Chapter 306: Insanity's Truth (Patreon)

The Formation Guild, like most major sect structures, was more extensive below ground than above. As we descended a spiraling staircase hidden behind what had appeared to be a solid wall, the ambient light grew dimmer, and the air took on a stale quality despite the circulation formations I could sense embedded in the walls.

"Every sect and major organization has a place like this," Madam Butterfly explained as we walked down a long corridor lined with doors reinforced with metal and formations. "A prison, for containing criminals, and also..."

"The insane," Elder Chen Yong finished for her, his voice grim.

The hallway was eerily quiet except for our footsteps echoing against the stone floor. Then, as we ventured deeper, other sounds began to filter through – muttering, occasional shouts, and sometimes just rhythmic thumping.

Madam Butterfly stopped before a particular door and activated a viewing formation. The solid door became transparent from our side, revealing the cell's interior.

"Most of the prisoners here have committed crimes against the Guild," she said quietly. "Theft of restricted materials, sabotage of critical formations, espionage for sects or rival guilds – the usual offenses."

Through the transparent sections, I could see cultivators in various states of confinement. Some sat in meditation, others paced their small cells. All wore specialized restraint collars that cut them off from spiritual energy.

What struck me most was their eyes – some burned with hatred, others with calculation, and a few with a vacant emptiness that was somehow more disturbing than rage.

We continued walking, passing cell after cell. Despite having met Rank 8 fanatical Lightweavers and cold-blooded Skybound, something about these imprisoned cultivators made me deeply uncomfortable. Perhaps it was the knowledge that they were much like me, practitioners of the same arts, followers of the same path, who had made choices that led them here.

"This section," Madam Butterfly said as we turned a corner into a narrower corridor, "houses a different kind of prisoner."

The atmosphere changed immediately. The cells here were more heavily reinforced, with multiple layers of formations glowing on their surfaces. The sounds were different too, they were less calculated, more chaotic. Rambling speeches, laughter without humor, and occasionally, heart-wrenching sobs.

Madam Butterfly stopped at one particular cell and activated its viewing formation. Inside sat a middle-aged man who could have been handsome once. Now his hair was wild and unkempt, his robes stained and torn. He sat huddled in a corner, arms wrapped tightly around his legs, rocking slightly.

"...just need to make the connection again..." he was muttering to himself, seemingly unaware of our presence. "...breakthrough is right there, so close... if I can just... why didn't he tell me before? My master had access all along... keeping secrets... holding me back... they're all holding me back... don't want me to succeed... don't want me to breakthrough... I'll show them... I'll show them all... I just need…"

The rambling continued, sometimes coherent, sometimes dissolving into fragments that made no sense at all. His eyes were unfocused, occasionally darting around as if seeing things invisible to us.

"What happened to him?" I asked quietly, unable to look away from the disturbing sight.

"His name was Liu Kai," Madam Butterfly replied. "Once a promising Stellar Rank Formation Master with particular skill in spatial manipulations. He discovered references to the knowledge you seek and became obsessed with obtaining it, and when he finally did, this is what became of him."

"He's been like this for nearly a hundred years," Elder Chen Yong sighed. "And he will remain this way until his natural lifespan ends."

The man in the cell suddenly looked up, as if sensing our presence despite the one-way viewing formation. For a moment, his eyes seemed to clear, and he stared directly at where I stood.

"You!" he shrieked, lunging toward the door. "You have it! You're hiding it from me too! Give it back to me! I need it for my breakthrough!"

I instinctively stepped back, though I knew the door and its formations would hold. The man began clawing at the walls, his fingers bloody from previous attempts.

"He can't actually see us," Madam Butterfly explained. "But sometimes he seems to sense when people are watching." She then exchanged a glance with Elder Chen Yong before continuing. "He attempted to access knowledge and power beyond his capability to control. Not only did his mind break, but the same happened to his inner world spirit. They feed each other's madness now in an endless cycle."

I studied the broken cultivator before me, trying to imagine the inner torment he must be experiencing. "Is there any way to recover from this condition?"

"No," she replied simply. "Once the connection between cultivator and inner world spirit is corrupted in this way, there is no returning to sanity."

