Over five hours had passed, and Adam was really tired of being stuck in this blob of metal.
He had been overruled by Elder Gu though, who wanted to take this chance to teach his people the new and refined abilities Adam had designed with the 'Metallurgy Art Techniques'. They were now tasked with removing the metal WITHOUT destroying the pattern within... And Adam was one of the few people in the Sect who wouldn't get burned by their attempts.
His attempt at getting emotional support from his friends fell through... Little Tianshi and Sister Quan had eventually (Almost instantly) discovered Rockette's existence and took her off to somewhere, happy that the Martial Spirit could be touched. And carried.
Which... wasn't normal. But they all seemed happy enough, and Adam was sealed in a large amount of iron, so whatever.
He looked down and to the left. "You need to fix the energy pattern in your left hand. That is why the heat isn't targeted and thin."
The woman nodded, and started another attempt at 'Heat Modification'. The simplified, easier to use version rather than his own skill... but using it was clearly not so simple for everyone as he had expected. Still, she was making good progress.
In other news, hitting Forth Order Warrior had a wonderful quality of life adjustment moment for Adam: Instead of spewing smoke and fire when talking, his throat just... ominously glowed bright blue. And... maybe made his teeth a bit sharper. But that was ignorable. Mostly.
He also traded in the ability to spew liquid fire! In return, he could now launch a blob of unnatural blue magma. THAT had almost been a disaster, but the various students of Elder Gu had managed to duck it easily enough as it wasn't exactly hurled at high speed or with a specific target. It wasn't even a conscious decision, they were just trained to dodge random attacks.
...After all that excitement though, Adam had just been growing ever more bored being stuck here.
Still, he felt he should be MORE annoyed than he actually felt. Somehow, being stuck unable to move or fidget... was a bit calming.
Maybe because of his closer connection with his Martial Spirit? Rocks tend to be pretty zen-like. Or he was into bondage. Either one or the other.
Anyway, the reason everyone initially knew he had advanced to Forth Order?
While he himself was distracted by his almost-problems and the pain, his body had uh... expelled energy during the process. And since only his head was exposed in the metal cup thing, that energy had no where to go but up.
So... massive pillar of blue fire.
Burned a hole right up through the roof, scared the hell out of the guards, and over the next hour or so brought out the curiosity of all the bystanders who eventually gathered to watch the 'Adam Chongsheng, Magical Torch' show. The heat was so powerful and directed that it was actively pulling some of the heat from the room in the process while shooting upwards, making the area strangely cold as blue fire surged into the heavens.
That energy wasn't lost either, after it flew up in the air high enough it spiraled back down and was cycled through Adam himself... which was also an impressive sight, or so he was told. It was, according to 'Research', an ad hoc method of energy purification: Using the extra waste powers to launch Blue energy upwards when it couldn't be converted directly into more fuel.
So uh... next barrier breakthrough, don't embed himself in raw metal.
He glanced left. "You cut through the metal five minutes ago, you are trying to melt my leg."
The guy jerked back. "SORRY! Oh god!"
Adam couldn't shrug. "Meh, I'm just glad you are making process. Just... melt further down? This is slightly frustrating."
~~~Broken Adventure~~~
Sister Tianshi hiccuped. "I... I grabbed the wrong glass."
Elder Gu snorted. "I should say, this is nothing but water!"
She... slid to the side. "N... no, I *hic*" Why was everything moving? Moving was hard, stay still everything. "I glass drank."
The older man blinked as the seven year old fell over, snoring loudly... and glanced back at his own cup. "Ah. We should have marked these to keep them separate."
Sister Quan was just... staring in shock. "Little Tianshi?"
"*hic*"
Elder Gu sighed. "Best send her to bed, I guess these experiments will have to be put on hold until she sobers up." Glancing at his notes, he frowned. "May be a few days, this stuff was strong."
Sister Quan had already started scanning the child. "...Her Cells are slowly processing the alcoholic content, so there is no health risk... but it will take a long time for this to work its way out of her body." She quickly worked an ability used to hydrate patients unable to drink liquids normally. "...I better keep her under observation though, I'm not sure how these drinks will affect her."
The older man waved her off with a sigh. "Take care of de lass, I shoulda gone outside to make my people hop to it hours ago. And after those advancements young Adam made to the 'Metallurgy Art Techniques', they be having even less of excuses."
He left the two drinking buddies to go ensure Adam's designs weren't getting disrespected. Not that he could blame his people, he himself was likely to spend most of the day practicing the new skills designed by the boy.
~~~Broken Adventure~~~
"FINALLY!"
