Chapter 46: Becoming an Unfathomable Senior

Tianyi looked at the unconscious Bai Tiezi, his face beaten to the point that not even his own mother would recognize him.

The reason Tianyi saved Bai Tiezi was not because of his love story, well, not totally. Bai Tiezi should have long died under the assault of the Foundation Establishment realm elderly man, yet after numerous beatings, Bai Tiezi did not die and persisted in staying alive even after losing consciousness. 

There was obviously some secret on Bai Tiezi’s body that allowed him to survive.

It would be a lie to say that Tianyi wasn’t interested in the secret, not because he wanted it for himself. Rather, he wanted to see how far Bai Tiezi would go and how much chaos he would leave in his wake.

He had already seen two people with the backstory of a novel protagonist. Helping one that wasn’t hostile to him on the whim didn’t have any negative effects. In fact, if he had the fate of a novel protagonist, then it would help Tianyi out in the future.

“If I want him to make any waves, I should give him a better cultivation manual. Unless he already has a good cultivation manual, but the chances aren’t high. The best thing he would have is a manual that has no flaws but no detriments that will allow him to upgrade to using another cultivation manual.” Tianyi held his chin in his hands as he planned Bai Tiezi’s future. 

Tianyi memorised numerous cultivation manuals, but he could not teach most of them to outsiders. And he didn’t want to break the rules of the sect just to create some amusement for himself. But that did not mean Tianyi didn’t have any cultivation manuals he could not teach Bai Tiezi, just that they were not as good as those that could not be taught.

“Hmmm, the Five Element Manual should be good. Although it is not supreme, for these islanders it should be a top tier cultivation manual. But Bai Tiezi is a martial cultivator, perhaps he does not have talent in spiritual cultivation? Or maybe he is actually really talented in spiritual cultivation but never had a chance to cultivate it?”

Like this, over half a day had passed, and the sun had long begun to set.

Bai Tiezi’s eyelid fluttered, and he opened his eyes with a dazed look. Soon the memories before he lost unconscious returned, and he immediately leapt to his feet and looked at his surroundings with wariness. It was a small clearing in the forest and aside from the few trees, there was only another person sitting on a floating white lotus. 

“Yo—” Tianyi coughed. “– junior, are you awake now?” Tianyi observed Bai Tiezi, who had already miraculously recovered from all his wounds. He altered his voice so that Bait Tiezi could not discern whether it was young or old, male or female.

Understanding flashed through Bai Tiezi’s eyes as he immediately knelt and cupped his hands at Tianyi.

“Junior thanks senior for saving my life!” Although those were the words spoken out of Bai Tiezi’s mouth, Tianyi could still feel Bai Tiezi’s body language scream wariness towards him.

“Junior, is it really worth it to defy the overlord of Tianwei Continent just for a woman?” Tianyi asked,

Bai Tiezi showed an extremely unwilling expression. There was some understanding, there was even dread at what would happen if he chose such a path. But there was even more unwillingness to bow down his head. Tianyi sighed. 

“Junior, whether it’s because of your pride or maybe because of your pure feelings towards that girl. The two of us have fate, I’ll give you a legacy.” Tianyi pointed his finger at Bai Tiezi and a beam of light entered his forehead.

Bai Tiezi was completely unprepared for the beam of light and his eyes began to grow dull as massive amounts of information began to pour into his mind. Tianyi didn’t give the whole complete manual, but all the steps from Qi Gathering realm to the Nascent Soul realm. 

“Hmmm, acting like a senior and giving pointers to a Qi Gathering realm, it feels…pretty good!” Tianyi said. He rested his head on his palm, it seems that he may have given too much information at once and so it would take awhile for Bai Tiezi to absorb it all.

Another two day had passed before Bai Tiezi regained consciousness. 

This is boring. Note to self, buy some novels before going out again in case I get stranded once more. More importantly get a comprehensive map of the whole Huang Realm.

When Bai Tiezi awoke once more, he immediately kneeled once more, all of his previous wariness towards Tianyi had long disappeared. 

“Thank you senior for your guidance.”

Bai Tiezi was exceptionally excited. Spiritual cultivation was something that only those with great blessing could learn and those that did had a greater chance to reach the higher realms. Now that he was given the Qi Gathering method to the Nascent Soul method. His hopes of reaching the pinnacle on Tianwei Island were greater than ever.

“Just a small gesture from me. It’s nothing much.” Tianyi said, very much enjoying the respect given by Bai Tiezi. “Right, what techniques or weapons do you use?”

