"Are you going to start the lesson yet, Master?"

Dai Yi was practically bouncing with energy as she waited for Fang Hu to start the lesson. She was excited for this, most of her master's lessons were entirely 'academic'. As much as Fang Hu tried to make it entertaining, and no matter how exciting the lessons were, she wasn't allowed to actually do anything until she completely understood her instructions. Which meant that she had to do a lot of review and testing. This 'practical presentation' that Fang Hu mentioned meant that they could finally do something outside!

"Yes, are we going to start the lesson yet, Master?

Fang Hu winced at Jiahao's teasing, the old man had been around his master to know his quirks. He was by no means being disingenuous by calling Fang Hu 'Master', no, it was just that Jiahao knew that Master had a very hard time dealing with earnest emotions. While he watched our hero squirm, he reaffirmed his thoughts that his master was awkward in his interactions. Yes, Jiahao was correct in his assumptions, as a man of the 21st century, and as a man in general, Fang Hu didn't have the best social mannerisms, but that was only half of the story.

Fang Hu's power, 'Understanding' made the problem at least three times worse, imagine knowing what your loved ones were thinking about all the time, unless your loved ones were awful people, or vice versa, you'd be embarrassed 24/7. He also got to know what other people thought about, but that didn't impact him nearly as much as it should have, mostly because a lack of interaction combined with the stress of the whole situation. You can't care about what strangers think about you if you're constantly on the lookout for danger. The people you care for? They hit differently.

And yes, Jiahao and Dai Yi were now 'people he cared for', both in a literal and emotional context. If Fang Hu had to guess, either saving someone's life was a great way to start a relationship, or master/disciple relationships are much more serious in cultivation worlds. Even now, Fang Hu felt both of them were happy that he had finally gone outside. Either because they were relived that Fang Hu wasn't depressed, or because they want to mess around, they both wanted him to stay out here for a while. It was enough to reaffirm his decision to continue with his original long term plan, and hopefully, it always will be.

He needed to get Dai Yi a proper fire cultivation method, without one, he would be forced to stop her cultivation. That would be a tragedy, she had latched onto cultivation, it was something that made her feel normal, Fang Hu had countless attempts trying to return Dai Yi's mental state back to normalcy. None of them worked as well as cultivation. Besides the calming nature of cultivation itself, it gave Dai Yi a way to relate to Master and old man Jiahao, something to talk to them about and seek advice from them, it really made her feel accepted in a way she had lost. Cultivation had given her a way to keep busy, just doing chores would have never been able to keep her mind off of what happened. It is important to accept what happened in your past, but it is just as important to not succumb to the past, and sometimes, the only feasible way to do that is to keep yourself preoccupied. Above all, the most important thing cultivation has given Dai Yi is a goal. Her goal, albeit childish, is grand enough to change her life. She wants to become a legendary cultivator, the type that was always told of in her villages. She would become material for fables, a grand cultivator that can take anything she wants. Just like how she sees Fang Hu.

Taking cultivation away from Dai Yi, would be like taking away her entire lifestyle. Jiahao's problem, in a way, could be bigger. He had made large strides since being able to pick up the basics of his new cultivation technique. His progress would only grow as his understanding of his dao deepened. However, Fang Hu feared it wouldn't be enough. Jiahao's power had turned his appearance from almost decrepit to almost middle age, but it hadn't done anything for his actual age. He should be able to last longer, but Jiahao's lifespan would surely end before he would manage to make it to core formation. Fang Hu would need to get his hands on a much better technique before then. He couldn't even give Jiahao his own 'Solar Body Reinforcement' technique, because without 'Understanding' and 'Theoretical Test' it would take Jiahao either years to form his own amulet, or thousands of spirit stones.

The problems of his own disciples trumped his own indecision, he'd said he wasn't afraid of death before, what's supposed to be different now? Where Fang Hu was cursing his foolishness before, he was now cursing his cowardice. So what if it was risky, going into a cultivation world without any risk would be the same as living your entire life on the surface of a 'dungeon' world. Fang Hu would have to take some of that 'big dick MC energy' for himself if he wanted success. After his disciples finished their training, and they all got some last minute cultivation in, the group would set off for the loose city located on his map.

Fang Hu's newfound confidence wasn't all born out of necessity, all the group has made great progress in the almost two months they had been on this farm.

~~~

Dai Yi

10 yrs old

Roots: Fire 9.79%

Cultivation: Qi Gathering 3/13 27.08% Trash

Body Cultivation: N/A

Techniques: Basic Fire Dantian Breathing

Powers: N/A

Bloodline: Fire-chimp 20.34% (Awakened)

Constitution: N/A

Background: A young disciple of a loose cultivator, rescued from dire circumstances.

Potential: Mid-Low

~~~

~~~

Jiahao

68 yrs old

Roots: Non-elemental 23.96%

Cultivation: Qi Gathering 5/13 45.78% Poor

Body Cultivation: Qi Gathering 0/13

Techniques: Way of the Solar Breath

Basic Fist Reinforcement

Powers: Hardy

Bloodline: N/A

Constitution: N/A

Background: A disciple of a loose cultivator, picked up because of his potential and circumstances.

Potential: Mid-Mid

~~~

~~~

Fang Hu

15 yrs old

Roots: Non-elemental 22.34%

Cultivation: Qi Gathering 9/13 99.99% Average

Body Cultivation: Qi Gathering 10/13 13.01% Average

Techniques: Serpent's Breath Cultivation Technique

Spiral Snake Striking Fist

Solar Body Reinforcement

Powers: Understanding

Theoretical Test

Bloodline: N/A

Constitution: N/A

Background: A talented loose cultivator, operates as a scholar.

Potential: Low-High

~~~

Cultivation had changed all their lives, and Fang Hu vowed to fight to create even better cultivation techniques. Jiahao stopped being a leathery old farmer, and had transformed. His bald spot had begun to regrow and his light gray hair had begun to turn darker. His body was an even greater change, it was like a before and after picture of a man who had discovered exercise later in life. In a short period of time he had become full of life. Without a body cultivation technique, he hadn't put on much muscle, but with his power, he truly looked as if he had aged backwards for 30 years. His callouses disappeared, his skin de-weathered, and he even lost some of his deep, deep tan.

Fang Hu didn't want to describe what he had seen in the stocks, how someone could treat a child like that, he would never know, but all of that was gone. The little girl that Fang Hu had seen in the village long ago was gone, but a new Dai Yi had taken her place. She was just as energetic as the old Dai Yi, but much more driven. Dai Yi may not have the same innocence, but she still has a childhood in front of her. She has a spark in her eyes, both figuratively and literally, as she has sparks all around her body from time to time, because of her bloodline.

Fang Hu had also gained plenty due to cultivation, he has a presence that no man like him would ever usually get and the body of an Olympic swimmer, but what he'd really gained was a lot deeper than that. He'd gained family, friends, and a future in this cultivation world. He'd regained much of what he'd lost in his old world.

When Fang Hu came out of his head he noticed his disciples staring at him, they were waiting for him to start the lesson.

*Sheesh, I think much faster than them, but I still think so much that they end up waiting for me.*

Clap

*Okay class, let's test whatcha know about body cultivation and cultivation.*

"Disciples, today we will be going over the differences between body cultivation and dantian cultivation."