The implications of her statement weren't lost on me. Whatever knowledge I had been seeking was dangerous enough to risk a similar fate.

Madam Butterfly turned to face me directly, her expression unusually serious. "This is why we're hesitant to share certain information, Ke Yin. Not out of some desire to maintain exclusive access or power, but because we've seen too many promising cultivators destroy themselves through overambition."

She searched my face, as if looking for signs of the same obsession that had claimed Liu Kai. "Are you certain you still want to know the truth?"

I took a moment to really consider her question, watching the broken cultivator continue his incoherent rambling. The knowledge itself didn't seem to drive cultivators insane, it was what they did with it. They believed they would be the exception, that they wouldn't succumb to the same fate as others. It was a common mentality in the cultivation world, that arrogant certainty that one was different, special, exempt from the limitations that constrained others.

I'd fallen into that trap myself occasionally, I had to admit. But I'd also learned from those mistakes. Many had criticized my choice of the World Tree Sutra, warning that I would explode, turn into a plant, or go insane. Yet here I stood, precisely because I had approached that power with caution and respect.

"I understand your concern," I said finally. "And I appreciate the warning. But knowledge itself isn't the danger, it's how it's applied."

"A convenient philosophy for someone seeking dangerous knowledge," Madam Butterfly observed.

"Perhaps," I acknowledged. "But I give you my word that I won't act impulsively with whatever you tell me. If I ever do use this information, it will only be when I'm as certain as possible that I won't end up like him." I gestured toward the cell.

It occurred me that Liu Kai probably had the same thoughts before he ended up a mess, but I didn’t have much else I could say, if my inner world was to continue developing, I needed more information.

Elder Chen Yong studied me, perhaps looking for any sign of the obsessive gleam that must have shown in Liu Kai's eyes before his fall.

"Very well," he said at last. "Let's return upstairs. This is not a place for such a discussion."

***

The private room felt significantly more comforting after our journey through the prison levels. Madam Butterfly refreshed the tea, and this time, Elder Chen Yong accepted a cup. I did the same, finding my throat unexpectedly dry.

"What I'm about to tell you," Elder Chen Yong began, "is not precisely forbidden knowledge, but it is restricted to cultivators until they’ve reached at least the Life Realm. Not because the information itself is dangerous, but because the temptation it presents has proven... problematic for those of lesser cultivation."

I nodded, bracing myself for whatever revelation was coming.

"Have you ever wondered how Life Realm cultivators and above acquire the vast resources needed for their cultivation?" he asked. "Or where they trade the treasures they find or create?"

I had, in fact, wondered this very thing. The sect's trade networks and contribution points system worked well for disciples up to the Stellar Realm, but the resources required beyond that point were exponentially greater. Where did they come from? How were they exchanged?

"There exists," Madam Butterfly continued, "a specialized market accessible only to those at the Life Realm and above. A place where the rarest treasures, the most powerful artifacts, and knowledge from across the five continents can be traded freely."

"This market is known as the Celestial Trade Nexus," Elder Chen Yong explained. "It exists as a separate dimension, accessible through a specialized connection technique that only developed inner world spirits can successfully navigate."

The Celestial Trade Nexus. Just the name sent a thrill of excitement through me. A specialized market for high-level cultivators, containing treasures beyond imagination...

"But the Nexus isn't simply a physical location one can visit," Madam Butterfly cautioned. "It's a dimensional space that connects to a cultivator's inner world. The connection must be established through the inner world spirit, who serves as an intermediary."

Suddenly, many things began to make sense.

Why I rarely saw resources for Life Realm cultivators and above being discussed in the markets or sect exchanges. Why certain cultivation materials seemed to appear in the hands of powerful cultivators without clear origin. Why elder disciples often spoke of breakthroughs becoming exponentially more difficult after the Stellar Realm, the true resource requirements were being handled in an entirely separate economy.

If I could access the Nexus, all my worries about acquiring resources would vanish. With my knowledge of Blue Sun cultivation methods from the Two Suns World, I might even be able to create unique resources to sell. While I wasn't yet capable of growing spiritual herbs, Kal had explained the principles, and with practice...

"I can see your mind working, disciple," Elder Chen Yong interrupted my thoughts. "This is precisely the reaction that concerns us."

