“Uuugh, are we there yet?” Zhi loudly complained, dragging his feet behind me.
“What are you, eight?
Be patient.
The cave we’re looking for should be on this mountain somewhere.” I brushed aside a few plants, looking for the hidden entrance.
I heard a thud and turned to see he had thrown his bag down.
He was pissed.
“This is ridiculous!
If there was some kind of hidden master cave on this peak, it would have been found already!”
“Stop being a baby.
We’ll find it eventually.”
“We’ve been looking for a week!
I say we ditch this fruitless search and head towards the White Jungle.”
I sighed and looked out over the mountain.
Birds were beginning to return, trees starting to bud, and early spring flowers poking up through the sporadic piles of snow.
It was transitioning from winter to spring here.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure if this place had been found or not.
It was mentioned in the book because Xaoge came across a text that mentioned where various immortal masters lived back before the Shang war.
This mountain peak was supposed to belong to an immortal master who cultivated unaspected chi and was feared far and wide.
“Are you ready to give up after just a week?
We’re cultivators.
We have plenty of time.”
“Uh, no we don’t.
We need to get somewhere to boost our cultivation efficiency, or we’ll die before we get to Core Formation.
You haven’t even gotten to Foundation Establishment yet.”
“We can afford at least a few more days.”
He walked up to the mountain face I was inspecting.
“There’s nothing here, but rock!
I’ve thrown my chi senses all over this mountain and haven’t detected shit!”
He threw a punch into the mountain, and his fist left a deep imprint and shook the rock.
Damn it.
Maybe he was right.
Maybe… “What are you doing?”
He tugged at his fist in the rock.
“Uh… I’m stuck.”
“What?”
He tugged harder at his fist, more panicked now.
“What the fuck!?
Something’s grabbed my chi and it won’t.
Let.
Go!” He heaved his arm, his muscles bulging.
He put both his legs on the rock face and pulled with all his strength.
I used my chi sense.
Sure enough, it seemed like his chi was somehow fused to the chi in the rock.
I probed deeper, further into the rock face.
I eventually hit some kind of… chi trap?
I think it was a chi trap.
It was too large and complicated, and it blended seamlessly with the chi inside the mountain.
The only reason I could even feel it was because it had activated and was keeping Zhi trapped.
“Uh, there’s definitely something here.
I’m going to try and find a way to get you out, but I don’t think I can do it here.
But if I follow this formation, I think I can get inside and maybe I can figure a way to get you out from there.” I followed and energy pulse that seemed to go to the left, and I started walking.
“Wait!
You’re not just going to leave me here are you!?
Ming!” His calls got farther away as I followed the traces of the formation.
I could just barely feel them with my chi, especially as I got further away.
I followed the energy traces until I think I found the source.
Erm… yep, it looked like more rock.
I looked back to see it had a pretty nice view.
The beginning of the western mountains stretched out before me, the valley green slowly spreading up the mountains.
I closed my eyes and pressed my hands against the rock face to try and figure it out.
It was some kind of… interaction point?
Like a button.
I reached through the rock with chi to poke it.
It responded immediately.
The rock face I was leaning on suddenly wasn’t there anymore, and I fell forward, into a carved entryway into the mountain.
Oh.
Oh wow.
I got up and dusted my self off, looking around.
This place had clearly been nice once upon a time, but that time had long passed.
Water had eroded the beautiful drawings, steadily dripping down the sides of the hallway.
Moss had taken over the ceiling and several carvings, making them completely unrecognizable.
The smell of wet rock and moss filled my nostrils as I reached into my bag and grabbed a small lantern, using a match to light it before entering.
The floor was still in relatively good shape at least, carved to look like brick.
I moved slowly, feeling the area around me with chi and checking for traps.
But there was nothing until I reached a door.
My chi couldn’t make it past that point, disrupted by a formation inside the doors.
There was a handprint in the middle, but I had no idea what would happen if I pressed it.
I took a deep breath.
This was really reckless, but I still didn’t see how to disrupt the formation that had trapped Zhi.
Before I had time to psych myself out, I put my hand on the handprint.
I felt alien chi rush through me.
It was unaspected, but not mine.
I yanked my hand back to make it stop, and it did immediately.
I looked up at the doors, still shut tight.
Damn it.
Was I going to have to go back to town and get explosives?
The ancient doors shuddered in answer, and with a huge scraping noise they opened inward.
I used my chi senses, finally able to sense beyond that, and it hit… a person?
No, not exactly a person.
It felt like chi in the shape of a person.
Not a person itself.
“Please, enter.
I mean you no harm.”
Oooookay.
That didn’t exactly make me trust it.
I edged forward, holding up my lantern.
Soon the person came into view.
A young man with a tired expression, but a glimmer of light in his eyes.
“Who are you?” I stayed close to the door, ready to run.
“I am nobody.
A remnant.
An old memory who would like to be put to rest.”
Was this some kind of illusion situation?
“What do you want from me?”
“What I just said.
I want to be put to rest.
However, I cannot do so myself.
