A Cultivator in Equestria

By Staadnauthursil

Chapter One: A Second Rebirth

Theme Music: Kirin Theme (Original Concept Music) by Nathanaël Wsiaki

Disclaimer: I do not own anything copyrighted. This includes all of the youtube videos I use to give a touch of flair to my stories, please support the official releases along with those who work hard on these great youtube videos. As well as those YouTubers who make fantastic original works on their own

[Location: Mountain of the Eternal Storm]

[Guo Long's Point of View]

My target is on the defensive, this is the time to initiate my assault. Left side strike to the head area. Release the staff. Kick target in the gut. Kick up staff with knee and catch it with the right hand. Spin around and spin the staff for extra momentum before striking the-. "Outer Disciple Guo Long!"

I nearly fall over at the sudden voice calling me out and I slam my staff into the ground to not lose my balance and turn around to see an inner disciple calling my name, his dark grey uniform with blue lightning bolts along the sleeves marking him as an inner circle disciple. While my plain dark grey robes mark me as an outer disciple."Huh? Yes? I am Guo Long."

The other disciples on the training ground turn to see the commotion and start whispering about what is going on. My senior punches a fist into his palm and bows politely to me as he speaks to me in a loud and clear voice. "The Sect Elder Wang Xin wishes to speak to you! He has a task for you!"

It is not wise to leave any elder or master of the sect waiting so I punch my fist into my palm and bow to my senior, hands held in front of my head. "Outer Disciple Guo Long shall immediately go to the Elder Wang Xin!"

"Excellent! He is waiting in the Hall of Elders. Do not take too long or the old goat might punish you with some 'personal training'!" Not bothering to respond to the rude comment I just put aside my training weapon and began to jog out of the training area and towards the high stairs to the Hall of Elders.

The staircase is over ten thousand steps high and branches out into twenty different areas along the way. It leads up a very wide and severely high mountain upon which a small city's worth of buildings, monuments, training grounds, fields, gardens, and statues are built. It houses over eight thousand civilians, five thousand disciples, one thousand graduates, two hundred trainers, one hundred masters, the twelve elders, and the grandmaster.

This place is the Mountain of the Eternal Storm, home to the Léiyǔ Sect or Lightning Storm Sect. I have lived here for eight years now. When I was six I was recruited by one of the elders while they were visiting my home village.

My family was farmers, and I was the youngest out of ten children. There was some hesitation since they wanted the help on the farm but the elder paid them several gold coins, more money than what a farmer's family would see in generations.

I did not know why I was so valuable in the elder's eyes. But then I got the brutal truth when we left my village. He needed someone to carry a large sack of ingredients and artifacts he had been collecting and he could not be seen carrying stuff around like a common man so he essentially brought me to keep face. He admitted that I had some glimmer of potential but not much natural talent.

The sack wasn't even that big, probably about two kilos. I carried it for him through the Raging Storm Mountains, the mountain region where his sect was located. It was filled with spirits, beasts, bandits, and dangerous lightning storms. It was a week's journey on foot.

I did as I was told and I think the elder was impressed with how I didn't complain once during the entire trip. Even when I had to run for my life to evade a stone lion I didn't scream. That was one of the reasons he kept his word and let me into the sect.

Though I was only able to handle those scary situations because I was a bit hardened. After all, this is not my first life. I am what some would call a reincarnated person, only I was not reincarnated in the world I was first born in. Instead, I was born into another more primitive world with supernatural powers and monsters. An isekai situation if you will.

My original name I have forgotten, but I remember some of my old life, well not the details. Most of what I remember were basic physics, history, math, some engineering, and a lot of entertainment. I was quite an otaku. I can't even remember the voices, faces, or names of my family and friends.

After a week of travel, we reached a large gated wall blocking off a large cloud-shrouded mountain. The elder pushed open the door and lead me inside where the interior was vastly different from the exterior. Sakura trees, fields of vegetables begin tended to, training disciples, massive bronze bells, and escalating stairs and buildings spread out all over the mountain.

That was when I realized that I had entered a cultivation world, sure the rock lion should have been a better hint but in my defence I was a bit too busy running to properly inspect the rock lion's rock-like hide.

And I was way out of my league back then. I was many things but knowledgeable about the wuxia or xianxia worlds involving cultivation is not something I can properly relate to.

Each story about cultivation has a unique nature of its qi system, so it would not be helpful to rely on my old knowledge about cultivation in this world. It would be like trying to determine which pokemon was in a Pokeball without opening it. I would have to learn from the basics just like anyone else, no super cheats for this disciple.

I was given the outfit of an outer disciple and for the past eight years, I had been taught the basics of the Lightning Storm Style unique to the sect. As well as medicine, pill crafting and even a bit of qi channeling. The sect doesn't want any of its disciples to be without the knowledge of these matters as even if you cannot practice some of it, will the knowledge still be of great use in the future. If you can remember it.

The Lightning Sect, as we are commonly called, utilizes various kinds of weapons and unarmed combat. All trainers keep a careful watch on disciples to determine which style fits with their personality and affinities. Apparently, I am proficient with quarterstaffs and unarmed combat, a common theme for this sect. But what did surprise them was that I was apparently very skilled with one of the less common weapons.

Its shape is a thin metal loop with a sharpened edge that is utilized as a dancing tool and a medium-range throwing weapon. It is known as the chakram. In essence, it is a thin circle-shaped throwing blade that can cut off body parts when thrown with a high-speed rotation.

When I first saw it on the practice weapons I thought it was a frisbee. Without so much of a thought, I grabbed a set of them and walked over to the throwing range. There I spun them a bit in my hands, to get a feel for them, before throwing one, two, three, and finally a fourth at four different targets.

The first target had its left side slice open, the second had its right arm cut off, the third had its skull diagonally cut up, and the fourth decapitated the target. And that was not all, the chakram is sort of like a boomerang, at least, if thrown properly. and I had managed to do so with all four.

At that moment the trainer spotted the four blades heading for me and screamed for me to get down. I do not really know to explain nit but I just reached up with my right hand and caught all four chakrams inside of their loops with my index finger and they all rotated a bit on my finger before finally stopping.

The sight of the trainers' jaws dropping had been the highlight of that year. That was probably because afterward I was punished with four months of harsh physical training to not try out new weapons without a nearby teacher.

I flinch a little as I remember balancing on top of bamboo while carrying jars of water in both hands. I had also been forced to give aid to the teachers by making them tea, carrying scrolls, delivering messages all the while wearing iron weights on my wrists and ankles. It had not been a pleasant four months.

Ahead of me, I can see the large gate separating the outer section of the mountain from the southern section. There stand two guardians dressed in dark steel and blue coloured armour bearing the symbol of roaring lions on their chest plates. Marking them as Mid-Tier Cultivators within the sect.

I bow my head and clasp my left fist into my right palm and speak out politely. "Outer Disciple Guo Long, called upon by Elder Wang Xin to the Hall of Elders."

The two guards press their left fists against their chest plates and nod before turning around. Facing the large gates. and I straighten myself and look up at the over ten-meter tall structure of stone and wood.

Above the gate, there is a sign bearing the sect's symbol. The symbol is simple, a storm grey marble circle with the Chinese letters for, lightning, and storm, shaped in lightning blue metal embedded onto its surface. That is the symbol of the Lightning Storm Sect.

There is a similar sign at the gate at the outskirts of the mountain. And it has the same simple and yet strong feel to it. It is not overly complex and yet you can feel the barely restrained power those letters hold just by looking at them. Like lightning made solid.

I am broken out of my thoughts at the sound of the doors opening. The two guards pushing the two massive wooden frames apart. Bowing in respect I enter the inner circle of the mountain. From here I can see the large waterfall pouring down from the southern edge of the mountain's peak.

At the base of the waterfall is a large pond with a garden of sacred fruits. At the entrance to the garden, there is a small mansion built, well small for this place. Only big enough for two hundred people. And that is my destination. The Hall of Elders.

Though some of the disciples like to call it the Old Folk's Home as a sort of joke. But never within hearing range of any of the elders, not much humour left in most of them. And those who have a sense of humour are just as likely to make jokes back at you, but with pranks in the shape of impossible tasks or made-up junk martial arts techniques.

I was nearly fooled five years ago by Elder Laizan Ling, who made up a technique called the Soft Rock Breaking Technique and gave it to the outer students. He claimed it was a test but the technique was pure garbage, with hip thrusts and jumps that made it look a more acrobatic version of yoga with pelvic thrust motions. And not to mention that the Elder was later scolded by the Grandmaster in public for wasting the time of the students with a crude pun named false technique.

Yeah. Soft Rock Breaking Technique actually was a play on words. It actually meant Softcock Penetration Technique and was combined with yoga and various exercises for treating erectile dysfunction. It turned out even the elders were a bunch of perverts.

But Elder Wang Xin is not one of those jokesters. He's a very serious man and will often go down to investigate the activities of the outer and inner disciples training. Elder Wang holds the Lightning Sect close to his heart and always has a look of pride in his eyes whenever he looks out over the training ground. He's one of the ten oldest elders of the clan and is even older than the Grandmaster himself.

So when he calls for you, he excepts you to arrive within fifteen minutes or less. And that you do not act without manners or respect to him. There is a good reason he bears the title [Wise Man of the Storm].

And I was not going to get punished like Yin Lian was last month. He was forced to run up and down the stairs of the outer circle, thirty times. Only one set of the outer circle's stairs is more than a thousand meters. He kept doing so for two days, falling over constantly and sometimes even rolling down. And the Elder was there to make sure that he had to start over if he stumbled.

Slapping my knees I suck in a deep breath of air before slowly exhaling. I then bow before the door to the Hall of Elders and I clasp my hands and speaks out in a loud but controlled voice. "Outer Disciple Guo Long has come at the behest of Elder Wang Xin!"

The door opens and an elderly woman with pure black hair tied in a bun and a kind grandmotherly smile greets me. She's dressed in a fine silk robe bearing a pattern of dark grey storm clouds that shimmers with blue glittering lines stitched into the shape of lightning. Her name was Elder Chun Pa and she was one of the more liked teachers of the sect. "It is good to see you again little dragon. Wang Xin is waiting for you in the garden. Better to not keep him waiting."

