Calculating Cultivation

Chapter 47: A Moment Of Peace

I continued kneeling in front of the grave. My mother had passed away, from what was most likely a stroke. There were no autopsies done in cultivation land. But based on the description, she collapsed and began seizing. She passed shortly after that. That had happened two years ago while I had been at the Floating Island of Death.

Lighting the incense in front of the grave at the family compound, I knelt there quietly thinking about my choices in this life. I had started on the path of immortality because of fear of death. I had died once before, I didn’t want to die again. I didn’t like thinking about my death. It caused me to feel a feeling of fear.

Even my reincarnation into this life was done by an unknown force. I didn’t like the idea of higher powers. But if there was one out there I would say a prayer. “If anyone is listening. My mother, Yuan Wen was a decent mother. While she was prone to drama and overacting, she did care.” I took a deep breath before continuing.

“Making sure I succeeded while keeping me away from the politics of the family.” I wiped my cherubic face. Everyone was getting older and older while I remained. The gravestone was well made. The Yuan family would not dare to offend me over something like this. She wasn’t next to my father. That spot was reserved for the main wife.

Getting up I bowed to my mother’s grave. I then walked over to my father’s grave and bowed before it. I turned to leave the graveyard and found my Yuan Yun waiting for me. His hair had a lot of gray and he was using a cane. He had also put on a bit of weight.

“Brother,” he said with a bow.

“First brother,” I replied with a nod.

“I am glad to see you got the news,” he replied. I nodded at this as we slowly left the grave yard, walking togeather. “She was a woman with a strong personality. That is why father liked her,” my brother replied.

“Strong personality is right. How are things in the family?” I asked to be polite.

“I am retired now. My first son, Yuan Zhu now manages things. Third brother has also passed away,” he said.

“When? How?” I asked.

“Half a year ago. Drug overdose. Or his liver just gave out after all these years. You know how he liked to indulge. The theater was his playground,” my first brother said, and I nodded at this. I let out a heavy sigh. Everyone I knew was dying.

“Fourth brother?” I asked.

“Left to travel once you gave him his divorce settlement. I haven’t heard from him since. No idea where he is,” Yuan Yun said. “Your sister was asking after you.”

“That is my next stop. I…” There was a lot of hesitation to say what I was going to say, but it needed to be said. “I won’t be returning for a while most likely. Taking a break during my next stage of cultivation is not simple or easy.”

“I understand brother. Us fleeting mortals, are but dust on the ether, memories remain,” he said. It took me a moment to realize what he had just done.

“Taking an interest in the arts?” I asked.

“A hobby of mine to write haikus in my old age. I should have a few decades left, but I feel older just looking at you,” he replied.

“I feel short,” I joked, and we both chuckled at this. We continued to walk in silence. It was most likely our last meeting.

As we reached the exit to the family compound I paused. “Here. If a family member believes they can cultivate, let this help them on their path,” I pulled out a rank 3 spirit stone and tossed it over. My brother caught it with wide eyes and quickly pocketed it.

“You don’t need to do this, but thank you brother,” he said.

“Consider a repayment of debts.” I was pretty sure karma wasn’t a thing, but there was only so much I could do. I had other things to focus on. Money was easy, spending my time was much more difficult. I paused and gave my brother a hug, surprising him. I broke all the formal rules of etiquette by doing this, but after that visit to the grave I was feeling depressed as people I knew passed away while I remained.

Letting go of my brother, I turned and left decisively. There was no need to say anything more. I slowly made my way through Half Moon City to the Yao family compound. Everyone steered clear of me since I was in my martial robes with the sect symbol.

I saw rickshaws moving about, while others were walking to carry out their errands. I reached the Yao family compound and no one dared stop me as I entered. I was shown to a sitting room. It didn’t take long for my sister, Yao Chuntao to show up.

“Brother,” she said and gave me a hug. I gave her a hug back. Everything was going well with her and mother.

“You remember how she always used to gasp dramatically and wave her hands up to her head,” my sister said.

“Yes. It was very over the top,” I replied with a small smile.

“Or that one time, you told the cooks to add extra spice to our evening meal.”

