My skin restored to a normal dark brown but any hint of 'liveliness' hasn't come back. I'm still cold, in a way I'm just 'room temperature' in kind with the cold and dreary forest we're traveling through.
I was now on my Steel Fortress Sect robes since our job is done, it was best to not have any unnecessary people causing trouble on our way back. Unfortunately, while this accounts for normal people, I wouldn't be so sure about beasts and malevolent people.
Breathing in, I could still taste the cold albeit differently, it was the strange cold that came from the Yin Qi in the air that affected both my body and soul. Unsurprisingly, I have complete resistance for these, thankfully I can still feel it despite my abilities because I wouldn't want to be an ignorant guy who doesn't even know if something is wrong just because it won't kill him.
The smell of nature was also suppressed by the cold and a distinct delicate and ditzy scent. I began to realize that people happen to live day to day in this kind of environment. I could tell that people would suffer from Yang deficiency, Yin deviancy, or maybe even changes to the mental state on a soul level over the generations...
Hmm, once I become a Mystery Pryer, I would love to pry into the mysteries of Natural Qi...
That said, my heightened senses picked up something more stronger and pungent. Spreading my spirituality out, I suddenly could 'sense' through my soul a fog, no, a mist, a light kind of fog, and it's increasing in intensity.
Suddenly I saw it, a hint that I can only saw with my night vision, the mist is spreading from a giant snow colored moth with black spots trailing down its wings hidden by the flowing white bordering grey cascading outwards.
"Chilmoth!", Every breath I took from now on seemed colder than the last and I might start feeling it inside my lungs and nostrils.
Zhao Zhaohui unsheathes his sword, he must have been relaxed after the mission but I will review upon his slight mistake in a dangerous forest like this after we get back to the sect.
Cao Yingjie on the other hand had been holding his jian and only took a stance on my words, the right attitude to be on guard.
Cao Xiaosi was the worst out of all of us when it comes to reaction time, maybe it was because he is too observant? He makes up for the loss in his perceptiveness, hence he didn't lag behind us too much. I already noticed in real time how his face changed slowly like how one could describe 'a bad feeling welled up in Cao Xiaosi' in a novel. It truly looked like someone who went paranoid for no reason if I wasn't someone who also noticed the discrepancies.
No wait, then that meant I looked like a paranoid person, thank Midnight that I'm the leader.
Assessing my knowledge about the Chilmoth, I ran ahead while tensing my muscles, the best way to deal with this tricky monster would be to rush at it, "Follow close behind! Don't split in the fog! And watch around!"
I needed to come first, I can't let the Chilmoth loose inside the fog, I need the tie it down with me in an upfront battle and lure my teammates in like a pincer attack.
"Oh-.", I just realized there wasn't one but two. I can't handle 2 beasts in the Qi Condensation realm. They're even stronger than an actual Qi Condensation practitioner and could be comparable to a Body Transformation practitioner, with the dangerous dual attributes of both yin and ice I would have run away at the first site of them.
But with a team with me, we could reap the spoils and 'contribute' it to the sect for some 'remuneration'.
The two large pair of eyes zoned on my quickly, seeing as I've entered their 'hunting zone', I challenged them in the game of death with my shield aimed at their torsos. They we much larger in size than me, so I attacked under the cover of my shield blocking against the first Chilmoth's deathly claws, the sounds of scraping metal ringed in my ears so vividly that I thought I would cringe but my battle hardened instincts, commonly Combat Proficiency didn't allow me to relent to redundant idiosyncrasies.
Iron Joint Combat
A set of moves using fists, elbows, knees and shins. This technique enhances the joints to become better flexible, stronger, and harder like iron. Speed is slightly stunted but is kept at minimum at perfection.
Jabbing straight for the insectoids waist and landing a hit, the creature tries and fails to claw onto my shield and falls back a step which gave space for the other moth monster behind it to attack diagonally on a side I haven't guarded.
