The Laws of Cultivation: Qi = MC^2

Book 2: Chapter 62: An Old Friend

As empowering as the moment had been, the torrent of power I controlled did not last, as my body returned to its normal form. Yet, whereas before the peak of the mountain had been invisible, now I could glimpse upon it and understand just how far I had to climb to reach that pinnacle. I would need to reach Divinity myself if I wished to truly be in command, but now, the Path started to seem like something I could achieve.

As the Chi faded, the spirit going dormant within me, I slowly lowered myself from the skies to the Lord’s manor. My body ached, my spirit still dealing with the damage done to it, yet I was in one piece, and far more powerful than I had been moments before. All the Qi and Gu the spirit had absorbed had been converted into Chi and slivers of it had filled me, pushing me into the seventh realm.

The people around looked at me, some nervously and others with relief.

“We are displeased,” I said, as the people flinched around me, and I couldn’t help the laughter that escaped me.

“You stupid boy,” Granny Lang said, grabbing my ears and pulling on them. She snorted at my words, letting them go, though I knew her anger wasn’t entirely gone.

“Ouch ouch ouch, that hurts granny,” I said, feeling her putting her all in it. Labby rushed closer, tackling me in a hug, followed by Twilight, Silverlight and Sheldon. Even Ash came closer, brushing his large head into me as if to be sure it was me that was standing in front of him.

“Sorry for worrying you guys,” I said, brushing Ash’s fur. I could see some servants gasping in horror at the wolf’s sight, but I let them simply make their own assumptions for now with a wry smile.

There was going to be so much explaining to do anyway.

“We’re pleased to see you’re alright Lu Jie,” Lord Zhou said, looking at me, before his gaze went beyond me. The wall of the manor was destroyed, showing the seventh peak and its city outside. “Though we can’t really say the same for the city.”

I bowed my head. “I’ll try to make up for it in any way I can.”

“It wasn’t your fault, and we do not intend to blame you for what happened,” Lord Zhou said.

“If the Lord is not against it, then the Shie clan would like to throw in a helping hand,” Liuxiang said, and my gaze went towards the old friend who’d brought me out of a terrible dark place. I looked at her, taking in her white hair, and red eyes. We had talked in letters and so I had known her appearence had changed with her breakthrough, but now I finally could see the changes for myself.

No longer did it feel like she was pretending to be human, there was a subtle threat present in her aura, that she simply allowed to exist, at peace with her own nature. It suited her.

I gave Liuxiang a smile, one she returned, before her mannerisms took over and she schooled her expression, turning towards the Lord again.

“The Shie? Haven’t the clan always been notoriously uninvolved within matters outside their own domain?”

“So far, yes. But my great-grandmother has awakened as you must have surely known. And upon her return, the clan has been seeing her changes. As her heir, I can convince her to lend a helping hand to the seventh peak, in return for some favors that she may ask of you.

The Lord hummed in thought. “The Shie are… not an ally we had expected to ever have. Are you sure you can convince your grandmother? She is… not exactly known for her kindness.”

“We are aware, my lord. But she is a cunning woman. She knows an opportunity when she sees one, and with these changes… who in the Azure city could deny the potential of what is being created here?” Liuxiang said, glancing at me for the barest of seconds. “You will require political support if you wish to continue down this Path my Lord. Changing the nature of the heavens is not a light step to tread. Even should the emperor not deem you a traitor, the other lords will clearly see you as a rising threat to their seats of power. But having one of the Ducal families, and one with a new Divinity backing you will provide you with the legitimacy needed to stand in front of the Emperor,” Liuxiang replied.

I gaped, feeling a little taken aback by how fluently she was navigating politics that I was still only treading waters with. Seems like Liuxiang had not been idle in the capital.

“Your words have merit, young Shie. If you can convince your grandmother, then we will be more than pleased to receive assistance. The city will need to be repaired, and the sect will need a new Elder as well.”

At the Lord’s words, all eyes shifted towards me.

I looked back blankly at the different gazes, before the words registered in my mind. “Wait… me?”

“Who else would be more fitting?” Liuxiang asked. “You are an Elder now, having stepped into the seventh realm. Even if you are young, you command a Divine Beast, the entire empire will hear whispers of what has happened here. If you do not wish to be labeled an enemy, then you will need to show you’re willing to work for the empire.”

