Dao of the World Walker (Xianxia) Book 2

“Not necessarily”

Before Yang could ask, Master continued. “Chen Yang was unable to cultivate in the Cardwright World. It’s clear that the bead was able to absorb a little while he was making cards; even then, it was only as long as it was a new design, as soon as he became somewhat proficient in it, the payoff reduced by more than half, and we still don’t know how and why it worked that way.” 

He gave Yang a contemplative look, “Chen Yang himself was only able to properly absorb the energy from those crystals when he was at the epicentre of that energy. I believe it was the density that allowed the bead to bypass your lack of meridians and absorb it directly. Otherwise, due to a lack of meridians in the boy’s body, the bead was unable to absorb it even from the smaller crystals he had access to on a day-to-day basis.” 

His master continued. “Even in any other world, I doubt you will be able to cultivate unless you are fortunate enough to be sent to a cultivation world, and even then, he will also need to be lucky enough to inhabit a body that has cultivation talent. If it’s a mortal shell, then even in a cultivation world, it will be useless to him unless fate favours him enough to again gain him access to a strong enough energy that can allow the bead to bypass the physical capabilities of the body and absorb the energy directly into his sea of consciousness.” 

“Actually, Disciple,” Master added directly to Yang. “If you are ever in such a situation again. Try putting the energy source close to your forehead or even your eyes if it’s possible.” Master said.

Yang wondered if it was another one of Master’s jests, and his scepticism must have been evident, for Senior Brother Xiao Zhan intervened. “Junior Brother, Master isn’t joking. The saying ‘eyes are windows to the soul’ is not without reason. Eye contact makes it easier for one to peer into another. If your soul is ever under attack, it’s a good idea to avert your gaze from the attacker. It will not fully stop a soul or mind technique, but it will somewhat mitigate the pressure.”

Yang committed this to memory as Senior Brother Xiao Zhan turned back to Master. “Master, won’t practising these two techniques together be too difficult for Junior Brother? The Heaven Refining Soul Sutra would already slow him down; practising what I have no doubt will be an even more complicated version of the Seven Element Technique would practically halt Junior Brother’s progress”

Master looked unbothered as Yang watched the discussion between them like a spectator at a ping pong match. “Were you sleeping by any chance, Dear disciple. Are you not aware that your Junior Brother drank dry a precious qi-filled artefact of the True Talisman Peak? If Chen Yang’s cultivation begins to stagnate, we can always take him on a trip to other sects so he can suck dry their resources and spirit veins instead.”

“Master is joking, Junior Brother,” Senior Brother Xiao Zhan balked and shot a warning glance at Yang.

“He is not an infant Xiao Zhan.” Master said with a roll of his eyes before turning to Yang, “But he is right. I am joking. Don’t ever dare do that. Spirit veins are a sect’s lifeblood, not to mention destroying one is an offence to the world itself. If you were needlessly harming someone just to increase your cultivation, the sect will not protect you.” Before turning back to Senior Brother Xiao Zhan without even waiting for a reply.

“You worry too much, Disciple Xiao Zhan. If it comes to worst, we can use our own treasures and pills to help him advance before his lifespan runs out, but I don’t believe that it will come to that. That bead has been sharing as much energy as Chen Yang can take at a time.”

Senior Brother Xiao Zhan still persisted. “Yes, but the question remains, whether Junior Brother can actually cultivate with those energies at all? From his own account, he absorbed a significant amount of it in that other world, but that didn’t aid his cultivation in any way, did it? On the contrary, it altered his own qi in ways that now require concealment.”

“Let it be. You will not bury a Junior Brother, Disciple. It will all work out.” Master said firmly, his tone final, and Senior Brother Xiao Zhan relaxed in his expression and bowed his head to Master without further argument.

“Take Chen Yang to his residence. Deal with anything else that comes up. I have some work to do.” The master said, relaxing back in his seat as Senior Brother Xiao Zhan rose and Yang followed suit.

“Come, Junior Brother.”

