Chapter - 16
Cursed Mountains - Noend Valley
Long Chen had just finished covering the hole that he had just dug when he saw a rabbit shooting at his face. Jumping to the side, he barely dodged, and the now-dead creature firmly fell right next to his leg.
"What the fuck?" He madly bellowed.
"Who are you?" a cold voice sounded from the entrance.
After the voice finished speaking, a spear-wielding young man walked inside this small cave. He had already started releasing his aura. He judged that the young man in front of him wasn't as strong as him.
Long Chen didn't feel any pressure and calmly asked the young man: "Were you the one who shot this beast?"
"Yes. This is my prey. If you want to steal from me, come at me if you can do so !!!" The spear-wielding young man glared straight at Long Chen. He had almost been killed by this beast just now. If he didn't roast this beast, there is no place to vent his anger.
"I have no interest in eating this weird blue thing. So take it and get out." Long Chen laughed. He was waiting for the system to notify the completion of the mission.
The spear-wielding young man narrowed his eyes: "What are you doing in this place?"
'Ding. Attention, host.'
'Mission: Plant the Luminous flower seed at the Noend Valley - Completed.'
'Reward - 1: Mortal Grade Fist Technique for Body Quenching Stage. - Host can now use Fist Arts.'
'Reward - 2: Karma Points Missions can now be accessed.'
'System's honest comments: The host dug too much, but it's fine.'
'System additional comments: Chen Hong will visit this valley in future to collect the Luminous Five Petal Flame.'
"Get out." Long Chen coldly said.
The spear-wielding young man took a few steps forward and sent a fierce thrust straight at Long Chen. He thought perhaps this young man had found something in this cave and wanted to keep it for himself. Facing this, Long Chen nearly sent out a punch but controlled and just dodged.
'Ding. Attention, host.'
'Mission: Defeat the Spear-Wielder.'
'Reward: 2 Karma Points.'
'System honest comments: The host can't kill Xiong Qigang.'
"System, what the hell do you mean I can't kill this bastard?"
"Host, he still has a lot of karma left. He cannot die here."
But the angry Long Chen didn't care about the system's karma, whatever now but angrily punched. When his fist collided with the young man's spear, the young man yelled in pain; he was brutally sent back from the punch. Not allowing the other party to retreat, Long Chen once again rushed forward. With his fists clenched, he thrust it straight for the young man's face.
"HAAAA", The spear-wielding young man cried out in pain. Due to various fights before, he had no more energy to combat and only wanted to kill this young man in one jab. But he didn't think that Long Chen was more powerful than him.
"I'll remember this. I, Xiong Qigang, will take your head in the future." The spear-wielding young man stood up and ran out of the cave.
"System, why can't I beat this Xiong Qigang? I am so angry now. Are you asking me to run away in situations like this?"
"Host, this system knows that you aren't outraged but only wanted to fish out more points. And, this system can't tell you about Xiong Qigang for now."
Long Chen shrugged his shoulders.
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'Ding. Attention, host.'
'Mission: Obtain 5 beast cores.'
'Reward: 3 Karma Points.'
'System honest comments: You are already in the forest anyway.'
"Huian, do you have...?"
'Ding. Attention, host.'
'Mission: Obtain 5 beast cores.'
'Reward: 3 Karma Points.'
'System honest comments: You are already in the forest anyway.'
'System additional comments: Karma Points will be deducted if you don't obtain it yourself.'
"Young Master?" Huian asked. She has been following Long Chen during this trip. Although she didn't understand his stunts, she didn't ask.
"Nothing."
He has taken a look at the system's store. There were a lot of good things available for purchase. So he needs to complete a few missions and store these points.
'Now let's see what these Fist Arts are.' Long Chen thought. He had been so busy with the system's mission that he couldn't get a chance to check the rewards.
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During noon, the sun was shining sinisterly on the faces of two people. One person was sitting on the floor and examining intently.
A young girl wearing a white martial combat dress was standing in front of this person. Her arms stretched out, and her fist shone with deep metallic lustre under sunlight.
"Cultivation is an extensive and profound topic, since ancient times after experiencing numerous evolutions; the stages and skills of cultivation are pretty much sorted out. But, of course, it doesn't mean we now know everything." The young girl, Huian, was explaining about cultivation to Long Chen.
She then continued, "Young Master, how much are you aware of cultivation?"
"I attended one class." Long Chen replied. He didn't know much about cultivation at all.
The girl frowned a bit but then switched to a calm countenance, "There are 9 stages of mortal cultivation. However, I will now talk about the first 2 stages. They are Body Quenching and Qi refining."
"Body Quenching stage is the starting point of cultivation, Qi will circulate the body and refine the skin, bones and all organs. In this stage, the Qi appears as clouds forming."
"In the Qi refining stage, the body absorbs spiritual energy from the world and converts it to Qi inside the Dantian. Then, finally, the circulated Qi gets converted into a stream of liquid in Dantian."
