Book 6: Chapter 37: Not that Special
After feeling disgruntled for a minute or two, Sen realized that suppressing the glow wasnt really any different than his passive cultivation. It was just one more thing he needed to do and then push into the background of his thoughts. With yet another core advancement and, maybe not an advancement, but a change to his body cultivation, he discovered that wasnt a real effort. Every advancement seemed to make his mind more efficient even as it made his core more powerful. With that reminder, he finally looked at his core. It was larger than it had been but otherwise looked unchanged. He could feel the qi inside the core, more potent than ever. However, it was the state of his dantian that drew most of his attention. This advancement seemed to do naturally what hed done artificially all those years ago and expanded his dantian. That was welcome news, as it meant that hed be unlikely to run dry of qi in any but the most extreme circumstances.
What he wasnt sure about was what was filling his dantian. That strange double helix formation had sped up the process of refining liquid qi, but its transformation had come with a transformation to the qi it made. The liquid qi it had always made was now substantially thicker than it had been. It was still liquid, but it radiated a strength it never had before. Sen sighed. Hed been closing in on the end of adapting to his bodys new strength and speed and now this. The added potency his techniques would get from this new, denser, stronger qi would be welcome if things went wrong getting into or out of the ruins, but it also meant hed be a danger to any ally that was too close by. While the horde had seemed largely disinterested in relatively minor techniques being thrown around in the forest near them, he wasnt as confident that theyd ignore him testing his limits. It might also attract more traditional spirit beasts that hed rather not fight. If he had to fight, hed have to learn about his new strength as he went, which was the least ideal way of doing it.
At least Im going into those ruins alone. No allies to accidentally injure while I do that, said Sen as he changed into fresh robes.
When he stepped out of the room where hed been sleeping, he found Laughing River waiting for him. A quick glance around showed that they were alone in the common area of the galehouse.
Shes not here, said the fox. I sent her back to feed and water that sect girl.
Li Yi Nuo is a person, not a houseplant, said Sen.
Laughing River waggled a hand in the air to indicate that he wasnt convinced about that comment.
Sen rolled his eyes. You need to lay off that poor woman. She isnt a terrible cultivator. Shes not even a terrible person. Shes just normal and inexperienced as cultivators go. Youre too used to dealing with nascent soul cultivators and freaks like me. Shes going to end up with a heart demon if you belittle her like that to her face.
Laughing River went very still. I hadnt considered that. Alright, Ill try to be a little nicer to her if we ever see her again.
Didnt you settle things with your granddaughter? Couldnt you just tell her to give Li Yi Nuo back to us?
I did settle things with her, but I dont want the sect girl back. Sun Linglu knows that. Youll have to work out that trade for yourself.
Sen frowned at the name, Sun Linglu, before he remembered that was what Misty Peak made most people call her.
Great, like I didnt have enough things to do right now.
Speaking of doing things, said Laughing River, would you care to enlighten me as to what in the name of Glorious Moon happened to you?
Glorious Moon? asked Sen.
Ugh! You humans and your terrible education. She was my great, great, great, great, Laughing River started counting on his fingers and then shook his head, bunch more greats grandmother. She was supposed to be the first nine-tail fox. Forged herself an empire that lasted for three thousand years. There was love, betrayal, tragedy, a vow of eternal vengeance. All the usual stuff. Now talk!
I had an advancement. Added a layer to my core. Not that special.
Ox shit! Ive seen thousands of advancements in my very long life, Sen. Exactly none of them looked even remotely like that.
Sen offered a sheepish half-shrug. The heavens might have been sending me a little message.
Laughing River leveled a flat look at Sen. You dont say?
Dont look at me like that. Its not like they sent a letter along explaining what they were doing or why. Im making educated guesses here. And I really did advance, for the record.
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Oh, I know you did. Its just so common for someone to jump from the middle stage of core formation clear to the end of late stage core formation. Happens all the time. Just how thick was that layer you formed?
I, um, Sen hesitated. I honestly dont know how to answer that question. It was thick-er than the other ones Ive made.
I should fucking well think so! Laughing River shouted.
Why are you so angry at me?! Sen shouted back. I didnt plan it.
