Regressor Sect Master

Celestia tapped into that new meridian, the sensation now unnaturally normal. As if she had always known the sensation. Her energies warped immediately, as the effects within her new bloodline gave her entire body a boost. She moved faster, stronger.

And her sword slammed into a wall of steel.

Her husband stood and watched. "The connections between your lower meridians and your bloodline can still be improved. Train that link, it's good progress, but there is more to go."

Celestia panted and tried to catch her breath. It was the thirtieth time she made that strike, and the wall of steel remained unblemished by her constant strikes.

Wood couldn't hurt steel.

No. She cannot believe that.

Wood can hurt steel. Wood can outgrow steel. Wood is strong. Flexible. Its weight always increases over time. Wood has all the time in the world, and grows stronger in time, while steel will rust.

It is what she must believe.

"Good. Try again." Tundra said.

She struck once more, her bloodline now flowing through all of her flesh. The taste of power was easily intoxicating, but she kept it under control.

Focus.

The steel age. In time even the strongest of metals rust and break.

Her sword smashed into the wall. It felt different, the way her sword sounded as it hit the wall. The thrum of the steel as her wood energy infused technique had a distinctive thunk to it that felt more weighty.

More real.

She looked at the wall, and waited for the dust to settle.

Did she do it?

When dust eventually settled, there was a small scratch on a wall of silvery steel. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt her spirits freeze in shock.

"Good job." Tundra did not clap, but he praised her anyway. For a fourth realm's attack to scratch the seventh realm's wall of steel was an impressive feat.

She blinked. She heard her husband's words but she couldn't digest it. She honestly didn't believe her attack could do that.

Tundra was clearly pleased, because he picked up his tea and began to drink it, he didn't realize he had a smile on his face. She blinked a few more times as her eyes looked at the steel wall repeatedly. Once she allowed herself to breathe again, she felt her exhaustion catch up. She limped back to the gazebo and sat next to her husband.

"I believe you are ready for the fifth realm." Tundra declared.

Celestia thought about it. Celestia knew she had to do it. Yes. Even if Marin will hate her, she could not afford to wait.

She felt her spiritual realm. It transformed in many subtle ways over the past year. Her husband's constant lectures eventually left a mark, and now she could feel her own weight increase.

She felt like was now in the top quartile of cultivators of her level, maybe even the top ten percent. "Yes. I will be ready."

"Good. I will prepare the pills and materials, and we will head out into the mountains." Fourth to fifth should take a few days, at most. "And don't tell anyone. Right now, what you need is to seclude yourself, and prepare your heart to face the challenges of the spirit realm."

Celestia breathed. She heard similar things from Elder Julia when she faced her own fifth realm breakthrough.

***

The place was far away, and the mountains were somehow quieter. Celestia looked at her husband, and felt relieved that he was here to help her get through her spiritual breakthrough.

There was almost no wind. The sky was clear, and the sun was rather hot.

They picked a place. Unshaded, and far from any trees. Any nearby trees would be spurred by her wood-energies, and could interfere with the flow of energy around her. There are some that believed that they could break through the realms anywhere, and the locations did not matter.

Celestia erred on the side of caution. Such madness was the luxury of genius.

Those who reached the heights by building their spirits brick by brick, stick by stick, must decide with certainty and with a healthy margin for error.

Tundra sat a few feet away, and waited. She placed the pills around her, and looked at her husband. "I will start now."

He looked serious. Focused. She could feel his prying senses. Little bits of his spirit around her, monitoring her every move. He nodded.

She briefly felt his spiritual energies floating around her, and then, slowly they drifted away to give her space. She closed her eyes, and knew that she was safe here.

So she turned her attention into her soul.

Celestia felt the patterns in her spiritual realm glow, and then, she took the first pill, one of the five heavenly-grade [Five Harmonies Pill] prepared for this moment. Spiritual energy exploded within her soul, and then, she guided them to the heart of her spiritual realm.

The world does not look fondly upon those who claimed the power of the spirit for themselves. But, a cultivator must grow their spirit in order to exercise their will on the world around them.

She pushed.

And she felt the world push back against her.

The weight of the world was intense, but this was where Tundra's training came in handy. She shaped her spiritual energies of wood, into strong, powerful manifestations that pushed back against the world's resistance.

And those spiritual plants held even as the world continued to resist.

Patience.

She whispered to herself, and took another pill to replenish her energy. The spiritual plants in her spirit realm grew larger, and now she continued to push outward. Each time she pushed, she felt the walls that separated her spirit and the world grow thin.

It is stretched.

Patience.

