Omilaena formed another needle and then melted it into shape, finishing off the new poison filter. It wouldn't help someone against her, of course, but it would be useful for most alchemists. And more importantly, it was going to earn her a lot of money.

She'd been able to complete more expensive projects in Sandflower City, then made even more money when they teleported south to a major trading point. Several years ago she could never command this much attention, but all her experience on Deadwaste - not to mention her increased power - made her an artisan in high demand. With just a week of work she'd earned another 100,000 Crests, though they would be spending all that shortly.

Once the payment was complete, Omilaena stepped back and stretched her aching neck. The trading point buzzed all around her with merchants from Crescilor, the Commonwealth, and the Elven Wilds. She wasn't sure whether it was irony, karma, or a meaningless coincidence that this trading point was alive partially due to their work. Without them killing the demon in the pass, trade would have been hampered.

"Are you finished?" Zae Zin Nim was standing not far away, nearly invisible. Omilaena blinked as she realized how focused she had been - she couldn't afford lapses in concentration like that.

"That should be enough," she said. "You're done too?"

"Yes, I believe I know what I'd like to attempt next."

The two of them headed into the bustling crowds with Zae Zin Nim leading the way. She'd gained a lot of insight into her chakra potential, but they had yet to make a final decision. In theory, this crossroads of chakra would be the ideal place for them to find what she needed.

Now that they were relatively safe, they didn't walk very far: just to the point where the Krysali vessel was parked. They'd dressed it up with some elven cloth, but that was likely overkill. A single Krysali vessel would never be detected in the chaos of Rosemount even if the Brightwind sect was looking this far north. Once they were inside and lifted over the hubbub of the crowd, Zae Zin Nim seemed to relax.

"I still have one question," she said quietly. "Many of the chakra sources I've investigated are offering immortality, but that can't be true. They seem more like health tonics or Physique potions, only extending life instead of gaining true immortality."

"We use the word differently here," Omilaena explained. "How much does cultivation extend your life again?"

"It depends on the path. Those using inferior cultivation techniques may not extend their lives at all, or even shorten their lives if they burn their own essence."

"Generalize. Or answer for your path specifically."

Zae Zin Nim shifted strangely, as if even this information was a precious secret, but eventually she answered. "It's generally said that peasants live perhaps sixty years. Beginning the path of cultivation could add a decade or two to their lives. Someone who completes the Body Refinement stage before they grow too old is said to gain a hundred years of healthy life."

"That sounds like it just extends life too."

"But it's reaching toward immortality! At the Earth Soul stage, your essence itself becomes enduring and you could live for two or three centuries. Sky Soul cultivators can easily live for more than five hundred. And only that foundation prepares you to take the final purification elixirs that allow you to live forever."

"Did you know that there are trees on Rosemount over a thousand years old?" Omilaena immediately raised a finger to intercept the response. "This honestly isn't continental rivalry. You've stumbled onto one of my favorite research topics. I think there are two paths you can take towards immortality: either you try to stretch your life out to infinity, or you focus on an eternal now."

Previously Zae Zin Nim had been ready to argue, but now she hesitated with a thoughtful frown. "I understand what you mean about stretching out your life. Those who take immortality elixirs without the proper foundation tend to have their lives thinned out, growing less and less vital. But what is an 'eternal now'?"

"You don't need to attain spiritual transcendence to achieve immortality," Omilaena said, "you just need to stay young forever. There are actually some animals that never seem to grow old, and they inspired many paths of chakra. If your body never slows or tires, what's to stop it from living forever?"

"I thought... those were mere superstitions. We have tales about fools on Rosemount eating griffin hearts or tiger, umm, parts... and thinking it will grant them immortality or virility."

"Oh, there are definitely lots of superstitions out there, or methods that simply aren't good enough. You see a lot of warriors on Rosemount live decades longer than normal just due to being in excellent health, without ever seeking immortality. But if someone can perfect the process, then they'll remain young forever, and that's probably easier than trying to reverse aging via cultivation."

