Interlude from the surface. Through the eyes of a cultivator

A tall man stands at the precipice of a swirling blue vortex, watching as it shifts form into a pure white surface, emitting a subtle glow. Blue robes flutter in the gentle breeze emanating from the portal, white symbols and patterns scattered along the fabric in a gentle tapestry. He approaches the vortex, his golden hair brushing behind his shoulders as he walks. Briefly turning around, he scans his surroundings, bringing his hand to stroke his well trimmed beard before returning his focus to the portal.

Forming a growing red orb from within his hands he tosses it behind, then steps forward, allowing the white plane to consume him whole. The world bends, up becoming down, becoming left, becoming right. The man's eyes flicker, darting around to drink in every detail of the experience before the world shifts once again, and he steps out into a large, domed building adorned with mosaics on the ceiling and light-grey stone tiles patterned across the floor.

The hall bustles with life, people exiting from the series of portals embedded in the centre pillar, gathering and mingling together as old friends and new acquaintances meet. Most are human, yet many show unfamiliar traits. Long ears, short and stocky statures, animal fur and body parts. Yet the ones who draw his attention the most are the guards, some human but most a completely strange and unfamiliar type of being. Adorned in white fur poking through their plated armour, their faces long and tipped with whiskers. Instead of weapons, they bare four long, segmented claws at the ends of their lithe arms which seem to almost drag their bodies into a hunch as they brush near to the floor.

Behind him, two such guards regard him with confusion, glancing between him and the portal which flickers between a perfect mirror and a featureless white plane before abruptly cutting off into nothing. The man meets the gaze of the confused guards, staring into their black eyes with a warm, welcoming smile. "Alo! Alo'oras soh aosan?" One of the guards asks the man in an alien, whispery tongue. With practised fluency the man places his hand behind his head, scratching awkwardly at his head as he chuckles. "Apologies friend! Do you speak English?"

"Ennlish?" The guard responds with an irritated twitch of its snout. "Minino'Ennlish lus aosan?" The guard asks its companion, who shakes its head with a frustrated huff. "Ao'Ennlish lolus. Sosoalus lushoshi aolohn." Both guards converse, pointing between the man and the portal as their frustration grows and their gestures begin to appear ever more aggressive. The man's hand shifts, twitching ever closer to the sword on his back until, "Cease." A hand clasps his wrist from behind, a broken yet clear voice speaking perfect English. Turning around, the man stands face to face with the person... the thing gripping his arm. A formless creature, barely reminiscent of the human form, coated in a shifting array of colours which refuse to maintain any sense of pattern.

"Greetings!" He addresses the entity. "I take it you speak English?" "Why are you here?" It responds, still tightly gripping his arm. "Same reason as anyone else here. Though I find it intriguing that you would ask why I'm here before asking who I am. Should I take it that you already know?" The entity remains stationary for a short moment, lacking any features which would betray its thoughts. "No." It responds. "I see." The man grins, his welcoming smile returning in full. "Well you may call me Xu. I am the sole representative of the Quiet River sect for this year's Reverence Festival."

Xu's hand is released as the entity steps around him, conversing with the guards in their strange tongue. Raising its hand, it waves over a pair from the back of the gathering crowd, a short lady in fancy robes and a walking fantasy trope. "Oh woe is me! That I would be randomly selected among all these people to help translate a conversation! I guess I'll just have to do it then." The lady announces, waving her hand dramatically over her face as she scooches her way through the crowd, her companion squeezing through behind her with his entourage of clichés.

Scratching his beard inquisitively, Xu greets the pair with a polite bow. "I take it you're to be my mediators?" He asks, his eyes briefly flicking over to the departing entity. "Yea, I speak both English and Aoan. And Englin for good measure. Crazy how that guy just happened to know, right?" She replies, her eyes darting around in the least inconspicuous manner possible. "Indeed... Might I ask what seems to be the trouble? I've only just stepped through and these fine guards seem quite displeased with me." "Uh, yea. I think they were expecting more than just one of you. It seems kinda suspicious having just one guy come through alone you know? Not to mention that weird flickering of the portal."

"Oh? I didn't realise you could see the portal from back there." "..." "Hm?" "I have really good eyes." "So I see." He chuckles. "As for my lack of an entourage, I will have to apologise on behalf of my sect. We have run into a snag dealing with an incredibly dangerous individual, I believe his name is Faux. Is that name familiar to you?" "Um, no nope definitely not! Never heard of this foo guy, not me!" She responds 'eloquently' with a strained grin. Xu smiles back in response, a slight glint in his eye. "No matter. Suffice to say, we are spread thin searching for this criminal and so we elected to send me, one of the sect elders, to take part in place of our usual contingent. As for the portal, we were experiencing technical difficulties after Faux damaged it. We were able to send me, but further transport was deemed unsafe until repaired."

