Ogre Tyrant

Ogre Tyrant: Chapter 67 - Cultivating the future - Part Two

The fist-sized crystal in Zhu Wen’s hands was losing its lustre at an increasingly accelerated rate. Through observing Zhu Wen’s status, I learned that he was increasing his Chi in a similar manner of progression monsters accomplished with mana stones. The Racial Ability, Eternal Tao, had also ranked up several times. However, the sudden influx of energy appeared to have been more than Zhu Wen’s old body could handle and he had begun haemorrhaging HP.

Gric’s timely intervention had stalled the deterioration of Zhu Wen’s health, but it had brought an unexpected change in the old man’s status. While his Species was unchanged, a new entry had been made in his status.

Cultivation Inheritance: {Daemon King’s Veins}.

Leveraging my authority to search for answers, I received a cluster of error notifications instead. More or less what I had expected, I turned my attention back to Zhu Wen’s status and noticed that he had unlocked but not yet accepted a new Class.

Daemonic Cultivator.

Ignoring the imprisoned soldiers, made Zhu Wen the first of his people to unlock a Class, which was all the more interesting due to Gric’s involvement. My best guess was that Gric’s use of the Sculpt Flesh Spell to stabilise the old man’s condition has met the requirements from the other system. What those requirements were was unclear, but I suspected that merging their energies, or mana, was probably significant.

If this was true, then there was the possibility that Sebet, Orphiel and Ophelia might be able to do the same with slightly different results.

Of course, I would need to confirm that the Class and Cultivation Inheritance were objectively beneficial first before considering facilitating any sort of voluntary experimentation. Especially since altering someone's circulatory system was bound to carry immense risks, and I wasn’t sure the cultivation Classes could be replaced or reset either.

There was another unsettling possibility that gave me cause for concern.

Banishment.

How would someone with Daemon King’s Veins be affected by Banish Spells? Would it weaken them? Rip out their circulatory system? Or not affect them at all?

Short of testing it, which would require a living volunteer, there was no way of knowing what would happen. I found both circumstances profoundly unsettling.

As time passed, I noticed that the other crystals were losing their lustre as well. However, while a small portion of their energy was drawn toward Zhu Wen, the majority seemed to be evaporating and slowly dispersing into the surrounding area.

The energy wasn’t lost, but it was like emptying a swimming pool of fresh water into the pacific ocean. The energy was diluted to the point where there was almost no difference between the existing ambient mana and the new energy.

Using my authority, I separated one of the reserve territories and relocated the pile of treasures alongside the three of us into the empty Foothold of the territory. I then divided the territory, separating the foothold from the remainder.

The concentration of the energy became far more noticeable within the restricted space but the crystals continued shedding their energy at roughly the same rate.

To pass the time, I carefully sorted through the pile of treasures to sate my curiosity. I found many cord-bound books and was surprised to discover that not all books were written in the same language. As best I could tell, there were two different yet visually similar languages. I felt confident that they were Japanese and Chinese, but wasn’t familiar enough with either language to make a confident guess regarding which was which.

Searching for any Beasts that may have accompanied the new territories, I was intrigued upon discovering several Beasts clustered within the same territory.

After preparing a large stone cage for each Beast, I used my authority to retrieve the Beasts so I could inspect them in person.

Unsure of what I had expected, I still found myself to be somewhat surprised by the tri-horned house-cat-sized rabbits that now occupied the cages.

Unlike the rabbits from the first floor of the Hurst Labyrinth, the horned rabbits appeared to be quite docile. At least, until I moved closer to take a better look.

The moment my hand came within a few inches of a rabbit’s cage, the rabbit charged the stone panels with deceptively intense speed and power. However, the rabbit’s horns glanced off of the stone without doing any damage.

Judging that the rabbits were likely territorial rather than aggressive, I was still somewhat confused by their presence.

The near absolute absence of Beasts from the rural territories was incredibly strange to me. Especially given that the rabbits almost certainly contained an equivalent of the mana stones.

Curious to see whether the errors extended to the tri-horned rabbits, I designated the empty weapon store as a spawning ground for the rabbits.

As I prepared to shift my attention back toward Gric and Zhu Wen, I felt a shift in the ambient energy and was surprised to find that the energy was no longer dispersing into the air. Instead, it was slowly gathering in the carpenter’s workshop.

After several minutes, a pale orb of silvery light the size of a pea appeared on the floor. Immediately afterwards, the body of a tri-horned rabbit materialised around the orb. Within moments, the tri-horned rabbit began cautiously exploring its surroundings and gnawing at the legs of a table.

Over an hour, five more rabbits joined the first. However, contrary to my intentions of generating male clones, three of the rabbits had different coloured fur, and one of them was female.

Concerned that the rabbits might be Variants and have close to human-level Intelligence, I gathered my mana and Summoned a projection of Sebet.