They'd sailed over much of the trading post and should have reached their destination. Zae Zin Nim seemed to be taking them in an arc, perhaps prolonging the conversation. She looked thoughtful and eventually spoke in a quieter voice.

"You said this was a research topic... do you think there is more that could be obtained? Beyond the ways we currently understand immortality, I mean."

"Absolutely." Omilaena sat forward, trying not to let her eagerness show too much. "I think not all immortality is created equal. For example, some demi-immortals in the Coiled Empire have strong regeneration, but they grow sicker with each century - something about their own immortality is poisoning them. I think immortality via qi can fail in the opposite direction: cultivators stop changing at all, which halts their dying but also limits their growth."

"There are warnings about that in some of the secret scrolls," Zae Zin Nim said. "A powerful enough process might grant immortality, but if taken too soon, your cultivation will struggle to advance."

"Exactly! Now, people can avoid this problem on both sides: chakra warriors who stay perfectly youthful or cultivators who don't stagnate. But I think some degree of balance is required."

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"So this wasn't a digression after all. You're saying that I need to find chakra that will enhance my vitality in a way compatible with immortality via cultivation. Chosen properly, chakra could be an even stronger foundation for immortality."

That was easier said than done, but Zae Zin Nim seemed more confident now that she understood. Omilaena had a massive number of other ideas, including elaborate theories that there must be different fundamental types of immortality. There would be time for those later, as it looked like her companion was eager to take the next step.

Heh, time for those later. If they got anywhere near immortality, there would be plenty more time.

When they landed beside an expensive Commonwealth tent, the guards stepped aside to allow them entrance. Their strength wasn't so astonishing here that they could sweep aside all the others, but the guards could tell at a glance that they were worthy of the establishment. Omilaena could feel the chakras pulsing within even before they stepped inside.

An associate led them to a place to sit while they waited and served them tea which itself had a small amount of chakra. It seemed the mistress of the tent was consulting with another client, a beastkin haggling for some sort of extremely rare elixir. Zae Zin Nim barely seemed to pay attention to him and hadn't really touched her tea, still looking thoughtful.

"Is there any way to attain immortality via mana?" she asked.

"Not to my knowledge, but shouldn't it be possible in theory?" Omilaena couldn't help but grin. "I'd love to find out what that would look like and whether it could be integrated into the other methods."

"Do you think we could harm our future growth by moving too quickly now?"

"We're not exactly grasping immortality just yet, don't get ahead of yourself. Chakra is a good place to start, because it doesn't commit you to anything but improving your own vitality. Even if it turns out that the best methods don't mix types of energy, being in perfect health won't hurt you."

Before they could discuss any further, the owner of the tent came to join them. She had the soul of an older woman but the face of a teenager, which Omilaena supposed was an advertisement for her business. It wouldn't do to sell vitality chakra as an old crone, after all.

"Well, this should be a pleasure! They call me Mistress Blaeria, but please don't be so formal." She started to sit on nothing opposite them and a servant rushed in to place a chair behind her. "I get a lot of old women asking for potions that will restore their youth or fertility, which is difficult to impossible. And a lot of old men asking for virility, which is possible but not really worthy of my talents. The two of you seem like you have more refined requests."

"We're seeking a refined source of chakra compatible with qi cultivation." Omilaena went on to explain all the details she'd discovered and Mistress Blaeria nodded along, clearly following the technical aspects.

"We should definitely be able to help you, the question is what exactly you seek." She shifted toward Zae Zin Nim, her face a picture of professionalism. "What is your primary focus? There are chakras that could restore your complexion, for example, but they would req-"

"No, I seek power." Zae Zin Nim didn't sound defensive, just resolved. "This is a temporary condition in my Physique that will be resolved when my cultivation advances. I need chakra that will not interfere with that process."

"Well, that does make things a little more difficult!" Mistress Blaeria settled back and thought for a time. "Synergy with such advanced techniques might be beyond my expertise, but we can certainly find something that doesn't interfere. The most logical path would be to choose chakra that enhances the more carnal aspects of your body."