If you are willing to help me, I’ll gladly offer you everything within this mountain.”
Ah.
This did sound like an incredible stroke of luck.
But first things first.
Free him and we can talk about it.”
The illusion blinked.
“It is done.
The security formation has been deactivated.”
“Okay, I’m going to get him, but I’ll be right back.” I turned, and I heard him calling for me even before I reached the cave entrance.
I called back and he used his movement technique to zip in front of me.
“Ming!
What happened?
This cave… we’ve been through this clearing, there wasn’t a cave here.
Are you okay?”
He grabbed me and looked me over, but I pushed him away.
“I think I found what we were looking for.
It was incredibly well-hidden.
The illusions were so good it fooled our chi senses.
And there’s some kind of illusion of a person inside too, and he offered us everything if we shut him down.”
He looked back into the depths of the cave.
“Huh.
You think he’s trustworthy?”
“Do we have a choice?
This is what we came here for.
It’s worth the risk of I can learn how to use my blank chi properly.”
He sighed and reached for the light in my hands.
“Let me carry the lantern.
Stay behind me.”
I let him lead the way back into the cave, and we soon saw the doors and the young illusory man.
His face bloomed with relief when he saw us.
“You came back.
That’s good.”
“Hold it buddy.
I’m asking the questions here.” Zhi gave him a critical eye.
I rolled my eyes.
“He didn’t ask us a question.”
Zhi continued, undaunted by my logic.
“What is this place, and who are you exactly?”
The illusions answered without a pause.
“This was the home of one of the greatest immortals who ever lived, The Immortal of Order.
I am a copy of his mind and memories he left to guard this place when he left.
He has not returned for… I don’t know, but a very, very long time.
And… I am very tired.
Staying here alone for so long is painful.
If your wife agrees to destroy my formation, the two of you may have everything the immortal kept here.
There are many priceless treasures, artifacts, and techniques.”
Umm… “Wait, so you want me to basically kill you?
But… I mean, that’s a little… are you sure?
Maybe we can find a way to take you with us instead.” The thought of killing him turned my stomach.
The illusions smiled sadly.
“You are very kind.
But the formation that I’m anchored to runs throughout this whole mountain.
It’s impossible for me to leave.
And… with my master gone, I have no purpose.
That is why I let you in.
Since you can use divine chi like master could, you can at least make use of the knowledge and treasures he left behind.”
Zhi interrupted.
“Hold on.
Divine chi?
Don’t you mean blank chi?”
“Ah.
I suppose most people do call it that.
But master called it divine chi, because of the important purpose it serves in creating balance among the elements.
My master unlocked the hidden strengths of divine chi and mastered them.
Divine chi is not as flashy or combat oriented as other chi types, but it is very useful.
But please, come inside.
It will be easier to show you rather than to describe it.”
Behind the illusion, lights lit the corridor ahead.
He turned and walked away, stopping a few steps in, and turning back to see if we would follow.
Zhi and I shared a look before walking further in.
We followed the illusion to a large central area that seemed like a rundown study slash living room.
Scrolls littered every surface and lined the walls.
There were three desks, two tables, and a kind of dais in the center with a complex shiny clear globe surrounded by golden rings.
Intricate circular carvings lined every square inch of rock.
The illusion sighed and turned.
“I apologize.
My master wasn’t the neatest person.
But please, come in.
Let me explain what divine chi, or as you call it, blank chi, really is.”
He tapped the golden globe in the center, and it lit up.
The stone carvings on the floor, walls and ceiling awakened in response, and suddenly the entire room changed.
Zhi staggered as we were suddenly in space, standing on nothing.
Oh, this was cool.
It was some kind of illusion that layered over the entire room.
There was the world below us.
Not Earth.
It must be this world.
I traced the different continents.
Four of them, and maybe another hidden on the other side.
Wow.
The illusion gestured to the world below.
“The world is composed of five main elements.
Earth, water, metal, wood, and fire.
These elements can be refined into more specific chi types, but all chi springs from these elements.
However, what creates harmony between the different types?
How can they all coexist in the world without clashing?
The answer, is divine chi.”
The world suddenly changed.
Now it was black, and five different lights appeared, chaotic and mixed until a sixth light was introduced.
It calmed the other lights, creating barriers between them, helping them flow seamlessly together.
“Divine chi is the harmony of nature.
It keeps the balance between elements, soothing them.
Without divine chi, the world couldn’t exist.
However, since divine chi’s purpose is harmony and peace, it cannot be utilized the same way as other chi types.”
The other lights faded away, leaving only the divine chi light.
It became a person.
“Divine chi is about structure.
Order.
Harmony.
And it gets along with all types of chi.
Ergo, the best way to utilize divine chi is to manipulate the natural chi that exists.
Formations and treasures that utilize divine chi are very efficient, and many times more powerful than formations and treasures that use other types of chi.
Moreover, those who use divine chi can use their chi to block incoming attacks, convincing the chi not to attack it.
However, divine chi cannot be used for attack as that it against its nature, and it’s difficult to cultivate.
