The First Peak of the Force

by Yuri Ajin

  There were two ways to do that. The student could do it themselves if they wanted to erase it, or it could be done with a special artifact, by another person. In case someone suddenly decided to leave the clan, they were to go to their elders who had such an artifact. If a student removed the tattoo themselves, they’d be considered a traitor and would immediately be blacklisted and exiled. Of course, this didn’t apply to those cases when a person simply died.

  Having been told that, they were given new Rings and clan robes. Disciples got high-quality, Silver-rank Rings and Earth-rank clothing. As for the three inner-circle students, including Kai, they were given low-quality, Gold-rank Rings, the space inside which could be compared to a typical two-story house. The robes — a dark blue cape, boots, trousers, and a tunic, with the clan emblem on each item — were of the Silver rank.

  [Thunder Serpent Clan Coat of Arms Clothes]

  Rank: Silver

  Quality: Low

  Feature: Passive [Self-Mending]

  Feature: Passive [Self-Cleaning]

  Feature: increased strength

  Feature: protection from heat and cold

  Kai was beyond surprised when he was handed the clothes. As he later learned, the material used was of the Silver rank, with special symbols woven into the items themselves, giving them the above stated features. Of course, such clothing couldn’t compare in either defense or features with armor of a similar rank, but it was still very useful.

  Finally, they were told where they’d be staying. Maps of the Thunder Serpent Clan’s territory were stored in the Rings they had been given. As for the resources promised to inner-circle students, they’d get them in a week, on the same day when everyone else got theirs, after which they’d have to wait until next year to get more.

  After Kai took Lily to the nearest hospital, for which he had to pay as much as five coins of hardened gold, he began to study the map. He realized that the clan’s lands were about the same size as the largest regions of Alkea. If he was to compare it with Earth, then it was as big as half of the state of Texas.

  Not taking into account the outer-circle students, who weren’t allowed to enter the Celestial Plateau, more than forty thousand people lived on the clan’s lands. Thirty thousand of them were disciples. To avoid having too many people in one spot, they were distributed among six cities — the Thunder Serpent’s Lower Nest, the Small Rose Garden, the Large Rose Garden, the Valley of Pain, the Temple of the Thunder Serpent, and the Thunder Serpent’s Upper Nest.

  Kai was now in the Lower Nest. It was from here that transportation and, in general, communication with the Lowlands or other clans was carried out. The sky port was the heart of this city.

  In addition, this place had the cheapest housing of all the cities, which was why most of the students lived here. They needed somewhere to stay not only because they needed a roof over their heads, but also because each house had a special room with an energy-collection array, which, given the already high density of prana on the Celestial Plateau, made them important places for development.

  At the eastern border was the Small Rose Garden. It was smaller than the others but still rather large in comparison to most cities. Those who lived there were mainly focused on alchemy and gathering of the most common alchemical ingredients. Not a lot of students lived here. Basically, this was where the families of important vassals, special representatives of the clan, as well as servants or relatives of some students found their lodgings. They also grew and collected Spirit Herbs here.

  The Large Rose Garden, located in the center of the clan lands, was actually an improved version of its “little sister.” They grew alchemy plants here as well, but they were much more valuable. In addition to Spirit Herbs, they also grew Spirit Fruits, and their growth required a lot more energy, which was why complex arrays for collecting it were all over the place.

  The majority of the population in the Large Rose Garden consisted of students, especially those who knew the Forces of Water, Earth, and Life, as well as those who studied alchemy. It was because of them that the city was considered the center of the alchemical industry. The rarest and most precious potions and pills that assisted one’s cultivation were created and sold here.

  North of the Large Rose Garden was the Valley of Pain. This city got its name because it was the center of practical training. Each city had its own training grounds, but this one stood out by their quantity and quality. If someone really wanted to perfect their skills or test themselves, there was no better place for it than the Valley of Pain.

  To the west was the Temple of the Thunder Serpent. Just like the training grounds, copies of technique scrolls could be rented in every city, but the entire collection of techniques that the clan owned could be found only in the Temple. Besides having tomes upon tomes of unique techniques in its library, it was inhabited by many Exorcists, who worked there as tutors. For a certain fee, they gave valuable advice or helped students with their studies.

  In the very center of the clan’s lands was the capital — the Thunder Serpent’s Upper Nest. It was here that all apprentices, important members of the clan, elders, and the ruling elite lived. Everything here was the best of the best, which made the residents of the Upper Nest want to leave only when they really needed to. Almost every student dreamed of living there one day.

  In any of these cities, students and other members of the clan could rent housing, buy and sell items, craft, practice, and just live. The clan was a miniature, albeit incredibly powerful, country, and only the crème de la crème of cultivators could live here.

  Having familiarized himself with the map, Kai decided that there was no need to rush. Lily hadn’t yet regained consciousness, so he couldn’t go too far in case something happened to her. Because of that, he decided to take a walk around the neighborhood, take a look at the local products and prices, and learn how he could make coin. He doubted that his humble inheritance would be enough for him to buy something useful.

