Rosie Mason
We have finally arrived at Mountain Island Village. Emperor Ju Chen welcomed us warmly and seemed even more pleased with the Jade, or Moon, fragment we brought. He immediately ordered everyone in his village to pour their Ratio Aspect into the fragment.
If I understand correctly, the Ratio Aspect is like a transparent sphere that exists inside each of us. The larger the sphere, the greater your capacity for Qui. This sphere is filled with Liquid Qui, which can appear in three colors: Basic Blue, Emerald Green, and Red Ruby. Red Ruby is the rarest and most powerful. If someone possesses Red Ruby Liquid Qui, they can use far less of their Ratio Aspect to achieve the same results as someone with Basic Blue. If they also have a large capacity combined with Red Ruby, they are considered incredibly gifted, a true rarity among cultivators.
I have heard that Emperor Ju Chen himself possesses Red Ruby Liquid Qui in his Ratio Aspect. Other than that, I have not yet seen clear proof of his overwhelming talent. Perhaps his martial arts skills are exceptional, but I am still unsure. In any case, I do not believe we will be allowed to share in the fragment's power until we first awaken our own Qui.
…
Ju Chen
This is fascinating. A group of foreigners has arrived at our gates, accompanied by elders from Yunxi Village.
The girl stands out immediately: she has short, tousled brown hair and sharp brown eyes that miss nothing. Her clothes are unmistakably Western a cropped coat over fitted black pants, a stark contrast to our flowing robes.
Then there's the boy with glasses, Harris. His short black hair frames a face that flickers constantly between curiosity and anxiety. His lanky, wiry frame looks both bulky in shoulders and thin in limbs, and he fidgets restlessly as if always on the verge of running.
The smallest of them, Alfred, has medium-length brown hair that falls messily over eyes devoid of life. His blank, emotionless gaze sends a chill down my spine; he looks as though he's seen horrors far beyond his years.
Lastly, Benjamin towers above the others, his bulky frame exuding quiet strength. His short blond hair and cold blue eyes give him a stoic, almost statuesque presence he hasn't cracked so much as a smile since he arrived.
Together, they have brought with them the largest Moon Servant Qui Fragment ever discovered four times the size of the one Empress Xi Ping and I found ourselves. Could these foreigners truly be blessed by the heavens? I must treat them with the utmost respect; their arrival could herald a turning point for our village's fortunes.
…
Alfred Hall
I have uncovered the truth behind the recent conflict. Mountain Island Village attacked Bang Chi Village because Bang Chi had attacked Qingliu Village, and it all began with a tragic misunderstanding. An elder from Bang Chi carried a scripture and traveled to Qingliu to discuss important matters. But he died there, first presumed missing, then confirmed dead. Enraged by what they believed was murder, the emperor of Bang Chi ordered a brutal assault on Qingliu.
As it turns out, Qingliu did kill him and stole the scripture, but they lost it soon afterward. I overheard an elder mention that the scripture contained secrets about something called Sun Qui, a powerful form of Qui said to rival the sun itself.
The tragedy only deepened when many young boys in Qingliu, hearing all the praise and plans to nurture the girls, began to feel jealous and worthless. In a desperate attempt to prove their value, they threw themselves into the battle to protect the girls. Qingliu's motto is, "Sacrifice yourself for the greater good and you will be rewarded." It breaks my heart to know that so many young lives were lost chasing a promise of worth they feared they would never find.
…
Harris Carter
I snuck into the emperor's bedroom. He has a large painting of Han Yang, with a Chinese sentence beside his face. I think it reads, "Only those who conquer themselves may conquer the world." That gave me chills. Is Ju Chen an admirer of Han Yang? Han Yang ruled in the eastern part of Shenzhou, and his vast territory was known as the Jade Serpent Domain, a land said to stretch from mist-covered valleys to jagged mountain peaks, all under his iron rule.
I also found Ju Chen's diary. It feels as if it is speaking directly to me. A strange sensation comes over me whenever I am near it, and I can hear faint whispers. Inside, he recorded theories about many types of Qui, most notably the Moon Servant Qui. According to him, refining it could increase one's Strength Aspect from a mere two percent to over four percent, which is an incredible improvement by any standard.
Reading through his entries made me question something. Why is it that people here in Shenzhou know so much about Qui, while we in the West focus more on magic and archetypes? Could it be because we have always defended ourselves against races like the Fae and Giants, while Shenzhou, far to the east and near the Vampire territories, had to develop Qui to survive? Perhaps simple magic was never enough to face such powerful threats.
…
Elder Zhuan Su
I have confirmed something extraordinary: the Moon Servant Qui seeks out new hosts after leaking from Elder Peng Shui's corpse. Unlike ordinary Qui, which remains bound to a living body, the Moon Qui can inhabit inanimate objects, binding itself to stone, wood, or even forgotten relics. This explains why some fragments appear as simple white, dirty boulders. They are not ordinary rocks, but vessels chosen by the Qui itself. The foreigners' discovery of such a boulder confirms the Moon Qui's strange intelligence, and it makes every unexplored corner of Cave Inos a potential treasure trove of hidden power.
