit something with it. Then, when the beam began to break down, it contracted, pulling the target toward Verus and sticking it to him. This effect was a little more powerful, but still nothing that could be used as a direct attack. A life spent learning martial arts gave Verus some ideas about how to utilize this ability though. It was no fire blast or lightning bolt, but it was a sneaky way to get a strong grip on an opponent. He apparently needed to go over his grappling techniques.

    Verus¡¯s experiments on producing essence using the new ki were a complete failure, which wasn¡¯t a total surprise. Creating essence was a more advanced ability and most people depended on proper techniques that had been developed over centuries to do it. There was no way Verus could expect to grasp all the uses of this ki right way. Proper mastery of a type ki took many cultivators decades, even when they had guides and teachings to help them. It didn¡¯t help that Verus¡¯s usual good instincts for ki circulation and manipulation weren¡¯t helping him. Unlike with human ki, it was almost like the part of himself that he called the Warrior had no idea what to make of this ki either. Disappointing.

    Once again, it seemed Verus¡¯s only real option was to depend on the promise the drunk elder had made. Once he had a real cultivation technique, he could rebuild his core by transforming his new ki into essence. This would greatly increase his ability to use and store his new ki. He could also then raid the library and get his hands on some proper techniques for it. It wasn¡¯t like he was short on shards. However, for now, using his new grabbing technique would be good practice for other things.

    Verus had no idea what the proper name of his new ki was. He should probably come up with at least a temporary name for the ki though, so he didn¡¯t get confused. Judging by how it acted and the impressions Verus could remember from his last moments in the eternal plane, this ki seemed to be associated with nothing. Weird, but true. He wasn¡¯t sure how nothing ki could exist, but he supposed it was a negative ki, and they were all a little weird if you thought about them. Cold was the lack of heat, and nothing was the lack of¡­ physical stuff.

    However, nothing ki was a less than flattering name and didn¡¯t exactly roll off the tongue, so he¡¯d have to go with void. Yes, void was far more impressive sounding. He had a void ki attunement, not a nothing ki attunement.

    Void wasn¡¯t a type of ki Verus had ever really heard about before, but he was only an outer disciple, and he was fairly certain it wasn¡¯t illegal. That was very important. They were taught about all the illegal or restricted ki types, and they were mostly emotional ki. Besides, illegal ki types were usually very impressive, and void ki really wasn¡¯t. It was literally power over nothing, and why would sticking things together be illegal?

    While on sentry duty the next day, Verus sensed three unknown people headed toward the font, so he went and got Warin before heading out to spy on them. They left Escora behind because they didn¡¯t want to bother her yet, but they did equip the camouflage bracelets.

    Approaching the trespassers unseen, Verus and Warin peered at them from behind a thick tree trunk. There were three of them, trudging through the forest toward the waterfall. Verus was immediately unimpressed. The two young men and one woman looked even scruffier than Warin and him did. They were dirty and exhausted. More importantly, their spirits felt weak. He didn¡¯t recognize them either, which meant they weren¡¯t from the Great Wind Sect. They had to be from another sect taking part in the event, and probably not a powerful one.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Warin¡¯s first reaction was pity. ¡°Maybe we should offer them some food?¡±

    Verus gave him an unamused look. ¡°This is the wrong place and time for charity. Let¡¯s scare them away from the font. I doubt they¡¯ll choose to fight us.¡±

    His instinct proved correct. When Verus and Warin stepped out and warned the three trespassers that the font was already claimed, the trio immediately apologized and turned to leave. They looked relieved not to have been attacked.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad it didn¡¯t come to violence,¡± Warin said as they were walking back.

    ¡°Sometimes it¡¯s necessary. This is a competition. Everyone is here to compete.¡±

    Warin grunted as he stepped over a muddy puddle. ¡°I know that. I¡¯m just not feeling at my best right now. Fighting would be a lot of work.¡±

    Verus chuckled as he eyed his friend. He did seem to have lost a little more weight, but it was probably just all the exercise he was getting. He was looking a little pale too though. Well, they¡¯d been in the forest for quite a while now. It was understandable that he needed a break.

    Around noon the next day, Escora began ascending to the Tempered Realm. Verus sensed her ki flare and ran over to watch. Warin soon joined him.

    Escora was sitting in a cross-legged meditation pose on top of a flat-topped rock that sat at the very edge of the water. Her eyes were closed and there was a strained expression on her face as she focused intently on her cultivation technique and cycling her ki throughout her meridians.

    As her core blazed with more power than she¡¯d ever put off before, the ki around the young woman reacted. It flowed toward her from every direction, becoming visible to the naked eyes and circling around her with enough

    force to stir the wind. The water was also affected. The pond water began slowly swirling around and lapping at the edge of her rock. Even the waterfall was pulled toward Escora, bending in her direction, but not reaching her.

    Soon, the ki around Escora was many times stronger than in any place Verus had ever been before. Worry for his companion filled him as he watched, for he knew what came next. It had been explained many times by the sect¡¯s lecturers.

    Ascending to the Foundation Realm had been easy for Verus and most of the other disciples. The hard part had been the years of cultivation in the Origin Realm it had taken to develop their meridians and core. There was no rushing that. Once they¡¯d fully formed their core though, all they¡¯d had to do was achieve connection with the world through enlightenment. This was usually a gentle process that required nothing more straining than learning to shed your sense of self and become one with the flow of ki outside your body, but the next ascension was very different. Those that would reach the Tempered Realm had to withstand the elements and be tempered by them. They had to prove they could withstand the power and insight they wished to claim.

    As reacting to Verus¡¯s thoughts, the flow of ki around Escora suddenly changed dramatically. Speeding up, it descended upon Escora like a shrieking gale. The strained expression on the young woman¡¯s face became a pained grimace as she fought to repulse the storm of ki attempting to tear her apart. It was like the world itself had become her enemy.

    ¡°I wish we could do something,¡± Warin said as he watched.

    Beside him, Verus nodded. Any attempt by outsiders to interfere would most likely ruin Escora¡¯s ascension. This was her test, given by heaven itself, and there was nothing they could do to help.

    The strongest type of ki around Escora by far was water, and it soon began glimmering with insight as it spun. As he watched, Verus saw hints and flashes of the enlightenment Escora was seeking. The sound of rushing rapids and lapping waves reached his ears, giving him visions of flowing rivers. Once she¡¯d comprehended this concept, Escora¡¯s ability to use water ki would greatly improve and the heavens would grant her greater understanding of the true nature of reality. Only through such enlightenment could you truly ascend to immortality and godhood. A cultivator had to see past the illusion that was the physical world and find the spiritual.

    Slowly, Escora¡¯s own core began to resonate with this insight as she resisted the ki¡¯s attempt to destroy her. Then, enlightenment dawned, and the young woman¡¯s expression changed to one of joy. Immediately, the ki around her halted its attack. Instead, it vibrated with her insight, exalting her triumph over it as it began to flow into her body like a roaring river.

    Several minutes passed before Escora had absorbed the last of the ki. Only then, did she open her eyes and shakily climb to her feet. She looked unsteady, but her core roared with more power than ever before, like a river turning in on itself. She had successfully reached the Tempered Realm. Her body had been strengthened and her internal ki system had been toughened to resist external influences, for she had now truly claimed her ki as her own.

    Verus wanted to be jealous, but she was his friend and he felt happy for her. She¡¯d earned her ascension, and it wasn¡¯t like he was stagnating anymore. He¡¯d finally found an element he was attuned to, even if he had no idea what to do with it yet.

    ¡°Congratulations upon taking another step toward true enlightenment. Heaven and the Archon have blessed you,¡± Warin told her as he gave a formal bow. Verus did likewise. This was the ceremonial accolade they¡¯d been taught to say to the newly ascended.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Escora replied with an excited smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure both you will get here soon enough.¡±

    ¡°What now?¡± Verus asked her.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m very hungry so I¡¯ll think I¡¯ll grab something to eat before testing out my new abilities. I should be ready to get going tomorrow though.¡±

    Warin groaned. ¡°So we¡¯re still going to head for the tower?¡±

    Escora¡¯s grin winded as she laughed. ¡°Of course! Where else will a find a proper challenge for my new powers? The Reaches won¡¯t be open to us all that much longer, and there¡¯s no point in wasting a single second of it! My tribe would be very disappointed if I didn¡¯t squeeze every bit of value from the imperials running this place.¡±

    ¡°Great¡­¡±

    ¡°We can find you a place to hide if you¡¯re not feeling up to the challenge.¡±

    Sighing, Warin glanced at Verus and shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯ve come this far. There¡¯s no point stopping now.¡±

 Under the Shadow of Death 14

    The march to the center of the Algorian Reaches took the three outer sect disciples through many more miles of humid forest full of buzzing bugs. Verus was very glad that it wasn¡¯t hard to keep the biting flies away with wards.

    Their superior physiques allowed Verus and his companions to push through bushes and leap over most obstacles with ease, but Escora kept pushing the pace. The end of the month was fast approaching since her ascension to the Tempered Realm had taken longer than she¡¯d expected. She wanted to reach the center before the Reaches were closed. Thus, they no longer went exploring or stopped to scan for treasure but kept moving straight for their goal. It was Warin that eventually slowed them down. Escora was obviously faster than both her companions now, but Warin noticeably lagged behind Verus as well.

    He was almost always out of breath, and he could no longer be called chubby at all. In fact, he was fast approaching skinny. Despite having ample food, he was still losing weight and bags had formed under his eyes. As they ran, Verus quickly became concerned about his friend¡¯s health.

    When they stopped for the night, Verus and Escora both looked him over for spiritual parasites that had slipped past his ward or undetected injuries to his ki system, but they didn¡¯t find anything, and Warin brushed off their concerns.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me, my friends. It¡¯s just this damned forest. All the raw ki here is stifling me, making me feel bloated and ruining my appetite. That¡¯s all. I wasn¡¯t made for this sort of thing. I¡¯ll recover quickly when we get back to the temple where I can get some real sleep, you¡¯ll see.¡±

    Verus was skeptical, but he didn¡¯t know what else he could do for his friend. He certainly didn¡¯t want to leave him behind, where he¡¯d be all alone in the forest. Besides, he kept claiming he¡¯d be fine, and they would soon be returning to the temple where a real doctor could look him over.

    As the days passed and they grew closer to their destination, they passed more and more signs of activity. Footprints and battle damage like fallen trees and burnt bushes became common sights. They even passed a wide patch of land full of dead plants that looked like it had been poisoned. It was clear that the center of the Reaches was far more occupied than the outskirts. Thus, it came as little surprise when they encountered another group of disciples.

    After encountering a wide river full of rushing waters that cut through the forest and blocked their path, they¡¯d decided to look for a way to cross instead of swimming. They had no idea what dangers lurked in the white waters, but it didn¡¯t take them long to find a simple stone bridge that spanned the waterway. However, as they were crossing the bridge, several disciples emerged from hiding on the far side and cut them off. The two groups stared at each other for a tense few moments, ready for violence, but eventually a young woman on the other side spoke up.

    ¡°You¡¯re Great Wind Sect disciples.¡±

    Verus vaguely recognized her, she was from the Great Wind Sect as well. Still, he wasn¡¯t sure if that meant anything. It wasn¡¯t like they¡¯d been getting along with fellow disciples out here in the Reaches. Really, it was the exact opposite. Everyone they¡¯d fought had been from their own sect.

    ¡°We are.¡±

    ¡°Then you may pass as long as you agree to follow the rules.¡±

    ¡°The rules?¡± Escora asked in disbelief. Verus was also surprised. Someone was making rules now?

    ¡°Yes, there is no room for intra-sect strife beyond this point. All the sects are competing against each other, and only by working together can we Great Wind disciples be victorious and earn our just rewards.¡±

    Escora scowled. ¡°Let me guess, someone has put themselves in charge of this operation and will be claiming most the spoils for themselves.¡±

    This earned her a glare form the woman. ¡°I can see you¡¯re in the Tempered Realm, but let me assure you, you stand no chance against Highcloud. He is a true genius from a powerful bloodline.¡±

    The news that Highcloud had put himself in charge didn¡¯t surprise Verus. The young genius was as arrogant as he was talented. At least he¡¯d never been involved with the group of scions harassing him, though. He could probably be trusted.

    ¡°What are we competing for?¡± Verus asked skeptically. What prize could be divided up amongst so many disciples?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s simple. There are various shrines scattered around the Heaven and Earth array. Many are locked and require a certain type of ki or skill to open, but each one not only contains treasures such as elixirs, they also function as a cultivation chamber. There¡¯s no way a small group such as yours could use one safely. Only by working together as a sect can we drive the other sects away and claim them for ourselves. Those that open a shrine are allowed to keep the prizes within, but infighting isn¡¯t allowed, and everyone shares the cultivation chambers.¡±

    ¡°So, then what does your glorious leader get out of organizing all this?¡± Escora asked.

    ¡°There is a special shrine at the very base of the Heaven and Earth Array. It will unlock only on the last day that the Reaches are open to us and it contains the greatest prize of all, one put there by the imperial palace as a reward for not only the competing disciples but for the sect that produced them as well, a high grade technique. As our leader, Highcloud claims it as his own, and everyone is expected to aid him. The other sects will move to take it, especially the accursed Crimson Lotus sect, so the fighting will be fierce.¡±

    ¡°Why would we help fight a battle that has nothing to do with us?¡± Verus asked.

    The young woman gave him a scornful look. ¡°Because Highcloud is the one keeping the other sects away from the shrines, and his favor is valuable in itself. Not to mention, being involved will please the sect elders, for the winners of this battle will bring much honor and prestige to their sect.¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Escora was unconvinced, and Verus also had his doubts.

    ¡°What do you want to do?¡± he asked her. ¡°None of us would benefit much from more cultivating at those shrines, and opening a locked one before the event ends will be difficult, especially if we¡¯re forced to aid Highcloud in his fight against the other sects.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like the idea of bowing to any jumped-up imperial, but I don¡¯t want to miss the big finale. It sounds like exactly the right place to test out my new power and show off my new skills. Don¡¯t forget, you also need to impress the sect and show that you¡¯re worthy of protecting from Tellus and his little gang¡¯s families. You have enemies now.¡±

    ¡°I suppose that true. The safe and easy road is no longer open to me,¡± Verus admitted with a grimace.

    Escora chuckled. ¡°Ha, you can¡¯t fool me. You may talk all humble-like, but I¡¯ve seen you fight. You enjoy a good brawl almost as much as I do!¡±

    ¡°Maybe.¡± Verus was looking forward to seeing how he measured up to many of the other disciples among his sect and the others.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to help Verus, and it does sound like we should do our part for the sect and help out,¡± Warin added, causing Escora to roll her eyes.

    Thus, the three disciples reluctantly agreed to follow the rules and were given directions to the main camp of the Great Wind Sect¡¯s disciples in the area. Crossing the bridge, they passed the guardians and hiked through the forest until reaching it.

    It was a reasonably sized encampment located in a grassy clearing next to a small creek. There were quite a few tents and bedrolls set up next to three different firepits, so it seemed a few dozen disciples slept here. At the moment, it was mostly empty though, and there was only about half a dozen other disciples around. Verus recognized them all as being from the most elite clique among the outer disciples, the one made up of members of powerful families and true nobility.

    The other disciples greeted the newcomers politely, but after making sure they knew the rules, they went back to their own tasks. None of them were interested in socializing with a pair of temple wards and a tribeswoman, although they made sure not to disrespect Escora. She was the only Tempered Realm cultivator in the camp at the moment.

    As Escora and Verus stood around awkwardly, Warin managed to get some more information from some of their fellow disciples using his usual charm. Apparently, all four great sects were represented in the Reaches, and

    the Great Wind Sect was tied for having the strongest force in the area. Only the Crimson Lotus Sect could match Highcloud¡¯s followers, and all the weaker sects had already been driven away.

    The Crimson Lotus Sect and the Great Wind Sect had clashed several times already, but both had been holding back. Everyone understood that the real fight would happen during the final day when the last shrine opened.

    At the moment, most of the Great Wind Sect disciples that were following Highcloud were out using shrines or guarding the perimeter to keep other sects from sneaking into the area they controlled, but they¡¯d be back before the final battle.

    There were only three days left until the imperial palace closed the Algorian Reaches and retrieved all the competitors in their event. Thus, Verus and his companions decided to simply rest and recuperate in preparation for the final battle. They already accomplished what they¡¯d come to the Reaches for. Verus had found his attunement and Escora had reached the Tempered Realm. Warin was also quite happy to hang around the camp, talk to some new people, and have the occasional nap.

    Meanwhile, Escora and Verus went off to find nearby isolated places to train alone, away from prying eyes. Escora wanted to go through her techniques and practice using her new power, and Verus wandered off to experiment with his attunement. Despite their newfound shared goals and cooperation, neither wanted to reveal their capabilities to their fellows. Once they were back at the temple, they¡¯d be competitors again.

    Verus had asked around about all the shrines in the area, but none of them were anything like his attunement, so training out in the forest was as good a place as any.

    He was hoping to at least come up with a primitive technique he could use in the upcoming battle. Without a cultivation technique capable of incorporating void essence into his core, the amount of void ki he could use would be limited, but it seemed like a type of ki that rewarded subtlety over power anyway.

    After a few hours of practice, Verus managed to use the void ki to pull a small rock off the ground and into his hand, which was an improvement over a leaf. Forming the ki into thick controlled lines and controlling their collapse was difficult, but possible with practice. He could easily see himself eventually turning this into a usable technique, but he wasn¡¯t there yet. It still lacked the power necessary to be used in battle.

    Verus let go of the rock, but instead of falling, the ki adhered it to his palm. Sticking things to himself was probably the more immediately practical use for the ki. It was limited, but you never knew when you¡¯d want to get a solid grip on something.

    When Verus let the layer of ki between his palm and the rock fade away, the stone fell and hit the ground with a thud. He had some more ideas about how to use the ki, like a way to improve his Vanishing Feather Step, but all of them were beyond his current ability. He hadn¡¯t even managed to create any void essence yet.

    As much as he wanted a cool new void technique to use during the final battle in the Reaches, he was undoubtably better off using the abilities that had served him well during his time here. His human ki and martial arts were already powerful, proven weapons. He¡¯d spent years developing them.

    Sighing, Verus drew his sword and went through a quick routine. It was actually the only sword routine he knew, but it was better than nothing, and it felt like it was helping him improve. His motions were smooth and powerful.

    Upon returning to the camp, Verus noticed a few more faces around. They were probably filtering in to spend the night in the safety of the camp. Curious, he studied the other disciples and then reached out with his spirit to feel their cultivation levels. There were about two dozen disciples in the camp now, but including Escora, only two of them were in the Tempered Realm. The rest were all very close to the peak of the Foundation Realm. Either they didn¡¯t have time to ascend, or there was something else holding them back, like a proper enlightenment.

    Neither Highcloud nor any of the disciples that hung around him were in the camp though, so they had to be out doing something. That was too bad. They¡¯d represent the strongest outer disciples, and Verus wanted to get a feel for what they were capable of.

    Wandering over to a campfire where Warin was eating, Verus took a seat and struck up a conversation with his friend before getting some food of his own. They still had plenty of rations in their bags. They weren¡¯t all that tasty, but as an ascetic, that was fine with Verus. Simplicity was good for the soul.

    Escora returned a while later with a rabbit she¡¯d caught and began roasting it. Verus tried to resist the delicious aroma, but when she offered him a piece of meat, he quickly accepted. A little bit of meat wasn¡¯t a big deal. It wasn¡¯t like he was gorging himself or giving in to gluttony. Besides, he''d need all his strength soon. Any battle Highcloud was involved in was going to be incredibly dangerous. There was no way the disciples of the Crimson Lotus Sect would be weak.

 Under the Shadow of Death 15

    The next day, Verus and his companions continued their relaxed training while hanging around the camp. The other disciples largely left them alone, although Warin struck up a conversation with some of them when he wasn¡¯t napping. It seemed like he could get along with almost anyone.

    This comfortable situation continued until one of Highcloud¡¯s companions showed up to take charge and organize things. He was at the Tempered Realm and immediately sought out Escora. Thankfully, he wasn¡¯t rude or aggressive. He only wanted to make sure she was going to help them claim the shrine at the base of the Heaven and Earth Array. Once he¡¯d gotten her word, he left Escora and her companions alone. Apparently, the addition of another Tempered Realm cultivator was a great boon.

    It seemed like very few outer disciples had made it to the Tempered Realm, and fewer still had allied with Highcloud. This surprised Verus at first considering that there had been over two hundred of them in the main sect, but he supposed getting to the Tempered Realm in a few months was still rather incredible. Reaching the Foundation Realm usually took years because you couldn¡¯t rush transforming your body and building your core. Thinking back, Verus had thought that reaching the Tempered Realm usually took even longer. However, it seemed you could rush to the Tempered Realm if you were a genius with an ample supply of ki and were lucky enough to gain the proper insights. Without a doubt, that was why the sect had dumped them here in the Algorian Reaches with its thick ki and plentiful spirits. It had everything they needed to ascend quickly, including danger. Even if only the true geniuses had managed to ascend while in the valley, Verus was sure that more disciples would soon ascend after getting back to the temple. Hopefully, he¡¯d be one of them.

    It wasn¡¯t until the next morning, the last day that the Reaches were open, that Highcloud himself appeared. The young noble marched into the camp with half a dozen of his followers. Three of them were at the Tempered Realm, although that number included Highcloud himself and his subordinate from before. They were obviously trying to put on a show, because their spirits blazed with power as their leader leapt into the air and floated into the center of the camp. Instantly, every eye was on Highcloud.

    Verus couldn¡¯t help but stare as well. He was stunned by the display of power. True flight? He had no idea how that was possible. Flying was usually only something elders could perform. It was far beyond what even a genius in the Tempered Realm should be able to manage.

    Floating three feet above the grass, Highcloud looked down at the gathered disciples as his expensive blue robes fluttered slowly in a breeze that seemed to be circling him and him alone. There was a confident and proud look on his face, giving him an aura of command. It was obvious he considered himself everyone else¡¯s natural superior and their unquestioned leader. Verus usually hated such arrogance, but in Highcloud¡¯s case, he could clearly back it up.

    ¡°You all know why we¡¯re here,¡± Highcloud told everyone. ¡°Today, we will seize the central shrine at the base of Heaven and Earth Array and claim it for our sect. Then, without a doubt, the imperial palace will know that our Great Wind Sect stands above all the others, and the sect will honor us for the great contribution we¡¯ve made.¡±

    It was a nice little speech. Verus especially like how he alluded to the rewards they¡¯d all get yet promised his would-be followers nothing directly. He also made no mention of who would be getting the technique in the shrine after they won, but Verus could guess.

    One of Highcloud¡¯s lieutenants stepped forward as Highcloud himself gently descended to the ground. ¡°We¡¯ll be moving in two groups. One will be led by Highcloud himself and its purpose is to defeat the Crimson Lotus Sect and claim the shrine. The other group will stay back and guard the rear, watching for other parties that might attempt to steal the prize while the fight is going on, and serving as fresh reinforcements if necessary.¡±

    Highcloud didn¡¯t say anything more. He simply stood back and let his subordinate give out orders and began organizing the other Great Wind Sect disciples.

    ¡°How can he fly like that?¡± Verus whispered to Warin. ¡°Is it some kind of artifact?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that it¡¯s part of his bloodline. His family have apparently pursued the Way of Gathering Storms further than anyone else. It runs in their blood now, and he was born for it,¡± his friend replied.

    Soon, the entire camp was packed up and the force of disciples was marching to the central shrine. Verus and his companions were all in the first group. There was no way Escora would let anyone talk her out of being part of the main battle, and Verus and Warin weren¡¯t going to leave her side.

    Moving through the forest in such a large group was different than before. The presence of so many people silenced the birds and insects, and the sound of their footsteps gave everything an expectant feeling. Verus and his companions walked near the back of the group. It was unlikely any enemy disciples could approach undetected, and no spirit or soul beast would dare approach, but Verus found himself studying the forest intently anyway. Just in case.

    Looking up, he caught sight of the Heaven and Earth Array through the trees overhead. It loomed over everything now that they were so close. A massive spire of crystal that touched the sky. Thanks to its special nature, it didn¡¯t cast a full shadow, but its silhouette was still impossible to ignore. Its presence was a constant reminder of the empire¡¯s power and their own insignificance.

    As Verus was looking up, Warin approached his side. ¡°So, I¡¯ve been asking around about our competition because I was curious about who could stand up to someone as gifted as Highcloud.¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°What did you find out?¡± Verus asked. He was curious now as well, although he certainly wasn¡¯t planning on involving himself in that fight.

    ¡°It seems like the Crimson Lotus Sect¡¯s disciples are led by one Igni Demyan. He¡¯s a powerful fire cultivator who is considered a genius to match Highcloud, and he¡¯s a year older. In fact, he¡¯s been in the Tempered Realm and an inner disciple of the Crimson Lotus Sect for several months now.¡±

    ¡°Then why is here with us?¡± Verus asked.

    ¡°Apparently, everyone sent here will be younger than eighteen when the tournament starts, and he will be. He¡¯s the only inner disciple in the Crimson Lotus sect that young.¡±

    Verus frowned thoughtfully. He¡¯d assumed Highcloud would make short work of his opponent, but that was seeming doubtful now. If anything, he might be at a disadvantage.

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing the youngest tier in the upcoming tournament will be for those under eighteen,¡± he mused aloud.

    Warin nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve heard. The palace and the sects are obviously trying to produce as many powerful cultivators under the age of eighteen as possible to show off to the Imperial Emissary.¡±

    ¡°Why so much effort for the under eighteen group? Shouldn¡¯t the older tier be even more prestigious, and considering how thick the ki is here, they¡¯d benefit from visiting this place almost as much as us.¡±

    They¡¯d almost certainly all be inner disciples as well, which meant they were a safer investment because they would have already proven their skills.

    Warin shrugged and laughed. ¡°Who knows? I may have an ear for gossip, but the secret plans of the palace are a little beyond me.¡±

    ¡°Right, I suppose we¡¯ll find out when the time comes,¡± Verus replied as he put his questions out of mind.

    Half an hour later, Highcloud¡¯s followers reached the base of the Heaven and Earth Array. As they stepped through the bushes, they gazed at the area before them. The trees had been cut back over a hundred feet around the tower, leaving a wide, sunny expanse of grass and flowers.

    The base of the massive crystal tower was completely smooth, with no doors or windows to let people inside, but it wasn¡¯t the only building. Near the tower there was a shrine made from the same white crystal. It was one-story tall and had a dome roof. The only way in was a pair of tall double doors that were covered in glyphs and swirling lines. In front of the doors was a long walkway paved with stone and flanked by two dozen crystal pillars. The doors were shut tight, but there was no mistake, this was Highcloud¡¯s target.

    ¡°The back up squad will stay here at the edge of the woods and watch for trouble. You¡¯re only to join the main fight if someone gives the signal,¡± one of Highcloud¡¯s lieutenants announced. ¡°The door to the shrine should open soon, so we¡¯re headed in.¡±

    That said, Highcloud floated several feet into the air and began flying toward the shrine as he scanned the grass ahead from up high. Everyone else swiftly followed the young genius into the clearing.

    They only made it a few feet before their presence drew attention. At the far end of the clearing, another group of disciples emerged from the forest and began heading straight toward the entrance to the shrine. It was hard to make out details from so far away, but it looked like both groups would meet right in front of it. Verus briefly counted the ranks of the enemy. They were about the same size as his group.

    Seemingly unconcerned, Highcloud kept the same pace and destination. He seemed content to meet the enemy head on, and that was exactly what happened. Both groups ended up marching right up to the shrine and taking up positions on either side of the stone walkway that led up to the doors. Verus and Warin gave each other nervous looks as they came to stop in front of the enemy. At least, the crystal pillars on either side of the walkway provided a little protection.

    Both groups of disciples stared at each other with clear hostile intent, and Verus found himself growing tense. There were quite a few dangerous looking individuals among the enemy, including a woman with shifting blue hair that looked alive and a huge young man with a hammer that must have weighed as much as a normal person. Almost everyone had a weapon of some sort, and those that didn¡¯t looked even more formidable. Weeks spent in the Reaches had given them all a scruffy, lean, and mean look. Verus imagined his own sect¡¯s disciples looked similar. Being out in the dangerous, ki rich Reaches had certainly weeded out the weak and nourished the strong. It had kept them on edge and taught them to fight to survive.

    ¡°Igni, this ends today. You and your Crimson Lotus Sect can¡¯t hide out in the forest anymore,¡± Highcloud announced from out in front of his followers. He was still floating several feet above the ground.

    A young man similarly located at the fore of the enemy laughed. He was wearing long red robes, and his black hair had been tied back into a ponytail. Everything about him, including his aristocratic features, exuded confidence and power.

    ¡°Fool. Your Great Wind Sect has been the one hiding among the trees. You can¡¯t see the mountain before you, and now you¡¯ve delivered yourself right to me. You fled before my might when we met last, Highcloud, but this time you won¡¯t get the chance to run like a dog with your tail between your legs.¡±

    The two young geniuses glared at each other as they unleashed the full presence of their spirits, which pressed down on everyone else, but neither backed down. Then, Highcloud attacked. As he raised a fist, lightning crackled and built in intensity around it. Then, he hurled the bolt straight at Ignis¡¯s face, who dispersed it with a blast of fire ki that exploded with loud bang and shook the air.

    Everyone else present took this as the sign to attack. Disciples from both sides charged forward and met in the center of the stone walkway as the scream of battle cries were heard. This was followed by several small explosions and the clang of metal on metal as weapons met.

    As ki blasts flew overhead, Verus and his companions found themselves on the right flank of the battle, nearest the shrine doors. A fiery explosion went off to Verus¡¯s left, isolating them from their allies. Verus flinched away, only to have to use a Vanishing Step to dodge a hail of rocks that flew out of the smoke. They¡¯d almost taken his head off. The battle had only just started, and everything had already descended into complete chaos.

    ¡°Look out. From the front!¡± Warin yelled, drawing Verus¡¯s attention.

    Up ahead, three enemy disciples from the Crimson Lotus Sect had dashed out from behind a pillar. The first was a tanned young woman with very short black hair whose spirit radiated the power of someone in the Tempered Realm. She was wearing baggy brown trousers and a white shirt with a grey vest over it. In her hands was a long wooden quarterstaff, and she obviously sensed Escora¡¯s power, because she leapt right at her and lashed out with her staff. Escora dodged the flurry of blows by sliding away.

    That left Warin and Verus alone to deal with the two other Crimson Lotus disciples. Side-by-side they stepped forward and cycled their ki.

 Under the Shadow of Death 16

    The first enemy was a young man with pale skin and red hair. He charged forward and threw a punch at Verus while his companion launched a skipping side kick straight at Warin¡¯s chest. As the Warrior began to wake within him, Verus ducked beneath the punch and pushed forward to throw several of his own punches. Off to his left, Warin managed to deflect the kick headed his way.

    Verus¡¯s foe tried to counter his punches by shielding his head and reinforcing his arms with earth ki, but Verus simply added some void ki to his hand as he attacked. This created enough suction for him to pull the surprised enemy disciple off balance and open a hole in his guard, allowing Verus¡¯s next punch to land right on his nose. This was a technique he called the Empty Grasp.

    The redhead stumbled back before throwing a furious glare at Verus. He then fixed his guard and launched a flying knee strike right at his opponent¡¯s face, but Verus saw it coming.

    As the knee slammed into Verus¡¯s raised guard, he vanished. It had been an afterimage. Verus had already used Vanishing Feather Step to slip to the side. As his opponent stumbled, Verus slammed a ki-empowered scythe kick right into his ribs. The young man was knocked sideways as he gasped in pain, and he stumbled as he tried to catch his breath. Verus didn¡¯t let him. Using his momentum, he flowed into a skipping sidekick that smashed his foot right into his foe¡¯s gut. This time, the redhead was sent flying backwards, and collided with the disciple Warin was fighting. Both of them were knocked over and ended up rolling across the ground.

    ¡°Very nice!¡± Warin laughed.

    ¡°It was nothing,¡± Verus replied as he looked around.

    Escora was still fighting the staff wielder, although they¡¯d moved further away. Her opponent¡¯s staff was now glowing green as wood ki was channeled through it. This allowed the enemy disciple to use it to block Escora¡¯s water whip and also control the wood to some degree. The staff seemed to bend and elongate every time the tanned woman struck, making her strikes hard to predict and forcing Escora back. Thankfully, Verus¡¯s ally seemed to be quicker on her feet and in no danger of being overwhelmed any time soon.

    Verus didn¡¯t have too much time to look around though. As Warin¡¯s opponent climbed back to his feet, another disciple of the Crimson Lotus Sect burst through a cloud of smoke and charged him. Alarmed, Verus drew his blade and readied himself. Not only did this new foe have a sword of his own and look like he knew how to use it, but a quick scan of his spirit revealed him to be at the Tempered Realm.

    The Crimson Lotus Sect disciple was dressed in a grey martial artist¡¯s robe with a black belt and he had a shaved head, like Verus¡¯s own. He didn¡¯t have the demeanor of a temple ward or monk though, so it was probably just a fashion choice. Many people in the empire had shaved heads since it was considered a sign of humility and dedication.

    Verus¡¯s attacker leapt forward with startling speed, and their blades met with a crash that sent a shiver down his arm. Verus immediately found himself being pushed back by his foe¡¯s superior strength. He¡¯d expected that though, so he smoothly twisted his blade around in a maneuver that redirected most of his opponent¡¯s force to the side.

    Surprised, the Crimson Lotus disciple almost stumbled for a moment before catching himself and raising his guard again. There was contemplative expression on his face now. ¡°You¡¯re not bad. Maybe this won¡¯t be a waste of my time after all. You¡¯ve obviously have experience with the blade.¡±

    ¡°Less than you¡¯d think,¡± Verus replied before deflecting and dodging a series of quick probing cuts. He had no other option but to trust his instincts now, even if he didn¡¯t understand where they were coming from. His battle focus and the Warrior had been only minimally active before, but now they were roaring to life, almost eager to meet this challenge.

    Several more vicious slashes came Verus¡¯s way, forcing him to parry and duck under them before pushing his opponent back with a quick slash of his own. Verus focused on keeping his mind clear, and his blade seemed to move on its own, guided by the Warrior. It flashed through the air to meet his opponent¡¯s with near perfect timing and precision. Verus even found himself using sword techniques he didn¡¯t recognize and didn¡¯t remember learning. That was confusing, but he deliberately tried not to think about it. Now was not the time. He didn¡¯t want to end up with a length of steel through his chest.

    There was an excited smile on his opponent¡¯s face now. ¡°You really are good, although I don¡¯t recognize your style. It¡¯s not any of the famous sect techniques, or I¡¯d recognize them. It¡¯s a shame you can¡¯t give me a real challenge since you¡¯re not at the Tempered Realm.¡±

    ¡°I agree,¡± Verus replied sourly before focusing on fighting again.

    The swordsman chuckled as he stepped back. ¡°Regardless, now that our blades have been introduced properly, it¡¯s time for me to get serious.¡±

    Verus watched warily as his foe¡¯s spirit flared with power and a grey aura appeared around the sword he was holding. It was metal ki, and it gave off a very dangerous aura which put Verus on edge. He could almost feel its sharpness on his skin.

    Instinctively, Verus cycled his own ki in response, and activated the blade reinforcement technique he¡¯d used before. Human ki slipped into his blade, making it an extension of himself and strengthening it. It wasn¡¯t nearly as flashy as his opponent¡¯s technique, but it was better than nothing.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    ¡°My name is Ensis Ucro. I practice the Way of Deadly Steel, and nothing can stand before my blade,¡± the Crimson Lotus disciple bragged as he moved to attack.

    ¡°My name is Verus Windward,¡± Verus replied politely as he readied his defense.

    Hesitant to meet his foe¡¯s glowing weapon head on, Verus focused on trying to dodge and deflect. This worked for the first few slashes, but then he was forced to block the fourth attack. The power of the blow pushed him back even as he felt the grey ki slice into his own blade, disturbing the reinforcing technique he was using. Intuitively, Verus knew that his blade was about to be sliced in half by the metal ki, so he doubled down on his reinforcement technique and pumped as much ki into it as he could. He¡¯d barely succeeded in keeping the technique active as the swords finally bounced apart, and the effort took a lot out of him. It didn¡¯t look like Ensis was straining at all though. Reinforcing your sword with metal ki seemed like cheating.

    Frustration radiated from the Warrior, like it wanted to do more but couldn¡¯t for reasons it didn¡¯t understand, like it was reaching for something it something that wasn¡¯t there.

    ¡°It¡¯s curious. Going by your surname, you¡¯re a ward of the temple. Who taught you then? You really are quite good. You understand that the way of the sword requires dedication, unlike most of our more spoiled peers.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, I really wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯m anything special though,¡± Verus mumbled in reply. Once again, he really didn¡¯t have answers to give.

    ¡°How humble. Keep your secrets then. We will speak with our blades,¡± Ensis replied as he jumped back. The grey aura around his sword suddenly intensified and began wavering like flames.

    The hair on the back of Verus¡¯s neck rose as a wave of cold fear washed over him. He could sense something dangerous was coming, and a moment later he was proven right. Ensis took a deep breath and then slashed the air. A razor thin line of metal ki shot forth from his blade toward Verus. Almost invisible, it sliced through the air with incredible speed.

    Rather than trying to block it, Verus quickly threw himself to the side. He was almost too slow. The edge of the metal ki sliced into his shoulder, cutting through his sleeve and into flesh without resistance.

    Verus hissed in pain as he stumbled and turned to look at his arm. It was bleeding badly. The ki had cut deep, although his arm could still move. Glancing back toward his foe, Verus grimaced. Ensis was a far more dangerous opponent than anyone he¡¯d ever fought before. Even disregarding his higher Realm, his technique and skill were a level above that of even Tellus. That metal cutting technique was also insanely deadly. He had to be using his sword to focus his metal ki into such a thin, sharp line.

    Off the side, Warin was having trouble with his own fight. He¡¯d been pushed back toward Verus, so now they were only a few feet apart. Escora¡¯s battle was also still ongoing. As Verus watched, she hit her opponent¡¯s exposed side with a water whip. However, the staff wielder¡¯s skin glowed green as she used wood ki to toughen her skin, and then the welt left by the whip began slowly healing. It didn¡¯t seem like their fight that was going to end anytime soon.

    There was confident smile on Ensis¡¯s face as he stepped forward to charge Verus again, but then they were both distracted by a loud boom. Over toward the main mob of fighting disciples, Highcloud flew out of a fiery explosion. He looked slightly singed, but not seriously wounded.

