The Magistrate: Chapter 60

Chapter 60

The Forgotten Valley

The Forgotten Valley was one of the only places that had survived the Great Plague untouched. Before the Great Plague, it was known as the Peaceful Valley, a spirit garden created by Peace Master So, so he could cultivate to reach the sage realm. There were eight spirit stone mines beneath it, along with an abundance of spirit herbs and spirit beasts, all perfectly balanced to enhance and grow chi saturation.

Stepping into the valley was like stepping into another world. Spirit grass had replaced the mortal variations, and mortal realm spirit herbs grew like weeds. Core realm spirit herbs sat only a few feet apart, and dozens of nascent soul realm spirit herbs were always in sight. The chi saturation was so impressive that Tobias could only assume that this was what it would feel like stepping into his cultivation chamber after it had been gathering chi for decades.

Tobias inhaled, feeling a deep sense of peace wash over him as they entered. Peace Master So's valley reminded him of when he tried to hit Cultivator Chi. Violence had been impossible while he was under the influence of the man's dao, no matter how hard he tried.

Tobias' killing intent, which had grown significantly stronger when he took the lives of the 3rd Emperor's men, began to fade under the valley's influence. Despite the name, the phenomenon had nothing to do with intentions. It was merely a byproduct of forcefully returning a cultivator's cultivation to the world. It was the mark their cultivation left upon you when you took their life.

Integrating this mark wasn't tricky, but it did take time. Time which Tobias had not had.

Lu May stepped forward and sent a pulse of chi through the valley. In the distance, a cultivator rose into the air and began flying towards them. Tobias recognised the cultivator as First Disciple Chi.

Magistrate Chi stared at the valley around them in awe.

Tobias cupped his hands and bowed to Lu May. "Magistrate Finch thanks The Gatekeeper for her guidance to her master's house."

Magistrate Chi quickly repeated his actions. "This one hopes he has not caused any trouble."

Lu May patted him on the shoulder fondly. She seemed to have a deep respect for his older brother and treated him like a favourite nephew.

"You've caused me no trouble, young man. Your brother likely won't be so lucky. However, I imagine he will be happy with whatever punishment our master gives him when he discovers that he will be able to visit you for another century. His time with you is the highlight of his decade."

Magistrate Chi smiled. "I feel the same way."

First Disciple Chi dove out of the sky at that moment and tackled his older brother, lifting him off the ground in a hug and spinning him in a circle. "You reached the initiate realm!" he shouted, laughing with joy. "When did this happen! How did this happen! What are you doing here!"

He spoke so quickly his brother couldn't get a word in, not that he would have been able to do so with his brother squeezing his chest so tight.

Tobias smiled as he cupped his hands and bowed. "Magistrate Finch greets First Disciple Chi."

First Disciple Chi didn't pay attention.

"First Disciple Chi, Magistrate Finch has come to see our master," Lu May said. "He carries a letter of introduction from 2nd Patriarch Lee."

First Disciple Chi didn't listen to her either, continuing to barrage his brother with questions.

Tobias watched the exchange, examining the man before him. When they first met, First Disciple Chi had been suppressing his cultivation, so Tobias had never been able to figure out how strong he was. He wasn't suppressing it now. Tobias places him at the very peak of the core realm, perhaps even higher than the peak. There was a presence about him that was heavier than even peak core realm cultivators possessed, suggesting ten layers to his core, not the typical eight or nine. First Disciple Chi was ready to attempt to ascend to the nascent soul realm and actively suppressing his breakthrough.

Lu May folded her arms. "Our master's gate lies unattended, First Disciple Chi."

That got his attention, and he turned to Lu May. "Are they guests?"

"That is for our master to decide."

First Disciple Chi lost some of his enthusiasm and turned to Tobias. "Are you the young magistrate I met while travelling with my brother?"

Tobias cupped his hands and bowed. "This one will always be grateful for the kindness you and your brother showed him on that journey."

Magistrate Chi smiled. "You have repaid our kindness many times over."

"Are you here to deliver a message?" First Disciple Chi asked.

Tobias shook his head. "I'm here to deliver a message and ask your master for his guidance in understanding dao to assist my first disciple. I have a letter of introduction from 2nd Patriarch Lee."

