The Married Life Of Immortals

Bane watched as Wei Nam Lee pulled a bag out of nowhere. Then a table and chairs. This left Bane almost speechless. While the bag could have been some trick Wei Nam Lee used by hiding it up his long sleeves, the table and chairs were clearly beyond any simple trickery. Wei Nam Lee noticed Bane's astonishment and chuckled softly.

"Spatial artifacts," Wei explained, tapping a silver ring on his finger with a cloudy piece of green jade as its ornament. "These rings and even this bag have a special enchantment on them that allows them to hold much more than their size. A necessity for alchemists and warriors alike."

Bane nodded, his curiosity piqued. "I’ve never heard of them, but seeing one in action makes me want my own."

"If you can complete my request, I will gladly give you this spatial ring. Still, you must survive until you can finally use the pill I have for you. Now, let’s prepare for your body tempering." Wei Nam Lee began setting out various herbs, roots, but Bane felt confused after the other was finished placing everything on the table.

Looking over, Bane asked, "Brother Wei? Are the treasures in another bag, or a ring? Or have you decided not to use any this time?"

Wei Nam Lee looked up and blinked at Bane for a moment, but then sighed with a smile. "I always forget just how little you know. This is my fault for not explaining properly, Brother Bane," Wei Nam Lee said, and then pointed to a particularly gnarled looking root Bane had never seen before that seemed to glow.

"This is a 50-year-old ginseng root," Wei Nam Lee explained. "While treasures can indeed be inanimate objects, they can also come in the form of plants, animals, and herbs that have lived long enough to absorb significant amounts of spiritual energy. In some cases, they might have consumed other things that hold spiritual energy, like spirit beasts. This root, for instance, has accumulated spiritual energy over half a century, making it incredibly potent. Though it is considered barely low grade, it will work for our purposes."

Bane nodded, trying to absorb this new information. "I see. So, does this work for any plant? I mean, I have a hard time keeping a tree alive for a couple years, but I have seen trees older than 100 in my past life, but they never glowed like this ugly root."

Wei Nam Lee smiled at Bane's confusion. "Yes, it can work for any plant, but the key is the environment in which the plant grows. You see, spiritual energy is abundant in certain areas called spirit veins. These are like underground rivers of spiritual energy, nourishing everything in their vicinity. Plants, animals, and even humans can absorb this energy, becoming stronger, more potent, and sometimes developing special properties."

As Wei Nam Lee spoke, he began preparing the cauldron. "This village was built on the edge of a particularly powerful spiritual vein. The energy here is rich, which is why our herbs and plants can grow to be so potent. The center of this vein lies in the middle of the island, but it's a dangerous place due to the primal spiritual energy that leaks up. It's wild, untamed, and can be lethal to those unprepared."

Bane nodded, trying to keep up with the explanation. "So, it's the spiritual energy that makes these herbs and roots so powerful. And the older they get, the more energy they accumulate."

"Exactly," Wei Nam Lee confirmed. "Now, let's get you ready for the body tempering. The cauldron will help you absorb the energy from these herbs and the ginseng root more efficiently, but it will be painful."

Bane swallowed hard and stepped forward, determined to face the trial. Wei Nam Lee helped him into the cauldron, arranging the herbs and the ginseng root around him. The cauldron's inner surface felt cool and smooth against Bane's skin, but he could sense the latent power within it.

"Brace yourself," Wei Nam Lee warned. He placed his hands on the edge of the cauldron and began chanting softly. The runes at the base of the cauldron glowed brighter, and the herbs and roots began to dissolve, releasing their stored spiritual energy into the water.

The moment the energy touched Bane's skin, he felt a searing pain course through his body just like with the potion. It was as if his entire being was being torn apart and reassembled at the same time almost the exact same as before. He gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out.

Wei Nam Lee's voice remained calm and steady. "Focus, Bane. Breathe through the pain. Let the energy flow into you. This is the first step to strengthening your body."

Bane closed his eyes, trying to concentrate on his breathing. The pain was intense, but he could feel the energy seeping into his muscles, bones, and even his blood. It was a strange sensation, both excruciating and exhilarating.

As the minutes passed, the pain began to subside, replaced by a warmth that spread through Bane's entire body. He could feel his muscles tightening, his bones hardening, and his senses sharpening. The energy was transforming him, just as Wei Nam Lee had promised.

Finally, the process was complete. Bane slumped against the side of the cauldron, exhausted but feeling stronger than ever. Wei Nam Lee helped him out, handing him a towel to dry off.

"Well done, Brother Bane," Wei Nam Lee said, a note of pride in his voice. "You've taken the first step towards mastering your new abilities. There will be more trials ahead, but I have no doubt you'll overcome them."

Bane nodded, still catching his breath. "Thank you, Brother Wei. I won't let you down."

Wei Nam Lee smiled. "I know you won't. Now, we need to go see Senior Bai, and then you have a request from Madam Dory. She has a rat problem in her store's cellar, and would like for you to deal with it. Afterwards you can return to train with Morgana, and then Nina in the evening. I think that Senior Bai also wants you to return for more training, but I will let him explain that."

Bane could only blink. "All that in one day?"

Wei Nam Lee's smile broadened. "This is only the start. I seriously think that you are worth the effort, so everyone and their aunt will want to train you in time. You might think everyone hates you, but they are just concerned about what your real purpose in this world is. I personally hope that you really do want to change everything and prevent another war from starting, but it is a little too soon to tell. Now, let's get moving."