Chapter 14 – Radiant Sunflow Art

  Jun De moved through the Seventh Floor of the Nine-Treasure Pagoda with deliberate steps and his hands folded behind his back. His eyes scanned the shelves with interest, along with dozens of other scrolls that lay unfurled on low tables.

  All around him were other Disciples who were lost in study. Some were whispering to one another about the content of the scrolls they were reading, but Jun De thought several were gossiping about him. They kept looking over at him before looking away and resuming their conversations.

  Jun De ignored them and concentrated on the scrolls. He picked up the first one that caught his eye and read the markings on the top.

  ‘Steel-Forged Fist Art.’

  A body-hardening technique that enhanced strength along with durability through repeated micro-fractures and regeneration.

  Jun De’s brow twitched as he read the requirements.

  “Break the bones in your hands, arms and legs once a day for three months. Requires the use of healing pills to recover.

  He set it down and shuddered at the thought. The scroll made it clear that he would become stronger in a short period of time, but it would require serious tolerance to pain and a commitment to see it through to the end.

  “Pass.” Jun De muttered. He knew he would never be able to injure himself like that just for a technique.

  Moving on, he picked up another with a greenish-blue ribbon tied around it.

  ‘Venomous Orchid Needle Palm.’

  A graceful and lethal technique using soft palm strikes to inject toxins and poisons into the opponent’s meridians. Requires poison refined from a Moon Orchid and the weekly application of Cold Essence Dew to prevent backlash.

  Jun De grimaced and rolled the scroll shut.

  “It sounds expensive, and I don’t have any money. I’m also not fond of deliberately poisoning myself.” Jun De said dryly as he placed the scroll back on the shelf.

  One after another, he browsed through the scrolls. Each technique offered him power, but required items, treasures or training that he wasn’t willing or able to do. Breaking bones, bathing in rare herbs and elixirs, or harming himself in return for quick power.

  When Jun De moved to another shelf, he found that all the scrolls in this section required the use of a weapon. Swords, sabres, spears, he didn’t have any experience with any of them, and, while he wasn’t opposed to using them, the same problem reared its head again.

  “I’m too poor to buy a weapon.” Jun De stated softly as he placed a sword technique back on the shelf. The Sect might provide a sword to him, but the technique stated that he needed one from the Qi Condensation Stage in order for it to be the most effective.

  “I suppose I could ask Elder Shen for a loan?” Jun De muttered as he remembered where he had placed the sword technique. He would come back to it if he couldn’t find anything else.

  ‘Six Spiral Wave Kick’

  A movement-art-based combat style focused on channelling Qi through the rotation of the lower body. It must be practiced atop a rotating stone disc to master foundational balance.

  Jun De stared at it for a moment, then shook his head.

  “Why does every beginner technique feel like a punishment?” Jun De criticized as he imagined himself spinning like a top, hitting enemies on all sides as he did so.

  Jun De put the scroll back and moved toward a quieter part of the room. It was less travelled here, and a faint layer of dust lingered on the ledges. There were fewer scrolls here, and one caught his eye right away. It had traces of faded gold trim, and the calligraphy was clean and precise.

  ‘Radiant Sunflow Art.’

  A threefold path of Light and Motion. This technique harmonizes motion, attack, and defence by teaching the user to be as swift, blinding and radiant as sunlight. It emphasizes precision, speed and graceful dominance.

  Jun De read on and found that there were meticulous diagrams that accompanied each technique. The first was a palm attack that showed the trajectory of the palm strike with the flow of Qi. Another was defensive, where smooth, circular movements would redirect attacks. The third and last was a movement technique that showed an almost dance-like footwork pattern that allowed the user to move like sunlight through leaves.

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  It was dense and complex, with every motion connecting to the other. It wasn’t as esoteric or obtuse as the cultivation method had been, but it was incredibly complicated, and Jun De was doubtful he could make use of it.

  Jun De let out a sigh and was about to place the scroll back on the table when he felt the golden Qi inside his Dantian shift. It was a subtle pulse and slight stirring that caught his attention. The Qi was reacting to what he had read in the scroll.

  Could his Cheat Mode be activating finally?

  “So, this is the one.” Jun De stated as his Qi settled down once again. He read through the techniques a second time to make sure they were something he could use.

  They weren’t flashy or overly powerful, but they seemed refined, elegant and balanced. A movement art for support, a palm strike of offence and a deflection technique for defence. Each complimented the other, and Jun De thought Elder Shen would agree with his choice.

  ‘Unless I completely mess it up and have to beg Elder Shen for help.’ Jun De thought grimly. His experience with cultivation had left him cynical of his talents, and he hoped this time it would be different.

  He carefully rolled the scroll shut and turned back toward the Elder seated at the desk at the entrance.

