Fang was about to greet his master when he barely saw a silver glow at the edge of his vision. Suddenly he felt a mild stinging sensation on his left cheek and before he fully recovered he received a significantly stronger smack on his right cheek. His right cheek was red and he had a faint metallic taste of blood in his mouth. Before he could defend, inquire or protest; his master nodded appreciatively.

“Not bad, not bad. Late stages of Foundation Establishment as a Qi Refiner and just razor's edge away from Core Formation Equivalent as a Body Refiner.” Master Zhu appraised the fatty.

“But master, why the slaps? My right cheek is hurting.” Fang Hao protested weakly.

“You shitty brat. There is a deadly slaughter with disciples from other sects scheduled in three months and you are lazing around? You should meet with your peers and build rapport. Just because your cultivation is a bit fast after establishing your Foundation and awakening your Dantian variation, you take it as an excuse to laze around?” ranted Master Zhu in a somewhat displeased tone.

Not giving the little fatty any chance to give excuses or justify his behavior, Master Zhu continued berating the dumbstruck fatty.

“You think your are talented? You thin you are some chosen of heaven? Well let me tell you, you little dipshit; Qin Lee, who joined the sect the same time as you is now a Core Formation Cultivator in the advanced phase of the early stages (lv3). As if that was not enough, he has manged to materialize Sword Intent. Sword Intent! Even many Elders cannot grasp Intents. His master has been gloating and rubbing it in my face, ever since.”

When Fang Hao thought he would finally get a break, his master continued ranting to Fang Hao.

“One your senior sisters, who is barely double your age is at the peak of Core Formation. If she integrates with her Demon Spirit, her cultivation base is not inferior to a late stage Nascent Spirit Cultivator. Not to mention, her circumstances enable her to remain integrated with her demon spirit for prolonged periods. Do you recognize the significance of someone less than a century old having the power of a Nascent Spirit Elder at her disposal? Of course you don't. You think peaceful days like this will last till your death? You have to be serious, you have to grow up, Your attitude is severely lacking...”

master Zhu then ranted and raved for a few more minutes drowning the little fatty in his spittle, giving examples of geniuses of his generation and urging the fatty to cut the slack. Fang Hao clearly realized that his master was distressed and didn't attempt to protest any further as he dutifully acted as a doormat as his master was venting. Finally, when there was a pause of few breaths, Fang Hao took the initiative and gently inquired.

“Master, what is really bothering you? Your disciple is all ears.”

Master Zhu made a sigh and deflated visibly as he pondered something. Having seemingly made up his mind, he addressed the little fatty.

“Disciple, I will not lie to you. There was a divination of a great realm-shattering disaster approaching several years back. As with all divinations, the closer an event approaches; the more accurate the prediction becomes. Initial estimate gave us thousands of years to prepare. Latest estimate informed us that barely five centuries remain until imminent catastrophe strikes. And the senior who gave this divination had a cultivation base exceeding mine, who made a heavy sacrifice to give us this warning.”

“While five centuries may seem a long time to a brat like you, it isn't that long. How many of our disciples can achieve a cultivation base similar to Great Elders of our sect in five centuries? It would be an extreme source of good fortune if even one achieved it. Just tell me what aid you require to increase your cultivation base rapidly. My legacy of restrictions will have to wait.”

Fang Hao hearing the frank discourse of his master was startled. The low conflict easy going days would last too long apparently. Suddenly the instinctive urge of his to take risks, contrary to his nature, for accelerated growth all made sense. Till now he had assumed that the safety and tranquility of the sect would sustain his cultivation for a long long time even though his subconscious was urging him otherwise.

After his master's revelation, he realized that he had to pick up his pace or would risk losing it all in the aforementioned catastrophe. Although the catastrophe was divined to be five centuries away, who knows whether the delay would be shortened as time progressed? Fang Hao visibly hesitated before making up his mind.

“Master I have something to confess. But is secrecy guaranteed?” Fang Hao inquired cautiously.

In response to the fatty's query, a silvery glow enveloped Master Zhu's hand as fantastical incorporeal symbols rapidly discharged from the silvery palm and formed a three dimensional spherical formation encasing them. After the ethereal sphere encased them, his Master addressed the fatty sternly.

“Not even the senior who gave the divination can eavesdrop on us now. Every cultivator has his own opportunities, so do not speak more of your secrets than necessary.”

“Master, I did have lucky encounter in the mortal world which bestowed upon me a body cultivation method, but there is something much more significant. My cultivation speed, both in Qi Cultivation and Body Refining, isn't anything spectacular. In fact, I would rate it barely average. However, whenever I battle and slaughter; my Qi and Blood seems to boil and move of its own accord. A seductive blood-lust overtakes me and when I exit that state; I find that my cultivation in both Qi and Body refining have experienced significant progress.'

“That is the reason why I slaughtered hundreds of fellow disciples in “self-defense”. After more than a decade of arduous cultivating, I feel a bottleneck on the horizon. Unless I engage in fighting and slaughter with foes comparable cultivation base, I fear I will not make much progress. This is why I was lazing around, Master. I didn't want o go on an rampage in the arena and expose all my cards; neither did I want to test my luck hunting fellow disciples while waiting for spirit beasts.” said Fang Hao.

His explanation was full of half-truths and evasive in nature. He hoped that his explanation didn't arouse much suspicion and was convincing enough for his master. In his point of view, this semi-confession as a big risk; but not overtly so. Also, there were examples of extremely rare bloodlines in recorded history which thrived and grew on slaughter; so it wasn't exactly an unjustified risk considering the circumstances. His master was silent for a few breaths before he replied.

“It is good to be prudent, my disciple. Never mention this aspect of yourself to anyone else ever again. I will place a restriction on you, just to be safe. I will get back to you shortly.”

His master performed an intricate series of hand gestures at astonishing speed. Silvery seals rapidly settled themselves on Fang Hao's head and neck before melting out of sight. The figure of his master briefly distorted and rippled before disappearing from his vision.