The purpose of visiting the Rising Storm Palace was not just to draw closer to them and for their disciples to get training. Those were important factors, but it wasn’t just Rising Storm Palace that John was interested in. He wanted to draw in others from the Blustering Peaks. Ultimately, the plan was to include everyone from the Phoenix Forest to the north, the Green Sands to the east, as far south as the Prism Underfields, and all the way west to the Viridia Wildlands. Perhaps they might even include the Glass Hills and Wuthering Steppes, or the Rolling Dunes.

He only intended to stop there because that was more than enough work to be done for a lifetime. If the region was successfully unified, reducing conflict between and within various countries, they could stand strong against outside threats. That would include things like the Black Peaks, but also the Molten Sea and Sky Islands. And surely there were more who would seek trouble with any borders they had. He just wanted to be able to stop all of that.

But for the moment, there was still plenty of trouble to be had within the region. The alliance he’d helped grow only properly included some factions within a handful of countries, and there was so much more that could be done to make the whole region secure.

Of course, John hadn’t forgotten his own personal strength. He had plans for tempering his body with air, and in a few years he would return to the Consolidated Soul Phase and see how he might do something similar with water. Each piece might be small on its own, but if he balanced them well he would be greatly strengthened overall.

-----

When John returned to Lunson from the Blustering Peaks, he found Steve waiting for him. It wasn’t hard to sense his friend, as he usually stood out even among others of similar cultivation. Now he was a step above anyone else- and in Astrein in particular where the cultivations were lower for the moment, he was quite a sight.

John strode back into the sect with his disciples weary from the training and travel. They dispersed as John sought out Steve directly. “It’s good to see you well, Lucanus,” he said.

Steve grinned. “Never better, in fact. But I was thinking, John. With you being called that now… should I really stick to this name?”

“I don’t know if you have quite the same excuse I do for taking on a new name. And obviously you’d want to consult Yustina before making such a decision.” John was already using his spiritual energy to block the area around them from anyone who might be eavesdropping. “I more intended to subtly hint at my transmigrated status. If more people take the same path, I don’t know what the results will be.”

“Hopefully, we’d find some lost and confused folk and help them along,” Steve said. “The kids already know about myself and Yustina, of course.”

“Would she be keeping her new name?” John asked.

“She isn’t interested in her old life. For the reincarnated, they don’t have all their memories all at once. They often shift personality somewhat before they grow old enough- though certainly influenced by who they were before. For us…” Steve shrugged. “We never stopped being ourselves, we just had some other memories piled on the side.’

John nodded, “Well, whatever you decide you should consult your wife seriously. She’ll help you make a good decision.”

“Not something I’m going to forget, buddy. I understand the wisdom of my better half. Speaking of wisdom, thanks for the tips on the Ascending Soul Phase. Probably would have gotten myself killed without.”

“What happened with you anyway?” John asked. “You just… disappeared.”

Steve shrugged. “You know how it is. Giant volcano right next door filled with fire element. At some point, you’ve gotta toss yourself deep in there to know it better. And then you have to do it again but swim deeper into some molten rock.”

John looked him over. “You certainly don’t seem to have picked up any earth element from such a journey.”

“We were just there because it was the hottest place we could find. The fact that it was rocks that were melted was coincidental.”

“Well, I’d be surprised if you strayed away from single element cultivation at your current point. I can’t imagine that going well.”

“As the resident expert on six element cultivation, I’d definitely take your advice on that,” Steve grinned.

“I’m still pretty terrible at light, though. I should find a chance to work with Deirdre and the Golden Tomb Guardians.”

“And your son-in-law,” Steve pointed out.

“Good point,” John said. “I suppose Melanthina would have some more useful advice by now as well.” John wished he could roam about as he pleased. He wanted to check on his children more frequently, but he had responsibilities. And his children weren’t kids anymore. That didn’t mean they wouldn’t want or need his presence ever, but they were adults running their own clans. Or in the case of Ursel, focusing on herself and then the Order of the Amber Heart.

There were so many things to do. The Six Elements Crossroads needed constant attention still, as the disciples were still relatively weak compared to the rest of the region. Time would solve that, but that was what John was worried about most. Soon they would start reaching the Soul Expansion Phase, however, and he would feel more comfortable.

But along with them, he had to consider the upcoming tournament. It was still more than a handful of years away, but he needed the first time the Six Elements Crossroad was running the Lunson tournament to go smoothly. He was still working out how to include their own disciples without appearing biased. He also needed to settle how tournament prizes were going to be paid for. Obviously the Six Elements Crossroads wasn’t wealthy enough to foot the whole bill, nor would it be a good precedent to set for the future. He had to start thinking about such things now, so they would actually be settled when the time finally came.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

-----

Considering his upcoming delve into the light element- eventually- John wanted to consult everyone possible on the light element. And he had one option directly in Lunson… occasionally. That was of course Viriato the trader and resource management elder of the Six Elements Crossroads.

Even if he was significantly lower in cultivation, his insights could still be useful. And even though his most recent totem was the water element- a particular one chosen to not disrupt the balance of the two conflicting elements- as his cultivation grew his understanding of that balance between light and darkness would as well.

