Chapter 3: Tough Guy
by Deza
15:23,Feb 18,2024
Frank looked around and saw that it was indeed a small courtyard, only about 65 square meters in size, with a spirit fruit tree planted in the center after stepping out of the room.
Besides the young boy named Hank stood an elderly man.
The three of them sat around a small stone table. A large bird perched nearby, eyeing the food on the table eagerly. In the world of cultivators, such a bird was known as a spirit beast and was commonly used as a mode of transport.
During their conversation, Frank learned that the elderly man who saved him last night was named Adolf Zimmerman. He had been expelled from the sect for making a mistake, resulting in the loss of his cultivation and being demoted to live almost at the foot of Spirit Mountain of the Alps Sect.
"Here, Eagle, this piece is for you." Hank tossed a piece of jerky he had been reluctant to eat to the giant bird and affectionately patted its big head, treating it as if it were family.
Adolf smiled warmly and looked at Frank. "Young man, I assume you're also a cultivator?"
Frank, who was wolfing down his food, hurriedly set his bowl and chopsticks aside when he heard Adolf's question and nodded with a smile.
"Which sect are you from?"
"Sir, I belong to no sect, I'm just a wandering cultivator."
"That's truly a pity." Adolf sighed lightly. "A young person in their prime should join a cultivation sect. After all, in a sect, you'd have access to resources that support cultivation, rather than being only at the 1st Level of Energy Condensation at your age."
"You're right, sir." Frank smiled again, keeping his past concealed. Of course, now that he could cultivate again, he would seek out a sect.
What Adolf said made sense. It was not only unsafe to be a wandering cultivator but also extremely difficult to obtain cultivation resources. As a sect disciple, at least there would be a sect to rely on and a guaranteed supply of resources.
Seeing Frank in thought, Adolf smiled kindly. "Young man, would you be interested in becoming a disciple of the Alps Sect?"
"Of course, I would be interested," Frank replied eagerly with a smile.
This was exactly what he had in mind. Alps Sect was no less powerful than Sunrise Sect, and given that he had nowhere else to go, it was the best choice to join Alps Sect.
In fact, he was feeling driven at the moment. He had been one of the best in the Sunrise Sect, and he believed that with the help of the True Fire, he could make a name for himself in the Alps Sect soon enough.
"Sir, is it difficult to join the Alps Sect?" Frank asked Adolf.
"Don't worry. I'll write a letter of introduction, which should at least allow you to join as a probationary disciple."
"A letter of introduction?" Frank mused. He sized up the old man once again. Although Adolf was unable to cultivate, he was not as simple as he seemed.
Bang!
Just then, the gate of the small courtyard was kicked open, and a young man in white strode in.
"Well, eating, are we?" The young man in white sneered.
"Jim, what are you doing?" Hank stood up immediately, glaring at the white-robed disciple. Adolf's expression darkened as well. Even the giant bird squawked angrily, spreading its wings to shield Hank.
Frank glanced at Jim, noticing that he was an Alps Sect disciple, as evidenced by the "Alps Sect" characters on his robe. He also discerned that Jim's cultivation was at the 2nd Level of Energy Condensation.
"Hmph!" With a cold snort, Jim turned his gaze toward Adolf. "Old man, hand it over, or don't blame me for being ruthless."
"I don't have what you want." Adolf's aged face paled after inhaling deeply.
"What an ungrateful old man!" Jim kicked the table over, looking all ferocious.
Caw!
Caw!
The giant bird flapped its wings and charged forward. Though it was a low-level spirit beast, it had considerable intelligence. There was a human-like anger in its big eyes.
"Go to hell!" Jim's eyes grew cold as he gathered his true energy into a blade and slashed, leaving a bloody gash on the bird's body.
The bird collapsed, blood spurting from its wound.
"Eagle!" Hank rushed over.
Caw!
Caw!
The bird chirped weakly, and despite its condition, it used its large wings to shield Hank.
"You ungrateful disciple!" Adolf pointed a trembling finger at Jim, his face turning pale with anger.
"Hand it over, or don't blame me for…" Jim took another step forward, but before he could finish his sentence, Frank slapped him forcefully.
Slap!
The crisp sound echoed loudly.
Jim was stunned. Before he could react, he felt his arm being yanked hard by Frank, causing him to lose his balance. The next moment, he was lifted off his feet and slammed into the ground.
Boom!
With a resounding thud, Jim, who had just been so arrogant, was thrown onto the ground, leaving a human-shaped imprint.
