Filling the barrel with hot water, Amon put the herbal ingredients in. Most of them were in the form of grey flour with some of them being pills which revolved in water.

It's almost ready.

Removing his clothes Amon entered the boiling water in the barrel.

The pain sensation which was mentioned wasn't that painful to Amon. It got easier and easier for his body and mind to adapt to such pain.

His body absorbed the herbal liquid which was the result from the herbs revolving in the boiling water.

Amon could feel his bones and muscles thickening as black excrement seeped out from his pores.

Becoming stronger...the best feeling ever!

The first level of the [Bluestone Body]- Stone Level. At this level, one's hands could crush a fist-sized stone to pieces without applying one's energy.

Amon didn't forget to verify his level as he had picked a stone from outside and put it close to the barrel. He could feel that this wasn't his limit as he crushed the stone with ease.

Finishing his bath Amon dressed and cleaned the barrel after which he took the short swords he took from the training hall.

The only thing that prevented him from training was the need to eat. As for why he was training? The stronger you are the more you live. At the materialising stage, 100 years of life are added to the cultivator.

For 100 years he could explore lots of places, have fights, taste all the tasty foods and maybe love. Plus his ambition didn't simply lie in the materialising stage. The more the better.

Coming out with a sword in each hand, Amon started performing [Dance of Mo Ye] after which he would begin [Dance of Gan Jiang] and repeat it.

The prototype page was no longer needed as the dance was memorized. Amon tried to bind it with blood but nothing happened and in the end, he burned it.

It brought him such benefits that people might actually kill him for them. It unlocked more and more energy paths which Amon discovered as he circulated his energy, and maybe even improved affinity as he would gather energy faster and in higher quality.

The moves were all in his head. Amon was no saint. He didn't like splitting with others, this benefit was one he found alone. Plus no one shared a thing with him and that was good from one side.

Being a slave or servant was out of the question. The least he would be was someone who owed a favour and he didn't wish for that to happen too, not if it wasn't necessary.

The first dance was completed in two and a half minute and so was the next one. His speed in performing this sword dance was getting faster and faster.

His movements were swift, cutting without facing barriers, creating the sound of cutting air and also making wind.

The night passed and morning came. Amon was much better as the training didn't cause any problems to his body like yesterday, rather he felt better and better.

Making himself a big breakfast, Amon also changed his sweaty robes. He planned to stay and practice for the next two days until the duel.

That's why he took lots of food ingredients with his monthly payment of 1000 silver coins. The norm was 500 but prodigies were two times the worth of a normal disciple.

I from a servant became a prodigy...earning so much, I still remember how I was sold for 140 coppers...

Amon was remembering his past as he ate his breakfast.

I need to stop training with my robes on...this hair is also bothering me. Thought Amon as he came out from the house bare-chested while tying a cloth as a headband on his forehead.

Picking up the swords he left, Amon began practising again but this time he began with the [Dance of Gan Jiang]. In the night he would prepare a bath for tempering his body.

The two days were passing like Amon's dancing, swiftly.

.

During this time, rumours started flying about Amon, saying that was afraid to show up from his house since he was afraid of the duel with Thomas.

Everyone was was wrong though as Amon was the first one to actually show himself on the arena. He simply sat and waited for Thomas to show up.

Thomas on the other hand still wasn't in the arena. There was a time limit of an hour which Amon saw on the duel board. If one of the duelists didn't show in this one hour, it was a win for the one who showed up.

Since it was a fight between two prodigies, the public was bound to be big. Amon still managed to find teacher Boris and Tai Zi and nodded at them with a confident expression.

This guy is trying to look cool by coming at the last moment...trying to look like some badass huh...gotta beat him fast.

Time passed fast and just a minute or two before the one hour limit was about to pass, Thomas jumped in it, instantly gathering the attention and cheers from everyone.

"Sorry for being late Amon, I didn't expect you to come...but im here and I promise to end it fast!"

"You like to talk a lot don't ya? I'm not sure whether you are actually a man or just an undercover girl. How making a man's bet with me, if you are a man, that is." Proposed Amon as he was still seated. Standing up he continued.

"Let's bet magical equipment."

"Haha, Amon, you don't have magical equipment to bet with?!? Kids like you also have no right to bet with me." Argued Thomas, making a big part of the public laugh with him.

"Like it or not Thomas, I am a prodigy. Earning merit points is an easy matter for me if I take up a few missions on. Whether you have the balls to bet with me, a kid, however, is another thing. If you are afraid of betting, we can just begin." While saying this Amon started stretching up. No weapon, no equipment, just some red robes.

This, of course, infuriated Thomas. People were actually expecting him to accept the bet. He, a son from the Edison family actually declined a duel from a kid?

"I accept! Let the judge record that! If you win, take my sword. However, if I win I will be waiting for my magic equipment in the span of a month, then you'd be hunted by me! Now take a weapon from somewhere!"

"Don't worry about me... I don't need a weapon for the likes of you!"