“How is business going?” John opened with, after one of the man’s return trips.

“Quite well, actually. I’m not able to go everywhere myself, so I’ve been training some of the disciples to take on the less volatile opportunities.”

John nodded. That was good to hear. No matter how valuable one person was in a role, if there wasn’t anyone who could pick up the slack for them when they got overwhelmed things would fall apart. Which was why John was hoping to raise some more individuals worthy of the position of elder into the Six Elements Crossroads sooner rather than later. Personally, John felt that properly choosing individuals was better than how clans worked, producing heirs. Though clans gained some stability from the process, if they did it right, they might also be restricted in growth.

To John, the important thing was that ambitious and capable- but not troublesome- people should be placed in a position where they could excel. And not, as was so often the case with sects and old world companies alike, being raised one step further than they could actually manage. It was tempting to place only those most loyal to himself in positions of power rather than those competent… which is why John had plans to try to keep those the same thing.

“How is your cultivation advancing? I see you’ve properly reached the mid Soul Expansion phase,” John continued the conversation with Viriato.

The man nodded. “It’s good, to be able to consistently advance again. I might not have the fastest growth, but I was at something like a dead end when you first found me.”

After discussing the necessary business side of things- John didn’t need to know all the details of their ventures, but he figured he should be informed about the general markets they were dipping into- they moved onto cultivation insights. John had some advice for Viriato as he grew stronger in cultivation, and he asked for guidance with light. Obviously he’d only reach a certain level of competence without a totem, but he knew he would need every bit of practice he could get to allow the totem to settle into him properly.

Assuming he could actually step into the Ascending Soul Phase properly when his cultivation reached that point, and then advance beyond it. But he’d rather prepare for success than failure, and it would never hurt for him to have a better understanding of light. Indeed, if he skimped on the understanding it would become his one glaring weakness.

-----

John found Raul in his lab, as he so often was. The young alchemist had advanced to the Soul Expansion Phase as well, improving rapidly once he had proper resources and guidance. He had selected an air totem for his third, placing him just one step short of the cycle of core elements. John had high hopes for him to reach the Consolidated Soul Phase not too many years down the line. It would probably be after the tournament, but Raul wouldn’t be competing in the competition anyway.

Instead, he would be among the panel of judges for their alchemy portion. The tournament normally only included direct combat, but John was planning to change that up. He wanted to promote the various supporting skills that were necessary for functioning societies of cultivators, not just battle. Alchemy, equipment crafting, and enchantments were all important.

“How are things going here?” John asked.

“Quite well. Viriato has brought quite a variety of textbooks. From extremely valuable to… well, trash really. But I can still learn something from the mistakes of others. And warn any disciples to stay away from certain historical authors. Too many alchemists focus on the element of fire above all else. And while refining pills does require excellent control of flame…” Raul shrugged. “Obviously that leaves them a bit lacking in other areas. But you already know that.”

“Indeed I do,” John agreed. “That was what drew me to you to begin with. Your ability and willingness to make what I actually needed, instead of only traditional concoctions. Though I suppose most people are single element cultivators, and they would find the results acceptable.”

“That’s the thing, isn’t it?” Raul said. “They would think they’re getting high quality products, but most would be tainted with other elements that neither they nor the alchemist noticed. And while there’s nothing wrong with mixed elements if that’s your intention, if it isn’t you lose quite a bit of potency.” Raul reached for something on his shelf. “Come look at this. This was made using a technique from the Glass Hills. Spiritual energy was separated into different components using those processes. It’s not entirely pure,” he admitted. “But that’s without exerting special control over the extract. If you could get furnaces at very predictable temperatures, you wouldn’t even need spiritual energy to produce something half decent.”

“Interesting,” John said. “How is it accomplished?”

“Well, it’s actually rather simple. You just have to incorporate something that each element prefers to inhabit, then the heating process separates them. You can pour the liquids off in layers, if you’re precise.” Raul demonstrated, and John saw it was getting close to actual chemistry. It would be easier with a plastic pipette. At least Raul had good glass to work with.

John supposed they could make some sorts of plastics if they knew how. But with the way spiritual energy worked, the process might be different. Or they might not hold up to certain things.

“Your third totem is air, right?” John asked. “If you create a small vacuum in a tube, you might be able to suck up a layer of liquid precisely. And then your spiritual energy isn’t directly touching the extract.”

“Oh, good idea,” Raul said. “That’s the problem with pouring, using my spiritual energy to keep it in line can taint it.”

“Just remember that you might shatter the glass if your vacuum is too strong.”

“You sure know a lot of weird tricks,” Raul said.

John shrugged. “What can I say? I’ve experienced a wide diversity of things.”

While he might be able to help with that knowledge, Raul’s actual understanding of extracts and pills was now far beyond anywhere he would ever reach. All he knew is that some amount of balance was important. Enough substance to hold spiritual energy together and release it at the right speed into the body… and of course, avoiding toxins of various sorts. Though all extracts could be hard on the body, in certain quantities. John was letting his cultivation progress more ‘naturally’ after re-reaching the Soul Expansion Phase.