.
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---
/Crunk… Close!/
"This place…"
"It's the vault of the ancient Sect, for the next two months, or rather, fifty days, you'll be training here with us until the Central Mountains open."
"That place? But why?..."
"Because I plan to send you there once its time. Don't misunderstand, this is for your own good. Because of your Constitution, you can't remain in one place and Cultivate all the time, you need to go outside."
"But…"
"We'll have the time to discuss everything later. For now… Nulan, please lead him to the dorm rooms and help him select a room, we'll resume training as we were before, later."
"Understood… Follow me."
"..."
While Nulan and Fayie left, Wuizi walked to the garden, pensive.
'This legacy… It's far greater then I had imagined.'
"Master's will… The Fwoju Clan… The War between the Sects."
'If the tension between the Sects is due to this, then it means the Immortal Raven Sect believes the vault to be located within the Fingers of Heaven Sect's territory.'
'They must be using other justifications to hide their actual goals, those being to search for the Vault and hide its existence.'
'Is the research from the ancient Sect truly that valuable? Could it be true that the Ancestral Tablet is here? If not, then wouldn't it mean anyone can replicate their research for as long as they have it?'
"The Sacred Land… Where Myths and Legends reside."
'Being reborn in another world, I'm not fully against the idea of other realities being out there but from an early age gave up on the idea of traveling around, that said, it seems the very idea is returning to me in a rather unexpected way.'
'Right now… I'm in an excellent situation, but time's against me.'
'For as long as tension is maintained, everything will be fine, but as soon as actual conflict explodes… Then things will derail quite rapidly.'
'The best scenario would be to use the Sect to overthrow the Immortal Raven Sect and erase evidence of their actions, or at most, twart their attempts and force them to wait or be sneaky, giving me time to continue my Cultivation.'
'The worst scenario would be for the Sect to realize the existence of the Vault and demand it from me. I'm certain that would happen for strength reigns supreme.'
'All of this can be solved with a high enough Cultivation and prestige… While I wouldn't mind giving this place away for safety and confort, I won't abandon this place away without a proper fight.'
'Time is also a variable, I can stay here for all I know but there's no information on how much the Sect and the other two Clans know.'
'All of this is… Quite extreme. Not so long ago I was struggling just to keep my formations in place and now I'm thrown between a potential clash between two Sects.'
'Of course, there's no indication the Immortal Raven Sect is putting pressure on our Sect for this reason, but it could be one of them nonetheless.'
"How long will it take for War to break? How much longer till I reach Fetal Soul?"
'It all depends on Nulan… If she can break through a few more times before the competition in ten months, things should be fine…'
"No, this isn't what I should be worrying about." He mumbled out loud as he shook his head
'Their Cultivation speed is already extremely high, to the point its causing side effects.'
'The reason its so fast is mostly fault of the runes… The increase in Cultivation Speed and Comprehension Ability alone would make someone with a High Cultivation talent like Nulan breakthrough the 1st to the 9th Revolution of Heavenly Core within a decade at most, but what I think shatters the norm is my ability to always give guidance to the both of them.'
'Cultivation is heavely reliant on one's mental fortitude and comprehension, if I constantly give them tips on how to progress, leading them onto constant enlightments and revelations, all of their bodily and mental blocks to shatter, cutting the time it takes for them to settle their Cultivation basis and ascend even more depending on how well they can take and comprehend my words.'
'Which is only reinforced by the Rune of Return's effects.'
'And this is without counting the Rune of Disassembly's ability to breakdown anything. It's ability to "clean" and "simplify" subjects is so powerful even a child could understand complex theorems if put through the Rune first.'
'This combination, together with supreme treasures and an excellent Cultivation environment lead to this ridiculous situation where my disciples may be able to reach Fetal Soul… Within a year.'
'I've become someone capable of taking up and mortal and turning them into apex powerhouses within a year or two at most… This is a ridiculous ability.'
"... It's not about speed… But I can't help it but breeze through it."
'Cultivation should be about understand nature and yourself. Transcend its rules and limitations to govern it…'
'Well, there's a beginning for everything. Even if I fail now, in the situation my Cultivation goes haywire, I can always break it down and start anew somewhere else.'
'With my abilities, I can start anytime, anywhere. But I'll never give up!'
Full of determination, Wuizi left the garden and awaited for his disciples return in the main hall.
Once all gathered, he began their training.
Fifty days left until the opening of the Central Mountains.
…
Their training resumed as normal, but this time, given there were two disciples to take care of at the same time, Wuizi's schedule changed slightly.
In the morning, he would eat with them both, after that, he would impart them some common knowledge about the world and nature before moving onto his next section.
In the early part of the day until the afternoon, he would spend his time teaching them, mostly Fayie, the techniques of the Sect so they could blend in if necessary.
Those weren't just the ordinary arts but ones slightly modified with the help of his Rune.
Later, he would leave them both to Cultivate and reflect on what they learned, however, what usually ended up happening was that he'd spend his time with Nulan and help her with her Cultivation.
He would help her circulate her inner energy and discuss her techniques with her while also teaching her anything he found useful. All the while answering any questions and doubts she had.
He tried to focus on assisting her in stabilizing her Cultivation and mastering new techniques rather then furthering her comprehension on the techniques she already had due to reasons already stated. He wanted her Cultivation to match her knowledge rather then have her Mental understanding rocket off ahead.
To him, spending time with her was no different from studying alone, in fact, it was better then staying before a table, but the same wasn't the case for Nulan.
She felt extremely privileged to have his time and attention like this, which was obvious from her bodily expressions and gestures.
Wuizi paid those no heed for now, but as time passed, it was getting harder to ignore her ever growing affection for him. That said, time passed quickly within the Vault.
…
Around a week after they began, Faiye broke through once more, reaching the 7th Revolution ten days after stepping into the 6th.
Thirteen days later, or about a month since Faiye joined, he broke through again, reaching the 8th Revolution while Nulan reached the 6th, prompting Wuizi to shatter his limits and enter the 8th Revolution as well.
Seeing that Faiye's progress was exceptionally "slow" compared to the expected, he investigated his profile only to realize that the reason wasn't his lack of talent, but more of a consequence of his Constitution.
Faiye needs a large amount of Yin Qi to support his Cultivation, and despite spending most of his life draining it from others, his Yin QI was barely enough to support his raised Cultivation.
To solve this, Wuizi went to the city to collect his reward from selling the Manuals, exchanging them for rare resources which could remedy his condition temporarily.
With this, Faiye's Cultivation speed got back on track, speeding up as his affinity rose.
Four days after he consumed the medicine, he broke through the 9th Revolution.
