It was late at night; rain fell heavily as it so often did during the spring months. Few people were out at this time and during this weather. A few Core Disciples of the Punishment Hall, a message runner or two, some servants working on the last of the days jobs or getting an early start on tomorrows. And lastly Wang De.

Of course, no one would be able to tell that this was Wang De. He wore a dark cloak and had a pendant around his neck that blurred his outline and concealed his aura. Not even a Core Compression Realm Cultivator could sense him, and there were none of a higher level than that in a relatively backwater Sect like Raging Wild Moutain.

It had been close to seven months since he had received the message to prepare. Almost Wang De had become concerned that it had been a false alarm, but last night his faith was proven true. And tonight? Tonight, he had a mission.

Wang De pulled the cloak tighter around himself in the rain and continued on, step by step. There was a lot of work to be done.

A young man of around sixteen stood in a dirt yard, well a mud yard, as it had rained pretty heavily throughout the night. In truth it was still raining a little, a cold and steady drizzle that fell on the still form of the boy.

Yi didn't really like are hate the rain, if he had to say anything, it was that the high ambient water Qi it provided felt nice. Also, it watered the crops, so that was good, if he was near the herb gardens during the rain, he could practically feel the plants sing.

Still, he wasn't out here for no reason, it was Fifth Day, the one day in the week that he set aside completely to practice his new Technique. Thorny Strike, which in Yi's humble opinion was a terrible name, but nobody asked him. It was an enhanced strike that required the user to have a Cleansed Shoulder Meridian and Wood Qi, the purer the better.

Essentially, the user stores a buildup of Wood Qi in their shoulder Meridians and then channels it down the arm into either an elbow or palm strike. The Techniques works better if you have the Palm Meridian open as well, but it isn't required.

Not only is this strike amplified in power, but it has an additional effect. The way the Wood Qi is shaped for the Technique, it acts as a thorny vine, clinging to the struck person and disrupting their Qi. Now how strong this disruption is, depends on many factors, but Yi's Pseudo-Earth Root makes his Qi especially pure, increasing its effectiveness.

Of course, if the opponent has a Heavenly Root or even their own Earth Root then this wouldn't matter. Also, if the opponent had a significantly higher cultivation, or a Fire or ice root, or even their own Wood root, a special constitution... Well, you get the idea. Still, it was a good technique and fit very well with Yi's abilities and fighting style.

So here he was, in the rain, concentrating. Wood Qi gathered at his Shoulder Meridian in his right arm, he inhaled, and it swelled, exhaled and struck, a pulse of Dark green Energy rippling out of his palm. Yi adjusted his stance and did it again this time out of his left hand, then each elbow. He repeated the process, still too slow to use in a real fight, until he ran out of Qi, and then Meditated to gather more.

After a few hours his Qi channels and shoulder Meridians ached, and his arms were jelly. He went back to his sleeping quarters to collect some new robes and then went to spend some time soaking in the public bath. The communal bathhouse for the inner Sect was much nicer than the Outer one, it even had Herbs that helped with fatigue in it.

The male and female parts were actually separate building each about five minutes' walk from each other. They were also in isolated parts of the sect to discourage misconduct. A Core Disciple from the Discipline Hall watched each bath house at all times. Despite this about once a year someone would try to sneak into one of the bathhouses, usually the female one but occasionally the males as well.

Yi sat in a large bubbling pool of green tinted water. It was around eleven in the morning and not many people were in there with him. An old attendant skimmed leaves out of the open-air bath and another Senior Disciple Yi did not know soaked in a different section, meditating. Judging by the concentrated ambient Water Qi around him he was enjoying cultivating in the steady rain while bathing.

Besides him Bao'er pattered around in the bath occasionally swimming under water and popping up again some distance away splashing playfully. Most people in the Sect didn't have Spirit Beast Companions, but they weren't so uncommon that anyone Questioned Yi on his. The Little mouse was very useful in picking up spiritual Herbs while he was out on assignment and warning of danger before it happened.

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Suddenly Bao'ers froze, nose in the air. Yi was just about to ask her what was wrong when there was an explosion that shook the bathhouse. Then another and another. All around explosions rocked the Raging Wild Moutain Sect.

Soon the Auras of powerful Cultivators rose up, some were approaching from a distance and felt weirdly, greasy. These were repelled by the Dozens of Core Compression Elders around the Sect.

Near Yi the Senior Disciple who had been cultivating was already pulling on his robes, the water burst off of him all at once. Judging by his Qi he was a Peak Meridian Cleansing stage, outside the bathing room the feeling of electricity surged as the Core Disciple in charge of the Bathhouse roused his Qi.

