《Earthen Lord》


 Prologue & Chapter 1

    Prologue


    In the Minor World of Odath there was an ancient mountain. Some people said it was as old as the world, others said it was the world, and others still said that it was a portal to another world. This was Mount Nine Peak. It acquired its name due to the nine peaks one must ascend in order to reach the summit. Each peak was higher than the last. The final peak was over 40,000 meters high and legend has it that a primordial dragon slept there.


    The first peak held a vibrant town. It was famed for its fine cuisine and classic architecture. Artists from around the world would travel there to compete with the greatest of chefs, architects, and sculptors. Scholars also had in interest in this peak, as some believed it to be the origin of modern civilization.


    The second peak was the capital for the Law of Nine. They were a religious group who worshipped the mountain as a deity and had elaborate rituals for honoring it. The Law of Nine was the most influential religion in the continent and had branches in every country.


    The third peak was somewhat more difficult to reach and contained an old martial arts sect known as the Falling Stone sect. This sect was the oldest organization on the mountain and was renowned by the local countries. Their martial arts style revolved around the concept of heavy and slow. Their patriarch was the most powerful man in the continent and lived on the seventh peak.


    The fourth peak was far less populated than the prior three. It only had one humble temple from an age long lost. Occasionally pilgrims or martial artists would make it to this peak and carve their name in stone, but the frigid temperature and howling winds would keep them from lingering.


    The fifth and sixth peaks would only see a visitor once every decade or so. They were usually martial artists who came to challenge the patriarch on the seventh peak but gave up after being buffeted by the horrifying winds of the sixth. At this altitude the winds were at hurricane levels and the temperature was far below freezing.


    On the seventh peak there was only the patriarch of the Falling Stone Sect. He had lived on the peak for over a thousand years, deep in his contemplation on the Grand Dao of Earth. He had long since lost touch with the mortal world and only moved on occasion to practice a technique or send a message down to his disciples.


    The eighth peak was a thing of legends. A few of the more famous heroes throughout history had made it to that peak but even they had trouble describing what they saw. The only rumor that they all confirmed was the billowing wind it constantly emitted. Scholars supposed it came from the cold air from the altitude hitting the hot air from the dragon on the Ninth Peak.  What the scholars failed to realize is that there was no dragon.


    The Ninth Peak is not a peak at all. It is, in fact, a massive volcano.  The volcano has never erupted which is why nobody knew it was there. Similarly, nobody had reached the Ninth Peak before and so nobody knew it was not a dragon. After hundreds of millions of years, the volcano was finally on the verge of erupting.


    Mount Nine Peak had long ago gained sentience and become a Mountain Spirit. In its hundreds of millions of years it had watched countless empires rise and fall. It had watched as the humans progressed from stone to metal. It had watched countless couples fall in love and countless warriors fall in battle. At one point there was even a lake within its fifth peak that had acquired sentience and kept it company for a time. It could be said that the mountain had lived endless lives vicariously through its inhabitants.


    After all this time watching the mortals as they lived upon and around it, the mountain had become affectionate towards the human race. The humans had been the only constant in its countless years of existence. If it were not for them, the mountain would have surely sunk into a great boredom and depression. It must be said that it was thankful for their existence. And so when it felt that its volcano was finally on the verge of erupting, it made the only decision it could. It refused.


    It would not allow itself to serve as this world¡¯s apocalypse. No matter how long it may live by allowing such destruction, it was incomparable to the grief it would feel from causing the humans¡¯ extinction.


    Thus as the lava rose up, the Spirit of Mount Nine Peak dove directly down into it. With its soul serving as a vessel it aggressively absorbed all the explosive Yang energy it could. Almost instantly its soul began to fracture under the pressure, creating a terrible ripping sensation at the center of its being. It felt as though ten thousand vultures were tearing it apart from the inside out.


    Soon there was only a shred of its consciousness left. A shred that could stop what it was doing and survive. It could let loose all the Yang energy and slowly heal. It could start anew, as a young mountain spirit. It could once more be that lofty existence looking over¡­ what? What would be left if it erupted? Nothing. It would look over nothing.


    The spirit of Mount Nine Peak did not hesitate in its actions. If anything, it began increasing the pace with which it absorbed the violent energy. It did not know if this would keep the volcano down forever, but it would at least give the humans some more time. In its long life spent watching humans, the mountain spirit had learned of their infinite potential. Unlike demonic beasts and spirits of nature, the humans had no preordained destiny. They could be as weak as a child or as powerful as a sovereign. All of this depended on their effort, talent, and luck. Who knows what they would accomplish within the next million or so years? Perhaps the man on the seventh peak would achieve immortal ascension and return to this world a god.


    With these thoughts in mind, the mountain spirit disintegrated.


    Chapter 1:


    The first things he noticed were the white clouds drifting through the endless blue sky. It was not that he had never seen clouds before; he had just never seen them from below. They seemed a lot bigger from down here.


    ¡°So even the afterworld has a sky?¡± he thought.


    He may have died but at least he was able to protect all the mortals he had seen grow up atop his body. It was an honorable death and his life had truly been long. He would now soak in the painless bliss of the afterworld before his memories were wiped and he was reincarnated.


    A sudden pain caused him to glance downwards. A white linen shirt with three holes covered his stomach. The cloth around each hole was dyed a deep, crimson red.  His stomach, however, appeared to have miraculously healed. Fresh white scars could be seen beneath those holes. Stomach?


    ¡°I have¡­ a stomach?¡± he said.


    He sat up straight then stared downwards at his legs. They were pale and thin, liken to a woman¡¯s. His eyes traced his body upwards across his assuredly male chest and lithe arms. His body was neither overly strong nor weak. It gave off the vibe of someone who spent too much time inside the house.


    ¡°This body is quite a bit different then my last one,¡± he mused aloud. ¡°But why am I alive and why am I a human? Furthermore, why do I have my memories?¡±


    All these thoughts bounced around his head but he had not answers for them at this moment.


    If the heavens saw fit to give him this body then he would accept. To assume an understanding of the heavens was to assume an understanding of all that is. If one cannot claim to know everything that is then they cannot claim to know the heavens. With knowledge of this truth, he chose to try and figure out who he was now.


    He reached into his pockets and searched around. Any identifying object would do - a letter, an heirloom, maybe an emblem ¨C any item that could help him find out who he was. He found nothing in his left pocket but came upon some dry parchment in his right. He pulled it out and gave it a glance; shockingly he could read the language.


    Dear Niu, it began.


    For reaching the Second Stage of body refining before the age of 16, you have been invited to attend the initiation ceremony of the Five Elements Sect.


    Elder Brimstone


    On this parchment there was a small map detailing the local region with a red circle around what Niu presumed to be the martial arts sect.


    ¡°It appears that despite this boy¡¯s seemingly weak body, his talent for cultivation was not all that bad,¡± said Niu.


    He stretched his arms and bounced on his feet in an attempt to grow accustomed to his human body. It was very different from his last body. Along with being able to see and hear, humans are also able to touch, taste, and smell. This was the dividing line between spirits and mortals. Spirits are forced into a state of lonely detachment. Mortals, on the contrary are able to burn briefly but brilliantly in a tumultuous world of emotions and attachments.


    Desiring to test his new body, Niu struck out in front of him with a closed fist. He shot his arm outwards in a corkscrew motion, imitating the technique used by the Falling Rock Sect disciples always did.


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    ¡°Oh?¡± said Niu. ¡°This is rather interesting.¡±


    He chose to keep testing the limits of this body. He ran around wildly like young child, jumping over rocks and swinging on branches.  He had never been able to move so quickly before. As a mountain spirit, any minor movement took hundreds of years and a major one took thousands.


    Soon he was sweating so profusely that his white shirt was stuck to his chest. He had to lean against a tree to catch his breath. The strange tightness of his lungs was a new experience to him.


    ¡°Hahaha!¡± he laughed loudly. ¡°Interesting! Interesting! Mortals are so interesting!¡± Niu continued to laugh between breaths. All of these feelings were new and exciting to him, the smell of fresh pine, the taste of sweat on his lips, the pain of a cramp. He was enthralled by all of these fresh experiences.


    Niu walked out of the woods a new man. He was actually quite excited to start his new life. While living as a mountain spirit had been a profound existence, he was often jealous of those humans who got to travel the world. What was the ocean like? What was the desert like? What did a real dragon look like? Niu suddenly realized that he had dozens of questions, which he did not know the answer to. Perhaps in his last life he was nothing but a frog in the well.


    Stepping out of the dense leaf covered ground he came upon a dirt road. It did not seem manmade but rather slowly formed over time from the boots and wheels of countless travelers. Based on the map he found on the back of the note he could follow this road all the way to the Five Elements Sect.


    He was not quite sure whether or not he wanted to attend this martial school quite yet. He had seen the lifestyle of the disciples as the Falling Stone Sect and was not envious of it. All he truly wanted to do was travel the world and meet new people, but he understood that in the martial world only the strong could live such a life.


    Upon reflection there were a multitude of questions that Niu did not have answers to yet. He did not know what kind of person he wanted to be or how to become it. By reincarnating in this form he had skipped his time as a child being reared by his family. He did not know the customs of the land or the values he should hold. For now he would walk his own path, exploring both this world and how to live in it, simultaneously.


    Each step he took was firm and resolute. The past was the past and the future the future. He would carve a new life for himself in this world. Niu was interrupted form his contemplation as a great cloud of dust was blown against his face. Following that cloud of dust came a small plume of smoke carrying a mouthwatering smell.


    ¡°Oh!¡± exclaimed Niu. ¡°Could this be¡­ food?¡± he wondered


    As the carriage was rattling by, Niu decided he could not miss this chance and jumped out in front of it.


    The driver let loose a sharp whistle and pulled back suddenly on the reins to stop the carriage from plowing over Niu. Upon reflection, Niu realized that it was rather stupid of him to jump in front of carriage like that. It was just that he was not quite used to the idea of things being bigger than him.


    ¡°Hey there,¡± said the driver. ¡°What could have possibly brought you to jump out in front of us like that? You couldn¡¯t be thinking of trying to rob us now could you?¡± A cold glint could be seen in the man¡¯s eyes.


    Niu suddenly realized how embarrassing his actions were; to jump in front of a horse-drawn carriage just because he smelled food? What was he, a beggar? Niu looked down at his linen shirt covered in holes and bloody. Perhaps he was a beggar.


    ¡°Um. I¡¯m hungry. Sir.¡± Niu slowly stammered out. For some reason he was already fully capable of speaking in this world language. It must be muscle memory from the former inhabitant of the body. Maybe he would awaken more memories as time went on.


    The driver stared at Niu in a stupor for a short moment. He appeared to be caught somewhere between disbelief, amusement, and pity.


    ¡°Miss Cecil,¡± the driver called behind him, ¡±there is a young beggar here looking for food.¡±


    Niu felt his face turn red in embarrassment as the carriage driver loudly called him a beggar. Could he not think of a more polite way to say that? He decided at that moment that he deeply disliked the human feeling of embarrassment.


    A soft voice echoed out from the carriage in response to the driver. ¡°Let us pull over Henry, it would be inappropriate to ignore a starving child.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss.¡± responded the driver. He gave Niu one last scouring look before leading the carriage to the side of the road and dismounting. He tied the horses to a tree prior to walking over to the carriage door and unfolding a stool. He then opened the door and stood respectfully to the side.


