Just like that, three weeks passed. In the open grassland, a young man was standing up from a meditative position. He vibrated with a humble spontaneity, and each action had an incredible strength behind it.

That person in azure blue robes was Dalian. Having been remoulded by a constant flow of qi, he could no longer be considered as the same person he was when he entered the sect.

A thin gleam of white light started to shine around his skin. Very smoothly, it expanded around him, forming into a solid bubble around him. He began to vent life qi out of his pores, allowing it to form a dense cloud, contained by the barrier.

Bending over, he undid the clasps on the wooden case, stood up straight, and kicked the lid open.

Immediately a savage aura exploded out. It threatened to consume everything. But Dalian was prepared. He clamped down with the diffuse qi and forced the evil aura back into the sword, until peace had been returned to the bubble.

Whilst he left some qi to keep the sword’s aura in place, he used the rest to form three needles. He continuously compressed them, until every last residue of qi in the atmosphere had been forced into them. Then, like an arrow being released from a tightly taught bow, shot them into three different sections of the sword.

Simultaneously, the needles exploded into three spheres of white light, which entirely covered the weapon. No sound was produced, but Dalian felt the force from the detonations slightly blow against him. He had learnt that these discharges of qi weren’t meant to cause damage to the surroundings, rather they were simply meant to suddenly overwhelm the evil qi with a massive influx of life qi.

The spheres remained in place for a second, before they shrunk into nothingness. Just after they disappeared, Dalian picked up the sword and pushed his qi inside. Flooding the weapon, he managed to purge the final remnants of evil qi, leaving behind a cold metal surface.

Dalian dropped the sword, and allowed himself to smile for the accomplishment. He had tried many times to purify the sword, but each time he had fallen just short. This go had been perfect. Every bit of qi had been forced into the sword. The needles were formed to their maximum, and he had followed it up correctly; having left enough reserves in his neidan for the final act.

He heard a loud clapping, and knew Alano had arrived.

“Brilliantly executed. That was an outstanding display of the might of a life spirit root.” the man said, with a beaming smile.”

“It was nothing more than a bit of luck and good teaching. If you hadn’t made me work on my healing, I would have never realised how to make the barrier more solid, or to be able to compress the needles that much.” Dalian replied.

“Nonsense, this was only possible through your hard work.” Alano said. “You’ve done a good thing today. That sword was used by an evil cultivator to slaughter hundreds of mortals. It absorbed their resentment and anguish. Perhaps some part of them still suffered within that metal confinement. But now they are free, and the world is rid of such a terrible qi.”

A thought seemed to strike him, and he tentatively spoke. “If you would like, you can have the sword for yourself. It is perfectly safe now and the craftsmanship is quite solid.”

That put Dalian into a deep rumination. He could take the sword, he certainly needed a proper weapon. But it felt strange to use something that had caused so much misery. Though, with the time he had spent purifying the weapon, he had grown to understand it. The sword itself wasn’t at fault, rather it was the evil cultivator who had used it who should be held responsible. It felt right that he gave it a proper send off to be used as a force for good, at least until he could get a new sword forged for himself.

“I’ll take it.” He said.

Alano smiled. “There’s nothing more waiting for us here. It is time for us to return to the sect.”

—

The sun rose on the Azure Light Sect, casting beams of orange across the mountains, creating a contrast with the blues of the architecture.

Dalian had arrived at the sect the previous evening. Although he had only slept in the bed once, returning to it truly felt like returning home, and he relaxed deeply. The drain of the constant practise was countered by a rejuvenative feeling which permeated his body.

He took some time to admire the beauty of the world below the mountain, his residence overlooked the edge. The forest was endless, but blended into one mass of green. Yet, Dalian knew that millions of creatures lived within, and a vast ecosystem was unfolding before his very eyes. Usually, he had a deep relatability to the lives of the animals; but now upon the mountains of immortality, it all felt very… distant.

He sighed, and shook his head.

Elder Alano was expecting him. Today, he was to visit the healing hall to test his progress. So far his only recipients had been small animals. But now, it was time for real people. And not just any other mortal, he would be healing those strengthened by qi. Inwardly, he wondered whether he would even have enough qi for one.

Nevertheless, he had done all he could to prepare up until now. Whatever the results were, he could rest easy knowing there was nothing more to be done. Of course, he could have experimented with the helpless animals. But that wasn’t him.

He stepped out of the residence, and was met by the same two guards from weeks ago. He recalled one of them was called Lei.

“Are you two my personal guards?” He asked, curiously.

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“No, young master, we are merely servants.” One of them replied.

Dalian considered that they must have not even opened their qi gates. Would a cultivator be willing to stand guard for someone of equal or weaker strength? Probably not. He remembered the way to Alano’s residence, but he felt bad for the two. They spent their entire day standing outside his gates, they must be bored out of their minds.

“Please guide me to the elder’s residence.”

Receiving a ‘yes, young master’, they set off through the compound.

When Dalian met with the elder, he was greeted with a curt nod, and they flew off to another mountain without a word.

Arriving on another mountain indistinguishable from the rest, the two were met by a female elder with a closed smile, and long blonde hair.

