Eaten

Li Wei reaches the entrance of his cave. The cave opening looms in front of him, its mouth wide and welcoming. He pauses momentarily at the entrance, taking in the familiar sight.

He steps inside. The cave is cool and dimly lit, starkly contrasting to the outside world. His footsteps echo slightly as he moves further in. 

He sits down. He takes a deep breath. He starts with the essence, taking it in carefully measured amounts. He closes his eyes and focuses inward, channelling the essence, nourishing his bones.

Li Wei stands in the quiet of his cave. He thinks, "I should take some essence before going to the market. Need all the progress I can get."

"Within two months, I must ascend three levels, gather and master superior techniques, and ready myself for a confrontation with Xue Feng."

"The market next to the pavilion will have better quality items. I have enough money now, so affording higher quality items shouldn't be an issue."

"I might consider looking for a servant. Having someone to handle the basic tasks would free up more time for my cultivation. Perhaps there's a chance to find a slave at the market."

Li Wei pours water into the cup and then carefully adds the measured essence. He stirs the mixture, watching as the essence dissolves into the water, creating a solution.

Once it's mixed, he sits down cross-legged. With the cup in hand, he takes a moment, centring himself before he begins the absorption process.

He takes a sip, the liquid slightly bitter but potent, and sets the cup beside him. Closing his eyes, Li Wei focuses inward, channelling the essence through his body. He regulates his breathing, allowing the essence to flow around his body before it settles.

Li Wei finishes his session of absorbing the essence and opens his eyes, feeling refreshed and energized. He stands up, ready to embark on his journey to the sect's market. Before leaving, he takes a moment to ensure he has everything he needs for the trip.

First, he checks his pouch of coins, ensuring he has enough to purchase what he plans to look for at the market. Satisfied with the amount, he secures the pouch at his waist, ensuring it's safely tucked away.

He quickly glances around his cave, confirming he hasn't missed anything. 

Li Wei steps out of his cave, taking a moment to adjust to the brightness of the outside after the dimness of his sanctuary.

Li Wei, following the familiar path winding its way down the mountain, is marked by the frequent passage of many feet. In the background, the intermittent chirping of birds. The air around him is crisp and invigorating, a refreshing change from the stillness of his cave.

As he progresses, Li Wei encounters other disciples on the path. Some are going uphill, each absorbed in their thoughts and purposes, while others descend like him, perhaps heading out for similar errands or tasks. 

Eventually, Li Wei reaches the bottom of the mountain. As he does, the pavilion comes into view. The site of the sect assessment. The sight of it stirs a mix of memories and emotions within him. He pauses briefly, reflecting on how far he has come since that day. Then, he continues towards the market, ready to seek out the resources and possibly the help he needs for the challenges ahead.

"The sect assessment... I wonder, Those who failed, have they already been processed into pills and eaten by the inner disciples?."

The market near the pavilion differs from where he bought the bones. This market is for higher-level disciples. It has more to offer. The items are of higher quality. The techniques and resources are more advanced.

Li Wei looks around. He sees various stalls. Some sell pills. Some sell bones. There are also stalls for weapons. And some for manuals. He is interested in the manuals. They might have the techniques he needs.

The market is divided into different sections. Each section caters to a specific group of cultivators. There are two main sections. One is for foundational establishment sellers. The other is for qi cultivator sellers.

He looks around. The foundational establishment section is on one side. The qi cultivator section is on the other. He notices the difference between the two sections. The foundational establishment section is bustling. 

Li Wei looks towards the section meant for foundational establishment sellers but decides against approaching it. He thinks, "Going over there could send the wrong message. If I'm seen browsing foundational stalls, they might think I'm at their level. It's important not to give off an impression of ignorance or disrespect. Best to avoid any potential misunderstandings."

He turns his attention to the section for qi cultivators.

Li Wei walks through this section. He observes the stalls. Each stall has a variety of items. 