    A young woman of about fifteen stepped through the door and down the stool. She was wearing a light gray and green dress that complimented her pale face and thick black hair. Her eyes were a steely blue and gave off an aura of kindness. As she stepped out of the carriage she stood patiently to the side, waiting for someone else to disembark.


    Soon two handmaids walked off in simple black and white uniforms. One carried a large platter of uncooked food while another carried a cooking pot and some utensils. Both maids gave a quick glance towards Niu before setting up the food. Once all of this was complete, the four of them and Niu sat down.


    ¡°So what brings a poor boy such as you all the way out here?¡± asked the driver while glancing at Niu.


    The question forced Niu to regretfully look away from the slow roasting meat. The woman named Cecil seemed to notice his lament and chuckled softly.


    Niu took a moment to collect his thoughts before responding. ¡°I was on my way to the entrance ceremony for the Five Elements Sect when I was attacked by a group of bandits.¡± He smiled as he said this. He considered himself to be pretty clever for thinking of such a good excuse on his time lying.


    The driver frowned at Niu¡¯s words and the three women held similar expressions of pity and disbelief.


    ¡°So you are a skilled cultivator then?¡± the driver asked with a smirk.


    ¡°Henry, do not rude!¡± Cecil said sternly.


    Niu suddenly realized what all the looks meant. They did not think a poor, starving boy who jumped in front of a moving carriage for a piece of meat could possibly be a cultivator.


    ¡°This¡­¡± Niu began. He decided to half-heartedly laugh before moving on. ¡°So where are you all going then, you seem too well prepared for a short trip.¡±


    ¡°The Miss is going to the Five Elements entrance ceremony as well,¡± said the driver. He gave Niu a look that seemed to say, see how bad your lie was now?


    Niu struggled for words before giving up and staring at the meat again. So what if they looked down on him? He did not meet them out of a desire for good company but good food.


    The group seemed to sense Niu¡¯s discomfort and took it as a silent admission of guilt. Instead of pressing the matter, they chose to move on and start serving the food. This was a pretty good resolution in Niu¡¯s opinion anyways.


    He bit down into the roasted meat and his mouth was filled with a savory deliciousness that he had never experienced before. Not wasting any time, he swallowed the food in his mouth and bit down a second time. The combination of meat, fat, and spices came together in an indescribable way inside Niu¡¯s mouth. Compared to the feeling of embarrassment, this mortal food was far better!


    The others stared dumbfounded at Niu¡¯s voracious appetite. He was almost done with the thigh piece in front of him before the rest had even taken their first bite. Cecil looked on in pity and thanked the heavens that she was not born a beggar.


    ¡°Since we are going to the same place would you like to travel with us?¡± asked Cecil.


    Niu paused momentarily as he was grabbing his third piece of food. ¡°That is a good idea,¡± he seemed to stop and think for a second. ¡°Will you all have more food like this?¡± he finally asked.


    The maids stared at him in undisguised abhorrence. The driver, for his part, began laughing jovially. He appeared quite amused by Niu¡¯s gluttonous antics.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Cecil said between giggles, ¡°we will have more food like this.¡±


    ¡°Then I am definitely in!¡± he said. ¡°We can trade some tips on cultivation as we travel. Perhaps this companionship will come to benefit the both of us?¡± said Niu.


    Cecil seemed taken aback for a second before she recovered her grace. ¡°Yes, of course.¡± She said. ¡°That would be a great idea.¡±


    At this point the maids joined in with the driver in laughing, much to Niu¡¯s annoyance. Ah whatever, so what if he had to suffer some embarrassment? With this deal he would get a free ride and more of that delicious meat!


    The rest of the night passed in merriment as the group continued their eating and chatting. The night became especially rambunctious after Niu asked the maids to teach him how to cook.

 Earthen Lord Chapter 2

    Earthen Lord Chapter 2


    The carriage rolled down the road noisily, its wooden wheels rattling over every bump. Niu sat in the front beside the driver; it was inappropriate for him to sit inside with the women. This was something he learned after two firm boots to the chest, one from each maid.


    This was fine as well. Up front he could look around at the old woods and enjoy the cool breeze. They had not come upon any more travelers but they had seen plenty of wild animals. Henry said it was fortunate that they did not run in to any bandits.


    Henry was a cultivator as well actually. He had already reached the 4th stage of Body Refining, the Meridian Opening stage. Since he had not been able to break through to the Foundation Formation stage he could only become a personal attendant to Miss Cecil, whom Niu had learned, was from the main family of their clan.


    Henry liked to talk about how Miss Cecil was the pride of the clan. She was already in the 3rd stage of Body Refining at the tender age of 14 and was extremely talented with Metal based martial techniques. Despite this, she was very humble and well liked by all the servants in her clan.


    Along the way, Niu pestered Henry with questions about where they were. He learned that they were within the White Serpent Empire, which contained three major powers. The first was the royal family, also known as the White Serpent Clan. The second was the Five Elements Sect with their massive amount of cultivators and multiple Enlightenment Stage elites. The third was the Tidal Swords Sect who had fewer cultivators than the Five Elements Sect but rallied behind their Patriarch who was at the peak of the Enlightenment Stage.


    Of these three powers, the royal family was the greatest. Henry said the only reason the Empire has not yet tried to wipe out the two sects was due to a fear of them teaming up. If those two major sects allied then even the mighty empire would be put at a slight disadvantage.


    After a week of travel, the carriage arrived at Crimson Oak City. The city was named after an enormous, red oak in the town square. The tree emitted a constant pure yang energy that was very helpful for cultivators who favored the fire element.


    There were banners from the Fire Branch of the Five Elements Sect hung on every street corner. Each banner was decorated in the same manner. They depicted five mythical animals, eternally pursuing one another in a circle. This design made the animals appear to form a cycle, clearly representing the phase-like nature of the five elements.


    The banners Niu saw showed a bright red landwyrm with spikes running down its back and a yellow underbelly. This fire dragon was pursuing a pearl white roc, but being pursued by an azure serpent.  The fire dragon was positioned at the top of the banner.


    After paying the entrance fee, Henry led the carriage over towards the stables. They were simple constructions of wood and straw, with one office out front.


    Niu was thankful that Henry paid for his entrance fee as he had learned shortly after waking up that this body¡¯s former owner had been robbed during his murder and was left with but a few silver coins inside his shoes.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head to the testing ground after we secure the horses,¡± said Henry. ¡°It¡¯s important for us to show up on time so Miss Cecil can make a good impression.¡±


    Miss Cecil stepped out of the carriage with her two maids before turning to answer him, ¡°Yes, that sounds like a fine idea, Henry.¡±


    ¡°The meeting spot is on top of the North Hill, right?¡± asked Niu. He remembered that spot being circled with red ink on the invitation letter.


    ¡°Yes, it is.¡± replied Cecil. ¡°While you be joining us?¡± she asked courteously.


    ¡°No,¡± Niu said with a shake of his head, ¡°I want to explore the town for a bit before the ceremony begins.


    One of the maids gave a contemptuous snort and muttered, ¡°Of course you will.¡±


    The driver and the other maid loosely attempted to cover their grins as they laughed at Niu¡¯s expense. They were still completely unconvinced that some bloodied beggar they picked up along the side of the road had the same potentional as the young miss from their clan.


    Cecil, for her part, retained her dignity and smiled amiable.  ¡°That is good as well Niu, I will see you soon.¡±


    Following that conversation, the trio walked off towards the stable to tie up the horses.


    Niu shrugged helpless before turning around and heading deeper into the city. He had always enjoyed the unique vibrancy of city-life. There was no way for any small village or temple to compare to the hustle and bustle of a city.


    It amazed Niu how so many humans could cram themselves into one area. They appeared behind each street corner and through every windowpane.


    There are as many humans to a city as there are trees to a forest. The only difference was that trees knew they were just trees, while humans always believe themselves to be special. They are convinced that they are somehow different than all of the other humans around them and are constantly striving to prove such.


    Niu thought this line of reasoning was foolish. A human was a human, a tree was a tree, and a mountain was a mountain; such was The Way. However, had not he, a mountain, now taken the form of a human? Was it possible that his understanding of The Way was flawed?


    The smell of grilled meat interrupted Niu¡¯s musings. He stopped where he stood and looked around excitedly. His sudden stopping caused the man behind him to bump in to him and mutter something about Niu¡¯s mother.


    Niu was tempted to ask the man if he knew his mother because he had yet to meet her, but decided against this. Since becoming a human he had come to two major conclusions.


    The first was that he would never live a sedentary life, bound to one place for the entirety of his existence. The second was that meat was delicious and should be pursued with great fervor.


    He followed the enticing smell down a side alley off the main street. The alley was darkly lit with buildings pushed close together and small iron lanterns hanging overhead. The bricks below him were jagged and uneven, a stark contrast from the finely laid bricks of the main road.


    As he stepped out of the alley he came upon a small tavern identified by a crooked sign above its entrance that read The Drunken Boar. The tavern was entirely wooden with a small, outdoor porch and two swinging doors at the center. The sides were straight and square while the roof was triangular. It had two big, ceramic boar tusks hanging over the doorway.


    Niu walked up the porch and pushed open both doors. They swung easily and banged against the inside wall. Alerted by the sound, many patrons gave him a quick once-over, before returning to their meals and mugs.


    The customers were mostly middle-aged men; tired of giving life it¡¯s all. Many appeared to be mercenaries and sat with other members of their guild. The half-hearted emblems emblazoned on their clothing designated which group they belonged to. Most of these mercenaries wore a thin chain mail and a thick leather coat.


    The smell of meat only grew stronger as Niu walked in. This meat had a sharper, savorier smell than the last one. If possible, it appeared to be even more delicious than the meat roasted by the two maids.


    After glancing around, Niu walked over towards a table in the corner and sat down. He was not interested talking with anyone, just eating. He was also interested in trying their ¡°house ale¡± that seemed to be the only thing here valued more than merry making.


    He fiddled with the wooden table as he waited for the server to arrive. He discovered that he could easily peel off a layer of the wood with his fingernail, but then his finger would acquire the smell of it. This led him to the conclusion of continuously scratching the table before wiping his finger on the napkin.


    When the waiter arrived Niu had already carved his name six times upon the tabletop. Noticing the waiter¡¯s arrival, he flicked his napkin over the spots he had been scratching and sat up straight.


    ¡°What can I get for you?¡± the waiter asked, gazing lazily at Niu¡¯s suspicious placement of the napkin.


    ¡°I would like the meat and the house ale,¡± replied Niu.


    ¡°The meat?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the meat you are roasting. I smelt it on my way here.¡±


    ¡°Do you mean the grilled Iron Hoof Boar?¡± inquired the waiter.


    ¡°Is that what I smelled?¡± asked Niu.


    ¡°If it was not the stink of sweat or booze, then it was the boar.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have the boar and the ale then.¡±


    ¡°It will just be a moment then,¡± said the waiter before briskly turning away.


    Niu continued scratching the table in the waiter¡¯s absence, wondering about how many people before him had discovered that wooden tables could be used as drawing boards.


    The waiter returned to his table a few minutes later carrying a platter of grilled boar and a mug of ale. The aroma of both caused Niu to grin from ear to ear. This would be a good meal.


