Turning southeast, presumably towards where the cult is, Wu Long begins to draw energy around him and his disciple, beginning to lift off the ground. I don’t know how to do that, and if they see me flying for the first time with my wings, they might gain suspicions of me. Not to mention that flying may expose me to greater foes.
“Let us walk while we talk, flying does not exactly lend itself to good conversation.”
Returning his posture to walk once more, “Ah, yes, how foolish of me. The cult is not too far. We should arrive by sundown.”
“So, this Little Yin Pond?” Reminds Aden, passively checking his status.
“Yes. Our cult possesses two holy springs. The Little Yin Pond and the Inverted Yang Holy Lake. It is said that a White Yin Serpent and Black Yang Serpent breaking through to the nascent soul stage were attempting to entwine their souls and become one, and during this process they were struck down by a core formation cultivator that chanced upon them during their most vulnerable moment.”
I hope killing that serpent won’t be a problem.
“In spite, the serpents expelled their cores and detonated them. The craters where their bodies fell resulting in the Little Yin Pond and Inverted Yang Holy Lake. Supposedly, one of our ancestors was able to search the water depths, but could not find the bodies. He believed that they were deeper still, within the earth.”
“What makes the lake holy?”
“Our sect has been fortunate enough to have obtained a guardian beast. It is young, but in time it will protect us from dangers beyond us. This guardian began as a white snake the size of your palm, an outer disciple had found him within the forest decades ago…Just earlier today, there was a great disturbance above the lake. Our remaining ancestor has gone to check on Mingzhu.”
“And that is the snake's name?” Did I eat their snake?
“Yes. He had been named that as the outer disciples pet, originally. Though that disciple was old at the time and passed from age. We had chosen to honor her by keeping the name.”
“How…sympathetic of the cult. My condolences. So what of this guardian beast makes the lake holy?”
“Ah, my apologies. I became distracted with memories.”
“It is no problem at all. Please, continue.” Don’t suck me into your feelings old man, I’m going to be looting and puppeting your precious cult. These trees sure are interesting…now that I look closer, despite looking so normal, death energy is flowing through them. White yin and inverted yang, eh?
“Records of our founding have been lost to time, but our oldest ones maintain that our cult was founded by a black and white serpent in human form. Thus leading to the development of our worship of the serpent god, Angahina. As we worship the serpents, we hold both the pond and lake to be holy, but the lake hosts our guardian beast, which we have performed ceremonies for for so long, and the Little Yin Pond was named some time before the Inverted Yang Holy Lake.”
“You don’t seem quite sold on your religion.” Hold up, I have Nacreous Sea Dragon in my race list now. Is that what I ate?
“Our cult is not so strict. While we demand order and unity, we do not require belief in something so…distant and unknown.”
“That is unexpectedly open minded considering your people calling themselves a cult.”
“A name that has been losing its meaning. People tend to believe in what they are taught, whether by others or through experience. To have our teachings followed by such a lacking presence, it would ruin our reputation in the eyes of the youngsters, undermining their education.”
“The cult seems a tad wisened, also unexpected, considering yours and your disciples hot headedness.”
“Once more, my apologies, we-”
“No need, I was just sharing an observation.” Aden casually swipes a handful of bark from a tree as they pass, studying it.
“I will see to it that you are not so foolishly assaulted by the others when we arrive. The more pious ones will be ecstatic to meet you.”
Swallowing the bark, “Oh, and why is that?” I can “see” it this time, feel it being taken in within me. The energy within is mine now, but the biomass itself is a little different. I am not changing though, I just feel like it is filling me in a way.
“In the Black Spirit Cult, we practice extreme yin and yin fire arts. The potency of your death and fire chi may have even competed with the old ancestors. Seeing that it is one with your body, they may see you as of a divine beast lineage, perhaps a spawn of Angahina itself.”
