INTRODUCTION:
I loved the online novel " A Will Eternal" but I realized I could never hope to give it justice... The story was full of awesome battles, a well-made story and, something I'm bad with, an awesome sense of humour.
I still want to write this in the honor of this awesome light novel and I hope you will like it!
WARNING: There is, obviously, going to be SO MUCH spoilers here, obviously. Read the whole novel " A Will Eternal " before reading this please! It's on Wuxiaworld !
Just so you know, English isn't my first language and I don't have a betareader for this fanfic. Also, this was supposed to only 2000 words long but I had to change so much more as ideas came out lol!
A new beginning:
For starters, when he would arrive in the past, he cough up some blood. He almost felt unconscious. It had being a torture for his mind and his body to go back at the very beginning, he almost regretted his decision. It took a long moment to adjust himself. After a long while, he felt a bit better and started to check his condition...
The first thing our hear realized was that his mind didn't lose its acuity. It was a relief but more surprising then that, he realized he still had some of his divine sense and the mysterious power of Willpower inside of him!
As for his cultivation base, he was astonished to discover he was already at the very peak of the second level of Qi Condensation! However... he was very hurt. This Qi vessel was shaking on the verge of cracking. He would need to rest for a long while before he could start cultivating again. He figured out that maybe his uncle Li would give him a medicinal pill to help once he see him though... His body was covered with filth as his body had being purified as some of his cultivation base was back.
Bai Xioachun was wondering how or why his body had ended up this way... His instinct told him that it was because he had resisted the reduction of his mental capacity when he felt the flow of time go backward. He felt that if he didnt, he felt he would have lose his memories of the future! Basically, resisting the change meant he couldn't go back to square one in his cultivation journey. Doing so was definitly dangerous though as his body was very hurt as a result. He shivered at the thought that the stronger his cultivation would have being, the more hurt he would have been.
Once he felt well enough, he looked at the incense he had... From the lenght of the incense, he came back in time to the point where he lit it twice before. Hesighed and decided to clean himself first before lighting the incense. He wanted to make a good first impression.
When Li Qinghou arrived, Bai Xioachun was very nervous... Li Qinghou was annoyed and slightly angered until he sensed Bai Xioachun cultivation from afar. He could see Bai Xioachun was hurt as well, making him frown but curious in the same time. After presenting himself, he scanned Bai Xioachun body with his devine sense. He was stunned to see the young man Qi passageways was definitly the one used for the Violet Qi Condensation Art. Living in a mortal village, he knew it was impossible for Bai Xioachun to have stumbled upon it by chance... His eyes shined brightly, realizing that maybe Bai Xioachun was born with a special kind of body. Such thing was rare in the cultivation world but definitly a possibility. He was completly convinced of his theory when he scanned Bai Xioachun's body more throughtfully. He saw that the meridians opened in his body inside the Qi passage way looked extremely clean, wide and sturdy, even with the state of his Qi passageways. He decided to call it a Violet Qi body and couldn't wait to report the news to his master about it.
He asked Bai Xioachun how he was hurt so badly and Bai Xioachun pretended it was because he strained himself in his cultivation. Li Qinghou didn't ask him more then that and gave him a medicinal pill. After consuming it, Bai Xioachun body healed completly. Bai Xioachun, acting worried, asked Li Qinghou what was wrong with him, why he was born with some cultivation while not being a immortal. He also mentionned he was able to move objects with a thought and how it scared the villager's of his village. Li Qinghou's eyes sparkled and he explained to him that he was probably born with a special kind of body. After explaining his theory about having a Violet Qi body, Bai Xioachun sighed and asked Li Qinghou to treat him like any juniors who started their cultivation journey. Qi Linghou nodded at Bai Xioachun request.
After that, everything from the point joining the sect as an Outer Disciple would have remain the same. He didn't want to change the future too much. But also, he didn't want to ruin the friendships he made in the past, even if he couldn't avoid making some enemies along the process. He was way more lenient on Xu Baocai however, finding his provocations to be more nostalgic then anything else.
He even became an Outer Disciple the same way as before... but he didn't meet Hu Xiaomei this time like before as he didn't wait a full year before.
It still gave Li Qinghou some major headache. Bai Xioachun was able to smooth things over this time by saying he wanted to remain with his brothers in the Ovens, that they were the first real friends he made. Qi Linghou didn't entirely believe it but he let Bai Xioachun off the hook after that.
