Me? I'm Just an Ordinary Cultivator

.

.

.

The guard soon got ahold of himself and said as he hurriedly entered the pavilion. "I'll go report first!"

The other guard who was dumbfounded, smiled bitterly seeing that the guard with him took the initiative. Although they probably won't be rewarded much, a medicinal herb that could help their cultivation and cost about 1 month of their salary being rewarded to them was normal if the elders took a talented seed like Tian Ye as a disciple.

Tian Ye then continued to ask the remaining guard, "Sir Guard, What did you mean High Level Qi Control?"

With Tian Ye's words waking him up, he found that there's no problem answering the question of the talented genius, and curry some favours to him. It could be more beneficial to establish a relationship with him instead of being rewarded by reporting him to the elders so he did, "High Level Qi Control means as literally as it says. To be more accurate, only when a cultivator reaches the 3rd layer of Qi Refinement Realm could they control their spiritual qi to that level easily. Having that level of control at the 1st layer means you're a genius in qi control."

"I see…" Tian Ye replied in understanding before asking again in curiosity, "Can you tell me more, Sir Guard?"

The guard chuckled and waved his hands before saying nonchalantly, "You don't have to be so polite, Fellow Disciple Tian Ye. Although you're still a servant officially, when you're promoted, I'm sure, you're guaranteed to become a disciple treasured by the sect and maybe even become an elder's disciple considering your talent. My name is Bai Huan or you can just call me directly or brother if you'd like."

Tian Ye didn't think about it much and nodded, "Alright, I won't be polite then. You can just call me brother as well but Brother Bai, tell me more about Qi Control."

Hearing Tian Ye's words, Bai Huan didn't hesitate anymore and explained, "Qi Control is divided into three levels, Low Level, High Level, and Perfect Level. Low Level Qi Control would be Inner Qi Strengthening and be able to use Low Level Martial Arts, High Level Qi Control on the other hand, would be able to coat one's body with spiritual qi just like you did. However, unlike Low Level Martial Arts, High Level Martial Arts would produce special effects like cutting, piercing, and such depending on the Martial Arts. As for the crude brief coating you just did, it's simply making the fist stronger and more durable. As for Perfect Level, usually, only 7th layer and above can have this control over qi. They are able to briefly materialize qi outside their bodies and be able to use a variety of qi forming depending on the martial arts they've learned."

Tian Ye, with his previous life knowledge, basically understood whatever Bai Huan was talking about so he looked up to Bai Huan who was taller than him by quite a margin due to the difference in growth and age.

Bai Huan looked to be in his late thirties but considering that he was a guard of Elders' Pavilion, he was probably quite a genius.

Tian Ye then smiled, "Brother Bai, how high is your cultivation?"

Bai Huan scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, "I can't be compared to you at all, Brother Tian, Although I'm in my early thirties, my cultivation is only at the 4th layer."

'4th layer? Late twenties?' Tian Ye thought in surprise. He didn't expect that the guard was the type that looked older with his appearance but although he was initially surprised, he didn't really care so he went straight to business, "Brother Bai, can I see your martial arts?"

"Martial Arts? Sure."

After agreeing, Bai Huan slowly walked past Tian Ye and stood in an open space breathing in and out before standing in a fighting stance.

As he stood, he opened his mouth, "The High Level Martial Arts I've learned is called Swordless Palm Technique. It has 3 levels. The first level is called Swordless Palm."

As he explained, he slowly stretched out one of his arms and his stretched palms soon got covered with spiritual qi and into the form of a sword.

It looked as if a sword was connected to his arm, and slashed towards a nearby tree.

Swish!

As he slashed, the sword looked as if it cut through butter.

Tian Ye watched in interest, and squinted his eyes especially to observe the sword form in Bai Huan's hand.

'The basic formation of the qi is a rectangle, then was slowly thinned by Bai Huan. Not only that, he made the edges thinner over time.'

Looking at Tian Ye's gaze of interest, Bai Huan couldn't help but chuckle but continued as he dispersed the sword and a cold glint flashing by his eyes, "The 2nd level is called Instantaneous Swordless Palm."