Bowing to her I give a respectful reply with my hand still clasped. "Thank you elder Chun Pa for your aid." And then I start moving towards the garden, keeping a steady pace as to not give any of the elders a reason to be upset at me for being hasty or tardy.

"Hehe, such a polite boy. So unlike my grandchildren." I barely have time to register Elder Chun Pa's giggling as I get out of hearing range. She truly was a kind and motherly figure to many of us disciples, many call her the Kind-Hearted Elder as a show of affection. Moving past a few of the servants clearing the area around the mansion.

I might only be fourteen but all disciples of the sect were given strict training no matter their age. We were driven to the brink of exhaustion several times a week, given ample time to rest and recover as well. Our sect focused on teaching a strong foundation of the basics for all outer disciples before teaching techniques and fighting styles.

The average time for an outer disciple to finish his basic training was four years, a bit longer if you were over ten when you joined. As your body did not have the same amount of growth potential after a certain age. Even adults could join the outer disciples, but their older bodies limit them greatly.

So I was lucky to be taught from the age of six. I completed the base training four years ago. I learned and mastered the basics of the chakram, the staff, and around seven unarmed fighting styles. At the moment I am being taught the ways of Qi Channeling, Meditation, Qi Sensing, Qi Manipulations, and Qi Manifestation. These are all required for learning the basics of how to control and use Qi in techniques, styles, and weapons.

I have just recently managed to manifest an aura of Qi around my body, which makes me a Second Tier Low-Grade Cultivator. It was a bit of a month ago when it occurred and I was not really told much more than that I had attained a higher rank of understanding. Part of the course when it comes to cultivation I guess.

But I know that it was a big thing since the requirement for becoming an Inner Disciple is to become a 2nd Tier Low-Grade Cultivator. Well, there are some other requirements but those are not told to any of the outer disciples since it is considered part of the test to keep us ignorant. Becoming a 1st Tier Low-Grade Cultivator requires one being able to develop cultivation, so in essence, all beings except for a few rare cases start at that rank from birth.

All I can guess is that the fact that Elder Wang Xin has summoned me today involves the possibility of promoting me to an inner disciple. That's all I can guess but I will not assume, that way I will not become disappointed and disheartened.

Stepping out of the back entrance to the mansion I see the garden for the first time up close. Trees, bushes, flowers, and even several kinds of mushrooms, are growing across this almost overgrown garden. All of the unnatural plants here are worth more than their weight in gold. To damage or stealing even one of the plants, or even seeds, or fruits is deemed punishable by having your left hand cut off before being expelled.

Directly in front of the stairs leading down is a stone platform set by the pond, a circular stone table with some cushions placed around them. Sitting by the table is a man dressed in the same storm cloud patterned elder uniform. He has a long dragon whisker-like mustache that reaches his lap, with a small trimmed goatee decorating his lower face.

His left eye is covered by a large scar. His head is clean-shaven and he has a small hood that is currently lowered. Long thing fingers are stirring a cup of leaf tea in a bowl cup. His limbs look thin and aged, making him look less of a martial artist and more like a dried-up husk. But looks can be deceiving, especially when it involves someone who has reached the 7th rank in the Tier High Grade of Cultivation and nearly breached the limits of mortality.

This man is Wang Xin, [Wise Man of the Storm], the oldest elder of the Lightning Storm Sect. Said to be over a thousand years old. More than four hundred years older than the Grandmaster himself.

I walk over to the table and I repeat my respectful bow to the elder. "Outer Disciple Guo Long, has come as requested honorable Elder Wang Xin."

The elder nods as he finishes stirring his tea and slowly sips it before humming in content. He then points at the cushion located opposite of his own. "Good. Have a seat young Guo Long."

As I kneel on the cushion presented to me I keep my back straight and my face facing straight. Looking directly at the Elder's face. As I sit there the ender adds some more green leaves to his cup. "Tell me young Guo Long. Do you know about the Three Arts of Qi?"

I give a small bow with my head and shoulders and speak without raising my head. "Yes, Elder Wang Xin. We learned it two months ago and were told to memorize as much as we could about the subject."

Nodding the elder stirs his teacup gently. Mixing the hot water and tea leaves smoothly into a jade green liquid. "Good, good. Recite them for me."

Closing my eyes I slowly suck in air and slowly let it out. Then I start explaining the first lesson I was taught by the teachers for two weeks. "First Art: External Qi. It involves channeling Qi through your body, raising your physical attributes, and breaking the limits of the human body to perform superhuman physical feats. It is often used with the combinations of weapons, because of its physical nature it is an art that makes it near impossible to detect the wielders when they are not actively using their techniques. Thus most assassins, scouts, and spies utilize this art. It is the most common of the Three Arts."

Elder Wang Xin lifts his cup and sips his tea, eyes closed. "Mmmhmmm... continue."

Without much pause, I explain the second Qi art. It was not a really easy thing to remember but when you would be forced to read said text out loud several times a day you were prone to remembering more than the basic information. "Second Art: Internal Qi. It involves the utilization of the mind and soul as a medium to manifest your inner Qi energies as a physical force. It is often shaped by the wielder's affinities, personality, bloodlines, and willpower. It is mostly used to manifest Elemental Qi-based techniques and styles. But can be used to manipulate blood, alter terrain, exorcist spirits, affect meridians, control plants, tame beasts, and much more. Many clans base their fighting styles on the Internal Arts. It is the most obvious of the three arts because of the Qi auras they emit because of this."

Nodding slowly the elder sniffs his tea and slowly rotates his cup and the tea inside it. "Very good. The third?"

A bit tired I just keep going. Thankfully it did not affect my verbal presentation of my knowledge. "Third Art: Circulation Qi. It is a combination of both External and Internal Qi. An External Qi user is limited to being unable to wield Internal Qi as proficient as an Internal User. But the opposite is true for the Internal Qi user as well. Circulation Qi combines the first and second arts to allow a wielder to improve their bodies and their internal energies. It is the least common art as it is among the most difficult to cultivate in. Many choose to specialize as they cannot see it worth the effort to increase your strength at half the speed of the other two arts. It is not as stealthy as the first art but it is not as obvious as the second art."

Drinking some more tea Wang Xin hums a bit more. "Indeed. Now. What does the Third Art offer that the other two do not?"

That was a loaded question. There was actually quite a lot that one could answer to that question. I personally had a lot of personal opinions about it. And since I don't think this is all about book knowledge I give my personal opinion about it all. "Utility, versatility, insight, adaptation, and unpredictability."

Pausing a bit Elder Wang Xin slowly lowers his cup down and gives me a curious look. "Oh? Clarify."

Swallowing a little I suck in some air before slowly letting it out, a drop of sweat trickling down my brow. This was far more exhausting than I'd imagined. "A user of the first art would be strong and sturdy up close but would be unable to utilize the various flying technique that allows second art users to keep a distance. They will also have fewer ranged attacks that don't involve weapons. In short, they are lacking ranged options and will not win against second art users unless they get close or hit them with a ranged weapon."

Closing my eyes I try to keep my composure, gripping my knees to keep myself upright. IT was as if a heavy pressure was trying to push me over. "A user of the second art would be strong at ranged combat but if they get corned or somehow hit, their bodies are far more vulnerable than the first art users. They must keep a distance to not risk injuries, making them very cautious and prone to fleeing if things get bad for them. In short, they are too vulnerable and a proper first art user can beat them if they manage to get up close."

I could almost feel my bones creaking in protest as the pressure intensified. Sweat is now dripping down my chin and jawline as if I was in a sauna. It was only then that I realize that the pressure being pushed down upon me was emitting from Elder Wang Xin. He is pressuring me with his Qi somehow! "The third art, however. It allows you options from both fields. You can fly, you can endure, you can attack at range, you can attack up close. Most of the time your opponents will have an advantage over your external or internal qi. But you will always have an advantage on the other end of the spectrum. Not to mention you can combine both external and internal qi techniques and arts to alter the flow of battle. Making you highly unpredictable. Something both external and internal qi users are prone to not being. Not to mention you are taught in both styles, thus you have a good insight of how to opponents of either side"

Gritting my teeth I take another breathe and keep my focus, my body is painful and I can hear the flow of my blood through my ears echo like drums. Whatever this test was it was hard to keep talking, but I only have a few more lines to say. "In short. The third art of circulation gives you more options, and will always give you an edge over the other two arts. It may be more difficult to cultivate and train, but it makes up for it with how much you can use with it."

After a few moments of awkward silence, the elder opens his eyes and gives me a smile and nod. "A very insightful description there young Guo. One I haven't heard before in my lifetime."

I was not prepared by the sudden change in the elder's behaviour nor the fact that the pressure I had been under to just go away. My shoulders were shaking and my face and back were soaked in sweat. So when I tried to speak out to him what he meant I managed to say was. "Huh?"

Elder Wang Xin's smile widened a bit and he chuckled a little. His earlier stern and imposing expression shifting to a more relaxed and friendly one. I could practically feel my body's exhaustion dissipate as he talked. "Did you not know? Most people just think that the third art lets you shift between external or internal qi. Very few ever consider using both at the same time. Only a handful told me it grants you a great deal of adaptation and advantages against the other two arts. But no one, well no one younger than five centuries, has ever told me that the third art's advantage lies in how it makes you unpredictable to the other two arts as they are too predictable."

He lifts his cup again and drains it of its content. A smile still on his face he looks down into his now empty cup as he lowers it, a strange nostalgic look in his eyes. "Tell me young Guo Long. Why do you think the Lightning Storm Sect teaches our students the foundations of the Third Art? And yet we allow all inner disciples to decide which art to use rather than make you all learn the Third Art?"

I think for a moment, the sound of the waterfall in the distance echoing out over the silent garden. I had not really thought about it until now. And I slowly realize what the answer was. "...Because the style that you learn is not meant to be forced upon you. It has to become a part of you, and if it a style that is not fit for you, or you personally reject... it will not flourish and become just become stagnate as students will be unable or unwilling to learn. A mountain cannot force a rock to become a diamond, the tree cannot force the grass to become a flower, a dragon cannot force a rat to become a snake. Thus it comes to reason, a man cannot force another to become someone else. So thus we are taught about all the three arts so that we know our options, and so that the teachers can see what path suits us as we learn."

