Chương 5: Undercurrents

Divine Might Peak, Master Hall.

"I felt a disaster's chaotic footsteps, sect master. The stars trembled in fright, the winds whispered omens that even the heavens refuse to witness. We shall prepare the entire sect, our entire foundation… and even wake up the Ancestors, for calamity stirs in the belly of earth," said an old man. Leaning back on his throne, Qin Guiren's eyes swept the hall. From dark stone and gold-veined pillars to the high-arching ceiling that resembled the cathedrals of Thronebonded sects.

His gaze took in all those paintings, those scrolls hung on the wall. He had never grown used to this place. It was… too cold, too somber.

"This is truly a grave matter, unlike anything we have seen… Sect Master?" Qin Guiren's gaze finally landed on the old man. His face was hidden under his wide hood, some white hair peeking slightly out of it. His robes were embroidered with dainty, vibrant patterns like a relic dressed for a festival long forgotten—youthful and bright, conflicting against his wrinkled chin.

"Noted, Second Elder. A sect meeting will be held to address your words. Anything else?"

"There's something… quite an important matter in this humble one's opinion." Second Elder fiddled with his sleeves, avoiding eye contact.

"Stop beating around the bush, Second Elder. You're no different than a brother to me, and a venerable elder of the sect. You can offer your opinion on every matter," Qin Guiren said, voice calm and collected. Though his eyes slightly darkened.

"Then this humble one seeks your thoughts about reconsidering the Eldest Sect Brother seat. We are the Supreme Judgment Sect, the ones who exact heaven's will no matter who or where. A hollow vessel, one so devoid of power and qualifications, can't continue to represent us." Qin Guiren's fingers drummed lightly as the elder spoke. Each word, a needle of disrespect. And this old fart knows this better than anyone. His eyes hovered above the old man's bowed head, his aura slightly boiling out of his body.

"Our decision in this matter is final."

"But!" Second Elder lifted his head sharply. Qin Guiren's aura erupted in an instant, pressing down on the Second Elder like a mountain, daring the man to continue. For a brief moment, fear flashed through the elder's eyes before he averted his gaze. However, instead of taking a step back, he kowtowed as if he had committed a grave mistake. The sound of his knees striking the floor echoed through the silent hall.

"With all due respect, I beg your pardon if this humble one offended your great self, sect master. But still, this is a grave matter that may concern the life or death of the entire sect… Our hearts, too, bleed with the same pain you bore for losing such a remarkable seed. Wang Ren is your one and only disciple, and he is also a son to us. Even the heavens wept that fateful day!" Second Elder paused, then offered a bitter smile.

"However, we need to be more than humans, and leave aside our personal feelings for the future of our sect."

"As you said, Second Elder, he is also your son," Qin Guiren uttered, voice cold.

"If every elder of this sect considers him as their very child, then why do we still argue about this? My disciple, Wang Ren, gained the seat of Eldest Sect Brother with his prowess, not through his connection with me. Although I am the Sect Master, you know the rules. Without the consent of disciples, even I can't touch his position." He glanced at the old man with disappointed eyes.

"After all the things he did on behalf of our sect, after all that blood he shed, how could I act as if those sacrifices are nothing without strength? Let me remind you of this once, Second Elder. We aren't like those Thronebonded bastards." A breath hissed through clenched teeth.

"We don't kick our own when they stumble."

"Excuse this old one for losing his composure. Still—" Qin Guiren's aura turned crimson abruptly, his gaze flickering to the right just for a fraction of a second.

"I said enough," a dangerous tone tinted his voice.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear what you said, Brother Zian. You can retreat." Second Elder gulped unconsciously. His lips parted a few times as if he still wanted to protest, but he pressed them down in the end, bowing before leaving.

"As you wish, Sect Master." Watching him leave, Qin Guiren remained still. He could feel the chilly breeze on his skin, but inside, all he could feel was an inferno.

"You're getting soft, my stupid disciple. This whole leadership thing seems to have dulled your edge," an ancient voice echoed inside the hall.