    Igni was standing about twenty feet away from his opponent. He was grinning smugly as he looked up at Highcloud from next to a stone pillar. With a wave of a hand, he then summoned a long snake made from flames. It hissed and then shot toward Highcloud, who had to fly to the side and blast the snake apart with a bolt of lightning when it turned to follow him.

    However, Igni was already summoning another two serpents. As his hands moved, they left trails of dark crimson flame in the air that swiftly took the form of snakes. Both ki constructs than swam toward Highcloud, who managed to destroy one with a bolt of lightning but then had to evade the other by flying away. The snake followed him, biting at his heels. As it closed in and exploded, he raised a shield of air, but was still knocked back several feet.

    Verus was awe-struck by the power and skill of the fighters. Even Ensis looked impressed.

    ¡°I told you that you¡¯d regret facing me, Highcloud,¡± Igni laughed.

    ¡°This fight is far from over,¡± his foe replied coldly as he cycled his ki.

    The air around Highcloud began circling the flying disciple with increasing speed. A few moments later, the cyclone exploded toward Igni, who met it with a blast of fire. However, he was caught by surprise when the cyclone brushed the flames aside and continued toward him. There was quite a bit of water ki mixed in with the air ki. Igni threw himself out of the way, but the winds still tore into him, shredding his robe and cutting him in several places.

    Flying up above, it was Highcloud that looked smug now, but that look didn¡¯t last long. As the winds died down, Igni picked himself off the ground. There was a look of furious hatred on his face as he glared at Highcloud, and his spirit was burning like a volcano that was about to erupt. At the same time, flames rose from his wounds, burning a deep crimson.

    ¡°You¡¯ll pay for that. You¡¯ll all pay for that,¡± the Crimson Lotus disciple yelled as he threw both his arms back and then dragged them forward as if pulling on something heavy.

    Two waves of intense fire appeared before the Crimson Lotus disciple and washed forward. One was aimed right at Highcloud, but the other flew in the general direction of most of the other Great Wind Disciples. Highcloud blasted a hole in the flames with a lightning before flying through it to safety. He then glanced toward the other wave, but then dismissed it. There was look of complete look of indifference on his face as he watched it fly toward his allies and followers.

    Most of the fighting stopped as the other Great Wind Sect disciples scrambled to get out of the way of the roaring flames, alongside those enemy disciples had were also unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Various ki techniques went off as disciples dashed away, tried to cut through the flames, or raised protective shields.

    A few second later, the wave of crimson fire closed in on Verus¡¯s position. Ensis was already running away, but Verus couldn¡¯t do that. Glancing back, he saw that Warin was right behind him. His friend looked exhausted from his own fighting, and he didn¡¯t know any movement or defensive techniques.

    ¡°Get behind me,¡± Verus yelled as he turned to face the roaring flames. A wave of intense heat proceeded them, slamming into him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me!¡± Warin yelled back. ¡°Protect yourself!¡±

    Verus ignored his friend''s words and concentrated on defending as best he could by reinforcing his body and skin with as much ki as possible. A moment later, the flames washed over him, burning through his defenses and painfully searing his body. He screamed as everything began to go dark, consumed by hungry crimson power. The last thing he remembered was Igni¡¯s hateful sneer and Highcloud¡¯s utterly indifferent look.

 Doubt Brings the Whirlwind 1

    Words mean nothing. Supplication is for the weak and the unworthy. Chaos accepts no oaths and expects no loyalty. It is worshiped through action and sacrifice. It frees instead of binds. Seize that which you desire and cast aside that which holds you back. Let it burn. Let it die. Then, chaos will aid you. Then, chaos will know you. ¨C The ravings of a madman about to be put to death for murder.

    Verus awoke with a start. Soft blankets shifted as he sat up and looked around. At first, he was confused as to where he was, but then his surroundings came into focus. He was on a bed in an infirmary. He recognized the white sheets, herbal smell, and simple d¨¦cor. He must have been taken here after blacking out. The last thing he remembered was searing flames¡­

    Glancing down, Verus was relieved to see that he didn¡¯t appear horribly burned or even injured. He was feeling a little stiff though, and his thoughts were still groggy from waking up.

    Looking up, Verus saw that the slim bed he was occupying was one of six in row, and each bed contained a disciple in a medical gown that was rousing themselves. The unlikely timing of this perplexed him for a moment, until someone coughed to get attention. Turning, Verus saw two people standing nearby. One of them was a matronly woman in a grey robe that marked her as a medical worker, while the other was Elder Lamar. Verus had last seen the bearded old man when he¡¯d escorted the disciples to the portal that led to the Algorian Reaches.

    ¡°Good, you¡¯re all awake,¡± the infirmary worker told all the disciples. ¡°We¡¯d been keeping you unconscious while we tended to your injuries, but now the elder wants to speak to you.¡±

    There was a shuffling noise as everyone turned to look at Elder Lamar, whose expression was neutral and stiff.

    ¡°Each of you was injured and knocked out during the fight at the base of the Heaven and Earth Array two days ago,¡± the elder explained. ¡°The warding amulets you were given kept you stable until the competition was over and then the sect retrieved you.¡±

    There was a pause as the Elder briefly looked all the disciples over with a furrowed brow that conveyed disappointment. ¡°Your group was unable to defeat the disciples from the Crimson Lotus Sect, and they claimed the prize in the end. Still, some of you managed to make noticeable gains in your cultivation, so you aren¡¯t complete failures and can still be useful to the sect. The real prizes will be at the upcoming tournament, this was merely a training exercise. Each of you must continue to train your hardest and then perhaps you will get a chance to honor the sect at the upcoming tournament. Do not slack off. The sect has no place for failures.¡±

    That said, the elder turned and walked out into the hallway, where he began talking with someone out of sight. The medical worker then informed everyone that they were all healed and could leave.

    Verus climbed out of his bed and scanned the room again. He didn¡¯t see Warin anywhere, so he walked over to the medical worker. ¡°Pardon me, but I don¡¯t see my sect brother Warin here, and I¡¯m sure that he was injured at the same time as me. Could you tell me where he is?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not aware of that information, but let me see if someone else is,¡± the woman replied before walking out of the room and returning a moment later with a man in the same medical robe as her. He was holding a scroll.

    ¡°What was the full name of the disciple you¡¯re looking for?¡± the man asked.

    ¡°Warin Windward,¡± Verus replied. Like all the other orphans raised by the Great Wind Sect, they¡¯d both been given that surname.

    The man unfurled the scroll and looked it over for a few seconds before grimacing as if he¡¯d seen something he didn¡¯t like. Verus tensed, suddenly afraid, as the man looked up and gave him a compassionate look that did nothing but make Verus feel worse.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you friend didn¡¯t make it,¡± the man explained in an authoritative voice as Verus felt his guts twist painfully from the shock of the words. They tore into him. He couldn¡¯t comprehend them right away. His mind refused.

    Reeling back. Verus felt his entire world wobble. ¡°How? I tried to shield him! I was in front. I should have been the one to die. Not him!¡±

    The healer sighed regretfully and glanced back down at the scroll again. Verus began shivering as he waited for the man to say something, anything. He suddenly felt dreadfully cold.

    ¡°It seems his wounds and burns weren¡¯t the cause of your friend¡¯s death,¡± the healer said as he met Verus¡¯s gaze. ¡°Rather, there was a complication with his ki that caused a backlash when the healers tried to treat him. How unusual. It seems his body rejected both his own ki and that of the healer.¡±

    Verus¡¯s didn¡¯t reply. He simply stood there. Overwhelmed and numb.

    Elder Lamar walked beside the healer and glanced at the scroll. The old bearded man frowned as he read. ¡°A reaction like that is highly unlikely in any disciple talented enough to be invited to the main sect. It¡¯s usually a sign of substandard ki manipulation abilities. Standards must really be slipping if he made it this far. It seems he was already approaching the limit of his cultivation.¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Every word was like a stab to Verus¡¯s heart. He wanted to yell at the elder, and defend his friend, but he bit his tongue instead. Suppressing his emotions and desires was second nature to Verus, and this was an elder. Offending him would be incredibly stupid and gain him nothing.

    The elder studied Verus¡¯s expression and snorted rudely. ¡°Your friend was hardly the only casualty. Half a dozen more promising disciples perished during the training exercise. The artifacts you were given had basic lifesaving functions, but they could hardly protect you from every danger that exists out there in the Reaches. Without the danger, you¡¯d have never advanced as far as you did. Indeed, I have no doubt that some of the fatalities were of disciples you defeated and weakened.¡±

    These words failed to trigger a response from Verus, so Elder Lamar lost interest and wandered back out of the room.

    The Healer frowned disapprovingly at the elder¡¯s back before turning to Verus. ¡°My condolences. May the Archon guide his soul.¡±

    Numb, Verus unthinkingly repeated the prayer back.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a moment alone,¡± the healer then said before leaving.

    A few minutes later, a medical worker showed up to help him get dressed and escort him out of the infirmary.

    ¡°I strongly suggest you talk to a Lightbringer,¡± the matronly woman told him as she met his gaze. Verus nodded, so she let him walk out the door and begin walking mechanically through the sect.

    He barely registered his surroundings or the fact that he was back at the main temple. He simply kept walking. He didn¡¯t want to talk to anyone right now. The idea of his friend being dead was hard to contemplate and believe. He expected Warin to walk up and declare it all a mistake. He¡¯d always been there with a smile, throughout all of Verus¡¯s life.

    Worst of all, Verus couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Warin¡¯s death was his fault. He¡¯d desperately tried to defend his friend, but Warin had only been there because of him. His sect brother had only come to the main temple to help Verus, and he¡¯d only been able to because Verus had helped him out. Elder Lamar¡¯s words about Warin having substandard ki manipulation abilities had cut Verus deep. Had helping Warin and dragging him along been the right thing to do? Or, had he only done it because he was selfish and a terrible friend?

    Verus found himself walking out of the sect grounds and onto the city streets, which suited him fine. He didn¡¯t want to be around the sect at the moment anyway. Holding back tears, he glanced at the nearby buildings. The empty streets and silent homes of the cultivators failed to console him though, so he headed out into the city proper.

    There, the press of noise of the crowds was at least a distraction, although he soon began to grow skittish and jumpy as one of his moods began to creep over him. Paranoia started to twist every face he saw into leers and snarls, and an overwhelming desire to hide away from people¡¯s judging gazes watched over him, twisting his guts further.

    Suppressing a series of shivers that crawled up his spine, Verus stayed firm and kept his back straight as he studied the crowd and resumed his walk. He refused to avoid their gazes and he wasn¡¯t going to give in now. That was the last thing Warin would want. He¡¯d stay strong for him. His friend had always urged him on and helped him when he was at his worst.

    By himself and in his simple robes, Verus didn¡¯t stand out from the crowd too much, so most of the mortals and commoners ignored him. Verus studied them as they went on with their lives, buying food and heading to and from work. They greeted their neighbors and most of them looked content and relaxed. There were no beggars in sight, for the empire was rich, and the guards didn¡¯t tolerate such things. Work and a bed could be found for anyone that needed it.

    It was a very different life from that of a cultivator. Verus watched a woman in a modest dress and jacket lead her two young children down the street. He could only imagine their lives. His own was a never-ending struggle for ki and insight with no time for the simple pleasures of family the way commoners understood it. Never could he be content or indulgent. He was supposed to be a servant of the empire and to fight for it so that people like these could live in peace and plenty.

    If he gave up his ambition and cultivation, could he live like these mortals? Their lives were short in comparison to even lower Realm cultivators, but it was easier in many ways. The lives of mortals in the empire were very controlled and it was almost impossible for them to accrue any real power. Cultivators filled all the important offices and held far more wealth than even the most successful mortal merchant. Even the most basic cultivation resources cost far more than a mortal could afford, but they also had no need for such things. They were kept safe and happy by the empire. Still, Verus doubted he¡¯d be happy in such a life.

    Truthfully, he enjoyed the life of an ascetic and felt no real desire to leave it. He took pride in resisting temptation and developing his discipline and insight. They were far more rewarding and meaningful to him than any indulgence or temporary pleasure of the flesh. Verus clenched his left fist as it hung at his side. True freedom was never free. It had to be earned. This was something he¡¯d long ago learned while struggling to control his fear and dark moods. They held him back and tormented him, but in the end, he¡¯d grow stronger and be free of them.

    Was he really on the right path for that though? Did he need to struggle and fight in the Great Wind Sect to become an elder. He was no longer so sure. The sect now seemed like a dark place to him, full of malice and flaws. It wasn¡¯t at all the bastion of devotion and self-improvement he¡¯d expected. Rather, everyone there seemed to be seeking power for its own sake, which was another kind of temptation. The sect was also responsible for Warin¡¯s death¡­

    Glancing about, Verus saw the spires of a devotary off in the distance, so he gathered his resolve and headed for it. Despite his determination, the dark mood hadn¡¯t passed and Verus was beginning to grow nauseous and feel weak. He needed to get away from the crowds for a moment, and that¡¯s where he¡¯d been told to go anyway. Perhaps they¡¯d have the answers he was looking for.

    The warrior seemed to have little interest in anything besides fighting, so it was of no help. However, as Verus walked and concentrated on his self-control, something else reacted. The void ki within him began to hum and vibrate faintly with insight. He recalled some of the last moments before being pulled from the mirror. Solace. The final ending and the endless. These insights pushed back against Verus¡¯s fear a little, numbing them.

    Still feeling sick and alone, Verus sobbed and wiped the tears from his eyes. It seemed like he¡¯d finally taken a real step toward being free of his curse. He could truly see the path toward overcoming it now, even if the end was distant. With all his heart, he wished he could thank Warin. His friend had always been there for him. He owed him so much¡­

    What was he supposed to do now?

 Doubt Brings the Whirlwind 2

    As much as he wanted to wallow in his misery, Verus knew he couldn¡¯t stay strewn across the stairs in front of the devotary. Eventually someone like a guard would come over to check and see if he was okay and get him out of other people¡¯s way. He was already getting looks from citizens walking by.

    Picking himself up off the stairs, Verus glanced up at the devotary before him. It was quite similar looking to all the other devotaries he¡¯d seen, but still impressive looking in a solemn way. Its white marble fa?ade supported a tall steepled roof and long rows of stained glass windows, and the golden symbol of the Archon¡¯s eye hung above the door, sternly staring at everyone who approached. Looking at it made him feel slightly better since it was familiar and reassuring. Maybe he¡¯d get his answers here after all.

    Verus stepped inside the building. Thankfully, there were only a few scattered people praying among the pews and none of them were looking his way. His dark mood quickly began to lighten in the reverent quiet of the devotary. If he found somewhere out of the way to pray, it would probably go away completely eventually, but he was here to talk to a Lightbringer.

    It didn¡¯t take him long to find what he was looking for, because one came to him. An older man with a shaved head and the traditional white and gold robe of his office crossed the room to speak to him. He had a short well-groomed grey beard and blue eyes that gave him a friendly, approachable appearance.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but sense that your spirit is weary and troubled. I am Minister Harshworth. Welcome to my sanctuary,¡± the Lightbringer said as he stopped in front of Verus.His spirit was radiating a calming aura that Verus immediately recognized as devotion ki. That was to be expected though, he was a Lightbringer.

    Verus bowed briefly in respect. ¡°Yes, minister. Thank you for your time. I¡­ wish to talk.¡±

    ¡°That is what I¡¯m here for. Please, tell me of your burdens. I will listen without judgement, for that belongs to God and the Archon, and I am but a servant.¡±

    Relieved, the young disciple then introduced himself and began to tell the Lightbringer the general outline of his situation and about how his friend had died. Letting it all out made him feel better, but far from fixed. He still felt miserable and sick.

    Minister Harshworth nodded as Verus finished his tale. There was an understanding and emphatic look on his face, which was emphasized by the subtle kind wrinkles below his eyes. ¡°I see. You feel both guilty and angry about your sect brother¡¯s death. That¡¯s very understandable, young man. You¡¯ve been put through a lot and the empire has asked much of you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ why did he die?¡± Verus found himself asking.

    ¡°You will probably never know the true reason, for the heavens are vaster than we can comprehend. Fate can seem cruel, but in my experience, that is rarely the truth. You simply have to accept that he is gone from the material plane and that his soul has moved on to join the Archon. His suffering has ended, and he now knows only truth. You are the one that must struggle through your pain, for that is the nature of life, especially for young cultivators such as yourself. We must overcome our base nature to reach enlightenment.¡±

    This answer didn¡¯t really satisfy Verus. He¡¯d been taught similar things all his life, and he could see what the priest was getting at, but he wanted more.

    ¡°What of the Great Wind Sect? I don¡¯t understand how they could just throw my friend¡¯s life away. No one bothered protecting him, and no one cares that he has died but me. I thought the sect would be full of people seeking enlightenment and fighting for humanity, but everyone seems far more concerned with power for its own sake. Is that not a form of surrender to temptation? Have they not been led astray?¡±

    The Lightbringer sighed deeply. ¡°You are young and optimistic. That¡¯s not a bad thing, but not everything is as it appears to your half-closed eyes. Comprehending the nature of the world is beyond you at the moment. It may be painful to hear this, but you should concentrate on your own path. Seek enlightenment. Only when you have risen much higher can you hope to understand how the powerful operate and why they do as they do.¡±

    Verus frowned. ¡°But what if the sect is leading me and others astray?¡±

    ¡°There are very good reasons that the sect and the empire seek power the way they do. It is our holy charge from the Archon himself. For power and understanding are necessary to change the material plane for the better and alleviate the suffering of mankind. What is ki but power? There is no other way. You must trust your elders in this.¡±

    A confused mix of potent emotions warred within Verus. He wanted to trust his elders, but they weren¡¯t giving him the answers he needed. His friend was dead! He was owed an answer. Feeling frustrated, Verus cycled his ki to perform the Faithful Soul Ward. This repulsed the Lightbringer¡¯s aura of devotion, which had been dampening his feelings. As his anger built, Verus couldn¡¯t help but recall how Fang had said that the Lightbringers were used to control people and make them into tools. Maybe there was something to that after all.

    ¡°I can see that I haven¡¯t convinced you yet,¡± the minister observed with a sad smile. ¡°You are young for a cultivator and passionate. You lack the perspective that the centuries will bring and are quick to judgement. Meditate on how you feel and seek to recognize how pride is misleading you. Remember, there are endless worlds under the heavens and countless humans living upon them. You have the privilege to see only that which is in front of you, but the empire has to do its best for all of them.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve given me much to think about,¡± Verus said politely as he struggled to look calm.

    ¡°Then I shall leave you to your reflections and prayers, but I¡¯ll be here if you have more questions,¡± the Lightbringer replied with an understanding look before walking away.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    Verus was left there at the edge of the pews. He already had more questions, but he doubted any Lightbringer could answer them. Grief and anger filled him as he looked up at the decorations and art that filled the devotary. Everything was done in white marble and gilded with gold, displaying the wealth and power of the empire as well as the majesty of its faith. The raised statue of the Archon against the back wall dominated the room. Upon his throne, he gazed out at his supplicants with an imperious and wise expression.

    As usual, the statue struck Verus as odd for reasons he couldn¡¯t explain, like it wasn¡¯t quite right. Disturbed as he was, the feeling was stronger now than ever before. Staring at the statue only made Verus feel worse, so he turned to study the stained glass windows instead. The light from outside caused the many colored and beautiful glass to glow warmly. They were full of scenes from the holy books and the life of the saints, and Verus recognized most of them. They were tales he¡¯d heard many times during childhood sermons, such as how Saint Ishorn had given his life to convert an entire world to the true faith.

    In his youth, those stories had calmed and inspired Verus, even if he¡¯d his doubts about their accuracy. Now, he failed to find any solace whatsoever in them. They were hollow stories.

    Verus¡¯s eyes stopped on one particular scene that featured a man with pale white skin, a spiky golden halo above his head, and a long red robe. His long black hair fell down to his shoulders, partly concealing his beautiful face, as he held out a golden sword from which blood was dripping. Before him, several warriors were kneeling in supplication. This was one of the more famous figures, Sanguine, blessed saint of blood and law.

    Immediately, Verus anger grew stronger as he stared at the saint¡¯s face. None of the saints had descended from heaven to save his friend. So, what good were they?

    The Warrior rose in response to his feelings, amplifying them. It buzzed in his ears, filling him with a desire to spring into action and lash out. Disgust and intense hatred seized Verus¡¯s heart without warning, causing him to stumble back from the intensity of it.

    However, Verus was an ascetic. He did not give in to such impulses. Instead, he instantly pushed back against the emotion, stifling it. Long training had taught him to resist temptation in all its forms.

    Up ahead, Minister Harshworth turned around and frowned in Verus¡¯s direction, as if sensing something wrong. Verus meet his gaze and smiled politely, so the man nodded and looked way. That done, Verus quickly headed for the devotary¡¯s exit. The furious hatred had yet to disperse, he was only supressing it, and it was possible the Lightbringer would notice. The feeling was so strong that despite Verus¡¯s training and discipline, he wanted to claw at his skin and drive his fist right through all the stained windows.

    Verus took a deep breath as he stepped outside. ¡°At least my anxiety is gone.¡±

    He was too angry to be depressed or care what others thought. Verus had no idea where all that anger had come from though. Was it just because the devotary hadn¡¯t given him the answers he wanted or assuaged his guilty conscience? He wasn¡¯t sure. Thankfully, now that he was outside, his anger had died down to a simmering heat that he could control.

    Was he really so angry at the sect and the empire? Maybe he was. They were largely responsible for Warin¡¯s death, and yet he¡¯d been told to trust them and not question their wisdom. That wasn¡¯t going to happen. How could he just accept that his friend¡¯s death was for the greater good and that the elders were acting in everyone¡¯s benefit? Impossible. Verus couldn¡¯t believe that. Almost every elder he¡¯d met had been a cold and indifferent jerk. He couldn¡¯t trust them. Images of Highcloud and Igni¡¯s faces as they fought flashed through Verus¡¯s mind as well. Even most of the disciples of the sect were the same. They appeared to care for no one but themselves.

    Aching inside, Verus walked down the devotary steps and out into the street. He wasn¡¯t sure where he was going, but he couldn¡¯t stay here, and he couldn¡¯t go back and face the sect yet. Not without deciding on what he was going to do. He couldn¡¯t go on pretending things were the same as before. They weren¡¯t.

    Maybe he¡¯d just walk around the city for a while until he cooled down. Logically, he should be trying to find the drunk elder that had promised him a cultivation technique, but after everything that had happened, the idea of begging a sect elder for scraps filled him with revulsion. Also, going back to the temple would be like admitting that he¡¯d never see Warin again. His friend¡¯s room would be empty, and the entire place would be dreadfully hollow without his presence. Really, Warin¡¯s cheerful support was the only thing that had made the sect bearable. Verus fought back a sob. Going back now would mean his friend¡¯s death had meant nothing and had changed nothing.

    The crowds that filled the street quickly pressed in on Verus. He ignored them and just kept walking in a random direction with his head down as he blinked back tears. Maybe living the life of a common mortal wouldn¡¯t be so terrible. At least they were protected and could live simple lives. Under the endless heavens, did anyone ever really accomplish anything anyway? Was the enlightenment worth the pain?

    Momentarily lost, Verus glanced up to check his surroundings. His eyes scanned the crowd and the nearby shops, passing them over without looking them over, but then something caught his attention. His gaze stopped on a figure standing in the middle of the road. At first, Verus was unsure of why this plain man had caught his attention, but then his mind began noticing oddities. The crowds were flowing around the man without looking at him. No one came within several feet of the man, but no one paid him any attention either. Their gazes slid over him like oil over steel.

    The hair on the back of Verus¡¯s neck rose as he realized something was very wrong. He felt danger closing in. He couldn¡¯t describe the figure. None of his features stood out. They were all utterly normal. In fact, they didn¡¯t exist.

    Verus took a step back as the figure turned to look at him. It had no eyes, just a wide smile. The grin was the only part of the thing that seemed real. The rest of its body was a blank slate that reflected the beholder''s expectations back at them, ever shifting and illusionary. Yet, despite the hundreds of people around, no one noticed the inhuman thing among them. It had to be a dangerous spirit of some kind. How was this possible? The capital city had extremely strong wards. Should he get the guards?

    Suddenly, the figure began walking straight toward Verus, and as the crowds flowed out of the way to open a pathway between them, panic overcame Verus. His heart started beating madly in his chest. He instinctively knew that this wasn¡¯t something he could fight. It had an intense depth that made even the demon seem like nothing. It was a hole into eternity through which worlds could vanish. Even worse was the smile, it was a gleeful promise of destruction that made the spirit¡¯s intent clear.

    Spinning around, Verus ran for it. Without really looking to see where he was going, he dove into the crowd and dashed madly away. Behind him, he heard a loud inhuman laugh filled with dark amusement. The sound easily suppressed the noise of the crowd, but no one else seemed to hear it. The spirit was laughing at him! Verus shuddered in dread as he cycled his ki to pick up speed. The need to flee overwhelmed his every other thought.

 Doubt Brings the Whirlwind 3

    Buildings flashed by. Running madly and dodging people and carts, Verus soon found himself in a part of the city he¡¯d never been before. He was at a loss over what to do next, so he nervously stopped to look around. He didn¡¯t hear or see the smiling spirit anymore, so he began catching his breath.

    Where was he? The street here was much narrower, and everything was grimier. There also wasn¡¯t anyone out walking here. It looked like a poor residential area, with squat square homes and lots of dark alley. It wasn¡¯t quite a slum, but it was closer than Verus had expected to find in the capital city. The air was also humid and had a faint taste of salt to it. Had he run toward the harbor?

    Heart still beating heavily, Verus flinched as he heard a faint thud from a nearby alley. Moving quickly, he dove behind a pile of barrels and hid there. He wasn¡¯t sure how much good hiding would do against that smiling thing, but he couldn¡¯t run forever. It had to be some sort of incredibly powerful spirit¡­

    Three figures burst out from out of the shadows of another alley and ran into the center of the empty street before stopping to look around. At first, Verus was relieved to see they were human and wearing normal dull clothes, but then he noticed their masks. A shiver went down his spine as he huddled behind the barrels. Each of the three men was wearing a plain wooden mask. They were smooth with little in the way of features except for a familiar looking mad grin. That couldn¡¯t be a coincidence, these men had to be connected to the spirit from before. Were they looking for him at the spirit¡¯s orders? Verus was in incredible danger if they were. How could something like this be happening in the middle of the imperial capital! It was supposed to be safe from spirits and cultists!

    A sudden realization hit Verus like cold water. Why had he run this way? He should have gone directly to the guard! He¡¯d just been too afraid to think straight. It was very likely he¡¯d been manipulated into fleeing by some sort of fear aura. Now he was alone and helpless.

    Grimacing, Verus tried to supress his spirit as much as possible, so that the men in masks couldn¡¯t sense him.

    The three masked men whispered among themselves for a few moments before turning to run toward another alley. Relief washed over Verus as he saw them move away from his hiding place, but it didn¡¯t last. He flinched back in shock as a spear zoomed out of the alley behind the cultists. It flew straight at one of the masked men¡¯s backs, but he jumped aside, so it slammed into a wall up ahead instead. The spear stuck there in the bricks, vibrating.

    As the masked men spun around, three more figures detached themselves from the shadows. Two of them, a man and a woman, were wearing the leather garments and black face veils that some Telhri tribes wore. They were both also armed with spears and looked ready to use them.

    The third figure was very different. It was hunched over and covered in a long tattered grey robe that completely concealed its body. Despite that, Verus could instantly tell it was the most dangerous of everyone present. His gut twisted from fear the moment he looked at it, even though he could only sense hints of its spirit.

    ¡°You cannot run. Give us what we want!¡± the cloaked figure hissed in a raspy voice that chilled Verus¡¯s blood.

    ¡°You would betray the pact we made?¡± one of the masked men replied. He was standing between his companions and slightly taller than them so he was probably the leader.

    From his hiding place behind the barrels, Verus blinked in surprise. Was it possible they weren¡¯t here for him? What? How could this situation be a coincidence? Could he really simply be this unlucky?

    The hunched over figure chuckled darkly. ¡°The pact between our factions can continue exactly as before, but the Splinterseed will be ours! It was never part of the deal.¡±

    ¡°This is a holy item of our god, you shall not have it, vile demi-human.¡±

    Verus¡¯s heart fluttered from shock as he listened. Deep down, he¡¯d been suspicious of the cloaked figure, but to hear his suspicions confirmed was still disturbing. There was a loose demi-human monster right in front of him!

    ¡°You cannot escape from me. You must now this,¡± the robed demi-human hissed. Verus stared at him with a combination of fascination and horror. What was under that robe? It sounded male.

    The apparent leader of the masked men just laughed. ¡°Who knows what will be when chaos reigns?¡±

    The demi-human growled furiously as it raised a hand to point at the masked men. Its skin was a disturbing dark grey, and its fingers were inhumanly long and ended in jagged black nails. ¡°Kill them and secure the seed.¡±

    The two Telhri warriors charged forward with spears raised at the demi-human¡¯s command. Clubs appeared in two of the cultists¡¯ hands in response, while their leader drew a short sword. As the two groups clashed, they cycled their ki, letting Verus get a feel for their cultivation levels. Every one of them was at least at the Tempered Realm, but they were all still holding back, so it was difficult to tell. This was still a city controlled by the empire, and they wouldn¡¯t dare draw too much attention to themselves.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    The only one who had yet to reveal their power at all was the robed demi-human. As the others fought, it glided toward them at a leisurely pace, as if unconcerned.

    One of the masked men blocked a spear thrust with his club and then blew a cloud of smoke straight in his opponent¡¯s face. However, the spearman simply jumped back and dispersed the smoke with a twirl of his spear. However, the other two masked men had ganged up on the Telhri woman, and the masked swordsman used an afterimage to confuse her as she was distracted by his companion. He then dashed in and slashed her side. Gasping, she fell to the ground as blood spurted from the wound.

    However, the demi-human reached the fight at that moment. As the two masked cultists who¡¯d defeated the Telhri woman turned to face it, the demi-human raised his hands and made a circular motion. Globes of rippling water ki appeared and hung in the air before the creature, but it was nothing like any water ki Verus had ever sensed before. The ki was a blue so dark that it was almost black, and it felt incredibly deep and heavy. It almost seemed to embody some elements of darkness ki.

    The cultists¡¯ weapons hit the water, sunk into it, and then stopped. They were stuck in place. Another wave of the demi-human¡¯s hands then pushed the weapons away, causing the masked men to stumble back as well. Their third companion hesitated and then jumped away from his own opponent to join them. Or at least he tried. As he moved, he stepped on an unseen patch of water ki that the demi-human had put on the ground without anyone noticing. His foot sank into the dark water, despite it being paper thin, and he stumbled. That allowed the spearman he¡¯d been fighting to lunge forward and stab him in the gut.

    The masked cultist gasped and fell to the ground. His allies yelled and jumped forward to help him, but the demi-human just laughed in a raspy voice and warded them off by summoning a twisting pillar of dark water that rose up out of a puddle on the ground.

    This gave the remaining Telhri warrior time to remove his spear from the fallen man¡¯s guts and give him a powerful kick to the ribs. The blow sent the man flying. When he landed, he rolled across the ground, coming to a stop only a few feet from Verus. The young disciple watched with wide eyes as a small wooden chest tumbled out of the cultist¡¯s vest and hit the cobblestones. The chest popped open from the impact and a white pill rolled out. Verus stared at it. The pill radiated a potent energy that shifted through countless mesmerizing colors. It was obviously a cultivation aid of some sort, and it was within his reach.

    Verus glanced towards where the cultists were fighting the demi-human and the Telhri warrior. Dark water surged through the air and splashed across the ground as the cultists defended themselves. They jumped around with agile steps and struck back with their weapons but couldn¡¯t get near the demi-human. Everyone involved looked very distracted, and none of them were looking in Verus¡¯s direction, but still he hesitated. Suddenly, the choices before him were stark and clear, and he needed to make a decision. He couldn¡¯t put it off or feel sorry for himself anymore.

    The pill represented power. If he ignored it and ran while the enemy was distracted, he would be choosing to accept his current fate. Even if he got a cultivation technique, he¡¯d still nothing but another average outer disciple of the Great Wind Sect. His chances of becoming an elder were slim, and he¡¯d have to live with the fact that Warin¡¯s death had meant nothing and changed nothing.

    Highcloud and the other indifferent nobles would continue to surpass him and look down on him from far above. They not only had talent, but also bloodlines and resources that he couldn¡¯t match. He hated them, and he couldn¡¯t deny it anymore. Rage burned within him every time he remembered the smug and indifferent looks on their faces during the final battle in the Reaches.

    Grabbing the pill was most likely suicide though. It would probably attract the attention of the nearby criminals, and they¡¯d tear him apart with ease. Thus, it was a terrible gamble. He¡¯d need to risk everything for power. He¡¯d need to throw everything away in his quest to seize his desires, including his beliefs. That was exactly what he¡¯d just condemned his sect for doing¡­

    All his life, Verus had been taught to be humble and selfless. Resisting temptation was his way of life. It had been beaten into him from a young age by the elders of the sect. They¡¯d preached the words of the Archon, saying that his pure intentions mattered and would be rewarded. They¡¯d cast themselves as the defenders of humanity and the weak. But, in truth, the empire and his sect respected nothing but strength. They were liars and hypocrites that had tried to use him as a tool. They¡¯d let Warin die and hadn¡¯t cared at all.

    Well, Verus had always embraced discipline because it made him stronger. That was his own choice and who he was, but now it was time for him to face the truth. He been fooled into thinking that if he acted the way he was supposed to and was a good outer disciple, then he¡¯d be rewarded by others and things would turn out alright. No, that had just let others abuse him as he wallowed in his own ignorance and complacency. If he wanted something, he had to seize it, and damn the consequences. Escora had shown him that in the Reaches, even if he¡¯d been slow to learn. He had to become the strongest. Only then could he change the way things were and protect that which was most valuable to him. He was nothing without power. Without it, his beliefs and intentions were utterly without meaning.

    The Warrior agreed. It whispered in the back of his mind. Only power would allow him to meld the world to his will, and only enlightenment would grant him the answers he sought. Why was the world this way? Why had Warin died? The Lightbringers couldn¡¯t explain it. However, if he grew in power, he could reach enlightenment. Grow powerful enough, and he could demand answers from God himself.

    Verus reached out to grab the pill.

 Doubt Brings the Whirlwind 4

    The white spherical pill sat on the dirty cobblestones of the street and shimmered with subtle light as Verus¡¯s fingers closed around it. Unaware, the nearby criminals continued their battle. The pill was cool to the touch at first, but it quickly warmed up. With his prize in hand, Verus then quickly tried to scramble back out of sight behind the barrels. However, the pill continued to grow hotter until it was actually painful, causing him to wince. Surprised, he opened his fingers to stare at his shinning prize and was relieved to see that his flesh wasn¡¯t burned. Perhaps holding a potent unknown pill with his bare hands had been a bad idea.

    There was a scream as another cultist fell, leaving only their masked leader still standing. He cursed and retreated. The veiled Telhri and the robed demi-human moved to follow, but then the pill Verus was holding let out a burst of ki. The young disciple flinched in horror as the energy washed over the fighters, causing them to all stop and look in his direction. Uh oh.

    Verus stared back at them, frozen in place. His horror only grew deeper as the pill in his hand suddenly shifted and squirmed. Writhing like something alive, the white sphere elongated into a maggot-like shape and then dug into his hand. A moment later, it was gone, having burrowed into his flesh without leaving a wound. Yet, Verus could feel it slip into his ki channels and began tunneling down his arm toward his core. It hurt a lot, making his muscles lock up in agony. Things had just gone from very bad to doomed.

    The last cultist gazed at Verus for a moment from behind his smiling mask, which totally hid his thoughts and intentions, before taking advantage of his foe¡¯s distraction to disappear. His body simply dispersed in a burst of dark energy, leaving no trace.

    The robed demi-human growled furiously but let him go. Instead, his shadowed face stayed focused on Verus and he began shuffling toward the young disciple.

    ¡°You! What have you done? No one as weak as you could have approached unseen and absorbed the seed! Who are you?¡± the robed figure hissed as it descended upon Verus. The veiled Telhri was right behind him.

    Verus was still frozen in fear and could only stare back slack-jawed. Not only was he facing two dangerous and murderous cultivators with terrifying powers, but he was expecting the thing that had just burrowed into his core to kill him at any moment. Even running wasn¡¯t an option. His entire ki system was spasming and useless, since the thing that had drilled into him was still moving around through his core, digging deeper. It hurt a lot, like a burning iron in his chest, and as a result, his legs were too weak to let him stand. What was happening to his core? Was this some sort of spiritual parasite? That seemed like the most likely possibility.

    Verus was absolutely certain he was about to die. The robed demi-human was like the specter of death itself. He could only watch in wide-eyed horror as the creature reached for him with its inhuman grey hands. There was no escape. The slightest touch from a cultivator at its level was far more than enough to kill him. Jagged black fingernails closed in on his face. It seemed like he¡¯d be reuniting with Warin soon. Hopefully, the Lightbringers weren¡¯t full of shit and Heaven was real. That would be nice.

    Verus blinked in surprise as the demi-human suddenly jumped backwards away from him. What?

    Boom. The cobblestones in front of Verus exploded as something slammed into them from above, throwing him back. There was a blast of wind and a glint of bright bronze catching the light. Then, a figure stood up from the impact site and turned to face the demi-human. Large bronze wings unfolded from its back, making its identity plain. A Seraphim. Hope rekindled within Verus as he gritted his teeth and pulled himself up onto his knees. It was possible he was going to live, although his core could still explode at any time. It certainly hurt like it was about to.

    The new arrival and the demi-human sized each other up. Both were almost impossible to read. One wore a tattered grey cloak that was full of shadows and the other was clad in heavy bronze plate. The Seraphim¡¯s helmet had a mask that completely covered its face and was shaped to resemble a stern yet handsome human face.

    Then, a gravelly voice issued forth from the Seraphim¡¯s mask. ¡°All imperial citizens are to retreat from the area immediately. Dangerous foreign presences have been detected. This is now a combat zone.¡±

    ¡°Bloody fates,¡± the Telhri tribesman cursed. ¡°It must have detected that ki pulse.¡±

    ¡°No matter. This mutilated puppet won¡¯t stand between me and the Splinterseed now that it is right before my eyes,¡± the robed figure growled as it summoned several orbs of dark water and threw them.

