The orange-leafed trees were short, the Sun didn’t let them get too high, approach and burn, it seemed to say. However, it was gentle in the morning. A soft, bright shine making wistful thoughts of never seeing noon or night seem reasonable.

  An eternal morning. Or never seeing the sky at all.

  It was only a few hours after Hao lost consciousness that the sun began rising. He woke to the morning storm. A Great wind, warm upon him, with the World framed in the golden glow of a new sky. The Elders on the Islands liked to speak of summer mornings to merchants and children, using the works of old poets from ages past, to make them seem brighter than they were. “The Morning’s Call,” the elders would throw around the name for it, taken from those same old, long-dead poets. It no longer had such a name. “Just another damned morning,” Hao’s Great Uncle would call it. Hao could never decide who or which was worse.

  Hao didn’t miss the call. Although a part of him was wishing he had. If he could sleep just a little longer, it would be bright and warm, and his back wouldn’t be frozen to the ground.

  His body was bound by strings, like a spider’s silk, a murky red and yellow. A thin cocoon of flesh he shed. It broke away, disintegrating at the slight shake. Hao hardly noticed the soft silken strings, shattering like strings of soft glass.

  All of it was dust carried off by the world before Hao realized: I’m alive? Hao laughed as he breathed. Each breath feeling like his very first. He let his mouth go wide for a hearty laugh. No longer having to keep his face still to stop his lips from cracking. Elation was a word far too weak to describe his joy.

  Not only did he survive, but World Energy was shooting through him. New channels and old, like tiny riverbeds being filled with each breath he took. The Sixth Layer of Reclamation.

  “Hehe,” Hao’s laugh finally faded with a foolish grin. He was pulling his feet under himself, looking at his hands. After most of his breakthroughs, he would pass out, only to open his eyes to the world, with a nature more graceful. This time was no different.

  I can’t imagine the World without feeling this energy, Hao thought, taking a deep breath, World Energy spinning through his body, his vessel, and the channel yet to be a full circuit. His nose tingling at the scents of the world. They seemed countless, foul or pleasant, each their own piece, a part of the whole. He accepted the chill and warmth of the wind. Once again, with his breakthrough, he felt more complete.

  He was nearly jumping as he stood, hardly noticing the outline of impure sweat he shed in his sleep. Before he thought much of it, it was fading into the ground.

  With the joy came hunger. And with that smile fading, Hao began his last cave in the fire, cooking the flesh, cut fresh from the Demonic Beast. He didn’t mind if something followed the smell. If something comes, I can test my new limits. In self-defense, of course.

  Hao sat in the cave, flicking through a few books while he waited for the meat to cook. A breakthrough was a good chance to review things. And hopefully to find things he missed the last time.

  He didn’t need any sort of light to see in the cave. The usual things that would change in Reclamation changed. He knew what to expect and got it. Hao was a little worried his senses might debilitate him if they got too active. It’s fine as long as the rest of my senses keep up with my sight. While others relied solely on their eyes, Hao wanted to have other foundations to fall back on.

  His eyes, nose, and ears were sharper. Most of the time, in a place like a cave, unless there was at least a small light source, he wouldn’t be able to see at all. But now, he could make out a few common words on the pages without light whatsoever. Details were lacking, thankful, he already had a fire to go sit next to as he reviewed Spear techniques and Vital-Weak points on people and animals.

  Of course, he had to go over Seven Colored Steps at least once. His stomach growling, showing its impatience for the meat.

  He didn’t hesitate to partake in the freshly plumped-up berries in the Spirit-Holding bag. Now edible again after getting a fair share of water. He downed a few of the fist-sized berries in two bites.

  When the meat upon the fire, resting on the wood itself, turned from red to brown, Hao lifted it from the flame by hand, unburnt beast or man. He was expecting a chill in his stomach. Although the rather strange taste was still there, his stomach felt no sensation whatsoever. It felt just like eating normal meat. As if the flesh was from a mortal animal, except for the energizing feeling that took to his head, a few minutes after the first bite.

  Hao’s head was as clear as a spring sky, saying farewell to the cave for how long; this is probably the last time I will see this side of the Secret Realm. His body was feeling steady and strong. And so, with the time for the last of the amethyst to reach the peak of potency, Hao started towards the mountain. His back disappeared amongst the trees.

  *

  The closer to the center of the Secret Realm, the more people there were to find. Almost a week ago now, he saw none, then four. Now, dozens were going in the same direction as him; If they were not already at their destination. Even after noon’s passing.

  No one was overly friendly to each other or Hao. Not everyone befriended people from other sects. Most just beheaded them to be done with them and move on. It quickly became clear when he came upon a large group that blocked his path that the group of rabbits from days ago were outliers.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  White cloaks of the Blue Moons Mountain shone under the falling sun, while the dull yellow-brown color of the Two Rivers Fort disciple was drowning out in the forest. They stood against each other. A third group was there, standing at the side of the two other groups. Like they were not worth facing. The color of their robes was a dull blue. They wore the same robe as Hao.

  When Hao approached, he was close to becoming a fourth party. His blue robe was torn and battered, and a white cloak was in a worse state. The cloak, a reward of sorts from the dead for killing a disciple in yellow.

