Chapter 1
Heart-Stitching Art (I)
Oh boy.
I am not entirely sure whether that's the most appropriate response, but it was the first one to shoot through my head when I opened my eyes and recognized I wasn't flying through the windshield of my car and into the front fender of a massive truck. Rather, I was seated in front of the sea of kids, ages ranging from six to thirteen, from what I could see. They were all lined up rather haphazardly, expressions of excitement flooding their faces, and all I could surmise from it was... that I was in hell.
That's right, hell.
I disliked kids even when I was one. Never had any in almost forty years of my life. Had two nephews and one niece—hated them too. Loud, snotty, filthy, annoying—khm, anyway. My first instinct was that it was a purgatory.
But that wasn't it, either.
It's not a purgatory. It's hell.
I've reincarnated into hell—positioned precisely where it would hurt me the most: an Elder of a Sect. That's right--I've reincarnated into the Elder of a Sect in a strange world that was an even stranger blend of eastern and mildly western fantasy per the books (at least according to the memories of the body I've possessed).
And these stories, as it goes, would not be complete without a system—which was there, floating like a free-spirited bird on the periphery.
So, to go back.
Oh boy.
[Cultivation Creation System is initialized!]
[Host: Lu Qi]
[Cultivation Realm: Spirit Manifestation Realm]
[Host Talent: Mortal (Abysmal)]
[System Stage: Spirit Manifestation Realm (mirroring Host's)]
[Maximum Creation Points Allotment: 100]
[Created Cultivation Methods: 0]
[Created Martial Arts: 0]
[Created Movement Arts: 0]
[Created Weapon Arts: 0]
[Created Special Arts: 0]
[...]
[Creation Points: 0]
[...]
[Quest: A New Path!]
[A New Path: Disciple at least 1 kid from the newest batch]
[Reward: 1 creation point]
[...]
[New talent unlocked: Creator's Eyes]
[Creator's Eyes -- inspect a person below your cultivation realm and assess their talent and traits, as well as what methods and arts they are most suited for. Can be used 3 times a day]
[...]
[Please survive and thrive to unlock more functions! Good luck!]
And that was all. The entire rhapsody.
I'm not (entirely) stupid; I figured that, as an Elder, I'd have to take in Disciples, system or no system, yet I still wished I was a vagrant wandering about. Not sitting here, seated against other old stooges... no, wait, not other. Comparatively, I was young. From the memories of this body,' Lu Qi' was only forty-two years old as of three months ago, the youngest Elder of the Spirit Sword Sect.
You'd think that meant much, but it meant nothing. He was your classic nepo hire. His father happened to save the Sect Master of the Spirit Sword Sect a long, long time ago, and the Sect Master repaid the favor by taking in the kid who had barely any talent and utilizing whatever means necessary to push him to the Spirit Manifestation Realm, the minimum requirement to make someone an elder.
Thus, Lu Qi became an Outer Sect Elder, talentless though he was.
Because of that, even four-years-ongoing, no Disciple has ever chosen him as a Master. Not that the previous Lu Qi wanted Disciples; he was a petty, angry drunkard who wanted nothing more than to lord his status over others, take bribes, and drink spirit wine.
"Hm, this batch is rather weak," the chatter of the surrounding Elders finally entered my ears.
"Indeed. There are only four or five talents worth nurturing."
"Tsk. Damned Fire Sun Sect..."
"Hush. They may have ears here..."
As always, nobody paid any attention to 'Lu Qi'. It was sort of understood that he was merely a 'passerby' who'd drift through the Sect that had stood for over 500 years, his name only ever engraved upon the tombstone somewhere.
But—!
I can't be like the guy who spent nights wrestling with—I mean, I could be that guy... no, no, I can'tbe that guy. I have a system, and something tells me if I choose to ignore it and go my merry way, I wouldn't be long for this world. If the pattern holds, my 'arrival' here indicates the beginning of the 'Age of Change' (I am not arrogant, just observant), and if I'm to survive it... I gotta recruit some kids and, apparently, create some arts.
That seemed to be the concept, at least; as for how that'd change me directly, who was to say? Maybe it wouldn't at all, maybe it would in minor or major ways, but regardless, I had a quest to fulfill: recruit at least 1 disciple.
You'd think it was easy, but I knew better. With requirements so pathetically low, it'll likely take a herculean effort to swindle—I mean, convince—some kid to join me. And I couldn't just take any which kid, either; I had means of discerning their talents, albeit only 3 of them.
A bit tempted, and for experimental purposes, I decided to use one instance of it and use it specifically on the kid being eyed by seemingly all other elders.
He was a young boy, no older than ten, lined up at the very front of the scrum. Short, black hair, determined eyes, rather lavish robes... yeah, there was no way I was recruiting him, but at least he would be the baseline.
[--Creator's Eyes used]
[Target: Yu Chen]
[Age: 10]
[Talent: low-Earth (Mortal -> Earth -> Sky -> Heaven -> Jade -> ???)]
[Traits (Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, ???)]
[Savant Body (Rare) -- picks up Body Cultivation Arts more easily; resistant to backlashes]
[Arrogant (Common) -- arrogance seeped deep into his bones. Can lead to unwanted outcomes]
[Determined (Common) -- if he sets his mind on something, there's a good chance he will do it]
[...]
[Assessing suitability...]
[...]
[No Special Root found. Ordinary-level talent with no particular leanings.]
[Recommended: foundational Body Cultivation Method of at least mid-Earth rank. Additionally, peak-Mortal rank Fist Arts focusing on explosive power over speed]
[Final assessment: ordinary talent with slight proclivities toward Body Arts. Estimated final realm: Early Spirit Manifestation Realm]
I winced for a moment as I read through it all.
This was it?
This was what the other Elders were drooling over? Well, in their defense, this was the backwater, as it went, so even a boy like him likely stood out. Ah, what the hell am I saying? Like I wouldn't take him in a heartbeat if he wanted to. Others probably didn't even have any leanings toward anything and were 'blank slates' as it went, with nothing of importance. Aah. Blast me.
Just as I was considering my tactics, a strong voice boomed out on a platform further behind me.
"Everyone, calm down." It was the voice of the current Sect Master, Spirit Sage. "You all are children talented enough to be accepted into my Sect. You have also now had enough time to observe the Elders. You may approach the ones of your choice and request that you be Discipled. Let the Selection begin."
Chapter 2
Heart-Stitching Art (II)
I have always been somewhat versed in the art of depression, having first succumbed to its wild ways when I was sixteen.
However, there had to be another word for this, this incessant feeling pressing against my chest, like there's an elephant stomping on it. There were just shy of three or four hundred kids situated atop the plaza, and for the past hour, not only had none of them selected me... they didn't even look at me.
I was a ghost!
A damnable, flesh-and-blood ghost!