    The bronze Seraphim raised its hands and its gauntlets grew to become long gleaming claws. Using them, it slashed one of the water orbs into pieces and dodged another with a flap of its metallic wings. However, the last orb convulsed, and three long tentacles emerged to grab the Seraphim¡¯s arm. It turned to cut itself free with its other claw, but that was when the demi-human struck. It vanished, only to reappear in the Seraphim¡¯s blind spot, and proceeded to stab the Seraphim in the neck with a long, curved dagger.

    The black blade slipped past the Seraphim¡¯s armor and sank several inches into its neck, but that didn¡¯t seem to matter. The Seraphim didn¡¯t even react. Instead, it ignored the wound and spun around to claw at the demi-human¡¯s face. The attack missed as the demi-human jumped back, but the claws caught its hood and ripped it off, revealing the creature¡¯s face.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    Verus gagged in disgust and fear. The demi-human had large saucer like eyes that were completely white and filmy, almost as if it was blind. All of its skin was the same dark grey as its fingers, and it had a slimy sheen to it. The demi-human also had no nose, only two thin slits for it to breathe through. It looked like some sort of horrible mutant fish, and the look was completed by the sharp needle-like teeth that its hateful snarl revealed.

    The Seraphim stepped forward to attack again, but the fish demi-human raised a hand and made a series of complex gestures. Immediately, the Seraphim froze and began shivering as black puss began oozing from its wound. A moment later, there was a loud metallic screech as Verus¡¯s protector collapsed onto the ground.

    Fortunately, that was when two more Seraphim landed on the edge of a nearby roof. One was a familiar bronze color, but the other was a shining silver and held a long sword. Their identical stylized metal masks looked down at the demi-human without emotion, but they were clearly ready to spring into action.

    ¡°Surrender or be destroyed,¡± the silver one announced coldly in the same gravelly voice as the first.

    The veiled Telhri turned to the demi-human. ¡°We have to go! If the Seraphim are here, the guard will already be moving to encircle the area.¡±

    The fish monster glanced at Verus and hesitated, clearly tempted to try and grab him. His mind was made up for him when another bronze Seraphim landed right between him and the young disciple, and it was at this exact moment that Verus¡¯s core stopped roiling. Gasping in relief, he climbed to his feet and began running away as fast as he could. He didn¡¯t look back. He simply dashed away as fast as he could down the street. His core system was still disabled, but enough strength had returned to his legs to let him move.

    Stumbling into an alley to try to evade pursuit, Verus gritted his teeth against the pain and forced himself to keep running. He had to get to safety. Regardless of everything else, he knew he didn¡¯t want to fall into the clutches of that twisted fishman with its soulless eyes. That would be a fate worse than death.

    An explosion went off somewhere in the distance, but it wasn¡¯t nearby, so Verus simply kept running. Soon, he reached an occupied street and slipped out of the alley to join the crowd. Some people stopped to look in the direction of the blast, but most of the citizens ignored it and kept going about their business. Panting in exhaustion and with ruffled and dirty robes, Verus got a few looks, but no one tried to stop him. There also didn¡¯t seem to be any sign of pursuit, from either the criminals or the guard. Thus, Verus¡¯s heart began to slow its frantic pounding. He still felt weak and lightheaded, but he tried to consider his options as he began walking toward the main temple of the Great Wind Sect. Despite his earlier reluctance to go back, he¡¯d feel much safer there than anywhere else.

    As he walked, a flash of color blinded him for a moment before vanishing. Verus lurched to a stop and looked around, but he quickly realized the flash had been in his mind and not real light, so he kept moving. Staying still wasn¡¯t safe.

    Briefly, he considered reporting to the guard, but he quickly discarded that idea. He wasn¡¯t sure he trusted the authorities after everything that had happened, and he had no idea what the thing that had burrowed into his core was. He just knew it was connected to cultists, dark spirits, and demi-humans. It was quite possible the authorities would overreact or punish him for getting involved with such things. The empire came down hard on anything they considered¡­ tainted.

    Another flash of colors hit Verus as his core suddenly shifted. What now? The seed was apparently still doing something.

    ¡°Fear is an illusion. The unbound soul seeks balance,¡± Verus mumbled as he tried to clear his head. He felt detached from his body. Was he really so tired? He needed to fight it and keep moving.

    Medical attention would be great, but Verus quickly decided against visiting the infirmary. He¡¯d already decided to gamble his life for power. They¡¯d have too many questions, and if he passed out, who knew what he¡¯d wake up to? No, if this was a parasite spirit of some kind, he could find a way to remove it at the sect or at a devotary when he was feeling better. They did that sort of thing all the time, and such parasites never killed quickly. There was also the possibility that it actually was some sort of cultivation aide. He¡¯d heard tales of some very odd ones, and it hadn¡¯t killed him yet. From the reaction of the demi-human, the pill did seem to be valuable. Had he called it a Splinterseed? He¡¯d have to look that term up, but quietly. If the seed was valuable, someone might try to steal it.

    As Verus made his way back to the sect, extreme exhaustion washed over him. The feeling was more than physical. He could swear his very soul had grown weary. From inside his core, he could feel a subtle shifting sensation. It was a part of him he¡¯d never really felt before, but now something had torn into it, making it ache. Had the seed actually gone through his core to reach his soul? On one hand, that was good because parasite spirits didn¡¯t do that. On the other, the idea of something altering his soul was terrifying. Souls were supposed to be nearly invulnerable. Normally, only the most powerful beings and artifacts could even detect them.

    The one thing that reassured Verus was the Warrior. It had started to buzz within him, strengthening his resolve, even if it didn¡¯t seem to be struggling against anything in particular. Rather, it was just there in the back of his mind, slowly rising in strength and steadying him. Verus was certain it would be reacting differently if he was dying or truly still in danger. Something like this was to be expected after taking a strange cultivation resource.

    More flashes of color assailed Verus as he walked through the sect¡¯s gate as normally as he could. The two guards on duty gave him a look but let him pass without comment. The flashes seemed to be triggered by the movements in his core, almost like they were being unearthed from within him. Something inside him was being changed. It felt like parts of his very being was being rotated and twisted around. It felt weird and unsettling. Each flash brought waves of muddled emotion with them now. Verus swore there were images and scenes hidden in the colors, like distorted fragments of dreams that he couldn¡¯t make sense of. If this was an effect of the Splinterseed, then it definitely wasn¡¯t a parasite spirit.

    Hurrying to the outer disciple dormitory, Verus stumbled into his room and collapsed onto his bed. He was deathly tired now and feeling quite disoriented. Thinking had become difficult as the flashes of color and emotion had started becoming more frequent. It was mostly meaningless chaos, but Verus felt hints of something more. Like pieces of a puzzle being thrown together again and again until they fit. He didn¡¯t understand it, but he sensed broken connections being reforged.

    As soon as his back hit the bed, Verus felt darkness close in on him. The last thing he experienced before falling unconscious was a sudden series of visions of strange people and places, while the Warrior¡¯s buzz grew louder.

 Doubt Brings the Whirlwind 5

    When Verus awoke the next morning, he opened his eyes to see the familiar sight of his room. Then, he took a moment to assess his own state of mind. He felt like himself. Nothing too dramatic had changed. He was the same young temple ward as always. Yep, there were no eldritch whispers telling him to murder and maim.

    That was slightly surprising considering all the things that had happened to him yesterday, but it was also quite the relief.

    He did remember being assailed by a storm of strangely powerful dreams and nightmares last night, but they were hard to remember and already fading from his memory. He was left with only a vague recollection of strange places, people, and war. He remembered that violence and battle had dominated the dreams. In them, vile monsters and shining heroes had fought and fallen. It had been both horrifying and glorious, even if the details were sketchy.

    As he stared up at his room¡¯s ceiling, Verus tentatively turned his awareness toward his spirit and ki core. Both were intact and seemed to be functioning normally. There was no sign of damage or weakness.

    Verus let out a deep breath as the anxiety and fear he¡¯d been holding in leaked out. It seemed like the seed wasn¡¯t some sort of parasite spirit or poison after all. If anything, he felt slightly stronger than before, but only slightly.

    ¡°Strange,¡± Verus mumbled aloud. What exactly was the seed? If it was a cultivation resource, shouldn¡¯t it have done far more for him? It had seemed very powerful and valuable.

    Frowning, Verus noticed one small change. He could sense the Warrior even though he wasn¡¯t in a fight. The presence wasn¡¯t doing anything though. It was just there in the back of his mind, so he wasn¡¯t concerned. Perhaps it was a little stronger now, but that was it. It didn¡¯t seem like any of the terrible things he¡¯d feared yesterday had come to pass.

    Reaching deeper into himself, Verus tried to study the depths of his own core and see if he could feel his soul. He had very little luck and got nothing but some vague impressions, but he thought he could feel a familiar shape, the pill. It appeared to be inert.

    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m at too low of a Realm to absorb the seed yet,¡± the young disciple mused aloud. That would make sense. The seed was supposed to be powerful and he was already at the end of the Foundation Realm, so he didn¡¯t need more ki.

    Verus¡¯s next move was thus obvious. If he wanted to seek power, he needed to go get his cultivation technique. It was time to track down the drunk elder. Only power would keep him safe from spirits and criminals, allow him to seize his dreams, and make Warin¡¯s sacrifice meaningful.

    Bracing himself, Verus got up and changed out of his dirty and rumbled robes before leaving his room. Elder Caligo had given him instructions on how to contact him. Hopefully, he still planned on honoring his promise and wasn¡¯t passed out drunk somewhere.

    Wasting no time, Verus headed over to the administration office and wrote a message for the elder. It simply stated that he¡¯d acquired a rare attunement and wanted to meet. One of the attendants in the office took the note without comment, leaving Verus with no idea when he¡¯d get a response, so he decided to head over to one of the training yards and work out his anxiety. Staying in his room would be pointless, and an elder would be able to find him without a problem anyway.

    Upon reaching the training yard, Verus began going through a martial art form that involved a series of graceful punches and kicks. As he moved, he closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind. Inner peace was elusive though. Too much had happened, and he was still a storm of emotions. Grief and fear were paramount. Although he was channeling them to drive him forward now, he was still far from comfortable.

    Verus let out a deep sigh and opened his eyes, only to be startled by the sight of a robed man standing right in front of him. Panicking, he stumbled and ended tripping over his own feet in an undignified manner.

    The dark haired elder snorted disdainfully as Verus picked himself off the ground. This was definitely Elder Caligo. His unkempt looks and sunken eyes were distinct among all the elders. Usually they went to great lengths to appear regal and dignified. Elder Caligo gave off the impression that he was too tired to care what anyone thought.

    Verus supressed his irritation and gave the man a quick polite bow. ¡°Apologies, I didn¡¯t expect you to come to me. I was thinking you¡¯d send a servant to summon me, elder¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not someone who enjoys wasting time on unnecessary pomp and ceremony. With my power, it takes me but a few moments to reach you. Sending a servant would take far longer, and I want to get this foolishness over with. Now, what¡¯s this about finding an attunement? I¡¯d almost forgotten about that stupid promise you¡¯d fooled me into making. You¡¯d better not be lying,¡± Elder Caligo said as he peered at Verus suspiciously.

    In response, Verus held up an open palm and summoned as much void ki as he could. The translucent energy rose up like thin shimmering steam. A frown appeared on the elder¡¯s face as he leaned down to study it.

    ¡°Void,¡± the disciple announced proudly.

    ¡°Huh, you weren¡¯t lying after all. That is a rare attunement,¡± the elder remarked as he straightened back up.

    ¡°Does that mean you¡¯ll honor me with a cultivation technique,¡± Verus asked hopefully.

    Rather than answer immediately, Elder Caligo chuckled darkly first. ¡°No.¡±

    The bottom dropped out of Verus¡¯s stomach. ¡°What, why not?¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Apparently, enjoying Verus¡¯s reaction, the elder chuckled again. ¡°I¡¯m afraid your attunement is too rare. I don¡¯t know of any cultivation techniques that would work for that sort of ki.¡±

    ¡°Surely you could get a cultivation technique from someone else or perhaps from a library,¡± Verus suggested desperately. Why did everything always go wrong for him!

    ¡°No, when I said I don¡¯t know of any cultivation technique that would work with this void ki, as you call it, I was being literal. I¡¯ve never even heard of a cultivator of such ki. I doubt any of the great sects on this world have a single cultivation technique for it.¡±

    ¡°How could that be possible? I have it!¡± Verus blurted out. He could barely contain his anger now. This was just too much.

    Elder Caligo rolled his eyes. ¡°How? The odd thing is that you have the attunement, not that others don¡¯t. From what I know, it¡¯s usually only rarely found in spirits. What you call void ki is the frequency of ki associated with emptiness and nothing. People are made from the exact opposite of that! Spirits don¡¯t have a physical body, but you do. Thus, I have no idea how you managed to acquire this attunement. Perhaps it¡¯s a long dormant bloodline of some sort, but regardless, I have no cultivation technique for you nor any way of acquiring one.¡±

    Verus wasn¡¯t going to take this setback lying down. Not anymore. Not after everything that had happened. He glared angrily at the elder instead of backing down. ¡°You promised me a cultivation technique. Are you saying you¡¯re incapable of fulfilling your side of the bargain?¡±

    ¡°Ha! You¡¯re lucky I¡¯m even bothering with an outer disciple like you.¡±

    Verus simply kept glaring until the elder threw up his hands. ¡°Alright! Fine, let me think. There might be something I can do, you impudent whelp. Don¡¯t let anyone say that I don¡¯t keep my word.¡±

    Verus relaxed a little as he let Elder Caligo think for a few moments.

    ¡°There are a few cultivation techniques that work with many different types of ki. One of them might work for you.¡±

    ¡°Generally, those are focused around human ki and are considered weak,¡± Verus pointed out.

    Elder Caligo gave him a look. ¡°They¡¯re better than nothing.¡±

    Standing firm and being aggressive seemed to be working, so Verus stuck with it. ¡°Not if they don¡¯t work. Didn¡¯t you just go on about how void ki is different! Wouldn¡¯t it operate poorly with a technique centered around human ki? I¡¯d only accept such a technique if you could prove it would actually work.¡±

    ¡°What are you going to do, cry? Bah, how did a nobody like you get so picky?¡± The gloomy elder huffed and looked to the side as if considering something. ¡°I suppose I could make some enquiries. Give me a moment.¡±

    The elder than used some sort of movement technique to disappear into thin air, leaving Verus alone. He hadn¡¯t just been abandoned, had he? Could he do anything if he had been? Probably not.

    Verus stood in the training yard by himself for almost half an hour. He considered leaving, but really he had nowhere else to be.

    Thankfully, Elder Caligo reappeared soon after that. He looked annoyed as he studied Verus. ¡°You¡¯re lucky my master isn¡¯t currently in closed cultivation. I was able to converse with her and she seemed interested by your ability to use void ki. She is a collector of the esoteric.¡±

    Verus flinched. The master of an elder could only be a great elder! Things had suddenly escalated to an unimaginable degree. Normally, such a powerful cultivator would never become aware of the existence of someone as lowly as him. He¡¯d never even caught a glimpse of someone on that level before. It was said great elders were thousands of years old and could spend centuries in closed cultivation as they gathered the immense energy needed to ascend through the higher Realms. It was also rumored they could kill with a look and had shed normal human emotions long ago.

    Elder Caligo nodded in satisfaction as he saw Verus¡¯s reaction. ¡°Good, it seems you understand the gravity of the situation. Don¡¯t think you can talk back to my master as you would me.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Verus quickly replied.

    ¡°Very well then. Follow me,¡± Elder Caligo said as he began walking away. He took a swig from his ever-present canteen as he moved.

    ¡°If I may ask, where are we going?¡±

    ¡°To the one of the archives. There are some things there I¡¯ve been sent to collect. Now, be silent and don¡¯t fall behind.¡±

    Verus did as he¡¯d been told, and soon the elder led him out of the outer disciple section of the temple and into one of the areas that was normally restricted to him. The young disciple looked around with interest as they moved. Here there were many buildings he¡¯d never seen before, including several that sat on floating islands of rock. There didn¡¯t seem to be any way up to them, so Verus supposed that the elders simply jumped. They also passed several large wells that were ringed by glyph covered stones. Steady strong winds blew up out of the wells, carrying large amounts of wind ki. There had to be a wind font below the temple somewhere.

    Aside from sect servants in green livery, there were also some elders around. They gave Verus a few looks, which made him feel uncomfortable, but they didn¡¯t approach. Elder Caligo¡¯s presence was enough to assure them that he belonged.

    Eventually, the pair arrived at a building made of heavy stone blocks. It was strong but simple looking, with only a few slit windows. It was also quite small, barely larger than a normal house. After seeing the disciple library, Verus had been expecting an archive for elders to be even more fortified, but he¡¯d also expected it to be much bigger. It looked more like a vault than a full library.

    As they neared the entrance, Verus noticed a pair of stone statues on either side of the doors. They were shaped like warriors in heavy scale armor and standing like they were guarding the building. They were rather plain, so Verus¡¯s eyes moved past them to study the thick wooden double doors of the archive, but then the statues moved. Their heads turned to look at the two approaching visitors. Startled, Verus froze for a moment.

    Somehow, Elder Caligo noticed his reaction and turned to grin in amusement at him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the statues. They¡¯re simple constructs made of stone and empowered by glyph-wrought commands, nothing special. Such toys are only good for standing in one spot, because moving wears them down and consumes far too much ki for them to be practical. Really, they¡¯re just for show.¡±

    ¡°Can they fight?¡± Verus asked as he resumed walking.

    ¡°Not well enough to justify their costs, but they''re certainly enough to squash a trespassing disciple,¡± the elder replied with a snort as he walked past them and pushed the doors open.

    The statues watched Verus as he followed Elder Caligo inside but didn¡¯t move anything other than their heads. A moment later, he was past them and had entered the building. Before him was a long hallway lit by light crystals. The walls and floor were both made from solid stone blocks, like the outside. It gave the place an empty and forbidding feeling that was reinforced by the echoing sound of their footsteps.

    There were a few iron reinforced doors along both sides of the hallway, but the elder ignored them and headed right for a stairwell at the end of the hallway. Looking over the edge, Verus saw a spiraling stone staircase that went down over a hundred feet, revealing why the building was so small. It was mostly underground.

    The pair descended until they reached the sixth level of the basement. There was a solid-looking metal door sealing off the floor, but a wave of the elder¡¯s hand caused it to swing open with a heavy thud.

    ¡°Follow right behind me, and don¡¯t touch anything!¡± the elder ordered in a serious tone as he walked through the door. ¡°Almost everything in here is deadly.

 Doubt Brings the Whirlwind 6

    Verus nodded at the elder in acknowledgement as he increased his pace so that he was right behind the man as they walked through the doorway. There was a long hall with a high ceiling before them, and it was stuffed full of artifacts and other strange objects. It seemed to be some sort of vast collection, and the sight of several of the artifacts took Verus¡¯s breath away. There was everything from full suits of gleaming armor to the preserved skeletons of giant animals that were so huge that they had to be soul beasts. The largest looked liked it had belonged to a wolf the size of a wagon. It was posed as if it was about to leap at someone walking through the doorway, so Verus could see straight into its toothy skeletal maw. Even though it was clearly dead, it was still a frightening sight.

    Racks of weapons were also common in the hall, containing everything from halberds to swords. The edges of every weapon shone in the light of the crystals that lined the walls. There was no way these were normal weapons. Not if they¡¯d been locked away beneath the sect. Every one had to be an artifact empowered by glyphs, or perhaps even loose spirit weapons whose owners had died. All in all, the room contained an unimaginable fortune.

    Elder Caligo didn¡¯t stop at any of the weapon racks. Ignoring the incredible wealth, he continued on to a door against the far wall and into the small room beyond. It was little more than a large closet, but the walls were all lined with shelves that held crystal spheres small enough to fit in someone¡¯s hand. Every sphere glimmered with different subtle colors and radiated a small but noticeable aura of ki.

    ¡°What is this place? What are these?¡± Verus asked breathlessly. He was so overwhelmed by the sights that he¡¯d momentarily forgotten why they were here.

    His guide snorted rudely. ¡°These are what my master sent me here for. They¡¯re sealing stones. This is where the sect keeps some of the less dangerous spirits it has captured, and by less dangerous I mean they aren¡¯t a threat to a great elder or the sect itself.¡±

    Instantly, Verus took a step back toward the door. There were a lot of spheres in this room, enough to contain a horde of spirits. A memory of almost being bitten in half by the lizard spirit that had exuded crippling terror flashed through his mind. Fighting one spirit at a time was bad enough, and some of the ones here were undoubtedly far stronger than anything in the Algorian Reaches.

    ¡°We¡¯re safe enough. Don¡¯t piss yourself, little disciple,¡± Elder Caligo remarked callously as he studied the shelves.

    ¡°What are we doing here?¡± Verus asked.

    ¡°Since the sect doesn¡¯t have a technique that can cultivate void essence, we¡¯ll have to create one,¡± the elder explained as he picked up a sphere and examined it.

    Verus couldn¡¯t keep his surprise off his face. ¡°You can do that?¡±

    Cultivation techniques were usually the product of hundreds of years of development by masters. Many had been passed down for countless millennia. They were incredibly complex and could easily go wrong, so making one up seemed very risky. Even if it worked at first, a single flaw could cripple or kill a cultivator during ascension.

    Elder Caligo laughed. ¡°Me? No, not a chance. However, my master is another story entirely, and we can cheat a fair bit. Just be grateful that you¡¯ve drawn her interest, although you might end up regretting it later.¡±

    The older man then passed Verus the sphere, who reluctantly took it. ¡°Inside this sphere is the only void spirit in the possession of the sect. Apparently, it went on a rampage a few hundred years ago before it was sealed for study.¡±

    Verus stared at the sphere. It was alive and felt vaguely familiar to him. He could feel the void ki within, and it was moving. Cycling around in complex patterns that pulled at his attention. The young disciple felt something very like hunger or thirst all of a sudden. It was like a craving for a favorite drink he hadn¡¯t had in a long time.

    ¡°Even spirits have cultivation techniques. In fact, they are the inspiration for many of the techniques developed by humans,¡± Elder Caligo explained. ¡°By studying this one, we should be able to come up with something useable by you. It probably won¡¯t end up being anything too powerful, but it should work.¡±

    The Elder then led Verus out of the archive and back to the surface, but the young disciple barely noticed his surroundings. His eyes remained locked on the small crystal sphere in his hands as his senses observed the flow of ki within. It was mesmerizing, but also a little scary. There was a will inside of the sphere, and it was hungry. Half of the reason he couldn¡¯t look away from the orb was because he didn¡¯t trust it not to try to eat him.

    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Elder Caligo suddenly announced, breaking Verus out of trance. ¡°The same rules as in the vault apply. You¡¯ll touch nothing and be silent unless spoken to if you know what¡¯s good for you.¡±

    Blinking, the young disciple looked up. They¡¯d walked through the temple grounds and were now standing in front of an impressive looking residence. It was a large manor with a huge yard and an wrought iron fence around it. A cobblestone path led up through the gate and to the front entrance of the home, which was three stories tall and had several wings. The main building alone was larger than the disciple dormitory, and far fancier looking. It was the sort of place he expected nobles to live, but it was right in the middle of the sect.

    ¡°Yes, elder. I will do as you say,¡± the young disciple replied as he stared at the mansion in apprehension.

    ¡°Good. Now come on,¡± the man replied as he began walking up the path toward the manor. ¡°You¡¯ve already wasted enough of my time.¡±

    Verus quickly followed. The front entrance was blocked by a pair of doors. They were massive and looked to be made from ancient dark wood. However, they swung open without a sound as the elder approached, revealing a huge dark hall and a man standing at the threshold. He was an older gentleman with a grey hair and short neatly-trimmed beard. His formal black clothes marked him as a servant, but his stiff posture and steely gaze gave him an authoritative air. Verus¡¯s senses also told him the man was a cultivator.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Elder Caligo, the mistress is expecting you in the western study,¡± the servant said coolly without a hint of deference.

    ¡°Thank you, Beldred,¡± the elder replied neutrally as he and a nervous Verus walked past. ¡°I know where it is, of course, and will leave you to your duties.¡±

    The hall they entered was poorly lit and shadowy. The only illumination came from the heavily curtained windows. There was enough light for Elder Caligo to find his way and for Verus to study the furnishings though. The walls of the hall were lined by portraits. The details of the subjects were hard to make out in the dark, but Verus couldn¡¯t help but feel that some of them were glaring in disapproval at him. It was creepy. Who would live in a place like this?

    The pair went through a doorway and down two hallways. There was no sign of any more servants, only dark rooms and shadows. Some movement did catch Verus¡¯s eye though. Glancing over his shoulder, he briefly saw what looked like a black cloud float into a side room. It had been carrying a pile of blankets, so it had mostly likely been some sort of construct, but it was still spooky.

    The darkness of the mansion seemed almost alive. It may have been Verus¡¯s imagination, but he thought he could sense a faint vibration, like the beating of an unseen heart.

    Another turn brought them to a doorway that led into a small study lined with bookcases. Unlike every other room they¡¯d passed, this one glowed with a flickering light. There was a stone fireplace on the far wall, and flames in the hearth. Before the fire sat several couches that had been placed around a small tea table, and one of the couches was occupied by an old lady with long braided white hair. She was turned toward the fire and hunched over, so Verus couldn¡¯t see her very well, and she didn¡¯t move as they walked into the room.

    Once through the door, Elder Caligo immediately stopped and bowed deeply, clasping his hands before him. ¡°This disciple greets his master.¡±

    Only then did the woman turn to regard her visitors, unleashing her aura at the same time. Her eyes were pitch black, sharply contrasting with her white hair, and her aura hit Verus like a tidal wave of suffocating darkness. It filled the room like a black ocean, and the urge to bow and cower overwhelmed Verus. Against his will, his knees bent, and his breath deserted him. Standing became an impossible feat and he started losing control of his ki. Even the Faithful Soul Ward wasn¡¯t any help. This wasn¡¯t an emotional attack. It was simply the pressure from her ki. This woman was the source of the sensation that filled the mansion, its living heart.

    ¡°Welcome, young Caligo. You may come in,¡± the ancient woman said in a voice that echoed oddly.

    Elder Caligo bowed again. ¡°Master, the young one I brought with me has yet to hit the Tempered Realm and is fragile.¡±

    On the couch, the ancient woman nodded. ¡°Ah yes, I forget myself. It has been so long since I bothered with anyone so lowly and I¡¯ve grown used to not restraining my presence.¡±

    Instantly, the pressure relented, allowing Verus to suck in a breath and stand. He could still feel the old woman¡¯s aura, but now it was stifled and restrained. It hung about her instead of pressing on him. He stared at the floor, afraid to even look at her.

    ¡°Speaking of the lowly, your spirit shows no signs of advancement since we last met in person. I take it your most recent attempt to gain the enlightenment necessary to ascend has also failed? It has been over thirty year now, has it not?¡±

    Elder Caligo grimaced as if in pain. ¡°Yes, master. I¡¯m sorry to disappoint you.¡±

    ¡°Bah, there is no disappointment. Like all the others, you will succeed or die. Perhaps you need stronger motivation. I can have you assigned to a crusade on a foreign world,¡± the great elder told him as she rose up off the couch and walked slowly toward her visitors.

    Verus glanced at her feet. She was wearing slippers and a long grey robe that had several layers. In her hands, she held a bone-white cane that tapped the floor as she moved. And while her presence loomed like a giant, she was actually slightly shorter than Verus.

    ¡°Thank you, but I¡¯m not quite so desperate yet. Let us speak of why I¡¯m here, the matter we conversed about through the linked scrolls.¡±

    The ancient woman glanced down and her black eyes studied Verus. He had to supress a flinch. Meeting her eyes was like staring into a whirlwind of shadows.

    ¡°Yes, I see you¡¯ve brought both the subject and the sealing stone. Its ki is as you said it was. Void in flesh. Interesting. It has been so long since I¡¯ve seen anything so novel. Centuries. But what shall I do with it? Is it worthy? We shall see.¡±

    It took a moment for Verus to realize she was talking about him, and not the sealed spirit. When he did, a shiver went down his spine. It was obvious this great elder considered him nothing but an easily broken curiosity, and she was probably right. He didn¡¯t doubt for a moment that her small form contained power beyond his imagination.

    ¡°What now, master?¡± Elder Caligo asked.

    ¡°Now we test it and see if it has what it takes to survive its claim,¡± the great elder said as she turned back to Verus.

    The grin she threw Verus¡¯s way unsettled him. Itemphasized the wrinkles under her eyes. ¡°So, here you are, young one. A disposable temple ward with no support or family. A tool of the most mundane sort. You¡¯ve even lost your closest friend.¡±

    Verus flinched at the unexpected reminder.

    ¡°Oh, yes. I know everything about you!¡± the crone laughed. It was an unpleasant and grating sound. ¡°I know more about you than you yourself know. I only have one question. Tell me, what do you desire? Do not lie. Tell me the truth. What is it that has brought one such as you here to me?¡±

    The sight of her deep black eyes filled Verus with terror, but he swallowed his fear and forced himself to meet her gaze. ¡°Great Elder, I have decided on my path and will be resolute. Strength is what I desire above all else. Only it will grant me the freedom and answers I need. Test me if that is what you wish. I will not falter.¡±

    The ancient woman chuckled but nodded as if she¡¯d seen what she¡¯d been looking for. ¡°We shall see. Freedom is a lie and the quest for strength never ends. You seem resolute at least, yet I don¡¯t have time to waste on anything but the best. Now give me the sealing stone and let us head to the ritual room.¡±

    Verus immediately did as he was told and dropped the stone in her outstretched hand. That done, the old woman led them out to the hallway in silence. Verus wished he knew why they were going to a ritual room. Several terrifying possibilities occurred to him, but he knew better than to speak without permission.

    The three cultivators headed down a staircase and into a chamber with stone block walls. It was very sparse, with almost no furnishing but a crude wooden table against one wall. The fact that it looked a lot like a dungeon did nothing to reassure Verus, and that wasn¡¯t even the worse part. Someone had scrawled a large ornate circle on the floor using some sort of dark fluid that Verus really hoped was ink. The circle was no simple thing, it contained hundreds of glyphs and twisting lines that were impossible for him to interpret. It was clearly a ritual aid, although Verus had no idea what it was supposed to do. He was really in over his head now.

 Doubt Brings the Whirlwind 7

    As Verus stared uneasily at the ritual chamber in front of him, Elder Caligo waited behind him and the white-haired crone whose mansion he was in stepped past him and into the room.

    ¡°Come in now. Don¡¯t make me wait,¡± she told him snappishly.

    Unsure, Verus decided to try to get some assurances. Events were moving a little too fast for him, but he needed to be both smart and polite about it. The slightest mistake could upset the great elder and bring her wrath down on him.

    Verus walked into the room and gave the ancient woman a deep bow. ¡°Pardon my rudeness, but I¡¯ve yet to learn the name of my gracious host.¡±

    The great elder huffed impatiently. ¡°I am known to many as Lady Nightclaw, but you haven¡¯t earned the right to call me that. Simply refer to me as great elder.¡±

    ¡°As you wish, great elder. I was¡­¡±

    ¡°Take this pill,¡± the ancient woman ordered Verus as she held out her hand. In it was a small dusty red tablet.

    Verus froze. It looked rather plain when compared to the Spinterseed, which was undoubtedly a good thing. Still, his recent experiences made Verus very wary of unknown medicines, but he didn¡¯t have a choice since she¡¯d given him a direct command. He took the pill and swallowed it dry. It didn¡¯t go down smoothly.

    ¡°Now, sit in the center of the circle.¡±

    Verus grimaced sourly but did as he was told. He¡¯d already anticipated this order. Off to the side, Elder Caligo was grinning in amusement at his predicament. The man was very quiet and respectful around his master, but he was obviously enjoying seeing Verus¡¯s own actions cause him to suffer. It was like he held a grudge about being bothered with all this¡­

    The ancient woman nodded at Verus once he was in place. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re wondering what we¡¯re doing here. Explaining this will help the process, so I will. Both the pill and the ritual circle you¡¯re sitting in do similar things. They¡¯re designed to make the essence within your core more malleable and easier to change. This will greatly reduce the amount of time it takes for you to reshape your core. Meanwhile, this room is a cultivation chamber that can draw almost any type of ki from the Heaven and Earth Array, although I had to threaten to consume the souls of several jumped up bureaucrats to get it access to void ki. Any question so far?¡±

    Verus hesitated. Was consuming souls something she actually did? ¡°If I may, Great Elder, all this sounds like it was incredibly expensive. A small fortune. Why are you putting so much effort into helping me?¡±

    The old lady laughed. ¡°Your unique attunement has caught my interest. Like I said before, it is rare for something truly novel to appear in my life. I want to see what I can make of it. Also, most of these preparations are for my benefit. They will speed up an otherwise slow process so that less of my time is wasted.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m humbled by your interest,¡± Verus replied. ¡°However, what about the rest of the sect? Won¡¯t someone complain that you¡¯re giving an unfair advantage to an outer disciple.¡±

    Verus had spent so long fuming about the unfair resources that family scions got that he couldn¡¯t really accept so much aid without feeling at least a little guilty.

    The old lady snorted and waved her hand dismissively. ¡°There are very few people in the sect who can tell me to do anything, and regardless, we¡¯re allowed to do as we wish with outer disciples as long as we don¡¯t damage the process itself or anger other patrons. What I¡¯m doing for you is less help than most family heirs receive over the course of their lives. Perhaps others might think you haven¡¯t properly earned any status you achieve after this, but that¡¯s your problem. I certainly don¡¯t care. Besides, no one will criticize me for investing in a young cultivator at this moment in time.¡±

    Verus nodded in understanding. ¡°The tournament.¡±

    The great elder gave him an amused look. ¡°Yes. Now, that¡¯s enough chatter. Let¡¯s get to the experiment. The first thing we will be doing is reshaping your existing core to better handle void ki. Conveniently, the basic sphere of human ki that you¡¯re using now will only need a few changes. It shouldn¡¯t take long for me to guide you through the process.¡±

    This didn¡¯t entirely make sense to Verus, and the ancient lady noticed the confused look on his face.

    ¡°Without proper preparation, attempting to create void essence in your core would destroy it and kill you. It is not a type of ki that would normally suit a living being, so we must isolate it from your body using a less dangerous sort of ki. For this we will use a shell of human essence with threads of devotion to act as a seal. These threads should also help you defend yourself from mental attacks. Now, you already have a shell of human ki, but it is set up to contain pressure from within. Void ki is different, as you have already realized. Rather than push outward, it will pull on the shell. Your core must thus be reinforced to withstand such forces. Understand?¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    Verus nodded. Her words made sense to him. In the Heavenly Empire, many cultivation techniques incorporated small amounts of devotion essence.

    ¡°Good, then let us begin,¡± the great elder said before walking behind Verus and placing her wrinkled hands on his shoulders. ¡°Close your eyes and focus on everything I tell you.¡±

    Verus stiffened anxiously at her touch. Although her hands were small and she was being gentle, they seemed to press down on him with a heavy spiritual weight. The depth of the power within her form was simply so great that he couldn¡¯t help but feel it. The ancient lady¡¯s small hands could effortlessly and utterly destroy him.

    With physical contact, the great elder was able to sense Verus¡¯s ki with great clarity and even guide him through the complex ki circulation exercises necessary to alter the essence in his core. The flow of ki through his entire body had to be altered and controlled precisely to do it right. The process was made much easier thanks to the ki that began to stream into the cultivation room, a mix of human and devotion.

    Eventually, Verus fell into a sort of trance, where his mind was turned inward, and he automatically responded to the great elder¡¯s voice. He completely lost track of time while he was in this state but snapped out of it when his guide remarked on something other than his internal ki flow.

    ¡°Hmm, this is happening even faster than I thought,¡± Lady Nightclaw remarked casually an hour later. ¡°You have a gift for complex ki circulation, and your core is oddly malleable, even considering the effect of the pill and the ritual circle.¡±

    Verus said nothing and tried not to show any reaction. He suspected the Splinterseed was responsible. It had drilled through his core and into his soul without leaving a trace. That meant it could change and heal his essence.

    The seed was valuable and mysterious, so it was best to keep it a secret if she couldn¡¯t sense it already. It was hidden in his soul. However, he had no illusions of his ability to lie to a great elder if she asked him a direct question. Her eerie black eyes would see through him instantly.

    Thankfully, the elder wasn¡¯t suspicious of him and didn¡¯t press the subject. They simply continued working together to reshape his core.

    What felt like hours later, the great elder finally stepped back away from Verus. ¡°That¡¯s enough. The outer shell should be strong enough now.¡±

    ¡°Should?¡± Verus mumbled as he swayed and slumped forward. Focusing on his ki circulation for so long had taken a lot out of him. He didn¡¯t see Elder Caligo around, so the man must have slipped away earlier.

    ¡°I have no records of anyone ever doing this before,¡± the great elder replied.

    That wasn¡¯t very comforting.

    ¡°What now?¡± Verus asked as the ancient cultivator walked over to the door.

    ¡°Now, we¡¯ll be taking a break. Eat and refresh yourself,¡± the old woman told him before leaving the room.

    A moment later, Beldred, the manor¡¯s black-robed servant stepped through the door with a platter of food. Verus took an apple when it was offered to him, and then politely asked to use the restroom. After the servant had escorted him there and back, he finished eating the food on the platter.

    ¡°Excuse me, but how long have I been here?¡± he asked the grey-haired older man.

    ¡°Your visit has been just under forty hours so far. If you need to sleep, I can take you to a guest room. The mistress should be busy for a while yet.¡±

    A tired groan escaped from Verus. That was much longer than he¡¯d expected. He must have really fallen into a trance. It was a good thing that as a cultivator he had a powerful constitution and was used to meditating for long periods of time.

    Reshaping his core had taken a lot of time and effort, despite all the aids and the minor nature of the changes so far. Well, building your core was usually something that took years, so he supposed he should be grateful it hadn¡¯t taken far longer. He had missed some classes though. He hoped they hadn¡¯t covered anything too important.

    After asking to see the guest room, which turned out to be far nicer than his dormitory with very soft beds unbefitting an ascetic, Verus had a two hour-long nap before the servant woke him up and escorted him back to the ritual room. The ancient great elder was already present, although there was no sign of Elder Caligo.

    ¡°It¡¯s time to move on to stage two, get back in the circle,¡± she told the young disciple.

