To describe the feeling of Scaled Apostate, Jack couldn't use Black Steel Fortress as a comparison. The fortress technique felt warm, almost airy in retrospect, more of a pleasant breeze on the face or a solid wall protecting his body. Scaled Apostate, on the other hand, was genuine magma rolling through his body, also tiring him out much faster than the fortress ever did. Now, he knew that he'd made the same comparison before, and at the time it did feel like fire, but compared to the sheer, raw power of his demon technique, the two were totally incomparable. Fortress was slow, perhaps even methodical, taking its time to fill the cracks and replace the bad. Scaled Apostate, on the other hand, was like pouring gallons of hot metal through his body as it coated every surface.

  Twice already, he's needed to ask Mei for help, and twice he could feel something beginning to change in his body. The first time, Mei explained that the technique he was trying to incorporate was simply incompatible with one Jack had already practiced, with Apostate purging his body of the technique's alterations, including undoing his breakthrough, returning him to a normal human. And the few hours he was mortal, it felt like hell. The trees, grass, water, and sky were less colorful, devoid of that fantastical beauty he'd become accustomed to. So, when he got the chance, he restarted with his demon technique, allowing the painful power to help him breakthrough once more. He may have also sweated even more impurity, and may have also been banished to the local stream all of that night.

  But once he had recovered, he found himself better than he was before. His body was still scrawny and malnourished, but he could see what little body mass he had forming into muscle. The odd thing about the breakthrough wasn't his return to cultivator status, instead, it was many smaller changes, ones that few would notice, but he would. Faintly, he could see pale diamond outlines all over his skin, and just under his hairline, he could feel small nubs with little sharp points underneath. At first, he panicked a lot, not in front of the others, of course, wouldn't want to ruin his image, heh. But after meditating on the implanted knowledge of the technique, he found the answer, at least, a possible one.

  The Scaled Apostate reads more like a story than an instruction, noting the incredible power and ability of the main focus, a man whom the reader is supposed to emulate. The journey starts with a boy who wished to ride dragons, then a man who wished to slay dragons, then an elder who had become a dragon. It was the tale of someone being hurt by their dreams but eventually achieving them anyway, just not how they imagined it. The boy who wanted to ride dragons had his home burnt down by dragons, so he swore to slay them, and so he did. He slew and slaughtered every dragon, no matter how innocent, and no matter how distant, he killed them. Eventually, though, he started growing scales, then claws, his eyes became those of a dragon, and finally wings and a tail sprouted from his back. In a twisted way, by killing his dream, he had achieved it, becoming the father of all future dragons and creating an everlasting domain. The key takeaways, as far as cultivation was concerned, were that each time he practiced Scaled Apostate, he was 'reenacting' parts of the story. Thankfully, the book more or less told him that it would be a while before he got to the point of no return, so he had time worst-case scenario.

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  This brings focus back to Jack in the present, who is practicing the distinct sword style that came with the book. His onlookers, his friends Sarhou and Mei, were both recovering from their training in some staff technique and poison, respectively.

  "He kind of reminds me of Cousin Bo."

  "Cousin Bo was a reaper mantis that your father bought. One who, I should remind you, ruined the feast when our fathers agreed to the betrothal."

  "I stand by what I said."

  He could hear a frustrated sigh and a sharp whack of wood, something he'd gotten used to hearing in the background. Turning around, he saw a large red welt on Sarhou's forehead and Mei's calm face. Sarhou looked at Jack with fake hurt.

  "Brother Jack, she is being mean, I meant it as a compliment, reaper mantises are excellent fighters!"

  Jack just raised an eyebrow.

  "I'm serious! No one vanquishes ants and beetles like reaper mantises!"

  Jack frowned.

  "...I'll shut up now."

  "Mhm. Anyway, anything we need to get ready for Mei? If I remember correctly, we're almost to the city."

  She unfurled her fan again, its metal ends shining in the sun.

  "We will arrive sometime tomorrow, likely in the early morning, so everyone can disperse to wherever they are meant for."

  "And after that?"

  "Were you not told beforehand?"

  "Assume I was never told." He had forgotten.

  "Hm, after we arrive, it will be another day before the sect sends an outer overseer, who will guide and induct us into the sect, from there we will be sorted into our respective peaks."

  "Peaks?"

  "Later, for now, I can hear the travel bell."

  Looking up, it was about time for the caravan to continue. Whistling, the trio could hear the clopping and neighing of a zhorze, a very happy zhorze. Nearly colliding with Jack, he hugged Old Bastard's head like an overeager puppy, the excited creature having grown intensely fond of Jack ever since he began his new technique. Scratching under his jaw, the old beast's hind leg was kicking out like a pup, quickly feeding him pickled cabbage.

  "You really shouldn't spoil him like that."

  "Am not, he's just so deserving of treats and scratches."

  She sighed, almost exactly like when she was dealing with Sarhou.

  Mounting his ride, he slowly walked alongside his friends as they returned to their zhorzes, already packed up by the manservants. Whom Jack learned were employed by Sarhou's family. Joining the gathering carriages and carts, they resumed their journey. As they went further along, Jack could hear swooshing and waving above them, only to look up and see people flying on swords. After crossing that off the mental bingo card, Jack felt awe and excitement at the idea that he, too, might be flying one day. But as they crested a hill and the tree line receded, he also felt a sudden realization.

  This was a different world.

  This was not his home.

  And aside from Mei and Sarhou, he knew and had no one.

  A shifting feeling in his chest brought these thoughts to bear as he truly realized just what was happening, what he was doing. Feeling the pain flowing through his arm as he circulated his technique, he could feel the doubts wash away. He couldn't guarantee that he'd find a way home, nor that he'd want to or be able to return once he did find a way, but he swore he'd stop at nothing to find a way.