Chapter 27 – Rules of Etiquette

  Diyuan had assumed that Auntie Mei Yi’s Sunset Garden was a garden of sorts, hence the name. It did have a garden outside, where a female staff member walked with the guests privately. He heightened his hearing and listened in on the conversations out of curiosity, but they were simply reciting poetry to one another. What was appealing about that?

  Two elegant women were in front of the building entrance and greeted him as he passed. They wore outfits that barely showed any skin, which was a contrast to the city.

  However, as he stepped inside, he figured the kind of place it was.

  The Sunset Garden was a mix of a teahouse and a salon. Or perhaps a brothel? The first thing he noticed was the scent. There was a soft floral note, along with some apricot-like aroma. It mixed with the fresh brewed tea that was served at each table.

  The main hall was set up as an entertainment venue, where a stage at the far end had three women dance in outfits that mesmerized the eye. He wasn’t sure how long he was allowed to stare before it was considered inappropriate. Round tables were set up with guests and courtesans both. It wasn’t rambunctious, but a refined place. With the exception of the dancers, every courtesan wore skin-covered multi-layered garments.

  Diyuan was looking for someone who could point him in the direction of Auntie Mei Yi when he saw four of the escort guards from before, including Captain Guang and the stutterer Yibei. Yibei saw him as well and waved him down. No courtesan sat at their table.

  “H-hello, Young Master,” Yibei stuttered. It seemed like limitless Pungent Poison Purifier didn’t do the trick.

  “Welcome to the Sunset Garden,” Captain Guang greeted. “Is this your first time here?”

  Diyuan sat and nodded. “I’ve never been to a place like this. What is this? A brothel?”

  That got a laugh out of the escort guards.

  “Ha! No. Yes and no.” Captain Guang looked around. “Let me tell you what you can expect to experience here, since you might become a regular yourself.”

  The courtesans that worked here were trained to entertain with music, dance, poetry, and even just conversation. Some of them would rise in status and would only serve guests on the second or third floors, which was far more expensive than the first floor. It also served as an information hub. Normal gossip was discussed, but it was known that some information could be gained if the patron paid a hefty price and went to the third floor for it.

  Diyuan was listening to the side conversations while Captain Guang explained things. There was a discussion about which faction had the more abundant Jade Beauties. It was said that the Niu family had a higher count, but the Sunset Garden had the more refined women. And there were several other rich families and groups that weren’t part of any conflict, but still had daughters that were “among the best” when it came to rankings.

  What an odd thing to discuss.

  “And if you want one as a wife, you can pay Madam Mei Yi a good amount of coin to buy them,” Captain Guang said.

  “Buy?” Diyuan frowned. “Women are sold here?”

  “Nah, don’t get the wrong idea. The courtesans live and work here, and people gain status just by entering a private booth with one. But everyone’s under contract. Required if they want Madam Mei Yi’s protection, you see. So if they end up fancying a man, and the man has the coin and fancies her, he can buy out the contract.”

  “Why do they need her protection?” Diyuan asked.

  “Eh, where do you think the women come from? Runaways from their families or their servitude household. Without a contract, others might feel they have a right to kidnap the women back where they came from. But with a contract? The Guardians would skewer the kidnapper and then go to the household and demand compensation several times over the contract rate. So you see, the girls are safe.”

  Diyuan looked over at some of the courtesans at other tables. They had practiced acts where they would laugh at just the right moment, or lightly touch the guest’s shoulders in a flirtatious manner. Some men were drinking and leaned into the affection. Though for others, having a women sit nearby was intoxicating enough already, it seemed.

  In summary, the “free” women in this city were either part of the Sunset Garden or they became someone like Feng Xueying, who had to cut her own face to escape her engagement. Perhaps some of his Black Brigade female guards would have rather came here instead of scarring their face if they had the opportunity.

  In the end, that was not Diyuan’s concern. He didn’t care so much about the city’s culture. At least, unless it involved cultivators using their cultivation to suppress non-cultivators in some way. But all of that would resolve itself depending on how his experiment with the Black Brigade worked out.

  “I-I have y-your map,” Yibei said. “B-but not right now, actually. I didn’t k-know you would come.”

  “Bring it to the Black Brigade later today or tomorrow.”

  “Huh?” Captain Guang raised a brow. “The Black Brigade? They are part of the Niu family’s faction.”

  “Not anymore they aren’t,” Diyuan said as he stood. “They’ve somehow all disappeared in the same hour. Dangerous world we live in. In any case, where can I find Auntie Mei Yi? She’s asked for me and I’ve already kept her waiting as is.”

  They were slow to respond, still stuck on the Black Brigade tidbit. Two of the escort guards looked at one another, asking if they’ve heard anything about the Black Brigade, unsure how to take the information. Captain Guang had a concern look himself, but he managed to collect himself and point upwards.

  “She would be on the fourth floor,” he said.

  Diyuan made his way up, only paused once by a worker, who would then lead him when she realized he was the Nephew Diyuan that they were expecting.

  When he passed the second and third floor, he could hear soft music being played in some of the private booths. It was alluring enough that he felt like he had a desire to stop and just listen. But his disciplined nature kept his feet moving one step at a time. He tried to listen in on other rooms, but his enhanced hearing was blocked. That could either be a silencer talisman or some formation.

  Soon after, he stood before a closed door. The worker bowed and told him he could walk in whenever he was ready.

  Diyuan stepped in and saw Auntie Mei Yi and Guardian Zhai Tielong talking about something, but they stopped when they saw him.

