The three went back towards the camp and saw the difference from before. Now have more guards on the entrance and were armed. They were waiting for their arrival were they? Or the other way around where they have to put more guards to the entrance as their mission was a failure.
"Did they just though that we died back there?" Asked Ren.
"Maybe, haha," Roan nearly laughed but it was low and voice shaky.
Rick could only just cover his face with his hands in sheer awkwardness. He immediately went to hurry up and meet them.
The commander then appeared from the crowed and saw them.
"You're here! I am glad that you all survived. Come with me, we need to talk." Vale said to them.
They entered the camp and then the guards made way for them to enter, clearing the path for their returned heroes.
They soon entered and the other people inside saw them.
"So young but so strong,"
"Are they the heroes the guards are talking about?"
"Yeah, maybe they are!"
One of them scoffed and spat on the ground. "They must be lucky or their enemies were puny weaklings. Or else they might be the ones dangling on that cave walls."
"Hey, they might hear you." someone said in the crowd.
"Hey, who wants to bicker with these mongrels. Coz I really really I want to." Rick said then brandished his shield and Axe.
"Nah, not worth our time, let's go," Ren complained.
The commander then ushered them to follow. They entered the tent and then saw his books and scrolls littering the floor. They immediately saw some books that was interesting.
Ren then grabbed a pouch of tags from his pockets and then gave it to the commander.
"Here's the army tags, we could not find survivors. I am sorry, we are too late to save them." Ren said to Vale.
"I see. Nah, it's fine. I didn't expect survivors anyways. As for your rewards, here it is." Vale handed them 3 gold coins each. Making the three smile.
"Thanks for the service." He gave them the gold then grabbed two books in his drawer.
"Here, read this, it will be of help." He gave them the books and then they smiled. They knew this books as it was the Beginner manuals for Breathing and mana circulation. This two books were their tickets to the academy. Alas they have a chance to become academy students.
"Thank you so much!" Ren bowed slightly.
"These books, they were beginner manuals so they were left there, rotten for ages....making use of it is much better than left hidden. You three share it as Academy entrance exam is near. You must at least break through to the second realm from both Breathing and Mana." Vale said to them.
"Thank you commander!" The three saluted at him and then were dismissed.
They immediately went to read the manuals and to their surprise, it was simple. You read the triggering sentences and then you will feel your body began to cultivate. Repeating the same paragraphs would make you circulate your breathing, same with mana.
The three began their cultivation and they have progressed. Ren was slower in his breathing but fast in his mana circulation. All due to him having an asthmatic condition, he was slow in his breathing practice. And his growth was the slowest and as well as his potential. He was having a hard time in breathing practice.
He was breathing hoarse and could not breath normally. He has difficulty in inhaling air as a norm and the energy in the surroundings although abundance, was not absorbed that much by his lungs. He still has to break through in the second realm and the academy entrance exam draws nigh. He was worried, he has to be faster in his cultivation or else he could not pass the preliminary exams.
Rick was the fastest in stamina but slow in mana. All thanks to his physique and to his Mana sickness. Though Rick was also having troubles, and that was in mana circulation. His body could not absorb mana in high pace as his core could not handle such strain that much. Or else, his core might give out and he would be back at square one where he will become back to the basics.
Though Roan was mediocre on both. Making him to be well balanced in his growth. All was due to him practicing his martial arts than cultivating. He was slacking off in his cultivation and Ren was reprimanding him.
But when he saw him training his chained double daggers, even late at night, he smiled and kept his mouth shut after that. He was the most hardworking than all of them. Meanwhile, he was slacking in his martial arts. He could not be compared to Roan.
They were all busy with their own practices and then the academy entrance exam was getting nearer and nearer. They were busy honing their skills and only Ren was in deep meditation. Rick started to worry as he was not practicing his martial arts. Though, Rick would not be boasting in front of Ren, as he felt Ren was far superior in martial combat than the three of them.
"Hey Ren, let's practice our combat skills! We are getting rusty here." Roan shouted.
"He was just low-key but I could feel it." Rick said to him.
"Feel what?" Roan was curious.
"That Ren was far more superior in combat." He said to him.
"Hmm, I wonder, I might as well test my mettle with him." Roan said to Rick.
"Up to you, but don't think I didn't warned you." He said to him.
"Yeah, thanks." He said.
With that, he opened the door towards their tent and then he saw Ren sitting in a lotus position.
He was emitting energy that was of a second realm in mana. He just broke through!
"Wow! Ren just broke through to the second realm!" Roan exclaimed.
Though Ren was unhappy. He still haven't got to break through second realm in breathing.
He immediately opened his eyes and stood up.
"Hello everyone, I was in seclusion with my cultivation. I need to break through in second realm in breathing though." Ren said worriedly.
"I might not be able to get to the deadline with this speed. I need to be cured with my illness." Ren explained.
"Well, we all have problems don't we? Let's eat a warm soup first then let's talk. You haven't eaten for days straight." Rick then patted his back as they headed to the camp center where everyone was eating.
"Yeah, let's eat." Ren replied.