3 Chapter 02 - The power to stand at the apex

Delight appeared on Fang Yuan's face.

'Is the same brother ox from the novel Legend of The Great Sage.

A reincarnator with untold power and knowledge who gave this unorthodox cultivation to the novel's main character, guiding him in the cultivation world.'

"The Nine Transformations of the Demonic and Divine is a cultivation that will give you a unique Immortal Physique."

"Immortal Physique?"

'I didn't remember that it used to be something like that... Come to think of it, isn't that a term from another novel?'

Hearing the young man question, the black ox didn't answer but continued with its explication.

"This cultivation is divided into Nine Transformations, which are divided into nine different levels that will give you unimaginable powers and abilities.

However, not without risks or flaws if you want to call them such.

You may lose a part of your humanity."

Hearing the black ox's strict tone and explication, Fang Yuan couldn't help burst out laughing.

The former seeing him react in such a way to its' severe declaration, deadpanned.

After crossing his arms over the stomach in an attempt to catch his breath, the latter waved his arms, demanding forgiveness.

"Sorry big brother ox, it's not like I was belittling your affirmation.

From the moment I reacquired my old life memories, the thought I had was to attain immortality and acquiring the power to stand at the apex.

I don't care what price!"

"Standing at the apex, huh?"

This time was the ox who started to laughing aloud.

"Eheheh, you know little Yuan, you remember me of an old dark feathered friend of mine."

'Immortal Physique... Dark feathered friend... That can't be...

It's talking about the Dark Crow, Li Qiye?!'

This time Fang Yuan skillfully displayed a poker face while inwardly shocked.

It was legitimate for Fang Yuan to be so surprised since he was the main character of another novel he used to read in his past life, Emperor's Domination.

Therefore the existence of this old monster may have changed the future he knows, rendering useless his knowledge of it.

The black ox completely disregarded him while closing its eyelids in a state of remembrance.

"He always told me a similar line until we both achieved it.

Now that I think it's several millennials that I didn't hear- well, returning to the cultivation technique.

You will now start by training in the first of the Nine Transformation, the Ox Demon's Fist of Great Strength.

And once established a solid foundation, I will let you practice the second one, the Tiger Demon's Fist of Bone Forging.

The ox demon refines the muscular strength, and the tiger demon forges the bones.

You will be entering cultivation through demonic means."

Brother ox reopened its eyes and gazed at the young man

During its explanation, he had sat cross-legged on the ground, with a hand propped up his head and the other resting on the corresponding knee, entirely at ease.

"Really? I don't mind it, and if it benefits me, I would also be more than happy to become a demon."

The black ox was amused inwardly seeing the young man's behaviour

"This universe's cultivators pursue strength only by following the Profound Way.

Using just what they have been given at the moment of their birth, their innate profound veins, and for this reason, they define themselves as profound practitioners.

When one's profound strength grows, the density of the profound energy in their profound veins grows until it becomes more compressed. Once it reaches a certain level of compression, a fundamental change will occur that will make them enter a new realm.

That's what I have been able to assume in these past years as a simple bystander. Cultivators focus entirely on profound energy.

Suppose you were to follow the same precept; you will be able to just in the hypothetical case you could have lucky encounters one after another. Then attaining fake godhood, entering what they call 'Realms of God' will be possible.

I casually found that out decades ago, when a little girl descended from it, and well, that's a story for another time."

The thorough analysis startled Fang Yuan, and the last part telling about the ox's encounter made him draw different assumptions.

'Oh, brother ox saw Mu Bingyun? How many years it stayed in this plane and why?'

"However, with the help of the cultivation I'll impart you, I'm confident you can become a true- Wait."

Brother ox frowned and started to turn around Fang Yuan while shaking its head.

The young man seeing the ox's actions was taken aback.

'What's happening?'

"I almost forgot that you have average profound veins with only five opened profound entrances.

Cultivating both the demonic and human path would slow you down too much.

Indeed trying to cultivate the profound way would be just a waste of time."

Fang Yuan, hearing that, sighed.

'A little setback, so what? I will overcome it.'

"How much time do you think it would serve me to cultivate in its entirety The Nine Transformation of the Demonic and Divine and reach my goal?"

The ox started to ponder then answered with an enigmatic smile.

"Without outside help, let me think... Maybe two or three centuries?"

Any other person would have been depressed hearing this, but Fang Yuan only lightly scoffed.

"Okay, that won't do. It would take too long.

It looks like I'm going to have to resort to part of my plan E."

Brother ox tilted his head side angle.

"Plan E? What are you about?"

