Shuren continued to walk as he headed west to exit out of the Industrial District. The scent of factory oil and smoke had gone for the moment, thanks to Cloud City’s cleansing array. But not for long. Despite the dust sullying Shuren’s clothes, it was still interesting to observe the district. He had never seen such a place back home at the Liu Clan; otherwise known as the Granxian Continent.

The factories were optimised to ensure even mortals could produce weapons and equipment, with the use of machines made of ores and otherwise to assist the mortals with production. Back in his clan, most cultivators had a variety of different methods, from formations to spiritual alchemy, to increase their manufacturing speed.

But it made sense why Cloud City had recently begun buzzing with its presence across the world, even reaching to the Granxian Continent.

Cloud City, A Rank 5 Province. At the height amongst the world of mortal cultivators, it was powerful enough to have Nascent Soul cultivators at its helm.

It wouldn’t be long before the leader would ascend to becoming an Immortal. A Rank 6 Grand Pathstrider.

Though Shuren took a casual pace, it was noticeably faster than the rest of the workers walking beside and around him. At the sight of the young man with vibrant and brilliant clothing, they steered clear and away, ensuring they wouldn’t drag any attention. It’s like they’re seeing a ghost. I understand I’m clearly of high status, but everyone sure is on edge.

It was like this as well before he even got to visit the friends of his younger sister. Shuren felt the slight weight of papers in his robes, making sure it didn’t get crumpled under pressure. And the smell of soot, however miniscule, had soon shifted as Shuren neared the westernmost Residential District of Cloud City. Located at the edge of the wide wall that encircled it.

Shuren intently observed his surroundings as he continued to walk past this area; the houses were much smaller than the ones in his district, shabbier and unkempt. When he glanced at some windows, he would see up to a dozen people crammed into a single room. And finding someone asleep even on the side of the walkways wasn’t rare. Those without even the basics of a home.

Father… Is this worth the price, listening to that man’s request? Even if he was one of the best Formation Masters of that fallen city, having Little Yuxi come all the way here to study is not wise. It’s a terrible environment.

Though Shuren himself had only lived in Cloud City for three years, he was familiar with the major dilemma around Cloud City.

That it housed the remnant population of another nearby city that had been destroyed in a disaster.

On that night five years ago, when the Unhallowed Monolith first made its appearance.

Unhallowed. Though I myself haven’t personally seen the effects of it, for them to use that term means only one thing. On why they couldn’t possibly rebuild that city anymore.

That the destruction sowed was capable of ruining the very foundation of the world itself.

Despite five years having passed, with the situation being more stabilised, there were still droves of refugees and migrants trying to find a second home. And the mixture of the race of Vulfoans; those with similar features to a wolf, and the race of Silvents; with branched horns attuned to nature, conflicted with the cultures of Cloud City.

Shuren didn’t have an opinion on this matter. He wasn’t an original citizen of Cloud City. He was focused only on his training and cultivation.

His own goals.

Shuren gazed to the far east, where seven towering mountains centred the city of clouds.

So long as I become a Core Disciple in the Seven Clouds Sect, I can easily become an External Elder. Then, I can increase my influence to become patriarch of the Liu Clan, and help my father with his business.

But Shuren couldn’t help but sigh, as he neared closer to his destination. A single, ugly building with discoloured bricks stood. At best, it could hold a few dozen people. If even. “Father, this is ridiculous. Is he really worth this price?” Shuren could only scoff, walking into the building.

At this time of day, the small academy had long sent its students away by midday. Shuren had the courtesy to knock on the door, waiting for a reply. He still had to hold a modicum of respect to the master and mentor of his younger sister.

He was met by the tall visage of a sea and salt haired man, a Vulfoan with dark fuzzy ears, with a severed tail. Formation Master Zelfin adjusted his crooked frames, and had a calm demeanour as he smiled at Shuren. “How could I help you, young master Shuren?”

Shuren clasped both his hands, bowing slightly towards him. “Honoured Master Zelfin. I believe this is the first time we’ve met. I’ve come to discuss the development of my sister’s curriculum.”

“At ease. Raise your head, Shuren. Come inside, I’ll serve you some tea,” Master Zelfin patted Shuren’s shoulder firmly, and he led the way to the building. His left leg was stilted in motion, but Shuren realised within a few seconds.

He wore a prosthetic leg.

This is the state of the youngest Formation Master of the fallen city; Yestervaul… Now overtaken by that Unhallowed Monolith.

Thankfully, though the building was small, Shuren inwardly nodded with gratitude at the state of it. Unblemished and vibrant; a suitable place for children and teens to learn. As they went through a doorway, Master Zelfin already had a hot pot of tea, ready to be served.

