The Jungle of Blooming Paradise is not a place where the weak survive for long. Immortals, powerful as they are compared with mortals, cannot stand before the raw power of the beasts. Many young immortals fall in pursuit of the coveted beast cores. But, what humans lack in terms of strength, they make up for in cunning.

The immortals of Gaia hunt in packs, flushing the spirit beasts from their dens and into snares set by the group. Chi bombs rain upon the creatures from dozens of lower immortals to fell but a single beast. The result is often ugly.

But, it is not for the meat or leather that immortals hunt. Only the soul stone matters before the avarice of man. The jungle can have what remains.

For every successful hunt, several more fail. Few beasts scare easily in this jungle. And, the meat and soul stones of immortals taste just as fine as any the jungle provides.

Surveying my territory, I see traces of combat everywhere. Trees that have shattered under the force of massive bodies or from the explosion of chi bombs. Great swaths of the jungle flattened by unreasonable beastial abilities. But, always, the jungle rises back to its glory.

The chi that saturates the region is most manifest in the beasts that refine the energy into their cores. But, the trees and other vegetation are lush and overcharged with life energy. The trees tower high above any I've seen in the Northern continent, their trunks as wide as most houses. It's a grand sight that I never enjoyed in my past life.

The insects and arachnids that crawl upon the jungle floor and the trees are monsters in their own right. I wonder at the courage of mortals who call this jungle home. To go to sleep at night knowing that one of these critters could creep into their bed. I can only imagine the attrition rate that they experience in the face of such bizarre forms of nature.

But, humans also evolve where chi is dense. The chances of attaining immortality in the jungle are not insignificant and the natives have created their own culture.

Whereas the immortals of the North form sects, the tribes are quite covetous of their shamans. The distinction between immortal and shaman is obscure. Both types of cultivators refine chi into a soul core that is used to harness the spirit energies. But, shamans rely less on ki, refined chi, than they do on primal chi.

The primal chi, that I have tasted through the beast cores, is more savage in its applications. It is raw life chi that can be used to empower the body beyond what conventional spirit energy is capable of.

I look out over the devastation and regrowth and feel at home. The beast souls within me know this place even while I do not.

My ravine is safe in the heart of my territory. And, as I hover on my flying sword, I scan the dense jungle for the next meal I will partake in.

I don't have to search for long, the beasts haven't taken heed of my presence and the establishment of my domain. A panther spirit beast lurks in the foliage seeking to take its prey unawares. It has yet to realize that it's been noticed.

Like a dart through the air, I fly into the green leaves of the canopy. There's no need for stealth, only surprise.

The panther hears me only moments before I am upon it. My sword slashes out and cuts deep into the cat's front shoulder. It roars its defiance as I land on the ground behind it, my soul body reaching out to suppress it while I charge forward to pierce its hindquarters.

The beast recovers and growls with primal chi lacing its voice.

Suddenly, I feel intimidated. My charge falters and the beast has time to turn to face me.

I grimace as I force chi through my body and soul, clearing it of the intimidation. My courage ignites only just in time.

The panther pounces on me with its towering form. I block its ki-empowered claws and flood my blade's spirit space channels with energy. The beast has raw power. But, mine is refined and concentrated.

I slash open wounds on the paws of the beast. Red blood seeps into the moist ground beneath it.

The feline's lips curl up to reveal white fangs, its face distorted by rage.

I take a moment to catch my breath while the beast and I face off.

My primal chi begins to flow through my muscles. The size of my body grows marginally broader, muscles popping with newfound power.

I smile at the snarling creature and begin to walk towards it. There is no rush. I will end this in my own time and show it the cost of intruding on my domain.

The cat seems to realize the danger and steps back. But, it's unwilling to flee. So, after a moment's hesitation, the spirit beast jumps at me.

I empower my sword with ki through its spirit space channels and slash at the pouncing beast. My empowered muscles project tremendous force that cuts through the claws and neck of the oncoming feline.

I watch with savage delight as the head of the beast tumbles to the ground behind me, my soul body blocking the blood from reaching my pristine robes.

The pleasure of the kill settles over me and I think for a moment that I'm getting lost in the beast mindset.

I would settle to meditate in this spot, but I know that other hunters will come in search of meat soon. So, I reach out and take the panther's soul stone. With my prize in hand, I take to the sky.