In the past, Bai Xioachun went to the Scripture Pavillon to pick the complete mnemonic of the Violet Cauldron Art and the Undying Living Forever technique. This time however, he only picked the Violet Cauldron Art. He decided to wait to pick the second technique until he reached the fifth level of Qi Condensation, so he could pick something else on the second floor among the stronger techniques of the Scripture Pavillon. He knew how to cultivate the Undying Live Forever technique by heart after all so he didn't need to pick another one right away.
As for becoming an apothecary, he decided to let Zhou Xinqi have her time to shine. When he has started cultivation in the past, he had studied to become an apothecary and beat Zhou Xinqi on the first stone stele of the 10,000 Medicines Pavilion. But having come back in time, he already mastered the 10 volumes about vegetation and spirit creatures. He decided to focus on his cultivation technique and to make some medicinal pills for himself. Knowing a bit about Zhou Xinqi future, he felt bad to beat her anyway before she could get first place on all steles. In his mind, there was no shame in doing it in second...
And of course, he would never admit it… but he was still very wary of Zhou Xinqi fanclub.
Once he managed to do one minor circulation of his Undying Live Forever technique, he didn't continue to cultivate it right away. He knew about the bitter hunger that would follow. He started to steal chickens at this point but instead of focusing on one Peak as he did in the past... he did it on all peaks from the start. It took a longer time for the cultivators to catch on what was going on. It took more then 2 months before the cultivators started to spread rumors. At this point, he went to see Zhang Dahai (Big Fatty Zhang) and Chen Qingrou (Third Fatty Hei) and let them join him. They started stealing chickens together from now on.
One thing was different however... he was always the one to prepare and cook the chickens. He was collecting their feathers...and their blood inside spirit jade bottle, so it would keep the properties he was looking for. This would be important for later.
Although he never became the leader of the cultivator charged to find the chicken thieves, he was also confident to not get caught from his past experiences. Soon enough, his Undying Skin made it's breakthrought to the Iron Skin stage. From what he remembered, he still had a few days or so before Li Qinghou returned. He was sure that the reason Li Qinghou had being so harsh on him had being because he had found him eating a spirit chicken wing when he came to find him. Bai Xioachun was sure that if he saw him working diligently, he would be more lenient toward him. He started to practice Lightness-in-Heaviness and Heaviness-in-Lightness in his backward. Because he already mastered this technique in the past, even with a cultivation only at the fourth level of Qi Condensation, he already was able to achieve shocking results.
When Li Qinghou finally arrived to his residence, he was astonished to see what Bai Xioachun was capable off. For Li Qinghou, seeing the young boy having so much affinity with the Violet Art Cauldron Art confirmed his theory the young boy had a body attuned to Violet Qi. But Bai Xioachun was wrong, it didnt make Qi Linghou more lenient. In this new timeline, Li Qinghou expectations for Bai Xioachun were very high to begin with. He was very satisfied with Bai Xioachun current mastery of Lightness-in-Heaviness and Heaviness-in-Lightness but he was displeased that the boy was still at the fourth level of Qi Condensation.
At this point, all he could see was that Bai Xioachun was naturally talented but lazy and mischevialous.
Li Qinghou was even harsher this time. He proclaimed that Bai Xioachun had to start studying the Dao of medecine and get in the top 50 of the first stone stele of the 10,000 Medecines Pavillon before his disciple Zhou Xinqi managed to pass her last test on the last stone stele ... AND also to make it to the top 3 of the incoming Outer Disciple battles instead of the top 5! With Bai Xioachun strength, he was sure he could definitely do it... if he stopped being lazy and took this assignement seriously.
Bai Xioachun was stunned but quick-witted. Before he could announce the punishement, he asked for Li Qinghou to make a bet with him. He proposed to bet he would actually get first place in the Outer Disciple competition but in exchange, Li Qinghou would open the 10,000 Medicines Pavilion for him alone to compete against the 10 stone stele and after big sister Zhou Xinqui managed to get first place on all 10 stone stele. Li Qinghou was curious by the strange request, asking why he wanted such arrangement to be done. Bai Xioachun replied he knew he could beat her score in the first stone stele but he didn't want to ruin her chance to be the first in thousands of years to have first place in all stone steles. He mentionned that the glory of a apprentice is also the glory of its master. Saying this, Bai Xioachun felt emotionnal as memories of Bai Hao came to his mind.