On the singular table in the room, there was a board marked with multiple black and white pieces of various carved sizes. Shuren was drawn to it for a moment, precisely because he wasn’t aware of it. Board games were quite popular to develop and train one’s thoughts, and were a perfect tool for young cultivators to hone their mind and thought processing speed. Especially amongst Sagacity Path cultivators, they tended to be utterly mad in the pursuit of mind dazzling games.

What brought his attention the most was the hefty book with a sigil known to everyone in the world. Ten rings, all crossing into each other. The representation of the Grand Paths.

It was a book spread across the lands after the advent of the First Grand Era; when all mortals were gifted the grace of literacy.

The Testament of The Architect. The One who built this world with His bare hands.

“I thought your people had an aversion to this book. Some people use it to proclaim the difference between you and me.” Shuren thought back to one of its chapters. It recounted the first time a powerful beast gained a form similar to a human.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Not necessarily. People find their own interpretations from it. What is true and what is false, it’s a never ending debacle amongst people with too much free time. I personally use it to gain a deeper understanding of cultivation,” Zelfin said, picking up the book to make space on the table.

Shuren held some slight surprise when he raised his eyebrows. He didn’t expect a cultivator, even though he was a cripple, to use the book as a source of comprehending the Grand Paths.

“It is the oldest scripture in the world, a telling of how cultivation came to be. Whether you believe in it or not, the fundamentals are still relevant to the Grand Paths we all pursue.” Zelfin replied, reading Shuren’s expression. “You’ll understand once you reach Path Foundation.”

Even Shuren couldn’t deny Zelfin’s words, pondering on them for a moment.

“Please, sit. I’ll prepare the tea in but a moment,” Zelfin said with a calm and collected voice. So far, Shuren nodded with a slight smile, taking a seat and content with the treatment. But he couldn’t help but have a nauseating instinct tug at the back of his neck.

That he shouldn’t look down on this man.

The clink of the tea cup resounded across the quiet room, and both Shuren and Master Zelfin were seated across from each other. An ordinary table, rough at the edges, coldly serving its pure purpose.

Shuren as the guest took the first sip. “Good tea. A light taste, with hints of the sensation of grass, and a balance between sweet and bitter. Like the morning reed painted orange at dusk, standing firm against the waves of the morning breeze.”

“Ah, a sophisticated answer. I’ll guarantee you one thing, the tea of the Silverwoods is unparalleled with the sensations of nature. Not even your Grand Immortals of the Granxian Continent could compare.” Master Zelfin took a sip as he followed, accepting Shuren’s feedback. A custom amongst the elite.

Shuren had a light chuckle. “One day, I’ll allow you to taste the Willow Leafblade Tea.” Leaving the cup down at the table, he looked eye to eye with Master Zelfin. “How is my sister doing as your student?”

“Exceptionally well. As your father said, she has an attunement to the vocation of Formations.” Master Zelfin took out a piece of paper, and with a pen drew a simple box. “There are four corners to formations; quantity, quality, density, and alternation.” He circled a single corner as he continued. “Liu Yuxi excels the most with alternation, able to tweak formulae with either different materials or runic inscriptions. It is a representation of her thinking methods, in a sense. My next step is teaching her the basics of the Rune Inscription vocation.”

In this world, there was no cultivator without a vocation.

Vocations were the prerequisite of every cultivator worth their blood and soul. It was a skill they used to generate resources and income, alongside strengthening their main Path in cultivation. Someone on the Fire Path could have the Weapon Smithing vocation, or someone on the Water Path could have the Spiritual Alchemist vocation.

Pride coursed through Shuren as he held a smile, realising that his sister was developing as intended. But he cut that joy short.

He was here for another matter.

“You’re struggling to control your students. They don’t even have the basic common sense of not provoking those above them.” Shuren narrowed his eyes, and both his hands sat at the table, with his fingers intertwined. “Why is my sister, the reason why this school even exists, being pushed around by some mere dogged orphans?”

Master Zelfin didn’t change his expression even slightly. He still retained the generous smile, but he took out his glasses to clean them with a white cloth. “My facility isn’t enough to handle things outside of my control. I only have a single pair of eyes, and even if I once was one of the youngest Formation Masters of my fallen homeland, I’ve long been crippled from it.”

Shuren clicked his tongue. *He’s feigning ignorance and responsibility. Clearly trying to hint at more funds for his academy. Just because my family is from the Liu Clan doesn’t mean we have an endless supply of money.

