Chapter 47: Chapter Forty Seven - I am introduced to Teacher Corne
Teacher Corne was not entirely what Leon expected of Pike's Master. As the younger man appeared to have focused his body's efforts into his shoulders and upper arms (and likely hidden thighs) showing he liked to rely on brute strength to give him the upper edge, Teacher Corne proved to simply be thick of body all over. Not fat, such soft and indulgent layers were not apparent at all on this man, he just appeared strongly built from head to toe. He was not quite as tall as his student and Jin Li either.
His sharp eyes seemed to scrutinise each young student as they entered the weapons room, where he had been attending to his equipment. He had a square shaped face which was lined with a neatly trimmed beard and moustache. Equally attended, curved brows framed above his eyes and his dark hair knotted at his nap, not a strand out of place. He was not a handsome man, but he had great presence.
"Master," Pike greeted him with a bow, to which all three boys followed suit. There was no question that this man was superior to them and commanded respect. "Master, I happened upon the alchemist apprentice Leo on my way to collect your pills from him. He had the same idea, planning to bring the pills to you."
Leon stepped nervously forward a place. "I have the requested p-p-pills," he said. Teacher Corne's near brows rose as he heard the stutter from Leon's lips, but he said nothing. Leon began taking the pills from his bag, carefully separating the jade bottles from the ones containing other pills and potions.
"Ah, good," The man said, accepting the pills as was his right. "Though you could easily leave them with Pike next time."
"Yes," Leon said, knowing he likely would have done if not for the scene that other senior had caused. Of course, he had also thought Pike still away on his mission.
"And who might these others be?" Teacher Corne enquired. He could naturally feel the cultivation of all three boys. He sensed that the alchemist had not long broken through to secondary stage, but was impressed that the child's innersea was quite stable regardless. Often, cultivators newly emerged from a lower stage had unstable seas and it took time for it to settle. If they did not wait and pushed their cultivation, they would surely suffer some sort of deviation, as it appears the boy might have done in the past, though looking deeper through him, he felt this was not so certain.
On the other hand, there were the two martial artists. The smaller one was still of primary stage, though it was doubtful he would remain there long. He also had a wind root. Corne suspected this would no doubt improve his swiftness and speed. The taller youth was apparently tertiary stage and also had a stable sea. This was extremely impressive for one so young, almost impossible to fathom. His root was lightning. There would be those who claimed that his root was not strong as it was not considered one of the five primary roots (being fire, earth, metal, water and wood), but Corne felt that this assumption was too simple for this particular root.
"Sorry, Master," Pike said sheepishly, scratching at the back of his neck for his bad manners. "This is Jin Li, the Student I told you about who was admitted to the outer school recently. Unfortunately, I have yet to know this young man."
Sun blushed, slightly due to the fact that he had tagged along without actual permission and partially because he was in the presence of two more of his heroes. Who hadn't heard of the prowess of Corne, who had many tales to tell as he travelled the realm, improving his cultivation, uncovering the plot of a demonic cultivation sect hiding beneath the guise of a righteous one, battling with the twin tailed Onyx Lion and surviving and finally settling down in the school he had graduated from as a Teacher to a younger generation. And then no matter how many approached him, he finally chose Pike to be his one and only personal apprentice.
"I'm Sun, Jin Li's roommate," he bowed low, hoping to improve their impression of him.
However Teacher Corne said nothing, simply accepting the introductions and saying nothing more about them. "It is late," he said finally. "Pike, take our guests to the food hall, get them something to eat. The portals will be closed soon as curfew sets in. Guide them to one of the guest rooms for the night. Leo, I will prepare the agreed payment for when you leave tomorrow."
And with that, the four men were dismissed.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone