Back in my gazebo, I give my new hammer a playful swing. Feeling its balance. Its weight felt familiar with the sledgehammer I use for that construction part-time. A veritably unfun time only salvageable with the satisfying feeling of sledgehammer on demolishing the old building. Then I realize that I will most probably use this hammer on someone else. I grip the hammer more seriously with my two hands. Can I do that if it comes to that? The answer is an immediate of course. It's not like it will be my first murder. I put the hammer in my storage ring. The memory still felt disgusting in my mouth.
“You have killed someone.” The old man noted flatly, somehow from his sheer experience, he notices
“Accessory to murder actually. It’s a uh— not exactly pleasant memory.” I recall
“The cause? Or in how you do it?” He inquires
“Does it matter?” Frowning at the question
“Yes.”
The old man looked me in the eyes. Very seriously. There’s some weight in his gaze that made me feel that he’s right. So I try to recall. If my memories not fucked up because of my new body.
“Was few years after I graduated from university. I got a call from my friends, then saw a dead body when I met them.” Still remembering the smell, the body almost a day old in Texas summer heat
“Go on.” The old man encourages
“Well, me and my university friends promised to help each other out during the graduation party. So I help them get rid of it. Was a short drive to the coast. So we stuff the dead body into a barrel and fill it with sand. Then she coughed. I don’t know if she’s still alive or it’s just a reflex. Pretty sure only I noticed. I didn't stop filling the barrel.”
The old man just nodded and the quiet returned. Never talked about this to anyone else. Doesn’t exactly feel relieving like what I read it would. Then I looked back at the old man. Expecting some answers but given none.
“So?” I open my hands and asks
“Its good that you at least have an experience in killing someone. However small.” The old man gives his unexpected answer
“Is this how my adopted grandfather said to you?” I raise in genuine curiosity
“Oh, he told me to kill some more.” He answer the matter of fact flatly
I thought this would be an impromptu therapy session. Not encouraging murder.
“But that’s not the point. I’m sure you have noted the hostility when we reached the Immortal Forge peak. When you go out on your mission however, there will be people that will try to settle their grudges with me, on you.” He pulls out a piece of paper
“This is an escape talisman. Use it in an emergency, it will send you back to the sect’s ground immediately.” I take the paper with unique symbol on it and put it in my ring
“Listen son. When you need to kill, kill. Do not hold back. Restraint will kill you. You can try to mediate and not start the conflict. But when it is inevitable, just like your experience, do not stop filling the barrel. Because at that point, you already know that it is already too late to pull back .” The old man gives his sincere advice
I took note of it. Mentally preparing myself to be ready to kill. Which is also not the first time. As for how it will go, I can only know when I get there. Then the old man stands.
“Is that all?” I ask as he walked to my side
“That is all.” The old man nodded.
“Also, it is better if you depart in three days.” Then off he go to fleece someone
After that, I am left ruminating on his words. Imagining scenarios where I will fight to the death. It felt ridiculous, I am not a high schooler anymore. But this is not earth and clearly not as civilized. Maybe this is the point of the ridiculous scenarios I daydream for. Fighting some unknowable enemies or tackling some unforeseen circumstances. Like in some wild west setting. Actually that might be a nice analogy of my circumstance. Let’s treat outside the sect like in them wild west movies.
This matter settled for now, I move on to the next. Pulling out the Fundamentals of Soul Arts again. I open where I left off. Attuning to the World Spirit. The instructions are just like what I tried. Extend the divine sense until to the boundary of the Heavenly Dao of the world.
‘The Heavenly Dao is part of the World Spirit. But the World Spirit is not the Heavenly Dao. When you are done slamming your divine sense to the boundary, find the small gap where the two are separate. Attune to the World Spirit! Not the Heavenly Dao! The latter will surely kill you!’
The book made sure that the World Spirit and the Heavenly Dao are distinct. But make no mention of how to differentiate them. The closest equivalent of the World Spirit in literature that I know of is the Noosphere. A kind of collective consciousness, conscious or subconscious. But I have nothing on this Heavenly Dao. Then again, what even Heavenly Dao is and what it means. It is part of the world spirit but not fully if I get it correctly. This Heavenly Dao too is the one that set the boundary of the world if what I remember the old man said correctly. Is it some kind of ruleset in the way that world works? Then I continue to the next section.
‘Attune to the World Spirit to continue!’
What is this!? Some kind of subscription service limitation!? Goddammit! I thought I would never have to deal with this again. Fuck it! I will try to attune to this world spirit. YOLO!!! Sending my divine sense straight up to the sky. This time, stopping just in time before I slam to the boundary.
Then I saw it. At first it is imperceptible. Before finally something akin to golden flow appears in front of me. Flowing through some kind of current. I try to perceive more. Immediately the golden flow becomes blindingly bright. As if the sea is made of countless golden grains and every grain of gold gleams brightly like the sun. Forming a membrane that encloses the world. The sight burns my eyes and the insides of my head, but I force myself to stay. Trying to differentiate Heavenly Dao and the World Spirit. But found none. This is ridiculous! But then there it is, another glow. Not gold. But immediately swallowed by the gold.
