Journey Towards Dao

Vincent couldn’t help but stare at the dissipating whirlwind, heart beating fast in burning envy and anticipation.

During the past few years that he had been working for the Royal Family, he was only fortunate enough to catch a couple glimpses of the extraordinary. However, both the quality and number of instances that today alone had brought him far eclipsed all his previous experiences combined!

He got to fly! Above the clouds! Only in his dreams had he thought he would have such a chance.

He would even be able to cultivate soon, instead of having to patiently wait far past his prime until he had obtained sufficient merit, like most of the other servants within the Palace Grounds.

All of this was because of his master!

Bursting with gratitude for this dreamlike opportunity, Vincent turned to his left to thank the Second Prince, only to realize that the Prince was no longer there!

He quickly turned back around to see Auslen walking back towards the entrance, his head lowered as he concentrated on the small handbook in his raised palm.

Beside Vincent, Nathaniel asked, “What’s Auslen doing over there?”

Just as Vincent was about to voice his ignorance, he saw Auslen suddenly raise his head within his peripheral vision.

He watched as his master lifted his blue Identity Medallion before pressing it on the stone wall beside the circular entrance, just as the lady had done before.

After another breath or so, the patterns on the wall glowed softly as the circular opening rapidly closed in on itself, the large stone wall revealing no cracks or indentations in its wake.

“Woah! How’d you do that, Auslen?”

While watching Nathaniel eagerly running to discuss the medallion's effects with the Second Prince, Vincent couldn’t help but notice a somewhat unnatural paleness that seemed to be creeping up his master’s neck.

Since they left the Western Empyrean Continent this morning, Vincent was becoming more aware that the Second Prince was experiencing some discomfort, even though the young prince was quite good at hiding it. The only reason he had yet to say anything was because he had recently came to understand that his master was not nearly as simple as he seemed. If he chose to hide his condition, he should have had a reason.

At least, he hoped the Second Prince had a reason.

While Vincent had his head down, thinking of voicing his concerns as to his master's health, Auslen suddenly peeked his always smiling face down into his line of sight.

“Come on, Vincent! Let’s explore our new home!”

“Yay! Let's explore!”

Vincent helplessly watched as the two kids hurried through the brightly lit hall and into a wide, arched corridor, leaving him with no other option but to follow behind the two and save his words for later.

But very quickly, the outlandish rooms that he continued to watch the two children running around in filled his unknowledgeable brain with confusion and an increasing list of questions.

What kind of room has a dirt floor? Did they forget to install the marble in there?

Why does it smell so terrible in that room? Is it a kitchen? But why are all the walls stained black?

By the time they had traveled the twisting maze of hallways to a refreshingly normal looking bedroom, Vincent had given up on trying to understand the perplexities of their new residence, assuming they must have had their own bizarre purposes.

Well, maybe we should still have that dirt covered up with something agreeable…

At this moment, Vincent found himself pausing as he caught the Second Prince absentmindedly press on his stomach with a noticeably tense hand, like he had done several times throughout the day.

He had then decided to speak his anxious thoughts, but he couldn’t get the words out before the Second Prince swung his head towards him, the arresting intensity in his golden eyes causing Vincent to immediately shut his mouth.

Thankfully, the Second Prince’s expression quickly reverted back to normal as he smiled at him gently. He then turned back around to continue accompanying the oblivious Nathaniel.

Vincent got the message and kept his growing worries to himself.

…

“Vincent, I'm fine! I just need a bit of rest, is all.”

Auslen tried his best to reassure the surprisingly astute Vincent, who was stubbornly standing within the entrance of his new bedroom door. Although he did not say anything, thanks to Auslen’s previous silent warning, the resolute expression on Vincent’s face made it very clear he would not go away easily.

Auslen sighed within his heart.

It had taken two hours for Auslen to tire out the enthusiasm overflowing from his cousin, finally sending the boy off to bed.

But Vincent was currently making his situation unbearable. He did not wish to hurt the boy, but he was running out of time.

No longer caring about his previous concerns, Auslen yanked the startled Vincent inside. He quickly shut the door behind him before locking it shut with his Identity Medallion.

