Flesh of man is no different from flesh of beast.
The Twelve Divine Beasts granted us cultivation, and improved upon all that they could not possess from birth.
Flawless vessels.
In this we find the tribal creed.
To live as they did.
By instinct, by hunger, by lust, and yet not in abundance.
Indeed, there is equilibrium in this.
However backwards it might be.
“Primitive Thoughts,” a collective work.
Gone were Quan Mojin, Ninety Eighth Pranjit and Lu Sai ng.
Gone were the unnad partners of a [Spirit Dove], three [Spirit Fish] of varying stripe, and myriad [Spirit Insects].
Gone were the cruel and greedy.
Gone were nine late-stage [Core Formation] experts, full of talent and much promise.
And these were but the few that Fu cared to notice.
The courtyard of Cloud Dragon Hall held a full count of five hundred potential disciples, and none yet among them knew of their futures. Arrayed in great lines they presented their haul of [Spirit Cores], herbs and treasures for the Sect Leader to inspect, eager to hear how these efforts would be repaid tenfold.
“Sit, cultivators, and extend your palms to the Heavens,” commanded Fu, and the mass of five hundred did.
For pageantry’s sake, he did not rush.
A great trove of [Spirit Lotus] grew upon the misty banks of his Sect. Young seeds had been sown to make use of the growing density of Qi, nurturing a fresh generation of differing herbs that would, in ti, grow to be peerless.
He held the petals of two such types.
At the first row he placed a white petal in the outstretched palms of just a few, and a vibrant blue petal in none. To move down the arranged lines one might see that the number scarcely changed, though it grew as he moved between the hundreds, treading gently farther from those that sought attention at the front.
Once done, a re four palms held his blue petals while a number of palms two hundred strong held white.
No more.
Fu began his declaration before them all. “The mists reveal much to , cultivators. They spoke of courageous hearts and righteous acts. Charity, kinship, and martial spirit. Values that Cloud Dragon Hall holds above all. So too did they speak of the opposite,” he declared, seeing a shift in those that had not treated their fellow trial-takers well. “To the forr, I welco you to Cloud Dragon Hall, and to the latter, I wish you an interesting path.”
A susurrus of growls rose amidst the crowd.
“Were the trials not already passed?” intoned a vocal youth, his volu grand enough to carry above the chatter. “The Phoenix lody Coalition held promise for all gathered here. To enter a Sect of their standing was enough to overturn fate for many of us. Now that chance is wasted on the whims of a fresh Sect leader.”
The calm manner of address spurred many of the disgruntled to his side.
“No rule states you cannot seek discipleship with the Coalition’s other factions. There are many Paths towards the Heavens, it is only that mine that proves unsuitable.”
“What of our tenfold riches?” cried another.
A teal arm lifted the brim of Fu’s douli as he asked, “Do these gathered treasures not suffice?”
It would be poor to begin Cloud Dragon Hall’s reputation with tales of cheapness and distrust and so he was not opposed to granting these rewards.
And yet-
“Tenfold was said of repaynt for contributions to Cloud Dragon Hall. However, I will renurate any that wish to return the treasures of my [Mystic Realms] to at this sa rate,” he offered. “Unless you are of a mind to keep them.”
This had the protesters shuffle, for it was no small offer.
Again the calm one spoke. “All that we have gathered?”
Fu dipped his head. “If that is adequate.”
Greed at their haul perhaps overca a few of this crowd’s better reason, for their whispers were no subtle things.
“He would give away his treasures so freely?”
“One with such wealth would give more if pressed, no?”
“Baubles. They are no more than this to Cloud Dragon Hall.”
“What else does Gao Fu hide?”
One flick rushed a gale through their midst, opening the external doors to his courtyard. “The matter is settled. I will once more wish you good fortune, cultivators, but know that what follows on this auspicious day is for disciples and no others,” he said, gesturing to the yawning gates. “May [Autumn] treat you well.”
The cultivators left without further complaint, and their murmurs confird that they thought this day of great benefit. Shuidi only scoffed, for the treasures of a random [Core Formation] realm were of little use to any of Cloud Dragon Hall.
Wind slamd shut the great doors.
“There are four among you, my disciples, those that have extolled the virtues of our Sect without instruction. I would ask that you co and stand before your fellows.”
Four arrived before him in short order, bowing low.
First bent a portly man of unyielding smile, the drippings of a fragrant sauce staining both mouth and robe. His partners were two [Spirit Pirahnas] of equally girthy proportions to their cultivator, as dark as the man’s close-shorn hair.
At his right was a stoic young woman of Vajra heritage accompanied at her hip by an azure [Spirit Lion].
