The Legend of Min Hong

Shua!

A gentle wind fluttered into the room, and a lithe figure appeared in the middle of the room, an exciting and eager smile on her supple face. "Seven Body Refining techniques and three meridian techniques."

"Hong'er." Min Tian looked at his grandson. "The abridged versions only have the description, summary and the first part of each cultivation technique. Look carefully and pick the one that best suits you."

Min Qing placed the ten tomes in front of her brother. Every single tome was very thin. After all, this were the abridged versions, so should they be stolen, it won't pose a loss for the Min Family.

They couldn't possibly place the complete, valuable cultivation techniques in the library, after all. However, even this abridged version of the body refining techniques was not freely available for others to see. This was why Min Tian had to give his Family Head Token to Min Qing before she made a trip to the main library.

"Ten tomes altogether." Min Hong began to read very carefully.

One thin abridged book after another was placed in front on the table, and Min Hong began to scan the names of each of these books.

The body refining techniques were; [Divine Buddha], [Diagram of the Nine Heavens], [Flame God Sutra], [Sutra of the Frost King], [Terror Fiend] …

Every single book was covered with ancient strange-looking characters, fortunately Min Hong already learnt about the language of this new world.

"Hisss!" Min Hong took a deep breath. This was a critical decision. One which would determine his destiny.

He picked up a book and began to read…

[Terror Fiend]. To train it, one needed to temper one's body with hellfire and after being tempered 81 times, the body would totally transform and become that of an Emperor stage expert. Furthermore, one will possess the ability to belch fire. This was an extremely excruciating and yet very rapid way of training, as one only needed 81 days to reach the Emperor stage.

[Sutra of the Frost King]. This required one to train next to a chilling snowstorm, then to be engulfed by the snowstorm, and afterwards enter an iceberg. It required a person to be one with the ice. Once one can control the power of frost, then one would be considered to have reached the Emperor stage.

[Flame God Sutra]. This was just the basic opposite of the [Sutra of the Frost Qing]. It required one to train next to a blazing inferno, be engulfed by the inferno. Also required a person to walk into the lava of a volcano without being harmed so as to become one with fire. Once one could control the endless power of fire, then one will be said to have reached the Emperor Stage.

After reading just these three techniques, Min Hong began to frown. Why was it that these body refining methods were all so painful? This was worse than torture!

"Stupid boy!" Min Rou couldn't help but speak whilst laughing hard. "Only a few body refining methods are painful. Only those three out of the seven books are excruciating. The others aren't even half as bad. To think those would be the first three you picked up…"

"Oh!" Min Hong let out a deep sigh of relief.

Min Tian sat nearby and calmly spoke, "Body refining is far more difficult than Qi refining. For a mortal to embark on the path to immortality is against the natural law of the world. To then reach the destination through the body refining path… of course it's hard! Furthermore, these methods that require excruciating pain and agony, although they're fast, can be considered heterodox methods which do not have a good foundation."

Min Hong acknowledged and then continued to read…

[Divine Buddha]. This was a type of Buddhist training method and required a long period of time to train, but after reaching Emperor stage, it gives a person an extremely strong and durable body, fantastic healing abilities and it could be considered one of the best training methods.

The next method Min Hong saw was extremely alluring…

[Diagram of the Nine Heavens]. This technique had nine parts;

The first two levels were for the Warrior stage.

The middle three levels were for King stage.

The latter three levels were for the Emperor stage.

While the last level was for the Awakening Stage.

"This really is different. The other training methods, only allows one to train to the peak of the Emperor stage. But this [Diagrams of the Nine Heavens] allows one to train into the Awakening stage." Min Hong continued to read despite his excitement.

Upon reaching the Emperor stage, one would be able to control both fire and water and upon reaching the Awakening stage one would be able to regrow lost limbs. One's six senses would be sharpened.

Body refining experts normally, could easily suppress Qi refining experts of the same stage. This was publicly acknowledged, but this [Diagram of the Nine Heavens] could actually suppress other types of body refining techniques!

"Ahem!" Min Tian interrupted. "Your first and fourth uncle also train in this technique, as well as your fourth cousin. Furthermore, there is actually one body refining technique in the Min Family that's stronger than the [Diagram of the Nine Heavens]."

"What!" Min Hong was flabbergasted. "Was there really a body refining technique that's stronger than [Diagram of the Nine Heavens]? If true, doesn't that mean the technique is too overpowered" Min Hong was becoming skeptical as he thought to himself.

"Little one, there is always a higher plane of existence other than that which one knows. This technique was the only lucky encounter I came across when I was on my last mission for the Min Clan about 40 years ago.