First Disciple Chi groaned. "Please tell me you've brought a suitable gift. My master hates receiving visitors. The last cultivator to visit without a gift is still sleeping under a tree. He's been there for almost a century."

"I've been told my gift is more than adequate."

First Disciple Chi sighed. "Hopefully, he just throws you out."

Tobias was hoping for more than that.

***

Peace Maste So didn't have a house. Nascent soul realm cultivators didn't need one, but Tobias had never met one that had actually given up worldly attachments. They had walked through the valley for nearly six hours, triggering spirit herbs to throw up barriers without any care for the damage to their cultivation, before arriving at an ancient spirit willow with a boulder near its roots. Peace Master So lay on the boulder staring at the sky.

Peace Master So was a prodigy who had reached the core realm by the age of eleven and hadn't aged beyond it. He looked like a handsome young boy, but not overly so. His skin glowed with a soft, warm light that had an overpowering, peaceful effect, even stronger than the valley's. If Tobias wished to attack him, it would have been impossible, even in the core realm.

Cultivating at such a young age had permanently changed Peace Master So. He was a boy who would never grow up, and he did not want to. When Tobias shared his findings about cultivating so young, Patriarch Lee sat in silence for several seconds before breaking into tears and sharing his history with Peace Master So, and the harm he'd unknowingly caused him. Patriarch Lee had always assumed his youth was a choice, not something that had been forced upon him because of an ignorant master.

Tobias cupped his hands and offered a deep bow, and did not raise his head. "Magistrate Finch greets Peace Master So."

Magistrate Chi copied the bow but did not introduce himself as his station was too low.

First Disciple Chi stepped forward and bowed, before rising and walking over with Tobias's introduction letter. "Master, Magistrate Finch carries a letter of introduction from 2nd Patriarch Lee."

Peace Master So held out his hand, and the letter flew to it. He glanced at the seal, and Patriarch Lee's voice filled the valley. "If you don't show my friend some respect, you cranky brat, I'll come to your valley and tan your hide like a misbehaving child. Other than that, come visit when you have a chance."

Peace Master So erupted in laughter and sat up, turning to his disciple. "Magistrate Finch will be staying as my guest. You may take your brother and go."

The two brothers bowed again, and then First Disciple Chi lifted them into the air, and they flew off as fast as possible, before he changed his mind.

Peace Master So turned to Tobias. "You can raise your head, but only if you brought me a present."

Tobias summoned a copy of his manuals as he raised his head, stepped forward, and held them out. "I hope you find these to your satisfaction."

Peace Master So stared at the books with intense curiosity. "The dao of knowledge surrounding these manuscripts is almost as strong as with the Zodiac Cultivation Manual. No. Some of these are stronger. Where did you get these?"

"I wrote them."

Peace Master So chewed his bottom lip. "They're adequate enough, I suppose."

He began to pull them back. "If they are not to your liking, perhaps I can give you something else."

Peace Master So appeared before him and snatched them out of Tobias's hands. "No. No. These will be fine."

Tobias inclined his head. "You are most gracious." Tobias summoned the Three Pigeon treasure. "Patriarch Lee wished to speak with you."

Peace Master So scowled at the tube as he took it, pulled off the silver cap, and lifted it to his mouth. "You can wait until after I've finished reading."

Patriarch Lee's voice came from the tube a moment later. "I wasn't joking about tanning your hide."

"You can't give me something so saturated in the dao of knowledge and then expect me to talk to you before I read them, Master."

If Tobias was willing to voice his thoughts, he would have said that Peace Master So was whining.  

"I haven't been your master for centuries. Stop calling me that. Now, just listen for a moment. The way is clear. The 2nd Emperor is dead. We're fighting a civil war, but I don't want you to run off and try to ascend."

Peace Master So groaned. "First, you don't let me read my books, and now I'm not allowed to ascend. Are you sure you're not my master?"

"Is Tobias there?"

"Who's Tobias?"

"Magistrate Finch."

"Yes, he's here."

"In matters of cultivation, Tobias is your senior."

Peace Master So scoffed. "No one is my senior when it comes to cultivation."

"If I say he is your senior, he is your senior."

"And you base this on what?"

"His manuscript on enlightenment caused the 2nd Emperor to experience enlightenment."

"Is that what killed him?"

"Yes, so be careful."

