Slifer sat cross-legged in the centre of the vast courtyard, nearly a thousand Black Heart Sect disciples fanned out before him in neat rows. A handful of Nascent Soul Elders had also joined but the Grand Elders were absent.
He shook his head wryly, remembering their faces when he first subjugated the sect. That little stunt with the Susanoo-like avatar, courtesy of a pricey Immortal Avatar Aura Card, sure did the trick.
The despair in their eyes as they realized an "Immortal" had them by the spiritual bits...ah, priceless. Worth every one of those 10,000 Karmic Credits.
Had he merely shown Ascendant-level strength, they would have still been hoping that their missing Sect Master Kaelius might return to save them. Now, they knew they were well and truly conquered.
Speaking of Grand Elders...Slifer's eyes narrowed as he considered Damian. What a sneaky fellow, hiding his half-step Ascendant cultivation. The others actually bought his "peak Origin Realm" act. Guy definitely had plots brewing behind that pretty face of his.
Well, no matter. Slifer had him cowed for now with the Immortal ploy. If Damian still wanted to tango after that display, then he was a few spirit stones short of a core.
As he surveyed the sea of expectant faces, Slifer let his mind wander. He'd been putting on the wise Immortal act for a while now, dispensing cryptic wisdom and stern rebukes in equal measure. But honestly? It was starting to wear thin.
All this flowery language and profound-sounding nonsense...it just wasn't him. Slifer was a straightforward guy, always had been. This xianxia elder shtick was as ill-fitting as a hairshirt.
But then again...who was going to call him out on it? He was an "Immortal" now, with the Karmic Credits to back it up. If he wanted to drop the stern Sect Master facade and be more of his true self, who could stop him?
Immortals were known for being eccentric, after all. A little quirk here, a spot of irreverence there...it would only add to his mystique. If anything, it would be more suspicious if he didn't change up his act.
Yeah, that's the ticket! Slifer thought with a grin. Time to let me be me, not some cookie-cutter xianxia NPC.
Slifer's attention snapped back to the present as a disciple stepped forward, bowing low. The young man launched into an account of his recent breakthrough to Core Formation, his voice gradually gaining confidence.
"...and as I circulated my Qi through the 64th meridian, I felt a buildup of pressure in my dantian. It was as if a great serpent was coiling tighter and tighter, ready to strike! I knew I had to redirect the flow before—"
Slifer nodded along, only half-listening as he mentally dissected the disciple's experience. More details to add to his growing repository of knowledge. Zack's insights alone weren't enough to prepare for his own impending tribulation, not with the ungodly lightning that was sure to rain down on his head courtesy of being a transmigrator. His own tribulation would likely give these kiddos a heart attack.
Assembling these disciples for storytime had been a stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.
He glanced to the side where Morvran stood with his arms folded. The Disciplinary Hall Master had arrived two days ago and already the disciples were scurrying about like whipped puppies. Slifer almost felt bad for them. Almost.
Better a few bruises now than losing Karmic Credits for their stupidity later, he reasoned. Maintaining his public Immortal façade was significantly easier than micromanaging the little monsters. He'd leave the tedious bits to Morvran.
The disciple finished his story and Slifer turned expectantly to the Elders. There was an awkward pause before a man who looked in his forties (but was probably centuries old) coughed and stood up.
"This unworthy one broke through to Core Formation some three centuries ago, back when he was a mere wandering cultivator," the elder began, his reedy voice filling the courtyard. "I secluded myself in the Reaving Demon Caves, and on the 37th day of my meditation—"
Slifer settled in, making appropriately sage noises at intervals as he listened with half an ear. The Nascent Soul elder’s experience was more polished than the disciple's novice fumbling, but no less valuable for his purposes.
When the Elder finished, the others chimed in one by one, a chorus of droning voices recounting step-by-step their long-ago breakthroughs. Slifer took it all in, assembling the puzzle pieces in his mind's eye.
