Cultivation is Creation

"The formation guild," Elder Chen Yong began, "is far more than just a sect organization. It spans all Four Great Continents, maintaining branches in every major sect and city." He gestured broadly at the path ahead, which wound down from the main sect grounds toward a cluster of buildings outside of the sect which I'd always assumed were storage facilities.

"I thought those were warehouses," I admitted.

They were deceptively simple – plain stone buildings with slanted tile roofs, nothing like the grand architecture of the main sect.

"That's intentional," Elder Chen Yong replied. "The formation guild values substance over appearance. Though," he added with a slight smirk, "the formations layered into those walls could probably withstand a small army."

As we got closer, I began to notice subtle details I'd missed from afar. The stones weren't quite as plain as they appeared – each one was carved with microscopic runes that seemed to shift and change when viewed from different angles. The roof tiles formed patterns that were only visible when sunlight hit them just right, creating fleeting images of complex geometric designs.

"The guild system is one of the few things that transcends sect boundaries," Elder Chen Yong continued. "Formation masters, alchemists, blacksmiths – we all maintain our own networks. Politics between sects may come and go, but the guilds remain constant."

"Why here?" I asked, genuinely curious. "Why not in Three Rivers Town or somewhere more central?"

"Ah," Elder Chen Yong's eyes twinkled. "That's a story of convenience and necessity. Most neighboring sects are significantly smaller than Azure Peak. When they needed a regional guild branch, it made sense to place it near the largest concentration of potential members." He paused, then added with a touch of pride, "And of course, having an expert of my caliber nearby didn't hurt."

As we approached the entrance, I noticed something that made me do a double-take. The disciples moving in and out weren't wearing the familiar grey, blue, or purple robes of Azure Peak. Instead, they wore pure white robes with varying numbers of horizontal lines across the chest.

"The lines indicate rank," Elder Chen Yong explained, noticing my interest. "One line for Level One, two for Level Two, and so on. It's a simple system, but effective." He gestured at a young woman hurrying past with three lines on her robe. "That disciple might be from the Crimson Sword Sect, but here, she's simply a Level Three formation practitioner."

"So anyone can join?" I asked, watching the diverse mix of cultivators moving through the courtyard.

"Anyone with the skill and proper introduction," he corrected. "The guild maintains certain standards. Usually, that means passing a series of tests, but..." he grinned, "having me vouch for you tends to speed things along."

As we entered the main building, I couldn't help but marvel at the interior. The ceiling soared overhead, supported by columns inscribed with spiraling formation diagrams. The floor was a massive formation in itself, though its purpose wasn't immediately apparent.

"The identity of a formation expert," Elder Chen Yong continued as we walked, "carries weight throughout the cultivation world. Even sects that might normally be hostile will think twice before antagonizing a guild member. We're too valuable, you see. Everyone needs formations, whether they're for defense, cultivation, or simply keeping their wine cellar at the perfect temperature." He patted a nearby wall fondly at that last part.

"And there are special missions?"

"Oh yes!" His eyes lit up. "The guild receives requests from all over – everything from analyzing ancient formation arrays to setting up defenses for merchant caravans. The pay is excellent, and more importantly, you get to see formation techniques from different regions and cultures. It's quite educational."

We approached a large desk where a severe-looking man was processing applications with mechanical efficiency. The way other disciples deferred to Elder Chen Yong was subtle but noticeable – quick bows, respectful nods, careful maintenance of proper distance. Clearly his level wasn’t simple.

"Ah, Zhou Qiang," Elder Chen called out to the clerk. "I have a new member to register."

The man looked up. "Elder Chen Yong, this is unexpected. You rarely sponsor new members."

"This one's special," Elder Chen replied, then launched into an explanation of my Symphony Shield that made it sound far more impressive than it actually was.

As the clerk began processing my registration, I felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere. Elder Chen Yong's posture stiffened slightly, and a few nearby disciples quickly found reasons to be elsewhere.

