“So we just get stronger in the next three days?” Chun asked his other half as they both lounged in what they had begun calling their ‘dream room’. He was leaning against the central table and looking at the map of the Sapphire Port.
“Well, we have already hit the Second Martial Stage. And made some fantastic improvements from it.” Ethan said as he pulled up the notifications that had appeared to him just before sleep had taken him.
Due to Dual Cultivating with a martial artists of a higher stage than yourself, you have progressed 40% towards the Second Martial Stage
Second Martial Stage Reached: +10 Vitality, +10 Internal Energy, +4 Strength, +7 Speed, +3 Endurance, +4 Durability, +2 Mental Strength, +3 Internal Energy Control, +3 External Energy Control
Would you like to view the breakdown of the Marital Stage Increase? Y/N
Ethan clicked the ‘Y’ option as several more notifications appeared.
Stage Increase Bonus: +1 to all attributes, +5 Vitality, +5 Internal Energy
Awakened Bloodline (Beast): +2 Strength and Speed
Awakened Bloodline (Spirit): +2 Internal Energy Control and External Energy Control
Awakened Bloodline (Demon): +2 Endurance and Durability
Special Physique: +2 Speed
Muscle Control Art: +1 Strength
Iron Body Art: +1 Durability
Refined Steps Art: +1 Speed
Light Jump Art: +1 Speed
Clear Mind Art: +1 Mental Strength
Overwhelming Vitality: +5 Vitality
Massive Reserve: +5 Internal Energy
Naturally, Ethan followed this up by opening his status sheet and taking in his increase in power.
Name: Chun Hyang
Age: 24
Vitality: 60/60
Internal Energy: 35/35
External Energy: 0/0
Martial Stage: 2 (20%)
Martial Tier: 1
Physical Attributes:
Strength: 10 (20%)
Speed: 17 (18%)
Endurance: 12 (18%)
Durability: 12 (97%)
Mystical Attributes:
Mental Strength: 9
Internal Energy Control: 6
External Energy Control: 3
Social Attributes:
Appearance: 5 (8)
Charisma: 3
Presence: 2
“Are you listening?” Chun’s voice suddenly broke through Ethan’s thoughts.
“Huh?” Was all the man said as he closed his sheet.
Chun’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he repeated himself. “I suggested we journey into the eastern forests outside of the Sapphire Port. Do you remember the Internal Condensing Pill?”
Ethan nodded. They had both seen it near the back of the alchemy book they had. It was a basic pill for refining one’s internal energy, albeit gradually. It was supposed to help one through the early martial stages. The only reason they hadn’t begun crafting them was its ingredients, one in particular: A beast core of a Mortal grade spirit beast. For one reason or another, they had found none in the market, it had seemed that no one sold them.
“If we go into the forest and harvest spirit beasts, we should have a considerable amount of beast cores to make pills. On top of that, we could possibly even harvest materials other than cores from the beasts to give to a craftsman to get some equipment. Though I doubt we can do that in three days. Our primary focus is harvesting beast cores.” Chun explained.
“Should we take Sariah along?” Ethan asked.
Chun looked back at the map and rubbed his beard-less chin in thought. “That may be best. We have grown considerably due to our intercourse with her. However, I’m sure you noticed her Internal Energy?” He asked, looking back to Ethan, who nodded rather grimly.
“I nearly broke the flow.” He said with a hint of sorrow. “And now it's all… weird."
During their sexual acts that finally brought Chun to the second martial stage, Sariah’s internal energy flow had become increasingly strained due to Chun pulling it into himself. He worried several times he was going to break her internal energy flow. Fortunately, Chun had stopped before that occurred. But her flow had still been left weakened.
“She needs to reform her Internal Energy. And I suggest we refrain from having sex with her for the sake of progress. If we do so more, we could break the flow entirely, crippling her.”
