Regressor Sect Master

Celestia didn’t like the inner city very much. The opulence was bearable, even if the displays of wealth were a little too ostentatious, but what she truly didn’t like was how other cultivators behaved in the inner city. Specifically, the way they judged them. 

These other cultivators looked at her as if she was less. Not worthy of being there. That her presence was only there because of who her partner was. 

It annoyed her.

She didn’t like that feeling, and she knew it was how the others felt too. Julia looked tense, and Edison downright depressed. He was only in the 3rd realm, and there were Imperial servants in the 3rd realm when they walked about. 

A part of her wondered why they had that sort of courage. To judge others. Most cultivators she met would keep their judgments to themselves, because one never knew how it invited the wrath of another. 

Perhaps it was the power of the royal family. If there was anyone who could look down on others, it was them. She told herself to ignore the disdainful gazes of others. This was one of the tribulations of cultivation. That truly powerful cultivators didn’t care. 

Her husband noticed their glances, yet said nothing. Instead, he looked at them pitifully. As if they were the lesser ones. 

It was a good thing they didn’t spend much time on the streets, and  was fairly happy when they finally went to Luharlia’s Imperial Library.

Imperial libraries were common throughout the Golden Dragon’s Empire, was one of the means which ensured that the commoners remain beholden to the Golden Empire, instead of to the various sects. 

Each imperial library was stocked with ‘common’ and ‘generic’ cultivation methods, and were thus popular with wandering cultivators. Many wanderers often got their initial cultivation methods from these places.

These libraries were functionally “rental” institutions, where a cultivator or mortal could pay a rental fee to borrow a book or a cultivation tome for a month or two. Naturally, they were expected to return it, and they could not leave the city of Luharlia during the time period. 

But, it was a sufficient head start, and there were even independent cultivators that later set up smaller teaching institutions around the imperial libraries, where commoners with some cultivation talent could start cultivation. There is usually a hefty fee involved, but many families would often pool together resources to pay for it, just so that a single member of their family ascends to be a cultivator. 

Later on, some talented wanderers modified these generic methods, and used it to set up their own minor sects. 

At the same time, talented cultivators could donate books and writings to these libraries. These libraries were often staffed by an appropriately ranked librarian, usually in the fifth or sixth realm appointed by the Imperial Family, who would then compensate the donors by way of cultivation resources or pills, depending on the quality of their writings. 

In truth, most libraries outsource the reading to even lower ranked librarians, usually in the 2nd or 3rd realm. 

Celestia looked about, and Edison stared at his father. “Father, why are we here?”

Tundra turned, and gathered the three of them. “We have some time before the banquet, and so, my intention is to scour the Imperial Library for materials. The Imperial Library contains writings since the primordial era, and despite it’s seemingly mundane appearance, is a legitimate home for historical books.” 

Edison’s stare continued. Celestia prodded and asked the question in her stepson’s mind. “I’m not sure what that means.”

Tundra chuckled. “I’d want to go through the old writings for books on creating talent, building special constitutions, physiques, and mind expansions. If we can find a few good books, we can then experiment on their recommendations.”

The son stopped, and looked around. “There are so many-”

“And that is exactly why it is worth it. There are treasures to be found, even if it is hidden under thousands of worthless books.”

Julia asked. “How do we know what is worth it?”

“You don’t. I will do that. Instead, you need to thin the shelves, narrow down what I need to find. All you need to do is briefly read your allocated section. If it’s about cultivation methods, ignore. If it talks about mind, talent, body, then you take that book and place it on our designated shelf. I will go through that selection.”

That made more sense to Celestia. “I see. Anything that speaks about improving potential, talent, or ability, we will just take it, and place it here.”

“Some of these are probably written by cultivators who just want to earn some cultivation resources from the library’s treasury.” Tundra explained. “So most will be worthless. But there are those with talent among the wanderers. Some may even have a spiritual guardian, or an ancestral object that brought them here.”

“So each of you will take a shelf, and start reading.”

Edison asked for clarification. “How many pages before we judge if it is good or not?”

“I leave that to you, son.” Tundra said. “If you think it is interesting, keep reading. If not, put it back and move on.”