  Leaving the hospital, he walked along the main street for an hour or so. Local products were really amazing, just like their prices. There was a huge selection of Gold-rank armor, weapons, and potions of any quality. There were even more techniques. Combat, defense, healing, support, movement, stealth, and many others...

  Unfortunately, most of these were of the Low-rank, since in order to learn Gold-rank techniques of low or medium quality, one had to know all the Forces of the Hearing Stage. And when it came to high or peak-level quality techniques, one had to master the Force of the next stage — the Force of Form.

  Thus, most of the disciples made do with Silver-rank techniques. The Gold rank remained available only to apprentices and a small number of inner-circle students.

  Kai could afford the Silver-rank items, but the cost of the Gold-rank ones began at a couple of hundred gold coins and went up to thousands. Having seen the prices, he set his mind on earning some coin. Seeing a stone stele at the end of the street, he went over to it.

  After making his way through the crowd, and putting his hand to the array, he felt a drop of energy invade his body in order to connect with the tattoo. A list of tasks and vacancies appeared before his eyes. All of them were sorted and filtered according to criteria he didn’t really understand.

  Look at that! He smiled in surprise and amazement. Convenient...

  Alas, he didn’t manage to take a good look at the list that appeared. Interrupted by sudden screams, he turned around sharply.

  Chapter 8

  THE BROKER

  The hubbub didn’t die down. On the contrary, it became even louder. Cries of joy and shouts of amazement could be heard from every corner. Kai wondered what the cause of this madness was when the entire square was covered with a shadow.

  Raising his head, he saw a small skyship docking at the Lower Nest. A young man stood at the bow, waving at the crowd and smiling. Judging by his clothes, the way he held himself, and his powerful aura, he was definitely an apprentice.

 
; He was about fourteen or fifteen years old but had already reached the Brain Endurance level. His talent was incredible even for the Celestial Plateau standards.

  The young man jumped from a height of a hundred feet and landed with the grace of a cat. The crowd cleared the space around him and numerous ladies screamed like fangirls at a concert. Even Kai couldn’t deny that the young man was good looking. He had almost an angelic quality to his appearance. He seemed almost unreal.

  “Who is he?” Kai thought aloud. He certainly knows how to make an entrance.

  He didn’t expect that anyone would hear him in all that noise so he was surprised when he got an answer.

  “That’s Lei Ming,” said a blond guy standing next to him. “One of the Lei heirs, the ruling family of the Thunder Serpent Clan. He reached the Mind Stage at the age of twelve, and now, at fourteen, he reached the Brain Endurance level. After becoming an apprentice, he quickly gained popularity. They say that in a year or two, he’ll finish preparing his soul in order to reach the Opening of the Acupuncture Points level. He has just returned from a mission that the elders had given him.” Judging by the look on his face, he, too, didn’t like all the drama that Lei Ming had caused. “I suppose you just joined the clan today?”

  “How can you tell?” Kai asked and raised an eyebrow.

  The blond smiled. Kai couldn’t see his name through the tattoo, as only elders could do that, so he supposed that he’d have to ask him for it later. “The appearance of a new Spirit Source in the Lowlands isn’t really news for those who live here. Lei Ming was sent there in order to come to an agreement with the country where the source was found. This was a kind of a test for him. It would determine his future position in the hierarchy of the ruling elite. Looking at him, I’d say he succeeded.”

  “Um... What’s a Spirit Source?”

  The blond looked at him in surprise.

  “It’s where you can get Energy Stones.”

  Kai nodded. He had finally learned where they came from. He had been wondering about that ever since he had seen one during the initiation test. He thought it was unlikely that even monsters above the Soul Stage had such a powerful crystal in them. Somehow it was even weirder that they were mined like regular gems.

  “Why are you telling me all this?” Kai asked.

  The blond smiled.

  “I love information. I love to spread and collect it. I also like to make useful contacts. Not many people at the Sensory Organs Endurance level pass the test and become inner-circle students. Very few can pull that off, actually...” He held out his hand. “Let me introduce myself. My name’s Dee. Just Dee. I’m an information broker.”

  “My name’s Kai. Kai Arnhard.” He shook Dee’s hand, thinking about his unusual profession. I wonder if he has something for me?

  Dee’s smile seemed to widen even further.

  “Here.” He held out a small purple plaque covered with various symbols. “Take a look. This is my basic offer with the most extensive and important information about the clan, the Celestial Plateau, and, of course, cultivation. All this for ten coins. Don’t think that I’m bragging, but… Sure, you could find out all this on your own too... In about five years. I think ten coins is more than a fair price.”

  The exact amount appeared in Kai’s hand. Dee grinned.

  “Pleasure doing business with you.”

  Taking the plaque, which was a complex storage device, Kai allowed it to connect to his tattoo, after which the System displayed all of the stored information. The list turned out to be huge. There was information about the structure and history of the clan, apprentices and their factions, various alchemical recipes, the strengths and weaknesses of many techniques, Wisdom Particles, some Spirits, other clans, important families and individuals, the geography of the Celestial Plateau, and many other things. Dee had done his homework, there was no denying that. It truly was worth ten coins. Hell, it was worth much more.