    Forty minutes later Niu was hustling up a great hill in the Northern Section of town. His gluttony had gotten the best of him and he ended up eating three portions of meat and four mugs of ale. The combination left him feeling stuffed and dizzy. He knew that this dizziness is what the humans called ¡°drunk¡±.


    His face had turned a shameful red from having to sprint up the hill after gorging himself. Still, it was better than missing the ceremony because he drank too much, that would be far too embarrassing.


    He reached the surface after a few more minutes and glanced around. There was a group of about 40 people. Of them, three appeared to be examiners, roughly thirty of them disciples, and the last seven servants.


    The three examiners exuded a powerful aura. They were probably Manifestation Stage cultivators. All of them wore dark red robes and carried themselves in a lofty manner. One in particular looked especially fierce and had a golden sash wrapped around his robes. The other two stood a few meters away from him in deference to his position of power.


    The disciples, for their parts, were talking amongst each other. Niu presumed they were distracting themselves from their own nervousness with idle chatter. Other disciples were meditating on the ground, purifying their minds before this important moment.


    As the Five Elements Sect specialized in cultivation methods and martial techniques based off the elements, if one did not show an affinity for any of them then they would be forced to become an Outer Disciple. Outer Disciples were given far less guidance and resources than Inner Disciples. Thus, while this gathering was called an initiation ceremony, in reality it was more a test.


    The few disciples who did not seem worried were the ones who had brought attendants with them, like Miss Cecil. These people had the natural arrogance that came from only experiencing success from the moment they were born until now. However, Miss Cecil conducted herself far better than average nobility, showing a unique humility for her station.


    Niu choose to avoid being noticed by Miss Cecil¡¯s retinue and instead wandered over towards the group of meditating cultivators. He had no intention of standing out but he also had no desire to pursue pointless conversation. His past life had left him more comfortable with meditation than human interaction.


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    It was not long before the examiner with the golden sash stood up and walked towards the crowd of disciples. They all stopped talking immediately and watched the examiner attentively.


    The man revealed a satisfied smile before beginning to speak, ¡°I will be the Head Examiner for this year¡¯s initiation ceremony.¡± He paused for a moment after saying this, allowing the importance of his point to sink in ¡°The affinity stone has been prepared. All of you who have been invited should line up and follow me.  Those who failed to arrive in time will have to wait until next year.¡±


    All of the various disciples and attendants immediately scurried after the examiner, making a line as quickly as they could. Even the normally haughty nobles made no noise of complaint as they lined up with the independent cultivators. Whatever their status was, it could not compare to the majesty of the Five Elements Sect.


    They followed the examiner inside a stone building with a circular structure and a dome roof. In the center of the room was a clear orb resting upon a jade pedestal. The pedestal was surrounded on three sides by a black rope that was vibrating and emitting a faint humming sound. The other side had three short steps leading up towards the affinity stone.


    The head examiner spoke once more, ¡°all of you who have been invited please line up in front of Elder Rue and produce your letter of invitation. Friends, family, and retainers should stand off to the side now.¡±


    Niu shuffled towards the line with all the other disciples. He picked a spot somewhere between the middle and the back. Not in a rush to be tested but also not scared of the results. While a martial sect would be beneficial in the early stages of training, he knew that true success in cultivation relied on one¡¯s own martial heart and good fortune.


    The front of the line was mostly made up of nobles and the more confident cultivators. Miss Cecil was third in line. Niu grasped the invitation letter tightly in his hand as he peered around the person in front of him. He was excited to see what this ¡°affinity stone¡± would do.


    ¡°Come up child,¡± said the examiner with the golden sash, ¡°no amount of procrastinating will change your elemental affinity.¡±


    The boy in front swallowed briefly before nodding seriously and handing his invitation letter to Elder Rue. He then took three curt steps up towards the clear orb and stood before it in momentary confusion.


    ¡°Just place your hand on the stone and it will glow in accordance with your element.¡± the examiner said. By this time, all of the disciples and attendants had recognized that the examiner with the golden sash was the one in charge and the only one who would be talking.


    The boy appeared to be around 14 years of age and was clearly putting on a brave front to impress the elders around him. This was the standard age for disciples here as the requirement for an invitation was the second stage of Body Refining before the age of 15.


    He placed his hand gingerly on the affinity stone and stared vividly in anticipation. The stone swirled with a multitude of colors before slowly consolidating in to a faint green.


    ¡°Wood, lesser affinity,¡± the examiner said. ¡°Outer Sect Disciple.¡±


    The boy revealed a complicated look on his face; apparently split between disappointment and denial.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be true!¡± an old man roared from the sides. ¡°He is heir to the Thirteen Spears Clan, test him again!¡±


    The examiner gave a leveled look towards the troublemaker. ¡°Thirteen Spears Clan? Never heard of them.¡±


    The old man displayed a look of embarrassment. For an esteemed elder of the Five Elements Sect to have never heard of his small clan was more than likely true.


    ¡°The affinity stone cannot be wrong. No matter how many times anyone is tested it will not change,¡± declared the examiner with the golden sash. ¡°However, as to changing the boy¡¯s position from an Outer Sect Disciple, that can indeed be done.¡±


    A hopeful expression was shown on the old man¡¯s face. Despite the shamelessness of his outburst, perhaps the young heir to his clan would benefit.


    The examiner looked down at the young heir standing on the steps. ¡°Your invitation has been withdrawn. Take your leave.¡±


    The other two examiners looked at each other with wry smiles. They both understood their senior¡¯s temperament. Once he had made a decision he refused to be challenged. Furthermore, losing a disciple of lesser affinity was no real loss.


    Niu watched this scene in mild amusement. He understood that the odds of a prominent elder from a massive sect giving face to a lesser clan were basically zero. It was likely that only the Royal Family themselves would be able to intimidate this elder.


    The examination continued in this manner. The second person up had a lesser affinity for fire and was also relegated to the Outer Sect. After him, Miss Cecil stepped up towards the stone. She was moving somewhat stiffer than normal and her steely blue eyes were staring straight forward. As she put her hand on the orb it swirled fiercely before transforming into a silvery-gray color.


    ¡°Oh?¡± the head examiner let out a sound of pleasant surprise. ¡°Metal, superior affinity, Inner Disciple.¡± He then gave a pleasant smile towards the girl and pointed towards the third elder who was leaning against a wall. ¡°Elder William can guide you towards the Metal Branch after the ceremony has concluded.¡±


    It was obvious that the disciples of the Inner Sect would be treated with more respect than those of the Outer. The other disciples and attendants immediately began whispering amongst themselves, gossiping about the results.


    Niu, in comparison, smiled happily. He believed that a woman as kind as Miss Cecil fully deserved any good luck that came her way. Perhaps that same luck would allow him to join the Metal Sect with her.


    Of the next twenty or so disciples, none were able to join the Inner Sect. This included the three individuals who were rated as having medium affinity.


    As Niu came closer to the front of the line he slowly became more nervous. No matter how firm his heart was from his past life, he had never been truly evaluated by another before. To have his worth judged by a stone? How strange was that? When he was a mountain he contained thousands of crystals and gems that the mortal treasured. Now one of those gems was going to tell him how promising his future was? How ironic could fate be?


    ¡°Next,¡± said the head examiner.


    Niu walked up the steps and stood before the stone pedestal. He heard a muffled intake of breath behind him from where the two maids were standing.  He gave a quick glance around him towards all of the viewers. He was not accustomed to so many people focusing on him. He felt his face heating up as he placed his hand on the even hotter affinity stone.


    The stone swirled in its normal fashion before it began to faintly glow. Slowly one color after another was removed. Gray was the first to disappear, which represented metal. After that it was green, then blue, then red. Finally only one color remained  - yellow.


    It began as a faint yellow but gradually grew more and more fierce. Soon it was piercingly bright, to the degree that the stone walls of the building took on a yellow hue.


    The head examiner smiled in quiet satisfaction. A deep yellow such as this was definitely a superior affinity to the Earth Element. He opened his mouth to announce the result when something surprising occurred.


    The yellow streaks started whipping about chaotically inside the stone. They were moving at such an incredible speed that they began to form cracks on the outside of the orb. All of the disciples except Niu and Miss Cecil turned away to protect their eyes.


    A splintering sound reverberated through the air as a great white streak slithered down the center of the orb. With a thundering crash, the stone split apart violently. Shards shot off in multiple directions, only to be stopped by the invisible force coming from the black rope.


    A few pieces of the orb had glanced Niu and the head examiner, causing thin streaks of red on Niu¡¯s face and pale white lines on the elders. Evidently, the hot shrapnel had not even broken the elder¡¯s skin.


    However, neither of them was concerned with their current appearance. What concerned them was the enormous glowing mountain that had appeared before their eyes.


    The orb had shattered due to the expansion of the gas to form the shape that now occupied the pedestal- two boundless mountains, one black and one white, with an enormous golden dragon connecting them. The dragon¡¯s tail wrapped around the black mountain, which was taller and thinner than the white mountain, whilst the dragon¡¯s upper body was perched upon the white mountain, which was thicker but shorter than the black one.


    After a few short moments, the image dissipated. A heavy silence spread like fog throughout the room.  The only sound to be heard was the slight whistling of the wind outside.


    Niu stood still in front of the now-empty pedestal. He stared thoughtfully at the shards while he tried to remember what the mountain had looked like. It was not his former body as there were only two peaks. Yet each peak seemed to contain some Grand Dao, incomprehensible to him. And that dragon! What could that dragon possibly have been?


    ¡°Earth,¡± the head examiner began. ¡°Affinity unknown, disciple rank¡­ to be decided.¡± He finished.


    The surrounding onlookers immediately burst into fervent conversation. An unknown affinity level and undecided disciple rank? What kind of ruling was this?


    Miss Cecil covered her mouth in shock.  The boy she had taken to be a sheepish beggar turned out to have such a mysterious, powerful martial talent.


    ¡°Elder Rue,¡± started the head examiner, ¡°I would appreciate it if you managed the rest of the testing from here on out. It should take a day to produce a new affinity stone. I am going to bring this boy to the Earth Branch.¡±


    ¡°That is no problem, sir.¡±


    ¡°What is your name, boy?¡± asked the head examiner.


    ¡°Niu.¡±


    ¡°? Well, young Niu, your life is about to become very interesting.¡±


    ¡°I think so as well,¡± Niu responded with a smile.


    ¡°Very well then, follow me. We will take my mount to the city of Xuan Wu.¡± After saying this, the elder led Niu outside and whistled loudly. A great cawing was heard in response as an immense blood-red raven swooped down towards them from the sky.


    The raven stood over six meters high with a wingspan more than double that.  Its great talons seemed as threatening as drawn swords and its giant eyes peered intelligently towards Niu. It seemed curious as to whom this young chick was that its partner had brought.


    Niu stared at the beast with his mouth agape. This enormous bird was going to carry him to the Earth Branch? What if he fell off? Heavens! What if the bird accidentally crushed him with its talons?


    Before Niu could dive further into his anxiety, a hand reached down from atop the bird and pulled him up. As soon as Niu sat down on the birds back, it pumped its great wings twice and took off into the air. Leaving a petrified Niu sprawled out on the beast¡¯s back, grasping feathers and cursing the heavens each time the bird pumped its wings.