"Right... Uh, let me just say all that to the guards quick... How does one even say sect in Aoan?" As she turns to address the guards, the stereotype grabs her attention, sharing whispers before she returns to addressing the guards. Xu's focus is taken by the boy, who holds out his hand in greeting. "Nice to meet you, I'm Auvic. I take it you're from Earth too?" Xu reciprocates the gesture, gripping Auvic's hand firmly. "Ah, so that's how it is. I had heard there were many other-worlders in this domain. I suppose that was more than simple rumour." Auvic's grip hardens, Xu lifting an eyebrow in response. "Say, you're pretty strong friend. What say we share pointers?" "Share... pointers?" "Uh, it's a Wuxia thing, I'm asking for a sparring match." "You're what?!" The girl shouts, promptly crumpling into an introverted puddle as the entire crowd stares at her. "Why are they still here...?"

"Auvic, I must advise against this. He is most certainly stronger than you." A shrill voice speaks, the doll-like creature on the boy's shoulder twisting to peer at him. "Aww, you do care for me." He coos... to the freaky abomination on his shoulder. "It'll be fine. It's just a sparring match. Right?" "Haha, I can't say I'm too interested in a fight." "You sure? It'll just be in good fun." "Fighting isn't my thing." "Ah yes, I'm sure that sword on your back is just decoration." "Fighting strangers isn't my thing." "Then tell me. Why has your grip only been getting stronger?"

Xu's smile falters for but a moment, a hint of disappointment in himself leaking through as he releases the boy's hand with a sigh. "Very well then. A sparring match it is. Lead the way." "Great! Ghost! Could you lead the way?" "Now he knows my name... Fanfuckingtastic..." She grumbles, scooching her way through the crowd again to lead them outside.

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The city outside bustles with activity, streams of people flowing between dome-shaped stone buildings while horseless carriages, not quite cars, steadily ride through. The sky above is painted blue and red by the rising suns, the red star lagging below the horizon shortly behind the white star. Dull, grey orbs adorn the air-space above the city, lightly bobbing with the wind, yet remaining tethered to their spots. Breathing in, one can smell the densely packed scent of a vibrant city, the grit of the stone being trod upon, the sweetness of fresh ingredients being carried to stalls, the rich warmth of a restaurant serving an influx of tourists.

Ghost leads them to a flat, stone field surrounded by thick walls. "Here... They made this place for exactly this kind-of situation, so you can go wild. Just... make it quick, will you? I've gotta meet my girlfriend in... Well actually I'm already late, so just hurry it up." "Funfun, don't worry. It'll be quick. Here, hold Sil while I fight." "Wait, what? No... What, um..." "Greetings young one." "I'm fucking afraid." Auvic takes stance near the field centre, his fancy-as-fuck sword caked in a random assortment of jewels and precious metals held out in front. Xu remains calm, hands at his side as he stands tall and confident. "Ready when you are" He beckons the boy. "If you insist."

Auvic vanishes, no trace of his former position left, no sound as he steadily approaches, nor even the shifting of dust beneath his feet. Yet his qi remains clear, a blatant marker of his position. As the boy readies to strike, Xu steps forward, breaking his stance while grasping the approaching sword in one hand and his throat in the other. The invisibility shatters, the qi fuelling it rejecting its directive. "Not bad." Xu praises. "What? Not subtle enough for you?" The boy chuckles, pulling away the dagger poised at Xu's heart. "But these tricks are hardly worth anyone's time. Show me what you're hiding. That power you try to mask with qi." Auvic's eyes widen, before pressing into a grin. "Funfunfun... Guess you aren't so indifferent after all."

They take stance once again, Xu remaining relaxed while Auvic closes his eyes. The qi coating the boy fades away, replaced by something unseen, unknown. Xu exhales, his eyes flickering closed for the briefest moment, and the boy is in front, sword already plunging towards his throat. Xu spins, pivoting on the ball of his foot as he swipes back, the air cracking as his strike shatters the sound barrier. Yet his attack hits nothing, the boy having shifted unseen to attack from below. Xu kicks, his leg plunging through Auvic's chest, yet not a single drop of blood is spilled as he appears to simply phase through.

