In a matter of 3 days, Han Xing broke through the 1st level of Body Tempering. His flesh comparable to that of a demonic bark was already resistant to normal blades. With the advancement, a casual stroke of a sharpened knife only left a thin white mark.
Han Yang had been overseeing his progress and was satisfied with him. 3 days to break through the 1st level may be considered ordinary for those from Upper Realms as those considered geniuses could break through in a matter of a day or even hours, and real monsters, Divine Sons, Holy Saint and Saintess of ancient family and sects could break through in a matter of minutes to the 1st level of body tempering.
But the concentration of Qi in the Upper Realm is countless times higher, how could it be comparable to the Black Desolate Realm?
Han Xing's short lived excitement over creating mechazords in the future was tapered down after realising the need for higher cultivation. Instead of rushing to cultivate mindlessly half of the time he focused on mastering the carving techniques and the machinations described in the Living Marionette Manual.
Han Xing was quite surprised seeing the usage of gears, levers, and pulley system in the manual.
"Qi in all things are inherently formless and boundless… the body shaped Qi to create forms. Muscles store Qi and create movement… so, using the thin coiled metal sheet to store Qi refers to using spring? I see… this illustration compares the tendons, bones and muscles as a system of Qi transfer."
Han Xing hummed as he read through the jade slip. He was a reincarnator who was a straight A student that could get 100% on physics in highschool, so he could relate modern physics and understood mechanisms to create motions and energy transfer. Somehow his brain felt brighter than back when he was a regular teen on Earth.
He went out to the outdoor workshop and found his father. He asked for a 'coiled thin sheet of iron' or 'coiled thin wire into a cylinder'. Han Yang was quite confused at the request, and casually he created them through his spiritual power bending iron effortlessly.
Han Yang noticed Han Xing was really studying those peculiar mortal techniques. He scratched his head seeing Han Xing carving big and small gears using wood, drawing and measuring them with patience on papers.
He observed him do his work. Honestly, Han Yang never bothered to work over these mortal constructions. In his view of conventional puppetry, with a wisp of spirit and life force, a puppet could be given life and move. And being an auxiliary path, he did not give too much focus on them and was barely able to enter introduction to Puppetry Arts.
The Living Marionette Manual he got later on had too much content that was not 'important' in his view. When he got his hand on the inheritance, back then he was already at a high level of cultivation and he was not too interested to practice the mortal ways described in the manual.
However, seeing Han Xing was so into it, with those bright shining eyes, Han Yang could not say anything and let Han Xing do as he pleased. Though he had to remind him to also focus on cultivation as it was the backbone of cultivators.
The weeks passed with a monotonous rhythm. Han Xing always went to his father to request him to create more 'springs' for him. Han Yang was even tired of it; he just made a bunch of them in a whole box with varying sizes so his son would take it from there.
He did not pay much attention to him until one day, Han Xing placed a figurine of a round cat the size of a palm on the tea table in the living room.
"Xing'er, what is this statue for?" Han Yang took the round wooden cat, feeling its weight.
Han Xing's eyes were shining, handing him a wooden key. "Dad, here's the key. Put it into his butt and turn it 5 times clockwise."
Han Yang frowned. What is the meaning of stabbing this key into this doll butt-hole? He looked at his son, who was just 7 years old in mortal age. He should not have been mature enough to know adult things, right?
With hesitation, he inserted the key into the hole behind the doll. Then with Han Xing's urging, he twisted the key clockwise until 5 complete turns. Han Yang was surprised, feeling the resistance as he turned them. With his spiritual sense, he saw through the doll and the gears and system inside.
His mouth opened slightly as he watched the doll start moving its 4 round feet to and fro, its mouth moving up and down as the key unwind the spring inside. He placed the doll back on the coffee table, and the cat doll moved little by little across the table.
His eyes lit up in understanding. "Impressive, Xing'er."
"Hm~!" Han Xing smiled from ear to ear, proud of his creation.
"But-" Han Yang suddenly spoke.
"Once you achieve the Qi Gathering stage, you can weave spiritual threads and use them to control puppets with your spirit. You will be able to create a life-like puppet, surpassing what a mortal method can achieve. Look, this doll can only move forward and open its mouth. But once you are able to use Qi to give life and intent to the puppets, they can move like a real living cat. Cultivation is the backbone of us cultivators. Puppetry is only a path to help us in our way. Watch this…"
Han Yang took out a Engraving Tool from his spatial ring and created a few runes on top of the doll, and with a point of his finger, the cat doll turned lifelike. It opened its mouth, moved its front paw to lick it like a real cat would. The cat then jumped onto Han Xing's shoulder, rubbing its round head against his neck.
"With higher cultivation, you can learn spells and techniques to help you create puppets that mortals would never achieve."
