After another four or five hours of meditating in my room using the Everburning Tree of Transcendence Technique's breathing technique. I had finally pulled enough of the ambient Qi in the air into my body to fill up my first Meridian with my own Qi that I had cycled through my body.
It was certainly a very odd feeling going from not having Qi, to having Qi and basically becoming a bonafide cultivator/wizard now actually.
'It's a surreal feeling.' I muttered as I carefully held a dark red weak flame in my hands that came from my natural Fire Spirit Root that was burning way my ever-growing Wood Spirit Root.
Now with a bit more cultivation and an actual bit of stable spiritual energy inside my body. I could modify my spatial farm a good deal more, and allow the more demanding of herbs and treasures be able to grow and multiply.
'Alright, I got my foot in the door for cultivation. I should start learning the true path to the future in Alchemy... And Wine, and Elixer Dish creation.' I thought with amusement as although I had the perfect Spirit Roots to be an alchemist.
That wasn't just what I wanted to do as a cultivator.
I used to be a chef in my previous life, and although from the books I had read alchemy was a far more concentrated path of power and increasing cultivation. Wine and cooking also had their own Dao's on the Immortal Path.
Sifting through the books I had gotten from the demon's collection I found a leather wrapped book that... Probably however wasn't made out of human skin but you could never know with how it came from a literal demon.
[Ten Thousand Sips Of Heaven And Hell] A book, no more like a guide on the creation of spiritual wine... But that rode a fine line between being similar to an alchemy refinement technique and very plainly a devil, demon, or evil technique.
As the refinement method relied on the usage of using blood as the base liquid of the wine and then using various herbs, treasures, and other things... Like people, demons, and spiritual entities to add some spice and alot more spiritual power to the wine.
"So... I could use monsters for the Spiritual Enhancement rather than people. But I need a metal, jade, or stone barrel to make the wine even if I wanted to start." I muttered with a frown before I shrugged and spent the next hour noting down everything in the book before yeeting it into an open fire.
Because I was well aware this was only barely entirely an evil technique and I didn't want Zhu Yuan or anyone else to find it with me.
After that I did some more meditating before I got into the other alchemy books and none of them had a true refinement alchemy refinement technique that would allow me to control a furnace and its internal structure. So I just relaxed meditating while I read the alchemy books to get a better idea of herbs and nature treasures.
As it would be very fucking awkward for me to be traveling about in a dungeon/pocket realm and I just walk by some kind of natural treasure and have no idea what it was. Or hell, getting fucked over by trying to pick some high end herb or natural treasure that could very much defend itself.
My reading session continued for a long while. I kept well out of trouble by doing so, and I kept reading peacefully. Until a series of knocks rang out upon my door.
I looked up from the book I was reading and then I put it aside and walked over to the door and cracked it open to see the older man who owned this townhouse giving me a weak smile.
"I am sorry sir, but a woman is downstairs who requested you come down once you collected all your personal belongings."
My lips twitched as I knew it had to be Zhu Yuan, so I just nodded and said more easily. "Alright thank you, I will be down in a minute once I clean up my belonging's."
The older man gave me a thankful look as he clearly knew it was a cultivator looking for me, and he likewise didn't want any trouble from her.
After getting everything I had secured into my backpack I went downstairs... And standing primly to the side and clearly waiting for me was Zhu Yuan.
I looked around at the small resturant area of the townhouse and I noticed all the civilians were likewise looking pointedly down at their food and not meeting Zhu Yuan's gaze. However I noted that she also had tied a tassle of five different colored strings to her sword's handle.
"Good, I thought you might try jumping out of a window." Zhu Yuan said jokingly.
Though... I did actually think about it for a second but I knew she had some way to track me.
So I just shrugged and said. "There isn't any point. So let's get the show on the road, how long will it take us to get to the Sect?" I asked as I knew the Sect wasn't in the capital itself due to its massive size.
And you know... Its name as the Five Elements Sword Sect. It probably had special terrain it needed like five mountains or something.
