The First Steps – 003

“Kid, do you know where you want to go from here? I need to go take care of some matters but I’ll leave you a map of the local region so you can familiarise yourself with the surroundings.”

“Thank you senior, I have a vague understanding of the Eastern Continent but I will make good use of the map whilst you’re gone.”

The old man reached inside his kimono and took out an aged parchment scroll, clearly yellowed by the years, edges frayed from generous use. He turned, said goodbye and left.

The map felt thick, much stockier than the paper used back on Earth. Opening the wrapped up map revealed an exquisitely drawn out depiction of the local region, accompanied by a vague outline of the entire Plane of Diohel. The memories left over within me were indeed in accordance with the map but it still feels very uncomfortable to have two sets of memories.

I am currently on the small island of New Penia, it is not much more than a glorified outpost for traders to stop and stock up on small necessities before they continue on their journey elsewhere.

Directly North of New Penia is an uninhabited island. Resources there are not very abundant and the fact that it is split from the mainland of the Eastern Continent makes it an inconvenient place to colonise. The notes on the map state that the island is used by some warrior sects to test their younger trainees in trials by fire where they undergo physical tests and face some relatively weak beasts.

Further North of the desolate island is a small body of water named the Pinean Straight where traders and visitors funnel into, in order to dock into the Eastern Contient at the city of Old Penia.

To the South of New Penia is nothing but water, I really washed up on the edge of the world.

Seeing no more information that can be of immediate use to me I roll the map back into a scroll.

It is finally time to come to terms with the reality of this new world. I am not currently dismissing the possibility that this new world is just a result of a near-death experience but thinking that way will not help me in any way. Right now my priorities are understanding the Plane of Diohel and coming to terms with the changes I will be facing.

Seeing as I inherited Li Bai’s body and memory I have also inherited his history and his feuds. In the Western Continent of Sages, Li Bai was playing the fool as if he had no talent for the control of Deity’s Essence as he wished to keep a low profile. He had learned to be a schemer from a young age as he thought that acting in such a way would buy him some time to gain strength in the shadows before aiming for a position of power. His plans backfired and he ended up being thrown into the sea. Sometimes gambles do not pay off. I believe the phrase was ‘Homo proponit, sed Deus disponit’ – ‘Man proposes, God disposes’.

Li Bai - as an illegitimate heir – did not have access to the Imperial Bloodline’s exclusive resources and knowledge, however, he was still provided with a very capable teacher when he was living in God’s Haven. The basic understanding of Deity’s Essence and how to wield it has now been passed on to me.

If I had to describe Deity’s Essence, it would be a form of energy, and yet, also a form of matter, and yet not. Deity’s Essence permeates everything and all living beings interact with it to some degree. Humans in the Plane of Diohel have an additional organ system within their bodies, a system very similar to the circulatory or lymphatic system. This system could be likened to the ‘meridian’ system mentioned in traditional Chinese medicine, of course the specifics are way off, but the general concept is essentially the same.

Meridians channel Deity’s Essence.

Sages conduct Deity’s Essence in the environment into their core, which sits above the navel and below the sternum. They then use the stored Deity’s Essence to affect matter, either by manipulating matter directly or through the addition or subtraction of energy, at the cost of Deity’s Essence. The name given to Deity’s Essence really is appropriate, it can be used to affect reality in a way which only Gods could. Of course the theory regarding matter and energy has been developed by me based on my understandings from Earth, I suspect sages, especially those at lower power levels, don’t really understand the mechanism behind Deity’s Essence.

Warriors use a slightly different technique. They take in Deity’s Essence into their core, where it is purified, just like a Sage. Then – instead of storing the Deity’s Essence – they distribute it into their body in a method dictated by their learned cultivation technique. This will enhance their strength, their speed, and even their reactions and senses.

In theory, there is no incompatibility between the two training methods and one person could train in both branches at once, however, in practice this was difficult. The major method to increase a Sage’s power is to expand their core by carefully overfilling it with processed Deity’s Essence, then, they would use that stored Essence to train their spells and applications of Essence until their core was depleted. The process would then start again.

