The Sect Leader looked over my proposal. It was expensive to build, but if I was going out to hunt beasts, I needed to move quickly. That meant a device to quickly extract cores. I could locate them, but the higher level beasts were tougher. I couldn’t just plunge my hand into them like rank 1 beasts.
That was why I had been spending time on research and looking at how the extractors were actually built. My idea was to create a revolutionary design to make the process much easier and then sell it to the Imperial Sect, with the hope of licensing it.
The base extractor was just a Qi sensing rod attached to a drill. There was a tiny formation connecting the gauge to the rod. It was fairly simple and difficult to damage. The formation could wear out over time, which would cause issues. That was what had happened to hunter Xiaotong’s old core extractor.
Since I needed to move quickly from beast to beast while hunting them, I couldn’t afford to linger around trying to force my small child hand into their large bodies. Rank 3 beasts were about the size of a car. I guess I could use my sword, but I also wanted something I could sell and make a lot of money on.
My hope was that I could get my foot into the Imperial Sect with my idea. That would be the opening I needed to go after more wealth that they were hording along with the other old monsters across various sects. I knew exactly what was needed and I had thought about it before. See a need, fill a need.
My new design for an extractor, was a thin sensing rod, wrapped up in spirit metal with various formations on it. It would also be counted as a weapon in a sense. The design was simple. It would use thin layers of force to separate a cylinder of space in front of it by its surroundings. On the backside was a formation that tied the rod to a small light that would be fueled by the spirit stone to indicate when it was pointed at core, instead of needle.
A level 1 spirit stone was used to power the device, but since it only was on intermittingly, it could last for a hundred uses with a level 1 spirit stone. The spirit stone was underneath a screwed-on cap, so it wouldn’t easily fall out when in use.
My reserves of spirit stones and spirit ore had been spent creating and paying for the initial design of the Cylinder Extractor as I called it to a formation master in the sect. The design of the formations was quite complex, which was why there was such a large initial cost. The Sect Leader was looking over the device along with the creation and instruction manual I had included with it.
“Quite clever. Using force to create a sheering plane. Also, quite a deadly weapon. But it won’t hurt anything above rank 2.”
“But a wounded and dying beast, will be struggling to maintain their defense. Beasts require focus to maintain their power and durability. That is why wounding them and then extracting their core is possible for mortals,” I countered, and the Sect Leader nodded.
“You want to use this, which is fine. But I suspect there is something else,” he added.
“Yes. I want to try and get a license, patent, or permission from the Imperial Sect to sell this design far and wide.” The Sect Leader spun the Cylinder Extractor in his hands. “I haven’t read about or seen such a device during my travels.” That sounded like good news, but I was still worried.
“It is unique, but the base cost, would be two level 1 spirit stones for the materials. Another three to pay a person to make this and distribution. Then the price is set to six spirit stones, you would get one spirit stone let’s say and then it takes a spirit stone every hundred uses. It won’t be allowed beyond the sect.” What?!
“You can use it for yourself as a one-off device and we can sell it within the sect. So, it isn’t a waste. But the fact it consumes spirit stones means it is something that won’t be allowed to be sold. The various devices that use spirit stones that we make are limited to sect members. The current drilling device uses the energy in the heavens and the earth for the barest of purposes combined with the Qi Sensing Rod to function.”
“This is an active device, therefore it can’t be mass marketed to mortals or to cultivators,” the Sect Leader explained and set it back on his desk in front of me.
“I couldn’t even trade in the design to the Imperial Sect?” I asked hopefully.
“You could and would get a paltry fifty level 1 spirit stones at best for this idea. A fortune to other starting cultivators. But they most likely already have a design like this and wouldn’t pay you anything. I have seen similar weapons that the Imperial Sect has.” The Sect Leader shook his head. “A remarkable tool, but ultimately pointless.”
I picked it up feeling disappointed. It was a still a useful device to quickly get a core out of a beast and to stop it from breaking down as a beast died. “I had another idea. Before investing in it, I would hear your opinion first,” I told the Sect Leader. He nodded at this. The Cylinder Extractor was something I could use myself. My next idea was something that would be only useful for selling.
