“STUDENT?!?”
Sky sat there with a stunned face as he understood what Ernoldus just said.
“Why would you take me as a student? I am absolutely talentless! There must millions better off than me! I thank you for helping me, but there is no need to go this far.”
Suddenly, Ernoldus burst out laughing. Sky sat there stunned as an expert sat in front and him and laughed like a child.
“If you are talentless then the entire world should be content to be mortals. The only one currently that could really compare with you would be your sister. Perhaps an explanation would help you out. We will call this the first lesson as well.”
Nodding in confirmation to himself, Ernoldus stood up and motioned for Sky to do so also.
Not daring to disrespect an expert, Sky stood quickly. The moment he did so, the world froze for a moment before the camp vanished from his eyes.
Looking around in wonder Sky followed Ernoldus to the road as he looked back and forth between the man and the former campsite.
Ernoldus gave a lite cough to catch Sky’s attention before he began to speak in a much more serious tone than he used before.
“No matter what anyone says, every living thing possess qi. Qi is the essence of life, the only thing that changes is how much one has. More is not necessarily better, having a little just requires a rethinking in strategy. So to say that you have no qi is false. Qi is sealed naturally and by cultivating in a certain method attuned to a dao you can unlock the qi to use freely.”
Around them, the world seemed to blur as many li seemed to pass, but Sky did not notice it. He was too engrossed in the lesson.
“Daos are the fundamental truths of the world. They make up the world and give it substance. Daos are divided into multiple tiers, levels, stages, etc. Depending on the organization or area it is called differently. For us, as a part of the Heaven Serving Lineage, we deal with four main levels.”
“At the top is the Primal Dao, below that are the Great Daos, even further down are the Common Daos, and lastly are the Truthless Daos. There are relative strengths within each level, however, it a matter of opposites and suppression, not pure strength.”
“The ones we will largely deal with are Truthless Daos as aids and Great Daos as the main combat focus. Furthermore, your physique is related to a Great Dao”
Sky seemed to come shocked and confused at the same time. Smiling Ernoldus continued on.
“A physique is when a person is born attuned to a certain dao. It allows easier comprehension of that dao and related ones along with being a general power boost for against those of similar enlightenment. They are named after various things that hold significance for the dao.”
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“The Great Daos hold references to the 13 Zodiac Animals for physiques and other relations to them. Your sister, as an example, has a Dragon Physique, which allows her to be attuned to the Dao of Unity. You are her opposite and balance with a Rat Physique, it is part of the Dao of Separation. It is often misunderstood as a weak dao, however, to be the balance to Dao of Unity that is impossible for it to be true.”
“For that reason alone you have talent. The difficult part is that you embrace the dao to advance your physique. That means to act in line with the daos concept. You have been acting in line for so long regular cultivation techniques will not work since you have almost finished your physique.”
Sky had been following in a rather dazed state since he heard Ernoldus claim that he possessed a physique. When he heard about how he had almost finished his physique a thought popped into his head.
“Um, Master is that why I get headaches sometimes? I always had one when my sister meditated and I had one when I woke up in camp around you.”
Ernoldus paused to turn around and look at the boy. The surroundings that seemed to pause in a blurry focus.
“I wished you told me sooner. That means you are in a much more serious position than I initially thought. When we arrive I will place a seal on you to help mitigate it. I had planned on you getting some feel for a few Truthless Daos while we waited, but I guess that will have to wait as well. If we are lucky one be nearby. Some relaxation might do you good.”
Sky tilted his head. He thought he had heard something before, but this just confirmed it. His so-called master had a few screws loose apparently. He had to be careful to not fall into the same habit.
Suddenly, the world shifted once more before everything began to take focus once more.
“We are the edge of their territory, it would be best if we walked from here. Come now and stick close to me.”
Sky stepped a little closer to Ernoldus as he followed close to him.
Soon a gate appeared reading “Territory of the Long Clan!”
Sky felt a headache begin to form as each of the letters seemed to be filled with an immense intent. Then as soon as it started it started to dull. He could feel a second source counteracting the pressure. Looking towards his master, Sky saw him lift the corner of his mouth in a smile as he continued to walk.
Sky muttered a small thanks as he kept with him.
Passing through the gate the land around them seemed to change as the land itself seemed infused with the pressure from the gate. Yet, at the same time, it seemed gentler than the gate, almost nurturing in a way.
Soon after a village appeared within sight. At the edge of the village was several guards along with a couple that he could only call nobles with how they seemed to dress up, and the respect everyone around them gave.
As the approached the guards kneeled and the nobles bowed.
Sky felt flustered as he had no idea what was going on when the man of the couple spoke.
“Greetings, envoy. I am the current chief of Long Cun. My name is Long Jiandan. This is my wife, Long Xue. On behalf of my people and the ancestors I welcome you to our village once more.”
Ernoldus looked around, before nodding in approval.
“I thank you for your hospitality. If we could have lodging prepared for both me and my student. We will discuss business at a later time.”
Long Jiandan nodded before he ordered a few guards to go prepare a courtyard for them near the center of the village.
Sky noticed how a few of the younger guards seemed upset at how everything was happening but seemed to hold it in.
He had a feeling their stay would not be as peaceful as he hoped.