The next two months passed by in the blink of an eye. I spent much of my time cultivating, training, exploring East Mesa City, and so on. As Ellen said, there were plenty of places to visit, as well as sights to see. East Mesa City was bigger than Clear Basin City and had a lot more to offer. It took a great deal of my self control not to squander my spirit stones on things I didn’t need.
Even so, I spent a good amount on food, much to the amusement of my companions. I couldn’t help myself. There were so many new and unfamiliar dishes to sample, and I was a demon of hunger and desire.
As for my cultivation and training, that was a mixed bag. My cultivation speed was slower, thanks to my Dual Foundation. Taking Foundation Establishment Pills and practicing the Celestial Asura technique helped mitigate this, but at this rate it would take at least a decade or longer before I reached mid Foundation Establishment. I expected this, but after my rapid progress through the Qi Condensation realm, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. I had been spoiled.
My training, on the other hand, progressed quite well. Inspired by the fight with the Thousand Blade Sect disciples, I started training with various handicaps. That way, if I faced another opponent in the future that hindered my senses or put me at a disadvantage in some way, I would be more prepared. I sparred while blind-folded, without using my spirit sense, with one or both of my arms tied behind my back, and so on. The others helped me with this training, and even started training this way as well.
Inspired by my fight with Cultivator Galen, I started developing a method to predict an opponent’s movements by studying the flow of the air around them. Given how it helped me when I was at a serious disadvantage, I’d be a fool to neglect it. I didn’t know if this could be considered a proper technique or not, but I decided to call it Air Reading.
I continued practicing the Heartflame technique, and achieved initial mastery in it a month after we arrived in East Mesa City. This happened after our group attended the first lecture at the branch office. While it cost me one hundred contribution points to attend, it was well worth the price.
Since most of the Dawn and Dusk Sect disciples assigned to East Mesa City were from Myriad Treasures Pavilion and Puppet Master Pavilion, the lectures focused on magic treasure refinement. This was relevant to the Heartflame technique, since it was created to aid in concocting pills and refining magic treasures. The lecture we attended filled in the gaps in my knowledge and I gained several insights, which allowed me to reach initial mastery of the Heartflame technique.
During this time period, I also made sure to keep concocting pills in order to raise my proficiency in alchemy. Thanks to the advice that Willow gave me back in Clear Basin City, as well as the compendium of plants and vegetation, I broke through the bottleneck that had stymied me for a while. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before I started mid-grade pills. Since this included Foundation Establishment Pills, which were necessary to speed up my cultivation, I wouldn’t need to buy them from others anymore. I could just make my own.
Observing the rhythms and cycles of the world around me also became a part of my training. The rising and setting of the sun, the phases of the moon, the movement of the stars. I studied all of them. However, I also studied East Mesa City itself. In many ways, it was a small world unto itself, with its own rhythms and cycles.
At dawn, the city was calm and quiet, since almost everyone spent this time cultivating. After that, people participated in various activities. Some trained, honing their bodies and minds. Others spent it in leisure, enjoying the various pleasures that East Mesa City had to offer.
In the afternoons, cultivators gathered in various public spaces to socialize and exchange insights. Sometimes they argued and fought for one reason or another. Most of these fights ended without much injury, but a few resulted in death. In general, cultivators were a contentious lot.
In the evenings, the city quieted down. While cultivators at or above Foundation Establishment needed less sleep, or didn’t need to sleep at all, evening was still a time of rest.
Observing all this, and participating in it, helped me gain more insights into the world around me. My understanding and proficiency of the Breath of the World technique increased. And this was just observing East Mesa City. There were countless other kinds of rhythms and cycles to observe, such as the changing of the seasons and so on.
I also worked hard to increase my understanding of the One With The Fist stage, since it was a prerequisite for understanding and using fist intent. However, to my frustration, it was slow going. Over the course of two months, I only achieved One With The Fist a few times, and only for brief periods of time. Still, I treasured these glimpses for the insights they gave me.
