Chapter 27

In the dimly lit confines of his modest abode, 621 sat alone at a weathered wooden table, his surroundings bathed in the soft glow of a flickering candle. Before him lay not just one, but three spherical mounds of nutrient-laden sustenance, each bearing the unmistakable mark of the Order of Shadows. To 621, they were nothing more than unappetizing lumps of mush, devoid of flavor or culinary appeal.

With a sense of indifference, he took the first tentative bite, the tasteless mush filling his mouth with a bland monotony that left him unaffected. In a world where survival was a constant struggle, taste was a luxury he could ill afford. All that mattered was that the food provided the necessary sustenance to fuel his body and maintain his strength.

For 621, who had been brought up in a world of brutal survival, trained to kill for his own survival, taste was meaningless. All that mattered was survival, and he would do whatever it took to ensure his continued existence in a world where only the strong survived.

As he mechanically chewed and swallowed another mouthful of the unappetizing fare, 621's thoughts turned to the cost of his meal. In the harsh and unforgiving reality of the Order of Shadows, nothing came for free. Every morsel of food and every drop of water, had to be bought with hard-earned silver, a precious commodity in a world where power and influence were measured in coin.

Each ball of sustenance before him was priced at a single silver coin, a price too steep for his necessary way of living.

As he ate, his thoughts turned to his dwindling supply of silver coins. He knew that he had at most 50 coins left, a meager sum that would soon run out if he didn't secure another mission from his handler. But in the world of the Order of Shadows, pawns like him were kept on a tight leash, confined to the base and only permitted to leave when assigned a mission.

Even as he finished the last of his meal, 621 couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped, like a caged animal biding its time until it could bare its sharp teeth once more.

621's mind turned to the problem of his silver supply. He knew he had to find a way to secure additional funds before his resources ran dry. His first thought was the brutal duels that often took place among the pawns, fights to the death where silver coins exchanged hands as easily as blood spilled on the arena floor.

He considered betting on himself to win these deadly contests, relying on his skills as a dueler to emerge victorious and claim the spoils of victory. But even as the thought crossed his mind, he dismissed it as too risky.

Despite the temptation, 621 knew better than to rely on the uncertain whims of fate. Although, he had only been in the Order for a short time, 621 had already seen too many pawns fall in the arena, their lives snuffed out in the blink of an eye for nothing more than a handful of silver coins. He couldn't bring himself to join their ranks unless it was his last resort.

His mind then wondered on the premise of betting silver coins on the other duelers but still decided against it. The outcomes of such duels were never certain, and he couldn't afford to lose more coins than he gained. In a situation where every silver coin was a precious commodity, he couldn't afford to take such chances for he never knew just what the other pawns had in their arsenal.

The thought of robbing his fellow pawns crossed his mind. It was a grim reality of life within the Order of Shadows, where violence and treachery were not only accepted but encouraged as a means of shaping the perfect killing machines. The organization thrived on brutality, honing its members into ruthless assassins capable of carrying out the most dangerous and deadly missions.

But even as the idea took root in his mind, 621 quickly dismissed it. The recent encounter with a would-be thief flashed through his thoughts, the pawn who had attempted to rob him of his own silver. The would-be thief had momentarily shown weakness, a fatal mistake in the cutthroat world of the Order.

621 vividly recalled the sudden flurry of movement, the sound of blades slicing through the air, as multiple shadows descended upon the hapless pawn. He had sensed their presence, lurking in the darkness, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And when the opportunity had presented itself, they had pounced without mercy, leaving nothing but a trail of blood in their wake.

The memory sent a vivid warning to him if he were to fail similarly. 621 knew that there were eyes in the dark, methods which he couldn’t decipher; even if he succeeded, he instinctively knew that he had to find a way to escape the ‘audience’.

