Time moved differently for cultivators of later stages. What felt like a minute might actually have been an hour. What felt like an hour might actually have been a day. What felt like a day might have actually been a month or so.
Jian Juren, therefore, didn't rush back to the higher realm to discreetly inform his daughter and son-in-law that their youngest child was alive and well, just currently in a lesser realm. Telling them in a month or so would not be much different to them than telling them tomorrow. Indeed, Jin Li's mother would know that her son was not the sort to run off with a woman, especially not a nominal aunt. And Jian Juren knew that her anger was due to the rumour marring her son's reputation, not so much to do with his disappearance. Life and death in the higher realm (as was often considered in this realm) was much like cultivation, down to luck and ability.
Jin Li's father also knew his son well and believed he would not be so easy to kill.
So telling them of his whereabouts could wait. He also wanted to investigate deeper the circumstances in which Jin Li came to this realm more deeply if he could and settle his suspicions. Whether Jin Li was actually targeted.
A temporal distortion, even one that a man was sucked into whole, was not something that was survived easily. That Jin Li lived to pass through it and appear in Xulaphrey with just some internal and external damage as well as a little cultivation loss was already excellent. That he had met Leon, who had provided him with something he needed, could be considered a miracle. Jin Li simply had the tenacity and fate to be able to continue living. But it didn't mean that the individual or individuals who had schemed against him wouldn't try again, if they discovered that he lived, and succeed in the future.
So Jian Juren was really in no rush.
Besides, he really wanted to meet with the little boy who'd made his grandson push to one side his familial duty, his martial arts and cultivation to provide enough space for a fourth body of importance.
Their paths had crossed once during Jin Li's confession and then once before. Jian Juren's first impression of Leon was a small, striped rabbit. Jian Juren was a fox; he liked to toy with cute little rabbits. Alas, his 'grand-kit' got there first! And he'd always believed Jin Li took after his father! His grin widened as he mused himself with his thoughts... before realising that he was lost!
He pouted, sticking out his lower lip as he glanced around the woodlands trying to figure out how he'd managed to fail to find the small villa said to be just outside the boundaries of the outer alchemist school. Retracing his steps, which were quite clear to see in the light frost settled upon the sloping ground, he realised that he'd unknowingly stopped moving forward in a straight line and veered off north, towards the edge of this mountain! It had occurred once he needed to bypass this large tree...
He glanced back at the unassuming deciduous tree and a flash of movement caught his eye from the lower branches. It was a small, wooden wind chime, which swayed in thanks to a light breeze, though it was not strong enough to cause its clapper to rattle against the hollow tubes surrounding it. The clapper was a stylistic koi and on one fin was a symbol that he recognised. But it was not a symbol of this realm. His lips curved and he took a path around the tree, but this time to the south of it.
Two more foreign symbols he noticed carved into two Coeurl carvings that 'lounged' in the branches of two young, slim trees. They almost seemed to stare at him as he stepped in between them and continued on his path straight.
Finally he came to the wall of a small courtyard style property. There was a metal chimney sticking out of the side and stretching upward above the tiled roof. Smoke was drifting out of the side openings near the top of it. There was the scent of something savoury in the air. Jian Juren felt his stomach grumble, a phenomenon that usually only happened once a century or so. He followed the wall to the courtyard's outer gate before pushing it open.
There was a low rumble of a yawn coming from the one building to his right that was separate from the main property and his head turned to glance that way. The heavy door of the building opened and the musky scent of predators poured out of the space, not followed by the tall, Phoenix-eyed youth that had some similarity to himself.
If Jin Li was startled by his grandfather's presence, he didn't let it show upon his face. "What are you doing here?"
"Didn't you intend to introduce me to your little lover?" Jian Juren's smile spread across his face and his eyes curved wickedly.
In front of his father or mother, Jin Li would have answered this extremely politely, in front of his older brothers, he would have been short, but for some reason in front of his maternal ancestor, he revealed more of the real Jin Li. "You've met him already," he sneered. "This doesn't explain your presence here and now."
