Chapter 10
For the next week, I spent my time exactly as Deng Jian told me. Thankfully everyone wakes up at the same time, they serve a basic breakfast to start our day. Afterward, the disciples go to the inner courtyard or one of the minor libraries dedicated to the hall. The library where I met Yijun was a general library with mostly theory books and low-level cultivation arts according to Hao Yi. I have to spend my mornings walking down to the lower level and entering the forest, where I spend the next twelve to fourteen hours chopping wood. Of course, I get a break, mainly because there is no one to watch me. Today is the same as the others, the sun has risen to mid-day as trudge back from the [Earthly Meal Hall] with my lunch. Today is pork stuffed dumplings.
I sit down on my stump, the axe propped up next to it. I unwrap my dumplings and dig in, basking in the silence. There hasn’t been much contact with Instructor Liang or Deng Jian. The only time they did come was at the end of the week to check my progress on the wood pile. I can’t help but feel like no matter how much I chop, more wood appears the next day. Though it wouldn’t be as surprising to find that out if that’s the case now. I still have my lessons with Yijun, though she simply comes to the [Spear Hall] since we aren’t that far from one another now. I tried to meet her in the [Enforcer Hall] before, but I was stopped from leaving the [Spear Hall]. At this point, I’ve gotten a good grasp of the written language, so we’ve switched to learning the history of the sect. We’ve gone over the founding of the sect and its role in the creation of [Xieshangong Kingdom]. Learning all of this is the closest I’ve got right now to learning the structure of the sect in more detail.
Having finished my lunch, I wash it down with some water. I heft the axe onto my shoulder as I grab a log from the pile. I line up the axe, heaving it above my head. I swing with every bit of strength I have, only for the axe to barely cut the wood. This wood is incredibly hard compared to the wood the buildings are made of. It takes me five more chops before my sixth finally splits it in half. I’ve been forbidden from using my psychic powers for now. I can’t tell what this training is supposed to accomplish other than strength training. I line up the next log and split it in six strikes, managing to find a rhythm. The sound of the axe whacking into the log, the splitterning of wood, and my heart beating fiercely, create a melody that I lose myself in. As the sun begins to wane in the sky, I take a relieved breath. My muscles burn as the exhaustion of the day finally meets me. I whack the axe into the stump as I load up the cart.
I managed to chop fifty more logs today compared to yesterday. I guess this training is helping my wood-chopping skills. However, it isn’t what I had in mind when I thought about training. At the [Merit Hall], I pull the cart to the back of the hall building. Entering through the back entrance, an inner disciple greets me. They look over the cart's contents before handing me a bag of [Spirit Stones]. [Spirit Stones] are the gems they gave me before when I was helping out at the [Pill Hall]. It’s a valuable item in trade and cultivation. In the regular mortal world, they use typical metal coins as currency, but in the cultivation world [Spirit Stones] are used instead. The [Heavenly Stars Sect] has a large amount of [Spirit Stone] mines where they can be mined, making it incredibly wealthy. I pull the cart back to the clearing in the woods before making my way back up to the [Spear Hall]. I’m already exhausted from chopping wood all day and now I have to climb hundreds of stairs just to lie down. It almost feels like torture.
“Are you alright martial brother Peter?” I jump a little from the sudden voice beside me.
“Yeah, just tired.” As I say the words, a yawn starts to force its way out. “Anyway, why do you call me ‘martial brother’? You know I’m not a disciple of the sect right?”
“Well, just because you aren’t now doesn’t mean you won’t be later.” It’s nice to see them worry about me, but I can’t help but think if I had the choice, would I join the sect? It’s only been close to a month since I’ve woken up here. Though I appreciate the kindness I’ve received here, I can’t help but wonder if I should stay. If I do, would it be only to repay the favor? I shake my head to try and dispel the questions nagging me.
