When Selfishness Triumphs Reason

On earth, there are many things that look complicated and beautiful at the same time. Things that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye and when observed closer, the principles governing its beauty lies from the simplest to the most complex of Mathematics. The forming of snow flakes, the simple making of a bee hive, the patterns of flower, and even the genes follow patterns that can be expressed in number and shapes.

All it takes is curious mind to observe an apple dropping from a tree and it is through this observation that that the most useful innovations are derived from.

Clay is looking at three reddish Tier III Breakthrough Pills he just concocted. Last night, he witnessed the allure of resplendent Mammoth Fireflies during their mating period with the assistance of the villagers.

Sometimes Clay wonders what kind of existence were the Barnachea Clan. To have such profound knowledge as an ancient civilization is unfathomable. It is thanks to their culture that he had finally discovered the secret of their concoction in relation to Dao.

He was never a normal Alchemist and he had always utilized the Gathering Formation at the center of the pill during refinement process and it never occurred to him that the Formation should be formed or constructed alongside the pill formation, a trick that had fix his biggest dilemma.

One thing he still does not understand is why were his previous methods attracted lightning tribulation.

Earlier, after tweaking the initial Gathering Formation at the center of the pill and having successfully concocted pills using his Dao powers, he was not satisfied and tried concocting pill using the Barnachea Blood Arts.

To his surprise, it did not attract a lightning tribulation and it led him to rediscover a Dao infused pill similar to those pills describe in the Barnachea book he read.

He wanted to celebrate and without him knowing, he spent two days in seclusion to concoct three bottles of Tier III breakthrough pills.

Clay stored the bottles of pills in his spatial ring. He is tempted to eat them now and breakthrough to Core Formation but he is not sure if his body is ready to shower in the most destructive forms of tribulation. He had been constantly consuming the tea that improves body constitution and with the full burst of his Dao Power, he is confident he can endure the tribulation but somehow he has this feeling that his current body state is not yet ready and should wait. Having decided to take things slowly and live like a cultivator, he wanted to go back to the sect and learn more about the next realm.

He activated his wings and flew to the direction of the village.

Two days ago, he was unsure if his pill will attract lighting tribulation and the village might be implicated so he had to test his new found theory to somewhere. And now that his worries did not proceed as expected, he wanted to rush back and thank Fara for his invite that night. In fact, he is willing to give out one of the pills he concocted.

After almost an hour of flying, Clay had a view of the village. One look and he can already that Fara has already left.

When he landed, Laur was already waiting for him.

“Where is she?”

Laur looked like he had been given a command to stay on his spot until Clay arrived.

“The benevolent Miss left two nights ago. She said she left a message.”

Clay extended his Qi into the house and picked up the note left on the table where he previously read on. Even without looking, he could tell Fara left with those books.

Clay read the note.

“A team lead by a Core Formation Elder will arrive in ten days and will guard this village moving forward. Your mission here is done and you may return if you wish to according to master.

Don’t come looking for me and I hope you freeze to death.

-Fara”

Clay smiled. It was indeed improper and un-gentlemanly of him to ditch a beautiful goddess during that magical show. If not because of that sudden inspiration, he could have had at least accompanied her and requested Laur for a simple banquet.

He wanted to repay Fara but calculating the time he would reach the sect, it may be too late for him to hand the pill he just refined. That evening, he felt and saw Fara’s circulation circuit and she was purposely controlling herself to not breakthrough. He reckons that Fara should have had broken through by now.

And speaking of returning back to the sect, he is thinking if he should head back now. Having solved the issue of not being able to refine pills, it felt like staying in the sect leaves him no meaning. The cultivators whom he killed were walking treasure chests that they even had ingredients to refine Nascent Breakthrough pill and he does not see any benefit of staying in the sect any longer. And if there is a reason he should return, that is information and resources to further boost his body.

Clay recalled that time he partook on a mission lead by Mage Ver Sosa. Though their mission has failed, he is thinking if Ver Sosa would still have a need of his participation on those so-called experiments.

The sect can always provide him herbs to improve his body but thinking about the Stulactite Potion as a reward, he can’t help but weigh his options.

Clay had seen what mages can do and from his observation, their work is a product of science and should be many times better than these barbaric pills.

“Should I head back or not?” Clay muttered to himself as he looked at those dark circles around Laur’s eyes.

He handed the note to Laur and said, “My task here is done. Your village will become part of Crescent Moon Sect and a group of capable cultivators will protect this village moving forward. I am forever indebted to this village and I hope to taste those grilled fish if fate allows. If somebody asks, I am headed to Numora.”

Clay turned around and activated his wings again and levitated. He wanted to say his goodbye properly but he can already tell Laur will cry and kneel. To him, it feels inappropriate to receive their gratitude. After all, he was only thinking of himself when he accepted Rimar. And now that he has solved his main problem, he no longer has a need for Rimar as well.

Still, this series of unexpected things that transpired in the village that he can now concoct higher level of pills and this village benefitting at the end should be more than enough to repay their karma.

After two nights of flying, Clay landed upon the sight of a caravan. As much as he would like to keep traveling through air, he did not like to cause ruckus on an unknown territory.

In the past, it would take him months to get to his destination but ever since he broke through to Peak Foundation and with the boost of his Dao Powers, traversing to another country is child’s play. He could easily levitate twenty kilometer above ground and move like an unobstructed fish. The problem is that, he does not know as to how far the technology mages has reach and if someone accidently spotted him, he might be labeled a threat and he might never get a hold of the potion.

Clay saw the spot where Ilya found him ten years ago.

He wanted to drop by but he did not really have any real friends so he descended on an area near the sea on the south at the border of Anongus and Numora.

Numora is a kingdom where Spiritual Qi and Mana meets and the upper regions of the kingdom is dedicated to cultivators while the south is where Mages have constructed their towers.

If what Ver Sosa told him is true that he is part of Numora Circle of Mages, then Clay should be able to meet him any time soon when he asks around.

Clay spent a day inside a carriage. He dressed himself like common man and joined the herds of Elves and humans travelling close to the sea and when afternoon came, he dropped off in the city and looked for an inn.

He ignored the passerbys and looked around. Occasionally, he would meet cultivators and mages alike. He is tempted to stop a few of them and ask for directions and information that would help him locate Ver Sosa but he would rather ask a guild.

There are many aspiring cultivators who had no chance of being accepted by a sect and most often, these people band together and form guilds and other smaller brotherhood and they are always present in towns and cities and some of them specializes in information. He should be able to find a reliable guide within these groups.

While Clay is absorbed in his thoughts, he suddenly heard a woman’s voice.