As 621 contemplated his options for securing additional silver, one thing became abundantly clear: the only real way to earn silver was through missions assigned by the Order of Shadows. The thought of escaping the confines of the organization never once crossed his mind, for he had been raised within its walls, deeply ingrained with a sense of loyalty and dependence.

To 621, the Order was more than just a place to live and work; it was his entire world. From the moment he could remember, he had been groomed and trained to serve the organization, to follow orders without question and to carry out whatever tasks were assigned to him without hesitation.

The concept of living outside the Order, of being truly independent, was foreign to him. He couldn't comprehend what life would be like without the constant orders from his handler, without the structure and purpose that the organization provided. In his mind, there was no other way of life, no other path to follow.

And so, he remained trapped within the confines of the Order, resigned to his fate as a pawn in a much larger game. The thought of escaping, of striking out on his own, was nothing more than a distant dream, a fantasy that held no place in the harsh reality of his existence.

With a deep sigh that seemed to echo the weight of his thoughts, 621 cast a solemn gaze towards the dimensional bag at his side. Within its confines lay a fortune that most would envy, yet to him, it was a burden as much as it was a blessing.

Reaching into the bag, he retrieved three gleaming gold coins, each one worth a hundred silver coins. As he tossed them idly into the air, his expression remained serious, contemplative. It was ridiculous, he thought, that he was worrying about money when he possessed such wealth in his hands. But in the harsh reality of the Order of Shadows, even gold held little value compared to the danger it represented.

Gold was a rare commodity within the organization, one that attracted greed and jealousy like moths to a flame. To possess such wealth was to paint a target on one's back, inviting trouble and betrayal at every turn. And so, despite the temptation of wealth, 621 found himself hesitant to use the gold coins for anything other than dire necessity.

In the cutthroat world of the Order, trust was a rare commodity, and 621 knew better than to place his faith in anyone, not even the shopkeepers who provided the pawns with their basic necessities. He would much rather have silver coins, he thought, for they were far less conspicuous and far easier to conceal.

As he continued to juggle the coins in his hand, 621 couldn't help but feel a sense of unease gnawing at the back of his mind. These three gold coins had been pilfered from Vulture's dimensional bag, a risky venture that had paid off handsomely but had also left him feeling more vulnerable than ever before.

In fact, when 621 had sifted through the contents of Vulture's dimensional bag, he found himself confronted with an array of items, some useful, others seemingly worthless.

Among them were cultivation resources, a common sight given Vulture's cultivation realm. Those herbs, though depleted now, had served their purpose well during 621's rigorous meditation sessions, enhancing his Qi quality and aiding in his cultivation efforts in the past week.

Yet, even with their benefits, they had proven insufficient in satisfying his relentless pursuit of power—a reminder of the unending struggle inherent in the life of a cultivator.

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Despite their dwindling numbers, 621 couldn't help but marvel during that time at the variety and quality of the herbs. Each one, he knew, was worth a considerable sum, with prices rivaling those found in the shops of the Order; 20 silver coins were a minimum. It was a testament to Vulture's wealth and influence, a stark reminder of the power dynamics at his past command.

Amidst the herbs, however, lay an unexpected discovery, he recalled finding a tuft of brunette hair. Its presence was puzzling, given Vulture's apparent baldness, one would think it had belonged to the deceased smith.

But, upon closer inspection, 621 realized that the hair belonged to a female—a detail that piqued his curiosity but ultimately held little significance to him. With a dismissive shrug, he consigned the hair to the flames, he watched as he dispassionately turned it to ash. 621 had long ago learned to discard anything that didn't serve his ultimate goal of survival.

Among the eclectic mix of items within Vulture's dimensional bag, one stood out as particularly intriguing: a partial script, torn from an unknown tome, detailing a flame martial art of mysterious origin. Despite its incompleteness, the script exuded an aura of ancient power, hinting at a skill steeped in history and tradition.

621 had long hypothesized that it was the describing the ultimate skill that Vulture had unleashed on him which burned everything in its surroundings.

