Return to the Creek

Sun-woo returned to The Zenith Alchemy Shop with a sense of accomplishment. His meeting with Lord Valerius had been a success, securing a powerful alliance and paving the way for the continued growth of their venture. He found Alaric meticulously preparing a new batch of Zenith Bloom Elixir, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Alaric," Sun-woo announced, his voice filled with a quiet triumph, "we have a new partner."

Alaric looked up, his eyes widening in surprise. "A partner? Who?"

Sun-woo recounted his meeting with Lord Valerius, detailing the terms of their agreement, the exclusive distribution rights, the city's support, and the inclusion of Alaric's shop as an official distribution channel.

Alaric listened intently, his expression shifting from surprise to disbelief to finally, unadulterated joy. "The city lord?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with awe. "We have the backing of the city lord himself?"

"Indeed," Sun-woo confirmed, his smile widening. "He was quite impressed with the Zenith Bloom Elixir."

"This is… incredible," Alaric said, shaking his head in wonder. "This changes everything."

"It does," Sun-woo agreed. "But we cannot afford to become complacent. We must continue to work hard, to expand our production, to refine our formula."

"Of course, young sect master," Alaric replied, his eyes gleaming with determination. "We will not disappoint you."

Sun-woo, satisfied with Alaric's enthusiasm, decided to return to Willow Creek. He had been away for several days, and he was eager to see the progress of his disciples. He bid farewell to Alaric, promising to return soon, and set off towards the outskirts of Azurebloom.

As he approached the familiar clearing, he could hear the rhythmic sounds of training. He quickened his pace, his anticipation growing. He entered the clearing, his eyes scanning the scene.

His disciples were practicing the Stone Skin Weave technique, their movements synchronized and precise. But something was different. Their Qi flowed with a power and fluidity that he had not seen before.

He focused his senses, probing their cultivation levels. His eyes widened in shock. Every single one of his disciples was at the peak of the unranked realm, on the verge of breaking through to the Awakening Sprout stage.

"Incredible," he murmured, his voice filled with a mixture of pride and astonishment. "They've progressed so quickly."

He approached his disciples, his expression a mix of admiration and curiosity. "How… how did you achieve this?" he asked, his voice laced with wonder.

His disciples, startled by his sudden appearance, bowed respectfully. "Sect Master!" they exclaimed in unison.

"We have been diligently practicing the Stone Skin Weave technique, as you instructed," one of them replied, his voice filled with pride. "And we have been… sharing our experiences, our insights, our challenges. We have learned from each other, and we have pushed each other to improve."

Sun-woo nodded slowly, his mind processing their words. He had underestimated the power of collaboration, the synergy that could arise from a group of dedicated individuals working together towards a common goal.

"You have done well," he said, his voice filled with warmth. "You have exceeded my expectations."

His disciples beamed with pride, their eyes shining with gratitude.

Sun-woo spent the rest of the day with his disciples, observing their training, offering guidance, and sharing his own experiences. He felt a renewed sense of purpose, a deeper understanding of his role as a sect master. He was not just a leader, but a mentor, a guide, a source of inspiration.

As the sun began to set, he gathered his disciples around him. "You are all on the cusp of a breakthrough," he said, his voice filled with anticipation. "The Awakening Sprout stage is within your reach. But do not rush the process. Focus on solidifying your foundation, on refining your technique. And most importantly, continue to support each other, to learn from each other, to grow together."

His disciples nodded eagerly, their eyes filled with determination.

Sun-woo smiled, his heart swelling with pride. He knew that the future of the Valiant Zenith Sect was in good hands.

"Your progress is remarkable," Sun-woo said. "Therefore, I'll teach you a new technique."

His disciples beamed, their eyes shining with gratitude and anticipation. He realized that while their defenses were already formidable thanks to the Stone Skin Weave, they lacked a strong countermeasure. He wanted to provide them with a technique that could not only absorb incoming attacks but also turn them into an offensive advantage.

He accessed the system's martial arts library, searching for a defensive technique that complemented their existing skills. After a thorough search, he found the perfect technique: the "Internal Resonance Conduit Technique."

This technique allowed the practitioner to use their body as a conduit, not a shield, to absorb the force of incoming attacks. The impact was channeled and stored within the practitioner's Qi channels, acting as a reservoir of power. This stored energy could be released in two ways: either as a powerful shockwave, capable of repelling or stunning opponents, or as a temporary surge of Qi, enhancing the practitioner's strength, speed, and resilience for a short period.

"This is perfect," Sun-woo murmured to himself, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "It will turn their opponents' strength against them."

He purchased the Internal Resonance Conduit Technique with his Aetherium Points and immediately began to demonstrate its principles to his disciples. He explained the flow of Qi, the absorption of energy, and the two methods of release. He emphasized that this technique was about internalizing the force of an attack.

"Imagine," he said, demonstrating with a slow, deliberate movement, "that your body is a vessel, not a shield. When an attack lands, you don't resist it. You absorb it, channeling the force into your Qi channels, storing it like a reservoir."

His disciples, eager to learn, listened intently, their eyes filled with anticipation. They practiced the stances, the breathing techniques, and the Qi manipulation required to internalize the force of an impact. They focused on feeling the flow of Qi, visualizing the energy being stored within their bodies.

Sun-woo corrected their stances and breathing, ensuring they understood the nuanced feeling of absorbing and not resisting. "The key is to let the attack flow through you, not against you. Like a river flowing around a rock, not crashing against it."

He then demonstrated the two methods of release. "Once you have stored enough energy, you can release it in two ways. First, a shockwave," he said, releasing a burst of Qi from his palm, creating a small tremor in the ground. "This can stun or repel your opponents. Second, a temporary boost," he said, feeling his body surge with power. "This enhances your strength, speed, and resilience, allowing you to retaliate with devastating force."

His disciples practiced, taking turns striking each other with controlled blows, focusing on absorbing the impact and storing the energy. They struggled at first, instinctively tensing against the attacks, but gradually, they began to grasp the technique, their bodies becoming more fluid and receptive.

Sun-woo watched them, his heart swelling with pride. He knew that with the Internal Resonance Conduit Technique, his disciples would become even more formidable, capable of withstanding even the most powerful attacks and retaliating with devastating force.

He was building a sect of resilient warriors, a force that would be respected and feared throughout the land.