Tyler sat meditating inside the pavilion for a few hours, still trying to recover parts of his expended Qi from flying earlier today.

Throughout this period, the enticing aroma of grilled meats permeated the atmosphere of Three Haven Heritage.

Annie had discerned that Tyler had an unyielding affection for all types of meats, whether hailed from birds, mammals, or fish—it made no difference.

As Tyler had never requested a feast for any of his guests before, she had meticulously prepared some succulent Tier 2 Giant Frenzied Lemurs to mark this special occasion.

To complement the meal, Annie had dispatched Gregory into town to procure a remarkable assortment of Tier 1 and Tier 2 spiritual herbs that could be served as a delectable salad.

Yet, her efforts didn't end there.

Annie had also crafted an array of appetizers, utilizing drops of the Serene Dew that Tyler had left behind for this occasion. She concocted a revitalizing soup featuring mixed vegetables with a sprinkling of the dew, delivering a refreshing and flavorful blend.

She also went the extra mile and prepared dessert, a rarity since Tyler wasn't particularly fond of sweets, and other than the apple purée she had made a few times, he hadn't particularly asked for it.

Utilizing a complete selection of Tier 1 and Tier 2 fruits, she fashioned an enticing pie that emitted such a delightful aroma that even Gregory, who was assisting her, struggled to resist devouring the entire dessert before it was fully ready.

All the meals were prepared at sunset, and the first guest, Lo Shen, arrived.

Flying over from the distant Lo household of Sword City, he gracefully landed at the edge of Tyler's home. He walked towards the table in the middle of the estate, where he was met with a beautifully dressed Annie and a whole table of food.

"Young Master Shen, Tyler is still meditating in the gazebo; I apologize. I'll go fetch him right away."

"Don't worry about it; if my guess is correct, he'll be right out in a minute at most." smiled Lo Shen.

Almost on cue, the Sword King materialized next to Tyler, wearing a black robe and a casual-looking sword attached to the hip. If one didn't know, one could never tell that this was the esteemed Emperor of Veridian Peaks.

Opening his eyes as he felt the presence of both Shen and Jian arrive almost simultaneously, Tyler got up. "Thanks for showing up so quickly. I haven't seen you in a while. How's it going?"

Lin Jian's face was filled with deep wrinkles that indicated heavy stress, as he had been swamped lately with the Empire's affairs. So much so that he barely had any time to cultivate!

"Ahhh. All things considered, I'm doing okay; it could always be worse. But it has indeed been a little while. From what I can smell, Annie seems to be worth every penny I pay her. Maybe she even deserves a raise!" Lin Jian joked.

"Well. Let's not make our mutual friend wait around, shall we?" Tyler suggested as he walked out of the pavilion.

From a distance, Annie noticed another individual accompanying Tyler, but she couldn't discern how this person had arrived or who they were. She wisely refrained from asking questions and focused on her duties.

As Tyler and Lin Jian approached, Shen rose from his seat, and out of habit, he almost bowed to the Sword King. However, he swiftly remembered that, in Tyler's presence, formalities were essentially set aside, as Tyler disliked overtly formal displays of respect.

Tyler had once conveyed that to him; showing up when a friend called was one of the highest forms of respect one could offer. Bowing, salutes, and other conventional displays of respect held little significance to him.

While proper etiquette was suitable and often necessary in public to avoid complications, in the presence of friends, simply showing up was what mattered most. Shen recognized that he had been invited here and would adhere to his host's preferred approach.

Tyler, Jian, and Shen sat at the table and talked about the food and how everything looked so delicious before thanking Annie for her hard work.

Annie excused herself since all three men were too polite to dismiss her, and the meal was readily available. "Tyler, call on me if you require any assistance. I'll be inside, attending to the dishes," she announced.

With that, she swiftly turned and disappeared into the house, where her meal and her recent lover, Gregory, awaited her.

Lin Jian chuckled once they were alone. "I can't recall ever witnessing a servant ignore me and address the homeowner by their first name," he remarked.

Shen chimed in, admitting that he found it unusual and was still adjusting to the situation every time he came by.

Tyler shrugged, unperturbed. "Well, it has its advantages. This way, she doesn't hesitate to ask when uncertain about something, as there's no awkward hierarchical barrier."

He continued, "It's a win-win because if she were to make a mistake that annoyed me, I'd probably be too nice and awkward to reprimand her, and she'd assume it's fine. I hate doing any form of discipline; it's just not my thing." Tyler considered it a practical arrangement.

Then, seeing as the soup was already served, all three men dived right in and were delighted by the taste.

Lin Jian couldn't help but ask. "Is there Serene Dew in there?!"