Wind Cloud Steps (Incomplete)
A set of 25 steps into the 9 directions. This technique lightens the footwork and specializes in gliding allowing the feet to become better agile, dexterous, and speedy. There is problem building momentum using this technique but is solved when learnt at perfection.
Like a puff of wind, I advance once again, identifying the insect beast to be lunging which revealed a flaw from up close. I took advantage of my speed to land another powerful burst while planting my feet strongly on the ground. My joints cackled as I caved my fist into the insect.
Earthen Indomitable (Incomplete)
A set of stances that focus on the lower body. This technique draws it's strength from the ground that the practitioner's feet step on which improves stability, endurance, and the building of momentum. There is a momentary drop in agility when using the technique which is fixed to become seamless at perfection.
Ember Knuckles
A boxing technique utilizing the knuckles of the fist. This technique creates a burst of strength, power, and speed. It is unfortunately simple and not elusive but when practiced to perfection allows quick and swift continuous use.
Then it came to me, a thought I don't take lightly. Having realized and taken upon inspiration, my blood boils. I grit my teeth. I should do it. It's a matter of will.
The insectoid screeches and writhes in pain as it stabs my side, I breath in, struggling, grunting, pulling, thrashing. then out came the intestines, the bloody red and puke inducing longitudinal came out as I pulled away, "KKSIIII!", a terrible sound kept assaulting my eardrums, drumming loud enough to my chest.
Pain assaulted my side, it's under necrotic effects, albeit at a crawling pace, negligible to a Corpse Collector. Now, biologically and normally, animals with the ability of the cold should have defenses against their own attacks, but if I'm able to expose them to their own elements...
I notice the insect beast shiver for a moment before it stopped releasing its cold mist, making annoying sounds that made me wish I had Beast Tamer sequence, if I were any ordinary person, I shouldn't have placed too much attention on this detail because the first moth-like monstrosity its way quickly to me.
But I wasn't a normal person, it is all according to my plan, at least my plan on the fly.
I could see it's eagers and hungered eyes, I noticed that detail because I was now holding onto bloody innards and some liquids that I hate to admit were foreign gastric juice with a high percent of it probably not belonging to the Chilmoth in the first place. It wanted to cannibalize it's fellow's innards for stomach soup? I am perplexed, confuzzled even.
Bright Light Sword
This technique uses the property of light in swordsmanship. Using this technique creates light movements with a burning and bright coat. Practicing to perfection makes it hard for anyone to see the swordsmanship.
Fire Dance Sword
This technique uses a wild and strong type of swordsmanship. Using this technique will cleave and burn through wherever it cuts. Practicing to perfection makes the swordsmanship like waves of dancing fire, increasing the distance and reach of the blade.
Swift Shadow Sword
This technique uses the property of shadow in swordsmanship. Using this technique creates shadow movements with elusive and hidden coat. Practicing to perfection makes the swordsmanship like a fleeting shadow.
It's claws met shining metal, blinding the Chilmoth, and past it stuck out a sword, wild like fire and cleaving through the beast's arm. Another claw met a quick hidden jian and in turn caught a wound.
Tao Dew Shield
This technique uses the principle of momentum. When using a shield, the force of attacks could be received and redirected. This technique is not very offensive but practice to perfection improves the principle to suppress piercing force.
Taking the opportunity, I built my own momentum from the ground and aim for the insect's neck, drawing out stinking blood, coating my silver shield in blood.
Then, upon the vestige of the moment, in second decibel, a spark of realization, enlightenment, but something entirely different from before.
A change in stance—change in form. My talent unraveled, the power of my sequence shining. Something I once struggled to comprehend felt unbounded, a knot come loose.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Iron Joint Combat: Perfection
Ember Knuckles: Perfection
My speed became less rigid as my movement became more fluid, like oil dabbed into cogs, my joints released from invisible chains through this change. My fist balled and fiery, simply punching out one to another, embers were negligible in effect but the simplistic power in number turns a dying flame into a burgeoning fire!
