Come to think of it... I really don't want to know how much that shit's worth. It's going to make ME cry tears of blood.
"So, is that all you wanted to see me for? Because honestly, I didn't know and as far as I'm concerned, the transaction is already completed. If I'm too stupid to realize the value of things, well that's on me." said Tyler.
Awkwardly, Bralok and the Elder looked at each other. Then, the elder stepped in. "Well, seeing the value of what you gave, it would be a shame if you didn't at least get proper compensation, even at an incredibly reduced rate."
Tyler looked at the elder before focusing back on Bralok and replied. "Well this is boring. Tell you what. How about I swing by your shop later? I want to break through into the Qi Transformation stage properly first and I'd love to do that comfortably at home."
Both men once more looked at each other awkwardly before Bralok answered Tyler. "That's fine but... Gotta ask... You can just.. Break through whenever you want?"
Tyler paid the question no thought and answered honestly. "Now that my preparations are essentially done, yeah." With that, he got up and put his chair away. "Unless there is anything else, Elder, I'll be taking my leave."
Seeing as the man said nothing, he turned around to leave. When he put his hand on the door he remembered something. "Ah. I might not be able to complete a task in the next few days due to the breakthrough, is that fine? I have not really read the rules properly... I only know that I need to do a few every month at the very least, but that's about it.."
The elder frowned. That worthless disciple of mine has been neglecting his duties to enrich himself again... The man sighed and infused a bit of true essence into his voice. "Jeok. Get in here."
Through his divine sense, Tyler clearly felt Jeok on the other side of the door stiffen up as he tried to push open the door, but Tyler opened it for him, making the man almost trip on his own feet.
Oops, that wasn't intentional.. I just wanted to be courteous and open the door, not make the man look like a fool... Thought Tyler.
Hung Jeok walked in and bowed to Elder Yopp. "I greet master. What do you need me to do?"
Elder Yopp sighed and decided to keep the reprimanding for a more private setting. "Can you explain to Tyler here the rules of the sect? Properly this time."
Fuck. He thought as his face stiffened, realizing that he had been caught again by his master.
In his heart, Tyler had complained somehow and got him in hot waters! Not only did this trash mess with my cousin at the beach, he's now messing with me! This is not over!
Reigning his emotions, he got up from his position, a fake smile plastered on his face and gave the proper introduction speech everyone was supposed to receive.
"Yes, Master. The rules are fairly simple." Jeok went to explain things in detail. The man was, in fact, not lying. They were fairly simple.
First, any grudges must be resolved internally through duel. If cultivation levels differ too much, an elder should be informed so that a fair resolution is reached.
Second, every outer disciple will get a monthly stipend of a single Silver Condensate, a single acupoint opening pill or Qi Tampering pill, varying on one's position in the ranking battles.
Third, missions assigned by the taskmasters' offices are mandatory for everyone to complete but those mandatory tasks are always overseen by an elder to ensure fair assignments. Every other mission is optional and should be seen as an opportunity to make money on the side and help the sect out at the same time.
Fourth, everyone must participate in the ranking battles at least once a month and at the end of the year. The top 10 disciples will be moved up to the Inner Sect at the end of the year and the lowest ten from the inner sect will be demoted.
Fifth, any progress in cultivation is tied to a specific mission assignment and you will be paired with a senior cultivator of the inner sect. If your newfound power aligns with the sect's requirements and expectations, you have the option to choose one technique from the sect's repository as your reward, or you can receive compensation equivalent to the value of the chosen technique in other forms.
Hearing this, Tyler was finally able to understand things properly and the elder clarified things for him. "So, considering you said you were planning to break through, just come to the office afterwards for your mission assignment. You've only been in the sect for a few days from what I understand and have not been assigned a mandatory task yet, so don't think about it too much."
The man paused, looked at his disciple for a brief second and continued, "Keep up the good work. A breakthrough this close to making it into the sect is a rare achievement. Now, I won't bore our guest here any longer. You can both leave."
With that, Tyler left and returned home with a promise to go meet with Bralok when he was done with breaking into the Qi Transformation stage to settle their accounts.
After teleporting back home, Tyler went directly to Annie and Greg who were both hanging out in the kitchen, totally not obviously flirting. "Hey guys, I'll be in the gazebo out back, don't bother me for a little while. I'll be breaking into Qi Transformation."
This revelation caused them quite the shock as Tyler had always hid his cultivation level from them.
They had initially been informed that Tyler was supposedly a mortal when they accepted the assignment. However, both of them had grown skeptical of this claim, especially after witnessing his survival during the recent ambush and his ability to dispatch a Qi Transformation cultivator with a single strike.
Now that they had confirmation that he was indeed still in the Qi Gathering stage, their disbelief only deepened.
