The seven days of refinement were over, and the grass sword was ready. The edges were sharp, and the little wisps of qi Ren had, could travel through the channels to reinforce the blade and its edges. He was now also free to cultivate as he pleased. However, Ren had other immediate plans. He had talked with Bao Hua, and they both had decided to work together to earn contribution points by gathering herbs in the mountains.

  Ren had found enough information about where they could find the crystal snowflowers. Their expedition should be very profitable. He knew it was the right season and had found potential locations where they were likely to grow. From discussing with the seniors at the Hall of Contribution, he knew that nobody was aiming for it at the moment, but that could change soon.

  Harvesting and selling what spirit vegetables Ren hadn’t eaten or preserved for himself had barely earned him half a spirit stone. He used that to buy supplies for the trip, like some medicines, a simple hunting bow, and some incense to light at night, which would encourage beasts to stay away. They wouldn’t be very effective, but something was better than nothing.

  Bao Hua would also be bringing salt and preserving herbs for any meat they hunted. Ren gathered his preparations and went to meet Bao Hua. They would be heading for the central area before looping down to the south and then heading back. It should take around 10 days, leaving them a few days to recover before the next class.

  Ren was in high spirits. He had constantly been told that cultivation was a matter of fate and luck and was eager to test it himself. He was confident that they would find the required ten crystal snowflowers for their task to be marked a success. There may be no penalty, but they would get far fewer points for bringing less than that. He also hoped to encounter areas rich in qi, which would be better environments to cultivate than his courtyard.

  “Hey there, Brother Ren! Are you ready?”

  “May the heavens watch over us, Brother Hua!”

  The mountains past the sect gates were considered wild. Apparently that was by design because farmed beasts and herbs tended to be drastically worse than those that were wild and natural. There were no shortcuts to cultivation.

  Even the air seemed different to Ren. He led them on the planned route to the valley at the edge of the area considered central and the east, where the main sect was. It should have the right conditions for the flowers. Overhead they saw other sect members flying past on their flying swords. That would be possible once they reached the foundation establishment realm, and Ren could only dream of one day feeling the freedom and reach being able to fly would give him.

  Along the way they often spotted smaller animals, and Ren’s reading even let him identify and gather some common herbs that could be useful. It took them 3 days to hike, and that was at their fastest speed. Truly the Heavenly Sword Sect was huge, and the mountains it laid claim to were even larger. They took turns standing watch at night, and Ren left the cooking to Hua, though he tried his best to memorize Hua’s methods, for the food definitely tasted better than his attempts.

  When they finally crested the valley and the small mountain pond came into view, Ren knew they were in luck. As they got closer, he confirmed they had found what they were looking for. 7 tiny white flowers that reflected the light of the day in shimmering patterns. He and Hua looked excitedly at each other and then got to work. They carefully harvested the flowers and preserved them in a box that Ren had prepared. He had found a formation that would help maintain the spiritual efficacy of the contents and had engraved it in advance.

  Hopefully at the second or third location he had marked out, they would find more than the required flowers and earn a bonus. They rested that night, and Ren cultivated. The qi in this valley was definitely richer than in his courtyard, and he felt that it was more effective. There were more wisps of qi now in his dantian. He practiced once more in the morning and then set off. They would be travelling along the edge of the central regions, as those were still too dangerous for them.

  As they headed south, they started to encounter more dangerous beasts, such as a leaf python and one particularly vicious bird that Ren couldn’t identify. Hua, who hadn’t begun cultivating yet, would be defending his back, and it was up to Ren to face the beasts. Fortunately, his past training and hunting experience let him overcome them. He attempted to harvest what he could but didn’t know what was valuable. His qi sensing wasn’t strong enough to let him identify the best parts. So he took some feathers from the bird and the fangs from the python. The meat was packaged up and slowly consumed as they hiked to the second spot over 2 days. Though they weren’t as fresh as when they started, the meat from the beasts contained more qi, which helped rejuvenate them.

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  The second location wasn’t as much of a success, and they found only 2 of the flowers. Ren was still confident of completing the task but was unsure if they could earn the bonus. They headed towards the southern mountains. Ren warned Hua again about the risks of this region. They would have to be extra careful here, for it was now confirmed that the ruling spirit beasts in the inner regions were shifting territories, causing herds of lesser beasts to migrate outwards. The third spot, which would take a day and a half to reach, should be spared from the worst of the tumult. Even so, they also hoped they could slay some beasts to preserve and take back home.

