"How's the cultivation?" Song Yunlan asked.
"I will probably reach Rank 1 late stage in two days," Li Gang replied firmly. No matter how mature he acted, he only wanted to be a child in front of his mother. Though he had learned to suppress his emotions beneath a calm expression, it did not mean he had lost them.
Song Yunlan smiled with relief. "You did well."
Li Gang couldn't help but return a genuine smile. Perhaps his mother was the only one who could still draw it out of him.
"I have good news for you," Song Yunlan said suddenly.
Li Gang's thoughts stirred. 'Did she agree? Impossible. With her pride, she would never lower herself to accept someone with such poor aptitude as me.'
"Wang Xueyao agreed to the marriage," his mother said gently. "We have decided to hold the wedding after the Monarch Inheritance ends. No one knows exactly when Monarch Inheritance would end, but likely within ten years."
Li Gang froze, then calmed himself. This wasn't the first time his assumptions had been wrong. Trial and error had always been his teacher.
'So she agreed? Hard to believe. Was she forced by Wang Jinlong?'
"Mother," he asked carefully, "did Wang Jinlong accept the marriage, or was it Wang Xueyao herself? I don't want a forced union."
Song Yunlan frowned, but answered. "You needn't worry. It was Wang Xueyao who took the initiative."
Li Gang's expression darkened. 'How can that be? Unless even Wang Jinlong cannot control her… Still, that wouldn't be reason enough to marry me. I must be wary of this fiancée. Or perhaps it's simply rebellion—adolescence comes with its own storms. Even I've felt my moods swings lately.'
He reminded himself that judging someone was never simple. A frown could mean anger, sorrow, or nothing at all. A glance could be deliberate or entirely subconscious. Life was filled with randomness—variables too small to trace. Even the shift of a particle could change outcomes. When such chance favored you, it was called luck; when against you, misfortune. Nothing was absolute, nothing fully predictable.
Breaking his own thoughts, he probed, "What is this Monarch Inheritance?"
"A Rank 8 Warrior is known as a Monarch," Song Yunlan explained. "Soon, an Inheritance of a Rank 8 Warrior will open within the Great Forest."
Monarch Inheritance appeared during the day of Awakening in Azure Mountain. Warriors from every part of the Southern Continent are already gathering around here. Its sudden appearance shocked everyone—especially since it revealed itself on the very day of the Awakening Ceremony.
Li Gang's eyes widened, then he chuckled inwardly. 'So this is the opportunity I've been waiting for. I thought it would come only after leaving Azure Mountain, but perhaps my luck has not run dry after all.'
'No wonder the markets are busy, and strangers crowd the streets.'
"It is a rare chance," Song Yunlan continued. "Even disciples of Thunderous Peak Sect and Moonlight Sect are already here, investigating. Only Warriors under a hundred years old may enter."
Li Gang understood. That meant he is qualified—but so are many Rank 3, Rank 4, and even Rank 5 Warriors. Against them, his strength would be minimal. For a Rank 4 to kill a Rank 1 was like crushing an ant. Yet this was not a chance he could abandon. Danger was certain, but pointless slaughter was rare.
"I'm going," he said firmly. He could never lie to the one who loved him most.
Song Yunlan only nodded, as though she had expected it.
Li Gang's heart tightened. 'She agreed too easily. Was it Father? He must want me to quit cultivation, marry, and settle into business. Though he dislikes me, he wouldn't put my life in danger. More likely, he is clearing the path for Li Yuxong to succeed as Village Head. Yuxong will almost certainly join this expedition as well.'
Despite being stronger, Li Yuxong still lived under Li Gang's shadow. He never understood why, despite his lack of talents, Li Gang never seemed to struggle?
His father's intent was clear. He intends to let Li Gang see the vast world and face the reality. Accept his fate and settle down on his own. At the same time, he wants Li Yuxong to actively compete with others and sharpen himself.
The next day, Li Gang opened his eyes from meditation.
"Finally, late stage. Sooner than expected."
He had thought it would take two more days, but cultivation was never predictable—too many variables influenced progress.
He left his room, circled to the back of the Li Mansion, and sprinted into the forest. There, he trained until afternoon, adapting to his new strength.
Now, he could lift around 1000 kilograms—but while moving, he could only carry 100 before exhausting himself. His running speed had reached nearly 40 meters per second.
An average Rank 1 Warrior could lift 500–1000 kilograms and run 20–40 meters per second. Even the weakest could handle dozens of mortals with ease.
"I need to master Secret Techniques," he muttered. "That will be my greatest advantage. Without a Spiritual Imprint, I may face no conflicts with any attributes and could even draw out greater effects. My sharpened mind will help me learn faster. But… it's a pity I cannot sense my soul without a Soul Imprint. That means I can't master Soul Techniques."
On the Divine Spirit Continent, Warriors cultivated both body and soul. The Spiritual Imprint was a bridge, binding them together. The soul must synchronize with the body to wield it properly, and the higher the grade of Imprint, the greater the control. This was why high-grade Spiritual Imprints makes up most of the cultivation talent.
Li Gang washed, dressed simply, and went to see his mother.
"Come in," Song Yunlan said at the knock.
Seeing him, she asked, "Is something wrong?"
"I want to learn Secret Techniques. Do we have any suitable ones?"
"You already reached late stage?" she asked, surprised.
"Yes. Just now."
"You could rest. You don't need to push yourself so hard."
"I don't have time to waste. With my poor talent, I can't squander a single breath."
Song Yunlan sighed. She knew how stubborn her son was. Since childhood, he had hidden his tears, showing only strength. His cold face was just a mask to protect his fragile heart.
"Tell me what you need. I'll try to gather it."
'So she doesn't have them readily… or perhaps she gave them away for the village', Li Gang thought.
Li Gang knew some secrets about his Mother's talent. He knew she was really strong, and she should have plenty of resources on her. He felt surprised when she told him she needs to gather them.
"Any kind will do. But I want a variety—attack, defense, speed, surveillance, disguise, and especially archery. I'll also need weapons: a bow and a knife, for both short and long range."
Song Yunlan was taken aback. "Isn't that too much? And what do you mean by 'any attribute'? Even with your low-grade Imprint, there will still be conflicts."
The lower the grade of a Spiritual Imprint, the weaker the conflict it causes with other attributes. Song Yunlan assumed Li Gang's imprint was of a very low grade, which explained why he did not care about the attributes of the Secret Techniques.
Li Gang only looked at her silently.
She sighed. "Very well. I'll try."
He bowed and left quietly.
A few hours later, Song Yunlan returned with several scrolls.
"Here are some techniques," she said. "I could only gather attack, speed, surveillance, and archery skills. To make up for the rest, I added a few offensive arts I had on hand. And this."
She produced a black bow and a quiver filled with arrows.
"This is the Grade 2 Shadowleaf Bow, forged from Shadowsteel. Its power lies in blending with shadows, granting stealth and the element of surprise. But it is heavy—almost a hundred kilograms. For a twelve-year-old, it is impossible to wield freely. In real battle, it must be used from a stationary position, and for that, you will need sharp perception—or someone to guard you."
She reminded him. "A weapon is only as strong as the hand that draws it!"
Li Gang nodded silently, eyes firm.