Seemingly comical from a third point of view, one might see me throwing out a barrage of punches aimlessly yet perceptive martial artists would see the visions of an engine powered haymaker machine, or whatever could describe this combination of martial arts.
Bruises and broken...chitin? In any case, it is a takedown I wholly delved into. If I had the strength, my curiosity would have taken the better of me, prompting me to tear the insect apart for shits and giggles.
Without a doubt, I still have that cold blood within me, both literally and metaphorically.
Breathing out the cold, I could feel the cadaveric power on my side has come to a halt, which is about time. I glance at the second beast whose bowels were out in the open for me, with insectoid head writhing and twitching, giving me a shiver not out of fear, but pain disgust.
As I willed, I wanted to finish the job, so I dealt with it. Cao Yingjie made his way surprisingly quickly to the monster thought and dealt a shining blow at the same holed torso. My assistance came through in the form of another uppercut using my round and bladed metal. Yingjie finished the job, the same with Zhaohui and Xiaosi who dealt with the first monster.
Looking back I could see the bug's head cut of and burnt slightly, nevertheless cold in the receding misty environment.
The others were shivering and breathing out puffs of white so I immediately had them marching off ahead of me if they wanted some heat.
Zhaohui stayed behind as his qi allowed himself to warm up fairly quickly, allowing the both of us to deal with the corpses quickly.
"One monster will cost 10 will give us 10 spirit stones.", Zhao Zhaohui exuberantly chattered.
"Imagine the amount of tea I could buy!", I joked.
"Ten boxes of expensive tea, are you crazy?", Zhaohui exclaimed in feigned seriousness.
"There is nothing I won't sacrifice for fine tea!"
"You two have the insect meat, right?", Yingjie, the ever foodie did not consider the implications of meat with Yin attributes but honestly, the right amount of ingredients would make it edible anyway.
"One of you better not have kept some of the parts cuz we're splitting it, well maybe Li Yong should get more...", Xiaosi sternly commented before getting lost in his own reward system.
"Of course we're splitting the damn monsters. We're all getting a cut out of this. But don't eat the meat, I'm don't want to come back to the sect with a corpse.", I wave them off. We've become close enough to debacle like this, makes me wonder about the quick bond formed in just a mission, clearly, the simplicity brings much joy to my everyday life.
The aftermath of the battle didn't leave us in a state of weakness at all, rather, we were strengthened, such is the life of a martial artist, the world is our whetstones while we are the blades.
I took in the ever silent forest, once noisy battlefield due to our clamor, now serene but strange and twisted due to it aura. Still withered and dilapidated as the eye can see, cold the touch and extensive wherever we go.
Thankfully, we're headed where the sun shines brightly, to a sect where trees stand upright and flowers bloom colorfully. I could just smell the faint scents. Didn't think I'd miss that place so soon, is this how foreigners feel?
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Things are well and dandy, 35 spirit stones for my cultivation needs. Well I could save 5 coins in my savings for my date with Shengai. As for others... I had just the idea.
Looking at my hands were 4 copies of techniques that I written from the Scripture Hall. Not all techniques could be brought back or copied from but any good cultivator with vast memory could write word for word on paper after read the technique a good amount of times.
So I bought 2 Low Green Martial Techniques, 5 coins each and 2 Mid Green Martial Techniques, 10 coins each.
26 Rock Forms, Low Green
A set of forms focusing on the stability and strength of the body. This technique allows the additional build up of inner strength. Practice to perfection reduces the forms to 13, increasing the ease and balance of the practitioner.
Spring Gust Footwork, Low Green
Martial art that uses the whole arms and legs in combat. The practitioner uses their limbs as sharp and bladed weapons, tearing through with formidable strength. At perfection, the bones will become like steel, spears and swords.
Flame Fume Fists, Mid Green
Fist technique the utilizes the principle of bursting inner strength. Throwing fists in bursts create plumes of flames in great amounts. At perfection, the plume with swallow a boar.
