Master Jin-
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Leroy made it before the other two could. Master Jin was mediating not too far away. So he decided to just sit down and continue reading. He had enough time to form a plan in regard to the Dark Tiger-fire family and his cultivation.
It was not rare to have two base elements. But the Dark Tiger-fire Family had only Fire Affinity. Thanks to the Flame Vortex Core and the energy it released, the discharge helped mutate the Dantian into Flamelgithing Martial Arts. Luckily he was able to draw on the two different Qi's interchangeably with no issue after some practice.
Victoria Dark Rose showed up promptly and didn't bother Leroy. Seeing as Leroy did not address her, she left it be. Chu Xue had arrived late arrived late, Pin Feng was spotted running off since he was not allowed to enter the courtyard.
What they could be up to this early who knows but Leroy sighed internally as the boy didn't heed his advice. A small lecture to give them some guidance on what they could all do with their Qi in the future went by quickly.
Master Jin explained some things to Chu Xue as well as handed him a Core Manual he had prepared. Considering how he was a Life Martial Artist, training methods were really low for him.
"He he!" Chu Xue giggled happily. He started looking through the book and sat down. 'Wait until I tell Pin Feng what I got! He will be so jealous!'
"Haaa." Victoria sighed looking at the pure joy on Chu Xue's face. She looked at Leroy in the corner of her eyes who was reading his book still. 'What do I do…? I rather talk than cultivate right now.' Her cheeks puffed in annoyance. 'Even if it has to be him of all people.'
"I see." Leroy closed the book and moved to a spot that had a pit. He grabbed some stuff to burn. With a quick lighting of the pit, he had a nice fire going. "Here goes nothing."
*Flick!* Leroy cut his wrists on both sides as well as by his hamstrings. Good thing he knew where to cut to prevent from damaging any vitals. Placing the knife in his mouth to bite down on for the ensuing pain afterward. Having Qi keep his blood in place was the easy part compared to what was next.
*Chish!* Leroy's skin burned as he placed them in the pit. His Qi that held the blood in place ate away at the fire. Circulating it at the same time caused the Champion to feel as if he was cooking alive. His body burned with each passing moment. The hairs on his arms burned away quickly enough.
"Grrrr!" Biting down hard kept him away from the pain a little. After 36 passes he stopped. The manual was very specific to do one less than the realm you were currently in. Leroy was currently in the Qi Refining Realm for both the Flamelighting Martial Arts and the Flame Vortex. "Shit that's smarts!"
18 for both using the Qi saturated within the circulation.
*Crackle!* His charred skin broke away revealing new pink flesh that grew already. Taking a breather was the current best option. As he rest, thoughts came to the surface in his mind on how to do the lighting. As if something was unlocked since he attended this state.
'Firelighting Body… sounds hot!' Leroy was excited about anything that gave him more power and an edge. Shifting all his thoughts to it, revealed a few smaller gates in his body. All in areas that extended pass the primary ones. 'Looks like I will be messing with fire pits for a while. I do not look forward to putting my balls in fire though. But it will be a lot faster with full submitting.'
There were no lighting storms or anything in the area and no real correct method to forecasting weather.
Figuring a way to trap electricity which to him was the equivalent of lighting he would need to go to a forger to get metals in large quantities. As well as get some potatoes to help it along.
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-Hours Later-
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Old Jin came back after watching everything from afar. He gave a glance to Leroy of appreciation. The fact he made it into the Qi Refining Realm would be beneficial to getting him the correct resources. He didn't dally with his cultivation and was already making up for starting late.
Old Jin gave a look to Chu Xue and Victoria who were still in the Body Tempering Realm but were young and could be guided correctly. Happy for his hard-working disciples all around. He now stared at Chu Xue who was still in the same spot as when he left.
"Good Boy!" Old Jin exclaimed. "I can't help it. I am impressed with the energy you all have. Today's practice is over already, come here each of you." The three paid respects. "As your master, I have something to share with you to help with Offensive moves. Martial arts are hard never forget that. Without a strong heart, talent will not flourish. Without a strong talent, success will prove difficult."
Leroy was looking away, which slightly bothered the old Jin.
"I want to ask a question before we start formal Martial Arts lessons in the future." He looked hard at Leroy. Turning to him was easy enough. "What do you think is most important in order to practice martial arts and to reach the top until Ascension?"
It was quiet for a bit. Victoria decided to go first since Liang Yu had nothing to say at the time.
"I Desire freedom to travel around free and unbothered." Jin mumbled the word Freedom to her. Prodding yet having a general idea already of why she wants that. "I aspire to live an unfettered life without restraints from others. Without sacrificing yourself for family interests. Not to just be someone's wife, this kind of freedom is ideal to me."
