BTTH : Wandering Soul

It was dawn, the serene time just before sunrise. The horizon was painted in mesmerizing shades of orange, casting a tranquil beauty across the sky. In this tranquil environment one could see a young boy running through the narrow mountain path. This young man was Xiao Yan, following his usual routine. 

In this time barely anyone was outside. Even if anyone woke up so early they'd often cultivate in their room. So xiao yan was the only person in the courtyard, as he entered his room. His exhausted body soon adjusted to a tranquil state. And his room filled with nothing but small barely visible dou qi fluctuations. He continued this until the sun had risen high in the sky, nearing the peak of midday. after that he a bath and a meal.

Meal was the only time he was free. So he'd often spend it with Xun'er. In some ways it was the highlight of xiao yan's day. It was the time he'd enjoy the most. And no matter how bad his mood was, after seeing her he'd forget all about it. And maybe he'd endured all these just because of her, he sometimes thought. 

After this blissful time he'd go to lake behind xiao clan, in the mountains. with bare upper body, he would train with this heavy sword. He didn't practice any techniques, just raw physical training. At first he had hard time, but soon he adjusted to it and used its heavy weight in his favor. He could now use it freely.

As for the heavy sword, In anticipation that he'd use heavy ruler in future, as seen in his visions, he had picked an extremely it from the clan. As it was just heavy sword and not even worth anything due to its disadvantage of being heavy and no advantage at all. So no one said anything when he took it, other than some 'not so good' comments. He'd even started using it during his physical body exercises. He had started running with it on back.

After accumulating the intense heat in his body, he'd stop and do his concentration and memory exercises in intense noon sun heat. After doing this most of the afternoon, he'd immerse himself in lake to use it's Soothing effect. Although there was no medicinal ingredient present, it still helped a lot. He only used medicinal ingredient occasionally. There were two reasons for that. First being that these ingredients even most common ones, were not cheap. And second being that he didn't want to use them unless it was serious injury, as this pain helped in his body tampering.

After that he was going towards clan, when he suddenly saw a medicinal ingredient that caught his eyes. He went closer and soon saw that it was A delicate fern with deep green fronds, healing green fern. It was one of the most common medicinal ingredient, used in 2nd tier medicinal pills. Although it was common, its value was not low. Delighted, Xiao Yan was about to take it when someone took it in front of him. Xiao Yan's mood instantly soured. 

Without saying a word Xiao Yan launched head on punch to the newly arrived young boy. He instantly blocked Xiao Yan's attack. Although he used dou qi to strengthen himself he couldn't completely withstand the head on punch and was forced to retreat few steps before stopping. The newcomer's smug look changed to grim expression after feeling the painful impact. He was fully aware that Xiao Yan had lost his cultivation talent and was only at Dou Zhi Li 3rd stage. Despite him being at 6th stage the impact of the punch had sent him few steps backward. He couldn't accept that someone with such low cultivation could make him retreat and if this were to get out he'd become a laughing stock.

Although initially he only meant to injure Xiao Yan, now he was going to teach him a lesson. Only two people were present there, and no one would come here. So he decided to go all out. Even if Xiao Yan'd father was clan head, with his grandfather being elder and Xiao Yan's cultivation stagnated, he was confident he'd suffer no consequences. So without waiting he used dou qi to strengthen his body and launched himself at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan was clearly at a disadvantage. Despite using all his strength, he still fell short against his opponent, who was at the 6th stage of Dou Zhi Li. After a brief confrontation, Xiao Yan was knocked to the ground. Though his opponent had disheveled hair and showed no visible injuries, he clearly felt the effects of the fight. With a bitter expression, the opponent quickly fled the scene, clearly in pain.

After a few breadth of time, Xiao Yan got up with satisfied expression. He had wanted such fight and he now got it. He prepared his clothes and hair and went to his room hurriedly. Used one of the medicinal ingedient into the bath and got into it naked. Started culrivating, under this soothing effect of herb as well as effects of body tampering he felt for the first time that he could collect the refined dou qi, at least some of it. But as soon as the feeling came, the dou qi vanished just like before. But he didn't dwell on it and continuing cultivating.

This incident had shown that although he couldn't confront Dou Zhi Li 6th stage, he had confidence that he could hold his own against Dou Zhi Li 5th stage, at least for a few rounds. And this also confirmed his theory that body tampering through life and death battle was most effective for him. He had doubts that he may have sme sort of special physique, maybe not as good as woeful poison body. Still something was better than nothing, he thought. But he had no way to confirm his theory.

And this is what led to his decision to leave the clan. His plan was to join a mercenary band. Only then could he experience life and death battles more frequently. With this resolve, he decided to tell his father after a few days of recovering from his injuries.