Chapter 14 - Still a Trash (1/2)
Chapter 14 Still a Trash.
Ancient Strengthening Technique: Chapter 14 – Still a Trash
The first stage only required one to be fast, and as fast as possible; to the absolute limits of speed; fast to the stage where one could produce after-images. The Ghostly Step required knowledge of the 9 Directional, 8 Trigram Calculations and the Mystical Gates to confuse opponents, making it easier for Qing Shui to escape. If one wanted to cultivate the Ghostly Step to its absolute pinnacle, one must incorporate the knowledge from the calculations and use it together with the techniques from the Ghostly Steps.
Time flew by, just like a white steed flitting passed a gap, and 5 years had elapsed. Qing Shui was now 15 years old, and his body grew taller and stronger. There were hints of coldness in his beautiful eyes, disregarding the whole world as if nothing was worthy of his attention!
Once again, Qing Shui held the label of trash. The only thing different from the past, was that he could progress no further after breaking through to the 3rd layered heavens of the Ancient Strengthening Technique!
Qing Shui was not negative, he faced everything with a calm perspective, disregarding how others viewed him. 2 years ago, he had already cultivated to the peak of the 3rd layered heavens of the Ancient Strengthening Technique. After that, no matter what he did or how he cultivated, he could progress no further.. Not only that, even his cultivation of the Blue Lotus Art was also similarly stuck at a bottleneck, at the peak of the 3rd level.
Through these 5 years, Qing Shui had suffered psychologically.Among the 3rd generation disciples, he had been the most dedicated when it came to cultivating. His expertise in the hidden weapons technique as well as the Solitary Rapid Fist had already soared to terrifying heights, with both reaching the large-success stage for both techniques.
Even for Ghostly Steps, Qing Shui had managed to cultivate it to the small-success stage. Although his expertise was only at the small success-stage, he had reached the stage of creating after-images, and could use it for advancing or retreating, and combining it with his hidden weapon techniques and Solitary Rapid Fist, this had allowed his might to soar to an unprecedented terrifying level
Currently in the Qing Clan, the eldest grandson Qing Zi had already managed to cultivate the Blue Lotus Art to the later phases of Martial Warrior, 7th Grade, almost reaching the peak of 7th Grade!
Qing You had already cultivated to the peak of Martial Warrior, 7th Grade and Qing Yang to the middle stages of Martial Warrior, 6th Grade. For the rest of the 3rd generation disciples who were aged 13-15 years old, most of them, including Qing Hu had reached the initial stages of Martial Warrior, 5th Grade.
In contrast, Qing Shui who was already 15 years old, had only managed to cultivate the Blue Lotus Art to the peak of Martial Warrior, 3rd Grade.
In the daily training sessions, Qing Shui could be considered one of the oldest 3rd generation disciples at the age of 15, and one of the weakest. Initially, at the daily training sessions, there were two 3rd generation disciples named Qing Hui and Qing Chuan whom were older than Qing Shui by 1 year and 2 year respectively. However, in the previous year and this year, the 2 of them had already managed to break through to the Martial Warrior, 6th Stage at the age of 16.
Martial Warrior, 6th Grade was a dividing point in the Qing Clan. Those who had cultivated to the Martial Warrior, 6th Grade and not exceeding the age of 16 had the hopes of the whole clan placed upon their shoulders. So in the Qing Clan, as long as one could reach the required level before the age of 16, their status in the Qing Clan would also undergo a change. Even if they wanted to summon rain and wind [1], the whole of Qing Clan would also be supportive. Furthermore, these geniuses would be the ones responsible for protecting the businesses of Qing Clan in the future. Only when the core members of the Qing Clan increases in number and power, their business partners would not be so daring to override them.
For those who had reached the Martial Warrior, 6th Grade after the age of 16, they would be sent out to the city, to take charge of the Qing Clan’s various businesses. Their cultivation base usually stagnates, as they could only cultivate during the lull periods. Most of the time, they would be too busy to cultivate.
Qing Shui was already 15 this year. If 1 more year passed, and he was still unable to breakthrough to Martial Warrior, 6th Grade, he would be sent out of the Qing Village.. Qing Shui knew that his Blue Lotus Art had long been integrated with the Ancient Strengthening Technique. Only when he had a breakthrough in the Ancient Strengthening Technique, would his Blue Lotus Art advanced. If someone wanted him to breakthrough to the 6th level of the Ancient Strengthening Technique in just a year of time, that person must have been either an idiot or was talking in his sleep. The probability of Qing Shui being sent out of the Qing Village was almost set in stone.
Although Qing Shui was the grandson of Qing Luo, because of his earlier constitution, Qing Shui had never seen the world outside before. In the past, he would suffered breathing problems and palpitation of his heart at the slightest hint of strenuous activity, if he were to stay on in Qing Clan after the age of 16, no one would have anything to say about it. Everyone understood the underlying fact that he was a trash that could not cultivate! But now, it was different, not only his constitution was better, his cultivation had even reached the peak of Martial Warrior, 3rd Grade. Sending Qing Shui out was only something to be expected.
“Forget it, I shouldn’t brood on this so much, maybe I should just join the expedition to head outside of the Qing Village, who knows I may unexpectedly have the opportunity to break through then.” Qing Shui sighed listlessly, shaking his head.