  Without a word, Jun De gently placed the scroll down on the desk and waited for the Elder to finish what he was doing. The Elder set his book onto the desk and looked at the title of the scroll.

  “The Radiant Sunflow Art, that one again.” The Elder said, his eyebrows lifting slightly. He studied Jun De for a moment, then sighed. He leaned back in his seat and folded his hands onto the desk.

  “A number of disciples have chosen this scroll as their first. It is balanced and looks profound, with three techniques within, but they are difficult to master. We also lack any of the Foundation Establishment level techniques for this art, meaning you will need to change if you break through. Are you sure about your selection?” The Elder asked as he gave Jun De a steady, evaluating look.

  Jun De nodded once, then bowed deeply.

  “Yes, Elder. I will learn the Radiant Sunflow Art.” Jun De responded. He didn’t care if the Sect didn’t have the Foundation Establishment level techniques.

  At the rate he was progressing in cultivation, he might never reach that level!

  As for learning the Radiant Sunflow Art, he could only trust that the body he had reincarnated in had a talent for it.

  The Elder wrote in the register with the flick of his brush and inscribed Jun De’s name and his selection within.

  “If you have trouble with your selection, Qi Condensation Techniques can be purchased using contribution points. I’m sure you will have no trouble earning them. The task board in the Training Hall has a list of appropriate tasks for someone of your cultivation.” The Elder advised.

  Thanking him and bowing once more, Jun De placed the scroll in his storage bag and left the Nine-Treasure Pagoda and returned to his residence on the Upper Ridge.

  Safety within his courtyard once more, with the restrictions in place, Jun De opened the scroll once more and reviewed the techniques within.

  The first was the ‘Falling Star Palm.’ It was described as a palm strike that channels Qi into a focused, explosive burst. As the palm landed, it would release Qi like a falling star flashing across the sky.

  The second was the ‘Heavenly Deflection Art’ that would allow the user to manipulate the Qi surrounding their body to redirect incoming strikes, or use their hands in smooth, circular arcs to mimic how sunlight bends and shifts in water.

  The third was the movement technique ‘Luminous Step,’ which could let the user move like ‘flowing light’ and could even cause their body to flicker and blur, leaving behind faint afterimages that can disorient opponents if mastered.

  While it wasn’t teleportation, it could make the user seem faster than they are.

  “Let’s try out the palm strike.” Jun De said after reviewing the scroll carefully and looking around for a place to practice.

  Jun De’s courtyard was secluded and tucked into the edge of the Upper Ridge, surrounded by stone walls that blocked outsiders from looking in. Tall peach trees swayed in the breeze, and there was a bamboo grove at the far end that rustled and creaked as they moved.

  In the center of the courtyard was a small pond with clear waters, smooth stones and a wooden bridge crossing it.

  Jun De moved to one of the large peach trees and placed the scroll on a stone bench he had dragged from nearby. After looking at the diagrams one more time, he inhaled slowly and steadied his breathing as he focused on using the Falling Star Palm.

  He stepped forward into the stance as described in the scroll, with his left foot forward, his knees slightly bent, and his right palm raised at chest height. The diagrams had been clear about the Qi flow, how he should spiral it from his Dantian, through his chest and down his right arm, before compressing it at the palm until it was as tight as a drawn bowstring.

  The Qi inside responded instantly, almost eagerly, to the Art, and golden light bloomed faintly along the skin of his arm and gathered at his palm. It tingled as it vibrated just beneath the surface of his flesh.

  “Slowly control it, anchor it at the palm and don’t let it travel backwards.” Jun De reminded himself. Losing control of it would result in a backlash, harming his body and leading to serious injury.

  Jun De exhaled as his right hand shimmered with warm, golden Qi that pulsed gently like a heartbeat. With a delicate movement and extreme care, he extended his arm and placed his palm gently against the trunk of the peach tree.

  There was a brief silence, and Jun De frowned as he thought he had messed something up. He was about to retract his hand when there was a tremendous explosion.

  The force of the Qi erupted outward, sending splinters and wood chips exploding in all directions as the trunk of the tree detonated from the inside.

  Leaves scattered into the air, and the shattered remains of the tree groaned and toppled, before crashing into the pond with a thunderous splash that sent waves rippling across its surface.

  Jun De stood frozen with his arm still extended as the glow in his palm faded away. The smell of burnt wood and tree sap filled the air.

  “I…I just tapped it!” Jun De whispered harshly, his voice a mixture of awe, terror and disbelief.

  He glanced at his palm, then at the broken tree that was half-submerged in his pond. He was very careful not to point his palm at his body as he lowered his arm.

  “How the hell am I going to explain this to Elder Shen!” Jun De muttered as he stared at the shattered remains of the tree that filled the pond, and the remains of the elegant bridge it had broken through.