"I want to be served tea!" Jian Juren sulked. "All the other grandfathers receive a tea ceremony from their descendants, why can't I?"
"....Isn't that sort of thing for the parents and in-laws following marriage?" Jin Li distinctly recalled Uncle's first and second wives performing filial piety tea ceremonies for his paternal grandfather... before the old patriarch lost his mind after failing the lightning tribulation.
"Don't argue, what does a child know," Jian Juren crossed his arms and continued to act childishly.
"Tch," Jin Li did not hide his contempt, just closed the stable door behind himself and strode to the door of the rear, main building. Jian Juren followed with a bright grin.
"Are the C-Coeurl settled in n-now?" The soft, stammered words reached Jian Juren's ears as he crossed the threshold after his grandson.
"En," Jin Li replied in a tone that was two tenths softer than that which he used when speaking to his grandfather. Just this small distinction alone naturally did not go unnoticed by the older man.
He watched as his grandson stepped lightly towards the low table in the centre of the room, which was decorated with a plain, but functional tea set, the pot of which already had steam curling out from the spout. Leon's eyes had not left Jin Li's form as it moved with grace and without extraneous, unnecessary movement, the little rabbits eyes calm and clear, while revealing their heart. Jian Juren hadn't felt like the third wheel before, not even at when his daughter tossed him aside for that villain. He wasn't sure whether he should feel uncomfortable or amused.
He coughed lightly, capturing Leon's attention. The small rabbit looked at him with his large black eyes encircled by the frames of his spectacles and looked horrified. Jian Juren chuckled inwardly. "T-t-Teacher!" Leon stuttered out, before looking flustered as he recalled the older man's other identity.
"Just ignore him," Jin Li suggested, "he came here without invite."
"Jin Li," Leon chided him, before bowing apologetically to Jian Juren. "P-please, T-Teacher, m-make yourself at home. The t-tea is freshly b-brewed. Ah, I'll get another c-c-cup!" He frantically wiped his hands on a towel before reaching for a clean cup on the shelf. The little rabbit almost dropped it in his haste before clutching it to his chest with a sigh of relief that it was safe.
Jian Juren really struggled to hold back his laughter. He really did like cute rabbits after all...
The third and final part of the Interschool exchange were a series of one on one battles. It was said that anyone could enter (with the exception of first years) but that did not mean everyone entered. Competitors first had to purchase the rights to enter the competition and they had to be of at least secondary stage in their cultivation. The price of entering was actually only fifty points, nothing extravagant, but those fifty points were still too much for many. Scholars and Alchemists generally did not enter the competition, though it was not that they couldn't. Seventy Four years prior, a famous Scholar entered the competition and succeeded on obtaining third place.
Jin Li, Sun and Maimai were all first years, couldn't enter the main competition. Pike and Bowyer were in the top twenty of the martial arts school and had just led teams through the Shattered Empyrean Isles realm, so they were discouraged from entering. So along with Leon, who naturally had no intentions of entering, they all watched from the comfort of the observation platforms of the outer mage school.
Leon had travelled in the company of his Teacher to the outer mage school twice before. It was the complete opposite of the scholars school area in the fact that it was not designed with picturesque scenery in mind. Magic was often a destructive force, intentionally or otherwise. It simply wasn't practical to rely on architecture for the sake of pleasing the senses.
The outer mage school was formed on an artificial platform deep within and high up in the Ascending mountain institute. It was a grey and sterile place for the most part, cold and imposing. Four large stone towers stretched skyward, the lower floors being nothing more than a series of arches designed to support the upper floors, where domiciles, classrooms and other facilities could be found. These seemed to guard at four points a large, empty field of flat rock. This space was also surrounded by tall stone walls, two of which curved slightly inward after reaching some height, the tops of which were not flat and even but jagged as if made of a large wave of grey.
