The trip to Dragon Spire was as uneventful as promised. The Wyvern managing to exceed the speed Patriarch Amaya had sustained by double. This type of flying didn't come with array protection so there was no barrier to shield us from the wind. I was kind enough to extend a Qi field that formed an air bubble that protected all of us. I might not have, but when I proved it was possible by protecting my family, it would have been an insult not to protect everyone.

Leon, Jinli, and Dylan were each water aspect cultivators. Although they could form a water shield, something Dylan did when flying alone, my air shield was more efficient. I didn't have to coalesce water particles out of the air to form the protective device.

I had begun cultivating, once I was sure everyone was settled. It was easier than ever for me to divide my focus to maintain the air shield while practicing [Transcend the Heavenly Footpath]. The process took longer for each cycle, my obsession with perfection forcing me to make sure splitting my attention didn't allow for any deviation of the rich air element and Qi I gathered.

I had introduced Storm to the torc, explaining that it was a world created for beasts. She accepted the strange environment easily, not bothering to question how it was possible, just happy that she could fly and hunt. I knew that she had been bored in my inner sea, but it was safest for her there until she had gained real control over her blossoming lightning abilities.

The trip to Dragon Spire wouldn't take long, so I set my internal clock, allowing myself an hour to cycle the invigorating air element that was available as the Qilin flew. The platform that had been strapped to the animal that allowed for passengers, gave me enough room to sit in the lotus position or stand to stretch when desired.

Storm's pulse of emotion, her curiosity tinged with delight, had me resuming the lotus position so I could send my Dharmic body into the torc to see what had her so excited. She was capable enough to contain her emotions, the fact that she was broadcasting meant she wanted me to join her.

I had entered the torc before, but just long enough to make sure it was safe, and to identify it for what it was. Questions remained about how a self-contained world like this was possible, who the torc had belonged to, and more importantly how something so valuable could have been dismissed as worthless and sold at a pawnshop.

It was almost as if Heaven conspired to place the item in my hands, right when I needed it.

I hadn't spent any time exploring this inner world, but by focusing on Storm I was able to quickly navigate to where she was waiting. I was pleased to find streams and a lake along the way. It meant I could seed this inner world with a wider variety of flora and fauna.

I was considering if I should develop this world like a zoo or a farm when I finally arrived and found Storm whistling and trilling outside an obvious cave. It looked to be fabricated; there were no geological land features that would indicate it had formed naturally.

Storm became more excited and prouder of herself with each new discovery I made while following her. The dead cultivator, the world seed, and finally the strange plants that formed seed pods protecting beast cores, had my own level of excitement growing as I examined the discoveries she had made.

I had thought the world seed the major find. Once I had claimed my territory, I could plant that seed creating a spirit mine that my people could mine. It would be an amazing boost to whatever profits were available to me, and unlike the mine, I had reported and claimed as an Outer Sect member, my benefits would be much more if I waited to plant the world seed until after I had claimed my territory and accepted my Barony.

The world seed was a significant find, but the plant was more so. It was unique; I realized, as I watched with my perception it collected the Qi that I shed as a process of breathing. Those small wisps of Qi that every cultivator exuded was gathered, purified, and solidified into a kernel of a beast core. A kernel that would form a seed pod to protect the core once it had fully developed.

The core that Storm had given me was the purest collected Qi that I had ever encountered. I thought it possible they were even purer than high-level spirit stones that were so important to those cultivators that had reached the Upper Realms. If this plant could be nurtured, even if grown in lower density areas of Qi, the results would be staggering.

Syha's effort to get my attention by sitting in my lap and hugging me had me leaving the mystery for now. I had noticed and collected two jade tokens that had been hidden in the plants growing on the dead cultivator's body. They were easily found after a quick scan of the area using my perception; I left them and the core near the cave entrance. They would be just as safe there as they would in my other spatial devices.

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Syha and Geon were intimidated by the Dragon Spire sect. The carved entrance of the Sect just as awe-inspiring for them as it had been for me. The Sect seemed as busy as it was on my last visit. Even without the vast number of visiting Sects planning to compete, the main cavern was bustling with activity.

We were given a guide, but his duties were perfunctory. He showed us to a hotel that had been relegated for our use, as well as a notice to make myself ready for departure to Delph Island later that evening.

