-The Lab-

When James awoke he dazedly looked at his surroundings. When he realised he was laying half naked on Skay’s questionable operating table he was instantly worried. As he made to climb up he quickly decided this was a bad idea as the pain in his chest and ribs flared.

With a soft grunt he laid himself back down and quietly contemplated on his recent encounter. He came to realise two things. Firstly he needed power to live in this world. The fact that cultivators could just kill anyone they wanted made that all the more apparent.

Although that was a stretch of the truth it wasn’t a wrong assumption. If you didn’t have a powerful backer and weren’t strong enough to protect yourself, anyone with a stronger backing and greater strength could end your life when they pleased. Who was going to question someone that could kill you with a stern look? That’s the problem with power.

Second thing he realised was that he needed to be more careful. He nearly lost his black-iron vein because he wasn’t careful enough. Although it’s hard to know when someone with such a higher level of power is tailing you, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Looking back he knew something was wrong long before they got to the iron deposit, but he wasn’t careful enough to explore the sensation in his excitement to gain riches.

As he lay there watching the ceiling of the lab he thought a great deal about what happened. Then his eyes widened slightly at what he’d done. He’d just killed man with his own hands. It was in the heat of the moment but he still just snuffed out the life of a walking talking living being. To make his emotions even more confused he was sure he’d do it again, even if his fur hadn’t been stroked backwards by Calso. At this thought he rolled to the side as his guts churned and he spew out a mouthful of vomit. His guts churned and his skin felt cold but he couldn’t deny that thought.

That’s right. In his mind he was confident, if the situation was different he’d most likely kill that man in cold blood. Or any man for that matter. Not because he felt nothing while taking a life, he felt a great many conflicting emotions from the act, but he knew he’d do it again in sound mind because Calso was a threat to his life and well-being.

He started to wonder why he’d never had such deep emotional conflict to Harvy’s situation. After all he’d essentially killed him at some point. He had to admit that Harvy’s situation was slightly different and he felt less responsibility because it was the Old Madman who had degraded Harvy’s mind to such a state. Although he perhaps could have stepped in to help Harvy, he felt the damage was already done, he also couldn’t refuse his curiosity.

After a good while James heard the sounds of voices as Skay and Jessy walked into the lab arguing loudly. “Now look here lass. I don’t care what your opinion is. Harvy’s my lab assistant. No! My creation! I don’t care if its God himself come down from on high. If some little shit thinks he can destroy my creation I’ll fucking crush’em! I warned you to leave this matter alone ‘till the boy awoke but you had to go play with the ants nest and they’re not just crawling up your tight little ass now, they’re fucking crawling up mine!”

Skay’s enraged voice echoed around the lab as he strolled towards James. Jessy wasn’t going to take that tongue lashing lying down and began to retort.

“But it’s wrong you perverse old fuck! How is it that they think they can just send someone to kidnap a person or kill whoever just on a whim. That Xanzu motherfucker has another thing coming if he thinks I’ll just be his little tart. And its James’ fault! He shouldn’t have murdered...”

“Shut your mouth lass! You think this world is ours? You think they have police and lawyers and courts? This is a world based on power! James did the right thing killing that man. Hell I would have killed that motherfucker if I was in his shoes! In this world there’s only the strong and the weak. If you think things aren’t fair then go become the strong and protect the weak. This is a world of the fist girl! Do you understand? The courts they have are kangaroo courts and might makes right!”

Once he finished he turned around to see James staring at them while they argued. “Haha! Boy you’re finally awake! That’s good. Your braindead lass here has gone and stirred up a hornets nest by whining to an Elder and now that fucking lad of Hao’s is pushing to lynch my lab assistant because he had to take the wrap for killing that piece of shit in the forest!”

James had basically figured out what happened from their arguments and was already trying to formulate a plan.

He slowly pushed himself up to a sitting position, despite the pain in his chest. As he did his breathing coarsened. He coughed out a small mouth full of blood but just wiped it away with the sleeve of his robe.

Skay helped him sit up and looked rather worried when James spit up a mouthful of blood. The whole reason he made James their guild leader was because he was terrible with this inner politics crap in the clan and more accurately just terrible with people in general having the twisted mind he did he couldn’t quite think like other people did. These few days he and James had worked together and he found a reliable man who could keep up with him and most important he could see a kindred spirit in James. A man after his own heart, who had the lack of a moral compass and a fast mind.

If this was their past world he’d want to take James as a protégé, but in this world where everything was different, he considered him an equal in their field of research. After all, a great deal of their present cultivation theories were conceived by James.

