Samantha flinched away as the spearhead exploded in her right hand and an eruption of blood, shrapnel, and light blasted out towards her face. The force from the blast knocked her backwards off her feet and she fell to the ground in a heap. With her qi pool now fully depleted, the strength in her body seemed to leave her and all she could manage was curling up defensively and waiting to see if her death was imminent. She had played every last card in her hand, and if this insane gamble didn’t pan out then there was no doubt in her mind that she would be crushed to death any second. Several ragged breaths came and went, and the harsh ringing in her ears began to subside. When no sudden stomp ended her existence, she tentatively opened her eyes.
In front of her was the boar, once tall and mighty, still held captive by the trunk which his tusks pierced. Its body steamed with heat and lay slumped over, but largely intact. Shockingly, if it weren’t for the fact that he was so motionless and covered with gore, Samantha might have believed he was sleeping. For all the power that the explosion expended, there was not much external damage to the creature. There was no denying the fact of its death, however, as blood and chunks of brain matter flowed from every visible facial orifice–crimson streams dripping down from his slackened jaw, nostrils, ears, and burst eye socket. She didn’t linger on any feelings of relief though.
Knowing that time was short and that her spirit bond was in grave danger, she put the alpha out of her mind and extended her arms to try and push herself up. She toppled over immediately, the arm she used to deal the deadly blow not holding her weight as she expected it to. She looked down at the appendage and immediately understood why. There was nothing below her right elbow—a stump of mangled flesh all that remained of her dominant hand.
She stared at the empty space dumbly, her mind unwilling to accept this as reality. The injury was completely painless, and she could swear that she could still feel her hand there at the end of her arm. As if trying to prove to herself that this was all some horrible nightmare, she tried to clench her ‘missing’ hand into a fist, but was only rewarded with a fresh spray of lifeblood from the gaping injury.
She paled at the sight, her stomach churning as a fresh sheen of cold sweat covered her body. If she didn’t take care of the arm soon, she would die of blood loss if the shock didn’t kill her first. Taking the sash from her cultivator’s robes, she picked up a small branch that had fallen from one of the felled trees and used it to create a makeshift tourniquet. She tied the sash around her arm and the branch, and then turned the wood until the fabric twisted enough to cut off circulation to the area.
Her immediate survival secured, she stood up unsteadily and made her way over to the spot where she felt her bond’s qi signature. His eyes were dull and unfocused as she approached, and her heart sank upon reaching him and seeing his condition. It was clear that his spine was broken and he was on his last legs, nearly dead already. He squeaked pitifully at her between labored breaths, lacking the energy to communicate telepathically.
“I’m gonna fix you up,” Samantha promised, her voice breaking, “just… just hang on a bit longer for me, okay? I mean… I didn’t even give you a name yet!”
He gave no indication that he had heard or understood her, but she tried not to let worry cloud her already frazzled mind. She knew it would probably be risky to try and move him, but given his poor condition she didn’t want to risk him dying alone in the dirt. With her good arm, she carefully scooped his limp body from the ground and carried him back over towards her emptied pack as quickly as she could. Her thoughts were fuzzy as she walked, and the dizziness she felt threatened to cause her to stumble with every step, but she was determined to keep her precious cargo safe and her gait steady.
“Don’t you die on me,” she whispered to the unnaturally still animal, “I swear, if you live through this, I’ll give you a proper name. You’ll love it!”. Silence was her only response, and she choked back a sob while she quickened her pace.
Samantha navigated to the area where the contents of her pack had been spilled out and carefully set the hare down, monitoring his condition as she fetched a skinning knife. Realizing she couldn’t cut out the boar’s spirit pearl while carrying the hare with her, she reluctantly left the small creature alone while she acquired the core, then returned as quickly as she could.
This was the largest core she had come across thus far in the wilderness, and she guessed that it was perhaps a Rank 2-High or a Rank 3-Low. Without qi to fuel [Inspect] she wouldn’t know for sure, but any excitement at the find was snuffed out by her dire situation. No amount of healing salves would fix her ruined arm or the Lunar Hare’s broken spine… but there was a possibility that cultivation would. A small one, but a possibility, nonetheless.
When advancing to the next rank, there were several things that happened to a cultivator. On the physical side, the cultivator took one step further down the path of immortality by burning away internal impurities and reinforcing their body with qi. This also resulted in a small healing effect as damaged flesh partially regenerated or reformed. On the spiritual side, the cultivator’s third eye would open to the insight of the world during a breakthrough.