  Auntie Mei Yi smiled at him. This would be his first time seeing her, as she had been behind a curtain the entire time. No horns were attached to her head anymore. Her hair was long and white, partially draping over one shoulder. It wasn’t white out of age, though. She was older, maybe forty, but she had a refined elegance that made him think that she was a cultivator. However, he knew that wasn’t the case since he sensed nothing from her.

  Her outfit was expensive and weaved just for her. Every movement she did was an act that swooned attention. And she knew it.

  Her brilliant blue eyes drew him in like the music he had heard earlier. It seemed like the Sunset Garden was designed to relax him and get him to speak and lower his guard. This was a dangerous place to stay for too long.

  “My Nephew Diyuan,” she said with a warm smile. She waved away her Right Guardian, who went and stood guard by the door, though still inside the room. “Please, take a seat.”

  Diyuan sat down, looking around the room. He suspected some formation would block out the sound, but was surprised to see talismans resting on each corner.

  “You have working talismans?” He blurted out. “How did you get them to work?”

  He regretted saying it as soon as the words left his mouth. There were certain topics he wanted to avoid revealing his ignorance on, where it might not make sense for him to not know about. After all, if the world had a sky that was always red and was the norm, Diyuan would be the one out of place asking about it.

  But Auntie Mei Yi only smiled, nodding like she understood something. “It’s understandable if you don’t know, especially if you usually have servants who purchase them for you.”

  He didn’t say anything, but he did have a confuddled look.

  “Talismans tend to be bound when they have a rightful owner. If the creator of the talisman intends to craft it for sale, then the paper is unbound. When a servant buys it with the intention of giving it to their Young Master, it will bind to the Young Master. Anyone who tries to use it after that point will not be able to. The binding does not lift, even upon death. Do note that bulk purchases render them useless, so do avoid those scammers.”

  Diyuan crossed his arms and looked at the silencer talismans on the corners. Such a restriction didn’t exist in the Tribulation Shroud. The concept of binding wasn’t unusual, though. Artes within jade tablets could bind on touch, and spirit artifacts would bind with blood. But talismans that bound because of someone’s intention? No blood required? No touching required? Stranger still was that the talismans in his storage ring had worked just fine in the Shroud, so it didn’t really make sense that it didn’t work outside it.

  Diyuan’s thoughts were broken when Auntie Mei Yi spoke.

  “Firstly, I would like to thank you for your heroic actions when you escorted me to safety.” She closed her eyes and lowered her head enough that he thought she would touch the table with her forehead.

  “I am glad that things worked out in your favor,” Diyuan said.

  “Yes, they have. Though I was saddened to learn that one of our information brokers had betrayed us for the Niu family. I’m not sure how much you’ve heard of my situation, but the Niu family’s patriarch had recently broken through to the Martial Grandmaster Stage. Many have flocked under their wing, which pits them against me.” She caught herself, realizing what she was doing. “Ah, but that’s not what I wanted to talk about. Tell me, I would like to reward you properly. What is it that you desire?”

  Diyuan had thought about it before he arrived. “There are a few things I’d like. For one, I am searching for someone and I hope your information network could help me find clues. There is a non-cultivator named Deng Fuchen who might have passed by here around four years ago. I’m hoping to have clues about him, if there are any.”

  Auntie Mei Yi took a piece a paper and began to write on it. “I will look into it. Any characteristics or tips that you can add to shed light?”

  “When he went missing, he had pills that have a good fragrance, along with plenty of spirit stones.”

  “Spirit stones?” She looked up with a grim face.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Diyuan said. “If he was murdered for having them, I would like to know that too.”

  Afterall, Deng Fuchen from the Lianhua clan wouldn’t have known how valuable spirit stones would be on this side of the Shroud. One spirit stone for two silver coins; tempting for anyone. Seeing how Fengpo city treated non-cultivators, Deng Fuchen would be an easy target for quick riches.

  “I would also like a recommendation letter to enter the Infinite Wealth Auction House,” Diyuan said.

  “That would have been easier to give a few hours ago, I’m afraid,” she said as she finished writing the information about Deng Fuchen on the paper.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I know how to read people, but I also know how to read the tide. I’ve been informed that you’ve recently slain the Black Brigade group, yes?”

  “Their leaders, yes. What does that have to do with the auction house? Aren’t they neutral in any faction war?”

  “They would be normally, but they have their own rules when it comes to demonic cultivators. It was a key reason why the Niu family tried to frame me with such an accusation. The Infinite Wealth Auction House will hunt down all demonic cultivators who have bought from them before. And if you have an accusation warranted against you within reason, they will deny you access. The Niu family will accuse you, rendering my recommendation useless.” She paused for a moment. “Speaking of which, the Black Brigade, do you intend to take ownership of it?”

  Diyuan shook his head. “There’s something I want to experiment, but I don’t intend to stay in Fengpo city. I’ll probably leave the Black Brigade to the two officers that it still has. Manager Fanjian and a woman named Feng Xueying, if either of them had interest in it. They’ll have the strength to keep it, at least.”

  “Oh? I know of Feng Xueying. A strong-willed woman who knows what she wants. But I’m not sure if she has the strength strength to keep it, as you suggest.” Auntie Mei Yi reached over the table and poured him some tea, which he accepted.

  “Her strength will be fixed. She’s interesting, though. She was the only person in this city so far that had accurately judged my strength.”

  Diyuan heard Guardian Zhai Tielong shift by the door. It sounded like he had thoughts about Diyuan’s statement, though he kept it to himself.

  Auntie Mei Yi was curious. “And here I thought I accurately judged you. Are you saying I was off in comparison?”

  “Yes,” Diyuan said. “The difference was as vast as the heavens are from the earth.”

