The Echoes of the Forsaken target not just our Sect, but the very foundation of the cultivation world itself," Master Juhee says, her brow furrowed as she scans the reports scattered across the table. "Their reach extends far beyond our initial beliefs.
Vice Leader Qiang nods, his expression grim, his finger tracing a pattern on the map. "The Verdant Sword Sect, the Skyward Blossom Sect, even the reclusive Celestial Hermitage report unsettling incidents: disappearances, strange sightings, whispers of a coming darkness."
"And yet, we still know so little about their true goals," Master Juhee sighs, frustration evident in her tone. "What drives them? What do they hope to achieve by sowing chaos and discord?"
"Power, perhaps? Or something more sinister?" Qiang muses, his eyes distant. "There are whispers, ancient prophecies that speak of a great upheaval, a time when the balance of the world will be forever altered."
Master Juhee's gaze sharpens, her attention fully on Qiang. "You think the Echoes are connected to these prophecies?"
"I think we would be foolish to dismiss the possibility," Qiang replies, his voice low and urgent. "If they are indeed working towards some greater purpose, some twisted vision of the future, then we must be prepared for anything."
"I am glad you're here, Azreal. I was going to find you later. Take out your wooden talisman," says Master Juhee as she retrieves her jade talisman. Azreal, reaching for the wooden talisman on his belt, brings it out to touch Master Juhee's and small golden orbs begin to exude from the jade talisman and transfer into Azreal's wooden talisman.
"I've given you a thousand contribution points for your efforts in the Lingxi Grove. Without you and the others that fought against Killok, I doubt there would be many disciples left. Additionally, each of you have been chosen to enter the Violet Sanctum, another reward providing real information about your opponents and allowing us to investigate this matter properly," says Master Juhee.
“I suggest you do not waste your contribution points and go to the Vault of Thousands, and choose a combat technique. I’ve noticed in your fights and training you are lacking in both damage and defence. You are fast and strong, but you do not have an ability to directly hurt your opponent or stop a direct attack to your body,” says Master Juhee, as she waves Azreal away.
“Go on, we’ve got hours of meetings left and you shouldn’t waste any time before the Violet Sanctum," she says, returning to the map and discussing with Vice Leader Qiang.
“Wait, Master, you mentioned earlier that the step into the next major realm of Martial Warrior and Soul Awakening is one profound change and when my cultivation journey truly begins. Can you offer your guidance on what it will take for me to breakthrough or why it is a profound change?”
Master Juhee looks at Azreal with a mixture of pride and solemnity as she begins to explain the profound changes he will soon undergo. "Azreal, the breakthrough to Martial Warrior and Soul Mystic is a turning point in any cultivator's journey. It marks the beginning of your true cultivation path, and the changes you will experience are both profound and transformative."
She moves to a set of chairs alongside the edges of the room and gestures for Azreal to sit beside her, her voice taking a tone of education and guidance. "One of the most significant changes will be the expansion and strengthening of your meridian system. As you know, meridians are the channels through which Qi flows in the body, and they play a crucial role in cultivation."
Azreal nods, his eyes focusing on her with anticipation. "Yes, Master Juhee. I've read a little about meridians from the cultivation manual you provided me, Stormblade Surge, but I don't fully understand their importance."
Master Juhee smiles patiently. "That's because their true significance can only be grasped through experience. As you break through to Martial Warrior, your meridians will undergo a profound transformation. They will expand in both size and capacity, allowing Qi to flow more freely and powerfully throughout your body."
She traces a finger along her own arm, as if following the path of an invisible energy. "This expansion will have a direct impact on your cultivation speed and efficiency. With broader meridians, you will be able to absorb and circulate Qi at an unprecedented rate, accelerating your progress towards higher realms. This change will allow you to begin to form your foundation which is critical to your future as a cultivator. One's foundation is formed when a core is created, the culmination of your Qi forming into a core within you. This will happen when you reach the realm of Martial King.”