 Earthen Lord Chapter 3

    Niu slid off the raven and hit the ground below like a bag of rice. He lay there for a while, staring up blankly at the blue sky and gentle clouds. The sky looked deceptively calm when seen from below; up there however, it was as tumultuous as the sea.


    Elder Ignii stood above Niu and stared down at him with unconcealed amusement. He had never seen a cultivator so poor at flying before. Cultivators were not like mortals, with weak bodies so easily hurt from rapid movement. In theory, Niu should have been fine. In actuality, he had his hand over his mouth before they had finished takeoff.


    ¡°Alright boy, that is enough lying about,¡± said Elder Ignii.


    ¡°You think?¡± asked Niu. ¡°Because I could do this for another hour at least.¡±


    The elder rolled his eyes before grabbing Niu¡¯s arm and pulling him up. ¡°Let us go pay a visit to the branch head. He should be able to tell us a bit more about your unique situation.¡±


    Niu rubbed his hands over his eyes and rolled his shoulders. This human body was far more vulnerable to discomfort than his former one. ¡°After you,¡± he grumbled.


    They walked along a dirt road that led towards the bottom of a mountain. It was littered with dead leaves from the browning trees overhead. Animal footprints were seen far more often than human ones.


    Despite Elder Ignii¡¯s age, he walked gaily like a young man in the peak of his youth. Nothing but the sound of dead leaves cracking beneath his feet could be heard. His red robes fluttered gracefully like the blood-red wings of his mount, and his unkempt grey hair bounced behind him. Niu was suddenly struck with the image of a rabbit and could not help himself from letting out a chortle.


    A few minutes later they were standing at the basin, staring upwards at the great mountain with their hands placed resignedly on their hips.  The elder let out a sigh.


    ¡°I just wish we were able to land Sonya atop the mountain. The branch head¡¯s desire to replicate the heavens is a bit too eccentric if you ask me.¡±


    ¡°Replicate the heavens?¡± asked Niu.


    ¡°Everyone who wants to enter the Earth Branch must first walk up these two thousand steps. They are meant to represent the two thousand Dao¡¯s of the Earth Element,¡± Elder Ignii responded.


    Niu stared blankly at him. ¡°So you mean to say that you would rather fly up the mountain than take these steps?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Essentially, yes.¡±  said Elder Ignii.


    Two quick blinks were the only response Niu gave before he began traversing upwards quickly. ¡°Fly instead of walk,¡± he grumbled. ¡°The owner of a bird has a bird brain,¡± he said under his breath.


    Elder Ignii stood at the bottom of the steps with his mouth agape. Of course with his level of cultivation he could hear every word Niu spoke, no matter how quiet the boy thought he was being.


    ¡°A bird brain¡­¡± said Elder Ignii incredulously. ¡°Where was this boy brought up? To insult me because he is scared of birds¡­¡± the elder continued his offended ramblings as he followed Niu up the stairs.


    The entire process of walking up all two thousand steps only took thirty minutes, mostly because of Niu. Elder Ignii kept trying to convince Niu that they should take a break at the halfway point but Niu continued walking, afraid that the elder would make him ride on that damned bird again.


    They surfaced the final step and took a few heavy breaths as they peered at their surroundings. There were a series of small temples that surrounded a stone courtyard. The temples were simple constructions of wood and stone, winding their way around the courtyard before expanding into the woods. They were arranged in imitation of a dragon¡¯s tail, and the yellow shingle roofs gave the appearance of dragon scales. Niu imagined that if one could see the temples from above they would take the appearance of a glittering, golden dragon


    The central courtyard itself contained a multitude of grey-robed martial artists, at least a hundred, practicing their forms and sparing with one another. Off to the side was a shaded, grassy area where a brown-robed elder was giving a lecture on the Dao to eager-eyed young disciples. He was discussing the role of balance in martial arts, a necessity for both hard and soft strikes.


    There were four of these courtyards in total, all connected by the stream of temples.


    ¡°This is the Outer Sect,¡± said Elder Ignii. ¡°We need to go quite a bit farther to reach the branch head. He lives atop the summit.¡±


    Niu nodded his head faintly, distracted by the sights around him. The Outer Sect gave off a vibrant atmosphere. All these young men and women were engrossed in their practice, bettering themselves to better their future.


    Their struggles for success reminded Niu of the mortals in cities. Whereas mortals strived to gain more money and achieve a better life, cultivators strive to gain more power and achieve a longer life. Niu was unsure whether a good life or a long life was superior. He was sure, however, that money was not the true route to happiness.


    The pair followed a stone pathway that slipped behind the easternmost temples and led through lightly trimmed undergrowth. This path, paired with another on the other side of the temple, gave the appearance of whiskers on the dragonhead.


    Many of the stones along the path had become overgrown with moss, making for a difficult trek. This forced the two to slow down and delayed their journey up the mountain.


    After a long while, the pathway began to narrow.  Soon, branches were brushing Niu¡¯s face as they continued walking upwards in a single file. Finally they passed under a wooden archway and reached a second temple compound.


    This one was quite a bit smaller than the last.  It contained only two courtyards and three temples. The courtyard was made of a smooth, white stone and had bamboo mats to the side that could presumably be dragged on top of it. There were only a few yellow-robed disciples training in this courtyard.  Their sparing looked far more advanced than the simple motions seen below.


    The temple on the left was grand and palatial. It was covered with different mythical beast carvings and vibrant colors; this was the Divine Arts Hall. On the right was another gorgeously designed temple, equally grand and equally domineering. This one was the Divine Weapons Hall, where the sound of metal striking metal echoed out in a steady rhythm.


    The center temple was nothing like the two beside it. It was made purely out of stone and lacked any designs but a simple sign labeling it as the Dao Lecture Hall. The floor was made of simple wooden planks and had small cushions spaced evenly around it. A few yellow-robed disciples sat patiently inside, listening to a brown-robed elder with rapt attention.


    This elder had a dignified air about him. He had a long white beard and a drooping mustache that made him resemble a catfish. He waved his hands in circular patterns, accentuating whatever words accompanied them.


    He was giving a far more poignant lecture than the man below, discussing the Yin and Yang of Earth and its need for balance.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you sit in on this lecture,¡± said Elder Ignii. ¡°I will go talk to with the branch head, and we can meet back here in an hour.¡±


    Niu nodded his head slowly and said, ¡°That sounds good to me.¡±


    ¡°Good. Then I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± With a swish of his robe Elder Ignii turned around and walked towards yet another hidden path. His bouncing grey hair pulled another grin out of Niu.


    Turning around, Niu had to resolve the minor issue of where to sit. Since he was not yet an official disciple he did not want to draw too much attention. Eventually he decided to just do what he had in the tavern, quickly plopping himself down on a cushion in the corner.


    ¡°Without male there is no female,¡± said the lecturer. ¡°Without bad there is no good. This is polarity.¡± He paused a moment as the disciples pondered his words.


    Niu nodded his head as he adjusted the pillow below him. Contrast is what makes something significant. In his past life, he was only considered a ¡°big¡± mountain because other mountains were smaller than him. If all the mountains had been his size, then he would have simply been a mountain.


    ¡°Polarity is the essence of Yin and Yang.¡± The lecturer continued, ¡°Yin and Yang are the two halves of the Dao. Lacking one of them and there is no Dao. Lacking Dao and there is chaos.¡±


    Niu found this point interesting. He had never considered the possibility of an existence without the Dao. The Dao is the origin and end of everything. Only the Dao is eternal for the Dao was never born. Something that was never born can never die; it is unique within existence.


    ¡°Some kingdoms in the Far  West do not believe in the Dao. Yet with their magic they are still able to create walls of fire and spears of ice.¡± Said the lecturer. ¡°This is not chaos, but simply another way to practice the Dao. Just because they do not believe in its existence, does not mean it does not exist.¡±


    Many of the disciples whispered quietly to one another about this. They were all very interested in this ¡°magic¡± that the West practiced.


    ¡°The Dao is One,¡± continued the lecturer in a raised voice. ¡°Yin and Yang are Two, the Elements are Five and the Manifestations are Ten-Thousand. To grasp the Enlightenment Stage, one must begin to fathom a single Manifestation.¡±


    The disciples nodded eagerly at this statement. For many of them, reaching the Enlightenment Stage was their ultimate goal. If one were to attain this level of martial prowess then the world would be at their feet.


    Such a practitioner would have his name etched in the annals of history and his statue carved in the walls of cities. Perhaps more importantly, once a human reached such a stage their lifespan would extend to 1,000 years. This existence was truly peerless.


    ¡°But,¡± began the lecturer, ¡°if touching upon one of the Ten-Thousand is equal to the Enlightenment Stage then what would it mean to touch upon the Five?¡±


    The disciples were instantly flabbergasted. None of them dared to raise their hand and give out and answer. If the Five are the origin of the Ten-Thousand then what would a martial artist who had comprehended such an entity be like? Nobody could say.


    Niu was enlightened. He did not suddenly reach the Enlightenment Stage, of course, but had acquired a greater understanding of the Dao.


    The Five Elements Sect was named after the  Five but it did not truly pursue comprehension of them. It only scratched the surface of the elements and implemented aspects of them into techniques. Thus, despite its name, the Five Elements Sect was only pursuing the Manifestations, not Relationships.


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    If one wished to transcend the Enlightenment Stage and seek an understanding of one of the Elements, then they would need to understand all 2,000 Manifestations of it. Thus they would need to be like the staircase. Each step another hurdle, another Dao, but together a single path, a single grand Dao.


    A firm hand on his shoulder shook him back to reality.


    ¡°Niu!¡± Elder Ignii said loudly and somewhat exasperatedly. He had probably been saying Niu¡¯s name for a while now.


    ¡°Yes, Elder?¡± responded Niu politely.


    ¡°Oh so now I am your senior again?¡± he asked with a smile. ¡°What happened to being a bird brain?¡±


    Niu paused. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are talking about.¡±


    ¡°Of course you don¡¯t,¡± he gave Niu a leveled stare and raised one gray eyebrow in mild amusement.


    ¡°Ahem,¡± Niu started, ¡°so what did you need me for?¡±


    ¡°The branch head is ready to see you now, which means that my job is  complete.¡±


    A faint smile spread across Niu¡¯s ivory-colored face. This would be his first step in to the world of cultivation, a change from mountain to man. Maybe the branch head would even take an interest in his abilities and accept Niu as his own personal disciple? If that happened then his early years were all but guaranteed to be successful.


    Elder Ignii frowned at Niu¡¯s sudden elation. ¡°Niu I want you to be careful here,¡± he said.


    ¡°While the branch head¡¯s obsession with perfection is what led him to his current success, it has also¡­ twisted him somewhat. I advise you to use your own judgment here and not mindlessly follow his orders.¡± Elder Ignii said seriously.


    Niu¡¯s brief moment of excitement was suddenly curbed. He stopped to consider what the elder had said. If this man was as eccentric as the elder described, then going in to a meeting with blind faith and expectations could have left him quite vulnerable.


    ¡°Thank you, Elder.¡± said Niu seriously while bowing low. He understood that Elder Ignii had no obligation to give Niu advice and simply did so out of the kindness of his own heart.


    Elder Ignii appeared surprised for a second before smiling warmly. ¡°The Old Master said that Compassion is one of the Three Treasures. It is only natural for me to have told you this.¡± After that, he swept his hands across his red robes and smoothly started his descent down the mountain.


