Star Gate

Chapter 191: Fire Heart Ape, Nurturing the Spirit (I)

A fire heart ape!

His heart was the cauldron to refine the ape. Apes were vigorous and nimble, yet also hot-headed and testy. The consciousness hearkened to the spirit and mind, which meant that the aura possessed a bit of a consciousness. Under such circumstances, subduing the ape of the Five Styles so that it willingly resided in the heart was a very difficult task.

Yuan Shuo’s heart pounded furiously, beating faster and faster! Bringing the fire heart ape under control would impact the cultivation of all five organs and how he reached the next step. The heart was strong—was it feasible to break the balance of the five organs with it?

Yuan Shuo didn’t know, so he could only try. He didn’t have time to cultivate the five organs at the same time.

“Huff, puff, huff, puff...” The massive ape huffed and puffed in his heart, struggling as it wanted to break free of the heart. It wasn’t willing to be constrained thus.

It could not be restrained!

Yuan Shuo had exhausted all methods over the past five days, but failed to keep the ape in place. Although this was just a spirit, he was hard pressed to control it if it didn’t wish to remain in the heart.

Five days!

He could sense the passage of time, but success seemed out of reach. Yuan Shuo was neither disappointed nor panicked. He’d still made a few gains after these five days.

“You’re forcing my hand!” he sighed. You won’t listen!

His heart agitated as a chain materialized over its surface. This was the lock that supernaturals spoke about—the lock of the heart. Since you won’t listen and stay in place, don’t blame me for clapping you in chains!

He hadn’t been willing to try this earlier out of concern that his fire heart ape was too strong. What if it broke the chain? Would he be forced into crossing over as a fire supernatural?

That would be the least desirable outcome, yet there was nothing left to do now but try. He was betting that the ape could not tug the chain apart, that his heart was very strong. He’d absorbed a great deal of fire elemental power and enhanced his heart—which also meant strengthening his lock.

The supernatural locks of ordinary people might snap upon first contact, but when martial masters strengthened an area, they strengthened their locks as well. The fire heart ape may not be able to break it. If it did... then that may be when he broke through.

Yuan Shuo made up his mind and directed the chain of his heart toward the ape.

“Huff, puff, huff, puff...” The huffing and puffing grew so loud that it was thunderous! The ape roared furiously and flailed with both arms, smashing its fists against the chain as it refused to be shackled.

Despite its struggles, the chain descended with inexorable momentum. The lock of the heart confined the heart. There was no escape once the ape entered the heart. Despite its obvious strength, the massive lock stifled it with a tremendous rumble. This rumble sounded only in Yuan Shuo’s heart.

Moments later, the fire heart ape was crushed under an enormous lock and chain—the lock of Yuan Shuo’s heart was gigantic! No matter how the ape struggled, its efforts were futile. The heart jumped violently as its occupant fought and raged against its constraints.

Boom... boom... boom...

This was the sound of his heart beating. It pounded ponderously for a very long time while blood bubbled out of the corners of Yuan Shuo’s mouth without pause. Eventually, the professor flashed a brilliant smile. Success! He’d captured it!

“So this proves that the path to the next level requires strengthening the five organs and supernatural locks...” He committed every part of the process to memory. All of this had to become part of his heritage. He didn’t have time to admire his handiwork—Yuan Shuo stared fixedly at the heart, focusing all of his attention on its changes and every trace of modification.

The moment the fire heart ape was completely confined, the heart beat faster. The other four visceral organs also trembled violently in unsteady fashion.

The equilibrium of the five organs was shattered! Blood seeped from the spleen and lungs, a reflection of how it was a little too difficult for these organs to endure the increased rate of blood flow from the strengthened heart.

“So subduing one viscera means the other four need to be strengthened at the same time. Otherwise, they’ll be easily torn apart... The stronger the supernatural locks, the better! If they’re too weak, an aura will shatter them once it grows too strong. The lucky become supernaturals, the unlucky will find their organs in pieces along with the lock...”

The fire heart ape ceased its struggles as Yuan Shuo focused on new revelations. However, he quickly found something else amiss. While the ape no longer struggled and the chain settled down, it abruptly returned to activity moments later. It was now entangled with the supernatural lock.

Wielding the chain, the ape started howling in his heart.

Fire!

Countless flames appeared in its eyes as the fire heart ape turned into one of fire. Inspiration struck Yuan Shuo and he flared the aura of the Five Styles. Tiger, deer, bear, and bird were still as before, but the moment the aura of the ape appeared, it immediately separated itself from the other four. A powerful fire ape materialized in the air, one with chains wrapped around it.

Rustle!

The sound of swinging chains echoed through the air. As the ape agitated, it suddenly sent out a chain—the blow seemed to pierce through matter!

......

Within the yard.

Liu Long and the others sensed a hint of abnormality; they waited. The look in Li Hao’s eyes shifted as he saw a flaming red chain shoot out of the house. It came with an incredible aura!

It wasn’t due to his special vision that he saw it—everyone could see it. Whether it was Li Hao, Liu Long, or Liu Yan, they jumped and rolled to evade the chain. Wang Ming, however, grew excited to see the chain snake toward him. Maybe it was due to his recent ascension, an inability to dodge, or thinking that he didn’t need to dodge. He might even think that Yuan Shuo was testing them!

