Yang Mei smiled as she felt the qi travel through her. The wonders of the dantian method powered her steps as she sped along a hidden sect path.

There really is something about qi that just is so different from using my body cultivation. It is so amazing to be at essence gathering two. I don’t know where Brother Felix found this [Heavenly Earth] Manual but it really is impressive. I am surprised I haven’t heard about it before.

After having a bit more fun she left the small path to join the main thoroughfare. Her smile waned as a group of disciples with a wilting lily on their robes passed followed by a group of Thousand Season disciples.

I feel like they are all judging me. The new foreign disciples are just as bad. No Yang Mei, no, don’t let yourself get carried away. You are pretty. Brother Felix made that quite clear. You just must have to have more confidence in yourself.

Forcing a full teeth grin back on, she made her way up the road until she came upon an open area situated about halfway up the mountain. There stood a building that dwarfed almost all others in the sect that she had seen. She paused to admire the artwork that was even now being added. It contained symbols from all the sects that had agreed to join the Martial Alliance. A mammoth performing a [Meteor Step] was fighting an army on one panel while another section showed the scaled spear motif of the Dragon Spear Sect soaring through the sky. Sometimes the sect’s representations were competing yet other times they were depicted as fighting a common enemy. Pride filled Yang Mei’s face as her eyes drifted to the main entrance where the Thousand Season Sect’s symbol dominated.

This is all the result of the Elders' strength. It is our duty to show the world that Thousand Season disciples are just as fierce. Completing a mission is just such an opportunity.

She found herself weaving through the crowd at the building’s entrance. The throng was full of colors from disciple robes of seemingly every organization in the alliance. Her large figure caught many looks with some widening in surprise as they looked longer. Though not in the contempt she expected.

See Yang Mei. It's all in your head. There is nothing wrong with being a muscular women cultivator. You are just extra awesome. It's not my fault that the sect robes are too small.

“Oh, is that little Yang Mei?” Said a male voice from behind here.

No. No. No. How can he be here? Pretend you didn’t hear anything. Yes, just keep walking.

“It is! How could I not recognize Yang Mei with that figure? How have you been? I had heard from father that you had been recruited by a sect, but I didn’t believe for a moment it was the new mysterious Thousand Season Sect.”

Yang Mei stopped in place and her clenched jaws creaked. Then she slowly pivoted to face a Young Man sporting the robes of the Dragon Spear Sect. A perpetual smirk was on his face while a spear that was nearly identical to the one on his robes was strapped to his back.

“Young Master Huu,” said Yang Mei. “It is so good to see you again.”

“I feel the same as well, Sister Yang Mei, and there is no need for the title of young master now. We have both joined a sect to become immortals. I was actually just dropped off by an elder with some of my fellow disciples.” Said Hu. He waved at the small group of similarly dressed disciples following him. “We were hoping to see what kind of missions they had started offing.”

“Senior brother. I didn’t realize you had connections at the Thousand Season Sect” Said a female to Huu’s right. “Our elder instructed us to make friends but you thousand season disciples can be so reclusive. It's such good fortune that Brother Huu saw you.”

“Me and Yang Mei go way back.” Said Huu. “Since we were children actually. We all had nicknames at the time, and it was loads of fun.”

“Loads of fun. Loads of fun!” Said Yang Mei.

Young master Huu seemed to notice something as he took a step back. Her own face warped as she tried to find the right words

How can he be so shameless? How can he be such a bastard!?

She ignored the many looks they were now receiving from the surrounding crowd as well as Huu’s fellow disciples. Huu’s face remained confused until it suddenly showed understanding.

“Oh, Yang Mei, I didn’t think… it might be best if we take a step back. We were only children. I know it might have been a bit unfair to you but-

“Shut up. Shut up!” Said Yang Mei.

“Whoa, calm yourself,” said Huu. “I am not sure what you are feeling but I am at Essence Condensing four. I am not sure what you are planning but I would stop.”

She did stop yet everyone could see the muscles tense in her face.

Always the same. This fucking slimy bastard. Yet I can’t do anything! I just want to beat in his handsome, smug face!

As the rage and helplessness burned through her she felt hot tears form at the corner of her eyes. Huu’s eyes opened wide.

