6 Gu Fei’s Flower Garden

The next day the girls woke to the light of the sunrise attempting to pierce the thick cloud of fog that had collected in the aptly named Drifting Clouds Quarter. The girls gathered together to discuss their future as disciples of the Black Mountain Sect. Once again Lan Cixi led the discussion; her status in Heishan city had made her the de facto leader of the group. Once again Cang Rong and Hao Ru stood to either side of Lan Cixi. Once again Yan was conspicuously absent from the conversation.

Hong Wu could not understand Yan's behavior. 'Why is she purposely separating herself from the the group? Doesn't she know that we will have a better chance of success if we work together?'

These questions left her mind as quickly as they entered. 'If Yan does not want to work with the group then there is no reason to force her.'

Lan Cixi started the conversation by addressing the situation at hand. "Now that we are all given the same task, I believe it would be beneficial for us to share everything that we learn about the sect and cultivation. The more of us that pass this test in two year's time, the more allies we will have, and the better chance we will have of staying in the sect."

What she said made sense. If they worked together, they would be able to adjust to their new surroundings faster, and learn the ins and outs of both the sect and cultivation. All of the girls nodded their heads, agreeing with Lan Cixi's words quite easily.

"Why don't I start out? I asked Hao Ru to gather some information last night. It appears that we are being treated very differently from the other outer sect members, which has made many feel negatively towards our group."

Hearing this many of the girls faces fell. Cang Rong was quick to voice her displeasure, "It's not like we asked for preferential treatment. We are the Junior Patriarch's direct subordinates. It is only natural that he should want to give us extra care."

Lan Cixi agreed, "You are right about that; however, that does not change the fact that we have been given one more Qi Drawing Pill than other gray robed disciples and nicer living quarters. We have two rooms and a courtyard to ourselves, but everyone else shares those smaller shacks we passed by the other day with another person. It is natural that we garner some unwanted resentment."

Many girls were distressed at this news. One spoke up with worry, "Does this mean that we are in danger?"

"No," Lan Cixi replied, "while they do harbor resentment, no one will be brave enough to take it out on us for fear of punishment."

The girls' dark expressions lightened after hearing this. Hong Wu found this to be a reasonable judgement. The sect rules she read last night stipulated that outside of sect competitions and specific areas designed for duels, any attacks on a fellow sect member would be dealt with harshly. Anyone caught would be severely whipped and then locked away for six months of secluded meditation.

"I also had Hao Ru look into the particulars of cultivation and found out a great many things. First is our cultivation technique. The Coldmist Breathing Technique apparently allows its users to gather the powers of heaven and earth into our bodies and use it to cast spells. Cultivators call this power spiritual qi."

With this many of the girls became excited. Hong Wu was no exception. 'Does that mean that I can one day fly like Elder Zhao?'

Lan Cixi continued, "Cultivation for mortals like us is simply gathering some spiritual qi and storing it in our lower dantian. Once you are able to keep a strand of this spiritual qi in your body, you are considered a Qi Condensation cultivator. Qi Condensation is separated into ten different layers. Anyone who can break through to the sixth layer will be promoted to an inner sect disciple."

All of this new information was very exciting for the girls. To these girls, it was as if Lan Cixi was explaining the mysteries of the universe to them. Captivated, the girls kept their gazes squared firmly upon Lan Cixi, their eyes shining with admiration.

"But the most amazing thing Hao Ru discovered is that those who climb all the way to the tenth layer of Qi Condensation have a one in a thousand chance to become even more powerful. If one of them is able to break through the barrier, they become exponentially more powerful than any Qi Condensation cultivator can ever hope to be. People who achieve this level of power are called Foundation Establishment cultivators. If one achieves Foundation Establishment, then many doors open up to you. Anyone who reaches Foundation Establishment is quickly promoted to an elder of the sect, just like Elder Zhao. It is said that once you reach this level of power you can extend your lifespan to two hundred years. As if that wasn't amazing enough, Foundation Establishment cultivators can freely step into the skies as if it was the earth and fly through the air!"

