(Author: Hello all. Arthur continues his training and learns more about immortals. The road to power is long and arduous. The trading caravan finally leaves the desert and will visit a new country. The next chapter, once it is released, will be a new development. This chapter will close some loose ends I created for you guys. Hope you enjoy the chapter.)

Chapter 5: Departure

"Again!" Alexander shouted. "Swing two hundred times with your right and three hundred times with your left. A twin swordsman must be as good with one hand as he is with the other. Don't expect to always have two swords on hand. When you reach the third level of qi condensation, you will learn how to use talismans. One hand must let go of the sword to control the talismans, should you have need of them! Again!"

Arthur panted and his shirt was drenched with sweat. He may be able to fight bandits, but bandits were not weapon masters. He slowed his breath as he repeated his stances, focusing more with his left than his right. As he reached the second level of qi condensation, he could finally circulate qi in his body and continue practicing his stances longer than he would have without the qi. The spirit energy truly was mysterious, but his master only made him train harder.

Arthur was told that among the five who had received the manuals, he was the only one who was not at the fourth level of qi condensation. In other words, he was ordinary but his pace was only fast due to the mnemonics and the qi circulation techniques from the Nine Heavens Sundering Manual.

The other four were truly monsters with talent in qi cultivation, but in terms of weapon mastery, they were far beneath him. The more one trained, the more one grew lazy without resolve and complain. Arthur didn't complain as he had trained in martial arts before and was used to relentless practice and harsh criticisms from the masters he learned under.

As Arthur finished his practice, he approached his master. He had many questions he needed answers to.

"Master," Arthur began. "When do I control lightning and when do the tribulations start? The qi condensation manual said nothing about that."

"All martial exponents, whether its disciples who follow the path of the Divine Sun or disciples who follow the path of the Chaotic Moon, must survive the first tribulation before they can control either fire and water or lightning," Alexander answered. "The tribulations are only set to have the ninth tribulation strike when you reach the bottleneck at late Shan stage. It will destroy your body and your soul must endure as you are reborn in an immortal body."

"So when do the other eight strike?" Arthur asked.

"No one knows when it comes, but you will know when it will. It has always been that way," his master replied. "The heavens work in mysterious ways. Regardless, it is bound to happen as you continue to attain a higher level of qi condensation. The first one, no one ever dies. It is the tribulation that serves as a warning of what is to come as well as the awakening and purifying of qi in your body. Most of the time it is a great lightning strike from the heavens. Qi is spiritual energy so of course it becomes more refined and powerful the more tribulations you survive."

"Yes master," Arthur said and returned to his room. He began to pack as his father told them they were finally leaving Gahald. Alice was also excited as she hated the desert. By the time Arthur was done and looked outside, he chuckled as Alice had filled her carriage with ice boxes and water skins.

"Your body is becoming muscular Arthur," Alice said as her brother appeared. "As expected of a warrior. You have to be careful of combat mages. Before them, you will lose. Especially those who can use voiceless incantations."

"That's what the mage guards are for," Arthur laughed. "We have about a dozen mage guards and five dozen expert warriors protecting the caravan. Bandits might pose a little harm if they have mages but we have void crystals. Not many caravans have those. Besides, we got my master now. I doubt even an army of adept mages could defeat him."

Alice shuddered as she remembered seeing Alexander in action and agreed. That man moved way too fast and could kill many mages before they could say a word. Thankfully, not a lot of people had talent for qi cultivation so mages were more respected and popular.

She had once thought she was the gifted one among the twins until she saw Alexander. One day, Arthur would be able to do similar feats. This changed Alice and she was no longer haughty and more respectful towards Arthur. Sometimes one needed a traumatic experience of life and death to become a better person.

"I'm sorry big brother," Alice said. "I know now why Amber and Ashley were nice to you as they learned you wanted to learn martial arts before they left for the academy. Mom might not change, but I'm sure she loves you too."

"Alice," Arthur said, moved as he did not think Alice would change so dramatically. "Thank you. Ask dad for an interspatial ring when we reach the next country. Our Yason currency has a better exchange rate there so the price will be cheaper."

