The three martial techniques that Elder Cix had recommended were a nightmare. [Tessenjutsu] could only be learned in stages. Three movements for each tier, and a semi-ultimate move that became available when a cultivator was on the cusp of breaking through to the next Realm.

And the names were hyperbole. Some esoteric literary contrivance that may have made sense back when the technique was created and perfected but left me smiling despite the amount of work and effort I was going to need to invest. The first three skills, [White Crane Opens Wing], [Spin and Dive Into the Ocean], [Dragon Sweeps the Tail] gave me both offense and defensive capabilities.

[White Crane Opens Wing] took advantage of the unique characteristic of a bladed Fan. The Fan was snapped open or shut depending on the arm extension and the razor-sharp outer spines would allow for slashing damage. Executed correctly, and with a suitable Tessen as a weapon, a well-delivered [White Crane Opens Wing] could decapitate an opponent.

[Spin ad Dive Into the Ocean] was a leaping technique. Once mastered, it would appear as if I were flying when I executed this attack. The fabric from the Tessen and the billowing cloth from my Hanfu to obfuscate and hide the real attack. At the apex of my leap, I would begin spinning, a whirling dervish of Qi and cloth. The technique allowed me to find purchase from whatever height I had attained and use that as a springboard to send the spines of my Tessen shooting at my opponent.

Finally, [Dragon Sweeps the Tail] was part acrobat, part dance. It required me to roll towards my opponent, and as I began to rise, twist and attack, using my leg to trip and my Tessen to pierce. It was the only movement at the lower level that used a piercing attack, and because of this, the cloth that made up the fan was unwound and removed while I was rolling and spinning. The thrust from the hardened and sharpened spines could be contained to just one point if the blades were snapped shut, or any configuration of piercing wounds, only limited to the number of spines that were used in creating the Tessen.

The techniques could be tempered by any of the elements, so I could change from water or air attack to lightning and ice once I had learned the secrets of merging my elements together. Something that was a requirement for my other two techniques.

[Lightning's Rush] required my water and air elements to combine, the lightning element influencing my Qi. As this new Qi aspect was circulated within my body, the element of lightning enhanced my own neural and synaptic response. Those small electrical pulses that triggered muscles and allowed the brain to process feedback became more efficient. And that efficiency allowed me to move at greater speed. I would be able to sustain a speed three times as fast when running. And burst speeds were possible that would allow me to move at more than ten times my previous limit.

[Water Pierce] seemed the simplest of the three techniques. I only needed to learn how to mimic the ice element and create arrows. But the truth was that the technique was just as difficult as the others. Creating an arrow of ice was only the first step. I needed to learn how to infuse lightning with that ice so that my shots would stun my target. How to create a network of fractures that would allow the arrow to shatter on contact or remain structurally sound until the tip had penetrated the target before exploding. And finally, I needed to learn how to use my air element to guide each shot.

I spent the night while cultivating, memorizing the manuals that Elder Cix had copied for me. The jade tokens were mine, stored within my spatial ring, and could be accessed as I needed to reference and expand my understanding of each technique. But memorizing took time and was only a first step. I would need to put what I had learned into practice, which meant long hours on the training field as Elder Shadow tempered and instructed.

I would have hurried my duties at Tamer's Hall, but a clutch of eagles chose that morning to hatch. Watching the miracle of birth trumped learning how to kill and dismember. The memories of my own experience with childbirth were vague, time and life had softened the memories of pain and joy, but enough of an echo remained for me to empathize and delight as I watched new life take form.

Eagles on Shijie shared little with their Earthen counterparts. They were both birds, feathered, and had wings, but it was the sheer size and adaption to claw and beak that allowed the Eagles on this world to survive. There were too many other apex predators to contend with if they hadn't found a way to harness the world's Qi. Talons and wings were able to deliver devastating wind attacks paired with a primal screech that required a high enough will, not to be affected and stunned. They were not the dangerous animal, but they had also adapted to hunt in flocks. And a murder of eagles was as dangerous as the name implied.

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"Elder Shadow has asked that you meet with him at Mission Hall before training this morning," One of the Sect runners informed me. No telling how long the man was waiting for me to exit Training Hall. It was an affection of Elder Shadow's that I didn't really understand. He rarely used missives, choosing instead to find runners or Sect members to deliver his messages, in my case, his orders.

