A Strange Child

As Jian Xuan began to walk away, the old man could only wonder at what sort of person, Jian Xuan would grow up to be.

Or rather, if Jian Xuan would change as he got older.

Laughing a bit, and beginning to walk away as well, the old man began to murmur to himself, "It's getting cold, I should get home quickly."

Stopping after walking a few steps, he looked to see Jian Xuan one more time and could see the way he walked as if he had not a care in the world, "What a strange child..."

...

It was a few hundred meters away from the Jian Clan Manor where the map had the treasure located.

Looking around, he could see nothing, taking a seat on the grass, he began to think, 'Did I read the map wrong?'

'No?' He realized as he was almost sure he was right at the right place.

At the same time, not noticing, his key began to shine, and within a second, Jian Xuan disappeared from where he was.

Confusing both himself and a certain someone following him.

...

"Where am I?" Jian Xuan said, noticing his surroundings were clearly very different to those before.

It was as if he was in some sort of Divine Hall, with golden pillars, shining water, blue fire and a strange painting, of which looked completely foreign.

For some reason, he was completely drawn into the painting, his legs moved without thinking, and his eyes wished only to see it closer.

Gradually he got closer and closer and was about to touch the painting, however, he was immediately pushed back by a great voice.

"Are you of the Tang Dynasty?"

Jian Xuan fell on his knees, he had never felt such a powerful force, strong enough also to allow him to regain his senses, then shaking his head.

"How about the Feng Clan?"

Jian Xuan shook his head again.

The voice then began to speak to itself, "I suppose that not being with the Feng Clan, is better than nothing." It continued to talk to itself forgetting Jian Xuan, until noticing him again, "Say, how did you find yourself here?"

"I was told there would be... weapons..." Jian Xuan answered, he had been told treasures, but there was no difference when he was looking for weapons.

"Ah. Right, I did forget it was my job... Say, the person who gave you your... Give me a second... It's a map and key... Who were they?" The voice asked.

Jian Xuan thought for a second, before remembering, "Xiu, that's all they---"

"Xiu Fu. So, what weapon are you looking for?" The voice interrupted, and asked Jian Xuan, remembering he had a job to do.

"A staff." Jian Xuan answered within a second, while also now choosing to sit down.

"No hesitation? Good! There have been many experts that have wielded staffs, Spirit King Chao once used a staff to smash several mountains and change the land itself! Spirit Lord Gang also once used his staff to create islands and declare independence from the Feng Clan!"

"Uhh, senior. I mean a staff like the one, Spirit King Liang used."

"Liang? Tch, tch. I have no staffs like those... That's something you would find on the... Sixth Sea... Yes, those people... Are the ones that practically created it. Since I don't have any, you should ask for something else." The voice spoke as if he carried some sort of enmity against the people of the Sixth Sea, though Jian Xuan did not notice it as he was thinking of something else.

The Sixth Sea? How far away was that!? He lived in the Fifth Sea, which was the closest Sea, but even that was extremely far away. Still, since he was unable to ask for a staff, he had to decide on something else.

"Senior, do you have a Cultivation Method of some sort?"

"Cultivation Methods? Not my speciality, but, I think I have some records somewhere..." The voice became silent for a few seconds before speaking again, "I have the Lesser Celestial Body, Minor Thunder, Spirit Path and Minor Life and Death Scripture."

"Which of them, can I use?"

"Let me just see---" The voice stopped as Jian Xuan's body began to glow for a brief second, then continued, though its voice was different, in a way, let down, "The Lesser Celestial Body is for Body Tempering Cultivators, and thus unfit for you... Minor Thunder is for those Naturally Attuned to Lightning and Thunder and as far as I can tell, your Natural Attunement is Water..."

The voice paused, allowing Jian Xuan to take it in before continuing, "As for the Spirit Path, unfortunately, I do not believe you have the right amount of talent... And for the Minor Life and Death Scripture... Unless I have moved Seas, this should still be the Fifth Sea.

None of them. It was unfortunate as well. Cultivation Methods were best used when one had begun their Journey to Cultivation or was still a mortal as Jian Xuan was... The Lesser Celestial Body, however, was different. It had to be practised by a Spirit Master and needed high talent for such. Something, Jian Xuan did not have.

Minor Thunder was already explained, though Jian Xuan was surprised to find out he had a natural attunement to Water.

The Spirit Path Cultivation Method was also for people with higher talent. Even if Jian Xuan tried it, he would fail, and even if he succeeded, he would only receive a small gain. It was designed for those that could gather Spirit Qi, easily, and without difficulty.

In a world where there were Five Tiers of Spiritual Roots, Jian Xuan was born with the lowest which were Third Grade Spiritual Roots. As such, he could barely gather Spirit Qi and most that he did would simply escape as it entered. As such, the Spirit Path Method was useless.

As for the Minor Life and Death Scripture? It was a surprise as to why even the voice had it. It should have not been in the Fifth Sea.

Jian Xuan was dismayed. Still, he was happy. He got to find out his Natural Attunement was Water, so he could only smile. Opening his mouth, Jian Xuan was to say his thanks.

While the voice did not have eyes, it could still see the dismayed expression of Jian Xuan. It still had another Cultivation Method, though, in terms of ability, it was inferior and had quite the costs to use. But, noticing Jian Xuan's talent, it was made for people with low talents.

Before Jian Xuan could speak, the voice began to again, "While those four may not be suitable for you. I know of one that is," The voice said as to cheer Jian Xuan up.

"You do!? What's it called?"

"The... Artifical Elevation Method!"

"It sounds... New?"

"Of course it is. It was originally created in the Second Sea, it's unlikely you would have heard of it."

Then appearing in front of Jian Xuan was a book.

Jian Xuan looked at the painting for one more time.

Closing his eyes, he went to his knees and asked, "Senior, can I ask your name?"

"Tange Ye!"

Jian Xuan kowtowed three times, then as he finished, he opened the book.

And with that, Jian Xuan disappeared.

"Whisks, Fans, Ribbons, Whips, Flying Daggers, all sorts of weapons, yet not the weapon he was looking for. Then I only had the Artificial Elevation Method for him... And he even considers me his Master? Interesting, interesting..."

...

Jian Xuan opened his eyes.

He noticed he was missing the map and key, and the book was not in his hands.

However, all of a sudden, an influx of information entered his brain.

There was nothing, but a smile on Jian Xuan.

He had a chance.

The Artificial Elevation Method.

It was infinitely easier than any that his father or grandfather had shown him!

'Master... I did it three times for you, and one time for that bandit... I should have done it more for you and less for the bandit... But, I can't change the past, so, from now on, I will never do three or more for anyone, not even the Spirit Emperors...'

As such, began Jian Xuan's Journey, and the beginning of this story.