“I need you to read their minds,” I ordered anxiously, “I need to know if they have comparable Intelligence to the Beast Variants.”

Sebet looked surprised but bowed her head obediently. “As you command, Great One!” Her surprise turned to increasingly intense confusion as she regarded each of the rabbits in turn. “They are not Variants...” She hedged with a hint of uncertainty, “But there is something not quite right about them either...Their thoughts are purely driven by instinct, but some instincts don’t make sense...”

“Don’t make sense, how?” I pressed, feeling vindicated in my paranoia.

“Well...One of the least confusing instincts is compelling them to seek out sustenance,” Sebet raised her hand to signal she wasn’t finished with her explanation. “It isn’t the same as their instincts compelling them to find food and water, but it is similar. Remarkably similar to a monster’s drive to consume mana stones, but somehow... vaguer?” Sebet narrowed her eyes suspiciously and scanned the air. “I suspect...yes, I suspect that their instinct is compelling them to seek out this strange mana in whatever form it may take. And yet...” She looked at the rabbits with unconcealed confusion, “They have an absurdly strong filial instinct and won’t attack or eat one another to get at the energy...”

Most Beasts of the same Species wouldn’t attack one another, but they held no reservations regarding cannibalism. It was possible that Sebet might have interpreted the thought patterns of the rabbits incorrectly, but doubting her would defy the point of seeking her expertise in the first place.

I nodded in appreciation and then pointed to Gric and Zhu Wen, “I want you to take a look at Zhu Wen’s status information and compare it against his peers. Once you have done that, I want you to determine what exactly Gric has done, and...and let me know if you can replicate it if required.”

Sebet had already turned her mind toward the task before I had finished giving the order, no doubt seizing the thoughts from my mind. She grew slightly more surprised and excited with each passing moment but otherwise performed her tasks in absolute silence.

The number of rabbits within the workshop continued to grow and they had begun gnawing at the walls, having already devoured the workshop's store of wooden planks and half-finished furniture. Despite their damage to the building, I was glad to discover that they were still bound to the grounds of the workshop by my authority.

“The answer is in the books,” Sebet announced, already making her way over to the books I had neatly stacked off to one side. Briefly glancing at the books, Sebet began picking her way through one of the stacks I had identified as being Japanese or Chinese. Setting two books aside, Sebet began reading a third with intense interest.

“Anything useful?” I asked, my anticipation mounting in the wake of Sebet’s announcement.

“Useful?” Sebet asked somewhat distractedly, “Almost certainly, but not what I was looking for...” She made a point of reading through the remainder of the book before picking up another. “Not this one either...,” Sebet sighed, briefly eyeing the remaining books before returning to her studies.

The crystal in Zhu Wen’s hands flashed faintly and evaporated.

“Gaaaaaaaaah!” Zhu Wen released a loud ragged gasp and his empty hands stiffly fell into his lap. He probably would have collapsed, but Gric still had Zhu Wen’s head firmly clasped within his right hand.

“The Great One wants to know what you did,” Sebet commented distractedly.

Gric blinked, slowly, his two sets of eyelids dragging across his eyes as his pupils slowly shifted into focus. “My...Tyrant...” Gric slowly shook his head and took several deep breaths, blinking a dozen times in increasingly rapid succession before seeming to fully return to his senses. His mana was incredibly low and it had taken a toll on him. “Yes...I was preserving the acting Chief Administrator’s life by reconstructing his deteriorating circulatory system...”

“Using the Sculpt Flesh Spell,” Sebet added snarkily without raising her eyes from her book.

“Yes...” Gric confirmed, flaring briefly at Sebet before policing his emotions. “The assistance proved...counterproductive...accelerating the damage...demanding more mana...Self-destructive and wasteful!...” He growled irritably, returning his attention to Zhu Wen and popping the knuckles of his right hand as he released the old man from his grasp.

“Perhaps not,” I interjected calmly. “Besides progressing his Evolution, you also gave him a new ability.”

Gric slowly shifted his focus to Zhu Wen who was panting breathlessly on the ground. Gric frowned. “Daemon King’s Veins?” His eyes narrowed dangerously and he glared down at Zhu Wen, “Explain yourself!”

Zhu Wen stared up at Gric with an expression of pure bliss plastered on his face, “I-I cultivated!... I actually cultivated! I’m a cultivator now! I Can’t believe it!” Tears streamed freely from his eyes and he threw himself forward to the ground, smacking his forehead in his zeal to show Gric his respects.

Gric’s scowl deepened and he released a low growl.