Acknowledging this, Greg asked a question in return. "Do you want me to watch over you so nothing happens?"
I don't think anything wrong will happen.. Maybe only the surroundings might get messed up a bit.. thought Tyler. So he replied, "Sure, not gonna lie I'm a bit worried that the gazebo or the garden as a whole might get damaged a bit, so maybe having you there should lessen that a bit?"
Both Annie and Greg looked at each other, thinking exactly the same thing. He's worried... about the garden?
"Nothing should go wrong on that end, it's built out of pure heartwood imported directly from the Heartlands. The architects spared no expense on the construction of your cultivation grounds." replied Annie.
Tyler nodded. "Good. Oh and Greg, don't stay too close to me unless you've got soul protection. Fair warning."
With that, everything was ready and Tyler sat down in a lotus position in the middle of the gazebo.
Although the waters in his inner world had not been entirely substituted with the qi-infused ones, given his recent conversation, Tyler was happy to retain several million liters of Serene Dew.
Additionally, he had yet to refine all of it into purer and denser Qi, but this was a minor concern. His intention was to harness the Qi contained within to facilitate his breakthrough into the Qi Transformation realm, utilizing his fully opened acupoints to steadily refine the Qi over an extended period afterwards.
As Tyler settled into meditation, minutes ticked by as he focused on emptying his mind completely.
From the outside, all Greg could detect was Tyler's presence completely disappearing. He was used to this by now, but every time, it somehow sent shivers down his spine.
Taking the man's advice, he erected a few formations to isolate the cultivation ground from the rest of the estate from soul interference.
During that period, Tyler achieved the mental state necessary for him to consecutively break through multiple acupoints and overcome any challenges that lay ahead.
Within his inner world, he extended his awareness, embracing every trace of Qi at his disposal. With swift and resolute motions, he set in motion the techniques of the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds method.
Almost instantaneously, the waters across his entire inner world trembled. Tsunamis surged forth, giving rise to water dragons that emerged from the vast expanse, their serpentine forms coiling toward Tyler's position, while tornadoes materialized across the aquatic landscape, aiming to connect with the swords in the skies.
Simultaneously, fierce gusts of wind swept through the skies above, bearing with them the formidable power of the method. These winds howled and contorted into a tumultuous tempest.
Above the roiling waters, ethereal swords began to take shape, their forms resembling countless celestial blades of water.
The elemental forces of water and wind harmoniously converged, giving rise to an awe-inspiring display of nature's might.
Tyler manipulated each individual sword, resulting in a clear and resonant sword hum that reverberated with thunderous power.
As Tyler continued to channel and master this potent Qi, his inner world underwent a remarkable transformation, evolving into a realm characterized by elemental mastery and divine beauty—a testament to the god-like power he wielded within this inner sanctum of his.
Radiating confidence, Tyler extended a commanding gesture, prompting the ethereal swords scattered throughout the expanse to soar swiftly toward him.
Each blade bore an astonishing density of Qi, infused with the distinctive properties of his soul, essence, and the primordial energies inherent in the surrounding waters.
In a scene reminiscent of a bullet hell game, Tyler found himself confronted with an astounding onslaught of 260 projectiles hurtling rapidly in his direction, an awe-inspiring spectacle that would leave any witness utterly flabbergasted.
Stolen novel; please report.
However, the swords came to an abrupt halt a few hundred meters from him, hovering in a resolute and unyielding formation.
It appeared as though these ethereal blades had forged an impenetrable barrier, encircling him in what seemed to be a literal wall of celestial weapons.
Resolute, Tyler steeled his mind in anticipation of what lay ahead. With a commanding gesture, he initiated the first part of his plan for his upcoming breakthrough.
With a distinct and resonant sword hum, the initial blade streaked forward, cleaving through the air and colliding directly with Tyler.
74 Acupoints.
Enveloped by the swirling energies surrounding him, not a single iota of Qi eluded his grasp, allowing him to swiftly conjure yet another sword from the ethereal cloud of dissipating qi.
In relentless succession, each sword followed suit, hurtling toward him with incredible force and precision.
82 Acupoints.
...
120 Acupoints...
This cycle continued unabated, with Tyler steadily advancing through the acupoints, his determination and ample preparations of amassing this much qi from the lake waters, driving him forward.
This persisted until Tyler reached the midway point, having broken through the 166th acupoint and now striving to breach the threshold of the 167th.
Upon impact, the sword struck him but only managed to partially break through. Undeterred by this setback, Tyler gestured forward, signaling for the next two swords to strike simultaneously, dedicating three swords to the single acupoint.
In a spectacle reminiscent of a clogged faucet being cleansed, an overwhelming surge of energies exploded.
Like clockwork, these energies coalesced, giving rise to yet another ethereal sword cloud as he applied his cultivation method.