For 621, the script held a deeply personal significance, serving as a chilling reminder of the devastating power wielded by the baldy. Twice had he felt the searing heat of Vulture's flames, scorching his skin and searing his senses with an intensity that bordered on otherworldly. The memory of those encounters still lingered; his skin even tightened momentarily as if feeling the singing pain once more.

Yet, despite his trepidation, 621 couldn't help but be drawn to the script's enigmatic contents. With its missing parts leaving much to the imagination, he found himself consumed by a burning curiosity, eager to uncover the secrets hidden within its ancient pages. But try as he might, deciphering the script proved to be an exercise in frustration, its cryptic passages offering little in the way of clarity or insight.

As he pondered the origins of the script and the skill it described, 621 couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at the edges of his consciousness. How had Vulture come to possess such a formidable technique? And more importantly, how had he formed a martial skill from such a partial script?

In fact, inside the depths of 621's dimensional bag lay a tome of untold potential: "Aurum Manipulation," a martial skill of mysterious origins procured from the Alexandrian pavilion. Despite its allure and the tantalizing promise of power contained within its pages, the book remained untouched, its secrets shrouded in darkness as 621 grappled with more pressing matters.

While others might have eagerly delved into the depths of the martial skill, hungry for the knowledge and mastery it promised, 621 remained steadfast in his resolve to prioritize his cultivation endeavors. For him, the pursuit of enlightenment on the "Veiled Serpent Path" held paramount importance, its enigmatic techniques and elusive secrets demanding his unwavering focus and dedication.

As he weighed the significance of each pursuit in his mind, 621 couldn't help but feel a twinge of apprehension at the thought of neglecting the Aurum Manipulation. After all, the allure of its potential power was undeniable, tempting him with the promise of strength beyond measure.

Yet, in the face of his current challenges and the pressing need to unravel the mysteries of the Veiled Serpent Path, he found himself reluctantly setting aside the martial skill, its time yet to come.

He instinctively knew that understanding cultivation first would help in his comprehension for martial skills thus his focus remained on the former.

With a sense of determination burning bright within him, 621 resolved to first conquer the trials that lay before him, trusting that his patience and perseverance would eventually lead him to the mastery he sought. And so, with the Aurum Manipulation nestled safely within his bag, he turned his gaze once more to the path of cultivation, ready to embark on another attempt at reversing his Qi flow.

...

As the days passed, 621 remained undeterred in his pursuit of mastering the art of Qi manipulation, a crucial step on his journey towards unraveling the secrets of the Veiled Serpent Path. With each passing moment, he delved deeper into the intricate workings of his own Qi, pushing the boundaries of his understanding in an unyielding quest for enlightenment, meditating in between times of deep introspection.

Drawing upon the knowledge gleaned from the ancient tome detailing Qi control and manipulation, 621 embarked on a rigorous regimen of practice and experimentation. Each day, he dedicated himself to the arduous task of reversing the flow of Qi within his meridians, determined to overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that stood in his path.

With unwavering focus and ironclad determination, 621 honed his skills, refining his technique with painstaking precision. He meticulously observed the subtle nuances of his Qi's movements, analyzing every twist and turn with the keen eye of a master craftsman.

Yet, despite his best efforts, progress came slowly, each attempt met with frustration and setbacks. The sheer magnitude of the task at hand threatened to overwhelm him at times, testing the limits of his endurance and resolve.

But 621 refused to be deterred, drawing strength from the depths of his being as he pressed onward with unwavering determination. With each passing day, he inched closer to his goal, the faint glimmer of success beckoning to him from the horizon.

And so, as the sun dipped below the horizon and darkness descended upon the pocket world numerous times, 621 remained steadfast in his pursuit, a solitary figure bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, his spirit unbroken and his resolve unwavering.

His first major breakthrough was on his observation of the coalescing movement of the Qi flow at certain sections of the meridian, he took inspiration in this swirling movement as he attempted to coax strands of Qi to coalesce back upon themselves in a bid to reverse their flow.

