Han Xing stayed in the town for a whole month and even had a chance to visit the Iron Mountain Sect, a third rate sect with an ancestor in the early foundation establishment, 4 elders in peak Qi Gathering stage and a little bit more below.
His dad just showed his aura for a second and even the ancestor with grey hairs appeared with a fawning expression, inviting them in.
Han Xing looked around curiously as his dad just brought him on a tour. He wanted Han Xing to understand the cultivation world. He let Han Xing watch as close to hundred of menial disciples worked hard to complete tasks and labour, mining spirit stones, attending to spirit gardens, cleaning courtyards, cleaning and cooking. And how meager their salary was, exchanging 'points' of contribution for a fragment of low grade spirit stone. And even then, they had a window of 15 years to enter the Qi Gathering realm and were accepted as outer disciples. Those that could break through in 15 years were deemed not talented and would waste resources.
"Xing'er. You may think you are talented compared to them. But remember, there are always people above you. From where I come from, geniuses that could break through Qi Gathering within a year are as numerous as grains of sands, those that could break through within a month had a long list. While those that could break through within a week could be counted with 5 fingers every single generation."
Han Xing was shocked. To think there was just a wide gap in talent. He recalled how he once bore the talent of those so called geniuses when he was born. Perhaps he too would have been amidst those counted with 5 fingers.
But, those talents only exist for minutes. He bit his lips, pushing the bad memories back, not wanting to remember the pain of his blood drained and bones broken.
Han Xing diverted his attention to see how the outer disciples train by themselves, attended lectures by the elders in the outer sect hall.
He couldn't help but ask his father if he had joined a sect before.
"I did…"
Han Yang's gaze turned deep as he looked above the sky. He was silent for a few seconds before answering.
"However, I made enemies I could not fight against. I broke ties with the sect early on to not bring them calamity… Sigh…"
His eyes had a deep look of vicissitudes, sadness and regret.
Seeing his dad's expression, he decided to not ask further, respecting his feelings. Han Yang then changed the topic.
"Xing'er, now you have reached the 8th level of body tempering, you should spar with those of the same level. Those in the outer sect with similar level would be your opponent."
Han Xing felt a little anxious, but ultimately agreed to his dad's instruction.
He went to the outer sect training area. Most people there were at the Qi Gathering stage. But exceptionally talented people would be taken in directly as Outer sect disciples if they show promising talent early on.
There were 2 people still in the Late Body Tempering Stage and 1 in the Peak Body Tempering Stage in the outer sect.
The deacon looked at the 8 years old child, shock filled with eyes seeing at his tender age he already reached 8th level of Body Tempering. In the Black Desolate Realm, his talent would be that of a monstrous genius. Most people here cultivate at age of 12 at least due to the need for the body to grow up first. But this child was already at such a level when he was just 8??
He sent a message through the transmission jade, asking for Chen Yu, the genius at Peak Body Tempering to come forward to spar with a guest cultivator. He mentioned the person was a genius wanting to exchange skills.
Chen Yu, as a proud person, accepted the challenge and went out of his cave. But he was dumbfounded seeing the little 8 year old kid. He, a 16 years old teenager at 9th level of Body Tempering against a 8 years old kid?
He looked at the deacon in confusion. "Chen Yu. He is already at 8th level of Body Tempering." The deacon explained.
"8th level?! IMPOSSIBLE!" He shouted, his body shaking from disbelief. He looked at Han Xing like he was looking at a monster. He was clearly half his age! Did he cultivate from the womb?!
Han Xing felt nervous seeing the weirded out look from him. He understood he was somewhat genius in this realm, but he was not really anything in the Upper Realm so he was not sure how to take that look.
He clasped his fists together and gave a gesture of respect.
"Fellow daoist. I am inexperienced and I hope we can have an exchange."
The childish sincere voice sounded more like a taunt in Chen Yu's ears. He remembered his peers when he first joined as a menial disciple all called him a genius, giving him praise and admiration. The amount of girls he picked up too were countless.
Now this kid came along, slapping him in the face. He could not believe it!
"Kid, I am not the type to hold back and be lenient." He said coldly.
The deacon elder broke into cold sweat. He hurriedly transmitted a message to tell him behind the kid is someone even the ancestor had to respect!
Hearing the words, Chen Yu's expression froze, his face twisted into various emotions. His tongue was tied, terrified if that person behind the kid was listening.
Before Chen Yu could change his words, Han Xing spoke.
"I understand. My father wanted me to understand the strength of others, so please do not hold back." Han Xing said so, but in his heart he was nervous.
Chen Yu let out a shaky breath before nodding and led the way to the arena.
Many outer disciples and menial disciples heard of the news and hurried to go watch the show. A genius fighting another genius was a rare event.
Tens of people already surrounded the arena, each excited to watch.
"Make your move." Chen Yu said. His body was taut and on guard.
Han Xing nodded, but he was a little nervous. He collected himself, and entered the stance of Flowing River Movement technique, holding a wooden sword in his arms.
With a deep breath, he rushed like a torrent straight to Chen Yu.