Aii, I know that my (body's) reputation was in the gutter, but wasn't this too much? Do I have to go out of the sect myself and chart the slums looking for some gullible, desolate kid to join under me?
No, no, no, it's still too early--there were still around forty kids that have yet to choose a Master and I just need one of them, just ONE, to be stupid enough to ignore the rumors. I just need one, and the future would be—well, it'd be better than it would be without one, that was for certain.
I took in a deep breath and closely looked at the remaining ones, trying to plaster on the kindest, most benevolent, giving, and masterful face I could; whether it came off that way or just like some old guy was making a stupid face... I didn't know.
"I, Gu Bei, choose Elder Swordlight for my Master!" A boy stepped forward and knelt in front of the Elder right beside me, an old man with long hair and a beard and a wrinkled face. Why?! The guy looks two breaths away from dead!
"Ho ho ho, welcome. Stand beside your brothers and sisters."
"Yes, Master!"
I's and Aye's continued between the Disciples and Elders... sans me. I was alone. So, so, so alone that I nearly started crying. Would my journey end before it even began? I mean, it's unlikely that the system would kick dirt if I failed the first quest, but still... even if I'm not a superstitious person, wouldn't that be cursed or something?
I watched as the crowd of Disciples thinned out... until there was just one left. Since I wasn't allowed to goad the Disciples, just like all other Elders, I had to stay silent and just watch.
Perhaps the most depressing part, if at all possible, wasn't even that I was alone—but that nobody was mocking me. Nobody was even looking at me, as though I were a ghost. I can only sigh to the heavens and get down to undoing this godawful reputation as quickly as possible.
That being said--
Strange murmurs interrupted my moaning session, and I finally felt some eyes on me; they were strange and wrong, but at least it confirmed that I wasn't actually a ghost.
"I, Long Tao, choose Elder Lu Qi for my Master!"
...
Wait, that's me! Lu Qi is my name!
Shuffling my eyes down at the plaza, I saw a thirteen-year-old kid bowing semi-respectfully. His words elicited shock and awe, of sorts, both within and without me. It was marvelous, indeed, that there was a moron stupid enough to choose me! Thus--
"I accept!" Before other Elders could warn him and reprimand him, I accepted. Which, well... elicited yet another wave of shock and awe, perhaps even more than when the boy requested it.
I kind of missed being treated as a ghost, to be honest. Nonetheless, seeing as I finally had a disciple, it was high time I inspected him. Truthfully, I don't care whether he was the most worthless nobody with zero talent; for saving me the embarrassment of not unlocking my system, I would treat him as my son 'till I no longer could.
[--Creator's Eyes used]
[Target: Long Tao]
[Age: 13]
[Talent: Jade(+) (Mortal -> Earth -> Sky -> Heaven -> Jade -> ???)]
[Traits (Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, ???)]
[Heavenly Chosen (Legendary) -- as someone chosen by the Heavens, he will always get favorable outcomes no matter what]
[Reincarnator (???) -- the original body was taken over by a mythological cultivator from 10,000 years ago, Divine Blade]
[Apathy (Common) -- countless years had waned his mind, and he finds it difficult to care much about anything]
[Arrogant (Legendary) -- he will never submit to anyone, even unto death]
[Sword Heart (Epic) -- possesses an embryo of a Sword Heart, one of the most important parts of becoming a Sword Cultivator]
[Sword Embryo (Epic) -- instead of a common dantian, has a Sword Embryo; cultivation techniques and martial arts severely restricted]
[Heart-Poison Curse (???) -- the curse from his past life persists, making it seem as though he is a waste without talents]
[...]
[Assessing suitability...]
[...]
[Special Heavenly(+) Root Discovered: once-in-a-generation talent with potential to become a Celestial if properly grown. Currently severely weakened due to the Curse]
[Recommended: due to the Curse, it is recommended to teach him a Holy Heart Sutra method, preferably with sword leanings. Depending on the quality, it may take up to three years to dispel the Curse]
[Final assessment: a remarkable talent with a unique constitution and special fate, whose end point is impossible to determine. Final cultivation realm: incalculable; depends on too many factors.]
[...]
[Congratulations, Host, for taking in a disciple!]
[You have been rewarded 1 Creation Point]
[Creation Points: expending Creation Points allows you to create unique Methods and Arts, reconstruct the incomplete ones, fix the existing ones, or completely understand them. Earn Creation Points every time you complete a System Task, the first time your Disciples reach the major realms, any time you accomplish a great thing, or ???]
[...]
[Recommendation: due to this being Host's first day, it is recommended that you spend the earned Creation Point on creating a Special Art to combat the Heart-Poison Curse. Despite the latter being incomparably difficult to remove, we believe in you!]
[Good luck!]
...
Hm.
Hmm.
Hmmmmmmmmm.
Mother, am I seeing that right? Has my desperation caused me to start seeing things that aren't there? No, that's not quite right--
"Are you certain, young boy? Even if you aren't particularly talented, taking in a Master is still a rather heavy thing." Tsk, shut up, you old fart! He's already discipled himself to me! Why are you butting in?
"I'm certain, Elder," the boy replied rather calmly. Well, of course he did; he likely chose me because he'd get all the resources without needing to do much, and likely because he just didn't care who became his 'Master'. He's an old monster who knows about eight billion things more than me, so how could I possibly be a Master? No, wait! I have a system! There's a chance! "I hope you will accept my wishes."
"... very well," it was the Sect Master that spoke. "This concludes this year's Selection Ritual. All disciples, follow your Masters to your new peaks. May the Heavens bless you and grant you luck on the path of immortality!"
As everyone scurried off in excitement, I, too, stood up, one Disciple in tow. The boy wasn't even looking at me—nor was he looking at anyone in particular, to be fair. The system didn't tell me how 'long ago' the boy reincarnated; however, as these stories went, it likely wasn't too long ago, as everyone seemed absolutely convinced that the boy's talents were nonexistent.
"Follow me," I urged, descending the platform and rounding it, going toward the rear of the Sect, following the memories.
"Hm," was the only response I got.
Chapter 3
Heart-Stitching Art (III)
I must admit, for the first time in my life, I understand the oxymoron 'deafening silence.' Indeed, while other Elders chattered happily with their Disciples, with the latter asking countless questions, my new little follower kept his lips tightly shut. And I, knowing who he was and not wanting to step on any toes, did the same.
At least he followed me without complaining even as we walked past the decorated, well-structured peaks full of radiant pavilions and formations and all the way to the rear of the east and the smallest, most desolate peak that was my home.
Spirit Sword Sect had fourteen peaks in total, though, officially, it was actually 13. Because my peak was never shown to the outsiders.
Not that I blame them—desolate greenery, dead trees, ruined structures (well, structure, actually)... it looked less like the peak of an immortal and more like a haunted mountain from a horror movie. Even so, my new disciple never complained. Could be because of any number of things, though I didn't dare probe. I merely hoped that his luck would rub off on me a bit, and I could finally step out of my putrid reputation.
