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‘It seems the usage of Dharma Qi throughout these two years has influenced his physical body; he’s already standing at the height of a meter and a half. It seems the three years of time is not needed anymore; he’s already reached the required level within two years.’ Grandmother Anemone internally weighed the pros and cons as she inspected the body of Astrallis.

‘The flying technique of his ‘Helical Rising from the East’ sure is something, considering he comprehended it himself it will show twice the power than a normal technique; the movement is also so elegant, just like our bloodline.’ She twirled around, while vainly inspecting her beautiful, seductive body.

The difference between a self-created technique and an ordinarily learned technique is the difference in power. A self-created method is fine-tuned for the creator's body; it allows for the user to bring out their full potential, while a learned technique, no matter what will never bring out the full power the body is capable of.

The fact that Astrallis had already comprehended a technique was impressive, but it wasn’t any heaven-warping achievement as many geniuses at his age do the same. The quality and refinement of the method were what impressed her, and that it allowed the usage of Dharma Qi enthralled her even more. There is no designated rank to a self-created technique, as they are the best suitable techniques for the individual, comprehended during a moment of enlightenment.

“Asta’er for you to create a flying technique that allows you to move at such intensity at such an age is an impressive feat; most genius children your age only comprehend a weapon technique or a movement technique at best,” Bataar the lion-kitten commented while watching him.

“Your Dharmic Nodachi is made out of Primal Instinct Steel. This ore was fabricated between heaven-and-earth when my old Master Shakyamuni reached the Realm of Selflessness in the Way of Buddha. When a weapon is created using this material, it allows for the blade to do exactly as the user pleases; the primal instincts of the person are transferred to the blade. While the rest of the blade, which is made out of my horn is even more precious. I am a Primordial Emerald Dharmic Lion; it’s a self-appointed name, I’m the only one of my kind in the vast universe - or at least that I know of. The horn was the most crucial part of my body, my Buddha Qi was transmitted through there, it could also be seen as the core of my being. The usage of my horn has created a blade that is sturdier than any other material; it also allows for the transference of Qi into the blade with the utmost simplicity,” Bataar said proudly.

“You have an absolute pinnacle blade, something that will follow you throughout your life. Of course, you are not even close to bringing out even a percentage point of its power. One day when you are older, I expect great things from the blade. Also, Astra’er your Grandmother wants to see you, meet her at the Sanguinary Felicity Tree.” The lion-kitten then jumped onto the top of Astrallis’ head and went to sleep.

Astrallis elegantly walked towards the direction of his grandmother’s abode, over the past two years he had grown to respect his grandmother more than anyone else. The depths of her power and knowledge were unfathomable, and behind that happy-go-lucky exterior was a calculating and cunning devil. But, one thing he knew for sure was that she’d go beyond even her powers to make sure her loved ones succeeded.

Whenever Astrallis walked through nature he would subconsciously emanate the presence of a Buddha, a result of his Buddha Qi, the flora would brighten at his step, and the fauna would follow.

As long as it wasn’t a Demonic Beast, Astrallis had nothing to fear when walking through nature. A Demonic Beast is a beast that kills for the sake of it, more often than not the hate directed towards beasts, in general, is a result of the hatred towards Demonic Beasts.

Once a beast had fallen and become a Demonic Beast the power of the beast increases, but the cognitive ability of the beast is reduced as a result. Cultivators often compare Demonic Beasts with an inversely proportional scale, the more they move up the level, the stronger they become, but as a consequence, their cognition decreases.

Soon he found himself in front of the Sanguinary Felicity Tree, just as magnificent as the last time he saw it. Astrallis felt a pair of arms pull him close, while a soft whisper entered his ears, “How’s my beautiful grandson doing?”

“Stop it, Grandma, you know how much I dislike being compared to a woman," He replied while veins formed on his face.

“Alright, alright. Placate your anger my little monarch. I’ve called you here today to sort that very problem out as well as explain the Sanguinary Felicity Body-Art to you. The next couple of years will be unlike anything you’ve experienced; I want you to be aware of this fact,” Grandmother Anemone’s cautioned with a hint of mirth.

“But, before that. I have a surprise for you, I know you’ve wanted to test your Dharma Qi on something, but obviously, you do not wantonly kill innocent creatures, so there has been nothing to test it on.”

In front of Astrallis, a wild-boar manifested; the wild boar had blood red eyes and emanated an aura of a killer.

“This is what you would call a Demonic Beast, a creature that has fallen to bloodlust. The only good Demonic Beast is a dead Demonic Beast. This wild-boar is at the beginning of the Spirit-Convergence Realm, should be easy enough for you to kill considering it doesn’t even know any techniques as its bloodline is quite weak therefore it has no transferred memories.” Anemone looked towards the fighting-intent in Astrallis’ eyes, gently smiling.

Astrallis moved his right hand to the back of his body and pulled his Dharmic Steel Blade from out its ivory sheath. At the same time, he removed his robe, revealing his emerald tattoos on his back; his lean but almost feminine physique bare for all to see.

A crystal blade, seventy centimetres in length, gradually began to emit an emerald coloured Qi slowly. Moving his right foot forward, and his left foot back, Astrallis bared his nodachi in a fighting stance.

The boar enraged by the provocation charged towards Astrallis, it’s five-meter long frame leaving after-images in its wake. Astrallis reciprocated the charge with his own, emerald after-images following firmly behind him.

As the two were about to hit each other, Astrallis dodged to the flank of the boar, and while sliding along the ground he slashed out across the boar's side, leaving a bleeding slit as a result.

Astrallis stopped his slide and turned to look at the results of his handiwork, even though the cut's depth was only around a centimetre the wild-boar let out considerable wails. The flesh around the cut was withering away at rapid speed, Astrallis began to observe the wound itself.

‘I see, the Karmic Seeds are withering away at rapid speed around the cut. But that’s not all, with the amalgamation of Buddha Qi and Astral Qi, both the corporeal and the incorporeal will be affected. Its soul is in turmoil, but also taking into account that it has lost most of its soul from being a fallen Demonic Beast the soul-withering aspect of Dharma Qi is its worst nightmare.’

“Grandmother, it seems my Dharma Qi comes as a great boon when fighting Demonic Beasts. It corrodes both the spiritual and physical, destroying what little soul they have left.” Astrallis said with a pleased expression.

“Dharma Qi is truly the highest tier of Qi one can reach, an amalgamation of Qi is something only a few individuals in the universe can do. Those individuals are already at the peak of their particular paths and have started to branch out to other paths. But even saying that to have something that attacks both the spiritual and physical is something nearly unheard of, the only substances I know that can do the same are some heretical poisons. For your Qi to have the same effect is astounding.” Grandmother Anemone said while she dipped her head in thought.

“Now, that we’ve deduced what your Qi can do. It’s time for you to understand how weak your body is.” A devilish voice crept into Astrallis’ ears.

Astrallis suddenly felt the Qi within his body disappear, he looked towards his grandmother, surprise within his eyes. But the gaze he received held no love within, only coldness and most of all schadenfreude.

“Fight, child.”

For the first time since the Body-Tempering Realm, Astrallis had to fight without his Qi. Over the past two years, he had become used to the utility that Qi brought him, especially in regards to attack and defence. Now, to be stripped of something that had become an instrumental part of himself invoked a deep fear inside of him, as well as a daunting realisation of his inadequacies.

The wild-boar having wholly lost itself in anger managed to force itself onto its feet and charge towards Astrallis.

Astrallis swung the sword from over his shoulder in an arc towards the head of the wild boar.

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