"I am Archilles Barone…"
"I am Archilles Barone!"
"HAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
BOOOOOOM!
Inside a secret chamber, the Young Lord of Hazel Grove; Prince Archilles was sitting cross legged and was drenched with sweat and bodily stench.
Prince Archilles had been in seclusion for a month already; Training under the guidance of Elder Meng Fu. The Young Lord had been frustrated ever since he met Neebo, he never would have thought that someone could take his combat arts pound for pound. Even his sword arts that he had taken pride in was being pushed back by Neebo's own sword arts.
Even though Neebo displayed a rough and jerky movement, he felt great danger against Neebo while they were engaging in martial combat.
Combined with Neebo's intermediate sword play was his shocking physical prowess. Prince Archilles thought that it was the key, that Neebo took advantage off. Prince Archilles admitted to himself that Neebo was indeed far stronger than he, in that aspect. And he felt that he needed to match Neebo in that aspect for him to be able to stand proudly against anyone.
Hazel Grove is a very old kingdom. Originally, it was never a subsidiary kingdom to anyone. It was a hidden secluded kingdom that holds secrets that is unfathomable for man. It was told within the annals of its royal history that Hazel Grove was a gateway to a separate space, a mysterious world filled with darkness and violence. It is the very reason why Hazel Grove has an access to form alliances with Immortal Cultivators.
In this mortal plane, Core Formation Stage is the peak level of cultivation. Secluded somewhere in this world are Hidden Sects that rules over mankind in secrecy. They toy between the balance of power and the politics of mankind. In this world, Core Formation Stage Cultivators could only be counted with one hand. And it is the best that this world could produce, given its thin Heaven and Earth Qi supply.
Being a gateway to another mysterious world, Hazel Grove is a kingdom built in cooperation of three of the biggest Immortal Sects of this world. And secretly, they would deploy their own cultivators to patrol and monitor the situation within Hazel Grove. Since cultivators of this world cannot comprehend the origins of the violent dark energy that leaks out from the Nefarious Sanctuary of the kingdom, they have kept a distance from its power of corruption.
Elder Bai and Elder Meng Fu are one of such Immortal cultivators sent from their respective Immortal Sects. Clearly, Elder Meng Fu is the one in charge for this time; and he had grown fond of a young boy since he was assigned to monitor Hazel Grove; Prince Archilles. Elder Meng Fu saw great potential in him that he guided him in his own path of swordsmanship. Prince Archilles sword mastery could be said to be a product of Elder Meng Fu's careful guidance in both mind and body connection.
After Neebo was imprisoned within the Nefarious Sanctuary, Prince Archilles was frustrated and angry that there is someone younger than him that could fight him pound for pound. At first, he was withdrawn from seeking guidance from Elder Meng Fu who had become a mentor and second father for him. But in the end, he thought that it was the only way for him to solidify his authority against his future enemies. Neebo was just the beginning for him, against the outside world, Prince Archilles knew that far stronger beings are hiding and paving their own paths of greatness. And Prince Archilles couldn't be left behind.
He approached his master, bowed his head, kneeling and pleading to teach him the ways of immortality. He wanted to become stronger.
Elder Meng Fu was sitting calmly sipping his tea; after which, he placed his cup down and took a serious look at Prince Archilles. "You want to become stronger?"
"Yes, Elder Meng!" Prince Archilles earnestly replied.
"You want to become my disciple?" The Elder asked.
Before Prince Archilles could answer, the Elder added, "I have roamed the world for two hundred years, I have never took a disciple. I promised myself that if I ever take in one; that I could only train him brutally."
"You're a Prince of a kingdom; if you become my disciple, I wouldn't treat you as a Prince of a kingdom, not even a King of a Greater Kingdom! You can only be my disciple!"
Prince Archilles lifted his head with honest and serious gaze, "I Archilles Barone, wishes to become your disciple!" after saying that, Prince Archilles shove his head against the ground showing his resolve.
