Chapter Four: Rest Assured on Your Journey

“Phew!” Luo Hao exhaled a cloud of white breath after finishing his cultivation, his face twisted into a look of misery, as if someone owed him money and refused to pay it back.

“Old man, I think something went wrong during my cultivation.” Luo Hao stepped down from the black stone and approached the unkempt old man. The old man stared at Luo Hao in shock, which Luo Hao took as a kind of mockery, so he was a bit embarrassed as he spoke.

“Hmm, I saw it. It’s indeed a big problem.” The old man's expression became grave, and seeing Luo Hao’s depressed demeanor, he sighed, “Disciple, it’s very serious!” He even purposefully put on a mournful face as he spoke.

“Master, is there any hope of saving me?” When Luo Hao heard the old man say he was in serious trouble, his heart sank halfway, but he still clung to a thread of hope as he asked. The old man shook his head at him.

“Ah, birth, aging, sickness, death—it’s the way of the world. I just became your disciple, and now I’ll have you bury me before your time. I’m sorry, Master, but it’s a pity that I still die a virgin. Heaven, how could you let a young man like me, with nothing but youth and promise, die so soon?” Luo Hao cried his heart out, tears streaming down his face.

Hearing Luo Hao’s words, a pang of guilt struck the old man; he felt he shouldn’t deceive his disciple. But when Luo Hao mentioned dying a virgin, he almost spat blood from anger.

“Master, I have a few requests before I die. Death is a serious matter, so you must agree to them.” Luo Hao stared at the old man with desperate eyes, a trace of hope flickering within. The old man nodded subconsciously.

“First, please find me a good burial place. Second, get seven or eight beautiful women to mourn at my grave. Third, bring some of your wine to accompany me on the road.” Luo Hao rattled off his requests while the old man’s face grew darker and darker, his hand gripping the wine gourd tightly as if restraining himself.

“Two hundred and eighty: Master, you must visit me every year. Two hundred and eighty-one…” Luo Hao kept listing demands.

“You’re not going to die,” the old man said, veins bulging on his forehead, his voice low and hoarse.

“Master, don’t lie to me. I know you’re saying this to give me courage to live, but I’ve lost all hope. Just let me die!” Luo Hao sobbed, snot and tears everywhere. The old man’s regret deepened; taking Luo Hao as his disciple was the most regrettable thing he’d ever done.

“If that’s so, then rest in peace!” Unable to take it anymore, the old man patted his backside and walked toward the cave. As he glanced at Luo Hao, he wondered how Luo Hao had broken through to the Qi Spirit Realm so quickly. His wine was potent, but not that potent.

“I won’t die? Old man, did you just say I won’t die?” The old man entered the cave, and Luo Hao suddenly came to his senses, springing up and running after him.

“Old man, you said I won’t die. What’s going on? Didn’t you say my problem was serious, and then you shook your head?”

“I said your problem was serious because it’s the first time I’ve seen such a situation. Shaking my head meant I’m speechless, get it?” The old man looked at Luo Hao in disdain.

A moment ago he was ready to die, now he’s bouncing around again. And this kid is such a lecher; he'd better keep his granddaughter far away from him.

“Hehe, Master, better to live shamelessly than die. Even ants struggle to live. I was just too caught up in the moment. Please, tell me what’s really going on?” Luo Hao grinned awkwardly.

“When a martial artist breaks through to the Qi Spirit Realm, a nascent form of the spirit infant appears in the dantian. The changes of the spirit infant reveal the potential and talent of a martial artist. Of course, don’t ask me to check yours yet—I’m talking about a complete spirit infant.” The old man finished, noticing the smile on Luo Hao’s face.

“Hahaha, I am indeed a peerless genius, unrivaled through the ages! In just a few hours, I broke through to the Qi Spirit Realm. Old man, it took you three days! The world of geniuses is lonely as snow—so cold at the top!” Luo Hao’s face was full of pride, and he took the chance to tease his “cheap” master. The old man’s face immediately darkened and he smacked Luo Hao with his wine gourd.

“Old man, you’re just jealous of a genius!” Luo Hao shouted indignantly.

“Jealous of you? Am I crazy? You’re taught by me, after all.” The old man smacked him again.

“Master, don’t be angry. I’m just surpassing the master, and in the future, I’ll look out for you.” Luo Hao patted his chest with righteousness.

“Cough, cough!” Suddenly Luo Hao erupted in a fit of violent coughing, his face flushed.

“Kid, what’s wrong?”

“I hit myself too hard.” The old man was speechless and kicked Luo Hao away, but Luo Hao reacted quickly, using a stone protruding from the cave to push off and land gracefully.

“All right, kid, from today I’ll teach you martial arts formally. Take this manual, ‘Tiger’s End Technique.’ Though it’s only a mortal-grade skill, it’s one of the best among mortal-grade techniques and perfect for the Qi Spirit Realm.” With that, the old man tossed a black book to Luo Hao.

“‘Tiger’s End Technique,’ mortal-grade top level. Old man, what does mortal-grade mean?”

