Chapter 110: Tangled Branches

~~~

The disciples of the Eternal Flame Clan are those who have been born into it or have proven themselves by passing the Selection Exam, a feat only the most talented of prodigies dare to attempt.

However, the reward is well worth it. Those who belong to the Eternal Flame Clan have access to resources the average cultivator would never be able to obtain. Those who join the Eternal Flame Clan are strong and become stronger. That simple truth cannot be denied.

Imagine, for example, two people of equal talent who have been born in the same city. One joins the Eternal Flame Clan while the other stays in some lesser Sect. Naturally, even though their talent is the same, the one who joins the Eternal Flame Clan will become far stronger. The difference between the two will only increase with every passing year until the person who did not join the Eternal Flame Clan simply won’t be worth speaking about.

That is why so many great prodigies naturally gravitate to the Eternal Flame Clan. That is why the Eternal Flame Clan is home to some of the most talented cultivators in the Crimson Cloud Empire and beyond.

The Apothecary is no exception to this.

It is the Apothecary that decides how the many rare herbs and ingredients under the Eternal Flame Clan’s control are used. The disciples within its walls are a studious lot with a predisposition towards alchemy. They constantly seek how to best use the rare ingredients they have access to. Sometimes, this is done by poring over old texts. Sometimes, it is done through dangerous experimentation.

In other words, the disciples who work in the Apothecary are usually in possession of a diligent and ambitious disposition and have little time for banal distractions.

“Junior Brother Jin, is that a Black-Winged Imperial Eagle? I hear they are quite rare. Do you mind if I take a closer look?”

“Brother Qing, by sheer coincidence, I happen to have Fire Mouse meat with me. Perhaps, your eagle will like it. Do you mind if I feed it?”

“Junior Brother, I hear you still have not picked a name for your companion. That is no good. Luckily, I have brought a list of suggestions.”

Some are subtle. Some are not. In the end, they all want the same thing: To get close to his pet. It is not because the Black-Winged Imperial Eagle is some sort of incredibly valuable Spirit Beast. Certainly, it is rare, but not extremely so. Its rarity is not the cause of their interest.

The baby eagle just happens to be incredibly cute.

In time, he will grow big and strong, and his black wings will cast a large shadow upon the ground. For now, he is a small, fluffy ball of white feathers that makes cute chirping noises and occasionally flies around Liu Jin.

Some of the more talented cultivators in the Empire all but lining up to see a tiny eagle chick. If Liu Jin were not so affected by it, he would have found it amusing.

Liu Jin knew a bird nest on his head would call at least some attention. Indeed, it had invited a lot of staring, polite laughing and laughing disguised as coughing. Even Khong Hu hadn’t been immune to it. To date, the time Khong Hu had first seen him with the nest on his head marked the first time Liu Jin had seen him smile. He had even wanted to laugh, but Kohng Hu had struggled mightily against it and succeeded where many had failed.

It is one of the most impressive things Liu Jin has ever seen, though perhaps he is biased in saying so.

Regardless, while Liu Jin had expected some attention, he had also expected it to fade away eventually. He had not been counting on his eagle chick being so popular among his fellow disciples. As someone who does not enjoy being the center of attention, the situation is quite annoying. Even more so because Liu Jin is ninety percent sure the chick is deliberately milking his cuteness to get more treats.

However, there are some upsides to his pet’s popularity. It has created at least one opportunity for him.

“Here,” an older disciple says as he hands him a manuscript. It is already evening, and the two are just outside a room where many ancient documents are stored. “It is one of my first translation attempts, but it is by no means a defective product. It has plenty of information on Black-Winged Imperial Eagles. I am sure it will serve you well.”

Liu Jin inclines his head. “Thank you, Senior Brother Luo. I will be sure to put it to good use.”

“There is no need to thank me. Just remember to give me a few of his feathers when he reaches maturity.”

“Of course, I would not dream of reneging on the payment.”

“See that you don’t,” Senior Brother Luo warns him. “Remember, you also stand to benefit from this, junior.”

“Of course, senior brother.”

Unlike other disciples who had approached Liu Jin out of curiosity or due to the bird’s cuteness, Senior Brother Luo had done it for more academic reasons. He is an older Inner Disciple who dedicates himself to translating and restoring some of the older texts stored in the Apothecary. He believes Black-Winged Imperial Eagle feathers to be one of the key ingredients to one of the recipes he is working on right now.

While there are other ways he could have obtained the feathers, Liu Jin’s eagle provides a near and convenient source. He had come up to Liu Jin and offered him a text containing information on Black-Winged Imperial Eagles in exchange for access to the eagle’s feathers.

Additionally, should Senior Brother Luo’s recipe prove successful, Liu Jin will gain access to it. Senior Brother Luo hadn’t been all that enthused by that condition. Still, he ultimately had agreed in exchange for one last favor.

“Now, as for the other part of the payment…”

“It is okay, Senior Brother Luo. As I said, I have no intention of reneging on the payment. I will be sure to cover your shift with the Reverse Tree this month.”

~~~

[Art of the Roaming Thief]

Slice.

Grab.

[Art of the Roaming Thief]

The Reverse Tree is a curious species of tree that can only grow upside down. Once the seed is planted, its branches will dig deep into the earth until they find an underground cavern or chamber. Once they find it, the branches will twist into a trunk. From there, the tree will grow leaves, flower and give fruit. It is a rare species of tree that can only be comfortable in total darkness.

As it so happens, there is one deep beneath the Apothecary. It is a gigantic thing that, if it were above ground, could probably be seen from over a mile. Its leaves, fruits, and even its bark contain several unusual properties that make it extremely valuable. It had been planted centuries ago, and the Apothecary had been meticulously taking care of it ever since.

[Art of the Roaming Thief]

Slice.

Grab.

[Art of the Roaming Thief]

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The task of harvesting its materials is usually left to disciples who have worked in the Apothecary long enough. To their misfortune, the Reverse Tree does not enjoy being taken care of, nor does it enjoy having parts of itself harvested. What it does enjoy is grabbing nearby lifeforms to drain them of their life.

Typically, the tree would not represent a threat to the disciples. The Reverse Tree may be old, but it is not stronger than a Spirit Realm cultivator. If it was merely a matter of fighting the tree, most Inner Disciples in the Apothecary wouldn’t have any problem.

However, they are not allowed to hurt the tree.

That means they are stuck defending themselves in the darkness while the tree can attack them as viciously as it wants.

[Art of the Roaming Thief]

Slice.

Grab.

[Art of the Roaming Thief]

It is a duty disciples try to avoid whenever possible. No doubt, Senior Brother Luo probably thinks he got the better end of the deal by having Liu Jin take over his shift.

However, Liu Jin does not mind dealing with the Reverse Tree.

[Art of the Roaming Thief]

Slice.

Grab.

[Art of the Roaming Thief]

Again and again the pattern repeats itself. Liu Jin uses [Art of the Roaming Thief] to approach the tree, then he cuts down what he needs with his spear. As soon as that happens, the tree reacts, branches twisting and reaching out to grab him. However, by then, Liu Jin’s already using [Art of the Roaming Thief] to escape.