Chapter 107: Spiritual Object! Investigating the Situation
Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Spiritual Object! Investigating the Situation
For several days straight, Zhu Ge was immersed in the Martial Dao.
Cultivation of the Martial Dao could not be rushed, nor could it be taken too slowly.
Zhu Ge had more or less mastered his various martial skills and Body Techniques.
While not yet perfect, he could be considered proficient.
In comparison, his progress with the Great Sun Glaze Body was the slowest.
Body Refinement!
This was something most people considered extremely difficult.
However, Zhu Ge had already passed the most difficult hurdle in cultivating the Great Sun Glaze Body: achieving soul separation during his Mortal Era.
After that, all that remained was the long process of Wind Refining—using the wind to temper his body and forge a Vajra Indestructible Body.
Now, Zhu Ge could fully withstand the wind inside the coffin. So tonight, he stepped out of it and into the small wooden cabin.
"Haaaah..."
Feeling the faint, almost imperceptible airflow around him, Zhu Ge took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
"Little Sister, stand guard outside for me. Don’t let anyone in."
"Okay, Brother!" Hua Liusha replied.
Hearing Hua Liusha’s response, Zhu Ge closed his eyes.
The first time Zhu Ge had tried Wind Refining, he had been a little nervous, and the agonizing pain was incredibly difficult to endure.
That kind of pain made one subconsciously want to avoid the practice.
Even Zhu Ge had initially found himself subconsciously trying to avoid this Cultivation Technique, thinking of other ways to increase his strength instead.
’Because it really, really hurts!’
But Zhu Ge deeply understood the importance of survival.
It was like the college entrance exams; someone who disliked math could naturally choose to avoid it and focus on improving their scores in other subjects.
But after recognizing one’s own weakness, avoidance was the worst possible choice.
What was the best choice?
To face the difficulty head-on!
That’s why he had always suppressed the urge to avoid it and forced himself to do Body Refinement.
After practicing for so long, he was finally starting to see results and reap the rewards of Body Refinement...
Instead of dread, a few threads of anticipation now grew in his heart.
’Let’s see how much the wind in this room can temper my physical body.’
Zhu Ge activated the Cultivation Technique, and his soul immediately left his body.
His giant, egg-shaped soul flew out. It observed his physical body while he counted silently in his mind.
Even though his soul was outside its shell, he could still feel the intense pain.
One could only imagine how much more painful it would be if his soul couldn’t leave his body.
’That’s about enough.’
After about ten seconds, Zhu Ge’s soul returned to his body.
In an instant, sharp pain flared up from all over his body.
Accustomed to the pain, Zhu Ge merely frowned.
’Ten seconds inside the room is equivalent to three minutes in the coffin?’
Zhu Ge made a quick calculation and arrived at a rough estimate.
Previously, inside the coffin, his body could withstand the wind for a full three minutes.
Now, after coming into the room where the airflow was stronger, his body could only endure it for ten seconds.
’First, I need to rest.’
Zhu Ge relaxed his body, letting his muscles, bones, and internal organs adjust to the changes.
Then, his thoughts drifted to the Spiritual Objects he had consumed before.
For a Martial Artist, what one ate was very important.
It wasn’t just about eating Demon Beasts; after all, what they could provide was limited.
One also had to consume all sorts of Spiritual Objects.
Some benefited the internal organs, some nourished the heart and meridians, and others strengthened muscles and bones... The list went on.
’I wonder if there are any Spiritual Objects like Deep Blue Fruits, Mercury Fruits, or Milk Fruits around here.’
Previously, the Raincoat Fisherman had tried to win Zhu Ge over with a Spirit Level fruit.
It was called the Deep Blue Fruit, a low-grade Spirit Level item. When consumed along with its leaves and stem, it had a beneficial effect on the body.
Later, when Zhu Ge went to River Mouth Pass, one of the pass commander’s subordinates tried to bribe him with a Mercury Fruit, hoping to get information out of him.
That Mercury Fruit was harvested from the Red River next to River Mouth Pass.