Six days after, he consolidated his Heavenly Core.
After getting used to his stronger self, Wuizi gave him his remaining Perfect Core Pill, helping him get rid of much of his impure energy he accumulated from over a decade of malpractice.
This made his body lighter and more apt for Cultivation, and it was apparent.
Seven days once he reached the 1st Revolution, he reached the 2nd, slightly faster than the Nulan! But with some reason…
Right now, not only was Wuizi slightly better at guiding others, Faiye's affinity was higher compared to Nulan's at the same stage.
Eleven days later, he reached the pinnacle of the 2nd Stage, and two days later, the same day the Central Mountains were going to be opened, he broke through the 3rd Stage.
Even if slightly, now that he was getting closer to unraveling his Constitution's potential, his Cultivation Talent was beginning to manifest, little by little.
Throughout the days, in his spare time, Wuizi tried to learn more about the vault but failed miserably. In the end, it seemed there was some condition or set of rules he was unaware of.
Thus, the vault door and the formation secrets remained elusive.
However, he still took care of what he could, such as the herbs growing in the garden.
He was still hoping to find a disciple versed in alchemy before dwindling in any related studies, so he opted not to interact with the garden as much as possible, only taking care of it whenever he deemed fit.
It was dangerous too. After all, some plants were extremely venomous…
…
"... So, as I said, I'm going to depart with Faiye and return to the Sect momentarily."
"Bring me with you."
"There's no need for that, I'll return soon…"
"So there should be no point in leaving me here, no? You said it yourself that Cultivating all the time wasn't healthy, so bring me with me."
"... Sigh, fine. But you won't be entering the Sect with me. Your Cultivation has risen far too fast and I don't want to be bound down trying to explain why that is the case."
'Nulan is about to reach the 7th Revolution while Faiye has just broken through the 3rd. He has yet to consolidate his foundation so I was planning on following him and helping him do that before sending him off to the mountains.'
'I've already discussed this with him but he needs to reach out into the mountains and collect Yin QI. Right now, he needs it to supplement his Yang Q that is falling off due to his Cultivation rising, which is causing his Constituion to unfold even further, consequentially leading to his Yin QI rising.'
'He can't convert his natal Yin QI into Yang Qi, but he can do it for the Qi he consumes from others.'
'With the strengthened technique I gave him, absorbing Qi from beasts and treasures should do. The Central Mountains will do perfect for him. If he can find one great treasure to complement his Cultivation he won't have any issues until he reaches the higher levels. But the most important reason for me sending him off is for him to experience the world and get used to his strengthened body.'
'At the same time, I plan to enter the Sect and experience some of the Trials I was never given the chance to challenge like the Fallen God's Nail. They contain many secrets I can learn and incorporate onto my knowledge and above all, reassemble.'
'But above all, I still have many techniques to study in the library. So I was planning to spend a few days on the Sect to study and perform my duties before returning.'
'It's also good to come and go from time to time to see if I can find a disciple, albeit right now, my biggest fear is moving around too much.'
'I wasn't able to ask how those pursuers knew Master. Them being from the same family wasn't enough, and if they for any chance shared his origins with other groups, if they're observing me right now, sooner or later the vault would end up exposed and that would be a whole heap of trouble and shit.'
'With my current Cultivation and mastery of my techniques I should be able to fend off a Fetal Soul Cultivator, which for as ridiculous of a statement as it may seem, it has some credibility.'
'Of course, I'd prefer to avoid any clashes with them if possible. Fetal Soul Cultivators often don't move around so finding one in the "wild" is unlikely, but you never know given how chaotic the world is.'
"Yes!"
"... Once we return, this likely won't happen for another few months, coming and going from inside here isn't wise. We can't compromise this location."
"That was why I was planning on moving solely with Faiye as I was planning on leaving him there to take care of the peak and Cultivate so he could represent us on the disciple competition before we retreated back onto the vault, only to return once the next competition came to be four months after that." He said as he walked past them
'I don't care much about the Peak but I must maintain some degree of appearances otherwise people would bother me even more then they already will.'
"But that's that, let's return. Pack up what you need, we'll return in a few days."
"Understood."
"I'm ready."
Lightly acknowledging his disciples, they left the vault in a hurry as not miss the start of the first trial.
…
The way back was peaceful with little adventures, like always, they stopped at South Gate before sending Fayie on his way to the Sect on his own.
"Master… Is it alright to send him alone?"
"I've already given him his instructions, he's no child, he can make his own decisions from there."
"We have our priorities as well. Follow me."
"Yes!"
They made their way to the Turtle's Throve, and without even needing to hand in any form of identification, they were guided to one of the highest rooms in t he building, just short of the last one.
"Over here customer."
A pretty clerk awaited for them at the floor, opening the door to one of the three rooms of the floor, closing it as they got inside.
"!"
'I knew it…'
Before them, a veiled women with long red hair rested on a wide pillow in a formal posture, waiting for them under the breeze of a faint incense.
"Please, come inside customer, take a seat and make yourself comfortable."
"..."
'This women… She's a Fetal Soul Cultivator!'
'While its rude to try and inspect other Cultivators, Jade Eyes permits observation without alerting others.'
'I can't accuratedely tell how strong she is as Fetal Soul Cultivators have a different ruleset regarding strength, but she's likely not a beginner Revolution either.'
'Even the clerk outside was the same Revolution as Nulan, this place's roots aren't thin. It's almost comparable to a large Clan if they possess a Fetal Soul overseeing every branch like this, even if not, if they have a strong branch like this before every major Sect…'
'They're also quite proactive, sending us here instead of other lower level personnel.'
"Greetings. I believe this is our first time meeting. Allow me to introduce myself, Wuizi Xue."
"Nulan Xuexi."
"How polite, I'm the Vice-Overseer of the Turtle's Throve Chamber of Commerce, Fingers of Heaven branch. For the sake of safety, you may refer to me as Lilyas, I hope you take no offense from this."
"I do not, thank you from having us here today."
"The pleasure is mine."
Wuizi smiled as she poured a small cup of tea to both him and Nulan, but none for herself.
"Vice-Overseer, I shall be direct. I have a technique to sell."
"That much I expected, you've recently sold quite a bit, some of which I've taken a look personally… They were all original, never seen before techniques based on simple concepts of commonly seen techniques. They're extremely creative and concise and with it, fetched a premium price."
"Thank you for your high appraisal… You see, I've recently written something I believe… May be my greatest technique yet."
""!""
"I'd like to have it appraised and sold, but I have an specific price in mind already."
"I'd be happy to assist you. The more information you can give me, the better my assessment shall be."
