The air ship was quite luxurious and brought little hardship during its travel. Hatzu spent as he did most of his time cultivating in seclusion. At first, he did not understand what cultivation truly meant but the glance at the mortal Manuel opened his eyes to a difficult path.
Instead of ingesting the core of an immortal beast he used three lower grade beasts assuming the power would be equal. The book from what Hatzu had glimpsed said it could help establish power equal to a spiritual core or at least a power equal to formation stage.
This process had both pros and con's but Hatzu never got more than that one fateful glance. Through weak spiritual animals he amassed a small fortune and even quickly raised three spiritual beast cores.
Internally the cores leaked spiritual Qi so fast that it ravaged his key meridians, the pain was unending and only cultivation could bring the slightest peace to Hatzu. His life was calm and with little other assistance he felt his strength grow steadily.
As the airship landed Hatzu stood oddly feeling weak, as he footed solid ground again. Still he pressed forward, having steward's take care of his supplies. Choosing to travel by foot he turned face toward the mountain before him. He did not use his techniques but instead enjoyed the view as he strolled calmly.
'Why should an immortal rush. I should know every blade of grass before I watch the mountains fade.' He thought crossing the market coming to the Inn he long owned.
"Ah young master and honoured guest please come in an eat…" the innkeeper said rushing out.
"No need for such pleasantries, where is the immortal cultivator who came looking for me?" Hatzu interjected.
"She is a student of the local immortal clan; they are in the valley by the three mountains, but they only accept mortal offerings once a month…" the old man said. Having seen the immortal call Hatzu a mortal he still showed respect to the young master but had long lost his fear towards the youth.
"Good, then I will not bring any offering for the sect – simply something to trade." Hatzu said. His words caused the earth to shake and the wind swept him into the air with a force that opposed the earths will.
As he slowly rose into the air, he pointed in a few directions gesturing to the old man until finally he was given a nod. Then in a singular moment he was gone – the earth shook, and the sky cracked as if there was thunder, the clouds moved like the raging currents of a lake. All while the mortals below bowed respectfully.
The world seemed to wrap around Hatzu until he found himself at the foot of the mountains looking three cultivators in the face.
The three middle aged men looked astounded and could not stop blinking wildly before the smallest spoke up; "What is Martial Ancestors intention here?"
The man was so polite it left Hatzu momentarily shocked. "I… I have come to trade with a grand immortal cultivator who lives in this mountain."
The one in the middle regained his composure and spoke up, "What do you need our ancestor Li for?"
"Oh, I don't know her name?" Hatzu answered.
"Martial Ancestor Li is a male, perhaps you have come in search of the wrong sect?" The small man asked, respectively.
Hatzu had read many books meant for cultivators over the years he spent as a mortal. While he was cleaver and remembered many of the skills he copied, his time as a cultivator was spent mainly circulating Qi to alleviate the pain – rarely did he attempt to use the techniques before him. Still he coughed gently before speaking softly, circulating Qi into his vocal meridians.
A booming wind and a shuttering rumble extended through the valley uprooting trees and rattling the buildings. "Beautiful female Cultivator in the red robe I've returned to make a trade, I think I have found something you might enjoy?"
As Hatzu spoke the defence formations around the sect rumbled and cracked causing several senior members of the sect to rush over.
"Who is this esteemed guest?" And old man asked flying over on a Phoenix feather. Soon several others followed.
"Master what has this small clan done to often you?" Another asked. All this shocked Hatzu deeply. As the cultivators began to chat amongst themselves a scene of a flaming Phoenix overtook the sky.
"I asked to make a trade with someone, I'm sure she here?" Hatzu asked noticing a girl being dragged out on a Phoenix feather by another female immortal.
"Is this the girl" the thin attractive alumni asked. Bringing Sarah to Hatzu.
"Ahh yes." With a quick respectful bow Hatzu withdrew several small items and two small spiritual beast, a male and female rabbit. "I am looking to trade for medical books and recipes"
"Hum…" Sarah took a long pause, shocked that the mortal she once knew was standing in front of her stronger than any martial ancestor she had ever met. "The bunnies are adorable I guess."
"They are rank 4 spiritual beast" he said calmly taking a seat. "I have more if it helps" soon animal cores, magical items and books appeared in front of him in no small portion. "I would also trade for a storage pouch… this one cost too much in the mortal world – and is to small to camp within."
Hatzu's comments shocked the cultivators even more as they began to discuss in small groups coming closer to watch. Not long after he crossed his legs to avoid the pain and began to meditate.
"The only recipes I have are for body strengthening at the Qi Condensing stage, would that be able to do anything?" She asked half afraid half amazed.
"Just one?" He asked in response without opening his eyes.
"Five recipes and I have a spiritual core from a baby red dragon – and a twelve-hundred-foot storage bag." Sarah quickly said in response.
"I would trade all of this for the dragon core and recipes, would you accept?" With this comment the crowed began to roar next laugh.
To a cultivator the grass cores from rabbits and other grass animals had endless uses in potions. The dragon core on the other hand could only be used to assist mortals or replicate an attack.
The technique was the same one Hatzu miss understood from the manual. A core inserted into a weapon could replicate an attack even if wielded by mortals. It was often a request of kings and great knights to have a weapon or armor imbued with Qi to protect or strengthen them.
This could assist a Qi Condensation cultivator greatly but had little uses for anyone above the Qi Formation stage, who could naturally produce a physical Qi.
As such Hatzu's actions appeared ridiculous. None the less Sarah drew out the core and handed it over, without hesitation Hatzu took the core and tossed it into his mouth swallowing it whole before departing.
The crowed stood in shock seeing for the first time in their lives a true monster devour a beast core whole.