Rise of The Demon General

Since he found no clue and the occupants showed signs of helping his development, he finally decided to talk directly to Hei Gong. However, he still chose to keep his already formed energy core a secret. He picked a time when both Hei Gong and Hei Pho were together when he brought up the subject.

He tried to use his cutest act of a small child, "Grandpa Gong, I have read about cultivation. It is written that if we learn a cultivation method, we can be a cultivator. Can you teach me?"

Hei Gong only glanced at him and harrumphed, "hmph, you are only three years old. Your energy core is not even formed. What good is it to learn a cultivation method?"

"If I learn early, I will be more prepared for it when the time comes," Amon argued.

"You are such a kid. What do you know about cultivation? It is not something that you can learn and prepare for. You either cultivate, or you don't."

"Do not underestimate Hei Mo," Hei Pho interjected. "This kid is not simple. When have you ever seen a kid who can talk and reason so well at his age? He had even read and understood many books. His speed at learning my medicinal art is also extremely astounding."

Since Amon revealed an interest in studying the medicine she practiced, Hei Pho had taken the initiative to teach him directly. She had been amazed by how fast Amon had learned during her tutelage. She had grown to care more about him as they spend time together.

"Of course I know he is not simple. After all, he is not…"

"Hei Gong! Watch what you said!" Hei Pho cut Hei Gong's words crudely.

'I'm not what?' Amon was intrigued. As he had expected, there was something unusual about his being.

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"Hmph, fine. If you want to teach him, then you teach him. It is a waste of time if you ask me," Hei Gong said as he strode off.

"Do not mind him," Hei Pho said. "He was just stressed out by our family's situation. It is not easy for our declining family to maintain our existence in this country. Come, I will show you what you are interested in."

Hei Pho waved her hand and a book magically materialized in her hand. Amon was astonished by it. Seeing Amon's surprised expression, Hei Pho chuckled. She said, "This book is taken out from my Space Ring."

She showed Amon the ring on the middle finger of her left hand. "It is an engraved item which possessed the law of space. Inside this ring is a space as large as this room. I can put my various belongings inside and take them out at a whim."

"Hei Gong also has one?" Amon asked.

"Most cultivators have one, it is a necessary tool that can be bought." Hei Pho explained with a nod. "Though the grades might be different for others. Some only have one with space the size of a clothes cabinet. A wealthy noble might have one that contains a space the size of a mansion."

No wonder he could not find anything after searching around, Amon thought. It was because they stored all their valuable belongings on their person. It was a perfect tool to prevent theft. You would have to confront the owner if you want to get his or her things. He would need to get his hands on one of these rings.

Hei Pho offered the book to him, "this book contains the method of a cultivation art. It is a basic art that is suitable for the Human Realm."

Amon received the book and observed it. On its cover were written words in their native language. The words were Energy Funneling Art. He opened the book and started reading it without delay.

Hei Pho was amused by his enthusiasm, "though you are unable to learn it yet, you can memorize the method and apply it once you form your energy core. At that time, I will give you pointers. For now, you will have many things you don't understand, but don't put too much thought into it. You will only be able to understand it when you put the art into practice."

Amon did not respond. Seeing the kid so focused on reading the art, Hei Pho did not say anything more. She left him alone and went to take care of her own matters.

Amon continued reading the book without stopping. She was right, there were many things he did not understand. He had to put the theory inside this book into actual practice in order to get a bearing.

He stood up and walked out, although the room he was in was unoccupied, it was a common room where anyone could walk in. He went to one of the more deserted parts of the mansions. He had taken a tour and observed which parts were less inhabited. It was a large mansion after all. With only so few occupants, there were bound to be places that were neglected.

The place he chose to go to was a warehouse that had not been used for some years, maybe even centuries. Cobwebs and dust filled the place. He could even see insects and rats crawling away when they saw him entering. He did not mind the dirtiness. He needed a place of privacy, and this place suited him just fine.

He closed the door, locked the room, and put another unused table to block the door just for precaution. He then sat in one corner of the room and placed the book on the floor. He opened its page to where it illustrated the breathing technique.

The breathing technique was different from the standard one he had used to absorb Aether when he formed his Energy Core. The technique described here was far more complex and lengthy. He followed the instruction described on the pages and practice them a few times. He then turned to the pages that described the manipulation of the aether into the body.

After memorizing them, he closed his eyes and performed the breathing technique. Combined with the Aether manipulation method he could feel the energy around him start to gather. The basic idea of this cultivation art was forming a sort of suction force that absorbed the aether around his body. He believed this art was the most basic kind there was, but it didn't matter, any art was fine as long as he could strengthen his Energy Core.

Amon spent the entire day familiarizing the art. He could only take in bits of Aether at first. But even these little bits were much better than the standard breathing technique he had used. As he got used to the art, the amount of Aether entering his body increased. His Energy Core continued to drink the energy without reserve as if a thirsty man in the desert who finally found the oasis. The difference between having a cultivation art and not having one was like the difference between heaven and earth.

When the day was getting dark. He decided to stop training. The others would start looking for him if he was absent for too long. They let him do as he liked within the mansion, but he knew that they were always attentive to make sure that he was within. He had tried several times to go out of the mansion to see what it was like outside, but there was always someone stopping him. He had also once tried hiding till late at night, and the commotion that occurred when they searched for him was rather intense.

In the following days, he still spent a short time roaming around the mansion to display childish behavior, and maintained his medicine tutelage under Hei Pho. It would be suspicious to just disappear for the whole day after receiving a cultivation art. The rest of the day he spent training using Energy Funneling Art. The good thing was Hei Gong was out for some matters for one or two weeks, which meant his room would be all for himself for the duration when Hei Gong was absent, hence he could continue to cultivate at night.

The rate by which he funneled the Aether into his body was getting faster as each day passed. It was apparent that his mastery of the art was getting better. He could also feel his body and Energy Core getting stronger. Yet, he also knew the improvement was very slow. After training using cultivation art, he could roughly gauge the emptiness of his Energy Core.

In the book he had read, every cultivation stage could further be divided into beginning, intermediate, and peak. As he had just started his cultivation road, he was currently in the Human Realm and at the beginning of the Mortal stage. From the emptiness of his core, it would take him roughly two to three years to reach the intermediate Mortal stage, even if he trained every day.