She allowed the stretched spiritual walls time to regain its strength. The higher realms dealt with larger surfaces, each realm had to grow to accommodate all the power that it now claimed for itself.

She took a third pill, and this time, the pill was to reinforce that thinning wall. The world wants to break it.

The world furiously wanted to crack the barrier so that the world can reassert control over the spirit.

The world disliked cultivators for defying their rule.

She focused. She must resist.

Resist.

She is a cultivator, and she will be in the fifth realm. But patience. She pushed, as the world now began to attack her in different ways.

She felt thoughts. Nightmares. Her past. Exaggerations of her fears. The world would stop at nothing to deny one's rising power. With each realm, the world drew more from everything around it in defiance of their growing strength.

The world refused to allow cultivators to reach the power they wanted.

But cultivators must all resist.

They must claim.

She breathed.

These are little petty things.

Madness.

She remembered her husband once said how some cultivators grow mad because of the visions during spiritual breakthrough. Even if they achieved the physical aspects of power, their mind was broken.

It is important to break through with both mind, heart and body intact.

Beyond important.

It is the only true measure of success.

What is success if the mind fell apart, poisoned by the foul, false lies of an angry world? Some cultivators believed it is possible to salvage a wounded mind.

Celestia believed no such thing, and silenced the voice of the angry world.

She was ready, and she felt the world's taunts fall deaf. She closed her eyes, and she pushed through anyway.

Patience. Keep going.

Tundra once said during a lecture, that the path towards the tenth should be nothing more than a simple energy gathering exercise, followed by an expansion of the spirit to create one's spirit realm.

If one never stops, even the tenth realm is possible.

But so many failed to do such simple things, because they are not simple at all. It is conceptually easy to understand that the more 'space' one had in their spirit realm, the stronger their cultivation.

But why isn't it easy? All because each higher realm grew more fragile. Vulnerable. The walls become thinner, and thinner, until the very act of pushing and claiming more 'spiritual' space becomes a dangerous affair.

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Celestia nodded to herself. She can do this. She checked her entire spirit, and knew she was making progress. So, she pushed some more. Her spiritual realm expanded, and the world roared in defiance.

She pushed. The grass in the fields around her grew abruptly, any seeds that had not sprouted suddenly did so. The surge in wood-element energies energized all the plants, trees, and shrubs. The land itself seemed more lifely.

But Celestia had no knowledge of this, because the only thing she cared about was the change within her soul.

Focus. Resist. Expand.

Then, it all clicked into place. The resistance from the world began to fade away. She wanted to celebrate, but no. She cannot. Not until it fully faded away.

Focus.

It took hours. Days. And it was done.

She opened her eyes, and found herself a fifth realm cultivator.

***

Tundra felt as if a little stone in his heart lifted, when he felt her successful breakthrough. That moment when the spiritual energies and walls reached the various 'islands of stability' that marked the gaps between major and minor realms.

He was not there when Celestia broke through to the fifth realm the first time. She did so herself, alone, and without the aid of someone she could trust.

Without trust, a cultivator cannot focus on the challenges that the spirit world throws their way. This time, Celestia reached the fifth realm far, far earlier than she did in his first life, and he hoped he could guide her even further. If the Zuja could push Celestia to the tenth realm, could he do so too?

"Well done." He approached her, and Celestia nodded. The two hugged. It felt strong, and well constructed. The foundations would make the next steps easier to face.

"Is that all you have to say?" Celestia smiled. "You were not here the first time."

"Ah. Yes. I'm afraid I have few words beyond that."

His wife stretched. "I should rest for a week, correct?"

Tundra nodded, and he knew his wife repeated it only to tease him. "Good. The journey isn't over yet."

She groaned. "I wish it did."

"Then it will strike you like a bolt of heavenly lightning."

The two began their walk back to the Verdant Snow. It was quiet, and Tundra sensed Celestia experimenting with her senses, and allowed her spiritual senses to adapt to her stronger power. Before long, she would be able to feel things further away, and her spirit could reach into things around her.

They walked, perhaps a little too leisurely. Tundra was in no hurry, and Celestia was pleasant company.

"Thank you." She said abruptly, and he saw her smile.

He nodded, and knew why he loved her the most of the three. "I hope to help you even more."

"So that I won't be a burden?" She laughed.

"I don't think you are." Tundra said, and sadly, his mind knew who were actual burdens in their family. "I will have to depend on you to keep everyone safe."

Celestia walked closer. "Do you think Elly can be in the fifth realm?"

"A part of me believes that everyone can, but it is a matter of willpower, spirit, and talent." There are solutions to solve talent and spiritual energy, but willpower is something that cultivators must hone themselves.

