Author’s note: Sponsored by Jamie Griffin-B !!!?

Host’s note: Host not author.

“Brother Jin Xia, how long will you stay in this city?” Hu Feng asked.

The two youths had been wandering around the city for the past three hours. The city by now had somewhat calmed down, as many of the forces were beginning to disperse. It seems whatever objective they had came for had been accomplished.

By this same time, whenever JIn Xia visited a shop, there would be people who seemed to recognize him; welcoming Jin Xia with great enthusiasm, or even offering him free meals or gifts.

Hu Feng had even recognized that the clothes of those manager resembled some of the uniforms of those large groups of cultivators who had previously rushed through the city. However, he was not surprised.

After all, given Jin Xia’s recent display of talent, it would be no wonder that several factions in Red Sun City would want to get close to Jin Xia and establish a friendly relationship with him.

Even though the people from those clans did not personally appear, Hu Feng thought that it was most likely due them being…afraid of Jin Xia, as they were unsure of his origin. After all, the youth’s strength alone was already enough to put pressure on those clans. They did not dare overstep their boundary, and probably decided to investigate Jin Xia thoroughly before interacting with him.

Since the stronger a person is, the more likely that person would have great enemies. These small clans could not afford to openly befriend Jin Xia and risk provoking a strong, enemy faction.

Thus, in the meanwhile, they could only employ specific servants of their clan, who owned some of the shops in Red Sun City, to treat Jin Xia as best as they can.

As for Jin Xia, he did not seem to mind about the battle he just had earlier in the day. If Hu Feng had not been there to personally witness it, then perhaps he would have believed that the previous fight against the two major clans were a dream. Unfortunately, each time he saw a large group of practitioners rush past them, Hu Feng was reminded of what Jin Xia’s battle a few hours before…

“Hmm, I’ll probably be in this city for about a month. Then, I’ll be heading to Azure City for the Annual Clans Gathering competition.” Jin Xia replied, as he finished the last Dream Flower pill.

“Brother Jin Xia is going to attend the Annual competition?” Hu Feng asked, wide-eyed.

“En.” Jin Xia nodded as he continued to calmly swagger around the streets. Then, turning to glance at Hu Feng, Jin Xia asked: “I reckon Brother Hu Feng is going as well?”

“That is right.” Hu Feng replied. “..But I am not participating in the event itself..”

“Oh? Why?” Jin Xia asked. “With your current level, it should already be quite decent for someone your age”

“Ah, Brother Jin Xia is too kind. To tell the truth, the reason I’m not participating is because I have three older cousins who are already at the 6th stage of Wudan, so they’ll be the ones to compete in this year’s competition.” Hu Feng replied. “Therefore, I am in no hurry to return. In fact, I can stay here and accompany Brother Jin Xia to Azure city when it’s time.”

Hu Feng was not enthusiastic about returning back to his mansion anytime soon. And he doubt those people at the Hu Clan would care even if he had left forever…

Then, as if he suddenly remembered something, Hu Feng asked cautiously: “If Brother Jin Xia is going to the competition…then I assume you are not there to merely watch?”

Jin Xia smiled and turned away, continuing to walk on. Seeing this, Hu Feng could only shake his head as he understood the competition has now just welcomed a dark horse…

After walking a bit more, Jin Xia suddenly stopped as he turned to Hu Feng. “Ah, Brother Hu Feng, I remember you saying you wanted some ‘mind-clearing’ pills for cultivation? Since you have time to accompany me on this trip, and I have quite some time at hand as well, why not allow me to provide some guidance for your cultivation?”

“Eh? Really?” Hu Feng asked, a visible light of excitement in his black eyes. “If Brother Jin Xia could lend a helping hand, I would be more than grateful to you!”

“En. Then, let us head back to the inn for now.” Jin Xia said, as he led the way.

Moments later, back at the inn they had stayed the previous night, Hu Feng sat patiently near a small table in Jin Xia’s room.

After a quick scan around his surrounding to ensure there were no one hiding, Jin Xia promptly sat down near the table as well. In one fluid motion, Jin Xia willed a light blue colored bottle from his Eternal Gourd to appear in his right hand. Hu Feng did not seem surprise as he saw the light blue bottle in Jin Xia’s hand.