I pull back my divine sense. Groaning as it felt like my head was burning. Looking down on the table, something drips in black red from my skull head. I check it with my hand. It felt like a melted candle. Fuck! It’s falling from my eyes! Did my eyes melt!? I project a huge bowl of ice water and dips my entire head inside. Immediately feeling some relief. I hold my breath and let my head cool down.
Alright, so the Heavenly Dao or whatever is fully covering the World Spirit. Is it some kind of defense mechanism by the World Spirit? Or is the Heavenly Dao smothering the World Spirit? I pull my head off from the ice bowl. Should I just break through the golden membrane? But the book said it will surely kill me so maybe not. Another point is that I need something to keep myself cool. Immediately a way comes to mind.
“A’meng! Wuchen! Xialan!” I calls out to them
The three of them came soon after.
“I am going to test something and I need some help. Do any of you have spiritual roots?” Xialan came forward
“Can you make ice?” I ask as I made myself some rock tub
Long enough to fit my entire body and deep enough I can submerge inside. I look back and she nods.
“Alright, I will settle in this tub. Whatever happens, make sure I am submerged in water and ice.” I move the water from the water storage to the tub
“Senior, what can we do to help?” Wuchen now asks
“Hmm. Make sure to help Xialan on moving water or ice,” But then I remembered something, “Anything unexpected happens, call my senior sister Zhaoxia.”
The tub is half filled with water and Xialan fills the rest with ice. I removed my shoes and human feet before I went in. Settling in the cold tub. Alright! Dunno how well this cyberpunk method helps. But should be able to make me last longer. With that, I submerge my entire body. Sending my divine sense up again. Perceiving the entire golden membrane in front of me again. This time, the pain and heat are manageable. Then I watch with patience. Trying to see where the other glow appears.
It appears through the golden glow. But quickly gone under the gold. Like a single frame in a second. So I wait again. Then again. And again. Trying to make sense where the next gap will appear. Each time I noticed the other glow, it appeared a frame longer. As if reciprocating my effort in connecting with it. So I waited. Enduring the heat like a decade old PC forced to render the highest definition possible above its specs. Then I saw it! Like an outstretched hand! Zooming to grasp it!
“EGADS!!!”
Back in my body. Like waking up where you dream of falling. The hell? Did I succeed? Then I noticed that Zhaoxia is here.
“Oh hi!” I stand, not expecting to see her here
“Congratulations on advancing.” Zhaoxia suddenly said with a smile
“A what?”
“Congratulations senior.” The three outer disciples also said
“I see that you are confused. You have advanced to the Second Level of Foundation Establishment.” Zhaoxia explains
Huh? Does it mean that I succeed? I look up. Sure enough, there’s a faint thread which looks like it's connecting my head and above. What does it do though?
“Anyway, why are you here?” I looked at Zhaoxia in the eyes
The eldest…
She will die…
Just like the rest….
What the fuck? Who said that!? I did not subscribe to ghastly female voices!
“Your servant here,” She points to A’meng, “Come running to me saying that you are in danger.”
I looked at A’meng’s eyes
Sleep well my child~
The rain makes you cold~
It holds you tight~
Until the sun rises~
This one's voice is gentler, singing in a lullaby.
“Was I? What happened?” I don’t remember feeling burning like my first attempt
“You spent the entire day submerged in water and ice. But also burning so much that your servant here spent her entire Qi in making ice.” Zhaoxia explains
“An entire day? It doesn’t feel that long.” To which Zhaoxia chuckles
“Ah, it is normal for time to pass by when you achieve enlightenment.” She explains
I looked at Wuchen
The runt…
The fated last son of Xian…
This time the voice is a loud echoing man but stated flatly. Like a disappointment. Then to Xialan.
THE LAST DAUGHTER…
HEIR TO XIA…
XIA WILL BE UNITED ONCE MORE…
Goddamn! My ears…
“Are you alright?” Zhaoxia asks in concern
“It’s nothing,” Just wasn’t expecting thousands of voices screaming in my head, “Must have made some mistake when following the instructions.”
Zhaoxia raises one eyebrow. But ultimately did not pry further.
“Very well then. If you try something like this again, it is best if you notify master, Qingfeng, or me.” Zhaoxia then said before leaving
“Thank you, the three of you. I will try to get something for you in my mission.” I address the three of them
I did not wait to see their reaction and immediately bolted to the gazebo. Opening the book again for an explanation of what exactly is happening.
‘Once you have attuned to the World Spirit, some ‘truths’ might be now perceivable to you. The way this happens varies with unique individuals. It might reveal some form of past a person or place has. Their achievements maybe. Useless rumors and how others perceive an individual or places can be gleaned too. Very rarely what might be a person’s future. Once you are at this point, all talents for Soul Arts will be amplified. Acquiring talents you previously lacked is also possible. Not only that, channeling the World Spirit to empower Soul Arts is also possible.’
Then I move to the last page.