  “A high calculation.” She shared a look with her Right Guardian. “I hope I am not rude when I ask how I’ve fallen short? I do pride myself in reading people, you see.”

  “I’ll give you an example, instead.” Diyuan motioned to Guardian Zhai Tielong. “When it was heard that I was under attack by the Black Brigade, your Right Guardian came to my rescue.”

  “Yes, he did,” Auntie Mei Yi acknowledged.

  “Now let’s compare that. When the Head Guard Feng Xueying saw me prepare to walk into a room with a level 5 Foundation…er, with a Perfect Harmony Stage cultivator and several Great Tempering Stage cultivators, she begged me to spare the lives of the manager and the servants.” Diyuan gave her a look. “That is the gulf between the heavens and the earth.”

  Auntie Mei Yi leaned back in thought. “So she had full confidence in your victory. But you are not an immortal, of that I am sure. I am curious to know your true strength, myself.”

  “Individual strength is certainly interesting, but what I will show you is a transformed Black Brigade instead.”

  “Ah, yes, that reminds me. How do you plan to handle the tribute from the Black Brigade? I am sure that the Niu family will lift their demonic cultivator accusation if you joined their side. And in doing so, you would have no need of my recommendation to the auction house as they can gift you one all the same, placing you on opposite sides of me.”

  She had a fierce gaze then, like a hawk. Auntie Mei Yi was friendly now, but she was also determining if Diyuan was going to be a potential future enemy.

  But Diyuan chuckled instead, catching her off guard. “To be clear, I don’t want to enter the auction house because I need something. It was more of a curiosity. As for the tribute concerns, I will give none to anyone. If you were planning to collect some from the Black Brigade, you won’t be able to do so while I’m here. Once Feng Xueying or Manager Fanjian take control in a month’s time, you can negotiate with them. But I suspect the power structure in the city will be vastly different by then, so this conversation might be pointless.”

  “I see.” Auntie Mei Yi took a sip from the teacup. She looked more relaxed now, like a variable she was watching didn’t land on the wrong side. “A month is not a long time. In fact, I worry about the Virtuous Wind Sect that’ll be coming around then. You had some interest in their sect, yes? The Niu family’s heir, Niu Wuxuan, joined the Virtuous Wind Sect. He may be one of the immortals who will visit in a month. While the Sect wouldn’t normally interfere with mortal affairs, I fear he may.”

  “Ah, that’s annoying,” Diyuan said. If it was the heir himself that was aligned both with the Virtuous Wind Sect and to the Niu family, it might be easier to just join the Niu family’s side and be done with it.

  Auntie Mei Yi was reading his face, as she gained a look of concern on her own.

  “You don’t need to worry, Auntie. Life would be easier for me if I joined with the Niu faction, but if I was chasing an easier life, I wouldn’t be in Fengpo city right now as is.”

  They ended up talking about various other things as time passed by. Another topic Diyuan brought up was finding the source of the leak to his storage ring. After all, if he was less capable, then he would have died to the Black Brigade ambush. The escort guard that revealed that information should be put to death.

  But when Guardian Zhai Tielong heard that, he requested that Diyuan let him handle the matter, and hoped that he would show mercy. According to the Guardian, these escort guards were deserving of a reward for taking on a dangerous task of guarding Auntie Mei Yi when they prepared the diversion plan against the Niu family, and they didn’t want to reward them with a death among their ranks.

  Since he requested it, Diyuan simply waved his hand and told the Right Guardian that he could do whatever he wanted. Diyuan didn’t mind letting it slide once since the Right Guardian came rushing to his defense, so getting some points for his kindness may not be bad.

  He also brought up the desire to find any lightning attribute items, whether it belonged to plants, beasts, or anything else. At that request, she simply looked downcast and said, “You and me both.” She didn’t elaborate further, so he could only assume she had sought it for a need of her own and came up short.

  When it was time to leave, Auntie Mei Yi offered him a private booth of one of the most coveted courtesans, whose expertise was to give anyone a good night’s sleep. She, of course, clarified with a bit of amusement that it had nothing to do with any physical intimacy. With all of the control Diyuan had, he wasn’t able to hide the reddening of his face when his thoughts had gone elsewhere. He blamed the city and all the skin that was shown.

  Diyuan ultimately turned her down. He viewed the request similar to drinking spirit alcohol: he didn’t want to dull his sharp mind for even a moment. And he would definitely be dulled if he spent time with a woman whose sole job was to make him lose himself to her. And he knew he would, because he already wanted to with the scent inside the Sunset Garden.

  He would feel more at peace once he went back to the Black Brigade, away from temptation, where he would begin preparing for his plan.

  ***

  The next day at the Black Brigade had Diyuan in a private room where he had his alchemy cauldron out. He had plenty of ingredients for the tier one pills he wanted to make, which would aid him in helping bring the Black Brigade up to an acceptable level of power.

  His Supreme Perfect alchemy skills allowed him to make three pills for the ingredients of one. He still had the new ability of the Divine Supreme Perfect Pill Refinement, where he could then combine those pills into a singular, more powerful one. He didn’t intend to do that yet, at least not for the current next steps he was planning.

  When he made what he wanted, he entered into the main hall and found people already waiting. Manager Fanjian stood off to the side. Feng Xueying was in front of the other guards and servants, though it looked like the overall count dropped by half, to merely around 20 people. The servant girls that previously dressed in a scantily way now wore proper coverings for their outfit.

  “We greet Leader Diyuan!” The all shouted in unison with a salute.

  Diyuan sat in the patriarch’s chair. “Manager Fanjian, what news is there for today?”

