Cultivating Chaos Page 5

  “No!” Elder Shin said loudly.

  Lim didn’t listen, though, and started to charge straight at Ash. At the same time, a building of lightning began to crackle across Lim’s hands.

  He’s actually using two abilities.

  That pretty much lets me do what I want, but… I can’t let that blow land.

  Ash ducked to one side, narrowly avoiding the attack. Except he had to dodge backward as Lim came on again. Lim’s hands were balls of lightning, his entire figure a hazy silhouette.

  Triggering his Spring Step, Ash got out to one side. Before he could act, though, Lim was on him again.

  Can’t keep dodging, and I can’t just wait. Eventually I’ll run out of Qi.

  And I’m not sure I want to bet on having a deeper Qi Sea than him. He’s been cultivating far longer than I have.

  Stumbling under an attack, Ash scrambled away, unable to do much other than keep his distance.

  Shin won’t bother to help, especially now that it looks like Lim might win.

  How do I do this? How do I win?

  Triggering Spring Step once again, Ash had a flash of inspiration as he slipped away from Lim.

  Can I use Spring Step, but on my arm instead of my legs? It didn’t say it was limited to just my legs and feet, did it?

  Lim was once more on top of him.

  Ash decided to bet here and now while he had the energy to act. If he kept dodging and waiting, there was no guarantee he’d have it later.

  Moving into Lim’s attack and fully expecting to take a hit, Ash swung his arm forward in a hook. At the same time, he triggered Spring Step, but tried to generate the entire ability through his arm instead.

  It felt strange as his arm simply appeared in front of himself, a foot past Lim’s jaw.

  The boom of his hand plowing through Lim’s chin faded as the younger man dropped to the floor.

  Lightning passed through Ash at the same time, causing his body to lock up, but he didn’t fall.

  As soon as it passed, he looked down to Lim.

  Not only had his punch connected, it had very clearly either broken Lim’s jaw or disconnected it at the hinge.

  “Goodness,” Ash said, taking in a deep breath. “It seems Lim got himself hurt using abilities. Just like Gong.

  “Should I fetch another elder for assistance?”

  Shin was already atop Lim, forcing pills down the young man’s throat.

  Turning his head to Ash, he glared with a promise of violence.

  “No, you little shit. Here, take this and leave,” Shin said, throwing a small bag at Ash. “Do not come back. You were the last one without a Dantian, and now that you have one, this class is pointless. That’s the reward for being the top acolyte at the end.”

  “I thank the elder for his benevolence,” Ash said, pressing his fists together. “I look forward to receiving Lim’s kowtow before the examination, since he wasn’t able to honor our bet here and it seems like I won’t see him again till then.

  “In front of everyone in the city, no less.”

  ***

  “Just what did you do?” Jia asked, sitting across from him. They’d retreated to a small gathering room in the training sect.

  They were still acolytes here, of course. Temporary Outer Disciples here on contract.

  Shin could cancel the class, as that was his prerogative. Ash wondered if he’d get in trouble for it later, but that didn’t end the students’ ability to come and go.

  “I only punched. That’s all I did. Apparently opening the Dantian has a more profound effect than people ever admitted,” Ash said, spreading his hands out in front of himself toward Jia.

  “Hm. Opening one’s Dantian does indeed grant a noticeable increase in power, but that was not normal.

  “Your strike was… significant when you hit me. I was not able to stand afterward. It was too heavy, too strong,” Jia complained. “I do not think I could have blocked it without being forced back.”

  Ash shrugged.

  Maybe it’s because I condensed my Qi. Maybe they’re all working with their Qi Seas in their original shape.

  Is condensing it something that isn’t normal?

  “Well, maybe I’m doing something different. Do you have a cultivation technique?” Ash asked.

  Jia shook her head, her lips turning into a slight frown.

  In fact, it was nearly a pout.

  How did I ever believe Jia was a man? It’s so obviously a woman that it’s—

  Looking past Jia, Ash saw another acolyte. The young man looked as pretty as Jia, though significantly more effeminate in his actions.

  Hm. On second thought, the culture here is very different, isn’t it?

  “…able to afford one. I have mostly been simply meditating at night before bed. That seems to help significantly.

  “Though I do worry I’ll not be able to perform as well as others when the time of the examination comes. Many of them have had years to practice and truly cultivate,” Jia said, shaking her head.

  “Does it matter? Passing is passing. Even the weakest of cultivators will receive an invitation from an actual sect. It’s just a question of who, and what city,” Ash said, reaching out to lightly pat the back of Jia’s hand. “You’ll be fine. I know it. The only reason you never beat Gong or Lim was you played by the rules.”

  Jia seemingly disagreed with that, based on the narrowing of her eyes and the firm line of her mouth, but she apparently wasn’t going to say anything.

  “And what are you going to do with yourself now?” she asked.

  “What, now that we’re not training anymore? I don’t know. I was thinking I’d get a job. Make some money. Give it to the folks,” Ash said.

  It was the only plan he had at the moment, considering he didn’t have many other options.

  Jia nodded and tapped at the table idly.