As we reached the peak, I paused; though I expected it... aah, the pure lament. My 'abode' was a two-story home made out of brick(? maybe?) and wood, with cracks everywhere. A signboard hung loosely from the porch, detailing the name of the peak—Lonesome Peak—the windows rattled by the wind, playing a symphony.
If my memories are correct, the inside... was even worse.
"I will ask someone to make you a house soon," I finally broke the dreaded silence. "I hope you can endure until then."
"It's fine," the boy replied dismissively, looking around without any reaction to anything. Apathy, indeed, was strong in this one.
"Hm. Very well. I suppose I should give you an introduction," I spoke, clearing my throat. "My name is Lu Qi, and I'm the Fourteenth Elder of the Spirit Sword Sect, mostly in charge of the Outer Sect ongoings. Though I loathe to admit it, you are my first Disciple since I've become an Elder; I hope you will be patient with me, and, in turn, I promise to help you achieve any dream you may have."
"..." Silence, yet again. The boy, or, well, the old monster within, likely thought, 'Tsk, what can this scrawny ass-hat help me with? Maybe wiping my ass?' but if he did, he did not let it show, thankfully.
"Khm, since it's already late," I said. "Let us go in. We shall properly start training from tomorrow."
I loathed the thoughts that were swarming in the boy's head, especially as we entered the destitute 'house.' It was a carnage of filth and decay, with empty bottles and jugs strewn about everywhere, the stench of piss and alcohol so prominent that I nearly wept. I quickly opened up all the windows to air it out the best I could, though if the first impressions were ever ranked, this one would finish at the very bottom.
Luckily, the boy—or, well, the man—didn't utter a sound, merely finding a corner, cleaning it up, and sitting down in a meditative pose. It was all quite surreal in more ways than one, and all I could do was shrug and climb upstairs to my 'bedroom.'
The room, I could sigh in relief, wasn't a cockroach-infested bulbous hive. There was a bed, relatively clean, some bookshelves, a small table, and a chair facing the window, which overlooked the Sect itself. I immediately headed over and sat down, finally letting loose a rancid breath of fear.
Of course I was freakin' afraid!
You think I was some special forces dude back on Earth? Nah! Not even close! Rather, my most intimate experience with guns came through the monitor! I was just your average freakin' pharmaceutical salesman... and not even a good one! Half the time I had to look up what people asked for online, and it was a miracle I was yet to be fired...
Ah, the cruel laments of fate.
The dew-drops of the damnable moon.
... Okay, that one made no sense.
Hmm, let's look at that creation system or whatever. If I have an ounce of hope to survive in this world (memories confirmed that this was a dog-eat-dog sort of cultivation world, not the 'everyone's brothers and sisters and everyone loves one another' kind), I'd have to latch onto whatever the System can give me.
Bringing up the creation panel was relatively simple—I just had to think it... and it was there. And, oh boy, was it ever there.
It was... massive. Reminiscent of those old-school strategy games with so many micro-choices, it felt like you were just living a second life. There were buttons, there were sliders, there were various dropdown menus, there was just about everything... and a big, flashing button at the top spelling out 'FILL OUT RECOMMENDED.'
Though I was tempted to just screw around, I was also scared. And, hoping that the system had my best in mind, I... clicked it.
[...]
[Brief introduction to the Creation System]
[With 'Creation System,' you can design and create any martial art or cultivation method you can imagine! A sword cutting the moon? Can be done! A fist turning into an ancient dragon, devouring the world?! Easy-peasy! However—you need Creation Points!]
[By using the 'FILL OUT RECOMMENDED,' 1 Creation Point will be consumed to create a template for 'Heart-Stitching Art,' a Special Art meant to cultivate one's heart and soul, perfect for cleansing the Curse from your Disciple]
[...]
[Note: Whenever you are creating a new art, Creation Points will be deducted per added benefits. For example, adding a Secondary Move to the Fist Technique would require X points, adding an Elemental Attribute to it would require between X-Y points, and so on. Major modifications all consume Creation Points]
[...]
[Every creation has a maximum Creation Allotment points, reflecting the host's current realm. At the moment, it is 100. Please raise your realm to be able to create even grander creations!]
[...]
[Confirm that you are satisfied with 'Heart-Stitching Art' and that you'd like to create it?]
What else to do? Confirm! Of course, confirm! If I wasn't given a freebie, I wouldn't have even been able to do anything with one freakin' point!
Upon confirmation, I felt... odd. Before I even realized what was happening, I felt myself stumbling backward and falling, both physically and spiritually. In the darkness, invisible waves carried me in an unknowable ebb and flow, slow and fast, deep and shallow. All was quaint.
This must be what death, true death, feels like... and, honestly? It is serene.
Chapter 4
Heart-Stitching Art (IV)
Dragon swallowed me, yet I felt fine.
Fire burned me, yet I felt fine.
I drowned, yet I felt fine.
It was as though I experienced a thousand deaths, yet any time I felt like my mind was shattering, a strange sense of calm overcame me.
When I opened my eyes, I was lying flat back on the floor, staring at the old ceiling, a system's window fluttering in front of me. That was... quite something. In a way, beyond description.
[Congratulations, Host, on creating Heart-Stitching Art]
[...]
[Heart-Stitching Art]
[Type: Special Art]
[Rank: mid-Sky Tier (Mortal -> Earth -> Sky -> Heaven -> ???)]
[Host Comprehension: Minor (None -> Minor -> Intermediate -> Perfected -> ???)]
[...]
[Sutra of heart and mind; allows the cultivator to resist the arrayed temptations beyond reality and clear one's mind of external influences. ??? mastery allows for total immunity to all Heart Poisons and Curses under the ??? Realm.]
[...]
[Creation Points Value: 433/100 (allocated Beginner Bonus)]
[Comprehension Difficulty: Intermediate (Easy -> Difficult -> Intermediate -> Prodigious -> ???)]
[...]
[No 'Creation Bonus' allocated due to the Art being system-generated]
[...]
[New Quest: Pass on Heart-Stitching Art to your Disciple and help him reduce the effects of the Curse]
[Rewards: upon passing of the Art: 10 Creation Points]
[Upon suppressing the Curse: 30 Creation Points]
[Good luck!]
It was all a bit too much, but I think I'm beginning to grasp the most basic 'loop.'
Complete quests -> Earn Creation Points -> Scout out special Disciples -> Create Arts and Methods suitable for them -> Earn More Creation Points -> Rinse and Repeat. Luckily, the kid chose me. If he hadn't... oh, the heavens.
There was no way I could go down and pass the art immediately. I at least have to pretend for a bit; speaking of which, how can I pass it on? After all, this wasn't an actual kid. If I simply showed up with a perfect counter to a curse that a potential Immortal struggled with, won't he have questions? The ilk that I won't have answers for?
