Regressor Sect Master

Healing chambers are said to be the sign when a sect was considered a middle-sized sect. Smaller sects could not afford them, and in truth, didn't really need them that much.

For cultivators of the higher realm, where their spirits gained control of their flesh and thus, their flesh becomes more of an optionality, healing chambers fill an important gap.

For weak cultivators, the body's healing is still very much a natural process. There's regular bleeding, there's herbs that could help that, and so on. Their spirits were still too weak to exercise significant influence on their body, even if it's not impossible.

But for stronger cultivators, the spirit takes over, and so, any damage or injuries sustained by higher realmed cultivators also subtly harm the soul. It is a two way process. The spirit can forcibly heal the body, thus allowing cultivators of high realm to exist and regenerate from physical injuries lethal to those below. This is not free.

The spirit consumes a little of itself to replenish the flesh. Just as in the earlier stages, the flesh nourished the spirit. Flesh and spirit forms the two halves of a cultivator, though there are some who considered the flesh to be the chains that bind the cultivator to mortality and life on the mortal realms.

Still, in combat, meridians and spiritual roots often suffer from various forms of damage, either through use of spiritual energy, or from receiving hostile spiritual energy. Thus, healing chambers, which are often a type of generalised cultivation chamber with a focus on the restorative aspects.

Spiritual energy in itself is neutral, though out in nature, due to various reasons, they can form tiny 'shapes'. These tiny motes of spiritual energy, depending on how they are bound together and their 'shape', can either be hostile and abrasive, or healing and gentle, or heavy, or light, or all at once.

These healing chambers specifically block out more hostile forms of energy and filters in healing, gentle spiritual energy. This made it easier for the body and spirit to mend itself, and relieving the spirit's need of consuming itself to mend the flesh.

"Spiritual energy is all around us, but why sometimes it is hostile, and sometimes it is friendly? Like fire, like water, think of the writings of two different scholars, one anxious, and another calm. In the end, they use the same tools. A brush, and ink. Even if they write the same words, they evoke different emotions, and show different states of their scholars."

A master cultivator requires tremendous ability to manipulate the spiritual energies around them to form shapes. These shapes within their spiritual realm is what gives him an extra weight, a little bit extra strength.

Five blots of natural energy, they are fused into shapes.

Many shapes form a spiritual pattern. Many patterns form a spiritual code. A language for power.

From language, a cultivator weaves these things into a way to change the world, and themselves.

Tundra pulled in these friendly motes of healing energy. They are made of the same five elements as others, but it is their shape that creates the healing effect. The body doesn't have to expend additional energy to reshape them, and thus can use them to quickly accelerate the body's regeneration.

He could still feel the weight of that eighth realm demonic cultivator, and felt tiny fractures throughout his reinforced skeletal structure. With the healing energies, he fixed them bit by bit.

Three days later, he emerged fully healed.

***

"Lord Fox, come. Quickly." Duke Hadrian guided Tundra to a receiving hall, as a flying ship of the Flaming Phoenix appeared overhead.

"Oh." Tundra knew who it was, and didn't expect to see her again so quickly. The Duke hurried to make preparations, and opened all the stops, but now, there was a tenth realm Sect Master in the Scarlet Thunder.

***

"There was no need to trouble the great phoenix herself to come all this way to our humble town." Duke Hadrian said as the lady stepped off her flying ship, flanked by two of her great elders. Right behind her, was a middle aged man who looked thoroughly uncomfortable. The Sect Master of the Golden Lantern. "Welcome to my town, elders and also Master of the Golden Lantern."

He didn't even manage to speak before Ember Talons responded. She glanced around, and frowned. "After what you've shared in our meet, I wanted to visit your town for myself and see what exactly these people are." She walked and in a single leap, she was where the giant pagoda once stood. "They stole the weapon from underneath this pagoda?"

"Yes." Tundra was there as a guest, and so he stood quite far behind Duke Hadrian and the rest of his elders. But even here he could feel the weight of their presence.

The merchants and disciples were already talking and whispering, but none dared to venture close. One never knows if a visit turns into a battle. Ember Talons looked around. "It's quite a strong suppressive formation to hide such an ancient spatial weapon. Little wonder that Master Sapphens was surprised. You had no records of such a weapon?"

Duke Hadrian shook his head. "The pagoda has been around for thirty thousand years, milady. We have never suspected the presence of a spatial weapon beneath it, even if we did find other less notable treasures."

"A ruse, to hide the true gem. Now, the other reason we are here... Where's Elder Hanan's ship?"

***

The elders interrogated them on the details individually, and they were all wise enough to speak the truth. There was no denying the evidence, and the visitors regrouped at Duke Hadrian's main chambers.

The Golden Lantern's master kneeled. "I had known Elder Hanan was experimenting on more unusual and esoteric methods, but I had not known he went as far as demonic methods! He always had a stellar reputation and never went against our orders, I had no reason to suspect him at all."

