Best the end of the day just before everyone retired for sleep, Hou called for Hamar and he brought Hafar with him.
"I have to say this boy ain't half bad, he's not that smart but he has a thing for the sword" Hamar came in with Hafar to Hou's tent and talked about his protege.
"You've really taken a liking for him, I saw you were teaching him earlier"
"Yes sir, I taught him the basic swordsmanship stance and fighting. He's not got it all memorised just yet, and it ain't even close to 'good' but he can put what he knows together in a real fight"
"Well I've actually got an offer for you, I recently gained a new ability is like to offer to you especially, and some strength abilities, I'll give it for all your points"
"Well I'm sure you wouldn't cheat me out of stuff, I'll take it, but I'll give the strengthening to my protege here" Hamar put his hands on Hamar's shoulders.
"No need for that, for him joining in the fighting I'll give him his own for free" Hou brought the abilities to his attention, they were all stored in his inner world, not visible but there.
'if I teach them some basic blood control, maybe they could move the blood formation to where they need strength at that time.'
Hou used some blood he filled with will and tried to simply push and pull the blood formation and as long as Hou didn't anchor it, it could move!
'Master is it okay to teach very basic blood control to other, no formations just moving the blood'
'...yes it is fine that is basic knowledge, the formations are where the power comes from, those should be kept secret.'
Hou nodded and looked up at Hamar and Hafar.
"Sit down, sit down, let me teach you both a skill."
Hou sat cross-legged to show the two what to do, and hesitantly they followed. They both sat down and Hou moved behind them, placing a hand on both of their backs.
"Let me tell you both something, try to move but just before you do, stop yourself. What happens is your soul creates a will, which is turned into thoughts and actions in the body. What I want you two to do is sense that will. Look inwards and when you can sense that will, you may come back and I will teach you a skill. I will let you try for a hour, and if you don't sense it, don't worry and continue in your own time."
Hou started a mental timer and watched as Hamar and Hafar both sat still, twitching at times. After an hour, Hou woke them up gently and asked if either sensed their will. They both shook their heads disappointed.
"Don't worry, take your time. Now let's delay your powers for tomorrow, at sunrise come to my tent and wake for me to let you in. I'll give you each your abilities, teach you about them and maybe help you sense your wills."
"Thank you, I will sir!" Hafar enthusiastically answered and Hamar simply nodded.
The two turned around and left to their own tents, they would both take another few hours to try to sense their wills to no avail before sleeping.
Hou sat down himself and turned inwards,
"Master can you do the lesson today, and maybe help me teach Hamar and Hafar tomorrow"
"Yes it is no problem, we shall do a short lesson and then I'll tell you a way to make them sense their wills faster."
For the next few hours, Hou and Yue talked as Yue was crafting a formation explaining the spirits involved and how the formation can communicate and also help the spirit go past the dao restrictions.
Then Yue finished his lesson and started to explain a method to help Hamar and Hafar,
"Try using that paralytic poison from the blood fog, the way it works is by pushing will inwards, it might help if they train to sense it while using the diluted poison"
"I see like training with heavy weights"
"Yes exactly as so, now go to sleep, be ready for tomorrow"
Hou went to sleep and awoken before the sunrise. He waited in his tent focusing on absorbing different qi until he sensed that Hamar and Hafar were both outside of his tent.
"Come in both of you"
The two walked in and stood ready to receive their powers.
"I've got two strength abilities for each of you, do you want on legs or arms?"
"Legs for me, this new arm is good enough for me"
"Arms for me"
Hou nodded and instantly he gave both people their respective powers.
"And now, I have the special ability for you Hamar. Take this in your palm, it should create a sword made of qi, perhaps if you use a sword it will only create an edge of qi, using less qi."
"But sir, what is qi?"
"Ah yes I forgot to explain, miasma and sunlight, those are both qi, just think of it as what let's you use your abilities."
"Okay, that sounds perfect for me, I ought to thank you for keeping it for me."
Hou transferred the ability, leaving behind a small triangular blood spot on Hamar's palm.
Hamar activated it and a light in the shape of a sword shot out, he grasped it and swung, creating a slash that went through the air. He then deactivated it and pulled out his real sword, activating it again. This time the sword started to shake but the edge became a glowing light, until the sword exploded.
Hou looked at this and remembered the praying mantis,
"Hamar, sorry for your sword breaking but try asking for that praying mantis to be made into a sword, I think it should withstand the qi better. Free of charge of course. It also seems like you can only maintain it for 10 minutes consistently, everyday come to me for a refill and you can also bring Hafar and I'll help with your will sensing. I've gotten a way to help you, sit down I'll show it"