Even if he can't do anything to me now (presumably) due to the differences in strength, protagonist halo would soon kick in and propel him into new strata. One in which he would be able to kick my ass with relative ease. After all, not only was my current cultivation earned almost entirely through pill popping, it wasn't even particularly high.
Per the body's memories, it went Qi Condensation -> Foundation Establishment -> Spirit Manifestation -> Revolving Core -> Void Transformation ->... that was it. The strongest person in the Sect, the Sect Master, was at the early Void Transformation stage, and there was nobody known within this small corner who was above that realm.
I just barely qualified as an Elder, but there were already Core Disciples with higher realms than mine, all capable of kicking my ass.
The calming part was that it seemed I'd be able to use the methods I create, too. Perhaps, once I scrounge together some Creation Points, I'd be able to create a method to reforge this absolute waste of a body and expel the innumerable pill toxins that have pilled(heh) up.
For now, though, that was a pipe dream.
There was just one approach to this--be vague, vague as all hell. The kid doesn't know me, nor does the monster hiding within. If I'm just vague enough and maybe play up the 'Master' role as though I'm bullshitting my way through it... I might just be able to squeeze by.
Night passed rather quickly, as it was already late evening by the time we arrived.
I couldn't sleep even for a moment, though that was to be expected; cultivators didn't sleep, they meditated. Well, my past self did neither--he drank and passed out, which was a kind of sleeping, I suppose.
Oh, how I dreaded the dawn. After all, today... Today I had to pass on the Art.
What if he thinks I'm some sort of a grubber and decides to kill me? No... no, I have to have confidence. How many times was I nearly fired back on Earth because of my incompetence, only to squeeze by like the weasel I was? Too many to admit, in fairness.
So, I took a deep breath, wondered whether the nearby bucket of water was clean enough to splash on my face, decided against it when I saw some green stuff floating on the surface of it, and descended.
My disciple, dear Long Tao, was precisely where I left him: meditating in the corner. It seemed that my arrival disturbed him, prompting him to open his eyes and glance my way indifferently. Oh boy, those certainly weren't the eyes of a thirteen-year-old boy. I felt a faint chill, ignoring it quickly as I put on my best smile.
"Good morning, Disciple," I said.
"Good morning," at least he bothered responding, I suppose.
"Let us go out," There was no way I was going to teach him anything in this mess; when I pass on the art and he starts learning it, I have to clean this crap up.
"Hm," for an old monster, he wasn't bad. At least he bothered masking it, however slightly.
"The main cultivation method of Spirit Sword Sect is its namesake--Spirit Sword," I dug deep into my memories and started talking as we left. The air was so, so, so much better outside. I should have slept here, I think. "However, you have to be at least at Foundation Establishment to start learning it. Until then, the Scripture Pavilion provides the Disciples with a variety of low-rank Mortal Methods that they can use for Qi Condensation Stage," heh, look at me. Don't I look like a proper Master?
"Hm," of course, the kid knew all this. But... we were writing a play here.
"Before that," this was the key. Taking in a deep breath, I prayed that this day wouldn't be my last. "I'd noticed something last night while you were meditating. I don't know precisely what it is--maybe even you don't--but there was... something odd about your heart. Like a duality--in one moment, you seem to possess no talent; in the next, you seem... inscrutable. It could just be me--after all, I am not that well versed in things—but to be on the safer side, I have a recommendation for you."
"Hm?" It seems this piqued his interest; so far, it was going great! After all, I was still alive. His brows arched as he finally turned his gaze from the Sect below and to me.
"When I was a bit younger, I stumbled upon a strange Art," I said, taking out a few scattered pieces of parchment from my robe. Luckily, the system provided the copies and, per my request, made them seem worn-out and old. "I've tried studying it, and in the many years since, I've grasped some minor things about it. It's called 'Heart-Stitching Art'. It won't help you cultivate faster or make you stronger, but it has a decent effect on one's heart. Just to be on the safe side of things, before you start trying to condense Qi, study this for a week. If you'd prefer to skip it, that's fine too; it might just be my paranoia."
The boy took the parchment with a passing interest; however, that 'passing' quickly became 'intense'. He scrutinized every page, and I felt sweat coalesce on my back. A monster like him could probably discern far more about the art than I could, despite me being technically the one who created it.
... hey. Wasn't that depressing?!
System!! Why do I have to comprehend the Art Icreated? Does that make any sense?!
...
Alas, there was no response, just silence. Similar to the one between the master-disciple pair.
Ten minutes passed, and I dared not even squeeze a word through my teeth. The boy was wholly engrossed in the 'aged' parchments, the look in his eyes changing and evolving rapidly.
It seemed he'd finally studied it enough, putting the pages back together and giving them back to me.
"Ah, no, don't worry. You hold onto it if you are going to study it."
"... thank you," he said. "Master."
Eh?
Eeh?
Eeeeeeeeeh?
Did that kid just call me Master?
Chapter 5
Heart-Stitching Art (V)
Long Tao eyed his retreating 'Master' with a peculiar gleam, watching the slightly sallow figure enter the destitute house.
It was unordinary, and it was strange.
He'd come to this godforsaken place for one reason and one reason alone--he needed time. Time to slowly restructure and integrate himself into this new world that he woke up in.
And the only reason he chose that person as his 'Master' was because of the countless rumors surrounding him--a flamboyant hedonist, a talentless hack, a worthless nobody. Long Tao didn't want anyone hovering over him and 'teaching' him; what he needed was just a mountain to hide upon and be ignored for a few years as he recovered.
And yet...
He once again glanced down at the Heart-Stitching Art that his 'Master' handed him just now. It wasn't particularly high-grade art, merely at middle Sky Tier. In his past life, he would have used it as kindling for the fire and not much else.
Even if its effects, in the broader sense, were extremely limited and would be completely pointless even when merely stepping into the Inner World Realm.
And yet...
For now, for his particular circumstances, it was as though the art was perfectly tailored. He didn't believe, even for a second, that his so-called 'Master' discerned the nature of his Heart Curse. There likely wasn't anyone in this Minor Realm who could, sans perhaps some hidden overlord.
At best, it likely was as 'vague' as the man implied it, possibly due to some innate construction.
The higher likelihood, however, was that this was merely a grand design of fate—it wasn't unprecedented, after all. In his past life, Long Tao had experienced it a few times: escorting a lost child in the woods to the nearby village and the village chief giving him a Myth-tier weapon just when he was in need of one, or him being stuck at the peak of Demigod Realm for years before fetching a few ordinary herbs for a village grandma, who then gave him her family's 'heritage,' which turned out to be the exact pill he needed to break through.
While his Master's sutra was far from enough to completely remove the poison, he knew that was an impossibility in this realm to begin with. It would likely be centuries, at minimum, before he was able to completely remove it. Even just managing it, for now, was a miracle; otherwise, he expected he would have to remain at Qi Condensation Realm for at least a decade.
