The next few months passed as the most idyllic since I'd joined the Sect. Braun hadn't been seriously injured, but he still entered closed-door cultivation to heal and improve his cultivation and attempt to breakthrough. This was the second time he'd entered isolation.
I wasn't certain, but I had my suspicions that he did so under duress, that Elder An had forced the issue because he needed Braun to do well in the upcoming tournament. His faction could no longer rely on Nero. That Braun was just stepping into the middle stage of the Body Refinement Realm said much about his abilities. Progress that couldn't be blamed on his spirit root. He simply wasn't as obsessive about cultivation as most other Sect members were.
With him and his brother both busy, Nero re-growing a leg, their friends found no advantage in harassing me. They spent their own time in study, ignoring me completely. There were none of the catcalls or snide comments made as Elder Shadow trained me at Weapon Hall. The ability to focus without the distraction allowed me to make major strides with my Martial techniques.
Not that they had been brave enough to speak out when Elder Shadow was around, it was when I was perfecting katas by myself or in the bathing chambers that they were brave enough to sling comments and sabotage my belongings. Before Braun and Nero's isolation, it had progressed to the point that I refused to use the bathing facilities, instead, I made time to go home to clean up before lunch.
When I wasn't training my martial skills, I was perfecting my alchemical abilities. For now, I was only creating Body Tempering pills. With Elder Shadow and Elder Tye backing my claim to the lotus location, I had managed to negotiate a percentage as they'd advised. It had taken almost six weeks for the government to confirm my claim. Even after the claim had been recorded and the Sects and my share of the profits awarded, I had yet to see any of the money.
It would take months before the tunnel could be widened, and miners could begin removing the spirit stones without the mountain collapsing. I'd been right about the abundance of spirit stones; the mountain ridge was rife with other seams. An intensive survey had discovered two other mountains that could be exploited. The Sect and I would receive nothing from these discoveries, no matter they wouldn't have been found without my initial claim, the Governor had commissioned the survey for those mountains, and the spoils would fill the principalities coffers.
Today I had two tasks I hoped to complete. I wanted to ask Elder Tye for help and discuss a stealth-type technique with Elder Cix. The library was bereft of most members when I entered. Too many people focused on preparing for the tournament. The tournament was the reason I wished to speak with Elder Tye.
I was close to a breakthrough from the mid-level to the perfected level of Body Refinement. The increased demands on my martial skills that Elder Shadow had placed on me along with improvements in my contemplation for the [Dao of Movement] had allowed me to practically sprint through the middle level.
But I had reached a bottleneck.
Time would resolve the problem, but the tournament was only a few weeks away. I wanted to achieve this final breakthrough before then. And I needed enough time after I broke through to consolidate my gains. The difference in power between a mid-range Body Refinement cultivator and a perfected range cultivator was profound. The increase in Qi control was less linear as the advance in stage might suggest, the difference was a more exponential advance.
I had had one close call when cultivating [Transcend the Heavenly Footpath] since returning from my mission. I lost focus while I was cultivating, my spirit resonating while contemplating the Dao column that was slowing growing within my inner sea, claimed my complete awareness as I advanced my understanding of the Dao.
The more I understood the Dao, the more immersed I became in reflection. Each increment progress, each time I gained a small measure of enlightenment strengthened the Dao until my spirit was not strong enough to monitor cultivation and reflection. Until I reached the next realm, I would have to split my focus and time.
"Elder Cix," I began deciding to honor his request and only bow perfunctory. His face lit up with pleasure to see that I had remembered his words and honored his request. "Elder Shadow and I have discussed a glaring lapse in my repertoire or martial technique. I hope to share in the gift of your wisdom to shore up that lapse."
"You practice [Tessenjutsu] and [Transcend the Heavenly Path], both exceptional paths. I admit I am stymied as to where the flaw for your path might exist," he replied.
"Recent encounters have proven that discretion is sometimes the way forward. Unfortunately, I have no technique that might allow me to practice discretion. What I am looking for is a technique that allows me to stealth, hide, or obscure my cultivation. I need a way to bypass confrontations when those confrontations, even should I win, may adversely affect my position within the Sect."
Elder Cix examined me, a probing feeler of Qi extended to search my body, the same type of examination I might experience at Healer Hall. I was certain that there was no secret, no detail of my progress that would remain hidden once his examination was finished.
"You have stepped upon the path of enlightenment?" He asked in surprise. "So young, and you already experienced a Heavenly opportunity and gained the beginning stage of a Dao seed.
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"I begin to understand the plans Elder Shadow and Tye have for you and the upcoming tournament." His words only re-affirmed my belief that there was something about this competition that was game-changing. Something about the tournament that both Elders were placing their trust in me to accomplish.
"Normally, I would give you a choice of techniques, there are hundreds that you could add effectively. But this time, I will make the choice for you," he said as one of the jade slips answered his call. The library was his, his to command. And every book, scroll, and jade slip leaped to answer his call. This jade slip acted no different from the rest, as it came flying through the air to land in front of me.