“I know I know,” Ethan sighed. “Maybe our first few pills should go to her to help improve her energy flow. Despite being within the sixth martial stage, she is hardly strong enough to actually be that. Her strength and durability is what has carried her to where she is. In reality, a sufficiently trained fifth, or maybe even fourth, stage martial artist would kill her. I’m sure even a third stage could if they had the right treasures and techniques.”
Chun nodded along, agreeing with his other half. He then walked over to the exit door and slid it open. “Then let's go. We have some work to do.”
***
Waking up, and slithering from Sariah’s grasp, Chun stretched and put on his Ironweave Hanfu from his storage ring. He then turned and gently shook the large woman in his bed to wake her up.
Sariah let out a low groan at first before flailing her arms slightly as her eyes fluttered open. “Why… master… awake? Work again?” She mumbled out.
“We have a bit of a big day today. So get up, get cleaned, and get ready.” He stated, suddenly being reminded of his past life’s father.
Sariah groaned and rolled out of bed, literally. She hit the floor with a heavy thud before getting to her feet and stretching. She was still naked, naturally, but paid her master no mind as she bent over to rummage in the chest and take out her armor and the new underwear she had gotten two days ago.
Chun had turned away at the actions to not be tempted by the woman, with mixed success. But ultimately, Sariah had armored herself and attached her shield to her arm.
“So what are we doing, Master?” The woman asked as they left his home and began walking the streets of the port.
“Have you ever been to the forests around the Sapphire Port?” Chun asked after several minutes of silently walking amongst the street.
Sariah shook her head. “I arrived here on a ship. I haven’t left the port since.”
Chun raised a brow. “You haven’t left the port at all in several years?”
Sariah shook her head again. “I have not, Master.”
“And you never bothered to get a house? Or work somewhere?”
“I did work for some of the gangs, but was refused any offer to join them. I worked for whoever bothered to pay me. It was only recently that I was offered to join that tournament where I met you.” She explained. “So now I work for you.”
“Who offered?”
The woman shrugged. “I don’t know. A woman with silver hair.”
Chun thought for a moment, but couldn’t think of anyone who fit the description, not that it would have been too accurate judging by the population of the Port. Ultimately he just shrugged as they continued walking.
The two stopped by the market momentarily to purchase two items. The first was a map of the surrounding forests and roads. The second was a bestiary of the local spirit beasts. In total, the items had only cost them 2 Imperial Coins. Bringing down Chun’s wealth to a ‘measly’ 472 Imperial Coins. Still an incredibly high amount of currency for someone who technically still works as the sex worker equivalent of a school nurse.
Both of the items went into Chun’s storage ring as they walked. Though he did flip through the bestiary and make notes of some of the more common spirit beasts that supposedly roamed the forests.
Spirit beasts weren't ranked in martial stages like most warriors across Dai’Gyu. Due to each beast's varying abilities, strength, and weaknesses, it was very difficult to put them into a solid category. As such, society had simply categorized the strength of spirit beasts as they did enchanted treasures: using the various quality grades to signify their power. Most of the creatures within the bestiary that Chun purchased were all Mortal grade. Though there were some more vague notes on Spirit grade beasts that were supposedly best left avoided. The book explained that generally, Mortal grade spirit beasts were around the strength of a first tier martial artist, and a Spirit grade beast equivalent to a second tier martial artist. There was also a sub-category of each grade: low, mid, upper, and peak. Which helped narrow down the power of certain beasts. Though the bestiary did state to take all categories as generalizations rather than facts.
He certainly wouldn’t be able to face practically any Spirit grade beasts, even with Sariah’s help. He made a mental note to stay clear away from any beasts of that level.
The few Mortal grade beasts that were stated to be the most common, he took note of.