    While Verus obeyed, she explained what they would be doing. ¡°Now that your outer shell has been reinforced, we can move on to actually attempting to create void essence. To do this, you will need to copy the technique of the captured spirit you retrieved. I¡¯ve taken a look at its internal cycling, and it isn¡¯t particularly complex. Thus, you should be able to manage it.¡±

    The great elder then handed Verus the sphere contained the sealed spirit and told him to try to feel the contents of the orb. Seated on the floor, the young disciple grimaced at the small orb in his hands. This step seemed far more dangerous and difficult than the first.

    ¡°Now, I will weaken the seal so that the spirit emerges and becomes more active,¡± she said as she walked behind Verus again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll supress it enough to protect you. Simply focus on observing its ki and reflecting everything it is doing within yourself. Sympathy is the key. Lose yourself in the flow.¡±

    Verus gulped fearfully but nodded. This definitely sounded dangerous. There was no way it was safe to be so close to a hostile spirit. He was basically going to close his eyes and hug it while it rampaged and lashed out against the people trying to restrain it.

    The great elder didn¡¯t warn Verus before starting the process. The crystal sphere in his hands simply flashed as the spirit within began to emerge. Rather than close his eyes, Verus flinched back and stared at it with wide eyes. Right in front of him, the specter rose from the orb. It was hazy cloud of nigh-invisible ki that quickly grew to the size of a person before gaining seven long tentacles. The alien spirit radiated a dreadful hate as its tentacles shot toward Verus¡¯s face, its very nature rejecting the world around it.

 Doubt Brings the Whirlwind 8

    Verus flinched back as the tentacles reached for his face, but then the attacking void spirit spasmed and froze in place as if something invisible had grabbed it tight.

    ¡°I have it. Close your eyes and focus on your task,¡± Lady Nightclaw told him in a cold commanding voice as the cultivation chamber began to fill with void ki that had been gathered from the Heaven and Earth Array.

    It took a moment for Verus to calm down enough to obey, but after giving the spirit above him one last suspicious glance, he closed his eyes and reached out with his senses to study the captive specter. Despite being sealed for who knew how long, it was very much alive and far more powerful than him. The Great Elder was holding it in place though, and she was undoubtedly extremely powerful, so Verus pushed his senses deeper into the spirit in an attempt to find its core.

    This was a creature of void ki. He could learn much from it. Even when held firm, the void ki within the spirit cycled through its form in endless loops, and at the heart of the being was its core, a sphere made from dense void essence. The spirit shivered as Verus¡¯s awareness slipped into its core, but the young disciple didn¡¯t attack. He was here just to observe and learn.

    Despite its power and strange nature, the spirit¡¯s core was a surprisingly simple thing. There was a thin shell of void essence around an empty space with a dense marble of void essence at the center. It was strange. The marble seemed to be amplifying and producing void ki, but the negative energy created nothing. Instead, it destroyed whatever specks of matter entered the core, which in turn seemed to be producing a powerful suction which pulled on the outer shell of the core. This pull also agitated the void ki within the core, almost like it was feeding it.

    Disconnected from his body, Verus¡¯s consciousness floated inside the spirit, feeling the movements of its ki as if it were his own. The spirit¡¯s ki called to him and harmonized with the tiny amount of void ki his own core produced. Round and round the void ki went. It was drawn into the spirit¡¯s form, cycled through its ki system and then absorbed by the essence in its core to fuel its growth, for this essence could in turn be used to control and create more ki.

    Hours went by as Verus lost himself in the strange twisting patterns of void ki and how the spirit built its core. As understanding slowly came to him, he copied the patterns as best he could, and finally began creating a marble of void essence at the center of his core that mimicked that of the spirit.

    As void ki flooded into the essence shell he¡¯d created earlier, it annihilated the human ki already in there, sending a cold shiver down Verus¡¯s spine and throwing his internal ki flow into chaos. He persisted, drawing in ever more void ki and using the patterns of the spirit to condense the ki into a simple marble of void essence. It took quite a lot of trial and error, but the great elder was there to guide him. With her hands on his shoulders, she could not only give him advice but also directly nudge his ki.

    The birth of this strange essence caused Verus¡¯s core to shudder and change once again. The outer shell trembled as a strong force began trying to pull it in and tear it apart, but it held. Several minutes later, Verus managed to stabilize the tiny marble of void essence. It would no longer collapse without his attention, so Verus opened his eyes and took a deep gasping breath. He needed a break.

    ¡°Good! Good. I don¡¯t think we need this spirit any longer,¡± the Great Elder said as an unseen force forced the spirit floating before Verus back into its sealing stone.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve got the technique for creating void essence down,¡± Verus remarked.

    The great elder walked in front of him and nodded. ¡°Yes, the basic pattern of your cultivation technique and path has taken shape, young one. Truthfully, it isn¡¯t much, but your new core will at least allow you to control large amounts of void ki and use void enlightenment to ascend. There is still much you must do though.¡±

    Verus smiled as he listened. Despite her negative tone, he was beyond proud of his accomplishment. Learning to create void ki was a huge step forward for him.

    ¡°From now on you will stay in this chamber and continue to cultivate void ki until your void essence reaches its limits. The amount you have now is pitiful and won¡¯t take you to the Tempered Realm. Once you¡¯ve done that, you will need to develop an actual cultivation technique that grows both your void essence and the essence of your shell at the same time, for your core will be destroyed if it becomes unbalanced.¡±

    Since she was no longer needed after that, the great elder took the spirit and left Verus alone to cultivate void ki. Even with the cultivation chamber, another medicinal pill, and his outer shell already in place, this wasn¡¯t a fast process. It took over a week for Verus to build up his void essence to a proper level. Thankfully, he was allowed to stop to eat and sleep in the guest room.

    With his cultivation done for now, Verus took a moment to experiment with his new power. The void essence and ki contained within his core greatly increased his ability to produce and control void ki. His pulling and sticking technique was many times stronger, allowing him to use it on objects as heavy as a thick tome.

    There were still problems though. The void ki didn¡¯t mingle with human ki very well. Unless tightly controlled, the two destroyed each other when they mixed, so it was very difficult to use both at the same time.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Verus threw a punch and channeled void ki through his arm. The void ki did little to boost his strength and the ki emitted from his fist still only created a weak explosion that was too soft to hurt anyone. He really needed some better techniques. Was he going to have to develop those by himself as well?

    ¡°Enough with that foolishness. Get back into the circle,¡± the great elder announced as she stepped into the room.

    Verus blushed sheepishly and dropped his arm as he turned to face her. Surprisingly, Elder Caligo had also come in behind her. Verus hadn¡¯t seen him since his first day in the manor, over a week ago.

    The first thing that the great elder did once Verus was back in the circle was help him combine his essence creation techniques into one proper cultivation technique. While this was happing, Elder Caligo was observing and writing on a scroll.

    Once they were done, the gloomy man gave Verus an polite nod. ¡°Congratulations, young disciple. You¡¯ve actually managed to create a cultivation technique of your own. Very few cultivators ever perform such a feat, for rare are the seekers of immortality who dare leave the beaten path.¡±

    Surprised by the unexpected praise. Verus beamed proudly back. ¡°Thank you, elder. Your praise and support mean a lot to me.¡±

    Lady Nightclaw snorted rudely. ¡°A laudable feat to be sure, but only academically. Most cultivators possess a much more powerful cultivation technique than the one you¡¯ve managed to come up with.¡±

    ¡°Is it really so weak?¡± Verus asked sullenly as he got up to stretch his stiff muscles.

    ¡°Yes. The outer shell will aid your human ki and devotion abilities somewhat, but it will need maintenance and grant you no special abilities beyond protecting you from the void ki within it. Your void essence structure is also incredibly simple and thus grants you no special benefits either. Similarly, the crude nature of your core makes its efficiency average at best.¡±

    Verus grimaced. It was true that most the other techniques he knew about, like the Path of Imperial Might or the Path of Gathering Storms, granted their users powerful abilities. His new void technique did no such thing.

    ¡°Is there no way to improve it?¡±

    The old lady nodded, which caused loose strands of long white hair to fall across her face. ¡°Of course, there are at least three I can think of. First, find a master of void ki to help you. Second, slowly master void ki and improve it yourself over hundred of years using trial and error.¡±

    Verus deflated. Neither of those options were possible or helpful for him. Why did his attunement have to be so rare? ¡°What¡¯s the third option?¡±

    Elder Caligo and his master exchanged a quick look.

    ¡°The third option is why we¡¯re here, and also the only reason I agreed to help you with this foolish quest of yours in the first place,¡± the great elder explained as she smiled coldly at Verus, sending a shiver down his spine. ¡°When a cultivator is ascending to the Tempered Realm, it is possible for them to undergo something known as true tempering. This process allows them to gain special insight into ki that can be used to improve their cultivation.¡±

    Verus was instantly suspicious. ¡°And you think I should do this?¡±

    ¡°The downside is that it makes ascending more difficult and thus more dangerous. For most cultivators, this is a poor trade-off. Their techniques have been honed for generations after all, which isn¡¯t the case for you. True tempering is the only thing that will allow you to bring your technique to an adequate level.¡±

    ¡°What do I have to do?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s actually rather simple. During your ascension, after seizing control of the ki that will attempt to destroy you, don¡¯t absorb it right away. Instead, you must use your enlightenment to connect to the eternal plane and empower your ascension. To do this, a cultivator must possess an unusually strong spiritual understanding of the element they are attempting to use.¡±

    That sounded more than a little vague to Verus, especially since he had no doubt that anything that complicated an ascension would be dangerous. ¡°And you think I can do this?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice, but don¡¯t worry yourself too much. I sensed that you had a strong spiritual insight into your ki the moment I first saw you, almost as if you touched upon the eternal before.¡±

    Verus had done so, and he¡¯d barely survived the experience. ¡°Great one, I apologize, but I do not understand why you want me to do this.¡±

    ¡°Because you¡¯re useless to me otherwise,¡± Lady Nightclaw explained as she gave him a cold look with her disquieting black eyes. ¡°After sinking so many resources into you, others will naturally associate us, so you must be the best. Anything less would be an insult to me, and won¡¯t be tolerated. You will draw out your full potential using true tempering, or you will die. Regardless, isn¡¯t that what you want? Did you not say you would do anything for power?¡±

    Verus managed to keep his face neutral and not show his displeasure. This was exactly the sort of behaviour he¡¯d come to expect from the sect, merciless and selfish. She wasn¡¯t wrong about his choice though. If true tempering was what he needed to do to become stronger, then he¡¯d put his life on the line and do it. That was his resolution.

    ¡°I shall do my best to uphold your expectations,¡± Verus replied as he gave her a small formal bow.

    The great elder normally wasn¡¯t one to wait on other people, but she knew better than to push Verus directly into ascending without a break. Thus, he was given the rest of the day off to rest and exercise in one of the manor¡¯s gardens. It was a small private courtyard lined by tall hedges.

    As Verus walked to and from his room, he carefully kept to the areas he¡¯d been told he could access. He didn¡¯t see any sign of his host or Elder Caligo, and he only caught occasional glances of the butler and the shadow constructs that seemed to maintain the building. From what he could see, the entire manor was an empty, dark, and forbidding place.

    The next morning, Verus was awakened by the butler, who promptly escorted him out of the guest room and back to the ritual chamber. Elder Caligo and his master were already there, waiting. The white-haired ancient woman¡¯s pitch-black eyes stared intently at Verus as he walked to the center of the ritual circle without being told. Immediately, a flood of ki began streaming into the chamber via the inbuilt array. It was mostly void, but there were hints of human and devotion as well.

    Taking a deep breath, Verus steeled himself and met the great elder¡¯s disturbing gaze. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±

    ¡°Good. Then, prepare yourself for ascension,¡± she replied with an expectant smile. ¡°Heaven itself will judge your worthiness and either reward your efforts or destroy you utterly.¡±

 Doubt Brings the Whirlwind 9

    ¡°Remember, young one. You must use the ki you seize to touch the eternal plane and draw out a deeper insight into void ki,¡± Lady Nightclaw explained. ¡°Simply absorbing it won¡¯t be enough. Once it is yours, hold the ki away from you and reach through it for insight as long as you can. It won¡¯t be a comfortable process, but the longer you hold out, the deeper your understanding of void ki will grow and the more advanced your cultivation technique will become.¡±

    Verus nodded in acknowledgment as he stood in the center of the ritual circle. He then sat down, closed his eyes, and crossed his legs so that he was in a meditation position. With his hands cupped on his lap, he disregarded the outside world and focused on his internal ki. He¡¯d been preparing for this for a long time, and now it was time to ascend to the Tempered Realm. Only then would he have caught up to the geniuses among his fellow outer disciples.

    The great elder kept talking in a soothing voice. ¡°What is ki? Although ki is drawn forth by many living things on this world, it is ultimately a form of energy from a higher dimension. Many people, even some foolish cultivators, confuse it with natural energy such as heat, but that is ignorance of the highest order. Ki is from the eternal plane, and it is always connected to it, even after being drawn into the physical plane. Thus, all ki has at least some ability to control space and reality. Many high level techniques depend on this function of ki, and so does true tempering.¡±

    As he listened, Verus started cultivating using the new technique he¡¯d put so much effort into creating. Breathing deeply and drawing in ki from his surroundings, he cycled it through his ki channels in very specific patterns before drawing into his core. The human and devotion ki danced across the surface of his core¡¯s outer shell before being absorbed, but the void ki was drawn deeper. It joined the pool of void ki that surrounded the single orb of void essence at the very center of his core. Slowly, that void ki whirled and spun as it began transforming into essence.

    Verus¡¯s core was already at the maximum capacity for his Realm, so creating more essence was difficult and unstable. Thus, something else began happening instead. His core began vibrating. Rather than continue trying to produce more essence, Verus focused on intensifying that feeling, and soon the ki within him began resonating with the ki around his body. More and more ki started being drawn to him, gathering around his body like a vortex. Larger and larger the haze of energy grew, until it was like he was deep within a spinning lake of power. It blocked out the world, enveloping him.

    That didn¡¯t last. One second the power was spinning around him gently, then the next, it slammed into him with startling force. Despite being ready for it, Verus flinched as he fought to prevent himself from being crushed by the furious power.

    Void dominated the hostile ki, and it descend on Verus like a hungry and terrible maw. The energy bit into his skin, twisting and lashing about. He could feel it attempting to undo him, to tear him apart until he was nothing. Even worse, he suddenly couldn¡¯t breath. There was no air. Verus clenched his jaw shut as he struggled to continue his cultivation technique without being able to breathe. It wasn¡¯t easy and it felt wrong. His insides twisted uncomfortably as he cycled. He needed to get this done quickly.

    If Verus¡¯s cultivation faltered, the void ki would utterly destroy him. Thus, he desperately focused on trying to claim the cloud of ki as his own.

    The ascension to the Foundation Realm was about becoming one with the world to gain the ability to understand and manipulate ki. Next, the ascension to the Tempered Realm was about exerting your will to prove you could withstand the power you were attempting to use. So, that was what Verus did.

    Still sitting, Verus frantically fought to show that he was stronger than the ki and wouldn¡¯t be destroyed by it. However, simply repelling it wouldn¡¯t be enough. He had to use his insight into the ki to form a connection with it first. He had to demonstrate that he understood the void.

    Thus, as his lungs burned, Verus meditated on the nature of nothing as he reached out to become one with the energy around him. What did he know of the void? It was emptiness and it was hunger. He could hear it. You don¡¯t belong, it seethed hatefully to him. You are made of flesh and not of us. We will destroy you utterly and devour you. The void rejected creation itself, tearing everything apart in an endless effort to bring peace and silence.

    Verus understood this instinct. It was his desire too. All his life he¡¯d fought to gain peace. He¡¯d wanted to belong somewhere comfortable, because he¡¯d never been comfortable with himself. The complicated nature of the world and other people scared him, so he¡¯d taken solace in ritual and discipline. His quest for peace and belonging was why he¡¯d tried so hard to become an elder. They had the power to master themselves and the world around them, more than anyone else Verus could imagine. They had respect and a stable role. That¡¯s what power meant to him, peace.

    It would never be his though. Not truly. Verus understood this now, and he sensed this understanding reflected in the nature of the void. As he could never totally shed his grief and guilt over Warin¡¯s death, the void would never erase all matter. The endless heavens were infinite. Creation had already been born, and you could never go back.

    The void was a paradox. It was peace and it was silence, but it was also an endless hunger that would never be quenched. It was pain, terrible pain.

    Reaching out, Verus used his newfound understanding to seize control of the seething energy around him. It stilled, halting its assault on him because it no longer saw him as alien and out of place. He was of it now. He understood.

    This allowed Verus to take a much-needed breath, but it wasn¡¯t enough. His core wanted to drink the gathered energy, but he held it at bay. He was like a man dying of thirst staring at a well, but the great elder¡¯s instructions had been very clear. He needed more. To get the power he craved, he would have to undergo a true tempering, which meant using the ki around him to increase his connection to the eternal plane.

    He could feel it already. Deep within his core lay the path. Every cultivator was connected to the eternal, especially during an ascension, when they were transforming themselves using its power. It was a connection Verus recognized now thanks to his trip through the mirror, and he hungered for what lay on the other side. More power. He knew it was there and he craved it. What was before him wouldn¡¯t be enough.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Reaching deep within himself, Verus imposed the resonance within his core upon the cloud of ki around him. It vibrated in response, deepening with new insight that empowered it. This made it harder to control, but Verus pressed on. He would not be denied.

    All physical feeling slipped away from Verus, only to be replaced by a floating sensation. Unsurprised, he opened his eyes to see a familiar scene. It was the endless grey expanse he¡¯d encountered at the end of his trip into the eternal plane. Here void ki reigned. It was a place of empty nothing and incredible silence that seemed to go on forever, like a remnant of a time before creation. The only thing that existed was the invisible energy known as void ki, and even that was more of a possibility of something to come than an active force. Nothing could only be defined in contrast. Lacking anything to react with, the void ki lay inert, barely existing.

    Or at least, that had been the case. As Verus¡¯s presence intruded into the eternal plane, the void ki awoke. The energy resonated with his core, becoming a seething chorus that filled Verus¡¯s mind. Void ki began to swirl around him, full of insight and intent, like it had back in the physical world. The young disciple welcomed it as he reached for the knowledge it offered into the nature of the void. Soon, it became too much for him though. Each new glimpse of insight caused him pain and the gathered ki began to rebel against him. He had to fight to hold on to it. How much was enough? Should he stop and be happy with what he had. No! That was the mistake he¡¯d made before, and it had cost him dearly. Instead, Verus steeled himself and cast his senses out to encompass as much ki as possible.

    This was how he became aware that he wasn¡¯t alone. Something swam in the currents of ki, an invisible watcher without true form. Like the ki from which it had been born, it had long lain dormant, incomplete. Now, thanks to Verus¡¯s presence, it lived. The young disciple didn¡¯t sense any hostile intent, only curiosity. In fact, he had felt this presence here before, during his last visit. It had to be a spirit, a native of the eternal plane.

    The spirit grew stronger and more defined as it basked in Verus¡¯s being. Then, it reached for him, offering its insights in return for his offering. Verus accepted. The spirit was a creature of the void and it had great knowledge of the ki from which it had been born.

    Enlightenment dawned on Verus, and the way his ki cycled through his body began to change. He now realized how flawed his crude attempts to use void ki had been. Even the way he¡¯d been creating essence had been deeply wrong. Here in the eternal void, and with the spirit¡¯s help, he could do so much better.

    With new direction, void ki rushed through Verus¡¯s body, swirling around the sphere of void essence at the center of his core. This ki sang with insight and intent as it began transforming the essence, imbuing it with its own enlightenment. The sphere darkened to a deep black, then it cracked apart and fell in on itself, becoming nothing again, one with the eternal void around it. Paradox. A painful absence longing to be filled, a dedication to purity, and a restful final peace that would one day come. Promise. Purpose.

    Slowly, Verus¡¯s consciousness returned to his body. Around him, the ritual chamber seethed with void ki as his body finished his ascension to the Tempered Realm.

    <hr>

    Elder Caligo stood in the doorway to the ritual chamber, behind his master. Both of them had retreated before the rising tide of void ki. The strange power now filled the entire ritual chamber, like a still pool of terrible silence. It was invisible to the naked eye, but its presence couldn¡¯t be ignored. Of course, neither of the watching elders were threatened by such low levels of ki, but they didn¡¯t want to interfere in the ascension.

    There was a surprised look on the pale unkept man¡¯s face as he studied the scene before him. ¡°Is that a domain?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± the ancient woman that was his master answered. ¡°The whelp is using the ki around him to draw not only his own consciousness into the eternal, but also the surrounding space itself.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not an ability someone at the Tempered Realm should have.¡±

    ¡°It is certainly a surprise. What an odd young man you¡¯ve brought to my door. I sense he has hidden depths that have yet to be revealed. You will have to watch him carefully, I think.¡±

    ¡°But I still don¡¯t understand how the domain is being created.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm, unsurprising. You¡¯ve never been one for studying anything that didn¡¯t excite you. I suspect the domain is a sign not only of the incredible depth of his enlightenment and will, but also a function of void ki itself. As a form of negative ki, it naturally seeks to draw its opposite in and either seal or destroy it. It¡¯s just that in this case, that opposite is matter itself. Thus, a crude domain is born as he pulls everything around him into the eternal plane.¡±

    Elder Caligo nodded in understanding and the two of them continued to watch Verus ascend without comment for several more minutes. Both of them had never seen anything quite like it. The young disciple¡¯s core burned brightly in their spiritual sight as it sucked in massive amounts of the strange void ki. The energy flashed with alien insight, whispering incomprehensible truths about its nature. Neither knew what to make of it.

    With a thoughtful frown on his face, Elder Caligo studied Verus¡¯s unmoving form. He wanted to take a drink from his flask but restrained himself since he knew his master wouldn¡¯t approve. He didn¡¯t care what his peers thought, but none of them could get him sent on a crusade.

    The young temple ward that had guilted his way into Caligo¡¯s life was an odd little cultivator. In most ways, he was an incredibly stereotypical temple ward, from his bald crown to his deferential attitude. It was obvious that his master was correct about the lad having hidden depths though. Elder Caligo had looked into the young ward. Not only was his attunement mysterious, but he also frequently displayed great skill at ki manipulation. He could use fairly advanced techniques after only a bit of practice. Most of his peers who used similar techniques were family scions who¡¯d practicing them long before arriving at the sect. This ability also showed itself when it came to absorbing ki. Most cultivators had obvious limits, but Verus could absorb external ki with startling speed. He was either a true genius, or something else was going on. It was possible, but extremely unlikely, that the young ward¡¯s soul had somehow¡­

    ¡°You follow sect politics, is that old bastard Fortex sponsoring anyone at the moment?¡± his master suddenly asked.

    Elder Caligo¡¯s smirked subtly. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t care about such things.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t like he cared much for politics, but he wasn¡¯t a complete recluse like his master. He couldn¡¯t afford to be.

    ¡°Answer the question, boy!¡±

    The gloomy man sighed. ¡°Yes, I believe he¡¯s supporting a descendant of his that he hopes will distinguish himself and his family in the upcoming tournament.¡±

    ¡°Is that so¡­¡± the old woman mused as a malicious smile appeared on her face. ¡°That fool is far too concerned with family and bloodlines. Such things matter little in the end. You never know where talent will pop up, and all but the most powerful bloodlines only provide cultivators with a head start, which can lead them straight to a dead end. Will conquers even blood, and real power must be seized, not given.¡±

    Suddenly, an odd twist of ki within Verus¡¯s body caught Elder Caligo¡¯s eye. It looked like some of the human ki in his body had revolted and shifted as something else mingled with it.

    The man¡¯s eyes went wide in alarm. ¡°Master! Is that¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± the ancient woman hissed back in a distressed tone. She was already gliding toward where Verus was meditating. Wisps of darkness escaped her billowing dress as a pair of insubstantial black arms appeared from her back. One of the shadowy hands held a long needle while the other was clutching a small pot.

    ¡°We must stop this right away!¡± her disciple replied.

    ¡°Do not worry. I will contain the aberration,¡± Lady Nightclaw replied as her shadowy spectral hands reached for Verus.

 Doubt Brings the Whirlwind 10

    Verus slumped forward in exhaustion as his core finally calmed down. It no longer hummed with uncontrollable power and overwhelming insight. He¡¯d been overwhelmed by his ascension and completely lost track of both time and his surroundings, but now his thoughts were coming together. Had something happened? He felt both powerful and like he¡¯d been kicked in the chest by a horse.

    Opening his eyes, Verus looked up and glanced around. He was still in the stone ritual room under the great elder¡¯s mansion, which was where he¡¯d expected to find himself. That was good. It didn¡¯t seem to have changed at all either, although there was one surprise. Elder Caligo was standing not too far away and gazing at Verus with gloomy eyes peeking out from beneath his unkept hair. What was he doing here? Had he been there the entire time Verus had been ascending? Or, had he somehow shown up at the last minute?

    ¡°Congratulations on your ascension, young one. Relish the feeling while you can. Every one might be your last. Can you stand?¡± the elder asked.

    ¡°Thank you for your concern. I¡¯m grateful for your attention, elder,¡± Verus said as he slowly pulled himself to his feet. He was quite surprised at the man¡¯s concern. He didn¡¯t seem like the type to care.

    Elder Caligo¡¯s dark eyes narrowed as he leaned forward to study Verus. He didn¡¯t offer to help though. ¡°You had a difficult and complicated ascension, so it was decided that someone should watch over you until you were done.¡±

    Ascension. A grin appeared on Verus¡¯s face as the realisation finally hit him. He¡¯d ascended. He was at the Tempered Realm now. Closing his eyes again, he focused his senses on his own spirit. His ki flowed through his body with far more power than ever before and his core felt heavier and deeper. Even the way his ki flowed was different, more complex. Was that a result of the true tempering? Had the gamble worked?

    Suddenly, there was a faint rustling noise, like blowing cloth, as the Lady Nightclaw swept into the room. The diminutive old woman¡¯s deep black eyes were locked on Verus as she glided right up to him.

    ¡°Your ascension contained quite a few surprises, whelp. Take a look at your hands.¡±

    Frowning, Verus raised his arms and glanced at his hands like he¡¯d been told. At first, he saw nothing out of place, but as the sleeves of his robes fell, rings of black around his wrists became visible. Surprised, Verus blinked and looked closer. A complex pattern of twisted black lines encircled both his wrists like bracelets. Inscribed on his skin, they looked like tattoos.

    ¡°What are these?¡± he asked anxiously. Had he been marked with some sort of spell? The tattoos did somewhat resemble shackles. The idea of being bound by a great elder was terrifying. Was she going to force him to do something terrible?

    The two elders exchanged a meaningful look, and then the great elder frowned. ¡°Your ascension and enlightenment were unexpectedly powerful. As a result, you almost lost control of your ki and suffered a mutation to your flesh. Thankfully, the empire is skilled at dealing with such things and I was able to seal the mutation using Soul Mark Tattoos.¡±

    Mutation? Verus¡¯s eyes went wide with shock. Images of his flesh twisting to resemble that of the disgusting fish demi-human he¡¯d encountered filled his head. ¡°That can happen?¡±

    The great elder nodded. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s not uncommon, but usually only at far higher realms. I myself was given a Soul Mark Tattoo upon reaching the Blood Realm, which is known for causing mutations.¡±

    Her tattoo wasn¡¯t visible, so Verus tried very hard not to imagine where on the old woman¡¯s body it could be.

    ¡°What exactly do Soul Mark Tattoos do?¡± he asked instead. Soul tattoos of any sort sounded very permanent.

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave such explanations to Caligo. I¡¯m here only here to inform you that our deal in now complete and that you¡¯ve passed all the tests I laid out for you. Your true tempering was a success, and I¡¯ve taken the opportunity to record every detail of your fascinating new cultivation technique.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ What do I do now?¡±

    The old lady huffed. ¡°Now, you¡¯ll do your best not to shame me with your own inadequacy. I¡¯ve spent enough time on this curiosity. Thus, I¡¯ll leave you in Caligo¡¯s care, as his disciple, although the relationship will only become official upon your entry to the inner sect. You¡¯d draw far too much attention if you had any direct relationship with me. As troubled as he is, he can answer any questions you might have and guide your future cultivation path.¡±

    Elder Caligo frowned sourly in displeasure upon hearing this, but he didn¡¯t dispute his master. Instead, he simply watched as she left the room.

    Only once she was gone did he turn to Verus and grimace in frustration. ¡°So, it seems like I¡¯ve been saddled with you, eh? I can¡¯t say I was looking for a brat to follow me around.¡±

    ¡°I will do my best not to disappoint you,¡± Verus replied as bent at the waist to give him a formal bow. Internally, he cursed his luck. This man was very far from his ideal master as well. He was a drunken layabout whose robe and black hair were always rough looking and unkept. The only spirits he seemed to have a deep understanding of were the alcoholic kind. How as he supposed to help Veus reach enlightenment?Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    As if sensing Verus¡¯s thoughts, Elder Caligo rolled his eyes. ¡°Regardless, I should probably explain your new situation, if only to get it over with. What do you make of your new core?¡±

    Verus hesitated and then sent his senses inward again. Elder Caligo didn¡¯t wait for him.

    ¡°My master and I studied you as you were finishing up your ascension. First of all, you will notice that the outer shell of your core is stronger than before your ascension.¡±

    Verus nodded as he confirmed the elder¡¯s words. ¡°The veins of devotion ki are now far thicker and more numerous.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a little odd that the composition of the shell changed like that, but I suppose true tempering is always unpredictable. That¡¯s the point. You reach for understanding beyond your own.¡±

    ¡°My void essence also feels very different,¡± Verus remarked as he mentally prodded his core. It felt odd. He barely recognized it even though it was a part of him.

    Elder Caligo chuckled darkly. ¡°Yes, it was the main target of the true tempering after all. That change happened when the great elder was trying to apply your new tattoos, and it certainly made the process more complicated. You¡¯re a beacon for trouble, you are. We had to add a new ward to the floor. It¡¯s still there, so you¡¯ll have to step out of the circle.¡±

    Confused, Verus did as he was told. The moment he was outside the ritual circle on the floor, his core shuddered and his body grew weak. He stumbled, barely managing to catch himself. This couldn¡¯t be good.

    Sending his senses inward again, Verus tried to understand what was going on. The orb of void essence within his core felt much heavier than before. Not only did the suction effect it created feel more powerful, it felt very different as well. Hungrier and endless, like a pit. The pull of the void essence within him was actually seeping into his ki channels and throwing his internal ki into turmoil. It seemed to be sucking the ki out of his body and into his core.

    Verus grimaced and immediately tried to seal his core. Thankfully, he quickly figured out how, and the sucking sensation stopped. Strength then flowed back into his muscles as the ki drain was halted.

    Elder Caligo watched and nodded when he was finished. ¡°Oh good. I was a little worried you¡¯d be unable to stop that and die right in front of me.¡±

    Verus couldn¡¯t resist throwing him a dark look, but the man just smiled. ¡°Your true tempering was powerful enough to grant your cultivation technique an odd special ability, somewhat like that of the Way of Gathering Storms. It seems like the void essence within your core is now acting as some sort of permanent and inexhaustible seal. It¡¯s constantly trying to devour all ki that isn¡¯t of the void. Fortunately for you, it appears your core and channels can contain the effect, otherwise it would drain away the human ki you need to live, and that would be the end of my poor little disciple.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s a permanent seal?¡± Verus asked as he held his frustration in check. He didn¡¯t know that much about those sorts of advanced techniques.

    ¡°Sealing techniques involve binding either ki or matter by drawing it into the eternal plane, either partially or fully. For instance, ice sealing techniques are common and involve more than just physical freezing. The ice ki phases their target partially out of the physical plane and into the eternal, beyond normal time and space. The spirit I retrieved earlier was sealed into a small pocket plane that was tied to the crystal sphere,¡± the elder explained. ¡°Your core works slightly differently. It appears to have become a small gateway into an area of the eternal plane full of void ki.¡±

    Verus thought that through. ¡°So, my true tempering has altered my core so that the void essence at its center is endlessly trying to suck ki into the eternal void.¡±

    Elder Caligo chuckled. ¡°The eternal void, eh? I suppose it¡¯s as good a name as any. Very poetic.¡±

    The elder sure was more talkative and less respectful when his master wasn¡¯t around. ¡°How can I use this ability? I don¡¯t think I actually benefit from sucking up ki this way. It doesn¡¯t get added to my core and it seem like a difficult thing to use in a fight.¡±

    ¡°Ha, now you¡¯re thinking like a proper cultivator. How can I use the power of heavenly enlightenment to bash people over the head and take their stuff! You¡¯ll have to experiment and practice to see what you can do. After you¡¯ve done that, I can give you some advice, but let¡¯s get out of here. I¡¯d prefer not to hang around my master¡¯s manor any longer.¡±

    That said, Elder Caligo led Verus out of the manor and back toward the outer disciple area. It had been a while since Verus had been outside, and the light of the sun made him blink. He was glad to get away from the empty hallways and moving shadows of Lady Nightclaw¡¯s manor.

    ¡°So, have you decided on what to call your way? Such techniques are traditionally named by the people who create them,¡± the elder asked as they walked through the restricted area of the sect.

    Verus perked up. He got to name a cultivation technique? That probably wasn¡¯t something most elders got to do, let alone disciples. The only problem was he had no idea what to call it. Really, it didn¡¯t seem quite right to name it at the moment. He had a vague impression that he was missing something important. Maybe something properly wise and deep would come to him after he got familiar with it.

    ¡°Apologies, but nothing strikes me at the moment.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s your choice. Regardless, I¡¯m sure you have many more questions. Ask what you will, but don¡¯t waste my time with trivial nonsense.¡±

    Verus lifted his hands up and studied the black lines around his wrists. ¡°Pardon me, but what exactly did you mean when you mentioned a mutation earlier, and what does it have to do with these tattoos?¡±

    As he walked, Elder Caligo glanced over at his tattoos for a second. ¡°Sometimes during an ascension, or whenever unusually large amounts of ki flow through the body in an uncontrolled manner, the ki can cause a cultivator¡¯s flesh to mutate. It¡¯s extremely rare for this to happen before the Blood Realm, but I suppose your enlightenment was rather deep. The Soul Mark Tattoos are an old secret art of the empire that are applied during such mutations to prevent the manifestation of any physical changes. You¡¯re lucky my master was capable of applying them, or your hands would have become permanently deformed.¡±

    Again, the gruesome image of the fishman appeared in Verus¡¯s mind. It seemed he¡¯d been very lucky to avoid a terrible fate and needed to thank Lady Nightclaw for her treatment.

 Doubt Brings the Whirlwind 11

    ¡°Are mutations somehow related to demi-humans?¡± Verus asked his new master as he studied the mysterious tattoos around his wrists. They had briefly stopped their walk through the sect.

    Elder Caligo chuckled darkly. He apparently did that a lot, and it was already getting very annoying. ¡°Worried about losing your humanity, little disciple? There was no danger of that from such a small mutation, although twisted flesh would have marked you as a social outcast in the empire. Some primitive tribes see mutations as blessings from the gods, but the empire accepts no deviation from the human, thus we bind ourselves with tattoos, arrays, and laws. Not that demi-human tribes are born of mutated humans anyway. How could they all have the same mutation? No, most were never human.¡±

    That sounded like an interesting topic, but Verus was more worried about himself at the moment. ¡°So, the tattoos don¡¯t do anything?¡±

    He still wasn¡¯t completely comfortable with the unreadable script being stamped onto his skin. They were similar to glyphs, which meant there could be hidden functions to them.

    ¡°There is more to a mutation than the physical change. In one sense, they are a result of the flesh adapting to the ki within it. The true purpose and wonder of the Soul Mark Tattoos is that they replicate the ability of a mutation while sealing the physical deviation. Your mutation was a very small one, but it¡¯s possible you gained some insignificant ability from it. Again, you¡¯ll have to figure that out for yourself.¡±

    Verus wiggled his fingers. They didn¡¯t seem different. He¡¯d have to experiment later. There was a lot he needed to check out.

    ¡°Are mutations connected to bloodline abilities?¡±

    Elder Caligo laughed. ¡°An intrusive yet insightful question. I suppose, as your master, I should answer this sort of thing. It¡¯s not like you can ask you parents. Officially, the answer is no. It wouldn¡¯t do to ever promote such things, but the truth is more complicated. Abilities passed down through blood aren¡¯t mutations as they are a natural part of a person, but many do originate from mutations caused during ascension to the Blood Realm or higher. Lesser bloodlines that grant nothing but attunements and such don¡¯t require a mutation, but you don¡¯t have to worry about that. It will be quite a while before you ascend to the next Realm.¡±

    Turning, the elder stroked his chin as he gave Verus a penetrating look. ¡°I wonder if your ability to use void ki originates from a long dormant bloodline. Sometimes unusually deep enlightenment can resonate with and strengthen dormant bloodlines.¡±

    ¡°I thought you said there were no cultivators on this world that used void ki?¡±

    ¡°They are no records of any, but that doesn¡¯t mean they never existed,¡± Elder Caligo said with a shrug. ¡°You seem to have some native blood, and it¡¯s not like the empire has a deep understanding of this world¡¯s history. Despite our inflated sense of worth and destiny, we are but recent arrivals on this ancient world. Countless ages passed before our coming, and the ruins of great and mighty civilizations long forgotten lay beneath our own. Even the Telhri are but recent residents, descendants of a fallen empire built upon the bones of others. It is an ancient cycle that perpetuates itself across innumerable worlds.¡±

    The elder laughed darkly as he started walking again. ¡°It is entirely possible you can trace your lineage back to a race of demi-humans or titan-born more terrible than anything alive in this age, although you¡¯re obviously human enough. Maybe they still exist on another world somewhere. Anything is possible under the heavens, for they are truly endless.¡±

    Verus considered the elder¡¯s words as he followed after him. He¡¯d never really considered the age of the world before. The education he¡¯d gotten as a temple ward seemed to be lacking. ¡°Master, is there a way for me to reach you if I have other questions?¡±

    Elder Caligo tossed Verus a small stone tablet the size of his palm. ¡°Simply project your ki into this and say my name. That will inform me that you want to meet. Now, as my¡­ disciple, you¡¯ll have several responsibilities. The first is simple. You must enter the inner sect and qualify for the upcoming tournament. Failure to do so will result in punishment, not only from me, but from Lady Nightclaw. Trust me on this, I speak from experience, you want to avoid her displeasure at all costs.¡±

    ¡°Yes, master,¡± Verus agreed enthusiastically. The very idea of being punished directly by a great elder terrified him. ¡°Exactly what do I have to do to enter the inner sect and the tournament?¡±

    ¡°Ten amulets were distributed to the outer sect disciples. You¡¯ll need to challenge one of their holders and beat them in a duel. Once you have an amulet, all you need to do is hold on to it until the selection. Normally, you¡¯d have to wait until the end of the year for a chance to join the inner sect, but the emissary from the throne world will arrive soon. Thus, the sect will be announcing a special selection of disciples for the tournament, and all the chosen disciples will be promoted to the inner sect halfway through the year.¡± Elder Caligo gave Verus a prying look. ¡°All the amulet holders will be in the Tempered Realm and quite skilled, do you think you¡¯ll be able to manage it?¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Verus didn¡¯t hesitate. He projected confidence and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve fought several disciples at the Tempered Realm before, master. Now that I¡¯ve reached it, I¡¯m confident of my ability to defeat them.¡±

    The gloomy elder snorted as they entered the outer disciple area. ¡°You¡¯d better be, because there is one more order that my master has instructed me to pass on to you. You are to defeat a specific amulet holder, a disciple named Avon Fortex.¡±

    A frown appeared on Verus¡¯s face. He didn¡¯t recognize the name, but he doubted his new target was among the weaker amulet holders. Well, it wasn¡¯t like he¡¯d been planning to go after the weakest anyway. ¡°I will do as instructed, master.¡±

    ¡°Good luck, little disciple. Try not to disappoint me,¡± the elder replied before taking a swig from his canteen and disappearing. Whatever movement technique he was using made him vanish without a trace.

