Chapter 124 – Growing Like Weeds

As ridiculous as the notion was, the mountains kept growing like weeds. While he kept an eye on the formation, in the past few days Ren had measured the mountains and observed that it hadn’t slowed down its growth at all! The second peak had grown even taller than the other two, its tip clearly ascending above the clouds. Ren estimated if this pace of growth held, his cave would soon be higher than the clouds!

Unable to put it off any longer, Ren decided to explore the depths of the mountains in search of the 19th node. As far as he could tell, it was the only possible explanation for the abnormal growth of the mountains. He recalled all that he had read about The Edge’s underground. As his predecessors had written, the caves were natural formations occupied by mostly harmless insects. In the past some had found some small profit by selling those to alchemists, but their remarks lacked detail. More importantly, the reason why past caretakers hadn’t created rooms under the mountain was because of the stone that made up most of the mountains’ interior.

Dark Bastion Moonstone was a nearly impenetrable stone that ran in thick veins all through the 3 mountains but especially the second. Unfortunately for the caretakers of The Edge, even if someone strong enough could mine it, the stone needed excessive refinement before it could be of use in building extremely sturdy fortifications. It simply wasn’t worth the effort since there were multiple other substitutes available more cheaply. Many had written bitterly of how The Edge was a worthless ground they had been punished with precisely because of such features. Those granted it were truly left without a single avenue to survive.

Ren was already in the process of eradicating this foul legacy forevermore; he decided to see if he couldn’t do the same for the moonstone too. By the time he entered the caves, the swarms of insects that had emerged had all returned to their homes. In the dark of the mountains, Ren was shown a dazzling display by the luminescent creatures. And it wasn’t only the beauty that caught his breath but also the savagery before him.

Unbeknownst to a busy Ren, the Corpse Silk Moths that had hatched not long ago were engaged in a pitched battle with the glowing insects. Before his eyes, the young moths were capturing and devouring the insects while fighting off the reinforcements. But they were outnumbered dozens of times over. Whether the insects were fighting for food, territory, or some other reason, Ren didn’t know. What he did know was that he couldn’t afford to let his precious source of silk be slowly ground down by numbers.

Ren quickly activated his Intermediate Insect Control and summoned the moths to him. To his horror, he felt resistance and then a staunch refusal to return and end the conflict. The moths, like all his other pets, were strengthened by the environment. While that meant the silk they made would be of even higher quality, it also made them strong enough to refuse orders that went against their deepest instincts.

Thinking quickly, Ren decided to cut his losses. If ending the war was impossible, then it was better to win it. He channeled his qi and summoned all the moths from their different battlegrounds in different caves to this one. Since it didn’t go against their instincts, they swarmed to that single battlefield and bolstered the moths that were slowly losing.

The battle turned immediately, and the moths began to rip apart and devour the glowing bugs to the point Ren could see their abdomens shine incandescent with the remains. Normally, the moths subsisted on a diet of the Ghost Face Tree’s leaves and the dying essence of spirit beasts, but they seemed to have found a new food source. Once the cave was empty of the bugs, the moths didn’t seek out more and simply rested in the cave.

“What was that about? I’ve lost nearly a quarter of their numbers because my attention was on other matters. Were they seeking a breeding ground? No, it’s too soon in their lifecycle for that. Hopefully they find a way to co-exist and not eradicate each.”

Having settled that matter, he finally turned his attention to the stone that made up the walls of the cave. As expected, none of his swords could penetrate the stone. And he was certainly unwilling to unleash his strongest move, Fated Fall, under these circumstances. When he had first read about the properties of this stone, Ren had no particular need for it, content to leave it be. But if he wanted to get a closer look at the 19th node, then he would have to find some way to mine the veins efficiently.

Observing with his divine sense, he noted small traces of qi seemed to ooze out from tiny cracks all around him. It was neither life nor death attribute qi, but he could recognize traces of both melded with others, forming an unknown amalgam. He had read about higher-order qi and knew that they could combine and split apart into more types of qi, but he lacked the practical understanding to identify it.

At this point all he could confirm was that something about it seemed to promote natural growth, whether it was the insects, the mountains, or even the animals that lived in his abode. It should have normally been too faint to have much effect, but Ren had just agitated the qi flows of The Edge with his arrays. The source of this qi must have been stimulated somehow, causing this strange growth.

Frustrated, Ren resolved to not rest until he found answers. It didn’t have to be right away, but he didn’t want to just shrug his shoulders and say, 'It is what it is’. He was already surrounded by so many unknowns in his life. His entire cultivation style was shrouded in mystery. He was a bit helpless there, but for other problems like this Dark Bastion Moonstone, he couldn’t give up. He had an idea already, but it required him to be patient.

His exploration had been brief and foiled all too easily, but at least he had discovered the problem with the Corpse Silk Moths early. Ren was forced to be satisfied with that.

Ren continued to see more signs of rapid growth over the next week. The plants around the nodes were self-propagating just a tiny bit faster, and more baby goats and yaks had been born. The herds were too wary of Ren and fiercely protected their young from him. Ren needed to spend more time domesticating them slowly before he could play with the adorable little babies, a determination strengthened by each shaky step and heartwrenching bleat.