“Collected inheritances!” Sebet cheered in triumph, briefly rising into the air as she batted her wings excitedly, “I have found it!” Still holding the book tightly in her left hand, Sebet pointed at Zhu Wen with her free hand, “Powerful Cultivators, ancient Magical Beasts, and SPIRITS!-” She motioned emphatically between herself and Gric, “-Can bestow Inheritances by imprinting their internal energy upon a worthy successor! Or by donating viable organs rich in internal energy!!!”

Instead of becoming upset, Gric’s anger subsided.

“So...Gric has internal energy?” I asked, uncertain whether I understood her correctly.

“Not at all!!!” Sebet replied excitedly, her barbed tail crashing through the wall of the former guild administration building as she turned to give me her full attention.

There was something I still didn’t understand, something Sebet seemed to think was obvious.

“I have received a cultivation Inheritance?!...” Zhu Wen wheezed, his face growing deathly pale and drenched with sweat.

“He cheated!!!” Sebet cried with savage glee, “He tricked the system!!!”

Gric glowered at Sebet but said nothing.

“Wait...Cheated?...Tricked the system?...” I parroted, frowning briefly before blinking in surprise.

Sebet was right, without meaning to, Gric had cheated. He had uncovered an exploit.

Gric didn’t ‘need’ internal energy, not if he was actively manipulating the physiology of someone else who already had it. Someone who was actively flooding their body with so much internal energy that it was tearing them apart.

“But what does it do?” It took me a moment to realise I had spoken aloud. Not that it would have made much of a difference in present company.

With a visible force of will, Sebet calmed herself down. “Great One, the exact nature of each Inheritance is somewhat esoteric and depends upon the source. However, a common theme holds that Inheritances will amplify the efficiency of converting energy into internal energy, and infuse said internal energy with properties related to the source.”

“Making Zhu Wen’s internal energy, his mana? It’s infused with Daemon mana?” I asked, wanting to confirm I hadn’t missed something important.

“Yeesss,” Sebet waved her hand and winced. “Chi and internal energy aren’t strictly interchangeable...” She warned. “To the best of my understanding, Chi represents a pool of readily available internal energy that will replenish over time without causing permanent harm to the cultivator. I think an apt example would be comparing the cultivator’s internal energy to the blood-producing marrow in their bones, and the Chi as the blood.”

I nodded in understanding. The marrow and blood analogy probably wasn’t the best fit, but I felt like I had a decent grasp on the core concepts. “The internal energy saturates their bodies and begins stockpiling a surplus over time. Probably by stripping the energy from their food alongside drawing in any ambient energy in the air by breathing. Enough to replenish the surplus, but not enough to contribute to their progression. Just like mana and MP...”

Sebet nodded vigorously. “That appears to be the case.”

I had been using the two interchangeably, but I now realised that it had been holding back my core understanding. Mana was the foundation of monster anatomy and evolution, and MP was the excess.

The humans of Nadine’s world had to cheat the system to gain access to Classes and mana. Which made them an outside influence...An unexpected variable?...

Officially drawing in the humans, converting them into Monsters. I couldn’t help but feel like I had done something that broke some sort of unspoken rule. That I had derailed an experiment, or carefully laid plan...

Turning my mind away from the disturbing implications of the unverifiable theories, I found myself staring at Zhu Wen.

In all the excitement, the old man had fainted before I had a chance to have him check his status and review the Inheritance for a potential description. Attempting to check it myself had resulted in errors, but I was reasonably confident that Zhu Wen would be able to review it without issue.

“I suppose we will need to wait...” I muttered, unable and unwilling to temper my disappointment. “Gric, would you mind returning him home and ensuring he is cared for?”

“I obey your will!” Gric declared proudly, thrusting out his chest and squaring his shoulders before bowing his head. Gric and Zhu Wen disappeared shortly afterwards.

“We have been distracted by other matters, but I will make interrogating the soldiers a higher priority!” Sebet was working her way through another book and grinning evilly. The pages of the book had primitive diagrams of human anatomy paired with long thin needles and I recalled assuming it was a reference book for acupuncture. “There is so much we have yet to learn!”

Unsettled by Sebet’s intensity, but generally supportive of her enthusiasm overall, I was inclined to agree.

Training cultivators to a high enough standard to participate in a Monarch Challenge was a long-term goal at best. However, Sebet had the right idea for moving forward. Everything we learned about the alternate system would reduce the dangers of being blindsided during a future Challenge.

Going through the motions of forming a quest that would coach those eligible through unlocking the Daemonic Cultivator Class, it now came as no surprise that the core requirement was exposure to Daemonic internal energy. What surprised me was the alternate Swordsman and Spearman Classes required almost an identical set of requirements to those I was more familiar with.

The key difference was a minimum level of Chi as a requirement alongside slightly lower Strength, Agility stats, and possession of a suitable weapon. The quests for the older Spearman and Swordsman Classes would have tailored exercises and activities to coach the participant toward raising necessary stats and unlocking the Class.

