Before heading to bed, Long Huang decided to take a bath, washing his robes and leaving them to dry overnight, then he headed inside.
Once inside, he changed into his sleeping attire.
If anyone saw the clothes he was wearing, they might consider him odd, as only someone from Earth or some people in Blossom City would recognize them.
There were some briefs and loose-fitting T-shirts meant for sleeping, tailored for him in the city.
The following morning, Long Huang woke up to a scene quite different from most mornings. Fog and a cool atmosphere enveloped the mountain, replacing the usual sunlight and warmth.
Noticing this, Long Huang felt annoyed, as it likely meant his robes were still damp. He checked, and as he suspected, they were.
"Fuck!"
"Well, can't leave now."
"Before heading out, I should prepare."
"Hmmm."
"I'll train the Ocean Wave Fist, and then I'll go to the city to buy some gear for camping out in the forest on the mountain range."
He thought to himself as he headed to his training ground. He then walked over to the secret box where he kept the combat arts and began studying and practicing the Ocean Wave Fist manual.
As he practiced copying the forms illustrated in the manual and envisioned the intent of the combat art, he felt his rush of combat power growing with each set he performed.
The Ocean Wave Fist was a combat art that, when fully mastered, could quadruple a person's physical combat power; it was restricted by form, and the increase only lasted 5 seconds.
Throughout the Body Tempering Realm, it was a nigh invincible art, but it lost its value afterward.
Unlike most Mortal-grade combat arts because it only increased the physical combat power and did not affect their Qi.
One must know that when fully mastered, Common-grade combat arts help users overcome minor differences in strength while exerting 85% of their body strength.
While mortal-grade combat arts allow users to utilize 100% of their physical strength and even push beyond that limit to reach up to 125%.
Additionally, they taught cultivators how to manipulate their Qi in later stages, enabling them to project their Qi out to a weapon or up to four feet from their body for attacks.
Yellow and black-grade combat arts enhanced the Qi, or battle energy, within a person, offering a substantial boost in attack abilities and combat power. As for Spirit grade and above, he paid no mind to them at the moment.
He understood that training with a high-grade combat art required reaching a high level first, with stricter conditions correlating to the strength of the combat art.
Common, Mortal, and Yellow grade combat arts were best suited for cultivators in the Body Tempering Realm to master.
While Black and Spirit level grades were usually used in the Qi Converging Realm, the minimum requirement to master most Earth-grade combat arts was reaching the Qi Condensing Realm, but they were exceptions.
While anyone at any cultivation level could use any combat art, it is unwise for lower Realm cultivators to attempt training in high-grade combat arts.
Even if they somehow succeed, they will not be able to use the art effectively due to their realm and power not being adequate; it could even cause qi blockage, in turn crippling a cultivator.
Therefore, it is best for cultivators to practice combat arts that align with their cultivation realm. This is why, despite receiving a legacy of unparalleled value, Long Huang could not access its combat arts.
The higher the grade of the combat art, the more valuable it is. High-level cultivators would be at a severe disadvantage without high-grade combat arts, sometimes even leading to their deaths in battle.
Consequently, noble families and sects typically controlled combat arts, which made these organizations appealing for a cultivator to join, since to acquire suitable high-grade combat arts, most cultivators would be willing to sacrifice almost anything.
This highlights why combat arts were often considered more valuable than pills from alchemists; they are a prized treasure for cultivators.
"Let's stick to the fundamentals," thought Long Huang after letting his mind wander off for a bit.
Long Huang continued to cultivate the Ocean Wave Fist for an entire day but was stuck just before minor completion, dripping with sweat as his shirt clung to his body.
"Almost at minor completion! Wow, what a workout!" he exclaimed.
"I believe my control over my body is at its peak."
"Previously, with a normal punch, I could unleash about 80% of my full strength. "
"But with the Ocean Wave Fist Art, First Move: Crashing Tide, almost complete, I can release not only my base of my strength but an additional 60%, totaling an astounding 25,280 pounds of strength, almost doubling my power!"
"That's insane!"
This also meant he was at least 14 times as strong as a normal Skin Tempering realm cultivator using a common-grade cultivation technique.
Long Huang's eyes filled with excitement, then he reflected;
"However, it occurred to me that there are more than just normal cultivators."
