Chapter 3: The Begrudging Mentor
Noon sun blazed over Cloudrest Peak, its hillsides glittering with Spiritbloom Herbs that shimmered like moonlight trapped in glass. Peach groves pulsed with spiritual qi, their blossoms glowing as if kissed by the heavens. Lucian Imperius, carefree hermit and former Heavenly Emperor, leaned against a peach tree, slurping qi-infused tea and scowling at Drake Ashbourne like he'd invented bad weather. Drake stood in a clearing, his tattered mercenary leathers soaked with sweat, swinging his chipped sword in a shaky attempt at the Stellar Crescent Form Lucian had barked at him to practice. Each strike flickered with starlight, but the Ninefold Binding Curse strangled his qi, making every swing feel like hauling a mountain. Lucian sighed, muttering, "This disciple's gonna ruin my naps for good."
"Stop waving that sword like a blind ox," Lucian called, waving his teacup. "Your Stellar Sword Intent's supposed to split the stars, not spook my peaches."
Drake stopped, out of breath, his eyes shining with pride. "That's easy for you to say, Master," he said, putting just enough attitude into the word to make it annoying. "This curse isn't helping me at all. You sure this form isn't just your idea of a joke?" His voice had the sharp edge of someone who was once a rising star at the Azure Flame Pavilion, now reduced to a cursed outcast relying on a hermit who snacks on peaches.
Lucian smirked and took a sip of tea. "A prank? Kid, I'd rather be napping. That form's older than the walls of Stonehaven. Keep training, or that glowing vein of yours is gonna blow up my mountain and turn it into a picnic spot for sects." He hid a flicker of curiosity as he glanced at Drake's bag, where the Starlight Essence Token gave off a soft glow. Its soul power hummed stronger since the ruin, a whisper of Divine World might in the Mortal World. After eons of stagnation, Lucian felt a twinge of intrigue, though he'd sooner kowtow to a mortal than admit it.
A chime rang in Lucian's mind, clear as a jade bell and smug as a sect elder. [Disciple Ascension System: Mission Assigned. Disciple Drake Ashbourne must gather a Celestial Dew Herb from Mistveil Grove to loosen his Ninefold Binding Curse. Reward: Enhanced qi flow, progress toward soul power mastery. Failure: Divine consequences.] Lucian's eyebrow twitched, a mix of annoyance and interest. Loosening the curse could amplify Drake's soul power, a prospect that tickled his long-dormant curiosity. He masked it with a scowl, muttering, "Another task? What's next, polishing your celestial boots? Gonna send a divine thunderstorm to fry my grove if I slack off?"
The system chimed again, its tone practically winking. [Guide your disciple, or face divine consequences.] Lucian snorted. "Subtle as a dragon belching in a teahouse." He stood, brushing peach petals from his robe, and fixed Drake with a look. "Alright, disciple. Your curse is making my tea taste like regret. I know a herb that'll loosen it, but you're fetching it. Ready to prove you're worth my time, or you here to trample more herbs?"
Drake lowered his sword, eyes narrowing with suspicion. "A herb? What's the trick? You sending me to another deathtrap like that ruin?" His tone held the wariness of a man scarred by betrayal, his Pavilion exile still a raw wound.
Lucian grinned, his tongue sharp as a Xianxia blade. "Trick? Only that you don't get eaten and make me sweep up. The Celestial Dew Herb grows in Mistveil Grove, a few miles north. It'll loosen your curse, let your qi flow like you're a prodigy again. You're my disciple, so stop griping and start moving."
Drake's jaw tightened, but the promise of easing his curse, of reclaiming his former glory, stirred his pride. He nodded stiffly. "Fine. Show me the way."
Lucian pointed north, where mist swirled like a dragon's sigh. "Mistveil Grove's that way. Watch for spirit beasts, they're nastier than I am before my morning tea. Don't say I didn't warn you and don't come back empty-handed." The system chimed privately, almost cheerful. [Mission progress: Disciple motivated. Ensure completion, Master Lucian.] Lucian muttered, "Call me 'Master' again, and I'll yeet you to the Divine World."
Drake caught the mutter, raising an eyebrow. "Talking to your tea now, Master?"
"Keep mouthing off, disciple, and you'll be stuck polishing my teapot," Lucian snapped, tossing Drake a pill that gave off a faint qi glow. "This'll steady your qi just enough to get through the grove. Don't waste it."
Mistveil Grove loomed as Drake approached, its trees veiled in qi-rich mist that glimmered with starlight. The air thrummed, stirring his Ninefold Star Vein despite the curse. His Starlight Essence Token pulsed in his satchel, its soul power sharpening his senses like a blade fresh from the forge. Drake gripped his sword, muttering, "If this is another setup, Master's getting a piece of my mind."
A snarl echoed, and a Mistfang Wolf, its fur aglow with qi, lunged from the mist. Drake dodged, the curse dragging at him, but his Stellar Sword Intent flared. Starlight slashed from his blade, nicking the beast. The token's soul power surged, steadying his qi, and he struck again, felling the wolf with a silver arc. Breathing hard, he spotted the Celestial Dew Herb on a mossy stone, its leaves sparkling with qi-infused dew. He plucked it, feeling his curse loosen, his qi flowing smoother, like a dam cracking open.
Back on Cloudrest Peak, Lucian sensed a shift in the valley's qi, frowning. Three Iron Crane Sect scouts slunk toward the hillside, their weak qi flaring, drawn by Drake's starlight glow from the ruin. "Perfect, my disciple's a walking spotlight," Lucian grumbled. He flicked his wrist, and a qi-infused mist poured down the peak, thick as a dragon's scales. The scouts stumbled, muttering about "haunted fog," and fled. Lucian sighed, slurping his tea. "This kid's worse than a heavenly tribulation."
Drake returned at dusk, herb in hand, his sword faintly glowing. He tossed the Celestial Dew Herb to Lucian, who caught it with a raised eyebrow. "Still breathing? I'm half impressed, disciple." Drake smirked, his pride masking fatigue. "Got your herb. Curse feels lighter. You gonna teach me something worth my time now?"
Lucian snorted, tucking the herb away. "Worth your time? Keep that tone, and I'll teach you to scrub my cave. Rest up, you're not carving stars yet." The system chimed in his mind: [Mission complete: Celestial Dew Herb acquired. Ninefold Binding Curse loosened. Progress: 3%.] Lucian glared at the sky. "Happy now, you jingling pest? My peak's a sect magnet thanks to this kid."
As Drake leaned against a tree, the starlight glow from his Starlight Essence Token caught Stonehaven's watchtowers again. Rumors of a "hidden sage" swelled. Lucian groaned, muttering, "One disciple, and my naps are dust. Divine World, just take me now."