“Is the Formation Master Zelfin struggling to take care of a few dozen children? It is your duty as the teacher to educate them, not I. But today, I had to fulfill that role for you.” Shuren tapped the table with his index finger in a rhythm, signifying his patience. “All of your students should know that Liu Yuxi is the one who sponsors them. Yet you allow her to face childish conflict from her peers? This undermines your skill as a teacher, Master Zelfin.”

He continued to take another sip of his tea, taking a moment to respond. It was only until he exhaled a breath of hot air that he did. “Young master Shuren, I guarantee you one thing. These incidents did not occur inside my school. I don’t have the ability to handle the curriculum, mentor your sister, and observe outside the building where they all play around or rest.”

Shuren struggled to hold his patience in, but he continued to speed up his tapping of the table. No wonder none of the elites of Cloud City managed to hire him, because he’s this difficult to work with. Even if he’s a cripple, he’s still trying to reap more benefits while slacking off on his duty.

He reined his emotions inside, holding a stern expression. “Just get to the point. What do you need?”

“I need more teachers.” Once more, Master Zelfin took his time as he continued with another sip. “But my greatest peers are now forced into indentured servitude, working as mules for the Huang Clan’s main factory at the centre of the district.”

Shuren recalled walking past it earlier. It was the largest and most recently built factory in the district, funded with the help of the Seven Clouds Sect themselves.

The Huang Clan, with their strongest being a Rank 4; Path Forger cultivator. The most influential clan when it came to weapon smithing. They supplied weapons to the Seven Clouds Sect, a cushy private deal that made them an untouchable force.

A competitor to his father’s business.

Master Zelfin pushed out the board of pieces, a mixture of black and white. “Many of my old colleagues have had to work labour jobs to provide for their family. Young master, it is an arduous and thankless job. But they were once esteemed teachers in our Divine Capital of Yestervaul.” He placed a piece forward on the board, in the shape of a small sphere on a slender base. “One of them, Qaen, attempted a protest with his fellow workers, but has disappeared alongside his sister since then. The Cloud Knights are also of no help.”

"You want me to use my father’s name?” Shuren crossed his arms as he said. He had gotten the gist of the situation.

“Surname.”

Shuren didn’t speak for a moment, gazing at Zelfin. The difference was apparent. He would be using Liu Clan’s reputation on the line over just his father’s. This man refused to mentor my sister alone, instead asking for sponsorship of his school. Now he wants to dangle direct tutorship over me for the opportunity to use our clan’s name for his political goals. Zelfin, you’re lucky my father believes in your status as a great Formation Master.

“What you’re asking of me is no light matter.”

The intention was clear behind his words.

“I will promise you a lifelong personal favour, using my connections of capable masters amongst my people. Within my means, of course,” was all Formation Master Zelfin said.

Shuren knew the weight of those words was worth in gold.

“You will fulfill me with the assistance of one task when I break through to Rank 2; Path Foundation. No matter how difficult, I will pay for all materials, but I need you and your colleague’s cooperation.” Shuren focused his gaze once more, awaiting Master Zelfin’s answer.

The bottom of the white piece that Master Zelfin held thudded against the board, this time one space ahead. “Agreed. I swear it by the Architect.”

Shuren nodded in acknowledgement.

“What exactly is that board game? It isn’t like the popular Moktok game from the Vulfoans or the Silvent’s game of reeds.” Shuren changed the subject, piquing his curiosity.

His father had told him of some of their games, as he was heavily involved with the Vulfoans and Silvents over the past half decade or so. Shuren had an inkling of some of their customs.

“It’s called ‘chess’. The disciple of my good friend introduced it amongst his peers, but only us old heads enjoyed it for what it’s worth. Even though I’m a cripple, my brain’s speed of thought process is still that of a Rank 4 cultivator.” Master Zelfin held a finger on the pawn. “Do you want to learn?”

“Another time.” Shuren stood up, stretching his shoulders.

“Then please, forward this message to your father so he can negotiate with the Huang Clan.” Zelfin said, as he let out a breath of relief.

Taking off his outer robe, Shuren handed it over to Master Zelfin. “Keep it clean. I just got it today, and I don’t wish to dirty it with blood.” What he wore underneath was a simple white linen shirt, almost struggling to hold his chiselled body in check.

“You…” Zelfin had realised immediately what his intent was, grabbing his robes.

“There’s no need to waste time negotiating with the clan jurisdictions themselves,” Shuren said, bringing out a small bottle of perfume to spray himself. When cleaning up trash, one should come with the courtesy of beauty and grace.

“I’ll deal with them personally.”

Shuren left with his parting words as he opened the door to leave.

“Just give me an hour.”