Tundra felt his presence was not necessary, but because he was one of those that fought the Elder, he was ordered to stay. Ember Talons frowned as her fiery eyes glared. The weight of her cultivation was immense, even if the Golden Lantern's master was in the ninth. "I doubt your ability to vet the rest of your elders for their loyalties, Sect Master. You're one of our vassal sects, and even if we have left you some measure of independence, this is a black mark on our faith in your leader. If this gets out, the reputation of the Flaming Phoenix and the Golden Lantern will both be harmed."

He immediately apologized. "Once I return I will order all the elders and disciples to undergo thorough reexamination. Not a single one will be spared."

She glanced at her grand elder, a fellow ninth realm woman. "Grand Elder Xuen, do you mind helping the Golden Lantern vet through their elders?"

"As you command, Sect Master." She bowed.

"Publicly, we will say that a demonic cultivator killed and impersonated Elder Hanan, and attempted to attack Duke Hadrian on their return. Grand Elder Shaifen will have to seize the flying ship for further investigation and deal with the captives. However, as Duke Hadrian helped to bring this demonic cultivator to light, we will reward him appropriately. Everyone else will be rewarded for their cooperation." Ember declared.

There was no reason to disagree. A price for their silence. A demonic flying ship that once belonged to another sect was too big of a hot potato to hold onto anyway.

It was better if the Flaming Phoenix had it.

The matter should be over, and it was time for Tundra to return home.

***

But on the night before his departure, there was a visitor in his room.

"Lord Fox." Tundra noticed a spiritual splinter manifest within his room, a form, a shard and splinter of the great phoenix. The spiritual splinter grew and transformed into a recreation of Ember Talons herself.

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"Sect Master Talons." The regressor looked around, surprised that the woman decided to send a spiritual representative to meet him. This was the kind of thing cultivators did if they wanted to keep things discreet, since their main bodies were far too powerful. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Yes. That day in Gomerlia, I saw a vision. A vision that you know." She declared. "A vision that you lived through."

Tundra blinked, and sighed. "I am afraid I do not understand Master Talon's point."

"What do you know of the [Eye of the Phoenix]?"

"Nothing beyond what is commonly said. That the eyes see spiritual patterns, meridians and spiritual roots, and can see the spark of life."

"The phoenix's life is to burn, and then to be reborn from it's ashes. That is the commonly known understanding of the phoenix, but it is a misunderstanding." Ember answered. "What if the name is wrong, what if the phoenix isn't really a phoenix, but a different creature altogether? After all, it was not us who gave these eyes the name, but those around us, by association to the sect."

"A misunderstanding?" Tundra paused, as he scrambled to comprehend Ember's words. Unless, the phoenix referred to is a different one. A fenghuang? Or the golden crow? He blinked.

Ember said nothing, but her silence was telling.

"But if it is not the phoenix..."

"The Eternal Phoenix is often seen as the ten great progenitor bloodlines, but beneath the Eternal Phoenix are many other spirit bird-derived bloodlines, many who are only inferior to the great ten by a sliver of difference." Ember guided his thoughts. "Some, with insights into the nature of time."

As Tundra remembered the tri-colored eyes, everything clicked. Outside the top ten there was a great spirit bird known as the Divine Golden Crow with three limbs. When the three flames spun in a certain way, it was almost as if they were the three limbs of a bird. The three symbolized birth, life, and death, and like the phoenix, both were creatures that represented renewal, and change.

To renew, is to change. To allow time to take it's course. For the new to replace the old. For the new, to emerge from the old.

"[Eyes of the Divine Crow]." Tundra said it, but then he noticed his words were muffled by an immense spiritual presence.

"Speak not of it, Lord Fox."

Tundra sat and closed his eyes. She may not be able to see everything and capture the full breadth of his memories, but based on the tale of the divine crow, could it be that she noticed how the flow of time was twisted around him, and thus have glimpses of bits and pieces of a different life?

"If so, then what you see is true."

The two shared a long silence.

"Then I see the reason you brought up my master. I have much to do, but you are playing with dangerous enemies, Lord Fox." The spiritual fragment of Ember Talons then transformed into a simple red bangle. "Keep this, it will keep you safe, though I hope you never have to use it."

He picked up the red bangle, and placed it around his wrist. "This one thanks the master for her attention."

"Make your sect strong, Lord Fox. May we meet in more pleasant settings ahead."

***

Home. Tundra felt a weight lift from his shoulders as the flying ship finally sent him back to the Verdant Snow Sect, and he returned to find all was as he left it. His wives were busy with their own things, and he had some time to devote to his own priorities.

Ember Talons was right. The trip to Gomerlia was all the reminder he needed that he wasn't strong enough to play in the field. Zuja had far more strength, as did the demonic cultivators. His recent high profile also brought him enemies.

But first, pills. With materials and resources, it was time to do what he did best. The alchemy workshops hummed to life as he fired their cold cauldrons and summoned his assistants.

"You're back and already at work." Severian smiled as they gave each other a brief hug. "You have a lot of letters."

"For me?"

