As Ezra heals his hand, he thinks back to that palm strike. Using his sharingan he was able to see everything wrong with the technique and slowly perfect it. While the current technique still has flaws, it's already something he cannot control.
If Ezra has the same problem as him, he needs to get her something to practice to strengthen her body, as direct combat seems a little impossible for her.
After a few minutes, she finally finishes healing his hand. While she is able to heal other people, it's not nearly as strong as his.
“Chem crum!” seeing that he's healed she goes to hit him again.
Putting up his hand he stops her “How do you like your clothes?”
Hearing him, she looks at her body. Seeing the stylish grey clothes she hugs and kisses his face.
“Crim crum!”
“Ok ok, you're welcome. Those pills and the cores on the bed are for you but eat them slowly. I'm going to cultivate so don't bother me.” he ties the bag with the stones, food, and weapons to his waist. Moving to the stone slab, he sits on it cross legged.
Taking out a stone, he begins to whittle his left chest gate.
Four stones and a few hours later, he finally opens his eyes. “I can't be afraid, I need to spread the name Uchiha so how can I hide my eyes? Unless an elder instantly kills me, what do I have to be afraid of?” standing up he straightens his robes. Reaching into his bag he pulls out some bread and begins to eat.
Ezra is currently laying on his head sleeping.
“Time to go, I wonder what happened after I left” As he walks towards the door EMS activates in both eyes. He currently has four gates open to supply all his Qi needs. As he leaves his room he grabs Ezra from his head and holds her in his arms like a football.
Walking up the stairs takes a while, but he doesn't meet anyone during the trip. In the main hall of the dorm he sees a few people, but he pays them no attention. As he gets ready to leave, someone calls him from behind.
“Marco, that you?”
Marco Is a little stunned, there are only two people in this who sect who should know his name. How is it possible he ran into one here?
Turning around he sees the guard from last night, Beneha.
“Beneha, Is your shift over?”
He walks up to Marco, looking at his face he pauses for a moment. “Uh, yea...hey were your eyes like that yesterday? I clearly would have remembered if I saw someone with strange patterns and designs in their eyes” Beneha laughs awkwardly “Not that it's strange or anything but you know it's kind of unique and eye catching, you get it haha.” a bombardment of words exit his mouth.
“It's a bloodline ability of mine, I don't have it activated the whole time as its demanding. It increases my perception.” instead of avoiding the question, he felt it was better to tell half truths so he'll stop asking.
“Wow you have a bloodline ability, must be from a good clan. I heard you guys had quite the time here last night, I'm glad I was on guard duty. It would have been a real shame if you died on your first night.”
“Yea, I hope every night isn't like that, I mostly came here for a quiet place to train.”
“Man don't worry, you hardly ever see Elders unless you head to the Martial palace, the outer court is mostly run by disciples.”
“Oh, I'm actually heading to the Martial palace now.”
Beneha looks around for a moment, confirming no one is nearby he opens his mouth. “You didn't hear it from me, but Rugel and his gang hang out at the Martial palace sometimes. If you see a pretty boy surrounded by girls don't agitate him, he's one of the 30.”
“Ok, thanks for the info.” Marco turns to leave but suddenly stops. “What's the 30?”
Beneha too was getting ready to leave, but hearing the question he stops. “The 30 are the top disciples in the outer court. They live in those villas and almost never leave, as they are close to Foundation establishment. Only Rugel leaves his villa and plays around, seemingly not wanting to break through. With his strength at the peak of Qi gathering, who can stop him in the outer court?”
“I see, thanks" while waving his free hand he turns to leave.
As he walks outside the scene compared to last night is completely different. The signs of last night's struggle are completely gone, replaced by disciples happily moving about like it never happened. Guys and girls lay on the lawn flirting like they don't have a care in the world.
Hundreds of disciples are moving about while holding conversations, causing the area to be filled with white noise.
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Due to all the noise and bright light, Ezra stirs awake. As she wakes Marco pokes her in the face.
Opening her eyes she looks around confused. When she went to sleep she was in the room, but now she's here.
“Hahaha” looking at her confused face causes him to chuckle.
“Chim!” flying out of his hand, she sits on his shoulder.
Seeing her sit down, Marco begins moving towards the southern section.
People shoot Ezra on his shoulder weird looks, a few glances at his eyes, but everyone leaves him alone sensing his six gates.
“Ezra I've figured it out, the direction I should take to get stronger.” a smile appears on his face “But first I need to make sure this world even has what I want.”
“Chyum!”
After a few minutes, he arrives at the southern section.
“First thing first, let's go see if we can get some beast cores.”
Compared to last night when he arrived, the place is full of hustle and bustle.
There are two large shops and one medium shop. One large shop sells pills, attached to the pill shop is a greenhouse. As Qi gathering cultivators can't make pills, the only thing they can do is help raise herbs. Because they are literally on a mountain top they have to use this greenhouse to grow precious plants. If disciples find herbs while out and about they can bring them back to sell, the better the condition the more they're worth.
The second large shop sells Talisman seals. Inside is a workshop for Talisman crafters. Disciples are able to work inside, besides drawing Talismans they can prepare the paper and ink.