Although he was oblivious to consuming such a precious heaven-grade substance, Shen nearly choked on his utensil.

Meanwhile, Tyler experienced the moment the dew entered his system, and he was overwhelmed by the sensation. It felt extraordinary, akin to being immersed in deep meditation, restoring the tranquility of his inner seas, which had been tumultuous like a raging maelstrom.

Sadly, this soup's quantities were so small that the effects only lasted a few fleeting moments. Tyler, satisfied with this dish's taste, feeling, and overall composition, answered Lin Jian. "Just a tiny bit. Around a dozen milliliters from what I gave Annie for the whole soup."

Shen's eyes widened as he heard this, and he wanted to slap Tyler across the back of the head! "You... Wasted such a precious treasure for... soup?"

Lin Jian nodded in agreement. "Serene Dew is a rare and highly sought-after resource. Its effects are well-regarded across all levels of cultivation. Why waste it on a soup of all things?"

Tyler gestured, summoning a pair of large flasks he had recently acquired from Annie's supplies. Each flask contained approximately a liter of Serene Dew.

"While this is far from sufficient to repay both of you for your kindness since my arrival in this world," Tyler began, "consider it a small token of my gratitude. I may not have much wealth, but I've come to understand the value of this liquid, which I possess in reasonable quantities, and I wanted to share bits of it with both of you."

Lin Jian couldn't help but ask, as Shen wasn't about to poke for answers. "Where'd you get it?"

Tyler smiled and pointed at his finger with the fake storage ring, Lin Jian understanding perfectly. Then, he blatantly lied as he did not want anyone but the Sword King to know about his inner world. "I recently discovered a treasure trove when diving in Serenity Lake."

Shen couldn't believe what he was hearing but Jian understood his part to play here and nodded. "That makes sense. Plenty of hidden realms and pockets of underground water caves are almost impossible to find unless you dive down yourself."

From there, all three men dived into the food and discussed various things about their lives, from the recent struggles of the Sword King with the envoys of all the different nations and the increase in activity of all the enemy nations to the simplest advancements of Shen's youngest sister, Xiu.

According to Shen, his sister's cultivation had skyrocketed since Tyler had gifted her the Five Elements Qi Fusion Sutra as she neared the peak of the Qi Gathering realm after just a few months. This rate of improvement shocked even a cultivation genius like Shen.

As the night was winding down, and the three men savored the delightful fruit pie, their conversation turned to Tyler's recent breakthrough and how it had unfolded.

Tyler recounted the entire situation, including Bob's concerns about his rapid advancement, which both Lin Jian and Shen acknowledged as valid points.

The Sword King emphasized that he had intentionally refrained from guiding Tyler's cultivation, recognizing that Tyler was already following an unconventional path and offering advice might introduce more drawbacks than benefits.

Suddenly, as they concluded their dinner discussion, a fourth guest appeared unexpectedly. Tyler sensed the approaching presence of his martial arts teacher, Master Tanaka, from a distance as he flew in quietly in the night.

Earlier in the day, Tyler had invited Master Tanaka, who had mentioned that he might drop by for tea later that evening. He had been looking after his granddaughter all day since her parents were out of town.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Silent as the autumn winds, Master Tanaka gracefully descended beside the table where Shen, Jian, and Tyler were seated, the empty plates serving as evidence of their hearty meal.

"I see I've arrived just in time for tea," Master Tanaka observed as he greeted the trio of men.

"Old Ryuji, Tyler mentioned you might join us. How have you been?" Lin Jian inquired in response to the arrival of the elder.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Tyler proposed relocating to his gazebo, a more secluded setting for a more casual conversation. He decided he might as well include Master Tanaka now that he was here.

Everyone sat in a circle, each pulling chairs from their storage spaces and sitting comfortably as Master Tanaka pulled out a tea set and some tea.

Tyler opened up the conversation. "Just to catch Master Tanaka up, I've recently entered the Qi Transformation stage. Now, both of you should know that this comes with a mission from the sect."

Lin Jian nodded, "Naturally. You told me you're going over to check out what's happening in Soul Haven?"

"Yes, with an inner sect disciple named Luo Pang. Anything I need to know?" asked Tyler.

Shen chimed in, "Pang is a decent person; you shouldn't have any issues."

Master Tanaka jumped in right after, however, completely changing the subject of conversation. "You said you've broken through? Did you keep practicing your martial arts?"

Lin Jian shook his head and couldn't help but think. This old dragon is still only interested in martial arts!

"I have, although not as much as I would want to." He paused, then added. "Everything since joining the sword sect has been happening so fast it feels like I have not had time to settle down and do anything."