The first was a Rockjaw Lizard. As the name suggested it was a large reptile roughly the size of a particularly large alligator. Its scales were made out of earth, as was its entire lower jaw. According to the bestiary, it had a mild ability to manipulate earth around it. It could throw fist-sized rocks using this ability as well. But it stated in the bestiary that they were only forceful enough to harm a normal civilian. Most martial artists would have either the reflexes or durability to make the rocks a non-issue. These were apparently ambush predators that hid themselves as rocks and waited for prey to approach.
The second he looked at was something called an Umbra Wolf. All things considered it was rather simple. It was a wolf with pitch black fur and red eyes. They roamed in packs and didn’t seem to have any supernatural abilities beyond whatever the fragments of Internal Energy that ran through their veins gave them. They roamed in packs and were guided by an alpha, a considerably larger and stronger Umbra Wolf, though it was still considered within the vague upper-tier of Mortal grade.
The third was a massive snake simply called a Titan Serpent. It was within the upper-tier of Mortal grade. It was a giant snake roughly the length of a school bus from his past life, and as thick as his entire body. The scales of the serpent were supposedly as tough as steel and rather flexible. It would make for good armor if he managed to kill one and harvest its scales. Its fangs were long and sharp. They also secreted a poison that gradually shut down the muscles of whoever it infected.
Chun himself didn’t need to worry much about the poison due to his improved immunities, but Sariah had no such defense. Then again, its fangs would have to pierce through her armor if it wanted to poison her.
The Titan Serpent were solitary creatures and rather territorial. They generally dwelled in large trees or caves. Though they were also known to make nests in old ruins.
Ultimately, Chun closed the book as they reached the edge of town. They were now at a stable where several carriages and carts were being loaded with supplies and attached to horses. The road connecting it led off into the distance. Chun could see small runes he couldn’t even begin to decipher carved into the stones of the road. Likely the warding effect they had on the spirit beasts. But they would be leaving the road anyway.
A man in a dirty tunic, likely a stable hand, walked up to them as they approached. He looked like a young man, hairless chin, thick brown hair, and a slim build just barely taller than Chun. “Hello, do you have a horse waiting for you at the stable?” He asked. His posture was slightly slumped over, as if expecting to be shouted at at any moment.
“We do not.” Chun waved his hand. “We are just venturing into the forests to hunt.”
The man’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh, you're going on an expedition?” He posed it halfway between a statement and a question. “Up north is a good area to hunt. There are quite a few nests. Oh actually,” his face brightened slightly. “Do you have a map?”
Chun nodded. With a tap of his ring, Chun showed the man his map.
With a smile on his face, the stable hand took out a pen and began writing on the parchment. He circled several seemingly random spots in the forest. He paused for a moment before making a larger circle around another section of forest and drawing a big ‘X’ across it. He then wrote small notes below each of the circles. Finally, he handed the map back. “I guide some expeditions sometimes for extra pay. I'm not a martial artist, but I know my way around the forests. I get stories from martial artists who go on expeditions all the time.” He explained.
Chun looked over the newly marked map. North of the road they were currently on, two circles labeled ‘Wolf Nest’ and ‘Serpent Sighting’ were newly marked. Further north, where the crossed out circle was, was labeled ‘Strong Gorilla(?) and ruins’.
Chun raised his brow and turned the map to the man. “Strong gorilla?”
The young man shrugged. “Some warriors on expeditions said there was a large spirit beast there that looked like a large gorilla. Supposedly it's at the peak of Mortal grade, or near it at least. I suggest you avoid it, but I'm unaware how strong you are. Regardless, it will likely be a challenge.”
Chun just nodded and put the map in his storage ring. Tapping it again he took out a single imperial coin and flicked it towards the man. “The information is appreciated." He said as he and Sariah began to walk from the city. Chun suddenly stopped before turning back to the man. “What is your name?”
“Li Xai.” The young man smiled, still holding the coin in his hand like it was a jewel.
Chun nodded to the young man, making a note to remember his name and face before he ventured into the wilderness.
***
They only walked a few miles on the road before following the map towards the nearest nest Li Xai had marked: the ‘Wolf Nest’.
