Chapter 40: Boons and Curses

Chapter 40: Boons and Curses

40

Boons and Curses

I

Lan Yue stared at Tian Jin in shock, who looked back at her, his expression somber. Hao Zhen glanced back and forth between the two, trying to piece together what was happening.

For a while, nobody spoke, a tense silence hanging in the air. Gradually, Lan Yues widened eyes narrowed, and her brow furrowed, her surprise giving way to contemplation. Tian Jin, judging by his expression, seemed to be doing quite a lot of thinking of his own.

Hao Zhen cleared his throat and then turned to him. Clearly theres something going on here, he said, addressing Tian Jin. But Id appreciate it if you could share what exactly you know. What exactly are innate skill seeds, and I thought that redsouls could only have one spiritual skill?

Tian Jin took in a deep breath, then nodded. I dont really know much myselfonly what my master told me, as well as what Ive learned myself after becoming a cultivator. He paused, his gaze growing distant, as if he was considering something. Then he continued, Innate skill seeds, as I previously said, are something some cultivators are born with. Theyre either passed down through something called a spiritual bloodline or manifest on their own inside a cultivators soul the moment theyre born.

How rare is it for a cultivator to have innate skill seeds? Hao Zhen asked, turning to Lan Yue. Im assuming youve never heard of them before?

Never, Lan Yue said, shaking her head. I thought I thought I was the only one. I went through the sects records, but I found nothing about it. Ive never heard about spiritual bloodlines, either.

My parents didnt know anything, either, Tian Jin said. They also gave me a spiritual awareness pill, and I asked them about the skill seeds in my soul. Like when you asked your grandfather, they didnt seem to hear the question. Later, however, I asked Master about itand he did hear the question.

Hao Zhens heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Tian Jins master was also an Unweavable?

But when I asked him why Father and Mother had ignored that question, he reacted the same wayas if I hadnt asked, Tian Jin continued, frowning, and Hao Zhen dropped that line of thought. I thought he just didnt want to talk about it, but now

Hmmm. Hao Zhen pondered. Most likely, your parents knowing about it didnt fit the Weave, but your master knowing it did, he said. On the other hand, since you were trying to point out your parents anomalouswell, Wovenbehavior to your master, he was similarly Woven into ignoring that.

Right, Tian Jin said, though his expression was still thoughtful. In any case, according to Master, a cultivator must be at least at the Green Spiritual Realm to originate a spiritual bloodline. The strongest organization on this island is the Resplendent Gleam Sect, which is only at the yellow grade, so there shouldnt be any cultivators with spiritual bloodlines here. According to Master, randomly occurring skill seeds are also incredibly rare, so Im not surprised its not common knowledge. Maybe only the members of the Resplendent Gleam Sect would know about it, as they should be in contact with other islands.

I see, Hao Zhen said. For a moment, he considered asking Tian Jin what else he knew about the geography of the world, before deciding to leave that question for later. And your innate spiritual seeds? Do they come from a bloodline, or

My master said they were randomly occurring, Tian Jin said.

And how rare would that be? Hao Zhen asked. Six skill seeds, all of them at the violet grade?

Tian Jin glanced at Lan Yue, then said, Master believed that my case was unique. That there shouldnt be anyone else in this world born with such great fortune. His voice was a little tight.

Hao Zhen closed his eyes for a moment, bringing his hands to his forehead, trying to wrap his head around this. Tian Jins and Lan Yues innate skill seeds werent the boons he had originally assumedif anything, they were more like curses. No matter how he looked at it, the cons far outweighed the pros.

All right, Hao Zhen said. Never, and I mean never, tell anyone about this. He gave both Tian Jin and Lan Yue firm looks. Never. It doesnt matter who it is. We also shouldnt ever bring up this matter again if we arent absolutely certain that there isnt anyone nearby and that there isnt any possibility that others are spying on us or listening in.

Of course, if his Weave Theory was correct, even if others did end up hearing about their innate skill seeds, it wouldnt be an issue if they werent supposed to know about that according to the Weave, just as had happened with Tian Jins parents and Lan Yues grandfather. On the other hand, Hao Zhen still didnt know if the Weave could rearrange itself or if other Unweavables existed. There was also the possibility that the Weave did intend for someone to find out about Tian Jins or Lan Yues skill seeds in the future, so at least by speaking as little about it as possible, there was a chance they could nip that possibility in the bud.

I know, Tian Jin said solemnly. I just thought that this was relevant, given the situation. He tipped his head to the side. It might be in some way connected to the Weave and whats going on, considering Lan Yue and I are both Weavers. He paused, adopting an uncertain look, before adding, Apparently.

No, I get it. I thought the same thing, Hao Zhen said. Just please be careful about this matter in the future. Very careful, he stressed.

Of course, Tian Jin said.

Hao Zhen shifted his attention to Lan Yue. She still looked rather shaken. He was also rather worried about her slipping up. Although she didnt appear to be as trusting as Tian Jin, she was careless with her secretsa consequence of people seldom noticing her slip-ups, from what he understood.

Well, Hao Zhen said, deciding that was enough of that particular conversation for the time being, on the topic of skill seeds, there are also the skill seeds of the inner disciple and the inner elder.

Oh. Thats right, Tian Jin said, nodding his head. I believe they both have Radiant Light Field. I dont think they were using talismans.

Youre right. They were Radiant Light Barrierthe first form of Radiant Light Fieldwhen they flew through the waterfall, Lan Yue confirmed, confidently.

Hao Zhen had guessed as much. What should we do about them? he asked. Hed need to break through to the Orange Spiritual Realm before he could assimilate another spiritual skill, so the two skill seeds werent of much use to him right now. Tian Jin and Lan Yue probably found it even more useless, considering they were already set for life in terms of skill seeds.

Lan Yue shrugged. Probably nothing, she said. If we do end up turning the two bodies in, the sect will definitely want them back. Even if we dont, its not of much use to us. The most we can do is auction it outside the sect. Unless She inclined her head in Hao Zhens direction. Youre still a first-level, arent you? To you, destroying your crux and starting cultivating all over again wouldnt be much of a setback, so if you think Radiant Light Field suits you better than Ethereal String Puppetry, you can start over and assimilate it instead.

Oh. Hao Zhen hadnt considered that possibility, but it didnt take him long to dismiss it. Im happy with Ethereal String Puppetry. But if we dont turn the corpses in, Id like to keep one of the skill seeds, just in case.

Although he found it unlikely, if somehow they didnt come across any other skill seeds, he could absorb one of the Radiant Light Field seeds as a last resort once he reached the Orange Spiritual Realm. That thought gave him a pause. Once he reached the Orange Spiritual Realmnot if.

He looked up at Tian Jin and Lan Yue. It was rather presumptuous of him to assume that hed become an orangesoul, as he was still a first-level redsoul. But considering who his companions were he had a feeling hed manage it. Hed have to manage it, in any case.

Of course, that was assuming he could hold on to his life. If his theory about the Weave was correct, then the world itself was conspiring to keep Tian Jinand possibly Lan Yuealive. Hao Zhen didnt think hed be getting the same treatment. If anything, he was pretty certain that the Weave would want him out of the picture.

To survive, hed need power. And on the topic of power

Hao Zhen glanced at the five piles of items beside him. First his gaze fell on the pile of jade slips, then on the pile of pills, and finally on the pile of spiritual stones.

He decided it was about time he bid goodbye to the first level of the Red Spiritual Realm.