บท 13: Novel 2-Developing one's connections
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/Later…/
"Huff… Huff…"
/Pat pat…/
"Alright. I've buried it in the later half of the terrain."
'My Bunker is located in the woods but its entrance is next to a paved road that leads to a main road.'
'A few meters from the entrance could be said to be the center of my underground bunker, its built around that centerpoint, but it's not the whole structure, not even close.'
'The walls that circle around the area are several kilometers long and I have several layers of them, dividing the area into sections. I've just buried the fragment in one of them far from my bunker since I wouldn't have the space for it otherwise.'
'I plan to use this place as a formation core in the future. But for that, I need to get a sufficiently strong formation that can handle it.'
"For now, I'll rest a little and focus on creating the notes which I'll advance later."
'I need to be careful as well, there's no way to tell when someone will come looking for me. I should keep myself on high alert.'
Cleaning his hands from dirt, Joseph returned to his Bunker, taking a shower and sleeping soon after.
Once he woke up, he prepared his notes and peered into the future, opening his eyes wide as he learned about many aspects of the world.
Still digesting what he learned. After solving his discussion regarding the auction, he focused on inner meditations, his goal being the Golden Core Realm!
…
/A few hours into the day…/
"Haaa…"
White smoke pouring out of his mouth, Joseph took a deep breath as he finished fortifying his Mederians.
"Almost there."
'Five years spent purifying the Meridians, and now five years spent fortifying them.'
'The only thing left now is to begin building the shell of the Golden Core and start my ascension to the next Realm.'
'Although it may seem as if my Cultivation is progressing too quickly, it has never actually been unstable given the way my powers work.'
'Still, I'm trying to give my body a few weeks if not longer so I may grow used with this strength properly. As although it's true I don't feel estranged at all with this foundation, using my powers only makes me extremely focused on a single task, so there are no memories of me using said strength.'
'It's hard to put it into words… Although I bet I could only do something like: Advance the time of my training or something to speed up the process.'
'Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury to wait anymore. I'll give it a few hours and proceed.'
'By the time the second week after the meteor's fall ends, I'll be a Golden Core Cultivator…'
/Beep!/
"... What?"
/Beep!/
As he thought about his future, his cellphone began beeping.
'... Someone's at the door?!'
He booted in the camera feed and as expected, two individuals were now before his entrance.
An old man and a girl…
"This hair… That girl from yesterday? And this old man… No way she actually brought her master after me…"
"I really did it this time…"
Frowning, he put on a mask and left his room.
/Beep!/
"#!!"
'This girl is annoying.'
…
/At the same time…/
"... Is this the right place? No one's replying."
"Patience child, this is the right place."
"Will he even reply though?"
"We can come another time if that's the case. We have all the time in the world."
"We really don't…"
"We have a lot to spare."
/Clack…/
"!"
/Clack…/
/Crunk…/
/Thud!/
"..."
'How many locks does he have?!'
/Clack!/
/Creak…/
"... It's you again, you're not wearing a mask this time."
"And this time you're wearing an even worse one!"
"Well… Good afternoon."
"#!! I don't think…"
/Tap…/
"Calm down child, there's nothing here to get yourself heated over with." The old man said as he coughed lightly behind her
"... Phew…"
"... Is this like vengeance for yesterday?" Joseph asked with a nonchalant tone
"It's not!"
'He's doing this on purpose!'
"Then how may I help you two today?"
"We're here to make a deal, child. May I ask if it's proper for us to get inside?" The old man asked as he looked straight at him
"..."
'The old man never tried to look inside, his gaze has always been on me.'
'But it's not like I opened the door out of courtesy anyway. His Cultivation is beyond mine and I can barely feel it, so regardless of how thick the entrance was, it's still nothing for a Cultivator of his Level.'
"Not a problem, although do pardon my lack of hospitality. I'm shy and very paranoid." Joseph said as he stepped aside for them to get inside
"Thank you young man, we won't take much of your time." The old man said as he stepped inside the house, leaving his disciple frowning as she looked at Joseph
"..."
After a few seconds waiting, Joseph stepped inside and closed the door.
/CLANG!/
"Aren't you forgetting something?" The girl asked as she held the door with a pissed expression
"Sorry, your breathing technique was so good I lost sight of you for a moment and thought you had gotten inside." Joseph said with a scoff as he opened the door again
/Chuckle…/
From inside, the old man laughed.
"Don't laugh!... Humph…"
"..."
'This girl is very spoiled.'
/Clack!/
…
/Inside…/
Joseph led them to a large room with a window that led to his garden outside, but since every one of his plants was hidden inside the greenhouses, it was impossible to tell where they were aside from the thick Qi draining outside.
He prepared a few simple things and put them on a table, saying:
"I don't have much in hand so this should do. Is that okay?"
"Not a problem at all. We came uninvited after all." The old man said as he put his hat on the table
"..."
The girl said nothing, only looking around.
'The Qi in this place is ridiculous, I'm almost drowning with every breath… How can he keep himself so calm in this environment?'
"I won't beat around the bush… What brings you two here? These aren't ordinary times, others wouldn't be so welcoming."
"We're aware. Keeping cordiality is easy on paper, difficult in practice. Few would practice as many restraint as you did when my disciple appeared in your vicinity yesterday, for that, I thank you." He said as he bowed gently
"Master…"
"It's okay elder. I'm not someone who enjoys taking lives, but I'm aware of the dangers it may impose on me. That's why I prefer to live secluded, instead."
"I can see that, and for us transgressing on your land, I ask for your forgiveness once more."
"It is yours… Now, all of that aside. How may I help you two?"