James saw Skay’s concerned look and chuckled dryly. “Old Madman, stop your worrying. I ain’t dead yet. Fill me in on what’s happened.”

-1 Hour Earlier-

As you’ve surely guessed by now, the whole shitstorm was stirred up by Jessy on their return from the forest. The moment the incredibly damaged and beaten Harvy had placed James down in Skay’s lab Jessy had run off to the Elders and started throwing accusations around about the Heads own son trying to kill them or kidnap them, she also naturally mentioned how his lackey Calso had been killed by them in the forest in their self-defence.

Once this began, Hao as the Clan Head, called the 4 Elders to the main hall to discuss what should be done. On Hao’s right sat the starry eyes Elder, Song Gau. He was actually Hao’s uncle and the oldest living relative of the main blood line, which was why everyone just called him Elder Gau. He was also the First Elder of the Hall of Forging and was considered a second grade forge master.

On his right sat another Elder in purple robes embroidered with the anvil and hammer. He was the youngest of the Elders, short ginger-brown hair and had a tall stocky build. Originally he married into the clan when he fell in love with the daughter of the previous Hall of Forging First Elder but was later accepted by the clansmen for his talent in forging weapons and artefacts that out-stripped even the previous First Elder, not to mention Song. He was called Elder Anvil and was considered a first grade forge master, only a step away from being a grand master.

On Hao’s left was another old, rough looking man whose skin looked like leather and had a great scar marring his face that left one of his eyes blind and void of colour, much the same as his long grey hair. He was Elder Jeng and was the son of an Elder two generations prior.

His battle power is the highest of the four Elders and he is considered the foremost expert and talent the clan has ever had in regards to cultivation and martial techniques. He was long since destined to step into the seat of First Elder of the Sword Hall and took the opportunity the moment the previous First left the clan to travel and study cultivation in another empire.

The last Elder was actually a women and she looked quite young, in her early 30’s at the worst. That of course wasn’t the case, it was just that once you started cultivating, your subconscious would start to slightly alter your looks. James for example found after the 5th day here he’d already slimmed down.

The changes generally weren’t dramatic like changing your bone structure significantly or anything of the like, but more cosmetic in nature as your subconscious mimicked how you viewed yourself to alter your body. This was reflected well in Harvy, whose self image was as permanently disfigured as his dead looking body.

This lady elder wore purple robes with the sword embroidery and was Elder Grace. No one could remember her real name because she married into the clan much the same as Elder Anvil and chose the name Grace for herself. Although when she married into the clan she was just a mortal her aptitude for cultivation was second only to Elder Jeng which is how she eventually got to sit with these old men as an Elder of the Clan.

The moment Xanzu was called into the main hall by the four Gau Elders and Hao, Jessy began throwing her accusations at him.

“Xanzu you piece of shit you think it’s acceptable to just send out your lackeys to fucking kill and kidnap?” Jessy standing in front of the main table couldn’t wait to see Xanzu get punished.

Xanzu of course could already guess what had happened. ‘That stupid cowardly moron. How could he have failed to kill these pathetic bugs? Now I’ve got to clean up his mess!’ With this thought Xanzu put on a confused and wronged expression.

“Junior Sister Jessy, I’m afraid I don’t know what it is you’re talking about. These are serious charges, but whatever is going on I can assure you I’m innocent. I know the clan is quite excited at you three steppers cultivation progress because you’ve all discovered high affinities or rare elements, being a son of the head family I would naturally keep your safeties and good will at the top of my priorities.” He said most of this just for his father and Elders.

He’d been at this a long time and could naturally read the room. He thought it was a bit too much trouble for the Elders to be so upset over the life or death of some filthy mortals but he knew that for the moment it would be better to avoid any troublesome matters, like just outright publicly killing them.

Of course that wouldn’t stop Xanzu, and the moment he found a chance he’d silently deal with them.

With that in mind, once he heard the basic outline of the charges he smiled grimly inside. But on the outside put on a placating, upset expression. “Junior sister, first I should apologise to you. You are right, in some way I am to blame for today’s troubles. A few days ago Brother Calso came to me in the sword hall and told me he’d grown eyes for you. He has long since been a good brother of mine and I warned him back then not to make trouble with you three steppers but to still try his best to woo you. It appears he didn’t take my advice to heart and had attacked you using my name. I’m surprised his madness failed because he’s quite a bit stronger than all of you, but I’m certainly glad you all survived.”