I had no idea why Elder Shadow would want to meet at Contribution Hall, but there was no point in questioning the runner any further or time. Once he had delivered the message, he took off running to his next assignment.

I decided to forego breakfast for the moment to head to Contribution Hall if Elder Shadow was already waiting for me, he was undoubtedly already angered. I hadn't lingered much past the time my duties were over for the day in Tamer Hall, but I had stayed an extra few moments watching the last chick hatch.

As I hurried, I thought now would be a great time to make use of [Lightning's Rush]. It was too bad I had only the vaguest idea of how that could be done.

Elder Shadow was waiting for me in front of the Hall, sitting patiently on one of the benches that framed the path. He didn't seem angry or in any particular rush, simply standing and walking leisurely into the building.

We ignored the line that had formed to accept new missions, taking the stairs to the second floor, we soon arrived at the counter where contribution points could be exchanged for items. His arrival was met expeditiously, the staff anxious to not offend the Elder.

"We would like to see what Tessen and Bows you have available. Water, Air, Lightning, and Ice elemental aspects will be used, so weapons that resonate with those affinities are a requirement," Elder Shadow informed the attendant.

"What Realm, Honored Elder?" the attendant asked.

"Body Tempering. Something that won't be useless the moment she steps into Qi Gathering Realm," he replied.

A few of the clerks gathered to help find an assortment of weapons. I was happily surprised to find that even a selection of Tessen was available. Elder Cix had been adamant that the martial path using the fan as a weapon had not been practiced in the Sect in his memory. Why the Sect bothered to keep a stock of weapons that no one would use seemed a waste of resources and space.

The attendant placed his offerings on the counter, six Tessen, and a dozen Bows. I had no idea what Elder Shadow was looking for as he examined the offerings. Tensile strength and flexibility made sense for the Bow, perhaps sharpness for the Tessen? Two of the Tessen and three of the Bows had met with his approval.

"Jay," Elder Shadow said as he allowed the attendant to remove those weapons that had failed to pass his inspection, "I think one of these might suit. Handle them, test the draw strength on the bow. Now that you have decided on a path, it is time to replace the practice weapons you have been using with something more suitable."

I started with the bows, mostly because I was familiar with the weapon, and had a frame of reference for making an informed choice. Spending time examining each bow, testing draw strength, and closing my eyes while extending my Qi perception to get a 'feel' for the weapons. I finally found one I felt suited, but not before a children's story from my childhood had tempered the importance of my choice with a bit of whimsy. I had felt a bit like Goldilocks as I moved from bow to bow. Too soft. Too hard. Just right.

Setting the bow, I had selected to the side, I then went to examine the two Tessen that Elder Shadow had offered. My initial evaluation was one of aesthetics. The cloth and print weaved between the spines of the fan catching my eye. Both had an oriental feel to them, not surprising, but they could have been modeled on European culture.

One was embossed with a Phoenix, bright fires in stark relief to a black background. The other had silver schools of fish leaping and swimming on the silken fabric of cerulean blue. If I were to select a weapon based on appearance, the silverfish motif called to me. Perhaps because one of my elemental aspects was water.

"Do not be too concerned about the silk cloth that is currently woven and anchored to the Tessen's spines," Elder Shadow warned, aware of my thoughts and that was how I was going to make my selection. "The cloth and pattern can be changed out to something you find more pleasing or suitable."

His words didn't help. I had no frame of reference to understand what I should be looking for. With the bow, I had enough knowledge and experience to recognize I needed something that could contain the increasing tension I would need to use for the stings so that as my strength increased, so did the draw strength of the weapon.

Holding the two fans, I made a few hesitant motions, stepping back from the counter and fumbling through the opening kata for [White Crane Opens Wing]. The Tessen seemed a matched pair. The weight, heft, and length of spines were exactly the same. Even using my perceptions to check for minute fractures and inconsistencies only proved the weapons had to have been crafted by the same person.

The spines exactly the same, the mechanism to fold and unfold the fan, the quick release to allow me to launch one or more of the spines as daggers exactly the same. As I began a halting dance, folding and unfolding each fan, I wondered why not buy both?

Martial artists dual wielded weapons all the time, since I liked both weapons, and couldn't really see a difference between them. I would train with both.