Laughing River, who was visibly shaking, made a very obvious effort to get himself under control. The fox paced around the room for the better part of two minutes. He turned to say something to Sen a few times, only to change his mind and continue pacing. Sen decided not to waste the opportunity. He started brewing tea and searching his storage ring for something to eat that didnt require preparation. There was still a stone table, but it was too big for his current needs. Sen waved a hand and some earth qi reshaped the table into something smaller. Laughing River and Sen both stared at the spot where the new table sat. Sen had gotten faster at reshaping the stone elements of the galehouses with time, advancement, and practice. This time, the process took a mere second or two. Well, I guess thats useful, thought Sen. One test successfully completed. He put the tea and fruit onto the table before summoning two chairs. He dropped into one of the chairs. Laughing River stared at the other chair briefly before he sat down in it.
I apologize, said Laughing River. I shouldnt have been barking at you like some kind of crazed dog.
Sen frowned. Are foxes some kind of dog?
Laughing River looked like he wanted to say something cutting, but he resisted that impulse.
Foxes are distantly related to dogs. Were a little closer to wolves, but even that isnt a close relationship. The distance only gets bigger when youre dealing with a nine-tail fox. Im probably more closely related to you than to a dog or wolf.
Huh. I never knew any of that.
I guess that is the intended purpose of a question. To learn something. Seriously, though, you should never ask another fox that question.
Why?
Youll probably end up in a fight for your life. Its a cultural thing. Itd be a bit like me asking if youre some kind of monkey.
Okay, I can see how that might not go over so well, said Sen before he thought of something. Am I some kind of monkey?
You really want to ask me, a fox, a question like that?
Sen thought it over and realized that it had probably taken most of the foxs restraint not to start mocking him immediately.
Im thinking that the right answer here is no.
As long as youre aware. The answer to your question is that youre related, distantly. How do you not know this?
How would I know it? asked Sen.
Laughing River just looked at Sen for a second. Oh, right, wrong world. Damn it. I need to get you up to speed on some things. But not right this second. Right now, were talking about you.
Apparently, said Sen. So, now that youre a bit calmer, can you tell me why youre so upset?
Because that isnt how advancements happen, said the fox. That isnt how heavenly qi shows up, either. People strive for advancement. They work at it. They chase it. They dont have it shoved down their throats like medicine that tastes bad. As for divine qi, the barest sliver of what you got would have been enough to propel most people into an advancement. I dont even know how you survived that, let alone what you did with all that qi. It should have burned you up like a piece of tinder.
Sen almost told the fox about where all that extra divine qi went, but he stopped himself. He liked Laughing River well enough. The fox might even have some insights to give him. However, that felt like a secret that he shouldnt share with anyone that he didnt have absolute faith and trust in. Without understanding exactly what happened and what it meant, revealing that information might put him in danger without Sen even realizing it. No, better to hold that back until he had a chance to talk with Master Feng, Auntie Caihong, or Uncle Kho. If nothing else, they could advise him about whether to share that information with anyone else. Well, hed tell Falling Leaf about it because she was Falling Leaf. He wasnt going hide something like that from her. Sen could tell that Laughing River was studying him.
Youre not going to tell me, said the fox.
No.
Because you dont trust me.
Thats not the only reason, but its one of them. I trust that you probably wont kill me in sleep, but giving you insights into the deepest parts of my cultivation. Come on? Who would tell you about that? I notice you havent volunteered any information about what you do or how you do it.
The fox looked like he wanted to protest, but then he snorted and gave Sen a familiar grin. Yeah, I suppose thats fair. I see that the glowing thing was temporary.
Yeah, I wish, said Sen.
He relaxed his control over the concentrated points of divine qi, and they immediately rose to the surface of his skin. The fox looked startled for a moment before he peered at Sen with curious eyes.
You know what that is? asked the fox.
I know what it is. Im hazier on what it does and why its there at all.
Im not sure how much insight I can give you about the why. I assume its related to your body cultivation, but anything beyond that is pure guessing. I have seen things that look like this a few times before. Qi thats embedded that way. There hasnt been much rhyme or reason to what they do, though. Sometimes, its defensive. Sometimes its involved in an offensive technique. Sometimes, I never saw it do anything.
So, Im just going to have to figure it out the hard way.
Probably, admitted the fox. Since its you, though, I imagine its part of an offensive technique.
Why? asked Sen.
Youre almost obnoxiously resilient. You dont particularly need more defensive measures. So, Im betting its something to help you fight.
That sounds depressingly plausible, said Sen.
The two sat lost in their own thoughts for a time. Sen roused himself enough to warm the tea with his qi and lift the cup to his lips. He took a sip. Just as he was swallowing, the fox struck.
So, have you seduced my granddaughter, yet?
Sen choked on the tea.
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