Pffft!
Jim vomited a mouthful of blood as he felt his internal organs shift from the impact.
Adolf was dumbfounded, while Hank unconsciously swallowed hard. Jim, who was at the 2nd Level of Energy Condensation, had been taken down in one move by Frank.
Of course, Frank's attack had been sneak, but his strength was impressive, nonetheless.
They were unaware that Frank had an Elixir Sea.
In terms of true energy, even though both were at the 1st Level of Energy Condensation, Frank's Elixir Sea provided him with three times the amount of true energy. This meant that even though his cultivation was at the Level of Energy Condensation, he was comparable to a cultivator in the 3rd Level of Energy Condensation.
"Remember, God is watching what you do; cultivate some virtue for yourself." After saying this, Frank hurled the bloodied Jim out of the small courtyard.
That night, Frank channeled his true energy into Eagle, managing to save its life, though it would be a long time before the loyal spirit beast would be able to fly again.
"Thank you so much for today." Adolf sat on the stone steps, looking significantly more aged. The betrayal of his disciple caused deep sorrow for the gentle old man.
"Don't mention it, sir. It was nothing." Frank smiled.
Adolf let out a sigh, his eyes filled with sorrow as he seemed to recall a painful past. "I was once an elder of the Alps Sect, but because of a grave mistake, I was demoted to this small courtyard. Jim was once my disciple. It's all my fault for failing to teach him properly."
"Masters lead the way, but cultivation depends on the individual," Frank comforted, "You don't need to blame yourself, sir. It's just his character."
"He just wants Grandpa's Spirit Mantra." Hank clenched his fists in anger. "Over the years, he's taken everything Grandpa has accumulated and constantly bullies us."
"The Spirit Mantra?"
Frank wasn't unfamiliar with this name. The Alps Sect had a weapon known as the Spirit Mantra, which could temporarily seal a person's true energy upon contact. It was famous throughout the three sects.
The mantra was incredibly valuable and never shared outside the sect. Frank hadn't expected that Adolf, a cultivator only at the 3rd Level of Energy Condensation, would possess such a valuable asset.
"Frank, I have already written the letter of recommendation for you. Tomorrow, go up the mountain and begin your training! Don't let a talent such as yours go to shame." While Frank was lost in thought, Adolf handed him a letter.
"Thank you, sir."
Besides the young boy named Hank stood an elderly man.
The three of them sat around a small stone table. A large bird perched nearby, eyeing the food on the table eagerly. In the world of cultivators, such a bird was known as a spirit beast and was commonly used as a mode of transport.
During their conversation, Frank learned that the elderly man who saved him last night was named Adolf Zimmerman. He had been expelled from the sect for making a mistake, resulting in the loss of his cultivation and being demoted to live almost at the foot of Spirit Mountain of the Alps Sect.
"Here, Eagle, this piece is for you." Hank tossed a piece of jerky he had been reluctant to eat to the giant bird and affectionately patted its big head, treating it as if it were family.
Adolf smiled warmly and looked at Frank. "Young man, I assume you're also a cultivator?"
Frank, who was wolfing down his food, hurriedly set his bowl and chopsticks aside when he heard Adolf's question and nodded with a smile.
"Which sect are you from?"
"Sir, I belong to no sect, I'm just a wandering cultivator."
"That's truly a pity." Adolf sighed lightly. "A young person in their prime should join a cultivation sect. After all, in a sect, you'd have access to resources that support cultivation, rather than being only at the 1st Level of Energy Condensation at your age."
"You're right, sir." Frank smiled again, keeping his past concealed. Of course, now that he could cultivate again, he would seek out a sect.
What Adolf said made sense. It was not only unsafe to be a wandering cultivator but also extremely difficult to obtain cultivation resources. As a sect disciple, at least there would be a sect to rely on and a guaranteed supply of resources.
Seeing Frank in thought, Adolf smiled kindly. "Young man, would you be interested in becoming a disciple of the Alps Sect?"
"Of course, I would be interested," Frank replied eagerly with a smile.
This was exactly what he had in mind. Alps Sect was no less powerful than Sunrise Sect, and given that he had nowhere else to go, it was the best choice to join Alps Sect.
In fact, he was feeling driven at the moment. He had been one of the best in the Sunrise Sect, and he believed that with the help of the True Fire, he could make a name for himself in the Alps Sect soon enough.
"Sir, is it difficult to join the Alps Sect?" Frank asked Adolf.