At this point in his one man act he turned to the Elders. Starting in a softer voice he spoke until his voice raged through the hall. “But Elders, I’m afraid I can’t let this go now! Calso was a good friend and I saw him as a brother. He may have been somewhat misguided, but from the story just now they already had him weakened and unable to fight back. There was no need to kill him and I wish to accuse the Stepper boy with murdering a clan disciple in cold blood! I demand justice for my dear friend and brother!”

Xanzu thought he was quite clever in his schemes. He knew they couldn’t kill the old man and the girl because of their rare elements and he didn’t particularly care about some frail old man on his last legs. But now was a good chance to kill that pathetic weakling that hid behind the Elder and his Father. After all, as far as he knew James only has a very high affinity to wind and no other rare talent.

The Elders all looked at each other. Surprisingly it was the starry eyes Elder Gau who spoke first. “I agree. We can’t condone these sorts of actions in the clan. It’s one thing for Calso to have gone out on his own and found trouble but he’s still a member of our clan and I’m sure he didn’t truly intend to kill anyone. If we let this sort of action go unpunished and gossip slipped out of the clan other families in the city will think we have a weak hand and start crawling all over us in an attempt to contend for power of the City. We must make an example of the boy!”

Elder Gau was a shrewd old fox and although he disliked this grandnephew he knew if they didn’t placate him now he’d surely raise a fuss later. He also thought James to be a little too astute and he had difficulty seeing through him. If he allowed someone like that to stay in the clan there would surely be no end of trouble. With these thoughts he then spoke out. “I move the Stepper boy be executed immediately.”

Soon the First Elder of the Sword Hall spoke out as well. He didn’t particularly care about these matters but Xanzu was his star pupil. Although he had short comings in attitude he’d well and truly been brainwashed by Elder Jeng and if he could get him onto the Head seat later, he would essentially be his puppet to control the clan. “I agree. We can’t let such a matter slide. If this boy can just kill our disciples in cold blood he will surely only kill again and become a scourge on our family.”

The second Elder of the sword hall, Elder Grace, spoke out in disagreement. “Older brother Jeng older brother Song. Since when have we Elders stepped into the matters of the junior generation? Clan members die all the time in battles for resources or blood feuds and we Elders have rarely stepped in before. Although the steppers are still only guests they have essentially already become clan members. All they need is to swear their oath. I disagree. I believe we should let these juniors sort there problems out themselves even if they kill each other.”

Elder Anvil also spoke out on James behalf. Since the moment he’d heard about their mad scientist laboratory he’d been thrilled. His only true love after his wife’s death was his craft and for an excuse to peer into a lab that could create lightning without some spirit artefact he was more than happy to step in on the boys behalf. Anvil had only been biding his time before trying to rope the old man and the boy into the Hall of Forging. “From what the servants have told me the boy is essentially treated as the leader of their group and was considered by the old man as an equal in their research. This could only mean that the boy was no less resourceful and knowledgeable then the old man. I suggest we initiate the boy into my Hall of Forging and I will mentor him onto the right path.”

Hao was now a little worried. He well aware of his sons corrupted nature and from the story it was quite certain he’d actually tried to kill his little ‘Jay’. Although his anger rose into the heavens he had to try and be impartial in this matter and with the Elders divided he would be the deciding vote. He could only hope Jessy had something to say in regards to James that could sway the Elders, so he didn’t have to upset the balance of inner clan politics.

Before that chance came, the doors of the hall were pushed open and taking large even strides toward the seated Elders, Harvy walked forward. Before Xanzu or the elders could start berating him he dropped to his knees in front of them and kowtowed. Although his face showed no emotion this act alone showed his respect for the elders and the clan head.

His rough strangled voice came out like an aged dying man from the caved in chest wound and truly sounded as if about to drop dead at any second. “Great Elders, Clan Head. Please allow this junior to explain matters properly. It wasn’t James who killed Calso, it was me. Jessy is lying to protect me because she fell in love with me at first sight! After a number of times in her room and then in the forest and then this other time...” realising he was going to die soon he named a whole multitude of times and places and actions. He’d clearly started learning bad habits from James.

He even went a bit overboard and Jessy nearly blew her top right there. Although she was red faced and trembling in rage at Harvy taking advantage of this moment to proclaim a whole bunch of sick twisted fantasies she said nothing when questioned by the elders and played the heart sick damsel, because she knew if she refuted now James would likely die.

Although she didn’t really want Harvy to die instead, James was her only ... Something ... left from earth and Harvy looked like he was about to die anyway so in her mind this was the best situation, even though she blamed James on the inside for this whole mess starting.