"[Flux Capacitor] allows you to integrate the [Dao of Movement]. This technique gives you control over the vibration of energy, slowing movement, and storing the Qi potential adapting the capacitance between charge and potential.
"You will be able to hide your Qi, enter [Stealth], or create a faux Qi signature that mimics the environment. The energy will be stored as lightning Qi and can be discharged as an electrical attack."
As I injected my Qi into the jade slip to study the technique, I had to admit Elder Cix was correct. This technique seemed tailor-created for me. It was even simple enough to learn that I could master the first tier easily.
I considered trying to get more information about the mystery surrounding the tournament but decided it would be rude to return Elder Cix's gift of wisdom with an attempt at interrogation. It was up to Elder Shadow and Tye to explain their scheming.
"Honorable Elder," I said thanking him, before exiting the library and heading to Alchemy Hall.
Elder Cix really had been one of the guiding forces for my path forward. I understood why so many people refused to conform to his request when it came to showing honor towards him. His insights were profound, and it was hard not to repay the wisdom he shared by demonstrating how much his words were appreciated.
I was recognized by the guards that controlled entrance to not only Alchemy Hall, but the halls and rooms that were restricted from most people. As a student of Elder Tye, I enjoyed almost the same benefits as Tarrah, including permissions for what areas I was able to access.
Elder Tye could be found in one of three places, his office, his lab, or the herbal warehouse. Today he was in his office, the first place I checked. And for once, he was alone.
"Elder Tye," I began with no hesitation. I had grown fond of him over the past year and was no longer shy about asking for help, advice, or direction. "The tournament will begin soon, and I wonder, isn't it time to share?
"I think your interest has something to do with the fact that this tournament is a multi-Sect competition. I'm not sure how often these kinds of tournaments are held, but it seems from the obsession by the entire Sect, that it is a rare opportunity.
"Or maybe the contest happens frequently, but Flowing Water Sect rarely has the privilege to compete?" I mused.
"Jay?" Elder Tye said. "Is there a question in there somewhere? A reason for this visit?"
"What are you and Elder Shadow scheming? And I would like to purchase five perfected Body Tempering pills to break through my bottleneck."
"How close are you to a breakthrough?" He asked. "I want specifics, not what you believe."
"My Dantian is close to breaking, the Qi pressing against the walls a constant throbbing, even when I am not using abilities or Qi. The Dantian itself has cracks woven along the wall. But no matter how I try to breach the wall, that final push to force the Dantian to shatter and reform remain beyond me.
"I feel that time is running out, the tournament is soon, and I need to reform my Dantian while leaving enough time for me to incorporate the gains I make into my martial forms.
"I am hoping the difference in efficacy between a high-level pill and a perfected is enough to give me that final push I need to get me past this stage. Unless you have a better idea or might suggest a pill that would be more effective?" I asked, realizing at that moment, I'd never asked the Elder for help or suggestions when it came to the bottleneck. Not because of hubris on my part, but because I'd never encountered this problem before.
"The perfected Body Tempering pills might work, but you would have more luck using a Body Foundation pill. Haven't I given you that recipe yet?" Elder Tye asked.
"No," I replied trying to hide my frustration, he really could be absentminded when he wasn't crafting pills, "Not yet.
"What is the difference between the two pills?" I asked.
"A Body Tempering pill works in concert with your cultivation technique, the herbs, and Qi from the pill helping your Qi to unlock the potential of your Realm. A Body Foundation pill concentrates Qi. It increases the pressure of Qi that is stored in your Dantian, similar to how water that is boiled in a sealed pot will create higher pressure and can cause an explosion.
"The Body Foundation pill excites the stored energy that you have accumulated, causing it to vibrate at a faster frequency until a breakthrough is made," he continued to explain.
"I wonder if the [Dao of Movement] would affect the efficacy of the pill?" I mused. "If I can understand how the vibration of Qi, the oscillating effects on the walls of the Dantian occur, maybe I can use that lesson when I breakthrough to Qi Condensing Realm."
"It wouldn't hurt to observe," Elder Tye agreed. "I wouldn't try to influence the reaction this time, certainly not the first time you ascend Realms. But once you've had a chance to process how or if the [Dao of Movement] has any relationship to vibration. Once you've meditated on what you've observed and understood the relationship between vibration, harmonics, and movement, then you might use the technique to guide future attempts during higher levels and realms."
"Can I buy a Body Foundation Pill?" I asked, excited to try the pill and observe how my Qi and my Dao might be interconnected.
"I will give you the recipe," he said, "if you haven't been able to create the pill before you leave today, I will leave a note with the requisition servant to issue you one.
"You shouldn't have any problems; your pill creation skills have advanced from novice to beginner, almost to apprentice rank."
I admit I would have liked to have just gotten a pill and attempted my breakthrough, but Elder Tye was more concerned with a well-rounded alchemist than a martial artist or advanced realm cultivator.
The tournament wasn't the only thing that was time-sensitive. I had only a few more weeks to attain the level of apprentice in alchemy to attain a permanent Core Disciple position with the Elder. I could enter the alchemy competition at my current level, but I wanted the protection of a Core Disciple.