Since to others, the appearance of any item would only look like Jin Xia had taken it from his spatial ring that was on his finger. They would not think Jin Xia would have a “special” spatial item right in his dantian.

“Take this bottle.” Jin Xia said, handing over the light blue bottle to Hu Feng.

Opening the bottle, a strong fragrance permeated the air. Smelling this, Hu Feng’s eyes lit up.

It is said that the stronger and more fragrant the smell is, the more potent its effect was. This was another way to tell a good quality pill from a bad one, without looking for the star markings on a pill.

“What is this pill called, Brother Jin Xia?” Hu Feng asked excitedly. “This fragrance is not like any that I had smelled before.”

Jin Xia faintly smiled as he introduced the pill: “It’s called Heavenly Nightmare Pill.”

“Eh?” Hearing the name, Hu Feng was dumbfounded for a moment. “This…why the sinister sounding name?”

“Haha, you are right, it does not sound like something good. But I can promise you that this pill’s effect is top notch.” Jin Xia laughed.

“What this does is, after consuming the pill, your mind will enter a half dream-like, half meditative state of conscious. The pill will bring out both your happiest memories and your darkest past and play it before you in erratic intervals. Hence, the name “Heavenly Nightmare”: both your most joyful and heavenly moments are reviewed before you, while your most fearful and nightmarish memories are also present.

While it will not calm your mind at first, if you are able to resist any emotions when viewing those memories in your mind or come to some sort of enlightenment, then afterwards the strength of your mentality will be greatly heighten. You will thus, be able to concentrate more easily when learning and meditating!

Humans are often subject to various emotions that usually conflict with their training. But if you are able to control your feelings, then not only in cultivation, but even on the battlefield, you would not lose out easily.

Moreover, while this method seems quite sick and crude, it is nonetheless very effective in training one’s mind. After all, if you’re able to resist your emotions even a little or gain a moment of understanding of yourself, you will still gain many benefits. And the pills are charged with high quality ingredients that will continuously nourish your body and dantian, so even if you fail to harness your emotions, you will still receive a boost to your cultivation nonetheless!”

Hearing Jin Xia’s extensive explanation, Hu Feng felt a tinge of excitement rising from his heart.

If he could truly control his emotions and increase his mentality, then afterwards cultivating would not be as difficult. After all, he was always prone to the smallest distraction, and his environment at home was not quite as tranquil as he would have liked…

“Alright, I’ll take this, Brother Jin Xia. And I will have to once again thank you!” Hu Feng cupped his hands towards Jin Xia.

“No need, it is what I owe you for your help as a guide.” Jin Xia replied smilingly.

“Oh, but how many stars is this Heavenly Nightmare pill ranked at?” Hu Feng asked curiously.

“4 stars.” Jin Xia replied without hesitation.

However, in reality, though, the pill’s star ranking was much higher than that.

It was actually a 10-stars ranked pill.

But Hu Feng, who had never tasted, or even seen, a 4 stars pill before, did not question Jin Xia’s assessment. After all, with his current standing in the Hu Clan, he was not qualified to even obtain a 4 stars pill.

Thus, he only felt a little surprise, but was not suspicious. After all, he knew that the pills in this world was very strange and could bring out mysterious effects in a person’ s body; so Hu Feng could only think that a 4 stars pill, that he had only heard so much about, must have even more peculiar influences. Since, this was not on Earth anymore.

Jin Xia watched as Hu Feng took a deep breath and swallowed a Heavenly Nightmare Pill. Then, walking towards a nearby bed, Hu Feng sat down in a lotus position and closed his eyes, He then began to enter a meditative state.

A faint smile was on JIn Xia’s face as he observed Hu Feng. After a few moments, when he noticed the changes on Hu Feng’s facial expressions, did Jin Xia get up from his seat and slowly walk over to where the latter sat.

“Seems like the pill is taking effect already…Now, let me see if I can perceive your soul now…” Jin Xia murmured as he reached his right palm towards Hu Feng’s head.