The ravine I call home is not far. And, soon, I am returned to my place in the array of my immortal's cave.

In the lotus position, I think about how the jungle is affecting me. A certain bloodthirst has come over me. And, I find the fact concerning.

With the Yang energies of heaven, a need for dominance had sought to control my shen, the state of consciousness that guides my dao. The solution I found was simple enough. Balance. The balance of Yin to Yang, night to day.

But, what is the balance of primal energy? I find my knowledge inadequate. This jungle is beyond the breadth of my understanding.

Perhaps…. The shamans of the jungle would have an answer.

I realize that if I am to advance without becoming a beast myself, I must find a teacher in the ways of primal chi. But, I am not sure how well I would be received by the natives.

I shake my head and leave such thoughts for later. For now, I have a soul stone to refine.

In my black glass array, I am thought within the spirit. My shen extends out through the seed of life and I perceive the jungle as it is, as mine.

The thought stirs in me a rejection. But, I am quite content to let the defiance fade. At this moment, I am at home. The spirits within me are home.

I take the panther soul stone and create a channel between it and the heart of my soul body, my soul stone.

The vine, gluttonous as it is, is still digesting the souls it ate before. This soul stone is all mine.

Bit by bit, I break open the shell of the soul stone and release chi; heavenly, earthly, and primal life chi. The strands of escaping chi are sucked into my hungry soul stone to be refined and incorporated into my soul.

Not every mote of chi stays bound to me. Broken as my soul stone is from the repeated use of the Dragon's Scream cultivation pill, the cracks allow Chi to escape constantly. But, the depths to which my soul well reaches make it such that the volume of new chi has plenty of reservoirs into which it can be trapped.

The process of absorbing the soul stone lasts well into the night. And as I absorb the last of it, I rise from the lotus position.

I'm drawn in diverging directions. I want to hunt, to feed. But, my shen seeks to refine my dao.

My mind wins over my instincts and I exit my cave and ride the flying sword up above the canopy. I find I can lay across it comfortably, my soul body supporting and cushioning me as I hover in the air.

The night is full of sounds, the volume of which is all the more profound for the lack of intruding noises.

Beasts continue to forget their place in my territory, hunting for what's mine. But, it is a small matter. Time and experience will teach them what they do not already know.

As I listen to the shrubs rustle and the beasts howl their defiance, I watch the sky. The heavens open before me.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Whereas the desert was a place of silent contemplation, the jungle is alive. And, my reading of the stars is colored by the life that surrounds me.

The Fisherman and the Fish have a place in this narrative. But, moreso, the Bear in her hunt for food reflects the dao of this earthly space.

Before, I had not given much thought to the beasts of the heavens. The animal aspects reflect a kingdom at odds with mankind's.

The divisions of the races are complicated and spread across the realms of creation. Humans dominate the world of Gaia. And the beasts of the continent have been hunted to extinction across much of the land mass. But, in other realms, the beasts are plentiful.

All that I know of the other world blessed with heavenly chi is its existence. Whether it is dominated by immortals or spirit beasts is knowledge that was lost to the Calamity.

But, the races are not just man and beast. There are, of course, the daeva, winged demigods with strength superior to an ascended immortal and arcane magics beyond my comprehension. There are the jinn, both infernal, following the fallen god Lok, and pure flame followers of Amri.

The naga stir in the oceans. Great serpentine beings with torsos and limbs like any man. But, truly alien. Their civilizations are barely known, hidden as they are beneath great waters. All that's really known is that, when their ire is aroused, it's best to avoid the waterways.

The fae do not exist on Gaia. They exist across the realms in their cloisters. But, in the 16 realms, they call Alfheim home.

Of the fae, it is the elves that dominate the social order. I do not know all the types of them there are. But, the records suggest there to be many.

In the stories of the stars, tales of Alfheim are hidden. Their gods and goddesses reclusive and silent.

But, the signs are showing. The fae are not idle while the other races prepare for the Convergence.

As I cultivate my cosmic dao, the bestial instincts that sought to consume me fall into line. But, I realize, it is only a fleeting respite from the primal energies I consume.

The day brightens and I turn from my hunt to seeking out what could, potentially, be more dangerous, shamans.