"Thanks big brother. I will tell dad for sure," Alice grinned and continued with arranging her carriage.

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Arthur groaned the first few days as he adjusted back to sleeping in the day time and meditating during the night. Alexander was impressed at Arthur's dedication and left him alone while they traveled the road. Training with swords and breaking the limits of your body was good, but too much practice will break the body and Arthur would neglect his meditations. If one looked closely, it was as if Arthur was basked in silver light as his Chaotic Moon tattoo shined as his qi circulated. Only during the night, could one see the silver light.

Many of the guards would sneak glances and sigh with wonder as Arthur meditated in the open during the night as they traveled. Of course, the roof had been adjusted to cover only half the carriage so Arthur could bask under the moonlight as he meditated. After all, Arthur had his own carriage and didn't need to have the whole carriage protected from the sun.

After two weeks on the road, they had finally left the Desert of Gadza and entered the country of Golanth. Golanth was a country of rivers, plains, and a few mountain ranges. Occasionally, the trading caravan would stop and hunt the wildlife to eat meat. Now that they were not in the desert, wildlife was plentiful and they didn't need to eat dried jerky for protein. They would pass a few travelers and adjust their directory when they heard rumors of monster attacks or raiders.

Arthur would polish and sharpen his silver swords before sparing with his guards. His master said that sparing with multiple people would get him to adjust to fighting multiple opponents should he get surrounded and be unable to escape.

His guards were also expert warriors so sparing with them would help him improve as they would tell him how to adjust so he doesn't break his form. So far he had increased the guards sparing with him from one to three. He had to concentrate solely on the fight as he spared with them and usually won because he had more energy than them due to being able to circulate qi into his body.

Alice also trained as she would use her light magic to heal their injuries and randomly make light barriers appear when Arthur found a gap in one of the guard's defenses. Gaius was happy with his children as they got along more and trained together.

This was the change he wanted to see in Alice. If one of his new sons his wife would give birth to wanted to become a merchant, Gaius would die happily once he had grandchildren. He had three mage daughters and one son walking the path of immortals with two sons on the way. He thought he did a good job.

"We'll have to go back soon in order to see the two twin boys during their birth," Gaius muttered. "I wonder what Arthur's master would have Arthur do upon their return. Hopefully, he'll join the Moon Lotus Sect his master mentioned. Education is very important on the path to growth and development."

After three more months in Golanth, Arthur and the trading caravan finally returned home to Torque. His new little brothers were named Aston and Asher. His dad would have to wait until they were tested at age six to see if they had no mana capacity and would become his heir to the business.

His mother was shocked at Alice's new change, but was pleased that Alice had become stronger. She felt guilty as Alice told her that she was neglecting Arthur, but it was too late as she had to prepare Alice for her entrance to the academy. Arthur and his master waited until Alice left for the academy before saying their goodbyes to Arthur's family. Arthur also managed to get a hug from his mother, but it was awkward for him and he let her go immediately.

Gaius laughed and reminded Arthur to send him messages once in a while. Gaius tried to pay Alexander , but Alexander said he never intended to get the money as it was his own master who instructed him to teach Arthur. Arthur said that he would and tried not to cry. This new family of his was good to him. He would make them proud. They finished saying their goodbyes and left his family.

"Today onward, you will join the Moon Lotus Sect and learn the techniques of my sect," Alexander said. "The other four will look down on you, but you can let your twin swords do the talking. Do not reveal all that you can do. Only fools display their true strength in the open where their enemy can see them. You're a cunning man. You were also the only one to pick up the copper mirror. My master will explain what it can do in due time."

"OH!" Arthur gasped. "I was hoping to meet him, but what do I call him?"

"He is one of the four grandmasters of the sect so grandmaster will do," Alexander said. "Let's go young Turang disciple. It is time to truly walk the path of an immortal."

"Yes master. I will not disappoint you," Arthur bowed his head slightly and followed his master out of Torque.

Chapter 4: Nightmare and Star Shadow Main Page