Moreover, I was even happy the clan elders ignored whatever I wanted to say, or else they would have taken it. I might have lost my life just to silence any word about this technique." Min Tian chided sternly.

"Father, are you talking about that technique you always kept to yourself? Third brother and his son had always pleaded for it, but you never gave it to them. They even decided not to train in any other body refining technique in order to change your mind and impart it to them.

They will definitely be displeased when they to find out Hong'er had obtained it" Min Rou was startled as she voiced her worry.

Humph! Min Tian snorted in dissatisfaction. "I'm the head of the Min Family, since when do I answer to anybody? Moreover, the pressure would be beneficial to him" He thought.

"Moreover, the technique is very hard to train in and I wouldn't be telling Hong'er about it either. But since it came to mind at this moment, I believe Hong'er and the technique are bound by fate." Min Tian added.

"Grandpa, mom. It's alright" Min Hong spoke as he tried to ease the atmosphere. "Moreover, I'm really curios about the technique grandpa holds in such regard." He added earnestly.

"Little one this technique is hard to train in because of its harsh requirements. Firstly, to train in it to the awakening stage, one must first obtain the aura of a Divine stage Dragon, either from the dragon itself or from an expert who has trained in a similar technique."

"Secondly, to train to the Ancestor stage, one will have to gain acknowledgement either from the expert one obtained the aura from or from the Divine stage Dragon itself."

"Lastly, to train to the Divine stage, one must bathe in the Dragon Bone transformation pool of any dragon clan." Min Tian said solemnly.

"The reason why I've kept it to myself all this while was because there's no way one can find a Divine stage expert, not even in the Tiandou Kingdom and a beast of that stage is even impossible, because they'd have taken human form long ago and would be the head of any ancient beast clan."

"Also, I couldn't trade it, because such a fortune will only bring disaster should an expert stronger than me takes interest in it. Furthermore, a technique of this stage will surely attract the heated gazes of even samsara stage experts, and such expert is even on another level compared to our Tiandou Kingdom's top experts." Min Tian took his time to explain carefully.

With a wave of his sleeves, two Jade colored manuals appeared in front of Min Hong, one was titled [Jade Primal Dragon Body] while the other was titled [Rain-Dragon Meridian].

"The other technique was the only one I took out of the Min Clan library before I was banished to Soaring Cloud Village. It can open a maximum of 150 meridians when trained to the peak and it's one of the best in the Min Clan. Even the most valuable meridian technique in the Tiandou Kingdom can only unlock 200 meridians and it belongs to the Imperial Family." Min Tian added.

"Do not reveal the [Jade Primal Dragon Body] technique in any circumstance even when you're threatened with death."

"If you could reach the Awakening level or the Nascent Soul stage, I'm sure all those ancient sects will be able to accept you as a disciple. Then with their protection, you wouldn't need to hide it anymore." Min Tian warned sternly.

Min Hong viewed the two techniques and didn't even take a minute before deciding to train in them. Afterwards, Min Tian told Min Qing to return the abridged version tomes to the main library.

"Little one, I've done all I can to prepare you for the cultivation path, the amount of strength you can draw from this will depend on your own ability and perhaps luck." Min Tian spoke as he stood up to take his leave.

"Grandpa, I will definitely not let you down or come short of your expectations for me." Min Hong said conviction before giving Min Tian a bow of gratitude.

Min Rou also gave a gratified bow. How could she not bow, she knows how much her father has invested in her son to ensure he had a bright future. Moreover, she knew how valuable those techniques were and how much they meant to him, even his own sons were refused the chance to learn these techniques

"Ha ha!" "Hong'er you don't have to pressure and overexert yourself, the fact that this old me was alive to see my Rou'er birth a grandson for me is enough. Whether you eventually become an expert or not is of secondary importance." Min Tian spoke dotingly before leaving the residence.

Immediately Min Tian left, Min Hong decided to read further about these techniques. The [Rain-Dragon Meridian] technique would allow one to possess meridians that are as sturdy and wide as that of a Rain Dragon. One must know that the number, size and durability of a person's meridians determines everything.

From the amount and quality of Qi one can absorb to nourish the body and increase the cultivation base, to the amount and quality of Qi one can discharge to do battle and increase the strength of martial arts and divine abilities.

"It seems the Min Clan's repository and history runs quite deeply. Just one of their techniques is this strong, I'm sure their top meridian technique would only be a little inferior to that of the Imperial Family if not equal."

"I will definitely train in these techniques. But it's a pity I still have to wait a little longer before my 8 great meridians appears. Only then can I unlock them and start cultivating." Min Hong thought to himself.