Leaving A Legacy

Zhao Ren didn’t quite understand how he came to be in this unusual situation. The turn of events had been too fast-paced ever since he had concluded his lecture earlier that day. Now he was sitting and sipping a delicious tea with a former Nascent Soul realm cultivator who practiced a similar form of cultivation to him.

But before he could ask the questions he really wanted to, the elder first wanted him to accept certain karmic burdens. Ones that the elder clearly stated would imperil his future. As tempted as Ren was to get up and run away as fast as he could, the lure was too strong. It was as though the elder knew exactly what would prompt him to stay, merely giving him the illusion of choice.

Ren was someone who avoided unnecessary headaches and only wished to cultivate in peace. He just wanted to create and leave behind a legacy, maybe help others out on the way. It was a noble aspiration. Karmic cultivation was perfectly suited for someone like him and his morals. Which was precisely why he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to learn from his senior in cultivation.

He had battled doubt and uncertainty to walk a path that he knew he was suited for. Instead of it being easy, every step Ren had taken on the path of Karma had been a struggle to earn. From the very moment he realized his dao, he had pushed himself. At a time when every contribution point had been precious, he had gambled everything on the manual that started it all, Causality of Karma. He had had to piece together a shattered manual without knowing if he would be crippling himself or turning into a demon.

If it weren’t for an epiphany refining the manual for him, that possibility would have been even harder to ignore. Then he formed connections with others, toying with esoteric powers that he had no clear understanding of. Inviting merit and sin into himself, using mysterious qi constructs, all required great courage on his behalf.

Now that he had finally started to get accustomed to karmic cultivation, he found he was already late in preparing to advance to the core formation realm. Others followed high-quality manuals that would let them cultivate all the way to the peak of the core formation, while he had to build under him the very road he needed to walk on, one step at a time. It was just too risky!

‘In the months leading up to today, he even gave me all those reference books to help, but now I can’t help but doubt his motivation. Instead of a fair and equal bargain for teaching those classes, wasn’t he just showing off his wisdom and knowledge by precisely pointing out the flaws in my approach? Was it just in preparation for today? As proof that he really could help me?’

For all his doubts, Ren had already committed himself. It was just that coming to terms with the decision he had already made in a heartbeat was harder than he had thought. Elder Yun didn’t give him too long to think and undermine his own resolve. Taking Ren's silence for agreement, he began speaking soon after.

“It isn’t known to many, but the Heavenly Sword Sect is on the precipice of disaster. To understand the origins of this problem, you first need to know the origins of our sect.” Elder Yun put down his cup of tea and stared intently at Ren.

“Our Heavenly Sword Sect has profound origins. It was built here, on the site of an ancient battlefield wasteland, by the first sect leader. But he didn’t accomplish this feat without assistance. He was assisted by the sect he belonged to, the Azure Mountains sect. We are but a branch of that ancient and mighty sect.

"We owe much to the Azure Mountains, and the treasures they gave to the first sect leader laid the foundation of our strength. You’ve recently experienced one of them for yourself, so you know just how precious they are. And at times, it was only through borrowing their name that we survived certain calamities.”

Ren listened raptly as the mysteries behind the sect's origins and that of the Stairs of Ascension were revealed. He suddenly recalled that lecture on arrays when he had first learned that the Heavenly Sword Sect had a parent sect, the one who had given them the formation that folded space, allowing for the creation of spatial treasures. At the time, he had chosen not to think about it for long because it had seemed irrelevant to him. But this time he couldn’t escape it. And even in his wildest dreams, he could never have imagined the scale of the difference between the two sects.

Ren’s head was already spinning from the previous revelations, but this topped them all. To learn that the Heavenly Sword Sect, one of the 3 powerhouses of this region, that all others looked up to and revered as paradise for cultivators, was just a branch of an even greater sect?! Just how vast was this world that even an incredible powerhouse like this one owed so much to another?!

‘And did he just call this region a battlefield wasteland? What does…’

But the elder was already moving on, leaving Ren no time to think and forcing him instead to focus on what the elder was saying next.

“The home of the Azure Mountains is not nearly as peaceful as this place. They have their fair share of enemies even among the righteous sects, let alone the demonic ones, as everyone competes for resources. It is one of those sects that are behind the calamity about to befall us.”

Normally, Ren would have asked why they were being involved in such distant conflicts, but he of all people knew that certain debts had to be repaid to balance the scales. If the Heavenly Sword Sect truly owed so much, then it was inevitable that they would have to bear some of the parent sect's burdens. He was proven right as the elder continued his tale.