Master Tanaka rose to his feet, putting down the teapot on a specialty-made burner. "While we wait for this tea to warm up, how about you show me that cultivation of yours?"

With no objections, Tyler also stood from his chair. "Sure, though my qi is not halfway restored from the morning flight session."

All three men raised their eyebrows, and Master Tanaka voiced the question on everyone's mind. "You can fly even though you just stepped into the Qi Transformation stage?"

Tyler affirmed, "Yeah, I think it's mostly due to my comprehension of the wind laws."

Lin Jian, still seated, shook his head in exasperation before chiming in. "Just make sure not to reveal your ability to fly before reaching the final two stages of Qi Transformation, alright? Unless you don't mind drawing the attention of every eye in the Sword Sect. In that case, do as you wish."

Master Tanaka had known that Lin Jian and Tyler had some sort of relationship, but he didn't think it was to the point where the man would let Tyler do as he pleased like this...

Master Tanaka added, seeing how the young man said he had expanded much of his qi. "Since you're low on energy, a single technique should be just fine to gauge your strength and compare it to before."

Knowing that everyone here was much stronger than himself, Tyler readily agreed. "I'll try to pack as much into that one technique as possible. Pretty sure I can't even scratch your skin anyway."

With that, Tyler got into position as he planned to use One Finger, One Sword, as no other attacks were suited to attack a single person with as much power as possible.

As his power grew, so did his control over the connection between his inner and outside worlds. Focusing all his acupoints, he forced as much qi as he could into his body as he pointed forward.

The sword radiated a deep, emerald green hue, with its edge illuminated in a brilliant crimson. This ethereal sword, spanning approximately three feet in length, enveloped Tyler's outstretched fingers as he grasped the newly formed handle made entirely from Qi.

Upon slashing forward, the ethereal sword appeared to divide into three distinct components.

Firstly, the sword's edge extended forward as Tyler executed a slashing motion while continuously infusing copious amounts of Qi into the technique. It resembled a wave of sword Qi propelling itself forward with great force.

Secondly, the wisps of clouds surrounding Tyler's arms seemed to ignite as the Qi from his heart intermingled with the technique. As if the wave of sword qi had been equipped with a rocket, a trail of scorching, fiery air blazed in its wake.

Thirdly, the primary body of the sword remained within Tyler's grasp for the first time. He realized that by continuously infusing substantial amounts of Qi, the sword didn't dissipate immediately after launching the initial sword Qi beam.

So, he executed another slash.

Followed by another.

And another.

After four consecutive strikes, his Qi reserves had dwindled to a mere tenth, and his inner world's ocean seemed nearly depleted as his cloud swords' maelstroms had wholly disappeared due to the lacking volume of water.

Tyler's movements had been lightning-fast, with the second, third, and fourth slashes initiated before the first even landed.

The marked enhancement in his physical capabilities had taken him by surprise. As he directed the Qi within his body, feeling his muscles' immediate and precise response to his thoughts, he couldn't help but be astounded.

With the aid of his divine sense, which seemed to slow everything down, Tyler had adeptly sensed and manipulated every iota of Qi coursing through his veins, fully experiencing the power flowing within him.

His speed, strength, and endurance had transcended the boundaries of mere mortals long ago. Still, now that he had reached the Qi Transformation realm, he was approaching a level akin to the superheroes often portrayed in Hollywood movies.

He could literally fly, making the comparison to a superhero quite fitting, and with his strengthened skin, he would be entirely immune to pre-shattering bullets.

On the receiving end of this assault, Master Tanaka remained entirely unthreatened by an attack devoid of genuine essence. However, he couldn't help but be surprised.

Not long ago, he had sparred with Tyler and gauged his power to be around the 17th level, capable of posing a threat to level 19 cultivators without any soul protections.

Now, as he absorbed the attack in a variant Dam-Breaking sequential series of punches, he was reasonably confident that even the select few Qi Transformation cultivators in the Inner Sword Sect who occupied the pinnacle of the realm would be unable to mount a defense without external treasures.

Faced with a single one of those slashes, they could manage. But a barrage of them? Impossible.

Only a true Sea Formation cultivator would stand a chance against this onslaught. To illustrate, Gregory, at best, could contend with this sequence of attacks to a draw.

Of course, Tyler would eventually deplete his Qi reserves after executing eight or nine of these slashes, rendering him unable to defend himself afterward. However, during that window, he could instill fear in the hearts of his opponents, creating an opportunity for escape.

Spectating from the sidelines, Shen was equally astounded. While he knew he could effortlessly counter this attack with his 6th level in the Sea Formation stage, he recognized that no one in the Qi Transformation realm could withstand it.

