Chapter 11 - The History of Cultivation (2)

Within the empty Spirit Realm of Guo Yang was the red serpentine dragon that was his Yin Yang divine tattoo. It currently flew in a circle around the neidan, the marble appearing like a moon, while the spirit energy it refined appeared as an aurora. Within Guo Mei's Spirit Realm was a giant crimson eye, surrounded by a halo of darkness, resembling an ice ring. However, both of their spirit realms were void of any elements on the surface.

"The third level is known as the Element Adept stage. This is the stage that your father, grandfather, myself, and many people in the city are stuck on. Why? We do not have elemental attributes. We must cultivate to the peak and forcibly intake pure elemental spirit energy, risking a single tribulation bolt of lightning to gain an elemental attribute. Otherwise, we are stuck, as the practitioner must reach the state known as being one with the elements. Another way is through contracting with a magical beast and waiting for it to reach the fourth level and gain one of its attributes," Guo Feng explained. "Red Shadow is at the peak of the Element Adept stage, and your grandfather will either receive the fire or darkness attribute. Once he reaches the state of being one with the elements, he can finally break through to the fourth level. Your grandma, Guo Li, is the only member in our Guo Clan's history to reach that level. Now you know why our clan is not that powerful."

"Is this true?" Guo Yang asked the snake as it coiled behind him while he leaned back against it.

"Yes, Exalted One. Human classifications are like this. Contracted magical beasts have our own cultivation, with some advantages and disadvantages compared to free magical beasts, as you had once been," Red Shadow hissed, everyone else only hearing the snake's hissing and unable to interpret what it said.

"So it is true. Interesting," Guo Yang nodded as Ji Ting and Guo Feng sighed.

"The fourth level is known as the Meteor Vessel stage. It is at this stage that we can contract with middle-ranked immortal magical weapons, armors, and items. You were given low-ranked immortal swords and a spear, right? You can make, use, or bind middle-ranked immortal treasures at the fourth level. It is called the Meteor Vessel stage because your Spirit Realm enlarges, and meteors will flash through the skies, possessing holy spirit energy. This is the stage where you convert spirit energy into holy spirit energy, preparing your body to become that of an immortal," Guo Feng said.

"Let me warn you that Tang City's guards are all at the fourth level. The real weapons of the Gold Lotus Armory create middle-ranked magical treasures. This is also why nobles have some disdain when commoners decide to join the Lotus City Guards to gain access to middle-ranked immortal treasures," Ji Ting added. "As for the fifth to seventh levels, we do not know much about them, as our clan has never reached those levels. We only know the names of practitioners who have reached those levels. Practitioners at the fifth level are called Earth Mortals, those at the sixth level are called Sky Mortals, and the final level comprises the Heavenly Mortals."

"The Immortal Realm is the combination of countless planets, so don't expect to wander the planets and galaxies within the Immortal Realm. That is why Sky Mortals can visit other worlds, as they are no longer restricted to the earth of their home planet. It is said that the matriarch of the empire is in the sixth stage, a Sky Mortal. However, she cares not for her clan or this realm and even tolerated the near annihilation of her clan long before it founded the Song Dynasty," Guo Feng shuddered. "Okay, now you know the cultivation levels and the history of how it began. You can all leave for the magical beast shop and help Guo Yang pick a magical beast. Guo Mei and Guo Yang, you must ask the shopkeeper about how to raise your magical beasts."

"Okay, Dad," the two elder siblings replied as Guo Yang nodded and was the first to leave.

"I will be the strongest in this world. I have the power of the Elemental Sovereign of Darkness. I know it," Guo Mei muttered as she stared at the backs of her little brothers.

As Guo Lin pulled ahead, Guo Yang turned back and said, "So that eye in your Spirit Realm is a fragment of the Elemental Sovereign that gained consciousness? Is that how you got your Yin Yang divine tattoo?"

"How do you know that?" she gasped as Guo Lin talked to the guards to prepare an escort.