“With your authority as the Baron of Taizhou, we can quite easily hand you the position of Elder. Rank wise, you would be on par with what Elder Yan had been,” Lord Zhou said.

I stood silently for a moment. Elder of a sect… It was a very sudden shift, yet I couldn’t deny that the position would allow me far more resources and power to further my goals. After a moment, I pressed my fist together, and bowed my head.

“If you think I am worthy of the position, then I accept.”

Lord Zhou smiled. “Then the matter is settled. We look forward to the good news from you Young Shie.”

“Likewise, my Lord. This place has been a home to me longer than my own home, if possible, I would love to repay the debt I owe,” Luxiang replied.

The Lord nodded, discussing a few more details with Liuxiang before he stepped away to attend to his other tasks, finally allowing me the chance to talk to Liuxiang.

“Hey, thanks for saving me out there,” I said.

Liuxiang let out a quiet hiss. “More like saving the rest of us from you.”

I chuckled nervously, a laughter she joined me in, before she rested a hand on my shoulder. “I am glad to see you well Lu Jie.”

“Same. It is good to see you again,” I replied, smiling. I felt a strange sensation as we both stood in silence, just glad to see each other once again. I awkwardly looked away from Liuxiang’s red eyes, to the city outside. “How long do you think you’ll be here?”

“Not long. We cannot leave Zhi Zhu alone to deal with grandmother, lest she decide to appear here. And that will not be good for anybody," Liuxiang said, before looking me in the eye with a curious expression. “Why? Are you perhaps sad to see me go?”

“Well, of course I am,” I replied with a shrug.

Liuxiang let out a hiss with an expression I couldn’t read. “You wield such strength, yet you say these things with a straight face. It is good to see that you are still the Lu Jie I remembered.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, but Liuxiang turned her gaze away, not replying.

“We will see each other soon. You will be called to the capital to swear fealty to the emperor one way or another, and the pit of vipers that are the Azure city’s nobles will be upon your head, Liuxiang said.

“Do you say that because your family is…”

Liuxiang jabbed me with her elbows at the lame joke.

“Sorry, I can’t help myself,” I said, as Liuxiang let out a huff. “But yeah, I’m aware. That was bound to happen sooner than later. It’s just going faster than I’d anticipated.”

“That it is, but such is the nature of change. The empire… It has been heading towards decay for centuries now. This was an inevitable path for its destined road,” Liuxiang said.

“You seem a lot more wise now,” I said.

“Grandmother has been teaching me well,” Liuxiang replied.

“Clearly,” I said.

Once again, there was that silence. And I wondered if I should say something more. Yet I didn’t know what, so we simply stood there. I could see Liuxiang’s expression shifting very subtly, and for a moment I thought she was about to say something, yet the words never came.

“We’ll see you in the capital Lu Jie,” Liuxiang said, turning around as she stepped away.

I watched her go, looking at her back as I wondered if there was something more I wanted to say.

The answer never came, and so I turned around as well, staring at the seventh peak in front of me. A wave of Chi flowed over the entire peak, people reaching out to my spirit, as I felt their connections being tied to me, and the Divine Tree.

Labby hugged my leg, as I looked down at the girl, patting her head.

“Let’s go Labby. We have a lot of work left to do.”

***

Elder Yan stumbled through the bushes, injuries covering his body. Humiliation and anger filled him with unspeakable rage as he was forced to escape from beasts and hide from creatures he could’ve destroyed within moments.

That damned demon-child. He should’ve never let it exist. Everything he had built in his life, everything he had worked towards was taken from him. His sect, his city, his cultivation. All of it.

The anger fuelled Elder Yan as he struck a beast that had been chasing him, ripping its head off with a single strike. Yet that was far from enough to settle his anger. He wasn’t just going to roll over and die here. No. Before he had become Elder Yan, he had been Yan Xian. The rising star of the seventh peak and the Yan clan. He would not be settling for this fate here.

The capital. There would be people he could go to there. And eventually, the emperor. Crushing the beast’s skull in his fist, Yan Xian moved through the shadows. Silent fury burned within him as he made his way towards the Azure city, and the heart of the empire.