There was a fair bit of debris carelessly swept to one corner. It seemed as if it were a mix of splintered and painted wood, likely once these were targets or mannequins. Scorch marks and cracks could be found in various places along the walls indicating further what this large space was used for. Right now, it contained the scene of a martial artist battling with a mage. It was far more interesting than what Leon might have imagined; the mage was not necessarily as squishy as reputed and the martial artist's advantages of constitution were offset with the fact he had to get within range of the mage's explosive attacks to do any damage to his opponent. However, the mage might not necessarily win should his arsenal of spells be inadequate or his mind not calculative enough; spells that were quick to cast seldom had the range or power of those long versed spells which would give a swift martial artist the opportunity he required to be able to attack the mage. In theory, a mix of spells were best, but again would not always grasp victory. Martial artists abilities could not be underestimated.
The group of friends were watching the battle from a standing, roofed platform that rose from one of the two completely vertical walls in this place; these walls also acted as a corridors between towers. There were actually three floors for observation on each wall and each were filled with bustling, curious students, watching the battles with glee. The battles were short, only the length it took to burn an incense stick, and were judged by three Teachers. The person who was declared a winner gained ten points, the loser was unable to continue to battle and a draw would gain both just two points. This would generally continue until only ten combatants remained.
The battles following would be longer, more intense for the individuals involved and the risk of injury far greater. Naturally medics were on standby, but usually a healing pill would be sufficient for most.
The mage managed to win this round, but it was exceedingly close. If the martial artist had around half a minute longer, the victory likely would have swayed in his direction. The martial artist was clearly unhappy, his fists clenched more than necessary as he politely bowed to the mage and left the field.
"I know that one," Bowyer sighed, shaking his head. "His temper has always been short. Likely, he'll want a rematch in the future."
"If he's willing to put more points on the line and challenge that mage," Pike muttered in disapproval, "he can have his wish tomorrow." After the top ten battled came the usual 'grudge' matches, challenges between individuals, just like following the Standings. They were a good way to settle issues and blow off steam. Not that some people were able to let their grudges go even after that.
"Too weak," Jin Li declared, crossing his arms, causing Pike and the others to chuckle.
"You would think so," Bowyer snorted aloud. "How can they compare to you who have now formed his core?!"
"There are likely only a handful that could face you now, Jin Li," Pike agreed. There was no envy, despite their teasing. They were several years older than Jin Li and only of tertiary stage, but both were not untalented and their chances of piercing through the bottleneck and forming their cores was considered high. It wouldn't surprise others if they didn't achieve such in the next year or two. Afterwards, they might seek to move on from the Institute, as most who'd formed their core did. Jin Li stayed for at least one obvious reason.
Of course as central as Leon was to his plans, Jin Li did not dislike the Institute. There was much he'd learned over the years at his father and tutor's side, but there was much he'd learned in the half-year of studying here instead. Although the spiritual energy in the air was weaker than in the higher realm, there were definitely benefits that offset this loss, benefits that he enjoyed immensely.
Still, he wouldn't be as naive to say that he was invincible compared to other students just because his core was formed. Tertiary stage cultivators were not weak. There were many with the skill set and experience to stand equally or even above someone like him who'd just formed his core at such a young age. Plus, there were pills that could further close the gaps and exploit weaknesses. To bulldoze his way over others just based on his improved power was an idiot's fantasy.
There were almost one hundred entrants into the competition, with at least eight battles per sichen, they began just after breakfast and lasted well after the setting sun. The conditions of light and weather were based on luck for once a participant's name was drawn, they had to battle or forfeit. A forfeit was as good as a loss and as battles progressed, the number of people throwing in the towel increased. Some were due to previous injuries, some were due to confidence. The numbers of participants dwindled to twelve by the time the the judges declared it a day. The twelve were declared finalists rather than ten, this was not unusual so no one mentioned it, just looked forward to the following day.
This is late, I know. My job hasn't become quieter thanks to another lockdown but much busier, especially with Christmas fast approaching. However, I have a couple of weeks off so am planning on writing as much as possible to get ahead on chapters for my webnovels and invest sometime in my book to be published (online). Can’t guarantee there won’t be more late chapters though. Thanks for your understanding!
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