I tried studying the rock that Estelle gave me, the one with an imprint of a fist on it. She said that it would help me when I started studying fist intent, so I thought that it would help me here. It… Didn’t. When I studied the rock without spirit sense, I gained nothing. However, when I studied it with spirit senses, it felt like someone punched me in the face. It appeared that my second eldest sister took after our mother in this regard. I assumed that I wasn’t supposed to study the rock until I was ready to learn fist intent rather than One With The Fist.
Of course, I didn’t spend every waking moment cultivating and training. I made sure to spend time with both Ellen and Willow. The two of them were among the most important people in my life, and I didn’t want to take them for granted. I didn’t want to be like my uncle, who focused all his attention on his favorite wife, Lucille, and neglected all the rest.
Not everything was peaceful, however. A few weeks after we arrived in East Mesa City, we received word from the Dawn and Dusk Sect via transmission talisman. Someone was looking into the group of rogue cultivators that had killed Cultivator Blood Petal and her companions. This person was likely from the Ancient Blood Sect. While the chances of them finding out our true identities was low, it was still best to remain cautious and vigilant.
Tensions between the disciples of the Dawn and Dusk Sect and the Thousand Blade Sect grew as word spread of what happened between Ellen and Cultivator Galen, including the fight that occurred afterwards. The former were outraged, since they considered Ellen one of their own. She was popular and well-liked by most of the Dawn and Dusk Sect disciples in East Mesa City. The Thousand Blade Sect disciples were angered because their sect lost face after we defeated Cultivator Evette, her brother, and her brother’s followers.
While the conflict remained limited to verbal arguments and shouting matches for the most part, a few fights broke out. None of them resulted in any serious injuries, but they gave birth to several grudges. It didn’t help that the Ancient Blood Sect disciples were making things worse behind the scenes by goading both the Dawn and Dusk Sect disciples and the Thousand Blade Sect disciples into attacking each other.
The only reason why things didn’t grow any worse was because the city lord, Branch Head Xavier, and Branch Head Elroy kept everyone in check. However, it was clear that people were only waiting until the Violet Desert hidden realm opened up. That was when they planned on settling scores.
I had mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, it was clear that the competition in the Violet Desert hidden realm would be more bloody and violent than usual. Even though I wasn’t the one who caused it all, I still felt a little guilty. On the other hand, the rising tensions and conflict meant that I would have more opportunities to fight. Despite my guilt, I couldn’t help but feel excited at the prospect.
The days passed by like this, one after the other, and soon it was time to enter the Violet Desert hidden realm.
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On the day that the Violet Desert hidden realm was set to open, Branch Head Xavier gathered all of the disciples who qualified to enter and brought them all to the entrance. Of course, the members of our group qualified. We were all Foundation Establishment cultivators and, thanks to the lectures we attended, all of us knew enough about refining magic treasures to harvest the eponymous Violet Sand.
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As for our battle prowess, we proved ourselves to Branch Head Xavier when we faced off against Cultivator Evette, Cultivator Galen, and the latter’s minions, meaning we met the most important requirement. However, a part of me suspected that my status within the Dawn and Dusk Sect also affected Branch Head Xavier’s decision to include us. While the rest of East Mesa City knew me as Flamewind, he knew my true identity.
I had mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I didn’t want to rely on my family too much. That would hinder my personal growth in the long run. On the one hand, I heard it said that one’s luck was also a part of one’s strength. This included the family one was born into.
The entrance to the Violet Desert hidden realm was a massive sand field located several hours north of East Mesa City. Most of the time, it looked no different from any other stretch of desert. However, when the hidden realm opened up, the sand field turned into a whirling vortex.
Entering the vortex teleported a person to a random location within the Violet Desert hidden realm. It was possible to teleport to the same location as others, but everyone either needed to be in physical contact with one another for this to happen, or they needed to be aboard the same flying magic treasure.