Experimenting with quests for the new Swordsman and Spearman Classes, I learned that they were incredibly similar in that regard as well. With the noted exception that it made seeking out a Breathing Technique a strongly advised optional requirement to meet the minimum Chi standard for the Class unlock.

I found that strange since they wouldn’t be able to ‘learn’ the technique and add it to their collection until after they unlocked the Class. Of course, after watching Zhu Wen consume the energy crystal, I had to assume that the Technique had benefits that went beyond the limits and descriptions of the system.

Leaving Sebet with the books, I felt a pang of jealousy that she could become fluent in written languages with so little effort. However, the jealousy quickly passed after reminding myself ‘how’ she had obtained her fluency.

It made me uncomfortable at how comfortable I had become with allowing Gric and Sebet to rifle through the minds of our enemies. But I wasn’t naive enough to believe that denying them core aspects of their being and sparing our enemies' privacy would be a good idea.

The workshop had collapsed outright and a writhing mass of fur had taken its place.

Briefly glancing back toward the pile of crystals, I confirmed that they still seemed to have most of their energy. Although that was assuming the brightness of the light indicated the energy level.

After sending the rabbits to the larger portion of the isolated territory as an experiment, I cancelled the spawn zone that previously occupied the workshop grounds.

Presumably, traces of the energy existed in the atmosphere of the recently acquired rural territories, so I was curious whether the rabbits would be able to survive on their own in an environment that was, theoretically, otherwise devoid of the energy.

Returning to Sanctuary, I continued my combat training.

It felt somewhat strange when Fesk requested permission to engage in unarmed combat training to try and unlock the Pugilist Classes and evolve his Class further. At least, that is what he claimed. After assuming my human form and we both stripped down to our boxers, I began to suspect that Fesk may have ulterior motives.

Despite his recent gains in height, Fesk was still a full head shorter than I was, standing at about six feet tall. However, where I was beefy like an old-timey strongman, Fesk was wiry with the tightly packed muscle of a featherweight boxer.

My suspicions intensified when Fesk insisted on exchanging blows rather than just allowing him to perform the necessary objectives of his quest.

Completely without subtlety, Fesk walked straight into the reach of my fists.

Expecting to take a hit, I threw a straight punch at Fesk’s chest.

Narrowly dodging the punch, Fesk dropped low and threw a punch of his own at my abdomen.

Dodging the hit was impossible, but it provided an opportunity to teach Fesk a lesson. Taking the hit, I hammered Fesk’s collarbone and kneed him in the chest, sending him tumbling across the hard-packed dirt.

As Fesk leapt to his feet, I couldn’t help but notice the thick patches of shimmering obsidian scales clustered over his shoulder, sternum, and right hand. He smiled and shrugged unapologetically before raising his fists.

“So that’s how it is,” I chuckled, readying myself for another exchange.

Fesk nodded and leapt forward, throwing a straight with his left fist toward my face.

Deflecting Fesk’s left arm with my right forearm, I hammered my right fist into his gut and sent him tumbling backward for a second time.

Rising to his feet, Fesk’s entire midsection was covered in more of the obsidian scales.

“You know, if you just want to be hit, Ophelia is always looking for sparring partners,” I nodded toward the Large willow trees in the middle of the lake.

Fesk furiously shook his head in a panic.

“Maybe you should stop letting me hit you then?” I suggested. “This isn’t meant to be just for your benefit, remember?”

#Apologies.# Fesk signed and bowed his head before raising his fists again.

Fesk used his superior Agility to duck, weave or deflect most of my attacks. Meanwhile, I had little choice but to angle myself as best as I could to reduce the effectiveness of Fesk’s attacks in turn.

After trading blows for the better part of an hour, Fesk’s significantly lower Toughness forced us to end the match.

Exhausted, Fesk collapsed into the dirt and grinned up at me as he shakily raised his arms and hands. #Two points!# He signed excitedly. #I got two points!#

Nadine gasped, hands covering her mouth and eyes focused on something only she could see.

“What? Did it work?!” Clarice demanded, needling Nadine in the side with her elbow.

“Two points?” I offered Fesk my arm and helped him back onto his feet.

#Toughness.# Fesk signed shakily, visibly trembling from his exhaustion.

“Oh...” Helping Fesk stagger over to Nadine, I realised that I should have expected as much.

The two primary means of increasing the Toughness stat outside of Evolution and Class progression were to perform exhaustive exercises and repeatedly take damage.

Fesk’s true motives had now become clear.

“Those scales, that’s one of Ushu’s Warlock Abilities, isn’t it?” I asked curiously, choosing to overlook the minor deception.

Fesk nodded.

“And you were splitting damage with one of your mount Bond-related Abilities.” It wasn’t a question. I already knew that it was a staple of mount-related Classes and that Clarice and Nila both had similar Abilities.