Third and fourth shared much of the sa characteristics, and their familial ties would have been evident even to the blind. Handso twins of opposing gender - Heaven blessed - for their cultivations were not so high as to be assured the physical perfection that realm provided.
Their [Ink] and partners were the colour of dark iron, with little difference between siblings save for the ornantation on both.
Chan Gui. Jihu Wanjie. Baotai Xiongdi and Baotai Jiei.
Cloud Dragon Hall’s lead disciples.
Fu bid each turn to the crowd. “That you stand here now is proof of your worth, and Cloud Dragon Hall is honoured to welco you each as disciples. Here I ask but three things of you all, do these, and your positions shall exist in perpetuity, beyond when the Heavens themselves wither to dust.”
The crowd’s attention was rapt.
“As the wind does, blow forth without the tethers of pride or sha. As the rain does, continue without end, giving all that you have. As the righteous cloud does, absorb all that you might, knowing that thunder only cos when strength has built within. Do you hear this, disciples?”
“We do, Sect Leader!” ca a roar in unison.
“Outstanding. Then I bid you look to Cloud Dragon Hall’s first seniors. Those that will lead you upon this Path. Chan Gui, Jihu Wanjie, and the Baotai twins, Xiongdi and Jiei. We are irregular here, holding no outer nor inner disciples,” he continued, gesturing in turn to several amongst the crowd. “Know that all are infants to the clouds, be that you Shu Lu, Cloud Dragon Hall’s highest, late [Core Formation] disciple, or you two, nine-ti tournant victors Minah and Gandira, or those disciples that co fresh from Jade Songbird Province’s rising crop.”
The [Intent] of his chosen four shed small waves of uncertainty, so slight that only his [Senses] might detect them. By his words, they were indeed infants to Cloud Dragon Hall’s as-of-yet unheard teachings.
Sister.
“To that end, the first boon arrives. A gift of new foundations.”
The [Shrine of Final Skies] burst into being behind him, and Shuidi called upon [Sky’s Authority] to wash Qi of the highest purity across their Sect.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
So too did she thrust mist throughout the masses.
[Dao of Coming Tribulations].
A great [Spiritual] bolt exploded in the gathered mist, arcing and leaping between Cloud Dragon Hall’s disciples to force each into a ditative state. The force was shallow when dispersed, enabling all realms to overco this most prestigious benefit.
Even those beneath [Autumn’s] [Tyranny] would gain significantly, if not in the way he had set out.
But not the four.
No, they held other duties.
“Sect Leader?” questioned Wanjie, disregarding the scene. “What would you have us do?”
Fu took ten strides back, settling into a defensive stance. “Let us begin with the first stance of the [True Wind God Arts], disciples. The matter of your Qi purity can be addressed once your juniors wake, no?”
The twins shared a passing glance, then spread their base wide.
Wanjie mirrored him with ease.
Fourth to move was the cumberso Gui, and… as Fu had said, all were infants to the clouds.
🀨
[Autumn] held a lengthier night, and wickedness danced on the Sect Leader’s mind as he walked through his inner courtyard the coming morning. Fog masked the dwindling starlight above and little lit the area beneath Cloud Dragon Hall’s pagoda save for the stray lanterns within his disciples’ quarters.
“Brother, sister, it seems our disciples are tired from their first day.”
Shuidi clacked her pincers eagerly. “That must be rectified.” Her will summoned a violent gale into being, and it thrust into each dormitory to slam screens wide and shudder window, sheet and shelf.
To their credit, most disciples erged swiftly. The [Spirit Crab] sent a second gale to rouse those that did not.
His four seniors ca to the head of these gathered two hundred, and in unison rang out a clear call to formation.
“Disciples, make ready!” ca fourfold before they turned to Fu. “Good morning, Sect Leader!”
Fu dipped his head, settling into the first stance of his [True Wind God Arts]. “The wind blows, and we strive against it.”
The seniors fell into imitation. “The wind blows, and we strive against it.”
Two hundred disciples adopted this newfound stance. Malice laced the wind that Shuidi sent against them, toppling a good third of cultivator and [Spirit Beast] alike.
“The wind blows, and we strive against it,” he repeated, but this ti he did not lead from the front. A blur had him step among his rising disciples, inspecting each with Hushi’’s diligent aid. From there they widened stances, lifted palms, straightened spines and curled fingers into perfect symtry of his own.
Shuidi sent another wind.
Less toppled.
Sun trickled through the mists by the ti that all could brace against the coming blows.
