Writer's Note: You might have guessed I combined the xianxia element into an apocalyptic world. There will be some modern and future technology that will be implemented in the future chapters. Releases are random as it is a side project. For that, I apologize and thanks for reading.
Chapter 1: Tang City
"Looks like Little Nathan is excited today," a man laughed as a teenager ate his bowl of noodles and dumplings.
"I'm going to check out the city. This might be the last time as the monthly recruitment day is tomorrow," Nathan answered. He had spent the first first two days searching for information. Thus, Nathan Chase had decided to stay in the busiest inn.
Despite the expenses, he was quite rich, richer than most noble families. He chose the busiest inn to hear the latest gossip going down on the first floor. The second floor was an open space and only had rooms on the sides of the inn, the center of the floor open so as to make it seem like they were V.I.P.s viewing the entertainment at the center of the inn. Only at the third and fourth floors, did someone stay the night. He frequently chatted with the cultivators he saw, asking for advice and the status of the three sects and the academy run by the council made of the noble clans.
The other four organizations were discovered to refer to the four guardians from ancient Chinese legend. They were even built in the areas of the city as the four guardians of their namesake. The four guardians were the Azure Dragon of the East, The Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Turtle of the North. Tang City was divided into six sections, the central larger than Los Angeles. The city was shaped like a giant circle with four giant circles connected by a highway outside the central district. Only members of the noble academy and three sects were allowed there. Each was a third of the size of the central district. All other people lived in the central district as well as the Army of China which had a base there.
The lone academy was known as the Divine Dragon Academy. It consisted of the top nine clans of Tang City and many nobles went there. Despite the rich connections, they never dared antagonize the three sects. Why? Each sect had a guardian beast with their race as part of the sect's name. The northern academy was known as Blast Turtle Rock. The western academy was known as Sky Tiger Temple and the southern sect was the Vermilion Phoenix Palace. The guardian beasts of each of the three sects were the most powerful forces in the city, not the humans. They had mutated and lived for centuries, developing human intelligence and taught the humans when they founded the sects.
The Sky Tiger Temple was the number one sect, its guardian beast was a four-winged white tiger! Disciples of that sect were known as Sky Sages. It was because the four-winged tiger was the Sky Sage Tiger, the number one tiger magical beast. There used to be two and the other had been slain only after it razed half of Europe thousands of years ago. However, that Sky Sage Tiger had six wings. Sky Tiger Temple lied to the west, in a valley that overlooked the central district in its higher elevation.
Then, there was Blast Turtle Rock. It is a known fact that humanity can not recover its waters and that the oceans claimed many lives. Nathan had to take boats that traveled along the coast to Greenland and then take a boat down the Asian coast to China. Disciples of the Blast Turtle Rock were known as Sea Slayers. The blast turtle is the sovereign of the waters, ensuring no stronger magical beast dare make their way to land. The sect was the defense of the city against the magical beasts in the oceans to the north. Unlike other sects, they allow their disciples to use heated weapons like guns.
The Vermilion Phoenix Palace was where Nathan wanted to go. It was the dream of his mother to go there, but circumstances brought her to serve as a maid in the city lord's mansion. Disciples of the sect were known as the Undying, the vermilion phoenix being the oldest of the three guardian beasts. The sect mostly kept to seclusion, devoting itself to cultivation. They cared not for the threat of magical beasts, but the devils. They would venture south and hunt down the devils in the ruined cities. It was also lucrative as they would collect magical treasures of the dead or devils. It was not the strongest sect, but the most dangerous.
"Hey, Nathan. Which sect you applying to?" a nearby regular asked.
"The Vermilion Phoenix Palace," Nathan answered and left as the people in the inn looked at each other. They wondered if the boy had a death wish as it was the most dangerous sects. Magical beasts mostly had the intelligence of animals. Devils were too similar to humans, but more powerful than the average human of the same cultivation.
