daoistenigma

Cultivating Chai 78

78: 

Xiao Feng’s lithe form glided across the landscape, his heart hammering in his chest as he galloped away from the site of carnage with every ounce of strength he could muster. A base survival instinct kept a grief he did not fully comprehend yet from overwhelming him, from turning back and leaping into the fray. 

Never before had he come across a cultivation as vast as the sun and never again did he hoped to, as time blurred away with the environment. 

...

Cultivating Chai 77

77:

Moments passed by him as Xiao Feng remained rooted to the spot. Logically, he knew that he had given no reason for Beast Master Zen to harm him and if the true bond was as intimate a connection as it seemed, neither should Lianhua. 

But that did little to assuage his instincts, a natural fear of the unknown. Following an umbral fang much more powerful than himself into a murky cave that led into its soul wasn’t something to be done lightly, preferably not at all. <...

Cultivating Chai 76

76: 

Stepping into his Soul Space had become a matter of habit for Xiao Feng, so much so that he no longer required his predecessor’s guidance to find his way to the door. 

But once he was standing before Liulian, or rather, her imagery that had been overlaid onto his soul space, Xiao Feng found himself flummoxed. Beast Master Zen had told him to reach out to Liulian with his soul, but he hadn’t the faintest idea how to accomplish that.

He turned to face Beast ...

Cultivating Chai 75

75: 

Sparring with Lianhua and Alchemist Jun turned out to be the highlight of his days during the past month. Since he focused on a sword form that suited him, Xiao Feng had come to enjoy practicing with the two, even though he had to play the role of a seasoned practitioner to maintain his predecessor’s image. 

Muscle memory and honed instinct served as the basis of his advantage over the two alchemists, but it was far from enough to deal with the calibre of enemies ...

Cultivating Chai 74

74:

In the soul space, the rules were different. 

As it turned out, pain was a function of the body. From what Xiao Feng understood, the Dantian was a meta-physical organ, one that belonged to both the body and the soul. The pain he was feeling had stemmed from his body, a warning not to push his Dantian beyond its limits. 

A warning that Xiao Feng could choose to ignore. 

Sitting on a small, grassy knoll in his college campus, Xiao Feng sat next to his ...

Cultivating Chai 73

73: 

The Warrior’s Temperance cultivation technique was fundamentally different from the Essence Cultivation Art or the Flowing Wind Art, for the same reason as to why a distinction was made between a cultivation technique and art. 

A cultivation art was an instruction manual that guided it’s wielder to modulate existing Qi reserves in a particular pattern or rhythm that would achieve the intended result, like the Flowing Wind Art’s fourth form, dancing breeze, tha...

Cultivating Chai 72

72: 

A month slipped by Xiao Feng as he fell into a routine, his days passing by him in a structured, orderly manner that was reminiscent of his life on earth as a college student. ‘

His day opened up with a hearty breakfast, however much he may criticize the lack of chai as a beverage option, before he’d spend around two to three hours practicing alchemy with Lianhua. 

Lianhua had deemed the ingredients required for the first step in refining the beast bonding...

Cultivating Chai 71

71: 

“That is quite the artifact,” Beast Master Zen finally replied, a slow smile stretching across his features as he reached out with his now empty right palm. 

Xiao Feng watched with a wry smile on his face as the wooden staff that he had so cleverly disarmed, flipped back into Beast Master Zen’s palm almost instantaneously. 

“So is yours, it seems,” Xiao Feng replied, not knowing if he should be amused or annoyed. 

“You have discover...

Cultivation Chai 70

70:

In the soul space, Xiao Feng watched as Beast Master Zen blurred forward at a speed that reached the limits of what he could keep up with despite his promise to limit his strength to early foundation establishment stage for their spar. 

Either it had been too long since Beast Master Zen had been at the early layers of the foundation establishment stage or he wanted to test him. 

Regardless, Xiao Feng had not gone into the challenge intending to disappoint. ...

Cultivating Chai 69

69: 

“I wish to test something out,” Xiao Feng said in the soul space, while his body mirrored his speech in the real world. 

“What is it?” Beast Master Zen asked, with a tone of excitement in his voice that was largely buried by the disbelief he echoed. 

“A sparring exercise,” Xiao Feng replied. “If you take on the role of the attacker, I will commit to defending. I know that you are not a martial cultivator, but this is the fastest way I can as...

