Wu Jilong sat crossed legged in meditation on the cold stone floor of the training cave Mo Bang provided. His breathing was extremely even as Wu Jilong attempted to sense his Unique Qi within the world. The notion that all Qi in the world was the same is actually incorrect. From birth a person's Unique Qi formed their meridians and Daitan, because of this a clear difference in the purity of Qi and natural talent became apparent.

It was this very fact that let Wu Jilong be confident in regaining his cultivation after the first time he was crippled, if the Unique Qi formed his meridians and Daitan before why wouldn’t it be able to do it again? There are many mysteries that are unknown to the world but just because they are unknown does not mean they can’t be done. A true cultivator refines the unknown to create their own will.

Hours passed and no change in Wu Jilong’s condition came about. Just as Wu Jilong was about to stop meditating for the night he felt an extremely familiar feeling. It was his Unique Qi! He wasted no time and quickly began attempting to absorb his Qi but was only met with disappointment.

Wu Jilong frowned. “This has never happened before, there are twelve others who posses my Unique Qi. Could it be because of the seal?” Wu Jilong thought. Twin brothers possessing the same Unique Qi was not impossible but for twelve beings to possess the same Unique Qi was without precedent.

Originally Wu Jilong thought he would be able to cultivate normally but now he knew this was not the case. During the 5,000 years Wu Jilong spent sealed, his cultivation dispersed into the world endlessly. Such a strong Qi would eventually give birth to magical beasts and that was exactly what happened. Twelve frightening beasts were given life by Wu Jilong, if he wishes to return to his previous stages of cultivation Wu Jilong has no choice but to kill the twelve magical beasts.

To create something from nothing is impossible, every action of creation required something different but it required something all the same. Since his Unique Qi was still present in the world Wu Jilong had no way to create more Qi for his cultivation stages. “With the amount of Qi present to me I will only be able to form my Aura Sea. Mother. Father. Damn you! Even in death you spite me,” Wu Jilong said.

With a clear understanding of his situation he returned to meditating calmly. More time passed, soon an aura as red as his hair engulfed his body. Flames danced along every inch of Wu Jilong’s meridians burning away the impurities that accumulated over 5,000 years. The flames raged within his meridians well into the night until they finally turned the last of the impurities to nothing.

Wu Jilong’s entire body glowed. His robe, his hair, and his skin sparked occasionally causing him to look aflame. Above the training room a full moon illuminated the vast lands of the world, only tonight the moon was completely crimson, storms of fire appeared throughout the world claiming thousands of lives. Volcanoes erupted spewing lava and ash which blanketed cities and towns. Countless experts would come to agree that on this night an unforeseeable disaster had befallen The Grand Peak Continent. To Wu Jilong this night was nothing special, it was only the night he entered the Higher Realm of The Shamanic Foundation Stage.

…

“Wu Jilong, you were able to breakthrough?” Mo Bang asked, his voice filled with amazement. Originally Mo Bang thought it would take Wu Jilong at least a year to enter the lower realm of The Shamanic Foundation Stage, but the very next day he emerged from the training cave at the Higher Realm. What sort of talent is this? In a single night he is now a match for the outer disciples of the faction.

“Breaking through these low stages of Qi Cultivation is but a simple task,” Wu Jilong said. Only now did Mo Bang take note of the unique aura Wu Jilong gave off. His robe was singed and smoldered like the embers of an aging fire. Sparks and smoke would occasionally drift off of his body.

“That’s good to hear! Wu Jilong, when will you be able to dispel the Life Leeching Lilly? I do not mean to sound impatient but my cultivation has started to decline since I was poisoned. I fear that if it takes to long I may fall back to the Shrine Sculpting Stage,” Mo Bang said worriedly.

Wu Jilong pondered the question for a second before replying. “Once I form my Aura Sea I will be able to dispel the Life Leeching Lilly.” In truth riding Mo Bang of the Life Leeching Lilly was far easier when compared to burning away the impurities in his own meridians, however, once Mo Bang was cured there was no guarantee he would continue to shelter Wu Jilong. So to make sure his next three years in the Golden Gamble Faction went as smoothly as possible Wu Jilong lied.

Mo Bang wore a worried expression on his face. “Are you sure that within five years you will be able to form your Aura Sea?” Mo Bang asked. To reach the Aura Sea Creation Stage was the first real challenge in cultivation. Even geniuses who reached the upper realm of the Shamanic Foundation Stage at the age of ten would require five years to form their Aura Seas.

“I do not like repeating myself. As I said before breaking through such low stages of cultivation is but a simple matter. I Wu Jilong, swear to you that as long as you protect me from annoyances in the faction I will cure you of the Life Leeching Lilly within three years time,” Wu Jilong said.

Mo Bang would be skeptical if these words came from anyone else. Wu Jilong posses a unique charisma and confidence that swept away Mo Bang’s worry. “I naturally agree. I will not allow anything to annoy you while you are apart of the Golden Gamble Faction. Wu Jilong as a new disciple of the Golden Gamble Faction and the Sect of Five Corners you have the choice of competing in the Feasts of Magical Beasts Tournament,” Mo Bang said.

“The Feasts of Magical Beasts Tournament?”

“It is a tournament held every year to welcome new cultivators to the Sect. All four factions send hundreds of new disciples into Grand Beast Canyon to kill the most delicious magical beast they can find,” Mo Bang said. “After a week in Grand Beast Canyon disciples return to the Sect and a lavish feast is held using the magical beasts brought back by new disciples. Because it is a tournament naturally there are prizes but they will not be revealed until the day of the feast.”

“I’ll join.” Wu Jilong cared little for the tournament. Instead what he was interested in was finding out which of his martial arts he would be able to use at this low level of cultivation. Although he could test his skills in the practice cave he wouldn’t, Wu Jilong desired to test them out in real combat.

“Very good! I will let the Head of the Golden Gamble Sect know I have two disciples entering.” Mo Bang calling Wu Jilong a disciple was nothing more than a formality. Mo Bang would not teach Wu Jilong anything nor would Wu Jilong ask him anything. Mo Bang turned into a shadow and left.

“I have three days until the tournament, I will take a look around the Golden Gamble Faction while I wait.”

…

Meanwhile in the Southern Domain Cao Peng stood in front of a complex sealing formation. A thousand spears as black as a starless night sky were firmly planted into the stone floor, their points stabbed into the roof overhead forming a metal gate. Behind the spear cell an archaic serpent lay in slumber, its body was wider than five full grown oaks bundled together, on its wide body hundreds of eyes covered the serpent from head to tail. At both ends of the snake its head and tail split into five different directions giving the serpent five eyeless heads and five blade shaped tails.

“If I am correct Wu Jilong will come to me looking for you. It is only a matter of time,” Cao Peng said as he affectionately cleaned the Bewitching Mind Blade that was covered in mud from the river which retrieved it from.