CH7 Price of Power: Methods Acquired
***
Leo's eyes widened in shock. He first thought the Martial Sovereign had cursed him, but he felt the goodwill from the imprint.
He realised that he had actually been helped.
The increased cost of using the Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual already meant he would have to eat a lot to supply the nutrition required for the technique. All the curse of gluttony did was make it more efficient.
The technique might be useless to most people, but to him, it was a godsend.
*
[The Grand Space Pirate King's Eternal Mind Codex.]
[Price: 1. Sacrifice of Self – The User will have his emotions suppressed, making him cold and rational.
2. User will have his emotion of love permanently suppressed!]
-
[Interference from the Imprint of the Grand Space Pirate King detected!]
[New template added to the Eternal Mind Codex!]
[New template will take effect after User survives the Fated Misfortune Event.]
*
Leo didn't mind the suppression of his emotion of love as he thought he would.
He felt it was a fair price to pay for power.
To a weak person, love was a luxury he couldn't have. Only with power would he be able to deliver any love he had.
Why couldn't he do anything when the Beasts and Hunters killed his foster parents? Why couldn't he protect Zora from the three Hunters?
Because he was weak!
A weak person had no right to love!
The boy ignored this price and focused on the other messages from the Arcane Sanctuary.
The boy failed to realise that the price of the Eternal Mind Codex had already taken effect.
His emotions were already suppressed, making him cold and rational.
*
[The demanded price has taken effect...]
[Payment confirmed!]
[Transferring requested knowledge.]
[Please note: Each method is divided into three volumes. By the instructions of the Martial Sovereign and the Grand Space Pirate King, each Volume shall be transmitted individually after the previous volume has been completed.]
[Transferring...]
-
[Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual.]
[Volume 1: Mortal Foundation (Levels 1-3)]
[Remark: "A strong tree needs deep roots. A warrior needs an unbreakable body."]
[Goal: To establish a superior mortal physique capable of enduring extreme training. This volume is about sheer endurance and resilience, forging bones, muscles, and organs to handle more advanced tempering.]
[Training Methods:
1. Iron-Body Conditioning: Daily impact training exercises to toughen bones and flesh.
2. Endurance Drills: Constant physical stress to push the mortal body to the absolute limit of stamina and heart capacity.
3. Breath Control & Energy Circulation: Exercises to regulate oxygen and blood flow to minimalise energy loss during intense exertions and raise familiarity with moving Physical/ Life Energy]
[Nutritional Requirements: At least 10x a normal human's diet. High-protein meats and diets rich in energy.
[Low-grade bone-hardening and basic muscle-tempering decoctions, medical baths and pills may be used to strengthen skeletal structure, accelerate recovery and reinforce tendons.]
[Completion Benefit: The body will surpass normal human limits. A person at this level is equal to a low-tier awakened martial artist. They will be able to rudimentarily move Life/Physical Energy consciously.]
-
[Eternal Mind Codex]
[Volume 1: Awakening the Inner Mind (Levels 1-3) ]
[Remark: "A calm mind sees reality as it is. Make the Mind Sea a reality, with focused mind shape, reality as one wishes."]
[Goal: To strengthen the mind's foundation by increasing focus, clarity, and resistance to external influences. This level awakens latent mental energy, sharpening perception and granting an intuitive grasp of the mind's hidden potential.]
[Cultivation Methods:
1. Deep Visualization Training: Imagining and constructing a mental fortress to cultivate a calm, disciplined consciousness that strengthens the mind's memory, control over thought processes, and resists external influences and mental intrusions.
2. Energy Absorption Techniques: Draw ambient mental/soul energy from the environment to refine the Mind Sea.]
[Resources: 1. Ambient Absorption- Slowly gathering free-floating soul/mental energy from the surroundings.
2. Supplements: Mental clarity-enhancing herbs, Calming Incense to aid focus.]
[Optional Resource: Absorption of Scoured Mental Energy (from slain beings) to rapidly increase strength—risking mental corruption, split personalities, or insanity.]
[Completion Benefit: The mind expands beyond human limits, allowing the cultivator to manipulate mental energy consciously. The cultivator's mind becomes sharper, faster, and more resistant to external influence, laying the groundwork for deeper mental cultivation.]
-
[Transfer Complete...]
*
Leo opened his eyes after receiving the information on the methods in his mind.
He knew the information intuitively. He could also still recall how the particular levels of the Volume were trained by its creators.
He had everything he needed to practice both methods without needing to fumble around.
However, in the depths of his mind and memory, he felt an obstruction that prevented him from writing the methods down or even attempting to share them.
Nonetheless, Leo bowed towards the silhouettes of the previous users of the Arcane Sanctuary. Their true selves may be long dead now, but the knowledge they left behind has opened a new door of possibilities for the young boy who has seen more than someone his age should.
"Your world may think it does you harm by limiting your progress to one level until you are fifteen, however, it is wrong. So very wrong. The first volume of our methods builds the foundation for the future. And the first level is the most important foundation of them all.
"You may not see the results immediately but the longer you persevere, the sturdier your foundation. Master the strongest foundation you can muster using the very restrictions imposed by your world and you may reach our level yet!" Leo heard the warm voice of the Martial Sovereign.
He nodded and accepted the advice gratefully.
"From now on, you are no longer the victim or prey. You are a growing predator. Sharpen your claws and your wits in times unseen, and no prey shall escape your grasp. Never forget, everything is now your sustenance to grow. The question is, how far are you willing to go..." The Grand Space Pirate King's cold voice and crazed (evil) laughter sounded.
Leo looked beyond the malice and craziness for the wisdom in his words and embraced them fully.
-
The white space suddenly disappeared and Leo found himself somewhere dark. His body felt heavy.
'Huh? Heavy? I am awake!' Leo realised his consciousness had returned to his body.
[Reminder: The User should unlock the Sanctuary Space as soon as possible to enjoy the full capabilities of the Sanctuary.]
The Arcane Sanctuary's message flashed in his mind as the boy opened his eyes.
Soft and warm sunlight cascaded onto Leo's face as he acclimatised to the bright light.
He instinctively took a deep breath according to the methods of the Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual.
The air had never felt so fresh and clean.
It was then he realised why his body felt so heavy. The little girl Zora was sleeping on the bed with him.
(To be continued...)