Everyone gasped at this prospect, even the usually sultry Cang Rong. 'Imagine, the ability to fly.'

These revelations that Lan Cixi gave awed Hong Wu. Hong Wu pictured herself walking right into the clouds, the wind dancing around her. Desire filled the faces of everyone present.

"In addition to the cultivation technique we have been given three different cultivation resources. Each month we can go back to the Ascending Clouds Pavilion, where we first received our materials, to collect more.

"The stick of incense is called the Meridian Opening Incense. Apparently breathing in the smoke can help clear your meridians, the passageways spiritual qi travels throughout your body, and make gathering spiritual qi into your body easier.

"The spheres are pills to help with cultivation. The white one is called the Qi Drawing Pill and act as a ball of pure spiritual qi. Cultivators use these to quickly advance during the early stages of Qi Condensation. Normally outer sect disciples would only receive one of these, but we were given two due to our special status. But the most unique item we have been given has to be this red pill."

Lan Cixi held up one of the small red pills that everyone was given. "These are called Fasting Pills and allow someone the ability to survive comfortably without eating for a month!"

Cries of shock escaped from everyone. "Is that really true Lady Lan?" one of girls in the crowd skeptically asked.

"There is only one way to find out," Lan Cixi replied as she tossed the pill into her mouth and swallowed it.

The girls waited for a response with curious gazes. Lan Cixi laughed, "Well it is not like we will know right away. Hurry and eat your Fasting Pills too. Time will tell; if we are hungry tomorrow we will just have to figure out what to do then."

Not seeing any reason to argue such logic, everyone produced and swallowed their Fasting Pills. As the pill slid down Hong Wu's throat and into her stomach, a warm sensation began to build up within her. 'I felt a little hungry just a moment ago, but now I'm full! Immortals sure are amazing.'

Looks of satisfaction appeared on everyone's faces, save for Cang Rong. Clearly the idea of not eating did not sit well with her.

Hong Wu kept quiet throughout the rest of the meeting, an old habit born from Madam Ji's belief that Hong Wu should never be seen or heard unless otherwise requested. She did, however, listen attentively to what the others had to say. Lan Cixi spoke the most, with Cang Rong coming in as a close second, and a few others chiming in when they could.

After a fair amount of time had passed, Lan Cixi ended the meeting and suggested that the all go back to their separate dwellings and begin attempting to break through to Qi Condensation as soon as possible. Hong Wu returned to her house, but before she entered she went to go check on Yan.

Hong Wu approached Yan's house, knocked, and called out, "Hello, it is Hong Wu. I just wanted to let you know what you missed at the meeting. Lan Cixi told us some valuable information that could prove useful."

No one answered. Hong Wu tried once more, but it seemed that Yan was not at home. 'I will try to tell her tomorrow I suppose.'

Feeling adventurous and curious of what the sect had to offer, Hong Wu decided to take a walk around the mountain. Coming from the Drifting Clouds Quarter and through the rows of crude shacks, Hong Wu drew some less than friendly stares. Hong Wu did not mind though. Thanks to her appearance, Hong Wu was used to garnering unwanted attention.

Once she left the residential district, Hong Wu walked towards a large pagoda with many disciples in gray and blue robes congregating nearby. Curious, Hong Wu approached. Above the doorway to the building was a sign that read 'Cloud District Exchange.' Hong Wu entered and was mesmerized by what she saw. Apparently this was a store catering to cultivators. The walls were lined with racks of weapons and treasures. Behind counters were merchants showing various pills, cultivation resources, and items of interest to potential customers. Almost as soon as she entered, young salesman quickly approached her. "Is this your first time visiting our exchange fellow daoist?"

The clerk of about eighteen years of age was dressed in a gray robe and had a thin smile. There was a look of sharp intellect hidden in his eyes as he sized up Hong Wu. The boy stole a quick glance at the left side of Hong Wu's face before returning eye contact, showing no reaction to Hong Wu's disfigurement.