It is an unfortunate thing that those with willpower are often arrogant, and difficult. Willpower, without the right heart to temper their excess.

"Well, what's next?" Celestia asked.

Tundra decided he wouldn't let such a good opportunity go, and went for an attack. "A child, of course."

His wife blushed like a red tomato. "Something other than that!"

***

Tundra examined his disciples, specifically his inner and core disciples, and corrected their mistakes. Lectures to his students were a common thing, at least twice a month, the twenty or thirty or so would gather, for a personal examination by the Sect Master.

It was a fairly unusual practice in the larger sects, and one that Tia Truehaven noticed.

"Only direct disciples get personal tutoring from their elders and masters, everyone else makes do with scriptures and notes from the ancients, or devours what scraps the direct disciples and elders are willing to share."

Tundra smiled. "It is the way of the Great Sects. I like to believe we are still a small sect, and so I will conduct affairs as a small sect."

"Your time is limited."

Tundra laughed. She doesn't know what it's like to really not have time. "On the contrary, I believe I have more time than ever. Our disciples are our next generation, and those who will carry our flags. It is they who spread the Sect, and grow it."

The methods and structures of those that led a small sect into a medium sized sect, or even a great sect, are not the same as the methods needed to maintain them at their current level.

The disciples listened. A few of them were good, but he had very low hopes for the coming White Tiger Tournament. Without his three newly ascended elders as participants, the rest of them were above average.

Even if he had time, it wouldn't be enough to make them excellent. He breathed, and continued his lecture on cultivation theory.

Some of them would learn. Most of them would need more time to digest and comprehend the lecture.

Progress is a slow, slow thing.

***

"What did the Crimson Spire say, father?" Anna asked, Annaly quietly waiting behind her. Tundra was reading the latest series of trading agreements, many were opportunists trying to get involved with the Verdant Snow, based on rumors of possible Ancient Titans backing.

It was amusing, but an opportunity. Severian and Agnia's diplomatic visits schedule were thus packed, mainly to forge new connections, while sidestepping the issue of the Ancient Titans, and also working out potential ways to weaken the Zuja-corrupted Southeast Fists.

They were likely not the only Zuja-corrupted sect, so the two elders were also tasked to monitor the sects close to selected swamps.

Tundra looked at his daughter and placed the scroll down on the lacquered wooden desk. He picked up a cup of tea, and shook his head. "The Crimson Lotus Spire is in a difficult situation, a visit would not be possible. Instead, we may be meeting some of their disciples in other-"

A messenger ran and waited outside. He shouted. "A letter from the Crimson Spire, sect master."

Tundra smiled at Anna. "Well, it seems your timing is impeccable, Anna." He summoned the messenger in, and he saw a letter from Zuri Blackpetal.

'My brother's ascension cannot be delayed, but Prince Gomerl has lined up a series of urgent task requiring my attention. I will be visiting soon to hand you what we need, as I need to be in Gomerlia again.'

A second messenger came a day later, as a flying ship appeared in the horizon. An imperial flying ship bearing the flags of Prince Gomerl.

"Lady Blackpetals, interesting that you've decided to visit personally." Tundra greeted.

She frowned. "I do not have much time for the formalites. It seems the Prince is impatient and wants me in Gomerlia tonight. Come, do you have a secure, private room where we can talk? Quickly."

"Very well."

The two rushed into a quiet room and Zuri Blackpetals did not mince words. She handed him a powerful spatial pouch that contained a nation's worth of resources. "My brother's ascension requires these pills and he cannot wait any more, but ever since last year, I have been swamped with other things. Now Prince Gomerl won't give me the time to make them. I need you to do it. Urgently. Consider that we both are asking for a favor."

Tundra briefly checked the pouch and his lips curled in amusement.

Tundra paused as he digested the situation. Prince Gomerl may be acting indirectly on the behalf of the Zuja, and because he is the de facto crown prince, there was no way she could find a solid block of uninterrupted time to work on these pills.

Given her skill level, she likely needed about two to three months, and that was too long for her.

"This is quite the bribe from Prince Gomerl."

"I know. But the enemies within my sect are moving. You know who they are. I also fear that something may be up in the Prince's city, but that is something I have to deal with."

Gomerlia was filled with protective artifacts and spiritual guardians, so he didn't think Zuri's life was at risk. With her array of protective talismans and her talent, she should get out of it alive.

Still, the real problems come from the bureaucracy and the ministers, and the very thought of them made him frown. Southeast Fists are not the only sect with infested cultivators. He looked into the woman's eyes, and nodded. "Very well. I will have it ready in two months. These are delicate things, and that's the fastest I can do."