    Verus blinked and then made his way back to the disciple dormitory and his room. He¡¯d been gone for a while now. Right before opening his door, he hesitated, but then he steeled himself with a quick chant and stepped inside.

    His room was exactly the same as before, a small barely furnished chamber, but it felt empty and cold now. Unlike the one back at the mountain temple, he hadn¡¯t even shared it with Warin, but that didn¡¯t matter. He could still feel the aching emptiness of his friend¡¯s absence. The sect was a very different place without him around, cold and hostile. There was no one who knew Verus and supported him. No one who understood him and shared in his small victories.

    Verus didn¡¯t even have any real keepsakes of his friend. As temple wards, neither of them had been big on owning physical possessions.

    Sighing forlornly, Verus tried to put aside his melancholy thoughts and focus on the future. He¡¯d made great progress, but there was much he had to do. To honor Warin¡¯s memory, he had to show everyone that they couldn¡¯t simply overlook or discard temple wards. Verus clenched his fist. He¡¯d show them all what he was capable of. Warin had never stopped believing in him, so he couldn¡¯t give up on himself. He had to succeed.

    First, Verus went through the stuff in his room. The book on channeling techniques was still on his desk. It was no longer of much use to him, so he made a mental note to return it to the library. When he was done tidying up, Verus did some cultivation using his new technique. The feeling of void ki cycling through his body was peaceful and helped him clear his mind of nagging doubts and frustration. He wanted to keep doing it forever, to isolate himself from the world, but he knew he couldn¡¯t.

    Thus, he reluctantly stopped cultivating and left his room again. Before focusing on his training, there was one last thing he had to do. Feeling awkward, Verus headed through the dormitory halls until he reached his destination, Escora¡¯s room. Once there, he knocked on her door and it swung open a few moments later.

    ¡°Oh, Verus,¡± Escora said when she saw him. She looked as uncomfortable as he felt.

    ¡°Greetings, Escora. I simply came by to see if you were alright. Our separation in the Reaches was rather abrupt,¡± he said as he smiled reassuringly. He didn¡¯t want her to think he blamed her for anything, because he didn¡¯t.

    Escora relaxed slightly and gave him a complicated smile back. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you up and about. I tried to find you a while ago, but you¡¯d disappeared.¡±

    ¡°Apologies. I was injured and then undergoing some training under an elder.¡±

    Escora perked up. ¡°Oh, so you managed to find a patron, did you? That¡¯s great. An elder has shown interest in me as well. She uses water ki and is looking for a student who does the same. Now that I¡¯m in the Tempered Realm, it shouldn¡¯t be too hard to smack the other candidates aside and claim the spot for myself.¡±

    ¡°Yes, you weren¡¯t wrong to push me to be more aggressive. Thank you for that.¡±

    Escora nodded but then hesitated. Clearly, there was something she had to get off her chest, and Verus was certain he knew what it was. ¡°Verus¡­ I¡¯m so sorry about Warin. I know he was your closest friend. I shouldn¡¯t have pushed you both so hard.¡±

    Verus sighed and gave her a sad smile. ¡°You weren¡¯t wrong. His death wasn¡¯t your fault. He was here to compete, just like us. You didn¡¯t bring him to this place, and you certainly don¡¯t control what happens here. You¡¯re just a disciple doing what you¡¯re supposed to, and you always treated him as a true friend. Thank you again for everything.¡±

    No one person had been responsible for Warin¡¯s death. The cold and ruthless nature of the sect was the main cause, but Verus also blamed himself. He¡¯d let his friend throw everything away to support him. He¡¯d been too selfish and afraid to see how he was putting his best friend in danger. He couldn¡¯t be that weak ever again.

    Verus was invited into Escora¡¯s room, and over a pot of tea, the two young disciples talked about Warin and their experiences with him for a few more minutes. Escora hadn¡¯t known him all that long, but she shared their first meeting, and Verus talked about their years together at the mountain temple with the other sect wards. It felt good to share memories of his friend with someone else, but Verus had never been all that social, so he eventually exhausted everything he was willing to say.

    Thus, after saying goodbye, he left to continue his training. Verus had wanted to reassure Escora and reconnect with her, but his motives hadn¡¯t been entirely pure. He¡¯d also wanted to make sure he had a good sparring partner available in the future. He was going to need one.

    Verus¡¯s life soon settled into a pattern similar to that from before he¡¯d gone to the Algorian Reaches. He attended classes, cultivated, and trained in his spare time. There were noticeable differences though. He no longer had to worry about shards. Not only did he no longer have to spend them on channeling techniques, but the sect had bought the spiritual herbs he¡¯d helped find in the Reaches and given him a cut.

    In class, he was left to himself. Far fewer of his fellows dared to insult him or even draw his attention. Only one of the family scions that had looked down at him before had managed to reach the Tempered Realm. None of them would dare harass him now. Unsure of how he had ascended and the nature of his power, they avoided him completely. That suited Verus fine. They were nothing but a petty distraction. His real foes had a much higher standing.

 He Who Conquers 1

    Let tribulation fall upon those that deem themselves worthy, so that they may know the truth of it and become better still. And let those that fall know that they are not deserted. Never that. For every true child of the Archon may yet rise again. ¨C The Path of Illumination 1:3

    <hr>

    Now that he¡¯d resumed a normal schedule, the content of Verus¡¯s lectures were usually interesting, but classes and homework weren¡¯t his focus. He¡¯d been given a task by his new master, so he spent most his time at an isolated training yard where he could experiment with his void ki in secret. He needed to figure out how to use it as a weapon. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t immediately obvious how that could happen. Working with void ki filled Verus with frustration. Its nature did not lend itself to producing powerful explosions, tough shields, or even empowering the body. It was a soft and subtle power that required tight control and a high level of skill to use.

    The Unseen Hand was still the most powerful void technique he could come up with. The ability to pull things toward himself and get a good grip on them was useful, but it certainly wasn¡¯t flashy or powerful enough to defeat someone like Highcloud. It certainly wouldn¡¯t stop lightning bolts.

    Verus next idea was to tinker with his Vanishing Feather Step technique. By projecting some void ki in front of his body, he was able greatly decrease the wind drag on his body when he did high-speed movements. The void ki allowed him to slip right through the air and actually seemed to pull him forward a little. The problem was how much it complicated the technique. Vanishing Feather Step was already a complex move that required emitting a burst of ki into the ground while empowering his lower body to quicken his footwork, and that was without leaving an afterimage, which made it more complicated still. To make things even worse, it was difficult to use both void ki and human ki at the same time. Any combination of void ki and Vanishing Feather Step was thus impractical for use in a real fight where he couldn¡¯t afford to fail or be distracted.

    An idea for a completely new movement technique using nothing but void ki occurred to Verus, but it wasn¡¯t something he would be able to use in a fight anytime soon. Different types of ki behaved very differently when you tried to cycle them, and he was still far better with human ki than void ki, so he decided to stick with the Vanishing Feather Step for now.

    The other thing that Verus experimented with was the special ability of his core to suck up ki. He usually had to supress this ability so it didn¡¯t drain the power from his body, but quickly figured out that he could selectively open some of his ki channels and use void ki to guide the suction effect. Thus, by opening specific channels and flooding their entire length with void ki, he could absorb ki from outside his body in a controlled if limited manner. His channels could only hold so much energy at a time and could be damaged. Thus, controlling a rush of foreign ki required concentration and wasn¡¯t easy, with one exception. Both his arms contained unusually large channels that ran from his core all the way to his palms. Using them to absorb ki was much easier than any others, although it still had limits.

    The reason for this was obvious thanks to the Soul Mark Tattoos around Verus¡¯s wrist. Those two ki channels had been mutated during his ascension and now the tattoos were giving him the benefit of the mutation while restraining the actual the physical change. Verus shuddered as he imagined all the horrible ways his flesh could have mutated, but he couldn¡¯t help but be curious. Without the tattoos, what would his arms look like? It was impossible to know. Would he have little mouths on his palms, or something even worse? Ugh.

    Idly, Verus turned his palms up and activated the draining effect. The ki in the air was immediately pulled through the channels that led from his hands to his core, and once there, the energy was sucked into the orb of void essence at its center. Verus sighed despondently as he felt the ki vanish. Sucking up ki this way didn¡¯t benefit him at all, so he quickly stopped. Instead of actually being absorbed into his core to strengthen his spirit, the ki was simply dumped into the eternal void, where it did him no good whatsoever. It would have been so amazing if he could have absorbed ki gathered this way into his core, but Verus¡¯s luck had never been that good.

    The time Verus had set aside to familiarize himself with his new void ki came to sudden and abrupt end after one week. A note was posted to the bulletin board informing all the outer disciples to be ready for a mustering the next morning. They were to be in their dorms and wearing their official green sect robes. Verus stared at the notice for a few moments before going to get his stuff ready. Thanks to his talks with Elder Caligo, he had a good idea of what this was about, the emissary and the tournament. Hopefully, some of his questions about the mysterious visitor from the capital would be answered tomorrow.

    The next morning, an elder assembled all the outer disciples and took them to the large courtyard at the temple¡¯s entrance. There, they were formed up into orderly ranks and joined by the inner disciples and quite a few elders. All together, almost a thousand cultivators in matching green and silver formal robes were assembled, and this was but a fraction of the Great Wind Sect¡¯s true strength. As one of the four great sects, they had tens of thousand of members scattered across the world, and many ancient great elders lurking out of sight.

    As Verus waited in line, surrounded by other disciples, an elder with a long white beard walked up in front of everyone and addressed them. It was Elder Chu, the master of discipline in charge of all the disciples. ¡°Today, the emissary from Capitar as finally arrived. She and her retinue will be parading through the city, and all of you will be there to greet her and take a place in the proceedings. Do exactly as your ordered with the proper sincerity and enthusiasm, for you are representing the sect. Any improper conduct will be severely punished.¡±

    The disciples were then given their instructions and dozens of elders split up to lead sections of disciples. Verus didn¡¯t recognize the woman in charge of his group, so he just nodded along to everything she said. Soon, the ranks of green-clad cultivators were being marched out into city.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    The main streets of the city were packed with citizens and guardsman trying to control the incredible flow of people. It seemed everyone in the city and the surrounding land had turned out to witness the emissary¡¯s arrival. Verus saw quite a few people in straw hats and simple linen that marked them as farmers. This was the sort of event that normal mortals could tell their grandchildren about.

    The crowds blocked the streets ahead of the disciples, but a ripple of power from one of the elders at the head of the sect made everyone start hurrying to get out of their way. Taking advantage of this, the guardsman in scale armor soon had the citizens under control, so the sect continued forward.

    They didn¡¯t have to go all that far. The elders led the rest of the sect to a spot on the main street of the city and had them line up next to it. It was the widest road in the city and lined by impressive and well-kept buildings. White marble facades, decorative pillars, and colorful flags were common sights.

    Unlike in other places, the guardsman had managed to keep the main street itself completely clear of pedestrians. Everyone had been herded onto the sidewalks so that there was room for the parade to come down.

    The Great Wind Sect wasn¡¯t the only group of cultivators present. As they lined up into orderly rows, a similar group was doing the same thing across the street from them. Dressed in red with hints of orange, the Crimson Lotus Sect was out in force. Orange banners fluttered as if in a strong breeze above their heads, carrying the image of a red lotus flower, although the air was still.

    Glancing over his shoulder, Verus saw elders from his sect raising banners of their own. They were green with three curved white lines representing the wind on them.

    Other sects were also gathering here. There was plenty of room because the main road ran straight from the front gate of the city to the imperial palace. Verus could see dozens of sects, including the other two great sects. Both the Deep Truth Sect in blue and the Unbroken Stone Sect in grey were present. Soon, the length of the main street was completely lined with cultivators in colorful robes for as far as Verus could see.

    That was when the soldiers arrived. Dressed in golden scale armor, they marched down the road and split up to take up position in front of the sects, so that the entire road was lined with gleaming golden soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder. The sight took Verus¡¯s breath away. The power gathered in this one place was inconceivable. Thousands upon thousands of cultivators. Enough to conquer an empire, and it was for a simple parade at the edge of nowhere. Truly, the power of Heavenly Empire was unmatched under all of heaven. Heady pride at being a part of it filled Verus. There was also something else building within him, devotion. He felt like a part of something bigger than himself.

    From off in the distance, closer to the city gates, exuberant cheering was suddenly heard. As the seconds went by, it continued to grow closer and louder until it sounded like the entire city was cheering. Then, the lead element of the parade came into sight. It was a wedge of golden solider carrying white banners adorned with the Archon¡¯s golden eye. They marched together in perfect unison. Behind them came hundreds more soldiers and a long formation of Lightbringers in their formal white robes. The priests held golden censors that gave off pure white smoke and their voices were raised in supplication to the heavens as they walked past.

    At the same time, shadows fell across the ground as shapes flew by overhead, winging through the air. Glancing up, Verus recognized the outline of dozens of flying Seraphim. There were also larger creatures among the metallic beings. They were Soul Beasts of some kind, with the bodies of lions but with the wings and heads of eagles. Verus grinned excitedly as he studied their golden fur and white feathers. They were majestic.

    The sound of music drew Verus¡¯s attention downward again. The next part of the parade was a troupe of over two hundred musicians in red that played their myriad instruments in perfect harmony as they passed, and after them came a hundred leaping dancers in purple that spun and waved long purple streamers in tune to the music.

    Just when Verus thought he couldn¡¯t take any more, a formation of riders came into sight. Unlike the other groups, they wore no uniforms and rode horses instead of walking. Each carried a shield emblazoned with a different crest, for these were lords and ladies of the empire. They were dressed in the finest fashions and gleamed with wealth. Their finery and armor were many different colors to represent the heraldry of their ancient houses and bloodlines.

    Verus watched the young lords and ladies with wide eyes, overwhelmed by what he was seeing, until he spotted the palanquin coming in behind them. It was surrounded by golden soldiers, but these ones wore heavier and fancier armor than any Verus had seen before, with tall elongated helms and stylized breastplates.

    However, it wasn¡¯t the soldiers that caught Verus¡¯s eye. No, it was what they were escorting. Four huge shirtless men covered in orange and black striped fur were carrying the palanquin. Not only were they incredibly tall and muscled, but they had cat ears atop their heads and golden collars around their necks. Clearly, these were demi-human slaves, but Verus barely gave them a second glance as his eyes quickly moved to stare at the figures atop the palanquin. At the center of the platform was a throne, with four people around it. The two men wore black robes and iron masks that marked them as Archonite Inquisitors, while the young women were handmaidens in silk and veils.

    Verus stared at the inquisitors for a moment. He¡¯d never seen one before, but he¡¯d heard many terrifying tales about them. They were ultimate enforcers of Archon¡¯s creed and no one was safe from their wrath, not even great elders and governors. Even the inquisitors couldn¡¯t keep his attention though, instead it was caught by the figure sitting on the throne. It was a young woman in a shimmering white dress with a silver circlet upon her brow. She was beautiful beyond compare, with long golden hair and startling blue eyes. Regally, she gazed down at the gathered crowds that had come to greet her as if it was simply her due.

    Immediately upon laying eyes on her, Verus felt the power of devotion around him intensify. People began whispering about something, but he couldn¡¯t pay attention to anyone but her. There was something about this woman that fascinated him completely. Even the Warrior buzzed along. She was the center of the world, it bent around her.

    A sudden wave of power washed over the crowd and Verus felt it resonate through his core. Devotion ki. It sang through him like a hymn, lifting his spirits and focusing him. Its intent whispered to him, and he knew what he had to do. Unthinking, Verus stood up straight and opened his mouth at the same time as everyone else around him.

    ¡°We welcome the imperial princess! All heil the Heavenly Empire! May it prosper for eternity!¡± every nearby cultivator roared at the exact same time. The sound of their voices was like a tidal wave. It washed over the city and even the stone seemed to vibrate. However, the imperial princess upon the palanquin didn¡¯t react at all. Her steely and regal gaze was unchanged.

    Verus and everyone simply stared at her with open adoration as she passed them by and headed for the imperial palace.

 He Who Conquers 2

    After the parade marking the official arrival of the imperial princess was over, the elders of the Great Wind Sect led the disciples back to the temple and then disappeared. Idly, Verus wandered away from the chattering crowds and went to his favourite training ground. Instead of actually practicing anything though, he simply stared off into the distance.

    He couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the imperial princess. The image of her face and the feeling of her golden aura haunted him. He felt like he should know her, and the threads of devotion ki within his core still hummed with echo of the power from before. He wanted to serve her. He wanted to fight for the empire. That was what everyone should do! How could he have ever doubted it? He¡¯d never feel out of place again if he simply gave her his everything.

    The emotion cascading through Verus faltered for a moment and he hesitated. Was he thinking properly? Sure, he felt wonderful, but maybe something was affecting him, like devotion ki. He had sensed quite a lot of it¡­ Should he use the Faithful Soul Ward to repel foreign influences? No, that probably wasn¡¯t necessary. How could he doubt that the ki was helping him? He was full of purpose and drive now! It felt great. Everyone should be boosted by devotion ki all the time! He would be getting so much done if he could simply stop thinking about the princess¡­

    A sudden sharp pain that flared across Verus¡¯s cheek, violently breaking his chain of thought. He stumbled back, confused and alarmed, only to look up and see Elder Caligo glaring at him. Had he been slapped? How rude.

    ¡°Greet your master properly when he graces you with his presence! Don¡¯t ignore him and stare at nothing like a drooling idiot or a walking corpse,¡± the dark-haired elder told him.

    ¡°Sorry, master,¡± Verus quickly replied as he gave a formal bow. ¡°I apologize for my lack of proper respect.¡±

    Had he really not noticed the elder approach and greet him? He must have really been out of it. Well, his mind was much clearer now, even if his cheek hurt. Ugh, couldn¡¯t the elder simply have poked his shoulder or something? What an obnoxious jerk!

    ¡°I came to see what you thought of the parade and update you on our plans, but it seems you had other things on your mind. Honestly, I¡¯m disappointed that your will is so weak. You¡¯ve shown remarkable determination and self-control before, but some devotion technique meant to awe normal citizens completely overwhelmed you. I thought you were made of sterner stuff.¡±

    Verus frowned. Upon reflection, his asshole master wasn¡¯t completely wrong. It was obvious that he¡¯d been completely overcome by the devotion ki at the parade. The technique had been far more powerful than any he¡¯d ever encountered before. It had to have been created by a large group of Lightbringers working in unison, and it had hit him while he¡¯d been distracted by the princess, so he¡¯d utterly failed to put up any resistance.

    His lack of control was frightening. The Lightbringers had even managed to put words in his head and make him speak them like a puppet. He hadn¡¯t known that was possible. What must it have been like for the mortals in the city? They would have been helpless to resist. Devotion ki was supposed to be nothing but helpful, but almost anything was abusable. Perhaps Fang had been right about the empire using devotion ki to control people. It was for their own good though, wasn¡¯t it?

    ¡°Apologies, master. I simply let my guard down. It was the princess. Her aura affected me deeply for some reason.¡±

    The elder gave him a pitying look. ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s what happened. I suppose your weakness to a pretty young face is understandable, having been raised in a temple with only other boys around. You¡¯re going to have to do better though. Some of your competition will be young attractive women.¡±

    Verus bit his tongue. That wasn¡¯t what he¡¯d meant! He was an ascetic, damn it. The princess¡¯s spirit was what had fascinated him, not her body! Although the slim yet curvy figure beneath her dress had been undeniably beautiful¡­

    Elder Caligo gave him a thoughtful look. ¡°Maybe I should take you into the city and pay a courtesan to familiarize you with women and their wiles.¡±

    Red-faced, Verus stared at his master. He was at a lose for words. What kind of elder was this man? Silently, the young disciple cursed the terrible fortune that had landed him with this drunken letch as his master. This was not how you reached enlightenment! No wonder the man¡¯s cultivation had stagnated.

    ¡°It would also help you forget the princess,¡± the elder continued to Verus¡¯s growing horror. ¡°She was personally selected by the Council of Saints and awakened to the power of the Archon himself. Women like her are carefully managed weapons of the empire. Discard any adolescent thoughts you have of her now.¡±

    He had not been thinking about sleeping with the princess! Desperately, Verus tried to change the subject. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, I¡¯d like to show you what I¡¯ve learnt of void ki and get your advice.¡±

    ¡°I suppose I should. It¡¯s the sort of thing a master does, and you¡¯re going to need all the help you can get.¡±

    Immediately, Verus took up a martial arts stance and began cycling his ki through his body. There was a fist-sized rock nearby, so he targeted it with an Empty Grasp and it flew into his open palm.

    Elder Caligo frowned as Verus glanced his way. ¡°That¡¯s all you¡¯ve got? I was expecting more from a young genius user of void ki.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the only thing I have that¡¯s currently useable in a fight.¡±

    ¡°Useable is a matter of opinion apparently,¡± the man said with a sigh.

    ¡°Developing techniques for a completely unknown form of ki is difficult, but perhaps in your wisdom you have some suggestions,¡± Verus replied with a glare. The elder¡¯s attitude was getting annoying fast.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    ¡°What about conjuring void essence? Have you had any luck with that?¡±

    ¡°Conjuring essence outside my body is very different than doing so in my core. I¡¯m making progress but I need more practice.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s too bad. I have to admit I¡¯m curious about what void essence is like,¡± the elder said with a sigh. ¡°Let me see what you¡¯ve figured out. Go through that pulling technique again while explaining every step along the way. Leave nothing out.¡±

    Verus did as he was told and performed another Empty Grasp while explaining how he controlled the collapse of a stream of void ki to create the pulling force. He then started listing off all the characteristics of void ki that he¡¯d noticed so far. To finish off, the young disciple then showed the elder his wrists and the effect of the tattoos on the ki channels leading to his palms.

    Elder Caligo stared silently at Verus¡¯s wrists for a few moments as he idly scratched his chin. ¡°There¡¯s little I can tell you about void ki. You¡¯re just going to have to keep experimenting for now. Anything I tell you might put you on the wrong path, since you¡¯re the one who has undergone true tempering and received enlightenment on the nature of void ki. You need to call forth those insights and use them use to aid in your creation of new techniques. Preferably, something far more impressive than the limp stuff you¡¯ve shown me so far.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that you can¡¯t help me at all?¡± Verus asked as he glared at his useless master. This situation felt familiar.

    ¡°I have such a needy disciple,¡± Elder Caligo replied as he shook his head as if in sorrow. ¡°Ha, as if you¡¯re in any position to doubt me. While I can¡¯t instruct you on the direct usage of void ki, I can help you in other areas. For instance, your mutation is interesting. I can see the shadow of your future Way within it. It seems that at the moment the special ability of your core to devour ki is limited mostly by the toughness and width of your ki channels. If you want to strengthen this ability, you will need to develop your ki channels beyond those of other cultivators.¡±

    ¡°How would I do that?¡± Verus asked skeptically.

    ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t want to seem to be helping you too much, but you have a fair number of shards. Purchase two library tokens, go to the outer archives, and take out a manuscript on body conditioning. The librarian should be able to help you find a proper method that focuses on expanding your ki channels.¡±

    Verus frowned. A new body conditioning method¡­ He¡¯d been practicing his current body conditioning method for so long that he¡¯d forgotten he was doing it. All the temple wards back at the mountain temple had been taught a basic ki cycling method that helped them develop their body and spirit over time while they exercised, the Mind and Body Empowerment Method. It was simple and very generalized, but still effective. A method that focused on developing his channels would certainly be useful, but it would slow his growth in other areas.

    ¡°Why do I need two library tokens?¡± he asked.

    ¡°While you¡¯re there, you should also pick up a martial arts manuscript, something that compliments your new ki and techniques. The basic combat style you were taught is no longer the best fit for you. I suggest getting a style that can take advantage of your pulling technique and absorption ability, something with more grappling in it perhaps.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± Verus admitted. He¡¯d actually been thinking something similar.

    ¡°Of course it is. I¡¯m an elder of the Great Wind Sect. That¡¯s the only type of idea I have,¡± his master huffed before taking a drink of alcohol from his canteen. Verus eyed him skeptically. He could only disagree in silence.

    Since Elder Caligo had nothing more to say, he soon left Verus alone at the training ground. The young disciple had come there to train his void ki, but now that he¡¯d received his master¡¯s advice, he thought his time would be better spent by going to the library.

    First, he went to the requisition office to trade in some of his shards for two passes, and then he walked across the outer disciple area to reach the outer archive. Walking up the stairs that led to the towering stone structure, he pulled the doors open and stepped inside.

    Looking across the entrance foyer, Verus took a moment to study the statues and rows of bookshelves he could see on the higher floors, before heading over to the front desk where a librarian was sitting. It was a different person this time, a middle-aged man with glasses, although he was wearing a similar grey uniform.

    After handing the man his tokens and returning his book on channelling, Verus was pointed in the direction of the books he was after. This time, he made sure to get a guide construct before entering the shelves, and the glowing ball of light guided him right to the books he was looking for. For both his body conditioning method and martial style, there were several options to choose from, but he picked out the ones he wanted after an hour or so of browsing.

    The Endless Road Method was designed for cultivators who used huge ki emission attacks, which wasn¡¯t quite what Verus wanted it for, but it would toughen and widen his ki channels and it didn¡¯t have any obvious drawbacks. Some methods had weaknesses or were utterly focused on one thing, but Verus didn¡¯t want to have to juggle several different techniques or have any way to counteract any weaknesses he developed, so he stuck with a more general method that would still improve the rest of his body. This method could also be done with human ki, so everyone could use it.

    His other choice, the Constricting Coils Style was a martial art developed around baiting an opponent forward and locking them down with grappling and choking techniques. It wasn¡¯t the most renowned or advanced style he could have learned, but it was exactly what he needed to compliment the striking skills he already had, and he could learn the basics of it before the selection exam.

    Together, these two arts would allow him to bring out the most from his new ki and cultivation technique.

    Smiling, Verus ordered the library construct to guide him out of the rows of shadowy shelves and then checked the books out. Once back in his room, he sat at his small desk next to the room¡¯s only window and began reading. That was how he spent the rest of the day. Neither book was particularly long, but the information in them was complex and hard to memorize.

    Ove the next few days, Verus worked hard. He had a lot of practice and training to do. Not only did he have two new arts, but he still had to learn how to properly use void ki techniques. That was a journey of a lifetime by itself.

    He began each day with a series of warmup exercises, followed by martial arts forms from the Shifting Serpent Style. He worked up a sweat and fought phantom opponents while practicing the ki cycling patterns from the Endless Road Method. That was how body conditioning techniques worked. By cycling the ki through his body as he exerted himself, it boosted the development of his body and spirit. The pattern was complex and required him to control the ki flow throughout his entire body at the same time, so it took him a while to get used to it. He kept instinctually trying to use his old method.

    After his warmups and martial arts practice, Verus either went to class or began experimenting with his void ki. There had to be other ways he could use it in a fight. He just needed to figure them out. During the group physical training that took place after class was another time Verus could use his new body conditioning method. He ignored everyone else there and went through the exercises, which were designed to push a cultivator¡¯s body to the limit.

    Verus also had to go to the devotary for worship the end of the week, but that didn¡¯t take much time, and he could go straight back to practice after it was over.

    Eventually, Verus mastered the basic moves of his new martial art and exhausted what he could practice alone. That meant he had to move on to practicing with another person, so he went to see Escora.

 He Who Conquers 3

    Escora was more than happy to start sparring again. Despite the remaining awkwardness between them, she needed the practice and was wary of showing her moves and skills off to anyone else. There were other disciples competing with her for the water using elder¡¯s patronage, and they¡¯d undermine her any way they could.

    ¡°So, how hard to you want to go? Going all out right away when I¡¯m at a higher Realm,¡± Escora asked. They were at one of the outer sect¡¯s training areas.

    Verus gave her a look and cycled his ki. ¡°You don¡¯t have to hold back at all. I¡¯m also at the Tempered Realm.¡±

    How could she not notice that? Other disciples certainly had, although maybe they¡¯d heard something about him from other sources. Escora was almost as isolated as he was.

    Surprised, Escora blinked and then peered at her friend. ¡°Oh, so you are. That makes more sense. Huh, I guess I wasn¡¯t thinking. Your spirit is so muted I didn¡¯t notice that you¡¯d ascended.¡±

    A brief look of confusion then appeared on her face. ¡°Oh? What type of ki are you using? It¡¯s hard to sense and I don¡¯t recognize it. Something negative?¡±

    ¡°Void!¡± Verus answered as he puffed out his chest proudly.

    Escora made a face. ¡°Is that a real attunement? I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡±

    Verus glared at her. Why did no one understand how amazing it was that he¡¯d found such a rare attunement. ¡°It¡¯s very real. It¡¯s simply uncommon for people to have it.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough. I did hear that your problem was that you were looking for a rare attunement. I guess you found one. Congratulations. What does it do?¡±

    Verus hesitated. Mostly void ki seemed to suck stuff up, but he wasn¡¯t going to explain it that way. ¡°It does many powerful and interesting things, but I¡¯m not going to tell you all my abilities right before we spar.¡±

    Escora chuckled. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get right to it then. We¡¯ll go all out right from the start. Show me what you got.¡±

    ¡°Fine with me,¡± Verus replied as he raised his guard.

    His sparring partner didn¡¯t waste another moment. Grinning, she charged straight at him.

    Verus immediately stepped forward to meet her, feeling a thrill as the rush of combat filled him. Pushing aside a series of probing punches, he responded with several of his own. For several moments, they were evenly matched as fists flew through the air.

    ¡°You¡¯re definitely faster than before,¡± Escora laughed. ¡°But can you match this?¡±

    Wisps of blue energy rose from her shoulders as she cycled a water ki enhancement technique through her entire body. Verus quickly felt pressured as Escora¡¯s movements became not only noticeably faster and stronger, but smoother as well. He dodged one punch and raised a hand to blow another, but the blow hit his raised arm with enough power to make him wince in pain. He stumbled back, and Escora let him go.

    This left Verus with a few options. He needed to use a technique of his own to level the field. The most obvious answer was a body enhancement technique of his own, so Verus took a deep breath and flooded his body with void ki. It flowed through his channels in intricate patterns that boosted his capabilities, but there was a problem. Verus already knew that Escora¡¯s enhancement technique was more powerful than his.

    Void ki didn¡¯t boost the body particularly well. That was one of the many things that the power of nothing wasn¡¯t great at. Human ki was better at increasing strength and speed but using it came with downsides of its own. Verus¡¯s lackluster attunement made using it inefficient compared to void ki, and it was difficult to flood your body with human ki and use void ki techniques at the same time. Thus, he would simply have to make up for his weakness by combining multiple void techniques.

    As void ki flowed through him, Verus glided forward to engage Escora again. He moved with light steps but surprising speed. One ability he¡¯d discovered that void ki had was to decrease his weight. However, he had to be careful, lest an unexpected punch send him flying.

    Escora met Verus halfway with a jab at Verus¡¯s face. He sidestepped her attack and they began trading blows. However, Verus quickly found himself on the defensive. As he¡¯d expected, Escora was still faster and stronger than him, so it was time to cheat.

    While distracting Escora with a jab that she easily blocked, Verus made a subtle motion with his other hand as he emitted void ki and shaped it into an Unseen Hand. The technique latched on to her elbow and tugged it down just as Verus threw another punch. His fist slipped above her lowered guard and hit her cheek. Verus held back, but the unexpected blow startled her.

    ¡°What?¡± she exclaimed as she stumbled back.

    Grinning in excitement, Verus followed her instead of letting her go, and he used another Unseen Hand to pull her foot slightly forward as she lifted it. She stumbled again, and he threw a skipping sidekick that rapidly closed the distance between and then he planted his foot right in her ribs.

    Off balance, Escora flailed and toppled over, but except for her pride, she was unhurt. As she sat up, she glared at her sparring partner. ¡°What was that? I know you did something sneaky.¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Maybe. It¡¯s a secret.¡±

    ¡°Stupid rare ki types,¡± she muttered as she stood up and gave him a look. ¡°You enjoyed that way too much.¡±

    Verus just shrugged and kept grinning. It was true. He had enjoyed that an awful lot.

    Escora rolled her eyes. ¡°Enough playing around then. I¡¯ll show you what I¡¯ve really got and beat your silly secrets out of you.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯m here to learn.¡¯

    His friend laughed as she jumped backwards away from him. ¡°Confident, eh? You humble bastard. Well, let¡¯s see what the range on that little trick of yours is.¡±

    Verus dashed after her and prepared to use Unseen Hand again, but as he closed in, Escora used her movement technique. Blue ki gushed out from beneath her feet as she slid away from him, and there was a new twist. As Verus tried to turn and lunge after her, she pivoted and made a low kick-like motion that sent a splash of water ki at him.

    Surprised, Verus took the water ki right to his face, and it stopped him right in his tracks.

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s cold!¡± he yelped as flinched back with his eyes shut. He supposed he should be lucky it wasn¡¯t acid or something.

    Wiping his face clean of evaporating water ki, Verus glared at Escora, who¡¯d taken the opportunity to get away safely.

    ¡°Serves you right!¡± she yelled as she summoned a whip of water essence and lashed it toward him.

    Dropping his void enhancement technique, Verus used a Vanishing Feather Step to dodge to the side of the attack. He disappeared in a blur and reappeared close enough to his opponent to throw a punch, but she was ready. The young Telhri woman deflected his arm to the side and jumped away from him. He quickly moved to follow, but once again she skated away and kicked a wave of water ki at him.

    Verus was prepared this time. He raised his hands and activated his devouring ability. Most of the water ki was thus pulled into his palms and sucked into his core. Grinning, he burst through the thin remainder of water ki without a problem. While real ki emission attacks would swiftly overpower his ability to devour ki, Escora¡¯s splash was more of a distraction and the haze of water ki it created wasn¡¯t very thick.

    Activating his void enhancement technique, Verus sprinted after his opponent. His light body allowed him to move with deceptive speed, but Escora put on a burst of speed of her own. As she glided back, she jumped up into the air and spun around. Two essence whips formed as her hands cut the air and then flew toward Verus.

    The crossed lines of essence zoomed toward Verus at slightly different angles, cutting off his advance. He hesitated, unsure of what to do. There wasn¡¯t enough space for him to slip through using Vanishing Feather Step.

    That brief pause was all the time it took for the incoming water whips to reach him. All he could do was try to shield himself as the projectiles slammed into his chest and raised hands. The impact drove the air from his lungs and sent him flying backwards. Pain flashed through his ribs as he was thrown onto the ground and rolled across the smooth stone. Ow. He¡¯d never actually been hit with this technique before. It hurt a lot.

    Groening, Verus climbed to his feet and stretched his sore body out. Thankfully, this was only a sparring match, so Escora had held back a little. He didn¡¯t appear to be seriously hurt.

    ¡°I give up. You win this round,¡± he told Escora as she walked over to him.

    ¡°You did really well. I was feeling the pressure right up until the end. Once you got serious, you were like a wolf on my heels.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, I learned a lot.¡±

    He really had. The sparring match had been very informative. He had a much clearer picture of his own strengths and weaknesses now, and he definitely knew what he had to improve. His main problem was his inability to deal with large projectile attacks like Escora¡¯s whips. Dodging wouldn¡¯t always be possible, so he really needed to come up with a technique to block them. There had to be a way to use void ki for that. He¡¯d simply have to keep experimenting.

    After saying goodbye to Escora and making plans to do some more sparring at a later date, Verus went to look for Fang. The battle-maniac was his best source of information, and it was time to start planning his next move.

    Unsurprisingly, Verus found Fang over at the dueling ground. The other outer disciple seemed to have just finished watching a fight between two young woman, who were now leaving. He had no idea how Fang knew when these battles were going on. There had to be an entire network among the outer disciples that he was completely ignorant of.

    Upon seeing Verus walking his way, Fang looked over to give him an excited grin. ¡°Ah, Verus. I was wondering if I¡¯d see you again. I didn¡¯t run into you during the trip to the Reaches, and you disappeared after. I¡¯ve heard quite a few interesting rumors about you though! Are they true?¡±

    Verus returned his smile. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you now, although I¡¯m glad we didn¡¯t cross paths out in the Reaches. You would have made a terrible foe. Congratulations on reaching the Tempered Realm!¡±

    With his trained spiritual sense, Verus was easily able to detect that Fang had reached the Tempered Realm using a Way that had the iron scent and crimson tint of blood. It fit him, even if Verus found it slightly disturbing.