“Now look here Yang Mei, that’s not necessary.” Said Huu. “As I said, we were children-

He stopped talking as whistling and screaming filled the air. People looked around in confusion until they began to notice something falling from above. Disciples from all sects scattered. A few remained still and watched the object approach confidently. Some of the more powerful even smirked as they realized it was a boulder.

Huu did not panic either. A serious expression formed on his face and he casually unstrapped the spear from his back. Taking up a stance, he slowly retracted his spear and aimed at the boulder. The face of the disciples further away turned to confusion. Both Yang Mei and Huu were indifferent to this as she scowled at him and he only had eyes for his target.

When the boulder was almost upon him, he struck. The spear pierced a few inches into the stone before the boulder seemed to explode into countless harmless shards. Huu completed the strike and a flood dragon’s roar sounded out as he finished in the pose. Then the objects of the other disciples' confusion became visible and his eyes opened wide.

Yang Mei saw the second object as well. The blurred form of a person that had been hidden by the boulder streaked by Huu’s still raised spear to land right foot first on Huu’s face. A moment later the confused looking Felix stood with one foot planted on the collapsed Huu. Yang Mei felt a well of happiness inside and couldn’t help but grin at Felix.

He really is a Hero.

Minutes earlier before, the world spun around Felix as the wind whistled in his ears. He had started tumbling end over end in his desperate attempt to use his movement technique.

Alright Felix, control yourself. What can you do? What can you do? What can you do!? Dammit, my thoughts are spiraling, focus. Seismic Step! That technique implied it could be used for sudden acceleration and deceleration.

Felix could barely make out the building and open area below. He tried to intuit how he would land even as he ignored the constantly shifting view. The boulder right beneath still fell, blocking even more of his view. He called up his memory of the improved technique [Seismic step], he waited a few seconds more as the ground rushed closer. Then the moment of truth was upon him.

Qi surged down the correct pathways, but the sound of the boulder shattering nearly broke his concentration. The technique barely finished in time even as he felt his foot make contact. Yet he felt something soft give beneath his feet and a crunch sound out. A jolt of force traveled up his leg even as the technique acted. Then the ground seemed to give out beneath him as he was suddenly falling another short distance before his descent stopped again.

On uneven footing, Felix looked around to find himself surrounded by pieces of crushed rock and a staring crowd. Their horrified looks nearly made him wince but when he saw Yang Mei’s smiling face, he returned a confident smile.

“Get off Senior Brother Huu, you bastard!” Screamed a girl. Felix turned confused eyes to the voice to find a disciple dressed in Dragon Spear Sect robes.

What is she talking about? Wait.

Felix looked down and saw that his slightly raised food was firmly placed on the face of a collapsed man. The color drained from Felix’s face as he took in splattered blood and registered how squishy the face felt beneath his boot. Then the downed man’s hand blurred and Felix found himself sailing through the air.

Ribs screamed in pain and Felix struggled to his feet to find a disfigured face glaring back. It would have been handsome except for the pulverized nose, still blackening eyes and multitude of ruptures that seemed to ripple outwards from where the nose once was.

“Well,” said Huu. He spat blood and a bit of ripped lip came off as well. “This certainly has been quite the reception. I am going to make you pay for that sneak attack you worm!”

“Senior Brother,” Said the female Dragon Spear disciple. “Your nose!”

Huu paused and reached a hand up to touch his nose. His eyes widened when he didn’t find it.

“You…” Said Huu.

Huu exploded in motion and Felix barely processed it before he found the spear tip a finger length from his chest. Despite the power that seemed to rage down the weapon’s entire length, it remained completely restrained by a delicate hand. Xue’s eyes slide from her hand holding the spear to give Felix an indifferent look.

“What did you do with the boulder? A proper sealing stone is expensive.” Said Xue.

I nearly died. Holy fuck I would have died. Holy shit… SHIT SHIT SHIT… I also kind feel kind of alive? Ugh, too many feelings! Wait, don’t I have that fucking Talisman?

“Felix.” Said Xue. Huu desperately tried to retract the spear but his efforts remained ineffective and ignored. “I need you to focus. You don’t want to have to pay for the cost.”

Wait… shift the blame!

“He did it!” Said Felix and pointed at the now clearly panicking Huu. “He broke the boulder and then attacked me.”