We would be leaving just as dark was setting in. It was safer to travel fly at night if you could. There were very few nocturnal flying animals. Ogygoptynx could be massive, but they were a species of the Owl family, so never really flew at the heights we would be using. The size of Shijie had granted them a foothold as part of the eco-system that had ended early in Earth's Paleocene era.

The only other night-flying creature was the Desmodus draculae. This world's version of the vampire bat. It wasn't much larger than an Eoraptor so were easily defeated individually. They more than made up for their lack of size by moving in giant flocks. Even a Wyvern could not out-fly them if they managed to stumble into the middle of a swarm, there were simply too many to maneuver past.

The room I was issued at the Hotel was a wasted resource. I wouldn't be here long enough for me to make use of it. We had arrived in the early afternoon and would be leaving within a matter of hours. Instead, I made a trip to the Blacksmith Hall, hoping to find Yvonne.

Neither she nor Davis was anywhere around, unfortunately. I had wanted her advice on suitable living quarters and transportation caravans that had proven themselves competent. I admit part of the reason I sought her out was that I hoped Yvonne might become a new friend, I would give her a chance, I refused to allow Niake's actions to influence every potential friendship. I was happy that she had also joined Four Elements, it would make things less lonely.

Strange that I thought that considering Elder Shadow, Leon, and Jinli would also be part of Four Elements. Not so strange, when you considered that Elder Shadow was my teacher, while Leon and Jinli had been my tormentors.

As I was leaving Blacksmith Hall, I heard the sounds of fighting. The clashing of weapons against each other and voices raised in confrontation. Following the sounds to the back of the building, I found a series of practice yards.

The sounds of battle were coming from the largest where two teams of cultivators were training. I'd never been able to train in team techniques or strategies, because of Braun and his friends. Elder Shadow had offered, but I didn't trust anyone at Flowing Water enough to take the chance.

It wasn't until this moment that I realized that at least half of my loneliness and isolation I'd felt at my former Sect was my own fault. It was true that Niake had been fickle, her friendship not worth the cost of the meal her family had paid when I'd joined them for lunch. And it was true that Braun and his friends went out of their way to torment me. But there were a goodly number of Sect members that had done their best to ignore or refuse Braun's advances.

I could have tried my luck with these other factions. People that refused to kowtow to Elder An, but I hadn't even tried. I buried myself in excuses and my obsession with cultivation. I gloried in the individual attention I was receiving from Elder Shadow and Elder Tye. And I convinced myself that that was enough.

Thinking back on it, I could remember a few people trying in the beginning. Tentative advances at conversation or friendship, that I had rebuffed. As I watched the two teams jostle and joke. Taunting each other, congratulating each other's successes, and commiseration when a strategy was met with failure, I made a resolve to change.

I had a chance for a new start at Four Elements. And I was determined to make the most of this chance. I would need to. If I was going to claim a fief, it meant I would be setting down roots, forming attachments to those that would depend on me for their safety. I couldn't exist in a bubble; my isolation would have to end. Maybe it was time to embrace everything this world has to offer. I had a long life ahead of me. I didn't want to look back with the same kind of regrets I had on Earth.

Watching the two groups of friends interact. Watching their laughter and determination, I felt my throat tighten as long-repressed tears fought for freedom.

I wondered if I had been so deeply wounded by Niake's betrayal because I'd never mourned my death or the betrayal that had preceded my death. Time would tell because I intended to make a difference.

One of Earth's great musicians, a man that had been so exploited as a child that he never really grew up, never faced reality, and had his talents eclipsed by scandal and villainy, once sang of making a difference. I needed to look at the woman in the mirror and make a change. Unlike him, I hoped to make that change.

I'm not sure how long I watched them, lost in thought, with tears long-repressed flowing freely. But the cathartic release of emotions had been liberating. Aware once more, I realized two things. First that the people I had been watching practice had finished.

And second, sometimes the kindness of strangers was proof that each of us was inter-connected. Because I found myself engulfed, hugged by six people that I had never met, their compassion and sympathy when they noticed my distress the only reason needed to offer comfort and solace.

Their embrace made even more impactful when my family that had watched in worry as I cried piled into that mass of bodies to add their own hugs and encouragements. I knew this world was beautiful. The animals could be frightening, the land was enormous, and the people could be petty. But for all the bad, there were also moments like this.

Moments of joy and belonging.