Chapter 10: Ch. 10 Teacher
Waking early, it takes me a few moments to grasp where I am. Once the realization sinks in, I quickly rise and get dressed. After storing my bedroll, a campfire is started to prepare a large breakfast.
As the meat is roasting, I conduct a round of physical exercise. Unfortunately, there was only enough room in my interspatial ring to bring my weighted bracers. After a few minutes, I have to stop circulating my soul force. It seems that my new abundance of soul force is increasing my physical strength. This will be huge in a fight but really hinders my workout with limited weight resistance.
Without the use of soul force, the workout is drastically more difficult. After a short workout, I practice the nine forms of Heaven's Path of Apprentice Unarmed Combat and Heaven's Path of Adept Footwork.
Finishing my morning routine, I'm faced with a new difficulty. Bathing. The thin layer of sweat may not produce a smell now, but I can't say how long that will last. Call me odd, but I can't stand the feel of unwashed hair.
While I have brought several large water skins, there won't be enough water to last a week if I use it to bathe. This is a dilemma you never really think about. It shouldn't be a massive deal. With all the vegetation and trees surrounding me, there has to be a water source around here. This is just another example I should slow down and put more thought into my plans.
I forgo putting on a top or my jacket and store my supplies after eating a lumberjack size of meat. Before moving towards the Thunder God's Meteorite Sword, I pull out my primary soul crystal to check my soul force. Injecting my soul force into the crystal is met with a snap of breaking glass and the crystal shattering in my hand.
Small soul crystal fragments bounce off of my torso and arms. A brief inspection of my body reveals unmarred skin. Not even a scratch. It wasn't a massive explosion, but it still would have broken the skin of a regular civilian. I'm taking this as a sign my durability is improving.
Setting all thoughts of my lost soul crystal to the back of my mind, I break into a steady jog towards the source of pressure. Even without circulating my soul force, I'm able to withstand the power pulsing from Thunder God's Meteorite Sword from here.
Before long, I reach a point where the pressure is bearing down on my soul realm. Taking out one of the jade bottles, I remove a Soul Assembling Pill. I can fill a deep concentration of energy radiating from the pill. The aroma coming off of it is nothing like the pills forged with Master Hu, but it removes all doubt of its effectiveness.
Entering into the anatta state of mind, I swallow the pill and begin cultivating. As my soul realm begins to greedily draw in the energy in the surrounding area, I feel a substantial source of energy originating from inside me.
After thirty minutes, the energy from the pill is completely absorbed, and I swallow a second one. And a third pill follows after another thirty minutes. Before a fourth pill is swallowed, my soul force wildly surges. My soul force rages against my control, and pain laces through every pathway in my body. I wasn't expecting such a powerful flair of raw power.
I wrestle for control over my soul force for several long minutes before it's pulled back into my control. Taking several deep breaths quickly calms my nerves. Checking to see if my hands are still trembling, I'm shocked at what I see.
My eyesight has improved! It's not super-human, or anywhere near that level, but I can see with such clarity now. It's easier to notice little details and track movement. I was already a Silver rank Fighter, but that did nothing to improve my senses. I've not verified it yet, but I'm willing to bet all my senses were heightened. No wonder demon spiritualists are considered superior to fighters. The improvement of hand-eye coordination alone will provide an advantage.
Initiating the now-familiar practice of stabilizing my soul realm, I try envisioning different tests I can conduct to find any other improvements I've developed.
As different ideas pass through my mind, a sense of unease falls over me. Like someone is trying to look into my mind and soul. I don't try stopping the smirk from forming as I think, 'It's about time.'
"You can come out! I can sense your presence," I call out.
"Brat, how are you able to sense me, and why can't I determine your strength," demands a hoarse voice from deep in my consciousness.
Deciding to play along, I call out, "Who are you?"
With a raspy laugh filling my head, the voice counters, "Answer my questions first and I'll tell you who I am!"
"It's because my soul force is pure, devoid of any taint or contaminants other cultivators experience," is my calm reply. It's an educated guess based on the story of Library of Heaven's Path, but it should still be close to the truth.
"Ohh... How were you able to maintain such pure soul force?" The hoarse voice seems eager for the answer.
"Nu-uh uh... It's your turn to answer my question. It's only polite after all." My smirk only grows after saying that.
Filling my head with loud hoarse laughter, the voice says, "You are a difficult brat aren't you! I have been asleep in the Heavenly Sacred Border for centuries. Although I have met a few geniuses previously, they were unable to enter my eyes. You have quite the talent. Today, I have my eyes on you. I will accept you as my disciple!"