In addition, if you cultivate divine chi, you cannot cultivate another type.
Sadly, because of these drawbacks, very few cultivators ever choose to cultivate divine chi.
However, those who manage to cultivate to Golden Core with divine chi are nearly untouchable and can manipulate the chi of nature to fight for them, making them powerful enemies on the battlefield.”
The figure of light had mimed through different motions throughout his lecture, repelling an attack with a shield, creating a formation, using a treasure, and even creating a tsunami, an earthquake, and an inferno.
The figure vanished and the room returned to normal.
The illusion smiled at me.
“That is the true nature of divine chi, as researched by my master.”
Zhi’s jaw had dropped, and he gave me a dumbfounded look.
Oh, hell yeah baby!
Give me that reincarnation power boost!
“Sounds perfect for me.
I don’t like fighting that much any way.
But I can get behind formation and treasure making.
Now, about those treasures, artifacts, and techniques you mentioned…”
“Of course.
Please, follow me.” He took us to a small box on a bookshelf, and opened it.
He pulled out a small ring.
“This is a spatial ring made by my master.
It can fit nearly three mountains inside.
While he sadly took his best treasures with him, there should still be some precious treasures and artifacts inside.
As for the techniques.” He swept his arms out to the entire room covered in scrolls.
“Take it all.
It’s yours now.
Ah, but…” He walked over to one especially full wall.
“These are the beginner scrolls for Chi Gathering and Foundation Establishment.
Treasure creation, formations, barriers, cultivation techniques.
It’s all here.”
Oh, wow.
“Uh, okay.
I guess I’ll start with that bookshelf then.”
It took a while to hoover everything up with the spatial ring, which helpfully only responded to divine chi.
The illusion occasionally pointed out a particular bookshelf to help me organize everything into the ring.
It would take forever to go through, but just having all this stuff was an incredible boon.
I’d start with the beginner scrolls and take a peek through the treasures still inside the ring first to find the stuff I could use right now first.
I could take my time going through everything later and organizing the spatial ring properly.
Soon the room was devoid of scrolls.
Just some furniture and fancy rock.
The illusions looked around the room and nodded in satisfaction.
“Good.
Just one final thing.” He took us to the center of the room, where the crystal orb sat.
“This is the locus for my formation.
If you break it, I will no longer exist.”
I swallowed.
“Is there really no other way?
I don’t… I don’t want to kill you.”
Zhi grabbed his sword.
“I can do it.
I just need to smash it right?”
The illusions shook his head.
“No.
That won’t work.
No other chi types besides divine chi can damage it.
It must be you.”
Oh.
“And… there isn’t any other way?
This feels terrible.”
The illusion sighed.
“You must remember, I’m not really alive.
I’m a copy.
A snapshot of a mind and memories.
I was never meant to exist for this long.
But… if it will help ease your guilt, perhaps you could fulfill a request of mine.”
I nodded, eager.
“Yes!
What do you want me to do?”
“My old master had a dream.
He wished to discover all he could about divine chi and share it with his own disciples and build a sect.
I would request you please honor his cherished dream, and build a sect in his name.
The Exquisite Order Sect.”
“Uh…” Running my own sect?
I glanced at Zhi who looked a little sour.
Well, if he didn’t like the idea… “Sure.
I’ll do it.
I’ll start a sect in your master’s name one day.”
The illusion smiled brilliantly.
“Perfect.
You have honored my late master by coming here.
Now please.
Let me show you what you need to do.”
I went to the orb and placed my hand on it as he instructed.
Then, I reached out with my chi, and found a single thread among thousands at his direction.
And I pulled.
The lights flickered out as the formation that ran throughout the entire mountain unraveled.
The illusions became peaceful, a serene expression on his face as he blinked out of existence.
The chi disappeared, and I sighed.
It was done.
Zhi cursed as he fumbled with the lantern, lighting it so we could see.
“I can’t believe you agreed to starting your own sect based on blank chi.”
“Divine chi.
And you heard him.
Divine chi can be very powerful when used the right way.”
“I’ll believe that when I see it.
I just want you to help me rebuild the Liu family first before starting your own sect and taking in disciples.”
“Relax, it’s not like I have a time limit on it.
I can do it after the Liu family is up and running and we have a lot of trouble-making cubs.”
“Fine.
Let’s just get going then.” He still grumbled a little as we made our way out of the cave.
I myself was pretty pleased with everything I’d gotten, by the time we got out, we saw it had gotten dark, so we set up camp right outside the cave.
I summon a scroll to read in the light of the fire.
Ah… problem.
“Hey, Zhi?”
“Yeah?”
“So… I can’t read.”
He stopped poking the fire with a stick and froze.
“Shit.” He let out a long sigh.
“Alright, get over here.
Let me see this scroll.”
I shuffled around until I was sitting right next to him.
And he began to point out different characters, and read them for me, trying to teach me and read through the scroll at the same time.
It was based on characters like from Chinese or Japanese in my old world.
This was going to take some time to learn.
I leaned my head on his shoulder, tired, as he read through the scroll.