Chương 63: A Boy's Struggles (I)

So, with a lot of sudden free time on my hands, I decided to make something for my very new disciple, Xi Zhao. Namely, I decided to dabble a bit in the Weapon Arts, as I haven't created a single one yet. At the same time, I also decided to splurge and make a movement art. All else aside, the most important thing in the world is surviving--I'd already given them a defensive art (which, I feel, will become obsolete within literally a year at this pace...), and now it was time for a movement art.

Long Tao, naturally, didn't need it--he probably had something Immortal or another, or more likely several anothers, that he could pull out at any given time. The other two, though? Well, they seemed a bit more dependent on me. At the same time, though, I gotta admit... these kids are scary. Dai Xiu was already at the sixth stage of the Qi Condensation, while Xi Zhao had actually entered the fifth. Even Elder Qin was beyond flabbergasted at the sheer speed and couldn't quite understand it, and to be frank...

neither can I. Maybe I can justify it for Long Tao and Dai Xiu--the former was a reincarnated immortal; it'd be a travesty if he was slower at cultivating than some backwater children, and the latter had a special physique and a cultivation method practically tailored for that specific physique. And, you know, she chugged Spirit Stones like freakin' candy.

No, seriously, with the two thousand I left in the satchel for Long Tao and some other miscellaneous expenses here and there, and her gobbling up the rest, I've actually fallen down to just 6, 000 mid-grade Spirit Stones. Practically over half my wealth just went 'poof' into thin air. So, for those two, I could kind of understand it; Xi Zhao, though? He was befuddling. Or, well, maybe not. His reassessed talent was peak-Sky, and it perfectly matched Dai Xiu's talent.

And even if his physique wasn't as 'good' and his method not as tailored, it was still unique. Not to mention, he didn't reset his cultivation but simply added on top of it. All the same, it was sort of silently understood between both Elder Qin and me that Xi Zhao's actual realm should never be revealed. I wonder what his reaction would be to knowing Dai Xiu's and especially Long Tao's realm? Would he have a brain aneurysm or kill us all from fear of us being the devils or something? Anyway, it wasn't important.

What was important were the two arts. I had a remnant freebie still, 'Low Temporal Resonance' imbuement, which actually cost 200 points to integrate. And I tested it--it did not count toward the totality of points at the creation window. It seems that this will be the way for me to 'cross-realm', as it were--pray that the rewards contain freebies that I can stitch to push my arts a bit further than they should go.

In fairness to the system, I can already reasonably create arts that even the sect elders would drool over. Alas, a man's greed knows no bounds, and I am a man indeed... Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. The dull details of the setup aside, I finally remembered to name the art I created.

The first one was Xi Zhou's sword art--it not only had the freebie 'Low Temporal Resonance', but as one of the restrictions I added 'Must Use Sword Qi', which chipped off a neat 150 points. Another issue presented itself, however--it, too, had a cooldown. It wasn't as outrageous as Dai Xiu's physique, but I would still have to wait at least 6 months before I could re-utilize it. I don't quite know why or even if it's permanent.

Maybe the system is using me as a conduit, and because this body is so putrid and rancid it's actually hilarious, if it tries to use restrictions too frequently, it'll break? Hey, as good an explanation as any. So, the two arts I made-- Time-Cutting Sword and Endless Shadow Steps. And yes, I am very proud of those names. [Time-Cutting Sword] [Type: Weapon Art] [Rank: peak-Sky Tier] [Host Comprehension: None (fails to meet minimum requirements)] [...] [A strike of acceleration and deceleration, morphing its many forms into an illusionary facade. Due to the art's innate, if very basic, connection to the Temporal Laws, it allows the wielders to change the strike's course mid-outcome. Consumes inordinate amounts of both Qi and Sword Qi. Due to its innate limitation, only those capable of utilizing Sword Qi may learn it] [...] [Creation Points Value: 450(100) / 100] [Comprehension Difficulty: Difficult] [...] [Creation Bonus: 4% Body Purification Progress]...

[Endless Shadow Steps] [Type: Movement Art] [Rank: mid-Earth Tier] [Host Comprehension: Intermediate] [...] [Wielder may select to leave behind Qi and shadow-imprinted footsteps in their wake; they can then shuffle to those positions near-instantaneously within range. Each subsequent shuffle consumes thrice as much Qi as the previous one] [...] [Creation Points Value: 100/100] [Comprehension Difficulty: Intermediate] [...] [Creation Bonus: 1% Body Purification Progress] [Total Body Purification Progress: 19/100%] I snuck out behind the mountain to test my new art, and I gotta tell you, I'm about to weep. All this time in this world, I hadn't really played much with Qi despite temptations; I simply didn't trust any of Lu Qi's knowledge on the matter. What if I made a mistake? Or, worse yet, made an already made one even worse?

So, I mostly just abstained, only ever trying to cultivate a few times, realizing quickly it wasn't going to happen. However, finally being able to execute something so clearly fantastical was... Aah, seriously, I could weep. Just as its description laid out, it allowed me to basically teleport backward to any of the designated spots within about 40 yards, give or take. Now, as far as cultivator fights go, 40 yards is... well, nothing. But as far as I'm concerned? Yeah. It's unmatched.

The only sad part is that I was practically on my ass, sweating bullets, after executing it just thrice. A lesson learned, or, well, re-learned really, as I should have expected Lu Qi's snail-like Qi to just barely be capable of this much. After recovering a bit, I returned and found Xi Zhao, who was practicing one of the sect's more well-guarded arts that Elder Qin taught him, Spirit Quelling Sword.

Don't let the name fool you; it was 'only' early-tier Earth art, though it did go rather well with the kid's cultivation method.

"Master!" He stopped as soon as he saw me and walked over. I gotta admit, of my three disciples, I might actually like him the most. Long Tao is out of the running immediately, Dai Xiu is a bit... too attached, and he, well, he's respectful but still maintains distance. Maybe he could mentor the girl?

"How is your progress?"

"Steady," he replied.

"I'm confident in gaining minor mastery within a month!"

"Good," I nodded, reaching into my robes and taking out the tome.

"What about this one?"

"Hm?" he took the stack of papers and started reading through it. At first, he appeared at most slightly interested, but as the pages turned... well, there was that feverish yearning that I'd occasionally see a glimpse of within the eyes of these kids.

"Master, this..."

"It's yours. So long as you don't tell Elder Qin about it."

"I would never," he swore sternly, tucking away the tome into his robes.

"Uhm..."

"What is it?"

"Could I make you some tea, Master? I would like to talk to you about something..."... huh. That doesn't sound good.