After some time, Slifer blinked and suddenly realized days had passed in the blink of an eye! Stupid cultivator time dilation. Now he got why Xianxia novels could spend a dozen chapters on these enlightenment info-dumps.
He glanced over the sea of glazed eyes and slack jaws, noting the Core Formation disciples and above seemed mostly cognizant while those at Foundation Establishment and below looked ready to keel over.
Right, time to throw 'em a bone.
Slifer clapped his hands, jolting the crowd to attention. He smiled at their startled faces.
"I think that's enough of the appetizers," he announced. "How about we get to the main course, hmm? This old man will share his own insights on Core Formation, accumulated over countless years. Get your jade slips ready!"
The disciples scrambled for their writing tools, exhaustion vanishing. Even the drowsiest outer disciples perked up, eyes gleaming. Slifer preened a bit at their awed expressions. How often did an "Immortal" drop cultivation gems?
In the back row, Elarkin leaned forward intently. This was just the break he needed. Sure, the lecture was a few realms above his peak Qi Refinement stage, but surely he could glean some wisdom to drive his own advancement, right?
Slifer launched into his carefully prepared speech, rattling off nuggets he'd pilfered from Heaven rank manuals in the System shop. The teaser text alone gave him plenty of ammunition.
"Now, during Foundation Establishment, you need to construct pillars of Qi. Well, more isn't always merrier! Nine is the perfect number for optimal stability."
A disciple piped up. "This humble one understands fewer pillars means weaker foundations, but surely more can only strengthen the base?"
"Common misconception!” Slifer waggled a finger. “Too many and your cultivation will be about as stable as a one-legged chicken. Sure, you'll have Qi for days, but you'll waste more energy than a leaky spirit stone. Bigger isn't better if you can't use it right."
Several disciples made faces like Slifer had insulted their ancestors. Clearly size was a touchy subject for these macho demonic types. Slifer cheerfully soldiered on.
"Now, when it comes time to condense your core, location is key. You want to seek out a place counter to your cultivation path. A fire cultivator for example would go frolic in the ocean."
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One sceptical voice called out, "I've always heard it's best to hunker down in places aligned with your element for breakthroughs. That's why we've got all those shiny elemental caves, right?"
Slifer nodded sagely. "Ah, but that's just begging your qi to run amok! Foreign surroundings will keep your energy on a tighter leash as it coalesces. Toss a fish in a volcano and it'll have to adapt or burn. Same principle."
Shocked exclamations echoed around the courtyard. Several Nascent Soul Elders looked befuddled as they had breakthrough flashbacks. Clearly this clashed with conventional wisdom but from their knitted brows, it seemed to align with their experiences.
Slifer held up a hand, "Now, let's delve into the nitty-gritty of Core Formation itself. Not all Cores are created equal!" He began to pace, hands clasped behind his back in a lecturing pose. "At the bottom of the barrel, you have your Mixed Cores. Ugly little things, all mishmashed with impurities and conflicting elements. Might as well be cultivating with mud for all the good they'll do you."
The disciples leaned forward, hanging on his every word. Slifer smirked.
"A step up from that sorry lot are the mid-grade cores. You can tell them by their colour - green, purple, red, what have you. Decent enough, if you don't mind being stuck in the kiddie pool of potential."
He paused, letting the anticipation build. "But if you want to swim with the big boys? You'll need to set your sights on the cream of the crop, the ultimate prize...the Golden Core!"
Gasps rippled through the audience, eyes wide with awe. Slifer nodded sagely.
"Mhm, that's right. The shinier and sturdier the core is, the more Qi you can pack in there. A Golden Core expert would wipe the floor with any other Core Formation cultivator, no contest."
A disciple shot to his feet, unable to contain his excitement. "Sect Master, what about the mythical cores of legend? The Frozen Core, the Crimson Core, the Core of Chaos? This humble one has heard tales of their world-shaking might!"