At first, he encountered resistance, the Qi stubbornly clinging to its established path despite his best efforts but soon he observed a subtle shift.

621 felt a flicker of movement, a tentative stirring within the depths of his meridians as the Qi responded to his commands causing a chain reaction with the overall flow. With bated breath, he watched as numerous strands of energy began to coil and twist upon themselves, forming intricate patterns that seemed to defy the laws of nature.

He watched as he forced the Qi to stagnate and swirl in place, coalescing continuously. For a fleeting moment, it seemed as though victory was within his grasp, as the Qi hesitated, teetering on the brink of reversal; all he needed was to goad the Qi into reversing its initial direction.

But then, just as quickly as it had begun, the moment passed, the Qi swirled one last time before resuming its forward motion with a stubborn determination that belied its ethereal nature like the opening of a dam.

Despite the setback, 621 felt a surge of exhilaration course through his veins, a sense of accomplishment that transcended mere success or failure. For in that fleeting instant, he had glimpsed at the boundless potential that lay within.

Throughout his attempts, he had only experienced a single strand of Qi to stop on place, but this time he had inadvertently caused the entire Qi flow to stagnate completely in place swirling and coalescing on the spot within the meridian.

Through this experiment, 621 now understood that Qi itself prefers to move continuously making it near impossible to stop its total movements. He theorised that this must be the reason as to why he found it difficult to restrain and lock a single Qi strand in place; it must be kept in constant motion, free flowing.

He had once thought that he simply needed to make the entire Qi flow stop in place and redirect their flow direction but it would seem that his initial deliberation was wrong. He now knew that to reverse the flow, he must completely allow the flow to reverse as it is continuously in motion.

“This has to be the correct path,” he murmured excitedly.

“If I force it to stop in place, I will need to endure the natural force of resistance established in the Qi flow, thus in order to ignore that force, the Qi must run freely, coalescing.”

“Wait…spinning?”

Like a moment of eureka, 621 immediately set to work, his mind racing with possibilities as he pieced together the fragments of his theory. He envisioned the swirling currents of Qi, imagining them gaining momentum with each passing moment until they formed a powerful vortex of energy. And at the heart of this vortex lay the key to his success—a means of harnessing the forces of nature to achieve his goals.

“Yes! That must be the answer: Momentum!”

But even as excitement coursed through his veins, 621 remained acutely aware of the challenges that lay ahead. He knew that the path to mastery was fraught with peril, and that success would require unwavering focus and unwavering determination. Yet, in the face of adversity, he refused to falter, drawing strength from the knowledge that he was one step closer to unlocking the secrets of the Veiled Serpent Path.

621 theorised that he could borrow the momentum from a constantly spinning Qi flow likened to a whirlpool effect in order to reverse his Qi direction, he would propel it backwards using the spin motion.

“With this, the Qi is kept constantly moving to solve the resistance whilst the spin motion will redirect the flow but, the problem is the timing and the control.”

As he mulled over the logistics of his plan, 621 couldn't help but acknowledge the inherent difficulties that lay ahead. Timing would be crucial, he realized, as he grappled with the complexities of redirecting the flow of Qi mid-spin. One wrong move, one misjudged calculation, and the entire endeavor could end in disaster.

Moreover, the sheer concentration of Qi required to sustain such a whirlpool effect would be immense, pushing the limits of his control and testing the boundaries of his mastery over the ancient art of cultivation. It would require a delicate balance of focus and finesse, a feat that few dared to attempt.

“It’s indeed dangerous”, 621 deliberated.

But despite the daunting obstacles that lay ahead, 621 felt a surge of determination coursing through his veins. He was no stranger to adversity, no stranger to the trials and tribulations that accompanied the path of cultivation. If anything, it only fueled his resolve, driving him ever onward in his quest for enlightenment.