Fang Hu entered the second bout much more confidently than the first. His newfound training made it so Ho Fan couldn't even stand against him. To Fang Hu, his opponent was as easy to read as a book, and about as easy to beat in a fight as well. Of course, our hero thought this was all due towards his new combat technique. This was, in fact, untrue. It was due to his power that he was able to tell the trajectory of the attack, the fact that he knew what to do with that information was due to the technique.
Our hero's second opponent was much more agreeable than the last, he seemed to be stronger than the last and portrayed eagerness, instead of the snarky attitude of the first fighter. As much as Fang Hu liked the change in attitude, he decided against going any easier on his opponent, only because he felt his opponent wanted that way. Emboldened by his first win, Fang Hu wasted no time rushing towards adversary. One side-stepped spear strike and a blow towards the midsection later, and Xue Ping contrasted Ho Fan beautifully as he flew out of the ring.
It wasn't until much later that Fang Hu started to question why he was so much more capable than the Pheasant's Tail cultivators. The final straw was when he saw a deviation in a saber cultivator's qi reinforcement technique and was able to use it to shatter the saber in question. The crowd was just as silent as the first time that night. They had just witnessed a cultivator shatter a heavy saber with one hand while using the other to jab his opponent in the face. While the crowd was cheering after another announcement by the chief, Fang Hu was questioning himself.
'Why was I able to do that? While the second stage cultivators I could believe. But including that guy, my last two opponents have been in the third stage, just like me. Sure they aren't at their bottleneck yet, but I can barely tell the difference between the two. Wait... what was those xianxia novels always talking about? Dao pillars? Are those a thing? If they are, why can't I see them?'
And then, through the sheer force of will knowing they should be there changed his status pages to reflect the dao pillars existence.
'So, what will that tell me about chuckle-fuck over here?'
~~~
Cheng
20 yrs old
Roots: N/A
Cultivation: 0/13
Body Cultivation: Qi gathering 3/13 12.00% Trash
Techniques: Inner Body Cultivation
Way of the Smashing Fist
Powers: N/A
Background: A young disciple of the Pheasant's Tail Tribe. Very Eager.
Potential: Low-High
~~~
'Trash?! What is the ranking system for dao pillars?! What even IS a dao pillar'
~~~
Dao Pillar:
A measurement of how well one's cultivation follows a greater dao truth. The stronger the dao pillar the more stable one cultivation is and the denser one's qi becomes. Some daos are greater than others, but all daos can be mastered to perfection. Note: the more dense your qi is, the more powerful it becomes, but having denser qi does nothing to slow qi flow. Meaning having dense qi does nothing to stop the gathering of qi.
Dao Measurements:
Trash- You barely know your Dao. If you have it, it is likely you have never practiced with it.
Very Poor
Poor
Average
Good
Very Good
Great
Perfect- You cannot perfect your dao any further. If you were to try, it is likely you will just unlock a different dao.
~~~
'Huh!? Can I ask questions to the system, or was that put into my glossary by the backstory? I still need to read all of my glossary, there were literal thousands of updates.'
Our hero did then what was only reasonable. He checked his own status.
~~~
Fang Hu
15 yrs old
Roots: Non-elemental 12.83%
Cultivation: Qi Gathering 3/13 99.99% Very Poor
Body Cultivation: Qi Gathering 0/13
Techniques: Basic Snake Breath Cultivation Technique
Spiral Snake Striking Fist
Powers: Understanding
Theoretical Test
Background: An exiled disciple of the Spiral Snake Scholar Sect. Despite his low potential, was able to use his powers to succeed in the sect. Thirsts for knowledge... and sex.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Potential: Low-High
~~~
'Hey! My background makes me sound like a horny teenager! Which... I suppose I am now. *sigh* No, focus, Hu. You only have so much time before Cheng over there stops playing up the audience. Think, Hu, Think. Think system, think status pages. What is different between us. ... ... Techniques! My powers had descriptions, why shouldn't techniques have them to?'
And through a sheer stroke of brill- *Wheeze* Haha, who am I kidding, that's common sense, it's more like he's stupid for not thinking of it before. Well, I suppose dying and being put in a teenagers body would put anyone off their A game. It took a qi high, which is more like an adrenaline high than a meth high, two days worth of moping, and the prospect of immortality to make himself feel better. Even then, what made him carry on with his life was more thirst and hunger than anything else.
... Anyway, he scanned the techniques of himself and his newest opponent.
~~~
Inner Body Cultivation
A primitive way to force qi to strengthen your body, damaging towards your inner qi pathways. Would take a miracle to reach foundation establishment.
Way of the Smashing Fist
Unleashes qi towards your fists, making each punch release shockwaves on impact. Overuse can damage hands.
Basic Snake Breath Cultivation Technique
A basic, yet powerful cultivation technique that follows the snake dao, a lesser dao of the dao of beasts. Can reach core formation early stage if cultivated perfectly.
Spiral Snake Striking Fist
A martial art, focusing on evading and parrying then counter-attacking. Pieced together by a talented Spiral Snake Scholar Sect Member, recently exiled. Several low-level and mid-level disciples still use it. Uses qi in a variety of ways to attack while also fortifying the hands to use as weapons. Has a movement based sub-technique that can only be used when facing a single opponent on wide, open ground. Strengthens the snake dao when practiced, and boasts a low qi consumption rate compared to similar techniques.
~~~
'Well, you can certainly tell which technique the system favors. Maybe it's because the system made it, I think. It could have just yoinked credit away from someone else. ...Moreso than the dao pillars, this is probably the cause of the disparity of strength. I wonder if it really is impossible for me to take on the ch-'
"Is contestant Fang Hu Ready to take on challenger Cheng?"
*S-sorry, I lost track of time.*
"Apologies, my mind wanders when I'm idle for too long."
*I'm ready to win!*
"Is it time for me to win yet?"
This statement gave the audience a laugh, and gave Cheng a slap to the face. Cheng ran into battle to avenge his honor, and did about as well as one can do when he's been outgunned to this extent... not a single scratch.
"Does anyone else within the 3rd stage of qi gathering care to take on Fang Hu!"
There was silence, almost no one would dare to take on the man who breezed through most of the top talents of the clan without breaking a sweat. But, out of the 3rd stage qi gathering cultivators, there is one man. The man could have easily done the same thing as the youth had done tonight. The man has more techniques than the chief himself. Having reached the same level of cultivation as the challenger himself, he would not allow this challenge stand.
"The next challenger has approached! This might be a closun' folks! Tonight, we will see if Fang Hu can handle. Our. Long. Dong!"
'Pft... HAHAHhahAHAhhhAaaaaa... HAH... hahahahahahahahahahah.'
"You seem amused. Do you think anyone here can take the majestic Long Dong!?"
'HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!'
*Y-y-you're chief could, right?*
"Of course! Surely Wo-Kong can take Long Dong, right?"
"I am sure even our great chieftain would struggle taking Long Dong!"
'OH GOD, PLEASE STOP, I CAN'T TAKE IT!'
*HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH*
"Heheheh."
For some odd reason, Long Dong took offense towards Fang Hu chuckling in response towards his statement.