The canopy flows like green water beneath me as I fly in an irregular pattern. I seek a village where I might inquire about the existence of immortal shamans.

A single day does not provide me with results and I spend a night in contemplation before continuing. This process continues until, at last, I find a village.

Coming down outside the village, I stow my sword and walk a path into the hut-filled space.

The huts are more than twigs and straw. They're a combination of wooden planks and great leather skins that present a powerful aesthetic.

My path continues until I spot a woman in a leather dress. She watches me with a critical eye. But, makes no move to run or greet me.

I continue into the heart of the village and see more men and women in their leather dresses, pants, and shirts. They seem to take everything they can from the beasts while I just leave the fallen to be consumed by carrion eaters.

I spot a man, in black leather, drop a parcel he'd been carrying. He makes his way to me, a dubious expression on his face.

"What brings you to Paradise?" he asks.

I smile, paradise is one way to describe the jungle.

"I'm seeking a shaman," I explain. "I would like to learn from them."

The man cocks his head to the side and I see the surrounding people chuckle to themselves.

"I take it you're an immortal from the North?" the man asks, which I confirm. "You might be better off going back the way you came, immortal. The shamans aren't particularly fond of your kind."

The respect and fear that I'm so used to from mortals is absent in this place. But then, they're surrounded by beast cultivators who want to eat them. A novice immortal from the North seems somehow unremarkable.

I look at the man, as patiently as I can with the primal chi swirling within me.

He seems to catch onto my state but doesn't quiver.

"I see," he says. "You've already consumed more than a few beast cores. The blood lust is notable."

He looks at me oddly, "Where's your party? You shouldn't have been allowed to consume so many so quickly."

I chuckle, "I don't have a party."

His face grows serious.

"Perhaps…." he contemplates. "Perhaps it would be best for you to speak with the shamans. Lest another beast rises in Paradise."

I nod my head, "Thank you."

"Come," he says. "We should talk over a drink."

I smile. It's been a while since I've had any alcohol.

Rather than a saloon, the business operates out of a shack and has wooden tables with leather over the top and chairs arranged around them.

It's a tropical bar that I find refreshing in its openness.

While I sit, the man in black leather goes to the window of the shack and procures a pair of bamboo cups of considerable size. Upon returning I smell a sweet concoction with the astringency of a high-proof spirit.

Not rice wine or beer as I'm used to. But, the smell alone is quite enticing.

He sets mine down before sitting with his own. The man takes a long draw from his beverage before looking at me.

It strikes me as possible that there could be a drug in the drink. But, my senses don't detect anything unusual.

I take in a mouthful of the sweet and fruity drink. The alcohol is significant but doesn't overpower the juice. It's quite good and unlike anything I've consumed before.

"So, immortal," the man says. "What should I call you? Cause that Your Excellency crap you Northerners are all about doesn't fly down here."

I look into his fearless eyes, "Rook will do just fine."

He nods and takes another drink from his cup. "Rook, then. Let me be frank. The shamans won't do anything for you unless you have something to offer them. They won't kill you on sight like your immortals up North. But, they won't do jack for you without getting something in return.

"And before you say it. No, they don't want beast cores. Not unless it's a beast lord's core. And then, they won't deal with you cause you pissed off Paradise's true rulers.

"So, I ask, what can you offer to the shamans that they would even consider teaching you anything?"

I reach into the space in my spatial ring and pull out a common Immortal's Ascendance pill.

The man looks at it for a moment before reaching out, "May I?"

I pass the item to the man and he examines it, smells it, and weighs it in his hand. Wordlessly, he passes it back to me.

"I'm not an expert in such things, but I can tell it's worth something. Are you an alchemist?"

I nod.

"That's definitely something the shaman's would be interested in. But, the shamans are big on equivalent exchange. Knowledge for knowledge might be more their interest than just a simple trading of pills."

The man nods, "Alright, Rook. I'll send a message to the elders of the tribe. They'll consider your request. It may take a while. But, you'll get an answer.

"Stay close and the shamans will find you. And…." he says without humor. "Don't hunt in our territory."

I nod, my bestial nature is reluctant to admit that this isn't my territory.

With that, the man stands and goes off to his affairs.

I sit, drinking my sweet beverage. The eyes of the villagers upon me. And, soon, my drink is gone.