Fesk nodded again.

“You, ah, you’re not mad are you?” Nadine asked nervously, all the while going through the motions of applying a soothing ointment to Fesk’s back and shoulders. “We thought about telling you, talking about it, but...” Her cheeks flushed, “I just thought you didn’t like talking about that sort of thing...”

I had been following things just fine but felt like I had just been transplanted into an entirely different conversation.

Clarice rolled her eyes and hissed with frustration, causing Nadine to panic. Clarice hesitated, locking eyes with Nadine and pressing her lips together while malicious thoughts danced behind her eyes. “They...” She hesitated again. “They just want higher Toughness to help with taking care of their kid,” Clarice explained lamely, looking away and glaring at nothing in particular. “You know, because babies are up all night crying and soiling themselves...”

Shocked beyond words, Nadine stared at Clarice with wide-eyed surprise.

Unwilling to press things further, I wandered over to Lash and sat down so I could give my feet a rest. Unfortunately, being so small put me at the mercy of Pete and Suzy.

“Daddy small!’’ Pete giggled, poking experimentally at the gap in my ribs where my gills should have been.

“Small! Small!” Suzy parroted happily, pulling at my right leg and inspecting my unwebbed toes.

Very nearly as large as I was, between the two of them the twins manhandled me without much effort. Lash could have shifted the balance but seemed to be content with letting Pete and Suzy indulge their curiosity.

I hadn’t taken any lasting damage from the sparring, so I resigned myself to Pete and Suzy’s poking and prodding.

Suzy slapped my thigh to get my attention. “Play?” She asked with overflowing optimism and pointing toward Fesk, Nadine and Clarice

“You want to play with your aunties?” I asked, curious to see what games Suzy had in mind.

“Play!” Suzy agreed emphatically, bouncing up and down in her anticipation.

“Hrm, okay, so long as mommy agrees?” I shifted Suzy’s attention to Lash.

Suzy looked up at Lash expectantly, “Play?”

Lash smiled and tickled Suzy’s chin, “Go play,” she agreed supportively.

“PLAY!!!” Suzy pumped her fists toward the sky and shrieked excitedly as she charged toward her aunts.

“Uh oh,” Pete giggled in amusement

“PLAY!!!” Suzy shrieked and tackled Clarice to the ground, causing the both of them to tumble across the ground in a tangle of limbs.

Expecting Clarice to begin cursing up a storm, I was surprised that she had managed to keep her cool.

“OH YEAH?! WELL, TAKE THIS!!!” Clarice roared, mercilessly squirming her fingers under Suzy’s armpits and establishing dominance with practised ease.

After reducing Suzy to a cackling giggling mess, Clarice turned her attention toward Pete.

“Don't think I can’t see you back there!” Clarice warned with feigned malice. “Do you think I would let you go after your family betrayed me like this?!”

Pete giggled nervously and slowly began backing away. And I couldn’t help but notice he was heading toward the water.

Clarice and Pete burst into motion at about the same time. However, despite Clarice being faster, she lost a considerable amount of momentum when she was forced to shield her eyes as Pete threw a handful of dirt at her face. Once Pete reached the muddy banks of the lakeshore, it was all over.

“That little shit,” Clarice snickered only to then catch my eye. “What? He is. He’s pulled that trick at least five times now, and two of those times were with that glowing goop they like smearing on everything!”

“It is true,” Lash chuckled, waving back at Pete who had taken refuge in the lake.

“Why do you keep chasing him then?” I asked, genuinely curious why she would keep doing the same thing and expect different outcomes.

Clarice looked at me like I was an idiot. “Because that’s the game!” She groaned exasperatedly. “And it was way better before Pete started throwing things! I’m just glad Suzy doesn’t pull that shit. I bet he learned it from Toofy! She’s always giving him bad ideas!”

“Like escaping into the lake?” I guessed, pointing my thumb back toward Pete who was now slowly patrolling the shoreline.

“Exactly!” Clarice agreed. “Thank you! I’m glad someone else gets it! The point is to chase them and MAYBE catch them, that’s the fun!”

Suzy had begun slowly crawling toward Clarice, taking care to approach her blind spot.

“And before you mention it, yeah, this is the way the game has to go now!” Clarice spun about on the spot and threw her arms wide, catching Suzy completely by surprise, “RAAAAAAGH!!!”

Suzy yelped and desperately scrambled to run away, taking a good five seconds before gaining sufficient traction on the hard-packed dirt to do so.

Clarice proved her point by approaching with all the speed of a snail, all the while flailing her arms and making squealing, grunting noises. She waited until Suzy had gained a sufficient lead, gave me an ‘I told you so’ look, and then began chasing after her.