Elder Wang Xin slowly put down his cup and slowly clapped his hands four times, a bright smile on his wrinkly and scarred face. I had never seen him so happy before. "My dear boy. I have not been given such a clear answer by an Outer disciple since I became Elder five hundred years ago. You, young Guo Long, have a mind beyond your peers. You may not have a lot of physical talent or an excelling amount of qi for your age. But your insight and intellect, it is beyond most of your pears. And your wisdom is definitely higher than even some masters."

"Huh? But I am no one special. I am just Outer Disciple Guo Long. No matter how much I might know, that doesn't change anything." Well, that's not entirely true with me being a reincarnated person. But compared to some of the other disciples I am no one special. I am not talented or overly intelligent, sure I have a bit more world smarts but knowledge-wise I am nowhere close to many of the other disciples. My reincarnation did not make me better than others. It just gave me a second chance.

The Elder stares at me as if I am a wild monkey writing a poem. He then suddenly rears his head back and starts laughing like crazy. His laughter overpowering the distant rumbling of the waterfall. "Hahahahaha! A bright mind and humble soul! Hahahahaha! Oh to be young again! Hahahahaha!"

I just stare at him with a confused look on my face. It takes him a few seconds but he slowly calms down, coughing a little into his left hand to regain control over his emotions. Still smiling. "Ahem. Apologies I did not mean to make you feel ashamed. No, I was just so happy to find such a bright and yet humble soul in one so young in this sect. It makes me happy to know the future of the Lightning Storm Set will be secure for another generation."

Again, I am no one special. Stop making this such a big deal!

He then slowly stands up from his seat by the table and folds his hands into his sleeves and gives me a slight bow as he speaks out in a kind and warm tone. "Now. Outer Disciple Guo Long. I, Elder Wang Xin, will take you to the Peak. Where you will undergo your trial to become an Inner Disciple."

I stand up and push my fist into my palm and I bow deeply to the elder. Expressing my gratitude in a clear but not loud voice. "Thank you for this chance honourable Elder Wang Xin. This Disciple Guo Long shall do my utmost to show my worth."

Elder Wang Xin straightens himself and gives me a nod. "Good attitude young Guo Long, you don't lack a spine. Let us go."

He leads me out of the Elder's Hall and further up the mountain. Disciples, elders, masters, and members all stare with various expressions at the sight of a smiling Elder Wang Xin leading me up the long stairs towards the peaks of the mountain.

Though I am curious if it is the sight of Elder Wang leading an Outer Disciple up to take his trials or if it was the fact that he was smiling? I personally think it's the latter.

After twenty minutes of climbing the stairs, we reach the gates to the inner sanctum of the sect. The peak of the mountain itself. Above the peak, there is a spiraling storm cloud that sparks with lightning but lets out no rumbling thunder.

There are no guards by this large gate, instead, is the gate engraved with a massive formation seal. Formations being a sort of ritual circle using specific focus points, natural energies, environmental features, and the flow of the Qi in nature to alter the laws of reality.

A seal is only as strong as the comprehension of the one who made it. Thus someone can make a seal the size of a town and have the power of a 9th High Tier Cultivator, and still not be able to utilize it if they cannot comprehend it.

And this seal is part of a large complex network of seals that surrounds the peak. I only knew this because it was explained to me and the other outer disciples during our training in calligraphy.

Elder Wang Xi holds up a jade token shaped as a circular disk, it glows with clear green light and the seal on the gate glows the same as the token. The two large stone gates then open up for us, their hinges sounding like grinding stone wheels.

For the first time since we left the Hall of Elders, he speaks out to me as we slowly walk past the open gates. "The peak is a dangerous place, young disciple. So be sure to not stride too far from me."

I keep close to my elder as I slowly look around the strange landscape around us. A rocky landscape covered with a thick layer of moisture and bamboo that goes upwards like a forest of stone fangs sharpened by rain and wind. A singular path of large flat rocks leading up between the jagged rocks.

There is no clear water source other than the moisture on the rocks and in the air. Even though we are so far up the mountain the air feels thick and it almost makes it difficult to breathe by pressure alone. It was like I was in a dense jungle and not at the peak of one of the highest mountain tops in the world.

We pass by small shrines with statues of dead cultivators of the sect placed within and around them. Only those who had done great deeds for the sect, or the world itself were placed here. and there were several thousands of these small stone statues laid out along the several dozens of shrines we walk past.

It makes you feel a great deal of pride in your sect's history. But at the same time, I can't help but feel like these honoured dead cultivators feel... lonely. Like they are isolated and forgotten by the rest of the world.

As if reading my mind Elder Wang Xin clapped a hand on my shoulder reassuringly. "Do not worry young Guo Long. Those who are placed with respect here are all buried in the Sect Burial Chamber within the core of the mountain. These are only tokens of gratitude placed upon the peak to honour their memories. So even it might feel gloomy and depressing for them to stand here like lonesome tombstones, is this peak, not their actual burial site."

It makes me feel a bit better but I still can't shake off the uneasy feeling of solemn isolation in this place. But it might not actually have anything to do with the tribute statues placed here. Though what else could it be?

We soon reach a large paifang gate made out of solid stone. Upon the top of its archway was the name of the Lightning Storm Sect engraved in old Chinese letters. It was not even painted, only carved out of the stone's surface and yet this doorway felt far more intense and powerful than those I have previously seen. It was like comparing the pressure of a stream to that of a river.

I am quite certain that if whatever power the gate contains deems you unworthy. You will not only be denied entrance but you may very well be harmed or killed. I can't explain why but it's the feeling I get from this dense structure.

The elder walks up to the open archway of the paifang and signals for me to come with him. "Come on child. The gate will not keep you out as long as I am here."

I carefully walk up the ancient stone steps leading to the large gate. Its three archways having a mirage-like shimmer beneath them that I could not see from afar.

Seeing Wang Xin giving me an encouraging smile I take a breath before slowly releasing it after ten seconds, calming down. I then walk forward and move past the shimmering field. And a rush of cool mountain air strokes my face and the taste of static fills my mouth.

Before me lies a small valley, seven-pointed mountain peaks surrounding it, lightning striking them every few seconds, lighting up the valley in a dim blue glow. Moss and grass cross upon soil and rock, with strange herbs and flowers that glow with an unnatural illumination. As if they had evolved to become natural batteries for the lightning hitting the mountain.

A small lake of clear freshwater lay still in the center of the valley, and upon it lies a small island. The island is covered in strangely shaped rocks and stones overgrown by moss and herbs. At the center of this overgrown rocky island was a large leafless willow tree, its branches looking like gnarled bones. Blackened at some areas from lightning strikes no doubt.

But the most peculiar was not the dead-looking willow tree. No, It was those strange rocks scattered across the island. They were laid out in a rather unnatural and ugly pattern. Like someone saw a big pile of similarly shaped rocks and scattered them all around in a mixture of order and chaos.

Giving off a jagged and wild appearance, some of the stones were long, thin, curved, and pointy like fangs of dragons. Others were hollow and crooked with carved pointy bits carved out from the center. Others were lined up between the jagged bones in lines that started small but ended by the strange hollow rocks. If not for the moss I'd suspect they were shaped like a... spine.

Elder Wang Xin breaks my thoughts with a question. "Do you see something strange young disciple?"

Shaking my head clear I try to speak up but have a little hard time finding my voice. But eventually, I get it through. "Those... those are bones... all those rocks on the island are bones... And definitely not human ones."

"Oh? And how do you know that? Surely one cannot determine the species of the bones from such a far distance?" It was a legit question, we were at least five hundred meters away from the island. But I could tell, I had seen the bones of animals and humans during my earlier years of this world. And I had some of the knowledge of my old world to compare to. None of these were human.

Clearing my throat I speak up the most obvious things I could see. The size and amount of the ribs, the spine's length, and the skulls and their "pointy bits". "Because humans do not have so many ribs, nor of that size, the spine is far too long, the skulls look more like a deer, horse or possibly some kind of reptile. And we definitely do not have horns on our foreheads. They are obviously the bones of some kind of animal or spirit beast."

Elder Wang Xin breaks out into a hearty laugh and nods at my deduction. "Hahaha! Very true my boy! Indeed. This place is a spirit beast graveyard. A place for them to lay down and die when they feel they no longer belong in the world for one reason or another. But it is more than that, it is the home of our sect's great benefactor. The one who taught our Founder how to wield the art that let him found the Lightning Storm Sect."

It did not take long for me to conclude what our benefactor was. The clues were all here. "Our Sect's benefactor? Could it be a spirit beast?"

Elder Wang Xin nods and starts walking down the steps towards the lake. I follow him by his side, careful to not stray away from him in this ancient site. The ground and air were thick with Qi energy and I would not risk my life by wandering around here. "Indeed. You are a bright boy. Our benefactor is a powerful and ancient spirit beast who is also the caretaker of this ancient burial ground. He's well over six thousand years old and has lived in our sect ever since its founding two thousand years ago."

As we approach the island a low rumble echoes out over the air and a deep and resounding voice booms out over the valley. "Aaaaah. Young Wang Xin. It has been quite some time since you found a disciple worthy of the trial."

Still walking the elder made a bow as he kept walking, clasping his fist in his palm to show respect. "Junior Wang Xin greets Senior Tiān Léiyǔ."

Wait. Tiān Léiyǔ? Heavenly Lightning Storm? Our sect was named after the benefactor himself? I feel awe at this, the benefactor must have made a deep impression on the founder for naming his very sect after him.

The voice rumbles out in chuckles before speaking once more. A rumble from the sky seems to echo with his voice, whomever this benefactor was, he was powerful. Very powerful. "Hohoho... No need for formalities my friend. It has been two centuries since you last came here with a disciple. They must have great talent to have caught your interest."

We both are approaching the lake and Wang Xin gives a casual reply as we walk. And it makes me realize that even though it should have taken more than ten minutes to walk down the path, we were already by the lake before elder Wang Xin stops talking. "Indeed. Though young has this boy has shown incredible insight, wisdom, and intelligence for his age. Though his cultivation, physical, Qi, and knowledge is of average quality is his mind bright and yet still humble with a keen insight to things people half my age have yet to understand."

There is a humming sound in the wind. I can feel a powerful gaze slide over me. It comes from the island, I am sure of it. "Good. Good. Cultivation, martial arts, strength, power, intelligence, knowledge, none of these means anything good if the person who wields them is lacking in character. A good heart is worth more than a strong body."