There was a moment of strange, awkward silence, as Edison’s mind shifted into gear. He nodded. 

Tundra looked back at the shelves. There were thousands to go through, but it wasn’t important to go through all of them. What was important was to get somewhere. “Well, let’s start.” 

***

Tundra sped through the books. In his 10,000 years as a cultivator, he read a lot. Studying ancient scripture was really a big part of cultivation, as was the comprehension of those ancient scriptures. 

So, it didn’t take more than a quick skim through the first thirty pages to know whether a scripture was worth it, or not. The writer’s wisdom often leaks in the way it is written, and Tundra read enough books to tell the difference. 

He knew the other three wouldn’t be able to do it. But it didn’t matter. 

They had to start somewhere. Reading enriched the mind. It fed them ideas. Some of them are irrelevant. Some are interesting. But it plants a seed. And even if the odds of them blooming in their minds are slim, a thousand books later, if not ten thousand, their minds will still be a field of flowers. 

Reading embeds variety, and variety creates ideas on how to shape cultivation forms within the spiritual realm. 

It is for this reason that cultivation sects often have libraries, and most elders require disciples to read and study quite a few types of cultivation scriptures. 

He glanced around. Julia and Celestia were flipping through books. Edison paused repeatedly, studying book after book. He was clearly unused to it, but he would get better. 

So, the days passed, and Tundra dug through what felt like a few thousand books. His three companions were a lot slower, and they went through maybe a few hundred books. From the four of them, in total, they came up with about fifty books, though surprisingly, Edison found a book he seemed to study intently. 

“Well, let’s see what we have.” Tundra sat, and this time, sat down to truly study the remaining books. It was fairly easy to eliminate about 40 of them, because they were written in passing, and then, he summarized that there were ten books worth studying extensively. 

Celestia, Julia and Edison sat, as Tundra explained why the 40 books were not worth it. Mainly because they showed a lack of depth in understanding, and he had to explain some of the concepts. 

Of the three, Julia seemed to grasp two thirds of what he said, Celestia half, while Edison a quarter. Good enough. 

A quarter of something was progress. 

Eventually, the ten books were from a variety of writers, some anonymous, some attributed to writers from a few thousand years ago. It is fairly common for some books to be written without attribution, and it is often the act of eccentric wanderers. 

The librarian was fairly amused to see Tundra.

“I’ve been wondering what you four were up to, but this is an odd selection of reading materials.” The librarian chuckled. 

Tundra played along. “Call it one of those fanciful ideas I have.”

The librarian, a respectable cultivator of the imperial family and well into the high fifth realm, chuckled, and then rubbed his chin. “I know it is improper for someone of my rank to comment, but I must mention it, Lord Tundra. The pursuit of changing one’s talent is a fruitless one.”

Tundra merely nodded, as if taking his advice. “You are wise to suggest that, Lord Librarian. It does seem impossible. But let’s call it a study of what are the common faults in our pursuit of talent. My companions could learn from these books, just so that they know the pitfalls.” 

The librarian continued to rub his chin. “Ah. In that case, enjoy the books. The fantasies of some of these writers can be a good thought experiment.”

“Indeed, indeed.” Tundra smiled diplomatically. “See you around, Lord Librarian. We will return them in a month.”

***

The banquet for the Sixteenth Imperial Princess Luharl was held in a gigantic hall far larger than any of those seen in Verdant leaf Town, and Tundra was seated in one of the distant tables. It was slightly closer than the one in his first life, but all in all, the table arrangement reflected the positions of the respective sects, rather than the capabilities of the alchemists sent here. 

The event itself started with a brief speech by the princess’ representative, and then followed by a brief overview of the princess’ cultivation, her spirit roots, and her unique physique. The representative then declared the scope of the Imperial Summons, which was to concoct a pill to support a full, and stable breakthrough to the seventh realm. If the pill could assist with the spiritual breakthrough and at the same time, create a special ability or reduce the cultivation breakthrough of two months, there would be added rewards.

Those closest to the platform were then allowed a private visitation, where they could inspect the Princess’ cultivation. 