With this sutra, if he practiced diligently, it would take him about a week to break through to Foundation Establishment if he willed it.
But it wasn't the time.
This backwater village was so talent-starved that they'd think him a reincarnated god if he only took a week. For the time being, he didn't want to stand out. He could hide it, but it was better to simply proceed slightly slower and have deeper foundation.
He merely silently promised to himself to assist his new 'Master' in cleansing that body from filth in due time. Even if he was merely a puppet of fate, the man still delivered him precisely what he needed when he needed it the most. To Long Tao, that was more than enough.
**
Aaah, sweet mother, I thought I was going to die!!
The look in that kid's eyes... man, it's unnatural! No thirteen-year-old boy should look at people that way! Could you at least bother hiding the fact that you're a reincarnated monster?!
Ah, forget it, forget it.
Just then, a screen appeared in front of me, startling me 'till I nearly fell back.
[Congratulations, Host, on completing the assigned task!]
[You have earned 10 Creation Points!]
[...]
[Congratulations, Host, on completing the sub-task!]
[You have earned 30 Creation Points!]
[Total Creation Points: 40]
Huh?
Wait just a second.
What do you mean 'Task Completed'?
Didn't... didn't I hand it over literally three minutes ago?!! Oi, oi! Shouldn't you at least pretend to be an ordinary kid, dude?!
I wanted to cry, truly, but feared that the monster I'm housing would notice, so I could only scurry up to my bedroom and hide. My heart! Ah, my heart was going eight hundred miles an hour, I swear.
But... he he, I finally had some excess Creation Points. A name I should never, ever abbreviate 'till my dying breath.
Though I probably can't create a significant new art with just 40 points and the limit of 100 points, that didn't mean I couldn't mess around in the menu a bit. After all, my survival in this world depends on this panel, right here—this magnificent, massive, overbloated panel with so many options that it made my head hurt.
Forget character creation engines where you could manipulate individual pores; this was somehow even more complex!
There seemed to be six stages to the creation of individual arts:
The first one was 'Foundational Blueprint', where I'd create the name, choose art type, core structure, and its complexity, and the baseline internal logic.
The second one was 'Energy & Elemental Integration', where I'd choose energy type focus, affinities and properties, and even infuse the arts with potential traces of Laws!
The third one was the 'Specific Effects & Characteristics', where it appears to be highly modular and dependent on my previous choices. Damage types, modifiers, evasive maneuvers, type of speed for movement arts, depth of Cultivation Method and its effectiveness, effects of Special Arts...
The fourth were 'Modifiers & Unique Properties' where even the cheapest thing cost 1,000 Creation Points and where the bulk of the unique arts will likely be created. Conceptual Imbuement, Law Fragment Integration, Evolving Art...
The fifth system was 'Flaws & Restrictions' which, unlike others, lowered how many Creation Points it would cost. For example, requiring a specific bloodline would lower the Creation Points anywhere from -10 to -600.
And, lastly, there was the output where my choices would be congealed into the finalized creation.
Honestly... I'm a bit overwhelmed. After fiddling around for a few minutes, I just barely managed to create a fist art that I named 'Heavenly Fist Art', and it just barely reached Low-Earth Tier, and it still cost 60 Creation Points despite being the most rudimentary one sans just selecting the most basic choices.
Comparatively, how Heart-Stitching Art managed to 'only' be mid-Sky Tier whilst costing 433 Creation Points was a bit... dubious. Perhaps, for Special Arts, calculations were a bit different?
Aii, I don't know. All this is fairly... massive.
Forget it, forget it. Since there's nothing else to do, I may as well study the Art myself a little bit. If I'm going to constantly cause my heart to beat so wildly, having something to calm it will be necessary.
Chapter 6
Spirit Stone Augmentation (I)
It has been a sweet four days since I've transmigrated into this world... and the days have been some of the most uneventful of my life.
After giving my 'disciple' the Heart-Stitching Art, the boy just remained sitting cross-legged in the clean corner, not even opening his eyes.
Nobody else climbed up to this peak either, leaving me rather lonely and desolate. Unlike people of this world, I had what you could call a rather severe 'modern tech withdrawal'. Each time I'd wake up, I'd reach for my phone... but it wasn't there. There were no TVs that I could turn on and blankly stare at for a few hours because I couldn't be with my thoughts for that long.
Food? Eating unseasoned rice was all there was to it. No wonder cultivators trained so they no longer had to consume food and could sustain themselves entirely off of Qi. If I had to eat crap like that, I wouldn't want to eat either.
The lack of modern tech hurt even more as I tried to clean this pig's den; with no vacuum, I had to manually sweep and gather things that I pray to all the gods in existence were stray chocolate droppings, among the assortment. With no air purifier or humidifier, I had to leave every window and door open for a draft and just wait.
With no washing machine, I had to personally labor away to clean the sheets. Brooms were extremely primitive, harsh, and crude; there was only water to clean with and using Qi for thicker stains. I, literally, had to beat stains out.
It was a rather depressing living, all things considered. Pursuit of immortality? What for?! Aii, I have already made a decision--I will hunt down the smartest people of this world and feed their heads with the ideas of modern tech and see if they can figure out how to at least make simulacrums, if not the exact products.
After four days, something changed at last--we had a visitor.
It was a mortal servant who brought this month's supply of food and pills and Spirit Stones. Three bundles were tied up and presented with a bow; despite my reputation, I was still a cultivator, and mortals feared me all the same. It was proper, yet strange at the same time.
From my memories, the original Lu Qi threw a couple of Spirit Stones as a form of gratitude, so I did the same, tossing six. I wanted to toss more to appear more generous, but for heaven's sake, there were only twenty of them! Oi, twenty?! Aren't I an Elder?! Even if it's just in name, you can't even bother to pretend?
Haah, it's fine if it was just me! But I have a Disciple now! If I don't feed that monster with enough Spirit Stones, won't he kill me?
Plus, these were the lowest quality stones; trying to use them for cultivation was only possible at the Qi Condensation Realm. Any higher than that and the drawbacks would outweigh the benefits, as you'd expend more time and energy expelling the artificial poisons than doing anything else.
Watching the young, twenty-something kid descend the mountain, I couldn't help but sigh. My life... it will be a struggle for a long while.
"Master? Is everything okay?" aii, don't creep up on me, dude!
Indeed an old monster! Even with this body's Spirit Manifestation cultivation, he still evades my senses. Come on, at least pretend you aren't a reincarnated son of fortune...
"Khm, yes, yes," I quickly gathered myself, putting on airs. "Merely monthly resources. Here," I tossed all the bundles over. I didn't have to eat more than once a month, nor did I want to. Spirit Stones of this quality were useless for me. The only potential resource I would want were pills, but I didn't dare withhold them. "How goes your progress with the art?" I asked in part because I was curious and in part because I was hoping for a hint. Truth be told, I tried, really, really, reallyhard to understand the art on my own... but it would have been like me taking up, I don't know, a book on quantum mechanics back on Earth.
