The dark woods are shrouded in a dense fog, trees bustling in a light wind as the cultivator Hatzu walked the narrow path. In the three months he traveled, Hatzu spent the majority in seclusion. He had concocted all the potions he could. At first his brewing ended in several failures but after placing in grass cores from weaker animals Hatzu noticed a great success rate.
Using this method Hatzu created an enormous supply of pills, as for the used cores Hatzu would store them for later. Yet much like the dragon core Hatzu found he had very little growth consuming more cores but after taking the first pill, then he was in shock.
Not only did his body quickly start to develop but beast cores began to take effect again.
Hatzu had exhausted most of his resources and decided to return to civilization. Only knowing of one immortal sect, Hatzu's pushed hard to reach the boarder hopping to encounter more.
"Young cultivator seems foolish" A voice said from the distant fog "this forest is not for outsiders"
Hatzu spoke softly and clearly with out stopping in his stride; "My name is Hatzu and this place is as much mine as any other cultivators, is it not?"
Three men appeared, two at the front and one at the back, all with weapons in hand. "Those are foolish last words" the leader said making the first move.
Hatzu as a cultivator was inexperienced in battle but over the three months had killed several spiritual beasts. Having been without the books of a clan Hatzu was left to develop his own methods of attack and defense given life experiences and the techniques he was able to read but never see.
Without stepping forward or back he unleashed his power. In an Instant the sun darkened, and the three men fell to the ground; crushed as if the entirety of the ocean fell upon them. Trees impaled the ground like arrows disappearing from the scene and Hatzu began to walk forward.
"What kind of monster is this?" The cultivators yelled to each other in pure shock.
"I am Hatzu a mortal cultivator and I am only passing through." He said in quick reply.
"Does, esteemed master, not intend on killing us?" The cultivator asked confused.
Hatzu was solitary but not vicious, he released the pressure and looked to the three. "How strong are you three?"
Standing up and regrouping the group looked shocked, anyone who practiced an immortal technique could investigate the cultivation of others to tell if they are stronger or weaker. This cultivator was overbearing yet seemed unnatural.
"We are late formation stage…" the man said, "we are the three Protectors of the Grey Forest School"
"Are you accepting new students?" Hatzu asked looking innocently at the three.
"Is great master a core formation cultivator? Also, what could our small school do for such an esteemed guest, student is far below you."
"I do not know how deep my cultivation is, I have only practiced in solitude based on simple books all around the Qi Condescending level." Hatzu responded taking a seat on the ground intron of the gentlemen, slowly rotating his Qi.
"Young master we would happily take you into our school as an esteemed guest." The leader said gesturing towards the campus.
The two other protectors began to chat; "Do you think he has formed a core?"
"Impossible they say our country can never birth a core cultivator." The other responded.
Hatzu's non threading personality defused the situation quickly, but the three still felt some fear from the young monster.
"How can one tell their cultivation?" Hatzu asked.
"One simply uses their great eye technique on themselves." The man said pulling out a Manuel labeled the Grey forest piercing Eye. "This should explain it all"
As Hatzu flipped through the book he looked to the man and asked, "It seems like just rotating Qi through the eyes, could it be that simple?"
"I wouldn't call it simple..." he said before stopping short. A light flared as if a purple flame burst from Hatzu's eyes.
His glare crossed the three and they stopped frozen in fear. Shaking and sweating they watched as his eyes darted from the three to himself.
"What am I looking for" Hatzu asked?
"If you look here there will be a full core" the leader said pointing to a spot near a navel.
Hatzu looked at the man's stomach and said, "the Qi merges into a small ball?"
"When it forms perfectly it becomes independent of the Qi channels, then the core is complete."
Hatzu looked to his stomach and continued to question, "how many cores should there be?"
"How many do you see?" The three asked together.
"Looks like dozens" Hatzu replied.
In shock and awe the three cultivators circulated Qi to their eyes a glanced at Hatzu, with no spells or defences they could see his countless cores of varying degrees, several small ones orbiting a few larger ones.
