There was no way I could have known that Elder Cix would supply me with the same Dharmic spells and techniques I just spent thirty contribution points buying. Not without knowing that the Halls of Knowledge were connected through the libraries. There were slight differences in the information supplied, the material Elder Cix had given me was more focused. The material included treaties on the control that concentrated on air, water, ice, and lightning.

The material I had purchased was more generalized and included more information about the other elements. Actually, between both sets of study material, I would be able to expand and synergize my elemental control to create more effective defense and attack spells.

None of the jade tokens worked like or served as a spell book. They were primers that explained how the Dharmic aether was manipulated. I would have to create my own spells as my understanding increased. Those spells and Dharmic abilities would be unique to my specific spirit root, meridian channels, and inner world. There would be similarities, of course, between my spells and another cultivator, a lightning strike was a lightning strike no matter the method or technique used to summon it, but there would be subtle differences.

I wasn't aware that Elder Cix had kept track of my progress and fighting style, but after the events at my parent's home, when they had been attacked, most of Flowing Water city was aware that lightning and wind were mine to call. The storm that I had released in my fury had tested the power of the city's defenses.

Defenses that shouldn't have been so close to failure considering I was only at the Body Refinement Realm. That they had, was one of the reasons a cultivator with a Platinum spirit root and dual elemental affinity was so highly prized. We were able to punch above our weight class.

A quick browse of the secondary professional materials that I had purchased was enough to know that I had the tokens that contained the knowledge I needed to gain apprentice mastery in whatever field I settled on. It would take time, but it had been made painfully clear to me that I had centuries' worth of time to perfect as many secondary professions as I chose.

Once I'd satisfied myself that the material I had purchased would be helpful; I decided to test the restrictions that might still be in place on my computer access. I opened my view screen, inputting a new list of search criteria.

I first tested to see what restrictions, if any, might still exist that limited my access to alchemy study materials and new formulas. As expected, Elder Dill's restrictions were still in place. In order to advance my alchemy, I would have to rely on the study material in my personal library or anything I might find during auctions.

Now that I knew the libraries were linked, I wondered if I could prevail upon Elder Cix to ship me material. I would also missives to my parents. I knew they would be passing through cities during their journey, perhaps they could browse a few shops. A business like Cyntyne's, where a merchant prioritized re-selling loot that was being offered by cultivators might have useful tokens.

My continued browsing confirmed that the other skill professions were available. I had already decided not to choose a new profession until after I had visited the town I would be establishing as Fief Myche's capital. This time I was going to base my decision on practical realities, not family duty.

I had decided to concentrate on the profession or professions that would be most beneficial to building up my fief. In the short run that might seem selfish, but long-term it would be beneficial to my family.

Once I had a more thorough understanding of what I had access to, I spent the night filling in information for the items that Storm had found during her exploration. Most of the items were common plants, nothing that was helpful or worth any contribution points. There were a few uncommon herbs that I planned on harvesting, but I would use those for my own purposes. Elder Dill might be able to deny my permissions for resources and information, but there was no reason I couldn't gather those resources on my own.

Even if the apartment I was assigned was taken back, and I lost access to the alchemy lab the Sect had supplied, I had my own set of alchemy equipment I could use. One that would allow me to continue to make tier one, possibly tier three pills. I would need to upgrade that equipment at some point, but there was no rush.

I knew that most of my focus, perhaps for decades to come, would be expanding and building my fief. I didn't plan to be one of those absentee rulers that fobbed her duties off to some underling. I would install talented people to help, I did have other priorities that I would need to focus on, but I would never divest control completely.

A talented Seneschal that could help when I was there and be trusted to run matters when I was needed at the Sect, or busy with closed-door cultivation. I had no intention of having either of my parents assume that role, neither of them had been trained to run a town or kingdom. I hadn't either, but my ability to learn and process information had increased exponentially.

Storm, able to access my inner sea by herself now, had left almost as soon as I began cultivating. She was able to practice her own form of cultivation, making use of the enriched environment and increased Qi that I absorbed during my practice, but she was still celebrating her ability to fly.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

The increase in power from tier-one to tier-two level she had gained during my tribulation gave her more flexibility, more control. But it was the daily cultivation that both of us needed to practice that would see her increased strength solidified and grown.

She had been fortunate, bonding with me when I was so close to facing my first tribulation had seen her elevated to the next tier in only a few short weeks. But we would both have to do the hard work cultivation required before we were ready to even think about facing the tribulation to ascend to the Nascent Soul Realm.