As he raised his palm, spiritual qi once again coated his hand in the form of a sword and slashed through the tree again. Then after it slashed through it the sword form covering his arm once again disappeared.

"Then the third level… Invisible Swordless Palm."

Bai Huan didn't stop and slashed again, but Tian Ye didn't even see the qi form materialize in his hand but still slashed through the tree like a sword.

Tian Ye with his eyes widened asked, "Brother Bai, judging by your proficient use of sword form, although I didn't see it should have been formed the instant it made contact right?"

Bai Huan looked at Tian Ye in amazement before nodding with a bitter smile, "That's right."

'Was this talent?' Bai Huan thought.

If it was him, if he didn't know any better, he wouldn't have figured it out if someone performed it in front of him.

Without even waiting for Bai Huan to say anymore, he stretched one of his hands forward and closed his eyes, thinking, 'A rectangle… long length, short width… nah… too inefficient… a diamond not too far in length… not too wide in width…'

Soon, spiritual qi began to gather in the palm of Tian Ye's stretched hand. A diamond shaped, thin like a sword but not thinner than his arms began to form.

Bai Huan's eyes widened as his breath became faster and faster seeing Tian Ye's talent in front of him. 'Did he learn the martial arts I just demonstrated by just watching me do it?! Not only that… it's modified to fit his low qi capacity.'

The spiritual qi then dispersed suddenly making Bai Huan sigh in relief seeing that Tian Ye's talent wasn't a monster yet but…

As Tian Ye opened his eyes, he jumped forward towards the tree that Bai Huan slashed through and when he arrived in front of the tree, he waved his palm.

His palm passed through the tree like without any resistance, a second or two later, a slash mark appeared in front of the tree making Bai Huan open his mouth wide in shock. 'He achieved the third level with one look?!'

He was already surprised but then heard Tian Ye click his tongue, "Tsk! It's not as sharp as Brother Bai's."

Hearing Tian Ye's disdainful comment, Bai Huan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, 'You're still not satisfied?! Do you know how heaven-defying the feat you just did?!'

Tian Ye still nodded in satisfaction as he murmured, "Well, it's not that bad since the qi consumption is lowered down a notch, with this, I can last long in fights with my current spiritual qi at the same level."

Bai Huan with a wry smile commented, "Not only can you last long in fights at the same level but also dominate completely! I even think that you'd put up a fight against cultivators at my level if they're unprepared and might even kill them. Even amongst High Level Martial Arts, my Swordless Palm can be considered high difficulty and top-notch. Most cultivators wouldn't even think that a 4th layer cultivator could learn it and even more so, a 1st layer cultivator such as yourself."

"Is that so?" Tian Ye nonchalantly replied with a slight smile then with eyes shining, he looked at Bai Huan and asked, "Brother Bai, do you have other martial arts? Teach me!"

Seeing the look in Tian Ye's eyes, Bai Huan's lips couldn't help but twitch.

He was about to refuse but suddenly, the voice of an old man sounded from behind them laughing, "How talented! This is the child you just reported to me about right, Cui Qi?"

The other guard, named Cui Qi, said respectfully, "Yes, this is the child, 3rd elder."

Bai Huan, was startled hearing the conversation behind him and hurriedly bowed in a martial salute and said, "Guard Bai Huan greets the 3rd Elder."

Tian Ye also chimed, "Servant Tian Ye greets the 3rd Elder."

The 3rd elder old man wore white robes incomparable to that of a disciple and a servant. Although the white robes looked simple without a hint of design, it looked like it had a much higher quality just based on linen alone.

It can really be seen how hierarchy in the sect is highly important. This was also why Tian Ye was a little hesitant to report his cultivation in case that he was seen as a heretic or some because of his talent. But the reward outweighs the risk so he chose to report it. 

In such a low level sect, having a lot of resources was more beneficial for him in the long term. 

If he achieves higher cultivation in the next ten years, the better it was for him to get more lifespan and be able to explore the world for a long time so he could find a way to the higher realms and live even longer.

.

.

.