I can work with this. I can definitely work with this. Wait, did he say “Chi”? Yet the system switched from Ki in the game to Mana now. “Something like that, both, but not.” Brittle Poison Pagoda is now in my list, but I don’t think it’s actually applied…ah, I can focus on each “race”.
Wu Long looks wide-eyed at Aden from his response, then stops walking as if frozen. Aden’s body shifts aesthetics, gaining serpentine features. Fangs grow long, teeth pointed, eyes slitted, and his skin adorned with fine white scales, better looking than the snakes, Aden would add.
Aden intercepts Wu Long’s kowtow at the chin, pulling his face up to look him in the eyes.
“Remember, normal and friendly. So, would this appearance be too much?”
Wu Long, quick to recover, “This may upend the cult. Many will find new confidence, but many also will see you as challenging their faith.”
“What is faith if not challenged? I exist, and they will see of it what they will. If their beliefs cannot prevail, what were they worth to begin with?” I think I almost passed out there. It was like I “saw” every cell in my body at once from their perspectives…mmm, I gained attributes. If I want to gain from the pagoda tree, I will have to embrace it too. This seems like something to be practiced in private, somewhere safer.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“Yes. You are right. Perhaps that is why we have fallen so far, an untested faith is fragile.”
“I wouldn’t delve into absolutes, but you are in the right area. So, how strong is this living ancestor of yours?” Mumbles Aden through a mouthful of grass. Mingzhu is in my races list…
“He is in the 8th stage of core formation and is soon to break through, although that has been the case for some time now. He has been searching for a way to surpass this bottleneck. Perhaps you may provide some insight?”
Corpse Dew Grass, I wonder how it got that name. There is quite a lack of life out here. Maybe the system is just messing up again. Mingzhu…Is it stored for doppelganger? Shouldn’t that be its own list?
“Perhaps. What stage are you at? I don’t cultivate like you mortals.”
“I have just recently consolidated the 1st stage of foundation establishment. It was a perplexing change in technique.”
What is the difference between mana and chi?
“Congratulations, that is just after nascent soul and before core formation, correct?
I suppose you never hear “fire mana” or “earth mana”, it is just “mana”. Meanwhile, there are so many different types of chi.
“No, nascent soul comes after core formation, and chi condensation comes before foundation establishment.” These people have been forming their cores without a backup life and the power of only one soul? How bold!
“And our little miss follower here is…peak chi gathering?”
Is mana just blank chi? I’ll have to study this when I am alone…after I determine if it is safe for me to use my dantian.
“Yes, you are quick to learn our mortal cultivation.”
Yeah, nah, it's pretty much identical to the VR game. Trying to guess my own stage though…I really can’t tell. I see various energies flowing through me, but my meridians…If what chi flows through defines your meridians, then there is no part of me that does not count. Body reconstruction is to improve your cultivation potential, allowing greater sensitivity to and flow of chi, but this is another level entirely.
“When we arrive, I would like to peruse your library…libraries, if you have multiple stores of information. I would like to see everything.”
“That may be difficult, allowing an outsider to read our most prized scrolls and well kept secrets. Although with your…visage, it may not be so onerous.”
“Perhaps this is fate. Do you believe in fate, Wu Long?”
Looking to the sky, then down to his hands, “At times, I had struggled to overcome looming difficulties, but over the years, I have come to accept that some things cannot be changed.” Elder Long spoke, closing his eyes. “Yes, I believe in fate.”
“Aaah, what you speak of, you are struggling with freedom of will. Well, I shall tell you straightly, if you can’t act outside causality, then you will never have it. Such is the nature of fate.”
Elder Long stares at Aden for a time, contemplating. “Causality…”
“When a chain is pulled, all links become taught, moving with the leading links. If you want to escape fate, then you must somehow escape the chain. Some say you must let go of worldy desires, but I believe that is foolish. Such detachment will only cause one to lose their will. I do not know what is needed, but I believe perceiving the world within your mind is a prerequisite. If you know all pasts, presents, and futures, perhaps then you will know what to do.” I didn’t expect to get philosophical there, I suppose it hit home. Us modern people have only artificial burdens left, since we fear so little for our livelihoods, the existential becomes prominent.