I feel a tingling sensation through my body, powerful Qi energy is being manipulated. A low rumble of grinding rock fills the air. Then five stone pillars rise from the once calm waters of the lake, quivering ripples moving over its surface. In just a few moments had the ancient algae-covered rock pillars shape a path to the island.

Wang Xin holds me by the shoulder and slowly guides me up the steps towards the island. I can see the reason why he needs to hold me, the pressure in the air around the stone pillars is enough to make me dizzy. I feel a bit sick actually. Ooooh... solid ground good. I nearly threw up there.

I feel a strong hand hit my back and I feel an acidic sensation along the back of my throat. "The first trip is always the worst young Long. Do not worry you will stop feeling it after you complete your trials."

Elder Wang Xin is patting me on my back to reassure me but it not really what I'd call a good thing right now. I would appreciate it if he let me recover first.

As I slowly regain control of my body I feel a sensation of movement through the air. Something large is approaching. I can hear the sound of steps hitting moss, rock, and stone, they have an air of strength and weight. And yet there is not even the slightest sensation in the earth of a tremor. A large shape is approaching us from the other side of the island where I can see a grove of blooming cherry blossom trees. "You were no different yourself young Wang Xin. At least this young boy isn't throwing up over my fifth brother's second son's bones."

All I think to myself as I see a large four-limbed creature stepping out into the sunlight was that I had no idea kirins could become so big. Its body was a mixture of dragon, deer, horse, and snake. It stood towering over us, reaching a staggering height of seven meters, with the horns adding another meter making it a total of eight. But even with a body mass larger than an elephant it had a graceful appearance and light trot.

Its back portion of the body was covered with pinkish silver coloured scales which turns into light gray, almost white, fur on the front body. Three horns were growing out of its skull. Two magnificent antlers from the back sides of the skull and a singular curved horn from the forehead. The hindlegs had hooves of a horse while the front had three-toed hooves like a mixture of a deer hoof and a dragon's claw.

It had a long mane of pale yellow colour growing from its neck and chin to the tip of its long serpentine tail. Similar patches of hair-like fur were growing along its legs by the hooves and thighs. And to finish it off was a pair of yellow reptilian eyes upon a dragon-like deer head with a long pair of flowing whiskers sparkling with lightning.

This kirin was not only large but ancient. The sheer age of its body and spirit enough to infuse the air with its energy just with its presence alone. It felt suffocating for a moment.

Unlike me was Wang Xin not affected by the awe-inspiring sight. Instead, he snorted in an undignified manner, crossed his arms, and looked to the side. Acting upset, but speaking in a humorous voice tone. "I thought we both agreed to never speak about that after I spent a month washing the bones every dawn."

The kirin Tiān Léiyǔ just chuckles at that. Then his eyes turn serious and he slowly walks up to me and I instinctively straighten myself and stand at the ready for his scrutiny. He looks me in the eyes and asks in a soft voice, that still felt like a barely restrained earthquake to my soul. "Young disciple of the Léiyǔ Sect. May I inquire to know your name?"

I clasp my fist with my palm and I give a respectful bow to my sect's benefactor. My voice is clear and crisp as I restrained my rapidly beating heart and shaken soul to not appear undignified. "This disciple's name is Guo Long, it is an honour to meet you senior."

Tiān Léiyǔ slowly inspects me, his eyes feel like they are penetrating my very soul. As if he can gaze into my very mind and heart and discern any truth or lies within me. I feel like he can tell that I am a reincarnation. Then he speaks up with a smile on his face and I feel relief. "Hmmm... indeed you have character... and a rather pure Qi for someone of your age and cultivation rank... very well. I, Tiān Léiyǔ, caretaker of the Storm Bone Burial Ground, shall give you your trial as a disciple."

Not raising myself from my bow I just lower my head and give my gratitude. "Thank you for this opportunity senior Tiān Léiyǔ, this Guo Long shall do my utmost to succeed."

The old kirin laughs at my fervor, not mockingly, but approvingly. "Hahaha. A good character, humble heart, and yet with a decent spine too? I can see why you like him, Wang Xin. Very well. Come with me and let us get started."

I straighten myself and I follow the kirin towards the center of the island where the dead and burnt willow tree stands. "Yes senior!"

Right in front of the old tree is a large flat circular shaped stone plate, across its rim are deep carvings of old Chinese letters, I cannot much so quickly but I can read the words 'appraisal', 'unity', 'power', and 'Qi'. Old Tiān Léiyǔ motions with one of his forelegs towards the stone plate as we both stand before it. "Kneel at the center of the stone platform placed before the Storm Bone Tree. Then start meditating and focus your Qi, make it circulate within your body. This will start the ritual. And do not worry about what happens afterward. Just keep circulating your Qi. You will know when to stop."

"Un!" I bow in salute again before I step forward onto the moist rock plate. Using my foot to just push aside some small rocks I get down on my knees at the center. Raising my arms above my head and focuses upon activating my Qi. It was a bit of a habit of mine, but I swear I had an easier time feeling the flow of Qi in my fingers when I have my arms raised and thus allow me to focus my Qi better.

I feel the warm energy in my hands now. I slowly lower them down and hold the left palm beneath the right, leaving a small gap between them in my lap, not resting them on my legs.

I start to circulate my Qi. It is hard to describe it but I personally think it feels like a sensation of warmth within my body that I can move around and alter with my cultivation.

I flow it from my left hand to my right, then from my left foot to my right foot. Then from my head to my pelvis. And then, I start to flow it out like a wave, moving clockwise through my body, almost like a radar.

A sudden sensation of weightlessness fills me and I can sense my Qi being drained out of my body, slowly. I speed up the circulation so that the ritual cannot get hold of my Qi too easily.

I hear voices in the distance, the rumbling of thunder, my eyes closed since the start. The voices are hard to hear but they have a sense of curiosity and awe in them. I do not know how long this goes on I just focus on circulating my Qi.

But that's when something changes. The voices turn from curious and awed into frightened and confused. A cold chill runs down my spine and I feel that something is off. But I cannot stop the flow of my Qi for some reason. I am trying to halt it but it is like some otherworldly will is controlling my Qi on its own.

I hear a loud and sudden crack of lightning and a dense wave of force flow through my body. With my eye's closed I do not know what is happening nor can I seem to open them. Both my Qi and my Body were under someone else's control! I was sure of it.

Try as I might I cannot scream out to Wang Xin or Tiān Léiyǔ. And then a sudden sensation of force fills me as I can feel my body moving upwards at a rapid rate, spinning wildly. I can just feel the control of my body come back, but as I open my eyes a sudden brightness blinds me and I scream out in pain and shock.

All I know after that is darkness.

[3rd Person's Point of View]

Wang Xin and Tiān Léiyǔ both look on with eager smiles on their faces at the young disciple as he enacts the ritual that is his trial. A light blue mist emits from his body and flows into the bones around him. The bones light up and shimmer in a blue glow and then rabbit-sized figures in the shape of kirins start to flow out of the rocks and dance around the young disciple.

The Trial of the Storm Bones was for the ancient spirits of the kirins in the graveyard to inspect the disciples and discern their characters, potential, and heart. The size of their Qi was roughly determined by the number of spirits summoned, while the reactions of the spirits determined the rest.

And currently was over a hundred kirin souls floating in the air around the young disciple. They were closing in on his location as the final spirit passed by the threshold of the stone circle Tiān Léiyǔ stomped the ground with his left hoof. A low hum fills the air as a golden pillar of Qi flows up into the storm clouds above the mountain peak. Sealing in Guo Long and the souls for a short amount of time.

Nodding with a satisfied look on his face Tiān Léiyǔ hums before speaking out to Wang Xin. The human was currently standing with both hands behind his back, inspecting the process of the ritual. "Ooooh... so many of my brethren's spirits have risen to inspect him? It seems that your sect has a bright future ahead of it Wang Xin."

The old cultivator nods with a smile on his face. He had not been so impressed or happy with a disciple for well over two centuries. *I might even take him on as my personal apprentice.* "Indeed. I count around one hundred and ten I believe. I'd never imagined he'd be able to arouse the interest of over one hundred kirin spirits considering how average his Qi reserves are. It is not the highest but it is within the top hundred results since the sect's founding. Very impressive for one so young."

"Indehrrmmm..." The kirin suddenly stops and turns his head towards the glowing pillar of golden Qi. His eyes narrow and he slowly starts to walk towards the pillar, which was now glowing yellow. He could see the spirits of his brethren swirling around Guo Long. But it had been five minutes already. *Far too long. They should have already left the ritual circle. Unless... they are unable to leave!?*

Wang Xin blinks a bit at the sudden odd behaviour of his sect's benefactor and slowly walks up to him as he inspects the glowing barrier. "What is is Senior Tiān Léiyǔ?"

Tiān Léiyǔ frowns and circles the barrier. Noting how it was no longer a solid and straight structure. It looked almost like it was... bending? Or rather... the Qi energy making it up was... wavering? Shifting? Something was odd in the flow of the Qi. And he did not like it. "Hmmm... this is the first time that the Qi of the Ritual of Recognition has reacted like this... I have never seen anything like it."

"Senior, something does not feel right. Is... is something interfering with the ritual?" Wang Xin looks at the old kirin whose frown grows deeper as he looks at the glowing pillar of Qi start to shift and twist, not unlike a tornado.

Wang Xin's words and the sudden shift in the ritual made it more than clear to the old kirin. Someone was interfering with the ritual. And the sudden fury filling his mind and soul was accompanied by a low crumbling rumble from the sky and his throat as lightning begins to arc over his whiskers and mane.

With a wordless rumbling like thunder, Tiān Léiyǔ roars out in utter fury as he sees more and more of this sacred rite being despoiled by some unseen interloper. He ignites his horns with lightning and he summons forth his might, a formation of seals forms above the ritual itself and he tries to cancel whatever was despoiling the rite.

But a sudden boom of power erupts from the twister of Qi and the formation is shattered. Tiān Léiyǔ is staggered back by the backlash but remains standing. His fury growing larger and he lowers himself and slowly scrapes his foreleg into the dirt, readying himself to charge at the twister.