On that note,
Iron Joints Combat, Low Green
Ember Knuckles, Low Green
Tao Dew Shield, Low Green
Earthen Indomitable, Mid Green
Wind Cloud Steps, Mid Green
This also means that other techniques are also graded the same.
Black Iron Scripture, Low Green
Strengthening method on the outer body. Tempering slowly like iron and increasing strength, endurance, defense, and stamina. At Completion, the body will exert the strength of an additional 250 pounds.
White Iron Scripture, Low Green
Strengthening method on the inner body. Tempering slowly like iron and increasing strength, endurance, defense, and stamina. At Completion, the body will exert the strength of an additional 250 pounds.
Copper Gourd, Mid Green
Cultivating this technique turns the practitioner's qi into Copper Gourd Qi. This is a metal attribute technique with slight resistance against fire attributes. At Completion, the body with exude the scent of the Copper Gourd.
From how it's indicated. Low to Mid to High, then from Green to Red to... well I don't know actually... a High Red grade technique is enough for one to become a Golden Core in any of the three Corner Daos of Cultivation, Qi, Body, and Soul.
While buying the Low Green Techniques were to strengthen my foundation, I took two Mid Green Techniques to find something I lack; something I missed when trying to understand Earth Indomitable and Wind Cloud Steps. There must have been a reason and I am here to find out.
And find out I did, it wasn't out of my expectations but the simple problem really placed a dent in my future cheezing- I mean development. A part of performing these techniques require the movement of qi in the meridians resulting in various effects in tandem with martial arts.
With this single point, my endeavors in copying other martial artists have been road blocked, unless I have an ability to see the movement of their qi then I would only be able to copy their moves superficially without reaping the full and intended benefit.
It doesn't matter anyway, I can still buy these techniques. Anyways, I should go wash my clothes. I find it slightly annoying that disciples have to obtain their own servants to do menial labor for them, usually core disciples or inner disciples would either failed trial disciples or even some stagnant outer disciples for service.
Since I lived with my father in the village, I could provide my own labor; sadly at the cost of my time but it was a given. It reminded me of my previous life, I shouldn't have been so spoiled in such an era, I paid back several fold when I grew, made me think at that time whether I should have thanked or blamed my parents. Well, there was no use in crying over it; I became better; I became smarter, and that's what mattered.
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Holding and reviewing the techniques in paper, I could feel my moist hands touch upon the somewhat hard and smooth texture that is Chinese paper. I didn't know whether my hands were still wet from washing my clothes or because I performed the Flame Fume Fist a few times. Actually, I could also feel the sweat over my back, the hard work well spent, the sacrifices and diligence a Warrior must take on.
I thought upon it and came to a conclusion, a Warrior must endure, yes, but he should also acknowledge the weight of his duty, the effort he must spend, this is the weight of endurance, the understanding of a means to the end goal.
Damn, I feel pumped again, I should tone down my philosophical thoughts but being a cultivator gives me a huge amount of time to think. And someone from the 21st century is built to think about a lot of things in a short amount of time, the comparison to the ancient really puts into perspective how tortured the modern generation was. Funnily enough, they were forced upon it due to their limited lifespan too, not that they were helping on the situation due to pollution, smoking, and unhealthy lifestyles, but they did make good effort with medicine, something brought about ONLY because people got sick in the first place.
*Sigh*
Yeah, thank Midnight I'm not there anymore. I got up, I'm going to train a bit more before meeting Shengai in the afternoon.
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Picnic, an exciting and wondrous event that not everyone would appreciate. I was one of those people, being voluntary introvert in my past life did wonders to my social relations, thankful I did NOT develop a personality that brushed people away, in fact I could play my part in society; It was perfect, the benefits of an introverted with not suffering the negatives, with a few extroverted friends of mine, we could have ruled the world. But no, we talk shit, hit the gym— at least some of us, I take to exercise my own way—, then ignore the burning world by working or playing game then I guess talking more shit but targeted on sensitive topics to fuck around...