For the rest of them, they just took the chance as a moment to socialize. Tundra looked around, and was content with their placing among the sects. It was better this way, because he reckoned the pressure would be too much for his son, or his two other companions. 

Edison looked thoroughly uncomfortable. He didn’t say a word. He was not the weakest, there were a few alchemists who brought weaker companions to the banquet, but Edison wasn’t looking at those behind them. 

Julia and Celestia looked around, as if looking for people they recognized. The world is a big place, but the fates often work in surprising ways, and they bring distant people together. 

Julia, as a Core Disciple, wore their Sect’s core disciple uniform, while Celestia was dressed in a dark green qipao. Her usually long hair was tied up in a bun, along with an accompanying set of dark green hairpiece, augmented with a set of light blue gemstones. 

Tundra recognized many of the other competitors. They were here in the first life. It was almost all the same, except for one difference. 

“Lord Tundra Fox.” An elder of the Scarlet Thunder Sect came over and greeted him. “A pleasure to meet you.” 

They were seated fairly close to one another. The Scarlet Thunder was ranked slightly ahead of the Verdant Snow. 

Tundra stood to receive him. He clasped his hands together to greet him respectfully. The elder was in the high fifth realm, and he must have perished in his first life during the attack on the Scarlet Lightning City. He had the faint whiff of burnt wood and charred steel, an alchemist that relied on burning spirit wood to heat their cauldrons. “Greetings, elder.” 

“Ah. My apologies, I am Elder Raigar Darkclouds, an alchemist of the Scarlet Thunder, and this is the disciple chosen to accompany me, Core Disciple Reiva Sprintlights. These are your companions?” Elder Darkclouds’ companion was a male Core Disciple in the early stages of the 4th realm. A fairly handsome man, he nodded at Julia, like an acknowledgment between peers.

Tundra briefly introduced his own companions, and engaged in small talk. “Greetings, Elder Darkclouds. It is a shame how hard it is for us alchemists to meet outside of Imperial Summons or other alchemical tournaments.”

“Oh. A shame indeed. Alchemists should often meet to exchange some tips and secrets. I heard you are quite the master.”

Tundra smiled. “I try my best for my sect. But alas, alchemy is often such a solitary affair.”

“So it is, so it is. Lord Fox, I heard of what happened from our Sect master, and personally, I thank you. We are indebted to you.” Elder Darkclouds said with a smile. 

“Ah, no big deal. We did it for concessions, in the end.” Tundra waved it by. “A fair trade, all things considered.”

“Oh. I thought the alternative outcome would benefit you better.” Elder Darkclouds said.

“I’m not so ruthless nor heartless.” The Sect master responded. 

“Indeed. It is contrary to what we know of you before, and this changed our view. But I suppose let us not linger on this too much. What do you think of the Princess’ condition?”

Tundra remembered the first time he was briefed, and the same briefing came now. “Her dual Wood-Water spirit roots and its inherent conflicting qualities against the Golden Dragon’s  Inheritance of the “Fire-Earth” element is a tricky complication to resolve. The main conflict is the Fire aspect against the Wood and Water elements.” 

Those born of imperial blood were likely to have multiple high quality spirit roots. It was even said to be some kind of unique mutation. 

Tundra decided to just state his plan, and it was the same as his first life. He honestly didn’t think too much about it. “I plan to produce a Elderwood Lavaflower Fusion Pill, using the ancient wooden spirit plant’s wood energies to control the Earth element, and the Lavaflower’s inherent Wood-Fire qualities to block the other side. It should create a spiritual merging area within the spirit realm that allows a gentle coexistence of the Water and Fire elements. ” 

“A fine plan.” The conversation was suddenly interrupted by a third person. “Nice to see you again, Lord Fox.”

Tundra nodded at the frail old man from the Hailstorm Temple. “Ah, how quickly we meet again, Lord Baljuk.”

“Indeed. But the Lavaflower would not be strong enough to contain the Golden Dragon’s gift. It’s Fire-Earth aspects are far, far stronger than you recognise. You should substitute it with the Divine Glowing Sunflower.” Lord Baljuk said.