Azreal, his full attention still fixed onto his Master Juhee as she continues to explain. “It’s critical to have the best foundation possible before forming your core. Many cultivators spend years at the Martial Warrior realm, especially in the first heaven. Any cultivator worth their weight in gold will find rare and precious resources to develop their Qi affinities. I only allow my students to form their core and reach the next level once they’ve unlocked the most amount of affinities they tested for. The more affinities a cultivator has, the larger and stronger your core will be during the core formation stage. So the next step is to focus on accumulating power and hunting for ways to unlock your affinities and increase your foundation.” her words and teaching ethos aligning with Azreal’s plan that was beginning to form in his mind.
“Thank you, Master. So this next realm will require me to cultivate and find opportunities to strengthen myself. Once I break through I will seek your advice further. Master, can you explain the changes for the Soul Sea?” Azreal questions with boundless curiosity.
Master Juhee's expression grows more serious, her eyes showing a reflection of profound depths of knowledge and understanding. "Yes, Azreal. The breakthrough of your Soul Sea from Soul Initiate and Soul Mystic will bring about a significant awakening of your spiritual sense. It's a transformation that goes beyond the physical, touching the very core of your being."
She closes her eyes for a moment, as if reaching out with an invisible force. "As your soul awakens, you will gain the ability to detect and interpret the flow of Qi in the world around you. It's like a sixth sense, an intuitive awareness of the energies and intentions of others."
Azreal leans forward, his voice hushed with awe. "What will I be able to sense?"
"With a heightened spiritual sense, you will be able to read the Qi signatures of other cultivators, gauging their strength and affinity. But if the person you are attempting to read is far stronger than you, this can be blocked or seen as an act of aggression, so do not use this for no reason. You will sense the approach of danger, detect hidden traps and formations, and even communicate with spirits and otherworldly entities. It's a profound change in perception, one that will fundamentally alter your understanding of the world and your place in it."
Falling into complete silence, Azreal stares past his Master Juhee and into nothingness, his mind attempting to understand seeing more than he currently can. The idea of having a sense which extends his senses is strange and fulfilling.
Azreal, you will understand when the time comes. Now, for your breakthrough, you will need a source of power to draw from. This will make your breakthrough easier. Most cultivation methods have a specific affinity beast or monster core that will be of the most benefit. However, we have no idea what your cultivation method is, so we cannot properly follow the pathway set by those before you, her words linger in the air, causing Azreal’s mind to race with panic and try to find a solution.
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Before Azreal can find a solution to this, Master Juhee continues her explanation. "But! We are extremely lucky that you have one of the rarest talents and have an affinity for each of the eight basic Qi, which will allow you to use a beast core of any variety to assist you. Using this method also boosts the likelihood of inheriting skills from the beast or monster chosen, so I would suggest you use this chance wisely and find a core suitable for you.”
“Thank you, Master. I will go to the Vault of Thousands and choose a technique before attempting to cultivate for the next few days. If you need me, I will be in my dorm,” says Azreal as he bows deeply, as he's seen others do when thanking their Masters and Elders, before departing from the training ground and directly moving to the Vault of Thousands, a collection of cultivation techniques and methods, guarded by the most powerful Elders of the Sect.
Azreal, getting tired of having to walk everywhere in this world, finds himself standing outside an ornate circular stone door. Inscribed into the stone door are the words 'Vault of Thousands'. The ornate stone door is built directly into the side of the mountain. The words etched into the door beat with the rhythmic flow of Qi, each pulse changing colour to match the various Qi’s of the Heavenly Root Sect.
To either side of the doorway stood old yet extremely powerful Sect Elders adorned in the black and gold robes of the Celestial Defence Pavilion. Azreal takes a sharp breath as he realises each of the guards is at the Martial King Realm, also making the assumption that these two Elders standing guard would be at the Soul Monarch realm as well.
If these are just guards, how strong is the Sect Leader? How strong is Master Juhee? Azreal, feeling pressure from each of the guards as if he is standing directly under the full weight of a waterfall, has to grit his teeth, forcing himself to stand as pressure begins to increase with every step he takes forward.
Azreal can only muster a few more steps before coming to a halt, feeling the muscle on his bones begin to stretch and twist as he attempts one more step. Just as he feels that either his body will break or the step will be taken, the pressure vanishes, causing him to crumble to the floor and gasp for air.