  “I think I shall… relax. Practice. Study. Regardless of the outcome, I will feel I have failed if I cannot do everything that is possible for me.”

  “Go get ’em. I’ll drop by your place in a few days to say hi and make sure you’re not dying of starvation,” Ash said.

  “I only forgot to eat the one time,” Jia said, her cheeks flushing.

  “Uh huh. As far as you’ll admit to, at least. Alright, I’m heading out, I’ll see you later,” Ash said, then stood up and left with a wave.

  Ash didn’t stop for anything as he left.

  He headed home as quickly as he could, not bothering to waste any time.

  Some part of him suspected Lim or Gong might try to attack him on the way home.

  That or someone else would make the attempt.

  Home wasn’t any safer than anywhere else, but it was certainly less likely for someone to attack him there than in the middle of the street.

  When he stepped past the entryway, he realized no one was home. Both Mother and Father were out working.

  Entering his own room, Ash shut the door and sat down on the thin cot that served as his bed.

  Pulling his legs up under him, he withdrew the pouch Shin had given him and opened it.

  Inside were two white pills, ten white spirit stones, and a small badge the size of his thumbnail.

  Ash held his breath and pulled out the ten spirit stones.

  They were white ellipsoid stones. Smooth as polished river rocks and free of blemishes.

  Each one contained the same amount of Qi a peak body refiner would hold.

  These rocks were often shaped and polished. Then filled with condensed Qi. This was achieved by cultivators, monsters, treasures, and even by nature.

  They weren’t quite a form of currency, but often people would accept them in trade in lieu of minted currency.

  He knew for a fact that his family would barely make the equivalent of these ten stones in three years of hard work. This was a small windfall.

  Ash turned his attention to the pills, not quite sure what they were.

  He wouldn’t know what any pill was u
ntil he swallowed it. The only other way was having someone with a Vision ability take a peek, or having an alchemist tell you what it was.

  “And Shin sure as hell won’t tell me what this is,” Ash muttered. “Maybe Locke could?”

  Ignoring the token since there was no way he could ask anyone about it, Ash entered his training ring.

  The transition went much easier this time, and Ash went straight into his Hall, as he’d decided to call it.

  “Locke, I have two pills on my person. Can you identify them?”

  “The pills have already been identified and assessed. They are low-quality Essence Attractor pills.

  “They pull Qi in from further afar. Due to the low quality of these pills, the effect will only last for one hour each. It’s recommended that this is done during the day, while most people will be out training or working.”

  “Huh. That makes sense,” Ash said. Moving to the center of the Library wing of the Hall, he stopped. “I want to talk about more utility skills.”

  There was no response.

  Frowning, Ash clicked his tongue.

  Just how much of a program are you?

  “I want to know if there are any abilities or skill that will give me constant Qi regeneration without having to cultivate.

  “On top of that, I’d like another list of professions or trade-skills I can utilize that will let me cultivate at the same time,” Ash said.

  “List compiled,” Locke said. “There are no skills or abilities that will allow for Qi regeneration.

  “There is, however, one profession that can create a passive Qi regeneration effect once it’s been trained up to the Apprentice level.”

  “Great, what profession is that?” Ash asked, excited.

  “Scrivener. The act of creating paper documents that hold a spell, ability, or technique,” Locke said. “The profession would allow one to cultivate at the same time.”

  “Interesting. That sounds kinda fun. I know there’s a few Scriveners in the city as well, so there’s clearly a market for this sort of thing.”

  “There is a second profession similar to the Scrivener that could be learned. It would also allow one to cultivate during usage, and shares many materials with the Scrivener profession, though differs in application.”

  “Oh? What is it.”

  “Enchanting.”

  “Enchanting? I don’t… think I’ve heard of that. I don’t think there’s any of those in the city, either.

  “What kind of materials do I need for all this?”

  “Beast cores of the appropriate element. The quality of the core would dictate the amount of power transferred over in the Enchanting or Scrivening process,” Locke said. “These would serve as the primary ingredient in any work to be done.

  “A rune-chisel for Enchanting, and a rune-quill or rune-brush for writing.”

  “Uhm, does it matter what language I write in? My Kingdom is basic at best.”

  “Yes.”

  “Hm. Alright, is there any possibility of you transferring advanced reading and writing to me as if it were a skill then? I want to learn Scrivening and Enchanting, but without the basis for languages it might be more difficult than—”

  Ash was bombarded with the languages of the Kingdoms.

  All of them.

  At the same time.

  Gritting his teeth and holding on to consciousness, Ash felt his head being filled with the equivalent of hundreds of hours of lessons.

  “First task of three complete,” Locke said.

  Ash collapsed to the ground, panting. What had been a basic and rudimentary understanding of the Kingdoms’ written word was now something that felt more like a Ph.D.

  “G-g-great,” Ash said, wanting to throw up. “Great. I’m glad. Shit. My head hurts. First task?”

  “Second task starting now,” Locke said.

  “What? Wait, I—”

  Ash went rigid and fell to the ground in a convulsing heap.

  Five

  Ash’s eyes flipped open.

  He was staring at his ceiling.

  “Uh,” he said intelligently. “What happened?”

