Comprehending the technique and continuous breakthroughs.
1361 Words
"Not enough Qi Energy. Where can I find Pure external Qi to augment?"
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Aeries was in the midst of this all raking his brain for a solution...
'I should try with everything that can provide any bit of Pure Qi, There's the Core... something should still be left.'
Very quickly, he grabbed unto the once fused Core before proceeding to clench it in his right hand. Although after the battle all Skills were deactivated, Aeries Fused Soul Materialization had depleted some of the energy of this Crystal Core.
One should know that this Core was not that of some random weak Demon Beast, but most likely one from a holy beast or even higher.
Even after the multiple numbers of years, it was kept hidden by that Dark King Python, the Pure heaven and earth Qi was still retained in it. Nevertheless, Aeries has used it on several occasions, even offering it more than once to the Dark King Python to get on its good side.
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The new rush of Qi from the Core pushed Aeries deep back to his Sea of consciousness where the Clone had remained motionless ever since.
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"Let's continue, watch closely." With those few words, it began again.
"Slow, Fast, Fast, Fast, Slow" Same as the words it spoke, its actions exhibited the acts of a real master. Sometimes it moved slow other times unbelievably fast, sometimes soft while at few intersections with force enough to shake mountains... From an outsider's glance, it would resemble a form of dance practiced by barbarians, only Cultivators at a profound realm might be able to pry into the mysteries contained.
Arrows did not stay idle, he followed every move as much as he could, though his steps weren't the same flawless form as the clone.
[Hong!!!] The third flash of lightning struck down dauntlessly at Aeries wavering form.
"It should be ending soon." Quiet Plague finally spoke in a whisper low enough to not break Aeries concentration.
"Slow Qi, No Qi, Can't keep up. More... Better source" Aeries still had his eyes closed but he began mumbling meaningless words.
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In his sea of consciousness, the main reason he couldn't keep up shouldn't be due to his cognitive abilities but rather the slow influx of the Pure Qi from The Core.
External sources, at the end, could not be compared to the Qi stored at one Shang. For one, there would always be a slight lapse of time in extracting the Pure Qi stored.
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Plaque was also thinking about Aeries problem with a huge frown pasted on his Soul Avatar[1]
"Kid, there's no way you can get more than this. Am afraid you won't be able to comprehend much from this... if you were at your peak then, maybe it could work out. Stop trying to understand that technique and prepare to turn your Shang Cloud into Shang Sea [2]"
"But there is still something I can use!" An epiphany struck Aeries and his mind immediately removed something from his sea of consciousness, more specifically, the Human Temple.
On his hand was a large slab of meat. As soon as he brought it out, the surrounding experienced slight fluctuations, and even the stagnant Air swirled furiously.
"I wonder what rank this Beast is... Certainly above the holy rank[3]"
As soon as he ingested it, all disturbances quietened but the opposite was happening in his body.
The violent Qi tore through his meridians[3] bringing all sort of pain with it.
[Ding!
Host is experiencing an enormous influx of Qi... Should proceed to contain it?]
'Ah! System San, you can do that too?'
"Contain, but send out the required amount."
A blue hue appeared around this 'meat' which was unbelievably still at Aeries lower esophagus, the blue coating blocked in the violent Qi from destroying his body, only letting out a few steaks at times.
.........
"Eh? a fourth one?" Plaque screamed out in surprise. just as he finished,
[Honggg!!!!]
The last strike came and with it, the force and anger of the heavens. it seems to think Aeries had it easy with the previous three.
The force was enough to force Aeries Soul Avatar to shudder in his sea of consciousness and his body let out 'Pop Pop' sounds.
But that was it, The Old Ancestor from before had greatly strengthened his body, and all the practice he did in the Red Blood Forest before augmented it. Right now, his body alone could defeat any cultivator at the 3rd Martial General Realm... this was no joke.
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As time ticked by, Aeries continuously brought out even more of the Time Monster's meat. Using it to practice his new Mountain, Lakes, and Man technique.
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[Baaaang!]
Aeries stood silently for few minutes before opening his eyes, a streak of light flashed through them as a new feeling seem to grow deep in him.
"This technique is truly impressive. To think that it could be like this...
Old plaque, you did not trick me right? I refuse to believe you had no idea how sophisticated this technique was. To not cultivate it must be a fool's thought... even for you."
"You Greenhorn! you dare mock me!
To speak the truth, back then this master thought nothing of body techniques as what this master was cultivating back then rendered his body incapable of Body Arts."
"But you never had a thought of exchanging it for another Art that suits you?" Aeries eyes narrowed, 'was there something wrong about this technique?'
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"Of course I did! Brat, you should even be thankful that I kept it this long. Before I could even participate in an Auction... The War fell on us. my weak body then did not hold long enough and ultimately vanished."
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"... I See..."
Aeries could infer from Plaque's words that, First; he had gotten this Technique through unhanded means. Second; The fool had wanted to maximize his gain so he hid it for a once in a hundred-year Auction to sell it off for great gains... it was a pity he fell before then.
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Finally, the dark clouds separated before a gold shimmering light cascaded on Aeries, This Golden Light was in fact, Pure Heaven and Earth Qi sapped from the Void itself.
[Ding! untainted Qi found, establish total absorption?] The System's monotone voice sounded a little too sweet in Aeries' ears this time.
'Of course!'
[Ding! Command established.]
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A whirlpool formed almost immediately, the eye being Aeries Shang Cloud and spread far out to cover the golden light.
[Whoolunnng!!]
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A sudden draw pulled all the Qi from the heavens towards Aeries Shang Cloud.
'Overflowing!'
His Shang Cloud began condensing to form a Shang Sea...
[Ding! congratulations, Player 'Scourge' for reaching Martial General Realm [1st Stage]...
Martial General Realm [Second stage]
...
[Insufficient Qi for another breakthrough.]
"f**k!" 'Wait! what good time to use that monster's meat than now',
"Assimilate Qi from external sources" Aeries wasted no time before ordering. He brought out several chunks of meat, this time not daring to eat the bloody flesh directly but laying them in a circle.
[Initiating...
[Ding! Congratulations Player 'Scourge for breaking through, current level...]
Aeries felt an indescribable feeling throughout his body.
[c***k, c***k!]
Popping gratings sounded as his bones creaked continuously.
At last he opened his eyes unceremoniously and let out a breath "huuu, truly feels refreshing, I missed those days" He recalled when he last had his breakthrough and let out a self-deprecating sigh.
'All along I had thought I had managed to get to the peak any of the Chosen can reach. Alas... I was greatly mistaken.
"Brat! what sort of monster are you? You're already at this Realm? How?"
And the system followed suit to chime in
[Ding! Congratulations, Player 'Scourge' for reaching...
[1: Soul avatar— Soul form, a corporal appearance of the soul... usually takes the form of every characteristic of the physical body
2: It Goes from Shang Cloud to Shang Sea, and then Shang Core. Martial Warrior to Martial General and finally Martial Flying Lord respectively.
3: Explain more on Beast Rankings on later episodes...]
- Writer