He dodges the oncoming strike by a hair's breadth, jumping back to widen the gap. His eyes flicker around the arena, searching for any sign of trickery, and they land on Ghost, her eyes closed tight. Xu grins, his eyes returning to Auvic who has once again closed the gap. The boy knocks him to the ground, sword held to his throat. "Quite impressive. It seems this fight is yours." Auvic leans in. "You're still holding back on me. Do you need more motivation, Faux Tales?"

Xu chuckles. "Quite the accusation there. I can assure you though, I am not Faux. What makes you think otherwise?" Xu's hand presses against the blade, pushing the pointlessly opulent instrument away from his throat. "Well you see-" "Don't tell him our plan idiot! We're not some comic book villains who need to exposit at every waking moment!" "Well I was going to regale him with some fantasy about how I Sherlocked his identity from bullshit cues, but telling him it was a team effort like that works too." "Fuck... This is why I always work alone..."

With a sigh, Xu grasps Auvic's wrist pressing his qi against the boy's entire body as he wraps around and reverses the pin, his own hand now pressing against his throat. "Well this has been quite fun, but I must insist on leaving soon. I am quite busy you see. Though... I am quite curious about your abilities. You perform techniques without qi, using an energy I cannot perceive. How does one acquire this power?" "It is of little interest to you, young one." The doll speaks up. "This is a power I granted the boy with my own capabilities. Not something achieved through a feat you could replicate." "You lie, doll. I can sense enough to know your two energies differ. This is a power of his own." "Don't call her that!" "He's technically correct, you know." "Hey... At least let me be protective of the one I love..." "You love this thing?! Ah, no offence..." "None taken."

Snap! Xu's vision is disturbed as a small shock-wave brushes against him, his qi being pushed away by a force unknown. Grasping at the fabric now hanging loose below him, Xu turns to meet Auvic's strike from behind. Hand grasps blade and dagger presses against palm, both blades being redirected towards their owner's throat as a wave of qi presses against him, until both parties are tugged away from their bout. "That's enough of that boys." A large figure booms, her voice instilled with a tremendous intent. Muscles cascade from the intruding arm, her grip unrelenting as she shoves them apart.

A mountain of bulk looms over them, easily above three metres in height and enough muscle to out-weigh everyone present. Arms capable of crumpling bone like wrapping paper and a torso built like a freight-train, the only way to adequately describe her... Yoked to fucking oblivion. "Ari!" Ghost shouts, dashing over. "Ghost!" The behemoth replies, stepping forward to meet her charge and flick her on the forehead. "Ow!" "You're late." "But-" "Excuses later. You! Lanky!" Xu meets her gaze, standing tall as he returns to a welcoming smile. "Do you need something?"

"Yahahahaha!" She bellows, slapping her toned thigh hysterically. "Look at this guy! What a charmer he thinks he is!" Her hands clasp together, a wave of air bursting forth and leaving behind an obedient silence, not a single breeze allowed through the oppressive force bearing down on the arena. "Xu, was it? I hear you're the stand-in for our good friends in the Qing domain. Good for you. Tell me, how's the real Xu doing? Has he regrown the leg I broke off last we met?" "Xu is a common name you know." The earth stirs, steam slowly seeping forth from the ground as her hands clench together. "Oh, of course. And I'm sure there are plenty of sect masters who happen to be called Xu, and would come here without any of their disciples."

The ground boils, rock becoming red, becoming white as even the air begins to glow from the heat pooling around them. Everyone exits the arena, pushed away by the intense heat, except for Xu who remains tranquil within his bubble of calm as if rejecting the pandemonium around him. "You didn't really think we wouldn't notice you, Faux." Her gaze turns hostile, her intent alone causing the boiling rock below to tremble. "But hey!" The hostility vanishes, the heat fading to a pleasant warmth as the arena returns to its former state, cleaner if anything. "Criminal or no, it's no sweat off my back. So long as you don't make any problems for me in this fine festival I'm managing you can stay. Maybe you'll even enjoy yourself, have some nice food, hell you can even attend the dive. I really don't care."

"But if you do cause problems... I'll have to file out a really long report so just fucking don't." Faux's eyes remain locked on the behemoth, a good natured smile adorning his face. "Well, I wouldn't want to cause a scene." He responds with a polite nod. "I'm simply here on something of a holiday you see. I doubt I will prove of any concern to you or the residents of this fine city. If I do, you have my word I will not allow it to escalate to the point of your notice." "Yea yea. Just get outta my sight. I know better than to listen to the words of a psycho. Oh, and a fair word of warning. Cause a scene, and it won't be me who comes for you, but someone far stronger." "Noted." He declares, departing to the main city with a bow.