“One of the Azure Mountain's most precious treasures was lost during a conflict where some important disciples died. It was then stolen and fell into the hands of one of those righteous sects. They couldn’t act overtly against another righteous sect without losing face, so they devised an ingenious way to cause us trouble. You see, the timing of their obtaining our treasure coincided with one of their most talented elders, the Lightning Monarch, preparing to break through. So… they sent him to breakthrough here.”

Elder Yun gave a wry smile at Ren, who was failing to hide his confusion. He explained further the implications.

“Breakthroughs at that level involve a tremendously dangerous tribulation that can span vast distances. The higher the cultivator's realm, the stronger the tribulations. And the lightning monarch has already reached the peak of the nascent soul realm, greater heights than I ever did. So you understand how impressive it is that he is going to break through to an even higher realm!

"Cultivating is essentially stealing from the heavens. Naturally, the worthiness of the one attempting the breakthrough is tested. If the cultivator survives the tribulation, they are even rewarded by the heavens. However, if one subverts the tribulation in any manner, by hiding or having someone stronger help protect them, then they are punished even more harshly. It is another reason why demonic cultivators so often fail their tribulations. The sin they bear invites the strongest of tribulations.”

It was starting to make sense to Ren. If that elder from the opposing sect were to involve the Azure Mountain’s treasure in his breakthrough, then some of Heaven’s ire would be directed toward them and away from the one breaking through. And with the Heavenly Sword sect having such strong karmic ties to them, it would fall on the branch sect to bear some portion of that punishment just because they were the closest.

Elder Yun nodded sadly as he saw the horrified realization wash over Ren’s face.

“The Azure Mountain was too late to predict their move, and by then the Lightning Monarch’s position was unassailable. They can’t act any further without inviting further wrath from the heavens, as that person has already initiated his breakthrough. You’ve seen some of the signs, the increased storms that have been forming recently. And it will only continue to worsen from here. If there is one good outcome to this calamity, it is that the rest of the region will not be severely affected, as our sect is already drawing the worst of it.”

Ren was getting scared for a whole new reason now. “Why are you telling me all this?! There’s nothing I can do!” Elder Yun had already clarified earlier that his intuition had directed him to inform Ren, but it was the implications that were truly terrifying. He was an ant! Why was he being involved in matters of giants?

At that, Elder Yun’s gaze grew steely. “We all have a part to play in this Young Ren. Whatever fate awaits you, knowing this will guide your actions better.” Having said that, his voice softened.

“The sect leadership has a plan. You can trust them. Leave it to us old geezers to hold up the sky for all you promising young sprouts. You just need to continue as you have been.” He consoled the despairing Ren.

Ren felt sick. This news gave a new perspective to some previous events as well. The various storms during his body cultivation and the culmination of the chaotic storm around his mountain. Even Cheng Lei’s expedition to test some artifact must have been one of the sect’s attempts to defend against the calamity. That same expedition that caused him to clash with Bao Hua today. This event had already influenced Ren in unseen ways.

Another part of Ren disliked the cause and effect caused by various factions’ ill intentions. No doubt that a sect like the Azure Mountains that had stood for countless years would have complex karma with other sects, but why did everyone’s actions have to bring so many innocent bystanders into the conflict?

The only thing that brought him out of his negative thoughts was the elder reaching across the table and patting his shoulder sympathetically. Then, almost as if to distract Ren, he brought out a weathered bamboo scroll and placed it on the table before him. With a small smile, Elder Yun said,

“I know you haven’t yet completed the final class, but I don’t mind giving you your reward a little early. I acquired it from a forgotten subspace in a fortuitous encounter in my youth. It in no small part played a role in my success. I have only ever entrusted it to my personal disciples, but… you’ve earned it.” Ren caught a flash of pain across the old man’s face at the mention of his disciples, but he knew better than to poke old wounds.

“As I’m sure you are aware, finding a body cultivation manual that matches your qi cultivation can be immensely challenging. And a good manual that can be useful for multiple realms? Hah! Treasure this. But remember, young Ren, no manual is without flaws because no cultivator is the same. So just like you have taken a different path with Causality of Karma, don’t be afraid to adapt it to yourself.”

Ren slowly reached out and read the title on the scroll.

‘Boundless Space Physique. A physique? Aren’t those innate?’ Ren had an inkling of just how valuable the manual that had just been handed to him was.

And then the words that Ren had waited to hear this entire time were spoken.

“I have shared what I needed to. You may now ask me three questions.”