When taken together with the pulp wine made from Milk Fruit berries that the Raincoat Fisherman had given him, it could extend one’s life and benefit the internal organs.
Then there was the bear heart and so on... With the help of these Spiritual Objects, Zhu Ge had broken through to the Mid-Anger Realm.
Now that his body was sore and he needed to replenish all kinds of energy to strengthen his physique, this method naturally came to mind.
’Some natural treasures could enhance my body, but unfortunately, I lack the means to identify them.’
Zhu Ge felt it was a shame.
Spiritual Objects?
His grass bowl was full of them!
But he didn’t recognize a single one, so he didn’t dare to eat them randomly.
Back then, to teach him a lesson, the Raincoat Fisherman had deliberately not told him that the Deep Blue Fruit had to be eaten with its own stalk and leaves, or else it would shred his insides.
Now, with so many Spiritual Objects in his grass bowl, if he ate them without knowing their properties or how to identify them, it would be a death sentence.
’Or maybe I’ll have a chance to visit other cities later.’
Zhu Ge thought carefully.
He needed knowledge!
Only with enough knowledge could he convert the Raincoat Fisherman’s entire legacy into his own strength.
Yuan Yang City was out of the question for now, so he would have to go somewhere else.
The nearest place should be a city called "Jianshui."
’Jianshui City happens to be not far from Mengla Slope. I can check on Yu the Scholar and the others while I’m there.’
Zhu Ge was tempted.
The first few days of the war were the most dangerous, so he had only moved around the vicinity of the valley.
Several days had passed now; he could go and check on the general situation.
After the Red River Dragon Python and the Plague God Sparrow officially declared war on Red River Prefecture, the outside world was swarming with Demon Beasts.
Zhu Ge had been lucky; the density he encountered was normal, as the valley he was in was remote and had established Demon Beast territories.
But what about cities like Jianshui City? Or small villages like Jianshan Village?
Zhu Ge suspected that the large cities were struggling to get by, while many of the small villages had likely been wiped out and massacred.
But now, the war would shift from surprise attacks to skirmishes and a war of attrition.
The situation would also stabilize a bit.
’I’ll eat something to recover my stamina first. Then, tonight, I’ll go check on the general situation. I hope Jianshui City hasn’t been massacred.’
Zhu Ge took a deep breath and walked out of his wooden cabin.
As soon as he stepped out, some red mist rose from the ground and drilled into his body.
This was Hua Liusha, who had been standing guard outside.
Meanwhile, not far from the cabin, Liu Jianjian was sparring with Sword Hero.
Liu Jianjian’s black hair billowed, all of it stretching out in front of her. Each strand seemed to gleam with a metallic luster.
This hair was actually the spines of her true hedgehog form. After learning the Demon Hunting Divine Technique, these spines had become one of her combat methods.
Sword Hero, on the other hand, had reverted to its true form. Its six legs became six long clubs, clashing against her hair with the sound of striking metal.
Sword Hero wielded its six legs much more fluidly than before, just like real clubs.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The two were entangled in a fierce, evenly matched battle.
At times, Liu Jianjian would close in, her fair, tender fists smashing against Sword Hero’s body.
At other times, Sword Hero’s legs would break through Liu Jianjian’s long hair and strike her at the waist.
However, both of them were Demon Beasts, so this level of fighting was just sparring, a warm-up.
While they sparred, the two were also standing guard for Zhu Ge.
"That’s enough. We’re heading out tonight, so save your strength!" Zhu Ge called out.
Liu Jianjian and Sword Hero stopped immediately.
"Master, are we going out again?" Liu Jianjian asked, walking over excitedly.
Sword Hero, meanwhile, shrank its body and hopped onto Liu Jianjian’s shoulder.
When Sword Hero transformed, it didn’t take a human form, so it could only grow larger or smaller.
"Yes. Many days have passed. It’s time to check on the situation in the cities," Zhu Ge said with a nod.
"First, let’s roast and eat that deer—the shapeshifting Deer Demon we caught two days ago."
"After we eat and rest, we’ll hit the road!"