Zae Zin Nim frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Forgive me the indelicate question, but are you two virgins?"

Omilaena drawled "Of course not" at the same time Zae Zin Nim squeaked "Of course!" and they both immediately stared at one another. Mistress Blaeria chuckled politely and waved the matter aside with an elegant gesture.

"Either is perfectly fine for our purposes, I just need to understand the current state of your essence. Now, I have a few more questions and then I can begin showing you the finest chakra available anywhere on Rosemount..."

At the end of a long session, she actually backed up her promises. The two of them left the tent each carrying a box of materials well-suited to them. It had emptied out most of the funds Omilaena had earned, but what was she doing all that work for if not power? Clearly things weren't over, however, because Zae Zin Nim looked slightly discontent. She remained silent until they'd returned to the Krysali vessel and began flying back to their meeting point with the elves.

"I'm certain this will strengthen me, but I want to be sure I understand." Zae Zin Nim lifted up one of the heavenly peaches she'd purchased, its nearly clear skin trembling even under her gentle touch. "To put this in Cloudspire terms, I think this will greatly enhance my yin energy. Is that right?"

"More or less."

"I've always known that if I didn't advance enough, my father might marry me off to a cultivator who wanted to... harvest that energy. This might help me in the short term, but will it increase the risk in the long term?"

Omilaena already had a potential plan for that, but it was far too early to throw out such ideas. Instead she stuck to accurate theory: "What Cloudspire calls dual cultivation, Rosemount calls tantric arts. And no, they don't have to be draining to either party."

"I wondered, especially given what I heard about Silver Demons..."

"That's an offensive skill that drains power through sex, but it doesn't have to be that way. Remember, right now you're just enhancing your vitality in all respects. If you do things right, later on you'll be able to purify what you call yin energy into power that can't be stolen."

"Good." Zae Zin Nim nodded to herself, surprisingly relieved by the words, and then took a bite of the peach. Immediately its chakra began pouring down her throat, flowing into her body to enhance it.

"Careful, careful." Omilaena set the Krysali vessel to continue flying and shifted closer to the other woman. "Just eating the peach will strengthen your body, but you should have built up enough capacity to capture the chakra. Don't try to grasp it, let it resonate. Eventually it will settle beneath your stomach."

"In my dantian?"

"No... lower." Omilaena had been planning to show her physically, to tease Zae Zin Nim a little more, but the fact that the other woman had actually trusted her... no, patience. "You don't want the two powers to mix. Think of it like the bedrock beneath your sea of qi..."

By the time they arrived, Zae Zin Nim had mastered the process. Even though she had the usual cultivator's stiff thinking, she had shockingly strong fundamentals. Yes, this would work well. She wasn't wrong about the risks, but Omilaena thought they could all pay off.

When they reached the destination, Ceryyn broke from the other elves to wave at them. "There you are! Did you get what you wanted?"

"That should be everything we need," Omilaena said, patting her box. "Are your teleporters ready to go back?"

"They are, but I wanted to... extend you an invitation first." Ceryyn stopped in front of them and twirled her skirt almost shyly. "I hoped you might stay in Sandflower City a while instead of just passing through. Yes, it's because I want you to help persuade some allies about our plans for the school, but I hope that it could benefit you too."

"Is Kai invited too?" Zae Zin Nim asked.

"Hmm? Of course!"

"Then it's just as well we stay. I need to take you up on your offer to use any source of qi in the Elven Wilds, because I want to advance in a different place."

"Wonderful! Let's head back and we can discuss the details..."

Omilaena followed the others as they got ready to teleport, just keeping track of the details with part of her mind while she thought about plans. Once again, Zae Zin Nim had showed willingness to take a risk in order to attain a greater power than she would have on her original path. That was exactly the sort of ambition Omilaena wanted in a long term companion.

The question of whether they could actually walk together in the long term had much less to do with theory. When it came to that, all her power and expertise were useless.