Chapter 16: Yao Bao's gift

"Yao Bao!"


Teacher Wan called out the next participant's name.


Yao Bao immediately stood up and prepared himself, while Yao Tian and Song Shou both wished him good luck.


Both his brother and Song Shou noticed the rigidness and nervousness around Yao Bao.


"Don't worry about the results we already know how talented you already are in cultivation. There is no way that you won't pass." Reassured Yao Tian with a wide smile.


"Just focus on yourself and show these elders what you are capable of." Song Shou too was assured of Yao Bao's upcoming performance.


He had seen how much of a freak this kid was, so failing wasn't even possible for him. Now the only problem was concerning his brother.


It's not like he did not notice the signs or rather, the lack of any results.


He hoped that they would forgive him in the future...


"Ummm...shouldn't I try joining your sect, so that we can all be together?" Asked Yao Bao.


A smile came into Song Shou face, "Listen, Yao Bao, at this point you are already embarking on a long a difficult journey. You should learn to make decisions by yourself. So, it is up to you to decide if you want to join my sect or another."


Even if Song Shou secretly wanted Yao Bao to join his sect as the boy was guaranteed to have great potential. But at the end of the day, the choice lied in the hands of Yao Bao.


As Yao Bao made his way up to Teacher Wan, behind one of the veils hiding the identity of the great sect's elders.


A smile appeared on the face of one of the shrouded figures.


"Finally."


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Walking up to Teacher Wan was an extremely nerve-wracking experience for Yao Bao. He could feel everyone's gaze on him, judging him and his potential.


That was especially from the elder's area, he could feel a creeping gaze from within the elder's area. Might be his stress that made his nerves run wild.


Yao Tian could see his brothers nervousness on stage, this was his first major step into becoming an immortal, but he believed that Yao Bao would succeed.


'He really did grow up, wish father were here, he would have loved to see his son taking his first major steps in life.' He stopped with his train of thoughts as he chose to being his attention back to his brother's test.


...


As Yao Bao reached Teacher Wan's side, the old man handed him the orb. "Make sure to hold it well and concentrate all of your energy into the orb."


Looking a bit lost and sheepish, Yao Bao couldn't help but say, "Ummm... I am not familiar with how to use my Spirit Qi... I've just started cultivating less than a month ago." Said Yao Bao bashfully, he didn't want to fail just because he couldn't control Spirit Qi yet. That would only disappoint his brother and father.


Instead of being angry or annoyed at the boy's inability to use Spirit Qi, Teacher Wan decided to give him a bit of help. He wasn't called 'Teacher' for nothing.


"Hohohoho, now that is a first. Normally you should have been thought about how to use Spirit Qi the moment you've consumed your first Qi pill. But it's not a big deal, I shall show you the steps required, so listen well." Yao Bao nodded and listened attentively to Teacher Wan's following words.


"Spirit Qi is very easy to use but very difficult to control. Despite not being an 'Inner aura' or 'Outer aura' expert you can still extend a small wisp of your internal Spirit Qi to your limbs, normally this wouldn't do anything aside temporarily strengthening your limbs but thanks to this orb that small wisp is absorbed and examined.


To use your Spirit Qi in the first place, you need to have a mental trigger, a mental image that helps you visualise using Spirit Qi. Everyone has their own unique version, it can be from uttering a few words or visualising a flowing water source for example.


With time and practice, you won't need this trigger anymore and be able to use your Spirit Qi with instincts alone." Just like a patient teacher, he guided the young through step of Spirit Qi, not once minding the crowd, not the seated elders.


Many choose to listen to Teacher Wan's teaching carefully. It was not every day that they would get a lecture from a powerful cultivator like him.


Many of those who failed wailed with despair and self-loathing in their mind as they never bothered to ask Teacher Wan for any minor advice.


Now this nobody child who was an outsider was given the grace of the heavens by receiving guidance for his test.


Even some of the clan heirs grew frustrated at the sight and decided to teach the boy a lesson once everything was over.


Teacher Wan finished his small speech and asked the boy if he understood everything.


"Yes, thank you, Teacher Wan, I will try my best to not fail!" He proceeded to bow to show his gratitude then tried to visualise his Spirit Qi.


'According to Teacher Wan, our Spirit Qi is closely related to our emotions and feelings. So does that mean I just have to be happy and be able to use Spirit Qi?' He wasn't sure but he intended to try it.