The response of Fang Yuan was a yawn while he got up from the floor and shook the dust off his pants with his hands.

"Since my 'awakening', I planned my subsequent actions based on what kind of situation I might be confronted.

The fact that I might not have any talent for the Profound Way, I had already taken it into account.

Well, can we start practicing the cultivation art? We need to go back home as fast as possible, or Ying Yue is going to worry."

The black ox glanced at him seemly unconcerned, but it was very pleased inside about his attitude.

It then looked towards some trees and bushes adjacent to the field with a smuggle smile before saying solemnly.

"Good, I will now explain to you the essentials of the Ox Demon's Fist of Great Strength."

Brother ox then described Fang Yuan all the keys movements in detail, which he immediately began to practice. The young man tried every gesture and motion earnestly.

These movements reminded him of the kata used in his past life's martial arts.

For more or less an hour under the dazzling sun, the ox crouched down leisurely and gave guidance to the young man, which remained solemn and respectful, listening quietly and attentively.

And not too far from them, someone was hiding behind some trees witnessing such a bizarre scene.

The black ox could not demonstrate the moves personally, but its' every single sentence would always hit the mark, enlightening Fang Yuan and deepening his understanding of the Ox Demon's Fist of Great Strength.

His movements would grow more refined and efficient as a result. In this short period, he arrived to move and control his own body and muscles in ways that he never really thought of doing before.

The black ox nodded at its disciple's comprehension ability.

It was at that moment that noises came from the adjacent vegetation.

Subsequently, a murderous light flashed in Fang Yuan's eyes. With just what he learned in this brief time frame, he trumped his feet in the earth, accumulating power in his lower body, and beamed in the direction of the noises, showing a superhuman feat.

'It doesn't matter who this person is, now that he knows he has to die.

Three men can keep a secret if two of them are dead.

In this case, one is an ox, so only one needs to die.'

The person who was listening to them from behind some trees. Didn't even have time to follow the movements of Fang Yuan that the latter's right hand was about to strike in its neck.

As he was about to strike for the kill, the Fang Yuan finally saw who was eavesdropping on his and brother ox's discussions, Ying Yue.

He froze up, seeing her cute face. At that time, her eyes were sloped down at the corners like a sad pup.

'I'm sorry, my dear Yue, but I don't want to have loose ends.'

He then resumed his movement, preparing to take her life.

Meanwhile, the little girl seeing him appear in front of her smiled and opened her arms, not caring about the situation.

«．．．☾ ．．．»

Not seeing her big brother returning home, she was worried. Hence, she decided to look for him, believing that workaholic was advancing tomorrow's tasks. Even though he first told her he just wanted to put the various tools in place.

Once near the field, she heard two people talking. One of the two voices belonged to her brother, but the other one didn't ring a bell for her.

Wanting to find out who he was talking to, she mischievously hid behind a tree to listen to them.

The unknown voice was deep and mysterious, conveying a sense of power and authority.

She peeked her head to see who he was, and she was dumbfounded.

'Huh?! Brother ox can talk?'

Listening to their discussion, she understood something shocking.

What left her appalled wasn't that Fang Yuan was a reincarnator nor that he would be willing to become a demon.

But that sooner or later, he will go away to achieve his goal, leaving her alone.

Just thinking about it left her emotionally ruined, scarred, distraught.

While she blanked for the shock, she involuntarily stepped on some dry twigs that were close to her, creating noise.

A few seconds later, something flashed before her autumn eyes.

At first, she couldn't understand what it was, but as soon as she recognized it was her Fang Yuan, she opened her arms.

She wasn't stupid, she understood that her big brother was no longer the same as before her, but she didn't care.

Whatever happens, he will always be her world.

Their fathers were sworn brothers, so their families were pretty close. Unfortunately, they died while gathering herbs outside the city at the hands of bandits.

It was then Fang Yuan became an orphan since his mother passed away in childbirth.

On the other hand, her mother died of grief several weeks after her father's death.

Having suffered such loss in no time, she closed to anyone but Fang Yuan which become the most important person and the only one she could depend on.

They grew up together in the custody of her uncle Ying Wu; however, he always was a busy fellow as he has to direct various fields.

As her big brother Yuan became twelve years old, he didn't want to be a burden for uncle Wu, so he asked him to live in a hut near the fields to work more hours and do more tasks. Before his daily job mainly consisted of letting the black ox out to graze and cleaning, with its help to plough the fields, and lastly, he had to lead the cattle through the farm.

Finding it out, Yue was extremely sad because she thought he would leave her, but after he coaxed her and explained his point of view, the young girl understood why he did it.