‘Be warned—’
That’s it. There is no after. The only thing left on the torn last page. Motherfucker! Someone tore the warning page! Alright. At least I got plenty from this. I raised my cultivation level somehow. Don’t know how that works. Also, perceiving some truths huh? There’s a possibility of senior sister Zhaoxia dying in the future? But the book said it as a ‘might’ so it's not set in stone. Probably. I will consult this with the old man. A’meng having the lullaby from his mother. Someone treated Wuchen as a disappointment. But then Xialan. Heir to Xia huh? Some kind of Dynasty or something? Let’s not say this to anyone. This is the sort of information that can get me killed. Wonder what the old man’s truth might be.
“Wuchen,” I call out to the prince, “Time to make you useful.”
I am now in my house. A vast world map showing what looks like two continents connected through a massive land bridge on my table. A vast ocean in the middle. The continent in the east is a little bit smaller than the one on the west. A massive gate symbol on the far east of the eastern continent, so that must be the world gate. I tried to look around but did not glean any truths or whatever. Must be present in person I guess.
“Tianhe sect is over here.” Wuchen points at the South East of the eastern continent
Located at the end of some mountain range. A symbol of five mountain peaks and the name at the side.
“The kingdom of Jin is here.” He points out east of the sect
“Oh wow, it's smol.”
The kingdom is barely made out of five provinces. No wonder it is a huge calamity if the entire population of two provinces are just gone. Then it is surrounded by equally small kingdoms. But let’s focus on Jin for now.
“Kingdom of Jin and the surrounding kingdoms are only mortal kingdoms. As in they are located away from spiritual veins. Which made it difficult to produce cultivators without any sects.” Wuchen continues
I analyze the map. And found something strange.
“These green lines mean this spiritual vein right?” But then even Tianhe sect is cut off from these spiritual vein
“Correct. But like the founding of this sect, the Ancestor breaks through deep into the earth and creates a new spiritual vein source. Because of that, the surrounding kingdoms also try to do the same. Hence these spots.” Wuchen reminds me and points out the dozen of spots spread out on the three mortal kingdoms
“Any luck with that?”
“No. It took a Nascent Soul Cultivator to create another spiritual vein. How can mortal kingdoms compare? These spots are dried mines that now continue to be dug deeper.”
Of the dozen spots, six are located within Jin. Also noting that there are plenty more mines within Jin. So this Jin is at least rich in metals.
“Anything I should know of?” To this Wuchen shrugged
“It's an otherwise unremarkable kingdom. Which is odd that they are targeted by rogue cultivators. They won’t provide much benefit.”
“Alright then. Know anything about this Nether Bone sect?” I switch to another point of interest
“You don’t know?” Wuchen looks confused at my ignorance
“No. I just arrived in this world like… a month ago at most. Or maybe two.”
“I see,” He nods, now understood why, “Nether Bone sect is one of the sects wiped out during the last war three hundred years ago.” I get the feeling that he wants to say more but decided otherwise
“Hmmm. Good riddance. But guess I will deal with whatever remains of this evil sect.”
“They are a righteous sect.” Wuchen corrects
“Ok,” Wait, I don’t think I heard that correctly, then I looked at Wuchen, “Come again.”
“They are a righteous sect.” Wuchen repeats
“How? From bribery or what? They are necromancers right?” I cannot settle with the idea that necromancers are righteous
“Yes, they specialize in refining the bones of dead bodies. But that’s hardly uncommon.” Wuchen’s explanation explains nothing
“But if this mission is correct, they wipe out the population of two entire provinces.”
“Yes, and,” He pauses, thinking before finally asking, “What’s your point?”
I lay my chin on my hand. There seems to be a moral incongruity here.
“Alright. Let’s get things straight, how is wiping out two provinces not considered evil?”
“It is an almost borderline demonic act, yes. Besides, they are just mortals. The Nether Bone sect itself is not considered demonic.” Wuchen differentiate
“What?”
“Let’s see it this way. Mortals live in a very short span of time. Why not use it to serve cultivators? This act of wiping out entire provinces is considered demonic. But if the information that the remnants that do it are true then perhaps they are trying to reestablish their sect. The strong takes from the weak. So this is natural.”
What the fuck? What the fuck!? These people are nuts! This ain’t wild west no more!
“So there’s nothing sacred about the dead?”
“Its not like the dead need their dead bodies anymore. What’s sacred to one group of people is not the same with another.”
“Moving on! If desecrating the dead is not considered demonic, what is considered as demonic acts?”
“Usually it's the cultivation method where you need to actively massacre living people for their blood. Or cannibalizing them. Devouring other’s cultivation. Forcing dual cultivation through rape. Torturing others to harvest negative emotions. That sort of thing.”
“Alright. So,” I try to make this logical, “If I do these acts to living people is it considered demonic?” Wuchen nods
“But once they are dead, the dead bodies are free to use? Hence this Nether Bone sect is not considered demonic? And why wiping out two provinces is demonic but considered somewhat acceptable due to the circumstances of these remnants?” Wuchen nods at all of them
Oh my God. The Inquisition is going to have an aneurysm if they are here and hearing this. Then they will be gung ho as usual and will find these remnants of the Nether Bone sect. Which I realize is what I am basically going to do. So that made me feel better. Let’s just… keep things to myself for now.
“I guess that’s it. Now, what would make a good gift in this world?”