Ashes Of Heaven Book 1 : Solar Calamity

"Exactly how do you expect me, a mortal to carry ten boulders up that mountain, each of which is heavier than 100 kilograms?"

"I don't really. Not at all. I expect you to get the penalty due to your failure in this task."

"But-but..."

"Listen up, young man. The sect recruits one or two mortal disciples at every selection ceremony. If we really try to intentionally oppress them, then this whole process would be completely unnecessary. Whether you can do the tasks or not is your problem, not ours. This sect only cherishes those who have it in themselves to explore their total potential, not slackers. You think one thousand kilograms of boulders in total is an impossible amount for you?

Ask any of your peers, they have five times that amount as the target limit. We separated the smallest boulders for you because we know that you are a mortal. If you find this unfair, go sit in a corner and wait for the penalty."

Han Xuhan glared at the elder in charge of overseeing this public task and gritted his teeth in frustration. Initially, he had thought he could carry the boulders with enough effort and perseverance, given some time. But when he saw the size of each boulder and realized the fact that all of them were twice as heavy as him, he finally understood that this sect had a very harsh attitude towards their mortal disciples.

If he tried his best, he could probably push some of these boulders up to their destination...but he was not quite inclined to do that much labor.

Perhaps they were trying to test his perseverance this way. But what was the point? He didn't have the time to spend six hours a day doing labor work when his cultivation level had a deadline to meet.

"What's the penalty?"

"Deduction of one spirit stone."

Xuhan might have spat blood at the answer yesterday...but those days were over. No more monetary oppression, no more cowering in front of expenses!

He was a tycoon now. It might be borrowed money, but it was money nonetheless!

"Here you go, brother. I won't be attending to my tasks today, tomorrow...and you know what? Make that a week. Here you go!"

Han Xuhan handed over seven spirit stones with sneer after a few moments of consideration and walked away from there while the rest of the kids watched him go with complicated expressions.

They didn't know whether to feel pity for him or envy him.

"If this goes on, I won't last long here even with the number of spirit stones I have right now. First of all, I need to cultivate to the first layer of the physique transformation realm, for which, I need to buy a cultivation method and resources from the sect. This should substantially boost my physical strength, which can be helpful in accomplishing the daily tasks. I also need to rank up to the second layer to avoid expulsion within one month..."

Han Xuhan clutched his pockets and decided to take a walk into the Archives pavilion in order to see if there was any suitable cultivation method for him.

The Archives pavilion was a very large building with multiple floors stacked on top of each other in a pagoda-like structure. There were many disciples outside and inside, discussing about different techniques or contemplating what to buy from there.

Han Xuhan felt quite queer as he paid the entrance fees and entered the building. As a mortal outer court disciple with zero cultivation, he could only access the first and second floors of the building.

All of this was quite familiar to him! After all, every main character of cultivation novels experienced this scene at least fifty times! They would always search every nook and cranny of the archives for cultivation techniques because they didn't want to cultivate the popular techniques. It'd look uncool for a protagonist to go with the flow...

Somehow, they also managed to find a cultivation technique that no one wanted to learn because of its handicap, usually from trashbins.

With their monstrous luck and cheats, they would remove that handicap to become the strongest cultivator in every realm...

Am I, Han Xuhan, that lucky?

Hahahahaha.....

Xuhan could almost hear a mocking, snide, uproarious laughter coming from the sky.

He chose to explore the lowest floor first since the second floor asked for more entrance fees. There were dozens of scrolls carefully preserved inside intricately carved showcases. The techniques were divided into many categories. Such as, the elemental techniques, the techniques of force manipulation, the techniques on heavenly laws, the techniques of purely physical strengthening, techniques for spiritual strengthening and many more.

Not expecting everything to be so neatly cataloged, Han Xuhan was taken aback at first. But this was a good thing.

It made it easy for him to choose a technique according to his requirements.

There were four scrolls in the showcase marked with the label of physical strengthening techniques.

One by one, he opened them all.

1- Spiritual Bones: a technique that allows the practitioner to use spirit qi from outer sources in forging a skeletal form of their own body which helps strengthen their bones and becomes an additional layer of protection inside their body. The spiritual bones can also absorb qi from the surroundings to replenish themselves and become sturdier automatically at later stages of the technique. This technique is suitable for anyone in the physique transformation realm to the peak of the soul transformation realm. A cultivator above these realms will have no use for this technique.

