Chapter 13 – The Treasure Pagoda
Jun De stepped into the cool, incense-scented hall of Elder Shen’s pavilion and bowed respectfully as the aged cultivator looked up from a scroll he was reading. Elder Shen’s residence hadn’t been far from Jun De’s own cave, making the trip short and uneventful.
“Elder Shen, I’ve come to inform you that I have broken through to the 1st Level of Qi Condensation.” Jun De greeted the Elder, his voice steady but carrying the faint undercurrent of excitement he couldn’t completely suppress.
Elder Shen raised an eyebrow as his spiritual sense swept over Jun De. Although he was only at the 10th Level of Qi Condensation, his senses were sharp enough to swiftly assess Jun De.
It was true, Jun De appeared to be only in the 1st Level of Qi Condensation. Elder Shen set the scroll aside with deliberate calm and leaned forward while resting his elbow on his knee.
“Is that so? Only the first level?” Elder Shen replied wryly, his eyes narrowing in amusement at the obvious lie.
Jun De blinked in confusion and nodded his head.
“Yes, Elder.”
“Hmph.” Shen chuckled while stroking his short, grey beard.
“You Outer Sect Disciples think us Elders blind? That golden glow on the Upper Ridge has had the whole sect buzzing for months. You expect me to believe you were stuck trying to break through to the 1st level that whole time?”
Jun De gave a polite smile as he shook his head. He tried to appear calm and confident, but inside, he was filled with confusion.
‘What glow? Did something happen while I was cultivating?’ Jun De wondered. Careful not to let his uncertainty show, he responded quickly.
“I truly only just broke through, Elder. Today, in fact.”
Elder Shen studied him for a moment with doubt in his eyes, clearly unconvinced. He couldn’t prove that Jun De wasn’t a 1st Level Qi Condensation Cultivator, and he had no interest in pushing the matter.
The Sect Rules were very clear; everyone was entitled to keep their secrets as long as they didn’t harm the Sect.
It was expected that cultivators would have fortuitous encounters, and the Tranquil Mountain Sect, as well as the other Orthodox Sects, long ago made the rule to protect their Disciples' personal matters.
Otherwise, chaos could easily overwhelm a Sect if people stole from each other, or killed for personal gain, or to protect their secrets.
“Well, if you insist.” Elder Shen said with a dry smile, dropping the matter.
Jun De hesitated for a moment, then casually shifted the topic with a note of practiced curiosity.
“Elder Shen, I once heard that a cultivator’s Qi isn’t always white. That sometimes it can be different colours, depending on their technique or constitution. Is that true?” Jun De asked, as if he were recalling a detail from some idle talk or book he had read.
Elder Shen leaned back and resumed stroking his beard in thought.
“Hmm, yes, that’s true. Normally, Qi in the Dantian appears as a pale white mist. The energy is pure, formless and neutral. This is, in fact, a desirable result from our Tranquil Cultivation Method. Some cultivation methods, those with an elemental focus or from specific lineages, can result in coloured Qi.” Elder Shen explained.
“I have seen blue for water elemental techniques, red for fire. But it is rare to see in the Outer Sect. Once you are promoted to the Inner Sect, advanced Cultivation Methods may convert your Qi to a specific element.”
Elder Shen paused, and he once again studied Jun De carefully.
“There are also stranger cases. Unique bloodlines or special constitutions that are inherited or heaven-bestowed are extremely rare, but not unheard of. Our Sect Master is said to possess such a blessing.”
“There are tales of cultivators with non-elemental hues of Qi, such as gold or even purple, although such a thing hasn’t been seen in our Sect before.”
Jun De nodded slowly, the information putting his mind at ease regarding his own Qi. It seemed that this body he had reincarnated in had its own secrets, and he could only hope they were revealed as time went on.
‘As long as this gold and purple Qi doesn’t do anything too crazy, I should be fine.’ Jun De thought.
“Interesting! Thank you, Elder, for your insight. Now that I have reached the 1st Level of Qi Condensation, I’m going to visit the Nine-Treasure Pagoda for my first technique.” June De replied as he clasped his hands and bowed once again.
“Ah! Then, allow this old man to give you a word of advice.” Elder Shen replied with a knowing nod, while Jun De listened eagerly.
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“When choosing your first technique, don’t let pride or ambition lead your hand. Many young disciples see a flashy name or a technique with great destructive power and think they have found a shortcut to greatness.”
Elder Shen scoffed at the notion and shook his head.
“As if no one else had thought of that before! Those techniques are often difficult to learn and even harder to master. Better to pick something that suits your temperament and your natural disposition. Or, even better, something that helps you earn Sect Contribution Points.”
“That being said, I have no doubt that a talented Junior such as yourself will have no problem mastering every technique in the Pagoda, but, in my experience, practicality is what separates a promising cultivator from a dead one.”
Elder Shen advised earnestly, and Jun De smiled with genuine appreciation. It was as if the sun finally shone from behind the clouds, and the entire pavilion seemed brighter with Jun De’s expression.
“Thank you, Elder Shen. I will keep your advice in mind and choose something practical.” Jun De said, before bowing once again and turning to leave.
Elder Shen watched him go, his eyes thoughtful as he slowly reached over and picked up his discarded scroll.