Wu Long clasps his hands and gives a short bow, “Aden is wise. I feel as if bottlenecks far into my future, struggles I never knew I was having, have shaken looser. I will contemplate much on your words during meditation. I cannot thank you enough, Aden. Truly.” His eyes, sterner than ever, mirroring his spoken gratitude.
I suppose this is similar to introducing technology from the future to the past. I can only wonder if this is a good thing.
“I suppose this is that “perhaps” from earlier. Perhaps I did help you. Perhaps I can help your ancestor. Perhaps I can uplift the cult.”
Once more, Long closes his eyes, now stroking his beard. “Mmmmm…I see now that we have been but leaves in a river, carried with the flow. Where does such great wisdom come from?”
Eeeeh, I can’t quite say…I’ll leave some details out. “When all worldly needs are met, and no worldly worries are left, one finds they have far fewer distractions, and a great deal of time to contemplate. This may sound like you should let go of your worldly desires, but what it means is to not let them distract you. If you truly let go of them, then you will likely find yourself without purpose or drive.”
Long hums in agreement, nodding his head. “Once more, simple yet profound words. I fail to imagine what life you have had that has resulted in such epiphanies.”
What epiphanies? Like billions of others, my life was pathetic.
“It was not so grand. I began as a mortal, in a mundane world, untouched by chi. We ruled that world, but we were our own greatest enemies. We squandered our potential and spent our lives chasing superfluities to distract ourselves from greater questions. You have the same potential as me and everyone else, you just need a chance, if fate permits. Let us move on from this subject, I do not wish to dwell on the sentimental for now. Please, tell me of your people. Teach me of this land.”
Picking up a more chipper tone, Elder Long moves to a subject he seems eager to share. “Oh, yes. Our proud people have lived here in Diyu for many generations. Our tales go so far back as to the fall of the second sun, during the reign of Yama. We hold a long and proud history!”
Long begins to ramble on about the distinguished history of his people and the land. Aden, half listening, begins to peruse his status.
Mingzhu, eh? It’s dim, I can’t focus on it like I could Nacreous Sea Dragon. Perhaps changing my form to such a degree is too much. I suppose I shouldn't mess around with shapeshifting too much in front of others. If my striking similarities to their guardian beast look less like they are my true identity, that may not go well. Do I need to eat someone to gain their appearance? I am able to manipulate my form somewhat, maybe I can copy someone's appearance with my own effort.
What could I gain from eating cultivators? What happens if I eat a dantian? Oh! I should have checked the Nacreous Sea Dragon for a core to eat! He said only one of their ancestors, one now dead, was able to reach the bottom. I should be able to check it at a later time.
Hm? “Death’s Curse”? That doesn’t sound like a good attribute…and there is no description. Death itself, then it must be that god. Were they going to make me into a cursed lich? No…I see it now. There is death chi flowing from my phylactery. It tangles with my life chi until they are both slightly altered and become somewhat compatible, like a matching spin, or they cancel each other out and I lose sense of them.
Oh, shit. It is bountiful, but I don’t see life chi coming from anywhere with the same effect. I might be on limited time here, or at least, limited time before I become more undead. I’ll need to counteract this somehow, I think starting with getting more life chi. This place….as alive as the forest looks, it is quite yin oriented. This is not a good place for me. I should maybe leave for a better place after I raid their libraries.
After another two hours of walking, under the setting sun, the trees begin to clear and a village begins to come into sight. “Is that our destination over there”?
Distracted by his ramblings, Long looks over. “Ah, yes! We have arrived! I cannot suppress my eagerness to introduce everyone to you. Welcome to our home, Aden.”