"Hmmm,"
"Compared to someone with an Earth-grade bloodline and a matching Earth-grade cultivation technique, I would only be a bit over 8.3 times as strong. With a Heaven-grade bloodline and Heaven-grade cultivation technique, I would be about 7 times stronger."
"And against someone with a rare Emperor-grade bloodline with an Emperor-grade cultivation technique, I probably might only be 4 times as strong. Though I'm not certain about the grades beyond that."
"But I know I will unlock more memories of that damn dragon after meeting the Blood Tempering Realm. "
"Ahhh, at this point, this inheritance is a pay-to-win game."
"So I will know then."
It should be considered that these strength calculations assumed that others had peak-level cultivation techniques appropriate for their bloodlines, neither above nor below, and no combat arts.
A strange sense of pleasure filled Long Huang as he thought about the prospect of fighting those geniuses.
Excitedly, he picked up the Wind Deer Steps to start practicing.
However, after reading and attempting to imitate the forms of the combat art, he failed to complete even one sequence.
Just as he was about to try again, he noticed the sun's rays growing stronger. Realizing that it was around midday, he left the training ground, took a bath, changed into his robes, and headed to the city.
Halfway down the mountain, a thought struck him.
"Oh no! I almost forgot my storage pouch. How embarrassing!"
Long Huang hurried back to his house, grabbed his storage pouch, and set off for the city once again.
Upon arriving in the city, he couldn't help but admire its beauty.
"No matter how many times I come here, it never ceases to amaze me," he said, taking in the view of the spirit cherry blossom trees scattered throughout the city.
Unlike regular cherry blossom trees, spirit cherry blossoms bloom year-round instead of just in spring.
"First, I'll need camping gear, and then some extra robes for everyday use in the forest, as they're bound to get dirty or damaged."
With that thought in mind, he made his way to a store he knew that sold camping gear to hunters, which he frequently passed on his way to the tailor shop in the past.
He arrived at the store, which had a rustic, manly vibe called Evergreen Camping. As he entered, Long Huang was greeted by Mu Chen, the owner and sole employee of the store.
Mu Chen was a middle-aged man with a thick, long brown beard and a stocky build.
"Hello there, customer! What can I help you with today?" he asked.
"I'm looking for your best camping kit," Long Huang replied.
"That will be one gold note, valued customer," Mu Chen informed him before heading back to retrieve the kit.
He had encountered many customers who asked for the best but couldn't handle the price.
"Here you go, sir," said Long Huang as he grabbed a gold note out of his storage pouch. Accepting the note, Mu Chen smiled and went to the back.
"Here's your kit," Mu Chen said, returning with a bundle in his arms.
"This kit includes 5 flame sticks, a makeshift large tent with a small portable bed, some cooking utensils, various herbs and spices, salt, and some beast-repelling powder."
"Thank you! Have a blessed day," Long Huang said as he turned to leave after storing his items.
After leaving the store, Mu Chen remarked to himself,
"What a polite sect disciple! They are usually so arrogant when shopping."
Long Huang then headed to a nearby tailor shop. Although it wasn't the only one in the city, Long Huang had a relationship with the owner, Ding.
As he entered the shop, a bell rang, and an employee greeted him with a smile.
"Hi there, de..ar customer! Welcome to Bo's Clothing Shop. How may I assist you today?" she said as she stuttered while staring at Long Huang, who was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
"Tell the owner Long Huang has arrived," Long Huang replied with a playful smile.
"Okay!" said the employee. She went to the back and called for the owner, telling him that Long Huang wanted to see him.
Bo Chow walked out from the back, exclaiming, "Look what the damn cat dra...!" Before finishing his sentence, he looked at Long Huang and asked,
"Dear customer, have you happened to see a kid about your age, but with black hair and super dark brown eyes?" said Bo Chow as he gave his employee a look of puzzlement.
Seeing all of this, Long Huang couldn't help but find it funny. Sensing that Bo Chow might think she was crazy. The employee chimed in,
"He's Long Huang, or at least that's what he claims," said the employee.
"Don't you know what Long Huang from the Azure Lotus Sect looks like? How can this man possibly be him?" Bo Chow asked, clearly perplexed.
"Maybe they just share the same name," the employee replied with a pout, both continuing to speak while ignoring Long Huang's presence.
"But he's wearing the official disciple robes of the Azure Lotus Sect."
"Huh?" Bo Chow's eyes widened in realization.
Suddenly, he shouted, "Long Huang!"