It may as well have been a book of blank pages.
"Very well," he said, taking the bundle without any hesitation. "I've managed to reach Intermediate comprehension."
Hm.
Hmmmmm.
I barely stopped my eyebrows from twitching. Four days, huh. Four days, and you've already reached 'Intermediate' comprehension. Without the system force-feeding me information, I wouldn't have even reached Minor!
"Good," I nodded, praying to the gods that he wouldn't ask me for information. No, wait, it's better to quickly dispel the notion that I can teach him much. "Very good! Your Master has barely managed to reach Minor Comprehension. It fills me with pride to have such a good Disciple!"
Whereas I believed it would result in him looking at me like I'm pathetic, it was actually... the opposite. There was a glint of interest contained therein, as though what I said went against who he believed I was.
"Khm," I need to extract myself from this mess immediately! "Are you ready to learn our cultivation method?"
"That's fine." I mean, I know you won't use it, but come on! At least bother pretending! "I do have a question—is there a way to exchange for higher-grade Spirit Stones?"
"Hm?"
"The quality of these is at the bottom of the bottom," he said. "I may as well be using poison."
... ah, just end me.
"Khm, I, I will see what I can do..." I took the bundle of Spirit Stones with shaky fingers, wondering how hard I'd have to kiss some ass in order to get something better. But... it would be worth it!
See, I have a plan.
And that plan is very simple: be a nice little bootlicker for this reincarnated monster, and maybe when he ascends beyond this minor plane of existence, he leaves me part of his wealth!
If I have to kiss some old ass in the process, well, lips be damned, I'll kiss all kinds of ass that I have to kiss!
--hey.
I have a system. Right? No, no, I do have a system. I wonder...
Hurrying to my 'bedroom', a singular thought circulated through my mind—was it possible? Could I just create a Special Art or something specifically for purifying Spirit Stones or combining them or doing anything at all to increase their quality?
Surely... not? And, even if it was possible, something like that will likely cost hundreds of Creation Points!
Ah, but I had to try! Though I proclaimed I'd kiss ass rather boldly just now, I really, really, reallydon't want to kiss anyone's ass... not even if it's a pretty one...
Chapter 7
Spirit Stone Augmentation (II)
Okay, let's see if my brilliant idea is, well, 'brilliant', or more the demented desires of a moron.
Kicking up the Creation System, the headache temporarily returned yet again as the massive screen overwhelmed me. However, since I had something specific in mind, I ignored everything besides the most simple things I needed.
From the dropdown menu of the 'Art Type', I selected the last one: Special Art. This shuffled and reshuffled some other options, graying and un-graying some others, and my eyes quickly began to wander.
Creation Points cost immediately shot up to 25 just from selecting 'Special Art', inspiring practically no confidence; moving down, under the Energy focus type, I chose Standard Qi as I figured I'd need Qi for it... which left me with just 5 remaining Creation Points to construct the logic.
However, I... noticed something. Even using Physical as Energy focus, Special Arts logic fields didn't get grayed out... which inspired someconfidence, prompting me to change it as it cost 0 Creation Points.
Selecting logic was akin to selecting 'type'--mind-focused, enlightenment or insight, healing, sensory, array breaking... It was a long, long list, and there were still more fields beneath that were grayed out. For my purposes, I landed on something called 'Qi Extraction'.
Surprisingly, it was fairly cheap, costing only 5 Creation Points to add. I'd have preferred it to cost more, as it being so cheap likely meant that it wasn't that good. Nonetheless, I soldiered on, left with 10 Creation Points to spare.
The next field was the 'Unique Properties' one, which had changed with my previous selection, shuffling around choices.
The top one was 'Minor Concept Imbuement,' which cost 50 Creation Points and would allow me to add a 'concept' to the form of Qi Extraction—something like a minor concept of time, which would speed up whatever logic I was creating.
I don't need that, however.
Rather, there were really only three options that I currently had unlocked and could afford:
Staggering Imbuement -- can do concurrent actions by staggering them internally.
Binding Imbuement -- logic is bound to two objects, transferring states.
Overload Imbuement -- overload the logic, deconstructing it.
It was all... very vague, and though I loathed the thought of wasting 40 on something (even if it would turn out that it wasn't that much), I felt almost compelled to go for it. The only one that made any sense for what I was going for was 'Binding Imbuement', so I chose it, adding another 5 Creation Points to the cost.
There was a bit more reshuffling as almost every field on the screen got grayed out, and I got to the final two screens. One of them was 'Flaws & Restrictions', but the only option available was 'Applicable only to the Living Objects,' and it only lowered the cost by -15, so I simply ignored it.
The last field was the one that wasn't initially present--Logic Classification. The system spat out about forty potential logic outcomes from my current creation and essentially asked me which one I wanted—and there it was, by some foundational miracle of the stars, not only present but also affordable.
Object Extraction -- extract Qi from the designated object. Only the Qi is extracted, leaving it in its purest form. You can then combine the extracted Qi into another shape or infuse it directly into a person/array/pill/object.
Without further ado, I clicked it, and... the output was generated at just 40 Creation Points.
[CURRENT CREATION POINTS: 40/100]
[NAME: (Please name the art; otherwise, the system will auto-generate a name upon Art Creation)]
[DESCRIPTION: Extract the most pure Qi from any object, disregarding everything else. Can immediately consume it for cultivation or reshape it into another object, retaining only Qi and nothing else. Costs Qi proportional to the amount extracted; the extracted amount cannot be used to infinitely loop replenishment.]
[TYPE: Special Art (+25 CP)]
[LOGIC: Qi Extraction (+5 CP)]
[ENERGY: Physical (+0 CP)]
[PROPERTIES: Binding Imbuement (+5 CP)]
[CLASSIFICATION: Object Extraction (+5 CP)]
[FLAWS: None (-0 CP)]
[----------]
[CALCULATED COST: 25+5+5+5 = 40 CP]
[PROJECTED RANK: Peak-Earth Tier]
[PROJECTED DIFFICULTY: Prodigious]
[CONFIRM CREATION: 40 CP] [CANCEL]
...
Hey.
If this works...
So, I reached into the pocket and pulled out a single Spirit Stone--it was the size of a fingernail, marred with black soot across its slightly rough edges, with only a shimmer of silver to be seen in its depths.
Taking a deep breath, I named the art 'Spirit Stone Augmentation' and pressed 'Confirm Creation'; immediately after, I felt a flood of knowledge assail my mind, in addition to another window appearing in front of me.
[Congratulations, Host, on creating Spirit Stone Augmentation art]
[...]