“I offer my respects to Elder Alano and his disciple.” she said subserviently. Dalian felt quite confused; why was she lowering her head to another elder? Alano did have a special position, but that couldn’t account for so much, could it?

“Greetings, Elder Lelao. I trust my messenger arrived in a timely manner?” said Alano.

“Just before mealtime.” She replied.

“Good, then if you would please lead the way.” Alano said.

“It’s my pleasure.” She answered, and started walking along a stone path, the two in tow. “Have a look around, Dalian, this will all be yours in the future.”

Just as he had begun observing the flowers and white marble bricks, he was struck with confusion.

“Mine?” he asked.

“Oh yes, provided you become an elder. Which, might I add, I’m sure will cause you no difficulty. Your life spirit root is quite rare.”

“It can’t be that unique.” Dalian said, leading her to shake her head.

“Oh it is. I only have a low grade life root and that was enough for the sect to forcibly advance me to the core formation stage.”

Perhaps that was the reason for the difference in status between the two elders. She hadn’t properly reached the level needed. Still, if that was the treatment she got with only a low grade root, what could he expect with a high grade? Could he be demanding more from Alano?

“Is the difference between life spirit roots and other roots really so large?” He asked.

“It depends. In destruction, it is vastly outclassed by a fire root. But, in terms of healing arts, it is incomparable.”

They stopped in front of a pavilion. She continued. “We’re here. You must be careful from here on. All these people have suffered for the sect, and many have run into evil cultivators. Some of them might be… loose-minded.

“I understand.” Dalian replied, and Lelao opened the doors.

The healing pavilion was dimly lit, only a few crystals shone a dull hue upon the room. The room was packed with beds, like a barracks. On top of each lay an injured person. Whimpers and moans sounded out.

“This is awful.” Dalian said under his breath.

“You think this is bad? Wait until the evil sects launch an attack.” Lelao said.

Elder Alano just stood silently, calmly observing Dalian’s actions.

Seeing such misery, he wasn’t able to help himself. Dalian found himself wandering over to the closest bed. On top was a girl a few years older than him. She was shivering and breathing shallowly, despite the layers of covers she was wrapped in.

“She’s poisoned,” said Lelao.

Dalian nodded and began circulating the Nine Life Scripture. Quickly, vital energy and qi gathered in his hands. He could’ve waited longer for them to properly fill up, but he couldn’t help himself. He allowed the qi to flow out, into the girl.

Feeling a small pull, he allowed her to take as much as she needed. Gradually, her complexion began to clear up, and her breathing became more steady. Eventually, she fell asleep, and Dalian stopped his technique. This was one of the natural stopping points he could use to be able to tell that the patient needed rest and had absorbed as much qi as needed.

He took an account of his qi, only to find that hardly any had been used. Was she quite weak?

“What stage of cultivation was she?” Dalian asked.

“Only opened the second gate, she’s quite lazy. She even has a medium grade root.” Alano replied.

Dalian nodded to acknowledge the answer, and began moving from bed to bed.

He was faced with all kinds of afflictions. Scratches from beasts which had become infected, that was from a mortal. Sparring accidents from cultivators too eager. General sickness. So far he had only used assisted healing. There was nothing that needed controlled, and to practise it when it wasn’t needed felt wrong to him. There were drawbacks to it, and he wasn’t completely confident yet.

As he was healing a boy who had been stabbed, and only had some qi enriched bandages to stop up the wound, the boy suddenly brought himself up and grabbed Dalian on the shoulders.

“Evil cultivator! I’ve got you now!” Dalian felt the boys qi rush into his meridians to start causing chaos. He hadn’t expected a qi battle, and had been caught unprepared, allowing himself to be overwhelmed so easily. “You thought you could corrupt me with your qi! But look at who’s losing now! Hahaha!” He laughed madly.

Realising that the boy had something wrong in his head, so that he couldn’t distinguish between a fellow sect member and a foe, Dalian abandoned his attempts to heal him. The boys qi was already in his meridians, so he couldn’t cycle, but he could begin gathering energy to form stop gaps.

Just as he formed the first, the boy’s qi slammed into it. Dalian continuously reinforced it, but it was quickly eroding his qi reserves. Finally, Elder Alano stepped in and a cage of blue light appeared around the boy. Immediately, Dalian felt the pressure ease. Then, the cage transformed into ropes which bound the boy tightly, and his qi cut off, allowing Dalian to expel it from his body.

Free of the foreign energy, Dalian took a deep breath. He looked over to Alano.

“Thank you elder.”

The man waved his hand at the boy, “he still needs healing.”

Dalian nodded and then looked at Elder Lelao.

She smiled sheepishly, “That happens sometimes.”

Dalian thought of telling her that a warning would have been ideal, but refrained. It had already happened, and he wouldn’t always have the protection of two elders. Better that he had the experience now, rather than in the field.

He began circulating his energy. Although the boy’s qi had lashed out wildly, it seemed like his meridians were more resistant, and they hadn’t been damaged. With the boy tied up and gagged, he was able to heal him. Since he was still squirming, Dalian gave him a few words of assurance that he was a friend. Once he relaxed, Dalian finished healing him.

Just then, the doors burst open, and a young man entered carrying another boy. Dalian’s eyes widened as he recognised them from the entrance test.