Chapter 038

The hag like granny nodded appreciatively to Fang Hao as she advised, “While it is good you have won junior…do not underestimate any cultivator, even of the Qi condensation realm. He was forbidded to use magic tools or talismans; else you would have long since lost the match. Now wait here for an elder to reward you.” She then closed her eyes as if in meditation. Fang Hao bowed and replied with gratitude, “Disciple thanks senior for the valuable advice.”

Fang Hao then observed the reddish scalded skin on his chest and poked it a few times experimentally and released an involuntary whimper. ‘Well the spell did less damage than expected. Although my skin is tender and a bit painful, it is still intact and didn’t break. Though I guess a dozen or so spells bombarding me will leave me in a sorry state. Body cultivation didn’t turn me invincible yet, but an additional dosage of defense never harmed anyone!’

The coal black elder along with the 11 other elders were observing a holographic projection of a fatty poking his flabby chest and occasionally whimpering with a hag like granny floating, who had her eyes closed, who was sitting cross-legged on a floating piece of oak bark.. A demure veiled cultivator laughed and said “Senior Brother Zhu sure likes to pick eccentric disciples. But looks like you missed a good potential disciple, brother.”

The coal black man sighed as he said, “He seems to have picked up a decent body refining scripture in the mortal world. I reckon it has potential to be of the foundation establishment…or perhaps even the core formation stage! Even though he has potential for body refining…he lacks the right aptitude to be my disciple. Might as well Old Man Zhu take him in as a personal project. That might help him restrain himself a bit.” Everyone had bitter smiles on them. A scar faced old man with a hooked nose then proposed, “So who shall guide him till Brother Zhu returns? Any volunteers?”

The coal black man sighed and said, “That volunteer would be me.” A robust looking young man with tattoos across his muscular body said had a sly glint in his eyes as he inquired, “Weren’t you not pleased with his personality, junior brother? Why the sudden interest to interfere with Brother Zhu’s disciple?” The coal black young man with shoulder length white hair had a helpless look on his face as he said listlessly,

“Although he may not be suited to be my disciple…but he has a good aptitude for body refining. I don’t want brother Zhu to distract him completely from body refining. I will make him practice a Qi condensation scripture that will complement his body refining practice while building a sturdy foundation for future cultivation.” A young teen boy snorted as he replied, “Don’t underestimate Brother Zhu. Do you know that he has been ‘appropriating’ golden marrow powder from our sect reserves for around a year now and diluting it in the spirit wine which he gives his disciple?”

The coal black man maintained a stoic façade as he indifferently nodded but was thinking in his heart, ‘Yes I know! Brother Zhu is sneaky and cunning…he stole away such a good potential disciple right under my nose. I owed him a favor, with his poaching and me taking care of his disciple I will be relived of my debt to him. That is the only reason I did not make a fuss.’ “If there is nothing to discuss, then I will go and reward that junior.” The coal black man clasped his hands and disappeared from the hall…appearing in the arena.

Before he revealed his presence there, he witnessed an amusing scene. The old hag like cultivator had a look of irritation as she opened her eyes to see a whimpering fatty kneading his fat chest. “Junior, what exactly are you doing?” Fatty Hao had a somber look on his face as he replied, “Senior, this junior is tempering himselfwith pain!” The old hag woman was about to explode in rage as she heard a light cough behind her. She turned around and witnessed the coal black cultivator with shoulder length white hair.

The hag swallowed her anger and greeted, “Junior greets Great Elder!” which was followed by Fang Hao greeting the coal black elder. The coal black elder nodded once at the greetings and looked at Fatty hao with a stern gaze as a small pouch floated towards him, “That is part of the rewards having 10 spirit stones and 5 qi condensation pills. As for your other rewards, you will receive them shortly.” Fang Hao clasped his hands and before he could verbally thank the elder, the elder grabbed his cuff and teleported along with him.

They appeared near the base of a mountain. There was a single winding dirt path leading upwards, surrounded by ankle high blue grass. The coal black young man then looked at fatty and asked. “Your rewards still include a Qi Condensation Scripture and personal guidance by an elder. The elder to guide you will be me. You are clearly practicing a body refining scripture…due you intend to continue down the path of body refining?”

“Junior thanks Great Elder for his advice. This junior wishes to continue with body refining!”

“Are you sure? At the later realms, body refining is very resource intensive. Focusing those resources on Qi Cultivation and some magic treasures can grant you a higher battle power faster.”

“This junior is not exceptional at Qi cultivation with barely silver grade talent. Junior feels that using those resources in body cultivation would be better.”

“Not a good answer, but not bad either. You are right now aware of the cultivation stages till foundation establishment correct?” Fang Hao respectfully nodded and the coal black man continued. In the Qi Gathering and Qi Condensation stage, Qi is pathetically low and Qi regeneration is pitifully slow. In the foundation Establishment stage, a cultivator generates wisps of gaseous Qi and Qi partially crystallizes to a solid. Beyond Foundation Establishment, is the Core Formation stage. In the core formation stage, a massive solid core of Crystallized Qi is formed in a cultivator’s dantian, which automatically generates liquid Qi causing cultivators to use powerful spells one after the other and still retain Qi to fight or flee.”

“But body cultivators only have a sturdier body…even at the equivalent of the Core Formation stage. It is only after the Core Formation stage do body cultivators shine! Junior, success at body cultivation is a long and arduous path. If you want quick battle power, I recommend becoming a sword cultivator. All you need besides Qi Cultivation is a god sword scripture and a compatible flying sword. With higher comprehension along the sword path, you can unleash swift and powerful attacks which can slice through anything from a large distance! It is not without reason that sword cultivation is so popular from the Foundation Establishment Stage onwards.”

“Selecting a scripture for Qi Condensation is a very important task. Depending on your choice now, many cultivation paths will be closed in the future. So make your choice wisely.”

“This junior thanks the Great Elder for the valuable advice. While this junior would like to pursue Body Cultivation, this junior already is a disciple of Master Zhu. This junior is not sure which scripture to pick and would like Great Elder’s advice.”

“Hmm, don’t worry about your master. I will take that into allowance when I pick a Qi Condensation scripture for you. Since you have made your mind to pursue body cultivation as well, follow me into the scripture pavilion and I will pick up a suitable Qi Condensation Manual for you. And don’t walk on the grass, there are numerous restrictions placed on it.”

The coal black Great Elder walked the winding dirt road towards the scripture pavilion and the fatty in tattered grey robes followed him, looking at the blue grass nearby suspiciously.