Elder Meng Fu nodded in satisfaction, "Good child. From this moment on, you must never kowtow to anyone ever again. You can only kowtow once again before your master's grave, and your parents. Do you accept?"
Prince Archilles knelt with his head on the ground; a hint of blood splattering on the floor. After kowtowing three times, he answered, "I ACCEPT!"
"From now on, you are the first and only disciple of Meng Fu, of the Divine Void Sect! Rise, my first disciple!" Elder Meng Fu spoke as he emanates the aura of authority that drowned the room with warm heaviness.
Prince Archilles felt the great power that his master emits. He struggled against it at first but he felt the warmness of it. Since it's his master's power, I must not resist against it. He let it drown him, and at that moment, his master, Elder Meng Fu betrayed an honest smile. Prince Archilles stood before his master; he bowed down in at most respect and greeted, "Thank you master!"
Since then, Prince Archilles and Elder Meng Fu had been in closed door training. And in less than a month, with firm guidance of his master, Elder Meng Fu; Prince Archilles had broken through to the first stage of Qi Condensation Stage and had officially step on the path of Immortal Cultivation.
Elder Meng Fu examined Prince Archilles, and after a few looks, he smiled, and he was satisfied and proud of his disciple.
"You have truly exceeded my expectations! Your potential is truly astounding! For sure, in a few decades; you would be surpassing your own master. Haha"
"I could never have taken this first step, without your guidance, master." Prince Archilles awkwardly received his master's praise.
"But master, what is this black stench that came out of me as I broke through?" Prince Archilles inquired.
"Hmm, that stench in your body is the impurities that you have been accumulating all throughout your life. Get out and clean yourself up! You've been in seclusion for month now and you can never neglect your responsibilities as the Prince of this kingdom. When we cultivate, it must be balanced; we can never blindly cultivate and neglect mastery over our capabilities.
Think of it like a box of glass that is filled with water, if the water within that box greatly increases its volume, what would happen to its container?" Elder Meng Fu educated the Young Lord.
"It would break…" Prince Archilles answered.
"Correct. If you don't want to die a meaningless death then make sure that your container, your body is able to store heavy amount of energy. How? Through training; as you take another step forward on your cultivation, you must train your body along the way and you must explore your limitations. Blindingly improving ones cultivation will most definitely result in your early destruction."
"Thank you for your guidance master!" Prince Archilles bowed down respectfully.
"Now get out! Your filthy ass is killing your master!"
"hehe, I shall take my leave then. Master!" Prince Archilles left his secret chamber and exited his closed door training.
After Prince Archilles exited his closed door training, he enjoyed a relaxing bath that had a mixture of several medicinal herbs to help Prince Archilles recover and improve his body.
As Prince Archilles calmed his mind, he recalled his memories fighting against Neebo. Since the beginning of his training, Neebo's strength was deeply marked inside his mind. He wanted to surpass Neebo's strength badly.
But as he composed himself, he was sure that his strength now greatly surpasses his own by a mile away. He thought that it was a pity; there is no one in the kingdom that he could display his full powers against.
"That brat Neebo was a great punching bag for sure. What a waste, a month of imprisonment within the Nefarious Sanctuary and surviving, it is an impossible task for him." Prince Archilles murmured to himself.
"Wait, didn't Master say that that brat had cultivated as well and had stepped on to the first stage of Qi Condensation Stage?"
"But even still, the Nefarious Sanctuary isn't an easy place to be dealt with. One's physical prowess wouldn't be a factor for surviving the violent dark energy that continuously corrupts one's mind and soul."
"That brat Neebo only had his physical prowess to his advantage to begin with. Other than that, I don't think he had any level of mastery over."
"hayst! What a pity!"
"Well, what's done is done! Neebo is now part of my past, and I have to move on! And on to my greatest objective right now; the destruction of the Great Kingdom of Ethos!" Prince Archilles eyes showed great determination. He stood up from his calmness; deep inside his heart was burning with rage and excitement.
"I am coming!"