Way of the Knights

Chapter 9 - Myriad Limb

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"Raven…what the hell was that?" Paul asked, unsure of what he was feeling right now. Mark also wore a wonderful expression on his face as well.

"A cultivation technique. Impressive right?" He replied while smiling.

"Where did you find this? No that's not important. Why would you casually toss something this valuable to us?" Mark was feeling very distressed right now.

"Cause your my brothers duh!? Who else do you think would receive that aside from you guys?" Raven said in a 'matter-of-fact' tone.

Both of them were stunned as he heard him say this, they find it very hard to tell what they truly feel. While it might be true that they have been friends for years now, they can't say if they are at the level where they could casually toss something like this with each other.

"You know what brother? We're extremely flattered. But how about Uncle Luis? Aunt Eva? Why didn't you give this to them instead?"

"Weren't you guys listening earlier? Each person has a different Spirit Entity, those techniques aren't suitable for them. And for the record, Dad already has one. I gave it to him last week." Raven said while opting to not say about the whole Sun Warriors Clan thing.

"But-"

"Okay stop!" Raven held out his hand and prevented Mark from continuing any further. "Don't ask too many questions and don't refuse the things that I give you. I have my reasons for it alright? Besides, didn't you guys want to be stronger? I'm giving you a chance now since you guys took me as a brother." He smiled warmly as he spoke.

Paul bit his lips and Mark clenched his hands, they both nodded and didn't asked anything further. What if their brother has a secret? To hell with it! They swore to never betray him and stay at his side from now on.

"Don't resist. I'll give you the entire technique and it's name now." Raven held out his hand and pressed it on their foreheads. He roused his soul and used it to impart the techniques that he wanted to give them. Paul and Mark were stunned to find out that they have new sets of memories in their minds. They gave it sometime before it naturally arranged themselves, which enable them to view fully.

Raven gave the [Eternal Defender's Scripture] to Paul. This technique heavily boasts about physique and heavy blows. He then gave Mark the [Lightning Sovereign's Scripture], this technique could make him an absolute terror specially on open areas.

He withdrew his hand and allowed them to mull over the techniques on their own. He then withdrew to the side and took out a Talent Measuring Crystal for himself. He inject his blood and observed the changes on the crystal with patience. Seconds passed and the crystal finally showed what he was looking for.

"Well, well." He said, a wry smile appeared in his face as he looked at the results. "So that's why, it is actually the Myriad Limb Entity huh?"

Raven had finally known why he faced too much difficulties when cultivating back then. It turns out that he had lose out from the advantage of his Spirit Entity and forced his way through a beaten path. Speaking of his Spirit Entity, he actually found records about it's existence on one of his adventures.

Stories said that it was failed product of a nasty experiment. The inspiration of it's creation was from another mythical creature known as the Hecatoncheres, a primordial that is said to have a 50 heads and 50 pairs of arms.

The insane person who created the Myriad Limb decided to create something that has 100 arms and legs while giving it a simple sentience which they could control with no problems. Unfortunately, the experiment failed, before it was fully formed the creature attracted a heavenly tribulation and it's creator died in the process. The creature was born but it was treated as an accursed thing and was sealed away due to it's vile aura.

It was until one day, someone slipped past it's prison, broke the seal and asked the creature to help him. The creature complied and followed the man only to find out that it was a trap and the man betrayed it. The people of the city wanted it dead so they burned it. Unexpectedly, the creature didn't fought back, it only wept sadly and accepted it's fate. It was then that the clouds have parted and a golden stairway descended. A fair woman descended and took the Myriad Limb with her to leave the mortal plane. Nobody knows it's fate afterwards.

'I have few choices for a cultivation technique. Jade Sovereign's Scripture, Golden Bodhisattva's Mantra, and Prime Emperor's Scripture. All of them are good, the first one specializes on absurd amounts of energy capacity to the point that it can blot the heavens. The second one focuses on body and virtue, and is a natural nemesis of evil, that being said, I don't think I'm fit to be a Buddhist. As for the third one, it strengthens body, energy and spirit all of the same time, that being said it is extremely hard to cultivate.'

Raven thought very hard. After a while of deliberation, his eyes flashed with a resolute light.

'I'll pick the [Prime Emperor's Scripture] , doesn't matter if it's hard I can bear it. The concept of strengthening my body along with my energy and spirit is too good to pass. Even though it's too profound for the current me, I'll just lose out on cultivation speed and that's it.'

Raven did not waste any more time and circulated the formula. The [Prime Emperor's Scripture] is divided into 3 paths or chapters: Mortal, God and Demon.

The Mortal Chapter represents his Energy, it attracts and refine energies. The God Chapter nourishes his Spirit and the Demon Chapter tempers his body.

His focus right now is the Demon Chapter of the cultivation technique since the beginning stages of knighthood focuses on one's body anyway. As for the Mortal Chapter he could start that when he reaches the Soldier Realm, the next stage after Marrow Cleansing Realm. As for the God Chapter, he could start it similarly at the Soldier Stage but he needs to experience the Righteous Bestowal Ritual first.

As he circulated the Demon Chapter, Raven felt the creeping itch on every fiber of his skin. Even though he felt like stopping for a while, he didn't do since this is a necessary process to temper his body.

Paul and Mark had already woken up from their initial processing of their new memories for the techniques Raven gave them. They wanted to express their gratitude but they saw the him cultivating seriously and decided to not interrupt him, they got into their positions and stabilized their cultivations since they've just broken through mid-stage Skin Toughening Realm

Raven was experiencing agony right now. Unlike what happened to Paul and Mark where there's a great suction of Qi, that didn't happen to him.

His was like a constant stream. Strings of Qi could be seen gathering around him and forming a layer before his skin. If one had a better eyesight, they would able to see that these Qi are vibrating in a ferocious manner, causing his old skin to be destroyed. Once they do so, the destroyed part of his body will absorb the Qi and regenerate a new and tougher layer of skin.

This process took an hour before a change occured on Raven's body. Each part of his skin emitted a brilliant light and his body shook. The shedding of old skin did not happen to him since the old skin of his was destroyed on a molecular level due to Qi vibrations. Like this he too stepped onto mid-stage Skin Toughening Realm.

He didn't end up his session, he decided to consolidate his new realm by letting his new skin greedily suck in Qi from his surroundings. He didn't wait too long before the skin got saturated, signifying the end of stabilization. Raven exhaled a mouth full of foul air. He stood up and heard his bones crack from staying in one position for too long.

He clenched his hand and felt the new found strength coursing through his body, he smiled and took out a needle from his spatial ring and attempted to poke his skin. He found out that he was met with strong resistance. This is due to his breakthrough, his skin is as tough as a leather hide now which increased his defence.

It also has an impressive elasticity and vigor. His strength also risen up to top everything off, sending him into jolly mood.

"Finished?" He turned around to see his brothers grinning at him. He smiled and nodded, he sat with them and said:

"You guys should have access to the foundational skill on your clan right?"

Both of them nodded which honestly didn't surprise him. He smiled and said: "Good! Paul you get the Foundational Pole Arm Art and the Foundational Shield Interception Art as well. Mark you can choose between the pole arm art or Foundational Sword Art, anything's fine. Oh! And also grab the Foundational Movement Art as well.. Tomorrow we will begin our intense training regimen."