Chapter 24 – The Board is Set

As busy as Ren was with practicing his martial skills, earning money, his ever-growing social life, or even his literary efforts, Ren gave the most importance to his own cultivation. Hammered repeatedly into him by his family and now by his own experiences, only one’s own strength mattered above all else. He had pored over Causality of Karma as well as read every book even remotely associated with karma. In the half year since he had acquired the book, his understanding had greatly increased. However, as much as it had increased, it reaffirmed his belief that it was still only scratching the surface of the Great Dao of Karma.

Having exhausted his options to find a book in the library, Ren had decided to take the plunge. He had one more clue to follow up on. Ever since he had started getting a better grasp of karma, he had thought back to the interaction with Elder Yun Peng when he first received advice about his cultivation method. The more he thought about it, the more he was convinced that there had been greater significance to the elder’s actions than he had initially perceived.

Why would a powerful Elder who was at the very least at the foundation establishment realm ask for the price of 3 spirit stones? Even to Ren, who was only in the late stages of the qi gathering realm, it was worth less than a fart. But back then, it had been a significant portion of his wealth. It had always struck him as odd.

Remembering the interaction between them, Ren thought it was because the elder had some understanding of karmic laws. Didn’t he say something to the effect of, “If I guide you well, I get nothing, and if I guide you poorly, I am cursed”? ”?

Then the price of the 3 spirit stones should have been a way to prevent a karmic connection from forming by erasing debt.

Given that Ren was nearing the foundation establishment realm and needed to find a manual to cultivate with, and without any other avenues to quickly further his understanding of Karma, he made up his mind. He would approach the pervy elder for his help. If he was right, then he would have to pay an appropriate price. The only reason he hadn’t approached him earlier was because he was afraid the elder would ask for almost all his wealth like last time. He was running out of time now and resolved to pay the price. Still, that didn’t mean he couldn’t prepare a tempting alternative.

Once he was ready, Ren marched to the Hall of Scripture early in the morning. As always, the elder was behind the counter, almost a permanent fixture there. He was drinking tea, with a book in hand. Though he wanted to know what the elder was reading this early, he chased away the distracting thought. That’s not why he was here.

“Greetings, Elder Yun. I’ve come to seek your guidance.”

Ren watched as the old man put his cup down and sat up. He was almost proud of how vast the difference in treatment was from earlier when he would simply be ignored. He couldn’t control the twitching in his eyes, longing for the day when the elder would finally put the book down.

“Can Senior suggest any manuals that could help me understand karmic principles?” There! Short and to the point.

Elder Yun sighed and said, “Why should I do that? If you are asking about such matters, then you should already know better.”

Ren’s heart leapt! He had been right. Elder Yun did know something. Now, to pay the price of erasing the karmic debt. He brought out his specially forged array flags and a sketch of a formation. Without a word, he placed them on the table before the elder, who began to examine them. He examined the sketch first. Ren looked on nervously as the elder scrutinized his work with a piercing gaze.

After a few moments, he looked up and locked eyes with the increasingly anxious young man. Nervous sweat beading his forehead, Ren stayed silent, hoping he wouldn’t be asked for all his spirit stones. He needed that money to obtain a foundation establishment pill, without which he was unsure if he could advance. Losing that wealth now would ruin all his plans. It would set him back by almost a year, too late to participate in the inheritance trial as a foundation establishment realm cultivator. He would be forced to break through without a pill, which had great risks.

After what seemed like an eternity, Elder Yun Peng nodded. He waved his hand, and from the stairs leading to the upper floors, a book flew and landed before Ren. It had a simple title, Meditations on Karma.

“Well played, young Ren.”

Ren was almost shocked that the elder had bothered to remember his name. The relief that his gambit had worked made him break out in a smile.

“I only thought of what might be of greatest use to Elder and to the sect. This little formation should take care of returning books and jade slips back to their original place. Now there shouldn’t be any need to sort the shelves repeatedly. It has become messier since the last batch of disciples, and new ones should start arriving very soon.”

“Hah! This formation isn’t worth that much. It will have to be refined by our array masters before we set it up.”

Ren was a little taken aback. Then was the elder commending him for the idea, or was it something else? Either way, he got what he came for and quickly bowed and thanked the elder.

“Maybe…” Ren thought as he walked back, the book safely tucked away, “Maybe he was praising me for understanding the karmic principles of debt properly. Did the Elder really remember amongst the hundreds of disciples borrowing scriptures that I was the one who had taken the Causality of Karma?”

Finally he put away these unanswerable questions and returned to read his book. If he was right, it would take all the time he could spare to understand it before he needed to advance.

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