Bai Gu was making his way towards the cultivation pod that had been assigned to him, ready to explore the new world of Samsara. As the patriarch of a small clan of spiritual rats, his strength didn't reach the same heights as the five main clans of the Evernight wilds. His realm was equal to a cultivator at the early Golden core stage and for the longest time he lived his life either battling other rat clans, or hiding from stronger threats.
Bai Gu was a shorter man with pale skin, white hair, and striking blue eyes. He wore black robes, a black ring, and simple cloth shoes. After entering, it didn't take long for him to start Samsara and navigate his way to where people would search for public groups. As he looked through the various invitations others had posted, he found one named "Get on the battle wagon!" and his curiosity got the better of him as he decided to join.
As the area around changed, Bai Gu recognized that the cultivators inside had just started at the beginning so he quickly left the starting village to catch up to them. It didn't take long and when he arrived he witnessed three people fighting against large centipedes. The first was a man in blue Tang suit with the ID 'PoundFleshNotPills', the second was a woman in green robes with the ID 'LadyMei', and the last was another man with fancy yellow robes with the ID 'Master Script'. They finished off the current enemies and turned to greet him.
"PapaGhostRat?", the man in blue asked.
Bai Gu suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed hearing someone address him this way, and began to regret allowing his granddaughter to pick his realm ID.
"Greetings to fellow Daoists", Bai Gu bowed to everyone.
LadyMei and Master Script returned his greeting but PoundFleshNotPills asked a question before running ahead.
"What's your current role?", the man in blue inquired.
"Ci Ke", Bai Gu replied.
"Ninja, got it", PoundFleshNotPills dismissed his answer, "Lady and Master are controlling the enemies, supporting with heals, and doing damage when possible. Allow them to call their targets first and stay flexible, help control if more enemies come or help me by sneak attacking."
The four continued on as they faced various enemies such as ghosts, beasts, asuras, other cultivators, and devils. Bai Gu watched his teammates as he speedily made his way behind a group of giant leeches headed towards PoundFleshNotPills. He was very impressed as LadyMei used thorny vines to hold or attack enemies, and strange flower blossoms would spread pollen around incapacitating them. Master Script would throw talismans that would control or damages foes, but also he performed hand movements that produced spirit talismans as well. PoundFleshNotPills would weave through enemies like a stream, and every palm strike or kick would leave opponents broken and bleeding. Bai Gu also used his special skill to shadow walk and attack the leeches at their most vulnerable areas.
Just as the team finished the last encounter, Bai Gu suddenly felt danger as the hairs on his body raised and stiffened. He immediately shadow walked back to Master Script while raising the alarm.
"I was attacked", Bai Gu shouted, "Be wary!"
Master Script quickly executed several hand gestures causing nine spirit talismans to expand around himself as a giant dome flashed for a few moments exposing several beings. Bai Gu gasped when he saw the intruders, they were spiritual rats just like himself. Instead of being in a beast or human form, these spiritual rats' form was a hybrid between the two. PoundFleshNotPills engaged in battle as Bai Gu was stunned. As his other two teammates began supporting the man in blue, Bai Gu was experiencing an intense fight inside his head.
'This doesn't make sense', he deliberated, 'These spiritual rats look like they should be able to fully assume a human form, but they take this hybrid form on purpose?'
At first Bai Gu couldn't rationally understand the reason but as he observed the fight, things became much clearer. The five spiritual rats move with extreme speed and agility, battling mostly in this strange form but sometimes changing to beast or human form for a moment to take advantage of the situation or dodge an attack. Then it dawned on him, by taking this form they could use many of the advantages that both forms granted in a more efficient way.
Bai Gu resolved to learn from this, so he started to transform his own body until it matched those he had observed. He launched himself towards the enemy rats, and thanks to his realm, it didn't take long to comprehend how to move and fight in this new form. As tricky as these spiritual rats were to battle, it still only took a few minutes to defeat them, even when the unique leader of these rats showed its face.
Bai Gu was pleased as they checked the bodies afterwards because many of the items left behind were perfect for him. Now with a better understanding of how his role fought, Bai Gu and the other three continued on until a few hours later they defeated the final boss, a rogue deva.
"Sorry for the quick departure", PoundFleshNotPills said, "Something happened, and I need to take care of it."
"Owner Fang", LadyMei called out to the man in blue, "Would it be possible to get at least a moment of your time?"
"I apologize", Fang Shi responded, "My senior called for me, and I can't keep him waiting."
"No, it was I who should apologize", Mei Lihua smiled, "But I would certainly like to speak with you afterwards."