I walk out of the village and take to flying sword. I'm a few days away from my ravine and hunting grounds, so all I can do is wait.

The days pass with me absorbing the Yang of the sun as I hover in the sky over the canopy. And, at night, I meditate on the dao of the heavens.

I see signs of constellations preparing to fall. The anticipation and dread force the heavens to move in a way they never have before.

One night, after a week of waiting, the Bear constellation falls. A beast like no other. The stars don't fall on Aion or any plane above. But, they fall on Gaia. And, far closer than I'm comfortable with.

I feel myself swallow the lump in my throat. This might be even more dangerous than the Abomination considering my presence in spirit beast territory.

The Bear constellation is not that of a goddess. Rather, she is an aspect.

Like the Wanderer and Knight, the Bear embodies the nature of things. Of course, as with the abomination, there is a will that the Bear manifests.

I expect the Jungle of Blooming Paradise will become very complicated shortly. The beast lords will rally to this new character in their domain. And as the mother that she is, the Bear will be very protective of her cubs.

The stars fade as the sky brightens and as I prepare for my meditation on the Yang, a figure comes bounding up from the trees to meet me.

The figure doesn't ride a flying sword. Instead, they project out from their feet a platform upon which they bounce their foot. Before the air jump fades, they project with the other foot. The figure jumps repeatedly to stay level with me. But, there is no straining in the figure. It is as natural as walking.

"Rook," comes the young woman's voice as she jumps continuously, remaining level with me. "Your petition has been considered. We are willing to hear your request and what you offer in exchange."

I look at the tan woman for a moment, curious about the mechanism she uses to keep herself aloft without a flying sword or whole soul stone.

"Thank you," I say. "I'm ready, if your elders are."

She nods before allowing herself to descend and projecting her jump in the direction she intends to travel.

I follow and think that her method of pseudo-flight, while inferior in maximum speed, is much more agile than a flying sword.

We travel away from the village for some time before we come upon a large building in the middle of a clearing. Smoke rises from a grand bonfire before the building. And, I see a gathering of spiraling gravity wells. Chi is consumed in large quantities by this gathering.

The woman leads me to the side of the bonfire opposite the elders. I stow my sword and come to stand before the shamans.

They look at me critically for a moment before one of them speaks.

"We were told that another beast might rise if we don't share our wisdom. I can tell that this was not just hyperbole. You have a great soul."

I find myself waiting for the but.

"But," the elderly woman continues. "Why should we not kill you to prevent such an end?"

I bow hand over fist, "I do not seek conflict. Merely control. I will not tread upon your hunting grounds nor offend the beast lords.

"What I offer is cultivation pills. I am an alchemist of the North and believe that you would benefit from what I can offer."

The elders look amongst themselves.

"I'm sure you're prepared to offer more than that," the woman says.

I smile ruefully. Of course, I didn't expect them to be satisfied with just that. But, I did hope.

"I am willing," I say, "to take on an apprentice for the period that I am learning from you."

The elderly woman nods, "This is what is expected. We will teach you and you will teach us. This is fair."

I nod, "I agree."

The elder motions to the woman beside me, "You will be instructing Marina in your art. We will begin your training when she has reached a satisfactory level of proficiency."

I look at the young woman with brown hair, tan skin, and brown eyes. In her leather shirt and pants, she looks quite rugged. But, she's very pretty.

Such things are irrelevant to learning the art of alchemy. But, her acrobatic display in traversing the jungle demonstrates that she is competent in cultivation.

I return my gaze to the elder, "I accept."

With that, the elders turn to the building behind them. Leaving me alone with my new apprentice.

I look to Marina, "Do you have a place prepared?"

She nods and escorts me away from the elders' complex and into the heart of the jungle.

Soon we're in a camp that seems to be her own.

"Do you have a pill cauldron?"

She looks at me oddly, "No."

"Do you have any medicinal herbs?"

Again, she says, "No."

"Well," I say after a moment's hesitation. "I don't suppose you know anything about medicinal herbs?"

"No."

I scratch the back of my head. Unfortunately, I never bothered to buy any books on medicinal herbs in this life. I thought I didn't need them.

"I'll start by teaching you about the herbs we find here in the jungle. Let's begin."

Marina nods and follows dutifully after me as I begin the search for herbs.

Truly, back to basics.