[Spirit Stone Augmentation]
[Type: Special Art]
[Rank: Peak-Earth Tier (Borderline Sky)]
[Host Comprehension: Minor (None -> Minor -> Intermediate -> Perfected -> ???)]
[...]
[Extract the most pure Qi from any object, disregarding everything else. Can immediately consume it for cultivation or reshape it into another object, retaining only Qi and nothing else. Costs Qi proportional to the amount extracted; the extracted amount cannot be used to infinitely loop replenishment]
[...]
[Creation Points Value: 40/100]
[Comprehension Difficulty: Prodigious (Easy -> Difficult -> Intermediate -> Prodigious -> ???)]
[...]
[Creation Bonus: Body Purification 1%]
[Host Body Purification Progress: 1/100%]
[Upon reaching 100%, the Host's body will be fully purified of previously accumulated toxins]
[...]
[New Quest: Pass Spirit Stone Augmentation onto your Disciple and prevent the accumulation of Spirit Toxins due to low-quality Spirit Stones]
[Reward: 15 Creation Points]
--it works!
The system itself confirmed it, granting me the quest. And yet... I still have to test it. Just to see it with my own eyes.
I took a deep breath and fondled the stone for a moment longer before executing the art; while comprehending it was as difficult as scaling the heavens, once understood, it was actually fairly easy to execute.
The stone in my hand trembled for a moment as the white tendrils escaped from its soot-suffused surface; well, that was underselling it a bit. It was akin to yanking grass from the field that really didn't want it yanked. I had to pull and pull and just barely take out individual strands of pure Qi, only managing to squeeze out six individual ones before the stone became fully black and turned to ash immediately after .
Six strands coalesced into a barely visible wisp, confirming that the art worked. I sucked them in with a quick breath and... well, didn't really feel anything. Considering my Spirit Manifestation Realm, it wasn't surprising; such a tiny amount was basically like tossing a glass of water into a massive lake. No difference to speak of.
But--
I now had yet another thing I could use to put myself in my monster Disciple's good graces! Indeed, all those years spent pretending that I was listening in school were paying off. Let's go. Handing it over sooner is better than later.
Chapter 8
Spirit Stone Augmentation (III)
"Oh, Disciple~"
Long Tao slowly opened his eyes and looked forward at his Master's descending figure. There was a bit of trepidation in his heart as he'd severely underestimated the Heart-Stitching Art. Though he assumed it would be extremely beneficial for his Heart-Curse, he had never considered the possibility of it doing what it did: making the curse go dormant.
It was almost unfathomable that there was a method on the entire Mortal Plane capable of doing that, as the Heart-Poison Curse was one of the most severely restricting taboos of the Immortal Plane, as evidenced by the fact that it had even followed him into reincarnation.
And yet...
It now lay dormant.
Per his quick estimates, it had bought him 200-300 years of relative peace. Though there would likely be occasional flare-ups, especially during breakthroughs, as his comprehension of Heart-Stitching Art grew, his ability to control it would, too. Until, of course, the Curse eventually became simply too strong.
By then, however, who knew what realm he would achieve?
"Yes, Master?" he greeted back.
"Per your earlier inquiry, I have rummaged through my possessions and found something," the man said, taking out another tome. "I'd forgotten it since it's been rotting in my belongings for years, and because I was nowhere near talented enough to covet it, but since you've understood the Heart-Stitching Art so quickly, I think you might understand this too!"
"... Spirit Stone Augmentation?" Long Tao casually picked up the tome and looked at the letters.
"Well then, feel free to peruse it. Ah! Please, do not disclose this to the Sect, he he. We are supposed to inform the Elders if we ever discover martial arts on the outside, but..."
"Don't worry," he said dismissively, already ignoring the figure at the front, too curious.
Flipping the pages casually, by the time he finished even perusing the book, night had descended. Closing it, he took in a cold breath as a glint shot through his eyes; it was... precisely what he needed.
And, in some minor ways, it was even more marvelous than the Heart-Stitching Art simply because, unlike the latter, it was universal. There were no conditions--even at the barest minimum, this art would increase not just the speed but also the quality of one's cultivation exponentially. And the earlier they learned it, the better it would be.
And for Long Tao, who was learning it before even cultivating, it was akin to adding yet another layer of talent on top of the existing ones. This would allow him to save a lot of time and evade a lot of future headaches; there were several big thresholds in one's cultivation journey, and the first one came upon reaching the 'Shedding Mortality Realm'.
As the name implied, it was about forgoing the mortal vessel and creating one that could endure the Immortal Qi. However, it was one of the most painful and arduous things a cultivator would ever endure--and one of the key reasons was that they'd have to expel every last bit of remnant toxins within them. The things that they accidentally breathed in when they were 13 and were now rooted in the depths of their dantian would have to be carefully disposed of.
In his previous life, despite his rather solid foundation, Long Tao still spent over 400 yearsjust to expel the toxins. It wasn't merely the matter of using his own skill to do so, but he had to chase down countless rare herbs, then pay alchemists to create pills and elixirs, and then carefully ingest them all. And hope nobody came seeking revenge while he was doing that.
Though Spirit Stone Augmentation was merely a borderline Sky-tier art, it would serve him essentially until Demigod Realm, where its efficacy would not be able to keep up with the sheer quantity of Qi that realm required.
In the span of essentially two days, his new Master had resolved two of the greatest issues he was facing; Long Tao couldn't help but look up at the ceiling and silently wonder... was it truly fate?
Though fate was inscrutable and its many designs ever-changing, this felt... slightly different. In his past life, fate only ever 'helped' him when he was actively searching for something--and often after having searched for it for a long, long time. It never simply delivered something he needed but wasn't actively looking for at his doorstep.
This felt more like the workings of a person, discernible and understandable.
He heard rumors that Elder Lu Qi of the Spirit Sword Sect was absolute trash, both in terms of cultivation talent as well as personality. The only reason he was an Elder was because karmic ties were being corrected, and he was about as likely to progress any further in cultivation as an ant was to ascend to heavens.
However...
It seemed as though the Elder had hidden himself deeply. Anyone capable of producing two Earth-tier Special Arts so leisurely, especially in this godforsaken corner of the world, wasn't a simple figure. Long Tao wagered that the entire Sect he was in likely didn't have more than potentially one art that could marginally, at least for a moment, rival the two he was given.
"Interesting," he smiled. Just as he was a Reincarnator, he had no doubt that other people had their own opportunities; the world of cultivation was rife with mysteries, after all.
He recalled there being a young woman that his previous Sect Master had taken in as a Disciple who could comprehend any martial art of anylevel in the span of an hour. However... she could not cultivate. She had Null Qi Physique, one of the cruelest fates of the Martial Arts World, but she struggled. For the fifty-two years of her mortal life, she discerned countless arts for the Sect and eventually had a statue erected in her honor right alongside the Founding Ancestor.
