Days later, the Grand State Preceptor (an Elder of the Mystic Ice Sect) arrived at the small thatched cottage near the riverbank where Noe was staying. They greeted each other with great courtesy; though they had never officially met, they were well aware of one another’s reputations.

  "Has the Grand State Preceptor come seeking me for a particular reason?" Noe asked.

  The Elder replied politely, "Ah, it is nothing major. I was simply passing through and thought I would stop by for a brief chat before continuing on my way."

  Noe smiled. "I see. I am all ears then. Do you have any guidance for me, Great Sage?"

  The Preceptor remained formal. "No guidance, merely an observation. I know the flooding of the city was related to you, Prophet. You wished to meet the King, yet you did not want to rely on your two disciples—Doanh Thuong Quan and Huu Thanh Danh, the King’s own advisors—to introduce you? You intended to enter the palace through your own merits rather than through connections?"

  Noe nodded, scratching his head. "Indeed. The Grand State Preceptor truly has discerning eyes; you saw through it instantly."

  The Elder sighed. "It is a pity. Had I known sooner, things would not have come to this. Had you entered the palace to guide the King directly, the providence of this kingdom might have been extended by another hundred or two hundred years."

  The two conversed pleasantly for a while longer. When the Preceptor stood to leave, he lingered at the door, sighing as if reluctant to depart. When Noe inquired why, he finally spoke.

  "I heard that the next River God is looking for a certain fortune-teller to settle a score... [Sighs]. I know that fortune-teller will be fine, but this River God is one of the rare dragons who still listens to reason. If he were to die, it would be a great hassle. I only wish that fortune-teller would vanish—perhaps go somewhere very far away."

  Noe immediately understood the hint that he was being urged to flee. "I understand," he replied. "I am preparing to leave; a new adventure is calling my name."

  The Grand State Preceptor brightened instantly. "Splendid. I wish you a safe journey. Ah, one more thing I must mention."

  "I am listening, please speak your mind."

  "You are too weak," the Elder said bluntly. "Still at the Qi Condensation stage? Even one of my common soldiers could strike you down with ease. The journey ahead will be arduous. To avoid being a burden to others, you should become a bit stronger. You’ll need to reach at least the Core Formation stage to survive. This is a message the Heavenly Lady asked me to deliver to you."

  Noe bowed low. "I thank the Grand State Preceptor and the Heavenly Lady for their care. I shall not forget it."

  That very night, Noe departed. No one knew where he went. The brilliant fortune-teller vanished from that spot. A few days later, the cottage was smashed to pieces and submerged beneath the river. Several assassins arrived to inspect the ruins before disappearing into the shadows.

  The Grand State Preceptor entered the city to find Han Thuong. Han Thuong was now at the Foundation Establishment stage, possessing significant magical power. He could control ten Ice Elementals simultaneously to assist the citizens with construction. He often slept among the laborers and porters, remaining approachable—unlike other cultivators who were often arrogant and looked down on commoners.

  Seeing the young man, the Preceptor called him over to a nearby tea house.

  "Greetings, Elder of the Ice-Fire Hall," Han Thuong said.

  "You are no longer a disciple of the Mystic Ice Sect," the Preceptor replied. "There is no need to call me that. Call me the Grand State Preceptor."

  He gestured to a chair. "Sit. No need to stand on ceremony; we are both citizens of the Jade Kingdom now. Do you have plans for your future?"

  "No, sir. I simply take things as they come."

  The Preceptor continued, "Your old master, Han Thuong Nhan, sends his regards. He intends to marry his great-granddaughter to you. What do you think of the girl?"

  "The young lady is beautiful, lovely, and kind," Han Thuong replied. "But my heart is set on the Dao. I do not wish for the burdens of a wife and children. Please convey my thanks to Master."

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  The Preceptor laughed. "You are quite picky. Do you know where your aptitude lies? A Triple Spiritual Root is the lowest grade, fit only for an outer-sect disciple. You were lucky to reach Foundation Establishment, and now you are complacent? Do you not know that the higher you go, the harder it becomes? It would be a waste of resources."

  Han Thuong lowered his head in silence. "I understand, sir."

  Looking at the young man, the Elder remembered his own youth. "Theoretically, yes. A Triple Spiritual Root peaks at Foundation Establishment. A Double Spiritual Root like mine peaks at Core Formation. Only those with a Single Spiritual Root can climb higher. But that is only theory. There are those with Double Roots who break through to Nascent Soul or even Deity Transformation. You still have a chance to increase your cultivation or develop in a different direction. Instead of obsessing over rank, you can increase your combat power by combining elements. A Foundation Establishment cultivator can still defeat a Core Formation expert. Look at me—though I am at Core Formation, I am among the top eight strongest in the Mystic Ice Sect, not far behind the Nascent Soul elders."