“A three-dimensional projection of light, that a person could look at their cultivation.” The Sect Leader smiled at me. “What? They already have something like that?”
“Yes, they do my disciple.” I wanted to puke blood at this.
“Since it uses spirit stones, it isn’t widely spread,” I muttered.
“Indeed. Some elders want me to purchase such a device, but we are a poor sect,” he said. I looked at the Sect Leader with exasperation. “I felt the same way as you. I came up with several ideas myself. But they had all been thought of before and horded by the Imperial Sect.”
I collapsed back into my chair. I had felt for sure that my idea was something I could sell to sects and make lots of spirit stones. “This is impossible,” I muttered.
“Indeed. The market for cultivator goods is quite stagnant. The high-ranking sects maintain their monopoly on anything that isn’t one off and hand crafted. Also, raw materials or really basic items, like spirit wine.”
“And raw materials are constrained by heaven and earth,” I realized. Another limitation on the production of spirit wine.
“Exactly.”
“This energy, where does it come from, or go? Since it clearly the bottleneck, is there something that can be done?” I asked.
“That knowledge is held by the high-ranking sects. I have investigated myself, since it is rumored as the path to breaking past the second bottleneck. I suspect it has to do with how much energy the continent as a whole can draw from the Firmament. But that is just speculation.”
“What exactly is the Firmament? I have heard that, but it isn’t a world, since it is endless and infinite?” I asked. I started wondering about the topology of this world when I had first traveled across the continent after being in the astral plane. I wasn’t in a place to ask questions and hadn’t been too concerned at the time.
“It is where the continent resides. I have gone beyond the continent once into the wider Firmament, and almost died. That is how I have managed to reach rank 8. Many elders leave and never return.” He wanted to send me out there as a rank 3?!
“The Firmament is existence itself. The boundary between order and chaos. Those are the words that are said. But true knowledge and more detailed information, would require one to be an immortal,” the Sect Leader explained. “Life and death can happen by accident. We are but specks of dust drifting along. But that is something we can work out if you reach rank 3. Now, your other preparations?”
“They are completed Master. It would be helpful if I could have a second spatial ring.” He smiled and shook his head. “Then, Martial Elder Lei just needs to sign off on my progress. He has issued no rebukes or complaints and I have diligently trained.”
“He has told me as much. You are free to depart in a month. The remaining month you will be instructed in the Parting Cloud Sword style by elder Yi Meifeng. I see you have one more question. Go ahead.”
“Thank you, Master. I was wondering about the path of triple cultivation. I have seen references to a Dao and a path. If I make past the bottleneck, how will it all come togeather?” I asked.
“Completely unknown. Well perhaps the high ranking sects know. But the higher stages of cultivation are about understanding your cultivation on a deeper level. Your three-path cultivation of mind, body, and soul has a lot of potential, but only if you aren’t ripped apart by getting the resources you need, and getting passed the bottleneck.” The Sect Leader shook his head. “Just getting to Core Formation is going to be a struggle, and then getting past the first bottleneck is a whole other challenge. Worrying about the later stages won’t help you disciple and will only distract you at this point in time. Is there anything else disciple?”
“No Master,” I replied.
“You are dismissed disciple,” the Sect Leader said. I got up and bowed my head towards him before leaving his office with my Cylinder Extractor and the booklets I had written up.
What a disappointment. I really needed to take a look into the Imperial Sect once I left and began my travels in earnest. This trip wouldn’t be that long. Since the goal would be to get enough level 3 beast cores to pay for the level 6 refined beast essence. I had a time limit of one year. But the Sect Leader had made several statements that he thought it would take me longer.
I wanted to see how deep these waters were for myself. To see if there was any kind of market I could break into and get wealth without risking life and limb.
The next morning, I greeted by elder Yi Meifeng instead of Martial Elder Lei and his massive muscles. “The Parting Cloud Sword style can only be fully expressed with cutting techniques. I have been told you have mastered the basic movements. Show me,” she commanded.
I quickly went through each slash and thrust. “Acceptable. No hesitation and you flow between each form without issue. As you climb up the ranks, form becomes more important. The power you exert can strain and damage your body if you aren’t careful.”