I looked over at Pete and found him excitedly paddling along the shore to watch the chase. I shrugged. “He seems to enjoy this version of it just fine, and he’s still getting some exercise.”

“Suzy likes it this way,” Lash agreed cheerily, getting to her feet and walking toward the Lake to keep Pete company.

With Fesk receiving Healing from Nadine, I Summoned a Kobold to provide its Synergy to help him recover from his exhaustion.

Even with the assistance of the Synergy, I assumed Fesk would probably need an hour to fully recover. So I decided to rotate through to weapons training until he was ready to fight again.

It was difficult to know whether I was making genuine progress at the moment. However, Randle was not shy about expressing relief over improvements I had made since we first began my training with the mace and other blunt weaponry. There was no malice behind it, and Randle seemed genuinely pleased, so I overlooked his all too often poor choice of words.

Sparring with Fesk again, we both seemed to have learned a great deal from our earlier fight. Unfortunately, neither of us appeared to have much luck in leveraging what we had learned into any sort of advantage. Making matters worse, without a trusted, and competent, unarmed instructor to provide constructive advice, we devolved into the same basic patterns.

Unlike Fesk, I wanted to increase as many of my martial proficiencies as possible to better face the other Monarchs. Which meant I couldn’t count our time spent sparring against my daily training quota.

Later in the evening, I decided to follow up on Zhu Wen and sate my curiosity regarding the Inheritance. Given Sebet may have contributions to make as well, I relocated myself to the larger portion of the partitioned territory and Summoned their projections.

I realised that I could have just Summoned a projection of Zhu Wen earlier, but decided not to dwell on it.

“P-Patriarch!” Zhu Wen barely caught himself in time to avoid throwing himself on the ground.

“Chief Administrator,” I nodded approvingly. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I doubted such a deeply ingrained mannerism would be unlearned for quite some time. So I appreciated the effort.

“H-How may I serve the P-Patriarch?” Zhu Wen stammered anxiously, his wispy beard and moustache aquiver.

“I wish to know the description attached to your Inheritance,” I replied calmly, willing the poor old man to calm down for fear he would have a heart attack.

“Of course!” Zhu Wen cried with visible relief. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Zhu Wen raised one palm into a meditative pose and closed his eyes. “This one humbly seeks the Heavens' Will.” Upon opening his eyes, his pupils began moving to and fro in the manner I had come to recognise was associated with inspecting the status.

Although, curiously, his eye movements followed slightly different patterns which I could only assume were related to how the written language was presented.

Zhu Wen quietly cleared his throat to signal he was ready to begin and focused intently on his status. “The veins of the divine Daemon King carry the blessings of his indomitable fortitude, and insatiable hunger for power.”

Gric’s frown deepened and Sebet smirked with amusement.

Zhu Wen cleared his throat once more and blinked to dismiss his status. “That is all that is written, Patriarch. However, I have some small understanding as well, if the Patriarch wishes to hear it?”

“Please,” I motioned for him to continue.

Gric and Sebet no doubt knew the answer, but it was important to encourage and reward initiative.

Zhu Wen nodded determinedly, “Ah, I do not mean to presume the Patriarch’s knowledge of such matters, so I apologise if my limited understanding is imperfect.” He took a brief moment to take a steadying breath. “I have reflected on the blessings of the Daemon King’s Veins and believe that the King of Daemon’s insatiable hunger has immensely increased the effectiveness of my meagre breathing technique. Allowing me to draw energy at a rate I had not believed to be possible.” Even with his hands clasped firmly together, it was hard not to notice how badly they were shaking. “The King of Daemon’s fortitude...I believe it has greatly strengthened my Meridians and Dantian’,” Zhu Wen gulped nervously and stole a quick glance at Gric. “I believe this resilience allows me to use Elixirs and other treasures to force the progression of my cultivation and suffer the pain of tribulation without fear of death...”

Gric nodded grimly.

I took a few moments to think over what Zhu Wen had said and could see the obvious advantages the Inheritance would provide. However, my curiosity wasn’t satisfied. “What are your thoughts regarding the Daemonic Cultivator Class?” I asked, trying not to sound overly eager.

Like a rabbit caught in a car’s headlights, Zhu Wen froze in shock.

Several moments passed.

“I-I, erm, th-that is t-to s-say...” Zhu Wen stammered, eyes wild and fighting to focus. “P-Patriarch, I-I would n-never...Th-that is t-to s-say...” Sweat had begun pouring down his forehead and caused his long loosely bound hair to damply press against his skin. Zhu Wen took several deep breaths to calm himself. “As a path of divine cultivation directly associated with the heavens, it is no doubt immensely powerful and reserved for those of deserving station and ability...”

“That’s...diplomatic,” I commented wryly, “But not quite what I wanted to know.” I motioned for Zhu Wen to remain calm and allow me to explain myself. “I was more interested in your thoughts regarding taking the Daemonic Cultivator Class for yourself.”

