Chapter 102: Chapter 102- I Did Some Exercises Before You Came

    In his courtyard, Sol was in a handstand position doing push-ups.

    With his lack of an upper robe, his sweat freely gathered at the tip of his nose to fall on the manual he was too engrossed in to care.

    Sol suddenly stopped to shift his weight to one hand and flipped the manual’s page with the other. Afterward, he went back to his push-ups.

    His arms were aching since he had been doing physical exercises like this and reading the manual he got from Dae-Hyun ever since he returned.

    He wasn’t really counting but he must have done over a thousand.

    The sun was even on the verge of setting.

    Only after a few more standing push-ups did Sol decide to end his physical exercise session.

    With a slight push off the ground, he rose into the air and landed on his feet.

    "This really seems to be the basics of the Jeagal Clan’s way of creating Formation Arrays, it wasn’t that difficult to understand the contents of this manual."

    Sol said this as he took up the manual and placed it down where his upper robes were. He then headed for a larger clearing.

    While standing there he started forming hand seals.

    Soon a red rune slowly materialized in front of him; having profound-looking spiraling symbols in its center that were arranged to perform a miracle.

    After the red rune fully formed, a green one also formed to overlap and fused with it.

    Sol frowned as he watched the results of his first try form.

    After the runes were done fusing, he scratched his head.

    He then wore a hesitant expression as he pointed at the double-layered rune.

    It started to rotate and absorbed the Wood and Fire Aether in the surroundings, however, a minute later...

    BANG!

    A loud explosion suddenly occurred.

    The rune shattered into a million pieces but not before black smoke spurted from it to cover Sol entirely.

    Little Zeel who was sleeping under the shade of a small tree nearby, raised his head to look over with a worried expression.

    At the explosion site, Sol blinked and then looked down at the scorched grass where the rune was.

    "That was more difficult than I thought."

    Sol scratched his head again and went into his thoughts.

    ’The manual said overlapping and linking runes to create a Runic Formation requires two different sets of skills. From what I could gather, overlapping is mainly to maximize the effects of the runes in one go, while overlapping deals with a long-lasting and stable effect. So overlapping deals with attacking Runic Formation Arrays, while linking involves defense ones?’

    Sol scratched his head harder, the manual didn’t really answer this question. It was merely the basics after all.

    "I can infer a lot of things from just this manual, but it looks like I’ll have to find a way to get a more detailed manual from Dae-Hyun."

    After saying this, Sol tried linking the runes.

    This time it went relatively well.

    It looks like it was easier for him than overlapping them.

    Sol looked down at the black and yellow runes floating inches away from each other.

    They were Metal-type and Earth-type runes.

    Sol pointed at them and they began rotating; one clockwise and the other anticlockwise.

    After this, Sol lifted his foot and use a bit of his strength to stomp down.

    Bang!

    Crack... Crack...

    The Earth Rune Immediately shattered but the strength of Sol’s stomp reduced. By the time it reach the Metal Rune, it could only leave cracks on it.

    "Interesting, I think I could even link attacking-type runes like this to attack my opponents. I don’t think I’ll create a single rune by itself again, this method of overlapping and linking is too good. I wonder why Master didn’t teach me this."

    After saying this, Sol waved the Metal-type Rune away before he sat cross-legged to cultivate.

    After placing his hands on his knees, Sol closed his eyes and take several deep breaths.

    His Innate Dharma appeared above his head at this time.

    Swoosh!

    His seedling released a radiant green glow as it appeared. A torrential amount of Wood-type Aether was then forcefully dragged towards Sol.

    As the Wood-type Aether entered his mouth and nostrils, Sol had to marvel at his Innate Dharma once again.

    This always happened when he cultivated, but it always stunned Sol how overbearing his tiny Innate Dharma was.

    It seemed like a spoiled child that was greedily taking the Wood-type Aether from Heaven and Earth.

    Not an ounce of tact was in its actions.

    As Sol inhale the Wood-type Aether, he used his cultivation method to circulate the streams towards his left leg and then to an acupoint.

    After a few more inhales, Sol’s aura suddenly fluctuated.

    He had been working on this acupoint for about three days, it finally opened just now.

    After circulating his Aether around this open acupoint for a while, Sol move on to the next acupoint in his leg; he made sure to widen his meridians on his way to the next one as well.

    As of now, Sol had opened about 1/3 of the acupoints in his left leg.

    His cultivation speed was fast, but at this pace, it would take him a few months at the very least to open all of them.

    After that, he had his arms and torso.

    That would definitely take a few years, even with Sol’s speed.

    After some time, Sol opened his eyes and stopped his cultivation.

    After retrieving his Innate Dharma, Sol sighed.

    "Perhaps I shouldn’t rush things. If Master found out he would probably skin me alive... again."

    But at this rate Sol wondered when he would be strong enough to get his revenge.

    After some time, Sol sighed once more and went to get up, but mid-way, he suddenly heard a knock at the front.

    Eyes lighting up, Sol hurriedly entered his house to go to the front gate.

    After reaching and opening the gate, Yoon-Jae’s figure was seen waiting outside.

    "Brother Yoon-Jae!... Uh, what happened to you?"

    Sol paused and looked at Yoon-Jae’s robes that was slightly disheveled. He also had what looked to be ink splatted all over himself.

    Yoon-Jae sighed heavily.

    "Head Disciple work. That bastard of a Master doesn’t do anything but read about alchemy! Quick let me in, I need an excuse so I can avoid doing any more paperwork!"

    Yoon-Jae almost pushed Sol down to enter.

    "And what were you doing? You look just as bad as me, maybe even worse."

    Sol smile awkwardly and tried to wipe off some of the black smug on his face.

    "Haha, I was trying a new Runic Technique but it failed. And Brother Yoon-Jae, I always say you’re welcome to just enter, I don’t think this gate could stop you if you tried."

    Yoon-Jae walked further into the courtyard as he shake his head and said.

    "That’s not proper etiquette now, is it? Besides, who knows what a brat your age is doing all alone in his room? I don’t want to walk in when you’re busying yourself haha..."

    Sol tilted his head as he walked behind Yoon-Jae.

    "I was only cultivating Brother Yoon-Jae."

    Hearing this, Yoon-Jae turned to give Sol a look of exasperation.

    "That was a joke, Sol."

    "Ah! Was it?

    "Yes..."

    Yoon-Jae rolled his eyes as he stepped into the outside courtyard.

    "...And a dirty one at that."

    Sol followed Yoon-Jae into the outside courtyard.

    "Brother Yoon-Jae, I never get your jokes."

    "That’s because you don’t have any sense of humor."

    Yoon-Jae did a beeline for Little Zeel under the tree to pet him.

    "Sense of humor? What kind of sense is that, how can I get it?"

    Yoon-Jae wanted to laugh, but he couldn’t for fear of waking up Little Zeel.

    "I really wonder how you manage to score so highly on the monthly exams, sit."

    Yoon-Jae said as he walked over.

    Sol did as told and sat down. However, he smile and said again.

    "But I might only be a few steps away from snatching your Head Disciple position. My alchemy is improving every day! I just have to start learning pill-concocting methods."

    Yoon-Jae opened his mouth to say something, but then he caught a glimpse of his robes.

    "You know, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad."

    After saying that, Yoon-Jae looked at Sol and asked.

    "Okay, are you ready?"

    Sol nodded.

    "I did some exercises before you came."

    Yoon-Jae smacked his forehead at that.

    What was wrong with this friend of his?

    "If anyone thinks exercise would alleviate being burnt alive, then I’m sure those people died regretting their life decisions. And are you sure you need to train like this? That demon isn’t here to force you to do it you know."