    The Old Master, which Elder Ignii spoke of, was a nameless sage from ancient times, famous even in Niu¡¯s past world. He was considered the father of cultivation and the first man to achieve immortality.


    Niu held the bow for a brief moment before straightening back up. He peered wearily at the path leading towards the branch head, the elder¡¯s words still resounding in his mind, and let out a sigh.


    The path leading towards the branch head¡¯s residence was extremely lavish. There were all sorts of precious gems embedded in the ground as an ornamental walkway. They were arranged carefully so that no two gems of the same type were touching each other.


    Compared to the simple entrance at the bottom of the mountain, this entire pathway reeked of self-indulgence. It showed that the branch head thought him to be above the simple contemplation of the disciples.


    However, in Niu¡¯s opinion, nobody is ever done learning about the Dao. They must learn about it their whole life. Thus these attempts by the branch head to move on and step forward was in fact a step backwards.


    At the top of the staircase was a small pavilion shaped in a Yin Yang symbol. The symbol was constructed entirely of black obsidian and white marble. In the center was a small but well-adorned house.


    Its walls were made of stained wood and had carvings of golden dragons slithering around the eaves. The doorway was the maw of a great silver tiger and its ruby red tongue was the doormat.


    Niu wrapped his knuckles twice against the door, loud enough to be heard but not so loud as to appear forceful or arrogant.


    The sound of a wooden chair being pulled back across floorboards could be heard prior to the shuffling of feet. After the shifting of locks, the door smoothly opened.


    Behind it stood a tall man with blue eyes and a tan complexion. His jet-black hair was pulled back into a topknot with three silver bands around the middle. His thin arms poked out from the low hanging sleeves of his golden robe and each hand was adorned with a variety of rings.


    The man exuded an aura of imminent danger, like the feeling one gets when standing on the edge of a cliff staring down at the great abyss below. The man¡¯s sharp cheekbones and hawk-like eyes accentuated this feeling.


    ¡°You would be Niu, I presume.¡± the man stated with a grating voice.


    ¡°Yes, branch head.¡± Niu responded.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± he glanced over Niu in a scrutinizing manner. ¡°You can call me Master Avem.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master Avem,¡± corrected Niu.


    ¡°Come inside then,¡± he said while pulling the door further back.


    Niu hesitated for a second before gingerly slipping by Master Avem. He could feel the man¡¯s gaze bearing down on him as he passed by. The sound of the door shutting accompanied the beating of Niu¡¯s own heart.


    ¡°Take a seat,¡± instructed Master Avem. He gestured to a red wooden chair in the corner of the room. He himself sat in a large armchair with an embroidered cushion and a high back.


    ¡°So you are the boy with the special affinity, correct?¡± asked Master Avem.


    ¡°I am,¡± Niu replied honestly.


    ¡°Describe what you saw to me.¡±


    ¡°You mean with the affinity stone?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± replied Master Avem dryly, ¡°with the affinity stone.¡±


    ¡°There were two mountains, one black and one white,¡± said Niu. ¡°There was also a golden dragon between them.¡±


    Master Avem stared at Niu expectantly.


    ¡°That was all,¡± said Niu.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Master Avem¡¯s eyes glazed over and he leaned back. His chair made a slight creaking sound as the wood adjusted under his bony frame.


    Niu waited quietly for the elder to collect his thoughts; he did not want to interrupt his musings.


    ¡°The Golden Dragon is the earthen primordial beast,¡± he started. ¡°While most demonic beasts will slowly comprehend a Dao throughout their life, the Golden Dragon will slowly comprehend the Grand Dao of Earth during its 100 million year lifespan.¡± he finished.


    ¡°The Grand Dao of Earth!¡± Niu gasped. ¡°Dragons truly live up to their reputations.¡±


    Master Avem looked at Niu disdainfully. ¡°Not all dragons are this powerful. Most only comprehend three Daos and live for about a million years. Only the great Azure Dragon, who naturally comprehends the Dao of Wood, is comparable.¡±


    This point seemed reasonable to Niu. After all, if every dragon were so incredibly powerful and long living, what room would there be for other species?


    ¡°Furthermore,¡± he continued, ¡°primordial dragons such as those can only be read about in ancient texts. Not to mention that even the people from those times believed the beasts to be more symbolic than factual.¡±


    Niu nodded his head in understanding. The heavens were balanced in this manner. The more precious something was, the less of it there would be. This law was demonstrated by the scarcity of precious gems, rare talents, and unique beings.


    ¡°As for the two mountains¡­ I have no idea,¡± said Master Avem. ¡°I have never heard of such an existence in any text that I¡¯ve read.¡±


    A downtrodden expression could be seen on Niu¡¯s face. He had come here for answers but had only received questions and symbolism.


    ¡°I would imagine that like the Golden Dragon it is symbolic of the Earth. That both of these have appeared from testing your affinity is¡­ unpredicted.¡± the old man finished.


    ¡°It cannot be denied that you have a great affinity for the Earth. Yet with your pathetic cultivation level this will not necessarily amount to anything.¡± Master Avem said derisively.


    Niu felt his cheeks heat up at this comment. Of course in the eyes of this centuries-old monster, his cultivation might not appear like much at all. Yet in a sense, this was not even Niu¡¯s own cultivation. Since arriving in this world and awakening in this body he had done nothing but go with the flow. He had yet to try cultivation or even consider how it was done.


    ¡°For now you will join the Inner Sect,¡± said Master Avem. ¡°You have not proven yourself worthy of becoming a personal disciple but with your affinity it would be a waste to place you in the Outer Sect.¡±


    This was less than what Niu had hoped for but still within an acceptable range. A quiet life in the Inner Sect would be perfectly fine for growing accustomed to this new world.


    ¡°First order of business will be to get you out of those filthy rags,¡± said Master Avem, looking pointedly at the three holes in Niu¡¯s shirt, now brown with crusted blood.


    ¡°Yes, Master Avem.¡± Niu revealed a sheepish expression. He had completely forgotten that he was still wearing bloodstained rags.


    ¡°Afterwards, you will go to the Divine Arts Hall and pick a bottom-tier cultivation method, a bottom-tier combat technique, and a bottom-tier martial form. Once you have reached the 4th stage of body refining and have successfully opened your meridians you will be allowed access to the Divine Weapons Hall. ¡°


    Niu listened carefully to the instructions, cradling each word in his mind as though it were sacred. ¡°Cultivation method, combat technique, martial form, and 4th stage.¡± He said aloud, nodding  subconsciously. ¡°Good, I got it.¡±


    Master Avem rolled his eyes at Niu¡¯s repetition.  ¡°You can pick any of the unmarked residences as your temporary home. Inside will be your uniform and sect emblem,¡± he said. ¡°You are dismissed.¡±


    Nodding again at the words, Niu rose to his feet and bowed briefly before walking out the door, being careful to close it quietly behind him.


    The air was crisp and cool, causing Niu to smile subconsciously. It was relaxing to have a clear path laid out in front of him. This was the first time since his reincarnation that he knew what he was supposed to do. With a light heart, he descended down the ornate stairs.


    Back inside the house, Master Avem was staring out window with his hawk-like eyes. He watched intently as Niu walked lightly down the steps.


    ¡°The Dao of the Mountain¡­¡± he murmured quietly. ¡°The most powerful of all Earthen Dao¡¯s.¡±


    He clenched his fist tightly, causing blood to seep from between his fingers. A deep guttural voice escaped from his throat, ¡°I will seize it!¡±

 Earthen Lord Chapter 4

    Gong! Gong!


    The sound of a great gong being struck woke Niu from his slumber. He sat up from a simple wooden bed and swung his legs over the side. Reaching upwards, he stretched his back until a soft cracking sound was heard.


    The little nuances and discomforts of the human body were slowly becoming more understandable to Niu. He had learned how to stretch certain areas and what positions were most comfortable.


    Just three short steps from his bed stood a black iron cauldron. Reaching down, he lit a few pieces of wood from the night before. The cauldron, along with the closed windows, helped warm the house.


    He tossed a wooden grate over the top of the cauldron and inserted a few of his favorite herbs. When he had chosen this home, it came with a writ of ownership and some basic cooking instructions. Currently he was brewing a thick herbal tea from a hundred year old vine, meant to strengthen the mind.


    Besides the cauldron and bed, the room also had a small table, two wooden chairs, and a painting of the Old Master.


    In the painting, the Old Master is riding an ox up a mountain.  Slow but powerful are the traits that best exemplify the Ox. These are also the traits which best exemplify the Earth element. This is why the painting is hung within every disciple¡¯s home.


    He stepped outside and closed the door softly behind him. The cold, crisp mountain air was the first thing to greet Niu, causing him to pull his robe more tightly against his thin frame.


    The walk to the Divine Arts Hall was not a short one. He had picked a home far away from the central courtyard in the hopes of some privacy. Furthermore, on his way up the mountain he had seen many disciples practicing ¡®walking meditation¡¯. He was interested in this sort of mobile meditation, as it appeared to offer a greater communion with the earth than sitting alone in one¡¯s room.


    The theory behind any form of meditation is to empty the mind of all unnecessary thoughts, often though absorbing oneself in the feeling of their own body. Only once the mind is completely clear of clutter will it be able to absorb true knowledge. In essence, only a cup that is empty can be filled.


    He walked quietly but purposefully towards the Divine Arts Hall like a cat stalking through the woods. He felt his lungs slowly fill up with air before emptying once more. Wind rushed in through his nose, circled inside his chest, and then was let out through his mouth.  Like his mind, his lungs had emptied so that they could be refilled once more.


    With every step he took, he could feel the earth push back gently against his soles like a giant hand helping him stand. The power of the Earth was pulsating beneath him. In this state of internal and external awareness, Niu walked for thirty minutes before arriving in front of the Divine Arts Hall.


    Upon his arrival he turned around and cupped his hands, bowing low towards the path from which he came. Being imbued with the spirit of the earth in such a manner had left him grateful.


    His reincarnation as a mortal had separated him from the earth and caused a feeling of incompleteness. Thus his successful meditation had filled an unknown hole in his heart.


    The senior disciple standing guard outside the Divine Arts Hall raised an eyebrow in confusion at Niu¡¯s gesture towards the woods but quickly buried his expression when Niu turned back around. After all, there were a great multitude of eccentrics among cultivators, almost to the point where eccentricity had replaced normality.


    Niu walked over towards the senior disciple and gave a slight bow upon noticing that he had a sword strapped to his hip. Any disciple who was carrying a weapon was at least of the 4th stage of Body Refinement and more than a match for the untrained Niu.


    Each stage of Body Refinement represented a twofold increase in strength. Thus a 4th stage practitioner had the strength of eight men as opposed to Niu¡¯s four. In the mortal world, a 4th stage practitioner was strong enough to be feared greatly.


    The senior disciple smiled in satisfaction at Niu¡¯s act of courtesy. Fresh Inner disciples often thought themselves as above all but Core disciples and elders. Of course this was not true as every stratum of disciples had its own hierarchy.


    ¡°Are you the new Inner disciple that Master Avem introduced?¡± asked the senior disciple.


    ¡°Yes, senior.¡± responded Niu, keeping his words courteous.


