Arriving in the middle of the zone, they reached a large lake with a small island. As they drew nearer, Hao's gaze was drawn to the darkest stone pillar he had ever seen. His father was meditating with closed eyes on the island.
Opening his eyes, Fang Xiong acknowledged their presence with a nod to Jun before turning his attention to his son. Hao's hair was messy, and his robe was disordered.
Fang Xiong let out a resigned sigh, knowing that this was to be expected. "Jun, go and practice the technique I showed you earlier. Demonstrate the results to me when you achieve the perfect stage."
'Master,'' kneeling down, Jun nodded and added, ''Can I go help elder brother?''
''NO!'' Fang Xiong answered reflexively before quickly correcting himself, ''No, you... you have to cultivate that technique I showed you. Once you've mastered it, then you can go.''
Jun understood the seriousness and importance of his master's words. ''I understand, master. I will go into closed cultivation. But who will bring Hao back?'' he asked, looking at Fang Hao beside him.
This time, it was Hao who jumped as words raced through his mind. ''It's fine, elder brother Jun. Your cultivation is important. I'm sure father has someone else in mind, right?'' He turned to look at his father with a hopeful gaze.
''Yes. Before you go into cultivation, call Yu Rui over. She is near Hao's mother, at the back of the mountain. She will take over and teach arrays and formations to my son,'' Fang Xiong explained. He noticed that Hao's face brightened with relief, as he had avoided a potential problem.
''I understand, master.'' Getting up, Jun gathered his energy and pushed off, flying at an extremely fast speed, releasing a wave of energy that crashed around him. Fang Xiong blocked the spiritual qi that was crashing into his son, holding his head with an annoyed expression.
With his third disciple out of sight, Fang Xiong turned to Hao, and they both exchanged an understanding gaze. ''Father, does cultivation affect the brain?'' This was a question Hao had been seriously pondering over the past hour it took to get here.
''No, this person is unique. He won a tournament the city hosted, and I had to take him in as a disciple as a reward. He has a good heart, but... no common sense.'' Saying this, he felt tired just thinking about it.
''Why don't you let him join the elder brother he mentioned then?'' Hao asked.
''The reason they are away is because he is here. He annoys them all day and asks for sparring like a crazy maniac. They are stronger than him, and even when he gets injured, he goes to their caves and knocks on the barriers they set up. As a result, they left to find some peace and quiet. The last time he followed them outside, I had to clean up the mess, something I had never done before,'' Fang Xiong said with a sigh. 'Normally, they say I cause the troubles, but that lad is something else,' he thought inwardly.
''Enough of that, today we start your sword training, while Yu Rui will teach you some basic arrays.'' Fang Xiong stood up and handed him a sword and a manual.
''This is a normal sword. Today, I will teach you the 'Tranquil Lotusblade'. It will help you attain a state of tranquillity and inner harmony,'' he explained as his son read through the manual.
''I've noticed your lack of mental fortitude, Hao, but given your age, it's normal. This technique will help you calm down and combine elegant and fluid sword techniques with an understanding of the flow of energy (qi) within oneself and the surroundings.''
''While you won't be able to use the second part, as it's for the next realm, it will help you connect with spiritual qi. Now watch carefully.'' his father instructed.
Hao's eyes remained fixed on his father's movements as he sat, absorbing every detail. The air seemed to hold its breath as Fang Xiong's sword sliced through the space, the blade's path mirroring the delicate unfolding of a lotus in bloom. His father's voice was a steady guide, describing each motion with precision.
"This is a foundational move," Fang Xiong explained, his words carrying a weight of wisdom. "It embodies the essence of the lotus, called 'Lotus Blossom Unfurling'. Just as the lotus gracefully reveals its beauty to the world, this technique reveals its potential in both defence and offence."
As Fang Xiong continued, the atmosphere shifted. Petal-like energy swirled around him, ethereal leaves of vibrant hues taking shape in the air. The scene was nothing short of mesmerizing, an enchanting dance of colors and forms.
"Defense," Fang Xiong narrated, his voice measured. The energy petals coalesced around him, forming a protective shield that seemed to shimmer like water reflecting sunlight. "And the offence," he continued, his swordplay transitioning seamlessly into a series of strikes that cut through the air with controlled ferocity.
Hao's father stopped and turned to him. "That's the art. For now, read the manual over there and ask me if you have any questions in a bit." He pointed to a small mat in the corner.
Fang Hao nodded and sat where his father instructed, taking the manual into his hands. This was the first cultivation manual he had ever held. It consisted of a mere five pages, but the foundational move was outlined on the first page. As he delved into the manual, he entered a state of focused concentration, influenced by the arrangement of letters and the method to control spiritual qi in order to form a defensive posture.
Fang Xiong stood above Hao, more than 8 hours have passed since he started reading the manual. His daughter had taken only 1 hour. Frowning slightly, he decided to awaken Hao from his cultivation state.
Jumping up, Hao felt disoriented for a moment before taking in his surroundings. As he realized he was back in the training area with his dad, he began to piece together his memories. He then glanced at the manual on the floor. ''Is this some kind of demonic book? Would I have starved to death if someone didn't wake me?'' he wondered aloud.
''No, you wouldn't starve, but you will faint from thirst first,'' Fang Xiong answered, having experienced it. He rubbed his forehead and asked, ''Did you understand anything?''
''I... father, I did grasp something, but I can't quite explain it,'' Hao muttered.
''Oh? Did you understand how to perform the defensive move?'' Fang Xiong asked with a hint of excitement, his gaze fixed on Hao.
Hao fell silent upon seeing his father's excited expression and then opened his mouth. ''This... I was reading the manual, and at first, I was slowly getting lost in understanding the sword move. I felt it was difficult, but... the small formations in the book drew my attention.''
Looking at his father with a complex expression, he continued, ''I didn't fully understand the foundational move, but I figured out how the formation in the book works and its hypnotic effect. It makes you focus on the book and not pay attention to your surroundings.''
Fang Xiong was initially excited, but his expression slowly turned serious. ''You understand the formations in the book?''
Hao answered without hiding anything, ''Yes, I understand them to some extent. I'm not sure how to recreate them yet, but I grasp how they work – they seem to utilize my spiritual qi to function.'' He nodded his head.
"I see, so this is your talent... and curse," muttered Fang Xiong, a mixture of emotions swirling within him as he grasped the realization that his lineage might not continue down the path of the sword dao. Hao's destiny appeared to be intertwined with the world of arrays.
At least he had a daughter, Fang Xiong reflected. Deciding to contemplate the best course of action for his son, he replied, "Rest for now. Yu Rui will arrive shortly."