"Master, I—"

"Don't get carried away," Azure's voice echoed in my mind, uncharacteristically stern. "This is exactly the kind of thinking that leads to cells like the one we just saw."

Azure was right, of course. I took a deep breath, centering myself.

Now I understood what the insane cultivator had been rambling about. With access to the Nexus, a high-level cultivator could potentially buy all the resources needed for their disciples and clan members to advance at unprecedented speeds.

The temptation would be enormous.

But I also understood something the broken cultivator had apparently missed: seniors didn't hand everything to their juniors on a golden platter because they needed to earn their advancement. This wasn't mere stinginess or tradition, it was necessary.

Cultivation advancement earned through resources alone, without the corresponding comprehension and experience, led to brittle foundations.

It was like the difference between a cultivator who relied entirely on pills versus one who built their foundation through genuine comprehension. The latter might advance more slowly, but their cultivation base would ultimately be far stronger.

"The access restrictions to the Celestial Trade Nexus exist for good reason," Madam Butterfly continued, apparently satisfied that I was calming my thoughts. "The connection process itself requires a level of inner world stability that only Life Realm cultivators possess. Attempting to force such a connection prematurely puts catastrophic strain on both the cultivator and their inner world spirit."

"That's what happened to Liu Kai, isn't it?" I asked, glancing at Elder Chen Yong. "He tried to force a connection to the Nexus before reaching the Life Realm."

"Precisely," my master confirmed. "He believed he had found a shortcut, a formation array that could temporarily elevate his inner world spirit's capabilities. What he didn't understand was that such elevation was like stretching a cloth until it tears. When it snapped back, both he and his inner world spirit were irreparably damaged."

I pondered this information, turning it over in my mind. "So, the Celestial Trade Nexus is essentially a marketplace that exists in its own dimension, and connecting to it requires a developed inner world spirit that can serve as an intermediary without being damaged by the process."

"A simplified explanation, but accurate in essence," Madam Butterfly nodded. "Now that you know, perhaps you can stop risking your life to discover this information through other means."

Elder Chen Yong leaned forward slightly. "And more importantly, you won't make the mistake of believing you're somehow different from all the others who have tried to access the Nexus prematurely."

"I have no plans to do that," I assured them, and I was being honest.

While Azure was more advanced than any inner world spirit in the Qi Condensation realm, perhaps even more advanced than Astralis, I wouldn’t put his sanity or my own at risk. However, that didn’t mean I couldn’t the blood statue in my inner world to see if I could great a legitimate connection to the Nexus.

Ke Jun was a former Civilization Realm expert, his essence, and even a part of his conscience, was locked within the statue. I just had to find a way to not only activate it, but control it.

"I'm glad to hear you're not asking for resources from the Nexus through us," Elder Chen Yong said, appearing pleased with my response.

"You don't owe me anything, Master,” I smiled. “It would be arrogant to assume you should simply hand such resources to me."

Madam Butterfly studied me for a moment longer, perhaps looking for signs of deception, before nodding slightly. "Well, it seems your disciple has more sense than most, Chen Yong. Perhaps there's hope for him yet."

"I've always said the boy has potential," Elder Chen Yong replied, a hint of pride in his voice.

As they continued talking, I let my thoughts drift inward briefly, to where Azure waited.

"What do you think about all this?" I asked silently.

"I think the Celestial Trade Nexus explains a great deal about how this world's cultivation economy functions," Azure replied thoughtfully. "But I also think we should be very careful about how we proceed with this information."

"Agreed. But it does open up interesting possibilities."

"Let me guess," Azure's tone held a mix of resignation and amusement, "you're thinking about the Blood Statue."

"Can you blame me? A Civilization Realm expert's conscience, if there's any way to safely leverage that connection without risking our sanity, it could be transformative."

"And if there isn't? Remember Liu Kai."

The broken cultivator's face flashed in my memory, his desperate eyes and bloody fingers clawing at the walls of his cell. Unlike him, I wasn't deluded enough to think I was special or exempt from the rules that governed cultivation.

But I did have one advantage he hadn't possessed, the world Tree World Sutra and the insights gained from the Two Suns World as well as the Starhaven Realm, created a unique confluence of understanding that might offer approaches others hadn't considered.