Oh Heavens, the plot device cores, Slifer froze, his smile going rigid. He hadn’t gotten round to checking if the System mentioned anything about them. Quick, deflect!
He cleared his throat, putting on a stern expression. "Now now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Those exotics are the stuff of rumour and hearsay. Worry about the core in front of you, not the pipe dreams of madmen."
"Of course, Sect Master,” the disciple wilted. “This one…spoke out of turn."
Crisis averted, Slifer breathed an inward sigh of relief. The last thing he needed was some upstart elder calling him out on his ignorance. Immortal Aura could only bluff so far.
"As I was saying," he continued smoothly, "the path to a Golden Core requires an impeccable Foundation and a top-notch cultivation method. Skimp on either, and you'll be stuck in the chromatic dregs with the rest of the chumps."
He levelled a piercing stare at the disciples, gratified to see them shrink back. "So, unless you want to be the laughingstock of the Core Formation Realm, you'd best put your nose to the grindstone and cultivate like your life depends on it. Because mark my words...it does."
The disciples hastily bowed, cowed by the weight of his gaze. "Yes, Sect Master!"
Slifer nodded, satisfied he'd put the fear of the Heavenly Dao in them. And the fear of Slifer, of course. Always good to hammer home who was top dog around here.
"Lastly, the most vital piece - Heavenly Tribulation. Contrary to what many believe, the lightning is not a punishment but a test. A chance for the worthy to refine their Dao. The stronger the tribulation, the greater the reward."
Slifer outlined the five grades of Tribulation, the first three grades were well known but by the time he had introduced the fourth grade, his audience were hanging on his every word. And when he moved onto the mysterious Grade 5 Celestial Prism, their jaws were practically on the floor.
"Sect Master!" a voice called. Slifer glanced over to see Elarkin, the only disciple he had identified that had stats that could compete with his own disciples, trembling with excitement. "Have you experienced the legendary Grade 5 tribulation?"
All eyes snapped to Slifer. He smiled enigmatically, neither confirming nor denying it. Let them stew on that little tidbit. It would only feed his growing legend.
I barely survived the Grade 4 Foundation Establishment tribulation, and that’s only because I had some OP cards! Slifer mentally scoffed. Grade 5 tribulation at the Core Formation or higher realm would vaporize him in an instant, critical block cards be damned.
Still, judging by the speculative whispers, they had bought his implied feats hook, line, and sinker. Disciples are so easily impressed. Throw around some mystique and they'll write the tall tales for you, Slifer thought smugly.
Just then, a series of System alerts popped up in his periphery.
Ding!
You have enlightened 534 disciples
Reward: 53,400 Karmic Credits
Ding!
You have enlightened 8 Elders
Reward: 800 Karmic Credits
Slifer nearly tripped over. Heavens above, he could get used to these kinds of Karmic windfalls. Sure, he hadn't enlightened everyone, but over 50,000 Credits was nothing to sneeze at. It took some of the sting out of creating that expensive Ascendant Avatar.
Basking in his success, a realization hit Slifer like a Spirit Beast's backhand. He had dawdled in this sect long enough. He still had a trip to make to the Black Death Sect, he couldn't afford to let those righteous bores get there before him.
It was time for this bodhisattva to grace the next batch of unruly disciples with his merciful tutelage. After pilfering their Sect's Manuals for Core Formation tips, of course.
Truly, doing evil for the greater good is such tireless work!
"Right then!" He clapped his hands, the sound echoing like a thunderclap. "I trust I've given you lot plenty to chew on. Meditate on these profound truths, plumb their depths...and maybe, you'll scrape together something resembling a proper Golden Core. Stranger things have happened."
He turned on his heel, robes swirling dramatically. "Class dismissed. Now scram, the lot of you. Teacher's got places to be and faces to frighten."
The disciples scattered like startled rabbits, more than one tripping over their feet in their haste to obey. Slifer watched them go, a smirk playing about his lips.
Ah, to be the unquestioned authority figure.