The Indomitable Martial God

Sky Chu

Ling stood before his brother Sky Chu, the sixth prince who was two years younger than him but already at the peak of the late earth stage. When they were much younger they had common ground despite not being too close but since Chu started to awaken his inner chi he started to feel more confident and looked down on Ling despite him being the older.

Ling did not want to fight Chu and expose his newfound strength, but he hated Chu for being the only one who casually sought him out. No one would put an end to it, since it was not against the law of their clan for the princes to spar with each other. Ling was always seen as a joke.

Chu would be one of the people he could not attack if he could, the real reason he felt threatened by him was because of his mother— the second queen, Tasha. The clan leader married four wives, the first being Queen Jezbul was the most powerful of the wives. She had the highest privileges and respect in all of the noble household, she had never set her sights on Ling even when his mother was alive which Ling considered a good thing. He feared her the most. She bore the first and third princes who were considered the most powerful martial cultivators in the Sky clan.

The second queen was the one who Ling hated the most, this was Queen Tasha. She was the one who challenged his mother the most, the only one who made a mockery of Ling and even openly tired to kill him once. She hated Ling's mother most of all and saw her as a threat to her power for a reason Ling could not discern. Queen Tasha bore three children for the clan leader, the second, forth and sixth princes.

The third queen was the mother of Ling, this was Queen Elise. She was the most kindhearted and softest person among the wives the clan leader had. Till Ling was born she lived in peace but after his disgrace of an existence was born it tainted her existence in the eyes of the clan and everyone slowly turned their back to her. She died of a strange illness which Ling believed to be caused by the second queen, he had very little proof to go by it. But what made it certain was the fact that the second queen was the only one to show up to his mother's burial to mock him.

The fourth queen was Belle, she was the youngest queen and the only one who did not look down on Ling. When his mother was still alive she was friendly to him but after her death she neglected him like the others, she did not mock him but she did not give him face either. She had the seventh prince who was still an infant, prince Red.

Chu's proud snort annoyed Ling more than any of his other siblings, he wished he could avoid the fight. "Common you trash brother, I heard you wanted to train so fight me like always. I've been waiting outside the room to pummel your face for a day now so don't be shy, if you want I'll fight you with one hand behind my back."

Ling hissed as the blood flowing from his nose dropped unto his shirt. "Dammit, you got blood on my shirt."

The illusionary dragon appeared next to him and said. "He's stronger than you, I advise not to fight him."

Ling at least knew that much but he was not given much of a choice, he wasted no time and darted forward. His footwork lighter than usual, he could see that Chu was a bit shocked by this but the proud brat quickly absorbed the information like a sponge.

Indeed he handicapped himself but his eyes followed Ling who was now closing on him, when the gap became shorter he threw a strong kick for his face. Ling blocked the kick with his arm, the impact caused his body to tremble and he lost his balance for a few seconds. That enough time was needed for Chu to send him flying backwards with a strong blow to the face.

"For a minute there I thought you were putting an effort, don't bore me." Chu said cheerfully his voice like a serpent buttung at Ling's conscience.

Ling grunted as he climbed back up to his feet, his mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood, as the red fluid was starting to roll down to his chin. The pain he felt now was a reminder to the weakness he used to feel, even if it would take a miracle he wanted to smash Chu's face into a pole.

The illusionary dragon of the system which had been hovering around lazily looked at him with empty eyes and said. "I'm disappointed, why not try utilizing chi into your attacks?"

Ling had unknowingly resorted to throwing his blows aimlessly as always. He tried to shut Chu's proud snorts from his head and focus on his internal energy, he tried to envision his inner core. He closed his eyes, he could see a small blue ball pulsing, he could feel the energy moving to every path of his body, he could guide it if he focused enough.

The difference between a earth rank martial cultivator and a sky rank cultivator was how they used chi. An earth rank cultivator could use chi at a bare efficient form but the amount they could use was limited due to their weak cores. A sky rank cultivator could circulate chi across their entire body unconsciously, one of the biggest hurdles that one could face for them to advance to the sky rank was if they failed to control their chi flow.

Ling despite it being his first time circulating chi consciously quickly got the hang of it. But his brother's rantings made it a bit hard for him to focus.

"Common Ling, as an senior you have to teach your junior a lesson." Chu remarked with joyful eyes.

In that moment Ling opened his eyes and exhaled. "Don't worry, this senior will teach you a lesson you will never forget."