They had a variety of options for flying across the Western Wilds, some of them more respectable than others. The absolute fastest would have been for Kai to use Thunderbird's Wings and carry Zae Zin Nim in his arms... he almost thought he could convince her to do it, but she didn't want to be seen in an undignified position. Using flying swords was another clear option, either a pair or together on the same one, which had some of the same issues.
Instead they used the Pureflower vessel, which was somewhat slower but made it easy to talk and prepare. Ships were common but considered slightly inferior: they were for non-cultivators, sect members who couldn't fly on their own, or carrying supplies. That meant their vessel didn't attract any particular attention.
With the ship flying on its set path, they were free to sit in the cabin and cultivate. They'd talked for the first leg of the trip until they needed to take a break to train. He was surprised to note that Zae Zin Nim guzzled qi pills almost as fast as he did, since she was still trying to ascend the massive hill to Sky Soul. His own cultivation was just taking his Body Refinement stage to the very edge, according to the new principles she'd taught him.
Now, however, he was done, and he thought Zae Zin Nim had almost finished her cultivation as well. He found himself staring, just drinking in the sight of her, and shook himself out of it to look at her soul instead.
Total Power: 999 (limited)
Cultivation: Earth Soul 33% (516)
*Heavenly Sash: Cultivation +10% (51)
Coldfire Corona: 97 (107)
Blackblood Physique Level: E-9 (107)
Blackblood Shadow (+50)
It really did seem like she was running up against her limits in every category, from Class to Physique to chakra arts. Her soul was practically overflowing, and earlier she had expressed frustration that this might be limiting major advancements in certain areas, like her Pure Yin Shroud.
That made him feel a bit guilty that he hadn't found anything to help her break the barrier, but again, their strategy was to avoid attention. If they could fly under the radar, she didn't need the power desperately and could work toward a massive advancement.
"I can feel you staring." Zae Zin Nim opened her eyes and returned his gaze. "It's... it's not bad, but your eyes are too warm."
"Just glad to be back together again," he said.
"I am too, though it's unfortunate we had to leave Omilaena already." She sighed and her back sagged from its rigid cultivation position.
"Don't mope, come over here." Kai pulled her in his direction and she followed, sliding into his lap to lean against his chest. "I have to say, I understand your complaints about walking everywhere. This is definitely better."
Abruptly he realized that, despite how much they'd talked, there was something else he'd forgotten. "Oh, I'd been meaning to ask you. I met a cultivator who had some sort of 'Vicious Presence' ability, not something I'd seen before. She was able to resist Void Gaze."
"Yes, presence abilities are an advanced form of cultivation. I've mentioned them to you, but I... haven't studied them extensively. The truth is that I was too inexperienced to understand the Brightwind arts for such things." Zae Zin Nim's frown shifted inward and she began to curl up on herself.
"Hey, hey." Kai wrapped his arms tighter around her. "We have lots of time to figure all that out, and you have abilities no one here would predict. What does it take to get a presence ability, anyway? I've only run into the one." ʀÀ𝐍𝘖𝖇ĘṨ
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"It's actually quite rare for an Earth Soul to have one, because they're considered one of the three exceptional abilities. Anyone who has reached the Sky Soul stage is formidable, but they say there are three advancements beyond that: a presence, immortality, and heavenly cultivation."
"Immortality is self-explanatory, but what's heavenly cultivation?"
"They say that it's power gained at the peak, but..." Zae Zin Nim tilted her head back against his chest to look up at him. "Having seen some of it in the Pureflower sect, I think it's actually secondary powers. Mana or chakra that has been thoroughly merged into your cultivation."
"That makes sense, if Omilaena's big theories are correct."
"In any case, it is always impressive to have gained one of the three abilities before Sky Soul, but not necessarily ideal. For example, the methods of obtaining immortality before Sky Soul tend to be harmful, and might limit your cultivation permanently. I... don't think that's the right path for us anyway, not yet."
"She also used some method to destroy her own dantian and she, uh, exploded."
"Yes, that can be done if your qi is dense enough. Quite a desperate choice, but at times it is the... best option."