Priced at - 101 spirit stones per volume, five volumes in total.

Special discount- 1 spirit stone.

"Wow, that discount sure is special!"

Han Xuhan gnashed his teeth while feeling quite nostalgic about his previous life. Wasn't this very similar to his shopping experience there as well?

2- Warrior's body: This technique allows the practitioner to reinforce their meridians, arteries, and veins with spirit qi, thus making them sturdier, stronger, and physically many times more capable than an ordinary cultivator's body in the same layer of a realm. It also improves one's physique, enhances particular attributes, and cleanses impurities and diseases. Only useful to cultivators in the soul Reformation realm and below.

Priced at- 121 spirit stones per volume, three volumes in total.

Special discount- 1 spirit stone

Xuhan was slightly confused by the price of the second technique. Clearly, the first technique looked more useful than the second in a deadly situation. Why would this have a higher price?

He turned around and asked an older disciple not far away from him,

"Senior, I'm new here. Could you tell me why the spiritual bone technique has a lower price than the warrior's body?"

The older disciple seemed amused by the question.

"Did you read the description correctly, junior? The spiritual bone technique has to be cultivated INSIDE yourself, inch by inch, layered over your bones. Can you even imagine how painful the process is? This technique is only popular among the perverted masochistic cultivators. Stay away from those who buy this!"

"...Thanks for the warning, senior."

Heart shaking, Xuhan went back to reading the descriptions of the rest of the techniques, swearing internally that he would never trust any description of this sect ever again; he had had enough of being scammed by them.

3- Divine manifestation of physique: a technique that allows the practitioner to manifest random traits of divine physiques that have been lost to the world. After practicing this technique to the peak of the physique transformation realm, a cultivator has a chance of manifesting a permanent divine trait that boosts their physical prowess to an unsurpassable peak. It has only one volume, useful for physique transformation realm cultivators.

Priced at- 255 spirit stones.

Special discount- 5 spirit stones

Xuhan couldn't help but click his tongue at this technique where everything was up to fate. A random divine physical trait? He could see the hidden emphasis on the word 'random'. No wonder the discount is so high...

4- Dragonskin: a technique that allows the practitioner to cultivate an extremely sturdy armor as a form of extra skin over their body that is fueled by their qi. It can also produce spikes and hooks from the exterior as both shields and weapons. Useful for cultivators till the Soul Reformation realm.

Priced at- 300 spirit stones per volume, three volumes in total.

No discount, fixed price

"Yep, the only useful thing here is a fixed-price item." Han Xuhan chuckled drily.

So what should he choose?

He wasn't a masochistic pervert, so number one was out.

Cultivating a buff body didn't seem to be very useful other than being able to flex his pecs at every skinny disciple out there, nope.

Divine manifestation technique? One that was heavily reliant on luck?

Haha, haha, hahaha... Han Xuhan's luck was so extraordinary that he would probably turn into a divine dog in heat or a divine whale on top of the mountain peak and die from asphyxiation, yeah, doesn't seem like a neat way to hell...

The last one? It seemed very useful, but the price was way too high. Even though he had taken a massive loan and could be called a tycoon now, he still couldn't afford to buy anything that expensive. Furthermore, it was a technique that focused on battlefield strategies rather than physical attributes, which would be nearly useless to him in the current situation.

What a difficult situation...

Xuhan was just fussing over what to do when he saw his martial brother, Mu Ran the-man-with-planet-sized-ego, strutting toward a shadowy corner of the room as soon as he had entered.

Xuhan's eyes lit up with curiosity and suspicion.

Look at that snitchy behavior. He definitely knows something. Isn't that a standard xianxia protagonist behavior? Looking down on the proper techniques and picking up something from the trashbin?!

"Senior, what are those stacks of scrolls in that shady corner over there?" Han Xuhan asked the guy beside him in a low voice.

"Oh? Those are experiments, unfinished products, and relics that the elders sometimes bring in from their journeys. Most of them are dangerous and extremely circumspect techniques that can harm the practitioner or have zero effect other than wasting your time. They're cheap, and if you are tempted by that, you're welcome to destroy your own future."

The older disciple answered in a heavy tone while sparing a glance at the young junior beside him, expecting to see a disappointed face, only to find that the boy was grinning like a madman.

"???"

What did I say that made him so happy? The senior disciple fell into a rabbithole of confusion.

"Thank you so much for the advice, senior!"

