Cultivation is Creation

"Young Master Wei," the old man said without looking up from his work. "What brings you to my humble establishment at this hour?"

"My friend here is interested in some of your special products," Wei Lin replied. "The pure varieties."

Now the man did look up, his eyes fixing on me with unsettling intensity. "Pure elemental essences? For an Outer Disciple?" He chuckled. "You're either very ambitious or very foolish, young man. Possibly both."

I looked at the old man, pushing down any hint of offense at his words. Getting angry at someone who could help me would be foolish, no matter how condescending they might be.

"You're right on both counts," I admitted with a slight bow. "I am ambitious, and probably foolish too. But I still need the essences for Earth, Air, and Water, if you're willing to sell them."

The old man's expression shifted slightly – was that approval? He reached beneath his desk and brought out three jade boxes, each carved with different patterns. When he opened them, I had to stop myself from gasping.

The first contained what looked like liquid starlight, constantly shifting and flowing within its container. "Pure water essence, extracted from a thousand-year spirit spring," the old man explained.

The second held what appeared to be a miniature whirlwind, perfectly contained within the box. "Wind essence from the peak of Mount Kunlun, where the air itself has gained consciousness."

The third showed a crystal that seemed to contain an entire mountain range in miniature. "Earth essence from the core of an ancient spirit vein."