Fatherly Asura

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Two - What Stirs Beneath

Fu placed the tome down, drawing deep from his pipe. “Sister?” An impression came in the negative.

“Then truly, we hold no insight into the [Dao of Baudy Jokes].”

[Teal Supple Physique] consolidated.

[Physique of Grey Spectres] consolidated.

[Resilience] severed.

[CONSTITUTION] ascended.

[Heavenly Spectre’s Shroud] The physical presence of your body has sublimated into a confluence of Qi, deriving substance from the aura cultivated within your [Core].

[Seasons] were needed to adjust to this change, and yet time was never a luxury Fu could afford.

In its stead, he breathed, recalling the [Ink] that had arrived after its change.

[Resilience] /

[Capacity] +64

[Might] +64

The sensation within his skin evoked thoughts of a [Winter] breeze. Chilling force, but a comfort as it circulated through blood and flesh. A ceaseless breath within the cloud of Fu, well at peace with his [Cloud Ghost Arts].

For each rise of his chest the [Heavenly Spectre’s Shroud] was reinvigorated, dancing beneath his flesh as a second layer. Some comparison to a second [Core], through which the tithe of intangibility was drawn.

A negligible amount, now that Bingbai’s gifts had refined it.

He held reticence towards his next counter with [Demons], for his physique was not well tempered against those that could unmake Qi with a look. But fate held favorable plans, for once, as those gathered in the distance were not of this ilk.

With blade in hand, he set his focus.

The mental connection warmed. “,” returned the sleepy voice.

Then, a pause. For how might a personal disciple act?

[Imperial Realm 439] had taken six days to reach, traversing just as many [Paifang] that they might reach this beacon of rumors. This expansive mountain range of violet sky-blue soil wherein some truth of serpents might surely lie.

Upon each peak of which ten thousand stood, the fortresses loomed. A jewel for each spike upon the realm’s stony crown, connected only by the mundanity of cities that populated each ridge. Abodes, Imperial Repositories, pristine pagodas that flew the stripe of this Blue March in endless ribbons…

The question echoed.

How might he act?

Hushi shook the midden, impressing his own thoughts as Shudi eagerly countered with her own. A demand that he walk proud through these false Imperials so they might kowtow at the trails of their hanfu.

Fu smiled. “Perhaps not, sister.”

His Wayward Winds would face little trouble here, and indeed their growth afforded him the leeway for other pursuits. For contemplations on the [Constellation Impacting Pill], his [Dao] and in indulgence, the unread chit Mridul had shared before passing.

He raised a palm, having the breeze dance upon it.

????

[Imperial Realm 203] chased further whispers.

[Imperial Realm 984] took him east, falsely.

[Imperial Realm 1012], [Imperial Realm 1622] and [Imperial Realm 884] delivered promise.

A confirmation across seven days.

To travel outwith the March of Serpents returned [Spring’s] oppressive weight, if a paler sheen than before the great severance of realms.

The [Season], diluted.

[Imperial Realm 1313]

[Core Formation Realm], [Eternal Spring], [Wood Abundance], [Martial Profundity].

[Celestial Event: Green Feralities Soulmoon]

With the [Law of Origin] as such, Bingbai had remained in the previous realm. Barred by his immortal nature.

A carcass unfolded from Kavya’s [Shaded Vestiges Knot], glistening with a peculiar trail of insects. The [Spirit Panther] had been of late [Core Formation]- a wanderer swiftly culled so the Wayward Winds might reap its knowledge.

Thus Kavya retracted, vanishing into shadow as Pinxui began her extraction. Her own [Constellation Seed] bore a flaming eye to her palm, set against the panther’s corpse thereafter.

Akin to fireflies, the wisping, speck-wide insects pulsed in glow. Faint, and of matching hue with the realm’s green tones. The intervention of Pinxui’s treasure seemed not to trouble them, for they remained atop the carcass.

Moments passed.

“The [Green Feralities Soulmoon],” came her swift acuity. “It seems a [Celestial Event] of [Demonic] ilk. Bleed not, that is my warning, for open wounds drive these glowing parasites to any open flesh. To have them in flesh conjures [Demonic Urges]: a ferality of [Mind] so aptly named.”

Fu stroked his whisker. “What do these memories tell of Serpents, Scholarly Head?”

“A haze in images, addled by the [Celestial Event]. I see impressions of danger, as if flames burn bright across disconnected reaches of this [Imperial Realm]. South” she voiced, tracing unseen diagrams with her forefinger. “.”

From gloomy underbrush did a [Spirit Hyena] and her cultivator emerge, plucking a bushel of leaves that sprouted from her shoulder. “Scholarly Head,” she clasped. “Senior.”

A thrill of [Air Qi] soared these leaves skyward, dancing upon Shuidi’s conjured breeze. These small components of her [Constellation Seed], the [True Extremities Soulroot].

