Silver Extreme did not hesitate to grab this opportunity.
He had a minor competition with Warrior of Spring when trying to recruit Dawn.
Of course, Silver Extreme succeeded.
Although failure would not necessarily rid the opportunity of him from seeking aid from Dawn later, the tides spanned a few weeks.
Silver Extreme was stuck trying to create a Qi Trait, despite his years of experience. He felt subtle unrest about this topic.
He did not want to wait when the solution to his problems that was right in front of him.
Dawn had a Qi Trait, one which she cultivated through her own intense efforts.
While the method of refining Qi to produce a Qi Trait was not hidden, the process seemed to vary between Cultivators.
The first step was somewhat similar to assimilating Dao Arts, but far more complex.
Cores are self-sustaining masses of Qi. A Cultivator's Core draws Qi in from the surrounding environment and refines it into Human Qi.
Human Qi is innately mundane, but capable of powering a myriad Dao Arts and their various alignments.
Assimilated Dao Arts sustain themselves by using Qi Cores as their medium.
Qi Traits are not simply Dao Arts, but the properties of the Qi itself.
It doesn't just apply a constant effect to the Qi, but transmutates the mundane Human Qi to have a unique effect.
However, retaining the vast prospects of Human Qi while changing its effect is difficult.
Qi traits can be a powerful addition to one's strength, and an amplifier to their Dao Arts.
On the contrary, it can conflict with Dao Arts, prioritising one's strength.
"I understand how to change Qi to an extent. My refinement capabilities are not meagre."
"However, I do not understand how to retain the vast prospects of Human Qi."
"Whenever I reach a point in the refinement process, I always seem to balance on the end of beneficial change and detrimental change."
Silver Extreme relayed his problems.
He understood the process, but was never able to take that final step.
Or rather, take the true step to success.
If he failed in his refinement, refining his Human Qi into a different type of Qi, it could seriously harm his cultivation.
Dawn thought for a while as she played with her soup.
"You are not afraid of change, and you are not afraid of losing yourself. This is preventing you from realising the true steps of refining a Qi Trait."
"What do you mean?"
"You do not wish to lose your cultivation, yes? Losing the prospects of Human Qi worries you."
"If I take that final step, or misstep, then my decades of cultivation would go to waste."
Dawn shook her head, seeing the fault in Silver Extreme's judgment.
As to why he could not take that 'final step', it was not a matter of skill or experience.
"Human Qi is an expression of one's self. It is an important part of a Cultivator."
"But its prospects in cultivation do not make it important. It is why Human Qi has vast prospects, and is also 'mundane'."
"It is a part of you, which is why it is so important. This is where you fail in your refinement."
"You do not wish to lose the prospects of your Human Qi, but you should instead focus on losing the Human Qi itself."
"In other words, you are not showing concern for your 'self'. You might have deviated from your Way."
Dawn's words were like a dunk of cold water.
However, something poked at Silver Extreme's ego.
"You are claiming that I have faltered my Way?"
"Perhaps. I do not mean to say you neglect your cultivation, but something must have set you on the wrong path."
"..."
Silver Extreme thought about her words, arguing against her judgment in his mind.
'Could I have stepped off the path of my way? No. I couldn't have.'
'I've dedicated myself earnestly to my cultivation, I am a State Cultivator, how could I have faltered?'
'...Am I not Silver Extreme?'
With a sigh, he straightened himself and continued to seek answers.
"Friend Dawn, could you elaborate on what you mean? I don't think I understand."
"You have sought to refine a Qi trait, but countless failures have left you full of desire and satisfaction."
"That... may be true."
"But it has also marked you with failure."
"Failure...? Naturally, I have failed countless times."
"Then that is your problem."
Raising a bow, Silver Extreme beckoned Dawn to explain herself.
"Your failures have driven you astray from your Way. You are not seeking success, but to escape failure."
Silver Extreme's expression fell solemn.
There was a flash of understanding in his eyes as he leaned back into his chair, seemingly lost in thought.
'I have failed too much, and now I don't seek success anymore, I run from failure.'
'How have I overlooked something so simple? I must have pushed this too far back in my mind.'
'So... I was lost. I prided myself too much on my cultivation, so that when I faced failure, I strayed from the path of my Way.'
'I wanted to prove my cultivation, not to prove my Way, and that is where I falter in my refinement.'
'I was not trying to retain my Way, but my cultivation.'
After a few breaths' time, it was as if the mist had cleared from his mind.
"Thank you, Dawn... You have helped me realise my shortcomings."
"Please, all is fine."
"I will take my leave. You have my gratitude, call out my name if you need help."
Dawn watched as Silver Extreme left.
It was a quick discussion. Unfortunately, her soup had already fallen cold.
With a sigh, she instilled her Qi into the bowl.
Channelling her Qi for a moment allowed the ceramic to warm up, thus warming her bowl.
She couldn't help but reminisce on the nights before their departure.
The Army Hall of Union Settlement was where they first met.
It was then that Silver Extreme and Warrior of Spring fought over Dawn's aid.
In the end, she helped Silver Extreme.
Should Warrior of Spring fail to develop his Qi Trait, he would likely pursue Dawn for Aid after the tides.
Dawn couldn't help but reminisce about another figure.
'Sun...'
He had followed Warrior of Spring to Corpse Mountain Settlement.
She wondered how their preparations were going, knowing that they were taking different approaches to defending against the tides of beasts and Spirits.
However, she was also concerned about Sun himself.
She hoped that he would only find the right path of his Way to walk on.
That failure wouldn't drive him off the path of his Way if it hadn't already.