Could it really be that... I can't make it onto the new book chart? Votes, so scarce~~~
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This discovery invigorated Yang Kai. After cultivating for three years in the Lingxiao Pavilion, he had only reached the third level of Body Tempering. But ever since he obtained the wordless black book, he broke through to the fourth level the very next day. Now, after just two more days, he was about to break through again. Even Yang Kai himself found this cultivation speed somewhat terrifying.
Practicing the Body Tempering Technique was extremely draining. Yang Kai rested for a long while before he gradually recovered. He then ate the remaining rice balls and set out to continue his search for herbs.
Yesterday, he had already searched all the places he remembered where herbs should be. Today, he would have to rely on luck. Fortunately, these ordinary-grade herbs were not of great value, and not everyone who saw them would pick them, so he still managed to find some.
Throughout the day, Yang Kai found seven or eight more herbs, and even two Three-Leaf Residual Soul Flowers. Now he had finally gathered all the herbs needed for cultivation, though the quantity was rather meager.
Time flew by, and when night fell, Yang Kai was still wandering in the forest. It wasn't that he didn't want to rest; he was simply too hungry.
He had hoped to hunt some game today, but he hadn't even seen a rabbit. He only found a few fingernail-sized wild fruits, which were so sour they made his teeth ache, and after eating them, he felt even hungrier.
If only he had brought more rice balls. He regretted not doing so! With no village in sight, where could he find food?
Just as he was feeling extremely hungry, Yang Kai suddenly saw a flicker of light in the forest ahead. His spirits lifted, and he hurriedly walked toward it.
Those who dared to start a fire in the wilderness were either inexperienced fools or confident experts. This time, Yang Kai encountered the latter.
As he approached the fire, a voice barked, "Who's there!"
At the same time, Yang Kai felt his skin tighten, and a cold shiver ran down his spine. He saw two figures, one tall and one short, both looking at him with extreme caution.
The tall one was a burly man holding a bow with an arrow nocked and drawn, the tip pointing at him. Beside the man was a boy of about eleven or twelve, whose eyes were bright and fearless, even eager. The boy also held a bow, though much smaller and less powerful.
Despite being pointed at by two drawn bows, Yang Kai felt no anger. When traveling, one must always be cautious, and their actions were understandable.
"Don't be nervous, I'm just here to gather herbs," Yang Kai quickly said.
Hearing this, the man and the boy carefully examined him. The burly man slowly lowered his bow and patted the boy, signaling him to relax. He then smiled and said, "I thought the fire had attracted some fierce beast. It was a false alarm."
"Sorry, sorry," Yang Kai said with an awkward smile.
The burly man was generous, waving him over. "Come on, the night is cold. It's not easy to make a living out here."
Yang Kai thanked him and walked over to sit by the fire. The burly man kept looking at Yang Kai, noticing his thin and bony frame, and felt a bit sympathetic.
Since they were sitting together, they naturally started chatting. Yang Kai learned that they were a father and son who lived at the foot of the mountain and made a living by hunting. Though not wealthy, they managed to get by. The boy, though young, was already an experienced hunter, having entered the Blackwind Mountain many times with his father, with more forest experience than Yang Kai.
Yang Kai also introduced himself. When they learned he was a disciple of the Lingxiao Pavilion, the burly man was slightly surprised, and the boy became even more curious, his bright eyes constantly darting over Yang Kai.
The man said, "My son also wanted to practice martial arts, but his talent was lacking, so he was sent back. He admires martial artists very much."
This made Yang Kai recall his own experiences over the past three years, and he felt a sense of empathy, reaching out to pat the boy's head.
As they were talking, Yang Kai's stomach growled, much to the boy's surprise. The boy then smiled, took out some dry rations from his bag, and offered them to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai was touched but didn't reach out to take them, instead looking at the burly man. The man smiled and said, "Go ahead, you don't seem to have eaten much today."
Yang Kai didn't refuse and quickly devoured the rations.
After chatting for a while, the three of them settled around the fire to sleep. Yang Kai didn't dare to sleep too deeply, staying in a light sleep to be ready to help the hunter and his son if any danger arose, as a way to repay their kindness.
But nothing happened throughout the night.
When dawn came again, Yang Kai quietly left before the hunter and his son woke up, leaving two herbs as a thank-you for the food.
If crushed, these herbs had some healing properties, which would be useful for the hunter and his son, who often ventured into the forest.
As the purple mist rose in the east, Yang Kai practiced the Body Tempering Technique for about half an hour. When he finished, he inhaled a breath of purple mist, and his body's meridians suddenly trembled. A warm sensation spread throughout his body, and his qi surged, pulsing within his meridians.
Fifth level of Body Tempering! His feeling yesterday was right; he was indeed about to advance. After just half an hour of cultivation today, he had truly broken through.
Yang Kai was overjoyed, and his anticipation for the Proud Bone Golden Body Technique grew even more.
In just a few days since obtaining the Proud Bone Golden Body Technique, he had already broken through twice. This cultivation speed was unparalleled. Even with limited cultivation time, how fast would it be if he could practice continuously?
Yang Kai himself was amazed. However, the Body Tempering stage was just the foundation for martial artists, so it was naturally faster to cultivate. As his realm advanced, the speed of improvement would likely slow down.
After resting, Yang Kai continued his search for herbs.
He had a good day, gathering over a dozen herbs and even catching a fat rabbit, which relieved his hunger.
On the third day in the mountain, Yang Kai ventured deeper into the Blackwind Mountain, almost reaching the thirty-mile limit of the outer area. He didn't dare to go further, as with his current strength, encountering fierce beasts or birds would only result in him fleeing, and he might even become their prey.
Although he didn't venture too deep, his harvest today was much greater than the previous two days. He gathered over twenty herbs, and with the previous two days' harvest, he had nearly forty herbs this time. However, the two types he needed were still in short supply.
Finding forty herbs in three days, though all of low-grade ordinary quality, was still a significant harvest. He could exchange them for contribution points at the sect, which would be quite a lot. But this took a lot of time away from cultivation, making it somewhat counterproductive.