When she became twelve, Yue moved into his hut after she constantly begged her uncle. She was finally back home.

«．．．☾ ．．．»

If she had to die for him, she would willingly, with a smile.

'Thanks for everything, big brother. I hope to be next to you in my next life too.'

Just when she thought that, the world stopped at the sound of a thunder-like voice.

"Little Yuan, stop."

Hearing the black ox, Fang Yuan abruptly stopped his arm, resulting in dislocating his shoulder.

He then instantly hugged the little girl.

The ox seeing that, nodded, exposing an entertained grin while the young man cursed it inwardly.

'Brother ox wanted to test my resolve, how I couldn't saw through it? An entity like he would have immediately felt the presence of Ying Yue.

But why in this fashion? Damn, I wouldn't want to expose her to this.

However, if brother ox wouldn't have told me to stop, I would have...'

Meanwhile, the little girl in question in the arms of his brother couldn't help but put to hug him harder, caring about the fact that a few seconds earlier, he had tried to kill her.

"Please, big brother, don't leave me..."

Fang Yuan wore a somewhat embarrassed smile, didn't know what to do.

"Yue, I-"

The black ox was amused about the situation, but he interrupted them.

"Little girl, you would like to always stay at his side?"

Ying Yue was a moment surprised to be questioned by the ox, but she rapidly answered.

"Yes! I won't part from him!"

Hearing her answer and determination, the ox scrutinized her.

"Oh! You have a special set of profound veins, not bad, not bad."

It just said that but inwardly was thinking it was regrettable she was born in this backwater, quite a mishap.

With this unique set of profound veins, she would have been already a prominent figure of this little world and could have moved on to the above realm.

At the same time, Fang Yuan was taken aback looking at the little girl.

'At just thirteen, she has the same cultivation level as me.

I imagined she was above average, but does she even own Divine Veins?

What an unexpected but well-welcomed discovery.'

The black ox continued by saying.

"I will let you cultivate the Void Imperfection Physique.

With this Immortal Physique, almost all offensive techniques would be ineffective against you. Moreover, defensive ones wouldn't stop any of your attacks.

Also, you will gain immunity to several ailments as poisoning, bewitching, mesmerization, and petrification."

Hearing this, Ying Yue was shocked and didn't know what to say. All she was in her mind was knowing that she could be with her beloved brother.

Thereof was already changing his future schemes, including these unexpected benefits.

Brother ox then approached the pair. One of its horns first touched the young man's shoulder, healing his dislocation, and then the young girl's shoulder passing her the cultivation art.

"T-Thanks, senior ox!"

Ying Yue parted unwillingly from her brother's arms to pay respect, while Fang Yuan was greatly shocked inwardly.

"Thanks for treating me.

Big brother ox, why don't do pass me the cultivation art as you did with Yue?"

"Yours it's special Immortal body cultivation. It isn't even listed in the ranking of the twelve Immortal body due to its uniqueness."

Hearing that, the young man didn't say anything more.

Brother ox, meanwhile, began to think that it had made the right choice in choosing to wait for his 'awakening' throughout these years.

It had purposefully stood aside and waited on the moment Fang Yuan would have been ready. It had only acted out at the most crucial moment, like a blacksmith, slowly refining and tempering its material. Only then could a supreme weapon be forged.

Ordinary people cared about foreign aspects like talent, fortuitous encounters, and so on. Still, the ox looked at a person's willpower.

If you were someone with a weak will if you were given a colossal fortune, could you bear the weight that came with it? The young man before his eyes showed that to achieve his goal, he would sacrifice even the person most dear to him in this world.

And the person in question surprised him, wanting to sacrifice himself for the person most important to her, demonstrating an equally strong will. Hence, it thought she was worth guiding.

Another hour passed, the sun was setting, one was willing to teach, and the pair was keen to learn, so they made rapid progress.

Fang Yuan gained a crude understanding of the Ox Demon's Fist of Great Strength, vaguely grasped its essentials the three fundamental forms which were 'The Ox Demon Butts its Horns', 'The Ox Demon Stamps its Hooves', 'The Ox Demon Forges its Hide'.

They were all able to unleash complexity with their simplicity and lead into countless moves.

In the meantime, Ying Yue studied the given cultivation. She demanded many times pointers to find a good way to train it.

Brother ox seemed unfazed, but it was delighted with its disciples' comprehension ability.

As the night was falling, they stopped to train. Fang Yuan and Ying Yue hopped on brother ox back and returned home together.

The little Yue hummed a sweet song happily while hugging her big brother's arm on the way back home. She will always stand at his side.

Alternative title: 'The power to stand at his side'