Hearing the question Zhu Yuan huffed in amusement before she smiled proudly and said. "We will be there within the next half an hour. After all, my master has given me an allowance to use our Sect's spatial array at one of our businesses within the Capital."
I blinked hearing that and I couldn't help but ask. "Isn't using one of those exceedingly expensive?" To which her proud smile only grew as she retorted.
"For a smaller sect correct? But the Five Elements Sect has hundreds of cultivators who have touched upon the barest levels of the Law of Space, and so they can create spirit stones purely out of Spatial Energy that our Sect trades with them for pills and other things haha!"
'Wow conceited much.' I thought at the shameless grin on Zhu Yuan's face before her grin faded and as we hailed down a taxi to send us to the business in question across the city she spoke more seriously.
"Alright Jake, while I am here. I will answer any questions that do not hamper myself or will hurt my master's reputation... So any questions about the Sect or even cultivation, go on ahead and ask."
I considered that... And seeing as a thick privacy screen was separating the driver from us I asked the first question. "What level of cultivation are you?"
Her lips thinned and she said calmly. "First thing, bluntly asking people what level of cultivation they have makes it seem like you are thinking of challenging them. However, I am at the third pillar of Foundation Establishment."
I nodded slowly as her response was actually a pretty good bit of advice. "Then... What do I need to know to prosper at the Five Elements Sword Sect? And do you have any recommendations for an alchemy teacher?"
Zhu Yuan gave a slight hum of thought as she considered the question. Then after she considered the question she said. "Hmm, respect for your seniors will go a long way in the cultivation side of the world. But if you truly want to be of esteem within the sect regardless of your talent and power, you need to be a swordsman with Sword Intent."
I slowly nodded with a wry smile as I was well aware that sword intent wasn't exactly common as most of the time people only unlocked an Intent when they started getting in touch with their souls within the Golden Core level of cultivation.
"As for an alchemy teacher?" Zhu Yuan clearly pondered on the question for a minute before she responded.
"In the Sect, there are a number of Alchemy Masters, and although the Sect will provide you with a pass to the alchemy section of the Sect Library in order to learn an Alchemy Refinement Technique, gaining a master to take you as their apprentice however requires you to gain their attention."
"I imagine gaining a master isn't exactly so easy," I said with a wry smile but Zhu Yuan's face twitched as she considered something.
Then she said with some amusement. "Perhaps... But either way, you must pass the Sword Trial to fully join the Sect as an Outer Disciple."
Exhaling I spoke with my own amusement in turn. "And I imagine you won't be telling me how to pass the Sword Trial. Anyway I got to the first level of Qi Refining, and I wanted to know if there was anything you suggest I get or do now that I am properly a cultivator."
She blinked before shrugging and saying bluntly. "When you can afford it, get a few shield talismans and stick them on your back under a layer of clothing so they can block a sneak attack."
Then Zhu Yuan smiled as she folded her hands together in her lap and asked more conversationally. "And how do you feel being a proper cultivator now? Do you feel the gaze of heaven upon you now?"
My lips curled up as I gave a quiet chuckle and I shook my head. "I mean... Besides summoning a candle lighting flame into my hands that I can't burn myself with. I am not any different from any mortal as I don't even have any martial arts techniques, let alone body refining techniques."
She gave a more serious nod at my words with her saying. "Understanding the reality that you are still human is very important Jake. At least until you reach Nascent Soul." She finished with a shake of her head.
She then took a deep breath and spoke in that same serious tone. "But no Jake, I will be giving you a piece of advice for the Sword Trial to help you. It's taking place within a low-level dungeon that the Sect moved there at great cost to act as a testing site."
"So do not think anything within the area is an illusion... The Sword Trial is designed to test the martial aptitude of a prospective disciple and people have died in the trial when they didn't take it seriously."
I frowned hearing that... But then I considered the armed forces of my previous life, and I knew people died during training accidents all the time. But so long as I paid attention, and kept my head on a swivel I had a good chance of getting through any issues.