  Manager Fanjian looked at the paper in his hand. “I have successfully exchanged the spirit stones for silver coins and purchased a workorder for the doors. We have set up a temporary one in the meantime. News of the annihilation of the Black Brigade has spread last night. There are claims that you are a demonic cultivator. It is likely that an immortal may come to confirm the accusation.”

  Diyuan waved his hand dismissively. “They won’t be a concern. If an immortal comes and I’m not here, try to pacify them so you do not come to harm yourself. However, if they do harm you, know that I will cut off one of their limbs in retaliation at the very least.”

  There were some uncertain glances shared among the crowd. Feng Xueying, however, nodded like she expected his words were true.

  “That reminds me,” Diyuan said. “I’ve heard that the Infinite Wealth Auction House will come after anyone who purchased from them and was later declared a demonic cultivator. Manager Fanjian, will they cause you trouble since you’ve exchanged spirit stones with them?”

  “Unlikely, as I am not the one being accused. But I cannot be sure. They may deny me entrance going forward, however. Due to my association with you and the Black Brigade.”

  Diyuan nodded. He had a plan for that. He turned to the crowd. “Before we begin, any questions for me?”

  There was some hesitation, but Feng Xueying stepped forward to represent them.

  “There is a collective question among us if you really are a demonic cultivator or not.” She performed a lotus salute and bowed her head low, like she had offended him.

  “Understandable.” Diyuan stood, which caused several of the guards to take a step back. Feng Xueying was unafraid and looked at him calmly. It was like she knew when he intended to kill and when he didn’t. “Let’s do this instead; rather than me answering you now, I will ask you if you think I am a demonic cultivator after today’s re-training. You will better understand me then.”

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  Diyuan saluted them after saying that, which made more than one confused. Having a person above them saluting them was not something they were used to.

  He gave the first order of instructions. He split off those who were level 1 Foundation and level 2 Foundation, as they required different things.

  For level 1, he needed them to properly sense and absorb spirit energy in preparation for the circulation training that came with level 2 Foundation. The best method to do that in this thin spiritual air environment was to get each of them to separate into different rooms, as to not impede each other’s attempts.

  “Before you go, take these pills.” Diyuan held out his hand, which contained several perfect tier one pills, as seen with the three lines. “It will practically highlight the spirit energy and make it come to you. You’ll use the time the pill is in effect to get your body used to it so you can do it without the pill.”

  They came and took one pill each.

  “Is this a high-grade pill!?” One of the guards blurted out, looking at the pill in his hand. The others immediately swarmed around, as if to see if it was true or not. “Leader Diyuan, this is too expensive for me!” He thrust out his hand to return it.

  “Why?” Diyuan asked. “You are part of my Black Brigade. You all represent me. If you are unworthy of this weak pill, then it makes me look bad. Take it and become worthy, even if it’s only yourself you need to convince.”

  The guard slowly pulled his arm back, covering the pill like a fragile egg.

  The level 1 Foundation people, which included some guards, servant girls, and kitchen people, all went to their own location in solitude. The level 2 Foundation cultivators now looked at him with some expectation. As they should, since he was about to build their body in a way that was unavailable for the other cultivators in the city.

  He sat them all down, including Feng Xueying as her circulation needed to be corrected before he fixed her core with an upgrade. Diyuan gave them their own perfect tier one River Flow Pill, which they all looked at with wide eyes. They must really not see many alchemists on this side of the Shroud, and the pills at the auction house were probably too expensive for them.

  These pills were to help them control the flow and redirect it as needed. Since they had been at level 2 Foundation for years, the energy circulation would have locked its path, but his pills would allow it to become malleable again, much like how it would be if they had just hit level 2 Foundation.

  Once they began their circulation process, he went to each one and sensed their process much like how he did the previous day. He gave individual guidance as to how to redirect the flow in a way that would work best. It was limiting in that their bodies would weaken, but he planned to refine some Body Forging Pills and give it to them later, which would make up for the limitation. This would be less of a problem once they hit the Spiritweave great realm, but if it was handled improperly prior to the breakthrough, they would be below par after.

  Feng Xueying was a bigger problem. She already had a Foundation core so redoing her energy circulation was a bit harder. He spent more time with her, but otherwise everyone was making good progress.

  Within a few hours, Manager Fanjian began to experience a breakthrough to level 3 Foundation.

  That got everyone’s attention in the room, looking at him eagerly. Diyuan expected it, since most people had been at level 2 Foundation for years and should have advanced long ago; the main thing holding them back was the poor energy circulation. He had prepared a pill that helped form the Foundation core in the event where the cultivator couldn’t form it themselves for whatever reason, something that he had seen as completely useless within the Tribulation Shroud. He gave it to the manager, who refined it. A moment later, a small amount of air pulsed around him three times, indicating his successful breakthrough.

  “I’ve reached the Core Creation Stage!” Manager Fanjian broke out in an unprecedented smile. “I’ve been at Flow Shaping for years, and I broke through today in a matter of hours!”

  The people gained a new motivation, seeing as how they might have a chance to breakthrough as well.

  Everyone regathered together after some time had passed, hungry after a “long” session of meditation. The kitchen people began to prepare food (something Diyuan forgot they would need), while the guards went to the outer courtyard, eager to test out their new refined strength. They should see a noticeable difference, since a good portion of the corrections happened today. They would feel a new power with each thrust of the spear or swing of the sword.

  Feng Xueying joined them, correcting bad habits they had. She would scold them about how their mistakes would result in them receiving a similar pair of scars on their faces from their enemies.

  “Hey Boss!” one of the guards called out, coming in with sweat beading down his face. “If you were able to buy all these high-grade pills, does that mean you’ve been eating them daily?”

