Eternal Saṃsāra: The Wanderer of Worlds [36] Mt. Fuji

[36] Mt. FujiChapter 36: Mt. Fuji

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We reached Fujinomiya City a bit after the clock hit 6 PM. It was a long three hours of journey, that would have been shorter if not for the traffic.

Fujinomiya is the closest city to Mount Fuji. From it, the entire mountain is visible like a proud titan looming over the world. We were not in the center of the city, of course, we were on the very outskirts of it.

Here, while we were still on the bus, we got to see the sun setting in the west while the moon was behind the mountain, casting a hungry shadow over the world.

Finally, the bus stopped and we got off. It was indeed a resort on top of a hill area, a classic Japanese house with hot springs and stuff. This place had the best view of the mountain that was a bit far away from us.

"Whooh!" We got off the bus as the girls whistled and the guys stretched. We were at the gate of the resort, and only now did we realize that it truly was an onsen. It was then that we saw the production director running toward us.

"You kids finally made it," he stopped and said. "Take so rest, get comfortable in your rooms. All the guys are in one room, and the girls in another. We'll gather in the girls' room in two hours, then we'll do so quick shooting. We need the footage for tomorrow."

So the shooting was going to begin at 8. I turned my head around to take a look at my surroundings and then was led inside along with everyone.

A small and tranquil garden surrounded the onsen bathhouse. It was then surrounded by tall granite walls, the front yard we stepped into was an oasis of peace and tranquility far from the bustle of the city. The sound of water running in the hot spring sowhere around us, that we couldn't see yet, caused a trickling stream to run through the garden, its sweet lody filling the ears of the visitors. Tall trees provided shade and a place to rest under the soft light of the moon.

Surprisingly, I didn't sense any other guests here, which was odd. Was the show going so well that the production could afford to rent out the entire onsen for us? Keeping my mind busy with thoughts like that, we reached our room as we stepped in.

….

Since I ca right from my school, there was no luggage to worry about, I only had my school bag. I didn't care to pack bags for this since I was notified that the production would be providing us luggage filled with clothes; it was the things we bought back in the shopping mall episode.

From my luggage, I chose a casual soft but tight black shirt and loose white sweatpants, making my chest muscles pop pretty nicely.

"Damn bro, nice pecs."

"Thanks."

After exchanging words with the guys, I decided to look around the place myself. I got out of my room and into the backyard. I needed to make sure about sothing.

Multiple small, knee-deep ponds stretched across the backyard, their dark waters were dotted with pale pink flowers that blood on the trees surrounding it. Stone platforms rise around the water of the lake, working as stepping stones for guests.

A simple tea house, with its moss-covered walls curving as if they were grown from the earth, sat on the edge of a particularly deeper pond. Its wooden benches and tables provide a comfortable, relaxing place to sit and enjoy the beautiful views while sipping on a hot cup of tea. The tea house emitted a soothing aroma of flowering herbs and warm, earthy scents.

"Beautiful place."

I did a quick scan with my Jade Perception to see if anyone was looking at .

I had to be careful, I wasn't feeling goofy at that mont, unlike when I was ssing with m-Cho. I had an interesting feeling about this place. Not exactly this onsen, but that thing on the east.

When I sensed nobody, I circulated Qi within my energy channels in an intricate manner, pushing it into my feet, and then jumping on empty air. [Nimbus Stride] took on top of a tall tree in a second, as I landed in a thin branch and looked to the east.

"Not bad."

Atop this perch, any normal man would have experienced a sense of serene awe if they took in the breathtaking beauty of the majestic Mount Fuji in the distance. More so with my [Copper Eyes] that filled the world with so many colors of mana that it was almost nauseating.

The mountain's towering peak seed to touch the heavens, its mystical presence radiating a supernatural and ominous air about it. The gentle moonlight gleaming off its snow-capped slopes was further augnted by the hazy shadow cast across the rolling hills and valleys. The sight of this subli landscape evoked a sense of humility and reverence, and I was reminded of the imnse power of nature and the smallness of human existence within it.