Then silence, as they spread across the realm.

“The southern reaches hold [Spirit Beasts] in abundance. A continuation of structure that I can’t place houses many, for it conceals much of the interior in its width.” Fen’s hand braced her temple. “I sense a depth of ambient Qi beyond, Senior. Glimpses of Imperial Green arrayed about a [Paifang’s] signature. But the cultivators are stationary.”

“The greatest concentration?” Fu asked.

“South, senior, as Scholarly Head Wen has named.”

“Gratitude, disciple. I will take this course,” he said. “Scholarly Head Pinxui, I extend my thanks for this. Martial Head Sai will take command, please, commit yourself to the study of this realm.”

Pinxui furthered her airy gestures, half-oblivious to his words. “Senior,” her reply spilled, already bidding her swarm to dissect the locale’s oddities.

The Wayward Winds vanished in heartbeats, channeling Fu’s focus southward.

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To walk betwixt these titanic trunks; violet leaves; blocking roots; and oddity of alien-seeming plant life put Shuidi’s [Senses] into agitation. The [Celestial Event’s] insects teemed as if a saturation of air, drowning what the dense foliage did not touch.

Fu leapt, recalling a long passed moment.

His inauguration to the Clouded Courts. How trying a jump between rooftops had proved.

Thrice his foot met branch, bringing him to the peak of this many li-high tree. By far it was not the tallest, but afforded such a view that Fen’s mentioned structure showed plain as day.

“Ziggurat.”

Hushi lifted the douli.

The realm had long claimed this stone construct, for myriad roots conspired there as if to drag the monstrosity into the land itself. A violet hue- no, a violet stain, stretching towards each discernable horizon.

Shuidi pushed further from her hermetic shell, glinting with curiosity aside myriad impressions and theories.

The [Spirit Crab] bobbed in affirmation.

From his heart rose the [Mockery], eight armed and wind-shawled. Hushi’s air-borne double, unseen yet present.

Welcome was no word for this ziggurat’s depths, for at-swarm within were tides of these celestial furored insects.

For existences of flesh it spelled certain ruin and required talents that while these ghosts might have possessed, their [Constitution] made trivial.

Fu walked at pace through the interior. Dilapidated and rich in violet ferns, well reclaimed by nature. At perch here, in nook, corridor and shattered hollow, the [Spirit Beasts] prowled. More feral existences, breathing deeply of the insectoid plague.

Queer.

A [Spirit Serpent] of plush ivy growth rose, expanding its slitted iris.

The titanic serpent roused, ravelling its length about the corridor. Perhaps untainted the hunt might have been subtle. But here it gaped and prodded the space behind Fu’s walk, ever misled by the [Dao of Wind’s Present Whispers].

It saw a breeze. The [Clouded Ghost Arts] removed all else.

“[Demonic Urges]. These parasites taste your weakened [Spirit], youngling. Unwise, or testing, to conjure your [Mockery].”

“Wisdom or low-hung fruit?teased the catfish.

With a touch of will, Fu phased through the ziggurat’s floor. The insect’s thickness only grew, prodigious upon the dissected ribs of a [Spirit Lion] carcass. An older kill, for the flesh’s vibrancy had long faded.

A third floor followed, a fourth and fifth.

A drain came without warning, cautioning Fu to still. He felt Hushi’s mental energy plummet, emptied as if overtaxed by the [Dao].

The douli remained silent for long moments, prompting its retrieval.

Hushi held a conternate brow, in approximation, applying pressure to his crown with two arms at each side. There was a change within him: a thunder to suffuse his heart.

The thunder drew into Fu, adding a fresh spark to his [Twin Mockeries Heartplume]. A tithe of [Spirit], drawn.

After a breath Hushi impressed his actions. Though instinct revealed such matters first. Fu pushed his [Senses] within, transferring sight to the [Mockery].

A collapsed [Spirit Fox], void of vitality. Pale beneath the unseen winds whose arms slowly loosened about its neck.

Fu blinked, his vision re-folding to here.

Care resonated through their link and the impression of a well-told wisdom shared.

The [Mockery’s] suffusion of [Dao] was a single spark, now faded. An invariably stellar discovery by Hushi, nonetheless.

Hushi impressed understanding, and once more returned his attention to distant reaches.

????

An accumulation of over two hundred floors led Fu further. What depths he tread were surely the bowels of the earth itself, for never before had he strayed so far from the Heavens. His [Senses] barely pierced through this gloom, lit only by the sporadic insects and the [Demonic] insects upon them.

The [Spirit Panther] he gave a wide berth, bypassing through walls to circle several li about it. Then came the [Spirit Salamander], a bark-clad [Spirit Spider], a flightless [Spirit Bird] of which he was certain belonged in locales wider than this.

But alone.