  Feng Xueying hit him across the top of his head. It was pretty swift and precise. She had practiced her martial skills well enough, at least. “It’s Leader Diyuan to you. We’re the real Black Brigade now.”

  Diyuan smiled slightly. “I didn’t buy these pills; I made them this morning.”

  They looked at him with a shocked and disbelieving expression.

  “You’re an alchemist?”

  “You can make high-grade pills?”

  “I’ll serve you for life!”

  The kitchen staff had finished preparing the meals and the servant girls went back to their role of serving everyone as a habit, though they did so happily this time.

  Diyuan decided he would eat with them at their behest. The kitchen staff had apparently prepared a more extravagant meal than what they would normally do, which made Manager Fanjian have a look of concern, due to the coin problem. Diyuan intended to address that.

  Everyone gathered in the main hall again, less reserved now and chattier. Their conversation was about how strong they might become by staying in the Black Brigade. Oh how the atmosphere had changed in just a day. Diyuan sat in the patriarch’s chair and Manager Fanjian stood next to him, just like he had earlier in the day.

  “Let’s talk finances,” Diyuan started. “I have plenty of spirit stones but we are unable to trade it for silver coins at the auction house for the time being. Will normal shops take our stones if we use it as currency?”

  “No,” Manager Fanjian replied. “A mortal with a spirit stone is the same as having a target on their back. We would be putting them at risk and they will not likely accept the trade.”

  Feng Xueying added her input. “We will be able to hunt demonic beasts for parts once we’re strong enough. While the beast wave hasn’t started in full force yet, there’s a good chance anyone that goes hunting will be surrounded. That option to make coin will be too dangerous for now.”

  Diyuan tapped the chair with his finger.

  “Why not ask Madam Mei Yi?” Feng Xueying asked. “From what I hear, you two are on good relations. She can exchange the spirit stones for you at the auction house. She might be cleared of her demonic cultivation slander.”

  The problem with involving Auntie was that it would put the Black Brigade into her debt. Diyuan wanted them to be free of any restraints when he left, so he didn’t want to ask any favors. For now, he would need to dig into his own pockets at a loss.

  It looked like he’d have to enact his second plan already.

  “I have plenty of perfect tier one healing pills. Go out into the city and spread word that starting tomorrow, we are willing to use it to help those in need and those who wish to receive our protection. Those that are under our protection are not required to pay for the pill. The only expectation is that if they belong to our territory, then they pay any tribute they want. If they cannot afford tribute, we will not take any from them.”

  Manager Fanjian frowned. “Who would pay tribute if you give them the option to not pay at all? The high-grade pills you have would otherwise be sold for a fortune at the Infinite Wealth Auction House.”

  “The goal isn’t the tribute,” Diyuan said. “it’s a show of power. We don’t need their tribute. What we want is their support. Some may share coins, items, food, or what-have-you if they are grateful, but that is a temporary goal.”

  “And what is the long-term goal?” Manager Fanjian asked.

  “To change this city,” Diyuan said. Of course, they wouldn’t know what that meant yet. “And to do that, I must lay down the rules of etiquette. If you want to be part of the Black Brigade, you must adhere to these. It has to do with the proper order of oppressing those weaker than you, and what to do with non-cultivators. First, the non-cultivators: you are not allowed to oppress them in any way, nor are you allowed to stand by and allow them to be harmed. If you harm one yourself, I will cut off your head. If you see another Black Brigade member harming one and you do nothing, I will cut of their head, and I will cut off your arm.”

  A few exchanged concerned glances. But Feng Xueying’s eyes lit up, like she was eager for this.

  “What questions do you have?” Diyuan asked.

  One of the guards saluted. “Leader, what if someone from Niu family or the Sunset Garden harms a non-cultivator?”

  “Focus first if harm happens to non-cultivators in our territory, even if it’s by them. I will take care of the consequences.”

  They don’t know yet that the Black Brigade would soon dominate all of Fengpo city.

  Diyuan continued. “For the etiquette of oppressing those weaker than you, all of you are the weaker ones as of now, but that will soon change. I do not want to hear how you want to show off your strength and bully people for no reason. But I also understand that we are all cultivators and each person must walk their own path.

  “Fair exchange in each conflict must be kept. If someone comes to rob you, you may rob them in full. If someone comes to kill you, you may kill them. If you plan to rob someone of their treasure, consider leaving behind something of equal value after you take what you want. Do not be overbearing. If someone comes to steal your table at the tavern, you may attack back and demand compensation for wasting your time, but do not take their life.

  “The tongue often brings destruction. If someone speaks in a way that defames the Black Brigade or you, you may either cut off their arm, or take their life, depending on the severity of the words. If you speak in the same manner, I will expect you to give up your arm or your life. Do not assume I will blindly defend you for insufferable actions.

  “When engaging in combat, you are free to attack anyone that is at the same realm as you. Once you’ve become immortal, the greater the power gap between you and your target, the more shame you should feel if you fight them. During times of war, etiquette changes a bit, but you won’t need to worry about that for the time being.”

  Diyuan thought for a moment. Should he go into pocket world etiquette? Maybe that wouldn’t be a problem. They didn’t have the treaty here, so that part would be pretty different.

  “Leader, are you saying we have a chance to become immortal?” one person asked.

  Everyone was looking at him like students who were learning about the world for the first time.

  “Focus first in reaching level…er, Perfect Harmony Stage. I know what makes you all excited. What is rare for you is commonplace for me. Stick to my rules and my guides and you will reach the Spiritweave great realm.”