    ¡°You are allowed a low-level cultivation method, a low-level combat technique, and a low-level martial form,¡± he stated.  ¡°Master Boros will be inside to help you find a suitable technique and make sure you do not grab anything above your station.¡±


    ¡°Master Boros¡­¡± Niu said quietly, trying to memorize the name.


    He stepped inside to a dimly lit room with a middle-aged man behind the counter. The man was extremely large, at least seven feet, and heavily tanned. It was common for earthen cultivators to be large since the earth element promoted muscle growth but this man was simply massive.


    Niu looked up hesitantly at him. ¡°Are you Master Boros?¡± he asked.


    The giant slowly peered away from the book in his hand and looked down at Niu.


    ¡°I am,¡± he said.


    Before Niu could get out another word the man went back to reading his book.


    ¡°Uhh¡­¡± Niu stared at Master Boros for a short moment, unsure of how to proceed. After an awkward smile and a brief bow he turned around to start browsing the texts.


    ¡°All low-level texts are on this floor. Pick a cultivation method first then pick a form and skill that compliment it.¡± Master Boros voice echoed out behind him.


    ¡°Thank you, Elder.¡± Niu replied happily. The presence Master Boros exuded was second only to the one emanated by Master Avem. That meant he was at least in the upper ends of the Manifestation Stage. Any word this elder dined to say would be worth listening to.


    He walked through the shelves of old tomes until he came across a section labeled Lower Tier Cultivation Manuals. The books in this section were quite a bit thicker than the ones in other rows.  Cultivation manuals were quite complicated.


    He walked over towards a random shelf in the row and picked up the first book he saw. ¡°Divine Mole Manifesto¡± he read aloud.


    Instantly a snort was heard from the counter.


    Niu flipped open the book and read the first page. ¡°To cultivate this method is to become the mole; small and unassuming, but dignified in its own unique way.¡±


    Niu put the book down. Nope. He was not going to be a mole.


    The next one he read was similarly useless. It was called the Three Turns Mud Method and involved lying in mud while meditating every day to cultivate qi and acquire slippery skin.


    ¡°These are all so¡­ stupid.¡± Niu said incredulously.


    Book after book, and shelf after shelf; Niu searched endlessly for a decent method until finally he came across one that met his standards.


    It was a plain, unadorned, leather-bound book with a tassel wrapped around it. The cover read Divine Behemoth Body Method. Niu flipped open to the first page and began reading.


    The Divine Behemoth Body Method is based off the Dao of Velocity and the Dao of Weight. To cultivate it, one must understand the mindset of a Divine Behemoth. The Divine Behemoth is one of the largest, slowest creatures known to man. Nonetheless, it is incredibly powerful and can destroy a city with a single hoof. To cultivate this method is to obtain the weight of that creature in a human body. To do so is, put simply, excruciatingly painful.


    Niu read on and learned about this method. Most of it involved continuously growing the physical body and then compressing it. This method of gathering a surplus before compressing it for refinement was also how it cultivated qi.


    Master Boros wandered over when he noticed what book Niu had picked up. ¡°The Divine Behemoth Method deserves to be a top-tier cultivation method. However due to the extreme difficulty of cultivating, we keep it in the bottom section.¡± he said. ¡°While the power such a method may give you is immense, each bottleneck you face will be tremendous. I do not recommend it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master Boros. But I plan to choose it anyway.¡± said Niu matter-of-factly.


    Whatever the difficulties of this method may be, the power it gave was worth it. Besides, he believed it would be easier for him to understand the theories of moving slowly but heavily. He had once, after all, been a mountain.


    ¡°So be it,¡± said Master Boros. ¡°However, do not forget my earlier advice or you will have trouble progressing in the future."


    ¡°I will not forget Master Boros,¡± said Niu in a placating manner. It must be said that despite Niu¡¯s oddities in actions, he was very good at showing respect to elders. Well, except Elder Ignii of course, but that involved a bird. Birds don¡¯t count.


    Master Boros nodded gruffly in response; he assumed this disciple would come back in a week asking to exchange this cultivation manual for another one. That is what most disciples did who arrogantly choose the Behemoth Method.


    After picking this method, Niu choose to go look through forms. ¡°Heavy but slow, heavy but slow¡­¡± he wondered aloud. He needed to find a martial form that either accentuated the advantages of the Behemoth Method, or covered up the weaknesses.


    Arriving in the martial form section he picked up the first book on the left. It was called the Stone Ape Open Palm form. It involved regularly striking harder and harder objects with one¡¯s palm to increase their toughness and strengthen the appropriate muscles. The eventual goal was to have an open palm strike so fast and ruthless that one could crush trees with a single blow.


    ¡°Hmm not bad, but it does not seem to match with the heavy-slow style I am looking for. Maybe the defensive nature of it is more fitting?¡±


    He skimmed through the book until he found the defensive portion of the form. This was called the Stone Ape¡¯s Sway and involved fancy footwork and body contortion to avoid blows.


    ¡°Definitely not,¡± said Niu. ¡°I¡¯ll just keep looking then.¡±


    The next book seemed somewhat more promising, ¡°Mountain Goat¡¯s Center,¡± he read. It described a method where one would learn to keep their weight centered in their body, thus giving them inhuman balance and stability. It was extremely defensive in nature and had only a single striking method.


    ¡°The ability to use my weight to the fullest would be advantageous, but only a single striking method is somewhat¡­ risky. I¡¯ll keep looking for now.¡±


    Niu continued searching through this section; it was significantly larger than the first one, making up perhaps a quarter of the entire floor. The names brushed against his mind briefly like waves on a beach. Twelve Stone Boxing, Mud Titan¡¯s Grappling, Cave Bat¡¯s Fingers, Lesser Golem¡¯s Insight, the list went on.


    All of them were quite decent in their own way. Especially Lesser Golem¡¯s Insight and Mud Titan¡¯s Grappling. Apparently the Three Turns Mud Method was supposed to be practiced with the Mud Titan¡¯s Insight to create a formidable grappler. Despite the strange cultivation method, Niu realized how frightening a wrestler whose body was slippery could be.


    Lesser Golem¡¯s Insight was intimidating because it had two sequels in the floors above - one a middle-tier martial form and the other an upper-tier. When he was reading through it Master Boros called out and said that it was the most used form in the sect and for a good reason.


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    Nonetheless, none of these were quite what Niu was looking for, so he kept searching. Several hours later, after the Sun had begun its descent, he found three books that fit his standards. They were the Momentum of the Bison, Stone Mammoth¡¯s Tusks, and the Hornless Dragon¡¯s Dignity.


    The last one had three more books in the upper levels. It was considered one of the most powerful forms available to the sect and was what Master Boros practiced. The focus of this was to acquire skin as tough as a dragon¡¯s scales, hands as vicious as a dragon¡¯s talons, legs as powerful as a dragon¡¯s thighs, and strikes as deadly as a dragon¡¯s bite. If trained to the highest level, the martial artist would gain the overwhelming power of a dragon in human form.


    Stone Mammoth¡¯s Tusks focused on one single aspect; striking as hard and dominantly as possible. It did not even contemplate defense, only how to use one¡¯s weight to its maximum offensive potential. In this regard, the Stone Mammoth¡¯s Tusk was unrivaled within the first floor.


    The first book, Momentum of the Bison was a simple but powerful form. Its purpose was to integrate the strength of a herd within one¡¯s own body. This form had nine steps. The first step involved utilizing the strength of one bison; the second involved the strength of two, the third three, and so on.


    Strikes within this form were mostly fist based techniques and a few grappling methods. They were learned from studying the way a bison utilizes its horns. These were heavy strikes that began slow but finished fast and hard.


    In terms of defense, the form focused on entanglement, deflection, and endurance. What could not be entangled should be deflected. What could not be deflected should be endured.


    The combination of all this made for an extremely well rounded martial form with room for growth. More importantly, Niu wanted to understand the concept of multiplying strength and apply it to his weight. If at some point in the future he could multiply the weight he acquired from the Behemoth Method, then a simple slap would carry the force of a mountain.  With all these considerations in mind, Niu choose this form.


    The skill section was far bigger than the other two sections. It made up most of the bottom floor. Despite this, Niu found a skill he liked by the second book, ¡°The Rhino¡¯s Intolerance,¡± he read. It was a shockingly simple but effective skill. One would grab the opponent; gather all the qi into their forehead, and head-butt the center of the opponents face. Quick, unexpected, deadly ¨C those were the words that best described the technique.


    Niu walked up towards the counter where Master Boros had gone back to reading and placed the three tomes on the counter.


    Master Boros put down his book once more and examined the three tomes. ¡°We have already discussed the Divine Behemoth Method and Momentum of the Bison is a fine form but,¡± he paused, ¡°are you sure you want the Rhino¡¯s Intolerance?¡± he gave Niu a skeptical look.


    ¡°I do, Master Boros.¡± Niu replied.


    Master Boros let out a sigh, ¡°Very well then. It is your choice.¡± He wrote Niu¡¯s name in the three texts and handed them back to him. ¡°If you wish to try another form, technique, or method, you must bring back one of these texts first.¡± After saying such he went back to his book.


    Niu nodded his head eagerly and rushed outside, excited to begin learning these methods.


    As he walked back towards his home with his books beneath his arms, he heard an interesting conversation taking place.


    ¡°Come on trash, you have no future anyways why are you being so stingy?¡±  A nasally voice asked.


    A whimper was the only reply.


    ¡°This idiot can¡¯t even form simple words, he doesn¡¯t deserve that Triple Lotus pill,¡± said another boy.


    Walking around a bend, Niu came across three Inner Disciples surrounding another fatter disciple. The fat one was lying on the ground in fetal position with his right hand grasping a cultivation pill.


    It was one of the Triple Lotus pills that Inner Disciples are supposed to receive once a week. This was an advantage over the Outer disciples, who only received one pill a month.


    The three bullying boys had vicious expressions on their faces. They were intimidating with their tall and muscular appearances. The common trait of earthen cultivators was well demonstrated by them.


    Niu was not sure what to do here. He knew from observing humans that it was proper to be compassionate. But he also knew that he, as a man who had never fought before, would not be able to do anything. More importantly he did not know the fat boy and had no interest in making enemies at this moment.


    He resolved to try and sneak by unnoticed, quietly minding his own business. He even began whistling as to appear more nonchalant. Shameless perhaps, but Niu thought himself to be quite clever for avoiding conflict in this manner.


    The three boys looked up to see a thin, pale disciple walking by whistling with three books under his arms. He gave the very appearance of a gutless bookworm, definitely not the type to intervene with their affairs.


    Unfortunately for Niu, the fat boy on the ground heard his whistling and grabbed hold of that chance.


    ¡°Hey!¡± he cried. ¡°Help me!¡±


    Niu paused for a moment. The three boys stopped their heckling and stared at Niu menacingly.


    At this point it was too difficult for Niu to pretend he had not noticed the bullying. It would be best to feign an interest before giving up.


    ¡°Ahem.¡± Niu coughed lightly, ¡°Any chance you boys could---¡±


    ¡°No.¡± the nasal-voiced one cut him off. ¡°You think this is your business bookworm?¡±


    ¡°Nope, just fulfilling my role¡± said Niu with a lighthearted laugh.


    ¡°Something you find funny?¡± the nasal-voiced disciple asked, slightly annoyed.


    ¡°To me at least,¡± responded Niu absently nodding his head.