"It's simple. I've gotten stuck in my pursuit and decided to seek out inspiration, thus, I'd like to trade my technique for two things in particular:"
"The first would be a storage item of Medium to Small in size. I'd need enough space about the size of this room if possible."
"That wouldn't be too difficult, especially if you have little requirements. But the greater your budget, the better the quality of the item I can provide."
"... I'd like to sell a High Heaven Gold Sword Manual."
""?!""
Before any of the two could react, Wuizi continued:
"Recently, I've reached a moment of clear thought, and in a trance, wrote this manual. Since then, I've studied it and edited it several times to create what you see before you, the Triumphant Edge Art."
"Neither I not my disciples have any use for it due to the paths we follow, and it pains me to admit that my Sect may not reward me as much as your Chamber of commerce, so I came here to make a trade in the hopes to fill this void I'm seeking."
"... And what would that be?"
"I'm in search of inspiration, and while I've read hundreds of texts if not thousands, none could fill the void I'm seeking, so I've decided to reconstruct my foundation. But this time, from even before our time…"
"I'm seeking ancient texts of any kind, whatever damaged they may be. For as long as it was once part of a technique, manual, art, or anything of the sort, I'd be willing to pay for it so I can study it."
"I'm willing to depart with this manul in exchange for those two things."
"!... I understand."
The veiled woman quickly recovered her shock as she looked at the book, pensive.
"Your request is reasonable. Is there anything you prefer?"
"Anything is fine. My goal is to study those manuscripts, not to owe them. Though I'd certainly prefer if I could study an item with a clearer background, either way, if its old enough and readable, I'd be willing to study it."
"As my focus is in Sword Techniques, those would be my priority but hold nothing back in acquiring anything I could study, I wish not to lose the opportunity to reach enlightenment."
"I see… In that case, may I take a look at your manuscript? I may be be a humble servant, but I'm an honorary Grade 5 Appraiser."
"!"
'Grade 5!'
Nulan was surprised, albeit not for long as she saw her master's serious face.
"You're free to do so. And I'm confident in ths manual's worth and quality, like before, I can provide an extensive and detailed explanation of the manuscript to go along with it as well."
"Please do so, those guides of yours have been well received by all of our customers, their presence alone has increased the prices of your manuscripts by over 12.5%."
"I'm glad to know my words are of worth to others."
It was hard to say but Wuizi felt he saw the women smile.
"I'll begin."
/Open…/
She opened the manuscript, starting with its prologue.
…
/Four hours later…/
"... Hm?... ?!?!?!"
'H-How long have I been in a trance?!'
"Erm… My sincere apologies, I… I did not realize the passage of time."
"No harm given, it would be the greatest offense to interrupt someone in the middle of an enlightenment."
"..."
'I wouldn't call it an enlightenment, but my Cultivation that has been stuck for years has shaken considerably, if I could study this manuscript further, I'd…'
'What am I even thinking?'
"Your verdict?"
"... Without direct tests, I cannot make too high of an assessment, and without others to cross reference their opinions, neither can I call this a Pinacle Heaven Gold Grade Manual… But on my own, I give it the highest regard. This is a High Heaven Gold Grade Manual."
"Congratulations on your achievement."
"!"
'Master did this?!'
"Thank you. Formalities aside, can I expect to receive my requirements or is it far too grand?"
"Not at all sir… We'll conduct a wide search throughout our entire reach to find all of the texts you're looking for!"
"At the same time, we shall select the most appropriate artifact for you. Please come by in a few days for the full range of options."
As she said that, she handed him his manual back, only fo Wuizi to refuse.
"Keep it for now, just make sure to quicken the process, make my identity a secret as well, I don't like attention."
"! Understood sir."
"Good, I'll come back in ten days and deliver the second half of the technique."
""?!""
"S-Second… Ahem… Understood sir. We shall provide you the best service there is."
"I'll wait."
Without saying anything else, Wuizi left the room with Nulan right behind, stopping only to send her a farewell as the door closed behind him.
"... This… Contact the Headquarters… We may have our hands on a Mystic Jade Grade Technique."
/SWOOSH!/
"..."
She looked down at the manual, pensive.
'Such a talent must be kept close, if he achieves enlightenment… Then I wonder what he'll create.'
'Such a mystery.'
…
"Master… The technique you made…"
"I can always make more. Besides, this isn't the place to discuss such things. Rather, let's go to that restaurant you've looked at when we arrived."
"Eh? You noticed that? Yes!... Wait… Are you trying to trick me?"
"There's no need to pull such a basic trick on you my dear." Wuizi said with a teasing smile as he walked down the road
"Y-You…"
Embarrassed, Nulan ran after her master, thus marking their first day at South Gate.
Meanwhile, Fayie joined a large crowd as they ran through the wilderness…
The Central Mountains had been opened!
…
/Ten days later…/
"... Hooo…"
'I did it! I broke through the 4th Revolution!'
"Just as master instructed, I found a Ying treasure and absorbed it… I could look out for more… No, there's no need to be greedy."
'While the Central mountains are full of treasures, I'd have to go even deeper where others my stage are fighting for resources, and while death isn't permitted, I can't be certain accidents won't happen.'
'I'll withdraw here and meet master in the Peak if he's still there, then, I'll Cultivate until the competition in four months and represent the Peak with everything I have!'
'I've heard of the monsters that will be there are the stage, I doubt I'd be able to get a good score but I should be able to get within the top 20-30 if I give in my all, this should be enough for Master who doesn't like to stand out too much.'
Following his success in advancing, Fayie returned from the mountains, receiving his score and points as he exchanged some of the minor resources he collected before making way for Ritual Peak.
There, as expected, he met Wuizi as he studied some scrolls patiently. Upon seeing him arrive, he smiled, welcoming him.
What followed from there were another ten days of Wuizi coming back and forth from the city to the Sect to teach Fayie everything he'd need before returning to the Vault.
In this period of time, Nulan finally gathered her essence, breaking through the 6th Revolution and reaching the 7th, giving Wuizi just enough energy to also breakthrough the 9th Revolution!
Just one step away from Fetal Soul!
…
Focused on his development, Wuizi put all of his effort into grooming Nulan's Cultivation, assisting her as much as he could as soon as they returned to the Vault.
They had about three months and twenty days until the competition. It was a lot of time but not nearly as much as it seemed.
During this time, he spent nearly all his time with Nulan, her barriers around him became so thin she began unconsciously making moves on him, and while it didn't bother him, the fact began to weight on his mind, affecting his Cultivation, albeit not much given most of it came from outside sources.
He knew he'd have to confront her eventually, otherwise, this may grow into a worry or worse.
