[QiB2] 31 — Chi Cultivators

The  Lord was moved to a different chamber to rest, with the Old Man  following behind to look after him. There were still parts of me reeling  from shock at the tremendous energy that had been at display in front  of my eyes. In front of the Lord’s strength, I was barely a child, not  even that, and a single blow from the heavens had brought him down to  his knees.

I’d known  there would be a long way ahead, and the gap in strength would be vast  between me and someone like him, yet it was an entirely different  feeling to truly experience that difference, and realise that even he  was far from the strongest people of this empire. And that, if I  continue to walk my path, one day I may have to stand against them.

As my thoughts  continued t o churn, we’d been quickly moved out to a different  chamber. None of us had talked much, as Elder Tian Feng had rushed  around, working on the repair of the chamber we’d been in, and checking  in on the manor. An odd, tense silence had filled the chamber as I’d  sensed everyone around me coming to terms with the words I’d shared.

Zhou Fang’s  expression had darkened, his mind likely filled with concern towards his  father. I felt some guilt from his expression, all of this had been  initiated by me, and in some ways, I was responsible for the Lord’s  injuries.

Roughly half  an hour later - or longer, I had lost track of time in my daze - the Old  Man returned to our chamber. I rushed to stand up, my eyes glancing  towards Zhou Fang, expecting him to be rushing to know more, but the boy  stood up calmly, not showing panic in any form.

“How’s the Lord?” I asked, not waiting for the boy.

“He’s fine. Merely needs some rest to recover,” Old Man said, glancing back towards Zhou Fang, as he nodded lightly.

“Of course he  is. Father would not be defeated by a mere divine tribulation,” Zhou  Fang said, though I found the words to be more for himself than us.

“I’ve been hearing that word. What even is a divine tribulation?” I asked, glancing at the Old Man.

“You are aware  that to become an immortal, and reach Transcendence, one must undergo  at least three tribulations?” the Old Man asked.

I nodded.

“But the truth  of the matter is, not all Paths can even reach the point. It is not  merely a lack of effort, but also the Dao one follows. Some Paths are  simply not meant to reach Divinity. The tribulations stand judge of  these paths, and most fail under the trial. It is why many elders stop  at the pinnacle of their circles, not attempting advancement in vain,”  the Old man said. “But some paths have the ability to reach  transcendence. Divine paths. These, when invoked, bring forth a divine  tribulation. It is the mark of the rise of a new Divinity.”

“Then… is the Lord going to become a Divinity…?” I asked, slightly confused.

The Old Man looked at me, before shaking his head. “It wasn’t his path that brought the tribulation, Lu Jie. It was yours.”

I stared at the old man, unsure of how to reply.

“What will the  Lord say about the tribulation? Even if Lu Jie has the capacity to  become a new Divinity, the Lord surely cannot share that?” Yan Yun  asked, looking at the Old Man.

“Father won’t,  not with… this heavy truth. It’ll cause the empire to fall apart. And  if the mere mention of the First Law can bring such a heavy trial… I  fear to think what further actions may bring.”

“That is not  something you need to be concerned about,” the Old Man said. “The Lord  has ties with the Barbarian tribes to the east. It is not rare to  harbour or trade with them at times, despite the tensions with the  empire and these barbarians. We will merely mention the Lord had agreed  to shelter their chief as he advanced, which had caused the  tribulation.”

“A divinity  among the barbarians? Isn’t that impossible? How could Barbarians  cultivate to such an extent?” Zhou Fang asked, baffled.

“It has  happened before, and it can happen again. And it is a more likely story  than a boy awakening the trial of the heavens from the truths he’d  discovered,” Old Man said.

“I have many  things I haven’t spoken about, Lu Jie. Thoughts, and feelings. But I  just want you to know, boy, that though I have fears and uncertainties, I  trust the Path you walk to be the righteous one.”

I nodded,  bowing my head. “It means a lot for me to hear that from you, Master.  And I have much yet to learn. For the truth I have shared is merely one  of many hidden in the heavens, and I intend to uncover all of them and  share them with the world, as I walk my path.”

The Old man  nodded. “There is still a task left for you to do. Now that you have  shared the truth with all of us, it is your duty to guide these children  on the new path you have brought back to life in this world. Take them,  and show them the unity you speak of.”

I glanced  around at Zhang, Yan Yun, Zhou Fang, and even Yin, whose spirit, despite  not having Qi, still reflected the First Law engraved within it.  Silently, I nodded, pressing my fists together as I bowed my head.

“As you say, Master.”

“This path…  though this Old Man doesn’t dare hope, but perhaps, you can be the  salvation my grandson had needed all this time, Lu Jie,” the Old man  said, before turning away.

With the heavy  words left with me, I turned to face the rest of my group standing  behind me, feeling both trepidation and excitement in my heart. It was  time to awaken some Chi cultivators.