  Han Thuong smiled. "Then, what if I simply want to live a long life?"

  "Then go study the Evergreen Technique of the Great Wood Sect. Even at the Foundation Establishment stage, you could live 300 to 400 years. You’d just need to complete a few missions for them. Or, you could buy longevity pills at the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion auctions, though the price is steep. A Foundation Establishment cultivator has far more choices than one at Qi Condensation."

  Han Thuong’s eyes lit up. "That is wonderful! Thank you for the guidance!"

  "Do you want a direction for your journey?"

  "Yes, please show me the way."

  The Preceptor laid out three paths:

  

  
1. 
   
     To the West: Follow the Doanh Clan. This is the path of power—to become a mighty General. Your fame would live forever, a form of immortality.
   
     


  
2. 
   
     To the North: Go to the giant valley in the desert, where the Great Wood Sect resides among trees thousands of meters tall. This is the fastest path for cultivation.
   
     


  
3. 
   
     To the South: Find the prophet Noe and travel with him. This is the most interesting path.
   
     


  

  Han Thuong thought for a moment. "I will go South to help Noe. I prefer an interesting life."

  The Preceptor laughed heartily. "Haha! Another one who loves fun and adventure? But I speak of the future, not now. Right now, your friend Noe is in danger. Go find him and help him."

  "Why didn't you say so sooner? I must leave immediately!"

  "No need to rush. He won't die; someone from above is watching. Take this. Safe travels."

  Han Thuong accepted a VIP Guest Token from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, bowing repeatedly in gratitude. He returned home, packed his bags, and set off to find Noe.

  Noe fled in haste. Born with the True Immortal Bloodline and possessing a Single Water Spiritual Root, he was a natural genius who could have easily reached Core Formation had he followed the path of Immortal Cultivation. However, his obsession with Divine Cultivation led him to spend his time researching the gods, leaving him stuck at the Qi Condensation stage. To hear the voices of the gods, he had left his homeland of Atlantis for the strange Motherland Mu, becoming a prophet because "a prophet is seldom accepted in his own land."

  Yet in this new land, Noe felt he had failed repeatedly. This time, without the guidance of the Heavenly Dao, his actions had led to thousands of deaths and the slaying of a River God. He felt that if he had done nothing, things would be better. Though the Heavenly Dao had punished him by stripping his merit, his title of Prophet, and his right to meet the gods, his greatest burden was his own guilt.

  Noe walked aimlessly. When he encountered water, he used the Water-Walking Art to tread upon it as if it were solid ground. He ate wild fruit and drank dew. The assassins following him were frustrated; Noe’s movements followed no pattern, and he avoided all villages. Han Thuong, however, had known Noe for a long time and was familiar with his eccentricities. He trailed the assassins to gather information.

  By winter, the assassins were still persistent. One night, as Noe slept beneath a tree near the river, they closed in. Using his ability to speak with animals, Noe was alerted by the local wildlife. He drew his Waste-Spirit Shortsword, encased it in water to form an Ice Blade, and hid behind the trunk.

  The assassins struck his sleeping spot but found it empty. Realizing they were compromised, they blew sub-sonic whistles to signal for backup. One tracker detected Noe’s breath; immediately, fireballs, shuriken, and explosive talismans rained down. Noe leaped away and fled, gliding across the ice at extreme speeds.

  He channeled energy into two fingers, firing a Mana Burn Bullet behind him. The enemy dodged easily, returning fire with flames. The chase lasted all night. Surrounded several times, Noe was forced to defend himself with his Ice Blade. Mid-battle, he began improvising a new technique he dubbed the Three-Step Sword:

  

  
• 
  
    Forms 1-2: A short dash followed by a slash.
  
    


  
• 
  
    Form 3: Either an icy burst to slow the enemy (3.1) or a ranged wave of frost (3.2).
  
    


  

  The assassins mocked him: "Practicing martial arts on your deathbed?" Yet they struggled to catch him due to his sheer speed. By dawn, Noe was covered in wounds. The scent of blood drew the Wolf-Beastmen in the group.

  Two wolfmen quickly caught up, their claws and teeth tearing into him. As Noe collapsed from blood loss, the wolfmen prepared to haul him away. Suddenly, Han Thuong appeared. With his superior Foundation Establishment cultivation and a stealth spell, he swept through the clearing with his Mystic Ice Crescent Blade, severing the legs of both wolfmen in a single flash.

  Han Thuong hoisted Noe onto his shoulder, releasing a powerful aura. He growled, "I despise your kind, wolfmen. Consider yourselves warned—if you continue this pursuit, I will not spare your lives!"

  With that, he vanished with Noe. The two wolfmen lay silent in the snow, too terrified to even look back, waiting for their comrades to find them.