Once Harvy had named almost every place between the black forest to the south and the great river to the north he then confessed his guilt. Hao took this opportunity to wash little ‘Jay’ of his sins and wash his hands of this whole fiasco. He did however make a promise in his heart to severely punish Xanzu later.

“Very well. With the confession of your crime of killing another clan member in cold blood you will be sentenced to death by decapitation tomorrow at dawn.” With that everyone in the hall left and Harvy was dragged off to somewhere by sword hall disciples that gave a nod when Xanzu threw them a strange look. Presumably a standard evil guy dungeon somewhere.

-Zamoo! Back to the present-

While James was listening to this story a whole number of ideas spun though his mind. He wasn’t exactly sure how to solve this situation without showing more cards than he wanted. For example he didn’t want the clan to find out he had triple elements at the moment. Although he planned to have more later, even just having two was considered an unequalled talent in the entire empire.

From what he discerned of how this world works he was certain the clan would never let him go if he revealed that sort of talent. Not unless they had some way to benefit more from letting him live freely.

For much the same reason he didn’t want to reveal Harvy’s double talent because they would surely try to take him back. James already considered the Ghoul as his property and wasn’t about to let someone else take him.

What other options did that leave? He knew there must be some sort of political nonsense working in the background of the clan and he wouldn’t be able to leverage that situation before tomorrow morning. Also if he didn’t want to aggravate that political situation it would be hard to ally with the elders who’d supported him during their kangaroo court.

He also knew that if he got too close to these people it would only make it more difficult to leave the clan in the future. James could already tell this city was just a shitty backwater that produced grain for the empire and he’d most likely not gain any true power if he stayed here for too long. His life would be lived out there, in the great big world of ascension star.

So he was now in a tough spot. They could refuse to join the clan if they insisted on killing Harvy but then what would be the point of the clan keeping them. If they couldn’t control them and benefit from their rare element or strange knowledge then that meant someone else would. If that was the case why not just kill them straight out and prevent competitors from gaining any advantages.

To top it off, from the clans point of view they’ve already done more than necessary by treating them like guests and giving them essentially free reign to do what they want, but the trio really haven’t given the clan anything yet.

That was the general mind-set of the world and James was certain they’d hardly think twice once they were of the opinion they couldn’t contain these Steppers.

Finally James had a thought. ‘The only way to get Harvy back!’ With that brain fart rattling around in his head he turned to Skay who’d finished telling him the situation. “Old goat. How much black-iron do we have on hand?”

Skay gave him an odd look. Then after a moment his eyes gleamed as James had clearly come up with an idea. “Should be a few kilos, maybe a bit more. What’s going on in that head of yours boy?”

James cupped his chin and began to talk. “It must be about midday now. That means we have around 18 hours to get it ready. Jessy I want you to go and find Hao. You need to get as many lightning seeking stones as possible from the hall of forging. From a discussion we had earlier they also have some kind of gem that can store a person’s spirit power, we’ve not done any research on them but if they can store a persons refined spirit power we might be able to find a way to essentially make a battery. We need as many of those as they can give us. Skay give her all the notes we have on the properties of black-iron. There’ll be a lot there they won’t understand but they’ll understand enough to know they’re holding printed gold. Play hard ball Jess. My Zombies un-life depends on it! And Jess, for fuck’s sake don’t fuck everything up this time! You’ve already endangered one life!”

He thought briefly about how hypocritical that sounded but quickly brushed the thought aside. He was certain in his heart if he didn’t kill Calso it would only be a matter of time before he came back to bite him in the ass. The fact that Jessy basically announced that he did it maddened him to know end.

He was starting to wonder if she’d done it on purpose to get back at him for something. He knew she was a manipulating bitch but it’s hard to imagine she’d go this far. Perhaps just another of her bizarre mood swings combined with ignorance. He could already tell this girl would be endless headaches.

With that he climbed to a standing position and started moving towards a computer. Skay was rather confused as to what exactly James’ plan was and couldn’t help but wonder as he retrieved a note pad from an assorted box. After ripping out a few specific pages he handed it to Jessy. Finally his desire for knowledge grew too great. “James what exactly are you planning?”

As Jessy walked out James had already started scribbling on a pad and typing on the computer. He made a mad smile as he started filling in Skay. “This project has always been a dream of mine and I’d hoped we could wait to introduce it to the world until after I had a chance to develop it. Now however I’m going to have to make it so these fucking Gau bastards are up against something that all the Elders can’t refuse.”

The next day at a battle arena on the mansion grounds, hundreds of family branches and disciples gathered around to enjoy the perverse show being made of this execution.

