Chapter 13 : Two years ( part 1)
As we reached the clan estate and after mother had her conversation with the clan leader, the atmosphere shifted palpably. Ning Rong was officially declared as the next clan leader, and the effect was immediate.
Suddenly, she was being addressed with titles like "Young Mistress Rong," "Young Clan Head," and "Young Clan Leader," each honorific dripping with respect and deference.
It was as if a wave had swept over the clan, transforming the dynamics overnight. Those who had once kept their distance from Ning Rong due to her strong personality were now falling over themselves to shower her with praise and adulation.
The younger members of the clan, who had previously avoided her, now flocked to her side like dutiful little dogs, eager to bask in her newfound status and favor.
For the first two months, the scene played out like a carefully choreographed performance. Everywhere Ning Rong went, she was accompanied by a chorus of praise and flattery. Her every word was met with rapt attention, and her every action was lauded as a stroke of brilliance.
It was a sight to behold, watching the once-independent spirits of the clan bow and scrape before Ning Rong's newfound authority. But as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, the initial fervor began to wane. What had once been an extraordinary event became the new normal, and the clan settled into a routine of deference and obedience to their young clan leader.
Of course, there were still occasional displays of sycophancy and adoration, but they became less frequent as time went on. Ning Rong, for her part, seemed to take it all in stride, her confidence only growing with each passing day.
She had always possessed a natural charisma and leadership ability, and now, with the weight of the clan on her shoulders, she was truly coming into her own.
As for me, I watched the spectacle unfold with a mixture of amusement and resignation. It was clear that Ning Rong's ascension to clan leader had changed the dynamics of our clan in ways that none of us could have anticipated.
And while I had my own reservations about the sudden shift in power dynamics I didn’t care too much about it as I spent most of my time reading while Ning Rong annoyed from the sides on our usual spot at the beach but it also meant enduring the occasional bout of bootlicking and flattery.
I grew accustomed to the sight of clansmen bowing and scraping before Ning Rong, their voices filled with reverence and deference. It became routine to hear her referred to as "Young Mistress Rong" or "Young Clan Leader."
Even I found myself falling into a rhythm, adjusting to the new dynamics and roles within the clan. As the son of Ning Lian's servant, my place in the hierarchy had always been clear, and now, with Ning Rong's ascension to clan leader, that role had only been solidified further.
“ You should focus on comprehending the lightning first as its easier to comprehend compared to soul as soul is rather elusive and you can not see it plus I can help you with lightning but to truly help you I would need to wait for About one and a half year to understand what concepts truly are “.
I also wanted to help her develop proper morals but not make her so soft that would anyone could take advantage of her in this cruel cultivation world.
My concern for Ning Rong's development extended beyond the confines of her new role as clan leader. While it was essential for her to command respect and authority, I also recognized the importance of nurturing her moral compass in a world where strength often equated to ruthlessness.
I observed Ning Rong closely, noting her interactions with others and the way she handled various situations. While her assertiveness and confidence were admirable traits for a leader, I also detected hints of impulsiveness and a tendency to resort to force when faced with challenges.
Finding the right balance between strength and compassion was crucial. I didn't want Ning Rong to become hardened and cynical, losing sight of empathy and kindness in her pursuit of power. At the same time, I understood the harsh realities of the cultivation world and the need for resilience and self-preservation.
So, I took it upon myself to guide Ning Rong, offering advice and counsel whenever I could. I encouraged her to consider the consequences of her actions, urging her to think before she acted and to seek diplomatic solutions whenever possible emphasizing the importance of empathy and integrity in life.
It was a delicate balance, and there were times when I questioned whether I was doing the right thing. Was I being too soft on Ning Rong, shielding her from the harsh realities of the world? Or was I risking her becoming too hardened, losing touch with her humanity?
In the end, I could only do my best.
Few more months passed like this and I was actually enjoying my time in this world as I explored its mysteries and studied various kinds of runes and created runes which were as different as my imagination and knowledge can help me make and I have been researching a new peak level 1 rune as even if I understand level 2 runes I need more powerful soul sense and much better qi control to be able to ‘code’ them the way I want to and even if I have help from more powerful formations like ‘qi control’ and qi gathering’ formation working in conjunction .
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
I tried it with various formations some that I had designed myself but still couldn’t make level 2 runes , well runes and formations are usually personal anyway as they are like framework of rules in which we have to create something using the we are given , its just both of them uses different set of rules and I compare runes with programming while I compare formation with geometry while depending on the type of qi available in the environment .
I think I would need meridians if I want to create something as complex as level 2 runes and as for Level 2 formations they are bit more feasible than runes , I don’t think I need that level of control over qi or soul sense I but do need very expensive materials to cast without my own qi like qi stones .