Li Wei walks through the market, his eyes catching sight of objects he hasn't seen before. They hang from the stalls, each distinctly marked with intricate designs and symbols. They are small, flat, and made of paper or thin wood. Each is inscribed with characters and patterns, some with swirls and others with more angular, sharp lines. 

He pauses in front of a stall displaying these objects. 'What are these?' he wonders internally. He has never seen anything like this in previous market visits. He observes them closely, intrigued by their unfamiliar appearance and a faint sense of power.

His gaze shifts to other items on display. He sees manuals, their covers worn from use. The titles are written in elegant script. Some titles are familiar to him. He recognises herbs laid out in neat rows, their names and uses coming back to him from his experience at the pill hall. 'These are the same herbs the senior brothers use for pills,' he thinks, a sense of familiarity amidst the market's unfamiliarity.

They are of various colours and sizes, stored in small, carefully labelled jars. He knows these well. He has worked with similar items before. 'These pills could be useful,' he thinks. 

His attention returns to the unfamiliar hanging objects. He watches as a fellow cultivator picks one up, examines it, and nods in approval before purchasing. 'What purpose do they serve?' Li Wei ponders. He is curious but cautious. He doesn't want to reveal his ignorance by asking outright.

He observes other cultivators at the stall. Some pass by without interest, while others stop to look more closely, like him. A few exchange coins for the objects, handling them respectfully and cautiously.

Li Wei's curiosity grows. He considers the importance of these items. 'They must serve some significant purpose in cultivation,' he deduces. 'Perhaps they aid in protection or enhance abilities?' He files this observation away, a puzzle piece to understand later.

He moves on, his eyes scanning the rest of the market. He notes the other items for sale, but his mind remains partly on the mysterious objects. 'I need to learn more about these,' he resolves. 'Understanding them could be crucial.'

As he continues through the market, making mental notes of the items and their potential uses, Li Wei's thoughts return to the hanging objects. The market visit has expanded his understanding. This world is much broader and more complex than he realised.

Li Wei approaches a stall where the unfamiliar objects hang. The storekeeper is busy arranging the objects on display.

Li Wei clears his throat. "Brother, what are these papers with symbols on them?" he asks, pointing to the objects.

The storekeeper looks up. He examines Li Wei for a moment. "Talismans," he replies. His tone suggests he is used to such questions.

"You must be new here," the storekeeper adds, a slight smile on his face.

"Yes, Brother, but I can pay," Li Wei responds quickly. He wants to ensure the storekeeper knows he is serious about learning and possibly purchasing.

The storekeeper nods. "These talismans," he begins, picking one up, "are imbued with specific powers and can be activated by injecting a bit of Qi."

Li Wei listens intently. This is new information for him. The concept of talismans is unfamiliar, but he is eager to learn.

The storekeeper continues. "Each talisman here serves a different purpose. Some are for protection, others for healing, and some can even aid in cultivation or provide other unique abilities."

Li Wei's interest grows. He looks at the talismans. Each one is different. The symbols, the colours, the patterns – they vary from one to another.

"How do you use them?" Li Wei asks. He wants to understand the process.

"It's simple," the storekeeper explains. "First, you choose the talisman that suits your need. Then, you hold it in your hand and channel a small amount of your Qi into it. This activates the talisman and binds it to you."

Li Wei nods, absorbing the information. "And once it's activated?"

"Once activated, you can use the talisman according to its purpose. Some may be used immediately, while others might have effects that last for a certain duration," the storekeeper answers.

Li Wei considers this. He looks at the talismans again. He thinks about his current needs and challenges. "Can these help in enhancing cultivation speed or combat abilities?" he inquires, thinking about his upcoming challenges.

"Certainly," the storekeeper replies. "For instance, this talisman," he points to one with intricate patterns, "is known to enhance Qi flow during cultivation, making your sessions more efficient."

Li Wei examines the talisman. It looks delicate yet powerful.