My connection to the Starhaven Realm as well as my influence over it, only grew by the day. Astralis must have a link to the Nexus, before I begin experimenting with the blood statue, it would probably be best to see if I can scavenge some gains from the stingy spirit.

"I won't become like that," I promised, returning to the conversation. "We'll be cautious. Methodical. No reckless experiments."

"Your definition of 'reckless' concerns me sometimes," Azure replied dryly.

I suppressed a smile, returning my full attention to the conversation between Elder Chen Yong and Madam Butterfly. They had moved on to discussing recent developments in the formation field, a neutral topic that seemed to have temporarily defused the tension between them.

As I watched them interact, I couldn't help but note how the dynamics between powerful cultivators were fascinating and often Byzantine in their complexity. How many centuries had this dance between them been going on, with Elder Chen Yong entirely oblivious to her intentions?

It was strange to think that beings of such power and wisdom could still struggle with something as fundamentally human as romantic connection. Perhaps immortality didn't grant immunity to the basic complexities of the heart.

"We should return to the sect," Elder Chen Yong announced, setting down his empty teacup. "I have responsibilities to attend to, and my disciple needs rest after his journey."

Madam Butterfly inclined her head slightly. "Of course. Don't let me keep you from your... wine tasting, or whatever it is you do these days."

There it was again, that barbed comment that masked something more like invitation. I wondered, not for the first time, if I should say something, perhaps nudge my master toward understanding, but decided against it.

I had promised myself I wouldn’t get involved; it’s best I stick to it.

As we rose to leave, Madam Butterfly's eyes met mine one last time. "Remember what you saw today, Ke Yin. Some prizes aren't worth the cost."

I bowed respectfully. "I'll remember."

But as we departed the Formation Guild and made our way back toward the main sect grounds, my mind was planning my return to the Starhaven Realm.

"What are you thinking about so intently?" Elder Chen Yong asked as we walked.

"Just processing everything I learned today," I replied honestly. "It's a lot to take in."

"Knowledge is a burden sometimes,” he agreed. “But I believe you'll carry it better than most."

His faith in me was touching, and I felt a twinge of guilt for already considering ways to push boundaries. But wasn't that the cultivator's path? To seek advancement, to challenge limitations, to strive for the seemingly impossible?

The key difference between me and Liu Kai wouldn't be in the ambition, but in the approach. Where he had rushed headlong toward power, I would proceed with caution and contingencies. Where he had worked alone, I had Azure, Yggy, and the Genesis Seed, to keep me grounded.

As we reached the main sect grounds, Elder Chen Yong paused.

"The sect tournament begins soon," he remarked, seemingly changing the subject. "Will you participate?"

"Yes, Master,” I nodded. “A certain senior ensured I had no choice but to.”

Elder Chen Yong nodded, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Then I suggest you focus your energy there for now. The mysteries of higher realms will still be waiting when you're ready for them."

With that gentle redirection, he patted my shoulder and turned toward his cottage on the outskirts of the sect. I watched him go, appreciating his subtle guidance even as I knew I wouldn't be entirely heeding it.

Despite Wu Kangming reassuring me that he didn’t intend to turn our battle into a death match, I still wanted to ensure that I was at a level where my life wouldn’t be in his hands, and the only way to do that was by securing resources that would help me breakthrough.

For better or worse, my sight was set on the Celestial Trade Nexus.

"Master," Azure's voice held a note of resignation, "why do I feel we're about to embark on another questionable experiment?"

"Because you know me too well," I replied silently, a smile spreading across my face as I turned toward my quarters. "But don't worry, this time, we'll take it slow."

"That's what you always say," Azure sighed. "And yet somehow, we still end up in situations where 'slow' and 'careful' are distant memories."

I couldn't exactly argue with that assessment. But this time would be different. It had to be. I'd seen the consequences of failure firsthand, and I had no intention of becoming another cautionary tale in the Formation Guild's underground prison.

The Celestial Trade Nexus might be a path to power, but only if approached with the respect such dangerous knowledge deserved. And if there was one thing my journey across worlds had taught me, it was how to walk dangerous paths without losing myself along the way.

Or at least, that's what I hoped.