  Satisfied with Kai’s reaction, Dee nodded and grabbed the coin from his customer’s hand. Kai didn’t try to stop him.

  Sending the plaque into his Ring, Kai looked at the sly smile on Dee’s face. He then remembered something very important.

  “Do you know anything about Spirit Fruits that contain energy and Soul Force?”

  Dee froze and stared at him in shock. He seemed very surprised by Kai’s question.

  “Let me think for a second.” The blond frowned, stroking his chin. “No, I haven’t heard about such Fruits...” Kai narrowed his eyes in suspicion but Dee continued before he had the chance to accuse him of lying. “But I have some thoughts on that. If you want, I can try to find out something about it, but I’ll need an advance payment.”

  “How much?” Kai asked. He was ready to spend coin to get his answer.

  “Look… It might take me a while. Perhaps even a few months. And based on that... Fifty gold... For now. The final price is calculated based on the quantity and quality of the information. And if I don’t manage to find out anything worthwhile, then I won’t take your coin, not counting the advance payment,” Dee explained. “Do we have a deal?”

  Kai didn’t hesitate for long. He gave the required amount to Dee, who then swore that he wouldn’t deceive him. But Kai had more questions. He then asked if there was any way to bring someone who wasn’t a cultivator to the clan lands. He couldn’t have Julie be so far away from him with a killer on the loose. Without asking for any payment, Dee told him about the right people who could arrange transport for his sister in the Lower Nest’s Heavenly Fort.

  Finding those people became Kai’s new goal.

  Having said goodbye to Dee, he left, feeling that their meeting wasn’t as accidental as it seemed.

  ***

  Having left the largest dock, Kai sighed. He had finally arranged everything for Julie’s transfer. As a local worker told him, the next trip was in three weeks, after which they could take Julie on board and bring her to the Plateau. From there, they’d send her to the Small Rose Garden (where she’d be safer than at the Wayat’s). He was to meet her there.

  Unfortunately, this had cost him almost all of his savings. He had paid four hardened gold coins for the ticket and two more to send a message to Namesh, which would then be delivered to Julie.

  He was now left with only two coins.

  Walking down the fairly deserted main street of the Lower Nest (Lei Ming had already left for the capital) he was heading toward the hospital when a message appeared.

  Message received via [Thunder Serpent Clan Crest].

  Inner-circle student, [Kai Arnhard], we inform you that in six days from the day this message is sent, you are to come to the Purple Palace of the Temple of the Thunder Serpent to receive your resources. Your number in the queue: 9,174. If for any reason you are prevented from coming and cannot get your resources, they will be transferred back to the warehouse. Re-issuing is not possible!

  I see... Then I better get there earlier…

  Picking up his pace, he hurried to the hospital. When he got to Lily’s room, he saw her lying in bed and staring out the window. She didn’t react when he walked in, continuing to spin Ash’s Ring between her trembling fingers.

  After a while, she slowly turned her head to face Kai who was silently sitting on a chair next to her bed. Her emerald eyes were as cold as a winter night. As was her voice.

  “How did he die?”

  “With a smile.”

  She turned back to the window, observing the warships flying in the sky.

  The next day, she insisted she was well enough to get up from the bed and walk around. She also seemed to have made peace with Ash’s passing or, rather, she had convinced herself that she had in order to return to her normal life.

  Sitting by her bed, Kai told her about the recent events and their new enemy. They decided that they shouldn’t split up until they got rid of the masked madman once and for all. To make sure that that would happen, Lily was ready to follow Kai to the Temple of the Thunder Serpen
t. To a casual observer, she might’ve looked like the same old Lily, a willing-to-fight young girl, but not to Kai.

  He knew a thing or two about losing those dear to you.

  Chapter 9

  THE TEMPLE OF THE THUNDER SERPENT

  With his last remaining coin, Kai managed to buy seats for himself and Lily in a large carriage. This was the main type of transport and it went on a schedule between cities, like a bus. Fortified with energy, it was pulled by four raven-black horses at the Brain Endurance level. These six-and-a-half-feet tall, muscular beasts were able to achieve amazing speeds. Kai was certain that people were just exaggerating but he soon changed his mind when the carriage rushed toward the Temple at breakneck speed.

  The students could choose between two ways of transportation: carriages or their own legs. Oddly enough, the majority chose the latter. Not everyone had extra coin to spend on traveling in luxury. Those who could afford it saved precious time that could otherwise be used for contemplation and training.

  And that was exactly what Kai was doing now — using his precious time to study the information he had bought from Dee. He focused on the Thunder Serpent Clan itself, its hierarchy, history, structure, masters, and students.

  Like most others, the history of this clan began about 20,000 years ago. Having discovered the ruins of the lost Belteise Empire, the people from the Lowlands decided to settle here and built their city upon the remains of this once majestic civilization. In those days, much more powerful monsters lived on the Plateau. One of them had the ability to turn into a human, and from its bloodline, if the legends are to be believed, the Thunder Serpent Clan descended. It was they who founded the Lei family.