Night of the Broken Gliph

“However, don’t forget that all of this is just a warm-up. Or should I say, preparation. 

“Don’t forget your real aim, however.” Suddenly, Chor Shin Chit lowered his voice and said, “Which is to cultivate energliph. If you aren’t able to break through to the one-chamber state, it shows that you don’t have the aptitude to cultivate energliph. Even if you manage to do so in the future, you’ll forever remain as a one-chamber glipher for the rest of your life.”  

He then wrote the word “state” where the lines were pointing towards. 

“I said today is a special day, right? Because today is the day you will decide your cultivation style.” 

Hearing this, the class was filled with excitement. 

Even Lam Ming was pleasantly surprised. He looked towards Chui Yim to realise that he was secretly reading his medicine book under his desk. 

Chor Shing Chit ignored the commotion and glared at them coldly. “All of you, follow me.” 

“What’s wrong? Why did you come all the way here?” 

There was a special place in the Riding Clouds Academy known as the Cultivation Style Pavilion.

It was a simple name, but just like its name, it housed the many different cultivation styles that the Riding Clouds Academy had collected. Since the Riding Clouds Academy wasn’t a top institution, the highest cultivation skill they had was only grade three. However, they were the only institution that opened up all their cultivation techniques to their students. 

Other institutions would ask their students to source their own cultivation techniques unless they were extremely talented. The institution would only provide their cultivation techniques to the student, with the condition that they take the Vows of Gliphs and promise to be affiliated to the institution for their entire life so that the institution could get stronger and gain reputation. 

In contrast, the Riding Cloud Academy only required their students to take a Vow of Gliph to promise that they would not spread the cultivation style to others. 

There was a two-chambered glipher watching over the Cultivation Style Pavilion. Nobody knew his name, and everyone called him Old Tung. The academy hired him at a high price to guard the Cultivation Style Pavilion. 

Old Tung was currently sitting outside the Cultivation Style Pavilion making tea while looking at Bak Wun. “My busy principal, what brings you here today?”

“I miss your tea.” Bak Wun laughed. This made Old Tung burst into laughter too. Old Tung might be old, but he was still very energetic.

“You can bring some back if you like,” replied Old Tung.

“If I remember correctly, today’s the day where the new grade four class chooses their cultivation style, right?” Old Tung whispered, wearing a mysterious smile while rubbing his teacup. The two elderly men were sitting across from one another, chatting while drinking tea.

“I knew that I couldn’t hide anything from Old Tung.” Bak Wun laughed. “Actually...There’s a kid that I’ve noticed for a while, andI want to know more about him.”

A moment later, footsteps could be heard coming towards the Cultivation Style Pavilion. 

It was Chor Shing Chit and his class. 

Seeing Bak Wun and Old Tung enjoying their tea, Chor Shing Chit nodded his head slightly and greeted them. “Principal, Old Tung.” 

He wasn’t too respectful, but he wasn’t rude either. It didn’t surprise Old Tung, and instead, he felt better like this. Gliphism was a study where speed mattered. Old Tung had been stuck in the two-chambered state for decades, and he had already given up on breaking through. On the other hand, Chor Shing Chit was only about thirty years old, still young. If he could break through to the three-chambered state, he’d be able to live up to a hundred years at least. And the rare five-chambered state Gliphers were able to live up to a few hundred years. 

The legendary six-chambered state Gliphers could live forever. They would never perish. 

Old Tung knew that Chor Shing Chit was different from him; Chor Shing Chit could try to reach his third or fourth chamber while he could no longer.  However, nobody knew why he came to teach at this small institution. 

Chor Shing Chit was a mysterious man, and the Chan Clan sent Chan Ngou Tin here because they learnt of his presence from a special source. 

Thus, Chor Shing Chit was already very polite to have greeted Bak Wun and Old Tung with a nod. 

Indeed, after greeting the two elders, he turned to his students. “This is our school’s Cultivation Style Pavilion. And today, you’ll pick a style that’s suitable for you to start cultivating energliph.” He had a low voice. The best description of his voice would be two black and round stones rubbing against each other, but it was clear enough for each student to hear. “Same as tattooing a gliph, one’s cultivation style is a crucial point in gliphism.

“Tattooing different gliphs can give different people different skills, and that versatility is all due to your cultivation style.

“There are many different cultivation styles and techniques. Leaving our school aside, even the most powerful institutions and organisations aren’t able to collect all the styles in the world. Some increase your strength, while some are elementally attributed. It’s crucial to identify how your opponent’s cultivation style and gliphilities affect each other too because it is a decisive factor to help you win.

“For example, a glipher who practices a wind type cultivation style would typically be faster. But if he tattooed a fire type gliph on him, then the wind would support the fire, turning him into a long-range attack glipher.

“That’s why gliphers hide their gliphs. As a glipher, it’s dangerous to let others know too much about yourself as you’d become an easy target. That’s why gliphism teach us not to let anyone; even our partners, know about our gliphs.” 

Chui Yim frowned upon hearing Chor Shing Chit; but he said nothing and only watched silently

On the other hand, Lam Ming found his words interesting. “Brother Chui, Mr Chor might say this. But don’t worry, I’ll let Brother Chui know when I tattoo a gliph on myself in the future,” he whispered to Chui Yim. 

Chui Yim flashed a smile and didn’t reply. It was evident that he didn’t believe Lam Ming’s words. 

“In short, your cultivation style will be closely related to your gliphs. The cultivation style you pick will affect if you can breakthrough before graduation, as it affects the energliph you store.” 

“Mr Chor,” Chan Ngou Tin raised his hands. “Can I be exempted from this process if I already have my own cultivation style?” 

Hearing Chan Ngou Tin, gasps could be heard coming from the other students. All of them stared at him enviously. 

Usually, the best age to start cultivating energliph was the age of ten. This was when their body developed the fastest and was able to bear energliph being stored in their body. However, clans would start using energliph to nurse their children from young to become physically stronger. This was why their bodies could store energliph much earlier than other kids. Having a head start was beneficial, as you’d always be a step ahead of others.

Among the top-notch powers, many of their elite clan members or direct disciples had already cultivated enough energliph for them to break through to their first chamber before the age of ten. 

However, in places like the Riding Clouds Academy, Chan Ngou Tin was undoubtedly considered one such top-notch person.