"Yes. Some I'd rather not open. Not without you." His elder and deputy sect master joked. But most interestingly, Tundra noticed his elder had risen a step.

"You went up a step."

"Ah yes. That happened. Did the two Great Sects really fight?"

"Yes. But thankfully it did not spiral out of control." Tundra sighed. "How are our core disciples?"

"About the same. I am doing what I can to help with the preparations for the White Tiger Tournament."

"Ah. That." Tundra couldn't help but think that feels like a small matter, now that he had some interactions with the Great Sects. "Did our guest elder create problems?"

"She seemed bored out of her mind without you around." Severian laughed. "I'm afraid, to her, you are the only source of entertainment and interest."

"It's a good thing she'll be busy."

The regressor sighed while preparing some materials for the next batch of pills. But luckily for them, the spirit beasts arrived and Tundra got to work. Tia Truehaven didn't kick up much of a fuss, and was more cooperative in the process of creating and extracting the spirit beasts' blood and marrow for the process of creating bloodlines.

In the ancient era, it is believed that the powerful spirit beasts could take on human forms and have children with normal cultivators. These were why there were the first cultivators with bloodlines.

But what are bloodlines?

In the 72 iterations, the ancestors theorised that bloodlines derive their unique abilities in a similar manner to cultivators, but do so via a form of carving process. The bones and marrows of these cultivators carve infinitely small patterns onto tiny motes of blood, and those carved blood then exhibited abilities when supplied with their host's spiritual energies.

On some level, the ancestors also theorized that it should be possible to create bloodlines out of scratch, if there was a way to create bones that created blood cells with these tiny carved patterns.

It was a fascinating prospect, though Tundra realized the issue was one of scale.

Most cultivators didn't work on the absolutely small scales required to create bloodlines. Tundra himself had never tried to create something at that tiny scale, even if it is something that had been theorized by many alchemists before them.

There was a term used by ancient master alchemists that Tundra considered even better than himself to refer to these miracle pills.

The golden elixir.

The same principles and challenges also prevented the creation of these super powerful bloodlines. It involved the alterations of these bloodlines at incredibly tiny scales. In theory, it should allow for the artificial replication of even the Golden Dragon's bloodline, possibly, without its drawbacks.

But those are the wider picture, for a day when he attained true mastery of these bloodline methods.

For now, Tundra focused on helping his family, and disciples, and performed the compatibility tests as stated within the 72 Iterations. He placed their drops of blood, and smiled.

Tia Truehaven, who was also nearby, immediately congratulated him. "Well, Lord Fox, it seems there are a few compatible bloodlines for your family members after all."

He looked at the woman, and nodded. He thought of the times he had to kill her, and maybe she wouldn't be such a difficult person if she had a bloodline of her own. "You should get one for yourself too, lady Truehaven. Who knows how it could help."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Just maybe, you might be the target of some great scheme."

"Bah, there's always someone scheming against me."

"Exactly. You're not a popular person, even within the Truehaven family. I do suggest you use some of your own family's methods."

The two stared at each other, before she turned away. "I'll think about it."

***

"Did something happen?" Celestia asked as the husband and wife cultivated together. His spiritual energies flowed through her meridians, her spiritual root, and he observed some minute changes. Good changes, and so he was pleased.

"Not much." He answered. It seemed his two other wives decided that they wanted private sessions of their own, so the three wives worked out a schedule where each of them got Tundra alone.

There was some brewing conflict among the three.

"Really? I feel like your spiritual energies are a little more intense and heavy."

"Eh." Did his own thoughts leak into his spiritual energies? A quick recheck and he nodded. "Ah. It seems my thoughts were a little too much and they leaked into them."

"I see. Is it not a good time?" Celestia asked again, but Tundra held her waist and stopped her from moving away.. At this distance he could feel her faint lavender-flavored scents, and his palms were on her skin. She was warm. Gentle.

"Not at all." Tundra said. He looked at his wife, and sighed. He pulled her closer.

She was so light.

So light that it felt like he could blink and she would disappear from his life. He shook his head. Those thoughts bothered him sometimes, a nagging illusion. Maybe, if she was stronger, she wouldn't feel that way. "Celestia, I want to give you a bloodline, and I have been running some tests."

"A bloodline?"

Tundra highly suspected that bloodlines inherently countered the effects of the Zuja's parasite. Because if the Zuja took two forms, one as bloodline, the other as a parasite, preventing the Zuja from possessing individuals through a bloodline meant the Zuja could never obtain total control over an individual.

At the very least, a bloodline, even a weaker one, worked at very small scales, even smaller than the tiny motes of blood, and they would help resist Zuja's attempts and buy time to undo them.

A parasite was infinitely easier to remove than a bloodline that merged with one's physical body and soul, and so, bloodlines would protect her. It would protect his entire family and everyone he cared for, and reduce the Zuja's plague to just a parasite he can remove.

"Yes. A compatible one that would enhance your strength."

"I see... when?"

"As soon as you are ready."

***