“[True Wind God Arts]: The First Breath Is Ford,” announced Fu, once again before his disciples. His palm struck outward with glacial slowness, graduating to a half turn, a kick, duck, spin, and ascending axe kick wherein his foot ended perfectly vertical above his head.
mory flared of the [Thousand Shore Mystic Realm] and his first difficulties with the [Stifling Stream Revolutions].
He smiled as two hundred cultivators mimicked his motions with a variation of success, wincing and staggering as the first throes of the [Cultivation Manual] set their [Inner Qi] to spiral as his once did.
Yet the technique of a Vajra clan could not compare that borne of a dragon’s knowledge. That of a God, no matter the wise master that had disambiguated it.
Even a child’s interpretation would be peerless, and the Old One was no child.
A tangible surge pulsed from the [Cores] of those gathered as their Qi flowed with unprecedented vigor.
They will grow swiftly once their impure Qi is cleansed. For now this practice is antithetical, but Cloud Dragon Hall must have souls of so martial talent. This glimpse of potential will surely steel them against the small wait for progress.
The disciples recovered.
Fu began again. “[True Wind God Arts]: The First Breath Is Ford.”
🀨
It was a sedentary day without combat, trial or [Mystic Realm] traversed, and though he was aware of myriad lesser troubles growing within the Heavenly Roaming Prefecture, Fu thought it wiser to have it stay that way.
He felt a small sadness that he could not attend to them with so personal a touch every day, but hoped that the foundation he was to instill would be adequate for his absent nature.
Udvah erged from the empty space before his desk, bowing as was proper. “Amituofo. This lacking daoist greets his senior.”
Half-formality held in the Vajra’s tone, curiously, and so Fu looked up from his scrolls and chits to welco another figure into the fold. “Wen Pinxui. You have been missed.”
“Senior Gao,” she t, foisting five stacks of reports upon his desk. “We are delighted to return once more to those that attribute organization its proper values. Here, within these scrolls are the preliminary reports on each faction of an interconnected nature to the Phoenix lody Coalition, ranked and profiled for their use as assets. Those coordinated in matching colours share a parent organization or Sect so that you need not expend ti on repeated efforts.”
Fu grinned. “I would first ask how you are?”
“Eager to make progress, senior. The pace we found within the Descent of Four Clouds could not be compared to the Wayward Wind’s campaign within [Spring’s] Empire. Plotting the deaths of Sect enemies is a simple objective against the March of Serpents and matters of [Constellation Seeds]. It was… understimulating. The Cloud Gathering Division is a suitably dangerous wind.”
Mangalam croaked mirthfully.
“I am glad you feel this way,” nodded Fu. “I do not know what Bingbai has availed you of, or if he has orders above my own - but I have given your fellows leave to act as they wish. Both of you hold Sect matters to heart, and I hold your judgent in high regard. Is there a preference on how you wish to act?”
His forr Scholarly Head shook. “Muqin already dissects all that Master Bingbai offers. His studies of [Constellation Seeds] are unparalleled, and only ti will grant further insight. We can be deployed as senior Gao deems fit.”
“My thoughts go to the Four Tiger Pill Society. With your talents they would have you rise through the ranks swiftly. Wen Pinxui, Inner Disciple - this would feed much of their movents to us without the need for overt acts.”
At this she almost frowned, for the Wayward Winds did not allow emotion to rule their appearance. “If that is what-”
“No. A passing thought only. Act as you see fit, Pinxui,” he waved away. “Though I would appreciate your hand in orchestrating our lacking juniors from Twenty Sunrises City.”
“As you say,” Pinxui dipped.
“Udvah, I fear your talents will be wasted. The Heavenly Roaming Prefecture is not so large that we need cross oceans to reach its other side, nor is travel by [Paifang] necessary,” considered Fu, taking a long stroke of his whisker. “I would place your role as that of faction cleansing. Warden of the appearing [Mystic Realms]. Yongwu Long granted a mysterious insight that I will share, it should be of interest to you.”
The Vajra gave a curious smile before bowing. “The Yongwu Long of fable? Amituofo, this disciple might decline. It seems troubleso.”
“That it is,” smiled Fu, dismissing the pair.
Welco silence followed the disappearance of his juniors as they blurred into absence, fading, presumably, to Bingbai’s current location.
“The night is young, and this Gao Shuidi would be indulgent,” ca his [Spirit Crab’s] voice, eager within his folds.
Fu affird this, and crossed his quarters to enter the lotus as his mantra began. Swift condensations of his [Constellation Seeds] brought forth what he wished for with greater ease than before, and steadily did the [Primordial Realm] appear.
Exposure was lengthening their visits, and though he could not mark the passage of ti, they were no longer so violently thrust from the place as they had been upon their first visit.