…
Ju Chen
We have refined it. The Moon Servant Qui fragment that Empress Xi Ping and I discovered has finally been purified, transformed into a shimmering liquid that floats like a celestial droplet. Elder Zhuan Su carefully placed it into a bowl crafted to resemble the sacred Ratio Aspect.
Now, this power is within my grasp. By consuming the refined fragment, I can raise my Strength Aspect from a mere 4.34 percent to an astounding 5 percent. With this, I shall stand at the pinnacle of the sect, ready to challenge any who dare oppose me.
Yet the greatest obstacle remains: how do I claim this treasure for myself? The entire village poured their Ratio Aspects into making this possible. Xi Ping, of course, deserves her portion; she has walked beside me through countless storms. But what of the others?
Yes, the answer is clear. I will grant them this refined fragment as their reward. Then I will keep the colossal fragment brought by the foreigners for myself alone. With its power, I will ascend beyond all rivals.
…
Harris Carter
Ju Chen is a suspicious man. After slipping out of his room unnoticed, I crept up to the upper floor of the main temple in the village, where the elders gathered to speak in private. I pressed myself against the wooden railing, straining to catch every word. This is exactly what I heard:
"We should be wary of these foreigners. What is their true purpose here in Shenzhou? To learn Qui? Ha, that is nonsense."
"I agree with Elder Mo," another voice rasped. "Their sudden arrival is too convenient. Could they be spies sent to harm Chen?"
"I do not know," a third elder sighed, "but we cannot allow them to get close to him."
"Yes, we must protect Chen at all costs. He stands on the brink of great cultivation. Do you not see? He even resorted to dual cultivation with other women… hehe, the sneaky bastard."
Dual cultivation. I have learned it is the practice of sharing intimate moments with a partner to enhance one's cultivation. While it is not as powerful as direct Qui refining, it is considered a widely accepted and popular method throughout Shenzhou.
But something Elder Mo said has been gnawing at me: "He stands on the brink of great cultivation." What does that truly mean? Is Ju Chen approaching a point of no return, a threshold beyond which he might lose his humanity entirely? Is he on the verge of immortality? Or something far darker?
That question has haunted me ever since I heard it whispered in the shadows. What is Ju Chen's true goal? Why does he pursue power with such relentless, almost desperate, determination?
…
Ju Chen
I have spoken with the foreigners and questioned them about their purpose here in Shenzhou. The loud and inquisitive girl, Rosie, declared boldly that they had come to learn Qui. She explained that their ambition was to study every major form of magic across all the regions of the Eastern Continent.
I found myself wondering why they would pursue such a path. But in truth, I did not care enough to press them further. I chose instead to observe them in silence.
Qui is a profound method of cultivation, a practice that tempers and strengthens both body and spirit through constant refinement. Yet despite its depth, it pales in comparison to Archetypes or Pure Magic.
Why do we rely on Qui here in Shenzhou, instead of embracing Archetypes like those in the West? The reason lies in our isolation. We live in the distant east; sharing knowledge with the West would mean crossing impossible distances. Even if the Westerners discovered a new magical technique, it could take months or longer for that knowledge to reach us. We could not depend on such an uncertain system. So we chose our own path, forging a principle unique to our people.
Archetypes and similar arts are borrowed from the Elves, Giants, and Dwarves. Qui, however, is an invention of humans for humans — a cultivation born from our own hands and minds. In this, I see Qui as superior in spirit to Archetypes, even if it remains weaker in raw power. And that infuriates me.
I refuse to accept this weakness. I will find a way to elevate Qui beyond all other arts. Perhaps the missing piece lies in gathering the complete Moon Servant Qui Fragment. If I can seize it all, then I will ascend. I will become one of the most powerful beings this world has ever known.
…
Ju Chen
I must apologize for my previous entries. Empress Xi Ping read them all and came to find me. She discovered me at the top of the mountain, resting quietly as I refined my Qui. She is an empathetic woman, always wishing the best for me.
"Chen, why are you so obsessed with power? One day, your obsession will blind you, and you might forget the things that truly matter."
I looked at her with pity. She could never understand.
"Power is what rules this world. If humanity had no power, we would have been destroyed by vampires and demons long ago. We are fortunate, even in our greed, that we still exist."
Xi Ping's hair was a cascade of midnight silk, adorned with delicate jade pins that caught the moonlight. Her eyes, dark and steady, held a quiet storm of resolve.
She met my eyes with a look of quiet hopelessness but said nothing more, careful not to provoke my temper.
"I believe humanity can find a way out of its own grave. We must yearn to live in peace, to coexist. Qui is a concept we in Shenzhou created for ourselves. We refused to rely on the West, so we turned to our own strength. Yet here we are, killing each other over scraps of power. Do you not see the contradiction?"
After she left, I sat in deep silence. Her words cut deeper than I wanted to admit. How can I claim pride in Qui and my people if I am willing to slaughter those who oppose me? Should I not seek forgiveness instead of embracing madness as an emperor? I am no longer sure.