He prowled about a litany, ever in solitude. The [Demonic] infestation suffered no allies, driving for flesh to be sought and blood to be spilled.

Until it was not.

Shuidi’s [Senses] called a scent to their minds, curling through stagnant air only by the strength of her [Pull].

Another three hours found the

Disparate in species and aligned in purpose. These [Spirit Beasts] manifested in [Wood Qi], appearing of bark and leaf, if no less imposing for the fragrant flowers within their scales.

Fu stole closer, nearing the crumbled junction where they gathered.

The lotus-coated [Spirit Serpent] twitched, stalling an ascent to the shattered floor beneath. Her great tongue tasted the air at his approach.

Silent speech passed, drawing a [Spirit Frog] to pounce before him.

Its vacant eyes could not perceive him, and its croak in these confines shared as much uncertainty as Fu could decipher.

The [Spirit Serpent] hissed.

Then strode forth a [Spirit Pangolin], resplendent in thorns and of a size to rival a [Pishacha]. Fu evaded, for the very space exploded with a blow so swift he could scarcely process it.

Dust scattered aside stone and root.

“.”

Shuidi suppressed an ugly emotion. Her wont for speech was ever clear.

A weighty, bestial [Killing Intent] spilled. Crimson stained the darkened space, delivering a tale of ten thousand struggles. That of a beast’s endless nature.

Neither pangolin nor frog suffered, nor could they place Fu’s movements as he phased in orbit of the scene.

“the snake’s voice rasped. Her coil was slow, yet held firm as it gave chase to his stealth. “

Fu emerged into a bow. “Great cousin,” he said, extending this to the others. “Noble followers of the Path.”

A croak re-scattered the dust, blown in surprise from powerful lungs. However the [Spirit Pangolin] only postured at his greeting.

“”

“Travellers, venerable cousin. We seek our kin, and forgiveness if we trespass upon your lands,” he bowed again.

The [Spirit Pangolin] struck a claw through Fu’s spectral form.

“”

Attention moved to Fu’s hanfu. “Of Serpents, not [Spring].”

“”

The expectation was blunt, for these allied beasts began a descent without further heed of him. Circumstances might lead Fu to believe this was a fateful encounter - to meet civilized speech within these bowels - but he held his chain close in his thoughts should matters turn.

Further depth did not have the gloom darken. When pitch in shade it could grow no more, putting a vexation on Fu’s travel. He followed instead by breath, vast from the lungs of these late [Core Formation] beasts.

Lower.

Deeper.

Dark, with more stagnancy in Qi and air.

A single speck aided him, in time.

Rearmost in this procession, Fu was first to discover it. An innocuous bulb of no greater size than a dot. With calm, he spoke out. “Noble cousin,” came the whisper, his blade drawn.

The [Demonic] insect cast a shallow reflection against the [Spirit Serpent’s] vast eye, as if a grain of sand within blackened seas. But her execution was quick, bearing fang into the afflicted frog’s flesh.

Fu drew his chain, carving a singular path to its [Core].

Hundreds poured through the [Spirit Frog’s] open wound. Diminutive wings so slight that their beat was no more than a whisper, brightening with exposure to the stagnant air. All there reared back, wary lest their flesh be preyed on next.

[Mist Qi] pushed from Fu’s pipe, sweeping these insects in its wake. “He bore no sign of infection.”

The [Spirit Serpent] crushing her pangolin companion in a bloody rupture. So visceral a scene might have turned weak the knees of weaker spirits. It may have brought distraction, delivering a similar fate to the unwitting.

Fleeter than expectation, this serpent’s tail shattered the surrounding walls. In five lashes, fifteen, thirty, it pulverised such a swathe that the corridor became naught more than a crumbling crater of stone.

“,” said Fu.

“

Fu shook. “The wind is my blood, cousin.”

, for this was her bearing, settled. “” Her pace grew from the onset, yet lasted for mere heartbeats before an agitated hiss. “”

Shuidi’s [Senses] could not penetrate the veil of darkness.

The [Spirit Serpent’s] length rushed opposite to her original direction, bypassing Fu as he leered foolishly against the black. Into a great disturbed by the riotous chorus of rushing scales behind.

At his breast, pincers clacked. An impression that he should brace,

In a mere breath Fu was upon a knee, grounded by the weight of a singular [Intent]. A true wave, for this force was a queer, echoing presence that surged from near to far. Carried on the notes of a screech.

With a hand upon his temple, Fu began his blur. “Sister, a [Silence Array]. If the noise does not reach us, this [Intent] might break,” he said, whispering against the metallic ring within his ears.

Another wave rose, now east against the previous north.

Above.

Below.

The stone resonated with each resounding call, [Intent] within each.

“No, youngling,” warned the Old One. “No mundane tide, but a [Demonic] one. Prepare well.”