Tundra pondered it momentarily, realizing what it meant. “The inheritance is of a higher grade. Did you manage to get a read on the Princess’s meridians, Lord Baljuk?”

“Yes. It is an inheritance of the 9th realm, not the 7th.” 

Tundra frowned. “I see. The Divine Glowing Sunflower is not an easy resource to find. I doubt the Imperial Treasury could find such a powerful spiritual plant.”

“That is true.”

“And the Elderwood would not be able to work with a plant that overpowers its wood aspects. It would not form a stable pill.” Tundra’s mind whirled. In theory, he could increase the quality of the elderwood through True Essence extraction. “An alternative would be an Ancientwood, or an Elderwood that’s somehow imbued with primordial pure wood essence.”

Those were rare resources, and something Tundra only came across perhaps five, or six times in his later 10,000 years. 

Lord Baljuk nodded. “If that is what is needed, there’s probably not a single alchemist in this room that could handle materials of the 9th realm.”

“Or find them.” Tundra said. The odds of having such materials on hand was truly remote. The best he would do is just to find ways to pacify the Golden Dragon’s overwhelming presence on her cultivation. 

The Sect Master glanced at his two peers, but in his mind, he tried to consider the implications. If Princess Luharl’s inheritance was so strong, where was she in his first life? He recalled she broke through to the seventh realm with two of the winner’s pills, but she stagnated there. 

He wracked his mind, trying to think.

Even with suboptimal pills, she should be able to hit the high 8th realm. With a gift of such power, she shouldn’t have stagnated. The Golden Dragon’s gift should pull her up either way. 

Unless the Zuja weakened the pills in some way or form? 

Or were the judges compromised? The Princess herself wasn’t a master of judging pills. Pills were truly hard to judge, and it takes an alchemist to tell a good pill from another. 

He glanced at the two fellow alchemists, and realized the old man Baljuk was in deep thought. It was a contemplative look, one that he didn’t recognise. “What do you have planned, Lord Baljuk?”

“I was merely wondering if we could give a cocktail of pills, rather than a single pill, if it is not enough.”

Tundra paused, and felt truly, truly stupid for a moment. Yes, an alchemy competition was focused on the quality of a single pill. That was how it was judged. No, that was how it was always judged. He was so caught up in the context of the alchemical tournament that he failed to realize that it wasn’t the right direction at all.

But a single heavenly pill isn’t always the best cure. Sometimes, a set of different overlapping pills, each taken at different timing may actually be even better. 

“If the problem was reframed as a medical one, instead of an alchemical challenge, what would you do, Lord Tundra Fox?” 

“I would make a different set of pills altogether.” Tundra said, as his alchemical mind buzzed. “A collection of elemental enhancers and neutral spiritual realm separators, and then require that the Princess engage in cultivation at intervals and focus on separating the different elemental energy within her spiritual realm.”

“Separate the elements, store them separately, and release them in different bursts to push her spirit through the tribulations of the spirit realm?” Elder Darkclouds intervened.

“Yes.”

“Will it be enough to push through? Separating the elements means her power would be diminished.” Elder Darkclouds thought, but then realized it wouldn’t matter. “But no, the energy of the Golden Dragon’s inheritance should be more than enough to fight back against the spirit realm’s resistance. The real answer isn’t to form a peaceful union of energies, it’s to just keep each of them pacified and apart because each of them is strong.”

Tundra looked at Lord Baljuk, who looked like he was planning something. “We will have to tell the Princess that the solution is a change of approach, not a pill.”

Tundra gulped at the implications for them all. It meant invalidating the entire tournament, and it would piss off the great pretender sects that sent alchemists here. No, it would even make enemies of the Sect that would place in the top three. 

“That would not be a good outcome.”

Lord Baljuk grinned. “Oh, the tournament can still go on. The princess just doesn't have to use whatever the tournament produces, or just takes a set of pills instead of just one.”

“Are you suspecting meddlers?” Tundra immediately wondered how this was linked to the Zuja plague. Were they the orchestrators of such a plot to weaken the royal family?

“Now, I wouldn’t be so brazen.” Lord Baljuk had a sly smile that the regressor understood as something else altogether. “We all mean well for the Princess, don’t we?”