"[Horns of the Heavenly Stag]!" Screaming out his technique Tiān Léiyǔ charges like a bull towards the twister. His horns glowing blue as dense Qi is charged through them. He rears back his head, arches his spine, and then leaps forward, heads moving down into a headbutt, and with a loud bell-like clang he headbutts the twister.

Cracks and holes form in the rampaging energy flow but then the motion of the twister intensifies and Tiān Léiyǔ is sent staggering back again, golden blood dripping from his nostrils as if he had been punched in the face.

Glaring at the twisting spire of Qi the kirin roars out in anger. He would need the aid of the Léiyǔ Sect to stop it! "Interlopers! How dare they interfere with the ritual! To insult me and my brethren's sacred ritual like this is to court death!"

"Wang Xin!" The massive spirit beast turns towards Wang Xin who is already kneeling to receive orders. The elder kirin's horn was sparkling with lightning and lightning was arcing over his entire body in utter outrage, the bleeding of his nostrils over in an instance. Wang Xin had never seen Tiān Léiyǔ so angry before.

Wang Xin looks his elder in the eyes with barely restrained anger himself, keeping himself disciplined to not risk harming Guo Long by interfering in the unstable ritual. He knew he was far less able than his elder and to intervene would only end up with him, Guo Long, or both, dead. So he would follow his elder's guidance. "Yes, Senior!"

"Call forth the Grandmaster and retrieve the Jadestone of the Storm Sage! We must-WHAT!?" A high pitch hum fills the air and Tiān Léiyǔ turns to look at the ritual and his eyes widen as he sees the twister of Qi being sucked up into the raging storm clouds above the mountain peak. The lightning of the mountain was striking at the twister but it kept going and going until it disappeared beyond the sight of the clouds. Taking with it Guo Long.

"GUO LONG!!!" Wang Xin and Tiān Léiyǔ both scream out the name of the young disciples as they realize that the Qi twister had taken with it the promising young boy. Abducting him.

Wang Xin falls to his knees and he mumbles in utter shock as he stares at the empty ritual site where the bright young boy had been sitting previously. Now gone. Possibly lost or dead to the sect forever unless they manage to track down the twister. "No. How could this be..."

After a few moments of silence, Wang Xin slowly staggers himself upright and he turns to look at his sect's benefactor, to tell him that he was going to inform the Grandmaster. But as he did he saw a white pale and horrified Tiān Léiyǔ staring at the ground. "Senior?"

"They stole not only the boy but over a hundred of my brethren's spirits as well... some of them were my children... they even took one of my siblings..." Tiān Léiyǔ was staring with wide eyes and open mouth, horror clear even upon his inhuman face. As he gave a response to Wang Xin his voice was shaking in shock and sorrow. As he had just realized that over a hundred souls of his kirin brethren had disappeared along with the young promising disciple into the skies. He could see several spots on the islands where the bones of his kin had collapsed into dust and grime, the spirit once housed within gone.

Wang Xin felt nauseous. This crime was beyond a mere kidnapping. It was on the scale of destroying a temple of the gods. To kidnap the resting souls of a spirit beast burial ground is to laugh at the gods of heaven and shit on the seat of an emperor's throne. In public. *Why... who would do this? To steal not only a disciple directly from his sect!? But also over the spirit beast souls of a burial site right in front of their caretaker!? Not even the Kuángxuè Sect is so sacrilegious!*

"I swear by the bones of my brethren. I will find out who has abducted disciple Guo Long like this, and when I find them. I, TIĀN LÉIYǓ, SHALL BRING DOWN A DIVINE PUNISHMENT UPON THEM! IF I FAIL TO DO SO! I, TIĀN LÉIYǓ, SHALL NOT HAVE A BURIAL!" Powerful crack erupts from the mountain peak, the entire mountain momentarily shaking with the oath sword by the ancient kirin. Oaths made by spirit beasts are serious, and for one to proclaim to not have a burial is the same as to have your body and essence scattered to the wind to disappear.

Something no spirit beast would take lightly.

With sparks flying off his horns. whiskers, mane, and eyes the kirin turns towards his old human friend and speaks up in a deadly serious voice that shook the air with a sense of power and authority. As he gave a command to the sect he had been supporting for so long. "Go to the Tower of Bells and sound the Bell of Distress sixteen times Wang Xin, call forth the Meeting of Masters. This insult to me and your sect shall not stand!"

Wang Xin does not speak, he does not bow, he only nods.

[Location: Planet Gaia, Country of Neighpaal. Date: 1092 AD]

A country was laid in flames beneath an armada of black ships. Its inhabitants were either quelled or killed by the invaders.

This was Neighpaal, a nation founded by a group of a peaceful group of monks from the Mǎ Empire to the east. Here they practiced various forms of meditation and philosophy to gain enlightenment of the world.

Even before the age of chaos had these peaceful monks worked diligently to spread teachings and enlightenment to those who sought it. Discord had apparently evaded the place for some reason during his reign and thus the monks held a great deal of respect among the nearby nation for their dedication to philosophy and peace.

Sadly for them was the individual called the Storm King not in their nation to learn about their peace and philosophy. He was there to bring war and destruction.

It started a month back when a wave of black airships flew over the mountain range surrounding the nation. The people of the area were too unprepared for the attack that they didn't even realize that the black ships were a bad omen and just waved at them in greetings.

That stopped after the ships landed in the fields and rows of large hulking warriors in black armour began to march out into Neighpaal, tearing down houses, cutting down fleeing civilians, pillaging temples, burning fields, raping the females, torturing captives for amusement, and ruining the Fengshui of the temple gardens by moving the decorations around.

At the second week had one-third of the nation been put to the torch, axe, dagger, needle, and mismanaging hands of the invaders. An armada of ships covering much of the sky above the isolated nation, chanting out the name of their ruler. The Storm King.

People fled to the grand temples or into the twisting paths of the mountains to seek refugee. Most of the monks left as well, while some remained, hoping to educate the barbaric warriors in how to properly act, not to mention how to get a feel for proper placements.

It was not a good idea.

"Ah, so you wish to teach me about peace and philosophy to make me change my ways? How... disgustingly noble. I think I am just going to teach you that the Storm King does not need such useless things. By torturing you, of course, no better teacher for useless peace-lovers. And let us make it more fun by doing it in front of those holy statues of yours." And with a wide wicked grin on the large horned yeti warlord, the monks were dragged off to the holy chambers where statues of honoured monks, ancestors, and butha had been placed.

An elderly goatman dressed in black robes claps his hands at the display of evil by his master. He bows and speaks in a voice filled with flattery. "A fine show as always Storm King. You truly are a master of the evil arts. Though, we still need to find information about the temple. So while you have your fun, may I question them for information?"

The Storm King grinned in content at the prospect of some new victims to torture. Clapping the old goat by the shoulder he pointed towards the temple with a happy smile on his face. "Of course, you can even give them some sort of hope by saying you will convince me to let them live or something. And then deny it to them and I just keep torturing them. Hehehehe. It's good being evil."

As the duo enters the temple together the screaming begins. Many would later say that the pained screams of the peaceful Neighpaalian monks would be heard for weeks after they expired, their sorrowful voices held within the echoes of the Feng Hoof Mountains. Like a mournful warning to those who would act as they had.

But none of that mattered to the invaders nor their leader. And they went from temple to temple, scouring for information through scroll or blood. Until they found what they wanted.

It took one week of research and torture, the duo squeezed out any information they could of the monks and the ancient scriptures of their temples. But they had what they came for and without so much of a glance back at the death and destruction, they'd caused. Behind them the temples laid in ruins, the tortured bodies of the monks impaled upon the flagpoles of the buildings.

"Well, that was a fun week. Even got to use that technique involving tearing off toes. Glad one of them was a monkey." The Storm King said with a grin on his face as he cleaned his blood-stained fingers with a piece of silk from a monk's robe.

Guldan nods and bows to his king as they step up the walkway to the flagship of the armada. "Fine work as always great Storm King. I have amassed information about the temple. And it is just as the legends say, a place of great power where a group of religious nutjobs worshipped the power of the weather. It speaks of a ritual that shall pierce the heavens and bring forth great powers to those who are worthy."

An eager look appears on the twisted face of the yeti warlord and he turns to look at Guldan as the old goatman slowly steps up the stairs. Excited to obtain the power he had sought for so long. The power to rule the world. "Well then let us not taddle! This temple and its secrets shall be mine to use soon!"

[5 hours later]

The Storm King and Guldan standing in front of a massive mountain temple constructed within the isolated peaks of the Feng Hoof Mountains. It had been located near the eastern border of the Mǎ Empire, close to the waterfalls feeding the Golden River.

Most of the Storm Warriors were impressed by the massive structure, feeling that this was indeed a temple worthy of its purpose.

Guldan was gleefully smiling as he looked up at the large gates as he stood in the courtyard of the temple. Most of it was covered with snow, ice, and moss. Much of the stone had corroded. And yet it stood tall with a still-intact roof and everything. Yet it was far over a thousand years of age.

The Storm King did not find the temple too impressive however and just gave the place a criticizing comment. "So this is the so-called Temple of the Divine Storm? Doesn't look very magical or stormy if you ask me."

Chuckling the old goat unfurls a scroll to read its content. Seemingly not faced by the ignorance of his lord. "Looks can be deceiving my King. This temple may seem ordinary, but it is far from it. I can sense deep and powerful magic through its entire structure. All we need to do is get to the central chamber and we can have you claim the power of the temple to become not a Storm King but a Storm God."

The horned yeti smirks and hums in content at the title the old goat mentioned. It was a most compelling title for one such as himself. "Ooooh, nice choice of title. I was thinking of upgrading my branding a bit. Storm God... hmmm... I like it!"

A large set of stone doors blocks the path into the temple. Upon them is an ancient scripture along with images carved out, showing people venerating a twister of wind and lightning. Eight stone pillars stood outspread along with the courtyard, each of them marked with a symbol and a brazier.

Obviously to get past the doors one would most likely have to solve the riddle.

But the recently rebranded Storm God, copyright pending, was not a patient person. So he pointed at for of his Storm Warriors and shouted out a command. "Bring the enchanted battering ram and smash those gates open!"

Two rows of ten storm warriors came dragging a large structure on wheels. It was a battering ram, held with chains and pulleys. The front of the ram was covered with a layer of black metal shaped like a sphere. Its surface is engraved with runes.

