Heaven's Laws - Lifestone - Chapter 40

Chao made it a habit to meet with Father Tu once a week to go “treasure hunting” with the man. It was within the Divine Spire, so much of their time was spent on the first and seconds floors exploring the different trials. Tu’s favorite stations were the puzzles, however.

If someone thought less of his father-in-law because of this, they could only find out the hard way if the sought to bully him. It wasn’t because he lacked martial ability or the mentality to fight, but because he had a keen mind and was constantly seeking to challenge himself. Chao learned quickly just how fierce the man’s mentality really was.

He was loud and generous in their meeting. “Junior Brother Tao,” he said, grabbing him by the shoulders.

Chao personally wanted to stop at each obelisk they passed. They were like giant card jades that instructed on cultivation, history, and martial techniques. He had leaned enough through conversation to know there was nothing here on the first floor that would be too helpful for someone at his level, but just the idea that these had been created thousands of years before and still stood was enough for him.

There was one specific puzzle that Tu was drawn to on their first outing together. Chao had encouraged him to keep visiting it. They headed their first.

This station was built into the wall. There was a partition that held them back. There was also one of the barriers common to the Divine Spire that allowed their perceptions to pass, but not them physically. At the back of the station, against the wall, were waist high columns that each held an element. These podiums, or platforms, held their small element in place perpetually until someone came along and interacted with them.

“Senior,” Chao said, motioning for Tu to take the first turn.

The man stepped up and flicked his loose sleeves, causing them to snap. Then he reached out toward the red Nascent flame and extended his perceptions.

The flame twitched a few times as he took control of it with borrow. Even though Chao started all of his students with the borrow game, it wasn’t uncommon for the first law to be used even outside the large sects. There was a certain familiarity even the most common cultivator would develop with their element of choice. Street performers often took this even further. Such displays were low level masters of borrow at best. Only the street performers that took their tricks much more seriously ever reached small success.

The flame rose off the podium and slowly floated toward them. There was a second platform closer to them. The first goal of this station was to borrow the flame and move it from one location to another. The second step was much more difficult.

The little flame’s trip wasn’t a smooth one, but compared to their first visit to the station, Tu’s control was far more impressive. As the flame descended, he was able to complete the first step without putting out the flame on the first try.

“Well done, Senior Xiao Tu,” Chao applauded.

The man nodded, but his focus remained sharp.

The next and last step was to borrow the flame and to create a second identical one. It was a more advanced use of borrow but didn’t reach the level of create. It was literally making an exact copy of what was already there, not creating a new flame through the power of the laws.

Tu drew back his hand and leaned forward. The flame flickered once again. On the second platform a hand’s length away, a phantom flame began to form.

Chao could sense some of Tu’s own fire qi was fueling the formation, but it was difficult to tell how much since it wasn’t his will guiding it. The phantom flame slowly solidified until it was nearly identical to the first.

In the next moment, the flame snuffed out. Tu lost control of the first flame, and it darted to the starting platform seemingly of its own free will.

His father-in-law huffed out an exorbitant amount of air. He didn’t realize the man had been holding his breath.

“You completely both steps on the first try,” Chao congratulated again.

“I’m not sure that last step counted. It’s hard to tell if I just ignited my own qi or not.”

There was a clicking noise, followed by the shifting of stone. On the station’s counter, its surface shifted. A clear qi crystal appeared that was about the size of a grape.

Seeing his prize, Tu was quick to change his tune. He shook as he chuckled.

“The spire only recognizes success,” Chao said, cupping the man’s shoulder. It was still a foreign gesture for him, but his father-in-law was rubbing off on him.

What he said was true. The Divine Spire kept track of everyone’s progress. It would only reward a person if they reached a certain stand and did better than their last attempt.

“It’s your turn, Junior Brother Tao.”

He smiled gratefully, but concern tensed up his brow. “Senior—”

“Not this time.” With a hoot, Tu threw out a set of flags the rested against the station on either side and surrounded them. Soon they were encapsulated in what looked like a bubble of turbulent wind. Only the station was still open to them. “It’s one of many rare array formations I’ve collected over the years. While we’re under its influence, no one will see your performance. Show your father-in-law what you are capable of.”

