Chapter 21: Western Lands!
He did.
He did.
Ken had found a proficiency technique for that weapon of his.
Even though he had never seen anything like it and had to spend his hard-earned money to gain two hours of reading time in the mountain pagoda.
He managed to get his hands on and get the proficiency technique for his weapon.
Still, it seriously was a weird weapon.
A bunch of invisible silks that could transform into chains with blades at their tips if he inputted spiritual energy into them.
He definitely never saw anything like it.
Though he liked the concept of the invisible strings and the sense of control they brought, he definitely would have no idea how to use it.
Unlike swords and the like that only had obvious movements such as slashing, thrusting, and the like.
How was one supposed to know how to use strings?
Still, it was a foregone problem now.
There was a lot of progress and changes the past month.
Having taken 2 weeks to solidify his learning plan, the previous two weeks, if not reading and helping out in the library, he was training using Spirit Forging.
Unfortunately, there wasn't much change to his strength.
[<----------Status---------->]
[<---------------------------->]
[<----------Idle-Training---------->]
[Spirit Forging - Mastery: Perfect - Time to Evolve Rank: 9 days+.]
[Xian Liansuo Proficiency - Mastery: Basic —Time to Perfect Rank: 3 Days.]
[<---------------------------------->]
It was almost despairing.
Having trained Spirit Forging to a level beyond discipline, and yet seeing minor results hurt beyond words.
But Ken understood why that was so.
Spending a month in this world with his way of gaining information, he finally ascended from being clueless, knowing more than the majority of the freshman, aside from those who came from prestigious clans and families.
But so far, he had yet to meet them; they formed their own cliques.
Regarding the physical path, the way to advance and break through was different from the spirit path.
He had come to understand that the technique he was using, Spirit Forging, was severely lacking when it came to training in this path.
The physical path required something more than just bashing yourself and hoping you become stronger.
This worked; yes, he was twice as strong as a month ago and 4 times as strong as any cultivator.
But that didn't stop the fact that Spirit Forging had so much wasted potential... potential that couldn't be gained.
Even if he wanted to, he couldn't.
He had noticed that after his two skills had evolved, they had to start from basic mastery again, as arts, and once they were perfected, a new column opened up for him.
So now, his mastery over Spirit Cultivation and Efficiency Records was better than the elder teaching them.
The minor flaws of the technique were completely fixed, and it was as if he had the perfect cultivation manual in his hand.
But 'minor' flaws were the key.
It meant that while cultivation was faster and most of the dangers weren't there anymore for him, the technique was the same.
At most, he would be twice to thrice as fast as his old self and around the level of geniuses who had perfected the technique.
What took others with basic mastery 1 year to achieve would take him a short 2 to 3 months.
For efficiency records, he was unparalleled against those of the same realm, and his 'basic' mastery over mainstream weapons had almost reached that of an adept.
His hand-to-hand combat would allow him to swat another disciple to the ground before the latter knew what was happening.
Knowing the flaws of the technique the enemy used against him allowed him that much.
But for Spirit Forging... the flaws were major.
This wasn't about the technique; it was about the lack of knowledge of the creator and the unique characteristics of the alien physical path.
Having perfected it 10 days ago, he was provided with information about a group of people from a land much farther than their own.
"Beyond the barriers set by worldly laws exist lands where wits do a man no help." Ken recited the information that was absorbed like a sponge by his mind.
Beyond the land of spirit cultivation, where beings fight over land with strategy and actions planned many years ahead.
There exists the polar opposite.
When being smart gives you no justice.
When no amount of preparation could save you.
There exist brutes. Merciless warriors who believe in nothing more than power and war.
Lands where houses were given up on due to their frequent destruction.
Lands where martial artists and knights of unfathomable strength fought for supremacy.
A group of unrelenting warriors who paint their path with blood and walk on thorns, striking fear in beasts before humans.
And a group of noble knights who believe in human supremacy. Those with might and achievements enjoy unlimited wealth and pleasure, while those of lesser backgrounds and no merits are nothing more than slaves.
In this land, lush forests are abundant, and beasts become nothing more than ingredients for those treading the physical path.
Wars over lands and secret realms are waged on a daily basis, and the knights seeking luxury defend relentlessly against the challenge-seeking warriors.
While one side becomes stronger through consuming treasures, the other does so through battles and challenges that no one in their right mind would risk their lives for.
From head to toe, both sides of humanity are different in attire, language, manners, and perspective.
But their core is one and the same.
Breathing.
-----End-----