The Encroaching Darkness and Heart of Relentless Suffocation were still settling in, but Ren was past the critical point. His efforts ever since he had been granted the Edge had been rewarded, and as he looked at the vitality slowly growing under his care, Ren felt the karmic strand constructs in his dantian hum. He wasn’t concerned, as his instincts remained calm and the sensation was rather pleasant as both his Fires of Life seemed to grow denser. Ren got the feeling that he had taken a large step forward on his path instead, and that feeling had persisted over the days.

‘Perhaps I am close to another epiphany! With how rare they’re supposed to be, wouldn’t it be amazing if I had a fourth before I reached 20 years of age? Not a lot of time left for that, though! Or maybe it has something to do with that Cosmic Destiny that Elder Yun Peng mentioned in his message? He gave the impression that it was something extremely valuable he had collected over years.’

Ren didn’t have too long to rest in his great victory, as on one rainy morning, he received the awaited notice of someone at the borders of his abode. Mei Ling had likely returned as promised for the expedition.

"Ah, I’m so underprepared! I know fixing The Edge took priority, but I can’t very well ask Mei Ling to delay just for me. What should I do?”

With such thoughts, he flew to the grassland border with the Sword Phase Formation node to greet his friend, only to find a different friend than he expected.

“Greetings, Zhao Ren! It pleases my heart to see my favorite research partner and customer doing well!”

“Hu Yan! I am so very pleased to see you! I was so glad to hear from Mei Ling that you arrived safely with so many of our fellow disciples!”

Ren suddenly felt very awkward. His home was in no state to entertain guests, with the qi flows in turmoil. Mei Ling would have forgiven him for a poor reception, but would Hu Yan? Ren quickly threw out his array flags and, using a variation of a shelter array, spontaneously created a roof held up by four pillars in the style of a very simple pavilion. He placed tables and chairs and began preparing tea while Hu Yan just looked on curiously.

“Forgive me for not being able to receive you properly. Can you make do with this simple setting? My home is currently a mess.” Ren asked, strongly feeling the embarrassment. He nearly died of shame when Hu Yan laughed but was pacified when his friend easily took a seat.

“Is that all?! You did all this just for me? I’m honored, Ren!” He gave a salute, still chuckling.

The two of them began to reconnect over tea, sharing news and gossip in equal measures. Hu Yan was a consummate gossip who knew how to keep a conversation interesting yet dignified. Through him, Ren learned that his friend, the girl he called Daoist Tealeaf, had somehow found a way into the inner sect and was in the process of raising tea trees on her waterfall abode. It was surprising that she was found to have the potential for the inner sect of the Azure Mountains when so many other disciples, including Hu Yan, had been limited to the outer sect.

His friend didn’t seem disappointed, however, thumping his chest with a fist and saying, “How can I succeed as a merchant or information broker without understanding the basics? My time in the outer sect has been the greatest education of the breadth of this new world we find ourselves in. And trying to set up an information network directly in the inner sect would have invited the worst kind of attention. No, I’ll make my move when I mean to and not before!”

That topic reminded him of the market he wanted to set up with Mei Ling and his friends. And judging by the knowing glance on his friend's face, the topic hadn’t been hinted at by accident. Ren admired this fellow’s conversational skills so much because he had intentionally brought it up in such a way that Ren knew what he was doing.

Ren couldn’t hold his laughter in at that and brought out some meat to cook. This was the kind of conversation best had over a meal. Hu Yan hadn’t eaten his food before, and Ren was eager to see what kind of face he would make. Rather shamelessly, he asked Hu Yan if he had a mildly sweet wine that would pair well with the meal he was preparing. Naturally, a skillful diplomat would never lack suitable gifts, and they began to eat and drink while discussing business. The cool breeze and the light rain provided a lovely atmosphere to enjoy the spicy dish he was preparing.

Ren was just telling Hu Yan about some gruff visitors of the Sacred Grounds who had treated him like a servant even after he assisted them when he was interrupted.

“Weren’t you offended? I’ve heard that most custodians of the Edge were treated well.”

“The best way to deal with young masters is to get away from them and, barring that, finish the interaction as quickly as possible. I would know; I was one! Wahaha! No face is lost if I don’t really care what they think of me!”

“Speaking of young masters, there was one I wanted to tell you about who may be holding a grudge. It was this senior brother of Mei Ling who is definitely pursuing her. Such relations between martial brothers and sisters aren't abnormal, but she certainly didn’t seem receptive. I fear you and your friend Bao Hua may have indirectly incurred his anger.”

Ren wearily shook his head. He recalled Mei Ling ranting about an ‘annoying bastard’ when they last drank, but it was blurred in his memories. Another wayward young master holding an unreasonable grudge.

Just then his sharp instinct prickled his skin in warning. Straightening up, he motioned to Hu Yan to stay quiet. Not far from where they sat, two figures emerged from the Sword Phase Formation.

“Just like peasants to be unable to host someone properly! Hmph!” A supercilious phrase landed harshly in Ren’s ears.

Standing in front of a deeply ashamed Mei Ling was that very young master they had been talking about!