The young supernatural formed a golden sword without a word and sent it at the chain!

Clang!

After a metallic clang, Yuan Shuo roared from the house, “Get back here!”

The golden longsword smashed to smithereens with a bang and turned to dust. And yet, the chain continued forward. Wang Ming’s eyes widened with dismay and blood welled up in his mouth. His head was about to be pierced through when the chain was suddenly yanked back, like it was under another’s control!

The door opened to reveal a flushed Yuan Shuo. He glanced at Wang Ming and took a second to speak.

“What were you doing?”

“Weren’t... you testing us, teacher?” Wang Ming swallowed hard with lingering fear.

“......” Yuan Shuo could find no words for a response. Test your ass!

The fire heart ape had raged out of control for a split second and tried to resist. The uncontrolled blow had been a result of its defiance. Of course, it was under Yuan Shuo’s sway as it was locked up, so it was brought to heel again in the end. It was a greater surprise to the professor that Wang Ming was such a naive...ly stupid person!

Test? What test? What is there to test?

“Congratulations, teacher!” A joyful Li Hao straightened up from his roll and casually dusted himself off. Had his teacher succeeded? What was that chain? Dominators were martial masters, but that chain had come out of nowhere and crushed a Sunflare’s longsword of metal. This showed supernatural tendencies!

Did the blazing red chain have something to do with the spirit of the heart?

Yuan Shuo first looked at his contemplative student, then at Liu Long offering him a cupped fist salute. He smiled faintly. “This is just the beginning, there is nothing to congratulate!” He glanced outside as he spoke—the sky was brightening.

Wang Ming came back to his senses and wiped off blood from the corner of his mouth. He looked dumbly at Yuan Shuo. “Teacher... what was that?”

Yuan Shuo was a martial master! A characteristic of martial masters was that they were invincible in close quarters and feeble at long range. He knew of the Dominators’ aura, but that chain had not felt like the aura. It was a long range attack!

A Dominator had instantaneously smashed his sword of mysterious power! It was incredible and incomprehensible!

“Who says that martial masters can only attack close at hand?” Yuan Shuo looked at him sideways. “Did you think I couldn’t do anything to you because you were far away from me?”

“No... that’s not what I...”

“That’s exactly what you meant!” Yuan Shuo chuckled.

Wang Ming smiled sheepishly. He’d thought that he would be able to at least run for his life from Yuan Shuo once he reached Sunflare. He wouldn’t be able to withstand the professor, of course, but that blow sent his head spinning.

“Alright, all of you, come in!” Yuan Shuo turned without speaking further and entered the house, followed by Li Hao and the others. The professor’s hair was unkempt and he entered the bathroom to shower without attending to his guests.

......

Wang Ming grew animated as soon as Yuan Shuo left. “That attack was incredible...” he exclaimed. “How did teacher do it?”

To attack through the air and leave no room for him to respond... it was terrifying!

Li Hao didn’t say anything. Liu Long was also thinking back to the blow. What kind of secret technique was that? He’d never seen it before. It wasn’t a weapon—he wouldn’t need to be so shocked if it was. It’d felt like a supernatural ability!

Was Yuan Shuo a supernatural then? Had he crossed over from Dominator and become a Solar?

All sorts of thoughts ran through his head. The group fell silent for a while. Yuan Shuo walked back out in a set fresh clothing after eight minutes. He sat down in a chair, his hair still dripping wet.

“What are you all looking at?” he chuckled when the four looked at him. “Still thinking about it? It’s not a supernatural ability, it’s one of martial dao! I told you long ago that martial masters are not any worse than supernaturals, that they are stronger! Subduing the five visceral organs is key—I subdued the heart. The heart corresponds to fire, which makes it look similar to fire supernaturals. In reality, it’s completely different!

“Supernaturals employ mysterious power, but I use the aura, the consciousness!”

“A physical manifestation of the consciousness??” Liu Long gasped. Was that possible? The consciousness was just a kind of aura, a kind of pressure. How could it be tangible?

“Don’t think too much.” Yuan Shuo glanced at him and collected his thoughts. “I’ll tell you one thing—nurture your organs with internal force! Your aura of water can be directed more toward the kidneys.”

Liu Long raised an eyebrow. Wang Ming also looked at him with shock and surprise. The director didn’t react at first, but when he did, his expression chilled. “And what are you thinking of?”

Wang Ming coughed drily. Nothing! He laughed awkwardly and winked at Li Hao, as if saying, “The director has kidney problems! So he’ll have problems with... ahem ahem!”

Li Hao was speechless. Not only did Wang Ming not understand any of this, but his mind seemed to be filled with random crap. Although his teacher hadn’t said so outright, telling Liu Long to nurture the five organs, especially his kidney, was a tacit guide to the next step.

His teacher had succeeded!

Li Hao was overjoyed, but didn’t have time to say anything before Yuan Shuo said, “Everyone out. Li Hao stays!”

This indicated he was going to pass on private knowledge to his disciple. An honorary disciple like Wang Ming didn’t have the right to secret knowledge like this.

Liu Long rose and left without a word. Liu Yan followed him after smiling at those in the house. Wang Ming however, was a bit reluctant. Why can’t you tell me? But he, too, left after thinking about it.