/Grab… Clack/
The old man grabbed a small box from his jacket, putting it on the table.
"We're here to purchase a small fragment of the Spirit Stone you acquired yesterday. We brought this item as payment for it."
/Open…/
Inside the box was a small flower encased in a blue amber…
"This is an Eternal Peach Flower."
"!"
'I read about this by chance on the Catalog.'
"I thought they were extinct."
"They are, the Eternal Peach was a mystical tree that produced the Eternal Peach, also know as the Pantao, the Peach of Immortality."
"They are said to produce a peach every three thousand years, but that's incorrect. At least partially."
"Because of the diminishing Qi in the world, the time it took for each peach to grow increased, and eventually, it went from its natural life cycle of thirty years to several hundred years. Any longer than that and the peaches dried off naturally due to wear and tear."
"However, this extremely lengthy period was what gave birth to the myths and legends known today."
"Like that, the last Peach of Immortality was taken thousands of years ago. And five hundred years ago, the last Immortal Peach tree died somewhere in what's now modern Northern China."
"It was encased in this special amber to slow down its decaying. Still, it decays at a rate of about a year every century. And even then, the flower has barely any of the medicinal properties of the Peach of Immortality. Nonetheless, it possesses unparalleled properties if extracted properly."
"This specimen remains untouched ever since it was sealed. I'm willing to exchange it for a small fragment like my disciple mentioned before."
"Would this deal make you pleased?"
"... A deal is made under the basis of equality. And this flower is far more valuable than a small stone." Joseph said as he looked at the flower intently
"That may have been true in the past, but with the extinction of all kinds of mythical plants, this flower has no remaining sisters to be used with it in the production of other medicines, being now nothing but a prop of the past."
"It once granted near eternal life the consumers of the peaches it produced, now it merely rots, waiting for its death. I have no use for it. So trading it for something else is the only thing I can do."
"If not you, someone else, yet, I fear none would take the deal, as a flower is not as useful as a Spirit Stone."
"... I understand. I'll accept the deal."
"!"
"Tell me the stone's size."
"A small fragment about the size of my middle finger and as wide as two fingers would suffice." He said as he raised his hand for Joseph to see
"Hm… Give me a moment then."
Joseph left the room, leaving the two of them alone.
"... That was far too quick, master, he didn't even try to haggle. I'm afraid…"
"You're overthinking, child. Even if he does have a use for it, haggling over the basis of something we're unsure of is arrogant."
"I'm afraid he may try to scam us!"
"Why do you look at him so poorly? Do you still hold a grudge for your past encounter?"
"No!"
"Then see him for what he shows, we have little need to look at anything yet."
"That's a naive way of thinking, master."
"We may develop further impressions over time, but right now, we aren't in a situation where we can choose who we interact with."
"Besides, with such a peaceful Qi around, I find it hard for him to possess ill intentions." The old man said as he raised his finger in the air, feeling the natural flow of energy on his fingertips
/Flow…/
"But master… Hum?"
At that moment, from an open window, a small dandelion seed made its way to the old man, floating around him slowly.
"Ho?"
"What is this?..."
/Grab…/
/ZAP!/
"OUCH?!"
The girl tried to grab the dandelion, but it pricked her, sending an electrifying feeling across her body!
"Hohohoho! Be careful of what you grab child!" The old man said amidst laughs as the dandelion floated away
"Urg!... What even was that?!"
"A Spiritual plant no less, likely on the verge of awakening a faint Spiritual trace, it likely found our presence stimulating, so it came to check us out."
"To nurture such a plant in so little time. It seems this young man is quite capable. Or should I say, his master. Although I wouldn't be surprised if he did it all alone either!"
/Mumble…/
The girl mumbled something in a low tone, still holding onto her hand with resentment.
"... I'm back… Hey! What are you doing here?" Joseph asked out loud as he looked at the dandelion seed
/Float…/
/Grab!/
Joseph carefully grabbed the dandelion, putting it on his hair where it remained still.
"My apologies, this guy has recently become like this. It goes around the house touching everything. It can't do much but it's rather thorny, so it usually prickles me when I'm not paying attention."
"No harm given."
/Grumble…/
"..."
'Why is that girl like that?'
/Thud…/
"Here it is. See if this shard covers what you need."
"... It's perfect."
"Then we're done here." Joseph said as he held the flower in the amber
"... Just like that?" The girl asked as she looked a little surprised
"... Do you want some takeout to go with your purchase or something?"
"#!!"
Instead of replying, she got up from her seat and left.
She was very prideful, that much was clear.
"Don't mind her, she's just shocked from what happened before. I've not taught her much about the world and she's still getting used to it."
"That's okay. But tell me something before you go. Are you guys from here?"
"No, we're not even from the Americas… Well… I'm not as you can see."
"But long ago I settled here with her to teach her in preparation for this day… The rest is a little sensitive, I ask you to understand."
"It's not an issue… If you need anything else, I guess you know where to find me."
"Of course. If you need us as well, just follow this address." He said as he gave him a small parchment
"By the way, my name is Derek Sewell. And that girl is…"
"I don't want to tell my name to someone who doesn't show his face!" She exclaimed from the hallway as she heard her master speak
"... Sigh."
"She has some right. Let's leave it at that." Joseph said as he got up
"Let's."
After shaking their hands...
…
/Two days later, the time of the great Auction…/
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Notes
Sorry to end things abruptly, this "chapter" would focus on developing the Mcs connections and beginning his interactions with this new world.
My intention would be to introduce tension and some degree of competition or anything that would push him to improve further.
There's much to be said, but I think this is it for today.
Thank you for giving it a try.
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