“Techniques are created by pushing out your energy, which is only possible at the fourth stage and above. But in the fourth stage this will slow down your cultivation progress. Still, having the sword forms down is important if you ever wish to use such techniques without injury. Watch closely as I demonstrate.”
Yi Meifeng, lunged, bringing her sword up from pointing at the ground towards the sky in one fluid motion. “That is the first form.” She then went back to a neutral stance before repeating it once more. A bright beam of energy left her sword, sailing across the training yard. The sand was parted. A bright white barrier appeared at the far wall of the training courtyard blocking the energy that was imparted into the attack.
“That is the first form with a technique behind it. Now watch as I demonstrate the other two forms.” The second form consisted of a very wide horizontal slash, where the sword was behind her and brought all the way around to her other side. The last form consisted of thrust and twist of the sword. When a technique was used it punched deeply into the sand.
Those forms matched up with the instruction manual my first Master, Yi Rong had left me. “There are only three forms to this sword style. Questions disciple?”
“Why the exaggerated movements elder?” I asked.
“To gather energy and aim. It can be improved with practice, like all techniques. But the base forms are necessary along with mastering the technique before you seek to improve upon them. Now demonstrate them.”
I repeated each form slowly and carefully, making sure I got them right. “Decent, but you need to move faster. If you reach the fourth rank, feel free to seek me out for further instruction to combine energy as part of your techniques,” she said and then immediately left. That was sudden. But she probably felt this was a waste of time and had been imposed on by the Sect Leader.
Getting into position I carefully went through each form in the corner of the training yard. In the past year I had very rarely seen Martial Elder Lei instruct some members in techniques and fighting style. I couldn’t wait to hit rank 4, so I could unleash rock walls and pressurized beams of water that cut through things, like a hot knife through butter.
The month quickly went by, and I departed the sect with a pack of supplies for living in the wilderness, my sword at my side, and my spatial ring with two carrying cases in case I somehow found some blue moon orchids.
It didn’t escape my notice, that I wouldn’t get anything for finding an extra one and that it was expected to a certain extent. I was being used to get resources from the wilderness for the sect. I was also being supported quite a bit. So, I couldn’t exactly complain. Just an annoying position to be in.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
My carriage arrived in Half Moon City. I was taking a couple of days in the city to visit my family and attend to my business before moving on. My carriage pulled up in front the Yuan family estate. I was twenty-five years old, and I had aligned 260,000 motes. I needed hurry to get my resources for my cultivation in the next five years to go with the three-path cultivation plan. The Sect Leader had insisted I not slow down, no matter what.
This was something he was insistent on. Since the fourth stage would take forever. If I couldn’t get the resources, I would just cultivate using the soul method, without body or mind cultivation methods. I wanted to be the best. Even with the setbacks, I had experienced, that still hadn’t changed.
I still looked like I was 12 years old and that wasn’t going to change for a long time. At least I didn’t look like 8 years old. But it was still annoying. My father, first brother, and my mother were waiting outside for me. There were other family members, but I didn’t care about them. The simple fact was that my extended family was too big to worry about each and every one of them.
I had let my family know ahead of time when I was arriving.
“Cultivator Yuan Zhou, it is an honor,” my brother spoke first as patriarch and bowed his head deeply, along with the rest of my family.
“Patriarch Yuan Yun, it is good to see you. Father, mother,” I greeted them. She rushed forward and gave me a hug. I gave her a light hug back, making sure to be careful with my strength.
“I have missed you so, my genius son.” She let me go. I could see some age lines around her eyes. My father came forward. He had a lot more wrinkles and a lot of his hair was graying.
“My son. It is good to see you. After the wedding we were worried. I am glad everything is well,” my father came over and gave me a hug.
“As well as things can be father.”
“How is he a cultivator? He is my age?” Yuan Yun’s eldest son, Yuan Zhu, said. He was only ten years old. When he was three, I had left for the sect. Everyone winced at his statement. It was incredibly rude, and I could see my brother paling a bit. I raised up my hand to stop anyone else from speaking.