Bai Tiezi’s eyes widened before excitement colored them. This was an unprecedented fortune for him, to be guided by a senior who could casually take out a Nascent Soul cultivation manual.

“I use a spear, but I recently lost it.” Towards the end Bai Tiezi’s voice became smaller and smaller as embarrassment was clear on his face. 

Tianyi shrugged, and soon he sent another beam at Bai Tiezi’s forehead. It was a set of spear techniques called Unwavering Dragon Spear Combat Arts. This time it only took Bai Tiezi half a day to regain consciousness.

“Catch.” Tianyi said as he threw a rather mundane silver looking spear at Bai Tiezi. Bai Tiezi who was still bathing in the afterglow of comprehending the technique immediately snapped out of it and reached out to grab the spear that was thrown at him. 

But the moment Bai Tiezi grasped it in his hand, he felt his whole body tilt forward and he had to lower his center of gravity and use both hands to prevent himself from falling. Bai Tiezi observed the spear and clumsily swung it for a few times and couldn’t help but cry out.

“Good spear!”

“Not really.” Tianyi interjected, raining down on Ba Tiezi’s parade. “It can only be considered average. But it’s still a Core Formation realm artifact. More than enough for the current you.”

“Core Formation artifact!” Bai Tiezi stared at the weapon in his hand in shock before he quickly held it out towards Tianyi, trying to return it, but his body swayed forward because of the weight of the spear. “I can’t take such a valuable spear!”

Tianyi waved his hand. 

“Take it, it’s not valuable to me at all. It was something I casually made after all.” 

“Senior, who exactly are you?” Bai Tiezi asked. His voice was full of curiosity. Tianyi appeared unfathomable to the current Bai Tiezi. At his current strength, he was considered invincible under the Foundation Establishment realm, and he had access to information that only Foundation Establishment realm cultivators knew. But he had never heard of 

“You could say I’m an outsider, but…” Tianyi paused for a moment for dramatic effect. “Two of the five protectors of the Bliss Earth Sect thought I was someone called Heretic Zhan and tried to kill me, so I killed them, so I can be considered an enemy of the Bliss Earth Sect as well. Hahahaha.” 

Bai Tiezi felt his teeth ache with the laughter of Tianyi but at the same time he released a sigh of relief. With Tianyi having killed two of the five Protectors of the Bliss Earth Sect, the chances of Tianyi betraying him had lowered tremendously. Of course, with Tianyi’s strength, he could simply squash Bai Tiezi as he wished.

And the enemy of my enemy is a friend.

Suddenly Tianyi took out another spear and swung it violently, causing the surrounding area to be filled with turbulent winds. 

“Anyway, I’m actually quite interested in you. Although your talent is rather low even for this land, yet you were able to reach the twelfth stage of the Qi Gathering realm before you turned twenty.” Tianyi said, causing Bai Tiezi to tense. “I’m really interested in your future development and how far you can go.”

Tianyi suddenly pointed the spear tip at Bai Tiezi.

“But right now you are simply too weak to go against the Bliss Earth Sect, so pick up your spear. I’m going to teach you how to fight.” Bai Tiezi was a bit stunned at the sudden change of topic. Tianyi frowned before he suddenly struck at Bai Tiezi with a horizontal swing.

Bai Tiezi’s natural instincts took over, and he moved to dodge.

“Not bad, at least your survival instincts are good.” Tianyi said. The next moment he covered his mouth with his sleeves and coughed into it. Seeing Bai Tiezi’s concerned look, he waved it off. “Don’t worry about it, it’s normal for me.”

Very soon the sound of metal clashing against metal began ringing through the small clearing.

“Remember, the Unwavering Dragon Spear Arts uses your fighting spirit to fight head on against your opponent, if you dodge too much your momentum will lessen and your power will not be able to bring out the full power of it!”

Tianyi said as he used the butt of his spear to knock the air of Bai Tiezi with a strike to his stomach. Bai Tiezi vomited the food in his stomach, or rather what was left, Tianyi couldn’t help but cover his nose at the smell.

“Ugh, not doing that again. Come on, get up. Or are you giving up this early? This is a one in a lifetime chance for you, you know?”

Bai Tiezi gritted his stand and stood up on trembling legs before holding the spear with both hands and pointing the spear tip at Tianyi.

Tianyi smiled, and he reengaged combat with Bai Tiezi. 

