Flavius was lying down on the grass, panting hard. He was so tired he could see spots flashing before his eyes. The kid he had asked for some fighting advice had turned out to be a freak.

“I think I might have gone a bit overboard. Well, I’m just a bit antsy because I’d love to be fighting alongside the others instead of staying here. But it was either Epagogia or me, and she is probably with one foot in the Oriole realm by now. So, I didn’t really have a choice.”

“Didn’t you say that your cultivation is at the 6th stage of the Cockroach realm? So if I’m at the 4th, how can the difference be so big?”

Jacob had thrown the guy around like a ragdoll. He had stopped every time to correct his posture, teach him better, but he had indeed beaten him blue.

“Well, first, I’m actually getting to the 7th level now, thank God. A 2nd level talent is much, much better than a 1st level one, you know? Plus, even if hand-by-hand is not my thing, I’m still both stronger and much more experienced compared to you.”

Jacob’s real strength lay in swordsmanship, but he could use other Martial Styles too. Unfortunately, it just made him much weaker compared to his main talent.

His only talent.

“Well, that was some trashing,” Flavius kept panting, still completely out of it.

The sparring session had gone on for almost two hours, and every muscle in the med student was now dead. He wasn’t even sure he could make it back to the temporary home to his mother in one piece.

But, at the same time, ha had gotten a glimpse of what a real master was able to do. In their fighting, Jacob had been in control from start to finish. There had not been one moment when Flavius had sensed an opportunity. Jacob’s focus had not slipped for the tiniest moment; instead, the more the fight went on, the more the kid seemed invigorated by it. It was also true that not getting thrown around could probably do miracles for your stamina.

“So, now what?” Flavius asked the standing Jacob.

Our guy shrugged and made a satisfied face: “Now you go get some rest. Tomorrow, we will start with an advanced course on Alchemy and Inscription Pattern as soon as I cultivate enough. Get a big bowl of Alchemic Tagliatelle from the kitchen tonight, tell them I sent you.”

Flavius nodded and weakly got up, shaking on his own legs.

By the time he had raised his gaze, Jacob had already disappeared toward the gate of the city.

“Well, thanks for the help,” Flavius and started walking unsteadily.

…

“The blonde guy is not bad,” Jacob told her aunt while shoveling pasta in his mouth, “he can even take a beating without complaining. That’s a quality hard to come by, honestly.”

Joseph looked at Jacob with a strange expression.

“You just took him out and beat him for two hours straight?”

There was a hint of an accusatory tone in Joseph’s voice.

“Well… I wouldn’t say two hours straight. But yes, I did beat up pretty bad, to be honest. I tested him. I’m thinking of taking in a disciple. I always refused in my past life, but I think it would help me become more accustomed to caring about people without any reserve. A relationship between a disciple and a master can be even more intimate than one between lovers.”

“If you say so,” Joseph looked for a better answer on his plate.

“Well spoken, Jacob. This matriarch approves of you taking in a disciple. And if you want to join our Hell Devouring Sect, you are welcome!”

“Auntie, are you really going for that name?” Jacob facepalmed. “You can’t name your sect after your Cultivation Technique. It’s just too random!”

“But it does sound cool,” Joseph murmured. He, too, had passed on the invitation, but he had to admit that the Hell Devouring Sect sounded pretty badass. And Linda was whipping people in shape very fast. Her disciples were now training all day with her, cultivating non-stop and sparring like madmen.

One of the downsides had certainly been the new trend of calling themselves ‘senior brother’ or ‘junior sister’. Jacob had cringed so hard at that.

“Well, I hope you’ll be successful, auntie,” Jacob squeezed his aunt’s hand and smiled at her.

“Joe, want to practice a bit with me after dinner?”

“Oh, no. I’m not getting beaten up. Nor I’m becoming your disciple, thank you very much.”

“Oh, come on!” Jacob insisted.

…

Joseph was on his own, practicing the weird moves of the First Martial Saint Martial Style in silence.

What a mouthful.

Well, Tommy’s Martial Style sounded much worse, I think. I mean, people gave me the title. It’s not like I chose it for myself.

Joseph jumped out of his skin.

“What the hell?!”

Oh right, yeah. I don’t know what happened here. I left a strand of my soul in this Cultivation Technique. How it worked so well, it’s beyond me. I basically materialized in your mind, don’t ask me how. I have no idea. But I always thought it would be cool if I could teach someone, and I spent a great deal of energy making this Karma-thingy. Oi, can you hear me? Oh, shit, is this not working now?

Joseph was paralyzed in fear. He had no idea what was going on.