He had no issue with Nulan, it was just that, with how things were developing around them with the Sect, the tension between factions, and now, the Vault, he didn't have the time to dive into romance.
Aside from such events, the two cultivated together in harmony, merely a step below simple Dual Cultivation, something that took extreme trust in both parties.
Within the first ten days, Fayie broke through, reaching the 5th Revolution. While his speed was fast, given he was all on his own, Wuizi expected him to reach at most the 7th Revolution before the start of the Competition if at all. Even then, such speed was still comparable to the greatest talent of this generation, Lao Famin.
Another ten days later, Wuizi left the vault to visit the chamber of commerce and collect his payment. Unexpectedly, the value of the technique came to be that of a Mystic Jade technique, albeit a low one.
People were still debating over its true value, he, on the other hand, collected what he was promised and left soon after before people came after him.
This issue was still not finished, but it was something for his future self to deal with.
As he expected, the rune of Disassembly allowed him to recreate those ancient manuals and peer into a portion of their original form, albeit it would be up to his disciples to study them so he could receive their enlightenment in the form of memories. Only then would he be able to peer into the ancient past.
Studying and creating new techniques, time passed…
One month later, Nulan broke through the 7th while Fayie, following the books Wuizi left behind, advanced to the 6th Revolution.
Even then, it wasn't enough to push Wuizi to Fetal Soul, however, he kept striving for it, and it would arrive, sooner or later.
But then, one week later, something unexpected happened…
…
[Nulan Xuexi's affinity has slightly increased]
[Nulan Xuexi's profile has been updated]
"Hm?"
'That was surprising… Why did it increase all of a sudden?... No, this has been happening recently.'
'Nulan's affinity has been increasing on its own recently. There hasn't been any update regarding her profile or the Rune's strength so I took it was just how people naturally grew closer over time… But I already know the reason why.
'Still, finally… Her profile has changed.'
[Nulan Xuexi - 18
Cultivation Stage - Heavenly Core 7th Revolution
>Affinity: 201
>Mood: Determined-7, Excited-10, Hopeful-8, Shy-3, Lovestruck-4
>Traits:
Hardworking; Calm; Focused; Cold Heart;
>Constitution:
Eyes of Stone (Sealed); Blood of the Pale Beetles (Sealed)
>Cultivation Techniques:
Sutra of the Grand Moon - High Enlightenment
Three Season Skipping Blade - High Enlightenment
Jade Eye Tempering Art - High Enlightenment
38 Maneuvers of the Dancing Lion - High Enlightenment
The Grand Cycle Condensation Principle - Intermediate Enlightenment
…
>Talents:
High Swordsmanship Talent
Very High Cultivation Talent
High Combat Talent
Intermediate Alchemy Talent
Intermediate Refining Talent
Pinnacle Bewitching Talent
>Impression:
You are Nulan's Master and most trustworthy aid. You have grown to take a spot in her heart. The only person to ever treat her as one.
>Inner Desires:
…
Nulan wishes to experience ordinary emotions. She finally understands why and is now trying to cope and even fulfill them, but fears change and rejection.
…
>Description:
Nulan has developed strong romantic feelings for you, for everything you did to her, for the kindness and warmth that defies the norm seen in men.
…
Development Route -> Mark of the Greater Rune
Relationship Route (+)
]
'Not much has changed. Nulan has learned our Sect's basic breathing manual and some of our techniques as well, albeit they're all at Minor Enlightenment.'
'What bothers me are those changes in her Inner Desires and Decription… This can't go on for long, I'll have to confront her.'
'Either way. What is this now? Relationship Route? It can't be like that… Right?...'
Wuizi opened the option, unfolding a window similar to the Development Route:
[Relationship Route ->
>Roaming: Send your disciple away so they may experience the world on their own without your interference; It'll be a harsh life but one of absolute freedom and endless possibilities!
You'll be obliged to send your Disciple away or suffer a penalty, once outside, your disciple will roam the world on their own and experience life's ups and downs without your input. Affecting them in any way will result in even bigger penalties.
Indirect consequences will not be taken into account unless if the previous rules are broken knowingly.
-Greatly raises their Providence.
-Increases all Talents by one Grade.
-Disciple gains a unique ability called "Master's Touch", which can assist the Disciple in the face of adversity, allowing them to survive, surpass, and thrive in challenging moments.
The higher the Affinity at the moment of this decision, the stronger the effects of "Master's Touch". It's maximum effect comes at 500 Affinity.
At 500 Affinity, your Disciple is guaranteed to return within ten years if nothing happens to them.
*Disciples sent on a journey won't count towards the Rune of Return's limit.
*If your disciple is to return, this Route can be removed or changed for another if the conditions align.
…
>Disciple: Fully embrace your role as a Master but distance yourself from your disciple as nothing more but a role model and guide. It can be painfull for those seeking affection, and while you'll give them some, a platonic relationship is often the best interest of both parties.
You must endure and project clear boundaries, even if it means in your disciple's emotions for you dying out.
-For as long as the Affinity rating remains lower then 300, the chance of falling into Cultivation Deviation and forming a Heart Devil is greatly reduced .
-Increases Cultivation Talent by one Grade.
-Once per Year, Disciple can directly break through a Stage's limit without consequence.
*Once ten years pass, this Route can be removed or changed for another if the conditions align.
…
>Lover: As beings of emotion, enjoying mortal pleasures is but an aspect of life and must be embraced. Accept the emotions of your disciple and dwell on mortality, but just enough not to get lost in it.
You must accept the emotions of your disciple and form a relationship with them, however, no matter what you do, you'll know, deep down, that you cannot fully embrace your partner.
-Enjoying moments together greatly decreases the chances of falling into Cultivation Deviation and forming a Heart Devil in proportion to the action performed.
-Increases the effects of Dual Cultivation by 25% for each 100 Affinity increase, starting with 25% at 200.
-While in direct contact with one another, increases Cultivation Talent by one Grade for each 250 Affinity increase, starting with one at 200.
*If the disciple's emotions continue to increase, this Route can be developed further if the conditions align, possibly retaining a portion of its effects.
…
>Romance: Even for an ascetic, regulating one's desires can be seen as the ultimate challenge. But you're no ascetic, you accept the world for what it is. A being of flesh and blood, ascension does not equate the nihilization of one's self.
Proclaim your emotions for your disciple and elevate them to a status fitting to remain by your side, shower them in your emotions and they'll reply in kind.
-As long as you remain faithful to who you are and who your partner is, affinity will continually increase.
-Increases the effects of Dual Cultivation in proportion to your emotions toward the partner.