The last shop is a sort of general store for Demonic beast parts. You can buy or sell parts to the store for spirit stones.
As Marco heads towards the Demonic beast shop he sees people coming and leaving the sect as well. Reading their lips, he finds out they're going to the forest to hunt beast. Apparently, most disciples get their spirit stones from trade.
Walking into the shop it's filled with people. Furs and hides from a wide variety of beast hang on the wall. The floor is made of wood, embedded in the wood are various animal claws and teeth. There are rows of bins filled with different parts of the beast. Bones, tendons, teeth, claws, and feathers divided by species are everywhere. Along with the bins, there are also shelves filled with jars. Inside the jars are the more delicate parts, ranging from eyes, gallbladders, livers, and blood.
There are a few disciples standing guard to the side, watching everyone in the building. Towards the back of the building is an old man behind the counter. The man appears to be in his late 70s, he has a head of short gray hair, dark skin, and squinty sunken eyes.
Looking around, Marco doesn't see any cores. After going around to all the bins, he heads towards the old man. He can’t sense any Qi from the man nor see any with his eyes.
“Buying or selling" a raspy decrepit voice leaves his lips.
“I'm looking for cores but I don't see any, do you have some?”
“Buying it is then" the old man shakes his head “Shame, That looks like a rare fairy on your shoulder.” the old man points his bony finger at Ezra.
“Crim?” Ezra tilts her head.
“Sir, she's a pixie, not a fairy. Also, she's my friend so I'll never sell her.” Marco slightly shakes his head “I'm looking for cores do you have any?”
Lookin at Marcos vortex eyes the man is silent. “Those are interesting eyes you have young man, ocular bloodline ability? Very rare."
Marco's brows knit together “If you don't have cores I'll just go.”
“Cores...of course, we have cores. Bronze cores are anywhere from 5~10 low quality spirit stones and the only iron cores we have cost 20.”
“Why are the bronze cores different prices?”
“Stronger beast cores cost more, of course.”
“Ok, I want three Iron cores then.” he reaches into his bag and starts taking out stones, counting out 60.
Seeing all the spirit stones the old man is not even phased, constantly staring at Ezra. Suddenly he knocks on the desk a few times. Shortly after a disciple arrives at his side.
The disciple looks to be around 18 or 19 and has short brown hair. His face is filled with scars, on his eyes, nose, and lips.
“Yes Mr. Ugway?” the disciple slightly bows his head.
“Bring me three iron cores"
Bowing his head again, the disciple heads into a back room.
The old man's mouth opens once more “Are you sure you don't want to sell the fairy?”
“Chim kum Mrko!” before he can even answer, Ezra begins shaking her hands and throwing a tantrum.
Marco grabs her off his shoulder and places her in his robe. She hangs onto his collar but keeps her head tucked in so only her fingers can be seen.
Marco frowns as he looks at the old man “I told you, Mr. Ugway was it? Shes not for sale.” as he finishes speaking the disciple returns with the three cores, and places them on the counter.
Seeing this Marco picks them up, puts them in his bag, turns and leaves.
Seeing him walk away the old man's narrow eyes open wide “Find out who he is, if he has no background kill him and bring me the fairy, I need it urgently.”
“Yes Mr. Ugway" the disciple nods and begins to trail Marco.
“Foolish brats, just because I'm not a cultivator you think you can just ignore me?? I've read eating a fairy can extend your life, and I don't have much more time!” a glimmer flashes through the man's eyes before returning to their squinty state.
As Marco leaves the store he doesn't even think about the old man again. Patting his robes a smile forms on his face.
“Don't worry Ezra no one can ever take you, you're mine"
Ezra peeks out her head, remaining quiet as she stares at Marco.
“Ok now to the Treasures Pavilion” picking up his pace, he heads for the west district.
As he walks away, the scarred disciple follows.
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A boundless black sky and floating gray balls. On the white ground, two girls are locked in combat. Pouches fly as sweat pours. Long blue hair flows as kicks are thrown, blocked by a small girl with blonde hair.
“Haaaa!” Milly throws out a series of round kicks.
Hilda jumps into the air, she tucks in her knees and elbows to defend. The kicks hit her guard, sending her flying through the air. After doing a few flips she lands on her feet, just in time to take a hit to her gut.
“Guuu" Hilda bends over holding her stomach.
“You still have too many openings!” Milly looks at her smugly.
“Openings!?!? Why does that matter!” she glares at Milly “You don't understand what he's capable of, THIS PSYCHO WILL NEVER LET US GO!”
“Hilda this is why your cultivation hasn't advanced, you can't give up! We will beat this demon!” Milly holds up her hand and clenches her small fist. “As long as you believe in justice, anything is possible!”
Hilda shakes her head “It's hopeless you don't understand, he can kill us at any time"
“Hmph! I've already bested him in combat once! When we get out of here I'll challenge him to a duel!”
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Arriving in the western section The Task hall, Marital Palace, and Treasure pavilion comes into view.
“Let us go.” patting his robe with a smile, he heads for the Treasure pavilion.