    ¡°Oh? Enlighten us,¡± the man asked sardonically.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing really, don¡¯t worry about it.¡± With a wave of his hand Niu turned around and started walking away.


    Suddenly he heard the crunching of rocks and dirt beneath a foot and a hard smack hit him on the back of the head.


    Niu¡¯s vision blurred for a second and he fell to the ground, clutching the back of his head in pain.


    ¡°Ergh,¡± he moaned.


    ¡°You think you can turn your back on us?¡± the nasal-voiced one said angrily.


    Niu was still distracted by the pain. He had never felt anything like this before. A piercing pain that rocked his body and blurred his vision. Never before had someone been able to hurt him in this way. Never before had anyone held any amount of control over his life. Niu felt something new at this moment ¨C fear.


    The group of bullying boys surrounded Niu with sadistic grins. Out of the corner of his eye, Niu noticed the fatty sneaking away and cursed him mentally.


    A boot came flashing forwards and struck Niu in the stomach.


    ¡°Ah!¡± he crumpled in pain, now taking the same fetal position that the fatty had. The irony was painful in multiple ways.


    Another foot caught him on the chin, knocking his head upwards. A third boy grabbed the books Niu had been holding and tossed them towards the side.


    ¡°Haha!¡± he laughed. ¡°This idiot grabbed the Divine Behemoth Method, as if he could ever learn that!¡±


    The other two boys laughed alongside the man. Niu was annoyed at the boys¡¯ mistreatment of the books.


    The nasally boy, who appeared to be the leader, flipped Niu over so that he was face up and sat on his chest.


    ¡°Hey, where is your pill, let¡¯s go to your place and get it,¡± he said. ¡°If you¡¯re good maybe we will only do this to you once a week,¡± he said, giving his friends a wink.


    Niu grew enraged. They had hit him, kicked him, thrown his books, and now they wanted his pills? More than that, this little shit was sitting on him, on Niu! On Mount Nine Peak, the insurmountable mountain since the beginning of its world! Even the Patriarch of the Falling Stone Sect could not get on top of Niu, how dare this brainless buffoon sit on him?


    Remembering the texts he had just read, Niu tried the only move he knew. He grabbed the collar of the disciple on top of him, stared deeply into his eyes, and with a wordless fury swung his head forward with all the momentum of a surging river.


    The only thing the nasal voiced boy would remember the next day would be a pair of yellow eyes and a cracking sound before a world of blackness.


    After knocking the first boy out, Niu shoved him off and stood up. He glared at the other two boys with an unbridled fierceness; the bloodstains on his forehead gave him the appearance of a raging barbarian.


    Despite their comfort with violence, they had never seen someone break another person¡¯s nose in a single head butt. This was especially frightening since Niu had done this from lying on his back. The force needed for such a blow was hard to imagine.


    But whatever their fears might have been, Niu¡¯s action could not go without retaliation.


    The first boy ran up and threw a roundhouse kick at Niu¡¯s neck. Niu brought up both arms to block it and was met will a dull pain that foretold heavy bruising. In this moment of distraction the other boy ducked low and went in for a tackle.


    His shoulder made contact with Niu¡¯s gut, knocking the wind out of him. Then he quickly slid his hands down to the back of Niu¡¯s knees and pulled hard, causing Niu to fall on his back once more.


    When the back of his head hit the ground a second time he saw a flash of stars. Ignoring the pain, he refocused on the man in front of him and grabbed his collar.


    The boy seemed to know what was coming and a look of fear mixed with regret showed on his face. Terrified, he tried to get off Niu but a pair of pale hands on his collar prevented the action.


    Once again Niu whipped his head forward in the same violent motion and crushed the boy¡¯s nose. This time the boy didn¡¯t pass out from the impact, but was still reeling in pain.


    Noticing that his opponent was still conscious, Niu decided to take the only rational route. He tightened his grip and whipped his head forward a third time.


    To the horror of the boy still standing, he saw his friend¡¯s already crushed and bleeding nose further demolished by this pale boy¡¯s domineering forehead.


    This time the poor boy did pass out, albeit more from sheer pain than the actual impact.


    Niu pushed the boy aside and stood to face his last opponent. To his surprise the last one was already halfway down the road sprinting like a man with his hair on fire. Where he had stood was a small pool of liquid.


    He glanced at the puddle and the fleeing man before shrugging his shoulders. In actuality, Niu had no confidence in beating the last opponent. He was barely able to stand at the moment from the injuries his body had endured. But he had learned a powerful lesson. The only way to establish oneself in this world was brute force, and Niu¡¯s weapon of choice was his skull.


    ¡°Damned fatty!¡± Niu growled. ¡°I¡¯ll get you back for this!¡±


    Picking up his books he continued walking home being careful not to let any of the blood from his forehead drip on to the books. Behind him two boys lay motionless on the ground, their faces masked in blood like poorly applied war paint.


    Niu returned to whistling.

 Earthen Lord Chapter 5

    The sun is a fickle creature. On some mornings its gentle light can feel like the caress of a loving mother. On other mornings its piercing brightness can awake the dead. This morning belonged to the latter category.


    ¡°Agh, son of a gold miner,¡± he growled while rolling out of bed. His bruised and battered body contrasted with the whiteness of his sheets. The bloodied clothing however, looked quite fitting.


    He shrugged them over his body with a half amused grin. ¡°It seems I¡¯m destined to never wear nice clothing,¡± he mused.


    The rough material caused his wounds to sting but after some minor adjustments it was more bearable.


    He lit the center cooking pot and filled it with some river water. After patiently waiting for it to boil, he placed his usual concoction of mint and green tea leaves. Getting the correct balance was key to achieving a perfect mix of calming and refreshing.


    Tea in hand, he grabbed his sack full of manuals and stepped out the door. Though it was not yet noon, the sun had already risen fairly high in the sky. It was a later start than usual for Niu.


    ¡°To cultivate is to train the body, spirit, and mind. Training starts from the inside out. I should find a secluded area to train in, without any outside distractions.¡± Niu pondered aloud.


    Most disciples enjoyed training along the riverside. It was a long river whose body wound spiraling down from the top of the mountain to the bottom. This allowed disciples of every level to interact alongside it. Such interaction led to bartering, fights, romance, friendship ¨C all good things, all distracting things.


    What Niu wanted was pure isolation for absolute focus on cultivation. He could not strut around as he pleased until he had the power to overcome any obstacle.


    Niu broke off from the standard path and began wandering up the mountain, looking for any sort of secluded grotto or isolated rock formation. If it became necessary, he could cut down trees and make his own clearing.


    Eventually he stumbled upon a flat slate crevice between two giant boulders. There were about 5 meters of room between the two, and the alley went back for nearly twice that. The boulders were hidden by a copse of great trees with thick branches and low hanging vines.


    Settling down in the middle of the alley, Niu took out his first book ¨C The Divine Behemoth Method. He became excited realizing this book was the first cultivation manual he would read on his cultivation journey.


    It took him several hours to study it thoroughly. He read it front to back, then took a breath and started all over again. It was important to understand the essence of this technique beyond simply following the instructions. To this end, Niu made steady progress.


    As described within the book, an Enlightenment Stage practitioner first created the Divine Behemoth Method. It was actually a part of his original enlightenment. This practitioner was the chieftain of a small tribe, known as the Red Horn Tribe. Like all steppe tribes of the Central Continent, the Red Horn Tribe lived by following a Divine Behemoth. They would raise livestock and hang homes under the protection of its great body and in return for its protection they would grow herbs on its back.


    The people of the steppes had a symbiotic relationship with the Divine Behemoths. It is perhaps due to this close relationship that Baloth, the founder of this method, was able to gain enlightenment from these beasts.


    The Divine Behemoth is the largest land beast in the world. Divine Behemoth¡¯s at rest are often mistaken for mountains; this mistake is more understandable when one realizes that they may sleep for centuries. It is not an exaggeration to say that the power of a single Divine Behemoth rivals that of a Great Sect within the Eastern Continent, where Niu lived. It was due to this fearsome strength that no nation had ever conquered the steppes.


    ¡°Feel the power of the Heavens and Earth, refine its essence into the purest form,¡± said Niu.


    He sat cross-legged with his back straight and his hands resting palm upwards on his knees. Each breath was powerful and deep like the waves of the ocean. Slowly, a strand of yellow qi began to form above his hands.


    Tiny, transparent, formless even ¨C but radiating a power that seemed boundless. As instructed by the manual, he brought the strand of qi inside his body and circulated it through his meridians.


    Wherever the qi passed became purified by its energy. In the body refining stage, one could not yet store qi inside the body. What one could do was remove the impurities of the body and seek its perfect mortal form.


    The previous owner of Niu¡¯s body had already reached the second stage of Body Refining. Therefore, his muscles had already been purified and his bones were halfway purified.


    Thus as the qi moved through Niu¡¯s body it had no effect on the muscles but it would cause a black ooze to seep from his bones. The ooze was the impurities of his body in a highly condensed, liquid form.


    Every time some of this liquid came out, the strand of qi in his body would dissipate slightly. After half a rotation through his body, the strand of qi had been completely used up. In return, not even a raindrop worth of the black ooze had been discharged.


    Niu sat there covered in sweat but full of energy. Cultivating was a unique experience in that one would feel both fatigued and invigorated by it. ¡°How incredible,¡± muttered Niu as he admired his current state. The semblance of a grin appeared on his face as he methodically inhaled through his nose.


    Once again he began forming a strand of qi above his palms. Last time the strand he formed could not finish a full rotation, so this time he wanted to make it stronger.


    He turned both palms towards each other and forced the two weak strands to combine. The fusing of two strands caused the color to go from a faint yellow to a lustrous gold. Its luster reminded Niu of the heroic dragon he had seen when he tested his elemental affinity.


    He drew this new strand into his body and guided it through his meridians. Once again, the golden qi caused a black liquid to seep out of his bones. As the liquid was expunged, his bones became more white and shone with vibrancy.


    After one full rotation the strand had dissipated completely and Niu let out a slow breath. The black liquid was so thick this time that a thin layer of gunk had congealed on the outside of his body. It mixed with his sweat to create a foul stench.


    His body felt utterly drained. While cultivating was for the purpose of increasing one¡¯s qi, in the immediate it served more to deplete energy than anything else.


    Niu relaxed his form and leaned against the rock wall behind him. Its cool surface felt wondrous against his hot back.


    ¡°Two rotations per session seem to be my limit for now, ¡°mused Niu.


    What separated a talented cultivator from a mediocre one was how many rotations they could make before growing too tired, as well as, how many impurities they could remove per rotation.


    For Niu, it was hard to say whether or not he had any talent in these categories because he did not know what was considered average. He brushed these thoughts aside knowing what he had not control over was not worth rumination.


    ¡°Next is¡­¡± Niu mumbled as he reached into the brown leather bag. In his left hand he pulled out an old tome labeled Momentum of the Bison. He flipped open to the first page and began reading.


    ¡°The Momentum of the Bison is an earthen take of the water element¡¯s Tidal Swords. The Tidal Swords form is a renowned form used by swordsman and water martial artists alike. It focuses on the waxing and waning power of the tide. In this sense, one can build a fearsome rhythm where one can rapidly alternate between dominating strikes and passive retreats. Many swordsmen rely on this technique for dueling, though it is lacking in fighting a crowd.