I both hate and love it. If I'm to live in this Xianxia then I should take charge, like, you know, treat my special someone to specially made sandwiches, thank Midnight again that I can make these, I know a lot of disciples here couldn't even cook have an egg even if they tried...well, that was me once, I still laugh at scared I that I placed my egg too high.
"What are you laughing about?", Shengai asked curiously. Her blindfold still there, I bet her beautiful eyes had been on me through my whole inner monologue, not that she minds. Not that I took so long to think too, cultivators have quick minds.
"I was laughing at my cooking skills."
"Really? I think you cook well!"
"I do now. Before, you would laugh too if you saw me. I cracked an egg from this height. All the yellow slid out of the cooking bowl! I'm lucky that the oil hadn't chosen my arm for that day's breakfast!", Trying to match my past with the cooking utensils of the now ancient China, I estimated a reasonable height using my hands.
"Ha-Pft-Hahaha!", Shengai immediately burst out of laughter, having not expected to hear that, trying and failing to keep her mouth shut, she just let it all out in the end.
"Haha, You were that bad? Ha!", She asks in between her giggles. Her effeminate voice flowing in the wind tingled my ear. She looks beautiful in front of the setting sun, the lights shine upon her silver hair. Oh shit, I got goosebumps.
"I'm serious. I felt scared— I hate to admit it— I raised the egg up high thinking the oil might jump at me.", I waved my hand high in my exaggerated and mock fearful tone.
"But-Haha! That makes the oil jump even further!", She further laughs.
"I know!", I almost whine out. Damn it, now I feel a tinge of embarrassment.
"Hey, at least I make good sandwiches now.", I point to her half eaten sandwich on hand.
"It's amazing.", As if to further her point, Shengai bites into it again...don't bite into it so beautifully! I'm starting to realize that she's learned a thing or two in the art of seduction, not a surprise from someone coming from a brothel.
"Hm, are you thinking about something again?", I wasn't trying to offensive!
"Everything you do seems to be enchanting.", I stare at her in the eyes as her own glanced over my smile.
"You learn a thing or two if you stay with Ms. Dahlia.", That's what I've been saying!
"I suppose, but you have your unique quirks."
"Like what?"
"Uh, I'm stumped on how to describe it.", I almost became nervous, this wasn't my first rodeo but that didn't mean I should take this more lightly than my last girlfriend. Thankfully, I'm a poet, a romantic at that.
"It's that modesty you give off. Maybe it's how you've kept you're chastity, it feels ethereal in the manner you show yourself.", I found the words to describe it, in a way I praised both her character and appearance.
"And don't compare yourself to Ms. Dahlia, even Ai for that matter, you are not a beauty that anyone just passes by. Pristine and... Fair, so lady-like.", No doubt, complimenting a beauty's beauty has not failed, the way you do it only the deciding matter. I can see her beaming, if not for literal sun behind her, I would have thought he glowed brighter.
"Like snow, silver, but not cold, warm, loving, and... mysterious; That blindfold is a tad mystifying.", I cup her cheek with my hand and trace my finger on her blinds, I feel slightly sad, my hands were cold, but that made what I felt warmer, hotter even.
"Shengai, I love you. As I promised, I will keep teaching you love. And for that, I will show you love.", I couldn't hold my adoration for this girl, seriously, she caught my heart first like I was a quick lunch grab, I was not, but she made it so.
"I love you too. Thank you, Li Yong", She her face onto my hand. soft. Her silhouette just happens to be outlines by orange. What is she? An angel perchance? Am I dreaming?
"A lesson for you: this is love. Not just the flesh you see in that godforsaken brothel. It's moments like these, a pure form of love forms.", I say above a whisper, as if telling her the hidden secrets of the world. She bites into her food again while paying attention. Cute.
She nods and melts into my hand even further. A fast learner, I say. I'm happy that I picked this hillside. Thankfully, not all the land inside the sect is pavement for that matter, as this small hill hasn't been turned into a medicine garden. Rather, at this moment, Shengai smelled of the only flower in this here hill.
I smile again, lovingly, well, these are joyful times.