78 Yvonne

"You have gained a Dao seed already?" She asked. "That is impressive."

"That was rude," she interjected before I could answer, "I apologize if I have given offense. I certainly didn't mean to diminish your accomplishment."

"No, I understand, and the inference isn't far off. It was a confluence of luck and opportunity that allowed me to form a Dao kernel," I replied minimizing my accomplishment and giving no clue as to the circumstances that had allowed me to embrace this fortuitous Heavenly event.

Very few knew I'd gained a Dao, why I'd discussed that achievement with a complete stranger surprised me. I had no idea who she was, other than a member of Dragon Sect, and I only knew that much because of the insignia embroidered onto her Hanfu. What she would or could do with any information she gained seemed inconsequential, but cultivators were secretive for a reason.

It was not beyond the realm of possibility that greed and envy could motivate a fellow cultivator to act against you. And knowledge of the more intimate details of the path you trod, might allow them to litter any future gains with traps and a dearth of opportunities. Cultivators were known to snatch resources they didn't need simply to keep them out of the hands of someone that could make use of them.

"I doubt that is the entire story," she replied. "I've never heard of a cultivator gaining a Dao by luck. A lot of hard work, a fortuitous event, and Heavenly intervention that might be construed as luck, but in every case, the cultivator reached forth to grasp the moment of insight required to claim that kernel of truth."

It was hard to remember exactly what circumstances I'd found myself in when I'd gained the [Dao of Movement]. My memories of that time were overshadowed by the formation of the Dao pillar within my spirit ocean. The duality of my Qi body and Dharmic Body had merged, as I contemplated the truth of movement and how it relates to the Universe at large. The enlightenment was so over-whelming, that glimpse into truth, that it submerged every other memory, creating a moment of time that was pure. All my other senses subsumed as I contemplated that truth.

Whoever the young woman speaking with me was, one thing was certain. Her Realm was higher than mine. She didn't come right and identify my cultivation level, but she certainly hinted about it when she mentioned how rare it was for someone at my stage to gain a Dao. I had attempted to probe her, to identify how powerful she was, but my perception was blocked.

It was possible she was the same level as I was, and instead of using her Qi to obscure her Realm, she was using a trinket or artifact. It was standard practice by those with the resources to hide their proficiency. Braun was now sporting such a device. A recent acquisition gained I believed, to offer some measure of protection during the tournament. I didn't think this was the case for her. Something told me she was simply more.

My real question was why she bothered to interact with someone in the Body Refinement Realm. I was not a member of her Sect and should have been beneath her notice, at least her Sect followed the same social constraints of Flowing Water

There were some small clues that allowed me to make a guess as to her Realm. The mannerisms that helped one to determine the age for an Elf suggested that she was not much older than I was. She was graceful, all Elves were, but she didn't have the grace that centuries of practice would evince. And if I was right, and she was not much older than I was, that meant she had to have at least reached the perfected stage of Qi condensing. My perception was evolved enough that a cultivator would need to have reached that Realm in order to shield themselves.

"Will you be competing in the tournament?" I asked, thinking this might give me some insight into her power. The tournament brackets were divided by Realm, I thought the chances of us meeting in the competition were remote at best.

I also realized the question was idiotic the second she responded. Dragon Spire was classified as High-tier, they would be excluded from participating even if they hadn't been the hosting Sect.

"No," she answered, polite enough to not point out the obvious, "the tournament has been restricted to Qi Condensing Realm, and below, I recently advanced to the Nascent Soul Realm, so I wouldn't be eligible."

I was mildly surprised she was willing to give me that much information. Most Cultivators hid their Realm for a reason. It was a major deterrent, other Cultivators refusing to initiate attacks when it was possible the person you were attacking was a much higher Realm than you.

"Will you have any duties during the contest?" I asked.

"I have enough control of the fire element to aid in healing, at least for those injuries that need to be cauterized temporarily before an individual can be treated by a water aspect healer," she continued. "And I will help with flow and crowd control, making sure people get to where they need to be to compete.

"That means I'll have to intervene in any fights that happen outside the dueling ring. Too many, honestly," she answered, "it's why I came to enjoy this sculpted garden. Like you, I enjoy the duality in contrasts the artist created, and I find it possible for peaceful reflection here when I need a moment away from frayed nerves and idiotic demands.

She was interrupted in her explanation by her Sect token, a buzzing that gained both our attention. She had either set an alarm that allowed her to track time, or someone who had her details wanted to speak with her. Whatever the reason, I knew our conversation was about to end, and that I had failed in my primary duty as a guest of Dragon Spire Sect.

At least in those duties that the Patriarch was most interested in, it was impossible to form connections if I couldn't even garner a name.

"Apologies," I said bowing deeper than her Realm or station demanded, "I should have introduced myself much earlier. This lowly Cultivator is a member of Flowing Water Sect. My name is Jay, please forgive my lack of manners."

The lack of manners was hers in reality. As a member of Dragon Spire and a cultivator that eclipsed my level, it was recumbent upon her to introduce herself, before I proffered my name. But I couldn't exactly point out her lapse in etiquette. Introducing myself first was an equal breach of etiquette, but it allowed her the excuse to rectify her mistake.

"It was nothing," she said smiling at me, a twinkle in her eyes suggesting that she understood exactly what I was doing and how much trouble I could be in with my Elders if she made an issue of my lack of decorum.

"Allow me to return the gift of your name with my own. I am Yvonne, and I thank you for the conversation. It has been illuminating. I will share the gift of your thoughts about the garden with my Grandmother, Elder Peaslie. It was her talent with sculpture and vision that created this grotto.

"That you enjoyed it and gained some measure of enlightenment will please her tremendously."

"Your grandmother? Did she sculpt the flowers that make up the garden, or create the duality of movement with permanence?" I asked.

"Both," she assured me as her jade token began beeping again.

"I really have enjoyed our conversation, perhaps I will see you again. I will watch for you during the tournament.

"I would wish you luck, but I think it might better serve to hope that the Heaven's inspire you during combat," she chuckled.

Her movement skill was more advanced than mine. I was able to track her for withdrawal for only a fleeting second before she had vanished from the small grotto I had discovered. Once she had left, I decided it was best I continue exploring. I had spent enough time exploring on my own, and I doubted I would find any place as interesting as this sculpted grotto.

I thought it best to head towards the larger main cavern. To explore what the people of Dragon Sect were offering for the amusement of so many disparate people. The Sect Elders had been explicit in their commands, we were to mingle with various other Sects that had arrived, Yvonne had been a pleasant accidental meeting. But I couldn't count on that happening again, at least not in these out of the way places I was exploring.

I thought it really a waste of time, these attempts to form connections. There wasn't enough time to form any meaningful friendships, and the chance that the friend you made today would be the opponent you met in the dueling ring tomorrow was not conducive to forming any kind of long-lasting relationship.

The best the Elders should expect is that we make token connections, at least for those of us that would be competing. There were a few Inner Sect members and Core Disciples that had reached Nascent Realm and as Yvonne had mentioned would be unable to compete. They had come to test their secondary professional skills. For them the goals for the Patriarch made sense. But she must already know of this limitation, it is probably why the Sect had chosen people that had reached the Nascent Realm, to begin with.

If anyone was going to be able to form long-lasting friendships and alliances, it would probably be them. I thought it might be better to concentrate my efforts on individuals that were at the Qi Gathering Realm. If the tournament was to be divided into brackets, then I might be lucky enough to find a few people that wouldn't be biased or base their opinions on me to cozy up to Braun or his faction. Or to those individuals like Yvonne, that were Dragon Spire members and I would have no chance of meeting during the tournament.