    Fang laughed. ¡°Thanks. I see you¡¯ve reached the same height. Good for you! I would have bet against it to be honest, and it seems you found a rare ki type after all, since I don¡¯t recognize yours. You¡¯re just full of surprises.¡±

    Verus sighed. ¡°Did everyone know about that?¡±

    ¡°Not everyone. People talk and secrets don¡¯t keep, but most weren¡¯t interested in a temple ward like you. That¡¯s changed of course. Not only have you reached the Tempered Realm, but the rumor is that you¡¯ve got backing now. That means you¡¯re involved in sect politics.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know much about that sort of thing.¡±

    ¡°Then you should probably learn as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°On that topic, I do have a question for you. What do you know about an outer disciple named Avon Fortex?¡±

    Fang frowned. ¡°I know of him. He¡¯s a medallion holder. However, as much as I like you, I¡¯m no longer going to be handing out valuable information for free. You¡¯re not a nobody anymore. If you want something, you need to offer a trade. Although, you¡¯ve revealed more than you know just by asking me about him.¡±

    Supressing a groan, Verus pressed on. He knew he was bad at this. Politics really wasn¡¯t something he had any experience with. ¡°Pardon, but what do you want in exchange for information on Fortex?¡±

    ¡°How about the name of your backer? A lot of disciples are very curious about that.¡±

    Verus considered the offer. Fang probably only knew general information on Fortex, but he didn¡¯t have to give up much either. The other elders probably already knew about him, and he could bend the truth a little. ¡°I have a tentative relationship with Elder Caligo, who took interest in my search for a rare attunement.¡±

    A thoughtful look appeared on Fang¡¯s face. ¡°Elder Caligo, eh? I don¡¯t know much about him, although I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s a layabout. You¡¯ve obviously been ordered to go after Fortex though, since he¡¯s not someone you¡¯d challenge on your own. That means Caligo¡¯s working with someone else in his faction. How did you get involved with someone like this?¡±

    Feeling frustrated, Verus kept his face carefully neutral. He hadn¡¯t even been aware that his master was part of a faction. He was really bad at this. He wanted to say that ascetics were above politics, but even he wasn¡¯t that naive. ¡°It¡¯s your turn to answer a question. What do you know about Fortex?¡±

 He Who Conquers 4

    The ten outer disciples that held amulets were the elite of the elite. Not only had their talent gotten them invited to the main temple of the Great Wind Sect, but they¡¯d proven themselves the strongest among all their peers there. They were thus the young geniuses the sect was most interested in supporting, so they were lavished with extra resources to support their cultivation, on top of the support they got form their families. Highcloud and Fang¡¯s mistress, Selesta were both amulet holders, but they weren¡¯t Verus¡¯s target. He¡¯d been ordered to take out Fortex.

    Thankfully, Fortex was considered a middling amulet holder and weaker than Highcloud. Verus had seen Highcloud fight, and knew he stood no chance against the young prodigy. He had no way of dealing with a cultivator that could fly and throw lightning. However, from what he¡¯d learned from Fang, it seemed like Fortex had some weaknesses. It wouldn¡¯t be easy, but Verus thought he could win.

    Thus, Verus spent his next few days plotting and practicing. He couldn¡¯t ignore the upcoming deadline though, so he left a note at Fortex¡¯s door asking him to meet him for an official challenge.

    The two disciples met in one of the gardens outside the outer dormitory and scrutinized each other. Fortex was a tall young man with slicked back brown hair, and he was the very image of a noble. His posture was straight and proud, and his red robe was an expensive silk that shimmered in the light and was adorned by images of leaping tigers. There were even hints of makeup on his pale face, although it was subtle. All this combined with his hawkish features to give him a thin aristocratic look.

    There was a clear difference between him and everyone else Verus had ever fought. This was the sort of presence and status that Tellus and the other family scions had craved, that of a true noble whose family produced great elders and held not insignificant power on this world.

    Verus wasn¡¯t impressed though. Perhaps Fortex¡¯s image was supposed to be intimidating, but Verus simply found it to be prideful and vain. In his eyes, these were nothing but weaknesses. True strength came from discipline and adversity.

    ¡°I was told to expect a challenger from another faction, but this is surprising. An unknown temple ward? Crawling ants truly cannot appreciate the heights of mountains! You are the one I was warned about, correct?¡±

    ¡°It is so.¡± Verus said as he gave a slight polite bow. Ignoring the man¡¯s offhand arrogance was easy enough and there was no point being bothered about it. That would be a small defeat.

    The mention of sect politics and of his place in them was more troubling though. He was still completely ignorant of the subject. He had no idea what his faction even was.

    ¡°And you believe you can defeat me?¡±

    ¡°I am here to officially challenge you to a match,¡± Verus replied calmly.

    Fortex snorted disdainfully. He seemed to find this situation amusing and beneath him. ¡°Foolish, but it¡¯s your choice. I won¡¯t be the one choking on blood.¡±

    The other disciple then grinned maliciously. ¡°I¡¯ll be setting the base stakes at twelve ki shards.¡±

    Verus simply nodded. Disciples that held amulets couldn¡¯t refuse challenges, but they could demand high stakes as a way of discouraging unworthy opponents, although they¡¯d be seen as cowards if they demanded and unreasonable amount. Thankfully, Verus had no shortage of ki shards, and he¡¯d been expecting this.

    ¡°I¡¯ll match those stakes. Is a week from now an acceptable date for the match?¡±

    ¡°Very well. I will see you then and show you the vast gulf between you and true genius,¡± Fortex agreed. He was the picture of confidence.

    With the terms and details of the duel decided, the two outer disciples parted ways. Undoubtedly, Fortex would be looking into Verus, but he wouldn¡¯t be able to find much. Verus¡¯s ki attunements and techniques were all secrets. Learning about his other official duels or accomplishments during the event in the Reaches wouldn¡¯t tell Fortex anything of value. Meanwhile, Verus knew a lot about Fortex¡¯s style and Way since it was famous and passed down in his family. That was the disadvantage of inheriting powerful attunements and Verus planned on taking full advantage of it.

    In preparation for the duel, Verus continued his solo training over the next few days, but he also sparred with Escora. Techniques were useless unless he could land them in a real fight, and Verus knew from experience that pulling off a complicated bit of ki cycling was much more difficult when someone was trying to punch you in the face.

    Sparring with Escora proved to be fruitful and Verus quickly began to improve, even if it made him very aware of the void left by Warin¡¯s passing. After several bouts, he eventually managed to get a grip on her and pin her using his new martial arts. This victory surprised them both.

    ¡°You really do learn way too quickly. It¡¯s unfair!¡± Escora told him as they sat down on the edge of the training ring. The sun was shinning overhead and they were both sweating from the heat and exertion.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Unfair? I disagree! You know how much trouble I¡¯ve had to get through to gain even the basic things that other cultivators here take for granted.¡±

    Escora rolled her eyes. ¡°True, I¡¯m not disputing that you¡¯ve got terrible luck, but that¡¯s not the whole story. You¡¯re always staring at the horizon so you don¡¯t truly realize the value of the treasures at your feet. The way your techniques have improved and grown stronger over the course of our training is unreal. You¡¯re leaving me behind.¡±

    ¡°Because I won one sparring match?¡±

    Escora let out a melancholy chuckle. ¡°Yes, you¡¯ve managed to catch up to me despite my head start. If that¡¯s not talent I don¡¯t know what is. Like many others, I came here with my Way already chosen. That meant all I had to do was cultivate and practice the techniques handed down to me by my tribe. My path was thus clear and easy for me to travel. You not only started out well behind me, but you¡¯ve had to overcome many roadblocks and dead ends as you searched for your true Way. Yet here you are, at the Tempered Realm, right behind me on the road!¡±

    Verus shrugged. ¡°My gambles have paid off and I¡¯ve worked very hard.¡±

    Honestly, he knew he was blessed by some small measure of talent, but he was far too shy and humble to ever brag about it. He also wasn¡¯t sure how much was his own talent and how much of his growth was a result of the Warrior¡¯s instincts. When he fought, Verus could feel the mysterious entity subtly guiding him, like he was slowly absorbing its skills. This process was very obvious now that the Warrior had grown stronger, but it had probably been happening all his life.

    ¡°Everyone here works hard. You¡¯re a true genius, just like Warin always said. Don¡¯t forget that.¡±

    Verus sighed. ¡°I won¡¯t ever forget my brother¡¯s words. He was wise beyond his years.¡±

    ¡°He was, and he certainly knew how to enjoy life,¡± Escora agreed before putting a hand on Verus¡¯s shoulder. ¡°But don¡¯t let loss distract you. You¡¯re a genius. I can see you improving your understanding and usage of ki as we fight. It¡¯s crazy. Then there¡¯s your martial art skills. If anything, you¡¯re picking those up faster than your ki techniques. Didn¡¯t you just start training that Coiling Serpent Style? Well, I¡¯d say you¡¯re already more proficient at it than I am at my tribe¡¯s style, and I¡¯ve been practicing it for years.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. That means a lot to me from someone as talented as you,¡± Verus replied as he blushed. He wasn¡¯t used to getting compliments from women, and his fascination with the princess had reminded him that Escora was an attractive young woman. During their last spar, he¡¯d had to use the Faithful Soul Ward to prevent his body from embarrassing him when he¡¯d pinned her to the ground.

    Leaning sideways, Escora put her arm around Verus and hugged him tight. As he squirmed uncomfortably, she laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t get all glum on me now. That¡¯s the last thing that Warin would want.¡±

    Verus could only nod in agreement as he recited a quick prayer under his breath and tried not to look down Escora¡¯s shirt.

    Unfortunately, Verus didn¡¯t have forever to train. The day of the duel eventually arrived.

    Leaving his dormitory, the young disciple headed to the chosen duelling field. When he got close, he noticed that a large crowd had gathered around the ring. Verus hesitated for a moment as he gazed at the crowd apprehensively, but then he resumed his approach. He should have predicted this. He was challenging an amulet holder after all. He hated being the center of attention, but it couldn¡¯t be helped anymore. Obscurity might be comfortable but an ascetic strove to challenge himself and couldn¡¯t let fear and sloth control him.

    It looked like thirty or forty outer disciples had come to see the fight, and several of them were familiar to Verus. He saw Fang and Escora among those present. There was also a group of three elders standing off to the side. Two men and a young woman, and one of the men was Elder Caligo. His unofficial master had come to make sure Verus did as he was told. Verus met the gloomy man¡¯s sunken eyes. They revealed nothing. Hopefully, he wouldn¡¯t be disappointed about the results of the match.

    Escora and Fang both headed over to greet Verus.

    ¡°You look worked up. Relax,¡± Escora told him as she gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. ¡°If you fight Fortex with the same skill that you showed against me then you¡¯ll win. Just go over there and do your best. A wolf doesn¡¯t fear the shedding of blood.¡±

    Verus gulped and gave her a shaky nod. This was exactly the sort of situation he was terrible at. He could already feel the crowd pressing in on him and the weight of their expectations on him. If he was his past self, a dark mood would have already crushed his spirit and sent him running to hide somewhere, but he wasn¡¯t that kid anymore.

    Taking a deep breath, Verus cycled void ki through his body. The cold and calm energy helped him keep his nerves thanks to the insights within it. To him, the void was peace and refuge. The truths within it shielded him as it reinforced his will and his spirit.

    ¡°Verus! There you are,¡± Fang laughed as reached Verus¡¯s side. ¡°It¡¯s quite the show you¡¯re putting on. I hope you know what you¡¯re doing!¡±

    ¡°Greetings, sect brother Fang. I¡¯m happy to see you again, but don¡¯t all these other disciples have anything better to do?¡± Verus replied as he scowled at the crowd.

    ¡°Not really. It¡¯s been a while since any of the top ten fought, so everyone has come to see your bout.¡±

    Verus frowned. ¡°I thought that there would be lots of fights as the deadline approaches. Don¡¯t they want to get into the inner sect and join the tournament?¡±

    Fang laughed again. ¡°They¡¯re cowards, not fighters like you and me. The top ten are strong. Rather than fight them, everyone is waiting for them to join the inner sect and leave the amulets behind. Then, they can fight among themselves for the spoils and graduate at the end of the year during the normal selection.¡±

    Ah. That made sense to Verus. Honestly, it was probably what he would have done if he hadn¡¯t been ordered by Lady Nightclaw to defeat Fortex. He didn¡¯t know why Fang thought he was a fighter though. He was an ascetic and rejected violence for its own sake. Embracing wrath and pride were self-destructive.

    ¡°I fight only to better myself and fulfill my duties as a cultivator of the empire,¡± Verus told them.

    Fang laughed. ¡°I have no idea if you¡¯re being serious when you talk all stuffy like that. I want to say you¡¯re joking, but you were raised in a temple.¡±

    ¡°He thinks he¡¯s being wise, but he¡¯s just lying to himself,¡± Escora added with a roll of her eyes. ¡°He fights like a starving man that has stumbled into a feast hall. Anyone can see how thrilled a good fight makes him.¡±

    Verus glared at them. ¡°Enjoying fighting doesn¡¯t mean that I fight for enjoyment.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Whatever you need to tell yourself, temple brat,¡± Fang replied with a grin. ¡°Now, go out there and beat the stuffing out of your opponent, but try not to enjoy it too much.¡±

 He Who Conquers 5

    As he left Fang and Escora behind, Verus grumbled to himself. They were seriously misunderstanding him. Unlike them, he wasn¡¯t some sort of battle-maniac or tribal hunter. He was an ascetic! The peaceful contemplation of enlightenment was his goal. It was just that the flawed nature of existence always led him to strife. That was unavoidable. He certainly didn¡¯t enjoy violence. Wrath was a worldly desire and a distraction¡­

    Before Verus got to the arena, he was intercepted once again. This time it was by a pale outer disciple with a purple gem on his forehead. Blinking in surprise, he recognized Inanis Praestigiae. The strange disciple¡¯s presence startled Verus, and he hesitated upon seeing him. What did he want? Their last meeting had been back in the Reaches and more than a little weird, and although it was difficult to believe, Verus suspected Inanis was stalking him.

    ¡°Greetings, Inanis. How can I help you?¡± Verus said as he gave a slight bow. Politeness was warranted here. Not only did Inanis come from a powerful family, he was one of the strongest outer disciples and obviously not particularly mentally stable. Verus didn¡¯t dislike him, but who knew what would set him off?

    The strange disciple blinked. ¡°Listen.¡±

    Several long awkward seconds passed as Verus waited for Inanis to continue, but he didn¡¯t, he simply stared at Verus. Eventually, Verus suppressed a sigh and took the initiative.

    ¡°You have something you wish to share?¡± Verus asked. You could never be sure with Inanis. It was entirely possible he wanted Verus to go listen to some birds in the gardens sing or something else trivial.

    ¡°Your soul is unstable,¡± Inanis replied matter-of-factly without changing his expression at all.

    Despite the bland delivery of the statement, the words sent a shiver down Verus¡¯s spine. This had nothing to do with birds or anything trivial. Somehow Verus could feel the height behind the words and knew they were true, even though he had no idea what they really meant. Souls weren¡¯t often discussed in the sect, outside some vague theoretical musings in theology. He knew he needed his to live though, and cultivate, so the idea of his being unstable was deeply uncomfortable.

    ¡°You¡¯ve taken in something rare and dangerous,¡± Inanis continued as he gave Verus a meaningful look. ¡°A catalyst of eternal change. How this happened should not be spoken of. You are right to keep silent, but you must know of its consequences. As your soul churns around the catalyst, the pieces of what was shattered are falling back into place. Once reunited, they cling to each other.¡±

    Verus flinched as he felt dread deep in his gut. He¡¯d been afraid of this. As a scion of the Praestigiae family, Inanis was supposed to have the ability to see into souls, and it definitely seemed like he was aware of the Splinterseed.

    ¡°What are you talking about? What was shattered?¡±

    Inanis shook his head. ¡°What you were. More than that I don¡¯t know. It is vast and seeing is not understanding. All of us were once different. All souls are old, but yours has not yet surrendered its last burden to eternity. It yet dares to defy heaven.¡±

    At the moment, Verus really wished that Inanis would explain what he was trying to say clearly instead of being so mysterious. ¡°So, what is it you want me to do?¡±

    Inanis gave him an annoyed look. ¡°Listen.¡±

    Verus sighed. He should have seen that coming. This situation was just getting worse and worse. Looking around, he saw that many of the nearby people were now giving him and Inanis odd looks.

    This didn¡¯t stop Inanis from continuing though. In fact, much to Verus¡¯s concern, he gave no sign that he realized they weren¡¯t alone. ¡°To progress, you must allow the change to happen. Listen to the voice of what was. Only then will you have the strength necessary to survive. You must let go of yourself to understand yourself.¡±

    ¡°Do you mean to win the fight?¡± Verus grimaced. Was Inanis trying to give him advice for the duel now?

    A forbidding aura suddenly surrounded Inanis as his and Verus¡¯s eyes met, and Verus found himself unable to look away.

    ¡°If you wish to survive, you must listen,¡± the pale disciple said. His words now contained an unnerving intensity. ¡°Do not be like the others, the blind liars and ignorant fools. See that which is around you before it is too late. Free yourself from the illusion. Face the horror that is truth. Only then will you be free of heaven¡¯s chains and eternity¡¯s fires. Once you defied them, but you still lost much. Now, you must listen to the voice within you and accept it. Otherwise, you will go mad and the coming storm will tear you apart. Do you understand?¡±

    Cold sweat appeared on Verus¡¯s back. It was almost like some powerful presence was reaching through Inanis to oppress him. More than the other disciple¡¯s words, this presence convinced him of the seriousness of the matter. He couldn¡¯t ignore this, even though he had no idea what this was.

    ¡°What¡­¡± Verus began to stammer, but then Inanis¡¯s eyes narrowed and flashed with power.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°No more questions. It is not answers you need, but courage.¡±

    Verus quickly nodded. He could feel the truth of the other disciple¡¯s words. If only he knew what was going on¡­

    ¡°All designated combatants are to enter the ring! The time of the challenge has come,¡± an elder suddenly yelled, causing Verus to glance toward the arena for a moment.

    When he looked back at Inanis, the pale disciple had already turned and began walking away. Verus could only make a sour face.

    ¡°I suppose I should go fight,¡± he remarked. His opponent would be waiting and it seemed Inanis had said all he intended to.

    Reluctantly, Verus thus walked over and stepped up onto the raised stone floor of the dueling arena. Why had Inanis decided to confront him with this now? He didn¡¯t need this kind of distraction in the middle of a duel.

    Avon Fortex was already present and standing on the far side of the ring. There was also a vaguely familiar elder standing off to the side. Verus thought he¡¯d seen the man judge other duels before, but he didn¡¯t know his name.

    Fortex studied Verus and smiled confidently. ¡°Let us get this matter done and over with.¡±

    After a moment of hesitation, Verus nodded in agreement. ¡°I look forward to exchanging blows with you and sharing insights.¡±

    An amused chuckle escaped Fortex. ¡°I will instruct you if you wish, but I hope you¡¯re ready to feel the difference between us with your body. For you are not my peer, and this is undoubtedly the only thing you will learn today!¡±

    Verus stared at his longwinded opponent. Could Fortex hear himself talk? Was this how people in his social circle all talked? If it was, Verus was glad he was a simple temple ward.

    The elder referring the match stepped forward. ¡°Are you both ready to fight?¡±

    Both disciples voiced their consent so the Elder nodded. ¡°Then let this challenge for an amulet begin and may the heavens and the Archon look upon you both with favor.¡±

    The elder then raised a hand and stepped back, signaling the start of the match. Immediately, Verus charged forward. However, all his opponent did was calmly raise a hand and point it at him. A moment later, golden orange ki surged down his arm and began gathering.

    A shiver of anticipation went down Verus¡¯s spine as he cycled his void ki enhancement technique. Thanks to his research on his foe, he recognized this technique, and was glad to have a technique that smoothly empowered his muscles and lightened his steps.

    After two seconds of preparation, Fortex unleashed his attack, and a beam of golden orange light shot out of his hand. It sizzled through the air, right at Verus, but he was ready for it. Using a quick bit of footwork, he threw himself sideways and dodged the beam. Thanks to his smooth movements, he even managed to resume his charge with only the slightest of interruptions.

    Verus¡¯s opponent frowned upon seeing this. He looked slightly annoyed, but not too concerned. The Fortex family was a baronial house, true landholding nobility, which was rare in the empire since it preferred to control its territory directly. They also had a powerful bloodline that granted their children the attunements they needed to use the techniques developed by their founder and patriarch. These techniques were a powerful combination of fire and light ki that had been refined over centuries, such as the beam of burning light that Avon Fortex had just shot at Verus. It was far more troublesome to dodge than a normal fireball, and according to what Verus had heard, Avon had defeated several outer disciples with it.

    As Verus dashed forward, Fortex simply widened his stance and prepared to meet him. Then, the two disciples met in a flurry of punches. Verus threw the first blow, but the orange glow of a body enhancement technique appeared around Fortex and he easily deflected the attack and countered. Soon, both disciples were exchanging blows as they warily circled and took each other¡¯s measure.

    Verus grimaced as he shifted to duck under a jab aimed at his face. Fortex was easily keeping up with his speed and strength. Not only was he faster than Escora, but his movement were also far more polished. It was obvious he was a skilled martial artist with years of dutiful practice under his belt. It seemed like there really was a difference between the top tier of disciples and everyone else. This wasn¡¯t simply a matter of talent. Underneath Avon Fortex¡¯s silk and make-up, there was a truly dedicated cultivator.

    A kick shot toward Verus¡¯s knee, so he twisted around and took his weight off his front leg to absorb the power of the hit. The blow still stung his thigh muscles when it connected, but it didn¡¯t do any real damage. However, Verus knew he was being pressured and needed to shake things up. Thus, he prepared another technique as he stepped forward to throw another punch.

    As Fortex parried the blow and moved to counterattack, Verus made a quick hand gesture and used the Unseen Hand technique. The invisible stream of void ki latched onto the elbow of the arm Fortex was throwing a punch with, pulling it aside so that it missed and breaking his balance. As he stumbled in surprise, Verus jumped forward and reached out to grab his arm.

    As Verus¡¯s fingers closed around Fortex¡¯s arm, the other disciple¡¯s eyes went wide in alarm and he flared his enhancement technique. The golden orange ki around his body flashed brighter for a second as he jumped back with startling speed, and Verus failed to get a grip on him.

    ¡°I have no idea what that little trick of yours was, but it won¡¯t work on me,¡± Fortex hissed. The energy around him faltered for a moment before regaining its normal strength.

    Ignoring his foe¡¯s words, Verus considered what he¡¯d just seen. It looked like Fortex could flare his body enhancement technique to greatly increase his speed and power for a single moment, but it left his ki unstable and weak for a moment after he used it. That was concerning because it would allow him to overpower Verus¡¯s Unseen Hand and escape every time Verus tried to grab him.

    Verus wasn¡¯t afraid though. His battles instincts were just starting to kick in, keeping him calm and focused. Thus, he skipped forward and threw a low kick at Fortex¡¯s front leg, but the other disciple easy sidestepped the attack. Verus now looked overextended, so Fortex threw a high kick at his shoulder. The blow slipped through Verus¡¯s hasty guard and collided with his shoulder, only to pass through it as Verus¡¯s afterimage dispersed into loose ki.

    Seemingly out of nowhere, Verus then used Vanishing Feather Step to appear to Fortex¡¯s right and immediately threw a straight punch at his chin. The other disciple¡¯s eyes went wide in surprise as Verus¡¯s fist slammed into his face, but then Verus¡¯s attack failed to connect. He could only gawk as his opponent dissolved around his hand. An afterimage! Pulled off balance, Verus stumbled into the cloud of bright light ki in front of him, which then exploded.

    With a loud bang, burning orange light enveloped Verus, singeing his skin and blinding him.

 He Who Conquers 6

    Eyes shut, Verus stumbled out of the explosion of fiery light. The exposed skin of his arms and the side of his head flared with pain, and he knew he¡¯d been burned. Worse than the pain was the panic, its intensity scattered his thoughts and resolve. He was blind and wounded, alone in a fighting ring with a powerful opponent, and the next blow could come from anywhere at any time. Worse, Fortex was more than powerful enough to finish him off with one good attack, which would cause him to fail the mission given to him by Lady Nightclaw.

    Verus remembered the dark and crushing aura of the great elder, as well as all the creepy prison-like rooms in her basement. He really wanted to avoid angering her. He almost wished he¡¯d brought his sword, but if weapons were allowed in the match then Fortex would have brought one of his own, and his pockets were very deep. All Verus had was a simple ki-tempered blade that he¡¯d only just began practicing with. Fortex would be able to afford much better. He might even have access to a spiritual weapon.

    That left Verus with few choices. His first instinct was to keep stumbling around to make himself harder to hit until his eyes recovered, but he knew that would be a mistake. Instead, he recovered his balance and reached out with his spiritual sense. He¡¯d spent months training it, so it was far more responsive and sensitive than that of most of his fellow disciples. Hopefully, it would be enough.

    Almost instantly, Verus detected a burst of ki that took shape a moment later. It was beam of burning energy headed right at him, and he could tell it was powerful enough to burn through his defenses and ravage his body. As an imminent sense of deadly danger filled Verus, the Warrior roared to life within his mind. It brought a cold calm that suppressed all fear and indecision, and he moved without thought.

    An intense burst of Ki flowed through Verus¡¯s body as he twisted around with startling speed. The beam missed him by less than a foot, and although Verus felt the heat from it wash over him, he wasn¡¯t wounded.

    Fortex wasn¡¯t finished yet though. Verus¡¯s ki senses alerted him as the other disciple charged at him. Thankfully, by this time, Verus¡¯s eyes were beginning to recover and he could make out blurry shapes again.

    Turning to face his opponent, Verus raised his guard and clumsily defended himself from a series of punches. At the same time, he blinked madly to help his vision recover. Using his ki senses to try and track punches was less than ideal. Fortex¡¯s body was mostly one big blob of ki to him, so several of the punches slipped past his guard and grazed him.

    Grimacing, Verus fell back. Although his vision was mostly back now, he was still in a very bad situation. The grace and skill of the Warrior was the only thing keeping him in the fight. Despite his opponent¡¯s martial arts skill, Verus was able to predict his opponent¡¯s moves and quickly respond thanks to the Warrior. Was there some sort of ki technique that would enable him to turn this situation around? He desperately needed to grab Fortex and lock him down! That was his only way of winning.

    Suddenly, the rain of blows ended, and Fortex stopped advancing. The unexpected respite surprised Verus, and as he blinked a few more times, his vision finally recovered completely. Fortex was now standing a few feet away, looking calm and relaxed.

    ¡°I have your measure now, and I must say, it¡¯s rather disappointing,¡± the young noble laughed. ¡°Your martial skills aren¡¯t bad, surprisingly good really, but your ki techniques are pathetic. You¡¯ll never beat the glorious legacy I inherited from my ancestor with that pitiful bag of tricks of yours.¡±

    Verus ground his teeth together as anger rose up within him. Fortex was a rich spoiled brat! He had no idea how hard Verus had worked to put together his ¡®pitiful bag of tricks¡¯. He¡¯d had to risk his life over and over again, while everything had been handed to Fortex simply because he¡¯d been born in the right family. Verus was struggling to understand even the basics of void ki, but Fortex had numerous techniques already prepared for him.

    ¡°I¡¯ve earned my techniques. They¡¯re mine, while yours are just borrowed from your family,¡± Verus shouted.

    Frotex snorted rudely. ¡°Borrowed gold is still gold, and tin is still tin, no matter how hard you polish it. You shouldn¡¯t be so jealous of the blessings that God has granted others. It¡¯s unbecoming of a temple ward, aren¡¯t you supposed to suffer in silence?¡±

    The young noble then charged forward again. In response, Verus deflected his first punch and then slowly began falling back and using the graceful feints and counters from the Shifting Serpent Style. He was trying to lure Fortex into overextending so that he¡¯d be vulnerable to a grappling move.

    After dodging several more punches and a low kick, Verus got his chance. He twisted out of the way of a punch aimed at his head while deflecting the blow with his forearm. This allowed him to push on Fortex¡¯s arm and get him off balance slightly, which then gave him time to reach over and grab his elbow. The bony joint and a quick application of the Unseen Hand allowed him to get a solid grip on his foe¡¯s limb.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Golden orange ki flared up from Fortex when he realized what was happening, so Verus immediately cycled his ki and prepared to prevent him from escaping. However, instead of pulling back, Frotex went on the offense, taking Verus by surprise. Before Verus was ready, he threw a powerful punch at his head, which landed on his cheek and sent him reeling. That wasn¡¯t the end either, keeping his momentum up, Fortex used the power from flaring his body enhancement to launch a devastating side kick that slammed into Verus¡¯s ribs.

    Verus heard a crack from his ribs as pain rippled through his chest. Immediately, he lost his grip on Fortex and was sent stumbling backwards. The world spun around him as he gasped, but he somehow managed to stay on his feet for the moment. His legs felt weak though, and he wasn¡¯t sure he could stay standing for long. Even his consciousness felt fragile, like he could pass out at any moment.

    Through the pain-filled haze, Fortex¡¯s mocking voice reached him. ¡°See, I told you that you¡¯d feel the difference between us with your body.¡±

    Ugh, that sounded so stupid. Eyeing his opponent warily, Verus struggled to raise his hands and regain his strength. He wasn¡¯t going to lose to this entitled jerk.

    Verus somehow managed to steady himself, but his hands were clearly trembling, and his ribs still ached. It felt like that half of his body was going numb. It didn¡¯t seem like Fortex was in hurry to continue attacking though. Flaring his enhancement technique had cost him as well, but he¡¯d recover soon.

    Was this end? Verus couldn¡¯t think of any way to turn the fight around now. It seemed like he was doomed to fail and would be missing the tournament. That meant he wouldn¡¯t be becoming Elder Caligo¡¯s apprentice. With all the enemies he¡¯d made, that would probably end his dreams once and for all. Becoming an elder would become a distant dream, although at the moment, Verus cared more about showing everyone what a temple ward like him was capable of.

    No! He couldn¡¯t give up. It wasn¡¯t only his dream. It had been Warin¡¯s as well. He couldn¡¯t let his brother down! He¡¯d show them all!

    The Warrior bubbled up into Verus¡¯s unstable mind, filling the cracks and driving away the confusion with iron discipline and burning cold intensity. There was only duty.

    Human ki rushed into Verus¡¯s body and began to flow in complicated patterns that twisted in on themselves, restoring the strength of his flesh. Within his soul, the Splinterseed began to move as well. Twisting and turning as it fulfilled its purpose, the bringing of change.

    New strength flowed into his body, but Verus knew that it wouldn¡¯t be enough. He needed more. No matter the cost. It was time to stop holding back. He couldn¡¯t run from the truth any longer.

    The words Inanis had spoken before the challenge had started echoed through Verus¡¯s mind. Listen to the voice of what was. Only then will you have the strength necessary to survive. You must let go of yourself to understand yourself.

    Standing on the stone platform, full of pain and determination, Verus knew what Inanis had meant now. The time had come to face the truth about the Warrior and accept it. He knew what the strange presence was. Really, it was obvious. He¡¯d simply been terrified down to his soul of the implications.

    The Warrior was him. It was his memories from a past life, when he¡¯d been someone else. Someone with incredible power and terrible purpose.

    Everyone knew souls reincarnated, but the Heavens were supposed to take their memories and sins, washing them clean. Sometimes people retained vague feelings or had brief flashes of odd memories, but the Warrior was far more than that. It was the core of who he¡¯d used to be, and thanks to the Splinterseed, it was getting stronger.

    That terrified Verus, more than death itself. All his life, all he¡¯d ever really had control of was his own will. The temple and the empire had controlled everything else about his life. If he accepted the Warrior, would he still be himself? Or, would he be replaced? Could he let go of who he was?

    There was no way to know. The implications of the Warrior¡¯s existence were as profound as they were dreadful. It led him to question the very nature of his own being and the nature of the soul at his core. Who was Verus? He felt like he was trying to stand on earth that was collapsing beneath him into a bottomless pit.

    Who was the Warrior? Verus knew it had been a powerful and committed cultivator who had suffered greatly, but that was it. What terrible experiences had forged it? He could feel its terrible depths, its resolve and its sorrow. Accepting his past life would mean accepting the terrible pain within it. That dark ocean could crush him.

    However, in the end, Verus had no choice but to grit his teeth and step forward. He wouldn¡¯t back down, he couldn¡¯t. Taking a leap of faith, he gambled his very soul. Embracing the Warrior entirely, he broke down all the barriers within him. Closing his eye, he let his sense of self go. It floated away from him, leaving nothing. Void.

    In that instance, Verus ceased to exist entirely.

    When his eyes opened again, he was not the same person as before. The distinction between himself and the remnant of the Warrior was gone. They¡¯d become one.

    No wave of restored memories overwhelmed Verus. He didn¡¯t remember the details of his past life, but his perspective shifted. A new weight settled over him. He was no longer just a lonely temple ward adrift in world he didn¡¯t understand. He was veteran warrior who had seen death from both sides. Unconsciously, he shifted his posture subtly and studied his enemy with new eyes. His fear had drained away, to be replaced by a deep intensity backed by ancient experience. He had a mission to accomplish, a duty to fulfill. This was one small step on a long road to his goal. One that had spanned lifetimes.

    A frown appeared on Fortex¡¯s face. He¡¯d been calmly recovering from flaring his ki technique, but he¡¯d noticed the change in Verus and didn¡¯t seem to know what to make of it.

    ¡°What just happened?¡± he asked hesitantly.

    ¡°I died,¡± Verus replied in steely voice as he casually strode forward

 He Who Conquers 7

    Although Verus was still wounded, the complex healing technique he was using on himself had restored him to peak fighting condition. The pain was also easy to ignore. He might not remember his past, but he remembered the pain and the fire. It had scarred his soul. This was nothing to that.

    Verus¡¯s apparent complete recovery from injury and the change in his behaviour put Fortex on guard. He took a defense stance and then pointed two fingers at Verus. Ki began to gather as he prepared his ranged technique.

    As he watched Fortex¡¯s fingers, Verus picked up the pace and flooded his body with void ki, which lightened his steps. A moment later, a beam of golden orange light blasted out of Fortex¡¯s hand.

    Seemingly unconcerned, Verus gracefully sidestepped the beam while continuing his steady advance. He¡¯d dodged it by less than half a foot, so he was unhurt, although he could feel the heat radiate off the beam as it went past. Fortex¡¯s evocation technique was fast and powerful, but that didn¡¯t matter if he signalled its path every time he fired it by pointing with his fingers.

    Verus was closing in now, so Fortex reacted. Instead of defending, he threw himself forward to meet Verus, and the two of them met in a storm of blows. Fortex threw a straight punch at his foe, but Verus matched it with one of his own, forcing his opponent to abandon his attack and dodge. Verus then threw a series of jabs and followed them up with a jumping sidekick. Fortex blocked the kick with his upraised arms as he fell back to reduce its power.

    As Verus landed, Fortex launched a scythe kick at his head, but Verus simply ducked under the blow and then punched him in the gut.

    Grunting in pain, Fortex fell back again and Verus followed. His foe had shown that he could resist the Unseen Hand technique, but that would probably change after a few more punches to the gut and when exhaustion set in.

    Verus was beginning to feel his ki reserves in his core running low. His opponent had to be worse off though, considering all the flashy moves he¡¯d been throwing around.

    Fortex steadied himself and met Verus''s charge, so both disciples exchanged another series of punches. Verus won this round as well, landing another gut punch that made his opponent grunt. Fortex was still the faster fighter, but Verus moved with incredible grace and had no problem predicting his moves. He¡¯d never been more in tune with the combat instincts he¡¯d inherited from the Warrior. Fortex was beginning to look very worried now.

    Under pressure, Fortex fell back, so Verus ducked down and threw another punch at his stomach. However, it was a feint, and when Fortex¡¯s hands dropped to block the blow, Verus twisted around and reached out to touch Fortex¡¯s head with two fingers. As he moved, human ki flowed through his body with increasing speed, until it raged with the power of a hurricane.

    Verus¡¯s fingers closed in on Fortex¡¯s chin, but at the very last moment before impact, Verus suddenly abandoned his attack, releasing a blast of human ki prematurely and jumping back. The small explosion washed over Fortex, and ripped his afterimage apart.

    Thankfully, Verus had already turned away and shielded his eyes, so when Fortex emerged from the explosion and attacked, he was able to block the punch.

    ¡°Enough!¡± Fortex yelled furiously as his attack was halted. ¡°I¡¯ll finish you with the next blow and none of your pathetic little tricks will be able to save you!¡±

    As Verus watched, his opponent stepped back and curled one of his hands up in a claw. Ki then streamed to his hand and it began to glow brightly as five small blades of essence formed around his fingers, giving them the appearance of wicked looking claws.

    Verus eyed this transformation warily but didn¡¯t fall back.

    ¡°Luminous Lion¡¯s Claw!¡± Fortex roared as he flared his enhancement technique. Golden orange light streamed from his body as he leapt forward and swung his essence claw toward Verus. He moved with startling speed and it was obvious he¡¯d put everything into this one last attack that combined body enhancement and essence evoking.

    Rather than retreat, Verus stepped into the blow. As the golden claw swung toward his head, he reached out and grabbed Fortex¡¯s arm. The other disciple¡¯s momentum and power were far too great for him to stop, so instead he cycled void ki and went along with it. Pulling Fortex off balance, Verus used a move from the Shifting Serpent Style to twist around and throw Fortex over his shoulder.

    The young noble flew through the air for a moment, before slamming into the ground hard. His body was still enhanced by ki though, so he wasn¡¯t stunned and immediately tried to lash out at his opponent. However, Verus was ready for this and had already activated the special ability of his core. With both hands holding Fortex¡¯s arm tight, he was able to begin sucking enough ki out of the limb to disrupt his opponent¡¯s technique, and the golden claw dissolved.

    Verus laughed. ¡°You really need to stop signalling every single one of your attacks.¡±

    A moment later, Fortex¡¯s body enhancement faded away after being flared. This allowed a grinning Verus to pull his fallen foe up so that he could get behind his back and apply a chokehold. Verus¡¯s arm was now wrapped around Fortex¡¯s neck, and a quick squeeze cut off the flow of blood to his head. Since Verus was also still draining the ki from his body, Fortex could only struggle for a brief second as his eyes bulged before tapping the ground to surrender.

    ¡°The match is over!¡± the judging elder yelled as he suddenly stepped into sight. ¡°Verus Windward is the winner.¡±

    There were exclamations of surprise and excitement from the crowd as Verus let his opponent go and stepped back. Excitement coursed through him. He¡¯d done it! He¡¯d won. His draining ability had rendered his opponent helpless once he¡¯d gotten a hold on him!

    Glowering fiercely, Fortex climbed to his feet and the two fighters gave each other a formal bow. Fortex looked like he wanted to refuse, but he had no choice in this matter since there were elders watching.

    That done, Verus let out a grunt of exhaustion and walked off the stone platform after the judge handed him the amulet he¡¯d won. Now that the fight was over, his injuries were starting to hurt again. Much to his frustration, he was now the center of attention. Almost everyone in the crowd was watching him and talking amongst themselves about what they saw as a startling upset.