Perhaps his Master, as elusively 'hedonistic' as he was, was similar; though not endowed with talent of much note, he had the ability to discern, or perhaps even outright create, what was needed.
If that truly were the case... Long Tao decided that he would not let the man rot here. Poor talent? Forget it. As long as it wasn't something as cruel as Null Qi Physique, Long Tao had innumerable means of creating an Immortal.
Perhaps, in the distant future, he'd be the blade, and this slightly pudgy master of his the book. But whether that was the reality... it remained to be seen. The next step is a simple test: he'd mention something offhandedly that this world does not have. And if his Master, once again, 'happened to have found it while adventuring outside', it would confirm his suspicions.
Even so, he would never voice them; just as he had a secret, he'd let the man keep his, too. Just as well--those without secrets were often the most dull yet arrogant bunch. Perhaps, in this life, he would learn to discern his friends better than in the last...
Chapter 9
Tests & Trials (I)
[Quest completed]
[Reward: 15 Creation Points]
[...]
[Note: The Host can earn more Creation Points by not only completing assigned quests but also achieving great things--either through your own means or through your Disciples'. For example, any time any one of your Disciples breaks through a major realm, you will receive the proportional amount of Creation Points. Good luck!]
Oh, that's quite alright, System.
I don't plan on achieving many great things--no such aspirations, no. After all, this was a world of cultivation, and though I wanted to lord over everyone just a tiny little bit (doesn't everyone?), I'm too weak! Ah, not just too weak, this body is too trash!
But... I do have a monster disciple! That kid--yeah, let's just call him a kid; it might be easier to breathe next to him that way--if I just latch onto that thick thigh... won't all my future troubles be resolved? After all, even if I do something to elicit the ire of others, I can always hide under his umbrella! And just silently create things in the background...
Though it wasn't a genius plan, it was still a plan. For now, however, that was in the distant future; it all hinged on my Disciple becoming strong. As for right now, he was... nothing. Though the Spirit Sword Sect wasn't a major force, it was still a tiny little hegemon of the surrounding area.
From this body's memories, it's easy to assume that the kid will skyrocket to the top position in a matter of years, but what if he was one of those low-key protagonists? Haah, I need more Disciples!
But getting a new Disciple, outside the selection ritual, was... difficult. It wasn't as though I could just walk out and come upon some talented kid; just my luck of having stumbled upon Long Tao had already likely drained most of the reserves, even if he chose me simply due to my reputation.
Speaking of reputation, that would be the reason why other Disciples won't choose me. Those who are talented but also legitimately need guidance would never choose me of all other Elders or even Deacons. After all, not only was I the weakest, I was marked as a hedonist! And, truth be told, that was selling it a bit short.
The memories... ah, I truly do want to erase them. So, so, so much. One day! Yes, one day when I have surplus Creation Points, I will create an Art for selective memory erasure! Won't that be a blessing not just for me but for others? In this world, too, inner demons and doubts often manifested during the breakthrough and ended many a promising life. If I created a way to resolve that and then sold it to people--no, no, no.
In order to sell things like that, you needed strength! Or, in my case, I needed Long Tao to become strong.
But... one wasn't enough.
I needed more Disciples.
On my way out of the house, I passed by the meditating Long Tao--the kid had finally stepped into the path of cultivation... and immediately reached the second stage of the Qi Condensation Realm.
Aah, seriously, man?! Even the most talented kid of the previous batch will likely take half a year to reach the second stage, and that was if the Sect fed them elixirs non-stop! Oh well, whatever. If he has the means to ascend so quickly, then he has the means to hide it. Has nothing to do with me.
Stepping out, I breathed in and, for the first time since coming into this world, fully took in the sight of it. The sky above was azure blue, beautiful and cloudless, with the singular sun sitting perched at the zenith. It wasn't particularly hot or warm, and per the memories, it should be early spring.
The calendar here was a bit different--there were 411 days, though the length of a day was the same. According to the memories, we're living in the 'Age of Humanity', and have been for the past 2,000 years. However, that was about where the knowledge ended.
Old Lu Qi wasn't so much interested in the secrets of the world as he was in the secrets of bedding--khm, anyway, the point is that I know little to nothing of this place.
However, compared to the modern cities, this place was... shabby. Though there was somemajestic luster, most of it was in the nature itself. The buildings were all shoddily constructed, mostly of wood and some of stone, with rather simple designs. There were a couple of grander ones, but that was about it; terraced roofs layered over the six or seven floors, though their age was quite evident still.
It seemed that most Disciples resided in the caves--nearby mountains revealed a shocking amount of holes in their sides, lined up neatly in a clearly unnatural pattern.
What saved the place was definitely the nature--there was a singular river peeking from the peak furthest back where the Ancestors as well as the sect's Hallowed Tomb were. It cut directly through the heart of the sect and out past its walls; it was fast yet as clear as a baby's tear, endowed with rich spirituality.
Sects in this world were built on top of places precisely like this one, where Spiritual Qi was far thicker. Major sects were built on top of Spiritual Veins, or even something called 'Primordial Sea', while the smaller sects, like the Spirit Sword Sect, were built on spiritually suffused rivers or within the forests or other auspicious places with somewhat abundant Qi.
Just as I considered writing a poem to illustrate the beauty of this world, I was rudely interrupted by a figure descending rapidly from the sky and landing not ten feet from me, kicking up dust directly into my face.
I would scream--truly--but what if he was strong? And killed me? So, I endured.
"Hm," the newcomer seemed to be middle-aged, his gaze indifferent and cold, as though he were looking at a beast rather than a fellow cultivator. From my memories... ah. Why? Why did this asshole come here? "Still a shithole."
"... fellow Daoist Mu, to what do I owe this pleasure?" I have to endure! Not because the person in front of me is stronger--though he most likely is--but because he, too, was a nepo-baby like me! And his backing was even greater, being the grandson of one of the Ancestors!
"Fellow Daoist? Pu!" he spat! He actually spat at my feet! "Never, ever compare the likes of you to the likes of me again, if you value your pathetic life! Pah. You think that the Sect Master will shield you forever? Heh. Just you wait. So far, you were clever and never took in a Disciple... but now that you did... he he he..."
"..." What was this moron laughing about by his lonesome?
"Once you guide him astray--and you will--and I inform the Elders... would the Sect Master be able to protect you? It is one thing to merely be a talentless nobody, but guiding a Disciple astray... would that not tarnish the reputation of the Sect?"
Ah.
So it was that.
I almost wanted to pity him... and I would have if he wasn't a jackass.
A myriad of problems I indeed did have, but leading a disciple astray... yeah, that wasn't one. Especially Long Tao. I could spend sixteen lifetimes trying to actively guide him astray, and I would still fail. No, this entire sect could spend all its past, present, and future time on trying to guide him astray, and the only thing we'd do is piss him off even more...