Imitation

Manipulating his fingers into signs, Edward activates the secondary function of the sound restraining array, blocking the outside noise from his bed chamber

[time to gamble] exhaling a great gust of breath

Bringing his soul forth, the heat does not harm his body but its mere exertion, pressuring his vessel causes his souls gateway to tremble. Focusing his soul he sends it through every spirit vein, like a flood of water rushing through marble sized tunnels. The pain of having his spirit veins stretched like rubber, tendons ripped apart, bones pressed into snapping he holds back a howl

[don't scream, not now. Ill never make it past the next step if I do] he reminds himself

Torturing himself for near an hour holding back blood and roars, he turns his soul from his spirit veins to his core. Wrapping his soul around the outside of the core his Chi begins to boil

[Not enough]

Edward taking great risk to test his hypothesis had already forgone safety, still holding out through sheer will does something downright cruel to himself, he enters his core with a small amount of his soul. Only entering for a split second his Chi vanishes, his stomach now steaming, and core cracking despite his soul protection. 

AHHHHHH KA KA screaming and spitting the blood he had held in

Wrapping and slightly squeezing his core with his soul, vison blurred Edward stretches out his arm a purple and black aura emitting from it weakly

[Damn thats right, I have no Chi]

Out of options the Demonic Intermixing technique failing, Edward calls upon is origin energy 

YEE AHH

The sensation of life draining from his body snaps Edward clear headed, his technique now in the shape of a skull, smashes against the spirit stones he had laid out prior with force, swallowing its energy and turning them to dust. 

Cutting off the flow of his origin energy, Edward tattered and nearing the point of passing out, continues with great concentration. Fighting his core which is pulling the aura towards it, hungry to be full. He focuses on his bones first repairing them, becoming thicker than before, he switches to his tendons that become more flexible after mending them.

PHEW an earned exhale 

"Im now certain. Damaging my vessel with my soul, and rebuilding it like forging iron, it becomes stronger. Makeshift tempering, imitating what true phoenixes can do, my vessel wants to withstand my soul."

Allowing the remaining energy to return to his core his body shakes whole. The little bit left over that had gotten to the core became heavy and filled it almost full. 

"Correct on both fronts. My soul just being near my core purifies my Chi, even more now that my soul directly entered the core. Haha. I have never heard of such a thing."

While his body repaired and strong, he stumbles to his feet as its sore and worn out

AH

A piercing headache caused from the souls gateway being still damaged Edward empties the dozen Chi flowing pills from Liams spatial ring. Quickly summoning his soul, turning the goodies into vapor

FOOOO

Inhaling the gas wasting no time in rising the remedy to his brain he seeps it deep into the souls gateway like placing bricks, layer by layer he mends the damage done.

"Much better but still completely healed again." dark bags under the eyes and lightheaded Edward hunched over, slowly steps towards his bed and collapses. Going through many things in the short time since he took over his vessel, the rising sun signifying the 24 hour mark, he finally takes earned rest

The suns bright light energizing the medicinal garden herbs and flora of the Albert apothecary, Lord Gregor quickly steps through the central yard. Striding in haste he is on his way to gather Edwards resources.

[The young master changed more than anyone could guess. Everyone heard of the execution by now, but being able to reign in the Head Guard to his personal purview. Thats not something that he could just command, Sir Liam had to be willing and with his character, what could the young master had done for him to want to leave his post? Hm matters not, all that matters is the young master is becoming... no he is already fitting of his name. I must do my best as well for the young master] 

Lord Gregor as the head Steward had the power to order everyone in the estate, with holding the main Albert bloodline and the Grand Elder so his arrival at the Thousand Herb Apothecary, caused unrest among the alchemists. Knowing a large order was about to take place, or a heated scolding they all scattered from the entrance and lobby, leaving the steward to a high ranked alchemist.

"Lord Pike" a hunched man with fingers stained black, white and gold Albert style robes that had a green four-leaf clover stitched on the left shoulder, and a pendent with the number 3 on the collar indicating his level

"Jordan, hello. Where is your master?"

"Lord Apothecary Head is asleep still, he had a long night refining pills you see." 

"Then its safe to assume you are in charge here, young head?"

balling his hands together but not bowing "Correct Lord Pike"

"Good I am here today not to place an order for the future, but to take what I need now."

"But Lord Pike all the-" flustered the rank 3 alchemist 

"I understand. Everything made ready is part of orders for important clients inside and out of the family. I won't be too hard on you and take all of what is made. Two dozen Chi flowing pills, a dozen body refinement pills, and herbs worth twelve dozen pills. Also a bottle of extract of the Lion." 