-Your partner will hardly lose themselves while in your presence, maintaining their emotions and sense of self. This effect partly persists even if distant from one another.
-Once affinity surpasses 300, while Dual Cultivating, the Talents of both individuals are added and the average is spread between the two, permitting a smoother Cultivation.
-Once affinity surpasses 400, the previous effect will evolve, and will instead duplicate the Highest Talent between the two and pass it onto the other while Dual Cultivating.
*If the disciple's emotions continue to increase and affinity rises past 500, this Route can be developed further if the conditions align, possibly retaining a portion of its effects.
…
>Marriage: *Conditions not fulfilled*
…
>Dao Partner: *Conditions not fulfilled*
…
]
'This… Is quite… Sigh, its not like I have to choose any…'
'But if its here, I may need it. Besides, it's not like these are all choices I'll ever have, maybe more will be unlocked over time depending on the individual and my relationship with them.'
'That said. The first option is too extreme for me and my disciple, it may come in hand in the future if I ever have too many disciples or one of them shows desire in leaving, but for now, neither of my Disciples need it.'
'The second option seems the most stable… But I'm hesitating, and I know why…'
Wuizi took a deep breath as he closed his eyes.
'Lover and Romance… I wasn't planning on living this life like a monk or choosing to be cast. But I wasn't really looking for anything at the same time.'
'Being a virgin does help in some cases but in mine, since I don't practice any technique that benefits from pure Yang Qi like Fayie, although in his case, he Cultivates with the help of his pure Yin Qi.'
'I gave him a technique I created since the Sect had none potent enough to aid him… Most Yin Qi techniques are meant for women after all.'
"Romance… Should I embrace it? I do want to experience it once…"
'What matters here is… How do I feel about Nulan?'
"... Nulan is a charismatic and energetic girl, at least with me… She's pretty, no, gorgeous, and Cultivation has only pushed her beauty even further."
'Talented even without my help and she has a powerful background, it wouldn't take much to push her to inherit her Clan once her Cultivation rose enough given she's the eldest daughter.'
'There's absolutely no reason to refuse her… This is an entirely "me" matter.'
Wuizi closed his eyes, pensive.
"... I like her. But I'm too busy… And I don't think I'd be able to guide her like before if we got in a relationship."
"I don't know what to do… I'd leave this for later but… It's gnawing on my mind."
'If I don't solve this, no matter how much Qi I receive from Nulan's Cultivation, I'd get stuck at the door to the Fetal Soul Stage like many others.'
'The reason why many stop here is because they can't get to peace with themselves and solve the issues that prevent their Soul from being set free. I have little regrets, but right now, a worry is beginning to take root in my heart.'
'I could brute force my way through, but I fear it may take far longer than I have…'
"What to do… I'll confront her. That's what I should do, not as a master, but as an adult."
'Although I faintly worry about our age, it doesn't matter for we're both adults. And in the long pursuit of Cultivation, once we're two hundred, five hundred, or who knows how old, it won't really matter anymore.'
[Nulan Xuexi's affinity has massively increased]
"???"
Wuizi's mind raced, but he eventually figure it all out.
'Wait… Shit. I was too focused on my Cultivation to notice someone entering the room! Nulan's Cultivation isn't far from mine and her techniques are quite high, she's fully able to sneak on me even if I were paying attention. It's just because of the Rune's effects I can tell when she's near but I… Was too busy thinking about something else.'
'I'll… Just play along.'
"...I fear our current relationship… Being her master, imposing myself on her. Would it be okay?... It is normal to feel strong feelings for your mentors, especially if your ages are close, but is it alright for me to reciprocate?"
"I…"
"YES IT IS!"
"..."
'I knew she wouldn't be able to hold herself.'
Nulan jumped from behind the door to his room as she ran to him, only to realize what she had done.
"I-I… SORRY!"
/Grab…/
She tried to run, but Wuizi held her hand gently, pulling her closer as he up from the ground.
This caused her to fall on his chest lightly.
"..."
Her face was beet red as she looked at him, and to some degree, his was as well.
"There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"... alright."
Nulan's voice was meek and weak, so much so it almost came out as whispering.
They sat down before each other in silence, with neither knowing how to start…
"... This… Is hard for me to admit. I've never thought I'd feel this way, nor that ir would come so suddenly… I know this could make things awkward or worse, but I'd like to say it regardless."
"Call it my ego, my pride, to risk what I've built so far… I'd like to say that… I like you. Far more then just a disciple. I'd like to get to know you more, and…"
'Urg… This is much harder then I thought, I can't keep my face straight even if I push myself…'
"N-N-N-N… Urg!..."
Nulan tried to say something only to stutter so hard she bit her tongue, causing Wuizi to laugh as she grew even more embarrassed.
"I guess I'm not the only one nervous."
"Y-Y-Y-You! I… like you too…"
"... What did you just say?"
'I guess she's just a young girl in love too… Right, I'm not that old anyway… I'm just as old as I was before… I deserve some peace of mind and jovial experiences.'
"I… M-Master I… L-Like you… R-R-R… Romantically."
"Yeah, I noticed that long ago."
"!!!"
/Jump!/
"?!"
Nulan suddenly jumped forward as her embarrassed peaked.
"You! I won't let myself be played with!"
However, as she jumped towards him, the only things she did was end up in his lap as she failed to press him back.
"I…"
"... Nulan… I'm not exactly able to give you the love and attention you crave right now… There's much to do and much to seek. But I'll tell you that I'll never abandon you. I'll always be here."
"One day, once our troubles end… Maybe they'll never but still… I promise you that I'll try my hardest to… Try and become something more than a Master."
"... You… Already are…"
She blushed again as she tried to get away, but Wuizi didn't let her.
He pulled her closer and she let herself be dragged closer…
"M-Master…"
"No… Maybe outside, that'll be the case, but right now… Call be Wuizi."
"W-Wuizi…"
/Kiss…/
He pulled her closer, kissing her.
It wasn't a skillful one but it was fulfilling, a short but warm connection…
[Nulan Xuexi's affinity has massively increased]
"Nulan, I…"
The heat rose, getting to his head… And she responded…
"M-Master… W-Wuizi… I… I'm n-not ready…"
Wuizi knew that if he pushed her just a little bit, she would fold, this was who Nulan was, cold like a block of ice to all, but she'd instantly melt in his presence.
How did she become like this is about half a year?...
"... Right… I could say the same to me."
Wuizi caressed Nulan's face as he pulled her for another kiss, startling her.
He liked the feeling, it made his heart light… Very light…
'I… I can feel it. My Cultivation… It's loosening.'
'If I sit down and meditate, I feel like I'd be able to breakthrough.'