"What a pity, we expected better from you."

"Master…" Qin Guiren shot to his feet, taking a few steps, searching for that familiar figure. Yet no matter how far he spread his aura, he couldn't find him. A flicker of doubt flashed past in his eyes.

"Use your eyes, not senses, when you're in doubt," the voice came from behind. He slowly turned back. Ancestor Lin sat on the throne with his legs crossed, smoking his pipe. His very existence was enough to silence the crimson aura around him. Qin Guiren dropped to one knee and bowed his head.

"Master, Ren… my son is alive, right? He wasn't possessed?" he asked tenderly, voice purged from authority.

"What are you doing?" Ancestor Lin lifted one brow.

"You are the Sect Master, rise."

"I am also a father, Master. Please answer my question. That's all I need right now." A silence stretched between them. Ancestor Lin puffed on his pipe, slowly. Steadily. Wearily. Every passing moment heightened the weight on Qin Guiren's shoulders. Each breath was another stab to the heart. A single wisp from the pipe curled between them, vanishing before it touched the floor. In the end, the old man let out a deep sigh.

"I'm sorry, my child. But he is gone." Qin Guiren froze. No, the time froze. His face went blank, and a deafening roar filled his ears. My son… is gone? Eternally? [Once a Master—] [Always a father.]"That person," Qin Guiren muttered, raising his head.

"Did you kill him?" His gaze erupted with fire. Ancestor Lin stared at him deeply.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I want to know who he truly is. How could he merge his very origin so intricately with another's? And why would even the heavens forbid investigation into his soul? Heck, it nearly triggered a tribulation."

"What?" Qin Guiren lowered his eyes. Rubbing his chin, scratching his head, he wondered aloud, "Master, are you really sure? My son wouldn't—""Are you questioning my judgment? Even those Ascendant brats can't hide anything in front of me." Ancestor Lin waved his pipe in irritation.

"Then, what should we do? Sit here like fools and hope the answers come knocking?!" Qin Guiren suddenly rose, his gaze snapped out of the window toward the Eldest Brother Manor.

"Master, I can't let down my only disciple's blood on the ground. They need to pay the price." His face twisted more and more. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Use your eyes, Guiren, those useless eyes of yours," Ancestor Lin's tone sharpened, his eyebrows furrowing.

"If something or somebody can obstruct even my techniques, then there must be something fishy going on. We can't lay a finger on him until we figure out who stands behind him."

"We can extract all the answers from him. You said my edge turned dull, right, Master? But you're also getting old, getting too cautious! We—""Watch your words, Guiren," Ancestor Lin muttered coldly, his aura flaring to life. It completely took over the hall in a second and forced Qin Guiren to calm down.

"We don't need long, just until he completely recovers. Then, he will come to me on his own. And I promise you will be the one who will take his life. Until then, you have to act like you don't know anything, understand?" Qin Guiren just glared, the fire in his eyes undiminished.

"I asked you a question." Ancestor Lin glared back as well. After a slight pause, Qin Guiren inhaled deeply.

"Once a master, always a father. I learned this from you, Master. And to this day, I've always stayed true to your teachings. But now, my disciple has been murdered. So tell me, Master… will you wait like this if one day someone murders me too? Will you pretend nothing is amiss?" Ancestor Lin's eyes darkened. A real darkness, as even the moonlight slipping through the windows was erased in front of it. Pressing his lips together, he remained silent. The kind that was deathly. Deafening.

Yet Qin Guiren refused to back down; the fire inside him had long burned away his logic. I only have you and Ren, Master. His hands, hidden in his wide sleeves, clenched tight, nails sinking deep into flesh.

"If this is what it takes to get your revenge," Ancestor Lin said, his face unreadable, "then so be it." Qin Guiren's face went pale. He teetered where he stood, all strength drained— but still, he mustered a bitter smile. A broken one. A silent cry.

"Master, I…" he paused briefly as if the words were covered in thorns and got stuck in his throat. He inhaled deeply and only then managed to utter them.