Fang Shi nodded and disappeared, signifying that he had left his pod.
Master Script looked at Mei Lihua and Bai Gu, "Should we start again?"
Before Mei Lihua could speak, Bai Gu took the initiative to speak, "I also have to leave now, today has provided me with much inspiration and insight."
As he went to leave, Bai Gu couldn't help but notice that Mei Lihua was giving him a hard stare. Once his surroundings returned to normal, Bai Gu removed his Tianmu from the slot used to control the pod artifact and activated the self cleaning process as he left. He returned to counter to inform the employees that he had finished using the artifact assigned to him before leaving the cultivation hall.
With a new goal in mind, Bai Gu went to the profession hall to visit two stores, the tailor and the artifact refinery. At the tailor, he ordered several sets of clothes that resembled the ones the Ci Ke spiritual rats were wearing with updated designs to signify his clan. At the refinery, he ordered weapons such as swords, blades, knifes, and hidden weapons. Finally, he went to find his wife who should be in the tea house.
The whole time he had been walking around the pavilion, Bai Gu could feel the eyes of everyone looking at him but for the first time in his live, he could care less. As he entered the tea house, he easily found Hei Yue, his wife and he strolled over.
When Hei Yue looked over and saw Bai Gu walking towards her, she screamed, "Husband! Are you ok? You've only transformed halfway!"
Meanwhile, Fang Shi was sitting in his own personal pod looking at the system panel. Two tasks showed as completed in front of him, [Now Hiring] and [Breaking New Ground]. He had completed both of these tasks awhile ago, but had decided to wait to accept the rewards. Today as he played Samsara, a feeling of completeness had washed over him when they defeated the final boss of the first act. It meant that no matter how much more food or drink he consumed, or no matter how much longer he cultivated, he couldn't rise any higher and it was time to breakthrough the Foundation Establishment realm.
"Accept reward for [Now Hiring]", Fang Shi's voice was resolute.
'Response: It has been done', the system confirmed.
Fang Shi looked in his storage ring to find a jade box with a single pill inside.
'Query: Does the host wish to accept the rewards for [Breaking New Ground] at this time as well', the system asked.
"Might as well", Fang Shi replied.
'Request: Host is required to state his wish as this time', the system stated.
"Then I want to be able to travel between the two stores", Fang Shi made his wish known.
'Acknowledged: this unit will proceed with the request', the system conveyed before launching into an explanation, "Host, it will take sometime before this feature is available. First the system will update the wall scroll titles 'Mine'. Once completed, the host can search and mine common and rare materials. Once the related materials are found, a gate will be constructed that will allow the host to travel between stores."
"I understand", Fang Shi smiled as he took the pill from the box, "Please proceed, I'll begin my ascension to the Foundation Establishment realm now."
The system didn't respond, but Fang Shi was aware that it had heard his command so he popped the pill in his mouth and turned his attention towards his breakthrough. In his past life, he had read so many novels that intimately detailed the process of breaking through and began to steel himself for hardship as the pill melted in his mouth and flowed toward his dantian.
Despite his expectations, two things happened that he wasn't ready for. The first was that he immediately broke through to the Foundation Establishment realm with no difficulty as he felt spiritual energy around him being absorbed into his body at an extreme rate. The second thing was that it wasn't just his dantian that was going through a change, his body and mind was affected as well.
It was well known that a cultivator's dantian was located in their lower abdomen, but Fang Shi felt a similar sensation in his chest and his forehead. He quickly theorized that his blood essence was building a core similar to what spiritual beast have, and that his mental strength was forming something as well. Not only that, as the three cores formed, he also felt that a slight connection was forming in between them. The process was taking hours but soon Fang Shi could tell that it was nearing completion.
Once everything finished, Fang Shi prepared to exit seclusion but as he was about to stand, a new sensation started. It was then that Fang Shi remembered when he broke through to the Qi Gathering realm. The system had provided a pill that increased the quality of his spiritual roots. Since he hadn't see. A second pill this time, he just assumed it was a one time occurrence as it was extremely rare to increase spirit roots. Instead. The system had created a one of a kind foundation establishment breakthrough pill that also fertilized spirit roots.
When Fang Shi was born, he had inferior spirit roots for three elements but when he broke through to the Qi Gathering realm, the inferior roots had been upgraded to poor and the two elements that were missing had grown inferior roots. Now a familiar feeling was felt as all his spirit roots received nourishment, and his poor roots became average, and the inferior became poor.
Fang Shi sensed that the procedure had finally came to an end, so he began the last step of solidifying his realm. The whole ordeal had taken days, but he had informed his employees about his absence so he wasn't worried about any issues with the store. He had been confident the system would handle any problems during his seclusion.