"I know that there's much to discuss… But for now, how about we call it a day and go to sleep?"
"I… Alright."
Wuizi helped Nulan get up, and despite letting go of her, Nulan did not step away from him, acting as if he was still holding her.
Maybe it was shock, maybe it was something else, but upon seeing this, he smiled, holding her lightly, he kissed her again, making her eyes spin.
"... You've probably heard this a million times but… You're too pretty. But to me, above all… I find you… Cute."
He whispered those words to her lightly, causing her to jump slightly as she woke up, taking a step back.
"I-I-I… Thank you… S-See you t-tomorrow!"
Her embarrassment running to her head, Nulan ran away, not even closing the door as she left.
"..."
'I was about to joke but… Enough teasing.'
/Sit…/
"Phew… I really did it this time."
'It took me another life to find a girlfriend… I'd say it was worth the wait.'
'What should I do now?... I don't know… I don't have anyone to refer to, no one to consult, no internet, no… Nothing.'
'Fine then, I'll figure things out on the fly… For now, I need to solve this matter.'
His heart light and his mind set with purpose, Wuizi could not easily focus, and with everything weighting on his mind now cleared, the suppressed waves of energy came crashing down at once like a refreshing breeze, lifting his Soul, awakening his spirit…
/Crack…/
Deep down in his core, something seemingly broke from within, reaching out onto the world beyond…
Wisps of energy like tiny hands expanded outward, curious and juvenile, this was…
The Fetal Soul Stage!
"... Hooo… I… I did it…" Wuizi said as he exhaled deeply
'My body feels light, it's transforming… This will take a few days but I can see my energy shift. This must be the fabled transformation one undergoes as they breakthrough.'
'They say this doesn't happen always, only in specific scenarios, but I imagine mine was like that, my Mental Cultivation was already at the Fetal Soul stage, I only needed to remove my mental blocks to achieve it.'
'Now my body needs to catch up to me, once it does, my Cultivation will solidify and I'll fully step onto the Fetal Soul stage.'
'You could say I'm a Quarter or even Half Fetal Soul Cultivation, but I'm definitely far better then a Half-Step Fetal Soul Cultivator.'
'A Half-Step would imply I'm not in the Fetal Soul stage yet, but I am, so I can't be called that. I'm more of… Unstable? No… It's not that either.'
'... Like a crab after a molt. I need time to recover before growing an even sturdier and stronger shell. That's more like it. And just like the process, this molting will also heal many of my injured body parts, giving me a stronger and purer body.'
'It's one of the reasons why Cultivators of major Clans choose to have children only after breaking through Nascent Soul as it increases the chances of their children being born with better Contitutions suited for Cultivation.'
"I should be able to stabilize before morning so I can have breakfast with Nulan…"
'Just thinking about it makes it a bit awkward… Sigh, do I have to face her father now or something? What even are the customs to romance and courtship in this land? I've never bothered about them at all…'
"Looks like I'll have to seek out some books…"
The night was long. And while Wuizi focused on his small problems and his cultivation, a certain girl was utterly unable to sleep at all, rolling around the bed like a sausage on a frying pan…
It would take many, many hours for her to calm down and finally close her eyes, her mind still running wild even in her dreams…
…
/The next morning…/
"... How long are you going to stare? Sit down, the food won't stay warm forever."
"..."
'How can you be so calm after what happened?!'
Nulan's heart kept beating like a drum, unable to calm down.
Even though little had changed, she felt an immeasurable pressure before her…
"Am I that scary? You don't have to change the way you acted before. That's the gist of what being in a relationship is… You should act more relaxed if anything."
"I…"
[Nulan Xuexi's affinity has slightly increased]
Nulan cautiously walked to the table, taking a seat opposite to him as she adjusted her hair.
"..."
'No wonder she woke up so early. It was for this…'
Nulan had put some makeup and taken considerable care of herself.
Like most girls, she cared greatly for that already, but in the last one or two months, she slowly began taking greater care of herself.
Instead of a quick shower she would soak in a bathtub, rather than just washing her hair and applying some creams to take care of her hair she would also apply some to her skin…
With each passing day she grew increasingly more aware of her own appearance, changing her clothes and expressing a desire to go back to the city to acquire more.
Wuizi noticed this from the very beginning, but it became apparent when they went to the city last time. Nulan bought many beauty products as they went around the place, and from time to time, she would say they weren't enough.
Nulan was already an extremely pretty girl that was still reaching the pinnacle of her growth, being almost nineteen years old… With those products, her beauty had shot through the roof… Not that it changed how he saw her.
'I'm glad she's doing that much for me… It's also good for her self esteem she's trying those things herself… But who's going to tell her she's trying TOO hard?...'
Despite her tutelage back in her clan, Nulan was still unused to trying to appeal to someone else. Aside from parties and special events, she rarely applied makeup for another. And this was her first time trying to impress someone else out of her own accord.
"I like your hair. This style fits you, the clothes are also nice, albeit a little exposing."
"I-I…"
[Nulan Xuexi's affinity has slightly increased]
",,, Thank you. This is my first time trying anything like this… I thought I looked a little weird…"
"You're fine. But maybe you did too much given we're going to resume training soon enough. Still, you'd steal the show anywhere we went outside."
"I-I…"
[Nulan Xuexi's affinity has slightly increased]
"..."
'This is too easy… No, she likes being praised. Maybe a little too much.'
Wuizi sighed internally as he ate his food, focusing on the moment and his partner before him, albeit the latter found it hard to look back at him.
"... Did you enjoy the food? I also tried a bit harder this time but there was only so much I could do with what we had."
"I liked it!... You cook really well…"
"Thank you. I like cooking, I think its something everyone should learn to do, even if in a basic sense."
He got up from his table, saying:
"Now then… I'll go get ready, and so should you. I'll be waiting in the usual place…"
"W-Wait…"
Nulan got up from her seat, approaching him in small steps…
She stopped before him, reaching for his shirt, her hands trembling, she tilted her head to face his, her eyes sparkling…
Wuizi was quite tall, about a head over her, this was her first time realizing that… She liked it, resting her head on his shoulders… Or at least she did when it happened not so long ago.
She only ever dreamt of it.
"I…"
/Kiss…/
Stealing the moment, Wuizi kissed her lightly again before turning around with a chuckle.
"I'll go brush my teeth. Let's try this again later, alright?"
"..."
[Nulan Xuexi's affinity has considerably increased]
Nulan would brush her teeth thrice before feeling satisfied to go meet him.
…
/Meanwhile…/
Within a grand hall, a middle aged man with a plain expression went over a series of documents as he sat on a throne.