  “Don’t think you can do as you please. Right now we have even numbers, white cloaks. As for you,” a big saber from the giant man in yellow robes pointed in the direction of the Drifting Stream Disciples. “Your reputation is already falling apart, even more so since your Young Master, has entered the Secret Realm. Leave and preserve the tiny bit of strength you have left.”

  The giant smirk, his entourage laughing with him. Even the Blue Moons Mountain group laughed, mocking his works against them. Also enjoying the mockery of Drifting Stream.

  I don’t imagine anyone here is keen on becoming friendly… Hao thought, stopping his steps before getting any closer. His footsteps vanishing as he disappears up a tree. The three groups were the opposite, making as much noise as possible. Sticks and leaves crunching. Each group tried to make it appear bigger than it was.

  “Mo Bangcai doesn’t represent the Sect! We deserve a share of the flower, you know it just as well as we do.” A short-haired man in his blue robes stepped forward to speak. Another older man stepped forward at his side. Along with a girl.

  Isn’t that?! No, no, it’s not, but she reminds me of Junior Sister Dai. Hao didn’t recognize any of them, but the girl looked like the girl his Senior Brother Yi Shou had fallen for. Her hair was shorter, but she had the same puffy cheeks. As for the eyes, nearly everyone on land had the same ‘regal’ blue. Her mannerisms were similar as well, after the bold step forward, she took two back.

  “Deserve? Haha, there is no such thing as deserved in this world. You get what you take, it’s that simple.” The Two Rivers Fort man spoke again, his group clanging their saber on their shoulders. Like the clap of another mutant form of humanity.

  Hao’s good mood made it hard to hold back his laugh. Until a voice like rain fell over everyone in the area.

  “Indeed, strength is all that matters right now, isn’t it? Then shouldn’t the Yellow Rivers Fort also accept its place and back off?” It was a man’s voice, calm, at ease.

  The voice belonged to a man, young and handsome. The typical ‘pretty’ man you would see on land, according to other, older, islanders that went and returned for trade. Straight black hair, sword-like eyebrows. But there was more to him, an extra air of confidence an immortal would carry. His arms crossed one overtop the other.

  The robed giant leading the saber-wielding freaks pulled his saber back up on his shoulder, “Even if we were checking the mountain as a group. You were the last to come across the Polarity flower. We were the first—”

  “So you deserve it more…” the handsome young man said, his white fur cloak flowing with him as he uncrossed his arms, covering his mouth with a yawn. “Ironic isn’t it, though—Well never mind, you don’t even understand the words I’m saying. Do you?”

  “I already told you, don’t think you can…”

  “Be quiet already, will you? Neither and none of you speak. If you talk again, I will cut you down here, but I’m not interested in a drawn-out war in this hellish pit of a Secret Realm. It’s hard to believe entire factions consider it a worthwhile place to explore…” he said.

  Sword-like eyebrows grew sharper as he straightened his back. An otherworldly aura began surrounding him as he reached for the thin sword on his back. He looked at it as the tear from his yawn was washed away. A silver reflection bounced around the forest as he twirled it, resting it on his forearm. His arms crossed once again.

  “This problem we seem to be having. It can be solved in a rather simple manner. Don’t touch the Polarity Flower.”

  “Pfft!” The other two Yellow-robed disciples standing in opposition to him began laughing, sabers clacking. They were mocking his flourishes.

  “You are a good, loyal dog for your Sect.” The Two Rivers fort man leading said, turning his back to leave.

  There was a pause, a silent moment. In which the Drifting Stream group followed suit, turning in a different direction, and walking underneath Hao. As both groups left, the young man with arrogance for a face pointed his blade.

  “Dim-witted brute, did you already forget what I said? That treasure is mine, it’s not for you or another’s or Blue Moons Mountains!” the handsome man said, his eyebrow growing tight-knit. His aura spread through the area. The larger he made it, the thinner it became. He was about to go forward, clearly ready to chop everyone in the forest down.

  “Wait, Lord…” another disciple in a white robe shouted, running up to the young man, a few more coming along. They grabbed his sleeves and the back of his cloak, restraining him while bowing their heads. They were silent in their words. Not even Hao, who could hear the crawling of an earthworm underground, missed them.

  Hao didn’t miss the look, however, as the Aura of the young man died down, his sword meeting his sheath again, he turned his head. Twice, looking in Hao’s direction. The aura of the young man didn’t die down, it was simply concentrated.

  Hao felt a wall hit him with each glance. The World Energy around him grew cold and sharp. It moved slowly, lingering in his body, making his heart jump, and his eyes go sharp. The two didn’t make eye contact, so he wasn’t sure if the man knew he was there or not.

  But the man turned to whisper into the ear of one disciple, still holding his robe. After which, they left as well, slower in their walk away than the other groups.

  The young man’s words, all of them, were sharp and aggressive, even arrogant. But with those two looks, Hao didn’t doubt his words. All beasts had a little blood lust, even pigeons and sea birds, an expression of battle. Not all of them could constrain it. And only a human could keep it forever in their pocket until they met again.

  It wasn’t just the strength that made a chill creep up Hao’s back. That man has the exact same face as one of the Blue Moons Mountain Elders who helped open the gate. The one that he felt a little jealous over when that giant-chest Lady Elder from Blue Moons Mountain doted on him while calling him a beggar.

  Hao didn’t dwell on his jealousy too much. There was no guarantee either of them would leave the Secret Realm as of now, anyway. Not if we are, all of us, going to kill each other over the Polarity Flower.