“I am your uncle Yuan Zhou. A genius under the heavens and a cultivator of the second rank of the Cloudy Moon Sect and the personal disciple of the Sect Leader himself.” Several people stumbled backwards in shock. There was even a dramatic gasp from my mother. “By the time I was your age, I was making more money than the entire Yuan family combined and had progressed my cultivation quite far.”
“That is why I look like this. My aging has slowed as I search for the path to immortality. It is a sign of my prowess and ability. I have journeyed to the astral plane and across the continent, fighting enemy and demonic cultivators.”
“Bow!” his father slapped him on the back of the head, and he quickly bowed.
“My apologies master cultivator,” he quickly said.
“It is forgotten. Now I am told we have a family dinner tomorrow and my sister will be in attendance?” I asked.
“Yes, it has been arranged for tomorrow,” my brother said.
“I am sorry for the imposition, but I will not be in the city for long. It would be nice to see everyone while I am here and my other nephew and niece,” I replied.
“It is good to have you all back,” my mother said with another dramatic sigh and brought up a handkerchief to the corner of her eye. Wait?! That was an actual tear. She had somehow learned to cry on command. I was seriously impressed. If there was a cultivation path of drama, my mother would be an immortal already.
“Come let us retire. I heard a rumor you went on an adventure,” my father said.
“Indeed, I went to the astral plain to recover an astral shard for my cultivation. The worst part was the long journey back from the other side of the continent, not the astral beasts,” I replied. I followed my close family into the estate. The rest of them dispersed.
The next day my sister showed up early with her family. “Brother,” she said and rushed forward and hugged me.
“Sister,” I replied and hugged her back.
“I was so worried. I heard you disappeared.”
“Just a small visit to the astral plane for a small adventure,” I said with a smile. She lightly slapped me on my arm.
“Silly brother. Making me worry. Let me introduce you to your nephew and niece,” she said.
“Cultivator Yuan Zhou,” her husband Yao Yang greeted me with a deep bow.
“Yao Yang, you have been treating my sister well?” I asked while glaring up at him. He paled a bit.
“Of course, like a princess,” he quickly replied.
“Brother don’t pick on my husband,” my sister said and lightly bonked me on the head. “I am your big sister after all.”
“Really, you are going there?” I glared at her.
“Yes. The only thing I have beat my genius brother in. Height,” she said with a grin. I rolled my eyes. Servants escorted her two kids forward. “This is my son Yao Zhou,” she said.
“Really?” I asked.
“My husband was insistent along with his parents. Hopefully he inherits some of your genius,” she replied. “Your niece Yao Lan.”
“A great beauty like her mother,” I replied with a smile as I looked at both kids.
“You tease brother. Also, I have something for you,” she replied. A servant came forward and removed a cloth cover revealing a framed portrait of the four of us. Our youngest dead sister was something we never talked about. She had died young and had been forgotten. I felt a pang of sadness at that, but it was the way of people to move on. The portrait was about the size of pillow. Our father, mother, and then both of us. “I have developed some skill in the painting arts after constantly being asked what I painted for you.”
“It is lovely,” I replied. “You captured my glare perfectly.” My sister giggled at that.
“Of course. You are always so serious.”
“Thank you, I love it. Still not as good as your first piece of art,” I replied with a grin. My sister let out a huff.
“Silly brother. Has anyone praised it?” she asked out of curiosity.
“Well, the Sect Leader did say that it is one of the most unique pieces of art he has ever seen,” I replied.
“No! He didn’t.” She blushed heavily and covered her face with her hands.
“Yes. I showed it to him, to get his opinion one time. It made him chuckle,” I replied. He had also rolled his eyes and told me to stop creating pointless trouble.
“You are evil brother. Pure evil,” she replied.
“You have to show me this painting. It has reached legendary status. What is it exactly?” her husband got enough courage to ask.
“Don’t you dare brother!”
“All I will say, is that my sister, channeled all her genius into one drawing. All others pale in comparison and words can’t do it justice. So great is the drawing, that even an Immortal would be moved by the sight,” I replied. I could tell my sister was holding back giggles at what I was saying.
“Hmm, you sure do like to tease. I guess I will be left forever wondering,” Yao Yang said. I resisted from glaring at him. I was talking to my sister, but he was her husband. It would make her unhappy if I got annoyed with him.