"What?"

Xuhan profusely expressed his gratitude and sneaked toward Mu Ran cautiously, leaving the puzzled senior behind.

Mu Ran seemed to be muttering to himself while he looked through the dusty scrolls that no one wanted.

"Hmm, not bad, but this isn't suitable for me. The Twin Dragon Devil Reverend physique would be averse to these elements. Ah, that's not good either. What to choose..."

Han Xuhan caught some of the words and almost spat blood.

The Twin Dragon Devil Reverend physique?!

It sounded so cool!

He wanted something like that too, who didn't?

"No no no, is it really not here? How can that be? One of the reasons I came to this sect was for that technique..."

Mu Ran kept muttering as his hands swept through the pile of scrolls.

Xuhan's heart was beating like a drum. So this guy had come to this sect with a purpose! Something in the archives had brought him here...Han Xuhan was forced to reevaluate his opinion of Mu Ran. This martial brother of his was a dragon of deep waters. What kind of background did he have?

Which technique would this guy choose?

Would it be some divine technique that no one in the sect could identify?

Suddenly, Mu Ran's hands paused. A scroll had caught his eyes. He took it in his hands and slowly opened it.

"Heavens...this is it! It really is here! No one can stop me anymore!"

Xuhan chose this exact moment to interfere.

"Martial brother! What are you doing? You cannot possibly attempt to practice a technique from that pile of trash! What if it harms your cultivation?

"I, your martial brother, cannot bear to see this! We are from the same mountain peak. If you have any trouble in choosing cultivation methods, please ask us for help. That pile of trash only harms innocent and shy people like you!

"Please listen to me and throw that scroll away! Why would you attempt something so insane? If you need money, I can pay for you!"

Mu Ran was dumbstruck by this sudden change of situation.

What was going on? Who was this?

What was he talking about?

Oh! This guy seemed to be speaking out of goodwill. Was he really trying to help him? What a simple-minded peasant! Hah!

Nevertheless, he was touched by this fool's concern for him. This youth didn't have eyes that could see mountain Tai, but he had the aptitude to be a good servant!

It helped that he, Mu Ran, was lacking a bit in the financial department these days. And this peer of his sounded like he was loaded!

Mu Ran chuckled generously and threw a small scroll at Xuhan from the pile under his feet.

"Martial brother, I know who holds goodwill toward me when I see them! So I will tell you a small secret. This scroll in my hand holds a technique that is tailor-made for a person like me due to various circumstances. You can rest assured that it'll cause no harm to me! As for that technique I gave you just now, it's an erm... amazing technique too. Become my underling and cultivate this technique. We shall conquer this world together!"

"...Become your underling?"

It was Xuhan's turn to be stunned this time.

What the fuck was wrong with this guy's brain?

What was he talking about?

"Well, you're a mortal who needs a good cultivation technique. And I am already close to breaking through to the first layer of the physique transformation realm. So I'm leagues stronger than you are. Is it not normal for the weak to seek shelter from the strong?

"Besides, I already rewarded you with that awesome cultivation technique! Are you refusing my goodwill and offer of protection?"

Xuhan felt a chill down his back. This guy looked rather fixed on the proposal, with a fierce gaze that carried over a threatening aura. He reminded Han Xuhan of those gangsters who offered 'protection' to establishments in exchange for money. Most of the times, the protection wasn't from other threats, but the gangsters themselves.

"Erm, brother, I haven't begun cultivating yet. So I need time to reconsider something like that..."

"No problem! Just cultivate it peacefully and ask for my help if you face any trouble! Being my underling is an awesome opportunity that many would die for! Contact me as soon as you make up your mind."

He laughed uproariously and left with the scroll in his hands, leaving a flabbergasted Xuhan behind.

"With a cultivation level below the first layer of physique transformation realm, this guy is boasting about world domination???

I haven't made a wrong choice. This guy is definitely a protagonist-level character! Or a retarded young master with some powerful backing!

No one else would be dumb and proud enough to say something like this, unless they were extremely confident about their future path!

Either way, Han Xuhan needed a golden thigh to hug on to right now. This could be it!

Becoming an underling to praise his boss every five seconds and enjoying the fruits of his heaven-defying fortune like a useless trash?

The sentence sounded retarded even in his mind.

Would I, the reincarnated enigma Han Xuhan, who aims to make the heavens regret messing with me, stoop so low?

Fuck yeah. Of course I will.