Within half an hour of Chen Chuan's arrival, several vacationers on Gaoshi Island received word that a martial artist was taking up residence there.
Those capable of visiting this island were all people of high standing and stature. While naturally curious about a martial artist staying in their midst, none were so tactless as to intrude uninvited.
Yet a martial artist represented genuine power and naturally commanded prestige. One could not simply pretend they did not exist; proper courtesies still had to be observed. The guests vacationing on the island hosted Western-style balls and traditional banquets every few days, and invitations were promptly dispatched to Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan had no interest whatsoever in such affairs. The steady accumulation of his personal power was more than enough to captivate him completely. Such social gatherings might be fine to attend during moments of leisure, but they would never be allowed to consume his primary focus.
At present, he was only practicing a single form from the Grand Radiant Light Forms. Yet as he drilled it more deeply, he realized that persevering with this single form alone yielded steady, gradual improvement, with no end yet in sight.
It was no wonder that whether in the Grand Radiant Light Forms or the Grand Firmament Forms, some martial artists within the sect often chose to specialize in only one or two forms, treating the remainder purely as secondary supplements. Those alone were enough to plumb the depths of their potential and hone their greatest strengths.
When Mr. Zhuan had imparted them to him, he had not expected him to master every single form either. His intention had been for Chen Chuan to select the one or two that best suited him and concentrate his efforts there.
Chen Chuan, however, knew he was different. An unprecedented limit-break foundation afforded him ample confidence; he truly had the potential to master both grand sets in their entirety.
Conversely, that meant the resources required would be vastly greater. Simply completing the cultivation of a single form of the Grand Radiant Light Forms demanded immense investment, and completing every single grand form seemed practically impossible at present. But that could be set aside for now. He would first master what lay before him; the rest could be figured out gradually as his power continued to rise.
Because he remained completely absorbed in his cultivation, he sent no response to any of the invitations from outside. Yet even in his absence, talk of him across the island never ceased. After all, a mysterious and formidable martial artist right in their neighborhood was a subject the guests could hardly ignore at their gatherings.
Several days later, another Western ball was held on the island. Chu An stepped onto the floor for a dance. Though he had little fondness for such things, it was an indispensable social obligation within his circle. Moreover, as a fighter, his formidable physical conditioning allowed him to execute even the most intricate steps effortlessly while letting his mind wander elsewhere, making it no trouble to handle.
After the dance, people gathered in small clusters to chat, and the conversation gradually drifted toward the veneration of deities, touching upon considerable religious lore from the old era.
Chu An began merely by listening, but before long, he found himself joining in. He had rarely encountered such matters before, yet for some reason, the knowledge seemed already lodged in his mind. Had his mentor mentioned it? Or had he read it somewhere in the past?
What he described was far more vivid and detailed than the hearsay passed around by the others. He painted a meticulous picture of the bloody slaughters and procedural steps of various ancient rites.
This drew a sizable crowd. Not only were curiosity-seeking youths captivated, but several wealthy elites and dignitaries in attendance also lingered at the periphery, listening intently.
In the present era, the great religions of the past had been deeply intertwined with the old imperial houses. Consequently, with the collapse of the world's Old Dynasties, those religions had ebbed away as well, leaving behind numerous achievements that were subsequently claimed by modern nations.
Yet mysticism continued to flourish across the globe. The reality of anomalies, urban legends, and esoteric rituals made it impossible to dismiss.
Today, esoteric cults of varying sizes existed throughout the world. Certain members of high society were active participants and promoters, and within various national governments, plenty of officials were adherents of minor religions or outright cults.
In the Eastern Continent, the Great Shun government cracked down on them severely. However, out on an isolated island abroad, hearing the eerie intricacies of these esoteric rituals offered a thrill of a different sort, and many people pressed closer to listen.
The more Chu An spoke, the more exhilarated he became, as though a force were urging him onward. As a fighter, he had already sensed that something was amiss, but speaking of it brought him a profound sense of exhilaration. His mutated tissue surged with excitement, leaving him unable and unwilling to stop.
Just as he was delving even deeper, the elderly man suddenly stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. Chu An shuddered, abruptly snapping out of that state.
Nervously, he said, "Master?"
The old man had also noticed that his disciple seemed uncharacteristically animated just now. Assuming Chu An was merely trying to build connections with the people around him—an endeavor certainly worth pursuing—he would not have interrupted without good reason.
"Come with me," he said.
Offering an apology to the gathered crowd and exchanging contact information with a few individuals, Chu An followed the old man outside. Once in the open air, his head cleared somewhat. "Master, where are we going?"
"I am taking you to meet someone today," the old man replied. He glanced at Chu An. "If all goes well, he can accept you into the Convergence faction."
"The Convergence faction?"
Chu An was taken aback. His master belonged to the Refinement School, and Chu An was already nominally registered there. He had assumed he would formally enter the school in due time. Why was he now being told to join the Convergence faction?