Han Xing huffed inwardly. Honestly, it looked boring?
No, dad. You underestimated mortal methods.
He was already imagining mortal methods that could achieve creation of mecha with artificial intelligence, use nuclear power source and shoot nuclear level weapons if equipped with it. And all that without a single ounce of spiritual power.
"Dad, these mortal methods are the foundation of a puppet master. I want to build a mecha one day. You said cultivation requires patience and a steady heart."
Han Yang sighed. "Yes you are right… but do not forgo your cultivation. Xing'er, I am always telling you these because I want you to be able to protect yourself. I will not be able to protect you forever… While I am here I wish to see you become strong and capable of defending yourself. That's all I wished for in my life…"
"Dad…"
Han Xing felt a little guilty hearing his dad say that. He went silent for a few seconds, digesting the words.
"... I understand. I will not skip on cultivation, I promise."
"Good…" Han Yang let out a soft smile. Maybe he was too anxious. He only had less than a hundred years at the rate his cultivation seeping out every second. He felt his time was too short, and he wanted to see his son become strong enough for him to not worry.
"I will cultivate properly." Han Xing said and went to his room. For once he forgot about so many things he had not learned and focused on cultivating first. He entered a state of meditation, running the Qi Guiding technique.
There is no rush. I can learn them little by little, consolidating my knowledge by the day, and then my cultivation by the evening. That way dad would not worry.
Han Xing made up his mind.
Over the next few days, Han Yang felt relieved seeing Han Xing focus half of his time on cultivating, while the rest on his 'hobby'.
Over the months, Han Yang noticed different dolls and figurines in the storeroom being piled up little by little. Each with unique contraption and machination relying on springs or physical mechanisms. It would be a lie to say he was not impressed.
In the meantime, Han Xing also reached 7th level of Body Tempering. Han Yang estimated that in a year at most, he would break through to the Qi Gathering Realm.
Given that his son had enough strength cultivation wise, he decided to impart to him martial technique.
He knocked on the door to call Han Xing out of his room, and gave him a jade slip, a wooden slip, and a bunch of manuals.
"Xing'er, now that you are about to complete your body tempering, you can begin training these techniques. Your body should be able to bear the burden of training these techniques now."
Han Xing took a quick look. Flowing River Movement Technique, Domineering Sword Technique, 9 Life Burning Shackles martial technique, Return to Nature Concealment Technique, Nature's Whisper Sensing Technique.
"So many?" Han Xing felt like he was handed down a bunch of textbooks all at once, his eyes looking at his father with indignation and disbelief.
"Practice the Flowing River Movement Technique first. This would be your movement technique. Your body is compatible with Wood most, with Water and Fire as second. Then you should learn the concealment technique. Once you achieve minor completion with these two, inform me. We will go down the mountain to temper your fighting skill."
"Go down the mountain?? Fight?? Fight who?" Han Xing felt his world peace was collapsing.
"Xing'er. Without sufficient strength, one cannot go far. You will meet enemies, compete for treasures, and even meet someone who would want to take advantage of you. To survive, you need to temper not just your heart for cultivation, but also the heart to fight. We will go hunt down monsters, and also travel around to see the nature of humans."
Han Xing gulped down a mouthful of saliva, anxious over the idea of fighting. He was afraid of the idea of being injured. His heart raced at the thoughts. He never even killed a chicken his entire life.
Han Yang saw through his son's feelings with a single glance. He ruffled the child's head, assuring him.
"I will be there to watch. Do not worry."
Han Xing felt his tensed heart eased. "Okay, I will practice the techniques first."
"Good. Come, let me show you how to use the Flowing River Movement Technique. Watch carefully." Han Yang guided Han Xing through example, showing him the right flow of Qi and rhythm. Correcting his mistakes attentively.
With daily practice, Han Xing slowly learned and reached minor completion over the footwork technique in 2 months. His footwork was akin to flowing river, fast, fluid, and with bursts of movements like fast torrents to charge and retreat. Han Yang saw that Han Xing's aptitude for martial arts was good, but far from genius by his standards. It was clear to him he was practicing it just for his sake, and Han Xing was not interested in it himself.
But Han Yang was still satisfied with his progress. People had different ways and different hearts, you cannot force them to change.
Meanwhile for the Nature Concealment Technique it took Han Xing a mere week to reach minor completion due to his inherent nature and body of a Sacred Heart Willow. He could enter a state blending himself with nature, and in one's view he would turn into a mortal. And if he just stood still, other's spiritual sense would see they were sensing a normal inconspicuous tree. His body in essence was that of a demonic tree to begin with, further helping him blend with nature.
With minor completions in those two, Han Yang brought him down the mountain, straight to the perimeter of Thousand Beasts Mountains.