The following day after the family dinner the day before, I went to see Zheng Ting my senior director for Zhou Holding Company Limited. There was no big welcome this time, since I didn’t want a fuss. I went to her office and looked over the reports she had prepared.
“You are keeping things stable,” I finally said after looking through her reports. There had been no expansion, but no losses either.
“Yes, Cultivator Yuan Zhou. That seemed like the best option moving forward.” I let out a long sigh. This was pocket change compared to the amount I truly needed. It was daunting how much I needed. Mortal businesses just didn’t have the market to support a cultivator, especially one as demanding as me. It was like trying to trade pennies one at a time to get a billion dollars. It was too slow and painful. Also, there weren’t enough pennies in circulation to make a billion dollars.
“I need a lot of money Zheng Ting, a lot. My cultivation requires resources in large amounts,” I said with a heavy sigh.
“How much are we talking about?” she asked. I chuckled softly.
“A conservative estimate, to reach the start of rank 4, I need six billion tael.” That wasn’t counting special materials I needed to find. There was utter silence at that.
“Six billion?” she asked, just to confirm the number.
“About that much. Or six million, rank 1 spirit stones,” I said with a strained smile to lighten the mood.
“That’s quite a lot. I wouldn’t know where to being,” Zheng Ting replied softly.
“I am going out into the wilderness to hunt beasts. But even then, it will be difficult to get enough. And that is not even counting rank 4.” I shook my head. The words of the Sect Leader still ringing in my head. “Everything.”
“Everything of what?” Zheng Ting asked. It was so absurd as to be hilarious.
“Everything. The entire wealth of the continent,” I finally replied.
“Ah,” she said quietly as the scale of what I was saying hit her. Everything was quite a lot after all. The sheer absurdity of that thought made me want to laugh in despair.
“For now, I want you to arrange for a residence to be purchased in Imperial City. A team of people sent there to gather information on the markets in Imperial City. They are not to make waves. But to get a better understanding of the powers that control the city, and what cultivators want. Is there a demand somewhere.”
This was my plan. I needed to do market research. Before I could just bully my way through my business ventures. But now I was in a position of weakness both in terms of backing and understanding. Correcting the first would be difficult and was offset being the personal disciple of the sect. The lack of understanding I could correct by having people do research for me.
“That will cost quite a bit,” Zheng Ting told me.
“I know. But when I arrive, I want the information ready for me, rather than trying to dig it up myself,” I replied.
“It will require someone you trust quite a bit as well,” she said.
“Indeed. What, are you thinking about volunteering?” I asked. She looked off to the side. I had only been joking, but she was serious about this.
“A bit. I am getting old. I am already forty years old. I have no children. I would like to see more than this city before I die,” she replied with a sigh.
“Why haven’t you gotten married?” I asked bit rudely. Since she had a last name, she could find a husband easily.
“I never found someone Yuan Zhou. Everyone was fake. I went from a servant to a noble. Now I am too old and a pregnancy would be risky,” she replied with a sigh. I didn’t want to press her anymore. Her using my name like that was a subtle rebuke, even with the massive difference in our positions, I didn’t call her out on it.
“All right. Arrange for your replacement. I will leave the arrangements to you. You are authorized for ten level 1 spirit stones or coins. I will probably show up in a decade or so,” I replied.
“That long?” she asked me.
“It takes two or so years to get there by caravan. Ten years is short,” I told her.
“Thank you, Cultivator Yuan Zhou,” she told me.
“Consider it a reward for a loyal service. Is there anything else you would ask of me?”
“Just to meet with my replacement. Seeing you in person, would help stabilize things once I depart.” I nodded at that.
Everyone was getting older while I was stuck in the appearance of a child. The weight of time was immense. Learning how to deal with that weight was important. The only way I knew how was to take things one day at time.
I had started on this path out of a desire to be challenged and not wanting to die again. I did not know what allowed me to come back to this land, but I didn’t think I would get lucky enough for a third life. Even if it was possible, I didn’t want to take that risk any time soon.
After meeting with Zheng Ting’s replacement, I got into the carriage that had been prepared for me. It set off for a remote section of road that was quite a distance from Half Moon City. There would be no carriage that would come to pick me up. I would be out in the wilderness until I got enough beast cores or spirit stones.