Ignoring Vincent, Auslen’s face paled noticeably as his breath quickened, rapidly building pain shooting from his stomach in unceasing waves.

He opened his hand and a bottle of golden fluid appeared within. He hurried to open the top before dumping every drop into his slightly trembling mouth.

Auslen felt the liquid traveling down his throat towards his stomach in building suspense.

Then, all he felt was pain.

Even though he tried his best to keep his mouth closed, an involuntary scream tore through his throat and blasted apart his lips in a loud, hoarse roar. His legs ceased functioning, causing him to fall forward while clutching his stomach in absolute agony.

Vincent was terrified as he witnessed the scene in front of him.

Kneeling down quickly next to Auslen, his arms were waving around while yelling something with a panicky tone.

But Auslen could not hear him.

His entire meridian system was vibrating, sending electrifying sensations throughout his body as his extremities trembled feebly.

His abdomen was convulsing in wild tremors, causing stomach acid to flood from his open mouth, raining onto the marble floors underneath him as he tried to hold himself up with his shaking arms.

Seeing the worsening situation, Vincent ran back to the door to try and call for help, but he couldn’t get the door to budge. After remembering how the Second Prince had locked it previously, he had no choice but to return to his master’s side in distress.

Contraction after contraction painfully squeezed Auslen’s stomach until he felt an object beginning to forcefully travel up his esophagus. It felt as if a ball of razors was clawing its way up his throat, forcing tears down his pale face.

Vincent, who similarly had tears spilling from his silver eyes, was astonished and disgusted as he saw an unknown mass bulging from within Auslen’s throat as it made its way upwards.

Auslen’s mouth instinctively opened as wide as it could, allowing room for a round, bloody thing to fall from his wide open lips.

Auslen coughed agonizingly before sucking in heavy breaths as he felt potent waves of soothing energy emitting from his stomach. In his haze, he could feel his internal injuries rapidly repairing themselves, causing his sweat to lessen and his breathing to calm.

Thankful for the golden liquid’s efficiency, Auslen focused his attention on the object he had just ejected from his body.

The round ball was rolling frantically on the marble floors that were stained in blood and stomach acid.

Thankful that his master was looking much better, Vincent also gazed in disgust at the thing on the ground before frowning in uncertainty.

“Is that… a fruit?!”

Auslen didn’t answer, only gazing at the gyrating ball on the ground in hateful silence as he felt his strength beginning to return.

After spinning for so long as if it had a mind of its own, it had flung off the majority of the blood and bodily fluid, revealing an attractive green sheen. A small, dark green leaf also made itself visible as it jutted up into the air.

Auslen had to admit that it indeed looked quite similar to a fruit.

Eventually, the fruit-like thing slowed before coming to a halt. Black spots appeared on its green skin before spreading quickly to cover its entire body.

Rot consumed the thing unnaturally fast before it disintegrated into the air anticlimactically.

…

Auslen soaked within his granite bathtub, his thoughts flying several times freer now that he was free from that parasitic fruit.

With a small bar of soap, Vincent was working diligently to scrub the remaining grime off of his body.

By the time Vincent was drying Auslen’s clean body, he couldn’t hold his questions back any longer.

“Second Prince?”

“Yes, Vincent?”

“Umm… did you know that… fruit was inside of you?”

Auslen grabbed the white robes from Vincent’s hesitant hands, answering the boy as he impatiently returned back to the bedroom.

“Well, sort of. I knew that something was inside of me. However, I didn't expect for a whole fruit to force its way up my esophagus, if that’s what you’re asking.”

I wasn’t expecting the fucking torturous pain either! What the fuck did Father feed me?

After throwing on his robe casually, Auslen grabbed both his personal spatial ring and the additional one his father had given him before jumping onto the large bed, sitting cross-legged as he touched his now glowing ring. Suddenly, an envelope appeared in his grasp, which he opened in barely concealed anger, not caring of Vincent’s continued presence in his room.

His eyes landed on the letter and began reading.

…

My son,

As you are alive and reading this letter, I can safely assume that you have managed to consume my Life Imbuing Ambrosia in time.

I am sure that you must be quite surprised by the fruit that was surely ejected from your body, as what I had fed you this morning was merely a small, black pellet.