After a bit of silence, I asked one final question. "Do you have any advice for me. When do I join the Sect, Zhu Yuan?"
I saw her serious expression soften before she smiled at seeing my confidence and then her smile faded into an awkward expression as she considered the question. "Yes... Ahm how do I put this, besides the Justice Hall that you should avoid the gaze of for obvious reasons. You should avoid the ice fairies of the Water Mountain."
Obviously confused at her meaning I asked curiously. "Why? Are they cold-hearted or something due to their cultivation technique?"
There was a pause as Zhu Yuan visibly cringed before she sighed and said. "Not exactly... They practice an Upper Nascent Soul limit cultivation manual, but it has an issue with the user's needing to regularly take in sources of Yang energy lest they literally freeze to death from an overabundance of Yin energy."
I remained silent for a minute before Zhu Yuan said. "They aren't... Sleeping around per se. But they are capable of laying hands on people and just. Ripping the yang energy and heat out of them which they do regularly to people who spar with them though that is very rarely done, they mostly just infest the Fire Mountain's hot springs and get into fights with the disciples of the Fire Mountain."
I slowly nodded as I imagined a bunch of icy beauties fighting a bunch of dudes and kicking them out of their own mountain so they could steal their hot springs and seeing my expression Zh Yuan chuckled and said. "Although competition within the Five Elements Sword Sect, can be harsh."
She took a breath and then continued. "But we control more than three hundred dungeons and pocket realms. We have a steady income of resources from those not to mention the weaker sects who pay our sect their tithes, so the elder's force the disciples to remain harmonious and not get deep into backstabbing or killing one another."
Zhu Yuan looked me dead in the eye... And she said bluntly. "Jake... It doesn't matter what happens in the Sect, you do not kill a fellow disciple, if you are even suspected of it being done, you will be hooked up to a Soul Obliterator and it will read if you had done so. If you have a death-worthy vendetta with another person you make it official and take them to the dueling pits."
I raised an eyebrow upon hearing that. I expected the Sect with the most disciples and resources to be more... Callous with our lives frankly, and pushing for us to grow through strife.
Zhu Yuan looked out of the windows and hummed so it seemed we were likely close to where we needed to be, and then our taxi came to a stop with us getting out of it and I almost wolf-whistled at the sight before me.
A massive golden building with a dozen large towers surrounding the main building and taking in the large sign board I read it. [Five Elements Auction House]
"Yes Jake, this is also another one of the Sect's methods in gaining resources and materials. We buy materials, manuals, techniques, and other treasures from people, and then we auction it off. Or we keep it for the Sect if it's particularly rare or valuable." She explained proudly.
I gave a soft hum and as we walked towards the auction house that I felt very under-dressed to be walking into. I watched as Zhu Yuan flashed the guards a medal or plaque of some kind with the guards hurriedly allowing me and her into the auction house.
The interior was just as ornate and beautiful as the outside... And I bet extremely heavily guarded as well with array's and other forms of passive defenses.
But I didn't get a chance to look around as Zhu Yuan quickly guided me into the back and I could feel several pressures fall on us lightly in quick succession as we walked through the auction house. But we were left alone due to Zhu Yuan carrying that medal of hers.
'That medal probably is a sigil or proof of her rank from her master.' I mused as Zhu Yuan finally brought me to a large room that made me pause at the sight of.
"This is the spatial array! Now make sure to take a deep breath as the array lights up." Zhu Yuan spoke as she stepped forward as I blinked away the sight of large pillars of gleaming crystal that outlined the large stone plate was covered in what looked like tens of thousands of runes and symbols.
I slowly walked onto the array plate that was a good ten meters wide and Zhu Yuan gave me a look and asked frankly. "Do you have any spatial tools on you? This is a lower-grade spatial array so although its safe for us, if you have any spatial tools on you. They can have their internal structure collapsed and their contents destroyed."