"Yes it is. My name is Hong Wu. I am new to the sect."

"You are one of Gu Fei's flowers? It is a pleasure; my name is Hu Huan. Please feel free to call me Brother Hu. Let me know if there is anything that I can do for you."

"Gu Fei's flowers?" Hong Wu inquired.

Hu Huan showed a measured expression of embarrassment. "Apologies Sister Hong, what I just said was rude. Some of the disciples of the sect have taken to calling your Drifting Clouds Quarter by another name, Gu Fei's Flower Garden."

Not minding the title, Hong Wu continued her line of questioning. "How did you know I was from the Drifting Clouds Quarter?"

"The sect rarely takes in new disciples, so when you said you were new I assumed you were one of the sisters that joined recently."

"Can you tell me more about the Cloud District Exchange Brother Hu?"

"Certainly. The Cloud District Exchange is the sect's market. Anything you need can be bought here with merit points; resources, pills, materials, magic tools, even spells and cultivation techniques."

"How does one obtain merit points?"

"Merit points are stored within your sect token. You can obtain merit points various ways. The most common method is by taking jobs at the Black Rock Pavilion west of here. You can also wager merit points in duels at the Roaring Tigers Arena to the south of this location. Anyone who completes great deeds that benefit the sect may also be awarded merit points by the elders."

"Thank you for the information Brother Hu."

"You are welcome Sister Hong, feel free to come back after you have completed a few jobs."

Hong Wu exited the Cloud District Exchange and pondered her next steps. 'I have no reason to visit the Roaring Tigers Arena. Even if I wanted to fight others I do not have the strength to do so. In that case I guess I will visit the Black Rock Pavilion to see what jobs are available.'

Heading further west, Hong Wu eventually found herself at the Black Rock Pavilion. Here more gray and blue robed disciples were crowded around a large black wall with various pieces of parchment tacked on. Hong Wu watched as a few people took out their sect tokens, and touched them to a piece of parchment. The parchment would then glow in one of two colors. Ones that were written in black ink glowed white briefly before dimming. Ones that were written in red ink glowed purple, then disappeared. 'It seems that there is no limit to the amount of people taking on the jobs that glow white, but the purple ones are first come first serve.'

Hong Wu walked up to the board and read a few of the postings. Most jobs involved collecting resources from the forests on the mountain. There were also numerous requests for concocting pills and other alchemic products, as well as a few crafting jobs. There were even a few jobs asking to slay magical beasts and harvest them for materials.

Hong Wu walked up to a parchment written in black ink that many people had already selected. On the parchment it said that the Cloud District Exchange was willing to provide ten merit points for every fifty stalks of an ingredient for the Fasting Pill, Lush Meadow Grass. On the parchment was a picture depicting the grass. Hong Wu pulled out her sect token and placed it onto the parchment and … nothing happened.

"Hehe, idiot."

Turning around Hong Wu found the source of the rude voice. Sitting to the side of the wall was a drowsy looking man in a dingy and wrinkled blue robe. His bulbous nose was tinged red and his right hand was barely maintaining a grip on a wine jar. Everything about the man irritated Hong Wu, but knowing his status as an inner sect disciple, she remained clam.

"That ain't gonna work no matter how hard you try shrimp."

"What does senior brother mean?"

"You ain't bound that sect token to yourself yet. You can't take any of these jobs without first becoming a Qi Condensation cultivator. Come back when you have some spiritual qi ugly."

Hearing this Hong Wu was dismayed. Gritting her teeth Hong Wu thanked the man and left the pavilion. 'Damn drunk, just wait until I become a Qi Condensation cultivator. Then we'll see who's the idiot!'

Hong Wu put the man out of her mind and headed back to her house to begin attempting to breakthrough to Qi Condensation and take her first step into the world of cultivation.