I found it interesting that her exit from my inner world meant she returned to the same position on the outside she had been at when she entered, the place she had been at when she merged her Dharmic and physical body. Her ability to leave seemed to work very like a bind point, teleporting her to where she had been. I had the computer sprite look for any information on this phenomenon, if I could get Storm to set multiple bind points, it could change how I grew my town and fief.

Communication would be a real issue, especially with how large my territory was going to be and how far-flung each village or town was located. Missives would work, but they took time, and very few people would be willing to accept direction without at least first meeting their new Baron.

The problem became even more exacerbated if an exchange of messages was required, or as each side sought clarity. It could cause minor issues to escalate out of control as we wasted time. If Storm could create multiple bind points, the transfer of messages could be expedited. I didn't plan on using her as a messenger pigeon. That would be an insult to her and a waste of her talents, but in an emergency, when speed mattered, this ability of hers might come in handy.

It would be nice if the computers and network that Four Elements Sect had installed and was using could reach as far as my new town. It would give me access to the library and instant messaging. I would have to track down the department that was responsible for creating the array and formations. Maybe there was a way to establish a relay system that would work as a connection for places outside the Sect.

I saw no reason not to nudge the Sect towards creating an Internet, building on the success of the Intranet that was already running as well as anything I might find on Earth. If my guess about how the libraries had managed to connect held true, the knowledge already existed. I wouldn't be surprised if the technology hadn't been advanced because people had become hidebound. Missives worked, so why fix what wasn't broken?

Yvonne had sent me a message asking to meet for breakfast. Some of the events of our drunken celebration were probably the topic she hoped to discuss. I hadn't been shy when bitching about Elder Dell as the night progressed, so she and her friends were aware of my problem. Those complaints had devolved into sharing gossip and complaints, and I believed our friendship had grown, sharing and commiserating with each other.

She had selected a cafeteria located on the other side of the main building, the apartment I was living in. It might have been easier to descend a level before traipsing across the building. The passages down there were more expansive, but it didn't take me long to arrive.

She was by herself this morning, holding a pen and drawing something on a piece of parchment. It wasn't until I was about to take a seat that I saw she was working on a new piece of armor. She had taken my idea of spatial patches and retooled them, creating a streamlined armor set that made them less obtrusive. The idea she had come up with made them more a part of the armor and less of an add-on.

"What do you think?" She asked me once she had noticed I'd arrived.

"Impressive," I admitted, "it is a much better use of the spatial devices. You made them integrated into the design of the armor. Are you thinking about standardizing spatial devices tailored to the armor you create?"

"I am," she said. "I admit most people will think it a gimmick, but you have proven there are strategic opportunities that someone with vision can use if I make these available. You were lucky, that gimmick allowed you to change the outcome of a fight. You might have lost that free-for-all round without the material you had stored and released based on timing, placement, and the element of surprise."

She hadn't made that comment about luck as an assessment of my abilities or a critique of my strategies, just an observation of fact. So, I would take the words in the manner they were meant and not the insult someone else might have taken.

"Is this what you wanted to discuss?" I asked after placing my breakfast order with a young server that had approached the table. There were food lines where I could serve myself, but I wanted an omelet, and those needed to be ordered through the staff.

"No, this was just me wasting time while I waited," she said as she stored her design. "You mentioned that you had claimed your fief and would be visiting the main town that came with that claim. I want to go with."

"Really?" I asked in surprise.

"I'm not sure if you remember or not, but I ceded my fief on the mainland in order to build here," she explained. "I was hoping to get a lay of the land, maybe find an area of land that might suit me. I'm a more tactile type of person, seeing and touching help me to understand what the notations you find on a survey map really mean."

"I don't see why not," I said thoughtfully. "I planned on leaving this morning, how soon before you are ready to leave?"

"I'm ready now," she admitted. "I'm sure I'm like most people, still living out of my spatial ring. I'll unpack once I have claimed territory and can decide what should go where."

"Let's meet up at the landing field in two hours then," I suggested.

"Thank you, Jay, I wasn't sure you could be bothered after the poor treatment you received from Elder Dell."

"At least he didn't attack and try to force me out of the Sect," I mused, remembering again the fury I had felt when my parents were attacked. "But most of our time will be spent on my land. How will that help you find an area you might want to claim?"

"It might not, but it should allow me to get a general idea of the type of beasts I might expect as well as get a feel for the energy and life of the forest on the island."

"Are you planning on inviting your friends?" I asked.

"Not this time," she assured me. "I know this is your first time, and you will be busy claiming the land. Maybe you can invite all of us once you have things established and under control."