“If I recall sister, that was you. Saying the food was boring,” I countered.

“But you told the cooks what to do. Everyone tried not to say anything while eating, until it became too much,” my sister chuckled.

“I think that was one of the few times we were ever yelled at,” I said.

“I know, it was hilarious. How is my daughter?” she asked, changing the subject.

“She is doing well. Elder Li Fu is looking after her and she is progressing through the second stage of cultivation. It will take time, but I doubt she is going to go on any crazy adventures like I did,” I replied.

“You must have went on another one. What happened?” I could tell my sister was excited. While she was happy being a mother and with her life, she liked to hear about the trouble I got up to. I then told her about my journey to the Floating Island of Death, the zombies, and then fighting enemy cultivators.

“Fighting, I am glad you won,” she said.

“They weren’t martial cultivators. Just rouge cultivators with weapons. Probably grew up in Imperial City and wanted to make some money on the side. There are a lot of cultivators there that aren’t tied to the Imperial Sect,” I replied.

“And you won. I can’t even imagine the danger,” she said. “At least you are safe now little brother.” I rolled my eyes at her teasing.

“I am going to be cultivating for a long time. I can’t easily stop without risk,” I said. There was a long stretch of silence. My sister reached out and I did the same. She gripped my hand, giving it a slight squeeze, even if my flesh didn’t budge in the slightest.

We sat there enjoying each other’s company for the rest of the day. That evening, I left and began making my way back to the sect. Starting and stopping the force chamber for my attunement wasn’t practical and would waste energy.

Instead, I would be put into an enclosed underground room. The spirit stones I had would be loaded up into the massive formation to generate force energy. The chamber would have a bucket, beast jerky, and reinforced barrels of water.

No lights and nothing else. It was similar to the soul reflection chamber, just built with longer term use in mind, but was still incredibly small. Since it was meant for long term use, and during the third stage of cultivation, it was more a tomb than anything else. It was deep underground with other similar chambers that the sect had for other attunement purposes, specifically earth.

This was so the chamber could be constructed in three dimensions, to capture all the energy and force back on me. That was why starting and stopping was a bad idea. I had talked with the Sect Leader and a deal was set up so that the Sect would loan me the spirit stones I needed paid out against future profits of my mining business.

It was a zero-interest loan thankfully. I had some rank 6 spirit stones in reserve. It wasn’t worth it to use them for the third stage of cultivation. That wouldn’t help my attunement of my channels. I used them as collateral against my income from my business instead.

The first step though was fixing my cultivation and countering Aoyin’s fang with polarity cultivation. I rested up for the rest of the month before the Sect Leader had made his preparations. I was called into his office first. I noted that Elder Li Fu was there as well.

“Master, Elder Li Fu,” I bowed to both of them.

“Disciple, sit,” the Sect Leader said while looking worn down even more than the last time I had seen him. “I will do the operation shortly. After that I will be forced to step down,” he said.

“I thought you would die?” I asked hesitantly.

“I will. My cultivation will be crippled. Day or weeks will be all that remains. A rank 8 cultivator rarely just falls over dead, regardless of the injury,” he replied and I nodded. “Regardless my time will be short. Elder Li Fu has won the nomination and the vote. He will be taking over as the next Sect Leader of the Cloudy Moon Sect.”

“Junior greets future Sect Leader,” I said and bowed my head towards him.

“More work, more headaches,” Elder Li Fu said with a sigh and shook his head.

“You are the only option that will ensure stability. Martial Elder Lei supports you as well for your steadiness,” the Sect Leader said.

“I am only touching on the eighth stage,” Elder Li Fu said.

“But you are there. Doubts are natural. I had them. Do the best you can do. Do better each day than the previous one. Don’t be afraid to make decisiosn,” the Sect Leader said. The future Sect Leader Li Fu nodded at this. “You are also being considered as a possible future candidate. Which is why we are discussing such things in front of you.” I blinked in surprise at that.

“Me?” I asked.

“Yes you. There are others of course. But if you make it past the first bottle neck through some miracle of fate, then you will be on the fast track. Consider my advice to Li Fu as advice for you in the future,” the Sect Leader said.