    Although they¡¯d all ignored Verus before, several disciples even stepped forward to talk to him now that he¡¯d won an amulet. Verus grimaced as they approached. He really didn¡¯t want to talk to a bunch of strangers right now.

    Thankfully, before anyone could bother him, Elder Caligo appeared and his presence caused all the disciples to fall back.

    ¡°Good job. Come with me,¡± Elder Caligo told him as stepped beside Verus so that they could walk together.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Verus nodded and moved to follow. ¡°Yes, elder.¡±

    ¡°Call me master. You¡¯ve earned it,¡± Caligo replied wryly as they walked away from the crowd. ¡°I honestly didn¡¯t think you were going to win this challenge. Fortex was a formidable foe. You¡¯ve accomplished something quite impressive here, overcoming all your opponent¡¯s advantages with sheer talent and persistence.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, master. Although Fortex was a powerful opponent, he wasn¡¯t a real warrior. He has obviously never fought any real battles where everything was on the line. This was just a matter of face to him.¡±

    Caligo gave him an amused look. ¡°And you¡¯re some sort of grizzled veteran?¡±

    Verus hesitated a moment before answering. ¡°I was desperate.¡±

    This caused Elder Caligo to nod solemnly. ¡°Well, take a day or two to recover and relax. Your position in the inner sect is guaranteed now. Soon, a whole new world full of new challenges will open before you. The tournament will begin before too long, and you¡¯ll need to train hard.¡±

    Elder Caligo dropped Verus off at the dormitory before disappearing. Once in his room, Verus sat down on a mat on his floor and meditated. There were a lot of things on his mind.

    Breaking down the barriers between himself and the Warrior hadn¡¯t just allowed him to use his combat instincts to their full extent, they¡¯d come with a cost. Now that they were no longer divided, he viewed himself as the Warrior, and the Warrior¡¯s thoughts and desires were his own. His memories of his past life hadn¡¯t been restored, but now he desperately wanted to know who he¡¯d been. He had to recover his memories somehow.

    Verus knew there was something he had to do, but he didn¡¯t know what it was. Nonetheless, the desire was almost consuming him. He had a duty! Verus had to take a deep breath and calm himself. There was nothing he could do for the moment, except plan to grow stronger.

    Verus went easy over the next few days and stayed in his room most of the time. Some people came over to congratulate him on his victory, but he never did more than politely return their greeting. The only person he had a real conversation with was Escora. He wasn¡¯t interested in making friends or followers in the outer sect now that he was about to leave it.

    As expected, no one challenged him before the ceremony date, so Verus received an invitation to the special mid-year graduation ceremony the sect had arranged to prepare more disciples for the upcoming tournament, and he soon found himself attending it alongside the nine other amulet holders.

    It was a small ceremony in a back courtyard where the winners traded in their amulets for the formal robes of inner sect disciples. It was officiated by Elder Old Guy and the only other people in attendance were a small crowd of silent elders, including Elder Caligo.

    As he stood next to the other winners, Verus looked them over. He recognized almost all of them. Fang was there, alongside his mistress Selena, who was a stern looking young noble woman. Highcloud and one of his followers from the trial in the Reaches were also present. Verus couldn¡¯t help but glower at Highcloud. There was still an unresolved matter between them. He¡¯d been partly responsible for the situation that had ended up costing Warin his life.

    Inanis Praestigiae was the last disciple present that Verus knew by name. However, all he did was give Verus an enigmatic grin and then he ignored him after that. He seemed wrapped up in his own little world and quite happy about how things had turned out.

    The remaining disciples were all famous fighters and young family scions in expensive finery. In comparison, Verus had chosen to attend while wearing the simple robes of a temple ward and had shaved his head right before coming. It was a statement that got him a few hostile glances, but he ignored them all. Only Fang gave him an understanding grin and said hello, which was fine with Verus. What these people thought didn¡¯t matter to him.

    The ceremony was led by Elder Chu, the master of discipline, and he began it with a long speech. ¡°Congratulations, young disciples of the Great Wind Sect. Each of you has demonstrated your genius and earned an incredible opportunity for yourselves. Each of you will be competing in the tournament being thrown in Princess Yuriv¡¯s honor, where you will fight for the honor of our glorious sect before the eyes of a daughter of the Archon. This is why you are being allowed to join the inner sect early, so train hard. All of the sect will be watching you!¡±

    As he listened, Verus fought to keep his expression neutral. He didn¡¯t much care for the honor of the sect anymore, and the last thing he wanted was more eyes on himself. What had happened to Warin had ended any gratitude he felt for the Great Wind Sect. He was only doing this because of the rewards and because he¡¯d been ordered to.

    Once the ceremony was over, the other new inner disciples began to mingle with the elders. This was apparently supposed to be a social event. Verus watched for a few moments before sighing. It seemed like most the other disciples here already knew many of the elders present, which wasn¡¯t a surprise given their connections to the sect. Many of their parents were elders.

    Verus debated internally about trying to strike up a conversation with someone, but that was when Elder Caligo walked over to him and chuckled darkly. ¡°I can see you like these sorts of social events even less than me, let¡¯s go. There¡¯s much to do now that you¡¯re an inner disciple.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, master.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me too much. I meant what I said about there being a lot for you to do. Lady Nightclaw still has plans for you,¡± Elder Caligo replied as he led Verus away from the courtyard.

    Verus frowned. That was troubling. If Lady Nightclaw wanted something from him, it was unlikely to be easy or pleasant. It probably had something to do with the upcoming tournament. Hopefully she wasn¡¯t expecting him to win the entire thing. That would be impossible.

    Elder Caligo led Verus out of outer disciple area and through the gate that led deeper into the sect. Soon, they were in an area he¡¯d never seen before.

    ¡°Inner sect disciples can be considered true members of the Great Wind Sect, unlike outer disciples who are more potential recruits,¡± Elder Caligo explained as they walked. ¡°Now that you¡¯re an inner disciple, the sect will truly begin investing resources in you, and there is much you need to know.¡±

    ¡°I look forward to learning and being of service to the sect,¡± Verus replied automatically.

    Elder Caligo snorted rudely. ¡°You are young and very na?ve if that¡¯s true.¡±

    Once Verus would have bristled upon hearing that, but now he simply nodded along. He knew how ignorant he was of even the most basic things, and oddly enough, he trusted his new master to a certain extent. He might be a rude drunk, but he¡¯d also consistently helped Verus since he¡¯d arrived at the main temple.

    ¡°Regardless, I¡¯ll be in charge of bringing your education up to Lady Nightclaw¡¯s standards now,¡± the elder continued. ¡°Of course, you¡¯ll also have access to the advanced training rooms and supplementary courses in valuable professions such as glyph writing and alchemy.¡±

    Up ahead a huge building came into sight. It looked like a small castle made from black stone. There was even a tall black wall around it, and the entire structure gave off a menacing feeling that chilled Verus to the bone.

    Caligo stared at the forbidding fortress up ahead and a dark look appeared on his face. ¡°The Realms a cultivator ascends through are usually divided into groups of three, with the Origin Realm being the only exception. After that comes the Foundation, Tempered, and Echoing Realms, which are collectively known as the lower or disciple Realms. Only after passing through them and reaching the Unveiled Realm can you become an elder in the empire. That¡¯s when you usually first begin learning to use ki to control space and pierce dimensions.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that building up ahead?¡± Verus asked. There was no way to miss it. Elder Caligo was certainly giving it his attention, which couldn¡¯t be a coincidence. This had been planned.

    ¡°That¡¯s the asylum, an ever-present warning of the dangers of cultivation.¡±

    ¡°The sect has an asylum?¡± Verus asked as his eyes widened in disbelief. He¡¯d thought it was a fortress of some kind, where the sect stored its most valuable treasures.

    A dark grin appeared on Elder Caligo¡¯s face as he met Verus¡¯s gaze. ¡°Oh, yes. Every sect has at least one such institution. Enlightenment can be hard on one¡¯s sanity, especially once you reach the Unveiled Realm. That¡¯s when yougain the ability to see ki and the true nature of things. Many of the cultivators that reach that Realm change. They become a danger to themselves and others, and they can no longer be trusted to wander around unsupervised.¡±

    ¡°How many?¡±

    ¡°About a quarter of those that survive the ascension go mad. Thus, there are around a hundred elders currently in the asylum.¡±

    Taken aback, Verus could only stare at the castle made of black stone up ahead. He¡¯d never imagined that anything like it existed. He¡¯d never imagined the need.

    ¡°I brought you here to show you how little you actually know about the sect, and as a warning. Enlightenment is not easily earned. In the empire, there are always more secrets, and some of them destroy people¡¯s minds. Train hard, little disciple, and don¡¯t let your conviction waver.¡±

    ¡°Yes, master,¡± Verus replied humbly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be too afraid though,¡± his master told him before laughing darkly. ¡°Many of the elders interred within the asylum do eventually recover. I did. It only took me thirty years.¡±

 Prologue - The Oracle of Divine Flame

    A warm summer breeze blew from the south, rustling the leaves of the cherry trees that lined the sides of the pathway. They were in full spectacular bloom, so pink petals were torn from branches and sent fluttering through the air, giving off an invigorating floral scent.

    The perfectly straight pathway lined by the cherry trees ended at the doors of a massive palace complex. There was nothing else but greenery in sight. The resplendent gardens that surrounded the palace and the road that led to it went on for miles, a wonderland of bountiful growing greens and colorful flowers. Only a few lowkey servants could be seen in the gardens as they fulfilled their duties.

    The palace itself was massive, larger than some small cities. It was all a startling and vivid combination of gold and crimson, and it practically glowed in the light of the sun. With its angular roofs and soaring towers, the entire palace resembled a roaring flame.

    However, despite its magnificence, this complex was only one of many grand wonders that dotted the exalted world upon which it had been built. The entire surface of the world was covered in flourishing golden cities and sprawling gardens. Even the vast wildlands that remained were carefully managed and more like parks than true wilderness. Incredibly tall crystal towers pierced the clouds in many places, and these Heaven and Earth Arrays shone with a many-colored aura as they controlled all the ki of the world, managing its connection to the Eternal Plane.

    This was Capitar, the homeworld of the Heavenly Empire and the birthplace of the Archon, the shepherd of mankind. From here, a thousand other worlds were ruled, and to many, it was as close to a paradise as could be found under the Endless Heavens. Every person that called this world home was truly blessed, living a life of luxury under the full protection of the Empire¡¯s endless legions and uncountable immortal warriors. It was said that not a single person was allowed to grow hungry or cold upon all of Capitar.

    Still, the gold and crimson complex had a special significance, even upon the Heavenly Empire¡¯s capital world. It was the Palace of the Eternal Flame and within it dwelled the chief oracle of the Heavenly Empire.

    Deep within the palace, a man in black who wore a stern iron mask walked alone and proud. Passing by a cluster of golden guards carrying spears, he entered a large hall filled with hanging tapestries. Among the tapestries were a thousand handmaidens mediating in silent contemplation upon soft cushions. Each one was a stunningly beautiful young woman. Although their clothing was somewhat conservative, it didn¡¯t hide their slim figures and attractive curves.

    The atmosphere was serene and restful, but the arrival of the man sent ripples of disturbance through the chamber. Handmaidens flinched and cast quick startled looks toward the masked man walking through their midsts. Clearly, they were startled by his arrival.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    He didn¡¯t care.

    Without sparing them a single look, the black robed figure continued on to the magnificent golden doors at the far end of the room.

    The massive double doors were covered in carvings of firebirds soaring among clouds. The wood looked incredibly thick and sturdy, a barrier few creatures in existence could force. But in front of the black clad man¡¯s march they immediately opened. Thus, he was able to simply walk through them and into the chamber beyond without slowing.

    This chamber was perfectly circular and two hundred feet across. Its walls were pure white marble while its ceiling was an impressive golden dome. More red tapestries hung from the walls, covered in golden flame patterns. In the center of the room was an island surrounded by a ring-shaped pond that could only be reached by a single bridge, and a rainbow of many-colored lilies floated on the water.

    The man in black headed for the bridge to the island. There, an old woman with long white hair sat before a pit in the floor. She was regal in long red robes, and in the pit burned a golden flame. Its heat radiated throughout the room, leaving an impression of constrained strength and everlasting intensity.

    The heat wasn¡¯t nearly intense enough to harm the man in black, but he stopped at the end of the bridge and took not a single step onto the island. Instead, he bowed deeply toward the old woman. ¡°Divine Oracle, you summoned an agent of the Archon¡¯s Inquisition. I am here.¡±

    The old woman opened her eyes, revealing milky white unseeing orbs. However, her voice was strong and commanding, without a sign of infirmity.

    ¡°By the grace of the heavens, God, and the Archon, I have been blessed with a vision of the future by one of the saints. It was a warning and a divine command. Soon, a great enemy of the empire will appear upon a newly conquered world. Master inquisitor, this threat must be stamped out before it has a chance to grow or it will throw the heavens and the empire into chaos.¡±

    Behind his mask, the inquisitor stiffened. A command directly from a saint! Such things were incredibly rare. The saints were peerless cultivators of the empire who had ascended to godhood and now stood directly under the Archon. The court of saints dwelled in the Eternal City, a realm within the eternal plane that rarely directly intervened in mortal affairs.

    ¡°I can but leap to obey, great Oracle! Upon what world does this vile menace lay? I shall immediately send forth a full force of my most loyal and ruthless inquisitors.¡±

    The old woman nodded. ¡°The world is known as Evera, and you must be very certain of this cursed being¡¯s destruction.¡±

    The master inquisitor¡¯s thoughts raced. He recognized that name. It was an inconsequential rock, but hadn¡¯t a newly risen princess been sent there as part of her imperial tour? Did this threat have something to do with her?

    ¡°Have no fear. For the Archon and the empire, I will raze cities and burn the heavens if necessary! The saint¡¯s commands shall be done, no matter the cost.¡±

    ¡°Very well then, let me share the words of the divine revelation with you,¡± the oracle responded gravelly.

 Trial and Tribulation 1

    A loud bang echoed through the small room as Verus¡¯s fist slammed into the wooden golem¡¯s side, where the ribs would be on a human. The human form combat construct was knocked slightly back, and a glowing symbol briefly flashed were it had been struck.

    However, the golem was incredibly sturdy, and so after a brief pause, it spun around and swung an arm at its human foe. Verus ducked under the blow and retreated. He was panting heavily after such a long fight, and his core was feeling strained and empty of ki.

    Without mercy, the wooden golem followed Verus and raised a hand to strike him again, but then it unexpectedly froze. A moment later, as Verus watched warily, the golem lowered its arms and headed back to stand passively in the center of the room.

    ¡°It seems my time is up,¡± Verus said with a tired sigh. The timing had been fortuitous, since he didn¡¯t feel like getting punched by the golem again. He already had several painful bruises from this session.

    Turning around, Verus exited the room and walked out into a temple complex within the inner disciple area of the Great Wind Sect. Seeing the room behind him become vacant, another disciple began walking over to use it.

    The golem Verus had just been fighting was an advanced training tool for inner sect disciples. It could be set to various difficulties and even use emission techniques that channeled most of the basic types of ki. During the last fight, it had been set to use wind ki blasts. The construct was almost impossible for a disciple to damage, but when an area had been hit hard enough, a glowing glyph briefly appeared to mark the hit.

    Taking a deep breath, Verus grinned as he walked home. It had been almost a month since he¡¯d left the outer sect, and he was really enjoying his time in the inner sect.

    Elder Caligo had certainly been telling the truth about the resources given to inner disciples. They were incomparable to those the outer sect received. It was only once you were in the inner sect that the sect truly considered your future worth investing in. Every inner sect disciple was given a much larger allowance and could purchase time in various advanced training rooms, of which the golem was but one. There were also intense meditation chambers and even an illusionary realm for fighting phantoms.

    The scramble to produce as many young talented fighters for the upcoming tournament had also caused the sect to be even more generous than usual. Normally, inner disciples had to supplement their income by doing various tasks for the elders, however Verus didn¡¯t have to worry about doing any sect missions and could focus on training for the tournament. Thanks to his loot from the Algorian Reaches, inner sect allowance, and what his master gave him, he had more than enough shards to purchase everything he needed. The next Realm was still far away, but he was making smooth and steady progress. Every day his core absorbed more ki and got a little stronger.

    ¡°I certainly joined the main temple at the right time!¡± Verus murmured before grinning.

    The other benefit of the upcoming tournament was that all the other disciples were incredibly busy training for it, so no one had any time to bother him. Verus could spend all his time meditating in peace and training his martial arts. Other people might find this lifestyle lonely or boring, but not Verus! Although he sometimes missed his friends from outer sect, he was an ascetic who loved peace and quiet. Meditating on enlightenment was his favorite activity. Given a choice, he would be fine with spending a few years this way.

    As he walked to his residence, Verus passed through the inner area of the Great Wind Sect¡¯s main temple. Located in the world¡¯s capital city, the temple was a sprawling complex that was itself the size of a small city. The inner sect area was similar to the outer disciple area, full of stone buildings, carefully arranged courtyards, and green banners emblazoned with the sect¡¯s symbol, but it was slightly larger and fancier looking.

    When Verus had first come to the main temple, he¡¯d seen some small floating islands and buildings hovering off in the distance but never been able to get close to them. Some of those were located here in the inner sect, but he had no reason to visit them. Apparently, most of them were for show or wind ki cultivation. Only one of them was normally open to disciples, and it was basically just a floating tower that let people get a good view of the capital city. Verus had once used his void body enhancement technique to lower his weight so that he could jump up to it, but never gone again after that. The view was amazing, especially at night when all the houses in the city were full of light, but it wasn¡¯t something Verus felt the need to see over and over again. He had training to do.

    Verus¡¯s residence was located next to the other inner sect disciples¡¯ dwellings. While outer sect members lived in dormitories, each inner sect member had their own detached home with a surrounding garden. The homes were divided into three streets with each street having bigger and fancier houses on it. Competition for the larger homes was fierce among the inner disciples, since they allowed the disciples to flaunt their power and social status to their peers, but that wasn¡¯t a game Verus was interested in playing at all.

    While his fellow new inner disciples were fighting over the largest available houses, Verus had claimed one of the smallest for himself. It had only five rooms: a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, a tiny sitting room, and a dedicated cultivation chamber. Having been raised by the sect, he¡¯d never had his own house before and he didn¡¯t need much. Besides, he was an ascetic, so he preferred a simple lifestyle free of distractions. The cultivation room in each home was the same, and that was all that mattered to him. He didn¡¯t need extra bedrooms or a vast dining hall to entertain visitors.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Upon entering his home, the first thing Verus did was wash himself. He was rather sweaty from training. After that, he flipped the token on the door of his cultivation chamber to signify he wasn¡¯t to be disturbed and entered the closet sized room to begin meditating. The house had come with a servant who occasionally came by to clean things.

    Verus wanted to meditate while the feelings and insights from his battle with the golem were still fresh in his mind. When it came to cultivation, gaining enlightenment into the nature of the heavens was just as important as absorbing ki if you wanted to advance through the Realms.

    Thus, Verus spent the rest of the day going over what he¡¯d felt as he¡¯d fought the golem and what he¡¯d sensed from the wind ki it had used and his own void ki. Only through practice, experimentation, and understanding would his skill in wielding ki rise.

    The next morning, as he was getting ready to leave for practice, a visitor showed up at his door. It was a tall young man with a shaved head in simple temple robes. Verus recognized him instantly. It was Levi Windward, the only other temple ward in the inner sect. He¡¯d been in the inner sect for over a year already, and he was one of the few people Verus had come to know here because Levi had come over to help his fellow ward when Verus had first arrived. He was a friendly yet reserved man who freely shared his knowledge of the inner sect and Verus had sparred with him twice already.

    ¡°Greetings, elder sect brother! Would you like to come in for tea?¡± Verus asked him.

    ¡°Junior brother is too polite,¡± Levi replied with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve simply come to see if you had a chance to visit the library yet. You¡¯d said you were planning on studying glyphs and was wondering if you had any questions.¡±

    ¡°Ah, no. Not yet. I¡¯ve been too busy. Sorry.¡±

    Levi waved away his concern. ¡°It¡¯s no problem. The princesses¡¯ tournament has the entire sect on edge, and I know how hard you push yourself.¡±

    The two talked for a few more minutes before Levi made his departure. Verus smiled as he watched him leave. He was well aware that Levi wasn¡¯t just helping him because they were both temple wards. Levi was currently lacking a master, and he knew Verus already one, so getting close to Verus allowed him to make important connections within the sect. That was fine with Verus though. Levi had been upfront about this, and the older disciple¡¯s advice was usually quite helpful.

    Flipping up his sleeves, Verus stared at his wrists. Levi¡¯s visit had reminded him of the true reason he was interested in studying glyphs. His wrists were tattooed with rings made up of twisting black symbols. They had been put there by a great elder to prevent his ki going from going rampant and mutating his flesh, but he had no idea how they worked. Depending on something he didn¡¯t understand made him nervous, so he was planning on studying Soul Mark Tattoos.

    Unfortunately, after going to the inner sect area of the library, Verus had found out that almost all information on Soul Mark Tattoos was restricted to elders. He could only access the most basic information on them. They were related to glyphs though, so he¡¯d taken up the study of glyphs to try and better understand his tattoos.

    Even glyphs weren¡¯t simple though. They were symbols that could channel and control the flow of ki. Many cultivators spent decades mastering them, and Verus didn¡¯t have a lot of free time right now.

    Sighing, Verus got out the books on glyphs and soul marks that he¡¯d borrowed from the library and went to his small sitting room. There, he poured himself some tea and began reading. He couldn¡¯t train all the time, and this was what he did in his off time. Reading was a nice relaxing activity and he enjoyed learning about other more scholarly aspects of cultivation. Despite his own experiences, he was sure punching people in the face was a rather small part of seeking enlightenment¡­ Maybe.

    Waving his finger through the air in small loops, Verus drew a shining symbol. It was a glyph of fire essence which quickly drew upon the nearby fire ki to reheat his tea pot. That was about all he could use glyphs for at the moment. The raw power of his fire glyphs was limited by his poor attunement to fire ki and the fact that he had no fire ki in his core to draw on, so they were useless in battle, but still quite convenient for heating up cool beverages.

    After taking another drink of his satisfyingly hot tea, Verus went back to reading about various types of glyphs and their interactions. Usually, he found this subject interesting, but today he was having trouble concentrating. As he read, he felt on edge. The reason for this was obvious. The princess¡¯s tournament officially began the day after tomorrow with the preliminaries.

    Verus had quite enjoyed the rather peaceful time he¡¯d had to focus on training since joining the inner sect, but that time was almost over. He knew he¡¯d soon be facing a frantic struggle similar to the one he¡¯d fought after first coming to the man sect temple. Verus¡¯s experiences in the capital made one thing clear. Without a doubt, the tournament was going to be bloody and dangerous. It would challenge him in ways that would shock him to his core.

    However, it wasn¡¯t fear that made Verus¡¯s guts unsettled and increased the beat of his heart. No, it was excitement. Deep down, he was looking forward to finally challenging himself again. He¡¯d been laying low in the inner sect, but soon he¡¯d once again have a chance to lash out. He hadn¡¯t forgotten the grudges he¡¯d carried over from the Algorian Reaches. The princess¡¯s tournament was the perfect chance to settle those scores.

    Verus was an ascetic and knew that wrath would lead him away from the truth, but you didn¡¯t reach enlightenment by running from your battles. Sloth was a sin too, and there was much for him to do. At the back of his mind lurked the broken memories of his past life. They¡¯d mostly stayed dormant over the last month, however they were another challenge Verus would have to face eventually. Wherever they led him, it wouldn¡¯t be a small matter. He could sense a storm coming, and there was no other way to face it than head on.

 Trial and Tribulation 2

    Verus launched himself sideways. He moved with incredible speed and grace as his feet danced across the stone of the training ground. Void ki cycled through his channels, which he used to boost himself and make several quick disorienting turns. He seemed to bounce effortlessly around, almost as if he was nothing but an illusion. This was a property of the void ki he was using, although it took concentration and skill to display. It allowed him to imitate nothingness and thus disturb the world around himself less. The effect wasn¡¯t all that strong, but it might become more useful as his competence with void ki grew. He could hope, anyway.

    Something suddenly flew through the area he was training in, and it was moving with startling speed. Reacting, Verus came to a stop and spun to face it. The flying object was a perfectly round stone larger than his fist, moving with enough speed that it looked blurry.

    As the stone whizzed by, Verus reached out with a hand. More void ki flowed from his core and streamed out of his hand toward the stone. Upon impact, a connection was formed, but the stone was moving quickly and heavy. Thus, when Verus tried to collapse the beam and pull the stone toward himself, the connection threatened to snap.

    Struggling, Verus grit his teeth and concentrated on his technique. It was hard, but he succeeded in pulling the flying rock into his hand. Only when his fingers closed on the cool stone did he let himself relax and smile. His ki channels felt strained, but he¡¯d done it! This was the first time he¡¯d managed to catch such a heavy object moving so quickly!

    From where he was standing off to the side, Elder Caligo nodded in an approving manner. ¡°Your intuitive grasp of void ki and your ability to shape it has improved considerably.¡±

    The elder with messy black hair had been the one who¡¯d thrown the stone. There was a small pile of them on the ground next to him.

    ¡°Thank you, master. I¡¯ve been practicing hard at my techniques and regularly doing the exercises you gave me.¡±

    ¡°Diligence is the root of will, and only will can carry you along the path of the cultivator, little disciple.¡±

    Verus felt a mild bit of irritation. His master seemed to like calling Verus his little disciple. Verus didn¡¯t know why he felt the need to be insulting. He wasn¡¯t a child. Maybe Elder Caligo did it because he¡¯d essentially been ordered to take Verus as his disciple by his own master, Lady Nightclaw? More likely, he was just an ass. Regardless of the reason, there was nothing Verus could do about it.

    ¡°While your Empty Grasp has grown stronger, your strongest point is definitely your speed and agility,¡± Elder Caligo observed. ¡°Void ki really is quite suited for movement arts.¡±

    Verus sighed. ¡°It lacks both defensive and offensive power though. The Empty Grasp is more of a support technique than anything else.¡±

    By necessity, Verus had focused almost all his recent training on his body enhancement technique and the Empty Grasp. Developing his human ki techniques would be inefficient and he had no other combat abilities at the moment.

    ¡°Ha, perhaps. However, you¡¯ve only begun to touch upon the secrets and uses of void ki. It is not power you lack, but understanding,¡± his master told him as he stretched lazily. ¡°Give it time, something will come to you. All your techniques are only at the most basic level. None of them have even incorporated the slightest hint of dimensional elements yet. Once you touch upon that insight, many new paths will open to you. Remember, ki is far more than a representation of an element. All ki is connected to the eternal.¡±

    ¡°Will I be able to understand such things while still within my current Realm?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps. You certainly won¡¯t master them, and it would be unusual for a disciple to gain even basic insight into the dimensional characteristics of ki at the Tempered Realm, but you¡¯ve shown hints of touching them already. So, it¡¯s possible.¡±

    ¡°I have?¡±

    ¡°Indeed, but trying to force the issue would be a futile waste of effort, so don¡¯t worry about it. Just concentrate on mastering your existing techniques and slowly moving toward the next Realm. Inspiration never comes as we wish. Whatever happens will happen.¡±

    ¡°Yes, master,¡± Verus replied sullenly. Elder Caligo could be rather nonchalant about things, but Verus had never been given any reason to doubt that knew what he was talking about. He was an elder after all. He couldn¡¯t be entirely incompetent.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m ready for the tournament?¡± he asked his master nervously. Time had gone by quickly, and this was the last scheduled training session before the official beginning of the princess¡¯ tournament. It was tomorrow.

    Elder Caligo grinned darkly. ¡°Simply do your best and try not to get killed, my little disciple. Your basics have come along nicely, but your chances of entering the top ten percent are still nonexistent without a miracle. That¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of though. The very best young geniuses of this world will all be competing. You have shown impressive talent yourself and made it into the inner sect by overcoming no small amount of disadvantages and trials, but you¡¯re not among the very best of your age group. Don¡¯t fool yourself.¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    The tired looking elder then took a drink from the silver flask he always kept on him. Verus knew there was alcohol in that flask. His master drank a lot, which was quite unfitting for a cultivator of the empire. They were supposed to be ascetics.

    ¡°I can see that look of disapproval in your eyes,¡± Elder Caligo chuckled in amusement. ¡°You need to work on hiding your inner thoughts better, my little disciple. You¡¯re easier to read than a book.¡±

    ¡°How could I ever disapprove of anything my master did?¡±

    Verus¡¯s master simply snorted rudely. ¡°Regardless, don¡¯t try and go beyond your limits or take too many shortcuts to power. Real life isn¡¯t like a story. Push yourself too hard and all you¡¯ll do is cripple yourself. I know this lesson well. Once I was a young genius too, but I stumbled and paid a heavy price for it.¡±

    Verus eyed his master. His own instincts were telling him he needed to seize the moment, but he could tell that the man had lived through some painful experiences, and he was an elder. The forbidding image of the sect¡¯s asylum rose in Verus¡¯s mind. Maybe Elder Caligo knew what was talking about.

    ¡°I bow before your wisdom and experience, master, but is there really nothing more I can do to prepare for the tournament? I want to do my best. Lady Nightclaw told me not to embarrass her.¡±

    ¡°The competition forbids most sources of external strength such as artifacts or pills. Only bonded spirit weapons are allowed, since they are earned and considered inseparable from the cultivator that holds them.¡±

    ¡°The sect has quite a few unbonded spirit weapons lying around. I¡¯ve seen them,¡± Verus replied hopefully.

    Spirit Weapons were special living weapons that contained trapped spirits. You could only use them if the spirit inside allowed you to bond with them. Verus really wanted one. They all had special ki abilities, so having a spirit weapon would definitely help him overcome his lack of offensive techniques.

    Elder Caligo chuckled. ¡°True, but the sect still doesn¡¯t just hand them out to new inner disciples. Also, bonding spirit weapons is very dangerous at your Realm and it¡¯s unlikely you¡¯d find one that suits you anyway. The spirit weapons the sect has ¡®lying around¡¯ as you put it have all rejected everyone that tried to bond them for centuries. If you perform a great task for the sect then you¡¯ll get a chance to see if any like you, not before.¡±

    ¡°The sect seems to care about this tournament -and my age group in particular- a lot. Winning would be a lot easier with a spirit weapon.¡±

    ¡°Not if half the contestants die and the others are all have weakened souls. A new weapon they don¡¯t know how to use won¡¯t make up for that. Like I said, bonding a spirit weapon at the Foundation Realm is dangerous.¡±

    Verus sighed in defeat. ¡°Alright. Why does the sect care so much about this tournament though, master?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll know soon enough,¡± Elder Caligo responded, continuing his longstanding practice of not answering questions that weren¡¯t directly related to Verus¡¯s immediate cultivation training. It was quite annoying.

    ¡°If you¡¯re really desperate for something to do, practice conjuring void essence or just meditate and gather ki instead of letting your mind roam pointlessly. It will take you a long time to get to the Expanding Elements Realm, but every drop of ki will make you stronger.¡±

    Verus was confused for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ve always just heard it referred to as the Expanding Realm.¡±

    Elder Caligo sighed. ¡°After the Origin Realm, which is the Realm all humans start at, all the Realms are divided into groups of three, with the first three being the Element ones. So, you¡¯re actually in the Tempered Elements Realm at the moment. It¡¯s just that this classification doesn¡¯t mean anything to new disciples, so they¡¯re usually only referred to by their simplified names.¡±

    ¡°What are the insight requirements for reaching the next realm? I¡¯ve heard a little about it, but no one has gone into detail yet.¡±

    ¡°The Expanding Elements Realm is the last stage of the first triad, but the enlightenment required to reach it is fairly simple. All you have to do gain a certain mastery over your element and build up enough power to breakthrough your inherent limit. Anyone can do it with time and practice.¡±

    ¡°Then what¡¯s the next triad about?¡±

    ¡°The next three Realms are the Heaven Realms and have more to do with understanding the eternal plane, but don¡¯t worry about them yet. Concentrate on gathering enough ki for the next step.¡±

    ¡°Yes, master,¡± Verus replied. He¡¯d gotten an unusual amount of information out of his master already.

    That was pretty much the end of the training session, so Elder Caligo soon left and Verus went back to his residence. His master hadn¡¯t reassured him, so he was still quite nervous about the tournament tomorrow. He hadn¡¯t dared tell his master why he was so worried about it though. His grudge against Highcloud was a personal matter that his master might discourage him from fighting with others in his sect, and his memories from his past life were a dangerous secret he wasn¡¯t planning to tell anyone about, especially since he still hadn¡¯t remembered who he¡¯d used to be. Not knowing that made him very nervous.

    Once he was sitting down at the small table in his room, Verus mind began to wander away from cultivation. The tournament was going to be tomorrow, and it was supposed to be in the princesses¡¯ honor. Was she going to watching? She should at least be there for the finals, right? The image of her sitting on her throne as gazing out imperiously at the parade crowd was seared into his memory.

    Verus groaned at his own foolishness. Why was he thinking about the princess? He wasn¡¯t the type of person that would ever have a chance to even talk to her. She was a descendant of the Archon! As high above him as the stars. So what if she was incredibly beautiful? He was an ascetic and wasn¡¯t supposed to care about things like a woman¡¯s slender legs¡­ so beautiful.

    Ack. There was no way he¡¯d done anything as stupid as fall heads over heels in love with a princess. No, this had to be residual effect of the devotion ki used at the parade or something. He wasn¡¯t so mentally weak as to be captivated by a girl, even a princess supported by devotion ki. He could resist this, whatever it was!

    Still, she probably would be at the tournament, so he¡¯d be able to see her again. Verus¡¯s heart skipped a beat and excitement coursed through him. He just couldn¡¯t forget her slim and majestic appearance. Something about her resonated with his very soul...

 Trial and Tribulation 3

    Butterflies fluttered nervously in Verus¡¯s stomach the next morning, but he presented a calm face as he walked to the meeting spot for the sect¡¯s participants in the tournament. It was a courtyard off by one of the main temple¡¯s side gates. The gardens there were interesting to look at, but Verus¡¯s attention was caught by the people present. It seemed he was one of the last to arrive, so many of the other contestants from his sect were already here.

    However, before Verus could look around too much, an older man in a long grey robe drew everyone¡¯s attention. He looked very proper and at ease.

    ¡°I¡¯m the imperial official in charge of bringing the young disciples of the Great Wind Sect to the preliminary. Please follow me and do as you¡¯re told, and there will be no problems.¡±

    The official then led everyone else present out into the streets of the city and to a complex next to the palace. There was a large crowd standing out in front of the main gate of the complex, but the disciples simply walked past it and headed over to a small side gate.

    Once inside, they got a good view of the vast building they¡¯d just entered. It was a massive circular arena. Ahead of Verus¡¯s group lay a brief hallway that led to the center of the arena, where there was a vast dirt floor with a raised platform in the center. Crowds of people were scattered around the that platform. There seemed to be several groups, but the largest were four long lineups that looked to hold almost a hundred people each. They seemed to be waiting for their turn to go up onto the platform, although because of the crowds Verus couldn¡¯t see what was up there.

    However, after studying the lineup for a few moments, Verus¡¯s gaze wandered off to the side. The sloped walls of the massive arena held dozens of rows of seating. Surronidng him on all sides, these seats towered over the crowd below, but they weren¡¯t all empty. A few hundred more people were all looking down at the scene on the platform.

    The sound of countless conversations echoed throughout the structure as the all the gathered people talked amongst themselves, and this steady buzz was only occasionally broken by a loud thump or bit of yelling form the center platform.

    Verus stared nervously at all the people. He could sense that they were all cultivators. It seemed like the preliminaries were going to be very public. Gulping, he steadied himself. He¡¯d expected this and could deal with all the attention.

    ¡°Fear is an illusion. The unbound soul seeks balance,¡± Verus whispered under his breath. The mantra immediately eased his anxiety, allowing him to deal with the crowds better.

    After glancing around again, Verus was sure the princess wasn¡¯t present. That allowed him to relax some more. All the spectators looked bored and none of them seemed to anyone important. They were probably normal cultivators here to alleviate their boredom or check out the competition.

    That was when the imperial official that had led the disciples from the Great Wind Sect here spoke up. ¡°This is the location of the first of the preliminaries. All of you were chosen by your sect to participate in the upcoming tournament by your sect, and undoubtedly think yourselves exemplary and accomplished, but there are far too many entrants who wish to take part. Thus, the number of participants will be narrowed down by three preliminary rounds. Only those combatants that pass all three of these trials will be allowed to take part in the tournament proper and fight before the princess.¡±

    Frowns appeared on many of the disciple¡¯s faces, but no one was too surprised. They¡¯d expected there to be a preliminary, although three rounds were more than Verus had guessed there¡¯d be. He hoped he had what it took to pass all three.

    ¡°Your all in the youngest and most important category so please join one of the two lines on this side of the arena and wait your turn to be tested. Another official will help you when your turn comes,¡± the official told them before wandering off.

    The Great Wind Sect disciples did as they were told and split up to join one of the four lines. Verus quietly joined the closest line and patiently waited as it slowly advanced. A few hours later, he was close enough to the platform to see what was happening upon it.

    The arena had been divided into four, and on each of the subdivided areas a cultivator was fighting a hulking stone golem while various officials in grey robes watched. These golems were much larger than the ones Verus had trained against. Made of grey stone, they were twice as tall as a person and had thick arms that hung down to their knees.

    As Verus watched, four different competitors fought the golems. The hulking constructs moved with startling speed. One fighter was caught by surprise and took a punch that threw him right out of the ring.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been eliminated,¡± yelled an official. ¡°Next competitor come forth.¡±

    Verus¡¯s line shuffled forward slightly as a new cultivator stepped up to fight a golem.

    It took another hour before it was Verus¡¯s turn to fight next. Once he was waiting right at the edge of the platform, and official in grey approached him.

    ¡°When it¡¯s your turn, you must defeat the golem to pass the first preliminary. It¡¯s nigh indestructible, but if you hit it had enough glowing runes will appear to signify that it has registered the hit. The golem will shut down after taking enough hits of sufficient strength, but it will also grow faster and stronger the longer the fight goes on. You lose if you pass out, are knocked out of the ring, or surrender. Do you understand?¡±

    Verus nodded. ¡°I do. Thank you for the instruction.¡±

    This was almost exactly like the sect¡¯s training golems. Although the golems for this test were bigger and faster, he thought he had a good chance of passing this test if he didn¡¯t hold back too much. Before when he¡¯d been fighting the training golem, he¡¯d purposely used his weakest techniques to train them.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    A few minutes later, the cultivator ahead of him on the platform managed to land a flying kick on the golem¡¯s head and the stone glowed brightly for moment. The golem then froze and didn¡¯t react at all as the cultivator landed on his feet next to it.