As the battering ram reached the gates to the temple the warriors grabbed the loose ropes and began to heave, pulling the big log backward. Before releasing it. The pommel-headed battering ram slams into the stone gates with a loud crack. And yet the stone remains undamaged.

They try again, and again, and again. After over twenty times had the ancient stone gate not even gotten a fracture. Looking at each other in confusion the storm warriors didn't know what to do.

But the Storm God knew what to do, he points a halberd at the ram and shouts out orders with a twisted frown on his face. "Activate the gate breacher charge on the ram and blow up that gate!"

One of the stone warriors walks up to the front of the ram and slices a dagger across his palm before smearing blood over the sphere. The runes on its surface glow green and red and the ten warriors pull back the ram one final time before letting go. And jump prone on the ground as they let go.

A loud thunderous boom erupts from the gate and fragments of wood, rope, and metal flies out as the enchanted battering ram and the structure that held it explodes into pieces. As the dust cloud clears all that be seen is a deep crack in the left door of the gate.

There is a momentary pause before the lower half of the left door falls over, revealing an entrance into the temple.

"Haha! My plan worked perfectly! Let us go and claim my price!" The Storm God cheers out as he strides forward, Guldan and thirty more storm warriors following his lead. Leaving the twenty storm warriors who worked the battering ram to be taken back to the ship for medical care.

The halls of the temple were eerie quiet, only the echoes of the party's marching footsteps could be heard. Walls and pillars once decorated and finely carved were covered in decay and rot. Only the pure stone carvings remained and even those were heavily damaged from centuries without any proper care.

A large open pathway leads into a large inner courtyard, statues and monuments with lost purposes lay in ruins. At the other end of what had once been a beautiful place is a large desolated stone structure. A half-rotten gate engraved with ancient writing lost since the age of chaos blocking the path.

There was not even a pause when the Storm God kicked in the door and enters the large stone structure. At first, it looked like a roofed building but as they move forward they all note how the roof only covers the edges of the building. There is a perfectly square hole at the center of the roof. And beneath it, lit up by the midday sun, is a large hole that reveals that there is a drop over a thousand meters, leading straight down into the valley below the mountain.

Within this gap in the floor is four bridges connecting to a central stone platform. Upon this platform stands a scorched willow tree, bones of various species scattered around it. And before it stands a circular-shaped stone plate with intricate carvings engraved upon its edges.

"This is it Storm God. The central chamber of this ancient temple. Here we will have to activate the ritual for you to receive the blessing."

"How does it work? That is something you still haven't told me." The overlord asks in a curious voice as he looks at the bizarre-looking tree and the bones scattered around it. His evil senses were tingling.

"You have to kneel at the center of the stone circle and channel the power within you in a circular pattern to summon the spirit of the storm to have them bless you with their gift."

A calm and serene expression is on the Storm God's face as he smiles and seemingly accepts the answer. "Ah, it's that easy-FUCK YOU!!" Before he brutally punches Guldan in the gut.

The old goat, not expecting the reaction. Hunches offer clutching his stomach while the storm warriors just watch.

"ARE YOU FUCKING WITH ME GULDAN!? I DON'T HAVE ANY MAGIC! WAS ALL THIS FOR NOTHING!?" And with another brutal punch to the old goat's gut the Storm God reached forth and grab him by the throat and lift him into the air.

"Curgh calm down gah I hargh prepargh prepared for aghh this." The old goat clutches at the strong fingers holding him by the throat. Fear clear in his eyes.

Glaring into the eyes of his advisor the horned yeti drops him on the floor. "Hrmmmm... explain before I have you thrown down this hole."

Standing up rubbing his stomach and throat the old goat coughs and gasps a few times before straightening up. He pulls out of his left pocket an amulet of jade with a black and white ying-yang symbol on its center. "Agh. Just listen. Ahem. I have an amulet that will emulate the magical energy flow required to start the ritual. It's like the motion of a watch but more rapidly. It will deceive the ritual circle so you may claim the blessing."

Still frowning the Storm God stares at the old goat as he grabs the amulet from him and examines it. "And what would this ritual grant me? I am not some easily deceived thug on the street stealing donuts. What will I be granted?"

"Look. This is the historical description of the ritual." An old scripture scroll is unfurled and it reveals an image of a person, probably a monkey, kneeling in the circle. The second image shows the person sitting with their hands in their lap over one another, a show of energy in the shape of waves moving in a circular pattern in their image. Next, an image of small horse-shaped sprites flying around the figure. Followed by a pillar of light surrounds the figure and the stone circle. Next, the spirits flow into the person, and their body overflow with lightning. It then shows the person flying into the skies, mountains, and trees crumbling beneath their lightning aura.

"Are those windigoes?" The Storm God comments as he takes note of the eerie similarity of the sprites in the image to the cold-hearted frost spirits.

Guldan shakes his head, still, a bit shaken but mostly recovered by now. "No sir. Those are storm spirits, the depiction of the spirit may appear different for each individual. But those are the spirits who will grant you, the power described here."

Nodding the Storm God puts his hand on the old goat's shoulder and leads him to one of the bridges. "Good. Do I need to do anything else or is it just wear the amulet and kneel in the circle?"

"Yes, that is all you need to do sir," Guldan says as they walk up the bridge towards the stone platform.

"Good. Then I no longer need you. Thank you for your service, and mind the drop." And with his hand still on Guldan's shoulder the Storm God pushes the old goat off the bridge, letting him fall to his doom.

The last thing the wicked old goat Guldan, grandchild of Groghar, can do is scream in utter terror as he falls down the mountain towards the rapids down below. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Without so much as a glance, the Storm God hums to himself as he puts on the amulet and walks up to the stone circle. "I am so happy he explained everything to me before I threw him down the hole. Hmmm, nice scream. I should have recorded it for when I am throwing mute people off high places."

He steps up onto the stone circle and kneels. Holding up the amulet he smirks as he sees the blue wave of energy flowing through it and he nods.

A bluish mist flows out of the amulet and ten small sprites flow out of the ground around him. They start to flow circularly, making him feel a slight discomfort. It was then that a loud rumble was heard and suddenly a pillar of golden light covers him and the sprites as it rises into the heavens. Once free of clouds, now covered in sparking storm clouds.

Smirking the soon-to-be-true Storm Godexcitedly looks up at the heavens. "Come on now. Give me the power. I want it. I need it."

Then suddenly a powerful pressure fills the air and lightning arches across the clouds, forming a massive shape of a large roaring elk-like creature's head in the clouds. Its glaring eyes staring down at the temple below. It disappears as soon as it appeared.

Blinking a bit in confusion the promotional Storm God looks at the sky curiously. "Huh. That old fool's scroll did not include that."

A powerful crack is suddenly heard as lightning strikes in the distance, a vibration running through the mountains. And then several more came, and soon the entire mountain was shaking as lightning bolt after lightning bolt arcs down from the heaves and lashes out like the whip of the gods themselves.

"So when are you sparkly little twits going to enter me and give me my power?" He asks the still swirling storm spirits floating around him. None of them give a reaction, let alone an answer.

The lightning keeps falling. Several Storm Warriors keeping beneath the roofs of the old temple to not risk getting hit themselves.

A sudden twisting motion appears in the barrier and a hole appears in the cloud above. Revealing a glittering night sky even though it is midday. And that's when the Storm god hears a voice call out from the entrance. One of his messengers.

"My lord Storm King. Several lightning strikes have struck several of our airships and completely demolished them. We only have two left and the storm is expanding out and I fear it might hit the rest of the armada! We need to pull back now!"

But he would not have it and roars back at the messenger without looking away from the swirling mass of golden light containing him. "Not until I get the power I've been so painstakingly scheming to get!"

It was then that he saw the sprites that once was flying around hi suddenly fly up into the twisting barrier, seemingly sucked up by the unstable energies. And he could see several more being sucked out from the ground beneath him. He tried to reach out for them but their shapes just moved through his fingers. And he began to realize that if the sprites were not there to grant him power, then it was all for nothing. "No no no no no... Nononononono! NO!"

He then looks to the roof and his eyes widen as he sees a second golden light in the clouds in the northern direction. Somewhere else someone else was performing the same ritual!? What are the odds!?

Realizing the problem he feels rage and despair fills his body as he screams. "Let me out!" He stands up and slams his fist into the barrier to no avail.

Cursing he turns toward his troops. "Dammit! Storm Warriors!" The hulking figures salute their leader, ready to receive his orders.

He points at the other golden light shining in the distant north and screams out in utter fury, drooling and spitting in a frothing rage. "Find where that other golden light is! Find it now and stop it!"

The warriors rush out of the temple even as the lightning kept rumbling.

For over ten minutes all the incomplete Storm God hears is rumbling lightning. Snarling and growl in his captive state. Regretting having killed the old goat until after he had gotten his powers. But he would probably never know now.

Suddenly the golden twister where he was att disappears upwards, taking with it every last spirit held within the temple. The failed Storm God rushes through the temple, frantically trying to catch up with the disappearing promise of power. "Stop it! That is mine! That power belongs to me!"

[Start Dramatic Music: CRUCIBLE - Original instrumental inspired by Mass Effect 3 by Miracleofsound]

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Yet as he gets out of the temple he can no longer see the golden light. Signifying that the ritual was over. Someone else had claimed his prize.

He falls down the stairs of the temple and lands in the snow undignified. He looks up, snow falling off his horns and he stares with empty eyes at the burning remains of his airships. Not only had he lost the power of the temple to someone else, but his flagship and nine more ships were also all wrecked, leaving him and his surviving forces stranded in the mountains until his armada could track him down.

"When I find out who stole my powers I shall show them a fate worse than death! You hear me!? I am not done yet! I am still the Storm King! And I will get my revenge!" His voice echoes out over the mountains, overpowering the rumble of the lightning storm itself.

Unbeknownst to him. No aid would come. Not anytime soon.

[Location: Neighpaal]

Dark storm clouds emerged out from the mountains. Lightning rained like rain over the valley of Neighpaal. The survivors of the invasion stared in awe as airship after airship was struck down by what could only be described as divine punishment.

Storm Warriors can be heard screaming in panic and terror throughout the valley as their ships were struck down. Several exploded on impact, others crashed and burned, while some fled the raging weather. The people of Neighpaal cheered and prayed to the gods for granting them deliverance from the invaders.