With loud SNAPS Adam finally cracked free of his cage! Balancing on his shoulder, Rockette 'Dinged' in support!
MOVEMENT! GLORIOUS MOVEMENT!
He paused in his arm waving and hip thrusts when he heard an embarrassed squeak fill the quiet room.
Hands on his hips, he looked left... at the multiple blushing men and women.
And down.
Right, he had been nude when getting in the metal 'bath'.
This happened fairly often... He should probably just carry spare pants around in the future.
He nodded. "Right, who has some pants I can borrow?"
Adam tried to ignore the few women that seem disappointed, for he had THINGS TO DO!
~~~Broken Adventure~~~
Adam sagged into his chair. "I can't believe there is nothing for me to do."
Elder Gu was resting at his side. "Can't make more changes until we test the old stuff. These Formations can act oddly at the best of times... at least we got your people digging up the next Farm area while we wait for this one to progress."
He snorted. "It'll take them a week easy before I can even start gathering the old junk in the new area. And THIS farm area is operational! I did the math!"
Gu grumbled. "Sect rules, gotta wait for results. Trust me, this part of the process sucks for me too lad. Can't tell ya how often my experimental products have to wait for verification it won't drink blood or something."
Adam absently summoned Rockette and began tossing her in the air and catching her... she was easy enough to entertain. "I may end up cultivating further just to waste some time. Keep busy." 'Ding!'
The old man hummed. "Well... you got some time and nothing much planned. Why not learn how to use your 'Metallurgy Art Techniques' officially? Sharing a few tips or teaching a few lessons should keep you occupied I've no doubt."
Adam watched... literally herbs growing. Slowly. "Screw it, why not? Has to be better than this mind numbing process. Mind if I include little Tianshi? She's been experimenting using her Green energy flame to activate my metallurgy abilities, created some interesting plant based results."
The man's gaze turned toward the house. "Oh does it now?"
He nodded. "Some of the messy stuff that I removed to simplify the abilities previously forced users to only apply a specific type of energy... but the unrestricted versions of the skills I produced can accept any power type, even if the results can be unexpected. Should be fun."
Gu's face split into a grin. "Indeed."
...This should be fine, right?
~~~Broken Adventure~~~
Adam looked at the nearly asleep little girl. "Why is my Disciple drunk?"
Elder Gu was trying to whistle.
No. "I am... very serious. Why is my adorable, seven year old Disciple unable to stand straight?"
A bit of uncomfortable silence... Elder Gu sighed. "She may have drunk my cup instead of hers. It was an honest accident though!"
...The Drinking experiments? "That was two weeks ago." Hadn't she been cultivating!? Why hadn't anyone called him!?
He nodded. "It was strong stuff. Good thing Sister Quan was able to dilute the effects with water after, or she would still be asleep."
Adam blinked. "What? No really, I've seen children younger than her drink wine here with no issue." It was a major part of the culture!
He shrugged. "Stuff strong enough to get me, a Saint, tipsy is more than powerful enough to make a little girl pass out forever. Sister Quan said the only reason she isn't having worse consequences is because this was a normal wine, the enhancement was very compatible with her Cells, and her body was converted by your 'Gentle Rebirth Body Cultivation Technique'... otherwise it could have been quite dangerous."
Adam squinted his eyes. "Then... where is Sister Quan?"
Elder Gu shifted. "She spent several days ensuring the little one stayed healthy, hydrated, and clean. She's taking a bit of a nap."
The seven year old fell to the grass, sleeping.
...Adam nodded. "If my Disciple has issues like this under your watch again, there will be consequences. We will attempt this teaching thing later after I take some time to cool down and ensure her safety."
'Ding?'
No. This... this was not a good time nor reason to see if his 'Absolute' energy control could rip someone's cultivation out of their spiritual network. Not to mention that Elder Gu was TWO Cultivation Realms above his own... if he failed (Likely), it would be bad, if he succeeded (Possible) it would be worse.
But it was tempting.
~~~Broken Adventure~~~
Sister Tianshi felt the clouds clear a little. "Da?"
A warm hand stroke her head, a soft humming soothed her. "Sleep. Things will be better in the morning."
She tried to force her arms up. "Don... don't leave me da."
Someone held her hand even as a cool cloth was gently placed on her forehead. "Sleep."
Dad would take care of her. Dad could do anything.
~~~Broken Adventure~~~
Adam asked Sister Quan to watch over the girl as he left.
She... she probably wouldn't remember this. But it was surprisingly adorable, if she hadn't been drugged with Qi enhanced wine it would have been pretty heartwarming.
