Fang Hao followed the Great Elder for around half an hour Soon he reached a large seven floored bronze pagoda which was so large that even ten Fang Haos holding hands couldn't encircle it. He followed the coal black great elder through the gate. Inside, just beside the entrance; there was a sleeing old man on a hammock snoozing. He had a healthy tanned look about him and looked somewhat distinguished and matured. However, the drool spilling from his mouth spoiled the image. The drooling man snored a bit loudly as they passed by. But otherwise, there was no other reaction.

Just pass the hallway with the drooling old man, they entered a large hall with dozens of counters. There were dozens of counters and perhaps hundreds of white robed inner disciples in long queues. 'Sure looks busy. I hope the great elder can shorten the process.' Seeing an outer disciple led by an elder, the background chatter immediately subsided. Someone who had the presence of mind immediately greeted, “Disciple greets elder!” which was followed by similar exclamations. The great elder nodded indifferently and proceeded towards the next floor.

The next floor also had a few counters, which were significantly less crowded, but it was somewhat similar to the previous floor. Finally they reached the next floor and the Great Elder went to the nearest counter, which just happened to be empty. The young man manning the counter respectfully greeted him. The great Elder nodded, threw a grayish hexagonal token at him, and said:

“Bring in a single use inheritance slip for the Aura Fist Manual, all five layers, and the standard spell scrolls and magic tools for a new inner disciple.” The youth had a look of reverence as he quickly complied with it. It barely took a dozen breaths before the youth reappeared. He handed over a jade slip, and what looked like a simple brown jute coin pouch. The jade slip vanished while the great elder flung the cotton pouch towards Fatty Hao, who caught it and nimbly tucked it in his sleeve.

'So the Manual I get to use is probably the Aura Fist Manual. Wonder what this shitty looking coin pouch is though. The Great Elder didn't embezzle my loot... at least I hope so.' he then followed the great elder outside the scripture pavilion and back the dirt road, while still glancing at the blue grass warily. 'I knew this grass was weird! Now question is did it turn blue because of the restrictions, or is it blue grass?'

As they exited the dirt road, the great elder unceremoniously grabbed his collar and they teleported right outside his cottage. Fang Hao felt the mild disorientation that accompanied teleportation fade away as the elder smashed the translucent green jade slip on Fang Hao's forehead. Fang Hao felt another wave of dizziness come over him as a series of postures flowed into his mind accompanied by chants and Qi Circulation pathways. It was accompanied by a mild throbbing headache, and Fang Hao knew the cultivation method of the Aura Fist Manual.

“You now know the Aura fist Manual. That pouch given to you is a spatial storage tool. Once you successfully breakthrough to the Qi Condensation stage, just use a bit of your QI to open it and look inside. Contact your Assignment Hall when you do breakthrough into Qi Condensation. And remember junior, don't be hasty to get a breakthrough fast and leave a shaky unstable foundation. You are quite young and have years before you turn 25.”

Fang Hao cupped his hands and respectfully conveyed his gratitude, “Disciple thanks Grand Elder for bestowing such good fortune on this junior.” The Great Elder nodded indifferently and teleported away. 'I think the inheritance jade slip is supposed to be a big deal. Else why would some with the status of a Great Elder give a token for a mere Qi Condensation level Manual? And what is a Great Elder? Perhaps a senior Elder? Anyways, this inheritance thingy is very convenient! I don't have to spend weeks memorizing a cultivation technique before actually cultivating it.'

He then went to his courtyard and laid down on the grass taking a whiff of the surrounding fresh air as he thoroughly reviewed the contents of his new Cultivation Manual. The Manual had 5 layers, and as of now only the contents of the first layer was coherent in his mind. He guessed that as and when he mastered the unlocked layers, the subsequent layers would become available. There was also a preamble about the manual and cultivation in general, within the unlocked contents in his mind.

The Aura Fist manual, was somewhat of a unique manual. It was primarily a Qi cultivation Manual...but could only be effectively practiced by those who had refined their body to some degree. Unlike the Divine Vajra Body Scripture, practicing the Aura Fist Scripture would not refine his body, instead it would only increase his Qi Cultivation just like the Sublime Qi Manual. Mastering every layer of the Aura Fist Scripture would advance his cultivation by two levels and allow him to use a new spell. So if he mastered all five layers of the cultivation manual, he would be at the peak of Qi Condensation and have five spells to use, unique to this cultivation manual. And the spells of this particular Cultivation Manual had unique characteristics compared to most other spells of this level.

Body Cultivators had no moves to rival the power of spells when compared to Qi cultivators, at least till Core Formation. The Aura Fist Scripture countered this weakness to a certain extent. Practicing the first layer of the Aura Fist Manual would grant him a spell called Aura Infusion, and the second layer would grant him a spell called Aura Fist. The spell Aura infusion would use his Qi to boost his explosive strength and speed. The deeper the cultivation base, the stronger the boost. Of course, the body should be able to bear the Qi reinforcement...else torn muscles and fractured bones were to be expected.

Things got interesting when the second spell was granted. The second spell sounded more like a traditional long range attack spell. The spell would, in effect, produce a magical projectile shaped like a fist which would smash his opponents! However, unlike other Qi condensation level attack spells, the power of the spell increased not only with one's cultivation base and proficiency with the spell; but also with one's physical strength!

Even if a regular Qi cultivator cultivated this Manual to the second layer by avoiding the use of Aura Infusion, his battle power with the Aura Fist spell would be pathetic as their body was typically way more fragile than a body cultivator's. However, a body cultivator could show great ranged offensive power with the Aura Fist spell... only if he had good Qi Cultivation base as well.

'Well the manual is strong but it requires cultivation of Qi and the body to display its full potential. Without enough Qi, both the spells are useless. And without good physique, both the spell are useless as well! But if a cultivator has sufficient levels of both...he has a significant edge over his peers. But the question is, how many can diligently Cultivate Qi and refine thier body and still keep up with thier peers? Now I guess I should prepare to breakthrough to Qi Condensation stage.' thought Fang Hao before heading for the dining hall as it was almost time for the dusk meal. 'I wonder what they have for food today. Hopefully some more of that spiced lamb stew.'