Even as the last damaged airship fled south to lick its wounds the storm kept expanding. And for five days it would rage, scorching much of the mountains and its lands black. While releasing waves of freshly melted water to quench the fires below.

It would later come to be named the Purging Storm.

[Guo Long's Perception]

My body aches. It feels like I have been forced to work out nonstop for a week without rest. My muscles spasm and my stomach heaves even though it is empty. I can't seem to feel anything even though I am lying on something.

The darkness is gone and yet the world is so bright I may as well be blind. Even though my eyes are closed I cannot escape the bright light. I suddenly feel something wet and cool placed over my eyes, soothing my discomfort and removing the intense light. I hear a male voice speak to me. "Hmmmmm... his fever is gone. But he's still severely dehydrated. He's conscious but his nerves are still too damaged to properly respond. Better get him to sleep some more."

I feel strong sharp nailed fingers pry open my jaws. Though... it feels strange as my mouth opens. Like my... mouth's shape doesn't feel the same. A cool liquid is poured down my throat and I feel finger pressing some of my nerves, stimulating my throat muscles to swallow.

I black out again.

I wake up a second time. This time my eyes are already covered by a moist cloth. My body is no longer sore, but it feels tense. Like a spring too strung up and in need of maintenance. I slowly lift a hand I grasp the cloth and I slowly slide it off my eyes. There is no intense bright light this time.

I see an unfamiliar ceiling made of thatch or some similar weed-based roof. A window is covered by a curtain made of pieces of bamboo. A large cupboard and cabinet with a small chair stand in a nearby corner. To my side, I can see a bamboo and rice paper screen of plain white colour blocking the view.

This is a medical clinic, possibly even an infirmary. But not the one associated with my sect. I reach up to rub my face when I see my hand. It is scaly, like a combination of lizard and bird talons. Four fingers, one thumb, each decorated with a curved claw-like nail.

My once tanned skin is replaced with a grey scale-like hide, not too dissimilar to what I saw on Tiān Léiyǔ's rear body when I meet him. Shock rings through me and I quickly feel my face, panic starts to set it as I feel more and more how I had changed.

Rolling out of the bed I stagger to my feet, well I better call them hooves now. As I can see a three-toed hoof on an inhuman leg as it straightens itself as I try to stand. Gripping the edge of the bed for the support I stand up. I see a large mirror by a small simple desk made of wood. Grasping the sheet from the bed I tie it around my waist and I slowly walk up to the mirror.

What I see is not anything I had seen before in any of my two lives. The being in front of me did not look a bit like the old Guo Long. What I saw was a humanoid kirin. Dark grey and bluish scales on a body that combined the muscles of a human with those of a kirin. I had a near-white mane running down from my forehead to my tail tip. The serpentine tail had a tuff of hail not too unlike a lion's tail with a more bright blue tint to it.

Upon my forehead was a cone-shaped spiral horn that looked like it was made out of some manner of dull, almost gray, gemstone. It reminded me of the horn a creature I saw in a game in my first life.

Slowly I look down at my chest and I feel the place where my sect token had been before I blacked out. I look around to see if I can spot it along with my clothes until I hear steps and voices approaching. Stepping back from the door I enter a corner and drawback my Qi and through breath control remove my presence from the room as best as I can.

Who, or rather what, enters the room is a short humanoid turtle, or possibly tortoise dressed in what looks like medical or scholar robes. And a female humanoid horse lady around my chest height dressed in a farmer's outfit with a basket of some kind of fruit or vegetable held by her hip. She was very colourful with a bright green pelt, blue mane, and tail. Her body was well built, obvious from a lot of physical labour, but I have to admit what draws most of my attention is her butt and chest. Feels like I am looking at an Amazonian warrior dressed as a farmer.

"When do you think he will wake up Elder Hardshell? It has been nearly a week since we found him in the river." The horse lady asks in a concerned tone as they enter the clinic.

The tortoise/turtle strokes a long beard growing from his jaw as he enters the room. "Why don't you ask him yourself young Berry Juice. He's hiding in the corner for some reason."

Not expecting to be spotted so soon I quietly step forward, the sheet still tied around my waist. I look at them, taking note that the woman was staring at me with an odd look in her eyes. I then bow and cover my right fist with my left palm. "I apologies for hiding but I am not sure where I am or how I got here."

The old tortoise/turtle snorts and steps over to a table where he picks up some medical tools and points me at a small chair. "Hmph. At least you're not a bandit. Someone willing to apologize and show proper manners is hard to find even among decent folks these days. Well, we can start by checking your body for anything wrong. Then we can do some small talk."

"Un." Nodding in agreement I step over to the chair and slowly sit down, my bones creaking a bit in discomfort.

After a few minutes of prodding and poking the old reptile nods before putting aside his tools. "Well, you still have some nerve damage of whatever happened to you. But other than that you are in good health. I should explain how you got here then."

The old reptile pulls forth a small scroll and unfurls it to show a nation bearing the name Mǎ Empire, several dots laid around its shape and one of them was the most western one he was pointing a clawed finger at. "This is Freshriver Village, it lies in the westernmost border of the Mǎ Empire, the third-largest nation in the world of Gaia. Ruled by the Golden Horse Emperor and his War Lords. Five days ago we found you floating down the waterfall by the village that leads to the Golden River. We fished you up and have been caring for you ever since."

I am in yet another world. Had I not already gone through this I would probably be going through a panic attack. But instead, I ask about my belongings, at the very least my sect token was something I needed to find no matter what. Without it, I could not prove my identity as a member, not as I was now. "Did. Did I have anything on me? Clothes? A token? A weapon?"

"You were naked when you were found, covered in burn marks that disappeared after I gave you some treatment. But you did have this around your neck." He hands me a small jade token engraved with my name and my sect's name, tied to a thin leather strap. It was my identification token as a member of my sect. It was worth more to me than any weapon.

Letting out a sigh of relief I bow in gratitude. "Thank you for saving me and my sect token, had I lost it I would not know what to do."

The elderly tortoise/turtle just nods to this as he pulls out some paper, ink, and quill. "Hmmm. Not sure what kind of religious sect you come from with such a plain token. But could you explain how you get injured and how you got here?"

"And what is your name?" I and the turtle/tortoise turn to look at the horse lady who looks a little abashed and turns her head to look at a wall. Makes me feel a bit bad putting her on the spot like that.

"My name is Guo Long. I am a member of the Léiyǔ Sect, an order of cultivators who seek enlightenment through physical and spiritual achievements. We do not seek divine enlightenment nor do we proclaim ourselves to be servants of gods. We reside in the Mountain of the Eternal Storm where we train, study, and cultivate ourselves to obtain enlightenment through our own efforts and understanding of life and combat." At least that's my view on it. There were very few cultivators who didn't kill at least one person through their journey to reach enlightenment through combat. It was just how things worked, even though it sounds painful is it not possible to change such a baseline thing.

"Hmm. Fascinating." The short reptile was taking notes of my explanation, clearly fascinated by my origin for some reason.

I keep explaining, emitting some parts as to not reveal I had come from another world. Not very eager to be called mad and possibly executed or imprisoned for it. No, it was for the best to omit some details. "I was participating in a ritual conducted by my sect's benefactor when something went wrong. I do not know how or why but something interfered in the ritual that my clan's benefactor had created for us. It caused something to go wrong and the last thing I remember before falling unconscious is that something had taken control of my body and Qi before releasing me. Why I do not know."

Tapping his chin with the feather part of the quill the elder hummed in thought as I described what had happened to me. "I personally have never heard about such a way of obtaining enlightenment before. I know of the Neighpaal monks and the Way of the Butha but I have never heard of cultivation before. You must come from a very isolated place in the Feng Hoof Mountains or even further."

I shake my head and motion at the map with an open hand. "It is not on any map as we do not wish for others to steal our secrets for ill-begotten reasons. A sect's cultivation is kept private and secret to not risk unworthy villains from learning them."

"Hmmm... A good reason as any to keep yourself isolated. Doubt you manage to obtain many willing to learn by being so isolated though." At those words, I clasp my hand into my palm as he reaches for a cup of tea and I correct his assumption.

"As of the current year, we have over ten thousand members in our sect." The poor elder spits out his tea coughs a bit, giving my proudly smiling face a light glare. As if knowing I did that on purpose.

He cleans his face with a napkin before snorting at my cheeky behaviour, though clearly not too upset about it. "Hmph. Cheeky brat. Well, you are healthy enough I suppose. If you wish to find your belongings they might have washed up onto the shore by the lake beneath our village. Or sunk to the bottom. There are some rice farmers down there that sometimes scavenge for lost items in the banks. they might be able to help you find what you lost."

This is great news and I stand up and bow with my palm on my fist. This kind elder and his village were truly helpful folks. I would have to thank them in the future. "I, Guo Long, thank you deeply for this aid you have given honoured elder. I shall do my utmost to repay you and your village."

Things got weirdly silent for a moment and I straighten myself to look at them. Only to see the turtle/tortoise smirking behind another cup of tea, while the horse lady was staring at something on my waist with an absent look on her face. "Oh my..."

The old reptile covers up a laugh with his fist before speaking out to the blushing mare. "Hrhrhrmph. Might want to get the lad some clothes miss Berryjuice."

Ah... crap. The sheet I had worn had dropped when I stood up and now I am standing naked in front of a woman and an elder. I thought I felt a breeze. I cover myself swiftly with a light blush on my cheeks. "Ahm. Yes. Sorry. Some pants would be good."

[Meanwhile: Equestria]

Within a magnificent throne room is a gathering of nobles, officers, merchants, commoners, and more gathering within. Upon a throne of gold and rubies sits a female figure dressed in armour and cloth that together with her tall buxom shape form what can only be described as a desirable yet powerful presence.

This is the Warrior Queen Celestia, ruler of Equestria, and the Alicorn of the Sun. As depicted by her horn and wings revealing her immortal nature.

For half, a day had the court been going through its weekly meeting. Nearly approaching its completion there is a sudden upheaval as the doors to the throne room slams open as a messenger comes running into the throne room. The tall alicorn ruler looks at the exhausted messenger before getting off her throne. "Messenger, what is so important that you would come barging in like this?"