During Samantha’s first third eye trance, she had closed her mind off to the flood of visions and insights as quickly as she could to maintain her sanity. However, now that she understood a bit better what to expect, she believed she had a good chance to spend a bit longer immersed in the trance. It was well known that cultivators could pull new knowledge out of third eye visions, and most cultivators acquired at least one art this way before reaching Bronze Tier. During her cultivator’s class, her instructors had warned them repeatedly not to try to get anything from the third eye opening until High or Peak Copper, once their souls had been sufficiently strengthened and grounded. She needed to take the risk though, if she wanted to save her companion.
She seated herself in the lotus position, placed the hare in her lap, and began absorbing the core. She was so close to the next rank now, it wouldn’t take much to advance. She only hoped she could manage it before permanently damaging her cultivation base. Her dantian was still sore from absorbing multiple spirit pearls earlier today.
Her center ached as she pulled the energy of the pearl into herself. The pressure from her dantian’s compression built to the point where she feared she would be torn apart, and the growing pain in her center threatened to shatter her concentration. As she neared her breaking point, the qi inside her own core finally clumped together to form larger droplets and transformed into vapor. As if it had never existed, the mounting pressure vanished and her third eye shot open.
----------------------------------------
Where am I?
Samantha drifted in the center of an impossibly vast ocean, each water droplet a whisper of truth and an offering of knowledge.
Why am I here? There was something… something important…
She sank beneath the surface as if dragged down by a boulder, but felt no panic as the water closed in over her head. Only disorientation.
“Samantha...” a quiet voice called.
As if to emphasize the word, the flickering thread emerging from her center lightly tugged her upwards. She traced the path of the shining thread–one of the only sources of light in the rapidly darkening sea–and at its end saw the dim shape of a hare looking down on her from above.
It all came rushing back at once. The fight, the injuries, and the mission that she had come here to achieve. Following her instincts, she dove deeper into the waters, seeking a way to survive—a way to heal her bond. She swam so deep that even the light of her binding thread was swallowed by blackness, and everything around her became nothing but dark, vague shapes and impressions. Her mind was battered by constant visions as she searched for something that could help her, but none of them were the one she needed most. Several times she felt herself becoming lost among the currents in the ocean, but the binding thread that tied her to her spirit bond kept her from completely drifting away.
Just as she was about to lose hope, the image of a wound being healed flitted past her vision like a small fish, and she grabbed hold of the knowledge before it fully escaped her reach. Like a ravenous animal, she consumed the fish, crying out in panic as she felt the rapid flood of information threaten to drown her frail psyche and drag her down into insanity. Feeling her mental strain, the hare pulled on the binding thread and forcibly dragged her towards the surface.
As the surrounding pressure of the deep sea lightened the visions slowed and became less intrusive. Gathering her wits, Samantha exerted her will over her third eye and after a few moments of struggle slammed it shut.
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Coming back to her senses, the first thing she noticed was that the sharp pain in her overtaxed dantian had lessened significantly, though it hadn’t completely disappeared. Her severed right arm had also scabbed over. She suspected the advancement had healed some of her spiritual damage alongside the physical, and she was immensely grateful for the unexpected help. It would make what she needed to do next much more tolerable.
To use the healing art she had found during her third eye insight she would need to open her heart meridian.
Each cultivator’s body has many meridians throughout it originating from the dantian–like veins from a heart–which serve as internal qi pathways. Initially, all meridians are mostly blocked by impurities and require pressurized qi to be pushed through them to burn away that detritus. While part 4 of her core quest required her to use a spirit pearl to open a meridian, normally such a process would be done in a controlled manner over the course of several hours. She needed to cleanse a meridian in minutes, if her bonds continually weakening life force was anything to go by.
So–mentally bracing herself against the pain she knew would come–she directed the potent stream of qi she pulled from the spirit pearl directly down her clogged meridian. The powerful torrent of energy burned her insides like she was channeling acid through her veins, but she couldn’t deny its effectiveness. Looking inwards, Samantha saw the detritus being washed away by the qi at a prodigious pace, but was also dismayed to see that it still wasn’t fast enough. Her bond would die before she finished.