Spires of [Primordial Law] wisped about him with eldritch motion, rising and shifting as though they were both present and far. Those that appeared with greater regularity, he now knew, were those upon which his Path had, could or would intersect.
The [Primordial Law of Winds] blew, laden with so thousand silhouettes, marking those that had taken steps to comprehend it.
He could not see the peak.
A [Primordial] Sovereign, perhaps. A [Primordial] Sage? The Qi does not recognise any term for those that stand at the peak, but my words are limited.
Hushi’s curiosity warred with the desire to once more seek Grandmother Hua and her outlandish presence amongst the spire - an odd nature as both full fledged [Spirit] and as one that stood at the peak of her respective [Law].
“This old master must remain tethered, it seems,” voiced the Old One, returning from a mist-tied departure. Strands of Qi, [Spirit] or both had him appear kite-like and fastened to Fu’s form by a thin ribbon.
His frustration was evident.
“Sister?” offered Fu.
The [Spirit Crab] solidified her will, fastening the tri-partate tether to her individual soul. “Co, old master. This peerless pupil will repay her debts.” Now tightly bound, they vanished deep into the realm.
“It is only fair that the old master finds his own [Primordial Law]. A better fate if he achieves it first, for we might ask about the road ahead,” mused Fu, appreciating Hushi’s impressions of a similar nature. “Let us find Hau, for she is another that we might question.”
This realm of [Primordial] forces held no signage, and thus all their direction amounted to was a ponderous walk. Both had the sense that no second [Primordial Law] might be chosen, and so the ti spent was not fruitless.
Only fools rushed.
In ti, there ca a hum. “A line exists between hesitation and procrastination, oaf,” reverberated Hua’s nurturing tones.
Fu winced as her spire beca clear amidst the chaos. “Grandmother. We have tried to temper ourselves against the realm so that we might speak longer. It would not do to rush such things, no?”
“Hmm,” carried her voice from on high. “There is wisdom in that, although this fragnt of cannot mark the passing of ti. Bah, for all that I expect you have allowed many moons to pass while I remain here.”
This Hua had not reached the sa accord as he and the other had. And so, while nostalgic, the conversation proved irkso.
Fu bowed low, wishing to expedite matters. “We have visited a handful of tis in as many days. Our Grandmother warned of this realm’s perils, yet we have not faced imdiate danger. Might you elaborate?”
“Elaborate,” she humd. “First tell , oaf, for the [Cherry River Sage] does not enjoy her current darkness of sight - how long has passed since my arrival at Divine Clouded Mountain?”
It was Hushi that impressed surprise, if internally. “Severed for so long. Grandmother walks blind.”
Truly, has she not held this portion of herself since then? For a full moon and many [Seasons]?
He answered, and her next hum was not unlike a growl. “Then you may not act leisurely,” she stated, pausing for but one breath. “The Gao clan has gone unsteered for this long. Yet, you would say if tragedy had fallen. To this I say well done, Gao Fu.”
Further surprise.
“Gratitude, Grandmother.”
“Ever polite. Good. The Jianghu has not washed you of your greatest qualities. Hmm. Yes, if direction is to be returned to the Gao, then my [Spirit] must be returned. Do not ask questions of it, Gao Fu, for the reasoning is beyond you.”
“The Hollow Misery.”
Hua’s silhouette paused. “That you know only informs my decision of swiftness. To approach that stage in so short a span- bah, the [Karmic Bindings] of [Gleeful Viper] are unprecedented, yet they hasten a danger the Gao are not yet ready for.”
It seed this dialogue was only for herself, and thus Fu remained content to listen.
“How best to proceed? Which fork to cross? The oaf would invite ruin to chase his [Law] so early. [Primordial Judgent]- would his talent survive? All petitioners would seek a fresh upstart to claim what little insight he has gleaned. An uncommon [Law] then. One of suitable authority to release these bindings,” she waxed, humming all the while. “Speak now, Gao Fu, speak of my grandchildren’s futures. Have I found them wanting?"
Fu’s lips thinned. “We have not discussed it openly. But Yuling and Feng are not within your favor. I do not believe their Paths are that of [Inheritance]. Only Yuqi remains.”
“One moon and many [Seasons]. How rash my severing has made . Bah. Such is the crux of returned mortality that ti holds greater aning. No. The blood of my blood is not to be inflicted for a re solution to this state,” she said. “Bah. It must be you.”
“What would you have do?”
The [Cherry River Sage] considered this. “This day, you will sleep. Co the next, I will have you claim your [Primordial Law]. To return sight to the blind, no less than this is required.”
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