26.
The process this time went smoothly just like before. By the time it took an incense to burn, his strength was already improved by another realm.
"It's alive?" It was at this moment, that Yang Ze felt like his Qi was alive. Compared to the middle stage of Qi Guiding, his Qi was increased by more than twentyfold. Other than the vast increase in the Qi, there was also a lingering feeling that the Qi in his body was alive.
Picking up a stick from the bank of the stream, Yang Ze submerged it in the water before directing his Qi towards it. The moment his Qi came into contact with the stick, he felt an incredible lifelike connection to it. It was as if this stick was a part of his body. After slightly pulling his hand back, Yang Ze thrust the stick into the ground.
"Sssss." Even though he didn't use any force, the stick pierced the ground like a hot knife going through butter.
"Hisss." Amazed by the strength, Yang Ze threw away the stick before forming the black tiger claw on his hand. Compared to the previous time, the claws had a metallic lustre on them and appeared more corporeal. Checking the Qi consumption, Yang Ze finally breathed a sigh of relief. Right now, he made an estimate of using the Black Tiger Blade Technique more than fifty times before emptying his Qi. Compared to the last time, this was a huge improvement.
Jumping out of the stream, Yang Ze wiped his body before putting his clothes back on. At this time he looked at the screen in front of him again.
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{Name: Yang Ze}
{Realm: Late Stage Qi Guiding}
{XP: 0
{Technique: Seaheart Art Fourth Layer}
*Reached the limit of knowledge. (Can be Derived further from Yang Yuanzhen) (Spirit stones 3/2) +
{Efficiency: 100 XP/day}
{Level: 1} (3/10 spirit stones needed to upgrade)
--------------------------------------------------------
"Oh come on, I still need to derive it." Cursing in his mind, Yang Ze gritted his teeth before deriving the Seaheart Art further. Just like before, he saw the figure of Yang Yuanzehn in front of him practising a completely different set of breathing than before. This time, however, the flow of his Qi was entirely different. After a long time, the illusory figure faded before the entire fifth layer was imprinted in his mind.
------------------------------------------------------
{Name: Yang Ze}
{Realm: Late Stage Qi Guiding}
{XP: 0/1500}
{Technique: Seaheart Art Fourth Layer}
*Reached the limit of knowledge.
{Efficiency: 100 XP/day}
{Level: 1} (1/10 spirit stones needed to upgrade)
--------------------------------------------------------
Looking at the single piece of spirit stone in his hand, Yang Ze wanted to cry out loud. It was so hard to earn these stones, yet didn't take a lot of time to spend them all.
Walking back to his room, Yang Ze enjoyed the scenery while humming a tune. During the past two days, the village seemed to be preparing for the upcoming festival. The old man told him that the festival was held to worship the mountain god. It is their way of thanking the god for the protection and resources.
Right now, the entire village is decorated with colourful ribbons. Even though it was noon, people were already putting up lanterns in every place. For Yang Ze, the closest thing he could relate these decorations was to a birthday party but bigger and better.
The occasional whispering of the villagers, along with the chirping of insects and birds, coupled with the lukewarm weather, was making him sleepy. There were even new faces in the village that were joining in the celebrations. Almost all of the newcomers were wearing long robes with the letter Hua engraved on their sleeves. All of them were helping out the villagers with decorations.
Looking at the peaceful and harmonious scene in front of him, Yang Ze sighed for a long time. Making his way back home, he pulled out the chair and sat on it before slowly drifting into sleep.
.....
"Hey, Meng Hao. Wake up, buddy." Opening his eyes, the first thing that came to his view was the face of Elder Cheng. Right now in the light of the moon, his face seemed especially energetic.
"What happened?" Stretching his body, Yang Ze spoke in a lazy tone. His voice was mixed with the feeling of annoyance as if he was greatly annoyed by the fact that someone woke him up from his peaceful sleep.
"It's time for the worship of the mountain god."
"Huh? Wasn't it supposed to be tomorrow?" There was a hint of confusion in his voice as if he was still confused by this sudden change of plan.
"Did you even hear what I properly told you yesterday?" With a snort, elder Cheng continued. "Today we will make offerings and tomorrow will be the celebration."
"Now. Hurry up or we will be late."
"Okay, okay. Geez." After making sure his clothes were in proper order, Yang Ze nodded to elder Cheng before walking towards the distance.
The place of the offerings was located up above the mountain on a stone platform, surrounded by small trees. Even Yang Ze was able to see the dimly lit light on top of the mountain where the offerings were being made.
"What should I do there?"
"Well, an ancestor from the family has arrived here too. So, after he makes the offerings, the rest of us can go there. You see, we make offerings and then make wishes. It is said that only those who are worthy have their wishes fulfilled. Since you are already here, you might as well take this chance. Who knows if you will have your wish fulfilled."
"Hmm."
In less than half an hour, both of them reached their destination. Looking at the scene in front of him, Yang Ze nodded in satisfaction. In front of him was a stone platform etched around one meter above the ground and in the middle of the platform was an old tree. Just one look at it and one could see that it was nearing the end of its lifespan. Below the tree, on the platform, plates upon plates of food were placed. The paper lanterns which were placed at a distance of two meters from one another were lighting up the area, giving it a hazy feeling.
Just below the stone platform, an old man was sitting on the carpet cross-legged. He seemed to be in his late nineties with wrinkles all over his face and a body that was thin as paper.
"He is the ancestor?" Narrowing his eyes, Yang Ze asked Elder Cheng who still had a smile on his face.
"Yes, he is."
Slowly the place was crowded with villagers and the newcomers of the Hua family. After an hour, the old man sitting on the ground slowly opened his eyes.
"Old Li." His voice seemed to be trembling.
"The slave is here." Old Li slowly made his way near him, before standing there respectfully.
"Is everything prepared?" Standing up, the old man didn't even look back. His gaze focused on the tree the entire time.
"Yes." Old Li's back was still bent ninety degrees, it was the way of him showing extreme respect to the old man in front of him.
"Very well, then we shall start." Without wasting another second, the old man picked up the incense and slowly held it in front of him with the help of two hands.
"We are extremely thankful to you for providing us with this land abundant in resources."
With these words, the prayer started. At this moment, even the insects that were usually very active during this time of night seemed to be silent. The only sound other than his was the sound of the breeze.
"We are thankful to you for providing us with food."
"We are thankful to you for providing us shelter."
"We are thankful to you for providing us a place to call home."
"We are thankful to you for..."
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA."
It was at this moment, that a sudden burst of laughter shattered the peace. It was as if the time itself had stopped moving. The sound of the old man stopped abruptly. On the side, Elder Cheng and Hua Lin were standing with grave expressions on their faces. Even the old Li who was bowing at the side of the old man stood up and looked at the person laughing. The entire village and the newcomers from the Hua family stood up in their place before looking in the direction of the laughter.
At this moment, Yang Ze stood there, laughing, with his hands on his stomach. It was as if he just heard the funniest thing in his life.
"Haaa... Haa... OOf..." Taking deep breaths, Yang Ze calmed himself before looking in front of him.
It was at this moment, that the old ancestor of the Hua family who never once took off his eyes from the tree in front of him, slowly turned his body before looking at Yang Ze.
In the night of the starry sky, in a place untouched by the men, the figure of two people seemed to be staring at each other. The eerie silence of the night which was enough to strike fear in the bravest of the heart seemed to be the symphony of the event that was about to unfold.