Best get back to work though... Adam's advancements now meant less pain and effort for his Disciple later.
And his work WAS progressing well, now that he had experienced the so called 'barrier' himself. The newly redesigned 'Houtian Realm Fourth Order Essential Cultivation Method' now had two sections: A preparation Cultivation Method and then the expected pattern for after reaching Fourth Order.
The largest benefit however came from discovering how the second set of three meridian routes got initially established, via a massive amount of damage to the previous foundation allowing for the new Qi cultivation path to be torn open.
So the new method enhanced the sturdiness of the entire Essential Cultivation Method... except for a small section right near the heart. That area is deliberately weakened, so that it is easier to 'break through', the 'breakage' would be very close to the metaphorically powerful heart, and less power would be wasted attempting to establish the new spiritual network path. The followup pattern would focus on reinforcing and sustaining the new path, allowing the old spiritual network time to heal itself... and any leaked power would enhance the body close to the opening, which included the important inner organs.
To be honest, Adam's progress was paused deliberately by himself a few times... trying to design an enhanced ability to safely detox a patient, an more reliable trick to externally provide nutrients, or even a method to absorb negative materials directly from someone else's body, blood, or spiritual network.
After all, Adam was positive HE could survive the deadly and unusual... but not his little Disciple.
Regrettably, without test subjects or a willingness to experiment on his own Student, progress was negligible... but it was a welcome break from focusing only on dry Cultivation junk and Adam needed that once in a while. And he now had an... interesting list of attacks to try the next time a moron ambushed him.
It wasn't a likely thing to occur though, he was just becoming too valuable to the Sect as a whole at this point.
For example: The Sect was VERY interested in the 'excess heaven/earth energy circle' with Adam's new farm Formation.
To be fair, they were frantically in love with EVERYTHING Adam had provided so far... but the ability to store and compress raw spiritual energy safely was apparently a bigger deal than Adam had expected. Well, not so much the gathering portion of the process, but the cheap (Basically disposable) formation enhanced jugs Adam designed to make it easier to collect the power for transit. A few Formation patterns and some cheap, nearly free drinking gourds found all over the place, and Bam! You had something much more valuable than most heavenly treasures!
Because easily stored and portable spiritual energy was a new thing... and made it possible for the Sect to gather and then SELL heaven and earth spiritual energy that wasn't useful to their followers outside the clan. Not only did this create a stable (useful) power vacuum, drawing in possibly more valuable energy types towards the Sect itself... it was a new product for future sales! A new pillar of support for the Sect!
Such a product, cheap to produce and basically used like a spiritual trash can, would be desperately desired by others outside these walls, where spiritual energy was even harder to gather and work with... It was a guaranteed money maker! A lifetime of fame, fortune, and greatness!
...Adam instantly threw the design to the Sect for a tiny percentage of future sales.
He did NOT want to be stuck with that mess, it sounded like an annoying hassle for years to come. Especially since the more garden plots converted to his Formations, the more work would need to be done to gather that power, process it, and who knew what. And that was not even considering the future assassins, potential mother-in-laws, gold digging women (And men), and worst of all: Rabid fans. Male or female, both would be infuriating!
Not. His. Problem. Keep his identity away from that filth. Maybe blame the whole idea on Elder Gu without telling him.
'Ding.'
Adam blinked... as Rockette focused a massive amount of internal 'Blue energy' mist... into a liquid drop.
And glared. "No. This will make me have to do MORE work." He touched the drop... and felt his Cultivation Cells freak out over how happy they were.
...Fine. "Here." One of the new energy gourds, he only sold the methods of production, not the materials he already made as prototypes. Opening the container and modifying the formation covered cork slightly, the new jug would allow spiritual energy to pass through... but only through a complicated method. Rockette wouldn't have trouble with it. "Fill it up when you got spare energy and I will see about making us a drink or something when you are able to move your mouth."
He grumbled and went to get materials for a larger, more stable gourd. This small one would eventually be consumed and then filled up again with liquid Binding energy, after he got a larger jug for holding this Blue energy juice for himself. Adam would then pass this fist sized jug of (future) Binding energy to little Tianshi for emergency use, since he couldn't make Green energy himself and it wasn't naturally produced in this environment.
A glare towards the door... better not tell many about it though, not until he could replicate the procedure without Rockette's help. Hopefully through Formations. "This... this is exactly the kind of stuff I was trying to avoid getting involved with."
'Ding!'
You don't have to sound so smug.
And interesting to see him use teaching to try and get out of boredom, here is hoping that goes well in the future, and not just when he is the practical exam.
