Pathway

Chapter 134: The Circle Of One [I]

Emerging into his small storage chamber, Ju Feng quickly look around in order to confirm his location. After a moment of observation, he nodded his head in confirmation as he regained his familiarity with the place. Most importantly, the storage chamber of his hillock was still in the same way he had left it. Which meant that nobody had been inside his storage chamber, the most important part of his hillock.

First time entering his hillock, the attention of an outsider would be focused on the living chamber rather than the storage chamber. He just had to pack the storage room full of farm products in order for him to mask the location of the portal door. Although it's appearance was just like the storage wall when inactive, a much more powerful cultivator could easily detect strings of energy coming from its direction. But for disciples and anyone less than the Jindan stage, it wouldn't be possible for them to detect.

It was definitely a good thinking on his part in placing the portal door seal on the wall of the storage chamber.

He made his way to the living chamber where everything was also the way he had left it. He checked the lock behind the entrance door and found it still securely locked. Unless an elder or a savant had invisibly entered, this surely meant that nobody had been inside his hillock. Or, a disciple who was strong enough to enter without touching the lock and was careful enough to leave everything the way they were? He didn't think so.

He quickly opened his spatial sac and removed the sect's disciples blue robe. Checking himself after donning the robe, he nodded in satisfaction. With a heave of soothing relief, Ju Feng unlocked the stone door. 

Stepping outside, Ju Feng raised his head and with his eyes closed, took in a lungful of fresh air. Circulating the air in his lungs, he slowly exhaled and opened his eyes. Being able to take-in fresh air while staring at the beautiful sky in another world, was an evidence of the importance of being alive. No life in death, only reincarnation. His mind wandered off for a second before he recollected himself.

"Ah, planet Charat!"

The soul refreshing air of this world felt like that of his home planet. This place was beginning to feel like home too. Opening his eyes, he lowered his head and observed his surroundings. The chains of hillocks which served as their homes as disciples, was a welcomed sight to him.

"The Flowing-Sanctum!"

Standing transfixed outside his hillock, Ju Feng continued to revel in the fact that he could travel between the two places he could relate to. His parents would have loved to see this one day. Oh, the surprise looks that would be displayed on their faces. He still remembered how utterly shocked he was when he first came here through the door. Ah, he never imagined he would have experienced such in this life when his own mother and grandparents had never left planet Lorra before and after he was born. Yet, here he was. 

But for now, he had to survive in this world and be able to stand on his own. Well, if he lived long enough. He shrugged his shoulders and turned towards the direction of the Lightning-Reach's hall. He had come to accept his fate but the good thing was that this fate was still far away. As long as he would die quietly.

While examining his immediate environment more keenly, he slowly made his way to the hall of the Lightning-Reach. He was now seeing the area in a different light which manifested the massiveness of the sect as a whole. Reaching the outskirts of the area, he stopped as he saw the lightning disciples training fervently in two groups under the supervision of the assistant masters. First assistant master was in charge of Yan Zhihao's group and the second assistant master was supervising the second group.

The level of the disciples' strength was indeed incredible to behold. Despite his own strong nature from birth, he would have to use a high amount of Chi energy to get closer to matching his fellow disciples in strength. Even then, the outcome would be a far cry. He recalled the strength level of the outer disciples which he could barely match. Mighty strength. Indeed remarkable or perhaps, ridiculous?

He was still thinking of how he was ever going to relate to them in strength when he suddenly remembered his talisman. The Mountain-Bark talisman. He almost forgot about it again. He quickly reached into his spatial sac and removed the talisman, putting it on himself. Would this be enough? He could only hope so.

Still looking at the training disciples, he contemplated whether to join them or wait this one out. He decided not to disturb their training and wait it out. He would stay in one corner and watch their practise. Maybe he would see how he could fit into their midst.

But his presence was already caught by the assistant masters who directed the two groups of disciples to stop their training. The assistant masters waited silently for couple of seconds for him to join them, but to no avail. Then, the second assistant master slowly turned towards Ju Feng's direction and calmly asked.

"Are you not joining the rest, young one?"

Ah, spiritual sense! Realizing the assistant master was addressing him, he quickly came forward in a pretended eagerness and bowed deeply to the two assistant masters. They should not see his apprehension in a bad light.

"Assistant masters."

"Hm."

"Hm."

The two assistant masters acknowledged him with nods of approval in return. The second assistant master, stared at Ju Feng before smiling.

"We were wondering when you'll eventually show up, young one. And here you are. In a good mood. That's the spirit of advancement. Isn't that wonderful?"

"Yes it is, assistant master."

Ju Feng smilingly bowed as he answered but his heart was already accelerating. So, there was no way he was going to watch the day's training without participating in it. He had planned to see how he could learn from their ways before he would join them. But now, he would put in the centre of it as the newest disciple.

"Why don't you take a moment with other disciples first. We'll continue after that."

The first assistant master quipped in after a moment of silently observing Ju Feng.

Ju Feng happily exchanged greetings with other disciples. It seemed like many years ago he had seen them last. They were his immediate martial brothers and sisters in this sect. Basically, they were his first family in here. While he greeted Yan Zhihao, Ju Feng noticed the worried look on his face. What could be the problem with him? As he was about to ask Yan Zhihao what the worried look was about, Yan Zhihao quickly uttered to him.

"Be ready."

"Uh?"

Ju Feng exclaimed quietly. What should he be ready for? He was about to ask Yan Zhihao what he meant about that when he heard the voice of the first assistant master.

"Come forward, Ju Feng."

Ju Feng slowly approached the assistant masters and was directed to the centre of the training ground.

"Today is your first day in training. As a new disciple, you'll be having your group foundational training, now. It's a very important training that all new disciples must undergo. This is the tradition."

The first assistant master made a series of hand seals and a large circle of symbols formed around Ju Feng. As he stood there, at the centre of the training ground, the words of Yan Zhihao came rushing back to him. Was this what ha had to be prepared for? He didn't know the type of training that was awaiting him but he sensed it must be more than a common one. He couldn't leave anything to chance, especially after being tipped.

Promptly, he pushed a high amount of Chi energy into his body from his dantian through his meridians. The Chi was making his meridians to throb greatly which made his body veins to vibrate endlessly. With all his effort, he was holding the Chi energy inside his body while staring at the first assistant master.

"The Circle-Of-One."

Said the first assistant master as he signalled the ten core disciples who rapidly surrounded the circle. After confirming their positions around the circle, the first assistant master continued.

"Around the circle are your enemies and your allies. You can call on your friends to help you out by touching them or other discreet means. If you touch your enemy, you could be dead. If you shout, you could also attract the interest of your enemies.  Which ones are your friends and which ones are your foes is for you to differentiate. Don't forget, you call on your friends, you could be saved. But if you call on your enemies, you could be dead. This will be your first training and a very important one for what it takes. Watch out and be careful. Commence!"