Grabbing a hold of the kid's shaky shoulders I try to calm him down by saying comforting words, we both know they were empty, but none the less they do the job of calming him and not just for him, but for me as well.

As it turned out, after I was able to get more information, Yao had gone to the Azure mountain in some sort of secret quest for the sect and I felt the need to repay him for his deeds, so without further delay, I asked for general directions towards the place the kid thought Yao had gone and descended the Sect's mountain entering the forest.

Once again I was there, in the lush forest filled with perils. Treading lightly as to not draw unnecessary attention, I walked by the shaded threes while the humid and putrefactive smell of dying plants filled my nose. The more conscious I became of the forest, the more similarities I saw with the scarce Amazonian forests in Brasil.

By the year 2043, the earth was almost devoid of naturally born plants and replaced by either gigantic industrial air purifiers or bionic manufactured plants, these both and other methods worked just fine but they would never be able to replace the splendor unfolding in front of my eyes.

No much sun was seen beneath the tall trees and humidity ate away at my clothing, I became self-aware that this part of the forest was very different than the one I woke up in. Not only in the asphyxiating temperatures but also in the flora.

'While the other part of the forest to me felt like the woods this one feels more like a jungle. Shit, I really can't take this noises, it sounds like a symphony from hell.'

For the most part, my stay in this new world had been spent in either a comatose state or in meditation. Tempering my personality or hardening my resolve would come from battle experience but until now I had none, except if one could count the ass-beating I received from the Yue Sect ladies.

Still frustrated by the memory I continued to tread the jungle until my feet hurt. Knowing that tiring myself would only make the situation worse I activated the most useful skill I could use in this place.

Muscles filling with Qi, power surging, welling inside of me like a tonic that made my whole body lighter and sharper, I took a step forward and the only way to describe this action was the word, 'Fast'.

Faster and lighter than I had ever dreamed of being, soaring through the soft earth beneath my feet I advanced at impossible speeds through the forest while dodging vines, threes and other blocking objects. Marveling at this I try to remember the technique's name and mentally take note to cultivate this one movement to perfection.

'Half-Step mirror movement, wasn't that move the one I used to flee from the fairies?

To change this much my speed and movements just by infusing purer Qi mixed with the Dao body, splendid!'

Running faster and faster while nothing hindering my advance, I transversed the forest in record times, at least for a Qi condensation realm practitioner.

***************

Panting profusely after hours of endless running my body finally gave up and made me take a break. With my mind foggy and my body sore, I found a somewhat safe location to pass the night in. It wasn't the sher*ton but it was semi-hidden and comfortable due to the dense vegetation surrounding me.

Sitting cross-legged in the lotus position, I began to meditate and regain the lost Qi in my one day journey.

Everything seemed fine until I felt my Dantian expand with excess Qi making me instinctively aware of what was happening.

Suppressing my joyful demeanor I felt my crystal clear Qi accumulate into a bloated spherical mass.

To my surprise, the sphere started rotating at high speeds and sucking everything in my Dantian's Qi sea that the previous Li Xiao had formed when entering the Condensation stage. Turning without ever stopping, the sphere, or core as I remembered from one of the books I had read a long time ago back on Earth, was turning from crystal clear to various colors.

In the mixture, I could clearly recognize the basic pallet of colors, but deep down if I looked closely I could also recognize beautiful kinds of purples and cherry red's swirling to the core's compass. There were other colors, an endless myriad forming a splendid sight that took my breath away.

***************

(Narrative mode activate!)

Time flowed without great concern, stars moved up above the sky alluring the Quian continent with their shine. The light touched every part of the continent, and in a forgotten sect near a big forest, stood a young man in a lotus position drinking tea with three others.

"What do you mean he is not in his room!?"

A young adult man yelled towards the three unassuming youths, attracting the attention inside the pagoda used as the sect's bar and restaurant. Waving a frustrated hand in an apology, the man, who had delicate features that directly contrasting with his sword-like eyebrows said in a whispered tone.

"I Yi Shao Long won't let that Li escape my punishment, search his room to find clues to his location and if that bears no fruits then try that Yao Chen's place, he said they were friends when I bought him back to the sect."

One of the unassuming youths with a long face and crooked nose said in a hurry while eyes darting in fear.

"Big brother Yi, that Yao Chen has been missing for a month after he went towards the forest alone, he left that young kid in charge. What's his name...ah yes, Pan Ning!

Anyhow big brother, he is easy prey and is only a child, so with a little bit of talking he should crack like a walnut."

Taking his time while sipping his soothing tea Yi Shao Long said with a sneer.

"Go get him, don't come back unless you know Li's location."

Looking at each other the three youngsters swallowed hard.

"What are you waiting for, go, now!"

Doing what their master had told them to do the three hurriedly exited the pagoda and rushed towards the outer sect disciples living quarters.

***************

(Back to normal)

While concentrating on my core I feel an itch on my ears, but after reaching this far I stay still and continue to focus every part of my body into the breakthrough.

Losing rotation inside my Dantian, the core that had sucked almost all the Qi I had, became clear to see. Standing alone in the middle of my Qi sea - now depleted - I understood that the transformation wasn't over yet.

After losing rotation completely and having consumed all my Qi sea, it began to rotate yet again, but this time clockwise. Even faster than before I felt my core trying to form something, alas not just one but six pillars were beginning to sprout inside my Dantian.

Thin lines of Qi came out of the central multicolored sphere and formed small swirling tornados placed beneath the core. Each tornado displaying unique colors of their own design, watching them slowly solidify I realize the relationship the pillars have with my affinities.

'So that's why they are blue colored, brown, green, silver, red and finally white. They all form my Dao pillars that are connected to my core but wait why did my cultivation leap so much from Qi condensation?'

Ignoring the answer for now as I could always try to find the solution in my status, I tried to speed up the process to the maximum of my abilities.

***************

This time knowing that I should remain watchful in the back of my mind of the hours that I roughly spent cultivating, I notice that almost two days had passed since I began my core formation along with the pillars.

Slowly opening my eyes, I immediately noticed the significant changes that had occurred to my body even before checking my status window.

Looking at my unblemished hands once filled with wrinkles and later filled with youthful makings, they were all gone now, to the point that my skin displayed a porcelain-like color.

'So this is what it feels like to be a vampire, should I hide from the sun once it arises or will I sparkle like that one classical movie Twillig*t?'

Shaking my head from the distracting thoughts I feel the power surround me and with no shame, I throw a devastating Qi covered bronze fist towards a regular tree.

What I see makes me gawk at the surroundings. Splinters fly everywhere as I cover my face to avoid any entering my eyes and I notice that not one but all the trees surrounding me in a 500m (546 yds) where all obliterated. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen to a living creature if something this monstrous where to hit them.

Not dilly-dallying any further I summon my status.

"Status!"