A woman wearing white robes with six lines had entered the hall, and though she appeared young, something about her movement set off every survival instinct I possessed.

"Chen Yong!" she called out with a smile. "Still drowning your failures in wine, I see?"

The elder's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "Madame Butterfly. Still pretending to be young, I see?"

I nearly choked. Madame Butterfly? Really? That had to be a chosen name, and if so... well, it said a lot about someone's personality when they picked something that dramatically cliché.

"Now, now," she glided closer. "Is that any way to greet an old friend? Especially when you still haven't managed to reach Grandmaster?" Her smile was sweet enough to rot teeth. "How long has it been now? Three centuries? Four?"

"Five," Elder Chen ground out. "And as I've explained, my breakthrough to the Life Realm—"

"Yes, yes," she waved dismissively. "There's always some excuse, isn't there? First it was 'I need to focus on my merchant cover,' then it was 'the wine method requires specific timing,' now it's 'the Life Realm interrupted my progress.'" She sighed. "If you'd just become a Grandmaster already, I could finally return to the Celestial Butterfly Sect. Instead, I'm stuck here, babysitting this branch..."

"Politics isn't for me," Elder Chen replied with a blank expression.

"That's what all failures say." She patted his cheek condescendingly. "But it's good that you've come to accept your limitations."

I watched the exchange with growing fascination. On the surface, it looked like a standard cultivation world rivalry – the kind that usually ended in someone being thrown through several mountains. But there was something else going on here...

"Master," Azure's voice echoed in my mind. "Based on my analysis of their interaction patterns, vocal tones, and body language... I believe Madame Butterfly is attempting to court Elder Chen."

I barely managed to keep my face neutral. Now that Azure pointed it out, it was painfully obvious. The way she kept finding excuses to stay near him, how she turned every conversation into a competition for his attention, even her increasingly aggressive attempts to provoke a reaction...

Classic cultivation world flirting, where "I want to kill you" often meant "please notice me." Though in this case, it seemed the target of her affections was completely oblivious.

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"Oh!" Madame Butterfly finally seemed to notice me. "Taking on another student, Chen Yong? How... charitable of you." She examined me. "Though this one seems to have some actual talent, unlike your usual strays."

"Ke Yin," Elder Chen introduced me with obvious reluctance, "meet Madame Butterfly, current overseer of this branch. Madame Butterfly, this is Ke Yin, my newest student."

I bowed with careful precision. "This junior greets Senior."

"Hmph." She studied me for a moment longer. "Well, at least you taught this one proper manners. Your last one barely managed Level Three before giving up in despair."

"Ke Yin has already achieved Level Two," Elder Chen Yong replied, a hint of pride creeping into his voice.

"How nice," she smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Perhaps this one will survive long enough to see you finally reach Grandmaster. Though at your rate, that could take another millennium or two."

“I said my breakthrough-”

I watched them bicker back and forth like an old married couple, except one party didn't realize that's what they were doing. It was simultaneously amusing and painful to witness.

"Here's your guild badge," Zhou Qiang interrupted my thoughts, holding out a small metal disc. It was surprisingly heavy for its size, carved with intricate formation patterns that seemed to shift and change as I turned it in my hand. "It serves as both identification and a formation focus. The patterns will adjust to match your current level, and it can be used to prove your identity at any guild branch."

After receiving a brief overview of guild rules (most of which boiled down to "don't embarrass us" and "pay your dues on time"), Elder Chen Yong’s catch up with his ‘friend’ was finally done.

"If that's all," Madame Butterfly's voice cut through my thoughts, "I have actual work to do. Unlike some people who spend their days pretending to be crippled merchants."

Elder Chen's eye twitched. "At least I'm not pretending to be young."

"No, you're just pretending to be competent." She turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and Chen Yong? Do try to make it to the next guild meeting. Your... unique perspectives on formation theory are always so..." her lips curved in a smile that was equal parts mockery and invitation, "entertaining."

We watched her leave, her departure somehow managing to be both graceful and deliberately provocative.