    ¡°You pass,¡± an official said as he tossed the man something. ¡°Next competitor step forward please.¡±

    That meant it was Verus¡¯s turn. With a sigh, he stepped onto the platform and faced off against the golem. It was even taller looking from close up. It towered over him, looking as heavy as a mountain, which it closely resembled because it was made of rough stone. The construct had a single big crystal eye on its face.

    Briefly, Verus went over the plan he¡¯d made while in line. The huge golem was fast and strong, so he couldn¡¯t hold back, but he didn¡¯t want to reveal his cards in public. There were lots of people watching him, and everything he revealed could be used against him later. Thus, he was going to try and use his human ki techniques. Their straight up power was a good match up for the golem, and he definitely didn¡¯t want anyone to see his void ki yet.

    Ignoring all the yes that suddenly focused on him, Verus took a combat stance and began cycling human ki throughout his body. This was the most basic body enhancement technique he knew, but it was still effective.

    The golem didn¡¯t give him time to reminisce. Without warning, it moved to attack immediately. Apparently, it was set up not to waste any time.

    There was a loud thud as its stepped forward, as even the power of its step shook the ground slightly, but its real attack was a punch. A huge stone fist swung right toward Verus. It was the size of his head, and it had a massive inevitable weight to it.

    Dread tingled down Verus¡¯s spine, but thanks to the power of his ki he managed to duck under the golem¡¯s heavy swing and then jump back. He was surprised by the intensity of the attack, but he managed to throw a quick counter and kick the golem¡¯s forearm as it retreated.

    There was no reaction from the golem. Not the faintest hint of a glow in response.

    ¡°Archon damned pile of rocks!¡° Verus hissed in a very non ascetic-like way. His foot hurt now.

    The golem didn¡¯t let up its attack. Its arms soon swung back around to hit Verus again. This time Verus was ready though, despite his sore foot. Ki swirled with his channels, and just as he was about to be hit, he activated the Vanishing Feather Step.

    The giant fist blasted through the ki illusion Verus left behind and he appeared at the golem¡¯s side.

    ¡°Let¡¯s try this!¡± Verus growled as he twisted his body around and then unleashed his most powerful punch.

    Ki raged throughout his channels, empowering his muscles, and his fist shot forward to slam into the section where the golem¡¯s chest met it¡¯s torso. The force of the impact sent a shiver down Verus¡¯s arm, but his perfect form prevented him from getting injured.

    In response to the attack, a swirl of glowing lines appeared on the golem¡¯s side. They flickered for three seconds before disappearing. However, the glow was still somewhat subdued and the golem wasn¡¯t pushed back at all.

    ¡°Why in Archon¡¯s name did they make this thing so tough!¡± Verus cursed as he jumped back. The designers of this test seriously weren¡¯t messing around. It was obvious that they really wanted to cut down on the number of competitors. From what he could tell, almost none of Verus¡¯s peers had attacks strong enough to pass this test.

    ¡°Ha, give up already! Other people are waiting,¡± someone yelled from off stage. ¡°stop wasting our time. You¡¯re nothing special. Dozens of cultivators better than you have already been eliminated.¡±

    Verus resisted the urge to turn around and start swearing at the person. He was ascetic, and thus better than that. Besides, he still had to worry about the golem that was currently trying to turn him into a bloody smear.

    The golem advanced again and raised both its arms up high. Its massive fists seemed to block out the sun, hanging up in the sky above Verus, and then they descended.

    ¡°Hells,¡± Verus yelped as he threw himself out of the way.

    A moment later, the massive fists slammed into the ground, shaking the entire platform and throwing a cloud of dust up into the air.

    Veru wanted a moment to steady himself and let the tremors stops, but he saw an opportunity. Thus, he leapt into action and charged at the golem. After its heavy attack, both of its hands were still resting on the ground. Leaving its head open.

    The golem¡¯s body was very resistant to attacks, but it had to have a weakness. This test had to be more than a punching competition, and Verus had seen other competitors go after the golem¡¯s head, and its cyrstal eye was a tempting target. It was worth a try.

    Sprinting ahead, Verus jumped up onto the golem¡¯s hands just as they started to rise back up. His weight was nothing to the golem, so he was able to run right up its arms and then launch a flying kick right at its eye. However, the construct turned its head at the last moment, protecting eye.

    There was a loud smacking noise as Verus¡¯s foot hit the stone on the side of the construct¡¯s head, and the golem stumbled back. Verus bounced back and then landed safely on the ground before the construct could recover. Its head glowed brightly for a few seconds as it righted itself and turned to face Verus again. The young disciple¡¯s attack had done some damage, but he hadn¡¯t won yet.

    Verus moved to attack again, but the golem beat him to it. It surged forward with new speed, startling Verus and forcing him to dodge a dangerously powerful punch.

    ¡°I can¡¯t waste any more time,¡± Verus mumbled to himself as he cycled his ki in preparation. As had been explained, the golem was growing faster, and would soon become unbeatable.

    Verus held his ground as the golem lunged at him with both arms outstretched as if to crush him. His mind was calm as he furiously cycled his energy. Human ki raged through his body in a endless cycle, growing faster and faster. His past life¡¯s instincts rose up. He did not fear combat or danger. He welcomed them like old friends.

    The golem¡¯s hands slammed together, but Verus was no longer between them. His footwork technique had already carried him away, and he was once again standing at the golem¡¯s side. Almost leisurely, he reached out with two fingers and stabbed them into the constructs side, where he¡¯d hit it before.

    A thought sent the swirling storm of ki within Verus boiling out through his arms and then it blasted out of his fingers, right into the golem. There was a loud crack as the power slammed into the stone and blew a fist-sized chunk out of the golem. It staggered back and its entire body started flashing. The golem then froze as the complex lines on it glowed brightly for several seconds.

    ¡°You pass,¡± an official in grey announced. He sounded slightly surprised.

    The nearby crowd also went silent, before new conversations sprang up. Verus was now the center of attention.

    ¡°What technique was that? He actually damaged the golem!¡±

    ¡°Who is that? I don¡¯t recognize him.¡±

    ¡°An internal power technique? That¡¯s not an attack a disciple should be able to use.¡±

    Feeling both embarrassed and extremely proud of himself, Verus hurried over to talk to an imperial official. He¡¯d drawn more attention than he¡¯d indented, but he¡¯d passed!

 Trial and Tribulation 4

    After defeating the golem, Verus was called by one of the imperial officials in grey and hurried over to talk to him. He¡¯d become the center of attention after damaging the golem¡¯s body slightly, and that made him uncomfortable, so he wanted to leave as soon as possible.

    The official handed Verus a small bag and explained its contents to him before dismissing him. Verus took the bag and then quickly moved to leave. Almost everyone had found something else to gawk at by now, but there were still a few gazes on him right until he left the arena.

    Once outside, Verus began heading back to the sect. As he walked through the busy city streets of the capital, he went over his performance in his head. He¡¯d succeeded in passing the trial just using human ki, but he¡¯d had to use his most powerful attack and it had drawn a lot of attention. He¡¯d been hoping to remain beneath the other competitors¡¯ notice and only exploding onto the scene at the last moment. That wasn¡¯t going to happen now. The power of his attack had been too spectacular. Using it had felt wonderful at least.

    Verus sighed deeply as he walked. It was a real shame that his human ki attunement was so poor. His instincts from his past life gave him great skill with that ki. Whoever he¡¯d used to be, he¡¯d definitely been a powerful cultivator and a master of human ki. If he¡¯d used the Way of Imperial Might to create his core, his human ki techniques would be even more powerful.

    However, using the Way of Imperial Might would have meant joining the army. Also, because of his low attunement to human ki, his use of that ki was quite inefficient, so depending on it for future growth would have slowed his development by centuries. Thus, after some experimentation, he¡¯d ended up forming his core primarily out of void essence instead, with only a little human ki to reinforce its exterior.

    Idly, Verus wondered what Realm he¡¯d reached in his past life. He still had no idea who he¡¯d used to be, but he¡¯d probably been very famous and powerful. Hopefully, he wasn¡¯t infamous and didn¡¯t have many enemies. Ugh, being reincarnated was so complicated! Just thinking about it gave him a headache.

    Verus pulled out the bag the imperial official had given him and opened it to peer inside. It contained a pearl amulet on a golden string and a small rectangular stone tablet. They were for the next trial and their uses had been explained to him. The amulet would allow the imperial officials to locate him, while the stone tablet was for imprisoning a spirit.

    The next trial was simple. Verus was to go through a portal out into the wilds to capture a spirit. Once he stepped through the forest, he¡¯d have three days to return and hand the spirit in. Thankfully, he didn¡¯t have to go right away. He had some time to prepare himself and find an ally. The trial allowed him to bring up another cultivator in his age group who wasn¡¯t competing along to help him.

    Verus didn¡¯t have to think much about who he wanted to bring. Not only was Escora the best hunter and wilderness survival expert he knew, she was also the only real friend he had left in the sect now that Warin was dead.

    A wave of grief and anger rose up within Verus. The last time he¡¯d gone out into the wilds, his closest friend had died a meaningless death as others watched and did nothing. Rage flowed through Verus for a several long seconds, but then he put aside his feelings and concentrated on the task at hand. Now was not the time. Giving into emotion would only distract him and endanger his goals.

    Upon returning to the Great Wind Sect¡¯s main temple, Verus headed for the outer disciple area. It had been awhile since he¡¯d been back there, and he quickly began to draw stares. Unlike many other inner disciples, Verus usually just wore the robes the sect provided him. They were simple and comfortable, and he had no social position to protect, but they also clearly marked him as an inner disciple. It was very rare for an inner disciple to return to the outer disciple area.

    Since he knew where Escora¡¯s room was, Verus headed right for the dormitory. He¡¯d simply leave a note if she wasn¡¯t home. However, when Verus knocked on the door to Escora¡¯s room, it was swiftly opened by the room¡¯s occupant.

    Seeing Verus, Escora smiled at him, and Verus returned the gesture and added a polite nod. It was nice to see Escora again.

    ¡°Greetings, I hope I¡¯m not interrupting your meditations, fellow disciple,¡± he told her as he clasped his hands and made a small polite bow.

    ¡°Ha, you don¡¯t need to be so formal with me, Verus! Come in,¡± Escora laughed as she stepped aside and beckoned him forward.

    A young man entering a woman¡¯s room alone would be considered very inappropriate by the empire, but cultivators were given a lot more leeway in such matters, so Verus didn¡¯t hesitate to enter. Cultivators had much more willpower and drive than mortals after all and their time was valuable.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not visiting you sooner, but I was kept quite busy. How are you doing?¡± Verus asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, a month or two is nothing to cultivators like us, and I¡¯ve been busy defending my medallion as well. I¡¯m planning to join you in the inner sect at the end of the year after all. Don¡¯t think you¡¯re going to stay ahead of me forever.¡±

    ¡°Oh, good!¡± Verus¡¯s genuine smile widened. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see you there.¡±Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    ¡°Ya, without me around, I imagine you¡¯re basically hiding in your room and doing nothing but practicing by yourself.¡±

    Verus laughed uncomfortably. She had hit a little too close to the truth there. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m here to ask you for your help.¡±

    ¡°Oh, what does an inner disciple like you need from me?¡±

    Verus quickly explained the nature of the second trial and that he wanted her to go with him. Escora gave the idea a few seconds of thought before nodding.

    ¡°It sounds like an adventure. I¡¯ll gladly lend you my expertise.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure? I don¡¯t want to interfere with your own plans. Getting into the inner sect isn¡¯t easy.¡±

    Escora made a dismissive gesture. ¡°You¡¯re really worried about asking me to help with a hunt? It¡¯s not a problem. I¡¯ve been looking for an excuse to go get some fresh air, and this is a perfect reason to leave the sect anyway. No one will be able to complain about not being able to challenge me if I¡¯m away helping a contestant in the princess¡¯s tournament.¡±

    Feeling relieved, Verus explained the rest of the trail¡¯s details and then made plans to head out the next day. Both of them needed some time to prepare for the trip out into the wilderness. They would be travelling by spatial gate and Verus didn¡¯t know exactly what to expect.

    The next day, Verus met up with Escora and journeyed to a complex alongside the imperial palace. After going through some security, they entered a courtyard where several officials were herding people through a spatial gate that would occasionally flicker to show a different scene. The portal was similar to the last one Verus had seen. A shifting tear in space between two steel pillars that were covered in glyphs.

    ¡°Ugh, a spatial gate. The Heavenly Empire sure loves using these,¡± Escora remarked with a scowl. She obviously remembered the disorientation from the last time they¡¯d gone through a similar portal.

    Verus stealthily rolled his eyes. He remembered when she¡¯d been excited to see a spatial gate. ¡°They do allow instantaneous transport over incredibly long distances.¡±

    ¡°And yet, why do I get the feeling that this is more about showing off than practicality?¡±

    ¡°Because you¡¯re insecure,¡± mumbled Verus. It was obvious that as a descendant of the Telhri, Escora didn¡¯t completely trust the empire and didn¡¯t like being reminded of the massive power the empire wielded.

    ¡°What did you say?¡± Escora asked suspiciously.

    ¡°Nothing.¡±

    After showing one of the officials the amulet he¡¯d gotten after the first trial, Verus was instructed to put it on and Escora was given a silver one of her own. They were also informed that the amulets wouldn¡¯t protect them. They were only so that contestants didn¡¯t interfere with each other and could be located.

    ¡°The object of this trial is not to fight other contestants. There will be plenty of time for that later. Thus, you¡¯re being sent a fair distance from everyone else. If you do run into another contestant, you¡¯re not allowed to attack them directly, and your amulets will be recording everything that happens. Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I do,¡± Verus replied.

    ¡°Then head through that spatial gate there,¡± the official said as he raised a hand to point. ¡°Once you capture a spirit in the talisman, simply press it to your amulet and we will open a portal for you to return through.¡±

    Escora grimaced sourly as she stepped through the portal. ¡°Here we go again.¡±

    As Verus¡¯s companion vanished through the rift, he stepped in after her. Immediately, the world went a familiar grey and he felt an incredibly disorienting falling sensation. Uncomfortable numbness crept into his skull, and he felt his sense of time fade. All he could do was grit his teeth, until he was thrown back out into the real world an unknown amount of time later.

    Verus emerged about a foot off the ground but managed to land on his feet despite his disorientation. He then fought to clear his mind as he looked around. He¡¯d been attacked by a spirit soon after his last trip through a spatial gate, so he had to keep his guard up.

    He was standing on a rocky hill and Escora was standing to his left. She¡¯d also shrugged off the effects of the portal and was standing. Disregarding her for a moment since she seemed fine, Verus studied his surroundings in more detail.

    It looked like they were on top of a hill in some sort of wasteland. The yellowish earth was dry and cracked. There were jagged rocks scattered around, and very little life in sight. It took a few moments for Verus to locate a small scraggly thorn bush and the remains of a long dead tree. There were however enough hills that he couldn¡¯t see off too far into the distance.

    Escora made a disgusted face. ¡°That was just as horrible as I remember.¡±

    ¡°But at least we didn¡¯t have to walk halfway across the world. Do you have any idea where we are?¡±

    ¡°No, we¡¯re nowhere near my tribe¡¯s territory or anywhere I¡¯ve heard of. That¡¯s not really a surprise though. The empire controls a massive amount of uninhabited land on this world. Much of it was occupied by demi-humans before they were wiped out but isn¡¯t suitable for colonization.¡±

    ¡°So, what do we do now?¡± Verus asked. She was the wilderness expert.

    ¡°Now we look for your spirit. You packed your scrying tool, right?¡±

    Verus had brought his scrying device so he pulled it out. By focusing his senses through it, he could vastly increase the distance he could scan for sources of ki. This allowed him to quickly find some interesting locations off in the distance, so they headed out to investigate. Unfortunately, the readings vanished when they got closer, resulting in them walking around under the hot and bright sun for the rest of the day without finding anything. The wasteland was desolate and seemed empty of life. They found no spirits and the only soul animal they saw was a huge bird that flew overhead for a while before disappearing.

    Defeated, they found a sheltered spot nestled between two hills to camp for the night.

    By the time it started getting dark, they had a fire going and were settling down to eat. Escora had managed to spear a small snake earlier, but Verus declined her offer to share. He was fine with the rations they¡¯d brought.

    Verus enjoyed the silence of the wasteland under the stars, but Escora soon interrupted it.

    ¡°So, Verus. What¡¯s really going on with you and this tournament? Tell me straight.¡±

    Verus frowned and looked over at her. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Escora leaned his way and met his gaze. ¡°I know you. You wanted in the inner sect because it was necessary for you to advance along your cultivation path, but you seem to really care about this tournament now. Why?¡±

    ¡°My master ordered me to take part.¡±

    ¡°No, I can tell you care personally. You have your own reason,¡± Escora replied with a shake of her head. ¡°You keep quiet and seem serene most of the time, but you¡¯re the type that actually has a lot going on inside. Don¡¯t keep it hidden and bottled up. What are your real plans for this tournament? After what happened to Warin, there¡¯s no way you¡¯re just going along with the sect¡¯s orders, like a faithful hound.¡±

 Trial and Tribulation 5

    Taken aback, Verus could only stare at Escora with wide eyes. Why was she suddenly asking him about his long-term plans and inner thoughts? Usually she was more than happy to maintain their usual respectful distance. That was what he wanted, right?

    ¡°You have to tell someone what you¡¯re thinking,¡± Escora told him as she waited patiently for him to reply. ¡°There¡¯s no way anyone from the sect can listen in to us now, even if some of the elders can overhear everything that happens for miles around them.¡±

    Verus hesitated for several long seconds. ¡°Who knows what some of the old monsters can do and I¡¯m wearing an amulet specifically made to observe me.¡±

    He had to resist a shudder. Meeting Lady Nightclaw had shown him that the rumors about the oppressive power of great elders weren¡¯t exaggerated at all. They were truly beyond human. Great and strange.

    ¡°That¡¯s a poor excuse. Your thoughts aren¡¯t that interesting. Unless you¡¯re planning on overthrowing the Heavenly Empire? Ha! The likes of the imperial palace and the great elders don¡¯t care about puny disciples like us and worrying about them always listening in is great way to go mad.¡±

    Escora had a good point, but he¡¯d been raised by the sect at a branch temple. There, there almost always had been someone listening in. The temple wards¡¯ training was strict.

    Verus clenched a fist. He couldn¡¯t let fear suffocate him anymore. He was no longer the same person. ¡°Fine, it¡¯s not much of a secret anyway. The real reason I want in this tournament is to defeat Highcloud and everyone involved in Warin¡¯s death. They think people like me and Warin are nothing. I want to show them that they can¡¯t look down on us. I want to beat that lesson into them so that they never forget it. The real prize I want is to stand over their bruised bodies and laugh.¡±

    Escora chuckled. ¡°I knew you were repressing a lot. I was hoping for something more ambitious, but I guess your plan is very you.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re just a very simple and straightforward person, that¡¯s all. It makes you easy to read.¡±

    Verus grunted sourly. As if! That wasn¡¯t accurate at all. If Escora knew about all the secrets he was keeping, she would be shocked right to her core. Verus wasn¡¯t under the illusion that he was a good liar or had fooled anyone though. It was simply that his secrets were too ridiculous for anyone to even suspect.

    ¡°For instance, if I was in your place, I don¡¯t think I¡¯d still be so loyal to the sect. What have they really done for you?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ve given me a lot,¡± Verus told her as he reflected. ¡°Although I¡¯m not so foolish that I don¡¯t know it came with a cost. They did it for their benefit, but without them, I would never have had a chance at enlightenment and immortality. I wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯m loyal to them though.¡±

    ¡°Then what are you? You seem to still focus your life around pleasing them,¡± Escora pointed out as she made an angry gesture.

    ¡°They¡¯re all I have,¡± Verus replied. The painful honesty of the words stabbed his heart like a dagger, leaving a gaping wound.

    Verus¡¯s voice grew desolate. ¡°I have no family or tribe. I barely even have single friend, thanks to my poor personality. Especially now that Warin is dead, I¡¯m alone. Without the sect, I¡¯m nothing. What would I do without them? Even all my goals are the ones they taught me to strive for. I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s because I truly yearn for enlightenment or because they told me I want it.¡±

    ¡°Thrice damned imperials,¡± Escora cursed. ¡°They treat people like they¡¯re nothing but tools for their holy cause, but they¡¯re not. Even they should know better than to raise cultivators that way. You can¡¯t seek enlightenment without living and thinking for yourself. You have to make your own path through pain and joy.¡±

    Verus sighed. He¡¯d had some time to think about these things lately. ¡°Maybe they do know better. They certainly don¡¯t treat their own children that way. Maybe the sect simply prefers having a lot of mediocre but loyal cultivators that won¡¯t compete with their own scions.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve already escaped that trap. You¡¯re in the inner sect and have a master already. You¡¯ll show them what real talent is, I¡¯ve no doubt of that.¡±

    Verus nodded, remembering the forbidding sight of the asylum. It had been haunting him for a while, full of fearful implications. ¡°And no one¡¯s path to enlightenment is easy. Everyone suffers and falls.¡±

    It would be easy for Verus to hate all the young scions of the sect who depended on their family connections to rise within the sect, but Verus didn¡¯t. They would face their own hardships in time, and hate was a poison that would weaken him. Thus, it should only be unleashed with careful consideration. It was better to let fruitless grudges go and focus on what was truly important. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    ¡°What you really need is a lover,¡± Escora suddenly interjected. ¡°That would give you something to live for and put everything else in perspective for you. It¡¯s too bad you¡¯re not my type and I¡¯m fairly sure I¡¯m not yours.¡±

    Verus ¡®s face froze as a cold shock rippled through him. What? Where was this coming from?

    ¡°I¡¯m an ascetic!¡± he said as he turned to glare at her. Why did everyone forget that or treat it as meaningless? It mattered a lot to him! Overcoming temptation was the only way to become truly free and shed the chains of the physical plane so that he could ascend beyond.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be if you found the right girl,¡± Escora told him with a grin. ¡°Besides, you might think ascetism is your path, but maybe it¡¯s not what you need right now. Who knows, maybe you¡¯ll run into someone at the tournament!¡±

    Verus blushed. ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen!¡±

    Internally however, Verus¡¯s thoughts were already turning back to the image of the princess from the parade. Her beauty had been so captivating, and the thought of his name on her lips sent a shiver down his spine. No! He wasn¡¯t doing this. His master was right. She was far beyond him.

    Red-faced, Verus turned away and tried to act angry. ¡°I¡¯m going to cultivate. It¡¯s your turn to be on watch. Don¡¯t bother me.¡±

    Escora laughed and let him go. ¡°Sure, cultivating. Right.¡±

    Verus turned to glare at her before stomping off. Sometimes having friends was very annoying. It was no wonder he had so few. Also, why wasn¡¯t he her type? That was sort of insulting. It wasn¡¯t like she was some beautiful maiden. Her looks were very ordinary and she dressed almost like a man.

    The next few hours were awkward, so Verus did exactly what he said he¡¯d do. He sat down and meditated. After that, the night went by without incident.

    When first light came, the pair headed out to continue hunting down a spirit and neither of them mentioned their conversation last night, much to the relief of Verus. He was still full of complicated emotions, but he simply repressed them for now.

    ¡°What kind of test is this? Are there really spirits out here?¡± Verus asked after several long hours of walking. He stopped to wipe the sweat off his brow, as the sun up above was very hot.

    Escora¡¯s brow furrowed as she scanned the surrounding hills carefully. ¡°They¡¯re out here, I can feel it. It¡¯s just that this land is very bleak. It rewards caution even more than strength, thus it¡¯s occupants have learned to hide, conserve their strength, and strike only when the time is right.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like the sound of that.¡±

    ¡°As long as we don¡¯t run out of water or let the sun sap our strength, we¡¯ll be fine. We just need to find us one of the shy spirits of this place.¡±

    Verus nodded. ¡°Every time I sense a source of ki, it fades away as we approach. I thought I was sensing echoes, but your explanation makes more sense. But, if the spirits are avoiding us, how do we track one down though?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s more than one way for a hunter to catch their quarry. It¡¯s not all spears and brutal charges. Hunting is also a battle of cunning minds.¡±

    ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°So, if tracking them down doesn¡¯t work, we can either lure them out or dig up their lairs. However, if we look weak, we might end up attracting more trouble than we want. Thus, we¡¯ll go with the second option if possible.¡±

    ¡°If possible?¡±

    ¡°Well, finding a spirit¡¯s hiding spot isn¡¯t easy. If we haven¡¯t stumbled on one yet, then they must be quite well hidden.¡±

    Verus sighed and began thinking. The obvious way to find a spirit¡¯s lair was using his ki senses, but that hadn¡¯t worked yet. He¡¯d sensed distant sources of energy, but they all vanished when he got closer. Hmmm, maybe all he needed to do was change his method a little. The spirits here might have good instincts, but they couldn¡¯t outsmart a human cultivator.

    Verus turned to smile at Escora. ¡°If chasing spirits down doesn¡¯t work. Lets try skirting around them to triangulate the position of their hiding spot.¡±

    ¡°I knew all that geometry nonsense you imperials love so much had to be useful for something,¡± Escora replied as she smiled back.

    Verus rolled his eyes. He knew Escora loved playing at being a savage, but was as educated as anyone in the sect.

    Attempting his new plan, Verus headed for the nearest source of ki. Predictably, it vanished as he closed in on it, so he back off and circled around until the source of ki reappeared. After a bit more walking, he was able to triangulate the ki source¡¯s rough position, so Escora and him headed right there.

    Their target was a shallow sand pit. Reaching the edge, they stared at the center of the pit, only to have sand beneath their feet collapse. At the same time, a huge black scorpion burst out of the pit and sprayed sand at them.

    ¡°God¡¯s light!¡± Verus swore as he stumbled back across the flowing sand. His ability to lighten his body helped a lot.

    Escora jumped up and threw herself back by unleashing a wave of water. This attack knocked the incoming sand aside. The scorpion chased after them, but as Escora landed, she twisted her arms around and sent the sand-filled wave of water back at the scorpion.

    The water slammed into the charging scorpion and exploded with a roar. This blast only slowed the beast down for a moment before dissipating, but that was enough time for a Verus and Escora to reach stable ground.

    Seeing this, the soul beast didn¡¯t follow them. With a hiss, it turned around and dug its way back into the middle of the sand pit. Its barbed tail was the last thing to vanish out of sight.

    Hurriedly, Escora and Verus retreated a few more steps before stopping to catch their breath. Verus was staring at the sand pit with wide eyes and his heart was beating fiercely. ¡°What was that? That wasn¡¯t a spirit¡¯s lair unless the soul beast got to it before us.¡±

    ¡°That was a trap,¡± Escora replied sourly. ¡°Damnation, I should have figured it out earlier. That black scorpion knew what we were doing and lured us in by pretending to be hiding from us.¡±

    Verus felt a flash of fear. ¡°They can do that? Are spirits and soul beasts that smart?¡±

    Escora gave him a look. ¡°Spirits can be far smarter than people. They¡¯re ancient beings from another plane of existence. Soul beasts are far smarter than normal animals too. Underestimating them is a good way to get yourself eaten.¡±

    Verus gulped. He was only used to dealing with simple spirits. He¡¯d forgotten all his lessons on how cruel and capricious otherworldly beings could be. They¡¯d been the doom of many a cultivator.

    ¡°Then trying to use multiple scans to find a sprit won¡¯t work. We¡¯ll simply be walking right into danger.¡±

    This trial was a lot harder than he¡¯d thought it would be. Why had they been sent out here?

 Trial and Tribulation 6

    There was a thoughtful expression on Escora¡¯s face she walked away from the sandpit where they¡¯d been ambushed by the giant scorpion. ¡°Your idea to use spiritual scans from multiple directions could still work on an actual weak spirit that was in hiding, but there¡¯s just no way to distinguish such a spirit from a powerful predator trying to fool us.¡±

    Verus walked alongside her. ¡°So, what do we do? You¡¯re from a Telhri tribe. You must have a technique or something for situations like this. How could your tribe hunt without one?¡±

    Escora made an unhappy face. ¡°Of course, my tribe has a lot of amazing hunting techniques. I¡¯ve even been training in one of them, a special sensory technique. Unfortunately, its next to useless here.¡±

    ¡°Why? What¡¯s the problem?¡±

    ¡°It uses the water element to contain and spread my spiritual sense, making my spiritual sense stronger and harder to detect, but there isn¡¯t enough water here for me to use. This wasteland is very dry, unlike my homelands which are full of rivers and forests.¡±

    Unfortunately, that made perfect sense to Verus. ¡°There aren¡¯t any other master hunter tricks you could use to find a spirit?¡±

    Escora looked uncomfortable. ¡°I¡¯m not really a master hunter. Woman aren¡¯t allowed to go on dangerous hunts in my tribe. That¡¯s one of the reasons I accepted the Great Wind Sect¡¯s invitation.¡±

    Surprised, Verus didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment. ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t know the Telhri were so conservative.¡±

    Escora gave him a look. ¡°All the Telhri tribes are very different. Only you imperials think we¡¯re even remotely the same. In the old days, some tribes didn¡¯t allow woman to cultivate at all. It was considered a waste of resources. My people¡¯s beliefs are actually the opposite of that thankfully. We have a council of matriarchs that guide the tribe and female cultivators are supposed to be kept safe so that they can one day join it. Hunting is considered a dangerous job better left to the men.¡±

    Huh, Really? Verus found that very interesting. He wouldn¡¯t mind visiting some of the tribes one day, but there were immediate problems that needed solving. Such as, how were they going to find a spirit now? Should they continue trying to use multiple scans to triangulate one¡¯s position. That seemed quite dangerous now. All the residents of this wasteland were cunning and crafty, and now that he thought of it, throwing his spiritual sense around could attract a powerful predator. There had to be a better way¡­

    ¡°Can you share how your water sensing technique works with me?¡± Verus asked. He had an idea.

    ¡°I suppose I can share the basics with you,¡± Escora answered after a moment of hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s not like it¡¯s a huge tribe secret or anything. A lot of different people use something similar. This is a difficult technique though, so don¡¯t get your hopes up. We can¡¯t sit around and wait for you to figure it out forever.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t waste time if I can¡¯t learn it.¡±

    After finding some shade cast by a tall rock, Verus listened as Escora explained. The idea behind the technique was actually rather simple. Instead of sending their spiritual sense out directly, a cultivator was supposed to fuse it with your understanding of an element. Using their comprehension of that element, they could make their spiritual sense take on the aspect of that element and resonate through it. It was sort of like changing the sound of your spiritual sense¡¯s voice or its frequency.

    Unfortunately, this was much harder in practice than theory. You needed a deep understanding the chosen element and nigh perfect control over your own ki. After some contemplation, Verus realized it also required a spark of enlightenment into the eternal because after using this technique your spiritual sense would phase out of the physical plane slightly. This enlightenment was very rare among cultivators of their level.

    Verus glanced at his companion. ¡°It¡¯s impressive that you can use this technique.¡±

    Escora smiled in a complicated way. ¡°I¡¯ve been training it, but I haven¡¯t mastered it yet.¡±

    Verus kept his expression neutral but sighed mentally. Underneath her tough fa?ade, Escora really was insecure about her own abilities. Was this because of the situation with her tribe? Well, whatever. This wasn¡¯t his concern.

    On top of the skill requirements, the sensing technique also had severe practical limitations based on the element you used and the environment. Air was considered one of the best because it was usually everywhere. Water was also considered a good choice because wet environments were plentiful and life itself contained water. Other elements were more specialized. For example, earth was only useful for divining what was underground.

    If Verus wanted to use this technique he had no choice but to use his void attunement, but neither he nor Escora had any idea how that would actually work. The element was too rare. All Verus could do was meditate in the shade cast by a tall rock and try to combine his spiritual sense and attunement.

    This was difficult and confusing, but soon a strange instinct began to guide Verus. It felt like he¡¯d done this before. A smile appeared on Verus¡¯s face as he meditated. The shattered remnants of his past life were helping him, and thus he soon managed to make his spiritual sense take on the aspect of void. It rippled through his core, gathering strength and humming quietly. After everything that had happened, how could he not understand the void? This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    This was only the first step though. The hard part would be to figure out how spread his altered sense out beyond his body. He had no idea how to do this or if it was even possible. His instincts from his last life couldn¡¯t help him as they knew nothing about void ki. All Verus¡¯s experience with void ki came from his struggles in this life.

    As Escora watched patiently, Verus took a deep breath and then exhaled sharply. At the same time, he tried to push his altered spiritual sense out. It didn¡¯t work. A cough escaped his throat as the air around him resisted his senses, keeping it locked in his body.

    ¡°That didn¡¯t seem right,¡± Escora remarked. ¡°See, combining your senses with an element attunement isn¡¯t something you can learn in a few hours.¡±

    Verus ignored her and took another calming breath. She was wrong. He¡¯d already done that.

    What was the void? Verus let himself drift off into a deep state of contemplation. Escora sent her elemental sense out through water and water ki. He would need to do something similar with void, but was there any nearby? Pockets of true void were incredibly rare in the natural world. Was void sense thus useless?

    Verus mediated calmly, and for a moment, a pure sense of peace filled him. This was favorite sensation, completeness. He patiently reached out to comprehend the world around himself, seeking the void. Nothing happened right away, but Verus simply kept meditating.

    Eventually, he felt his spirit tingle as a tiny sliver of his spiritual sense managed to escape his body. Understanding dawned a moment later. There was void all around him. Verus pushed his sense out and it began slowly slipping through the space between everything, rippling out unimpeded. Enlightenment. No space was ever truly filled. Even the air was a mix of matter and void. Something and nothing, a duality. That was nature of the physical world. Everything that existed in creation had to be contrasted with nonexistence, like ink on paper. Only then could there be language and reality. Verus felt that he was touching on the edge of a profound understanding, but now wasn¡¯t the time to pursue it.

    Soon, Verus¡¯s void sense had spread out almost as far as his normal spiritual sense. He detected several lifeforms that had escaped his notice before, but he didn¡¯t focus on anything. He simply let his senses float aimlessly and without intent.

    ¡°I¡¯m done,¡± Verus said as he opened his eyes and stood up.

    ¡°Good, then let¡¯s stop wasting time and figure out our next move,¡± Escora replied.

    Verus frowned at her. ¡°No, I mean I¡¯ve figured out how to use my void sense.¡±

    Shouldn¡¯t she be able to feel his spiritual sense around her?

    ¡°Right, as if.¡±

    In response, Verus used his void sense to directly scan Escora in a somewhat intrusive manner. The young Telhri woman shivered and took a step back in surprise. She¡¯d obviously felt that.

    ¡°You really did figure it out?¡± Escora asked with wide eyes. ¡°It took me months! You must have though. I couldn¡¯t detect your sense at all until it actually pressed down on my spirit!¡±

    ¡°That must be because void is a subtle type of negative ki. Negative ki can be hard to detect. I¡¯m sure that if you had more experience and were actually looking for my void sense that you¡¯d be able to feel it,¡± Verus told her as he explained how his void sense worked.

    ¡°That¡¯s just cheating. How can my water sense compare to this? Yours is even harder to detect and can be used anywhere!¡±

    Verus smiled. ¡°Every type of ki has its advantages and disadvantages. Void ki is terrible for attacking, but apparently good for divining and sensing.¡±

    He was actually quite relieved to have found something void ki was good at. He¡¯d been doubting its usefulness for quite a while now, but unless he was very much mistaken, this void sense was a very powerful ability. Being able to scan his surroundings without being detected was incredibly useful and exactly what he needed to pass this trial.

    Taking out the scrying device, Verus began searching the surrounding wastelands for a spirit using his void sense. The scrying device amplified his range just as much as his normal spiritual sense, and this time, when his sense got close to a ki source, they didn¡¯t disappear. Hidden within the void between all things, his void sense was all but undetectable unless he actually tried to touch a spirit directly, and he didn¡¯t need to do that to find their locations. The energy they gave off was more than enough to track them.

    Soon, Verus found themselves standing above a crevice that lay between two rocky hills. Down below, Verus could sense the energy of a spirit.

    ¡°You sure like dark places,¡± Escora remarked with a frown. ¡°I remember the last cave you led me to, we almost died.¡±

    Verus looked at her with a raised eyebrow. He wasn¡¯t thrilled about this either, and would rather meditate some more, but he had a trial to pass.  ¡°Are you saying that you¡¯re too afraid to go in?¡±

    ¡°As if! I was simply making an observation. Let¡¯s go,¡± Escora replied as she took a floating ethereal light out of her backpack and sent it down into the crevice. The light didn¡¯t reveal anything more dangerous than some slick rocks, so Verus and Escora jumped down into the cave. With their strength, it would be easy enough to jump back out.

    Once inside, they headed deeper in search of the spirit. At first, the cave looked natural and they proceeded without incident, but then Verus felt the spirit ahead sense their presence and retreat deeper. He could disguise his sense now, but erase his presence or prevent the spirit from using its own sense.

    ¡°We may as well keep going,¡± Escora replied grumpily and Verus could only nod in agreement. They had yet to run into any danger.

    However, after jumping down into another level, the appearance cavern suddenly changed. The natural walls vanished and were replaced by smooth stone blocks. They were clearly artificial.

    ¡°What is this place?¡± Verus whispered as leaned forward to study the tunnel wall. It was almost like they were in a building now. The stone blocks gave off an ancient aura, like they¡¯d been buried for countless thousands of years.

    ¡°How should I know?¡± Escora replied. ¡°It could be anything. Let¡¯s head deeper and see.¡±

    Although it seemed straight at first, they soon realized that the tunnel curved slightly and sloped downwards. Thus, they continued on for another half hour without stopping. It wasn¡¯t until then that they reached a doorway and emerged into a square room. Here, the stone blocks had been replaced by reliefs covered in images. The room was about a hundred feet across and Escora¡¯s floating light barely managed to illuminate it.

    Verus could sense that the spirit was close now, but the images on the walls drew his attention anyway. They were carved deeply into the stone, creating simple but awesome scenes. Towering giants stood among shattered mountains as lightning descended around them and the earth broke. It was a shocking to look at and made even more impressive by the deep sense of majesty and timeless might that filled the chamber.