"I see. Like the Martial Saint, Esmeralda the Unbound." Old Jin mumbled. He looked at Leroy who looked at Victoria holding back a laugh. "Something funny?"
"She is a liar." Leroy said plainly. "If she wanted that, then she could have it already. Do not want to be confined by family interests and be used? I highly doubt that from someone like her." His tone was cold and harsh, as he looked at her with slight disgust. "You still wear their clothes and eat their food with no issue. You are away from the influence of your family right now. Yet still, carry yourself as a "belonging" to them by your very announcing of your name. You do not want freedom truly, if you are unrestrained then wouldn't that mean you know longer care if your sister is alive? What you want is pity and someone to save you."
Chu Xue was startled as he thought over the information. Pin Fend spoke a little about the Dark Rose Family. He said they were not truly as bad as others and had nice things to say about Victoria.
However, that contradicts what Victoria herself said and what Leroy challenged.
"That is not true!" Victoria shouted. She was surprised he knew of her sister since most did not.
"A whore's daughter is not different from a royal daughter or common daughter. Just additional words that are attached when describing or introducing people mind you. An intellectual will tell you that all people are the same regardless of the station when born. But you hold your head up high using your status when it suits you." Leroy's eyes bore into her. "If you do not want to get married off, then don't. Write a letter saying you leave the family. Your sister will just take your place instead."
"I would never do that!"
Then continue living a comfy life like you are. Withering little flower." Leroy felt odd for some reason. He shouldn't be this mad about the girls' situation. But the way she talked and carried herself just seemed to fake and reminded him of a very bad memory. "So much you can do to break away from your family but you don't. Such lies you tell yourself. Denial is a very powerful thing child, I suggest you seek counseling."
Victoria was shaking a little. Chu Xue looked angry and stared daggers at Leroy who just shrugged not caring.
"What about you Chue Xue?" Old Jin asked. His eyes glanced at them all once for a second. Gauging their response to each other words. 'The girl is chasing something she does not have the conviction for on her own. As for Chu Xue.. he wants to be a hero but is not mindful of his personal situation first.'
"I don't have lofty goals, master! I just want the Light Lion-ice family to live a better life!" The boy said quickly. Leroy shook his head knowing that won't happen at all. If the people did not fight back and change the avenue of income for themselves they would always be reliant on the upper members. "I am only a vassal's son. Our family must hand over every year a large sum in taxes."
"That is horrible." Victoria said. She looked at Leroy. His blank face bothered her. "Why do you treat your people like that?!"
"I have no people .. what the hell are you talking about?" Leroy would not admit any connection to the other. Deny to resist, deny to make the other a liar, and Deny to keep from getting locked up and possibly killed for disobedience. "You should not slander my good name."
"Everyone knows you are a member of the Dark Tiger-fire Family!"
"I am not part of them or personally related to them." There was no affliction in his voice in which one could find fault. This caused Old Jin to frown. Like others, he thought Leroy was related to the family as well. "I have heard of the problem within their Family, complacency and cowardice present the chance to rise."
"Elaborate."
"If not enough food, one changes the circumstance themself by finding order means to feed the populace. Stop wasting it on parties or festivals and food will be available to you all better as well. Cut back on extravagance and buy food that yields more crops and survive under horrible conditions. Take chances in the wild and hunt more at least in groups." His head lulled back in forth on other matters these people were failing. "You may want your elders to stop wasting resources and risk it all on a few that showed real promise in cultivation. Or better yet, a job in managing and diplomacy."
"Risk death that way." Chu Xue said indignantly. He immediately thought of something else though. 'We are being killed already, so wouldn't the choice of trying something new work better?'
"Control your birth rate better. Have the kids help more and study more from the adults. Hell, have your people just try to better themselves through discovery. It is actually easy if you have the willpower." Leroy shrugged not really minding the glares he received from the two kids. "If you weren't so gutless, you would ask for an Investigator from the Capital to check on things. Make sure everything is on the up and up since the Royal Family does not like getting gypped on goods."
"What!?" Chu Xue was shocked that was an option.
"Come on now, your taxes are higher than they should be from the way everyone talks. Your Patriarch knows it but rather cowers and saves face than speak up. Must be getting a good reward to bury his family like that. Either way, you die horribly or quickly if wrong." Leroy pulled out a notebook. Looking over something right quick. "Yeah.. you can even ask the Akademy to look into it. Or don't. I know, ask her to get involved. She has pull and connections that go to waste already."
"I do not." Victoria said quickly. Not wanting to have her family involved at all. "Nothing I do will help in this situation. It would just become worse."