"You think I didn't see?" Guo Yang smirked. "Which of us least likes to hang out with strangers or our parents? I was there the whole time, watching. You screamed, yet no sound came out. A pillar of light fell, but it was also black light, just as mine had been. The only difference was that I did not hear a shriek in my head. Neither did Red Shadow. It was interesting to hear an alternate version of what Grandpa Patriarch told me. You know, it does take more than a half hour to set up a private party."

"You're not going to tell anyone?" she asked.

"Why would I do that? It would spoil the fun. However, you must have paid a price. I just anticipate witnessing exactly what it is," Guo Yang smiled and walked ahead.

"He could complicate things for us, for you," a voice spoke in her head. "What do you think will happen if people find out you are destined to harvest souls? You must collect fragments of what I was. Train hard and absorb the other pieces of me."

"He's my brother. I can't kill my own family," Guo Mei shook her head.

"Come now. Practitioners need to let go of the mundane. Forget your mortal relations and pursue the path to true power. Let the whole world know who Guo Mei is. Let them see you in their eyes and worship the very ground you walk on. Let them offer you their souls," the voice whispered. "Let the darkness consume you. Embrace it. Embrace me!"

"NO!" she screamed, and everyone turned to her in shock, Guo Yang narrowing his eyes.

"Sis?" Guo Lin said, concerned.

"Sorry. I....I think I need some rest. Go shopping without me," Guo Mei said and ran home.

"What was that about?" Guo Lin asked.

"Maybe that thing females struggle with?" Guo Yang suggested, thoughts swirling in his head, reaching a conclusion.

"Big sister is a girl," Guo Lin nodded. "Never noticed before. She was always training like a maniac."

"She might very well turn into one," Guo Yang muttered as he and Guo Lin entered a carriage and were escorted to the magical beast shop.

"Breaking news! Breaking news!" a boy shouted, prompting Guo Yang to order the carriage to stop so he could listen. "Breaking news! The imperial guards are coming this way! Anyone who has information about a golden pillar of light that appeared one week ago will be awarded ten million demon spirit coins!"

"What? Guards, get me a paper from that boy," Guo Yang commanded, a gold paper handed through the carriage window in less than thirty seconds.

"What's wrong, little brother?" Guo Lin asked.

"It seems the emperor is interested in golden pillars. Heh. I suppose it might have been my Yin Yang divine tattoo that alerted them, not Guo Mei's. I'm pretty sure the reward will increase, as they would have sensed the Yin Yang divine tattoo of hers using some method," Guo Yang said as he handed the paper to Guo Lin.

"What would happen if I formed mine?" Guo Lin asked, knowing his little brother was smarter.

"I think they would marry you off to one of the emperor's children as a measure of control. You know how rich and powerful people are. They always love to consolidate their power and use any means to stay on top. Who knows? Maybe one of the princesses might be pretty? Of course, she could be fat or too short or tall. You can't judge appearances either," Guo Yang sighed.

"Why not?" Guo Lin asked, never having entered a relationship.

"I wouldn't know. I never dated anyone," Guo Yang admitted, the truth for both lives. "One thing I do know: politics is a dirty game. No doubt, they must be cunning and constantly fighting to be the next emperor or empress. They might look beautiful but have a nasty personality. She could be fat but be the nicest person in the world. Humans have many layers and can't be judged without an ample amount of time spent personally analyzing them."

"You know, Grandpa said the same thing about herbs in the garden," Guo Lin remarked, causing Guo Yang to laugh.

"Remember one thing: the only person you can truly trust with any matter in the world is yourself. You should only ally with the powerful and tolerate them. The weak? Unless they are of use, or potential use, don't bother with them. They will hold you back," Guo Yang advised.

"That's a rather lonely outlook, isn't it?" Guo Lin asked.

"It was," Guo Yang said, Guo Lin looking at him curiously as the carriage pressed on.