As the disk settled into one of the town's landing pads a few minutes later, Kevin bid farewell to the group. Cultivation was an individual practice. The group only trained together in swordwork.
Having no desire to dedicate the massive amount of time required to become a swordsman, Kevin politely declined an invitation to join. However, he did sign up to ride back with them each day.
That way, he’d be able to get his walking meditation done in the morning while catching up with like-minded individuals after work.
After saying farewell to the group, Kevin walked back through town to his flat, the issue of the second exercise whirling through his mind. His first attempts had failed, but there were still plenty of different terrains to try.
Eventually, he’d find the right one.
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Kevin’s life fell into a new routine as the days passed with surprising swiftness.
It started with the walk out to Felton Orchards, where he tried option after option as the basis for his sealed land. From oceans teeming with life to lush rainforests and even busy cities: anything he could think of relating to a vibrant feeling of life.
Then, after failing once again to locate what he was after, he would spend his four-hour shift working in the orchard. Here too, he spent some time practicing, but with less focus available, he did maintenance work for the first exercise.
Even though he’d completed that, he risked losing the base visualization while trying so many new things. If he wasn’t careful, he could undermine the progress he’d made so far.
Tiring as it was, the work itself was an excellent break from being cooped up and helped to keep his body in shape. Once complete, he also got to meet up with the cultivation group as they headed back to town.
This was often the highlight of Kevin’s day, as he shared stories of cultivation frustrations with the others. Cultivation blocks of various kinds were common among all the members, and it was a relief to hear how they’d either worked past or around them.
Though none were quite specific to his situation, it was still an overwhelming relief to know he wasn’t the only person who had trouble; far from it. It seemed only prodigies, or those from long cultivator lines, made it into even the early realms without trouble.
And even they often ran into problems in the later realms. Or at least, that was the common understanding among the group. He might have to take it with a grain of salt, as none yet walked in the same circles.
It could just be a way of feeling better about their failings.
Once back in town, Kevin would return home to cultivate again in the afternoon. Once more, trying different terrains and variations, attempting to find anything that felt right. Hours would go by before bed, as he struggled to pull his mind away from ever more desolate landscapes, and back towards a vibrant, life-filled image.
With no progress, but intense effort, the days blurred together; passing by so fast that he almost forgot that Agent Travis was supposed to be visiting this week.
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Travis angled his flying device down as the Severed Peak mountain came into full view. With the map he'd memorized placing Ostale at its base, the mountain was the landmark he'd been looking for.
The tension in his shoulders relaxed a little at the sight. Even after years in the Energy Gathering realm, he'd never grown comfortable with personal flight.
Of all the strange abilities he'd gained, no other seemed so unnatural. Despite their greater bulk, disks or ships made far more sense with their powerful arrays and deep storage crystals.
Here, high in the sky balanced on this tiny slip of material, it was all him. Even now, when hours of flight drained but a tiny portion of his reserves, it still felt like he'd run out and fall from the sky at any moment.
If not for the increased time requirements, he'd have much preferred to take the same bus he'd sent Kevin on the week before. As it was, he couldn't afford to take a couple of days for a single meeting.
While the last few days of the previous week were mercifully quiet, this week had brought a fresh set of incursions. As one of the agents with the least cases, he'd been called up twice more.
From nothing to three outsiders at once. He couldn't tell if she should be amazed at the opportunity for career advancement, or horrified at the sudden workload.
Just the paperwork for Kevin alone had taken days to get sorted. Personality assessments, threat assessments, and even cultivation potential assessments, all had to be filled out and filed to hedge against the worst.
With the two newest outsiders forcing him through the process twice more, he'd left this catchup later than intended. The days had slipped away until now, on Friday, he was barely making the rough week he'd given Kevin.
At least the man hadn’t gotten into trouble during that time. Over the last few days, he’d found that cooperative outsiders were far better than uncooperative ones.
However delusional they might be.
The tiny platform wobbled beneath him, snapping Travis' attention back to flying. Landing was always harder than long-distance flying; he had to focus if wanted to avoid an embarrassing crash.
