Most of our trip was uneventful. The forest we overflew was teeming with life, but that life was comprised mostly of insects and reptiles. Of course, insects that were the size of our heads and seemed to swarm together was not something that could be discounted. The trees were even larger than what I was used to back at Flowing Water, towering hundreds of feet high. Some even growing a thousand feet or so.

It wasn't until Storm found the river that fed into the ocean where my town was located that I knew we were on the right track. I wondered why no one had created compasses for this world and thought I might experiment with the idea. I wouldn't even need to find a source of lodestone, although it might make things easier. But if there was no ready source of that material, with my control of lightning, I could use the natural polarized magnets that form when lightning strikes the ground.

With a steady supply of iron or steel, it would be easy to produce a limitless supply of material that would work for a compass. I decided I would do some testing; it seemed too simple a solution not to be used by now, perhaps the size of the planet affected magnetic polarity in some manner.

When people like Daniel could manipulate magnetism as part of his [Dao], the concept of navigation using magnetic polarity should have been discovered. If the size of the planet wasn't the issue, there might be some worldwide planetary effect that made it impossible. The world essence, the Qi that we gathered and cultivated might interfere, areas of large spirit density acting like magnetic fields that made it impossible to keep the instrument pointing north.

It seemed to me that an array or an enchantment might be able to solve that problem if it was the case. Traveling at night, using the stars as a guide made more sense because this just traveling in a certain direction was inefficient. But neither Yvonne nor I had the skills to navigate by the stars to try to get a more exact idea of the direction we needed to head for.

There was no barrier to the separated one piece of land from another, no difference as far as I could discern between one piece of land and the next. But I was still able to tell where my fief began. I knew the instant when I had crossed into my territory. The world Qi responded to my entrance, a vibration in the aether, a ringing and harmony so profound that my Dharmic Body responded.

Ever since I had attained the Qi Gathering Realm, my ability to be both Dharmic and physical had increased. I'd barely stepped into the Realm, and had spent no time training, but I knew the difference could feel it already. I didn't have to concentrate to take control of my Dharmic body, to give it more of my attention for it to be able to act.

It was like an extra appendage now. It simply was. And when I crossed over into the territory I had claimed, it responded, changing frequency and vibration to harmonize with the world essence unique to my fief. Storm squawked in delight as the changes to the Dharmic affected her too. As my bonded companion, she shared in and responded to that harmony with the same feeling of completeness that I felt.

A giant rolling weather mass, larger than anything I had ever created before began rolling across the forests, streams, valleys, and land that were mine by right now. Storms cry reverberated along with the thunder. She gave voice to the claim that we had just established. This land was ours.

My Dharmic Body connected with the land, channeling that connection into the storm that was being created, until it grew large enough to eclipse the entire territory. This wasn't the destructive power of Heaven's tribulation, instead, it was the gentle wash of spring showers. The promise of nature that new life and new growth were here.

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The storm soaked my entire territory, infused with my unique Qi signature. My Qi signature would influence the entire area, the World Essence flavored with the elements I controlled. That connection would exist until I severed the connection that had formed, or I died. Until then, the land would acknowledge and welcome me.

"How could you bear to sever your connection to your territory and trade it away?" I finally asked Yvonne once the process was completed.

"It was hard," she admitted, "harder than I thought it would be."

"It feels like I've gained another bonded companion," I explained, "I don't think I would have the strength you had, to forsake the trust and joy the land has now that it has been claimed."

"I might not have either if I had a bonded companion," she admitted, "I think that may have helped."

"You didn't take any damage to your soul or Dharmic body?" I wondered.

"Severing isn't done by just making a decision," she explained, "there are Dharmic spells required to separate the threads of Qi, the strands that tie you to the land and that have become part of you. It's like an amputation, except done with Qi and spells.

"The severing is done in an array that stabilizes Qi, that occludes your senses somewhat. I had to remain in that array for two days after I repudiated my connection to my territory. That gave me and my Dharmic body time to heal and my Qi to stabilize."

"Was it worth it?" I asked, not thinking for a second it could be.

"I'm not sure," she admitted. "Until I claim new territory, there is like a hole where that bond used to be. My Dharmic body is always seeking that connection, questing for that joy, always searching for a new bond to fill that hole and make me whole.

"I am weaker than I was. I had been about ready to step into the perfected level for the Qi Gathering Realm, instead, I have fallen back firmly to the mid-level. From that perspective, no, it wasn't worth it.

"But if I can find the right territory, an area that allows me to find a Qilin to bond with, my foundation should be stronger than ever, and I may be able to move directly to the Nascent Soul Realm."

"And if you can't find a territory that suits your purpose?" I asked. "Or one that does but were no Qilin are found? What will you do? Why would you take the risk?"

"Cultivation is nothing but risk and luck," she reminded me. "From the day we awaken, we leave our fates in the hands of Heaven. Our luck determines what spirit root we awaken, what elements we align with.

"Even our advancements are often a product of luck, fate, and Heavenly opportunity. I know most cultivators would believe me insane, but my House has always had people that cultivated Karmic techniques.

"I guess you could say I am trusting in my family's history. I believe I am either fated to find my bonded companion here in a fief that I discover and claim for myself, or that I am never fated to bond with a Qilin and will leave to chance and fate the animal that is destined to be my companion."

There had been no signs of civilization along our path, not until we got much closer to the ocean. The land could certainly sustain towns and villages, but no one brave enough or strong enough to clear trees that grew so large, not while trying to withstand the onslaught of insects and animals that would attack if they tried.

There were a few clearings and deltas that abutted the river along the way. Places that villages or small towns might flourish. Storm added any I thought suitable for an outpost to the map she was creating. Having that map would make the journey between the Sect and the town we were headed towards much easier in the future.

I still had no idea what the name of the town was, it was simply included in the territory I claimed. I was informed that it was the largest settlement in my fief, and it would be up to me to name it as the Capital. There were a few other scattered villages, mostly fishing outposts along the coast, but the next largest town had barely five thousand people.