Chapter 26: Shadows of Enchantment,
Is this really the world of the strong?
Tang Ruowei, after acquiring the Creation Body Refinement Technique, had been completely immersed in her practice, surprisingly driven by an unexplainable reason that kept her at it until the late hours of the night. As she practiced, a mother monkey sitting by the spring began to screech at her, pointing with its little hand at her chest, then slapping its own belly and lifting its arms, showing off its own figure as if trying to persuade her.
"Ah, that’s... something I brought back from the West."
"I'll go out and find you a training place. You should sleep early. Don't practice too late or too aggressively. Be careful you don’t exhaust yourself completely!" After she emerged, dripping with sweat, Tang Ruowei realized with shock that she had actually completed the first level of the technique.
"Alright, it’s getting late. You should go to sleep." The words hung in the air as she frowned, returning to her own room. On her table, she found a simple meal laid out for her. She reached out, and with a flash of magic, the warm steam from the meat buns in the steamer greeted her.
After finishing her meal, she became aware just how strenuous her practice had been. Upon seeing her, Bai Qiuran greeted her with surprise, "Oh, Ruowei, did you really finish the first layer of the Creation Body Refinement Technique?"
The vibrations of the earth shook her thoughts awake. How could such a mighty movement happen without consequences? As she looked through the window towards the distant peaks, she felt an unsettling energy starting to gather.
Bai Qiuran walked past the Seven Stars Peak, crossing the ravine between the main peak and subsidiary peaks, before halting close by. Suddenly, the mountain jolted skyward, as if thrown by an unseen hand, launching across several miles with a deafening crash to land beside the Seven Stars Peak. A massive magical seal descended from the sky, containing the quaking forces within the earth.
Finishing her meal, Tang Ruowei sat alone at a corner of the spring. Frustration welled inside her like boiling water, causing a few mischievous monkeys to sneak away, fearing their company might provoke her further. She realized she had begun an important journey as a disciple.
Grabbing her changed clothes, she slyly opened a box hidden under her bed, withdrawing two oddly shaped soft cushions, which she concealed in her garments before heading down to the hot spring nestled at the mountainside.
With the warm water enveloping her, she let out a gentle sigh of relief, intending to unwind. The surroundings were peaceful—mischievous monkeys frolicked about, welcoming her into their warm embrace without shying away. Two of them even offered her the choice spot in the spring.
Just as she sank deeper into the tranquil water, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the world around her was changing rapidly, revealing a mystery that only the powerful could grasp.
A rhythmical shaking interrupted her thoughts, pulling her back to reality. The waters in the hot spring began to sway more intensely, hinting at a large force approaching, their playful demeanor replaced by alarm as they scurried away.
“Is this... the world of the strong?” She pondered.
Bai Qiuran, returning covered in dust from some unknown adventure, seemed to have uncovered the secret to her earlier trembling. “It looks like the foundations of that mountain lend themselves well to being a proper earth-element training ground. I would have moved it back with a sword if I could, but alas, I cannot.”
Tang Ruowei felt introspective, soaking in the warmth while her mind wandered over possibilities and aspirations. It was evident the path of cultivation had begun to open before her, a journey filled with challenges yet also adorned with enchantments.
"Alright, enough about that mountain for now; go get your rest," Bai Qiuran advised, as a gentle smile crossed his face. The night would pass with dreams of the world yet to unfold before them, becoming part of the legacy strong enough to move mountains.
Is this the world of the strong? Tang Ruowei thought as she nestled into the warmth, falling into a peaceful slumber, unaware of how deep the world of cultivation truly ran.