[Martial arts skills for weapons are the most widespread of all the martial arts on Qi Earth. The choosing of such martial arts, has to be as meticulous as the picking of your weapon. Martial arts are divided into different grades, but weapons arts of any grade have a special requirement to pass them.
First and foremost the kind of cultivation art, and internal art that you use will determine you level of attainment, in any one weapon art you choose to practice. Then you have to consider the kind of weapon you use, and the concept it embodies. The concept of weapons are divided into three, hard weapons, soft weapons, and veiled weapons. After understanding the concept of your weapon, you have to check your compatibility with that weapon art.
You have to know whether or not your strength and character agrees with it's execution. A passive fighter will fail terribly if he chooses to learn the martial art of an overly active fighter. An assassin can not fight like a berserker, and the same way around. And when you've considered your compatibility you then have to decide if the martial art you chose, is one that you can kill with!]
Unknown speaker....
Alex was not really so sure about this two swords, further description about their abilities stated that the swords were wind attributed, with the potential to generate lightening and storm clouds during their usage. They looked somewhat dull as compared to the blazing glory of the sun sage swords, and the sheer damage a pair of fire oriented swords can cause seem to be missing from the wind oriented swords.
Alex was not so sure, though he would be lying if he said he was not a little interested in the swords called West wind and East cloud. There was this dragging feeling in his gut that pushed him towards the pair.
But his eyes and mind seemed perpetually focused on the shiny sun sage swords, and promised explosions that was sure to come when playing with fire. Then Alex looked at it's position in the directory, and was shocked by what he saw.
A startling number seven, of course it could all just be a coincidence that this swords were placed seventh, or that he had seven masks, or that the meaning of his name Feng meant Wind...that was too many coincidences, destiny really was pulling him to the swords, and he didn't know why. He turned to ask his father, a little clarity from the regularly vague adult, will help sooth his confusion.
"Why are you so sure that this swords are meant for me?"
"I'm not In the business of telling you a lot of things that I know you would experience and eventually find out for yourself. But I can give you a goal to work towards. When we get to the capital of the colony, for the final part of the competition, and that is if you qualify for it. There's a talent testing apparatus in the capital, it tests the nature of a persons spirit root, physique and cultivation. Once you've taken that test, then the answers will be clear to you. But for now, please trust you father on this."
How could Alex say no to his father, the questions he had were really burning from deep within him, but all he could do was hang on and see where this goes. He looked up at the attendant and nodded his head, he chose them.
The funny thing was that the moment he agreed, there was a settled feeling within his gut, like all was right with world. His mind however was lamenting the loss of the shiny sun swords, it seems they were not destined. The West Wind and East cloud was priced at four million imperial gold. Twice as expensive as Anya's scythe.
Then the next tablet was handed to them, they now had to choose a corresponding weapon art for their new weapons. Anya wanted to go first, but her making a choice was easier said than done. Her scythe could be considered a sort of Axe, but it could also be considered a halberd too. She could use the weapon either way, but it was also heavy, which meant she had to pick a technique that could take advantage of it's weight. There were so many choices, yet so many not good enough.
It took them forty minutes to find the most suitable martial art for her. And it was actually tailored for a doubled edged two handed axe. The [Five Forms Of The Blazing Mammoth]. This martial art was luckily fire attributed, so it matched her weapons, but it was a rather eccentric martial art. At first glance it looked like it focused more on a rampage, tearing through the battle field slicing and smashing enemies to pieces, however this weapon art focused on subtle vibrations, and perfect application of force and strength behind every strike.
The martial art suited Anya's somewhat brash and rough style of fighting, but it was also subtly profound that it forced her to perform with more than just strength and a straight forward mindset. In the end Anya was actually quite happy with what she got, which meant it was now Alex's turn to see which sword art he would choose.
Alex also had to keep in mind, that he was learning how to fight with two swords, a standard sword art for a single sword could still be executed by using the same moves with both his swords however it would be better if there was a ready made move tailored for dual sword combat. And there were quite a few, and unlike the first time, Alex's choice was not refused by his father, and it was quite suitable for his style of fighting. The name of the sword art was [ Four Seasons Of The Weeping World].
The idea behind this sword art was profound, and it was the only way he could satisfy his need for fiery explosions and his father's belief that the speed and subtlety of the wind was best for him. The four seasons of the weeping world, was a martial art divided into four main moves, and each of this four main moves were further divided into four sub moves, making for a total of 16 different moves in all.
The sword art laid emphasis on the four directions of north, south, east, and west, and each of this direction also represented an element and a season, which meant it was a sword move tailored for the usage of different elements, and mixing them with the profound understanding of nature. Alex could not really wrap his head around it at the moment, so he made his choice and waited for the time he would be free enough to study it.
"Finally you guys have to choose a movement art, but I've taken the liberty of doing that for you. So we don't have to waste too much time here." Ben said to them after they've finished making their choices.
The martial arts tablet was messed with a bit, and a page with a description of a movement art was given to them. But this movement art was as weird and as peculiar as everything else that they have chosen before. [ Six Kings Of Beasts Movement Art]. It was not a complete movement art per say, but actually a template for the creation of a tailored and personal movement art. What made this art really good was that it could be used by all the realms, and can be combined with any other movement art. The only limit was the level of comprehension you get from it.