The third day

“You learned to hold your position and not retreat, but you must also learn to advance if you want to master the spear art.”

The sixth day.

“Your strikes don’t carry the essence of the spear art! Your spear must be like a flood dragon, forever charging forward and clearing all obstacles!”

The tenth day

“Ha! Your spear thrust carries faint traces of the roar of the dragon! Not bad, you can have considered gaining a basic understanding of the essence!”

Without realizing it, Tianyi had been training Bai Tiezi for more than twenty days. By the time Tianyi was done, Bai Tiezi’s aura became stalwart like a spear and he held an unbreakable will in his heart.

“Not bad, if I was at your realm I would not be able to learn as much as you.” TIanyi complimented. 

“Senior is making fun of me. How can I compare to senior’s skill?’ Bai Tiezi said.

“Well good thing I practice swords arts, otherwise I would cry if your spear skills already surpasses mine. Hahaha.” Tianyi laughed. 

Bai Tiezi was a bit shocked that Tianyi actually specialized in sword arts, but thinking about it, there was nothing wrong. Had he, Bai Tiezi, not simultaneously trained in both spear and fist arts?

Still…What is senior’s age? I don’t think he realized this but his voice is actually no longer distorted. Is he perhaps younger than me? As soon as Bai Tiezi had this thought, he immediately refuted. How could someone less than twenty be so powerful? Perhaps it is senior’s technique that resulted in his current youthful form.

Although Bai Tiezi couldn’t see Tianyi’s face because of the hat, he could still figure out Tianyi’s height from their training. And judging from Tianyi’s youthful voice, combined with his stature it was very easy to imagine the young appearance Tianyi had.

“Well I guess this is goodbye now.” Tianyi said as he threw a spatial pouch at Bai Tiezi. “I have things to do, ah right. This might be the last time we see each other on Tianwei Continent, so if you ever decide to leave this tiny land, it might be a good idea for you to join the Loose Culivator’s Alliance.”

Bai Tiezi saw the bag and quickly caught it. Although he couldn’t open it, he knew how valuable a spatial pouch was. Only some Core Formation realm cultivators could have one. And from the days he spent with Tianyi, he had heard about some details of the outside world and realized how small Tianwei Continent was.

Perhaps after he was done and rescued Feng’er, the two would leave Tianwei Continent to explore the greater world.

“Senior…” Bai Tiezi paused for a moment before he fished out a small trinket that looked like a miniature sundial and handed it to Tianyi.

“This is…” Tianyi said, confused.

“It’s something this junior chanced upon. It should be one of the tokens necessary to access the legacy of a fallen immortal. I heard that the Bliss Earth Sect had been lucky enough to get one. I was originally going to enter, but thanks to senior I have more than enough to fight against the Bliss Earth Sect.”

Tianyi looked at Bai Tiezi with a deep look.

“You know this is the legacy of an immortal, the legacy is far more valuable than what I gave you.”

“Perhaps, but I don’t think I will be able to gain anything out of it. Rather than risk being caught by the Bliss Earth Sect, why not give it senior? Senior has more than enough power to protect yourself and you seem likely to leave before long too.” Bai Tiezi said, there was no disappointment on his face.

“Then I will accept this.” Tianyi said as he pocketed the token. “Do you know what type of legacy it is?”

“It seems to be one related to space, I think.” Bai Tiezi said.

Hey, hey. Perhaps this guy has some protagonist fate and would eventually be able to get the legacy of an immortal. After defeating the Bliss Earth Sect, he would be able to leave the island and soon his fame will shock the Huang Realm?

Is it really okay to give me such a thing? I have a feeling that you might get chosen, sure you might get chased for it though. Unless this is your scheme to get me and the Bliss Earth Sect to fight each other?

Haha, not likely.

Forget it, since you gave it to me I will graciously accept. I didn’t expect something I did on a whim would result in me getting such fortune. Space related legacies and arts are exactly what I need now.

“Then if we have fate, we will meet again.” Saying this Tianyi stepped on his flying sword and flew into the air.

“WAIT! SENIOR YOU NEVER GAVE ME YOUR NAME!!” Bai Tiezi yelled, after realizing that he never got Tianyi’s name.

“TIANYI.”

“Heaven’s Will?” Bai Tiezi mumbled to himself. “Does senior not want to give me his name after all?”

A month later Bai Tiezi would undergo his Foundation Establishment Heavenly Tribulation and enter the Foundation Establishment realm.