Panting with exhaustion the messenger has to spend a few moments regaining his breath. After he does he reports what he had been told. "A report from General Star Blade was sent by dragon fire your highness. While visiting the Imperial Court of the Mǎ Empire across the Lunar Sea with his new son-in-law he took note of something strange going on. Messengers and officials were running in and out of the Imperial Palace for several days. With no clear explanation."

"He received words just hours ago what had caused it all. It is apparent so that the Warlord known as the Storm King had been seen near Neighpaal, and from the reports, it was a month ago that he was seen approaching the area." There a frown on the lips of several members of nobility and military ranks. The Storm King was a well-known warmonger and conqueror who not only was brutal as a demon but as slippery as a snake. Over five countries had been claimed by him thus far, most of them peaceful and not equipped with a proper military defence.

"But not only that. The entire region has apparently not only been plundered but also razed to the ground within two weeks. For that time the Imperial Court had been completely unable to decide in time to aid the populous of the area." A frown appears on Celestia's face as she hears of the neglect of the current Gold Horse Emperor. She had thought he would have proven a decent character like his father.

"So Neighpaal is destroyed then? Another nation victim to the Storm King?" A random pony asks the messenger, an uneasy look on their face. As they had visited the peaceful nation in the past and did not like to think of it as destroyed.

"No that's the thing. The Imperial Court is in a total uproar now as it was discovered that a massive storm suddenly erupted from the dept of the Feng Hoof Mountains and brought ruin upon the Storm King's armada and raged over the mountain range for five days. He was last reported fleeing to the arctic north with barely a tent of his forces remaining. This last information is only twelve hours old." At those words, a moment of pure shock filled the room. Then excited looks appeared on many ponies' faces. As they realized what this meant.

Excited chatter begins to fill the throneroom.

"Then he won't be able to lay sieges upon nations until he rebuilds his strength!"

"The nations can have a breathing space to bulk up their defences!"

"Or even hunt him down!"

Celestia however was still curious about the disorder in the Imperial Court. "Then why is the Imperial Court in disarray because of this?"

The messenger swallows a bit before explaining. "Apparently have several members of the court been exposed as being bribed by the Storm King to delay aid to Neighpaal with promises of wealth from the region. Without their intended payment coming some of them ratted the others out to the Emperor. The Gold Horse Emperor is cleaning his court with a brutality not seen for centuries in his bloodline. There are mentions of geldings, beheadings, implements, and even the infamous death by quartering."

Silence reigned over the court of the Sun Queen once more before Celestia sighed and looked towards one of her old advisers. "It is not up to us to interfere in the affairs of another nation. Hopefully, the current emperor will have enjoyed this moment of bloodshed. But should he prove to act like his great grandfather Emperor Sowing Sword, then I want our own forces to be prepared. Send word to Captain Fire Storm to start-up recruitment into the army once more, least we let another Mad Sword of Mǎ raid our lands."

The adviser bows and moves away to do his queen's bidding. Meanwhile, the court feels a bit tense so Celestia looks at the room and gives them a nod. "We will stop here for today and resume tomorrow. I expect many of you have some history to look up."

As the throne room empties itself she sighs and rolls her left and right shoulder. Removing the tension of court work.

She then walks out to the garden and smiles as she sees her personal apprentice Twilight Sparkles with her small dragon companion spike. It had only been two years since she first meets the young unicorn. And her days would always be a bit brighter as she educated her in manners of magic and other subjects.

"Ah! Queen Celestia! Are you done with court already?" The happy young filly asked her teacher as she saw her getting closer. A pile of books by her side in the grass on a blanket with a sleeping spike in a small basket on her right.

"Indeed. It was interrupted because of important matters and we will have to resume early tomorrow. But that only means it won't even be half as long tomorrow." She said with a smile as she sat down next to her happy little bookworm of a student.

"Oh great! Then could you teach me about this?" She holds up a book containing the title [The Lost Art of Cultivation] by Sergeant Iron Kick.

That was something she had not been expecting. She takes the book and opens it, treading lightly through the content as she remembers the old battles a millennia ago against her first hated foe. And of the people who fought against him and his cult. "Oh? That is an art not even I am proficient in I am afraid."

The little filly gasps and holds her hands in front of her mouth in shock at the news of Celestia not knowing something. "What!? Really!?"

Nodding she reads the section detailing the various sects and the arts, only descriptions, however. So many powerful techniques and styles. A painful cost they paid willingly to stop Discord, something she respected deeply. "Mmhmm. You see Twilight, the Cultivators were rather reclusive and would not just teach anyone their ways. But those they taught became powerful and even attained an increased life span. But they were all killed during the Age of Chaos by the Cult of Clucking Chaos. For the Cultivators fought against Discord and even managed to push him away. And so the mad people of the CCC started to assault the Cultivators."

Climbing up onto her teacher's lap Twilight looks into be book with a sad expression. "Oh no! Did it end badly?"

Celestia smiles a sad smile and pats her student on the head as she looks over the various names of the people written into the book. Most of them were honourable warriors who fell in battle. Some of them were traitors. Others even close friends of her childhood who sacrificed themselves to protect her and her sister from Discord at least ten times. "Very badly. They were far too outnumbered with the cult also having mutated monsters on their side adding to the mayhem. And they sacrificed themselves to protect others without hesitation. There is said that the few Cultivators that remained fled into the distant corners of the world and disappeared. Yet not even I know of what happened to them."

Young Twilight frowns a bit at that but sighs and looks at the book with a longing feeling. It had sounded so interesting, she would have been happy to learn it if possible. "Oh. I would have wanted to try to learn it. But for now. I guess I will focus on my magic."

Closing the book Celestia hugs her little student into her bosom, the little filly looking up at her from between the valley of flesh hugging her as her teacher hugs her. "Oh don't be so down Twilight. There are a slight chance Cultivators still remain. But if they do, it is probably for the best to not harass them for their secrets. Better to make the want to teach you."

"And I have no doubt they'd want to teach such ha bright little student like you." Teacher and student break down into giggles and hugs after that and enjoys some cool lemonade and pasties in the garden. The warm summer sun shining upon them.

[Back with Guo Long]

As I sit by the bed waiting for some clothes I suddenly feel an itch in my nose and I sneeze loudly. The old tortoise, which he told me was after I asked, looks at me with a raised eyebrow. "Seems like someone's talking about you lad."

I can't help but agree with him.

TBC

Author's Note

Staadnauthursil: Alright! Here is an attempt to stir up my inspiration for Maleficus Victoria by trying something new. I hope you will enjoy it, and I won't spoil the plans I have for this storyline thus far. And do not worry, I won't be writing much in Chinese. Since I am totally not experienced in it. I am just going to write the techniques in English.

Twilight Sparkles: Oh my! It is good to take a break from your work if you are not progressing through it as you want to. But be sure to not forget about your first work so it isn't forgotten.

Staadnauthursil: What the... Where's Pinkie Pie?

Twilight Sparkle: She said she doesn't want to be the author's note commentator twice in a row so she asked the others and me if anyone of us wanted to do it instead.

Staadnauthursil: Oookay... Did you violently stake your claim at becoming the commentary voice of a fictional work because it sounded like one of your childhood dreams?

Twilight Sparkle: ...I have no idea what you're talking about. Everybody else agreed to let me handle the commentary after some discussions... andpromisesofnotinvolvingtheminanyofmyresearchforamonth.

Staadnauthursil: ...Right...

Staadnauthursil: Anyway. If anyone is curious about how this story's cultivation ranking works it is like this.

There are Three Tiers of a Cultivator. Low, Mid, and High.

Each Tier has a ranking of 1-10, the 10th Level Breakthrough is called the Tribulation of the Earth (Low Tier), Sea (Mid Tier), and Sky (High Tier).

In the world of Cultivations where Guo Long was reincarnated there has been no Cultivator who has broken past the High Tier Cultivation. All cultivators who have tried have died.

By breaching the Low tier you gain 500 years of lifespan and break the limits of your body. By breaking the Mid Tier you gain 1000 years of lifespan and break the limits of your mind. By breaking the High Tier it is said that you become immortal and breaks the limits of your soul.

A rank in Cultivation is reached when one's Qi abilities have reached a certain height of development. These different stages will be shown in the colour and opacity of one's Qi aura.

I will only explain the Low Tier ranking for now since I do not want to take up too much space.

Rank 1 is transparent and invisible to the naked eye.
Rank 2 is a light blue mist.
Rank 3 is a blue light emerging from the body but not the clothes.
Rank 4 is an incorporeal glowing blue liquid flowing out of the body.
Rank 5 is a solid glowing liquid as heavy as water.
Rank 6 is a yellow light emitting from the body but not the clothes.
Rank 7 is an orange incorporeal glowing liquid flowing out of the body.
Rank 8 is a solid red, almost blood-like, liquid flowing out of the body as heavy as mud.
Rank 9 is a black mist emitting like a black shroud over the body.
Rank 10 is a bright white light emitting from the entire body and the clothes worn.

The ranks for the mid and high tiers are not the same as the low tier. Since most cultivator's Qi develops into a unique state not seen in anyone else and in different forms depending on their achievements. So there is no clear-cut way of ranking them except for their abilities as cultivators. Thus many tournaments are conducted to rank the abilities of cultivators.

A Cultivator can only become a Master by reaching Rank 5 in the Mid Tier of Cultivation. A Grand Master can only become one by reaching Rank 1 in the High Tier.
Cultivation from rank 1-2 in each individual tier is different.

The Low Tier's ranking is the easiest to develop, but also the one you have to be careful in not overreaching. If you become a Mid Tier cultivator too soon you will risk damaging your cultivation and never be able to reach the High Tier. That is why many sects never teach students about Qi until they have a solid foundation and have the proper mindset to not risk damaging themselves.

That is why it might take twice the time to cultivate through the Low tier than it might during the Mid Tier.

The Mid Tier cultivation is unique in itself as it involves the development of one's own and unique combat style with Qi Channeling. This is when most people start to learn the arts of their sects.

On another note: I could not find a properly fitting kirin/qilin anthro picture of the Monster Hunter Black Kirin. So I just used This image: https://d.furaffinity.net/art/malakim/1437102886/1437102886.malakim_nianzu_upload.png
to get an idea of how to describe him and then change the horn so that he has a similar to the kirin of MHW.

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