Formations can be created in 2 ways which are temporary and permanent , temporary ones are usually one time use and dissipate after the user has accomplished whatever he wanted to do with that and for these kind of formations you don't need very expensive materials but you do need to calculate placement of all the various qi nodes in the environment for which you can use either qi stones or use your own qi.
It will compliment the qi from the environment to fulfill the task but for the permanent ones you need expensive materials but these will also perform the function they are programmed for, even after the caster leaves all they need is free supply of the materials used once they have lost efficacy this is done by the caster by placing various nodes which in turn will manipulate qi from the source or sources designated by the caster to fulfil the required task.
But the environment is ever changing so that's why no one formation will work everywhere or even in that same place you would need someone who has been taught by the person who first laid the formation as every formation master has his or her way of creating the nodes manipulating the energy .
The thing with the formations is you can create a formation as long as you can calculate all the nodes required to create the formation you designed for that environment and I think I have a chance to master level 2 formations before I even awaken my meridians as although they need lot of qi control and soul sense it's not at the level of runes.
Especially for the permanent ones but these kind of formations also take a lot of time to be laid down compared to the temporary ones which can be created in few seconds if the person has already calculated all the nodes but but for anything higher, I would need to upgrade my soul sense greatly.
As just to create these level 2 ones calculation needed is already quite large and my soul sense is not enough calculate the nodes in few 10s of seconds like for the level one formations which honestly will shock any formation master if they learned about it.
I have already designed level 2 runes but not level 2 formations as I think my knowledge is still not enough but I will soon try to create formations of that level as runes affair level are not possible before I gain my meridians, I am already 4 years old now and it will take only one more year before I can create runes of that level as well but till then I will focus on formations and theory regarding soul and qi and their relation to cultivation. I have a feeling that I will gain a lot on the day of my Meridian formation.
For Now let's focus on the task at hand
Ning Rong was speeding around the cave using her left eyes ability and all I was able to see what's the bloody figure in the pink lightning colour of lightning actually peeked my interest quite a bit , I think it has something to do with how her qi is taking on the properties of lightning from the world an imbuing it in her using her left eye.
She gotten much better lately and doesn't need to move only straight lines, even Ning Lian seem impressed by her comprehension of her abilities .
In the dimly lit cave, Ning Rong's figure moved with lightning speed, a blur of motion as she darted back and forth with unparalleled agility. Her movements were fluid and precise, guided by a newfound mastery over her abilities. Each step she took seemed to crackle with energy, her body enveloped in a faint aura of pink lightning.
As I watched her, my curiosity was piqued by the mesmerizing display before me. The pink lightning, tinged with hues of violet and indigo, danced around her form like a living entity, weaving intricate patterns in the air with each swift movement. It was as if she had become one with the lightning itself, harnessing its power with effortless grace.
Her left eye, bathed in the same vibrant hues as the lightning and showing that signature pink four petaled flower which was faintly visible in her eyes which now seem even more mezmerising with her eyes now having become even more beautiful after her meridians formed gaining various shades of hues , gleamed with intensity as she focused her gaze ahead.
With a flicker of concentration, bolts of pink lightning surged forth from her eye, illuminating the cave with their brilliant glow. The air crackled with energy as the lightning arced through the space, leaving a trail of shimmering sparks in its wake.
Despite the ferocity of her abilities, Ning Rong moved with remarkable control and precision. Gone were the days when she could only move in straight lines; now, she navigated the cavernous space with ease, her movements fluid and agile. Even Ning Lian, typically reserved in her praise, couldn't help but express admiration for her daughter's progress.
As Ning Rong continued to zip around the cave, her movements became almost hypnotic, drawing me further into the spectacle before me. It was as if she had tapped into a primal force of nature, channeling its raw power with a finesse that belied her years.
In that moment, surrounded by the crackling energy of her lightning, Ning Rong appeared as a figure of untamed beauty and power. Her hair, illuminated by the soft glow of the pink lightning, cascaded around her shoulders like a shimmering waterfall, and her eyes sparkled.
We have both been training in sword as well as hand to hand combat for the past half a year as she insisted I train with her or she wont even train but I think that was mostly because she doesn’t like to play with other kids as she still resents them for ignoring her before she was made future clan leader and by the way I think there are guards around this cave tasked with protecting her.
“ Rong come here , let’s start your lesson regarding lightning again , you have understood a lot but I'm going to explain it again and listen carefully”. I said as I placed another ‘Sound proofing” formation around us both in just 20 seconds , its only Grade 1 formation and temporary so it only one qi stone .