In case you are thinking too much, that fruit was not a Spirit Plant, but one of the innate abilities belonging to my Dao Soul. With its power, I could unsuspectingly disguise your talents, allowing you to have the chance to fulfill your wish of safely joining a sect.

If you are wondering why I refrained from informing you of the unpleasant side effects, then you can now understand my and your mother’s dismay at being deceived by you for a number of years. I also feel unpleasant every time I remember such a fact.

Moving on, I will leave you with two final instructions…

…

After finishing the remaining contents of the letter, the corner of Auslen’s lips twitched as he subconsciously crumpled the letter in his hand.

That vindictive shit! Taking your irritation out on a six-year-old child? How mature, Father!

Although he was fuming, he still got up from the bed under Vincent’s worried gaze and tossed the crumpled letter into the lit fireplace like his father had specified, making sure it burned completely into ashes before retreating.

He glanced at Vincent before deciding to handle the boy’s matters first. A leather book suddenly appeared within his right hand, which he then held out towards Vincent.

“Take this.”

Vincent received the book and lowered his inquisitive eyes towards the cover. Upon reading the title, his expression blossomed in delight!

Auslen continued, “This book details the Dao Root system, how to sense and mobilize the individual meridians with your Soul Force, and the complete Qi Refinement Method. You have six months to familiarize yourself with the text, and then, we will begin with your first steps as a practitioner. Feel free to come to me in private whenever you run into a problem that you cannot solve.”

Vincent held onto the leather book with trembling hands as he bowed deeply to Auslen.

“Thank you very much, Second Prince!”

Auslen unlocked the bedroom door as he shook his head in exasperation.

“Please stop calling me ‘Second Prince’ and just refer to me by my given name. We are no longer in the Palace, and I have no need to rely on my identity here.”

“But—”

“I’m tired, Vincent.”

Vincent looked somewhat hesitant, but he still bowed in departure.

“Goodnight… A– Auslen!”

After Auslen was left alone within his room, he finally had the opportunity to inspect what his uncle had gifted him this morning.

Extending his legs while reclining backwards on the large feather pillows in relaxation, a long box appeared on top of his lap.

Somewhat skeptical of its contents, Auslen carefully opened the decorative box, only to be punched in the nose by a dense aroma. After glimpsing the contents, he immediately shut the box with a dumbstruck look on his face, absentmindedly lifting himself back up to seated position.

Demon meat?!

Although the meat was raw and the smell was a bit unfamiliar in comparison to what he remembered, Auslen would never forget the underlying vivacious fragrance contained within such flesh. Even imagining eating the meat was a slightly intoxicating experience.

During his previous brief glance, he had noticed five thick filets, each double the size of the one he had eaten months prior.

He hurried to put the box away, lest he shove each of the morsels into his mouth by… accident.

With such a gift, he now had no more concerns of starvation before reaching the peak of Qi Refinement! He would have to remember to properly thank his uncle at some point.

Shaking his head to wipe his thoughts free of his uncle’s generous gift, Auslen pulled out the other spatial ring that his father had given him before he left.

With a soft glow, a humongous wooden chest fell in front of him, causing his bed to creak under its weight.

What is in this big thing?

He opened the lid of the chest, revealing dozens upon dozens of tall glass bottles, divided into their own little section with thin walls of wood.

Auslen gingerly removed one of the bottles and peered through the glass at its contents.

So these must be the seeds that father prepared for me to begin learning Spirit Botanism.

Within the one glass bottle he held were many seeds of seemingly the same species of plant. However, if Auslen was honest, he was still a bit horrified with seeds and plants at the moment, so he quickly decided to set them aside in favor of his Sect Handbook.

However, when he went to close the lid, he saw contents attached to the inside of the lid that he failed to notice in his earlier haste.

Lining the inside of the chest lid were four jade slips, which were held inside individual pouches.

Instead of taking the time to absorb the information from the jade slips, he still chose to close the chest for now. The large chest was then inserted back into his second spatial ring, giving him space to stretch his legs once again.

Falling back onto his pillows, he lazily opened up the small handbook, eyes glistening with excitement at the new experiences the Five Profound Elements Sect would bring.