Li Qinghou heart softened a bit hearing that. Bai Xioachun kept surprising him constantly. He felt his feelings were sincere and pure. He wondered if it was because he was interested in Zhou Xinqi. He agreed to Bai Xioachun's demands and encouraged him by saying if he managed to beat Zhou Xinqui score on the stone steles, he would give him a bonus of 1000 merit point. Bai Xioachun, being the wily little fox he always was, managed to make Li Qinghou agree to reward him this way for each stone steles that he could beat her score…
But if he failed to be in the top 50 on the first stone stele, he would spend 1 year in the 10,000 Snake valley. If he failed to be in top 3 of the Outer Disciple competition, he would have to spend 5 years in this valley... and if he failed at both, he would have to stay 10 years in there! He even brought Bai Xioachun there like he did in the past.
On the outside, he was acting worried but determined… but inside, he was actually overjoyed. There was nothing in this challenge he couldn't do by just flicking his sleeves after all... and now, there was an awesome reward once he did beat Zhou Xinqui. the more he thought about it, the more he felt picking the left flower was the right idea.
The competition of the Outer disciples was in a few months. In the past, the spiritwinter bamboo didn't reach 15 meters but was very close to that height. This time though, he knew more about plants and it did reach above 15 meters! And this time, there wasn't any imperfection in the spiritwinter bamboo as he didn't bite it like in the past. He was not disappointed as the reward het got from it was improved, getting 15,000 merit points this time around.
Like in the past, he used pills to rise his level to the great circle of the fifth level of Qi Condensation. He saved some money however since he was about to make the pills himself this time. And then... he returned to the Scripture Pavillon and went to the second floor, only accessible for the disciples who reached at least the 5 level of Qi Condensation. He had planned this for a while, wanting a technique that would be more powerful then what was on the first floor. He wouldn't be able to find a technique as powerful as the Undying Live Forever technique of course but he hoped he would find something related with gravity. He had gained enlightement on the essence of time after all and he had discovered gravity and time were closely related. Maybe with such technique, he would be able to use the time hourglass in his mind even with a lower cultivation. At least, that's what he hoped for...
After looking up the techniques available there, the name of one of them catched his eyes. He was even shaking a bit from the excitement! The tehnique was called... Heavenly Watchdog Eclipse Cover!
The clerk rose an eyebrow in confusion when he picked this technique. Bai Xioachun thought at first that the clerk was confused as why he had waited for so long before selecting a free cultivation technique by the sect but he was wrong. Such thing had being done in the past by either patient or especially talented cultivators. In fact, the true reason for the clerk to react this way was because of the technique Bai Xioachun had selected...
This technique was normally picked by the cultivators of the Green Crest Peak. It was a metal related Qi technique and most metal type technique focused on the Qi of metal objects, the most common ones being swords. This technique however was cultivated with more raw form of metal Qi and would focus mostly on the magnetic property of metal and compress it with both pressured Qi and your own weight. Despite being mostly a great support technique, the nature of the Qi condensed with it provided with a way to attack which made it very attractive for cultivators.
There was a major downside however... The technique had a strong yin affinity. It was one of those few techniques that was, normally, more suited for woman. Most man who would try to cultivate this technique wouldn't be able to cultivate it higher than the first level. Most male cultivator would pick another technique after reading the warnings on the scroll. The clerk eventually just shrugged and put the matter aside. In his mind, Bai Xioachun would probably regret his choice and come back to buy a new technique after doing some missions for the sect.
Bai Xioachun was however far more knowledgeable then most cultivators. Although he didn't really care about the metal Qi or even get passed the second level of this technique, what he wanted was the affinities this technique provided. The Qi made by this technique would have a strong affinity with both gravity and magnetic forces. THIS is what he truly wanted.
Beside, the technique promised a sensation of become weightless! Since he came back in time, his body felt heavy and clumsy. He also missed being able to fly. Any techniques who could help him on that regard was awesome in his opinion.
The first level of this cultivation art was called " Nightfall Dash ". To cultivate it, you had to have some raw metal at your feet, send your Qi in a passage way starting from the inner ears to the sole of your feet. Then, you needed to both compress the Qi and attune it to the metal Qi below your feet. You would gain an initial success if you could create a cushion at the sole of your whole feet. Once you managed to do that, your speed would increase and you would start to gain an affinity with metal Qi and gravity. Those affinities would be manifesting itself in many ways. For example, you could always land on your feet if there was the slightest trace of Qi in your body. Standing your own ground would also become easier and it was the same for climbing any form of terrain. It also said this metallic Qi could be a powerful attack but that it would come with a feedback if you didn't completly master the Nightfall Dash and covered your whole legs with this kind of Qi.
