Noon came and Seo-Yon’s servant laid out lunch on a long table by the site of the mansion. The other kids quickly ran towards the table. To most, it was their favorite part of the day. Some of them come from unfortunate family situations.

“As you know, next weekend is the Talent Examination. It’ll be taking place in another town. I’ll be focusing on helping the three students attending it so school is not mandatory next week, however I strongly encourage you to practice your breathing techniques still!” Seo-Yon announced. Seo-Yon couldn’t help but frown at the cheers that came afterwards but they were kids, what could she do?

The kids started forming into groups and some even started run off to play in the huge yard. Ryu however, took a sandwich and proceeded into the library within the mansion. Noon time was lunch break and the afternoon was free-style training so one could train however they liked and ask their teacher for advice.

The library was Ryu’s favorite place to spend his time. It was a small private library but it contained numerous historical books describing the continents of this world and legends of many renowned immortals which fascinates him to no end. Obviously, as a young boy – tales of battles between gods and immortal beings completely mesmerizes him.

Musashi, a fabled swordsman, managed to fight a legendary thunder god from foreign land to a standstill in the Illusionary Southern sea. It is said that their swords and hammer destroyed islands as large as the Lin Province! Or how the founder of the infamous Wudang Sect in his very own continent, Zhang Sanfeng, subdued a God of Death for experimenting on human and making him swear an oath not to bother the Heaven continent. There’s also a legendary knight from foreign land that slayed thousands of dragons and created his own empire. Some books talk about distant continents that practices completely different Qi methods. Rumor has it that one’s able to use Qi to control monsters without enslaving it and even fuse with them!

Ryu was especially interested in abilities used in these legends described in the books. If there are humans and creatures out there that can breathe fire, create ice, summon storms, and spawn mountains, why can’t he? However, techniques were secrets that has been created and perfected upon over millenniums. It isn’t something one could just chance upon or learn at a whim. However, as a nine-year-old kid with unlimited creativity and hope he isn’t discouraged one bit. He’s content on practicing the basics until he gets an opportunity to learn real techniques.

Elemental Qi training is like learning a language, the younger you are the easier it is. All the experts will have their descendants or pupils train in establishing an element at a young age besides Qi cultivation. As one grows older, one become less attuned to the elements and will have a much harder time producing them.

Today Ryu decided to try something different instead of reading or refining his Qi. Ryu sat on the floor between two book shelves at the end of the library to hide himself from public view. Slowly he closed his eyes and let his Qi flow outwards from every pore of his body. A light breeze flowed through the library as he did this.

There are four basic elements that can be produced by Qi: fire, water, wind and earth. These elements could be applied to basic skills to enhance its combat capabilities. For the longest time Ryu had no idea how one could produce fire, water, wind or earth from one’s body but he has been searching for fire herbs for his bedridden grandpa for two years now. These fire herbs were warm and some even had flames on them. Yesterday, after observing the Fire Lotus, he found out that the Qi inside the herb was combusting outwards to a single point. After many attempts, Ryu could now easily focus his Qi into his palm and form a fire ball.

A huge grin can be seen on Ryu’s face. Why didn’t I think of observing something that gives off fire earlier? Accomplishing the feat of producing one element is shocking enough at such a young age but Ryu didn’t stop there.

Ryu also found other type of herbs last night. The water herbs are either moist or produces liquid slowly but continuously. Unlike fire herbs, the Qi is flowing inwards in a vortex form. As it approaches the source, it’s actually condensing into liquid. As for air herbs, the Qi is not focused at all but instead it spreads out in all direction. This allowed him to actually create his own air around him. The earth herb is the oddest of them all, the Qi is moving extremely slow and the herb is heavy as a brick. This allows him to manipulate the earth beneath him to rise up a little.

Creating a small amount of water on the palm of his hand, moving the ground a bit or shooting out a little gust of wind wasn’t really impressive to a nine-year-old though so Ryu decided to train in fire element the most. In reality, the difficult part wasn’t figuring out the Qi flow. Even though it’s an essential part of producing an element, it’s like child’s play compared to the other part needed which is Qi conversion. Having established the fundamentals of the four elements in the span of one month is unbelievable. No one would believe it even if they had seen it. Qi elements have nothing to do with talent, it is based on one’s affinity to that element.

Footsteps could be heard and two teenage boys walked in. One was lean while one was a bulky. Ryu quickly retracted his Qi.

“So this is where you are” The lean boy said. This was Jia-Hui.

“Jia-Hui. Jia-Hua. Did you come here to read some books with me?” Ryu asked with an amused face. These two were the infamous slacking twins in the school. They were both 14 years old, 1 year younger than Eu-Meh, and they’ll be joining the talent examination next week as well.