"Ah, Nathan Chase. Finally browsing my wares?" a man greeted as Nathan appeared in his shop. His name was Wilbert Gills, shop owner of Gill's Magical Merchandise. He was a rare traveling merchant who was a cultivator who specialized in stealth. Many people assumed he was once a great assassin that got tired of killing. Otherwise, how could he have so many magical treasures to sell?
"So, you're finally going to participate in the recruitment trials. I'm guessing you came here to buy items and weapons that would suite you," the man laughed. "What kind of cultivation do you practice?"
"The path of the First Immortal," he answered, Wilbert nodding. Unless you came from an ancient or powerful clan, archaic cultivation methods were the only ones you can in public. Of course, the methods of the First Immortal were still expensive and worshiped by mostly the Chinese as the First Immortal was Chinese. He was a deity to the common folk as he was also not from such powerful clans.
"So, you're cultivating a five elemental cultivation. Does it also have the five element arts of the cultivation method?" Wilbert asked.
"Mine is the five elements of gold, fire, death, lightning, and wood. As for the arts, I cannot say. I have bonded to the jade stick by blood, but I cannot hope to cultivate it until the Spirit Awakening Ritual," Nathan answered.
"Gold? Not many people know what the element can do as it is one of the most difficult to learn, like poison," Wilbert frowned. "You sure you want to learn that element? Death is also a very dangerous element. Well, I only got two items that will befit you. Learning those elements is the hardest so having some items to boost your potential is advisable. Fire is one of the five elements of the First Immortal's personal method and one of the four general elements. Lightning.... best to utilize that element for speed. Wood is the one you will master the most."
"Gold will be the main element I use in combat, but why say wood is my affinity based on mastery?" Nathan asked.
"The wood element is perfect for cultivation. Spirit energy comes from nature and wood is the closest to nature in itself. It can also nourish your body and enhance it. If I were your master, I would say that you should focus the lightning art on speed, death and fire on assault, wood for cultivation and defense, and gold as your ultimate trump card and offense. Metal elements are perfect for offense and defense cultivation techniques," Wilbert said.
"I got a bone steel bracelet for you. You can store your spirit energy into the bracelet to shoot out swords of gold whose blade lengths and overall size could be altered based on your spirit energy. Bone steel talismans are the best as they are made by using the bones of magical beasts instead of normal medals. Once you carve a few magic runes onto the bone steel item, a bracelet for this discussion; then it becomes a talisman. You can bind it to yourself like a magical treasure. They are incredibly hard to make and weaker than magical treasures as they depend on the wearer. However, they are indestructible and cost less to buy," Wilbert explained as he brought a bone bracelet on the table. The bracelet could enlarge and shrink for easy access to wear. It also had glowing gold runes.
"Since you say many people don't cultivate the gold element, even on other cultivation methods, then I'll take it. What is the second?" he asked as he paid the man 200 purple spirit coins.
Spirit coins were the currency of the world. There were two kinds of spirit coins. One was purple and the other was green. Purple spirit coins were the main currency of all people. It was used because it could be smelted into magical weapons and did not rust or turn brittle over time.
The second type of currency was green spirit coins. These were valued by cultivators because they contained spirit energy within them. There was also a one-in-a-billion chance that a cultivator could learn a spirit technique from the coin. While the spirit energy contained is smaller than a magical beast core or spirit pill, the latter use of the coin was what made it valuable.
"The bracelet known as the Gold Sword Fiend Bracelet. It is very powerful, but that is only if you cultivate the gold element. Since you don't cultivate it yet, you cannot use it," Wilbert said and took out a long blade with a skull at the center of the cross guard right beneath the blade.
It wasn't just a sword, but was extremely heavy. However, it looked light in his hand. It made Nathan reassess the strength of Wilbert. The edges of the blade were the color of steel but turned black toward the center. Along the sides of the blade were purple runes and a round, purple jade stone at the pommel of the sword. As soon as Wilbert took out the sword, the air became hard to breathe as the blade released killing intent, almost as if it were alive.