The journey to the entrance itself was uneventful. After all the qualifying disciples gathered at the Dawn and Dusk Sect Branch Office, Branch Head Xavier summoned a flying boat from his storage ring and had everyone board it. Well, given its size, it was closer to a flying barge. After everyone boarded, it soared into the sky.
The other qualifying disciples formed groups of three or four, and kept to themselves. They saw no need to socialize with us and we returned the favor. After all, we were competing with each other as well as the disciples from the other sects. While I wouldn’t go as low as to steal from my fellow disciples, that didn’t mean I had to help them collect Violet Sand. That said, if I saw them being attacked, I would intervene. I wasn’t heartless.
I was a bit disappointed to see that neither Cultivator Rexanne nor Cultivator Albin were among the qualifying disciples. It would have been nice to see them again. I shook off my disappointment and focused on the upcoming event.
It was mid morning by the time we arrived at the entrance to the Violet Desert hidden realm. We were the second group of people to arrive. The first group was made up of cultivators from the local clans and sects. However, it was clear that they weren’t a united whole. They were divided into various factions, with their own allegiances and alliances. Unfortunately, I wasn’t well versed in local politics, so I didn’t recognize most of them.
The one thing I learned during my time in East Mesa City was that the local clans and sects both relied on and resented the Dawn and Dusk Sect, the Thousand Blade Sect, and the Ancient Blood Sect. The presence of the three sects brought a lot of prosperity and protection to East Mesa City. However, the three sects could also be overbearing and disdainful of the locals. As such, while the locals were divided and fought amongst themselves, they would stand together against outsiders.
After we landed and disembarked, Branch Head Xavier walked over to greet the local elders and leaders. For a brief moment, I considered talking to some of the local cultivators. However, I decided against it when I saw their sneers and disdainful expressions. Instead, I kept my distance like the other Dawn and Dusk Sect disciples.
While we waited for the Thousand Blade Sect and the Ancient Blood Sect to arrive, I looked around. There was nothing around us for miles, except for sand dunes and the occasional rocky outcropping. There were a few spirit beasts in the area, but they were all Rank One and hid from us. It was scorching hot out. So much so that no mortal would have been able to survive here for long, even with protection.
As I looked around, a man wearing all black caught my attention. He wore simple black robes, and a featureless black mask hid his face, making it impossible to discern his features. I recognized him, since Ellen told me about him, though this was my first time seeing him. The man was Cultivator Black Sand, the city lord’s adviser and the representative of the local clans and sects. He was at mid Golden Core.
Cultivator Black Sand must have sensed my gaze, since he turned towards me. The two of us stared at one another for a few moments, before I turned away. Maybe it was my imagination, but his gaze felt… Sharp, for lack of a better term. I didn’t sense any anger or hostility. However, it was as if he unsheathed his claws at me for a brief moment. It felt like a warning. It impressed me that he managed to convey all that with just a look, and while wearing a mask.
After I turned away from Cultivator Black Sand, I looked at the sky. It was mid morning, meaning we had a few hours left. According to Ellen, the Violet Desert hidden realm would open up when the sun reached its zenith. With nothing better to do, I decided to meditate while we waited.
Over the next few hours, a few rogue cultivators showed up. Each and every single one of them was either at late Foundation Establishment or peak Foundation Establishment. That made sense. Since they were competing against cultivators that belonged to powerful sects, the rogue cultivators were at a disadvantage. They needed to be strong themselves if they wanted to reap any benefits from the Violet Desert hidden realm.
Rogue cultivators enjoyed freedom and independence. However, in exchange, they didn’t have the backing of a clan or sect. They could only rely on themselves. While I saw the appeal of that sort of lifestyle, I also thought that it was a lonely one. I didn’t think it would suit me.