Ryu was known as the silent one in the whole school but people still enjoy talking to him. The twins might be goofy but their heart is in the right place, sometimes the kids from Inferno Fist School get bullied by other school and the twins would always stand up for them.

“Na, we are not a nerd like you. Besides, Eu-Meh is hanging out with the girls and there’s no one out there that could catch us in tag” Jia-Hui sighed.

“You shouldn’t be wasting time like that, isn’t the Talent Examination in a few days?” Ryu said with a smile. It’s an unspoken but known fact that the twins are heads over heel over Eu-Meh. Ryu is too young to be interested in girls and his grandpa always said girls are nothing but trouble. On top of the fact Ryu likes to be alone and do things independently, Ryu didn’t care about girls at all.

“You weren’t there last time, the difference between us and students from other schools are like heaven and earth.” Jia-Hua replied casually.

“Right, last time a kid… what was his name? Guan-Jia? From the Wang family swept the competition. He had reached level 8 for god sakes. He even got admitted to the Shadow Blade School. He must be even more formidable now.” Jia-Hui added.

“If you practice for a day, you earn one day worth of benefits. It’s better than nothing. Besides, you guys have made tremendous improvements in the past three years,” Ryu said. Due to his grandpa’s illness and all the books, he read, Ryu is a bit more mature than most kids his age.

“Sigh, looks like we are destined to be farmers like our parents. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Jia-Hua said, pretending to weep.

“Haha Ryu, I used to think like you. The sky is blue and the grasses are green but the world is a harsh place. With these crap techniques taught to us, we’ll just be humiliated again” Jia-Hui ranted while patting his twin’s back. “Happy ending don’t …”

Should I help them out a bit? They are a bit annoying but they are still my friends. Ryu had an internal dilemma. Ryu knew he was going to regret his choice today. Ryu directed his Qi towards his heels darted forward like an arrow. Before the two could react, Ryu concentrated his Qi at his right first and swung it forward.

“Ahh!” Jia-Hui and Jia-Hua screamed in unison. They slowly opened their eyes and see that Ryu had stopped his first inches from them. This was the Flash Punch technique that Seo-Yon taught them. How could it reach such a frightening level? Although Ryu stopped his fist right in front of them, the wind generated still blew their hair back.

“There are no crap techniques, it all depends on the users that uses them. Although I am not your opponent, how about I help you guys? I noticed that you guys are having trouble concentrating the Qi towards one point of your body. The Flash Punch is simple, first you lower yourself as much as you can and then burst forward like a spring. You guys got the form down, you just need to learn how to control your Qi better.” Ryu lectured. Although Ryu hated bringing attention upon him like this, he couldn’t stand the poor attitude that these two had. He believes that everyone is able to change their destiny with hard work and sacrifices.

The two teenage boys could only nod. They haven’t completely recovered from their shock yet. Ryu continued on. “If you don’t mind, I could spar with you guys for a week. However let’s keep it a secret, I don’t want people to know.”

After composing themselves, the twins and Ryu found a secluded area on the opposite side of the mansion where they usually train in. Ryu demonstrated the technique a few more times beside two tall pine trees and started giving pointers to Jia-Hui and Jia-Hua.

“Visualize the Qi as lights and imagine the lights focusing into one point at your feet. Kind of like standing on top of the world.” Ryu explained patiently. The dual couldn’t control their Qi as well as Ryu obviously and had great deal of trouble condensing their Qi into one point perfectly.

“Now after releasing the Qi at your feet, imagine grabbing onto a small piece of diamond and never letting go. You guys are transferring the Qi from your feet to fist wrong. Cut off the supply of Qi to your feet before gathering Qi in your fist, it’ll be smoother that way.” Ryu lectured. Normally a 14-year-old wouldn’t listen to someone five years younger but not only did Ryu display his superior power, he had also shown his superior knowledge of Qi.

Ryu could see where the Qi flow was weakest and disrupted in them, continued to give valuable advice to the two. Time flew by and school was over. They continued this for the following week, training at the secluded side of the mansion daily.

At night Ryu continued to sneak off to find herbs for his grandpa and train in the elements at the same time. He discovered wind and earth were much easier because it was all around him already. With water and fire, he had to “create” it before he could use it.

For most people, they find the element they are most attuned to and try to manipulate it. Creating it from thin is exponentially harder. This is complete mastery and fusion of Qi Elements and Qi Materialization. Ryu will find out why he could do it so easily while others struggle for ages if not a lifetime.