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"This sword was used by a famous assassin more than seven hundred years ago, by one I admire. He had affinity for the death element and slew many cultivators. He was an warrior who destroyed many gangs and bandits. Even assassins feared and recognized his strength. The sword almost feels alive after absorbing so much death qi, or spirit energy," Wilbert said. "This sword costs seventy green spirit coins and is called Death Repulse. The sword drains death qi so death qi won't cause a problem for you. In this way, you have no fear for death qi attacks of spirit force of death qi cultivators. Most are assassins, but their pulse of their spirit force is deadly no matter the strength."
Also, Death Repulse has the weight of a heavy sword and the size of a regular long sword. You have no need to fear heavy weapons and still have the advantage of a more agile sword play. It is made from crystals devoured by a mysterious dragon species that lives in the southern regions of South Korea, another of the nine surviving countries of old. The previous owner of the sword was a smith friend of mine. He claimed there were three sister swords, two he sold in South Korea and one he kept for his son when he returned to Japan. Use Death Repulse well. Again, seventy green spirit coins," Wilbert said.
"Seventy green spirit coins....okay," Nathan said and paid the money. He did not have much, just a little over seven hundred, but Wilbert obviously knew more about cultivation. If he said the sword would assist in his death qi cultivation, he would be foolish not to consider it. He bound the blade to himself and had it strapped on his back. He also bound the bracelet and put it on his left wrist.
"Nathan, do not take the Spirit Awakening Realm lightly. Exceptionally talented people will undergo drastic changes, like you will. You have exceptional talent, but that is only because I sense a huge accumulation of spirit energy inside you. I do not know why your body has spirit energy so early, but it is enough to break you through to the tempered body fourth layer," Wilbert said. "Good luck."
"Thanks," Nathan said and left the shop. He realized that the spirit energy might be due to the monkey wine he drank whenever he was exhausted or felt hungry or thirsty while he smuggled aboard the many ships to get to China. Another reason would be the spirit crystal vein. He felt whole again as he had a sword. Now, all he needed was a sword style to integrate the five element qi he would absorb when he began his cultivation.
Although cultivation methods had techniques, they paled in comparison to others. A fighting manual was essential as those spirit techniques were created for fighting. He would learn the techniques of the sect, but it was also better to learn your own techniques for weapons. Thus, Nathan headed to the Tang Fighters Pavilion. He could also buy weapons and armor, but he felt no need to.
"Hello, young man. How may I help you?" a man in lavish red robes smiled. There were many people inside the giant gold pavilion, many other attendants assisting them.
"I came here to buy a sword manual," Nathan answered.
"Sword? Ah, of course. Do you know how you prefer to fight? Do you value speed or power?" the attendant asked.
"Power," Nathan answered. He had used swords as Guan Zhu. Most used quick fighting styles, but generals had to take charge and overcome several men at once. Most swords were light and flexible, but some swords were heavier and durable. Most were the size requiring two-hands but some people were strong enough to wield just as heavy swords of smaller size with one hand.
Naturally, he understood how to fight with the weapon and take advantage of its shape, weight, and capabilities. Wilbert advised him to utilize the lightning qi for movement skills. Thus, speed was not an issue. A part of him even believed the rumors that Wilbert was an assassin in the past.
"Sword with a power-oriented fighting style, but not a two-handed great sword. Hmm. Alright. Please follow me," the man said and Nathan followed the man to the north eastern part of the pavilion, several manuals arranged in the shelves. There was also a small plaque with pictures of the technique being used in action.
"Pictures?" Nathan cried, surprised.
"Yes. Our pavilion indeed has the ancient artifact once known as a digital camera. We took pictures of the styles to help with the purchase of the manuals. However, some books do not have pictures as the manuals are magical themselves. For those, there is only a single copy. It is best to learn those as no one else could possibly learn them. However, there is a risk of dying as it imprints the techniques in your mind. Most don't even remember the stances and motions for the first technique of the manuals. You can try your luck, but we are not responsible if you die. If you succeed, it is free but remember the risk of death," the attendant warned. "I will be out front when you are ready to make your order. The photos will be arranged in a photo book for preservation so just bring the manual with you and you will be given the photo book shortly after."