“I appreciate the thought but I’m not sure if I’ll stay.” This makes Hao Yi a bit sad, I didn’t realize we had gotten close enough that they felt that way. We walk in silence for a bit before reaching the doors to the [Spear Hall]. Walking through the doors, it's the same scene I saw my first day. Disciples rushing to and from the gate and inner courtyard. Some come home in tatters again and others come home with treasures. It’s always interesting to see the items they bring back with them from their commissions. Hao Yi bids their farewell as they make their way into the inner courtyard, leaving me to go to my room. I trudge through the hallway till I reach my room, the door sliding open already as one of my roommates leaves. I have five roommates, all in their late teens. The guy in front of me is named, Wei Zan, a relative of Doctor Chao. He says he is at the 9th level of [Qi Gathering], which I assume is impressive.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
“I see you’ve returned, Peter.” The look he gives me makes me want to punch his lights out. But thinking back on how Hao Yi laid me out flat, hold in my annoyance.
“It’s been a long day.” I glare back at him, shoving past into the room. I plop on my bed, letting the soft cushion lull me to sleep. I’m not asleep for more than an hour before I’m woken up again.
“Get up, Peter. Elder Deng has called for you to meet him in the forest.” Instructor Liang tosses a disciple outfit in my size. It doesn’t seem to have any of the colors I’ve seen disciples have so far. And it seems to have been used quite a bit based on its condition.
“What is this?”
“It’s your new clothes, Elder Deng will explain more later.” With that, he steps out of the room to let me change. It’s only now that I notice none of my roommates are back yet. I know it hasn't been long, but Tang Guo should have been back now, he’s more ridge than the drill sergeants at boot camp. I quickly change and head out into the hall. Instructor Liang stands right outside waiting with hands clasped behind him. He turns and walks out of the building at a brisk pace, though this time I’m able to keep up much easier than before. I guess there were more benefits to swinging an axe than I had thought. We reach the forest entrance, taking the long way to avoid the disciples still awake in the [Plum Market] and [Earthly Meal Hall]. We finally reach the woodcutting area, where Deng Jian waits in the middle, staring at the stumps around the clearing.
“Have you ever wondered why the pile of logs never seems to dwindle?” He doesn’t pull his gaze away as he asks me. Taking this as a cue, Instructor Liang bows and then leaves.
“A bit, I’ve wondered if you might be having someone refill it on purpose to mess with my head.” He chuckles at this.
“No, that would be an unnecessary test to give. I already know how strong you’re mind is.” He finally looks me in the eyes, his gaze has a hint of sadness to it as it drifts back to the stumps.
“So, then why do the logs never seem to dwindle?”
“You will see soon.” He looks up into the sky this time. Curious I look up to see what he’s looking at, only to find him staring at the moon. It’s almost just reached halfway across the sky when the ground begins to rock slightly.
“What the hell?!” The stumps around me shake violently as they begin to rapidly grow. Starting as a small trunk, the stumps grow into massive trees that tower over the others. It’s almost impossible to believe if I hadn’t seen it firsthand. What could cause this?
“These are [Eternal Spirit Trees], a special type of spirit tree that will never die so long as its roots are left unharmed. It has a similar hardness to [Spirtial Wood] when harvested and has many similar properties as well. Though it can’t compare to real [Spirit Wood], [Eteneral Wood] is a valuable substitute.”
“Okay, it’s valuable. But how was that training?”
“Didn’t you hear me? [Eternal Wood] has a similar hardness to [Spirit Wood], you already had a strength to you. This brought out the rest that you couldn’t reach.”
“So I’m stronger now?”
“Stronger and you have greater stamina than before. You have lived in an environment that had almost no ‘Qi’ in it. So now that you are in a place with abundant ‘Qi’ your body can grow stronger, faster. Essentially, you are catching up to the rest of everyone else.”
“So now that I’ve caught up, what’s next.” Deng Jian fixes me with a crooked smile.
“Now, you will learn the basic cultivation art of my [Deng Clan]. The [Lighting Tyrants Mantle], since you have [Thunder Qi] this art will hasten your cultivation.”
“Cool, so how do I start?” There isn’t much room to do anything right now since these trees are in the way though.
“First, you must do one thing to learn my clan’s cultivation art.”
“Okay, what’s that.”
“Become my disciple, and take on my mantle, with all of my cultivation arts and martial techniques, and carry on the [Deng Clan] family name.”