While thinking, he recalled a memory where his brother Tian would go out early in the morning to the nearby we'll come back with a bucket filled with water.


His brother once told him that water is the source of life and how important it was to continue living while his father argued that milk was better. So just like that Yao Bao knew what to think of.


Taking a deep breath, Yao Bao created a mental image in his head of holding a bucket that represented his body, the well which was his reserves or dantian and the water being Spirit Qi. Slowly he started to feel certain shifts deep within his being, this feeling ran along his whole body. He continued imagining him collecting the 'water' with the 'bucket' from the 'well'. This made the shift he felt grow stronger and slowly start to expand.


From his still developing muscles, tenses like a bowstring pulled to its absolute limit. Every single fibre worked in unison to produce the highest output of strength almost cramping in the process.


This feeling continued on to his still-growing bones. Instead of feeling stronger, he felt heavier. His bones creaked but none cracked, every single of them becoming more and more compact... denser...and unbreakable. He almost felt like an iron skeleton was inside his body.


Then this feeling travelled along his veins, his heartbeat quickened to an astonishing degree. His blood became hotter and hotter, like it was being filled with energy way beyond its capacity, yet not breaking instead adapting. The similar feeling of hot lead coursing through his veins was almost unbearable.


But Yao Bao didn't give up, he imagined seeing his brother's proud face and his father's joyous laughter encouraging him to never give up and to persevere.


Then all of it gathered in the centre of his abdomen. His stomach, his liver and all of his organs felt like they became black holes swallowing up all the accumulated energy. As they continued to absorb the energy, a crimson hue almost looking like fire glowed from every corner.


For a normal person when the feeling of their organs finally being unable to swallow more Spirit Qi and becoming 'filled' would indicate that they have reacher of the 'Body Reinforcement Realm' normally called a full cycle.


At this point, the only bottleneck would be breaking into the 'Outer Aura Realm' and depending on the persons natural potential and talent they could either breakthrough on their own or require outside aid from pills and other natural treasures.


But this was not the case for Yao Bao as his organs never stopped absorbing Spirit Qi and seemed to go on endlessly. The crimson-coloured hue as well as the increasing body heat was also abnormal.


From the spectators perspective, Yao Bao merely held the orb and spent a tenth of incense worth of time to concentrate. They found it boring and hoped that the boy could just move on so that they could get their turn. Some were even starting to get restless and angry.


"What is the kid's problem? He's been closing his eyes for quite a while, did he fail or what!?"


"Yea! That kid probably has no talent and may not even be at the first stage of the 'Body Reinforcement Realm'."


"As expected of country bumpkins, they're only here to waste our time!" Said one of the many clan heirs who grew displeased by Yao Bao previous fortune.


As the crowd became rowdier and rowdier, two individuals located at the very front could be seen assessing the situation behind them.


"People are getting angry uncle Chen, shouldn't we calm them down?" Said Lin We.


By his side the intimidating-looking man shook his head, "Young Master you worry too much, Teacher Wan has everything under control. In fact, an excited crowd is a regular thing for this event so don't mind it. He is a half-step 'Inner Aura Realm' expert, none can challenge him here." Despite his reassuring words Mo Chen was evilly grinning inside his head.


'This is what you deserve, you're nothing but a country bumpkin trash with no talent. After this is over and master Lin We is chosen by one of the great sects I will personally deal with you and that brother of yours from that previous humiliation you gave me.'


While on stage the still immobile Yao Bao slowly started to sweat. His body's temperature slowly started to elevate at an abnormal rate.


The air around him slowly started to dilate from all the heat and vapour coming from his body.


The one closest to the boy felt the change first.


"What is this!?" Teacher Wan startled immediately stepped back a couple of steps.


He saw the orb in the boy's hand change colours. From bright yellow to orange to red and finally gold.


"H-he achieved a full cycle of the 'Body Reinforcement Realm' and perfect Spirit Qi compatibility!?" This was an absurd thought, as the boy couldn't even control his Spirit Qi when he first came.


Then how was it possible for him to achieve a full cycle? 'And that heat...that power...that sort of power I've only felt once in all my many centuries as a cultivator...he...the boy...' As he kept thinking, Teacher Wan slowly started to realise what was happening, his eyes bulged out and he couldn't believe it.


'The boy, Yao Bao has a...'


"A special constitution, indeed!" Cried out both Teacher Wan and a voice from one of the great sect's elder's booth.