  Murmurs spread across the crowd. It was a mix of disbelieving, yet excitement. Reaching level 5 Foundation might not have been something they dreamed of as realistic, less so becoming an immortal, but they were starting to have faith that it might be possible with his pills.

  Several people went out into the city as directed, to spread the message. One was a scarred female guard, who was given some coins from Feng Xueying off to the side. Diyuan listened in on their conversation in secret. It sounded like Feng Xueying was encouraging the woman to bring her grandmother tomorrow for healing and not to worry about any tribute, as he had instructed.

  Diyuan went in isolation to refine a specific pill for Feng Xueying. She had provided him with the recipe that would repair her core, though she didn’t have the funds to purchase the ingredients. Diyuan knew the items that were listed, and also knew that some of them could be replaced by the Misty Lake spiritual herbs he had received back at his Yuhan family.

  In fact, his altered recipe would work better for what he was going for. And this time, he would attempt to accomplish the Divine Supreme Perfect Pill Refinement. He added the ingredients into the cauldron and performed his Supreme Perfect creation as intended, but now he needed to merge the three pills into one. As Elder Meilan had taught him in the Carcass Grotto, what he needed to do was bring about one of the pill’s “awareness” in order to successfully combine them. That was the key factor, as the combination of three perfect pills would normally result in an imperfect pill since that was not how it was designed to be used.

  Using the technique that the Lianhua alchemist had taught him, he had performed the alchemy work that resulted in three imperfect pills, created by successfully completing the Supreme Perfect process. It was rather counterintuitive, but it treated the refined pills as additional ingredients, rather than the final result, where one was more dominate than the others. Continuing with the techniques, he was capable of merging the three pills into one.

  Thus, the Divine Supreme Perfect Pill Refinement was a success. He opened his eyes and looked at his pill. It looked the same as any other perfect pill, but he sensed a small pulse of power from it. It certainly felt stronger than its current tier one level.

  He heard two women talking outside his door.

  “Xueying, everyone had finished eating and the guest settled in for now. Are you sure we don’t need to bring food to Leader Diyuan?”

  “If he knew you were brave enough to interrupt his alchemy session, he might add a new etiquette rule,” Feng Xueying said jokingly.

  The servant woman’s voice became quieter. “By the way, do you have any interest in him? You seem to act…differently with him.”

  Feng Xueying scoffed. She didn’t bother lowering her voice. “Don’t go falling for the first man that helps you, or you’ll be in for a hard life. I have no interest in romance at this time. And I only want someone older than me.”

  “…If you keep saying things like that, men won’t look at you favorably…”

  “Shoo. Go bother someone else with your romance cloud.”

  When the servant woman left, Diyuan got up and opened the door. Feng Xueying was standing guard in front.

  “You had a guest come a few hours ago, who insisted in giving you an item he prepared for you. A map, he said,” she reported.

  “Ah, that would be the stutterer Yibei. Call everyone together. I want you to use this pill with them there. There’s a chance it can benefit them too, but I can’t be sure since this is my first time making a pill at this level.”

  She walked next to him as they moved towards the main hall. He half expected her to ask about the level of pill he made, but she didn’t.

  At the main hall, everyone had gathered again. Interestingly enough, some of the female guards were with Yibei, where one of them poked at his muscles and asking if he’d like to join the Black Brigade. Diyuan didn’t think Yibei was especially handsome, but the women had their own tastes.

  News regarding the healing offer would bring in people tomorrow, but since Yibei was here, he figured an early test run could take place. Healing pills dealt with wounds, but that wasn’t all. Things that caused long-term damage, such as poison, had a chance to be healed with it. A perfect tier one healing pill might do the trick for the stutterer, who had gained his ailment after being poisoned.

  “G-greeting, Senior D-Diyuan,” Yibei said as he escaped the heat of the women encircling him; one in particular had eyes for him. He carried a pack and held it close to his chest. That would contain the map he had copied, which would tell Diyuan more about the world beyond the Shroud. “You h-have a s-scary place, here.”

  One of the female guards crept up and poked Yibei’s cheek. She had a different kind of hunger on her face.

  Feng Xueying shouted an order. “Everyone, line up!”

  The guards, including the one who was being flirtatious with Yibei, immediately went into position. Even some of the servants tried to find their spot. Yibei looked around awkwardly, unsure as to where to stand.

  Diyuan flicked to him a pill, which Yibei juggled a bit to catch.

  “A high-grade p-pill!” He stuttered out.

  Diyuan sat in the patriarch’s chair. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, Yibei, but starting tomorrow, we’ll be offering some healing services. If that pill works for you, advertise for us.”

  “B-but I’m not s-sick?”

  “When you can say that sentence clearly, I’ll believe you. Take the pill and absorb it now. Feng Xueying, come.” He gave her his divine perfect pill. “This pill will restore your Foundation core. Not only that, it will also make it stronger. I want you all to witness. Then you can judge if you think I’m a demonic cultivator or not.”

  Feng Xueying sat in a lotus position, facing the group who looked at her eagerly. She popped the pill into her mouth and began to meditate. Diyuan’s alteration to the recipe would have it do more than just fix the cracks. It should also call forth the spiritual energy in the air, allowing her to absorb it without instability concerns. If it worked out, she should be relatively close to advancing to level 4 Foundation when she was done.

  Except, he had greatly underestimated the full glory of the Divine Supreme Perfect Pill Refinement.

  Diyuan could sense the spiritual energy in the air pull towards her. It started out slow, but then basically became a thinly visible motion of air above her, spinning in a vortex manner, which started to pull spirit energy towards her around the Black Brigade land. Soon, Diyuan felt the spiritual energy in the room start to thicken. It was coming in faster than what Feng Xueying could absorb.

