Chapter 43 – Meeting with the Elder
As Flux entered the room, his instincts flared—he was being watched, and not by just one person. He stayed alert, though he couldn't pinpoint the sources, even as his spiritual sense swept the room like a breeze through still grass.
Then an elder spoke, breaking the tension. "Flux, is it? Please, sit and enjoy some tea. I have something to speak with you about... the Blessed Land."
Flux raised an eyebrow. "The Blessed Land?"
"Yes," the elder replied. "Ah, where are my manners? I'm Elder Kardo, from the Night Lotus Pavilion. Please, sit—the tea is quite good."
Flux sat down slowly, his eyes lingering on the ornate carvings along the pavilion walls. He remained cautious. He still didn't know what the elders truly wanted.
Elder Kardo noticed the tension and gave a small chuckle. "Huhu, relax. There's no need to be so guarded. I'm not here to interrogate you."
"Then why did you want to talk with me?" Flux asked directly.
Kardo paused, folding his hands into his sleeves. "Tell me, did you receive help from the spirits? And… were you given a token?"
Flux nodded. "I did receive help from the spirits."
Kardo leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Hmm… and the token? Do you have it? If so, may I see it?"
Flux hesitated, then reached into his pouch and carefully took out the token. Despite requesting it, Elder Kardo still looked surprised as he examined it closely.
After a while, he handed it back. Flux took it quickly, fingers tightening around it as he returned it to his pouch—still prepared to flee if things went wrong.
"There's no need to be so tense," Kardo said calmly. "Since the spirits have already acknowledged you, I'll share a secret about the Blessed Land."
Flux remained quiet but attentive.
Kardo continued, "The Blessed Land is protected by the five ruling sects of the Blue River Prefecture. On the surface, it's used to grow rare plants that require extreme conditions—an ideal place to nurture high-quality cultivation resources."
"But that's just the surface. There's a deeper history behind it."
"Long ago, the founders of the five sects and the five major clans discovered the Blessed Land. When they entered, they encountered powerful spirits who lived there."
"Only few knows all the details, but a pact was made. The ancestors helped the spirits hide the land from the world and vowed to protect it from disturbance."
"In exchange, the spirits allowed the descendants of the ancestors to cultivate there—though only a carefully selected few. They also permitted the gathering of rare plants that grow on the surface of the land. But the deeper areas, where the spirits truly reside… those remain off-limits."
Flux listened in silence.
"The sects who control the land are: Blue Mist Mountain, Crimson Veil Sect, Iron Thunder Sect, Jade Rain Temple, and Night Lotus Pavilion. As for the five major clans: the Reus, Hoshins, Dentaras, Fengs, and Myrins."
"To keep the location secret, they built elaborate wards and defenses. They claimed the place was chosen due to its rich spiritual veins. All of this was done to hide the spirits' home."
"The ten powers—five sects and five clans—have ruled the Blue River Prefecture ever since."
"That's why there are no dukes, marquises, or counts here. Despite the prefecture being large enough to rival a region of the central Aulurian Empire, the emperor dares not interfere."
Flux blinked. "Because of the strength behind the ten powers?"
"Exactly," Kardo nodded. "Each group has Grand Elders at the Soul Transformation Realm. But we never rebel—war could disturb the land of spirits, and that's something none of us would risk."
Kardo watched Flux closely for a reaction.
"I assume you understand my point now?" he asked.
Flux gave a calm nod. "I believe I do."
"Good. The Blessed Land is our foundation. If you do anything foolish, we won't sit back."
"Don't worry," Flux said. "If you're concerned I might spread word about the land or plot something, I won't. You can rest assured."
Kardo studied him for a long moment, then gave a quiet sigh. "Alright. I'll trust you—for now."
He smiled. "Since we're already talking, let me tell you something more. That token you have—it's the same kind the ancestors once received. No one has gotten one directly from the spirits since then… until now."
His expression grew thoughtful. "Records say the ancestors met many Nascent Soul and Soul Transformation spirits when they discovered the Blessed Land."
He looked at Flux. "So, how many did you meet?"
Flux replied honestly, "Just one Nascent Soul spirit… and several at the Core Formation level."
Kardo nodded slowly. "Interesting. According to the records, there's a sacred realm hidden deeper within the land. That's where the spirits truly dwell."
Flux's expression shifted slightly. "The Blessed Land really is full of mysteries."
"It is," Kardo agreed.
The two continued speaking until night fell.
Eventually, Flux stood. "It's been a pleasure, but I should go."
"Already?" Kardo said with a grin. "Very well. Let's share a drink next time."
"Of course. Until then," Flux replied, and left the pavilion.
---
Once the door closed, Kardo spoke again. "You can show yourselves now."
The room shimmered as multiple figures emerged from concealment—Nascent Soul realm elders.
Kardo glanced at them. "So, what do you all think of this Flux? What should we do?"
One elder replied, "We avoided acting before because his origins were unclear. Interfering might've brought unexpected trouble."
Another added, "Now that he's been acknowledged by the spirits and holds a token, things have gotten more complicated."
A third elder spoke. "We can't move against him. If we offend the spirits, we risk losing everything."
"I'm sure you all noticed," another said, "his cultivation is too solid. Reaching mid Core Formation in a year? And still so stable? That's abnormal. He also sensed us the moment he entered the room—even with our best concealment techniques."
"It just proves he's from a higher bloodline of the demon fox clan," someone muttered.
"If we try to spy on him directly, it might backfire," another warned.
"So we do nothing?"
"No... We observe from afar. Use our information network. Don't send anyone close."
A long silence followed before someone sighed. "Haa… It seems that's all we can do… for now."
Then Elder Kardo said, "We did start including rogue cultivators in the tournament this years to broaden our disciples' views. The finalists will be rewarded with a chance to cultivate in the Blessed Land."
"We already expected a rogue might reach the final and earn that chance. But who would've thought something like this would actually happen?"
---
Meanwhile
Flux walked the streets in search of an inn, the crisp night air brushing past his robes. Lanterns swayed above the cobbled pathways, their glow casting flickering shadows on vendors beginning to close for the evening.
"Thank goodness they didn't do anything," he thought, his shoulders finally relaxing. "They're surprisingly rational. I wonder what's going through their minds sometimes…"
"Even after discovering my disguise back at the tournament, they didn't act."
He passed a noodle stall where a man and his daughter laughed over steaming bowls. The aroma made his stomach growl.
He continued strolling, passing a jewelry merchant locking up and a beggar gently snoring under an overhang. The city felt alive.
"I didn't have much time to look around earlier because Elder Hogo rushed me to meet the elder."
Eventually, he found a modest but clean inn nestled between a calligraphy shop and a dried herb seller. A red paper lantern hung outside, its characters reading: Quiet Moon Lodge.
Flux entered and booked a room with minimal words. The innkeeper bowed politely, handing him a bronze key with a wooden tag.
After tossing his pouch into the corner of the small, cozy room, he wandered back downstairs to the attached kitchen-hall and sat at a corner table.
A waiter approached. "What'll it be, honored guest?"
Flux glanced at the menu board carved into wood. "Five bowls of beef soup, twenty meat buns, a fried lotus root platter, and… bring some tea."
The waiter blinked, scribbling fast. "Coming right up!"
As the dishes arrived, the warmth of the food greeted him like an old friend.
"I haven't eaten anything in a year because I've been busy cultivating," he thought, biting into the crispy lotus root.
"Well… I don't really need to eat or sleep much anymore, not as a Core Formation cultivator."
He took a sip of the tea and sighed in contentment. "Whatever. I'm feeling hungry even if I'm not. I'll just eat anyway."