Mage And Wolf
Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Chapter 77

"The experiment continues next time they break through too" I tell Elder Song after a few moments contemplation. "None of us knows if it will naturally stay with him like an innate gift, or if he’s going to have to focus to keep the skill. And if he has to attempt to keep it, can he do it without knowing how he gained it?"

"You’re too good to me. New research material is hard to come by at my age."

"Glad to be of service Elder. Now about that Alchemy learning?"

"Ah, yes. I myself am a fairly accomplished pill refiner. I’ll just transfer you my experience and you should be able to keep up with just a little practice." He’s already taking a learning spell scroll off the shelf and touching it to my head.

Memories are flooding in. All vaguely related to alchemy, but in the most perverse and unexpected ways. I didn’t need to know the entirety of the 15 years he spent creating a super potent aphrodisiac with contraceptive effects. The century spent investigating poison might be useful later though. The so called resurrection pill that is actually a simulacrum that self destructs after a year is just cruel.

No wonder the kindly Elder Song was banished, this guy is a true mad scientist. There’s even basic knowledge of cursed pills in the memory dump, though he never was brave enough to make them.

The influx of foreign memories is making my head hurt, and I can feel the memories and attached emotions slowly changing me. It’s like gaining centuries of life experience, it’s changing my world view, if not my personality itself.

It’s an hour before the headache clears and the memories settle. "Well that was intense" I finally manage to get out.

"Interesting, there doesn’t appear to be any damage or overwritten memories. I wonder if it’s due to the fact you’re a physical cultivator with no mana type Qi to corrupt? Or if it’s due to the fact you’re female?"

"What happened to the others?" I ask, realizing that I, like everyone else, am an experiment to him.

"They all thought they were me for a while then died from incompatible energy flows. Your energy channels seem fine though."

I double check my cultivation pattern, and indeed it’s perfectly intact. Thank the Goddess. A small surge of energy flares in me at the thought of the Death Goddess and I get a good idea why I’m fine despite the memories of a thousand plus years of alchemy experiments. None of which seem to be mundane or repetitive.

We spend another hour talking alchemy experiments, mostly my take on ones he’s run, before it’s time for me to report back to Elder Po.

"Greetings Elder Po. I’ve gained a fairly thorough knowledge of the Outer Sect today, as instructed."

"I’ll be testing that later. First, I want to show you another martial art. A soft style, suitable to deflecting the blows of those more powerful than yourself"

It’s a beautiful art, utterly unsuited to Elder Po’s physique, but he performs it flawlessly. Elder Song’s teaching spell that instructed me on the Sect’s own secret art comes in handy now, as it includes a Qi technique to duplicate and memorize other school’s techniques. A skill normally only taught to Inner circle disciples, and the most likely way that Elder Po learned this gentle but powerful style in the first place.

Elder Po puts me through my paces until well after midnight and I’m starting to get a feel for the art.

"Where did you learn this style Elder?" I ask him when we finish for the day.

"I had a target from the Blooming Lotus Sect. I took the knowledge from her mind"

That explains it. It looks more like a graceful dance. A sharp contrast to the utilitarian moves of the Shadowed Blade Style.

I spend my night meditating on the Blooming Lotus Style and basic pill refinement, in preparation for tomorrow’s training. I come across an interesting recipe in the memories I got from Elder Song. A spirit toxin pill. The ingredients are common, the process is relatively simple, it’s the perfect recipe to practice on.

Not a moment of the day is wasted this way, and before I know it, a month has passed in a routine of Alchemy, tea with Elder Song and half the night mastering the Blooming Lotus style.

It’s even more relaxing than the vacation I was supposed to be on, despite working hard at learning new things all day and half the night. Something about the atmosphere of this place just feels right and comforting.

"Magnificent" Elder Po stops me early tonight. "You’ve mastered the style to the point you could emulate an Inner Disciple at their Sect."

"Thank you for the confidence Elder"

"I didn’t mean that rhetorically. It will be your first mission to emulate an outer disciple and assassinate an Elder of their Sect." I give him an inquiring look.

"And they won’t notice the way I cultivate, how?"

"I’ve been suppressing your breakthrough for a week and a half. Your energy signature will be unstable for a few days afterwards. That’s your window."

I try drawing extra power and feel his restraint holding me back.

"Alright, details and do you have the supplies necessary?"

"Target is a male Elder from the dual cultivation path. Here’s his picture. He’s upset the ladies of the mystic path. I’ve got a uniform for you and a spell to duplicate the features of an outer disciple that defected to us this week"

"Reason for defection?"

"He drugged her and tried to shame her into marriage. Her family disowned her and she wants revenge."

"Good enough for me. I made the perfect thing while experimenting the other day, let’s go so I can get back to cultivating."

Their uniform is beautiful, all yellows and peach. Our hair color is nearly the same so I don’t need a wig, and the spell matches my face to hers. Low heels fix my height. I catch a glimpse of my doppelganger as we leave and she gives me a grim but encouraging look.

"Aren’t you a bit too trusting?" Elder Po asks as we near their Sect.

"Such sinister thoughts wouldn’t befit a pure maiden of the Blooming Lotus Sect my dear Elder. Of course naivety is in my nature" I smirk at him.

"Now as we discussed, you escort me to the gate and ask for our target. I’ll fix it as he escorts me in, as long as he’s still in the Mortal Realm as intelligence indicates."

"Alright, I’m releasing your cultivation. Good luck."

Power immediately flows into me, and I feel the Dragon Armor embedded in my cells enhance. I try adding Shadow Meld, but it seems one ability is the limit. I could remove the armor, but it’s a great all around protection. The first break through leads to a second again, this planet is amazing to cultivate on.

Elder Po looks stunned, I’ve now gained 4 levels since I arrived barely a month ago, even after he delayed my breakthrough for over a week. I can still feel the enhanced potential, but not as strongly. When I get to peak Fortification I think I’ll be down to regular cultivation rates.

I stumble towards the sect, still off balance with my changed strength. My mark meets us at the gate. He seems desperate to get this girl back. Great luck for me.

"What have you done to my beloved you demon?" He shouts at Elder Po, pure idiocy given the difference in their cultivation. This so called Elder is definitely still in the Mortal Realms, while Elder Po is leaving the Immortal for the Divine.

"A cultivation incident has damaged her spirit. Did one of your disciples perhaps try to molest her during a breakthrough?" Elder Po teases him as we planned.

I crush the spirit toxin pill I made for alchemy practice in my teeth and coat it in Death Energy. It was originally a failed pill made by Elder Song but he found instead of healing the spirit of the one who eats it, it poisons the spirit of anyone who touches them. With the Death God’s blessing added, it’s lethal to anyone not an immortal of not cleansed. It doesn’t activate right away, but the next time they draw on their spiritual power they will inevitably die.

"No such thing would ever happen here" he sneers at Elder Po, grabbing me by the hand and pulling me under his arm.

"As you say. Be grateful I returned your disciple" Elder Po says and turns to leave.