"I'm confident I'll survive my ascension."

"Don't take the risk."

"Fine, but this still doesn't mean he's my senior."

"Stop being difficult. I've read your manuscripts, and I've read his. You're not even a close second. He met your first disciple while he was travelling with his brother. They shared only a few days of conversation, and when I met Tobias, he could explain your teachings better than you could. He hadn't even studied a cultivation manual other than the Zodiac Cultivation Manual at that point. The manuals and manuscripts he gave you hold more knowledge on cultivation before the core realm than the rest of the collected works of cultivation combined."

"Why are we still talking then?"

"Because you need to understand your guest. We gave Tobias the trash we share with others, and he created the works that sit before you. The only reason he hasn't progressed our understanding into the core realm is that there aren't many trash core realm cultivation manuals or techniques. He doesn't have enough knowledge to gather insights."

"I'll give him access to my collection as a favour to you."

"I'm not asking you to."

Peace Master So frowned. "Why not? He's clearly your favourite disciple."

"He's not my disciple. I've never taught him anything. He's the one who has been teaching me."

"Why don't you want me to give him access to my collection then?"

"I never said I didn't want you to give him access. I said I didn't want you to do it as a favour to me. I know you. The moment you finish reading his work, you'll be shoving your collection under his nose and hovering over his shoulder, waiting to find out what he has figured out. I don't need to owe you a favour."

"I'll withhold it just to spite you."

Patriarch Lee chuckled. "You're welcome to try."

"I'm a nascent soul realm cultivator. I can do anything I want."

Patriarch Lee laughed harder.

"Why can't I ascend? I've been waiting centuries for this."

"Read his work, and you'll understand."

"This is why I gave you back this stupid treasure. You're always so annoying when you're not under the influence of my dao."

"Perhaps if you didn't use your dao on me to make me so amicable when we're together, I wouldn't feel the need to upset you when you can't influence me."

"I tried that. You were insufferable."

"I'm putting a private letter in the case for you. I have to end our conversation here. The field marshal I'm keeping in check has noticed I'm distracted and using a lot of chi to facilitate our conversation."

Peace Master So reached into the tube and pulled out a scroll, making it disappear into his storage ring. "Don't die, Master."

"I'm not your master."

Peace Master So grinned as he put the silver cap back on and placed the treasure in his storage ring. "So, you came here to study core realm cultivation."

Tobias shook his head and decided not to ask for the treasure back at this time. "I wish to study dao. The manuals I've read have not given me the guidance I need to understand it, so I can't comprehend the laws which govern the core realm."

Peace Master So frowned. "Master says you're my senior. If you're my senior, why do you wish to comprehend the core realm? Are you afraid you will not survive the tribulation?"

Tobias shook his head. "I'm confident I can make a core realm cultivation method which would have me survive, but my first disciple and I wish to walk our dao path. We do not wish to live under the influence of foreign dao. However, I need to understand dao to figure out the process by which this is done."

"You're definitely not my senior. That should be as obvious as the nose on your face."

Tobias cupped his hands and bowed. "This one was born with a cultivation divinity of one. This one has only able to sense the influence of dao for less than a season."

Peace Master So dropped his gaze to the manuals and sighed. "Master was right. You are my senior." He waved his hand, and a stack of manuscripts appeared beside him. "These are the manuals and manuscripts I give to my disciples. You may read them while I read yours. We can discuss their content when we're finished."

***

Tobias woke from his sleep, resting on Peace Master So's favourite boulder. The nascent soul realm cultivator had ignored Patriarch Lee's advice, reading Tobias book on enlightenment once he finished everything else. The nascent soul realm enlightenment tribulation storm had been raging for three days, and Tobias had not slept since leaving Field Marshal Kang's camp, so he'd given in to his body's demands.

Tobias could see Peace Master So was still floating above the valley, shouting insults at the heavens as lightning hurtled towards him. Instead of striking a barrier, as was typical, the tribulation lightning seemed to fizzle out as it approached him, converting from tribulation lightning to nourishing chi.

Tobias would have loved not to have been so close, but there was a sage realm defensive array hidden nearby. It had activated the moment the tribulation began trapping him inside. First Disciple Chi had come to find him shortly after the tribulation started, but told him he couldn't lower the barrier from the outside to let him out.