Cultivating Chai 68

68: 

“A body is merely a vessel for the soul,” His predecessor explained, his expression ponderous. “I believe the benefits the beast master spoke of are more of a bypass than a true increase in Qi control. Atleast, not initially.” 

“Why?” Xiao Feng asked. Beast Master Zen didn’t have any reason to lie to him, so he didn’t think that to be the case. If he did not wish to reveal certain aspects of the soul to Xiao Feng, then it made more sense for him to h...

Modern Patriarch 2 Audiobook is live!

Book 2 Synopsis in case you listened to the first one and have been waiting for 2!

https://www.audible.com/pd/Modern-Patriarch-2-Audiobook/B0DH56N4R7

Yao Shen, Grand Patriarch of the Modern Sect, succeeds in his bold attempt to unify the Azlak Plains.

The construction of the Mortal Capital, All Haven is well underway. Under the rule of Soul Emperor Yao Shen, the Azlak P...

Cultivating Chai 67

67: 

“When we first met,” His white-robed predecessor began, his expression serene as he met Xiao Feng’s surprise with a perfectly calm tone. “I told you that my soul had mostly been destroyed and you were fated to instinctively consume what remained,” He recalled. 

“You did,” Xiao Feng replied. 

“My words stand as true now as they did back then,” His predecessor declared, even though his very existence stood to seemingly disprove that notion...

Cultivating Chai 66

Sorry for the delay, a flu took me out :S I would've made a post to let y'all know, but it was bad enough to knock me out of doing anything related to a screen until I got the fever down. Totally fine now, I hope you enjoy the chapter!

66: 

Xiao Feng felt his gaze tighten as he stood before the familiar door. Admittedly, he hadn’t been sure what he was supposed to expect from his soul, so it was a bit unfair of him to be unnerved by what he had found. 

He grit hi...

Cover Art for Cultivating Chai

Super thanks for your kindness. It allowed me to fund this cover :D

Cultivating Chai 65

65: 

“You’re joking, right?” Xiao Feng asked, his tone flummoxed by Beast Master Zen’s assertion. 

“I will teach you what I know,” Beast Master Zen replied, as he returned to Liulian’s side, taking a seat next to the sleeping umbral fang. “But no, my words were not intended as a jest. The soul is a complex matter. I do not believe that even ascension to the Nascent Soul stage guarantees a complete understanding of the subject. Yours is different from mine...

Cultivating Chai 64

64: 

“I am not a Nascent Soul Cultivator,” Xiao Feng replied, his tone not concealing the bafflement he felt at Beast Master Zen’s ask.

“No, you’re not,” Beast Master Zen nodded along in agreement, seeming amused by the assertion. “And?” 

“Interacting with souls is supposed to fall in the territory of Nascent Soul stage cultivators,” Xiao Feng explained, reasonably certain in his own assertion. His predecessor would not have left such a unique a...

Cultivating Chai 63

63: 

“Is the difference truly so vast?” Xiao Feng asked, his tone incredulous. His predecessor had known that Nascent Soul beasts were rare, but he had never delved deeply into the matter. Dealing with such threats would have fallen beyond his purview on the battlefield, after all.

“The swiftness you need to burn Qi for comes to my Liulian naturally. As an umbral fang, each member of her species possesses a natural affinity of darkness Qi and the knowledge needed to cul...

Cultivating Chai 62

62: 

“Is it really okay?” Xiao Feng asked for the second time, as his tone betrayed his hesitation. 

“What are you so afraid of?” Beast Master Zen asked, his tone perplexed. “Liulian is a powerful foundation establishment beast, yes. But she is bonded to me. You won’t be attacked unless you try and do me harm or I command her to.” 

“I understand that but…,” Xiao Feng trailed off, not wanting to offend the Beast Master but not quite sure how...

Cultivating Chai 61

61: 

“He recently transferred over from the Martial Division,” A flustered Lianhua replied, doing her utmost to revert to a formal tone as she explained his circumstances. “It would be remiss of my duties as a Senior Alchemist if I did not assist him in catching up to his fellow recruits.” 

“I’m sure it would have been,” Beast Master Zen replied, his tone laden with amusement.

“No it’s—,” Lianhua paused, letting an exasperated sigh escape her ...

Cultivating Chai 60

60: 

Xiao Feng’s gaze focused on the tall man that stepped outside the lodge, as his grip on the hilt of his blade went slack. He studied the middle-aged bald man that was clad in gray robes, his impressive musculature apparent through the fabric. 