“Thank you for your words,” I replied and bowed my head.

“Going forward. Li Fu will handle anything involving you. While you won’t be his disciple, your actions have an impact on the sect. With the procedure today, the last major issue should be resolved. What we will be doing is between you and me, no one else. So, don’t worry,” the Sect Leader said. Elder Li Fu did not comment.

The Sect Leader got up and I followed him to a surgery room. Elder Li Fu followed along, and Elder Healer Meihui was there as well. “I still object,” she said as I laid down on the table and gripped the handlebars on either side.

“This procedure is necessary. Especially for my disciple,” the Sect Leader replied.

“And, it clearly involves the soul. You are reworking the astral soul stabilizer in some way. It has already integrated into his body. It can’t be removed,” Elder Healer Meihui objected.

“It is being changed, not removed,” the Sect Leader replied.

“Really?” She then looked at a small container he laid out on a table next to me.

“Yes. This goes no further than this room, but I will need your support. Elder Li Fu, you will need to monitor his head. Suppress the shard there, don’t hold back in the slightest. Once the procedure is done, you will slowly release your grip and I will follow. Elder Healer Meihui, I need you to make sure is health doesn’t collapse. With the beast essence and the Pill of Peace everything should be fine,” the Sect Leader said.

“The Astral Soul Stabilizer is taking all the excess power from his cultivation and managing it. With that, his soul will rupture. “You want me to keep it stable,” she replied.

“Yes. I spoke with my disciple, and after much consideration, these are for you.” The Sect Leader pulled out two rank 6 spirit stones. Even I could see the minute twitched in their face and their greed. He tossed the spirit stones over. I hadn’t wanted to give them up, but it was necessary, since this procedure involved risk to them. While slight, I needed good relations since I wouldn’t have the Sect Leader around anymore to hold my hand.

It was also implied that those spirit stones were for silence on exactly what happened here and to not ask questions. “Let’s get started. Elder Li Fu,” the Sect Leader said as the elder pocketed the spirit stone. It must be nice to get paid off for doing so little.

“Indeed. One moment while I locate this shard in his head.” He put both hands on my head and began to sense for Aoyin’s Fang. I felt a massive headache coming on as he narrowed down the location very quickly. “I have it. I am suppressing it. Barely,” he replied.

“Then, I will get started. Brace yourself disciple,” the Sect Leader said. I wasn’t watching, but I could feel him cut into my flesh and my soul right above my groin similar to the first operation. I could feel my entire cultivation shaking slightly, but it held. A small benefit from having such a massive cultivation plan.

I heard the container open and saw the Sect Leader pull out a syringe of glowing silver liquid. He held it up and then had a focused look on his face. He quickly turned and let out a couple of coughs and I saw his robe had blood on it.

“It is done. Let me check Li Fu,” he said and put a hand on my face. Multiple waves of pressure hit me in the head and it was difficult not black out. “It is balanced, give me a moment to make some tweaks.”

“His soul is shuddering, you need to hurry,” Elder Healer Meihui said.

“It will old with his cultivation. This is very important that I align it as closely as possible. Too far. Not that way. There. That’s as good as it will get.” The Sect Leader then turned and put the syringe into the opening he cut.

“AHHHH!” I screamed as pain coursed through me. But the elders had enough hands on me that I couldn’t move.

“Release your grip slowly. We need to go fast enough to let things settle before there is damage, but not too quick otherwise he will explode. Ease up, a bit slower. Perfect,” the Sect Leader said. There was more pain, which fluctuated. After a couple of minutes it began to die down.

“All healed,” Elder Healer Meihui said with a touch of exhaustion in her voice.

“Did it work?” the Elder Li Fu asked.

“I can’t tell. It will only be known on the fourth stage. It should work, but this is a technique that is not normally done. I need to rest now,” the Sect Leader said and quickly left the room. I slowly sat up.

“No cultivation for a month. Since I know that chamber has been set up for you. If there are any issues or spikes of pain let me know,” Elder Healer Meihui said before leaving.