I considered if my Spatial Farm counted but I just shook my head as I said with a small smile. "No, I don't have a spatial ring or anything on my body."
Zhu Yuan nodded and then she looked away from me and then she took that emblem and placed into a podium that lit up as the emblem also glowed with a five-color light.
Then seeing the array's countless symbols lighting up I quickly
Abrupty I felt myself falling in place. But I could feel something beneath my feet holding me up and then in a flash of light the room changed with a minimalist room to a darker stone-walled room with several flags in the room that had the five colors of the elements.
"I expected it to be more rough honestly," I muttered as I took in the five-colored flag that had the colors from left to right, blue for water, green for wood, red for fire, gold for metal, and dark brown for earth.
Zhu Yuan gave a light chuckle and said. "Haha, they aren't bad with a well-established spatial array that is in regular use. Anyway, come on. I will lead you to the Outer Courtyards intake section so you can take the Sword Trial. Then it's all up to you."
I silently followed the already-moving Zhu Yuan who carefully took the emblem from the podium that had seemingly teleported with us. And she led me past several guards who dipped their heads in respect towards her while I noticed that their Providence Halo was also grey.
'Maybe Providence Halo's for lower karma/luck people just don't register if they don't have an opportunity available within the short time.' I thought as it would be fucking weird if I saw a small opportunity for someone who would only find it like five years later or something.
She led me down a hallway that had ornate wooden walls and stone floors that were decorated with rather beautiful oriental-style art. But soon enough we left the temple building we were in with the doors closing with a loud thud behind us as more guards stood in front of the door.
Outside the temple, Zhu Yuan stopped knowing I would be stopping as well. As I coudn't help but taking in the massive five mountains surrounding us in all directions with each cap of the mountains seemingly engulfed in an element of the classical five elements.
One mountain was seemingly totally engulfed in green that reminded me of a jungle, another seemed like an active volcano that was releasing smoke into the air, another was surrounded by thick mist, and another one seemingly gleamed like polished metal.
And the last one was just bigger then the rest with the mountain's middle point being well above the cloud line and it's peak going super high into the atmosphere.
"The five mountains of the Five Elements Sword Sect has a great history, but I am afraid I don't have time to explain all of that. Come, let me get you to intake and then its up to you Jake." Zhu Yuan said with finality and I knew this was the last time she would speak to me without a good reason.
And I was right as she wore a more calm cool demeanor as she brought me on a long hike through the grounds of the massive sect with us finally taking a carriage that was pulled by a spiritual horse of some kind in the Qi Refining realm that was smart enough to understand Zhu Yuan who said to take us to the Outer Courtyard.
And after the shorter carriage ride due to its speed, we finally reached the Outer Courtyard which had actually deviated from the Sect's more... Traditional temple and ancient Chinese fantasy-style of buildings.
"Apartments?" I noted with a wry smile as I took in rows of apartment towers and the air thickened as we got closer as there was more spiritual energy in the area.
Zhu Yuan nodded and said calmly. "Rather than a massive sprawl of small ugly huts and houses. We simply invested mostly useless mortal silver into paying mortal workers very well to build these so we could house for the modern disciples to more easily acclimate to the secular life of the Five Elements Sword Sect."
Then she led me to a large building in front of the apartment towers and as we came into the building a young man who was working on a computer at the side blinked before standing up and bowing as he spoke. "Xia Defeng greets the Core Disciple. How many I help you?"
Zhu Yuan's voice was calm and bland as she reported. "Jake Bariss has been brought to the Sect to be inducted into it. Have him go through the Sword Trial as soon as possible with a report being made of his success or failure to be delivered to Elder Cai Xun with this being her orders."
The rather plain-looking dark-haired Xia Defeng gave me a look before nodding and saying easily. "Very well senior. He will be fourth in line for today as several elders have their own children going through the Sword Trial."
There was a pause before Zhu Yuan said. "Good, that is satisfactory." And with that, she looked at me and gave me a short nod before she left the building with the door swiftly closing behind her.