In his right hand was a thick wooden staff that seemed to have been sculpted out of a particularly dense, deep-brown tree, his expression amused as his lips parted in favor of a grin. 

“It seems that you have al...

Cultivating Chai 59

59: 

Lianhua studied the refined mixture that was now encased in a layer of frost, disbelief etched across her features. 

“How did you…,” She trailed off, taking a moment to school her expression. Shaking her head, Lianhua once again inspected the mixture, this time, allowing her palm to glide across its frozen surface. 

It was as smooth as a polished mirror, its surface unmarred by blemishes or lumps. 

“Did you practice on your own?” Lian...

Cultivating Chai 58

58: 

“Are you absolutely sure you want to rush into refining pills?” Lianhua asked him for the second time, a note of disapproval audible in her tone. 

“Yes,” Xiao Feng replied. 

Lianhua sighed. “Even if I wanted to reprimand you, I can’t. You remind me too much of myself,” She reluctantly admitted. 

Xiao Feng blinked, not having expected that particular admission. 

“Did you rush into alchemy too?” He asked...

Cultivating Chai 57

57:

Xiao Feng allowed himself a contented sigh as he flopped backwards onto his cushy bed. He had accomplished more than he had set out to do. A second iteration of his Masala Chai had taken form and even though it was as far as one could get from a commercial product, its taste surpassed anything he could have even dreamed of back on earth. 

The forays he had made into understanding his own Dao seemed to be worth their weight in gold taels, if his predecessor’s reaction wa...

Cultivating Chai 56

56:

“Is there a reason why you didn’t have someone teach you how to fight?” Xiao Feng asked Lianhua as all three of them sat on the padded ground in a circle. 

Having caught her breath, Lianhua turned to face Xiao Feng and gave him a scrutinizing look. 

“I am an alchemist. I did not think my request for tutelage would be considered with any real degree of importance,” She replied, as she drummed her fingers on the floor’s padding.

“So you just�...

Cultivating Chai 55

55: 

Lianhua was the first one to charge at him, her ponytail bobbing in the air as she closed the distance with quick but firm footsteps. Xiao Feng could hear the song of the wind as she willed her blade into an upward slash. 

Her Wind Qi empowered strike was nothing to sneeze at. While it would not draw blood if it connected, it would most definitely leave a bruise or two. 

Xiao Feng adjusted his grip over the blade’s hilt to intercept Lianhua’s strike.&...

Cultivating Chai 54

54: 

Xiao Feng was disappointed to find that Cultivator Lei Jiao, Elder Haoyun’s inside man within the Alchemy Division, was nowhere to be found. Instead, Xiao Feng had found a bored alchemist designate who had barely spared him a glance until she saw Lianhua standing next to him. 

A training room was granted to them with little difficulty, as the alchemist designate in question stumbled over her words to comply with their request. 

Xiao Feng stood a little ...

Cultivating Chai 53

53:

Alchemist Jun peered at the reddish-gold mixture Xiao Feng was straining before her with curiosity, noting the marked change in color from his last attempt at brewing masala chai. 

Lianhua watched as Xiao Feng poured the newly improved iteration of his masala chai into three earthen cups that he had brought along with him. 

Steam rose from the piping hot chai, causing Xiao Feng’s lips to curl up in anticipation. 

Sure, Lianhua’s Alchemist’s Fla...

Cultivating Chai 52

52: 

Xiao Feng was surprised to find that he had arrived second to the Alchemy Vaults, as he stepped inside only to find a familiar green-robed figure conversing with Alchemist Jun. . 

“— he wanted me to use my father’s alchemist flame to refine his chai. Can you believe it?” Lianhua asked, her tone sounding incredulous even as she narrated the sequence of events.

To Xiao Feng’s surprise, the normally reserved Alchemist Juni softly giggled at Lianhua’s ...

Cultivating Chai 51

51: 

Xiao Feng watched intently as Lianhua held a sheaf of ten mystic palms in her left hand, her expression one of amusement as she considered his request. 

“Are you sure you want to commit to this? My father’s alchemist flame is quite adept at refining ingredients, but I have never accounted for taste as a factor in the equation,” Lianhua issued a final warning. 

“Sacrifices made in the pursuit of knowledge are only noble,” Xiao Feng sagely replied...