“Do you need assistance?” Elder Li Fu asked me.

“I should be all right, just give me a moment to get sorted,” I said in a slightly horse voice. All that screaming was not good for my throat and my body felt incredibly sore.

“Hmmm, take your time. There is no need to use this room today,” he said and then left. I put on my martial robe and then stumbled back to my room. I then collapsed in my bed.

The next day I woke up and I felt my entire cultivation shuddering. All the triangular bracing, the outer hexes, and my channels, felt like the aligned motes were trying to twist. I went to the Sect Leader’s office, but it was cleaned out and Elder Li Fu was setting up various personal items.

“Junior greets Sect Leader Li Fu?” I said with a bit of hesitation.

“It will be announced right before the next arrival, but Sect Leader Jiang Fengge has retired and gone into seclusion,” Sect Leader Li Fu said. “Come sit. I was just about finished.”

I nodded at took a seat. It felt odd that Jiang Fengge had left without a goodbye. I guess he wasn’t a fan of them and we had already said everything to each other that needed to be said. The new Sect Leader Li Fu took a seat behind the desk.

“You will remain the Sect Disciple. Your status won’t be changing. You can keep your room and your privileges.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader,” I said with a bowed head.

“It would be a disservice and an insult to do otherwise. Your niece, will remain a Core Disciple. A Sect Disciple is not a position given lightly. Jiang Fengge only managed to do so, due to your accomplishments and his time as Sect Leader.” I nodded at this to show my understanding.

“I will also add that the Sect cannot help you in the fourth stage. The amount of resources required is astronomical. I know that preparations were already made?” Sect Leader Li Fu asked.

“Another trip to find resources, into the Firmament,” I replied. Elder Li Fu let out a sigh.

“That is what I figured. I have little experience in this matter. And will not interfere. But I will require a signed contract handing over your share of the mining business once you reach the fourth stage and depart,” he replied.

I frowned at this. Not even a day later, and my business was already being moved in on. “Why?” I asked.

“You will most likely die once you depart. Normally this wouldn’t matter, but there are two other competing interests from the Imperial Sect. If you don’t return, this could create long term issues,” he replied.

“That is a big if,” I countered. I wasn’t about to give up my company, even if the new Sect Leader was pressuring me.

“Indeed. If I had something like your business, I wouldn’t want to give it up either. But you will be compensated.” He pulled out a folded piece of paper and set it in front of me. I picked it up and unfolded it. The offer was basically a rank 8 treasure of some kind. A top tier item or spirit stone.

“If I refuse?” I asked.

“We can put a clause in of 1,000 years. If you return in that time, then the business and all money left behind will be taken by the Sect. That will be a massive amount and a long enough time frame to confirm your death.”

“What about the Soul Lantern?” I asked which should keep track of if I was dead or alive.

“Not useful. Once you attempt to break through your bottleneck, that will not trigger it. Also, there are things out there in the Firmament that could block the connection. While unlikely, the Sect is not a bank, for the amount of wealth that will accumulate once you are gone,” he replied.

“Even in Imperial City?” I asked.

“Once a concentration of wealth grows large enough, anyone would be tempted. That is why we can’t just stockpile for you for centuries on end,” Elder Li Fu explained. I frowned a bit, but it made sense. Too much wealth concentrated in one place could invite disaster.

My thoughts went to the rank 8 coffin that Aoyin had given me, that I refused to use. It would have been tempting to try and pass it off as coming from the Floating Island of Death, but Wen Xue would have brought up too many questions about its origin and I would have to share any proceeds from the sale.

A thousand years was a long time, and the amount of wealth that would accumulate would be quite a bit. I could even see an Immortal taking notice. While they might not act, it would invite questions. However there had to be other cultivators who left for a time and then came back.

“I could live up to 2,200 years or so if I make it past the first bottleneck.” I had been reading the Sect Leader’s journal about the Firmament. It was a crazy place. But I also knew that Elder Li Fu wanted the business and was willing to take advantage of me to get it.

The question was the value of the business. Back on Earth, the price of a business was based on three years’ worth of revenue and profit. But in cultivation land, there was no set standard. The issue was that cultivators lived too long. Very rarely did they want to sell something that was already making them money.