Somehow, Zhu Wen’s eyes managed to grow wider still.

Sebet snickered, making no attempts at hiding her enjoyment at the expense of his distress.

“I believe there has been another misunderstanding.” I did my best to keep the exasperation from my tone. “All of my subjects are free to pursue the Classes that they believe will best allow them to support themselves and their communities. I neither expect nor desire, compensation in exchange. Similarly, there are precious few Classes that have been restricted from public selection, and only to ensure that more stringent checks and balances are applied to those committed to pursuing them.” I took a brief moment to centre myself. “I strongly suspect that there may be Techniques that will need to abide by such restrictions, and perhaps Cultivator Classes as well. However, at this moment, no such restrictions exist.”

Sebet commented dryly.

“I...we...may all pursue cultivation?...” Zhu Wen inquired breathlessly.

“Assuming they follow my laws, all my subjects are free to live their lives as they see fit.” I wanted to hammer home the importance of my laws and how little I wanted to actively meddle in people's lives.

Especially since the stronger and more self-reliant my subjects became, the less worried I needed to be about repeat incidents involving sentient disasters like the Liche.

“Then! For the prosperity of my people! I will selfishly accept the Patriarch’s generosity!” Zhu Wen bowed so low and quickly I was afraid he might break his spine.

“Great One, if I may?” Sebet asked aloud.

I motioned for her to continue.

“I strongly suspect that learning and acquiring the Techniques requires physical possession and engagement with special manuals and other texts. To that end and to provide for considerable demand, I suggest that copies of approved Techniques should be produced by currently Classless citizens of the Nongmin Alliance.”

“Hrmph!” Gric snorted condescendingly. “If proximity, physical interaction, and engagement are all that matter, why not engrave the texts on immense plaques that would be available to dozens or even hundreds at once?”

“Why not both?” I suggested. “We aren’t sure what will work, and both have their merits. So it seems prudent that we try both.” It was no longer a suggestion, I had made up my mind.

With no benefit to bickering further, Gric and Sebet abandoned their grievance and returned to their established mutual dislike of one another.

All the while, Zhu Wen appeared not to have heard much of anything after learning he and just about everyone else, would be free to become Cultivators. An understandable reaction for someone who had lived their lives in perpetual fear of being killed and abused by demi-gods in their midst.

I doubted I would react much differently if our places were reversed.

***** Zhu Min ~ Imperial Province / Tim’s Demi-Plane *****

Touring the gardens of the Imperial Palace, Min couldn’t help but feel angry at herself for jumping at every shadow. Years of taking exhaustive measures to hide from Deng Li and his aggressive advances had left her utterly ill-equipped to appreciate her newfound freedom.

Min felt like she could hardly take three steps without feeling a desperate need to look over her shoulder.

The eldest, and only, surviving child of her late parents, Min understood only too well how fortunate she was to be alive. Thanks in no small part to the paranoia that she now found so utterly vexing.

Sitting on a bench by a small pond, Min released a deep sigh and clasped her hands together to stop them from shaking.

“Min’er! Min’er!” The excited cries of Granduncle carried over the wall of a nearby courtyard and sent Min scrambling for cover.

Min was halfway up the accommodating trunk of the willow tree before she realised what she was doing and wrestled back control from her fears.

Heart hammering in her chest, Min slowly and carefully made her way down from the tree.

“Min’er! Min-Ah!” Granduncle, despite his immense age, moved with a grace and speed Min had never witnessed before this moment. As he drew closer, she was surprised to find that many of his deepest wrinkles and darkest blemishes had disappeared, making him look younger than Min had ever seen him before.

“Is there something wrong, Uncle?” Min asked anxiously, trying to put on a brave face despite her fear.

“Wrong?” Granduncle looked surprised for a moment but quickly shook it off. “No, nothing is wrong. It is quite the opposite! After endless trials and tribulations, the heavens have finally blessed us as compensation for our suffering!”

“Uncle, I don’t understand...” Min remembered Granduncle speaking similar words shortly after their transmigration and his personal summons to attend the new Patriarch.

News of Deng Li and his ilk being imprisoned and punished for their crimes had seen unfettered celebration from every family in their community, and many more besides, she had no doubt.

What would cause Granduncle to celebrate further?

Life had taught Min that despite claims made by the pious to the contrary, the heavens were tightfisted misers. And yet, Min knew Granduncle was not a man to celebrate without cause.

“The Patriarch has decreed that all are permitted to pursue cultivation!” Granduncle briefly rested his trembling hands on her shoulders before drawing Min into a tight embrace. “We need never be at the mercy of evil men!”

“Permitted to cultivate?!...” Min couldn’t believe it.

