Forgotten One

"CLANG CLANG"

The last 2 chains in his body finally broke.

Lei Shu was filled with joy. Energy flowed from throughout his surroundings and rushed into his body through his pores. The rocks near him were trembling and it didn't stop for quite a long time. Lei Shu didn't move at all during this entire time. He looked completely still like a stone statue. He finally opened his eyes and a profound light shun within them. "This power, could this be the first stage of Body Tempering?"

Lei Shu felt his senses improve much further than any mortal could ever achieve. He could see almost perfectly in the outer area of the canyon. His strength felt as if it explosively doubled and his speed and other basic stats increased.

"WOOSH WOOSH"

Before Lei Shu could refocus his eyes, Mo Fen had already made it to the cave entrance. Mo Fen was also greatly pleased when he felt a slight bit of spiritual energy whistling within Lei Shu.

"Congrats my disciple, I see you have entered the first stage of Body Tempering. It's about time, you're already 16 Hahahaha." The old man let out a belly full of chuckles before he spoke again.

"Even though Body Tempering is the mere beginning of your cultivation journey, it is an essential building block. To have a steady base, is to create an immovable object. Without a steady base, even the tallest of buildings can easily be taken down. Make sure to take each step with extreme care, do not rush. If you are tempted by what you believe to be an easy breakthrough, it may stifle your training and even backfire and injure you. Lei Shu remember this, be grateful for everything, and d.e.s.i.r.e nothing."

Mo Fen was approaching Lei Shu in order to begin the disciple-master ceremony. He brought his hand out and placed it on Lei Shu's shoulder, he was about to speak when his words became choked in the back of his throat. He hesitated and changed the topic.

"Oh, Lei Shu, your body truly is different. The Body Tempering realm usually refines the pre-existing features of a person, making them glow and have sharper features. However, for you the Body Tempering realm is truly tempering your entire body. Just from into the first realm of body tempering your appearance has changed. Your body has become more rugged and you have also grown a bit, it looks as though you are currently 5 foot 9. Your hair has a shine to it and also looks much softer. Your features have indeed sharpened and you no longer have chubby cheeks. While I can't say you are handsome just yet, you're not ugly either."

Lei Shu happily smiled. Even though he was brought into this world with an ugly body, he could work and make it look better. Even if he wasn't the same as an average cultivator, he couldn't be called ugly or a pig like he once was. "Hehehe, Senior, if I keep advancing do you think I'll look like a scholar? Maybe even an elegant fairy or a domineering celestial emperor." Lei Shu was fantasising about the countless possibilities. The only thing that was certain was, by the end of the Body Tempering realm, no one would call him names. Hmph, ball shaped, the head of a pig, Lei Shu wouldn't even give those irrelevant losers another look.

Mo Fen took 2 steps back. "Young child, even though you broke through you didn't manage to kill 10 common beasts. You only killed around 8 common beasts and a middle stage rank 1 spiritual beast. Also, Billa did help you with both portions."

Lei Shu's smile immediately evened. He just had a fierce battle with his first spiritual beast and after he won, he forgot completely about the other common beasts he was supposed to kill. He survived through this adversity and was rewarded with a breakthrough, he was filled with delight and forgot about the ceremony.

Lei Shu bowed once more, "I understand." Lei Shu began packing up and was about to leave when a hand stopped him. Lei Shu understood that there was no point stressing over something that he couldn't change. If he could go back in time, he would kill those 2 beasts but that was impossible, so he decided to leave gracefully.

Mo Fen raised an eyebrow and looked at Lei Shu from the side. "What, do you think I'm like those old bastards who are so stuck in their ways that they cannot see your potential? You think that a rule is a rule, and even if the reasoning is from pure stupidity, that the rule must still stand? I know I've grown old, but my mind has yet to."

Mo Fen raised his voice a couple of octaves, and his voice became quite grand as he spoke. "Lei Shu, from today on, we will be family. In my beliefs, there are no disciple and masters, we are all equal. We will stand side by side as life and death brothers. If you need my help, I will do everything in my power, and I hope you do the same. I declare that today, I, Blood Master Mo Fen, will take my first disciple. His mere name will deter the heavens and our bond will withstand the falling skies. May everyone know of the name, Lei Shu."

Lei Shu immediately began to fall onto his knees, he wanted to bow to show his deep respect for this man. His mind was broad and his heart deep. He wasn't naïve and he knew of many things, much more than his kingdom. Lei Shu almost felt the cold ground until an arm suddenly lifted him off the ground.

