Xu Beihe stood on a chair to reach the top of a desk with a ink covered brush in her hand. The desk had three neatly arranged stacks of papers. Each stack nearly reached half her height of three and a half feet. And the top paper on the right stack still had wet ink stains.
If Liang Wu were to see what was written on these papers he would be astounded—and would have spared no expense to take Beihe as his disciple.
The first stack on her left were copies of the cultivation technique he had given her. That was fine, he wouldn't have minded her copying them. In fact he would have encouraged it.
The stack in the middle would have slightly surprised him, as they were lesser copies—meaning they had been altered to be less effective. It was by no means an easy feat to copy and alter a technique perfected by a couple thousand-years-old being beyond the highest realm of cultivation. But, it could be done, as Liang Wu's technique was made to be used by every being in his world. And so, easily replicated. Albeit, not by a ten year old girl.
The third stack however, was beyond the realms of imagination. Every paper in the last stack was different, each a cultivation or combat technique derived from the Heaven's Suppressant Technique. The vast majority of them were useless, but even the simple fact that someone could derive another cultivation technique—not to mention a combat technique—was insane.
To truly understand just how crazy this was, there is some information you'd have to know.
First, cultivation techniques. They are at their base, a set of breathing exercises that direct the flow of Qi in the air, into the practitioner's body. That Qi is then filtered through the meridians, before settling in the lower dantian. This is how cultivators gather Qi and advance their realms.
Second, combat techniques. In the simplest of terms, they are the way in which a cultivator controls their Qi to achieve specific effects. For instance, Chen Li Li used a combat technique to gather water element Qi in the air, mixing it with her own, to form a water dragon that destroyed the Crystal Guardian.
Now the third and most important, cultivation and combat techniques are opposites. There's an important point that was left out of the first bit of information that explains this best. To practice a cultivation technique, the practitioner must remain in a constant calm, undisturbed state.
Now, you must be thinking, who is narrating this? That doesn't matter, this is just a side chapter.
But, in all seriousness, what you really must be thinking is. What do those three things have to do with Xu Beihe creating cultivation and combat techniques? Well, they have everything to do with it.
Ask yourself this. How would you derive a combat technique from a cultivation technique that requires you to sit in silent meditation?
The answer?
You can't.
At least, you can't. Someone who understood the technique to the degree of the person who created it, however, could.
Now, you need another piece of information. It has been one week since Liang Wu gave Xu Beihe the cultivation technique.
She used seven days! S.e.v.e.n d.a.y.s! Seven freaking days! To do what would take even the greatest genius their entire life to do.
In this world, the greatest genius would be Liang Wu, and it would take him—without immortality—his entire life to learn a technique on the level of Heaven's Suppressant Technique to the realm of perfection that its creator would possess.
If you remember, it was noted that 'the vast majority' of the techniques were useless. However, it wasn't said that they were all useless. There were a couple that could be considered useful to an extent. But, one—one was beyond useful. It was extraordinary.
The page at the top of the right-side stack had a title, clearly separating it from the rest. That title read. Beihe's Fist Will Beat The Bad Guys.
Beihe wiped her ink stained hand across her forehead, smearing a streak of black ink where it passed. "Phew, I'm done. Now everyone in our family can have a new cultivation technique, and I can sell these other ones to buy candy!"
Beihe, you shouldn't sell those, Her System Helper's—Mother's—gentle voice sounded in her head. If you want candy just ask Daddy, okay?
But if I have money I can buy candy myself. Beihe pouted as she talked to her mother.
That's right, but— her mother's voice fell off as a screen appeared suddenly.
Skill Created!
Would you like to learn the skill: Beihe's Fist Will Beat The Bad Guys? - Beyond God-Grade
[Yes] [No]
Beihe didn't even read the words on the screen as she reached her hand forward, finger pointed at the [No] button.
Beihe, stop!!! Her mother's frantic voice stayed her hand.
"Why, why are you yelling at me?" She asked as tears formed in the corner of her eyes.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell. But, I need you to say 'yes' okay?
"N—"
Stooooop!!! Don't say no!!!
Large droplets began to spill uncontrollably from Beihe's eyes. Waa!! "Wahy momma yell?! Beihe didn't do anyfing wong!!" waawawaawa!! Beihe's piercing cry filled the room.
Beihe, mommy's sorry, mommy didn't mean to yell. Sh, sh, sh. Beihe, if you stop crying mommy will tell you where daddy keeps your candy.
At the mention of candy Beihe's tears abruptly stopped, as if they were never there to begin with. "Where?"
Were you pretending?
"N—"
Ah! No, don't answer that!
"Where's the candy, momma?"
First say, yes.
Beihe's hovering hand clicked the [Yes] button.
Congratulations, You've Learned: Beihe's Fist Will Beat The Bad Guys!
Description: By condescending an extreme amount of Qi into your fist, until the Qi forms a crystalline shell over your fist, you can deal 100x damage to an enemy.
Passive effect: Synergizing with the Heaven's Suppressant Technique, gain bonus points every level up.
(4 Strength, 2 Dexterity and 2 Agility)
"Where's the candy?" Beihe asked. She could care less what the screen said, the promise of candy held her entire attention.
It's inside the storeroom, in a jar labeled pickles.
"Yuck! I hate pickles."
Hehe, that's why the candy is hidden there.
"Hmph, that bad Daddy!"
Her mother wiped nonexistent sweat from her brow. It was me that hid her candy there… but, she doesn't need to know that.
Beihe hopped down from the chair and marched off in search of hidden candies.
Unbeknownst to Beihe and her mother, the paper with Beihe's skill vanished as she stepped out of the doorway.
***
In the far distant reaches of the universe, in a palace surrounded by mystical starlights, sat a blindfolded young woman with a piece of paper in her hand, the ink yet to be dried.
"I thought he was heaven's chosen genius, but that little girl might just be the greatest genius instead." The blindfolded woman mused aloud. "Either way, he is my chosen one."
She stopped thinking aloud, turning her thoughts inward. The seal is nearly cracked enough. It won't be long before I can see him. Well, I can't see anything… but regardless, I can meet him soon. As her thoughts wandered to things unknown, the paper in her hand was lit aflame with a rainbow blaze, becoming nothing, not even ash, in an instant.