It also didn't take long for Chun to remember a modifier his past life had put on him. One that attracted beasts of all kinds to his location. Though he imagined Ethan hadn't known it attracted literally every type of creature.
Chun groaned again as he slapped away what felt like the hundredth fly from his shoulder. Due to his stats, swatting them away required practically no effort. The mundane insects were far too slow to escape seventeen attribute-point’s-worth of Speed, slapping them into chunks. Unfortunately, insects were ceaseless creatures.
After only a little over two hours of roaming the forest- and coming across nothing but a random mundane stag that had decided to wander into their path (Chun had to stop Sariah from killing the creature, insisting it wasn't worth it)- they finally found their first spirit beast. Or rather, it found them.
While making their way around a particularly large boulder amongst the roots and trees, Chun had failed to notice three Rockjaw Lizards as they burst from their stony camouflage of the rock.
Fortunately, even with the element of surprise, Chun was far faster than any of the spirit beasts. The first that had launched itself at his head, with its maw wide, got an unceremonious fist to the side of its jaw. The lizard’s neck was suddenly snapped backwards as it was sent right back towards the rock it had hidden within. A low crunch echoed out as it hit it, though Chun didn't know if it was from the lizard or the rock. Regardless, the beast became limp.
The second to approach Chun got slammed into the ground with a fist to the top of its head. And the third didn't even reach Chun as Sariah grabbed its tail, and used it as an improvised weapon to smash into the rock. It let out a screech as it hit the rock. Sariah cursed before raising up the beast and slammed it against the rock again. This time it didn't make a sound and stopped struggling, falling limp.
Sariah finally let go of the lizard.
“Well, that was underwhelming,” Chun stated, looking at the three corpses and drew his sword. “Time to harvest I guess.”
It took some time to actually find the beast cores of the Rockjaw Lizards. Though they quickly learnt that the cores were generally in the chest cavity near the heart.
The cores didn't look like the illustration of one Chun had seen in his alchemy manual though. The illustration had depicted a small bronze-colored orb roughly the side of one’s thumb. The ones from the lizard looked more like a chunk of stone than anything. Had Chun not been able to identify them, he would have mistaken it as such.
Beast Core (Mortal)
Attuned Element: Earth
Purity: 21%
A beast core from a Mortal grade spirit beast. This creature was attuned to the Earth element, as such, the properties of the element have been imbued into the core. Can be consumed for a minor boost to Internal Energy Control. Beastkin or ones specializing in beastly martial techniques have an increased effect from consuming beast cores.
The one he had identified had been the highest purity beast core of the three lizards. The other two had a purity of 18% and 13% respectively. He doubted they would make very good pills due to their low purity, but he put them in his storage ring regardless. Though he was interested in the last part about Beastkin getting an increased effect from consuming raw beast cores. He wondered if that effect extended to the Internal Condensing pill.
Regardless, the two martial artists moved on towards the wolf nest. It didn't take long to find signs of the spirit beasts.
Several paths of downtroddened grass and shallow claw marks on some trees dotted an area near a small river. A nearly skeletal corpse of a creature that looked like a massive ox lay next to the river. It was fairly recent, judging by the lack of decomposition.
It was then that Sariah began to sniff the air. For a moment, Chun thought the woman was simply smelling the decomposed body, as that assaulted his own senses, but when her eyes sharpened and her head turned he noticed she had caught the scent of something. He would have to make note that the woman had an acute smell.
Sariah scanned the trees for a moment before kneeling down and closing her eyes. “I've caught something. Several things in fact, but all the same.”
“The Umber Wolves?” Chun asked.
“Likely,” she sniffed again. “They have recently hunted and have likely retreated to the heart of the nest.”
“You know where?”
“I can track.” She said coldly.
“Then we hunt.”
Despite the fact Chun couldn't see Sariah’s face with her back turned, he knew the woman was smiling.
“Then we hunt.” She echoed.