The Thousand Blade Sect and the Ancient Blood Sect showed up less than an hour before the Violet Desert hidden realm was supposed to open up. The former arrived atop a giant flying sword, piloted by Branch Head Elroy. As soon as they landed, Branch Head Elroy went to greet the other elders and leaders, while the Thousand Blade Sect disciples kept to themselves. They all wore stern expressions on their faces, though several of them gave the Dawn and Dusk Sect disciples dirty looks, which we returned.
As for the Ancient Blood Sect, they arrived atop a winged red serpent that was a Rank Three spirit beast. Standing atop the serpent’s head was a woman wearing the red robes of the Ancient Blood Sect. Her appearance reminded me of Ellen’s: tall and thin, with pale skin and androgynous features.
However, there were a few differences between the two. This woman’s long hair was blood red rather than black. Her eyes were yellow rather than bluish-green, but they also had vertical slits for pupils. She was at mid Golden Core, which made her more powerful than Branch Head Xavier and Branch Head Elroy.
The head of the Ancient Blood Sect’s branch office in East Mesa City, Kasandra.
Ellen told us a bit about her. Despite her appearance, Branch Head Kasandra was neither a spirit beast in human form or a snake beastkin. Instead, she was a human who had used a demonic technique in order to refine the blood of a snake spirit beast and take on its traits. Because of this, Ellen and Elliot felt a revulsion towards her.
When the winged serpent landed, the Ancient Blood Sect disciples disembarked. Afterwards, the winged serpent shrunk until it was small enough to wrap around Branch Head Kasandra’s arm. Unlike the Dawn and Dusk Sect and the Thousand Blade Sect, the disciples of the Ancient Blood Sect mingled with the local clans and sects. While they weren’t greeted with any warmth, they weren’t outright rejected either. Branch Head Kasandra herself went to greet the other elders and leaders. Since I had nothing better to do, I decided to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“Cultivator Xavier,” she said in a sultry voice, “Cultivator Elroy.” She gave each of them a martial salute. “It’s a pleasure to see you two on this fine day.”
Branch Head Xavier and Branch Head Elroy greeted her in turn, though they regarded her with wariness. Afterwards, Branch Head Kasandra turned towards Cultivator Black Sand.
“Cultivator Black Sand,” Branch Head Kasandra said, her voice taking on a more seductive quality, “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you today. Have you given my proposal any consideration?”
When they heard this, Branch Head Xavier and Branch Head Elroy gave Cultivator Black Sand sharp looks. However, it was difficult to gauge his reaction due to the mask he wore.
“I have.” Cultivator Black Sand said in a cold voice. “My answer is still no, Cultivator Kasandra.”
Branch Head Kasandra pouted.
“Oh, how disappointing.” She said, though I couldn’t tell if she was being sincere or not. “I was so looking forward to it.”
“What are you two talking about?” Branch Head Elroy asked in a sharp voice. “What proposal?”
Branch Head Kasandra flashed a mischievous smile at him.
“That is between Cultivator Black Sand and I.” She said.
Branch Head Elroy glared at her. Branch Head Xavier crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. I didn’t blame them. At the moment, in East Mesa City, the three sects were locked in an uneasy stalemate with one another. However, if one of them allied themselves with the city lord, that could tip the balance. Even the suggestion of an alliance could cause discord. A part of me suspected that was what Branch Head Kasandra wanted.
“Well then, enough about that.” Branch Head Kasandra said, clapping her hands together. “Shall we decide who gets to go through the entrance first?”
Branch Head Xavier and Branch Head Elroy both looked like they wanted to press the issue, but refrained in the end. Deciding the order of entry for the Violet Desert hidden realm took priority. Those who entered first would have an advantage over everyone else, since they would have more time to collect Violet Sand.
“I say we let the disciples of the Dawn and Dusk Sect enter first.” Branch Head Kasandra continued, wearing a sharp smile as she spoke. “Given what happened with Cultivator Water Fang a few months ago, that should be fair compensation. Wouldn’t you agree, Cultivator Elroy?”