First Disciple Chi informed him that the boulder and spirit willow had sat in his master's yard when he was a small boy, and were his most prized possessions. Their security was greater than anywhere else in the valley, and he would have to wait for his master to free him or for the tribulation to kill them.

Over the past three days, Tobias had watched every spirit herb and beast in the valley grow, dramatically increasing their cultivation with the onslaught of chi. The area was so saturated with chi that exercises far beyond Tobias's ability suddenly became effortless. This brought problems. The amount of spirit herbs vastly outnumbers the spirit beasts, and their sudden growth quickly began to unbalance the valley's chi. By the end of the first day, the chi was so pure it was close to becoming toxic for spirit herbs.

Every one of Peace Master So's disciples had begun to cultivate to offset the effect. First Disciple Chi had given Tobias permission to do the same. In a day and a half, Tobias had compressed enough spiritual energy to form a droplet in his lower, middle, and upper dantian before succumbing to exhaustion.

Tobias shook his head as he watched Peace Master So.

The cultivator deliberately aggravated the heavens to nourish his valley. Everything Tobias knew about tribulations said this was possible. It was also supposed to be a very bad idea. The heavens held a grudge.

So far, the heavens seemed to have met their match because Peace Master So was using the heavens' anger to his benefit. The valley had been a nascent soul realm cultivator's paradise when he arrived, but it was quickly approaching the stage where a sage could cultivate.

The effects of Peace Master So's dao had not diminished, so it wasn't until the spirit tree beside Tobias broke through to the core realm and saturated the area around it with toxic chi and dao insights that he felt the urge to move again. However, the tribulation lightning the breakthrough caused never even came close to the tree, as it was entirely countered by Peace Master So's dao.

Out of boredom, Tobias closed his eyes and began cycling chi, meditating on the dao of the spirit willow, trying to capture the whispers its tribulation had released to understand what dao was.

Two days later, Peace Master So tapped him on the shoulder and forcefully ended Tobias's chi cycle. "Get off my rock, Senior."

Tobias's eyes shot open. He was several feet away and bowing deeply before he'd fully oriented himself. "I meant to disrespect. First Disciple Chi said it was allowed."

Peace Master So didn't look annoyed. "Stop bowing, Senior. I have no issue with others using my rock when I'm not here, but I like them to get off when I arrive."

Tobias inclined his head. "I will remember this. May I have the honour of congratulating you on your enlightenment?"

"Normally, I would reserve the honour for my first disciple, but your role gives you a greater claim. You may congratulate me."

Tobias cupped his hands and bowed. "Magistrate Finch congratulates Peace Master So on his successful enlightenment and his triumph over the heavens."

The sky rumbled.

Peace Master So winced. "They're going to hold that against you. And I said you're my senior, so you should address me as Senior Finch."

Tobias frowned. "A senior does not introduce themselves as such."

"Really. I've never had one, so I wouldn't know."

"Clearly you jest."

No one was that ignorant of the mortal world.

"I do, but I can't be referring to a man who introduces himself as Magistrate Finch as Senior. So, I will give you a title." The Three Pigeon treasure appeared in his hand as his voice filled the valley. "Sage Peace, recognised by Sage Prudence, recognises Sage Knowledge of The Three Kingdoms before the heavens. Any who deny his worthiness shall answer to me."

The clouds parted, and a single beam of light surrounded Tobias.

Patriarch Lee replied through the Three Pigeon treasure. "Took you long enough."

Peace Master So dropped his voice down to normal volume but scowled into the treasure. "I was going through an enlightenment tribulation, Master."

"I told you not to read that book until after Tobias studied your collection. You might have had a deeper enlightenment."

"If my enlightenment had been any deeper, it would have destroyed my home. The area is so ripe with chi that my little spirit tree reached the core realm. It barely reached the foundation realm a century ago. It's looming over me like it's somehow my fault."

"It is your fault. I told you not to read it."

"I got curious. Everything else he had written was far too interesting."

"Did you manage to suppress your ascension?"

"I'm insulted you have to ask. You were right, though. My valley's defences aren't enough for nascent soul realm tribulations and a sage realm ascension tribulation back-to-back. It will take my defences half a season to recharge before I can make the attempt. Now leave me alone, Master."

"You contacted me. And I'm not your master."