Xue’s turned to face Huu. The temperature dropped so fast that frost began to form on the spear and snowflakes began to appear. Huu’s mangled face twisted desperation even as struggles appeared to slow. Then Xue’s eyes looked down to the shattered stone scattered across the tiled floor to the cliff above. A look of annoyance crossed her face, and the cold was gone.

“Felix, I think I can see what happened. This is actually my fault. I didn’t even consider the consequences of allowing an Essence Gather up there.” Said Xue.

Oh, now you are quick on the update?

Felix sighed but suddenly found himself several feet away and his shoulder held in Xue’s grip. Then he noticed an old man had appeared and was supporting Huu.

Ah fuck, that’s the nascent soul guest elder. Why is everything going wrong?

The old man stared at the young man’s mangled face and then his gaze turned toward them. Felix surreptitiously moved so Xue was in front but he blinked in surprise when the Guest Elder ignored him. His fury was instead for Xue alone.

“How dare you.” Said the old man. A spear much like the youths was suddenly in his hand and a pressure that made even Xue wince spread out. “I have given nothing but face and extend the trust of housing my sects disciples.” His eyes leave the now pale Xue to look somewhere in the Sky. “Well, Elder Shen!? Is this what you promised? Now your Core disciples are casually injuring those a realm lower. Do you think I don’t have a bottom line?”

The portly monk was suddenly walking out of the sky to land in front of Xue. Eyes closed and hands together, yet Elder Shen faced the Dragon Spear Elder glare with a smile.

“Elder LongWei,” Said Elder Shen. “Though the current issue is my Sect’s fault, I believe you have some of the facts misconstrued. There is no reason for there to be any loss of face.” Elder Shen's golden eye popped open for a moment to glance at Huu. “Well, metaphorically at least.”

A vein popped out at Elder Shen’s last statement, but LongWei’s stance did not falter. His body language broadcasting his readiness to fight.

“Alright Elder Shen. Please enlighten me?” Said Elder LongWei with a snort.

“Well,” said Elder Shen. “For one thing, young Huu’s injury was not caused by Fairy Xue.”

“What? Of course, it was. No one else present could have done it. Unless he was sleeping, his cultivation should have at least allowed him to give as good as he got to the other essence condensers here.” Said Longwei. He paused when the limp Huu winced. “Or at least I thought that was the case.”

“Don’t blame the young boy. He actually displayed some impressive martial prowess. Though my young disciples over there did injure him, it was in some pretty contrived circumstances. “, Said Elder Shen. He pointed a finger at Felix. “They were both caught up in a runaway sealing boulder. The injury was just the result of strange circumstance. That was why I said the fault was ours.”

Guest Elder LongWei’s glare landed on Shen again and the tension seemed to rise. His eyes flicked to the broken rock lying strewn across the floor and then to Felix. Then he deflated and he was just a tired old man.

“I suppose I can accept that. To think he allowed himself to be injured by an essence gatherer… Well, my disciple will be compensated.”

“Of course,” said Elder Shen. “In fact, we even have a pill that will repair his face completely. A little extreme but it is our fault… One second.”

Elder Shen looked up the mountain until a moment later a familiar little cloud was flying down. It stopped at eye level to reveal Elder Zhenzhen nestled atop it under a blanket of cloud. She sat up and gave elder Shen a pout.

“What do you want, fatty?” Said Zhenzhen. She looked around at the guest elder and the very nervous crowd of disciples. “It better not be for anything boring.”

“Little sister Zhenzhen, I actually needed one of those new pills you concocted. I believe you called them pretty-pretty pills? I need it for the young man.”

Zhenzhen’s sleepy eyes cleared and she sat up excitedly. She scanned the crowd before her eyes landed on Felix.

“You want to make the boy prettier? I thought you liked girls?”

Elder Shen rolled his eyes.

“No little sister, I actually need it for a matter of face. In fact, quite literally.”

Zhenzhen’s nose crinkled and her eyes went to Huu. The boy injuries appeared to have started to cascade in some manner as Guest Elder LongWei kept him upright. Zhenzhen turned back to Elder Zhen with another pout.

“No stupid fatty. My pills are for making people prettier. Not fixing ugly people.”

Felix turned to the sound of coughing and saw blood leaking from a now unconscious Huu. Zhenzhen didn’t even spare a glance or acknowledge Longwei’s glare.

Wow, no wonder the elders are wary of Elder Zhenzhen. I can’t believe that actually works!