  They avoided larger herds of some spirit deer and one small pack of what sounded like wolves. An area of woods had to be circled, for Hua swore he heard the screeching of monkeys and insisted on avoiding it. Ren teased him about it until Hua told him about how he had been scratched by a monkey as a child, so that just made Ren tease him more, but he still accepted the half-day delay.

  They would reach the third spot in the morning. That night when it was Ren’s turn to keep watch, he heard some noises. He woke Hua and told him to be prepared to leave as he went to scout. He crept through the bushes and came upon a small pond. In the light of the moon, he observed a small battle taking place. A swamp otter fending off an immolating turtle. It looked like the otter was defending a water hyacinth, a spirit herb of the water alignment.

  After thinking for a moment, Ren realized what was happening. Following the Wuxing cycle of elements, the wood attribute swamp otter had been nurturing the water attribute hyacinth to consume when mature. The fire attribute immolating turtle often found in swamps was either hunting the otter or maybe trying to rid its territory of a strong water attribute treasure, which would weaken its fire alignment. Ren stayed hidden as he observed.

  At first glance the turtle would be victorious for fire-suppressed wood, and even if it wasn’t, Ren knew they were well known for exploding themselves to drag down their enemies with them. But as he looked, a slight reflection of the water shed light on 3 little baby otters cowering.

  Ren realized the stakes for the swamp otter were much higher than losing a natural spirit treasure. He watched as it fought relentlessly for its children. The turtle snapped its sharp beak mouth, tearing out lumps of flesh, but the little otter fought on. Then it pulled out a small pebble and smashed it down on the turtle's head. Ren wasn’t sure, but he suspected the pebble was no simple pebble, as it crumbled at the blow. The turtle reeled with a bloodied head, and Ren sensed what was about to happen as the turtle pulsed its qi and exploded. The fragments of its shell weren’t well directed, but one still hit the otter, wounding it further.

  Ren knew the way of life. The strong ruled and the weak obeyed. He had been raised amongst such lessons occurring repeatedly, constantly reminding him. He also knew of the mantis hunting the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. That could be him here. In one step he could obtain the immolating turtle's shell fragments, the body of a wood attribute lesser beast, and the water hyacinth, which was surely worth a few spirit stones that he desperately needed. The otter kits could be spared by his mercy, for they weren’t worth much. All that was within reach. He took a step forward into the light.

  The weakened otter’s gaze snapped to him. Ren knew that lesser beasts were nearly as intelligent as spirit beasts, but he felt something in that gaze regardless. It was a mixture of despair, resignation, and defiance. Ren was strangely moved. It had fought hard and fought well, even sacrificing a special treasure to guard its children and their future nourishment, which was meant to enhance them, only for it all to be stolen away.

  Ren hesitated. He didn’t know why, but this moment felt significant. The very air felt charged. A crossroads he would remember no matter how long he lived. It was just a tiny battle amongst lesser beasts. Just one inconsequential conflict amongst countless others that were no doubt happening all over the woods. It was his right as the strong one to take what he wanted, but he couldn’t bring himself to act. For all that he respected nature and the lessons his family taught him, he couldn’t do that to the brave little otter. He had already made his decision in his heart even if he couldn’t understand it yet. He slowly stepped forward and gathered 4 fragments of the shell that had landed on the edge of the pond and once again looked at the otter. As he backed away, he saw its gaze change from despair to doubt to something that he convinced himself was relief.

  With that parting glance, Ren turned back and headed to his camp, his head roaring with hundreds of thoughts. He reassured Hua that it was nothing and the sound of the tiny explosion was nothing but some branch falling. Hua lay back to sleep, but Ren ended up staying awake, even taking Hua’s guard shift, pondering his actions that he had made with his heart but his mind couldn’t yet logically explain.

  As dawn approached, he gave up on sleep and began cultivating. As he moved through the stances, his thoughts slowly quieted. As he began the 2nd set, the roar of his thoughts became whispers. By the 3rd they were silenced. By the 4th, his sword felt lighter and his movements, smoother. By the 5th, his entire body seemed to fill with strength, and for the first time, he continued on to the next set. By the 6th he had completely entered a meditative trance. At the end of the 7th set of stances, he had broken through.