"Don't worry. I'll write a letter of introduction, which should at least allow you to join as a probationary disciple."
"A letter of introduction?" Frank mused. He sized up the old man once again. Although Adolf was unable to cultivate, he was not as simple as he seemed.
Bang!
Just then, the gate of the small courtyard was kicked open, and a young man in white strode in.
"Well, eating, are we?" The young man in white sneered.
"Jim, what are you doing?" Hank stood up immediately, glaring at the white-robed disciple. Adolf's expression darkened as well. Even the giant bird squawked angrily, spreading its wings to shield Hank.
Frank glanced at Jim, noticing that he was an Alps Sect disciple, as evidenced by the "Alps Sect" characters on his robe. He also discerned that Jim's cultivation was at the 2nd Level of Energy Condensation.
"Hmph!" With a cold snort, Jim turned his gaze toward Adolf. "Old man, hand it over, or don't blame me for being ruthless."
"I don't have what you want." Adolf's aged face paled after inhaling deeply.
"What an ungrateful old man!" Jim kicked the table over, looking all ferocious.
Caw!
Caw!
The giant bird flapped its wings and charged forward. Though it was a low-level spirit beast, it had considerable intelligence. There was a human-like anger in its big eyes.
"Go to hell!" Jim's eyes grew cold as he gathered his true energy into a blade and slashed, leaving a bloody gash on the bird's body.
The bird collapsed, blood spurting from its wound.
"Eagle!" Hank rushed over.
Caw!
Caw!
The bird chirped weakly, and despite its condition, it used its large wings to shield Hank.
"You ungrateful disciple!" Adolf pointed a trembling finger at Jim, his face turning pale with anger.
"Hand it over, or don't blame me for…" Jim took another step forward, but before he could finish his sentence, Frank slapped him forcefully.
Slap!
The crisp sound echoed loudly.
Jim was stunned. Before he could react, he felt his arm being yanked hard by Frank, causing him to lose his balance. The next moment, he was lifted off his feet and slammed into the ground.
Boom!
With a resounding thud, Jim, who had just been so arrogant, was thrown onto the ground, leaving a human-shaped imprint.
Pffft!
Jim vomited a mouthful of blood as he felt his internal organs shift from the impact.
Adolf was dumbfounded, while Hank unconsciously swallowed hard. Jim, who was at the 2nd Level of Energy Condensation, had been taken down in one move by Frank.
Of course, Frank's attack had been sneak, but his strength was impressive, nonetheless.
They were unaware that Frank had an Elixir Sea.
In terms of true energy, even though both were at the 1st Level of Energy Condensation, Frank's Elixir Sea provided him with three times the amount of true energy. This meant that even though his cultivation was at the Level of Energy Condensation, he was comparable to a cultivator in the 3rd Level of Energy Condensation.
"Remember, God is watching what you do; cultivate some virtue for yourself." After saying this, Frank hurled the bloodied Jim out of the small courtyard.
That night, Frank channeled his true energy into Eagle, managing to save its life, though it would be a long time before the loyal spirit beast would be able to fly again.
"Thank you so much for today." Adolf sat on the stone steps, looking significantly more aged. The betrayal of his disciple caused deep sorrow for the gentle old man.
"Don't mention it, sir. It was nothing." Frank smiled.
Adolf let out a sigh, his eyes filled with sorrow as he seemed to recall a painful past. "I was once an elder of the Alps Sect, but because of a grave mistake, I was demoted to this small courtyard. Jim was once my disciple. It's all my fault for failing to teach him properly."
"Masters lead the way, but cultivation depends on the individual," Frank comforted, "You don't need to blame yourself, sir. It's just his character."
"He just wants Grandpa's Spirit Mantra." Hank clenched his fists in anger. "Over the years, he's taken everything Grandpa has accumulated and constantly bullies us."
"The Spirit Mantra?"
Frank wasn't unfamiliar with this name. The Alps Sect had a weapon known as the Spirit Mantra, which could temporarily seal a person's true energy upon contact. It was famous throughout the three sects.
The mantra was incredibly valuable and never shared outside the sect. Frank hadn't expected that Adolf, a cultivator only at the 3rd Level of Energy Condensation, would possess such a valuable asset.
"Frank, I have already written the letter of recommendation for you. Tomorrow, go up the mountain and begin your training! Don't let a talent such as yours go to shame." While Frank was lost in thought, Adolf handed him a letter.
"Thank you, sir."
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