“The continent of Ancient Heaven has countless cultivation methods, each with its own grade. Mortal-grade is the lowest. Above it is Refined Mortal-grade, then Legendary-grade, then Heaven-Shaking-grade.”

“Above Heaven-Shaking-grade is Heaven-Penetrating-grade, and above that is Profound Heaven-grade. Any sect possessing Profound Heaven-grade techniques is already a major power; such a technique is a sect’s treasured legacy.” The old man took a swig of wine.

“Old man, Profound Heaven-grade is impressive, but isn’t there anything stronger?”

“Kid, you’re clueless. Profound Heaven-grade techniques can move mountains and split valleys. Of course, there are stronger ones: Divine Profound-grade techniques. These are beyond mortal comprehension, the power of gods.”

“Only ancient sanctuaries and secluded sects with millennia of heritage possess and guard Divine Profound-grade techniques. As for anything above Divine Profound, that’s just legend—Heaven-Extinguishing-grade, said to destroy worlds and remake cycles of existence.” When he spoke of Divine Profound and Heaven-Extinguishing grades, a fervent light shone in the old man’s eyes, especially when he mentioned Heaven-Extinguishing; he sighed deeply.

“Old man, I don’t ask for much. Just give me any Legendary or Heaven-Shaking-grade technique. It’s better than mortal-grade!” Luo Hao treated the tales of Divine Profound and Heaven-Extinguishing as mere stories—since he couldn’t get them, he felt disappointed in the Tiger’s End Technique in his hands.

“Heh, you call that not asking for much? You think these techniques are cabbages? Enough, get out and practice. I’ll check your progress in three days; if you don’t do well, you’re on your own!” The old man lay down, hugging his wine gourd.

“You’re so irresponsible, old man.” Luo Hao looked at him with contempt.

“My disciple surpasses the master, and still needs my guidance? The world of geniuses is lonely as snow—so cold at the top!” The old man mimicked Luo Hao’s earlier tone.

Luo Hao stared speechlessly at him, thinking, this old guy is as petty as me—serves me right for being so cheeky.

“I’ll practice myself, then.” With the mortal-grade Tiger’s End Technique in hand, Luo Hao ran outside the cave and sat cross-legged on the black stone. “Brother Stone, I’ll trouble you again.”

Sitting atop the stone, Luo Hao opened the Tiger’s End Technique and studied it carefully. After about five hours, he closed the manual and tucked it away.

The Tiger’s End Technique consisted of five moves: first, Tiger King Salutes the Moon; second, Tiger’s Roar in the Forest; third, Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain; fourth, Tiger Raises the Sky; fifth, White Tiger Stomps the Sun. Its essence lay in ruthlessness, charging forward with no thought of retreat.

“Excellent, Tiger’s End Technique is unrivaled. With my dragon force, its power won’t be inferior to a Refined Mortal-grade skill.” Luo Hao was full of confidence and began practicing.

“Ha! Tiger King Salutes the Moon!” Three days later, Luo Hao’s eyes sparkled as spiritual energy surged into his fist. He struck out, and a mighty tiger’s roar echoed; from the flurry of fists, a tiger’s shadow emerged and slammed into the cliff, shattering stone.

“I did it! I finally mastered Tiger King Salutes the Moon!” Luo Hao was ecstatic; after three days of sleepless, relentless practice, he had finally mastered the first move.

“Yo, so that’s Tiger King Salutes the Moon? I thought it was Cat King’s Chaotic Dance!” Just as Luo Hao was celebrating, the old man’s lazy voice drifted from the cave, instantly dampening Luo Hao’s spirits.

“Old man, you’re finally out. I thought you’d died in your sleep!” No sooner had Luo Hao spoken than the old man’s flying wine gourd struck him squarely on the head.

“Kid, I can sum up your Tiger’s End Technique in one word—terrible. Your fists have form but no spirit, energy but no force, presence but no power. If you fight someone and lose, don’t say you know me, much less that you’re my disciple.” The old man looked at Luo Hao with disgust.

“Old man, what should I do? Teach me, you’re my master!”

“I’ve no time now, got things to do. I’ll be leaving for a while, don’t know when I’ll be back, so I can’t teach you personally. Take this letter and go a thousand miles to Skysea Sect at Zhen Tian Peak, study there for a while.”

“When I’m done, I’ll find you and take you to Haotian Sect. Take this spatial ring, but remember: your strength is low, so don’t flaunt your wealth. You should understand.” The old man handed him a letter and a small, flame-like jade token, infusing it with a trace of his soul essence.

“If I don’t return, five years later, take this Sunfire Token and seek Cold Windless at Ancient Haotian Sect.” He added solemnly.

“Old man, why so dramatic? Just set your mind at ease.” The old man smacked Luo Hao with the wine gourd again, feeling uncomfortable.

“Master, remember to pick me up at Skysea Sect in five years. If you don’t come, I’ll turn the whole Ancient Heaven continent upside down to find you.” Luo Hao sensed the old man’s journey would be dangerous, and as he spoke, the old man’s figure vanished.

“Kid, in five years, how far will you grow? I really want to see. Work hard!” With those words, a terrifying gleam flashed in the old man’s eyes, and he shot off like a stream of light, disappearing into the distant sky.