Chapter 34: Life Realm
Old Man Bu watched from his desk as the two young disciples left his warehouse.
The water essence would serve the boy well, assuming he had the skill to use it properly. More interesting was how naturally he'd handled the negotiation - humble without being obsequious, cautious without being paranoid.
"No visitors for the next few hours," he told the woman who'd guided them in. "I have some... private business to attend to."
She bowed and left without comment. Good help was so hard to find these days, but at least this one knew when not to ask questions.
Once alone, he made his way to a hidden door behind his desk, triggering a formation that revealed a staircase leading down. The warehouse above might be his public face, but this - this was his true sanctuary.
The room below was completely unlike the cluttered workspace above. Ancient spirit wood panels lined the walls, each carved with preservation formations that had taken decades to perfect. Shelves held row upon row of wine vessels - not the common spirit wine most cultivators drank, but true immortal vintages. Some had been aging for centuries, their spiritual essences growing more potent with each passing year.
Old Man Bu's fragile appearance shimmered and faded like morning mist, revealing the youthful features of Elder Chen Yong. He stretched, letting his spiritual pressure expand now that he no longer needed to maintain the illusion of a crippled mortal.
"That boy..." he mused, selecting a particularly promising jar from his collection. "The World Tree Sutra of all things. No wonder he needs elemental essences."
The wine's aroma filled the room as he poured - hints of mountain peaks and summer storms, with an undertone of starlight that spoke to its quality. Chen Yong took an appreciative sip, letting the spiritual essence mingle with his own.