"Two months?" Zuri repeated.

"Yes."

She looked genuinely pleased, as if she expected longer. "Heh. I knew you were hiding something. Very well, I'll count on you, Lord Fox. I must go and see what task my patron has for me."

Lady Blackpetals nodded, and just like that was gone.

"Interesting woman." Tia Truehaven popped up around the corner. She was clearly trying to eavesdrop.

"Like you?" Tundra teased.

"You won't tell me what secret tryst you two are up too?"

Tundra laughed. "Why should I? Instead, all I got was work."

But first, he needed a letter. Zuri may be able to protect herself, but sometimes, it's better to have a friend in high places.

Tundra knew he should get to work immediately, but a letter would take no more than half a day. Maybe just a single night was all he need.

He sat down in his room, and started to write to both Duke Hadrian and Grandduke Edrian. They were both members of the Imperial Family, even if they were distant, and he hoped that Grandduke Edrian would be able to pull some strings, and look after Zuri.

***

Tundra smirked when Julia trembled slightly. She walked around the workshop, and he could sense that she was nervous. The entire workshop was barricaded and protected with way more protection than normal, and no one was allowed entry. She had likely never worked under such high security situations, and so this would be good for her.

She monitored the various vials and pots, and made sure each of the tools were spotless. Her heart pounded.

"The first time I worked on such precious materials, I had a similar reaction." Tundra said as he made a cut into an ancient bone. It would be made into a series of pills. "Breath. Think. Recite what you need to do. Breath again, and then act."

Julia nodded, but she could not silence her thoughts. The perfectly preserved dragonscales in the silver cauldron could buy a ninth-realm spiritual weapon, and pay off the mortal debts of an entire region.

Still, she breathed. Tundra watched his disciple speak to herself. She could do this. She worked on alchemical materials for a long time. She can do it.

The reactions of the dragonscales were beautiful, the energies they released were so pure and pristine, that it felt like they were freshly plucked out of a still living dragon.

"Good, place it into the formation and increase the energies just enough that the inner and outer scale separates. We need just the small flesh in between them. The connective tissue of the dragonscales."

"Yes." Julia gulped. She had to do this ten times.

Tundra, on the other hand, had other materials to work on. These pills were a decent challenge, and allowed him to stretch his alchemical skills. He had been making so many sixth and seventh realm pills that the opportunity to make something in the low-ninth was a joy.

"Master, you learnt this in your dreams?"

Tundra found that statement amusing, and realized he should probably refrain from using 'do you think you can improve by sleeping' as an insult, because some day, someone is bound to prove that it is possible. "Yes. I used to make pills of this tier."

And more, but that need not be said.

Wilber Blackpetals need the spiritual energy and materials to build a strong eighth realm foundation. That would give them the strength to support his own sect master, and resist the corrupt within his ranks.

The Phoenixflesh Cauldron stood at the heart of the workshop, sitting on it's own supporting by a steel platform. The cauldron glowed that the entire pot looked red. The heat was so strong that it needed it own protective formations to prevent the heat and the energies from the cauldron from spreading to the nearby materials and causing unnecessary interruptions.

Tundra walked up to the cauldron, and felt the fire coming from the swirling cauldron.

The Old Earthcore Tree's Spirit Seed stood at the heart. How the Zuri and Wilber Blackpetals got hold of such a treasure was something he'd have to find out some day. Such a thing was valued somewhere in the high ninth realm.

The fact that Zuri and Wilber gave it to him was a huge measure of trust. Or desperation. But of course, there was no way for Tundra to sell it without creating a lot of enemies, and he can only conclude that they believed he wasn't stupid enough to run with it, and the Verdant Snow lacked any substantial backing for him to get away with stealing such a prize.

He observed the behavior of the spirit seed within the cauldron, but his mind weighed the odds of supporting someone like Wilber. It was a little too late to think about it, because his instincts when Zuri gave him the pouch was to agree, and he trusted that spur of the moment instinct.

Her brother was clearly smart and talented, and yet in his first life, the regressor could not remember what happened to him.

Could it be that after the incident with Princess Luharl, Zuri was thus in trouble, and thus the position of the Blackpetals back home was thus vulnerable? The Crimson Lotus may have been embroiled in domestic conflicts, thus Tundra didn't need to pay attention to them.

Regardless, his senses focused on the Seed.

It needed another week of constant spiritual heating to trigger a reawakening.

Tundra touched the cauldron, and began to tweak the spiritual heating slightly. It would need to be gradual, in order to awaken the full strength of the Spirit Seed, before it can be made into a series of pills.

***