The Three Pigeon treasure disappeared into Peace Master So's storage ring, and then he grinned like a kid at Christmas. "Senior, it is customary to give a gift when congratulating someone on their enlightenment."

Tobias paused, trying to contemplate what gift he could give him. None of his wealth would mean anything to the cultivator before him, which only left his knowledge, but he had already read everything Tobias had written.

However, Tobias's experience meditating under the spirit tree had been unique. Its dao had flowed into him not as whispers or words, but as blinding insights. Without even having to consider the matter, Tobias created an entire cultivation method with multiple techniques and spells based on the dao of the spirit willow.

It was a cultivation method designed for one person. His grandpa.

Tobias bowed. "With your permission, I will create a cultivation method based on the dao of spirit willow beside you for my grandpa."

Peace Master So's eyes lit up, both figuratively and literally. "Will it be a good cultivation method?"

"It will be a cultivation method designed for those who cannot cultivate."

Peace Master So smiled. "Just like my tree."

"Excuse me?"

"My tree wasn't originally a spirit tree. My grandfather was a mortal. He planted it when he built our family's home. The day I was born, it became a spirit tree, which is how Master found me. He knew I was a prodigy just by looking at my tree. He bought the house beside ours and played with me when I was a boy. He taught me about cultivation and kept other cultivators from trying to take me away from my family. I didn't know he was a core realm cultivator until I reached the core realm myself. To me, he was just my fun, silly uncle."

Tobias smiled. Patriarch Lee liked to dote on children, whether they were his or not, did not matter. Tobias could see him going out of his way to protect a prodigy.

The history of the tree before him also explained why he felt its dao was so well-suited to creating his grandpa's cultivation method. It was a mortal tree that had reached the core realm, defying all odds.

Tobias summoned his chest from his storage ring. He opened the chest and removed his writing desk, along with everything else he needed, before placing a blank manual on top of the desk. Then he sat under the shade of the spirit willow and wrote, trying to ignore the nascent soul realm cultivator who shrugged off the tribulation storms hovering over his shoulder.

Every time he finished a page, Peace Master So would mutter to himself or pull out one of his other manuals to read, checking what he was doing against his theories. Tobias didn't enjoy the experience, but he wasn't about to tell the cultivator that until he knew him better.

In the early evening, Tobias finished the manual and handed it over, starting on the technique manuals. Tobias knew that cultivation methods and techniques needed to align daos, but it wasn't until the spirit willow had broken through that he understood why. The concept was as simple as you are what you do. Practising a cultivation method wasn't enough to cement a dao path or incorporate it into who you are. You needed to practice techniques that also incorporated that dao path into you. Only then was the dao strong enough to take hold.

Tobias created seven such techniques, finishing the last as the sun rose the following morning. Tobias handed the latest manual to Peace Master So.

Peace Master So was scowling. "Are you sure you need me to teach you about dao?"

Tobias nodded.

"Good. Then you're not one of those geniuses who think they can't be wrong. You made a mistake with the body cultivation method."

Tobias frowned. "If I made a mistake, then I am ignorant of where to look."

"You didn't include any motion or flexibility dao concepts into it."

"Ah, this method is not intended for warriors."

"Obviously. However, it's intended for your grandfather. The dao of a spirit tree is a dao of the unmoving. Your body cultivation method will have your grandfather unable to move without the dao of motion and flexibility to offset this effect before he can finish expanding and strengthening his body meridians. Apart from that, it's absolutely brilliant. I've never seen such a simple and yet effective cultivation method. Did you read my cultivation method yet?"

Tobias made a so-so motion with his head. "I have read them, but I have not examined them in detail."

"Why not?"

"I was interrupted before I could begin."

"By who?"

"By your enlightenment tribulation. It did not make for a good study environment."

Peace Master So sighed. "I want to talk about my cultivation method now."

"Perhaps you could distract yourself by checking on your disciples and your valley. I'm sure there is much to tend to."

There were thousands of spirit herbs currently going through tribulations, so the fact that Peace Master So was giving him his full attention shocked Tobias.

"But if I do that, First Disciple Chi is going to want to break through the nascent soul realm, and that will take days."

"Perhaps you could distract him with my work."

Peace Master So grinned. "That might work." The nascent soul realm cultivator vanished.