Teeth clenched behind his practiced smile, Travis kept his back straight and arms resting at his sides as he dropped into one of the empty landing areas near the town center.
A few people glanced over, but none glowed with the power of higher realm cultivators. Sighing in relief, he stomped down, flipping his mini-disk into the air where he could pull it into his storage ring.
It wouldn't do for anyone of importance to figure out he still used a training implement to fly.
An easy glance around the area confirmed the information from his spiritual senses; there were no immediate threats. Safety assured, he closed his eyes and took a single breath.
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Qi flowed into his lungs, spiraling into the complex patterns required by the Woven Thread cultivation method. While it traveled a more roundabout route than most, bypassing his three stunted meridians, it still reached his Qi Sea within seconds.
A broad smile spread across Travis' face as the warm energy filled a fraction of the empty space created by his flight. The Qi here was warm and plentiful; fed by the mountain, and supped on by so few cultivators.
Compared to the city, it was like swimming in a lake instead of trying to pull water from a deep well. They'd found a good place for Kevin indeed.
Speaking of the man, the town's clock tower showed he would have just finished work. Assuming he took a disk back instead of walking, he should arrive any minute now.
If that were the case, he could wait until the outsider arrived here. If not, he could head for the man's flat when it became clear he'd decided to walk.
He had Kevin's address from when the outsider paid for accommodation with an OIM cheque, so it should be simple to find.
Settling in to wait, Travis leaned against a nearby wall, letting the sights, sounds, and smells of the town wash over him. Trained senses, boosted by his advancement, took in far more than most.
The town was calm, its people wandered the streets without worry on their faces or the smell of fear. Nor were there signs of monsters or demonic beasts in the area; at least none close enough that they fell within his range.
Not surprising, given the reputation of the Severing Sword sect. From all he'd heard, they deserved their spot in the top twenty-four sects. It was a shame they wouldn't be a suitable home for his charge.
Kevin neither moved like someone trained in combat nor had given any hint of such ability in their interview. The chances of him going from nothing to a skilled swordsman without years of training were nonexistent.
The outsider would have to find his own path to strength. Assuming, that is, the man made it past his initial weaknesses. Travis knew well how hard that could be.
Then again, there was no reason to worry too much. If anyone could manage an artificial Dantian, it would be that lunatic.
For now, he could enjoy the momentary break from work. The sun was shining, birds chirped in nearby trees, and, at the edge of his senses, three cultivators crossed the sky.
Travis snapped out of his momentary enjoyment as the three newcomers blazed into his awareness. They were moving fast and from the mountain. Sect cultivators from the Severing Sword, no doubt.
Even at this distance, he could tell they were in the first or second stage of the Energy Gathering realm. Strong enough to be problematic if they wanted trouble, but not so strong he'd be helpless.
Would they cause issues? He wasn't a sect cultivator, and so hadn't been required to register before entering their lands. Nor was a former member of a sect they might hold a grudge toward.
By all logic, there shouldn't be any reason to be concerned. Of course, sect cultivators were not well known for their logical thinking. While that was a cliche, it was not without merit.
For a moment, he considered leaving, then discarded the idea. The three cultivators had already changed direction, shifting from their original landing zone to his. No doubt they'd detected him as well.
Leaving now might well be construed as running, and he had no reason to run. Best not to make them any more curious than they might already be.
He couldn't imagine many third-stage Energy Realm cultivators showed up unannounced; not out here, away from civilization and yet close to a powerful sect. They were likely just curious.
In less than a minute, three swords sliced through the air above, the figures riding them balancing with ease as they pulled out of a dive. Travis had to admit he was both impressed and jealous.
Beyond the obvious grace and training in their movements, he couldn't sense any hint of flight arrays on their swords. They were flying not with modern technology, but with traditional sword techniques.
Few people bothered to learn such things, but he should have guessed that disciples of a well-known sword sect would be among them. Their skill put his petty attempts to shame, and he gave silent thanks to the heavens that he'd arrived first.
All three figures were young men, at most twenty years of age, and perhaps as young as eighteen. Prodigies, no doubt, to be in the Energy Gathering realm at such a young age.