A very beaten and sorry looking Harvy was dragged out in chains and thrown to his knees. He’d had a rough night of being beaten and tortured by Xanzu’s men, in the hopes he would reveal everything he knew about the steppers.

Xanzu had heard about the lab and was sure they were up to something. He also knew Calso was a massive coward usually and only something of great value would make him gutsy enough to attack all three of them when they were together and after he’d discovered they had any spirit power.

Even just finding out that Harvy, the notorious waste of space, had somehow broken through to the true spirit realm would have made Calso apprehensive enough to run without stronger incentive than the harmless threat Xanzu used on him.

He was certain they’d found something in the forest and he wanted it. Mostly though, it just made him feel better after his hasty plan to get James killed was thwarted by that fucking dreg Harvy. As such, he was also in the courtyard today taking great joy in this pathetic scums death.

He was quite surprised though, he wasn’t sure if Harvy’d met some great fortuitous encounter that helped him temper his will or just that his torturer was useless.

‘Even when they beat him black and blue and threw him in boiling water he never changed that disgusting lifeless expression. Oh and the smell. By the heavens! How can any living creature smell like that? The smell that came off him when they tried to boil him is the main reason he isn’t now a pot of stew for the earth lizards. Regardless though I’ll find out what they’re up to in the Endless Forest.’ Xanzu thought to himself as he watched Harvy being dragged into the courtyard.

Hao and the 4 Elders sat in seats on high in the courtyard. This round courtyard arena was normally used for clan ranking competitions and was surrounded be high spectating seats for the audience. Hao looked up at the sun rising higher, then looked around the courtyard for little Jay.

He’d thought they’d come up with some plan seeing as Jessy came to him yesterday and asked for a bunch of things. He’d think they were making a compass of some sort with the lighting seeking spirit stones but after she asked for spirit gems, particularly the gem of minor spirit energy storage, he wasn’t certain any longer.

In the crafting that his hall of forging does they basically only use the stones to store fire spirit energy for the furnaces. Although they’re useful in some things they’re basically useless and as common as tree leaves on the market so he willingly gave them.

He was incredibly frustrated over the notes he traded for though. He knew those notes were gold and the level of detail they discuss the properties of black-iron with is beyond the knowledge of even a grandmaster forger who’s used black iron his whole life.

The only problem was, there were huge sections of it that discussed things like ‘electro-magnetic field generation’ and ‘sensitivity’ and ways to forge alloys that had terms he couldn’t understand. He knew if he could have these notes explained to him in detail his clan could become one of the premier clans in forging black iron weapons and artefacts.

Hao was now worried though. None of his little stepper friends had come to save Harvy. He was well aware that they’d done something to Harvy and that as the clan head he should be upset with them, but he just couldn’t bring himself to reprimand his wetdrea ... The little junior James.

More than that, Harvy’s breakthrough speed and spirit energy growth was like the difference between the heaven and earth compared to his previous notoriously terrible talent in cultivation, so Hao saw no reason to step in yet. One more powerful member for his clan wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Eventually the sun was high in the sky and still no one had come. Everyone was getting a little impatient, so Hao had no choice but to proceed with the execution. He stood and gave a cough to gather the attention of the clansmen and gave a short speech. “It’s rare to execute a member of the clan but today we will be making an exception. It was discovered that Junior Disciple Harvy of the fifteenth branch with a clear conscious killed an unarmed and defenceless clan member in cold blood after a battle involving a grudge and this crime was admitted to myself and the Elders yesterday.” Hao paused for a moment as he looked around. Once he realised they still weren’t here, he could only let out a sigh. Then once again looking down at Harvy his voice rang out. “Junior, do you have anything you wish to say?”

Xanzu, realising something was wrong and that this execution was taking too long stood up. “What need is there for him to speak now? He’s already admitted to his crimes. Just kill the scum already and be done with it!”

Before Hao could reprimand his failure of a son, an eerie low strangled chuckle began to sound in the arena. It was only quiet and difficult to hear at first, but slowly it spread further and grew louder until the demonic eerie laughter covered the entire courtyard arena. “Heh, heh, HehhehhaHa, HaHaHa, AHA HA HA HA HAH!” It only grew more in its madness until finally it became silent and the entire arena fell into a hush as that godless evil laughter faded out in echoes.

Every one finally realised it had come from Harvy as he slowly raised his head and his eyes stared directly at Xanzu. What had once been slightly yellow looking dead eyes that were murky like a corpse, were now entirely blood red with a great black pupil in the centre. Harvy’s face was twisted into a truly evil smile as his blood red eyes peered into Xanzu’s soul.