Poised and ready to continue the relentless assault, he continued.
So far, three full hours had gone by and the energy fluctuations caused massive disturbance to his surroundings.
For those who weren't looking directly at Tyler, the scene unfolding could easily be misinterpreted as a natural disaster or the sudden manifestation of an invaluable treasure.
The sheer concentration of Qi alone mimicked the sensation of a Rank 2 treasure coming into existence, a phenomenon rarely experienced. Adding to the spectacle was the fact that Tyler's presence had vanished completely from all senses except for one's own eyes.
This lack of presence, coupled with the unprecedented energy display, left Gregory, who was vigilantly observing the proceedings, utterly astounded.
He had seen the man cultivate and meditate before, but nothing ever came close to this.
----------------------------------------
From high above Three Heritage Haven, within the confines of the Eternal Palace, Lin Jian briefly observed Tyler's cultivation progress.
However, before he could delve deeper into his observation, he was abruptly brought back to reality by the individual standing before him.
"Do you have any intentions of providing us with a valid reason for wiping out our people? The Ghost King's displeasure is growing, and he may even reach out and seek support from his allies in Europa and the Forbidden Empire."
This envoy from the underworld is becoming increasingly annoying, he mused internally, his frustration mounting. But alas, I'm bound by constraints and unless I am prepared to engage in an all-out conflict with the Phantom Legion...
In a tone laced with irritation, the Sword King continued, "Your kind is fortunate that the Heartlands haven't taken more drastic measures against you, especially considering the harm you inflict upon the environment. I shouldn't require a justification to protect my citizens from the clutches of ghosts and specters."
With a forceful wave of his hand, Lin Jian forced the man out of his palace. "Now get out of here, my patience is wearing thin and I wouldn't mind sending another specter to the after life."
Using the Heartlands, the continent's protectors since the Shattering happened, as a reason for his sect killing the Ghost King's people, Lin Jian didn't really feel too good about that, but it was the best he could do without revealing his cards or declaring a full-scale war.
First it was the York Empire envoys, and now the Ghost King's...
More and more powerful players were entering his territory from the looks of it and he didn't like it one bit.
If this keeps on, he'd have to personally act in order to prevent any disasters as the skirmishes on the borders had increased in intensity recently...
Not to mention that Tyler's upcoming breakthrough mission would most likely be related to those skirmishes, the Sword King couldn't help being worried.
----------------------------------------
Returning to Tyler's inner world, he encountered yet another minor bottleneck while attempting to breach the 222nd acupoint.
At this juncture, he had expended all of his swords, as utilizing three for each acupoint had rapidly depleted his arsenal.
However, he took a brief pause to craft additional swords, the amount of Qi within his inner world was nowhere near depleted with the quantity of water he had absorbed recently.
Confronted by this recent obstacle, he persisted with the same approach, but this time, he augmented it by incorporating the cloud swords themselves, drawing upon every available resource within his grasp.
Armed with three water swords and two cloud swords, the acupoints swiftly broke apart once more.
Almost without missing a beat, he went through the remaining ones as easily as if he was cutting through butter with a hot knife and progressed smoothly into the 300th acupoint.
310..
320..
332.
Anticipating a similar bottleneck as before, Tyler opted not to attempt it without proper preparation.
He refocused his energies, drawing upon all the Qi he could muster, and summoned every single cloud sword within his inner world once more after they had returned to their previous nests up in the skies.
He now brimmed with an overwhelming surge of power, and the assembly of 332 sword clouds simultaneously gave him the illusion of being an all-powerful deity.
Embracing the essence of godlike authority, he directed his will, and the very world around him responded. The sheer movement of such immense power shook the very fabric of his inner world.
Outside, waves upon waves of soul power surged against Greg's protective barrier, compelling him to erect additional formation disks in haste but he wasn't fast enough and Bob quickly arrived, panicked and unsure of what was going on.
He did so out of fear that the unleashed power might extend toward the nearby houses, posing a severe threat to Annie's safety and maybe even destroying some of Bob's formations!
Unleashing his full power, which emanated from the depths of his inner world, was no ordinary strike, something far beyond the capabilities of anyone in the Qi Transformation stage to replicate, let alone withstand.
Sure, Sea Formation cultivators on the outside might counter such an assault, relying on their extensive soul defense techniques and intent. However, if they found themselves trapped within this inner world somehow, survival would remain a near-impossible feat and they would die without a grave.
Embracing the essence of god-like authority, Tyler couldn't help but stand in awe of the immense forces at his command.
It was as if he had stepped into the realm of legends, a place where mortals dared not tread. The reverence he felt for the boundless potential he now wielded left him in a state of profound wonder.