"As you wish, I will act like I know nothing." Ancestor Lin nodded. For a flickering moment, his gaze swept the void, then he disappeared with a last puff. The smoke drifted up and down until it dissipated. Qin Guiren stepped out onto the balcony, gazing out at the sprawling sect below. The moon bathed the grounds in its pale light, illuminating the stone paths and towering mountain peaks. His fingers tightened around the railing.

"Once a master, always a father…" he whispered, more to himself than to anyone else. … The next day started with the sun's warm greeting, dark clouds from last night's remnants blending into white, fluffy clouds. As soon as Ren woke up, he washed his face, humming a tune. He wore a light blue robe and stepped into the backyard, inhaling that sweet, earthy smell deeply. That might be the best sleep I've had since coming here, Ren stretched, joints popping one after another.

I didn't expect talking with an antique would help that much. Also, that bergamot must've worked wonders, he thought as he started to jump on the spot, then did a light running around the backyard. After sweating enough, he sat on the jade-like marble-covered ground right in the center, feeling the abundant spiritual energy.

"Let's see what you've got, system." *Ding! [Lifeseed initialization pending… continue?] Last night, he had gone to bed without even checking, as he felt like he didn't have any more stamina to handle additional stress. A fresh start should be left for a fresh day, after all.

"Yes." [Initialization ended, Lifeseed accepted.] [Lifeseed: Nascent-Moonfly Tree (Primordial Lifeform - Low-Quality)] Growth: 0/10000 Skills: [Moonwalker - lvl 1], [Phantom State - lvl 1], [Primordial Lifeform] [Moonwalker - lvl 1]: As the host of the Nascent-Moonfly Tree, you gained its main skill, Moon-Devouring. Using moonlight to reach a semi-photosynthesis state, you can devour moonlight energy to strengthen your body passively and actively.

[Phantom State - lvl 1]: As the host of the Nascent-Moonfly Tree, you gained its partial state of Dimensional Disappearance. Using moonlight energy, you can bypass dimensional limits for a limited time. [Primordial Lifeform]: As the host of the Nascent-Moonfly Tree, you gained immunity to all mind control techniques or imprints. No curse can affect your mind. Ren read, stared, and then stared again. He then raised his gaze, looking at the horizon wistfully. A deep sigh parted his lips.

"So, system, you are making me a walking solar panel," he uttered, voice super calm.

"Which means even you covet the only peaceful time of my day, and force me to work overtime in a different world…" Ren shed an imaginary, pitiful tear. You should've guessed it, idiot. If you'd just chosen the simple flame one, you'd have no problems. But you, you had to choose the most problematic one. I love mysteries, huh? Take it and shove it where the moon doesn't shine… ugh, alright, alright, let's think before we act. What does moon mean? Night. Also a fine woman, but never mind that…

He also remembered that women were more closely related to Yin Energy, and that the moon embodied its purest form, on par with the Yang Energy of the sun. As long as he wasn't going to turn into a woman because of it, he had no problem. Probably not, that would be too absurd. He shrugged at last. Never mind, at least it seems strong. With that thought, he moved on to reviewing the skills.

"Though they are self-explanatory to a degree, I need to experience Moonwalker and Phantom State before I judge. The Growth part is a little hard to guess, though… Does it need resources for it, or simply energy? If it's the latter, then which type?" He rubbed his chin.

"Baby steps, don't worry now, just take your baby steps," he repeated to himself, then continued, "As for Primordial Lifeform… it doesn't even have any level, and seems quite simple, but its effect… is simply op! Hell, is this the advantage of being one? I knew it, Primordial always turns out better than Ancient." Ren clenched his fist, his smile widening. But as fate would have it, a panel appeared right then. [Ding! Core change completed.] [Detected that the host has an unstable lifecore. Searching for solutions…] [No solution found in system archive.] [Searching for temporary measures…]"Oh, great, now I'm defective … system, are you doing this on purpose? Didn't they—whoever the fuck they are—choose you for me? Then why the hell are you making a mess?" [Ding! Temporary measure found.] [Until a permanent solution is found, daily watering is required.] [Daily watering rate: Ten points a day] [Warning: Missing daily watering may weaken the host's vitality and cause unforeseen circumstances.] This must be the problem related to what Ancestor told. Something about the soul being at ill ease within my body. Ren pondered. If e ven that old monster can't do anything about it, then what's the point of fretting over it? Still, what can I do to change it? Is there any soul mechanic that can fix me in this world? A special store hidden amongst the mortals for the immortals? He pinched the bridge of his nose. Also, what are these points? What will they do to help this unstable lifecore? How will I obtain them?