The Divine Patriarch had been utterly ruthless in rooting out and making examples out of anyone who pursued cultivation without his express blessing. It had been one of Deng Li’s most commonly exercised responsibilities...

“You are certain, Uncle? You have not misunderstood or...” Min couldn’t bring herself to say it, but his advanced age only made it a matter of time before his mind would begin to rot and begin fabricating false memories.

“Yes, Min’er! I received the proclamation from the Patriarch’s lips myself!” Granduncle declared emphatically. “There is much we need to discuss, but first, I must insist that you join me and pay respects to the Imperial Governor! He has agreed to bestow you with a cultivator’s Inheritance in exchange for assisting his research into cultivation! Come! We must go!”

Too shocked by the news to resist, by the time Min came to her senses, Granduncle was guiding her to bow before a towering figure she could only assume was the Imperial Governor.

Staring into his cold reptilian eyes, Min’s fears of encountering a corrupt official evaporated in the face of near absolute indifference.

“This is your grandniece, Zhu Min.” It was not a question. Without being introduced, the Imperial Governor had been able to identify her on sight alone.

“Yes, Imperial Governor!” Granduncle excitedly bowed his head. “Min’er is literate and can be trusted to work unsupervised-”

“They are not coming back,” the Imperial Governor commented, interrupting Granduncle and staring at Min. “And once they have been sufficiently punished, they will be executed for their crimes. No one is above the Tyrant’s justice.” There was an absolute and undeniable surety in his voice that bordered on becoming profoundly unsettling in its certainty.

Objectively, Min knew that she should find the Imperial Governor’s declaration unsettling. However, she was surprised to discover that she felt an intense sense of relief instead.

Deng Li was gone, and he wouldn’t be coming back.

The Imperial Governor tilted his head slightly to one side and stared at her with what Min could only approximate qualified as mild but growing interest. “You did not exaggerate, temporary Chief Administrator Zhu Wen. Your grandniece has qualities that make her a candidate of particular value and deserving of an Inheritance.”

Min didn’t know what to say.

Despite her confused state, Min realised that she must have lost track of her surroundings again. One moment, she had been standing in what she felt certain was the antechamber of the Imperial Palace. The next...Min didn’t know where they were...

Standing upon a raised dais in the centre of an impossibly large and detailed stone lotus, Min now stood a full head taller than Granduncle but was three heads shorter than the Imperial Governor.

“Sit,” the Imperial Governor commanded, his voice containing no malice but carrying an expectation of obedience.

“Ah, Imperial Governor, if I may?” Granduncle interjected nervously. “Min’er does not-”

“Show her,” the Imperial Governor waived his right hand dismissively, drawing Min’s attention to the long sharpened claw-like nails that adorned each of his fingers.

“Thank you!” Granduncle bowed respectfully before turning to Min again. “Min’er, please, do as I do,” he gave her a reassuring smile and gingerly sat down on the floor. After crossing his legs to the point of pressing the soles of both feet against his abdomen, which Min’er wouldn’t have believed was possible without witnessing it herself, he cupped one hand in the other and rested them a handspan above his feet. “Min’er, this is the Blooming Lotus Breathing Technique! Please, do your best to follow this old man’s example, even if it is lacking!”

Lacking? Despite her youth, Min wasn’t certain she could match Granduncle’s newfound flexibility, let alone surpass it. If he was lacking, then she couldn’t imagine what someone would look like if they were ‘proficient’, let alone gifted.

Despite her concerns, Min carefully lowered herself to a sitting position. Taking great care not to accidentally damage the petals of the stone lotus, she manually guided her legs and feet into the correct position and somewhat unsteadily cupped her hands together while fighting to keep her balance.

The pose was incredibly uncomfortable, but Min’er persevered, choosing to have faith in Granduncle that had taken her in and cared for her after the death of her father.

The memories of her father’s death brought tears to her eyes. However, Min refused to show weakness before the Imperial Minister and embarrass Granduncle. She pushed the memory into the back of her mind and did her best to blink away her tears without arousing suspicion.

Even so, Min felt the Imperial Governor already knew of her weakness. Just as he had known her name. Sneaking a glance up into his eyes, Min expected to find disappointment. What she found instead surprised her.

No longer looking at her, the Imperial Governor’s formerly serene mask of cold indifference had cracked, revealing a deep and profoundly unsettling anger that had been seething just beneath the surface. Eyes flashing like emerald lightning, the full force of his attention returned to Min and stole her breath away.

However, as if sensing her eyes upon him, the Imperial Governor’s serene mask snapped tightly back into place, demonstrating a terrifying degree of control and focus. Meeting her eyes, the corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly in the faintest hint of a smile. A smile that Min couldn’t help but interpret as a sign of his approval.

More confused than ever, Min looked to Granduncle for answers but realised he was just as confused as she was.