  “Everyone, start meditating now!” Diyuan ordered.

  Each person sat and closed their eyes. They started to absorb the spiritual energy that was on its way towards Feng Xueying, but with around 20 people, the extra spirit energy in the air wouldn’t be as great a benefit as he liked. It would be better if he made half of them stop.

  Unless…

  With everyone’s eyes closed, Diyuan walked around and placed spirit stones down on the ground from his storage ring. When he did so, they dissipated and flowed up as energy into the air, joining the chorus of the natural energy, merging and transforming into full stability.

  He didn’t hesitate. He started to release tens of spirit stones, hundreds, then thousands, watching it vanish as quickly as he brought it out. Two pulses of air started to burst out here and there. A few people who were level 1 Foundation had already broken through to level 2 Foundation.

  Since he was experimenting with the Black Brigade, he may as well go all the way.

  He released a stream of spirit stones around everyone, watching as it continuously vanished into energy, filling the room full of power. On the corner of his eye, Diyuan saw Yibei’s wide eyes, who then quickly closed them to absorb the energy himself.

  Three pulses of air to the side—someone had just hit level 3 Foundation. Three more pulses somewhere else. And again. Several more double pulses. There were no more level 1 Foundation cultivators anymore.

  Four pulses of air.

  Feng Xueying had broken through to level 4 Foundation. But she wasn’t done absorbing. Diyuan continued to release the stream of spirit stones.

  Another four pulses of air. Manager Fanjian had broken through to level 4 Foundation. He opened his eyes at the unexpected breakthrough.

  A few who had hit level 3 Foundation weren’t able to absorb anymore, so they stood and watched in awe with all the wealth that was being thrown away. But there were still others who were on the precipice of another breakthrough.

  A rumble in the sky. Thunder.

  For some reason, Diyuan started to feel a sense of fear. Unnatural fear. Strangely, he knew what would make the fear go away. It was like his own personal cultivation had interpreted the thunder into words. Specifically, two words.

  Do Not.

  He stopped releasing the stream of spirit stones instinctively, like the words delivered a primal fear into his being. The fear sensation slowly started to go away, but he couldn’t help but wonder where he had felt it before.

  People started to stand as they couldn’t absorb anymore. Even Yibei had taken advantage and reached level 2 Foundation. Nearly all the original level 2 Foundation cultivators had broken through to level 3 Foundation. The transformative power that took place wasn’t something that had happened even within the Tribulation Shroud.

  Another four pulses. Someone else had broken through to level 4 Foundation. And again, another four. And another. A total of six people had ended up breaking through to level 4 Foundation.

  And it wasn’t just any spirit energy; it was stable spiritual energy. The spirit stones had been converted into something stable, allowing each and every breakthrough be fully consolidated. This was something he had never experienced before. Was it all really because of a single tier one pill? If this could happen regularly, why was the Lianhua clan the weakest out of the five clans?

  Feng Xueying started to pulse air from her body once again. Each person watched and counted.

  Five pulses.

  She had successfully advanced from level 3 Foundation, with a cracked core, to level 5 Foundation, fully consolidated, in a single day.

  Diyuan had used about a one or two hundred thousands spirit stones in total, leaving him with about just under four million. With his wealth, that was a large cultivation gain for little cost.

  Why not just do this again? Why not make another divine perfect pill and get everyone’s level up again? He would have to alter the recipe as no one else had a broken core, but pulling in the spirit energy like this again could be doable with another recipe, most likely.

  In response to his thought, another rumbling in the sky. Thunder. A few people looked outside, where it had become darker, but they didn’t think much on it. Diyuan felt another sense of fear creep up in his body.

  Do Not.

  If it was a warning before, it felt like a threat now. He didn’t know why that was happening.

  Feng Xueying opened her eyes with a big grin on her face. She stood, and all the women rushed and hugged her. The men began to boast about their level 3 or level 4 Foundation breakthrough, wanting to test their might already. They ran out, weapons in hand, eager to poke eyes out. He would need to find appropriate artes for them before they wasted their slot on junk.

  Yibei walked up, his foundational circulation preparation likely better than anyone else at the escort agency. The amount of additional energy he absorbed would allow him to form his circulation much easier than it would have been otherwise. If he used it well, he could hit level 3 Foundation relatively quickly.

  “I don’t even know what happened, that was amazing!” Yibei said. He paused as he slowly lifted his hand to his mouth. “I…I can speak!? I can talk! Ha!”

  He began to jump up and down, and one of the scarred female guards—the same flirty one as before—joined him in the jumping. He didn’t seem to mind her attention this time.

  Feng Xueying approached Diyuan, along with Manager Fanjian.

  “In just a short moment, the Black Brigade’s force increased in power in an unprecedented way,” Manager Fanjian said.

  “How did this happen?” Feng Xueying asked. “I’ve never heard of something like this happening, not even in an immortal sect.”

  Diyuan scratched his head. “To be honest, I wasn’t expecting this either.”

  Just as he was about to mention how they should do this again, another rumble was heard in the sky. Diyuan saw the guards outside in the courtyard look up.

  “Is it supposed to rain soon?” one asked.

  “No, weird how all these clouds are here now. It was a clear sky before we meditated.”

  Yibei finally broke free from his jumping partner. He pulled out the map Diyuan was looking for at last. Knowing that he had an appointment with Yibei, everyone left them and went outside, practicing their newly strengthened martial skills. Feng Xueying was rather more interested in seeing her women companions try out their new cultivation level rather than showing off her own advancement. Manager Fanjian saluted and went outside too.