Chao quickly examined the barrier, before giving the man an awe-filled look. “One of your secret artifacts?”

Tu waved a hand. “Nothing like that. It’s a simple barrier with unique design. That is all. Now no more excuses.”

He gave him a martial salute. He didn’t want to come off arrogant to his own father-in-law, but if the man was asking for a demonstration. “Very well.”

He didn’t want to discourage Father Tu, but he’d been able to complete this trial with the fire element since the age of three. As for the other elements…

They’d been here many times before. He’d already completed the trial with the earth element. Since he had a golden core, it was the element he allowed himself to fool around with in public. But Tu wasn’t asking him to do it again, or even complete it with the fire element.

Extending his qi, he borrowed them all at the same time. He lazily drew them toward the closer platforms and made sure they touched down in the right place. With just as much ease, he copied the originals and duplicates of each appeared on the platforms right next to them.

With the trial complete, he bowed to his father-in-law.

He feared it might discourage him, but instead Tu boomed with laughter. “That’s my son-in-law. Tell me plainly. How well would my Hui Hui do?”

“Water and Nature with ease. With her ice laws, she’s better than I am.”

“Mmm.”

There was a sudden glow from the station’s barrier. As it brightened, the voice of a drowsy man sounded, “Greetings, Divine Master. I do not have your qi signature on record. Please proceed to the Initiation Construct to be measured and have your information recorded. You will then receive your worthy reward.”

They’d retreated to the edge of the array’s barrier. Chao had already placed a space wall between them, but it didn’t block out the voice.

“If you are not here to cultivate, and instead wish to make use of this tower to train future generations, there is something I will give you now. Please take it.”

When his space barrier was full gone, he found the station’s barrier was still glowing, but not as bright. On top of the partition rested an almost transparent card. He swept it up with his qi and snapped it.

“The tower is currently ownerless, so it is without name. This ticket contains the information necessary to start the process of taking ownership. A Divine Master such as yourself should be able to complete the requirements with ease. The tower is designed to require this so that future owners would experience every major trial to make the most use of the facilities. Welcome, once again. I look forward to your climb.”

As soon as the voice finished, the glow to the station’s barrier dimmed completely.

The smirk his father-in-law gave him was like that of an adventurous child. Chao was quick to match it. Treasure hunting indeed.

He contacted Huifen who was on the first floor with Mother Sya somewhere out of sight. It was too much of a discovery to let rest. They contacted Sage Pangfua next and would meet with her soon.

Chao contacted Sister Eu-meh by transmission jade and told her they’d be delayed. She replied by saying that they’d still meet in the nature mediation chamber to get in some extra practice. It was usually without use.

He learned in the conversation that Li Qiang wasn’t with them. When he was about to reach out to the guy, he found him standing there with a number of other cultivators from multiple different sects as Father Tu’s array formation was put away.

“Brother Tao?” The young man cried, then noticing Tu he bowed. “Greetings, Master Xiao.”

“Senior,” Chao said. He’d been meaning to talk to his friend one on one about marriage. This was a perfect opportunity. He leaned over and said something under his breath.

“It would be my pleasure,” Tu said, striding forward and throwing his arm around the tawny skinned fire cultivator. “This one will now give you some pointers on how to win a young fairy’s heart.”

Huifen and Mother Sya arrived a moment later. They were coming from the same direction that Tu and Li Qiang were heading, so they had a quick exchange of words before joining Chao.

His wife leaned in closely to embrace him. He shrouded the three of them in a sound barrier.

“Have you yet to examine it?”

He nodded, slipping it into her hand.

She stepped back and turned sidelong so that Mother Sya could see what she was doing. Huifen’s eyes widened. She stealthily handed it to Sya who also scanned it.

The Ice Phoenix Sect Elder was much more composed with her reaction but was just as quick. She gave them both a glance then said, “Let’s go.”