After a relaxing bath, Fang Shi dressed in new robes that perfectly met his needs now that his strength had risen. A meal that was much richer in energy was also sitting on the table awaiting his arrival as he entered the dining room. After eating, Fang Shi was grateful that resources were plentiful but he still hoped the next branch would be in a very different location so the variety is fishes could expand further.
Just as Fang Shi exited the elevator and walked into the main store to receive an update on the store's status, a noticeable change could be felt in the air. The air around the pavilion became heavier with Qi after every passing moment, and soon the weakest customers started to become dizzy.
'System', Fang Shi reached out to the entity, 'What's going on? And can you fix it?'
'Answer: An unexpected development occurred', the system replied, 'A large amount of Qi from unknown sources mostly was released due the destruction of the sources. The now freed energy is surging through naturally produced channels. All spiritual veins are now trying to absorb the excess spiritual energy that's flowing, so expect chaotic events to occur while balance is restored.'
Fang Shi took out his Tianmu, and messages were flooding into his device from employees of both locations as they tried to get in touch with. He wrote a quick response meant to reassure his crews, and then sent another message to all leaders of the different major factions he had correspondence with.
The message was clear, (Emergency, protect your people, I'm holding a meeting in the virtual realm in an hour).
Mei Lihua was sitting in the meeting room with a very long table. Every Nascent soul cultivator from both cities was also present as Fang Shi sat at the head of the table.
Once everyone was seated, Mei Lihua watched as Fang Shi stood up.
"We're facing a difficult challenge", the owner said, "According to my senior, multiple spiritual veins were destroyed. All that spiritual energy that should have been stored in the veins was released back into the world. This could cause one of two scenarios. The first one is that all the remaining veins will absorb the excess energy, and battles will begin as more powerful forces step in to control these veins. The second scenario is that a previously grade 5 spiritual vein upgrade to a grade 6 vein. This will allow a Void Refinement realm cultivator to cultivate on this world, and essentially become an overlord. It could be from one of the 1st class sects already here, or it could be from a cultivator or a being from a different world. This would change the power dynamic of the world, and increase the number of high level battles as others would try to claim this world for own as well."
Troubled looks could seen on the faces of everyone sitting.
"Does the seniors know where this happened", Tie E sighed, "Or perhaps they has instructions for us?"
Mei Lihua looked at Fang with alongside the rest interested in the answer.
"My intuition says they are aware of what happened, but have chosen not to tell me", Fang Shi responded, "Also, my seniors aren't presumptuous enough to give orders to those belong to the great sects. I would recommend reporting to your own people, and following their instruction."
"I have a question", Mei Lihua's voice got everyone's attention, "Would it possible to purchase the cultivation artifacts?"
Feng Lei Yu immediately grew upset, "No, that isn't possible. It would destroy the balance we've created here."
Mei Lihua ignored the irritated hawk, and continued to look at Fang Shi awaiting an answer.
"I'm a merchant", Fang Shi smiled, "My job is selling to my customers."
Gu Lin Wang also jumped in at this point, "I don't agree with this at all, once they receive those artifacts, it won't be long before we return to the days of being attacked by humans."
"It doesn't matter if you don't agree", Fang Shi chided the spiritual deer, "It's up to my seniors if something is sold."
"That being said", Mei Lihua cut in, "I have a feeling that the spiritual beasts will reach new levels of strength soon."
"What does that mean?", Yan Wei looked at Mei Lihua curiously.
Mei Lihua said nothing feeling pleased with herself that she could tease them until she heard Fang Shi speak.
"Bai Gu of the ancient bone rats discovered a new form that allows spiritual animals to more effectively fight", he said much to Mei Lihua's displeasure.
All the spiritual beasts attending, with the exception of the bear who lived in the forest outside of Blue moon city, suddenly had an epiphany.
"Thank you very much", Jing Zhao happily showed his gratitude.
"Of course", Fang Shi looked at spirit beasts, "If you ever build an appropriate place, I'll be happy to sell pods to you as well. Anyways, there are more pressing matters…"
Just as the meeting was about to move on to the next topic, a knock could be heard at the meeting room door.
"Come in", Fang Shi invited the unknown visitor in.
An elegant woman entered, she had long black hair arranged in a simple and refined bun, blue robes, and a very graceful appearance.
"Miss Lui", Fang Shi gave a questioning look, "What do you have to report?"
"Owner Fang", Lui Qingyun calmly answered, "A spiritual crow has appeared at the front gate with various injuries. Before passing out, he said one line. 'The devils have returned'."