Lin Jian was the first to break the silence as the dust settled. "I'm eagerly anticipating Luo Pang's report once you return. I must admit, I've grown somewhat desensitized to your casually astonishing feats, and it'll be refreshing to see someone else utterly astounded for a change."

Master Tanaka, having not even a single crease out of place on his clothes, gave his assessment to Tyler.

"In terms of pure attack power, this rivals a newly broken through Sea Formation cultivator, not Qi transformation. Had I not felt the lack of True Essence, I would have guessed that you had been level 20."

That much? He couldn't help but think as he undid his technique. The multicolored sword disappeared as he reabsorbed all that qi into his inner world.

Shen chimed in after slightly chuckling, "I'm also quite eager to see Luo Pang's reaction when he returns. Considering he only recently broke through a few years ago and advanced to the 21st level a few months back, I believe he's in for a surprising adventure."

The praise from all three men continued, showering Tyler with accolades. He found himself at a loss for words. Tyler had few opportunities to gauge the power of other Qi Transformation cultivators, as his encounters with Lo Xin and the Azure Viper Gang leader had been brief and hadn't allowed for a thorough assessment of the cultivation stages.

After this short exchange, the Sword King and Lo Shen finally relaxed as they were reasonably confident that he would most likely be okay with whatever Tyler might encounter on his mission.

Sure, they knew he was strong for his level, but they had yet to see the extent of his power with their own two eyes.

In their minds, only two people on this mountain could rival Tyler in his cultivation stage. The first is the youth from the sect admissions, Lazar Flame, with his draconic bloodline and level 12 cultivation. Secondly, Fang Mo's daughter, Liu, was already at the 15th level. Her comprehension and utilization of the laws also surpassed even Tyler's with his divine sense.

All four men rejoiced in casual conversation over tea well into the evening.

Towards the end of their conversation, Tyler broached a topic that had been on his mind for a while tonight. "Hey, Jian. If I wanted to acquire enough wood to construct a few houses and gather the essential supplies for my first mission, where should I go, and how much would it all cost?"

Raising a curious eyebrow, the Sword King inquired, "What do you need that much wood for?"

Tyler pointed to his ring finger and lied, assuming the man would understand again. "I'd like to have something to work on during my travels, maybe take up wood carving or something."

Lin Jian reassured him, "No need to worry. I'll arrange for someone to bring you everything you require for your mission, including the wood, tomorrow morning, and you won't have to concern yourself with the expenses."

Tyler, however, wasn't willing to accept more generosity this time. He had already received so much assistance. "Just tell me the cost. While I genuinely appreciate your kindness, you won't be with me forever."

Sighing, Lin Jian relented. "Alright, if you were to opt for the most basic wood and materials, it would cost you roughly 2 to 5 spirit coins. If you decide to go for some tier 3 or even tier 4 Heartwood, along with a substantial amount of Silver Condensates, Spirit Crystals, pills, and other tier 2 and tier 3 medicines, it could run you a dozen celestial coins."

After further consideration, he added, "However, if you were to select regular wood and procure all the necessary resources without the extravagances, like spirit crystals for a multi-month expedition, you could manage with 80 to 90 spirit coins."

Tyler looked into his inner world and checked on his finances. With the recurring visits from Edge City's restricted section's treasurer, he had amassed around a dozen spirit coins but also spent a bit of it on various things here and there.

One example was the clothes he had Annie buy, the few fancy foods for tonight, and the couple of communication crystals that brought him back down to only seven spirit coins.

Thinking carefully about the exchange rates, he pondered out loud. "Anyone has a large water container?"

The Sword King suspected he would be in for another surprise tonight as he produced a flask explicitly made to carry large amounts of spiritual liquids. "I'm afraid to ask, but... Why?"

Tyler quickly grabbed it and sent it to his inner world towards the pool of Serene Dew, which had around 15 Olympic pools worth of water and filled it up significantly.

Then, with a wave of his hands, he returned the flask to the Sword King. "This should cover whatever this trip would cost, with the heartwood and everything?"

Shen and Ryuji were perplexed as they roughly understood what had just happened. Both men knew more than to ask if neither party conducting business talked openly about the exchange.

Lin Jian took the flask and scanned it with his divine sense, and sucked in a cold breath of air. "How did you... Never mind. We'll talk about it later."

Then, as this little bit of business was done, all four men finished their tea and parted ways.

Tomorrow, Tyler would have all he needs to survive in the wilds for a few months and then some. He could also start another side project he had considered for a while.

Build a warehouse for his stuff inside his inner world; for this, he'd need wood.

Oh, and more land. Much more land.