33 REVEALING INFORMATION, KEEPING SECRETS (1/2)
”Because I... I... I...” Cheng Hao took his hand out of the pouch and placed it on Xiao Wu's: it was... empty! It was actually empty! Cheng Hao could barely speak as his eyes teared-up from the laughter, ”Oh! What bad luck! I actually don't have it here!”
”Gah, you cheater!” Xiao Wu felt her face flush red as she had just been fooled into grasping for empty air!
”Ahah…” Cheng Hao laughed at his sister's display of the most aghast of expressions, as all her expectations came crashing down.
Witnessing the girl's furious pout, finally, Cheng Hao waved his hand in apology, ”Sorry, sorry, let me add something to that statement: I don't have it here... yet! Just wait a while longer! I believe I found a way to get my hands on a manual in a ruin I explored a while back. I'll leave in a few days, as soon as I have also passed you down a few things and prepared some stuff!”
Xiao Wu ”...”
”Hey! It's not like I'm a walking dispenser of Heavenly Techniques! At least, not ones pertaining to Aura, which is based on one's innate potential for it, which Xu Ling did not have! I never bothered researching that, nor were there any manuals on it written down back in the Tower of Babel, so cut me some slack sis! I can't possibly remember what I never learned in the first place, after all! Come on! Don't give me the cold shoulder because of a joke... Speak up!”
The emerald-eyed girl had turned silent.
”... incredible...” Xiao Wu finally managed to mutter dejectedly.
”Uh? 'Incredible'?” Cheng Hao furrowed his brows, ”What is?”
”I said that you are incredible!” the girl repeated, smiling grimly, ”You know so much and are also so dependable! You are talented, knowledgeable... strong! And yet, here I am, acting as a burden to you and your heaven-defying talent, putting a stopper to your rise! I-I...” Xiao Wu began shedding silent tears under the shocked eyes of a young boy and a golden snake.
The youth was stunned. He did not know how to react to that. He was a scholar. He knew countless things, but the answer to a question pertaining feelings, which could not be found in books, was not among them. Plus, when ever in his life had he ever cared discussing things with an eight-year-old? It was a first for him!
Fortunately, at such a dangerous time, Goldy came to the rescue! He slithered up to the girl's shoulder and began rubbing his tail against her cheeks comfortingly, as if he were gently caressing her. ”Burden? Why do you think your 'big brother' here would be helping you so much, if not for profit? Your talent is roughly on par with him, plus, having a Martial Way wielder by his side, one that could even craft a basically infinite amount of them through Aura Manipulation, why wouldn't he want to keep you by his side?”
After a while, Goldy even added with a 'whisper', ”Technically speaking, you are much more of a firm grappling hook than a burden! So shut up and swim in the treasures this idiot will have to keep drowning you in in order to keep you as a sister! I'd even suggest demanding a raise every now and then... just be sure to share it with me too!” The 'whisper' of course, had been clearly heard by both Xiao Wu... and Cheng Hao.
”Shut up, you bastard snake! I'm already pretty broke as it is!” the golden-eyed boy laughed. ”Alright... Ahem, let's finish up by changing subjects: why did we bother forming a Pseudo-Core? After all, after, while normally the fact that you get an understanding on how a true core formation works might already satisfy most people, it would not be enough for geniuses like us!”
”Ok, firstly, the Pseudo-Core will remain there even after the real Core is formed, and at that time, it will keep accumulating the impure Qi and excess Spiritual Energy expelled by your real Core. Now, since it will keep accumulating energy that is not pure, it won't hold as much power as the real deal at first... but the difference is that while the true Core must be kept safe at all costs, the Pseudo-Core can be detonated! This will give you a huge boost in power temporarily, as all the stored energy will suddenly burst out and replenish your strength!”
Cheng Hao cleared his voice and took a sip from a cup full of tea.
”Think of it: months and years of accumulated power that burst out in a single moment! This now of course won't be as drastic as blowing up the real Core; at least it won't injure you permanently. It will still leave some internal injuries, but your life and most of your cultivation will be kept intact, and you can just form another Pseudo-Core later... Unfortunately, although the Pseudo-Core can be rebuilt, the body can't hold more than one Pseudo-Core at the time and it gets harder to rebuild and longer to regenerate each time.”
A mouthful and the lecture resumed.
”Secondly, while the Core does not have the ability to, the Pseudo-Core can actually hold inside it objects that are made of Qi, Spiritual Energy or Aura! Think of the Martial Way in your Pseudo-Core; not only can it house them, it even needs a Martial Way to be inside it at all times when it is rotated, or else the energy would burst outwards, having nothing to pull it inwards. Still, although we might sacrifice our ability to use the true body of the Martial Way in battle until we reach the Advanced stage, where we can finally rotate the true Cores instead of the fake ones, until that time, that fictitious Core can still demonstrate a cultivation base approaching the might of the real Advanced stage! Also, Martial Ways are precious treasures that many cultivators would thirst after... Keeping them hidden in a Heaven&Earth Pouch would not be enough to hide them from those truly powerful. Our Pseudo-Cores, on the other hand, are basically impregnable to Will! That is why, until the day we grow powerful enough, our Pseudo-Cores will remain extremely important and great gifts to us...”
Cheng Hao stopped talking and took another sip from the cup.
”Finally, to know the third reason I effectively sealed you Martial Way into your Core, extend your palm. Good. Now, picture your Martial Way on your hand. Picture it coming out of the Pseudo-Core, and then appearing on your hand! Try it!”
Xiao Wu extended her left hand and did as she was told. The purple moon came out but, although she kept imagining the other two beings, the white tree and the black dragon, appearing above her palm, she couldn't do it at all. She lifted her head and threw a questioning glance at Cheng Hao. He simply smiled and gave a thumbs up, pointing at her other palm.