Are they related to Growth? Hell, before anything else, where is the cultivation part, you fucking scammer?! Seriously, he couldn't even be happy for a few minutes. Furthermore, as if mocking him, a terrifying pang of hunger rose at that moment. He buckled up, his hands clasping over his stomach. What the— The pull came from deep inside, increasing with every passing second— sharp, urgent, ravenous. His body reacted on instinct, forcing him to rise and stretch out his left hand, drawing a wide arc.

He drew two small circles in an instant with his right hand, then took two steps in haste. Heavenly Serenity Technique, First Level: Heavenly Call. As soon as he opened his palms forward, the spiritual energy wandering around him triggered, pouring into his body faster than he could react, and he felt like a thousand tiny needles rushing through his veins. The same process from yesterday happened; his core couldn't hold it in. Yet this was just the start.

All the spiritual energy suddenly yanked back toward where his core used to be before it could escape, and was devoured in an instant, like some unseen force had been starving for it. His eyes flew open. Ren continued the flow, reaching for more and more energy, his steps getting quicker and quicker. Instead of the peace he should've reached, his heart pounded in his chest harsher than ever. The force pulled at him again. It gobbled everything—every last sliver of spiritual energy—before greedily reaching for more.

His skin started to crack under the pressure, his pores opened as wide as possible. Calm. The. Fuck. Down! He opened his arms wide, triggering a flood of energy to his body. The cracks widened as his face twisted, blood trickling down from the corner of his lips. Yet, as if throwing a pebble into the ocean, all that flood disappeared in one bite. Ren frowned, his mind racing for a solution. Yet his soul brother's memories had no hint of what might be causing this. He could only hang on for the ride.

Every time he thought the surge would stop, another wave crashed into him. It forced him not only to maintain but also to heighten the flow. And just when it was about to overwhelm him completely— *Ding! Before he could even process what was happening, the scene abruptly changed. He found himself in an endless void. By saying emptiness, he meant it. Aside from the green ground beneath him, there was nothing as far as the eye could see. Insert new Minecraft world…

As his brows furrowed, a vast tree erupted from the earth before him, blackish-silver bark gleaming under a faint silver light. Barbs covered its trunk, shimmering with a purplish glow, while enormous white leaves stretched far above, each vein larger than his entire body. And there, floating around it, was a butterfly-like silhouette, obstructed by the pale glow of the moonlight that came from behind the tree. Majestic… and terrifying. These two words appeared in his mind.

But just as abruptly as the vision appeared, it vanished, leaving Ren blinking in the sudden emptiness. In its place, the ground stood the same, and a tiny sapling swayed weakly, its leaves drooping as if it had just been bullied by the heavens themselves. Pitiful child. His face softened for a moment. Then a whirlpool of spiritual energy spiraled to life above the sapling, forming a single, delicate drop. One nearly as large as the sapling itself. It dropped onto it, causing the little plant to shine.

At the same time, a panel materialized beneath it. [Daily Watering: 1/10] Wait… did that just…?! His vision wavered again, the surroundings twisting as a wave of exhaustion crashed over him. The next moment, he found himself back in the backyard, lying on the ground.

"What in the actual hell happened…" Ren muttered, grabbing his head with both hands, feeling a new kind of exhaustion wash over him.

"So, now I have turned into a living watering machine for a freaking tree. Amazing, truly amazing!" For the second time that day, he wanted to cry. If I ever met the creator of this system, I am gonna plant them… six feet under.