Mouths open the three where speechless. Nothing about this young cultivator added up. After Qi condensing most cultivators develop a defence too ward of other cultivators. Moreover, of the few things known about Core Cultivators one was that this country could not have one. Second was a note about the number of cores. To the best of everyone's knowledge after nine cores one would fuse them to create a nascent soul.
As they approached the school Hatzu was quite surprised. "This place is quite nice" he said as the wooden buildings came into view.
"Stop there!" A voice rang out. Several figures appeared and took the opportunity to circle the four. "What are you protectors trying to do, bringing such calamity upon our school." The voice continued.
"Master we three had no choice." the man yelled back, before cowering on the ground apologetically.
"None the less as long as this school is under my reign, we will not befall the wrath of the Nascent Soul. As such I have already contacted him." The voice trailed off as every member of the Grey forest began to shake and chat.
The calm Hatzu now felt a bit a fear, a chill ran down his spine causing him to jump back. In a moment lightning struck where he had been standing, ripping up the ground beneath.
"You have done well to inform me, as I said all those years ago 'I will not allow any cultivators to grow from this country'" A man wearing a white robe claimed looking down on the scene as he flew atop a small winged beast.
"I have caused you no trouble, why did you attack me?" Hatzu said looking up to the man, circulating the Qi around and into his eyes.
"Your life is trouble" the cultivator replied drawing out his Nascent Soul.
Hatzu looked on in shock seeing beast like creatures Qi infuse into the cultivator's body.
"Ahh, I think I see it." Instinctively Hatzu mimicked the man. Drawing the Qi from each smaller core he began Infusing the power into the larger cores. The depleted cores cracked and broke, and soon only one core was left.
Up above the once confidant Nascent Soul looked on in fear. Seeing an unimaginable sight, as countless cores formed one and this once weak core cultivator grew an immense strength.
"How did such a unique monster come from this pathetic place?" He said before attacking with a fire ball.
Before the fire came close to Hatzu it faded away. "Your Qi blast is rather impressive"
"Enough talk" the nascent cultivator screamed as he pulled out several talismans, sending the flying beast into attack.
Hatzu raised his hand and the head of the creature exploded as he closed his fist. "Do you believe in fair trade?" He asked as if looking down upon the flying man.
Shocked, a chill ran down the cultivators back as he dropped his items, "How did a core cultivator become so strong?"
"My name is Hatzu and I am the mortal cultivator. Dose fellow cultivator wish to make a trade?" Hatzu asked in an annoyed tone.
The cultivator fell to the ground and looked Hatzu face to face; "I am the Nascent Soul of Edward Stone, what may I ask is a mortal cultivator?"
"Since I am a mortal, I assume my path of cultivation is unique." Hatzu replied.
"What does fellow cultivator look for?" Edward asked.
Hatzu skilled at trade began withdrawing several items of some value. "These potions are of great help in gaining strength."
Picking up a bottle Edward began to smile, "These do little for a Nascent Soul cultivator, but they seem very unique, what do you hope to trade for?"
Hatzu took all but three bottles away, "I will trade one bottle for all of your books, one for all your recipes and one for the weapons."
As Hatzu spoke Edward began to laugh "all these are not with any of those, would you like my life as well?" Edward joked.
"No, your life is something I'm interested in, if you wish to live you can simply leave me this country." Hatzu said holding up his hand, observing it slowly.
Edward released his strength, as his nascent soul roared standing several meters over his body. "This will be your end young mortal"
Hatzu pressed hard off the ground - jumping high into the air instantly, Edward attacked missing completely. From above Hatzu drew out all the strength from his remaining core.
The Qi flowed through his system pouring out of his spine as a pair off endless formless wings. The wings several stories long, towered over the two. Edward in fear began withdrawing all of his defensive tools.
Hatzu's hand drifted up, pointing to Edward. Instantly a fist sized whole was ripped through his chest. Shocked and terrified Edward began to scream "I am a member of the immortal assembly and will relinquish this country and my belongings for my life and that of one cultivator."
As he finished speaking Edward tossed a jade slip out, his nascent soul jumped from his body plunging into the leader of the body of the Grey forest's leader.
Picking up the jade Hatzu looked to the leader, who was now bleeding heavily. "This sounds acceptable, you may now leave this country." Hatzu said.