"Terrible woman," Elder Chen muttered, already pulling out a wine bottle. "Complete monster. No respect for proper formation theory at all."

I glanced at him sideways. "Are you sure that's all she wants? Respect for formation theory?"

He paused mid-drink. "What do you mean?"

"Well..." I chose my words carefully. "It seems like she might be interested in more than just professional rivalry."

The elder actually choked on his wine. "What? No! Heavens no!" He shuddered. "That monster isn't interested in humans. She deserves to be with a demon or something equally horrible."

I held back a sigh. Clearly, thousands of years hadn't been enough time for him to catch on to her rather obvious intentions. Then again, given how she expressed those intentions through increasingly elaborate insults and challenges, maybe I couldn't entirely blame him for missing the signs.

Part of me was tempted to explain things more clearly, but... no. I had enough problems of my own without getting involved in an immortal romance. Knowing my luck, any attempt to help would probably result in both of them declaring blood feuds against me.

***

When we returned to his quarters, Elder Chen Yong's eyes lit up. "Now then, can we finally get back to studying that fascinating energy of yours?"

"Actually," I said carefully, "I have a few questions first, if you don't mind."

He deflated slightly but nodded. "Go on."

I explained the situation with Wu Lihua and Wu Kangming, watching his expression grow increasingly dark. "Do you know who her master is?"

Elder Chen Yong's face twisted into a scowl. "Everyone knows that demoness, Feng Yue. Former demonic cultivator, now supposedly 'reformed' and taken in by the Sect Master." The way he spat out the name suggested there was quite a story there.

"I'm worried her cultivation technique might be similar to the Heartbreak Dao," I admitted. "The way she manipulates emotions..."

He waved off my concern. "There’s already been complaints to the Sect Master, he dismisses such worries. Says Wu Lihua is just a 'test' for the disciples' willpower. Claims her technique can't affect those with strong minds." He took a long drink from a wine bottle that appeared from nowhere. "Load of nonsense if you ask me, but what can you do?"

I frowned. I wasn't worried about myself. But Wu Kangming was exactly the type of person such techniques were designed to exploit – someone with deep emotional wounds and unresolved trauma. The last thing I needed was for him to believe that killing me was the only way his ex would accept him...

"What's this technique called?" I asked.

Elder Chen Yong shrugged. "Feng Yue keeps it secret. Claims it's an 'ancient inheritance' that must be protected." He made air quotes with his fingers, nearly spilling his wine in the process.

"How can you be sure it's safe then?"

"These techniques," he explained, suddenly serious, "they only work on those with heart demons or weak will. Avoid those, and you're fine." He paused, then added, "Mostly fine. Probably fine."

I sighed but nodded. There wasn't much else I could do about it at this point.

Through our soul bond, I felt Yggy's restless energy. The vine had been growing increasingly eager to explore outside my inner world, and I could sense its curiosity about this new world.

"Master," I said carefully, "I have another question. Are there beasts or beings with energy different from normal qi? How common is that?"

The elder took a thoughtful sip from his wine bottle. "Spiritual beasts are the most common, of course. But as cultivators progress through the realms, they often create their own beings. Life Realm cultivators especially - once you understand the principles of life creation, you can make all sorts of interesting creatures." He waved his hand dismissively. "It's really not that strange to see unusual beings with unique energy signatures."

I nodded slowly, thinking of Wei Ye, Wei Lin's father. The man wasn't exactly human - some sort of artificial being created through advanced cultivation techniques. If such things were common enough for the higher realms that they didn’t question them...

Elder Chen Yong's eyes widened suddenly. "For you to ask this question... I assume you've encountered something unusual?"

I debated with myself for a moment. The elder already knew about the blue sun's energy - arguably one of my biggest secrets. Compared to that, Yggy was relatively minor. Besides, since the vine was created by Elder Molric, it was technically an artificial being. The elder would probably just assume it was something someone had created and I had found. Not exactly inaccurate.

"Actually," I said, making my decision, "I wanted to introduce you to someone."

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