This was the Lord of the Pale Lion Clan, the supreme Patriarch, a master at the 8th Revolution of the Fetal Soul Stage!
Different from a Sect, Clans usually focused most of their resources on their main bloodline, straightening it as much as possible while Sects tend to bolster talented disciples to take high positions and maintain stability and order within their territory.
Beneath him, a set of stairs led to the hall, around him, multiple decorations from centuries of accumulation, representing his bloodline's long history and past.
/Step…/
Focused on his duties, he took some time to realize that a man had entered the hall in hurried steps, approaching with a fervent gaze.
"Samun. Is something the matter?"
"My Lord, we've found your daughter!"
"... Took quite some time, longer than I expected."
"I apologize! It was our mistake!"
"That is true, but that girl is smart, she played us all for fools… Where is she?"
"In the Southern Pillars of Heaven Sect."
"... She's quite far."
'It's been slightly over a year since she left. Not long after she turned 18.'
'She fled south, and at first, I let her be so she could calm down, sending only a few to tail her and keep her sage… But six months later, she was still running.'
'Then, one night, she stole the provisions from her observers and dove onto the Grand Central river. She swam for hundreds of kilometers, eventually emerging to create a fake trail before diving again and swimming even further.'
'She must've stopped somewhere along the way before taking a ride and mingling with the crowd. From there, she somehow reached the Sect, hundreds of kilometers away from the river.'
"When did she get there? And what's her current status?"
"She entered the Sect during its opening ceremony, and right now, she participated in a competition in the name of one of the Sect's peaks two months after joining.."
"It took a while for this information to reach us because she had been using an artifact to conceal herself."
"Hm… It all makes sense now…"
'The pieces have all fallen into place.'
"Have you communicated with her? Tell her I want to talk with her."
"I'll deliver your message to her but as of now, we have yet to attempt approaching her in fear she'll try to run away again."
"I'm not comfortable with her staying in such an unfamiliar place. She's too far away from us for our name to even hold any significance. I want her back, even if it means reaching a compromise with her… Or forcing her to return."
"Well… This may be unnecessary."
"Explain."
"... From our informants, it seems the young lady has… Already broken through Heavenly Core."
"That much I already expected. She spent six months running away with zero progress. It's a miracle she didn't stagnate while in an unfamiliar territory."
"It's not just that My Lord… She's broken through the 4th Revolution already. And before you ask, she doesn't seem to be practicing the Sect's techniques or any deviant art either."
"... Are you certain? You must be completely certain of your words before stating such a thing to me."
"To make me believe she's been able to Cultivate so fast in an unfamiliar land, you'd have to provide me with irrefutable evidence of such."
"I… Unfortunately, this is as far as my information goes."
"... Then simply send my message to her, if she refuses to reply, make her, if she does not answer, bring her back. I've given her enough leniency."
"She can run away from her responsibilities but she will speak to me when I ask her to. An entire year of rebellion is far too much."
"... There may be an issue with this as well…"
"How come?"
"Well… Because of the young lady's unusual location, it took us a while to transfer our forces to the South, in fact, they should still be moving as of now."
"The issue is that we're unsure where she went. The young lady follows the Peak Master around but they were last seen leaving the Sect, and without a tracker in place…"
"No need. I understand the situation… Track her, find her… I cannot let her be in the hands of a stranger."
"Investigate this master of hers, even if she's a girl…"
"M-My Lord… I'm sorry to interrupt but… Her master is a man."
"A man? Then we must investigate his past…"
"I already did… There wasn't much to investigate because… He's just a little older than her."
"She joined the Pillars of Heaven Ritual Peak without hesitation, and the Peak is supervised by a young man just a few years older than her."
"... A man?... A man her age? After everything she said before leaving…"
The Lord of the Pale Lion Clan was left utterly speechless.
…
/One week later…/
"M-Master, I-I can't take it any longer… Mnn~…"
"Bear with it, everything's in now…"
"Mnn~..."
"..."
'Why does she keep moaning for something so simple? Does she not realize the very sounds she's uttering?'
'This may be Dual Cultivation but it isn't anything exorbitant! It's just circulation between two individuals!'
After entering a relationship with Nulan, Wuizi took no time at all to cross the gap and begin Dual Cultivating with her.
While it wasn't "that" kind of Dual Cultivation, it was still an extremely intimate process usually done between lovers.
However, doing this greatly increased their Cultivation Speed, and with the Romance Route unlocked, it became even greater.
Despite it being less than half a month since Nulan broke through the 7th Revolution, with this session, she stabilized her foundation, breaking through the 8th soon after.
Dual Cultivation was a simple yet complex technique about sending one's Qi onto another body and receiving it back. This process created a vortex of Qi that fused the strength of both users to gather Qi faster.
By referencing dozens of manuals, Wuizi eventually created his own Dual Cultivation Art, one that was far greater than all others he possessed.
There was only one issue… It caused the practitioners to feel 'extreme' emotions, not due to how it was made, but due to its quality.
Wuizi theorized that to perform the technique appropriately, this Dual Cultivation Art had to be performed by two, High Revolution, Fetal Soul Cultivators. Which none of them were.
This discrepancy made it so that their bodies were unable to tolerate the high return of Qi as they Cultivated, which when traveling through the body would cause considerable pressure, leading to this strange scenario…
For him, it was nothing but a slight tug, for Nulan, it was like having multiple hands tugging at multiple parts of her body, but not violently, gently… Maybe a bit too gently…
Wuizi tolerated her sounds at first, but as the days passed, he began losing his ability to reason.
It didn't help that just a few days ago, Nulan turned 19, and after throwing a small party for her, she drank so much she slept on his bed, and after doing it once, she did it again and again, growing used to sharing that space with him.
Despite that, Nulan wasn't ready for anything more yet… She made that much clear.
But Wuizi didn't know how much longer he'd be able to wait with the way she was acting around him.
This way, another week passed, and like before, as they grew used to Cultivating together, Nulan advanced to the 8th Revolution.
Growing stronger and stronger with the help of her beloved, Nulan's momentum just kept increasing. Soon enough, she took another step forward, advancing to the 9th Revolution and marking the end of yet another month of secluded training.
Just one more before the start of the competition.
It was around this time Wuizi began to contemplate his own Cultivation. He'd been far too reliant on the Rune of Return.
He needed a Cultivation technique that belonged to him, something far more advanced than he used before.
So far, Wuizi had two Cultivation techniques, the original one his master imparted onto him, the Internal Core Shapping Art, which became useless once he broke through the Heavenly Core Stage, and the Pale Lion Clan's Cultivation Art, Sutra of the Grand Moon. All others were neglected for he had no time to study them.