"Because one of your older siblings will inevitably join the Refinement School," the old man said in a deep voice. "The family's resources—both within the school and at the corporation—will tilt heavily toward them. If you remain there as well, the share you receive will be negligible, and you will never have an opportunity to distinguish yourself.
"However, if you join the Convergence faction and take a different path, you will have a real chance to rise. If only out of a desire to diversify their investments, the family will provide you with a measure of support rather than treating you as a mere backup.
"There is another reason this suits you: the secret transmissions of the Convergence faction can greatly compensate for your inherent deficiencies. That way, a path that might have been closed to you could very well open up."
Chu An felt an instinctive resistance. Gaining entry to the Refinement School was a recognized hallmark of the elite; failing to join, given his background, would mark him as having been discarded. He did not want that. Yet another voice whispered in his heart, urging him toward this path, telling him it would serve him better. Only raw power was tangible and true, regardless of the route taken. With that thought, his resistance suddenly melted away.
The old man had intended to offer a few more words of comfort, but seeing no objection, he said nothing further. He led Chu An to a villa. After a brief inspection by the guards at the entrance, they stepped into the drawing room. Seated inside was a man dressed in Western-style formal attire, wearing a ghost-faced mask.
Upon entering, the old man addressed him as "Mr. Feng."
Mr. Feng invited them to sit and looked at the old man. "Since you brought him yourself, Brother Zhan, there is no need for any elaborate trials. But to join the Convergence faction, one must pass a very simple test."
He raised his hand toward a nearby lamp. From beneath the lampshade crawled a centipede-like creature, long, black, and slender, its whisker-like legs scurrying erratically across the back of his hand.
He looked at Chu An. "Hold out your hand."
Chu An extended his hand. The man reached out and clasped it; the creature naturally crept over onto Chu An's skin. The man then said, "Eat it."
"Eat it?"
Chu An stared in shock. Feeling the squirming limbs against his palm and the prickly, itching sensation against his skin, a wave of nausea washed over him.
Mr. Feng did not repeat himself, merely sitting there and watching him.
Chu An turned to the old man, but his master remained silent, offering no guidance.
Chu An's expression tightened. Though revolted, he possessed at least that much endurance. Moreover, for reasons he could not fathom, despite his intense disgust toward the insect, he caught a strange, sweet fragrance emanating from it. He brought it toward his mouth.
He had wondered how he was supposed to consume it, but the creature darted swiftly into his oral cavity. He could feel its antennae brushing past his teeth and prickling against his tongue before it scurried down his throat and esophagus, plunging straight into his stomach.
He could not help but frown slightly.
After waiting a moment and seeing no adverse reaction, Mr. Feng remarked, "Your disciple has a rather high threshold for tolerance."
"Is high tolerance not a good thing?" the old man asked.
"No, high tolerance means he can accommodate higher-grade fusion entities."
Mr. Feng turned his gaze back to Chu An. "Our Convergence faction is not concerned with congenital flaws. In our view, no living being or existence is born without flaws—neither on our side nor in the world across the rift.
"Yet that does not matter. Through subsequent compensation and integration, we rectify our shortcomings and attain a state of perfection. That is precisely what our Convergence faction pursues.
"Joining now is, in truth, a bit late for you, but no matter. Our Convergence faction has endured since the old era, branching into diverse sects across the world. For our particular lineage of convergence, so long as your capacity to endure is sufficient, we can carefully tailor a path suited to you. If you succeed at every step, breaking through to a higher realm is well within reach."
After a brief hesitation, Chu An stood, bowed to him, and said, "I request Teacher Feng's guidance."
Mr. Feng replied, "Our faction does not use the title of 'teacher.' There are only seniors guiding and instructing juniors. I can introduce you into the faction and instruct you in our secret transmissions and lore."
The old man chimed in at the appropriate moment: "In return, we shall provide a measure of financial support to both Mr. Feng and your esteemed faction."
Mr. Feng smoothly produced a business card and handed it over. "This is my account at Wansheng Financial Firm. Simply transfer the funds there."
Taking the card, the old man said, "It will be settled by tomorrow at the latest."
Mr. Feng was visibly pleased; he liked people who acted promptly. "I already have the materials required for your disciple's fusion on hand. I will remain on the island for a month, during which I will whip him into shape." Then, as if recalling something, he added, "A martial artist arrived on the island recently. You are aware of this, yes?"
"We are," the old man said.
"Good. Word has reached me that this person may be a martial artist from the Purist Faction. You had best keep your distance from him."
Chu An's heart tightened. "Are the Purist Faction and the Convergence faction enemies?"
"Not outright enemies," Mr. Feng said, "but our philosophies are diametrically opposed, and clashes are often unavoidable. If you provoke him, the faction will not stand up for you. Of course, he will not seek you out without cause—ordinary people are hardly worth his notice."
Chapter 818