The movement art focused on the study of six different beasts of various species, specifically an equine, feline, canine, aquatic, avian, and reptilian. It could be any animal belonging to this species, the main thing is just that you would have to study the way they move, get in touch with your inner animal and imitate, reconstruct, reproduce, and reapply the characteristics of those animals into the way you moved. It was actually a really difficult martial arts, and the amount of people who had mastered the whole thing can be counted on one hand, and that's four. Either way, they had all gotten what they came for, so it was about time to head back to the hotel and prepare for training.
After everything was paid for with God knows who's money, Alex followed his father out feeling very unsettled. The money that his father just used to pay for everything they had got, would have made growing up very easy for him, in fact it would have changed their lifestyle completely and not forced them to live life as ordinary painters. Alex was no fool, even though he was young.
The amount of times his father had left the village alone since he was young was not much, and even then he was never gone for more than a day, that was not enough time to become a millionaire in Alex's opinion, which meant he must have had this money with him from the very start, but yet the never used it, and Alex himself had no idea it existed.
His train of thoughts were cut off, when their path was blocked by a group of men wearing white Taoist robes. Alex was startled by their sudden appearance, and drew closer to his father. He might be a cultivator, and he might have killed someone, but Alex was still a child, in a manner of speaking. When strange occurrences like this happen, it was almost instinctual for him to draw close to his father for protection. He was a rapidly growing boy in both body and mind, but he was still fourteen years old, so there's not much that can be expected of him.
There were five of them in the group, three of them were dark skinned, like every other inhabitant of the dark continent. The fourth member was actually a very pretty woman, and she was actually just like Alex, a daughter of both the empire of heaven, and the dark continent. It was the final person who really threw Alex for a loop, he was a citizen of the empire of heaven, a true born one. His skin was really fair and supple, almost like that of a celebrity or model, his eyes were as black as Alex's if not blacker, and the narrow eyelids that was barely perceptible on Alex's face was fully showcased on his.
His lips were red, startling so, and as for his age, he looked to be in his late twenties to early thirties. However Alex knew that might not be his real age, this man in front of him could be five hundred years old, and Alex might not even know it. That was just amazing effect of Qi.
"Benjamin, it's been so long. How have you been?" His voice was like silk, smooth and unhindered, and he spoke without an accent. Almost as if he has lived on the dark continent all his life, or for a very long time.
The empire of heaven had a main language, and multiple other languages used by the numerous sub kingdoms under the rule of the imperial family. But there was a common tongue, and that language originated from the empire of Albion, and it was called English. That was the language being used, and when this man in front of him used it, there was just this refined slur to his voice that made him seem all the more alluring or enchanting. Alex was not the only one who thought so as even Anya herself could not take her eyes of him.
"Senior brother Wuyang, indeed it has. And I've been fine, how have you been?"
Senior brother? 'ahh what is going on here?' Alex asked himself in confusion. His dad had a senior brother, and that senior brother was actually from the empire of heaven. Was he missing something, or was everything completely weird and strange with his father today.
"I've been doing good Benjamin. I came all the way just for the both of you, it's time you both came home." Senior brother Wuyang said.
"The Wudang mountains is no longer my home senior brother, maybe it once was, but that was a lifetime ago. Now my home is my son, he's all that matters to me now." Ben shook his head as he replied.
"Even so, will you deny him the chance of seeing his ancestral land, or his mother and sister?" Wuyang asked with a steady voice. Ben's eyes took on a steely luster as he answered.
"The very ground you're standing on is his ancestral home, every tree, river, and rock on this continent has the blood of my son flowing through it. 'this is his home'. "sigh" but so is the Wudang mountains, and the sect too. I would never deny my son a chance to experience his full heritage or to meet that woman. She is his mother after all." Ben finished in a whisper, but he was still loud enough that everybody could hear him.
"Well then that means we're at an agreement. I have to come to fetch the both of you, since my father very much wants to see his grandson and the man who sired him. He feels it is better for all of his family to be together. So you can get ready and we...….." Wuyang was interrupted when Ben raised his hand up.
"Your father might have been the former sect head of the Wudang sect, but he has no power over my son or myself either....….yet. If Alex has to go to the Wudang sect, he's not going to be carried in there as the grandson of the former sect head. I want my son to kick down your doors and walk into that sect that's half filled with pompous hypocritical bastards, as one of the most talented disciples it has ever or will ever see. Alex and his friend Anya will head to the Wudang sect, once they win the competition and become part of the ten that's chosen to become outer sect disciples from this colony. The only handout he will ever accept from you people, is the money that was used to pay for all of his weapons and recently purchased martial arts.
He's not going there as the grandson of Reverend Zi Yi, but as the one and only son of me, Benjamin, and the last heir of the Álē family. Now all that nonsense aside, will you like to meet your nephew?" Ben suddenly asked after his angry and pride filled tirade.
"Yes I will very much like to meet the young man." Wuyang replied with a soft smile on his face.
As for Alex, he had his jaw unhinged and his eyes spread wide open. He couldn't help but ask himself softly.
"What the fuck is going on here?" and then he received a slap at the back of his head from his father as Ben warned him
"Language!"