Huian questioned, "Battle skills play an important role here. Not only does it increase the combat effectiveness of a practitioner but also fastens the rate of body refinement."
Huian then took the scroll from Long Chen and said, "I will explain the Starry Fist skill now. Although I don't know where you obtained it. It's a Mortal grade skill. The first chapter has only 5 moves. Tiger's Anger, Deer's horns, Bear's hand, Monkey's Hammer and Crane's thrust. Watch me demonstrate the skill."
The young girl clenched her right fist and threw a sudden punch at a giant stone in the backyard. As soon as that fist was released, he could clearly hear a loud explosive sound.
BOOM !!!!
The entire stone split apart.
Long Chen noticed a spiral around the size of the fist was printed on both sides of the rift. He wondered what would be if a person was smashed with such an explosive fist. For a long time, his emotions couldn't be calmed. So that's the power of martial arts in this world?
She then performed a series of actions and explained each punch in detail. Long Chen was extremely serious about this and took notes whilst comparing each movement to the image on the scroll.
Long Chen began to seize some of the concepts and started rehearsing each move slowly as time went by. Then, he gradually felt a sensation that began to disperse all over his body, and he began to get itchy.
"So this is the essence of the skill?" Long Chen began to understand the situation. As he kept performing the same motion, again and again, he could see progress in his physical strength and understanding.
Huian also paid more attention to Long Chen. Instead of explanations and revision, she kept pounding at him with her fist, ensuring that he could block and punch depending on her movement.
He began fighting with Huian to comprehend more about this battle skill late-night. But, unfortunately, they only stopped when his body trembled, and Long Chen couldn't find any more stability to even stand properly.
"Next time, if any of these bastards annoy me, I will smash this fist right into their face." Long Chen muttered.
Huian looked at Long Chen contemptuously.
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The Cursed Mountains was a vast mountain range situated if one walked for half a day east of Blue Cloud City. It is said that it's called Cursed Mountains due to the large number of deaths that occur in the forests within these mountains.
This is the home of creatures that are collectively called Beasts. They resided in these forests and have ruled this place for as long as one remembers.
Compared to human cultivators of the same stage, the beasts have a considerable advantage. That is, their natural body strength is higher than humans. Therefore, a Class One beast can quickly eliminate a Body Quenching cultivator without much effort.
Long Chen slowly walked in these desolated forests devoid of human presence. Then, since he was free anyway, he started practising the punching techniques that he had got from the system.
He arrived at a small lake inside these forests a few hours later. He could see a mountain range with peaks as if they were touching the sky.
This place is charming. Looking at the pristine lake, Long Chen praised in his heart.
HISSS...
As he sat down to get some rest and lunch, he noticed a movement next to the tree close by, and a tiny and light-brown creature closed in on Long Chen. By reflex, he reached out and grabbed that little creature.
That creature was a small snake. It twitched as it was grasped tightly by Long Chen. Then, he poked around the beast for a bit using his other hand.
'Is this a class one beast? It doesn't seem as strong as a Body Quenching cultivator. Is it venomous?' Long Chen analysed the snake in his hand, and with some strength, he threw it at some distance from himself. The creature slowly slithered away.
The system didn't want to accept this beast's core anyway. So there is no point in killing it.
Thank you, grandpa, for freaking the shit out of us when we were young. Now it's of some use.
Long Chen had long since walked around with great vigilance. He wasn't stupid enough to think that the beasts in this world were similar to Earth's.
At the side of the lake was a plant with a small flower on the top. Its white coloured petal glistened due to light. As Long Chen focussed, he identified it as a medicinal plant.
'Is that a Mortal grade herb needed for Recovery Pill?'
After reading through the jade slips given by Huian, he was now a little versed in the field of identifying herbs. This is a common herb usually growing around lakes and was traditionally cultivated in large areas within some clans.
Cultivators who didn't want to spend a lot of money purchasing herbs from traders typically entered the forests to collect such plants. They can be traded for money or pills in smaller stores across the city.
Long Chen then started eating his packed food.
It was now close to afternoon. Long Chen felt he had already trailed along the perimeter and now close to the inner area.
He turned around and saw the pathway of broken trees he had created, practising his punches. No wonder I didn't see many beasts.
He climbed a small mountain peak and looked at the vast landscape ahead. This peak had several small trees, and next to a slightly larger tree, he saw a beast gazing at him with its almond-shaped eyes.
The beast's fur was black except its saddle that extended from the shoulders to the base of the tail and was about his height. It stared at him as if looking at home-delivered food.
Is this the White-backed jackal? He thought.
This is a class two beast, the White-backed Jackal. With toughened fur and leg strength, it is almost equivalent to the peak of the Qi Refinement stage. The only way to kill this beast is to attack its vital parts in one attack.
Fuck.