Groaning, she pulled even more qi from the core and urged the meridian to open even faster, her dantian beginning to burn almost as painfully as the heart meridian. She screamed as her cultivation base was strained to the limits, the qi searing her from within and burning away any remaining impurities before crashing into her heart and causing it to seize. With hot tears streaming down her face, she transformed her cry of pain into one of defiance and bent the energy to her will. Just as she had seen in the third eye vision, she twisted it inside her newly-opened meridian into a specific pattern until she felt the art begin to activate. A new notification made her realize that there were a series of others waiting for her attention, but she minimized all but the most recent one for later.
Congratulations! You’ve learned a new Combat Art.
Flawless Regeneration (Rare)
Meridian Requirements: Heart
Qi Cost: Variable
By cycling qi through your heart meridian and circulatory system, you can regenerate flesh to heal your body to flawless condition. 1 qi invested will restore approximately 1 ounce of flesh per minute, with additional qi invested resulting in diminishing effects.
She instinctively understood that typically this art would only work on herself–not others–and extending the effects to her spirit beast was only possible because their souls were literally bound together. Instead of letting the formed art spread throughout her own injured body, she pushed the energy from her heart meridian, through the binding thread, and into the Lunar Hare. As she did, the core turned to dust in her hands.
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Samantha grabbed the final core in her possession–the unused Rank 1-High spirit pearl she had collected during her time at the nexus–and began using its energy to fuel the art as well. She was already pushing her core usage too far, but with her qi pool empty and no time to rest this was all she could do.
Not knowing how much qi it would take to fix the hare’s broken spine and bring him back from the brink of death, Samantha used the entirety of the core’s power to heal her companion. Over the course of a minute, the hare’s eyes shot open in alarm, instantly losing their fogginess as the energy was pushed into him. His spine snapped back into alignment and he squealed at the sensation, jumping away from Samantha to escape the pain. A few moments later, all previous signs of injury vanished from the hare, and the core dissolved, now spent. Despite the searing pain she felt in her center and meridian, she was overcome with joy at seeing her bond returned to his usual, lively self.
“I’m healed!” he shouted into her mind gleefully, “Thought I would die. But I didn’t die. Look!”
The Lunar Hare jumped around her, playfully doing flips and corkscrews in the air while Samantha laughed softly. He stopped short as he rounded her right side, taking in her missing limb for the first time.
“Your arm. It’s gone…” he said, his ears drooping. “My fault?”
“No, it wasn’t your fault. It was just the price I paid to win,” Samantha responded, gesturing to the downed boar, “and I don’t think it will be permanent either. The art I used to heal you can also regrow my arm. I just don’t know how long it’ll take.”
“I will protect you.” he offered earnestly, nuzzling up against her crossed leg.
“Thank you, Silas.” Samantha replied warmly.
“Silas?”
“Your name!” she said, grinning, “I don’t know if you heard me earlier, but I promised to give you a proper name if you pulled through. Do you like it?”
“It’s a strong name?”
“Yes, it’s based on the name of a spirit beast of legend here on the 1st floor, Silvus. He was so strong that few could even approach without being crushed by the aura he gave off, but he wasn’t a mindless animal for all that he had beastly strength. Some say he was smarter and more eloquent than most humans, and that he even had the ability to take on human form! So, I gave you the name in hopes that you could be as strong, or even stronger than Silvus himself.”
“I like it! Thank you.”
A new system message appeared in her mind, and Samantha decided that now was as good a time as any to look over the messages that she had minimized earlier.
Congratulations, you’ve advanced to Mid Copper!
You have successfully condensed the qi within your dantian into vapor. The increased density of qi within you has further burnt away impurities, and has raised your maximum Attribute values.
For being bonded to a spirit beast at the time of your advancement, +1 Bond Ability Point.
Congratulations, you’ve cleared your Heart Meridian!
You are now able to utilize arts that require a cleared Heart Meridian. Arts that can function using the reduced capacity of a clogged Heart Meridian will gain efficiency.
+1 Endurance, +3 to Qi pool
Congratulations, you’ve strengthened your bond with Silas!
You and Silas have both proved your devotion to the other by being willing to lay down your lives rather than escaping alone. You have also endured an extended third eye opening and returned with life-saving knowledge by working as a team. These feats, along with the completion of a naming ceremony for your spirit beast companion, has caused your bond to deepen further.
+1 Bond Ability Point
A new Bond Ability has been revealed
Core Quest: Unlock Your Potential (Part 4 of 5) [COMPLETE]
You have located and cleared the detritus from your heart meridian, using a spirit pearl to accelerate the process.
