Chapter 12: A Doting Parent's Request

Before talking about how long it takes to a practitioner to master the third stage of the Radical Fiery Icy Provocation Qi refining technique, a word of warning must be said. From the four stages of this lurid technique, the third phase of the third stage is the most dangerous! Roughly one out of a one hundred thousand practitioners will have the natural affinity to practice and not suffer the disastrous consequences of this technique.

So how long it takes to master the third stage? Regardless of the practitioner's Martial talent, the period of time it takes to complete this stage is bluntly unknown. Even the prodigy Zetsa could not avoid being among the remaining ninety nine thousand nine hundred and ninety nine who lack the natural affinity. The results were she being stuck at the last phase of the third stage for more than eight years, and the only thing that made her exceptional in her group was her unique dexterity in handling the chaotic mist energy that will settle down once she will advance to the fourth stage.

Lastly there is the fourth stage of the Radical Fiery Icy Provocation Qi refining technique, The Endless Path Of Fire And Ice. Once reaching this stage the sole aim of a practitioner is to the convert the properties of either hot or cold to his or her mist energy\aura, then enrich and intensify them.

At that point, there are countless methods of training and the Martial path is never ending. But that was something that Zax was still too immature to comprehend.

The Radical Fiery Icy Provocation Qi refining technique is a top tier as well as extremely rigorous among the Qi refining techniques, therefore one that should not be exercised recklessly and without an expert instructor which at least reached the fourth stage.

Zetsa, with all due respect to the great talent that she is, being in the last phase of the third stage could not be considered an "Expert" in the Radical Fiery Icy Provocation Qi refining technique. Yet, there were two reasons that made her confident enough to teach Take this technique. The first was her control over the chaotic mist energy which allowed her to interfere in case Take's Qi will backlash forcefully against his Qi channels. The second was Take's lack of talent in the Martial way that he could only make up by practicing a high level technique.

Holding Take's hands Zetsa helped him balance his body's temperature. That was the little help that she could provide him whenever he was about to exhaust himself. Supporting him sooner could have hindered his attempt to convey the characteristic of heat to the Qi and waiting too long could have resulted with Take too tired to continue for four to five days.

Take unconsciously held tightly his Mor's hands. What followed was as if the two extremes that were pushing against each other inside of him have suddenly settled, and an undefined harmony was created. Rather than "Support", what Zetsa provided her Tal was simply a break from his taxing training for as long as they would hold hands. The moment she would let go, Take's endeavor to pass the first phase would resume until he will succeed or halt for this session. If he will choose the latter, a small backlash to his Qi channels will occur and for the next three days Take will be bedbound. On the bright side, his Qi channels will be tempered a bit by the characteristic of heat, so in his next training session he will be able to hold on longer on his own.

Allowing Take to resume his training, Zetsa returned to Zax. His outward appearance seemed like an ice statue of a young monk, cool and serene. His skin was pale blue and emitted cold steam.

"Surprisingly he is doing better than he claimed". Zetsa thought to herself, impressed. "Another hour or two will be his outmost limit, though. I will let him keep going and assist him dismantling the rest of the grains so tomorrow he could have another go at the Inner Spirit formation with me by his side. I will use this chance to also check the protection formation I implanted in his body. It must have taken a great tool afterwards..."

After the first hour of which Zetsa kept a watchful eye on her little brother and Tal, she was visited by governor Edomachi. Knowing how secretive an expert can be with his or her teaching, the governor came alone, carrying a small folding table, two folding chairs and apologetic stare.

"Will you please join me, Miss Zetsa?" Governor Edomachi revealed a Jade Wine bottle and two cups out of his breast pocket.

Hiding her frown, Zetsa nodded and sat on one chair, while Governor Edomachi opened the table and sat on the other, purring first cup to Miss Zetsa.

"I'm sure that you are aware of my Martial achievements". Governor Edomachi said.

"You recently made a breakthrough, congratulations, Xingze, a D level Earth's Core Holder". Zetsa raised her cup and with a "CLING" the both of them drank.

"Many thanks". Governor Edomachi lowered his head and poured the second cup. He knew quite well that in front of Miss Zetsa, a B level Mist Master, there was nothing for him to bluster about and he did not mind. "But I would rather thank you for the great improvements you have made with my son. Honestly, my boy being able to materialize his Qi ... Thank you, Miss Zetsa, thank you, thank you!" He rushed to salute her but Zetsa nimbly placed her hand over his cup.

"Xingze, there are three parties involve in your son improvements. I, who follows our contract, Take, that doesn't neglect his exercises and make up his lack of talent with great determination and effort, and You, who first approached me and convinced me to take your boy as my Tal. Thank me once by words and that should be enough. You have already fulfilled your part of the contract and then some". Zetsa drank first and poured the third cup herself for both of them.

Neither a smile nor a word of agreement, Governor Edomachi washed his throat with the wine quietly. Three parties were indeed involved, but one overshadowed the other two in an unparalleled way. As wealthy as his family was, as high as he sat himself in his position of a Cave Governor, Xingze Edomachi still could not afford enrolling his son to El-Eden's top Martial school. There were other Martial pre Core schools, as well, that could have help Take cultivate his Qi, which were the second most common choice for high class families. But due to Take lack of talent he would have most likely graduated them with nearly zero results, and these schools were not cheap either.

His approach to Zetsa was a bet he had nothing lose at. A famous name that, as luck had it, resided a tunnel away. Even convincing her was not the trouble that he expected, merely a thirty months contract that was nearing its end and a payment that he already cleared.

"Miss Zetsa", Governor Edomachi turned his cup after the fourth cup.

Recognizing his tone, Zetsa did not follow the same gesture but kept her cup empty. It was about time for Xingze to say his true motive for coming over.

"In a few months, this year Great Earth's Core Pursuit will take place, after which Take will relinquish the term "Qi" for "Mist Energy" and he will be officially recognized as an F level Mist User". Governor Edomachi stated. "Shortly after, thanks to his training, he will be able to break through to the next level and become an E level Mist User. If he will achieve that before the age of twelve, his future prospects will surpass even mine".

"An E level Earth's Core Holder at such a young age will probably manage to become a Core Breaker by the age of forty". Zetsa commended.

"That will surely advance our family name, Core Breaker..."

For a short few minutes the two watched Take, engulfed with his Qi around his drenched hands.

"Miss Zetsa", Governor Edomachi clenched his fists, his own dark brown mist energy covering them, he looked at his son. "I beg of you to agree ... Two and a half months from now is the date for the Great Earth's Core Pursuit. I ask of you as the father of your Tal and as a man who holds you in great esteem, agree to go as the representative Guardian of cave twenty five and take with you my son. Even if it's a long shot, a hopeless longing, I beg of you the fair chance for Take to pursue a high quality Earth's Core and to protect him from illegal obstructs..."

"Xingze..." Zetsa was lost for words. Usually when a cave does not have a native Mist Master at the Core Breaker level, or have one who is unwilling, the cave's Management Office will hire the essential Mist User from the Core Breakers Guild of Kingdom Earth – the process is the same whether in El-Eden, Shitou or Tongguo. Old high class families, however, tend to hire Mist Masters for unimaginable sums to volunteer as Guardians for the Great Earth's Core Pursuit and help their progeny in finding quality Earth's Cores.