Fayie's Cultivation techniques were far too terrible for him to even entertain the thought of practicing them. So after he gave him, and Nulan as well, one of the central techniques of the Sect but modified to be more efficient, the Grand Cycle Condensation Principle.
However, those were still nothing in comparison to what he could create. Holding himself back like this was only limiting his and Nulan's potential.
He had been imparting onto Nulan bits and pieces of the ancestor's goals and thoughts while also giving her some aspects of the perfected technique created from the Rune of Disassembly in the hopes she could develop her own path without having to rely too much on him.
However, how long would it take for her to accomplish such a thing? Years? Decades? It wasn't a matter of comprehension or Cultivation speed, this was unraveling a completely new technique with principles never seen before.
She may never even reach a tenth of what it was supposed to be…
With that in mind, Wuizi realized it was time to pump his game a little. He wasn't in a hurry, but he didn't want to waste his potential by trying to remain within the bounds of "common sense".
He decided that he would share with Nulan higher performance techniques, albeit all of them would be based on those she already learned.
The expectation was that, if he arrived at the very essence of all techniques with his Rune, it did not matter which technique he chose to learn… However, while that may be true to some degree, Wuizi had learned that most techniques even when Disassembled to reveal their original intent and purpose, clearly had different levels of conceptualization, this meant that some dove further into their path than others, most of the time being of better quality and potency.
Even if he tried to fuse and modify them, with his low Cultivation, it did not matter.
Maybe for a peerless Cultivation Deity, his thought process was shallow at best, but he was no deity, so he wouldn't think like one.
He needed techniques which could be contemplated by Fetal Soul Cultivators and beyond, and once he reached that beyond, he would seek better techniques. Hopefully create one which could be used as successor to one he already had or something along those lines.
His targets were the Pale Lion Clan's techniques and some of the Core techniques of the Fingers of Heaven Sect.
He decided that he would mix those techniques with ancient techniques and mysterious principles to create fundamental arts which could be studied for centuries to come.
It had no need to be perfect, but Wuizi wanted to challenge himself and see the limits of his abilities… Without getting mad.
There was much to study, but he had the time. As for as long as his Disciple… Lover cultivated, he had no need to do so himself.
Time passed, and another week passed… And Wuizi found something quite important!
"The Vault… Is reacting."
'It remained dormant for a long time, I tried everything in my power to open it but to no avail and finally… It reacted to something.'
'The secret Cultivation Art of Ritual Peak. While it didn't open the Vault, it reacted to it. Everything makes sense now.'
'The key to open the vault doesn't exist, it must open only in the presence of a particular technique or Cultivation Art. Which means that… It doesn't exist anymore.'
'Master likely died and kept it a secret and so did senior brother. The only thing left is our Secret technique but it's not the key either. From the looks of it, it's an ancient art that likely belonged to the Ancient Sect but it has little value… Still, I wonder why master kept it.'
'Even with the Rune, nothing changes, there's no hidden intent here… Maybe it was used once as a form of identity recognition? The dead tell no tales…'
'There are two ways to enter the Vault… I can keep messing around with the secret technique and try to create one that opens it. Or… I can rely on my memories.'
'Master was very laidback around me when I was young so I learned and saw him teach senior brother on numerous occasions, if I can remember the techniques he taught him, maybe I can deduce them… And with the help of the Rune, recreate the technique meant to open it.'
'The issue is that my memories are fuzzy, even with my Cultivation, it's hard to remember things from early on. I'd need to progress further down my Cultivation to be able to access my Soul and explore those early moments of my life.'
'With that, maybe this plan will work out and I'll be able to access this ancient place.'
Wuizi nodded to himself, putting another task in his long list of goals before resuming his research.
Time waited for no one.
Another week passed and Nulan broke through the 9th Revolution. With the techniques he created, her Cultivation Speed exploded, albeit it'll take some time for her to master them fully.
Wuizi could also feel his Cultivation reach its limits, but it wasn't quite there yet. This was just how large the difference between Fetal Soul and Heavenly Core was.
Even with the multiple times boost, several breakthroughs from a high Heavenly Core was barely enough to move his Cultivation.
Ten days later, just a few days before the competition Nulan reached the limits of her Stage, and with Wuizi's support, she broke through the barrier and advanced, becoming a 1st Revolution, Fetal Soul Cultivator!
This was enough to push Wuizi to the next step, making him a 2nd Revolution Fetal Soul Cultivator.
Such power would already put him at a position where he could vie for a position amidst the council of the Sect, some of the strongest Cultivators in the entire continent!
Meanwhile, Fayie was still stuck on the 6th Revolution, and it wasn't his fault…
For the next few days before the competition began, Wuizi and Nulan trained together to stabilize their Cultivation, leaving soon after so they wouldn't be late.
Wuizi also wanted to talk with Fayie for a while and measure his progress, the boy deserved some attention after all the time he was left alone.
And so, they departed in the dead of the night, two days before the Competition.
…
"... Master. I've been thinking, is it even necessary for us to return to the Sect? We could remain inside the Vault and increase our Cultivation without outside interference."
'And above all, that would be like… Being a couple…'
"I understand your thinking, but I have my reasons to remain beside the Sect, and they aren't solely personal."
"The Sect can provide us with shelter and materials. I also need their techniques to fuel my meditation… And above all, I have a duty to fulfill."
"I don't intend to remain with them for too long and I can see that soon, we'll have to leave and be on our way, but until then, I have to groom and seek out a successor for Ritual Peak."
"And no matter how badly the Sect may have treated me as I grew, they still provided me with a home, and I plan to repay this act sooner or later."
"I understand… Wouldn't Fayie be a good replacement?"
"..."
'Why are you so eager to throw him aside? Sigh…'
"Fayie has his own circumstances. In this perspective, he's similar to you… I plan to help him grow as it was my promise with him."
"In the future, I also plan on accepting other disciples. After all, Fayie won't make the cut and I don't believe I'll get it right first try. Also, there's much I'd like to pass on to someone else, things that aren't suitable to you, things I'd like to experiment on."
"You'd use someone else as an experiment?"
"Ha! What a dark way to see things… Under that logic, having a child would be considered an experiment as well, wouldn't it?"
"What?!"
"Well, you can never be ready to face a child, everything you teach them and do is something you believe is right and that will end up working and turning them into a capable and reliable human being, under that same premise, me teaching my disciples techniques so they can pursue cultivation isn't so different, is it?"
"You're distorting things a little too much…"
"True. But if it works, it works. There's no need to think too much into it."
...
.
.
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Notes