[The young master said raw materials are acceptable, he must have an alchemist with him also, but all cauldrons are here within the apothecary]

"And young head is there any spare cauldrons available?"

Jordan standing in anger at the demands, cannot refute the stewards orders. Thinking about how the setback giving up the pills would leave the alchemist in, he is even more upset having to give up raw herbs in such abundance 

"Lord Pike, may I ask who this order is for? The Grand Elder?"

Steward Pike thinking that Jordan, a righteous man, is not the type to gossip about his betters "It is for the young master"

[the young master? Okay maybe he could use the pills, but the herbs and extract? UGH]

"Has the young master taken interest in alchemy? If so he could come learn from us here. Is there a need to send so many herbs to him privately?"

"Young head. These are orders and you will follow them." Steward Pike making it clear he is not willing for discussion

"I understand, I will personally find a cauldron and have the apprentices gather the pills and herbs." finally bowing the young head admits retreat

WOOSH

A jade slip smothered in the Chi of five to six martial artists hovers around the entrance of the apothecary 

"Good. Make haste young head"

Stepping to retrieve the jade slip Lord Pike knowing its for him, as a jade slip with so many signatures indicates it was sent and bounced around multiple different locations in search of him

"Spirit stone shipment arrived. Awaiting Steward Pikes reception."

[very good] 

Twenty miles north of the main estate, a climb to the middle of Soaring Lion peak, a mountain overlooking a great forest that spans a thousand miles lies a pavilion eastern in make.

"Haha. First Elder you have gotten good!" The Grand Elder excited as the First Elder slays his knight with a bishop

"Master Hao, dont tease me too much. Playing against you for so many years it would be my shame if I couldn't improve. aha" The First Elder a man who came to his position through the sword. Cultivation only in the Heavenly cores realm, Dame Whitton had the highest understanding of sword technique despite not being a sword cultivator. Fighting at the side of Patriarch Kayce, his Elder position earned by the blood of Grotish warriors.

Counter capturing the bishop with his own "First Elder, it seems our cub has found its claws."

"It doesnt seem so, he has. My daughter had met the young master yesterday. She spoke of his demeanor, calm and still. She also praised his poise and strength, not sure she could take him head to head."

"Truly? Your daughter is the same age as the young master, yet shes a genius, spirit forging is in her near future. Unlike the leftovers around lady Rhea."

"Thank you for the praise, haha. My daughter is obsessed with fists even though her frame is so small. I wish she'd pick up a sword."

"I get what you mean. We all want to leave behind something in our own image. Checkmate."

"Yes, well after young master Jean." Biting his jaw shut, Dames body now hot as he had taught the fallen Albert the sword during war time "I doubt there will be anything in my image."

"You still have life in you First Elder. You must forgive yourself and release the knot inside of you. Or what you have, is all you will ever be." 

 "Looking at the young master Edward recent actions, makes me think of him. He had been born with the divine right to rule."

"No. If he truly had such providence the heavens would have protected him. Monarchs are either self made or carried up by things man cannot fight against. His death was something set into motion by powers we cannot comprehend, you could not help him, so let it go." 

"How could I Master Hao! We defy the heavens everyday in pursuit of our dao! How can we complain of its mystery when it takes from us, yet celebrate when we take from it?"

"Because we do not truly take from it. We only borrow from it. When we die all things return to the universe, then we are born again to do it all over."

"Master Hao, I cannot understand your wisdom. I cannot understand the things that had happen either."

"That is why the sword suits you First Elder. Understand it and you will understand yourself. Your dao is to struggle, no question about that, but you cannot struggle against the past, many men greater than you or I fell from regret. Regret of death, lost love, loss of opportunity, losing material belongings, its a poison to the heart."

"Master Hao. I have tried to forgive, but my sins cannot be forgiven by me alone. Lord Patriarch hasnt spoken to me since then."

"Do you think he holds you in responsibility First Elder?" 

"Why else?"

"The patriarch understands these things almost as well as I. He knows the young masters death was a consequence unavoidable. He knew the risk before even taking the young master to march. Him not speaking with you, it is for your own good. You must forgive yourself before others can. If you feel he is upset, its because he is. Upset that you cannot move forward."

Master Hao saying these words not only to the First Elder but as reminder, a reminder that he also has nothing in his image

[Lions do not die of old age, they die between the jaws of younger lions]

Resetting the chess board, the Grand Elder begins to think deeply regarding Edward