“Only the first level, hmmm. As if anyone would ever believe such an obvious lie.” Elder Shen muttered. His heart was at ease after his discussion with Jun De, and he was glad that such a talented young man had listened to his advice.
After all, a rising tide raised all boats, and Elder Shen had no doubt that when Jun De became a dragon amongst men, he would remember his kindness.
Page Break
The sun hung high over the Sect, bathing everything in its bright light as Jun De walked toward the Nine-Treasure Pagoda. His blue robes were plain and exactly the same as everyone else's, and his cultivation was only at the 1St level of Qi Condensation, but his presence still turned heads.
Outer Sect Disciples paused their training or ceased their conversation, and eyes followed him as he walked. A surprising number of people bowed as he passed, murmuring ‘Senior Brother Jun’ as they did so, even though several of them were clearly at the 2nd or 3rd Level of Qi Condensation.
Jun De offered polite nods in response and maintained his calm expression, even though he was inwardly puzzled at their behaviour.
‘A single breakthrough, and now they act like I’m some kind of expert. Did it have something to do with the ‘Golden Glow’ Elder Shen mentioned?’ Jun De thought to himself as he grew uncomfortable at the attention.
Still, he walked with the poise of someone who accepted the attention as only proper as his eyes moved through the crowd to keep watch for the one thing that truly mattered to him.
Beauties.
He hadn’t forgotten his goal of starting a harem, despite his months of cultivation. Jade-like beauties who were well-endowed and eager to please. That was what motivated him the most.
A handful of female disciples stood out: There was a woman with a sword at her side and storm-grey eyes that caught his attention and glanced at him. There was a pair of women walking out of the Training Hall with a pill cauldron in their hands, both with long, silken hair and bright smiles.
Jun De admired their beauty, smiled and nodded in greeting, but he didn’t stop to talk to them. None of them had that spark, that celestial presence he imagined for the first addition to his harem. If he was going to build one worthy of his new life, he could afford to be a bit selective.
The Nine-Treasure Pagoda rose like a tower of jade and gold, its nine stories shimmering faintly with spiritual light. The place was abuzz with activity, with blue-robed disciples coming and going, while Elders could also be seen amongst them.
When Jun De entered, the interior was even more crowded as people moved from counter to counter, inspecting gleaming weapons, pill cauldrons etched with runes, and magical artifacts that glowed with spiritual energy.
Several Outer Sect Elders, dressed in their fine blue robes with white trim, oversaw transactions and answered questions, but it was grey-robed servant disciples who rushed to fetch items for their customers.
Jun De took it all in with a glance before spotting a sign suspended above a grand staircase. The sign had elegant calligraphy and provided directions for disciples.
‘Techniques – Seventh Floor.’
With a nod to the disciple stationed at the base of the stairs, Jun De climbed the staircase. He would glance at the landings to see what each floor offered before going to the next. Spiritual Herbs, talismans, cultivation manuals, formation blueprints, Pills and Elixirs, each offered something remarkable.
The seventh floor opened into a wide, square room bathed in light from large windows. The space was much quieter here, reminding Jun De of a library from his previous life. Dozens of Disciples moved between racks of scrolls and shelves of jade slips, browsing or seeking something in particular.
Some people sat cross-legged on mats with Jade slips pressed against their foreheads, while others sat at tables with scrolls or books in front of them, reading intently.
Jun De approached an Elder seated behind a stone desk at the entrance. The man, who Jun De estimated to be around thirty years old and possibly at the eighth or ninth level of Qi Condensation, looked up from the book he had been writing in and offered Jun De a short nod.
“Identity token?” The Elder asked, his voice monotone and bored.
Jun De pulled out the wooden slip with the symbol of the Sect emblazoned on the front, along with his name and placed it on the desk carefully. It had been in the storage bag along with his robes, cultivation manual and pills when he had first entered the Sect.
The Elder glanced at it and blinked, his gaze sharpening just a bit, before looking back at Jun De.
“Ah, the one from the Upper Ridge.” The Elder said, his voice slightly less monotone than before.
Jun De gave a small, polite smile as he bowed and retrieved the token.
“As a new disciple, you are permitted to choose one technique from this floor. Choose carefully, there are no second chances unless you earn Contribution Points.”
The Elder gestured toward the room, drawing Jun De’s attention.
“The scrolls are readable by all, but the jade slips require spiritual sense to access. Normally, only those at the 5th Level of Qi Condensation or higher can comprehend them safely.”
The Jade Slips on the shelves and placed on pedestals around the room all had a subtle glow of Qi, and Jun De noticed that anyone who was looking at them seemed to be of a much higher cultivation than himself.
“When you have made your choice, return it to me, and I will update the Sect Registry.”
“Many thanks, Elder.” Jun De said, giving the Elder another bow and moving toward the racks of scrolls.
He only had one choice, and he intended to follow Elder Shen’s advice and select something simple, easy to learn, and useful.
After his experience with cultivation, taking months to reach the 1st level of Qi Condensation, Jun De didn’t have much hope that his ‘Cheat Mode’ would help his comprehension. If it were up to him alone, he needed something he could actually learn.
‘No need to let pride get in my way. Unless my Golden Finger wants to help out?’ Jun De thought to himself. He waited for a moment for the heavens to respond, but, disappointingly, he was on his own.
