Scene 2 - The Garden

Before leaving, Marley gave each sibling a leather bag from her ring. Besides Saren, the rest could put their books inside, making it easier to carry them.

With the books stored inside their bags, the group made haste towards what Marley called the ‘field room’.

Saren walked alongside Marley and asked, “Why is it called the field room? Is it a training center?”

Marley gave a faint smile, “Heh. A training center? It’s more shocking than something like that!”

Nena walked along Marley’s other side and tilted her head, “What is it then?”

“You’ll find out soon enough! I don’t want to spoil the surprise~!”

The group spoke about various things they learned from their books, sharing their thoughts on cultivation while making their way to the field room. Soon they could smell a faint medical scent, and Marley gave them a heads up that they were close. The closer they got to the field room, the stronger the medical aroma became.

Placing both her tender hands upon the door handles, Marley gave a faint tug before declaring, “This! Is the ‘field room!”

The medical aroma increased tenfold, with a green light shining outwards as Marley opened the door. Marley led the way as they entered the room. The siblings were agape with awe, shockingly the whole room was three stories of a garden, filled to the brim with thousands of medical plants!

Very few were alike in demeanor; some had razor sharp teeth lining the whole body, some were dull in color and gave off a dull luster, others were dazzling like the sun. The list went on and on, with every shape and color shown boastfully as big and small plants alike moved in a harmonic way.

Master Mo currently sat cross-legged in midair, holding an angel turtle shell flute and playing a beautiful melody that changed the pressure in the air to the manner of the tone.

Minds reeling, the siblings were shocked once again by their master for when they looked closely they could see… That the plants were dancing to the tune! Flowers bloomed across the color spectrum in rhythm with one another as the vines shook in enjoyment.

Wordlessly they stood at the entrance, watching the room full of green be charmed by their master’s song that became happy at times, sorrowful at certain segments, full of rage at the crescendo then next became a calming hum. The sound played a melody of emotions as if Master Mo was trying to paint a picture purely with sound.

Master Mo finished playing his flute after a few more minutes, making the plants slowly come to a stop one by one. In a flash Master, Mo’s eyes opened and turned towards his disciples.

Slowly Master Mo smiled, “Thank you daughter, for bringing my disciples. I’ll take it from here.”

Marley bowed and stepped back behind the siblings, pushing the nine forward.

Master Mo stared at them solemnly, “How goes the reading?” 

Saren stepped up helplessly sighing, “The books are too hard to comprehend, I’ve only gotten to what felt like the first step Master Mo, it’s so hard!”

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The six nodded in response, saying similar things as well... except for Nena, as she had somehow comprehended a step into the 1st stage!

When Master Mo heard this, he was amazed to the point of almost coughing blood yet kept a solemn appearance like that of a stone statue, ‘These brats have already begun comprehending the first stage in only six hours? It should’ve take them at least a month to merely get a hint of meaning from the first section! My word, the little one has already comprehended the first step! Should I say as expected of a quad soul...’

Master Mo didn’t praise them and instead rebuked them, “Did you think comprehending cultivation would be easy!? Humph! Your progress is good, but your understanding is not strong enough to fully grasp the first stage! All of you are to meditate here to start grasping the method of cultivating World Qi, and to form and stabilize your first rank of twelve stages! Now spread out and sit cross legged while I condense the World Qi around you so you can get a clearer sense of it.

But Rune and Vince, it’s not the best for you to learn how to absorb world qi right now, instead setting a solid foundation for your mana is better. Therefore Marley will escort you to the west wing so that you can cultivate your mana.”

Marley nodded her head faintly and waited outside, ready to lead the two away. Marley, of course, knew about the seven siblings reaching an understanding about the first rank. They had told her in excited expressions that they started understanding it faintly while Rune and Vince were binding their rings. It’s just that her dad paid too much attention to Rune and Vince to notice the shocking things the rest of the siblings were doing.

Marley took a quick glance at the group of siblings, “Come junior brother Vince and junior sister Rune, I shall show you the way.”

Vince and Rune were reluctant to leave their brothers and sisters but chose to follow Marley as they understood that they had to become stronger and that their siblings were safe here.

The three moved quickly through the west wing until they came across a four-meter tall door, which they unhesitantly entered. Marley led them inside the large room that seemed to be much bigger than the building that held it. Inside the room was full of masterfully crafted statues, displaying huge monstrous creatures surrounded by waves of colorful elemental energy.

If a normal person saw these statues they wouldn’t see any energy coming out, only an awakened would feel the intense pressure of mana emulating from them.

With a flick of her wrist, Marley produced a jade seal from her ring and began to pour energy into it. Suddenly the numerous statues began to sink into the walls until only four remained. The four statues made their way to the center of the room in pairs, stopping forty meters away from one another.

With a wave of her hand, two giant domes appeared and covered the statues, sealing them away. Finally, two massive doors expanded from the front of the domes, allowing access to the inside.

Putting away the jade slip, Marley pointed at the left dome made out of hardened black stone and turned to Vince, “That is your cultivating area Vince and the other is your Rune. Ring the bell inside when you’re done with your training.”

Vince opened his mouth, “I thought we were traveling straight to the Sectless Sect. Why are we training here now; shouldn’t we be moving?”

Marley smiled warily, clearly, she didn’t want to talk about it, “Who said we aren’t moving already? Ever wondered why the majestic place such as the Tavern of Dragons would be located on the inner edges of the slums? That’s because… Tavern of Dragons is a sky ship!”

Marley smile as she dropped a bombshell of information upon Rune and Vince, whose minds reeled after hearing that they were flying through the sky.

Terrified, both their legs started shaking as they both think similar thoughts, ‘Heavens, we’re in the sky!’

Marley gave laugh seeing the fearful gazes of the two, “Don’t worry you two, this ship was designed to take a serious beating. You’ve got nothing to worry about! Heck, I’ll even show you guys the bow of the ship later, so don’t worry about it and go cultivate.”

Taking a few deep breaths the two started to calm down. Even if they’re in the sky so what? What could they do? It’s not like they could stop the moving fortress.

The two walked shoulder to shoulder towards the entrance of the dorms. Marley wished them the best of luck then sat back in a comfy chair. She pulled out of her ring and gazed at it curiously, ‘I wonder how those seven are doing with father?’