Somehow the conversation kept turning in dark directions. Kai kissed the top of Zae Zin Nim's head and distracted her by discussing new techniques, which was always a way to improve her mood. It seemed that she'd been working on something, yet for the first time he felt as though she was withholding information from him. After all the relaxed intimacy, it didn't really worry him, but it was puzzling.
Even traveling at higher speed, it took them two weeks to get back to the Pits of Strength. Part of Kai was convinced that his luck would turn against him and he'd find the pits all destroyed or drained, but they looked just the way he remembered them. Well, not quite... there was an area of red and blue tents that suggested the Bloodcoral sect had taken up residence.
Before they could go there, their ship was intercepted by two Thundering Scorpion tribe champions on their curved flying swords. Unlike with the Bloodcoral sect, the champions only hovered in place outside, waiting for them to emerge, and when they did, the champions gave respectful bows.
"We are honored to see the Pureflower sect here," the middle-aged woman said, "but the Pits of Strength are meant only for those who have earned the right."
"Actually, I'm here on behalf of the Bloodcoral sect." Kai showed them his command medallion and they looked surprised, then nervous.
"That is enough for us, but... I believe that the Bloodcoral sect requires a higher rank to challenge anyone for a pit. You would have to take that up with your own sect."
"Don't worry, we'll handle it." Kai nodded to the champions and they returned to fly down to the camp.
As soon as they were back inside, Zae Zin Nim scowled. "Why should we have to engage in minor sect politics? No one here can really stop us."
"I don't think it will take long," Kai said, rubbing her shoulder. "We want to stay on good terms with everyone so we don't draw too much attention. If this goes the way I think, you might need a long time to focus on the mana pool, so you might as well do it peacefully."
"I suppose. You... implied you have a plan?"
Kai only smiled and gestured for her to exit.
The four marks on his medallion meant that the guards outside the Bloodcoral sect's camp didn't challenge him, even with Zae Zin Nim at his side. Actually, if anything he just got looks of incredulity or admiration. He had to admit, the two of them walking together didn't make a lot of sense, but they were strong enough that no one was going to challenge them.
Power alone got them all the way to the central tent, where Kai discovered the old Earth Soul he'd met earlier. After fumbling for the name a while, he remembered that it was Cor Yan Wei - he'd been thrown out by Cor Li Xan in exchange for this old man, but with Zae Zin Nim at his side, Kai couldn't find it in himself to particularly care.
"How is the Bloodcoral sect doing at the pits?" Kai asked.
"Well enough." The old man's eyes shifted between them suspiciously, but he continued. "We have struggled to keep access to the pits of qi we need most. Now who is this?"
"A new recruit, who as you can tell is an Earth Soul." Kai smiled thinly. "Now, unless you have changed the rules in my absence, she should receive five marks for joining, and I should receive a fifth for bringing such a strong cultivator. Is that correct, senior?"
Cor Yan Wei begrudgingly gave Zae Zin Nim a coral medallion, and added a fifth mark to Kai's. He paused and frowned slightly as he worked on Kai's, perhaps noticing traces of Omilaena's manipulations, but in the end he handed it back without comment. Just as Kai was ready to march out and get to work, however, the old man spoke up again.
"If you're thinking of challenging for the most powerful pits, that requires an inner sect member with seven marks or more." When they turned on him, Cor Yan Wei raised his hands defensively. "Too many have tried to challenge the local champions and failed, making us lose both face and opportunity. It is a necessary restriction."
"We are not going to fail," Zae Zin Nim said flatly. "Let us go."
"Young mistress, you have only just joined the Bloodcoral sect. Do you have so little respect for our laws?"
She opened her mouth, likely to make it clear that she had none whatsoever, but Kai saw an easier path. He'd been holding that back in case something happened anyway. "I joined as a Body Refinement cultivator," he said, raising his medallion again, "and received one mark. But I'd receive two more if I advanced to Nascent Foundation, right?"
Cor Yan Wei looked between them, then shook his head in defeat. "Yes, that is true."
"Well then." Kai grinned back at Zae Zin Nim. "I think it's finally time."