The second level was called the " New Moon Armor ". As long as it was active, it would not only give the user an armor-like layer of Qi around his body but also a huge boost in speed. The gravity would also increase around the user and it also gave the ability to fly, something major for anyone under the Deva stage!
There was also a mysterious final level called " Celestial Lodestone Skeleton ". However, only those who cultivators who cultivated a body refinement technique and gained enlightement from the Arcane Lodestone art could cultivate it. At this level, the user's body would become so attune to metal Qi that any contact with metal or metal based Qi would heal the user, not harming him in the slightest! This stacked with the New Moon Armor technique as well! And even more, the user would become so attune to all metal Qi around him that he would be able to attract any metal toward him!
Although this mysterious level was powerful, it was also very limited. There was so many various path of cultivation after all. Metal based technique was only one among so many existing paths. The main advantage was the support and synergy it would give to one own abilities. But there was also another advantage to this technique, the main reason why cultivator would still try to cultivate this mysterious level... It's said if one could master this technique all the way to the fouth level, you would have higher chances to be able to master one of the great secret magic of the spirit sect: Arcane Gravitationnal Repulsion!
It was also almost time to bring back the spiritwinter bamboo to finish his mission. In the past, the spiritwinter bamboo didn't reach 15 meters but was very close to that height. This time though, he knew more about plants and it did reach above 15 meters! This time, there wasn't any imperfection in the spiritwinter bamboo whatsover as well. He was not disappointed as the reward he got from it was improved, getting 15,000 merit points this time around.
He bought lots of paper talismans with those points as well as ingredients to make some pills. He spend the next three month practicing either his new technique or making some Tier's 1 and Tier's 2 pills. He could have made higher tiers of pills but he was cautious by nature. He didn't want to make a pill that could cause him to stand out yet. He didn't have his title of Prestige disciple yet so he played it safe. He compensated it by trying to make them supreme grade pills.
After a lot of work, he managed to cover his whole legs with black metallic Qi. He knew he successfully managed to cultivate the "Nightfall Dash" technique. He decided to try it. As he ran and kicked a huge boulder, it created a explosion! Not only the huge boulder was turned in rubbles but it had created a big crater below it! Bai Xioachun was extremely happy of the result. He loved the technique as for him, it felt like his lower body was weightless but for his opponent, those legs had become as heavy as a small mountain! For them, it was the equivalent of having a small mountain being slammed into them at top speed!
He also went to his friend's house, Zhang Dahai (Big Fatty Zhang) and Chen Qingrou (Third Girl Hei), to be sure they were out of trouble. Turns out they were scolded and given minor punishments but nothing too bad on the long run. All of them didn't have any regrets after all and he knew they would eventually laugh at those memories.
He decided that this time, he should give more time to develop his friendships with Zhang Dahai (Big Fatty Zhang), Chen Qingrou (Third Fatty Hei) and Hou Yunfei. He wanted to help them both in surviving the hard times to come and change their fortunes. By doing so, he couldn't avoid to interact with Hou Xiomei as well but this time, he made sure to rill her affection toward another chosen of the Spirit Stream Sect instead of himself... The mysterious and elusive genious of Violet Cauldron Peak: his brother Third Fatty Zhang. Althought he never mentionned his name doing so, his description of him made him look like a legendary Chosen. It had being a idea on the spur of the moment though and realizing his brother wasn't as good looking as him. He resolved in making the equivalent the Perfume Pill he made for Song Junwan but for males cultivators.
" Once the Outer Disciple competition is over, I'll create a pill to make my big brother more attractive. This way, he will be able to be in a relationship with Hou Xiaomei and she won't be attracted to me! It's striking two birds with one stone! I'm such a outstanding genious! "
TO BE CONTINUED
Authors note: I based the technique of the Heavenly Watchdog Eclipse Cover of the chinese mythological creature called Tiangou. Its a dog that could eat the sun or the moon, causing eclipses. It was not hard to translate as Tiangou literrally mean Heavenly Dog... But a technique don't sound awesome or powerful if their is the word "dog" in the name. So I replaced it with "watchdog". For me, it sounds better and fitting the defensive nature of the technique.
For those who read my other fanfics, sorry for not updating those. I need a breath of fresh air before returning to those. They are not in hiatus because I plan to return to them eventually. I just like to write a fanfic for whatever Im inspired for.