Pilgrims Of The Dying World - Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Ambitions

That was a valid complaint, and Xin couldn’t say anything in his defense. He lowered his head feeling slightly ashamed. Seems like his temperament still needs some adjustment.

“Hum, at least you got the shame to admit it.”

Said the old man and suddenly appeared next to him.

“Your laziness will be dealt with. Now, however, we don’t have time. Show your sabre immediately.”

Xin finally felt a room for a comeback. His expression brightened when he unleashed the half-broken twig.

“”

“”

“Oh, my poor old head, I forgot you don’t have one. Well, wait, you hasty brat. I will make you a weapon.”

The old man waved his hand and another twig from the dead tree flew into it. Xin threw the stick he was holding away and gave the old man a scornful look. Some people are naturally shameless, however, how little face do you have to have to criticize another’s shortcoming in one sentence and ignore your own in the next?

Still, this time the old man put a little more effort. His black Qi covered the twig for a dozen seconds at least, and in the end, it was looking more refined than the previous one. Once he gave it to him, Xin immediately slashed it at the same stone.

“Tuck!” Vibration entered his hands, but the weapon remained safe.

“What, you don’t trust me, brat? You you did well. Every competent sabre-wielder should try his new weapon before accepting it.”

“Thanks.” Said Xin totally ignoring him.

“No need. Now, today’s lesson will be special.” The old man’s face suddenly became solemn. His wrinkles solidified and now he resembled a statue.

“I do not have time to teach you everything, it is a long, long road toward the greatness. However, I am still going to give you general points. Do not think of this as an easy way out, the lessons we still can have, we will have. But I will speak mostly, training and practice I am leaving to you.”

“Okay.” Xin nodded. That indeed sounded reasonable. Actual training will take at least several years; the battle with Han Empire will obviously happen sooner and who knows whether he will be able to see that old man after it. He wasn’t even sure what side he was planning to fight on.

“As a foundation for everything, I will start by looking at your cultivation. Sit somewhere, brat.”

Xin jumped up the ravine and sat down on one of the stumps left from whatever destroyed all the trees. Surprisingly it was quite smooth.

“Tell me what meridians you have opened, so I will judge how stupid you are.”

“Shoulders first, then legs.”

When it comes to filling meridians, there is no set order. You can either fill the meridian in your legs, and become faster as the result, in the belly, and become more durable, or in the shoulders, and gain more striking power. Of course, it doesn’t work like that for everyone; a martial artist who specializes in using legs will fill the leg’s meridian first while hands will have less meaning to him.

In addition, this limited range was only for someone with three meridians. Xin had six, so he also could open his spine, eyes and ears meridians.

“Hum, not so bad, brat. I expected worse. The legs will support your mobility while hands will increase the power of your attacks. That style is for swift but deadly assaults. Either for one such or for many in case of a prolonged battle. In that case, you will also have to evade a lot. I like that style, and sabre as a weapon is also suitable for that. I was afraid you will be some brut who strikes hard and relies on defense mostly. The wrongest way to use saber!”

Seems like that was a painful topic for the old man. Xin started wondering, whether that old sabre-fanatic will scold or praise him if told that Xin opened his shoulders’ meridian to bury a dead sabre and not because of some elaborate plan.

“Next I would recommend you to go for the eyes and then the spine. Also, considering the circumstances, I think you should do the Lock.”

Hearing the last word Xin’s expression suddenly changed. The Lock is a connection between Meridians, an unmentioned stage, in a way. When someone with Three Meridians fills the last, he also has to spend some time to unite his meridians into a connected system. Join them. That way his power increases and he may even fight against someone on a higher stage. And that technique is also available for people with Six and Nine Meridians. They too can connect their meridians at the Sixth and Ninth Stages correspondingly.

The further the lock, the more power it gives. Someone with Six Locked Meridians can fight against someone with Nine Meridians, and someone with Nine Locked Meridians is just a hair away from rivaling a particularly weak Inner Sea Realm warrior.

Some people with no hope do it even if they have Six Meridians. However, what about Xin?

“…”

The boy calmed down and began to think. Previously he was sure he will enter the Inner Sea, however, why? Usually, only about Forty percent of those with Six Meridians are able to open their Inner Sea. And most of them have both clan’s support and Elemental qi. Out of Elementless and poor, the percent is no higher than ten.

His chances are small. Should he really aim for the Lock?

“What are you thinking about brat, do you have problems with what I said?” The old man started losing his calm.

“Yes.” Said the boy looking straight into his black old eyes.

“I won’t do the Lock.”

His words sounded even more calm and resolute then he expected.

“Good.” Suddenly, the old man’s expression turned to smile. Xin gave him a suspicious look.

“I was just testing you brat, Ha-ha, wanted to see if you have guts and ambitions. People with no ambitions don’t deserve that sabre!”

“I see.” Xin calmly nodded.

“Thanks.” He said sincerely.

This question was indeed hard, however, there was no other possible answer. No matter how hard it is for him now and how bleak the future seems, he still can’t refuse his dream of being a great warrior. It diminished a bit after all that has happened, so now his main priority was to survive and cure his sickness, but it hasn’t vanished for good.

Even if it was risky and dangerous, he still refused to be set for mediocrity.

The boy shook his head.

He felt strange; as if some shackles were surrounding him before, and now, once again, he could breathe with his full lungs.

“Thanks.” He said one more time.

“What are you thanking me for, brat. It was a test. And stop looking like that, your lesson is still going on.” The old man seemed strangely embarrassed.

“Let’s go for the next topic, what’s your Qi.”

As if a bucket of cold water was poured over the boy’s excited spirit. The strange lofty sensation immediately vanished. Right, dreaming is fun but the reality isn’t dreams.

“Elementless” He whispered.

“I take my words back; you should go for the Lock.”

“”

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