    Momentum of the Bison has the same theory of building up a momentum but differs from the water form in a critical way. It lacks the passive retreat.


    Even the most fearsome of waves appear calm during their retreat from the beach. Thus the Tidal Waves sword form involves swift and powerful strikes, complimented with graceful and calm recoveries. It¡¯s defense focuses on defusing the enemy¡¯s attacks, while its offense focuses on various deadly cuts.


    In contrast, the bison of the Central Steppes is an incredibly powerful beast. They can weigh up to 6 tons and have an exceptional amount of bone and muscle in the front half of their body. Their legs and behind are built more for acceleration and jumping than anything else.


    Unlike most four legged mammals, they do not tend to kick behind them if snuck up on. Steppe tribes know this and will only try to hunt these bison from behind where the protection is weakest. It can be seen that the bison have a very large and obvious flaw in their defense.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Yet all tribesmen know to avoid the older bison for they have learned how to deal with this flaw. When approached by a hunter the older bison will act ignorant and pretend to try and run away like the young bison. Yet once the hunter is close enough the bison will drop low and spin around suddenly, goring the ignorant hunter and tossing him aside.


    The martial form Momentum of the Bison imitates the older bison. Crush forward with dominating force and turn rapidly to protect one¡¯s flank. This form is not meant for swords and daggers, but axes and hammers. It is not meant for knife-hand strikes and finger jabs, but punching and grappling.


    Niu thought this form was perfectly suited for him. As the mere thought of retreating in front of a human appalled Niu, he would much rather force his way forward and gore any coward who approached him from behind. Only a form such as this one would assuage his ego born from his past life.


    After reading the manual a few times, Niu began to practice the first form. This involved a series of four steps and five strikes. The steps involved an advance, two turns, and a stop. The advance was for building power, the turns were for protecting one¡¯s back, and the stance was for blocking power.


    First he practiced the advance step, slow and heavy like the sauntering over a bison. The step was purposeful but not rushed.


    Next were the turns, quick rotations that did not change one¡¯s position so much as what they were facing.


    Last he practiced the stance, legs spread wide and arms blocking the front of the body.


    He practiced each step in turn, making sure he understood how to transition from one to the other. The most difficult for him were the turns. He struggled to do them as swiftly the manual required. Advancing, however, was very much to his liking. His center of gravity was always centered despite the forward motion.


    Niu continued this training for a long while. The secluded rock alley became his mental battlefield as he imagined enemy after enemy around him. He closed his eye and weaved around them, being sure to face each enemy with the front of his body and advance with heavy steps.


    Seconds turned to minutes and minutes turned to hours. He trained until his body was sweating more profusely than it had been from his cultivation earlier. His body was growing exhausted but with this fatigue came a level of focus. To preserve his energy Niu made each movement more carefully, being sure to waste as little energy as possible.


    As the sun passed over the trees nothing could be seen but a great shadow rushing along the rocks. Its movements were steady and powerful, like the advance of a phalanx army. It¡¯s turns were sharp and deadly, like an eagle diving towards its prey. Its stops were solemn and weighty, like the glare of a dragon.


    The goal of this repetitive training was to beat the form into Niu¡¯s body. In a combat situation there is no time to think, every action must be muscle memory. Niu¡¯s repetitive training was based on this truth.


    To some this training may seem boring but Niu was addicted to the progression of his new body. Even the greatest of men are easily intoxicated by the euphoria of power.


    Only after he had reached the point where he could smoothly transition between all the steps did he take a break. Fortunately, Niu had already prepared some tea beforehand that he brought along with him.


    He sat down complacently and took a sip of his tea. Niu was not too worried about learning the head butt technique; it was mostly just applying qi to the forehead upon impact. The only difficult part was mastering the timing of the skill during an actual combat situation.


    An actual combat situation - now there was an interesting thought. Despite all the high and mighty preaching of Daoism and its focus on compassion and understanding, all cultivators trained diligently in the art of killing. It seems the greatest of Daoists are also the greatest of killers. It was a contradictory cycle.


    How important then is it for him to sit in a class and ponder the Dao given to him by experienced killers? Should he listen to lessons bequeathed by seniors in the way of living who have also mastered the way of killing? Perhaps the greatest lessons could only be learned through action and not acquired vicariously.


    Once more, this was a topic that Niu could not fully understand. He realized that struggle was integral to the path of immortals and that combat was the purest form of struggle. Jealous and desirous cultivators will not ignore humble and selfless ones if they have anything of value. Niu did not want to be some empty cultivator who called himself a master by avoiding all conflict.


    ¡°It seems there is a limit to training in seclusion like this,¡± he determined. While learning cultivation methods and studying a form could be done in secret, they could only be perfected in combat. The nuances of battle could never be fully compiled in the lifeless pages of a tome.


    Decision made, Niu headed home with his belongings slung casually over his shoulder. Today the foundation had been laid, tomorrow he will place the pillars.


    ~


    The rhythmic sound of flash beating flesh sent a chill down Niu¡¯s spine. He had strolled over to the training field in the early morning to watch some free sparring between the senior disciples. What he saw left his heart cold.


    A single glance was all it took for Niu to understand that he was thoroughly outmatched here. All of these disciples had been training for years and were near the peak of body refinement.


    ¡°Did you want to join in?¡± a loud baritone voice questioned.


    Niu turned his head to see a stout looking boy staring down at him. The boy, perhaps man is a better description, was solidly built and had eyes darker than coffee beans. His hair was pitch black and his arms were decorated with colorful bruises.


    He appeared the very picture of functional muscle. It was a stark contrast to Niu¡¯s near sickly pale skin and zombie-like yellow eyes.


    ¡°Uhm, I did, yes, senior,¡± he mumbled quietly.


    The man gave Niu an appraising glance. ¡°I think you should wait a few years before joining us,¡± he advised. ¡°What are you? Sixteen? Fifteen?


    ¡°Fifteen, senior.¡±


    ¡°I figured. Most of us here are in our twenties and have already reached the final stage of Body Refinement. Our strength is roughly double yours and our experience is even more so. Do you understand why it is foolish for you to join us?¡± he finished.


    Many of the other senior disciples had stopped what they were doing to watch the conversation. It was not often that a junior disciple attempted to peak in on their sparring sessions but when they did Jarok always warned them away. The few times his warnings were ignored the disciple went home black and blue. Sometimes the experience would scar a disciple and trouble them during future breakthroughs. Peace of mind and self-confidence was of vital importance to a cultivator.


    Niu struggled for a moment. It wasn¡¯t that he feared taking a beating so much as he disliked so many people staring at him. Such attention made him truly uncomfortable.


    ¡°This junior understands¡­¡± said Niu passively.


    Jarok smiled in response, he disliked watching the younger disciples getting hurt.


    ¡°But I would still like to participate.¡± Niu finished.


    The surrounding seniors grew silent before revealing wolfish grins. This foolish disciple had ignored Jarok¡¯s kindhearted warnings. The rest of them weren¡¯t so kind.


    Jarok sucked in a breath, gave Niu a pitying look. After a shrug he just wandered back to his training partner and began trading blows again.


    Though Niu had ignored his warnings, he was still grateful to this senior.


    ¡°Hey kid,¡± a nasally voice spoke, ¡°I¡¯ll be your partner.¡±


    To his right Niu noticed a skinny man with skin pale like his own and venomous green eyes. His nose was long and curved while his eyes shone with a threatening glint.


    Niu took a deep breath.


    ¡°Please advise me senior!¡± said Niu cupping his hands.


    The snakelike man appeared startled then grinned the most unattractive of grins. He briefly cupped his own hands in response.


    The two faced off from each other about an arm¡¯s length away. As soon as both of them took their stance, the sparring session would begin.


    Niu took the neutral stance from his form, focused on stopping power. His legs were spread wide, his knees bent slightly, and his arms were blocking parallel before him. It was a fairly ordinary stance in the eyes of the seniors. The face was protected and the weight was centered.


    The snake-like man took a stance that contrasted sharply with Niu¡¯s. He stood upright and began bouncing lightly. His arms were higher up on his body but too far forward to be of use defensively.


    The man shot forward with lightning quick speed. His palm tilted downwards so that only the fingers were pointing towards Niu and launched his right arm forward.


    Before Niu had a chance to react a gut wrenching pain wracked his body. He stumbled backward and resisted the urge to throw up. His opponent had already returned his hands to their former position and was eyeing Niu like a python would a mouse.


    Niu rubbed his stomach with his left hand and felt a fresh bruise forming. The skin around the bruise had split and the injury inside was likely even worse. Already he realized how badly outmatched he was but this was Niu¡¯s first fight. There was no way he was going to quit before landing a blow.


    Niu stepped forward, in the steady pace described in the Momentum of the Bison manual. Once he was within arm¡¯s reach of his opponent once more he threw a heavy punch with his right fist. It was a big swing, staring from his shoulder and it contained his full body weight. Every motion was by the book.


    The snakelike man sneered and casually swerved to the left. At the same time, he slapped Niu¡¯s fist downward. This deflection left the right side of Niu¡¯s body completely exposed and within a second a second finger jab slammed into Niu¡¯s ribs.


    His bones shuddered under the weight of the blow. He gasped and bit down on his lip to prevent himself from screaming out. Thankfully he had reinforced his bones yesterday or his condition would be even worse. This only reinforced the importance of cultivation to Niu.


    Their fight continued in a similar manner for another 30 seconds. Each time Niu would step forward and throw a large powerful swing, only for it to be easily deflected by his agile opponent. In the gap between those swings, his opponent would stab his fingers into Niu¡¯s ribcage. Each stab would reveal and all new expression of pain on Niu¡¯s face.


    Finally, the man grew bored of this game and threw a finger jab at Niu¡¯s throat.


    Despite full intentions to block, the fingers slipped between his forearms and struck him solidly below the Adam¡¯s apple.


    Jarok looked on with a resigned frown as Niu toppled over and coughed violently. He gasped and heaved, even spitting out a pink mixture of blood and saliva. To his amazement, the boy never threw up.


    Slowly, Niu stood up once more.


    The snakelike man raised an eyebrow then took his stance once more. Niu¡¯s ability to withstand his last blow was embarrassing to him. He had intended to end the fight with that.


    To his surprise, Niu did not take a stance but instead cupped his hands and bowed. ¡°This junior thanks senior for his guidance and leniency.¡± Niu croaked.


    The snake-like man hesitated for a moment before cupping his own hands in response. This time he meant the gesture. He pointed towards a crooked tree to the side of the platform.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you rest up in the shade for now, perhaps watching me spar with the other¡¯s will be insightful?¡± His nasally voice took a softer tone as he said this.


    Not only had Niu taken a harsh beating without complaint but he had even thanked his opponent. Furthermore, he had said that the man was being lenient as to make the others think that Niu would not have been able to stand up if his opponent went all out. This was an unnecessary kindness that would improve the snakelike man¡¯s face among his peers.


    ¡°I guess he¡¯s tougher than we thought, eh Sarcom?¡± Jarok said.


    The snakelike man smiled, ¡°looks like we have a cute new junior to beat on for a while.¡±


    They both showed grins that walked a line between respect and sadism.


    Sitting down in the shade Niu felt a chill go down his spine. He looked up to see all the seniors staring at him with evil intentions.


    ¡°I wonder what I did wrong?¡± he mumbled mournfully.