Chen Yu tightened his guard. Just as Han Xing was a meter from him, his eyes turned serious.
He watched as Han Xing came closer, and just as the sword was swung, Chen Yu quickly dodged to the right, missing the sword by an inch. Right at that moment, he launched a straight Iron Fist right to Hanxing's exposed side.
But to Chen Yu's bewilderment, Han Xing turned his body to dodge it, his forward movement continued to pass by him, like a flowing river turning a sharp turn, he swung his sword again in the split second.
Chen Yu ducked down just in time, but as the sword brushed past him, Han Xing did not stop moving and followed up with a round kick, landing right on his stomach!
Chen Yu was pushed back a few meters before steadying himself. However, he frowned as he looked at Han Xing.
"Why is your kick so weak?" Chen Yu felt the kick merely push him, with no actual damage.
Han Xing felt a little nervous. "I just thought I might injure you so…"
"You are really just a kid." Chen Yu's expression turned into various ones, eventually landing on a sigh.
"Kid. Let me give you a lesson…" Chen Yu's eyes turned sharp and cold. With a movement technique, he rushed towards Han Xing at fast speed.
Han Xing was calm, his footwork dodging the punches and kicks coming from Chen Yu.
Chen Yu saw an opportunity and struck at a tricky angle. Han Xing quickly put his hands up, unable to dodge and had to block it with his arms.
Bang!
Tremendous force blasted onto Han Xing's arms, even knocking his wooden sword away. Han Xing was pushed meters back, dragging his feet across the arena leaving a straight line of dirt on the ground. His hands were shaky from the force. He was not injured, but the pain reached his arms. His face was filled with shock.
But the one who was more shocked was Chen Yu. He striked with all he got to teach him a lesson, but…
He looked down at his own hands, trembling just the same with signs of bleeding on his knuckles. It hurts so bad, as if he had just struck iron. He couldn't understand. Was he practicing Body Cultivation to have a body so tough?
Chen Yu took a deep breath to compose himself.
"That was how you fight, kid. Otherwise, you would be eaten by the strong one day."
Han Xing remained silent. He looked down on his arms, feeling the remaining pain in his arms that slowly subsided.
"I understand." Han Xing understood what the brother was trying to tell him.
"Then, I will not hold back…" Han Xing said. But a part of him was still nervous over hurting someone for no reason. He picked up the fallen wooden sword, and tightened the grip on it. His eyes turned sharp, then he rushed forward with a renewed resolve.
With fluid movement like a the river, Han Xing attacked right where Chen Yu unable to dodge. Each of his swords strike hard, leaving bruises and sending pain throughout his bones. But his sword never went further, deliberately controlled.
Chen Yu was not a free target and counter attacked ferociously. Landing blow after blow each time he saw a gap. But Han Xing always dodged and blocked them, as if his senses were far greater than him. And even with his full strength, he felt like his punches were hitting blocks of iron.
In tens of rounds, Chen Yu admitted defeat. His body bruised, his bones and muscles aching and trembling. He looked at Han Xing, realising he did not seem to suffer any damage at all. But the slight tremor in his body showed he did cause him damage and pain, even if it was not enough.
Chen Yu stood up straight, clasping his hand in respect. "Fellow daoist, I learned there are always people above me. You enlightened me."
Han Xing shook his head, waving his hand to stay humble.
"Brother, I learned a lot from you too. I understand it is respect to fight properly. And when you hit me hard, you helped me to let go and hit just as hard too."
Chen Yu let out a small smile. He was defeated, but somehow he was not mad about it.
"You need to hit harder." He said.
"... But you might not be able to handle it…"
Chen Yu shook his head. "Yes. But that's what you need to learn, kid. Not everyone you meet will fight you fairly. They would use any means, sneak attacks, pretense, to eventually defeat you. If you don't deliver the decisive blow to them, you are giving them a chance to turn the tables on you. Once you meet those with bad intentions, no one can save you then kid."
Han Xing was silent for seconds digesting the words. "... I understand, brother. I will remember the advice."
Chen Yu clasped his hand in respect before leaving.
The crowd around was chattering non stop, discussing the fight. Some had the same view and Chen Yu regarding Han Xing's lack of decisiveness in his strikes. But Han Xing did look like an 8 year old boy so it seemed reasonable for his inexperience.
Han Yang watched from afar, satisfied at the result. It seemed Han Xing learned something from him.
Han Yang also decided to give him a different martial art to be used against fellow cultivators instead. Over the past month, Han Xing did comprehend and reach minor completion in Domineering Sword technique, able to unleash the 1st move, Cleaving Earth to split a monster at peak of tier 1 in one strike. But it was against demonic beasts, not fellow cultivators. He need a technique that he could use without holding back.
Besides, Han Xing would have to stain his hand with blood one day. He would gain enemies just from being the way he was.
Han Yang thought on what to do, and planned to bring him to see the evil of humanity once he grew up a little. 8 years old was still too young to have their hands dirty even for his standard. So this lesson can wait.
For the time being though, he made decision to pass on a more suitable technique for his personality.