"I accepted your bow earlier because you were my junior and I could see the sincerity in your eyes. However, now you are my brother, I will never force you to kneel to me and you will never do so unless you truly want to. From now on, a normal cupping of fists as a greeting or a slight bow. Even a deep bow is alright as it doesn't discomfort the individual."

Lei Shu was about to get up when his body once more fell.

"THUD"

Lei Shu crashed his knees onto the floor, "Then accept this as the last bow you will receive. I Lei Shu do not have friends, only FAMILY. I will never bow to the Heavens, the Earth, or even anything in between. I will only bow towards my family and they will be the only ones to receive this from me!" Lei Shu's eyes were misty, he had never felt such trust and warmth from someone he had just met. He had never received this kind of warmth from his home in the Shu empire. A blue figure flashed into his mind and with it, a figure in light blue imperial robes. The first figure he could discern, it was Qing Yu and the second figure looked a bit hazy he couldn't remember a name. Qing Yu did sincerely care for him, but it was more like she felt bad for him. He could also feel a bit of warmth radiating off of the other figure. He was shaken back to reality when he realized he zoned out.

Mo Fen couldn't hide his excitement. This young child before him was actually his disciple. Mo Fen had never seen someone so weak, with a mindset like Lei Shu's. Mo Fen had truly found the perfect disciple, one with a mindset that could reach the peak… and pierce straight through it.

Mo Fen gave a last look at his new disciple before he waved his robes and got ready to leave. "Lei Shu, if you want you can call me Brother Mo, if you want, you can call me Master. Meet me at the highest mountain in the outer layer and I will inform you on the next steps of your cultivation. Getting to the peak can also be seen as a task, when you reach the peak we will have a congratulatory feast."

Lei Shu had a determined look in his eyes, "Thank you for this opportunity Master, I plan on calling you Master until I reach your level or surpass you, only then would I consider myself worthy to be called your Brother." By the time Lei Shu finished speaking, Mo Fen was already nowhere to be seen.

Lei Shu sat and thought for a while, "Blood… Blood Master Mo Fen….. Wait, what the f.u.c.k is a Blood Master. In the Shu Empire I've never heard of such a thing. Although I don't know too much involving the cultivation world I know enough. But I've never heard of a Blood Master."

"Currently in the Shu Empire there are only 7 types of spiritual energy practitioners wield. I've heard of Lightning, Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Poison, and Healing. But, never have I heard of a cultivator that wields the energy of blood. Maybe that's how he removed the poison from the spiritual wolf a while back. Hmmm, maybe I could wield blood as well."

Billa seemed to just wake up, Lei Shu was surprised because he noticed that Billa grew a bit. He was still just as cute, just a bit bigger than usual.

Mo Fen left a spare pair of clean grey robes for Lei Shu because the upper half of his body was still exposed. Lei Shu swiftly changed into his new clothes and got ready to leave the cave and head for the peak. Billa followed along behind him, making sure to keep a close distance.

Lei Shu was no longer as tense as before. He walked out, scanned his surroundings and let out a bit of spiritual energy from his body. The nearby beasts were instantly notified that he possessed spiritual energy and they dispersed. Lei Shu grinned with a smile, "Strength really does go far."

On the way to the mountain they hunted a boar or 2 just to sustain themselves. The peak could be seen from the cave, but it was quite a distance away and Lei Shu wasn't that fast. Lei Shu could even see some spiritual beasts far into the distance.

As Lei Shu got closer and closer to the mountain, he noticed that the peak was in between the outer section of the canyon and the inner section. The entire canyon was filled with darkness and it was basically s straight line. The walls that made up the edge were quite rough and jagged. Patches of withered ghost plants could be spotted on the way to the peak and sharp boulders were protruding out of the ground. The entire canyon had a similar layout, the only way to be sure you stepped into a different layer, was the level of darkness present.

Lei Shu made it to the base of the mountain, Mo Fen would be waiting at the peak and with him, a feast. Lei Shu could almost feel his mouth start watering as he has been eating raw meat this entire time. The mountain looked gigantic and the peak was quite high. The peak was about halfway from the ground to the clouds.

Lei Shu frowned, "You truly must sow the seeds of your labour to one day see them sprout. Nothing is given for free; this climb will be quite difficult."

Lei Shu placed Billa in the empty poison chamber and placed it around his back. These jagged rocks would truly be torturous for Billa to jump on.

Lei Shu began ascending the steps when 2 early stage rank 1 spiritual beasts came prancing around the corner. Instead of becoming afraid, Lei Shu was instead filled with anger. "Quickly run off with your life before I take it from you. I don't plan on doing battle and I only wish to ascend this mountain."

Lei Shu had a deadpan stare and wasn't playing around at all. He didn't like to waste energy and this was really getting on his nerves.