As if they'd rehearsed the maneuver, the three slid off their swords in unison, landing no more than two meters away from him. Given what he knew about sect cultivators, they may very well have practiced it.
Travis tensed as their eyes locked onto him, swords floating into their hands. Then the weapons vanished into storage rings, and he let some of the tension flow out of his muscles.
If they'd decided to cut him down, things would have gotten messy, and not just for Travis. That was not the kind of thing you could do to a government agent without repercussions.
"Well then, what do we have here?" the lead youth asked, his tone haughty and demanding. Dressed in the same white robes as the others, he stood out with his jet-black hair and the strong hint of Xian'ian features on his face.
No doubt the kid was from a traditional cultivator clan; one that still kept their bloodline strong to avoid the issues so many others faced. Suppressing a wince, Travis pushed the young man's threat level up a few notches.
Placing a smile across his face, Travis palmed his OIM badge, then ensured it was visible when he held his arms out and open. "Just a bureaucrat out on a job. I have no business with your sect, nor reason to interfere with your leisure time in the town."
The young master frowned, his smirk twitching downward for a moment. Then it returned in full force. "Oh, a city cultivator. From one of those fancy agencies in the capital?."
Travis scanned the man's face, not liking what he saw. Boredom, mixed with annoyance and a hint of sadistic glee; this man was looking to take his frustrations out on someone."
"Correct," he responded with a careful nod. "And I do need to be on my way. Wouldn't want my boss complaining about a late job." Without pausing, he turned, picked a random direction, and left.
He focused his spiritual senses as he did so, but doubted they would escalate to attacking him from behind. That wouldn't fit with the narrative they no doubt had in their heads.
As expected, the only thing to follow him were words. This time it was a different voice, one of the lackeys. "Come back city cultivator, why not trade pointers with us? Shows us how the strength you claim to manage the country with."
Resisting the urge to respond, Travis gritted his teeth and kept walking. The near-dig at both his and the agency's abilities hurt, but getting into a fight here wouldn't be worth it.
"Don't bother," the young master laughed, high and mocking. "I heard there isn't any Qi to go around in the big city. The city cultivator might have scraped his way to Energy Gathering, but I bet he's barely stronger than a mortal."
Travis' spine snapped straight, eyes widening, hands curling into fists. Spinning on a dime, he stalked back toward the landing pad, face locked in a rictus of fury.
Forget restraint, a fight was exactly what he needed.
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Kevin could tell something was up when the group's conversation trailed off. One by one they turned toward the town, those in the second stage moving first, the others following soon after.
Even the driver had turned his head a little; though that was perhaps expected, given he was a strong enough cultivator to direct the contraption. Pouting, Kevin strained his eyes to try and pick up whatever was so interesting.
Left out again; he had to get some of this Qi-sensing business down as soon as possible. "What's going on?" he asked after, curiosity beating out embarrassment.
As usual, Emily took the lead. "Cultivators in the landing area. Four of them, all pumping out a lot of Qi. We've still got time," she finished, sounding relieved.
"Please hurry," she continued, turning to the driver. "We'll pay extra if you make it in time."
"You kids, always looking for trouble," the middle-aged driver laughed, shaking his head. Despite his words, the town began growing closer at an alarming rate.
"Time for what?" Kevin asked, biting his lip.
"The fight, of course," Ethan responded this time, leaning forward, a feral gleam in his eyes. "If there's a fight in this town, the Severing Sword will be part of it. Who knows what we might pick up just by watching?"
There were murmurs of agreement from the rest of the group, but no further conversation. Instead, they all focused on some distant, invisible showdown.
Leaving Kevin to wait and wonder as they sped closer. Within a minute they were lowering down, four figures visible in the area below. Three brawled to one side, while a fourth was face down on the ground.
It seemed the fight had already started. Squinting down, Kevin looked at the one person without a big sword painted on the back of their robes.
Those glasses... was that Travis?
"What the hell?" he breathed, almost falling off the disk as he leaned forward to get a closer look at the fight.