  “You passed out after the second task started,” Locke said in his mind.

  “I did? Wait, you can talk out loud now?”

  “The Chosen One did indeed pass out. And yes, communication outside of the ring is now possible, though only you will hear me. And my awareness is much greater than what it once was.

  “All of the free Essence that wasn’t being accumulated while you slept was pulled into the ring, and myself.”

  “So… you’re not a robot anymore?”

  “A robot? No… not a robot anymore. I distinctly sense that I am not what I once was.

  “But I’m a bit closer now to what I once was, Chosen One.”

  Ash snorted at that and then sat up.

  Which was apparently a bad idea. His head started to swim.

  Pressing his hands to his head, he groaned.

  A minute later and he didn’t feel like he was going throw up on the ground. He got up and made his way into the main living room.

  No one was home.

  Biting his lip, Ash already knew the answer.

  They were at work.

  Reaching into the pouch at his side, Ash pulled out several spirit stones and laid them on the dinner board.

  If I leave three… they’ll send one to Jing, and the other to Yan. The third… maybe they’ll hang on to it and just not work as much for a bit.

  Smiling to himself, Ash patted the board and went to the door.

  “Put everything in the ring. It acts as a trans-dimensional space.”

  “A what?”

  “A bag only the Chosen One can utilize. No one could rob the Chosen One.”

  “Huh. And I do that just by… what?”

  “Use some Qi and then push with your thoughts whatever item you want to go into the space.”

  Frowning, Ash did as instructed.

  And the pouch vanished entirely. It just disappeared.

  Yet he could still sense it—practically see it—in the ring.

  With only a thought, the pouch reappeared just where it had been.

  “Neat. That’s seems terribly convenient.”

  As he turned a single thought to the contents of the pouch, everything vanished into the ring, leaving just the empty sack at his side.

  Ash paused and started to sort through the profession ability and knowledge that’d been forced into his head.

  “Errr… just to… confirm here. I’m looking at the professions right now, and it looks like I just need beast cores. That’s it. Is that right?”

  “It is for the lowest level Enchantments and Scrivenings. Other than a brush, quill, or a chisel.”

  Nodding, Ash opened the door and stepped out into the late morning of the day.

  Shopping list in mind, he headed out for the open market.

  A sprawling, shoulder-to-shoulder packed, stinking pit of people all trying to buy and sell at the same time.

  It was also the best place to find what he wanted.

  If he could find it.

  Ash was packed in close to a bunch of people. Thankfully he was pressed up against a moderately attractive thirty-something woman who was more concerned with the vegetables in front of her.

  “Would you like an indicator to the closest item we need?”

  Pushing forward deeper into the mass of people, Ash spoke as quietly as he could.

  “You can do that?”

  “Using the free Essence, I was able to do a very minimal scan of the area and locate everything we need.

  “Would you like that indicator, Chosen One?”

  “Yes,” Ash hissed, getting annoyed at the belittling tone of “Chosen One.”

  A glowing green arrow popped into view, just as it had in the training ring.

  Feeling disoriented at the change in his reality, Ash took a breath before starting to stumble along in that direction.

&
nbsp; Before he could even begin to wonder how far away the stall was, Ash was practically running the vendor over.

  “Hey, watch it outlander,” the owner muttered.

  “Sorry, sorry. Sometimes it gets so tight in there you pop free like a cork,” Ash said, lifting his hands in front of himself.

  “Well? You buying?” asked the swarthy bearded man.

  “Uh, yeah,” Ash said, looking to the stall top.

  A number of items had small yellow asterisks floating over them.

  Ash rapidly pointed to each one that had been marked so. The vendor quickly grabbed them up and packed them into a small bag.

  “Fine. Price is going to be ten silvers,” the man said.

  Silvers were coins in the shape of squares, minted by the local kingdom.

  “Offer him a spirit stone and ask for a gold square in return. Based on the transactions going on around you, he’ll take it, and you’ll come out ahead.

  “Slightly,” Locke said.

  Ash reached into his pouch, transferred a spirit stone to his hand, and then held it out in a cupped hand to the vendor.

  “Will you take this and give me change for a gold square?” Ash asked, doing his best to keep the stone hidden in his hand.

  The merchant snatched the stone from Ash’s hand and placed a gold square in his hand in return.

  “Get out,” said the merchant, moving to the next customer.

  Ash transferred the coin to his pouch and took the bag under his arm. Then he elbowed and jostled his way out of the main circuit of traders.

  Right up until he was forced to one side as a rather large and intimidating man pushed through in the opposite direction, radiating power.

  Ash ended up inside a stall that had a single piece of parchment on the counter.

  On it was a list of abilities and techniques for sale.

  Glancing to the back of the stall, Ash could see all the scrolls and manuals piled on top of one another, along with a squad of mercenaries acting as guards.

  I wonder if I could make my own scrolls by Scrivening. Could I transfer the abilities in the Hall?

  Ash was finally able to step back into the press of bodies and move through the swarm. Breaking free on the other side into a much less populated street that led out of the market.

  Taking a moment to step behind a post, he transferred the bag to his ring and came out the other side, carrying nothing.