Nathan immediately looked at one of the magical book. He opened one and got a searing headache. Soon, a voice began screaming in his head and he immediately shut the book. He sweated heavily for a while before his body recovered. As the attendant warned, he really did not remember even a single stance or motion. However, he was determined to learn the one-of-a-kind style. He read four more and finally fainted after the sixth. He awoke an hour later and a nearby attendant warned him that the next manual might really kill him as he was lucky to live past two.
He had no choice but to consider his choices. He browsed the titles of the manuals. The Tang Fighters Pavilion was only able to determine the fighting style of those magical books and the weapons they used. Otherwise, many more would be gathered in a single place and these manuals would not be grouped with the regular sword manuals. Finally, he found one he liked. It was called the Black Dragon's Fury Manual.
According to the description, the slaves who were forced to open and died to glean the information claimed there were nine stages. With every stage reached, his spirit energy could be manipulated into the shape of a dragon. Of course, the description said every person who didn't survive had died by their heads exploding.
"I faced a storm of arrows before my death and slew countless armies. I already died once. I need the power!" Nathan roared and opened the manual. Then, he saw an illusion from the manual. It was a majestic black dragon with a body that stretched for miles. Its amethyst eyes stared at him and the black dragon roared. Nathan trembled violently as the dragon soared into the heavens.
In reality, Nathan released an ear-piercing scream. The manual turned into gold light and entered his body. Beneath his robes, the purple jade necklace shined and the coiling gold dragon around the jade and silver chain turned to ash. The purple jade then soared into Nathan's body and the five-elemental cultivation method was also imprinted directly into his mind. More spirit energy accumulated in his body and a purple jade energy flowed in Nathan's meridians. These were the veins which cultivated and spread the spirit energy in the body, and they became enlarged and more crystalline. The purple jade energy was that of the black dragon and would remain latent until his awakening. While cultivation would improve his body, the purple energy improved his regenerative qualities, even making his bones golden.
Nathan sighed loudly as he fell to his knees and awoke from the illusion. The knowledge was all in his brain now. Stances and blade strokes were flashing in his mind and he now knew the five element arts of the cultivation method. They were the Art of Golden Storm, Art of Black Sun, Art of Phantasmal Eclipse, Art of Lightning Stars, and Art of Serene Lotus. He could not use or understand the first level of each element spell.
The cultivation method of the First Immortal was truly different. It was as if they were magic. He had heard of mages, but they were extremely rare and highly valued. They kept the knowledge to become a mage a secret, but Nathan now realized it was due to the cultivation methods of the First Immortal. He wondered what kind of man could create magic, and so many kinds for each element?
"I am sure to be recruited into Vermilion Phoenix Palace now," Nathan said after he informed a rather shocked attendant of his success. He later discovered he had a gold dragon tattooed on his body. He surmised it was due to the necklace as the eyes of the dragon and some strands of his hair were the color of the purple jade.
"Hey, Nathan! How did it go?" the man from earlier asked. "Get anything good? Did you dye your hair too?"
"I'm rather tired. Sorry," Nathan said and turned to the hostess. "Deliver my usual dinner to my room. I will be resting until morning after a hot bath. I stink of sweat."
"Yes," the hostess said and many regulars laughed as they agreed. They guessed he must have done something rather laborious to stink his robes in a single day.
"This strange energy feels great. Could it be that the manual I read was one the First Immortal used? Dragons are the most powerful, on average, and the black dragons are the most powerful of them all. I can finally cultivate tomorrow and start enhancing my strength. Vengeance will finally be a future possibility. Those bastards better still be croaking when I have the strength to return," Nathan said before bathing and eating his meal. He gazed at the moon one more time before sleep took its hold.