But there was an opportunity. If I did sell the business, I could invest in equipment and good for when I left. Money sitting around wouldn’t help me get past the first bottleneck. The sheer number of resources at the Core Formation stage I would need was massive.

Elder Li Fu clearly knew this as well, which was why he was pressuring me now. He smelled blood in the water and was a shark going after a tasty meal. “Zheng Ting remains employed as long as she desires and the equivalent of two rank 8 treasures. And my third stage is paid for.”

That was seriously undervaluing the long value of my mining business and my share. But it was a reasonable compromise. “One rank 8 treasure, but the rest is acceptable,” Sect Leader Li Fu countered.

“That is low, far too low,” I replied.

“It will take 200 years to earn the equivalent of a rank 8 treasure,” he countered. He let out a sigh. That was another reason for my suspicions on what was going on.

“I will sign things over once I am done with the third stage and depart,” I finally said after thinking over things. I didn’t want to rush into a decision. If I got past the first bottleneck, then I should be nearly unstoppable. Sect Leader Li Fu would have to bow his head towards me and accept unfairness thrown his way.

But right now I was too weak and had very little backing. Sect Leader Jiang Fengge had always been in my corner, advising me, and helping me along my path of cultivation. But now that he had retried, there was nothing more I could do about the situation but accept it.

I had no doubt that Sect Leader Li Fu could make my life difficult if he wanted to. Like the formation I would be using to attune my channels to force energy, was something made and developed by the sect as a long term investment.

Our meeting quickly wrapped up after that. The vultures were circling and I needed to keep progressing. While other people might have been tempted to force the issue with Sect Leader Li Fu, it just wasn’t worth the risk or the hassle. There would be no winning for me. I couldn’t depose Li Fu or go against him right now. That meant I could only endure his bullying. For that was what that entire conversation had been, not matter how polite it had been.

The month slowly passed as I reread my Master’s journal over and over about the Firmament. The outside land of the cultivation continent was much more diverse and varied. So, while this created a lot of novel options in terms of cultivation, there were a lot of risks as well.

But with risks came rewards. Selling my business made sense in this context. I would sell it, in exchange for high quality spatial rings, and stuff to bring along with me for trade. It felt like I was going backwards in business, going from a multi-national business owner to a trader. But it was all about at what level of wealth a person operated at. Trading direct goods was far more impactful than letting spirit stones pile up here where I couldn’t get to them.

The month slowly passed by and I was cleared by Elder Healer Meihui. I had gotten enough advice about the third stage, that I wasn’t worried about what I had to do. Wen Xue had provided several useful tips to manage cultivating at the third stage of Meridian Attunement.

The first thing was to not stop carving out a meridian and channel pair no matter what. I needed to mentally focus, painfully breaking apart the portions in my soul that were surrounded by interlinked aligned motes.

This was where the triangular mental model would show value. One carved out their own soul with mental will power and fortitude. I would then need to use the Displacement Channel Carver to draws out the remains of breaking my cultivation, speeding things up.

After that it was just about working as efficiently as possible. As my channels were carved I would draw in the force energy permeating the room I would be cultivating inside of. My meridians and channels would be attuned to force energy.

As I was led into the underground chamber and locked away with enough supplies for three months in the darkness. The inside of the room didn’t light up in the slightest. All the arrays were in separate layers. I could slowly feel my body getting squeezed.

Taking a deep breath, I focused my mind on the first inverse wave cone meridian I would be forming in my arm. Bit by bit, I felt the most minute pieces of my astral soul crumble away. My other hand had the Displacement Channel Carver. I could feel the bits of carved up soul getting pulled out of my body.

It wasn’t completely unpleasant, but weird. Like getting pinched where I didn’t expect to get pinched on my body. I lost track of time in the darkness, only able to tell how long I had been cultivating from the water and the food remaining. The hardest part was how slow it was. If I didn’t pull out the broken up pieces of my soul, it would take incredibly long to make any kind of progress, since the remnants settled incredibly quickly.josei