I would have been chard if I hadn't seen peaks that really did touch heaven. This thing was just three kiloters tall, while I have been to worlds a thousand tis the size of Earth, where there were peaks that were a thousand kiloters long.

Still, this one's not bad. Moreover, places like this were rare, as it is a volcano with snow covering it. There were a thousand types of natural aura around it; its peak is a very good place to cultivate a Storm Path.

"I have three days here," I muttered. "Let's see… I need to sohow get on top of it. Then again, even if I get there, I don't think I can spend much ti there… Haah."

What can three days even do? A local teleportation portal on top of the mountain would have been much better. This world is so trash, unsuitable for cultivators.

"Oh well." I shrugged, leaping into the air, towards the mountain. "I have two hours on hand. Can't waste that." I shot through the air like a rocket, and into the mountain.

My feet kicked the branch and I closed my eyes to recall and use a new technique. Now that I had learned all of my available Cloud techniques, it was ti to choose a new one. I chose one from my Lightning set.

[Thunderstep: The user strikes the ground with a burst of Lightning Qi, creating shockwaves that propel him into the air. He can chain multiple Thundersteps together to perform mid-air maneuvers or reach elevated positions.]

This isn't optimal for flying, but rather for short bursts of speed. I used Thunderstep to kick the tree and leap hundreds of ters ahead, and then switched to Nimbus Stride to reach the mountaintop.

* * *

It took a few minutes, but I was soon three kiloters up from the surface. My eyes wandered as I looked around the snow-covered volcano, with clouds right outside of it. This place was so rich in nature. For once on this poor planet, my Copper Sight was brimming with colors.

I strode through the air and around the place. I paused when I reached the hole, the mouth of the volcano. Deep red magma was boiling on it; it was the size of a small room though. Mount Fuji has been dormant since 1707, more than three hundred years, but it might erupt anyti.

I doubt it will, though.

Given what my eyes were seeing.

"Such intricate rune sealing," I whistled as I saw the magical sealing around the mouth. More than that, my eyes were drawn into the purple mortal that existed a few ters above the lava. "Huh, what's this? I wonder where that leads."

I wanted to check it out right now, but who knows how long I'll spend inside if I went in now? I had to hold back the urge because I had shooting in two hours.

"I'm here to cultivate," I muttered as I flew to the hard surface and dropped to my feet. "Let's get into it asap."

I dropped down on a lotus position, putting my phone in an alarm clock, and then closed my eyes.

With a deep breath, I started to take in the atmosphere, feeling the cold air bite into my skin and the humidity of the water in every breath. The blaze of the fire Qi gave life to the scenery, as if the light from the sun were a living being, but I didn't absorb it, I didn't need fire. The area trembled with the power of the earth Qi, but I didn't take it either.

No, instead, I breathed in, I focused on the Water Qi from the lted snow, the sharp Wind Qi from the atmosphere, Cloud Qi from the skies around , and Lightning Qi from the dark clouds created thanks to the volcano. Four kinds of Qi filled my veins, giving a surge of energy along with a sharp tingle in my bones.

My body was one with the elents, my breath blending in a symbiotic relationship with them. I felt at peace.

The Heaven and Earth Purification didn't let enjoy the peace though, I had to focus as I grinded all the Qi inside my body, into a deeper form than that existed in the atmosphere.

Like that, the two hours passed in no ti.

* * *

[Third Person Point of View]

Her face was like a piece of the moon, her eyes like two stars, while her long pink-red hair represented the heat of the earth's depth, yet at the sa ti, the joy of cherry blossoms. The Shinto Goddess of All Volcanoes, her hand resting on top of her large round chest, found herself curious as she frowned.

Konohanasakuya-hi looked down at her water bowl with a thoughtful expression on her face.

[Image Here]

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