Chapter 019

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‘ ‘ for thoughts.

“ “ for speech.

<> for non-verbal communication like telepathy

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Warning: May contain mature content (18+) of an adult nature. Read at your own risk.

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Note:

Although the full name mentioned here are Chinese style, (example: Fang Hao, surname Fang first then given name Hao), the names clubbed with descriptions are description and then given name instead of description and surname (example Fatty Hao and not Fatty Fang).

Btw, I read all your comments, but may not reply to each and every one separately.

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It took Fang Hao another three months of practice before he mastered the 4th move of the Divine Vajra Body Scripture. He could slaughter almost 40 chickens per week by now. He also had weekly drinking sessions with his master, but most of them ended up with him snoring …and waking up in his backyard the next noon. By now, every drinking session barely increased his Qi by 0.1, and he had stopped gaining any more Spirit from it. Before this week’s meeting with his master, he reviewed his status.

STATUS SCREEN Name: Fang Hao Race: Human Gender: Male Age: 15 years Titles: Class: Cultivator Unused Skill Points: 9 Realm: Qi Gathering Realm Level: 4 Current Experience: 2071 Level Up at Experience: 2367 Active Effects: Stats Physique: 2.1 Finesse: 1.7 Spirit: 2.9 Qi 10.1/10.1 Traits Calm Lucky Primal Instinct ?? Immortal Monk's Prospective Disciple ?? Manuals and Scriptures Sublime Qi Manual

(1st Realm, 5th Layer) Divine Vajra Body Scripture

(0 seals, 4 moves)

‘Not bad at all! I should be as strong as a 9th Qi Gathering Layer Cultivator, although a bit on the slower side. The cheap wine isn’t much use for grinding stats anymore, unfortunately. But then again…if it did boost my stats even after a dozen sessions, master wouldn’t share it with me. I should also ask him about fighting in the arena, as I should be able to hold my own and not get too badly hurt.’ thought Fang Hao as he made his way to the Old Man Zhu’s Outer Assignment Hall.

He kowtowed as he said, “Disciple greets Master!” as he sat cross-legged on the floor looking at Old Man Zhu with expectation in his eyes. Old Man Zhu nodded in a satisfied manner as he conjured a crystal vase and two crystal goblets which were floating before him. “No need to be polite, disciple… you are on schedule as always. So let us start…” The crystal jug had a clear pale indigo colored liquid. It flowed and separated into two streams landing in the two goblets. With visible greed Fang Hao impatiently grabbed the floating goblet, and almost said as an afterthought, “Disciple thanks Master!” as he greedily sipped the wine.

Unlike the last spirit wine, this pale indigo liquid had a fiery and smoky taste. He quickly gulped it and shuddered. He felt like a stream of hammers were pounding his stomach as he felt light headed and woozy. He wasn’t sloshed yet, but was definitely feeling the effects of the spirit wine. Even while inebriated he sniffed the faint aroma of crushed basil emanating from the spirit wine. ‘Oh boy, this is definitely better than what I was having till now. Oh right, I should ask the brawling arena permission before I am too sloshed.’

He took another sip and quickly gulped it as he said, “Master, this disciple has a request.” Old Man Zhu had already gulped three cups of the wine by now as he looked at Fang Hao inquisitively as he replied, “Speak.” “Master, this disciple wants to test himself in the non-lethal brawling ring. Disciple feels that he should get some more fighting experience.” Old man Zhu shrugged as he said, “A weekly transport leaves from here, a little after dawn to the arena. Although it is wise to start in the non-brawling ring, real tempering only happens in life and death situations.” He noticed the hesitation on Fang Hao’s face and snorted.

“You don’t have to worry about me sending you there. As you are…you will be killed in a blink. And I forbid you from participating in life and death matches till you are at Qi Condensation…it would be too wasteful if you die too early. The transport leaves day after tomorrow. Be sure to tell me the stage number and fight number, I will watch that later. I hope you can amuse me.” “Disciple thanks Master.” Old man Zhu waved his arms and continued drinking the spirit wine. Fang Hao took the hint and resumed drinking the pale indigo wine.

He barely finished his cup, when he started dangerously swaying and had trouble keeping himself still enough to sip his wine. Still he endured! He barely finished another cup before he fell backwards. He could see a little bit of liquid left through the crystal. His tried reaching his goblet, and it was a bit out of reach. ‘Don’t worry my stat boosts, here I come’ he thought as he rolled sideways in order to bring the goblet within his reach.

Old man Zhu’s eyes were filled with amusement as he saw his shameless disciple roll towards the goblet. He flicked his fingers as the glass shifted just barely out of his reach. It took Fang Hao a couple of more rolls to figure out that Master Zhu was messing with him. He looked pitifully with what he hoped was puppy eyes, and said with grief, “Mashter!” Old Man Zhu had a stern look on his face and shook his head. “Disciple, you are becoming too lazy. You have to work to seize good fortune. Now roll once around this grandpa if you want some more wine.”

“Dishiple thanksh Mashter for hish teachingsh!” Fang Hao slurred as he attempted to roll around his master. During his roll, a few outer disciples entered the hall and were shocked at the scene they saw. They all knew that Fang Hao was drinking with Old man Zhu… but did neither of them have any face? The fatty was rolling around Old Man Zhu, attempting to grasp a goblet with some wine, while Old Man Zhu was smirking as he kept the goblet just out of the fatty’s reach.

‘Although that fatty is shameless…but Old man Zhu is a member of the senior generation! Even if his cultivation is not the best… how can he continue to exploit fatty’s greed for wine so shamelessly.’ They had disdain in their hearts, but outwardly had a polite smile plastered on their face, as they waited for Old man Zhu to notice them. Old man Zhu turned to look at them and sighed. “Whatever it is, come back tomorrow afternoon. Can’t you see that this old man is having some fun?” The outer disciples smiled and retreated with disdain and scorn in their hearts. Needless to say, Fatty Hao’s reputation plummeted even further among outer disciples.