They climbed down the steps and both gave a farewell bow to their master, who waved them off without ceremony as they left the hall.

Yang saw Senior Brother simply walking through the door of the cave and followed suit, appearing outside.

He turned to Yang, “Come walk next to me. It’s best if you know the path since you can’t yet control a flying sword.”

Yang got closer to him, and they began walking.

“Zhan Hao said you prefer living in a cave and wish to learn many crafts, so I have arranged a cave lower on the peak so you may have a larger area to live in and experiment in if you wish without disturbing anyone else.”

“Whatever you think is best, Senior Brother,” Yang said simply. He was new as a disciple not only to the sect but to this peak as well. He had no reason to rock the boat needlessly.

“Junior Brother, this is your home. You are allowed to refuse and disagree if something doesn’t suit you.”

Yang just smiled, and Senior Brother just shook his head lightly.

“Zhen Hao will teach you some of his worst habits soon enough,” He joked

He pointed to an area as they walked, “This is my own cave residence. You are always welcome if you have any issues, and even if you simply need to speak with someone.” Yang had to squint a little as the formation was not allowing him to look at the residence. Senior Brother Xiao Zhan placed his hand on Yang’s shoulder, and suddenly, Yang could see a residence in the corner. It was rather bare from the outside and wouldn’t have looked out of place on the outer sect peak. “I will add your presence to the formation. Currently, it’s rejecting your perception because you have not been registered to it.”

“Do all residents here have such formations?” Yang asked.

“No, it varies by resident. This is a private peak, so the whole peak is under a general restriction, with no one able to enter or exit without Master’s or mine permission. So intense security isn’t exactly necessary, but it’s a good habit for a cultivator to get into, managing their security formation”

“I will teach you to adjust your own formation, and you can replace or add to it when you want or ask me.” Offered Senior Brother .

Yang refused. “I wouldn’t want to trouble you, Senior Brother .”

“You will not be disturbing me. I manage the peak and all my Junior Brothers. Master has delegated many of his duties to me. If you have any issues or concerns, you are welcome to visit me. Master will not be teaching you solely. I have taught all my other eleven Junior Brothers, and you will be the twelfth. Others will help as well.” He gave Yang a gentle look. ”I’ve heard from Junior Brother Zhen Hao that you are interested in alchemy as well. You can ask Junior Brother Fan Xiao to teach you when he arrives.” Yang’s eyes lit up at that, and Senior Brother let out a chuckle.

They walked further, and Senior Brother Xiao Zhan pointed at a floating peak above. “That is Junior Brother Song Weilong’s residence. He is out of the sect right now, but worry not, you will meet him soon enough. Master likes all his disciples present to welcome their new Junior Brother officially”

He led him a ahead until they reached a crevice in the rock face, inside was a bare cave and Yang was a bit shocked to see it was more modest than his outer sect residence but before he could even take the whole cave in Senior Brother told him to follow along and they walked deeper into a rather narrow tunnel for a couple of minutes before it opened into a wider space.

On the ground ahead of them was a formation carved in the ground. 

Yang looked at it, fascinated. It was his second time seeing something like this. It was a lot smaller in scale than the formation Senior Cheng Mo had used to bring him and Li San here to this continent.

Senior Brother stepped into the centre of the formation and looked back, “Come stand here, Junior Brother. Stand in the centre.” Yang reached near and saw a small pedestal table arising from the centre of the formation, and saw Senior Brother placing his hand on it. “Put your palm here and push in your qi.” 

Senior Brother Xiao Zhan took off his hand as Yang followed the instruction and let out a sharp breath as he saw the whole inscription on the floor lit up, illuminating the room beautifully.

“Your cave residence is further down, but I have arranged this formation for you here so you don’t have to make the full climb each time you visit Master or one of your Senior Brothers.”

“Now it will take us to the Crystal Cave. Just concentrate on that name.”

Yang, with his hand placed on the pedestal, focused on the name, Crystal Cave, holding the intent clearly in his mind.

White light closed over him. He saw nothing but brightness, filling his vision from every direction at once.

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