Core Quest: Unlock Your Potential (Part 5 of 5) [IN-PROGRESS]
You have endured the trials in the wilderness with your own power and come out stronger for it. Without true difficulty there can be no growth, and without embracing the bitterness of struggle you cannot fully enjoy the sweetness of success. Do not give undue aid to those who seek to unlock their cultivation after you, for while there is no shame in rising in strength alongside fellow cultivators, each must begin their first steps on this path alone. Report your success to any Registrar’s Hall.
Samantha’s eyes widened more and more as she read each progressive notification. Looking at everything laid out before her like this, she admitted she really had taken a lot of dangerous risks in the last couple of hours, but it had paid off in a big way. Breaking through, opening a meridian, gaining an awesome combat art, and getting an extra Bond Ability point and new Ability had made everything worthwhile. She laughed to herself as she read the phrase ‘naming ceremony’ in one of the notifications. Maybe giving Silas his name was even a bigger deal than she originally thought. Anticipation bubbling to the surface now that the crisis was over, she decided to look over the changes to her status page before finishing up with the boar and getting to safety.
Name: Samantha Cray
Age: 17
Attributes:
Aptitude (Approximate Max Value):
Strength: 5
Low (8 => 9)
Agility: 8
High (13 => 16)
Endurance: 6 => 7
Average (10 => 12 => 13)
Resilience: 5
Low (8 => 9)
Cultivation Rank:
Low Copper => Mid Copper
Pattern: Entwined Circlet (Low Copper - Common)
Qi Pool: 0 / 13
Base: 10, Meridian(s): +3
Qi Regeneration: +0.5 / hour
Cleared Meridians:
Heart: +1 Endurance, +3 Qi pool
Passive Arts:
Prey’s Perception (Bond Ability)
Qi Cost: N/A
Gain increased awareness of your surroundings. Affects all senses.
Combat Arts:
Inspect (Common)
Qi Cost: Variable
By focusing your spiritual senses on a target and expending qi, you can either retrieve basic information or gain useful insights that can be used in combat.
Swift - Rank 1 (Bond Ability)
Qi Cost: 1 qi/second
For every 1 qi point spent per second, gain +1 Agility. While active, your steps gain perfect traction.
Flawless Regeneration (Rare)
Meridians Required: Heart
Qi Cost: Variable
By cycling qi through your heart meridian and circulatory system, you can regenerate flesh to heal your body to flawless condition. 1 qi invested will restore approximately 1 ounce of flesh per minute, with additional qi invested resulting in diminishing effects.
Spirit Bonds:
Lunar Hare (Rank 4 - Low) [ View More ]
Samantha mentally selected [ View More ].
Silas - Lunar Hare
Rank 4 - Low
Attributes:
Aptitude (Approximate Max Value):
Strength: 2
Abysmal (4)
Agility: 12
Exceptional (16)
Endurance: 5
Average (10)
Resilience: 3
Low (8)
Active Abilities:
Passive Abilities:
Thump
Cooldown: 30 Seconds
Herb Hunter
Leap
Cooldown: 10 Seconds
Poison Connoisseur
Swift
Cooldown: Variable
Prey’s Perception
Translucence
Cooldown: Variable
Iron Gut
Offered Bond Abilities:
Bond Ability Points (BP) Remaining: 2
Swift (Rank 2)
[2 BP]
For every 1 qi point spent per second, gain +2 Agility. After ability ends, effects will linger for a short time before returning to original levels. While active, your steps gain perfect traction.
Herb Hunter
[1 BP]
Like the Lunar Hare, you have the uncanny ability for finding the best quality herbs around.
Poison Connoisseur
[1 BP]
Inherit the toxin processing abilities of your bond. You will more easily gain resistances to any poisons you encounter.
Translucence (Rank 1)
[1 BP]
For every 1 qi point spent, you will become partially transparent for 30 seconds. Remaining motionless while translucent will make you exceedingly difficult to spot.
As One (Special - Rank 1)
[1 BP]
You and your bond share vitality. If one is wounded or healed, the effect is split between the two parties. You will rise or fall as one.
She looked at the new bond ability [As One] with curiosity. The “Special” designation was something she had never seen or heard about before, and she wondered what it meant. Being able to split healing and damage between her and Silas seemed incredibly powerful, but she wondered if that was enough to make [As One] a ‘Special’ ability or if there was something more significant she was missing. She was tempted to purchase it right away just to see if she would get more information, but thought it best to make a decision like that after she had recovered and gotten some rest. Still, she considered what she should buy with her two new bond ability points as she turned her attention back to the carcass. It was going to be a long night.