“You’ve done very well, young man. We test each disciple's power of will and steps taken. This combination allows us to provide you access to the appropriate level of techniques and skills,” the Elder on the left says as he pulls out his jade talisman and pushes it into a slot in the mountainside that Azreal could swear was not there before.
“Floor two, that is your limit. You have an hour. Once you’ve chosen your technique and transferred your contribution points, you will need to leave immediately. The fewer people inside the vault at the moment, the better,” the Elder on the right of the ornate door says as he follows his counterpart's actions and pulls out his jade talisman and pushes it into a slot.
At the same time, they turn the talismans to the left and right, respectively, before the sound of stone sliding along stone is heard as the circular ornate door rolls into the mountainside. “Go, your hour has begun,” the guard gestures for him to enter.
Azreal steps through the circular doorway, immediately the air around him changes. He can feel the brittle silence that fills the enormous library-esque building. Azreal is taken aback by the pure size of the hall in front of him, the rows and rows of wooden shelves, stretching from the floor to the roof, covered in scrolls, books, and large vials of energies.
Azreal's eyes are drawn to the intricate patterns carved into the walls, which seem to shift and change as he moves, as if they are alive with Qi. He realises that these patterns are not mere decorations but are themselves living cultivation techniques, designed to impart knowledge to those who are able to decipher their meaning.
Azreal, walking towards a marble spiral staircase, deciding to ascend directly to the third floor, feels the aura of mysticism and power grow with each step. The feeling of unknown power and potential cultivation techniques makes his body tingle with excitement. Keep calm, this decision is important. Excitement cannot decide my future. Azreal pushes his excitement down, giving his best to focus on the task at hand.
As he walks along the shelves, Azreal can feel the raw power emanating from each scroll and book. Some radiate with a fierce, fiery energy that seems to scorch the air around them, while others pulse with a cool, calming aura that soothes the mind and body. He can only imagine the incredible abilities that can be gained from studying these techniques.
Azreal's heart races with excitement as he realises the sheer number of cultivation techniques available to him. He knows that he will have to choose carefully, as each technique will require a significant investment of time and effort to master. He also knows that he will have to be cautious, as some of the more powerful techniques can be dangerous if practised without proper guidance.
The rows upon rows of cultivation techniques and methods are a shock to Azreal as he walks to the third level of the Vault of Thousands. The ancient stone walls, covered in massive wooden shelves, give an extremely studious aura to the third floor. The previous two floors are swarming with cultivators, the third floor is extremely empty comparatively, only a few Elders can be seen walking between the bookcases.
As Azreal continues his search through the shelves of the Vault of Thousands, his mind races with the possibilities. An offensive or defensive technique, something to round out my abilities and give me an edge in battle. He runs his fingers along the spines of the scrolls, feeling the pulsating energy beneath his fingertips.
A particular cultivation scroll catches his eye, its aura a swirling mix of deep blue and crackling silver. Lightning Qi, just like my affinity, Azreal realises, carefully removing the scroll from its place on the shelf. He unrolls the parchment, his eyes scanning the intricate diagrams and flowing script.
This could be exactly what I need, Azreal thinks, excitement building in his chest. A way to break through enemy defences, to strike hard and fast. He glances at the contribution point cost, a whopping five hundred points. Half of what Master Juhee just awarded me, but it could be worth it.
He's about to make his decision when another manual, just a few shelves down, begins to emit a soft, pulsing glow. Intrigued, Azreal moves towards it, the manual’s aura a shimmering gold that seems to beckon him closer.
Azreal's brow furrows, torn between the two techniques. Offence or defence, the choice could mean the difference between life and death in the battles to come. He thinks back to his encounters with the Echoes of the Forsaken, the way their attacks had nearly overwhelmed him. A strong defence could give me the time I need to counter, to find an opening and strike my opponent before he can strike me. Azreal places the manual down when he notices the cost is over six hundred and fifty contribution points, deciding to search for a more suitable technique for the cost.
As he walks through the Vault of Thousands third floor, Azreal considers his options. A soft whisper seems to echo through the shelves, drawing Azreal’s attention towards the very rear of the floor, where a lone bookshelf stands with only a few tomes and manuals laying on its bare shelves.