  With it just being Diyuan and Yibei, they finally looked at the map together. It was good that he was finally going to see it. He should had clarified that he just wanted to look at a map, not have a copy of it, but no matter.

  The map was laid out on the table next to the patriarch’s chair. It was a hand drawn map, but not of the entire world. Rather, it focused on the regional area.

  To the south was the Burnt Lands, where the dry wastelands were cracked and jagged. He was familiar with that area already.

  To the west was the Fortune Forest. More demonic beasts resided there, along with some spirit trees deeper into the forest. Further southwest was a marker with a sword, indicating a sect named Supreme Sun Sect.

  “Which is a rival sect to the Virtuous Wind Sect,” Yibei explained. “Both have powerful Immortal Maidens who are trying to become one of the Holy Sons and Daughters of the region.”

  Not that Diyuan knew what that meant.

  To the north were farmlands and roads that wrapped around the Fortune Forest. Diyuan saw the mountain range on the map, which shouldn’t exist based on his knowledge of the world. Northwest was another marker with a sword, which was supposed to be the Virtuous Wind Sect.

  And finally, to the east, was mostly flat lands with a black line that cut up and down through it.

  “This is the Great Divide. It’s very exciting to learn how the birds changed their migration patterns ever since it appeared 300 years ago,” Yibei said.

  Diyuan frowned. According to the map, the black line should be where the Tribulation Shroud was at, but it was thinner than what it was supposed to be. And it was long. It should have curved to show that it was surrounding the five clans inside. But it didn’t curve; it was just a long, straight line.

  “Uh, say again, what’s this line?” Diyuan asked. Maybe he had just interpreted the map incorrectly.

  “The lightning field. The Great Divide.” Yibei looked at Diyuan, almost in a way to encourage him to ask more questions. Yibei was supposed to have been a teacher before the stutter kicked off, if he remembered correctly.

  “Right, but why is it so thin? And long?”

  “Hm? That’s just how it appeared. Cuts right through the world, it did. What used to be a simple fifteen-minute walk now takes quite a bit of time to reach, considering you have to walk all the way around the world. Can I just say how much I love talking? I could just kiss you!”

  “Please don’t.” Diyuan frowned. “Wait—you’re saying you can reach the other side of this thin line? Just by walking around the world? It doesn’t surround anything?”

  “No surrounding. Just a line straight through from the Eternal Ice up north all the way south. It’s why it’s called the Great Divide.

  A line? Not a prison?

  Diyuan was struggling to wrap his head around what he was being told. If what Yibei said was accurate, there was no Tribulation Shroud as he knew it. A single thin lightning field that cut through the world was not the same thing as prison bars. There was no way for the five clans to fit inside the thin line mentioned. It didn’t even look to be more than a few miles wide.

  “You said this appeared 300 years ago? Not thousands of years ago?”

  He felt light headed when Yibei nodded. That information was not consistent with what he knew about the Tribulation Shroud. His mind went to the mountain he saw that shouldn’t have been there according to the known map he had seen inside the Shroud.

  “The world had to change a little bit because of it, like the migrating birds, but not really a big deal,” Yibei said. “We hope it’ll go away soon. It’s just another world phenomenon that that popped up one day. Not as bad as the Eternal Ice in the north. Apparently, an immortal used an arte so powerful that it ended up freezing everyone on their feet. That was maybe 100 years ago or so? Even the lightning field acted up during then. Very chaotic. We heard immortals talk about how they thought it was going to spread; but fortunately, nothing happened and it went back to normal.”

  Chaotic lightning?

  “Did the ice arte end up killing non-cultivators?” Diyuan asked.

  “Yep. A lot of mortals died. Entire villages. Even some immortals from the upper world came down and took that ice immortal away,” Yibei said as a matter-of-fact.

  But for Diyuan, he nearly felt his heart stop.

  “An immortal from the upper world came down? 100 years ago?” Diyuan asked, trying to keep his voice calm. That shouldn’t be possible. The heavens had cut off access to the upper world across the entire lower world. It wasn’t a regional restriction, but a global one. This was a known fact that had been passed down when the tribulation thunder first started to destroy the world.

  A very definite known fact, as no one could escape the lower world once the judgement rained.

  “Yeah,” Yibei said, as calm as Diyuan was in turmoil. “They don’t usually come down around these parts. Nothing usually to see in the lower worlds.”

  And then it hit Diyuan. He now had a better idea as to where he might be.

  The scene outside started to brighten up again, with the storm clouds vanishing. The people were sparring and testing their strength. But Diyuan ignored all of that as he quickly went outside. He ignored everyone’s joyful greeting as he looked up at the dissipating clouds. The unnatural fear inside him crept up against his heart, as if to remind him to not do again what he had just done.

  Now he knew where he felt that feeling of fear before.

  The Tribulation Shroud’s lightning.

  The storm clouds above had threatened him from using the divine perfect pill again. It was an act that assumed a form of order; an order that he had apparently challenged.

  It assumed laws.

  There was no Tribulation Shroud here; there was a single, straight line of lightning. And based on what Yibei had said, it became chaotic a century ago when many non-cultivators had died. Immortals became afraid of it.

  He recalled how Lady Pagoda from the Reflections Pagoda had once revealed the fact that there were multiple lower worlds. Diyuan also recalled the sensation he had felt when he passed through the Tribulation Shroud: a feeling of warm water, which was different from the cold baptism one felt when stepping into a pocket world.

  He had traveled to a different place, like through a portal rift, but it wasn’t into a pocket world.

  This wasn’t his world that had been destroyed by tribulation thunder.

  It was a world still connected to the heavens.

  It was a world unaware of what was to come.

  It was a world set to be judged.