Perhaps I would be struck by enlightenment and come up with an idea for a business. Everything came back to the limited energy of the heavens and earth. It was the absolute bottleneck. All other resources were derived from that source, which was unknown.
If there was a spigot of power, I would not give up the source, which was what the high rank sects were doing. The wonders I had seen on my trip, the Endless Waterfall and the Primordial Ziggurat were locations of interest. There were other such places, but the one thing they all shared in common was death. Cultivators poked at these locations with some hope that they could gain some treasure or insight.
What happened instead was that they died, their soul lanterns triggered. There was very little knowledge gained, since the deaths were often sudden and unclear in how they occurred. It was rumored that a few of these special locations were hiding locations of the demonic sects and they knew ways around soul lanterns.
It was tempting to rush to one of these sites, battling my way through. But the joke was that the demonic sects used these sights so they could farm cultivators without having to make a fuss. It would not be surprising if there was a rank 8 monster at the end sharpening their teeth and filling their belly on idiots that ran into their gaping maw.
While I had been training in swinging my sword for the last year, I was no sword master or expert. I might be able to hold off a low rank 3 cultivator since my cultivation was insane compared to other cultivators. But after that the difference in speed in strength would quickly become insurmountable. Skill might take me to a high rank 3 cultivator. The problem was that I had a very low level of skill, and my small stature didn’t help my reach.
I wouldn’t stab myself or swing my sword around like an idiot. But I would struggle against a cultivator on the martial path. Looking down at the sword in my lap, One Swing To Sperate Heaven And Earth. While that wasn’t the name of the sword, that saying of my former master was etched onto the blade. It was an immense gift he had left me. I vowed once more in my heart to not squander his faith in me.
I gripped the sheath, taking comfort in how sturdy it was. The sheathe was made of spirit wood that had been dyed light blue and white. It was dyed, not painted so the coloration would last as long as the blade it housed did.
I looked up at the large cloudy gem partially covered up with metal to look like the Cloudy Moon Sect symbol on the hilt of the blade. Yi Rong had urged me to get good at fighting, but I was not a fighter at heart. Unfortunately, the path of defiance and the martial path overlapped quite a bit. Even if I traveled to other places or to this Firmament outside the continent, then I would need strength regardless of my intentions.
The pressure of cultivation was weighing down on me. I knew I had gotten incredibly lucky so far. With my innate talent to see the concentrated energy of the heavens and earth, or Qi. Coming back from the astral plane was another fortuitous event.
I did not like depending on luck, even less than I liked fighting. Depending on luck meant that one did not properly plan. While I had planned, I had been too sure of myself. Thinking that I could rapidly align motes without considering the consequences. Now I was trapped, and there was no way off the path I was traveling.
To slow down meant death. Hopefully Zheng Ting would find information I could use in Imperial City for when I finally journeyed there. While I was giving her a lot of trust, the amount I had given her was a small amount compared to what I needed. Not even a drop in the bucket.
I really was a pig with how many resources I needed. The Sect Leader had been right, even if it hurt to admit that. Well, I was going out to get some myself. I set my sword to the side. Might as well get changed now. I was not about to travel in the wilderness in my sect robe. I was keeping my sect robe with me, for when I returned to avoid trouble.
The clothes I put on were specifically commissioned, since they were made with spirit thread. That meant they were tougher than normal. A dark gray t-shirt and dark gray shorts. While it might get chilly, I could use my sect robe as a blanket. Gone were the comfortable padded shoes I normally wore.
Instead, I had sandals that had straps going around the back of my ankle. They would let my feet breathe and allow me to adjust my footing more easily. Martial Elder Lei had made it clear, that dodging was far superior to taking attacks unless I was a body cultivator.
Even then, dodging was preferred. That was why I was wearing such light clothing that didn’t constrict me in any way. While my sect robe was easy enough to move around in, I had no doubt there would be copious amounts of blood, grime, and all manner of terribleness spilled upon me. Better to keep it clean.
It would take a couple of days to reach the location I was planning to start hunting from. The hardest part would be finding the beasts quickly, while avoiding a beast tide.