Snorting at his declaration, I reject his statement, "Why would I accept being your disciple? Are you able to even teach me? Are you even capable of teaching anything?"
Honestly, I don't doubt he possesses several things that he could teach me, but I have no desire to call anyone my master. Mistress maybe, but definitely not master. Grrr... Stupid hormones!
"Brat, do you know who I am?" That hoarse pride-filled voice loudly demands.
"No. I don't. You still have yet to answer my question!"
Returning my snort, the voice declares, "After the Age of Darkness arrived, we five Legend rank Demon Spiritualists brought tens of thousands of lucky survivors to Glory City and withstood the tidal wave of attacks of the demon beast horde! I'm one of the five ancestral founders of Glory City, Founder Ye Yan! I'm also the founder of the Snow Wind family. Brat, are you scared straight after hearing my name?" The pride and righteousness can be heard through his declaration. "I sealed my soul within the Heavenly Sacred Border and have been protecting Glory City ever since. If it wasn't for me, Glory City would have fallen!"
Cupping my fist and slightly bowing, "Zhu Di apologizes to Lord Founder Ye Yan. However, Lord Founder, I cannot accept becoming your disciple, but I am willing to accept you as a teacher. If your knowledge in a particular area surpasses mine."
"That is arrogance speaking brat! Do you really think you are capable of surpassing a Legend rank Demon Spiritualist? Do you know how many people have begged to become my disciple?"
"I am not trying to insult you Lord Founder, but I have already reached the master level in both alchemy and inscriptions. Furthermore, I have extensive knowledge of cultivation techniques. I would be interested in exchanging tips about inscriptions and cultivation with you." I try leading him into giving up his cultivation manuals.
Suddenly a blurred image of an old man begins to take form in front of me. His features are too blurred to make out exact details, but the overall image is of an older man with a short beard, wrapped in traditional robes.
"You think you have the ability to exchange tips with me? Truly arrogant," Ye Yan exclaims.
"I can prove it. If you know of any cultivation techniques, I will show you I am more than capable of exchanging tips." Even I feel like I'm pushing for him to provide me cultivation manuals. But I'm growing tired of this little game we're playing.
After a moment, he replies, "Very well brat. What can you tell me about these." With a wave of his transparent arm, five thin books appear floating before me.
Without hesitating, I reach out and think of flaws as I quickly touch each one. With my hand still on the last book, I take hold of it and bring it close to my chest. The feel of the leather cover and the faint smell of old paper halts my thoughts. Taking a closer look at the actual book itself, I voice my findings, "This is a real book. You have nobody or interspatial ring, yet you are able to produce real books..."
I didn't expect this at all. Reading canon, I always just assumed he produced some ghostly version of a real book. But it would make so much sense if he did. He was able to chain his soul to the Thunder God's Meteorite Sword, and live on for nearly three hundred years as a soul. He must have various soul techniques I can learn from him, and with the Library of Heaven's Path, perfect them!
Unaware of my inner thoughts, Ye Yan answered my unasked question, "I am capable of storing items if I so choose to."
I loudly announce, "I am willing to accept you as my teacher of soul techniques, demon spirits, combat, and survival skills."
"Brat, you think I'm going to let you off without proving your claims? Ha! Lets hear what you have to say about those cultivation techniques before I think of teaching you."
"Fair enough. The Revolving Spiritual Wood technique is severely flawed, allowing the user to only reach the Black Gold rank.
"The Yang Spiritual technique has a very slow energy absorption rate and limits the user to only cultivating in sunlight.
"The Ash Wolves technique requires the user to integrate with a wolf-type demon spirit and your copy seems to be missing the last chapter.
"The Snow Wind Emperor technique does have the most promise but will prevent the user from using any soul techniques other than snow wind.
"And the Scarlet Fire technique requires the user to consume a large number of yang elixirs to break into Legend rank." I quickly recount a basic description I learned from the Library of Heaven's Path.
I wanna get to the good stuff, like learning how to use my soul realm like an interspatial ring!
"I... I... I accept you as my student," Ye Yan eventually stutters out.
"Excellent!" Withdrawing writing supplies, I seat down and focus on the friendly ghost. "Please begin with soul techniques. I hope you don't mind me taking notes."
Watching Ye Yan's ghostly eyes bulge to comical size did catch me off guard but not for long. "Do you accept?"
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
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