After Hei calmed down a little, the two boys sat back down to further discuss the ramifications of Tianlan’s recent transformation.
“I don’t know if this is a good thing or not,” said Hei.
There were obvious upsides, the primary of those being that Tianlan was now a minute-realm cultivator, and the most powerful of the Shao siblings. He would be able to spearhead a lot of their movements and may even be able to accomplish certain large-scale objectives single-handedly.
But at the same time, him being in the minute realm meant that there were now certain places he couldn’t go, the most notable of those being the cultivation-locked inheritances.
Seeing as inheritances were largely left with the purpose of helping future generations, it wouldn’t do to have some old senior sweeping up all of the resources for themselves, and thus, most cultivators who felt like leaving something behind made sure to put certain countermeasures in place. They laid formations that would create a ceiling for the maximum cultivation level of those who were permitted entry.
The lower continent was ruled by those in the sixth realm, foundation establishment. Beneath them would be the old seniors who had reached the minute realm. And below them would be those who had already reached their limits in the transcendent realm, or those shining stars among the youth who had managed to catch up to older generations.
Thus, the transcendent realm was deemed most suitable for the upper limit. By allowing the presence of certain desperate elders and those who were unscrupulous, they would further tamper those shining youths through the fierce competition that would ensue.
Unfortunately for Tianlan, he was now much too much of an over-achiever. He, along with the other geniuses of his generation, had reduced their opportunities by being even better than their predecessors had foreseen.
That was why Hei had purposefully avoided breaking through to the minute realm, even though he had long reached the point at which he could.
“But it’s not all that bad. As I said before, as long as there are a few of us, the inheritances will be taken care of.”
Being members of the Shao Clan who were, for all intents and purposes, overpowered, there wasn’t a need for all of them to be present at the openings of those inheritances. Losing one member wasn’t too much to be concerned about.
“The real problem is that you’ve gone off on your own.”
With Tianlan now practising a different method than Hei, Hei could no longer forge the path for him. He would have to do it on his own from now on, and that would be a monumental undertaking.
It had to be known that Way of Essence was already a gift from the heavens. Hei’s body was miraculously generating a cultivation technique that, by all means, defied the logic of this world. He was cultivating even though such a thing should have been impossible.
It was only through that that Bai, Tianlan, and Mei were also able to do the impossible.
What did it mean, then, that Tianlan now had to proceed on his own?
It meant that he too had to carve out a completely new path that had never been seen before.
Fortunately, he already had a foundation to build on.
“Since such a thing has happened, then there must be a way for you to move forward.”
What would make the least sense would be for the Heavens to intentionally block Tianlan’s path. Especially after they had heaped so much praise on his apparently noble soul.
There was definitely a way. All that was left was to find it.
“This has got me thinking. Maybe Way of Essence is actually akin to an embryo.”
The way Tianlan’s technique was still Way of Essence at its core. The fact that he was cultivating lightning qi, which was outside of the five primary elements. And the feeling that told him not to interfere with Tianlan’s path.
It was reminiscent of the birth of new life.
The indistinct force that coursed through Tianlan’s veins had been nurtured by his unique essence. His heart and soul had given it form. It could now stand on its own, an entirely separate entity from its source.
“Perhaps this is a road we will all have to cross.”
For the unspecialized to become specialized.
Hei felt it was the next step of the Way of Essence.
“There is much to think about.”
***
Hei’s concerns aside, Tianlan’s newfound understanding of sky nodes led to rapid progress with the communication jades.
It was only a few days later that the second generation design was complete.
***
Just outside the Shimmering Sword Sect.
“Well. I guess I’m done here,” said Hei.
“Looks like it,” replied Tianlan.
Hei looked behind Tianlan and saw the other people who had come to see him off. It was Ming Hong, and his little sister, Ju Li, as well as the Fang Clan juniors.
Hei looked at them and smirked.
“You know what’s coming, don’t you?”
Ming Hong and Ju Li didn’t know what he was talking about, but the Fang Clan juniors nodded their heads.
“Well then.”
He took a deep breath.
โTo seek glory!โ
The juniors responded in unison.
โIS FOR FOOLS!โ
Ming Hong and Ju Li were startled by the sudden roar.
โTo seek honour!โ
โIS FOR FOOLS!โ
โTo seek treasure!โ
โIS FOR FOOLS!โ
โWhat are we?โ
โWE ARE WISE!โ
Hei laughed.
“Now you’re getting it.”
He looked around at everyone again.
“Well. I guess it’s time for me to leave.”
Hei held his fist out to Tianlan.
“See you later.”
“Later.”
“Goodbye, everyone. Until next time.”
The Fang Clan juniors waved goodbye.
“”Have a safe trip, Sage Hei.””
Hei was about to turn around when Ming Hong called out to him.
“Wait a moment, please.”
“Hm?”
Ming Hong and Ju Li walked up to Hei. They both knelt down on one knee.
“Uh…”
“The two of us owe you our lives,” said Ming Hong. “From now on, we shall be the sword that cuts down your enemies. Use us as you will.”
Hei frowned.
“Is that so?”
“I swear it.”
Hei looked over to Ju Li.
“Do you agree?”
“I do,” she replied. “It is our sworn duty as members of the Ming Clan.”
“I see,” said Hei, his voice solemn. “Then both of you can get lost.”
He turned and left, leaving behind only a few words for Ming Hong and Ju Li who stared at him with disbelieving expressions.
“My Shao Clan has no need for swords.”
***
Hei was now some distance from the Shimmering Sword Sect, but still close enough to Tianlan that he had yet to enter the grey.
He thought of the scene that had just passed.
“Well, that last part wasn’t exactly true… We do need a few swords…”
The Shao Clan’s path was bound to involve the spilling of blood. There was little doubt in Hei’s mind. He would try to minimize it, of course, but if blood had to be spilt, he would make sure it was that of their enemies. And for that, he would indeed need some very sharp swords.
That being the case, Ming Hong’s and Ju Li’s offer should have been quite enticing, especially considering their family’s line of work.
However, the words they spoke caused Hei to come to a realization.
“It is our sworn duty, huh?”
He sighed.
“I’ve been doing it all wrong.”
He thought of his two maids; the Fang Clan’s matriarch, Liling, and Matriarch Radiant Jade’s daughter, Jingfei.
Both of them had been coerced into the positions through verbal contracts.
“Sure, both agreements were mutually beneficial, and I didn’t exactly force anyone, but…”
If he were to continue the way he had been going, then what would he end up with?
“A group of people bound together by contractual obligation?”
He shook his head.
“That’s not the family I want to create for her.”