Every movement, every gesture, was imbued with the weight of this newfound power, and he couldn't help but be humbled by it.
As Tyler continued to harness his immense power and experience the whirlwind of emotions surging within him, he couldn't help but wonder, Was this how every cultivator past the Qi Transformation felt? No wonder they treat mortals with little more than the respect offered to an ant...
It was a fleeting thought that crossed his mind, a glimpse into the mindset of those who had ascended to higher stages of cultivation. However, he quickly quashed that line of thinking.
Tyler had no intention of adopting the disdainful attitude he had seen in some cultivators towards mortals. He remained steadfast in his commitment to treating others with respect and empathy, regardless of the power he possessed and focused back on breaking through.
As the immense wave of power crashed into his soul body, he just felt something unlock within him, the acupoint obviously standing no chance whatsoever in front of such might.
For the first time since arriving in this odd future, he experienced a sensation akin to a dam finally giving way, releasing its long-contained waters into the world after an extensive period of confinement.
The 333 clouds exploded, enveloping his entire inner world in a gentle mist of incredibly dense Qi.
The swords descended into the waters beneath, generating 333 separate maelstroms that incessantly drew in the Qi-infused waters.
Using his divine sense, Tyler keenly discerned the swords nestled deep within the recesses of his inner world, exerting a formidable suction force and refining the surrounding Qi at an astonishing pace.
Recalling his earlier conversation from that day, he swiftly located the remaining few million liters of Serene Dew, the only small body of water untouched by the Qi's influence. As he observed it gradually being drawn into a vortex, much like everything else around it, he felt a strong reluctance to squander this seemingly precious resource.
With unwavering determination, he concentrated all his willpower on a task in the distant horizon, shifting the entire body of water over to his serene island.
Keeping it suspended in the sky, he surveyed the island's surroundings and realized he could potentially relocate some of the sand from deep within the inner world to create a container for it.
Harnessing his god-like abilities within this inner realm, he embarked on a dual task, splitting his focus to perform two immensely complex and challenging tasks simultaneously for the very first time.
Keeping the large ball of water afloat and reshaping his inner world was no easy task for Tyler as he hadn’t really done either before.
Drawing sand from the far reaches of his inner world, he gradually expanded the landmass of his island meter by meter, extending its circumference.
Once satisfied with the addition of 200 meters of land, he drove his fist directly into the ground, forming a crater in the sand. Due to the effects of such energies on the terrain, it somewhat solidified, taking on the qualities of sandstone.
Subsequently, he deposited the entire mass of Serene Dew into the inner world's first self-made pool. As he marveled at the possibilities offered by this, he couldn't help but ponder where this journey would ultimately lead.
With a sense of apparent tranquility settling in once more, he conducted a thorough assessment of the situation.
He had successfully opened all of his acupoints, going above and beyond the conventional path of most cultivators. According to literature however, the next step involved saturating his organs with his Qi to initiate the initial profound transformation to thoroughly temper his meridians, setting the stage for further organ tempering.
He didn't pay the literature any heed as he hadn't been really using the normal path. He’d just do what felt natural, whenever it happened. At best, it would just work out. At worst, he’d live out his mortal life like anyone else around while looking for various remnants of his old life.
Instead, what worried him was the absence of sword clouds in the sky, which perturbed him, given the name and function of his cultivation technique.
Consequently, he refocused his attention on his acupoints, where the swords had now fully embraced their role as both the source of refinement for his inner world's Qi and the conduit connecting his inner world with his body's various acupoints.
Within the depths of his inner world's sea, the swords wielded their immense suction force, compressing every iota of Qi within their reach into minuscule crystal snowflakes of exceedingly dense energy at the very tips of their blades.
Subsequently, these condensed energy flakes were released into the sea, where they dissolved and seamlessly merged with the vast body of water, significantly augmenting its Qi density.
Tyler's mind raced as he observed the evolving behavior of the swords. "So it appears the swords are now acting as if they were clouds," he contemplated.
Initially, they served as focal points for condensing the surrounding Qi into droplets of rain, but now, bolstered through the refinement of his acupoints, they descended into the ocean's depths, creating incredibly dense snowflakes instead of the Qi droplets.
With these musings swirling through his thoughts, Tyler endeavored to regain his composure and restore his inner sea to a state of serenity.
However, the persistent maelstroms scattered throughout his inner world prevented him from achieving the serene atmosphere he had grown accustomed to during his years of meditation.
Frowning in frustration, Tyler remained seated, attempting to quell the turmoil for hours on end.
Yet, despite his divine power within his inner world, the maelstroms refused to dissipate permanently, and any remedies he applied only yielded temporary results.
It wasn't until the following morning that he reluctantly admitted defeat, realizing that calming these maelstroms was beyond his immediate control.