For a Sage to train as a Warrior, the Sage would have to use all their stored Deity’s Essence by dissipating it into the body, forsaking the practice of spells and control of Essence. Training in both methods would produce half the results with double the effort and was such no one would attempt it.

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The second method for a Sage or Warrior to increase their power level is to train in a processing technique. These techniques modify Deity’s Essence into a form that is most compatible with the individual user, meaning easier control and more efficient storage. The trade-off of doing this is a loss of versatility in the Deity’s Essence, causing the Essence to create a biased effect.

Li Bai was only 14 when he met his misfortune and he was only at the beginning stages of his cultivation, he had just recently learned to sense Deity’s Essence and had very limited progress in terms of actually controlling it. This was his true talent and it was satisfactory compared to the rich youths, and maybe a little above average when compared with the average joe.

Unfortunately, the process of sensing and controlling Deity’s Essence is not something that can be passed on through memories, it is very much like sport where only repeated practice can produce results.

Fortunately, I came from Earth, a plane where Deity’s Essence does not exist, so Deity’s Essence is as clear to me as night and day, allowing me to skip over the part where I learn to sense Deity’s Essence.

As to controlling Deity’s Essence, I am going to have to try my hand at it as soon as I can stabilize my situation.

*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*

Footsteps come into earshot, the old man has returned after a couple of hours, he resolved his business whilst I was mulling over the memories left to me.

“I’ve just come from a meeting with the Council of New Penia. We have a restocking mission once every three months and the next one is scheduled for tomorrow. We travel to Old Penia and trade there for the resources we need. I don’t suspect you will be wanting to stay in New Penia so I can bring you with us to the City and introduce you to a friend who can take care of you until you decide what you want to do with yourself.”

I am somewhat startled. This old man is really going out of his way to help me.

“Senior, I’m afraid I still don’t know your name!”

“This old man’s name has long since become of no use to anyone… everyone around here calls me Old Angler.”

“Mr. Angler, you have shown me great kindness by helping me so far, and even went out of your way to provide me with contacts in Old Penia. I am in your debt and if the day ever comes when I can repay you I will do my utmost to do so.”

This old man has absolutely no obligation to help me, and yet he is doing so out of the kindness of his own heart, those who treat me kindly will not be forgotten.

“Kid, I just found you interesting, that’s all. That being said, it is a pleasure to see a spirited young man who knows how to treat his elders and benefactors!”

“I’ll prepare some clothes and some basic supplies for you to take with you. You should rest easy; we leave at first light so we can get to Old Penia before night falls tomorrow.” The old man added.

“Then I will be in your debt Mr. Angler. I do have to ask, I am not familiar with the proceedings in the Eastern Continent of Warriors, how should I go about making some small change for myself?”

“Oh? You’re still wet behind the ears from being dragged out of the sea and you’re already thinking of gaining independence? You have some serious motivation kid. The most important thing for any youth in the Eastern Continent is being recognised as a Warrior. You should try to enrol at a sect, if you have the talent then you will be provided with resources and you will receive guidance. Secondly, many youths make a little extra money on the side by apprenticing themselves to Masters in the city. Blacksmiths, artisans, alchemists, refiners and all sorts of professions will seek an inexperienced youth to take care of chores for them. You can seek a place by the side of a Master if you can catch their attention.”

This old man really did not hold back on his explanations, he laid out everything clearly, and did not add unnecessary details by assuming I’m an idiot. I don’t know where this man’s family is but he would have made an excellent grandfather.

“Thank you for your guidance Mr. Angler, I will leave you to make your preparations as I’m sure you’re busy. I shall head inside to rest and prepare for tomorrow.”

I saluted the stern faced old man and turned to head to the hut where I had been before. Inside, a burlap bag is laid out on top of the bed. Examining it I find some basic necessities like a leather water holder, a makeshift book with information regarding Old Penia and the surrounding lands, and basic eating utensils fashioned of some form of fairly dull metal, adorned with wooden handles. I use the still clean water in the basin to freshen up and climb onto bed.

End of Chapter 3