All Core Disciples were Body Refining Cultivators at the Peak of the Foundation Realm. Yi himself was not idle and was hurriedly dressing in his own robes. By the time he was done however, the other two were gone, leaving only him and the Elderly Attendant.

"Shelter here" Yi told the old man before rushing out himself.

Outside was chaos, smoke rose up all over the mountain, shouts and screams rang out and there were Chaotic surges of Qi everywhere. Yi was all alone where he was but following the emergency protocols in place, he made his way toward his Elders Residence. Barely a minute later he encountered his first Demonic Cultivator.

Bao'er let out a warning and he leapt to the side as a blast of Qi Fire washed over the place he had been. A man stood in his path, having emerged from hiding in the trees. He was tall, absurdly so, around seven or eight feet, his arms hung low and had weird multi joints all up and down them like seven elbows.

The Man Grinned revealing yellow teeth, his eyes burned red, and his hair hung in loose greasy strands. Demonic Transformation, Yi had only read about it, Demons were actually a race that lived in the Upper Realm, but the Ambient Qi in the Lower realms were too low to sustain them. Still every once in a while, something of the race would find its way into the lower realms and be adapted by human cultists who worshiped them.

Demonic Transformation was the result of trying to turn oneself into a member of the demon race. Few Survived the process but those who did were always half mad and very strong.

"Little, little, Cultivator running like a rat. I'm gonna eat you up, Yes I am, Yes I am." The Man Sang in a high voice that was closer to that of a little girl. Qi began to swell; it looked like normal Fire Qi but felt warped. By Yi's estimation he was only late Meridian Cleansing Stage cultivator, but the power of his Qi was much stronger, even a peak Meridian Cleansing Cultivator might not be his match.

Fire Qi turned to actual fire, and it swirled around like a tornado. The Man Laughed and charged, Yi ran. He regretted not learning a movement Technique as the Demonic Cultivater was rapidly gaining on him. He ran with all his might, burning through his Qi reserves just for a tiny bit more speed.

The longest minute of either life ensued before he arrived at his destination. The Small Pound that fed the bath house. Yi dived into it feeling the heat wash over his back as the man sent a wave of fire after him.

This was only a delaying tactic; the pond was shallow and normal water could not stop Qi Fire for long. He swam to the other side in a few heart beats and surfaced to see the Demonic Cultivator standing on the other shore.

"Oh, little morsel, why do you run?" The man asked, tilting his head to the side. "I only want to eat you, no need to be scared." He crouched, seeming to exam him. Yi Stood in the five-foot-deep pond and began to focus, gathering ambient Qi and Focusing into both Shoulder Meridians. They were still sore from training, but he ignored the dull ache.

"I'm Coomminngg" The Man sang and leapt from his crouch. He flew through the distance laughing in a high insane voice. Yi Met him, his stance firm, eyes unwavering. Two dark green palms met a flaming red fist. There was a sound of cracking as the other man's arm shattered Yi's own roar of pain joined in with the Demonic mans as flames attempted to engulf him.

The Demonic Cultivator fell into the water and Yi, ignoring his own pain, gripped the man up by his throat. He wrapped his arms around him and with a powerful twist, broke his neck. Yi tossed the body to the side, and it sunk into the water, Wood Qi gathered and then forced the flames off his arms. The regular water of the pond was not enough to fully extinguish the Qi Fire.

He sat for several minutes, focusing on recovery. His Qi was spent, his shoulder Meridians throbbed, and he wouldn't be able to Use Thorny Strike for at least a few days. His arms were covered in burns, Yi used what little healing arts he knew to dull the pain and repel the fire Qi Remnants but otherwise could do nothing.

Despite all this he still walked out of the water after only a few minutes. He was too exposed there and needed to shelter somewhere else. He made his way back to the bathhouse, and found it exactly the same, not even ten minutes had passed afterall.

He entered and was met by the old attendant swinging a broom at his face. On reflex he blocked it, the action sending pain up his arms.

"Sorry Disciple I didn't... Disciple Your Arms!" He Old man started to apologize and then exclaimed in shock.

"It's nothing, do you know where the Herbs are kept for the bath?" Yi asked waving away his concern over the burns.

"Y-yes, this way disciple." The old man led him to a side room that was for storage. It also held a small table with a few chairs, on the table, still steaming presumably from when the Core Disciple left the bathhouse, was a tea set. Yi smiled slightly, then grimaced in pain. He found a few herbs that were used both in the bath and for some soothing tea mixes he knew of.

Quickly Yi began to brew a new pot, ignoring the ceremony in favor of speed. Herbs were mashed, water was heated, and he moved about frantically. Demonic Cultivators had attacked, he was too injured to help right then, and Cao was still out there. He needed to hurry.