Chereads / Unyielding Ember / Chapter 2 - Journey Begins

Chapter 2 - Journey Begins

Liu Linyuan woke up the next day at the crack of dawn. Following his daily schedule, going to one of the two side rooms. The side room had a curtain hanging from the doorway with strange symbols.

Liu Linyuan recognized this as a level 1 formation called scent diffuser. Within the entire courtyard, this was the only formation. After entering would be a chamber pot and a bucket with soap to wash with.

After using the restroom, he headed to the other side room, which contained books he could borrow, with paper, inkstone, and a simple brush. All on top of a simple and worn desk that, used while sitting or kneeling in front of.

Looking at the already lit candle, he sat in front down. While looking at the book titles, he realized books contain simple knowledge of herbs, spirit energy, alchemy, and talismans. He read through them while taking notes until he heard a faint knock on the front door.

He almost rushed to the door. Swinging it open and looking at the left corner. Seeing the dishes and feeling his stomach growl.

He sat down and started scarfing down the food. Which was a simple vegetable soup with rice and a cup of water. Inside simple wooden bowls and a cup.

Setting everything down, he got up ready for today's training.

' Based on how they are always accurate, I should have been studying for about two hours.'

Heading out and walking from the east side of the outer compound to the western side.

After taking a single step out of the area allocated to him. Someone well trimmed the grass, walls have sound isolation formations with servants moving about.

Walking past, not one person turned to acknowledge his existence. Except for things detailed by clan law, everything else in his daily life was ignored.

He couldn't help but freeze and fidget, looking left and right after confirming that what he was looking for could not be seen by him. He let out a sigh of relief rushing to the training grounds.

After arriving at the training grounds, there were four main areas being the library, classroom, martial stage, and Forging Hall. Both the Forging hall and library were on the right, with the classroom and martial stage being to the left after entering the training grounds.

The library was a three-story octagonal pagoda with a wider base than top. The first floor being common books, second mortal level books, and the top being yellow level. With the clan's pinnacle, art which is only available to the patriarch being a low level-black art.

Each floor had different rules for entry. Starting on the first floor, any member of the main family can enter. While servants and branch members have to get corresponding family points. People can only enter the second floor with family points, while the third is only eligible through an elder's permission.

The classroom looked similar to a dojo. It's inside he was unfamiliar with. Because of bared entry. The martial stage he avoided like the plague sense going there is just encouraging others to beat him up. Leaving the Forging Hall, that was his regular training ground.

Be it the main family, branch members, or servants, all can enter for free during its open hours. Though most people won't enter after the first time. The Forging hall focuses on strengthening the body but is also great for those of lesser talent.

Its complication, though, is that without medicinal treatment after each session will cause internal and hidden injuries building up. For some, destroying their foundation or even killing them.

The square pagoda was one story from the outside. Like the library, it was made of simple wood. With the only seen decoration being the calligraphy of its name. Though it was four stories with the other 3 underground. With each floor downwards having greater effect while also increasing pressure.

Stepping forward, Liu Linyuan could see the supervisor of the first floor Shang Lěi. She looked to be in her early twenties, with crimson red hair cascading her back. It would seem like a flowing flame when blown by the wind. She was a giant being about two meters tall. With an athletic build, wheat colored skin and azure blue eyes. Wearing the black robes with the symbol of a hawk on it, which were standard issue for all Liu family guards.

Be it the original memories of this world or the broken thoughts of the one that experienced the book's plot. Both agreed that within this cold family, she was the only person I could trust. She was also the closest person and practically raised him. It's a pity she died helping me escape this terrible place.

After all, from Liu's memories in the book in later years, he began to mistrust her, thinking that she betrayed him to his father. Thinking he was a fool to believe in someone assigned by clan law to watch him. Later, not long after she helped him escape, he uncovered the truth. Shang Lěi was a secret guard of the Liu family that was given a job to watch over him. She was required to bring him food, keep him alive, and observe his actions. She did more than that, though she brought him the medicine pills he used, the books, and everything in his study. What hurt Liu the most was that Shang Lěi treated him like her son, but he lost trust in her. She helped him to the best of her abilities. Secret guards were supposed to put the Lui family first by betraying the family to help him. She activated her gu worm, killing her.

Frowning, Liu Linyuan walked past her without saying a word to be safe. He could not act like he knew her outside even more so because he did not even know she was the one who raised him till much later. She disguised herself, changing her hair and eye color. Even shrinking down every time she appeared before him as the caretaker. Shang Lěi did not react to his approach or pacing, always standing like a statue.

Passing the doorway, Liu Linyuan felt the surrounding pressure increase. He found a place to cultivate away from others. This wasn't difficult as including him. There were only 20 people while the room was thirty-square meters.

After he sat down and closed his eyes, ignoring all surroundings. Breathing in and out to the mortal level cultivation technique to stimulate the surrounding spirit energy to refine his body.

He had higher level techniques, but they required him to be of a little higher level than his current self. Liu Linyuan was only at the top level of bone marrow refinement, being the fifth stage of body refinement.

There were 8 levels of body refinement in total until reaching the seventh level. One's body is pretty much the same as one who did not cultivate. The levels from bottom to top being skin, muscles, bones, organs, bone marrow, Qi sensing, Qi introduction, Martial soul awakening.

From the first to sixth level, one builds their body to receive Qi and sense it. Those who can already sense Qi at birth will already be at the sixth level of body refinement and called a genius.

Liu Linyuan talent would be average, allowing him to cultivate like others as long as he passes the early stages. What makes him different from others of the same talent is specifically his body that weighs him down.

As Liu Linyuan used the breathing technique, it felt like someone was grinding a needle onto his very bones. This unbearable pain that accompanies every cultivation truly makes his journey a living hell. With the further he gets on this journey, the greater the pain.