Creating a New Path pt 1

'After speaking with my father about the requirements of the Academy being quite similar to the Coming of Age ceremony. It's clear now that my previous banishment from the village was seen as a no-win scenario for me, where death was the expected outcome. The village doesn't have high hopes for any member that leaves before reaching rank 10 of the Upper Mantle layer- Diamond.

Father has said that the academy works closely with the village and the Alicorn Empire. It seems we even share the duties of headmaster between both groups. But one thing is for certain, I need to get stronger, to accomplish all that I have set out to do. However, it will be tricky trying to hide my origins if I'm using any style that links both Dragon and Phoenix arts together.

I still have my Land Dragon skills and I could just improve on those. But that seems very limited, maybe I should create something new that could be seen as Land Dragon based or Vermilion Bird based.

Well let's look at this logically, the body refinement system is tied directly with the soul development system as one Art, God Spark. The humans have to train hard to achieve the same level of strength as us Beast King and Godbeast. All we need to do is breathe and when we mature, we gain an increase in strength. However, that takes a very long time and leaves us at the mercy of others. But if we train as humans do, then we can control when we "mature" physically and how strong we ultimately become. A gift and a curse it may seem to some.

Humans have also divided the God Spark into 5 Layers with 15 Ranks or Levels and each rank above rank 9 carries a range that could be seen as lower, middle and high.

The Layers and corresponding Ranks of the body refinement art, God Spark, are:

Mortal Ascension

Crust Rank 1 - 6 (27 - 8,170 units)

Upper Mantle Rank 7 - 10 (8,171 - 100,000 units)

Immortal Balancing

Mantle Rank 11- 12 (100,001 - 3 Million units)

God's Tribulation

Outer Core Rank 13 (3,000,001 - 20 Million units)

God's Power

Outer Core Rank 14 (20,000,001 - 100 Million units)

Divinity

Inner Core Rank 15 (100,000,001 - 999,999,999 units)

They've even devised the level of the soul that must be attained before improving the Rank of the body. These Ranks and corresponding Soul level/Dao level are:

Talc --Human Soul

Gypsum --Dao Seed

Calcite --Dao Germination

Fluorite --Dao Sprout

Apatite --Dao Plant

Feldspar--Dao Tree

Quartz --Dao Lord

Topaz --Dao King

Corundum --Dao Emperor

Diamond --Dao Immortal

Elementals --Dao Elemental

Pseudo-King --Dao Elemental Lord

Demi-Godbeast --Dao Beast King

Pseudo-Godbeast --Pseudo Dao Godbeast

Godbeast --Dao Godbeast

In fact, humans are often ahead of us by the time we start to cultivate. They start their training and education system at the age of 2. A full 3 years ahead of us so we are essentially playing catch up. I need to fast track both Edan's and my own training sessions.

I can still use my self made skills of the Pseudo-King Rank. Granted they'll be weaker in my current form, but they will be unique to me and not to any specific Beast King or Godbeast of the village. As for my other skills, those I'll need significantly more power to use than this body can currently manage such as Spiritual Sense.

Let's review these skills:

Dragon Fist, aura manipulation and projection of a dragon Roar and physical attack. Mmh, let's adjust this in training to match the White Vermilion Bird appearance. It will at least explain the white hair and blue eyes I now have.

Phoenix Dance and Phoenix Fist. No adjustment needed there.

Sky Step/Flicker Step - Short range instant steps.

Dragon Step - Gravity induced steps within 100 Km. I'll have to see how far the range is now in my current form.

Fate seeker - Premonitions and Fate Controller. I think I'll only use the basic form of this art, attack predictions, but it is certainly mentally draining to look at refracted light to see potential movement.

It seems I'm not totally unprepared to keep my origin and Godbeast form hidden. But I still need arts that match my Rank to truly pull off the charade…'

"Hey, Hittan! How long are you gonna keep me waiting?!"

"Oh, sorry, I must have been lost in thought. But fret not, I was thinking about how best to improve our training sessions. Hahaha, I hope you're ready?"

"What!? I just realised something, self-reflection is key to training and I've missed this crucial step! If you don't mind let's start with a review of the past lesson verb…"

"You're absolutely right! Let's start with a practical review as a warm up! I'll initiate!"

"No! I was going to say verbally!!"

…...

"Now that we've gone over the old information I trust that you've warmed up enough and cemented the principle of the style?"

"Yes... Boss! I have…. cemented the pain…. principle, well!" As Edan panted while trying to find a seat on a nearby boulder he gave a strained reply while looking exhausted.

"It seems more review is in order." Hittan looked at Edan with narrowed eyes as he gave the reply.

"Have a heart! Your attacks are far too heavy to be of the Quartz Rank!"

"Speaking of that, now that you've reached Rank 7 and have firmly built the foundation of a Dao Lord, show me your Rank Skill.

"Hahaha, now you're talking my language! I'm really proud of how I've mastered this skill! Just watch me!"

Edan began by extending his arm upward then suddenly slashing down at the boulder he was resting on.

WOOSH!

A thin slit, the length of the boulder and a full 2 inches deep scare, was now visibly cut into the rock.

"Well, what do you think?" Edan happily turned around while holding a red flame feather sword in his hand. It stood 3 and half feet in length, 2 inches in width and one could imagine the weight.

"Not bad, your creation speed was good and the strength of the feather blade is impressive. But what if you are surrounded by multiple targets all armed with weapons? Some clearly with crossbows in the back and spears ready for launch. How do you treat that situation?"

"Run, of course, I'm no idiot! What would you do?"

"Let's see…" Hittan slowly walked away from where Edan was standing and formed a white feather blade!

"A White Feather Sword! But that colour is only for Phoenix inheritors! How can you form that blade… why are you living in the Beast King Pavilion??"

"It's… not that important right now, just watch."

The blade suddenly shrank from 4 feet to 6 inches and with a wave of his arm 8 blades shot out at galloping speed into 8 different boulders! As Edan ran to investigate the damage he suddenly noted that the holes were clearly deep. After a moment of observation, Edan noted that each of the 8 holes was more than 20 inches deep and some went completely through the intended target. But he couldn't help but note that this technique seems eerily close to the Phoenix flame wing blade attack.

Guessing Edan's next comments Hittan preempted him by giving him an answer he never expected.

"This is the next thing we're are gonna train in, don't be too shocked. The only limit to what you can do at this Rank is your strength and your understanding."

…...

"3 short blades, not bad. But you need to focus your mind and understand all you are doing is modifying a skill you have already mastered. Manipulating the energy into a smaller blade and launching it in quick succession..."

'Certainly, Edan is an above normal practitioner and Beast King inheritor. For him to create 3 blades on day one of this kind of training is impressive. If he keeps this up he should be a good competitor for the tests in the Coming of Age Ceremony.

…...