"Martial artist at the meat purification stage?" Aron was taken aback, a sense of awe and curiosity enveloping his mind.
Now, his determination to go grew stronger.
Although he was not a martial artist, his knowledge of human evolution and the legacies possessed by those around him helped him understand. He vividly remembered how legacies could change a person's life, just like what Uncle Kong had experienced.
Uncle Kong, who had the legacy of a martial artist, had trained diligently and reached the skin purification stage. Aron knew that there were higher levels above that.
"In this world, there are five stages in the realm of martial artists," Aron pondered, "starting from skin purification, then meat purification, blood purification, marrow purification, and finally, organ purification. Each stage is divided into three levels: early, middle, and late."
Never underestimate a martial artist, even one at the early purification stage, like Uncle Kong, who was at the early stage of bone purification; ordinary weapons would struggle to kill him. Moreover, in his punch, he possessed a strength of 200 kilograms, enough to kill any ordinary human. If he advanced to the next small realm, his strength would increase by another 100 kilograms.
So, at the late stage of bone purification, a martial artist's punch could reach a force of 400 kilograms.
A single punch could deliver a force of nearly half a ton; even a bull could be killed. What kind of concept was that?
As for the realm of meat purification, Aron did not understand it at all, but he was sure that someone like that must be incredibly strong. Going out and even knowing a meat purification martial artist like Uncle Kim Yoon, who would dare to hesitate?
As he looked back at Kim Yoon, Aron felt a mix of admiration and a hint of envy.
He admired Kim Yoon because he was the strongest martial artist aside from Uncle Kong himself. He felt envious because, as an ordinary human who had not awakened a legacy, it was impossible for him to become a martial artist.
"Don't be too surprised," Kim Yoon said, lowering his tone. "Although the meat purification stage is stronger than the skin purification stage, it's really nothing. Out there, there are many creatures that could kill me with just a cough."
"Is that true?" Aron couldn't contain his curiosity. "Are there really creatures that strong out there? I've heard stories about dragons that can flip mountains and dry up lakes."
"I don't know," Kim Yoon replied, shaking his head. "I've never seen it myself. But on my journey to the City of Clouds, I once saw a giant bird larger than an airplane, sleeping on a mountain. Even from a distance, I was sure it could kill me with just a flap of its wings."
"Is it really that strong?" Aron felt shocked, horrified, and a bit incredulous.
After all, even though he often went out of the city, he only ventured into areas controlled by humans and had never crossed the boundaries that had been set. Even though he had seen what was called a monster, he did not feel what Kim Yoon felt.
"Don't doubt what your Uncle Kim says. He is an experienced person who has traveled from Korea to the City of Clouds seeking refuge. He has seen far more than you have in your entire life," Sima Kong immediately advised him upon seeing the disbelief on Aron's face.
At that moment, after Sima Kong finished speaking, Aron felt horrified and stunned as he looked at Kim Yoon.
It wasn't that he didn't believe Kim Yoon; he just couldn't imagine how Kim Yoon had walked from Korea to this city.
Even though there were no cell phones now, and only tall people could access the internet, Aron still understood the distance.
The City of Clouds was once the capital of China, known as Beijing. So, traveling from Korea to the City of Clouds would cover a distance of at least 1,500 kilometers. If there were airplanes, the journey would only take a few hours, but now there were none. This meant Kim Yoon must have walked for five years, and with a world filled with monsters, Aron couldn't imagine how Kim Yoon could have done it.
"Don't praise me too much," Kim Yoon said, trying to be humble. "It was all just luck. If I were truly capable, I wouldn't have needed five years and lost more than thirty people out of the fifty who went with me."
Hiss...
Aron inhaled sharply, and fear immediately enveloped him.
"Haha..." Kim Yoon laughed again to lighten the mood and said lightly, "Forget it. That was all in the past. For now, Aron, after hearing everything, do you still decide to go with me?"
This time, Aron did not answer immediately. After hearing the recent story, as an ordinary human, he felt a bit scared, especially when hearing about creatures that could even kill a meat purification martial artist with a single move.
However, the urge to earn money and fund his sister's medical expenses was hard to resist. As for borrowing money from Uncle Kong again, which was much safer and easier, Aron felt too embarrassed to do so.
Thinking about the pros and cons, Aron still believed that going out indeed posed dangers, but the results could also be rewarding. Moreover, there were several martial artists with him. Kim Yoon himself was also a meat purification martial artist; he had ensured that the area was safe, and the place was not too far from the military zone. So, the risks might not be too great.
"I will go." After thinking for a while, he finally decided to leave.
After careful consideration, Aron realized that all of this was because Kim Yoon knew Uncle Kong; otherwise, it would be impossible for Kim Yoon to take him, an ordinary human.
After all, who wouldn't want a yellow deer with red antlers? Even an ordinary martial artist would want it.
Perhaps because Kim Yoon also understood Aron's situation, he decided to help a little and share. As for what tasks needed to be done later, that would be thought about later.
"Aron, are you sure?" Sima Kong suddenly asked Aron with some reluctance, although he also knew this was Kim Yoon's kindness to Aron.
Aron nodded confidently and replied, "Uncle, don't worry. If anything unusual happens, I will run away immediately. Is that okay, Uncle Kim?"
"Haha, of course. Don't worry, I promise to protect you." With Kim Yoon's words, Sima Kong finally had to agree.
"Alright. I will still look for a few more people. We will depart tomorrow morning and gather at the city gate." With that, Kim Yoon began to stand and bid farewell.