Chapter 37: Chapter 37- A Perverted Master and a Rebellious Disciple

The old man turned to look at the seedling floating over Sol’s head; his breathing quickening by the second.

It was normal for an Elemental Innate Dharma to take on the shape of certain objects. So, the old man thought Sol had awakened a Wood Type Innate Dharma that took on the appearance of a seedling.

However, in some cases, there were instances where the object an Elemental Innate Dharma took on was a weapon and thus became a Weapon Type Elemental Innate Dharma.

These types of Mixed Innate Dharmas were categorized into the Irregular Type. They were rare, but not impossible to awaken. Now the old man was wondering if this seedling wasn’t just a simple object made of Wood Element, but something significant.

As the old man sunk into his thoughts, it didn’t take long for Sol to realize his Master was agitated, so he asked.

“Master, what’s so strange about this situation? Isn’t it just sensing Spirit Essence?”

The old man snapped his head towards Sol when he heard that.

“Ha! This brat, you say it’s just sensing Spirit Essence? But that’s exactly why this situation is so strange! How can your Innate Dharma, something developed to cultivate Aether, sense another energy? Remember when I said that each energy has its own system someone has to follow to cultivate it? Well, an Innate Dharma is an integral part of cultivating Aether. No, more than that, it’s fundamentally linked with Aether! So, an Innate Dharma sensing anything besides Aether should be impossible. If it was, wouldn’t someone be able to cultivate Mana or even Holy Energy?

“But there’s a fundamental law for these sorts of things. A Heavenly Law! An Empyrean Rule embedded into the very fabric of the Heavens! But this thing…”

The old man at this point was red-faced and was hyperventilating as he pointed at the seedling.

“… this thing has broken that fundamental law!”

Sol not being able to understand his Master’s words, could only release a forced smile.

Seeing that Sol couldn’t grasp the gravity of the situation, the old man forced himself to calm down.

“Brat, if it was possible for Innate Dharmas to cultivate other energies, do you think I would waste my time creating my Runic Technique?”

“So… is Master saying my Innate Dharma is like your Seven Runic Paths of Samsara?”

A struggling expression appeared on the old man’s face before he said reluctantly.

“That thing is far greater than my Runic Technique.”

After the old man said that his body seemed to age by several decades and his shoulders slumped.

Did he not claim to have spent his entire life creating this heaven-defying Runic Technique? Now all those years were for nothing when this brat awakened an Innate Dharma with such an absurd quality.

The old man didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

On one hand, he was glad to find out his disciple was even more spectacular than he initially thought. But on the other hand, his Runic Technique had been reduced to second best.

However, when the old man thought about it, he began to realize something.

’An Innate Dharma that can sense energies other than Aether, along with a Runic Technique that allows one to cultivate the numerous energies in the Cosmos…’

The old man’s eyes started to shine, and a crazy idea began to be permeated in his mind. However, that light suddenly deemed.

’What am I thinking? Even though this ability to cultivate other energies besides Aether is amazing, there is no way to determine what would happen if Aether and other energies mix within a person’s body. There are too many scenarios where disaster can occur. And was it not because of this that I chose not to try it myself? As much as I wish to complete my Seven Runic Paths of Samsara, I cannot use my own disciple as a test subject. But…’

The old man thought about the Holy Energy he felt from Sol. Perhaps Sol was the perfect candidate that could allow his research to progress after stagnating for so many years.

’No, I’ve already given up. I decided to bet with those bastards in finding a disciple because I didn’t want my legacy to disappear when I die.’

The old man then admonished himself for even having these thoughts appear in his mind. After, he said to Sol in a serious tone.

“My disciple, I want you to promise me you won’t try and cultivate two energies at once. I claim my Runic Technique could do so, but it’s too risky. There’s no telling what could happen to you if you do. As for the Holy Energy residing in you, you don’t have to-”

“Master…”

Sol suddenly interrupted the old man.

“…I’ll listen to Master’s request. But even if Master had said nothing, I wasn’t planning on using the Holy Energy inside of me. In fact, I wish I didn’t have it. I don’t want to have any relations with the people who killed my father.”

After Sol said that, the old man looked at him and sighed.

“Three years… Are you prepared my disciple?”

Unknowingly, the old man’s address for Sol changed.

“The training you will be receiving from now on will be like nothing you’ve been through before. However, if you endure these three years with me, then you’ll not only receive the strength you seek but as my one and only disciple, you will receive this old man’s legacy. Something I’ve built for several thousand years.”

Sol tilted his head at that, then his eyes widened as he realized what that meant.

“Master, are you saying you’re several thousand years old?”

The old man waved his hand and said.

“This isn’t surprising, as you cultivate your lifespan increases. Though I can count the number of people as old as me on one hand, it is possible that a few people you meet when you go out into the world are several decades, or even hundreds of years old despite their young appearance.”

“That’s amazing, so I’ll be able to live that long if I grow stronger? I can’t imagine it.”

Sol was really surprised by this. All this while he had seen people in his village grow old and die. He thought that he was the same, but now he was hearing that he could actually live for hundreds of years.

Even after a while, he couldn’t get over how mind-blowing that was.

“Ah! So Master was lying when you said you were middle-aged several months ago? Not even an old man, you’re an ancient old m-”

Smack!

Before Sol could finish, the old man smack Sol over the head.

“You damn brat, I might be old, but my appearance was originally that of a middle-aged man! I was so handsome I had numerous kingdom-toppling beauties rushing to get into my bed every night. Who would know if I don’t tell them?”

Remembering his unfortunate situation, the old man gritted his teeth and stomped his foot in regret.

While rubbing his aching head, Sol couldn’t help but retort.

“Master, you’re way too vulgar saying such things in front of a child, and I feel bad for all those women who were tricked by a perverted old man.”

“Huh? You damn brat, who are you calling an old man?!”

Smack!

“You’re rebelling against your Master now, is that it? Alright, your first set of training is seeing how many slaps you can take from this old man!”

“B-But didn’t you just call yourself an old man?”

Smack!

“Ah! Wait! No!”

Smack!

“Master, I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.”

Sol began pleading softly, but…

Smack!

Smack!

“Wah! Master, are you trying to kill your one and only disciple?!”

Smack!

Smack!

Smack!

“Help! Someone help! This crazy old man is-”

SMACK!!!

SMACK!!!

SMACK!!!

“WAHH!! IT HURTS! IT HURTS! MASTER HAVE MERCY!!”

SMACK!!!!

As these vicious slaps rang out in the forest along with Sol’s pitiful cries, this marked the prologue of what was to come over these three years.

A Master viciously beating his rebellious disciple who talks back and refuses to train.

Ah wait, perhaps that wasn’t so…

At the edge of the forest, Little Zeel had appeared. But upon seeing this brutal scene unfolding before him, he came grinding to a stop.

“Ah! Little Zeel, help!”

Hearing Sol’s shout, the old man paused his beatings and turned to glare at Little Zeel. As if saying if he interfered, he would get the same treatment.

Little Zeel hesitated, but after looking at Sol’s pitiful expression, he seemed to grit his teeth before charging out.

However…

Smack!

Smack!

Smack!

His appearance didn’t make a difference.

Now, it was a Master viciously beating his rebellious disciple that talked back and refused to train, along with his pet beast.

The scene was now complete.

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