Tang Yuan was in a meditative pose under the shining sun. He continues absorbing energy from the surrounding area. His body absorbs and processes the sunlight from the heavens. He had recently felt that he was closing in on his next limit. So Tang Yuan had been especially dedicated to cultivating for the last week.
Suddenly it happened for the third time in his life so far. A small burst of energy comes from his body. Such that most would not even notice it from the slightest breeze. Yet, to Tang Yuan, sensing it was as simple as breathing was to him. After all, it comes from himself after all.
With that Tang Yuan had advanced from level 9 to level 10. In a period of around seven months, he had reached this level. Now that he has reached level 10 the time had come. He can acquire a soul ring now, and truly become a soul master. Thus he gets up from his meditation to inform his family.
He walks from the mountain viewpoint he had found for his cultivation. He determined that this location receives a large amount of sun. He had chosen it as his personal cultivation area. The Sun shines constantly on this location for a long period. Making it especially suitable for his cultivation.
As he walks down from his cultivation he makes his way into the compound. He moves to the family chambers as he has hundreds of times before. Reaching it he enters swiftly walking towards his parents' chambers. Knocking a few times to make them aware of his presence. "Father, Mother it's me may I come in?"
"Come in Xiao Yuan." his mother's voice rings out from behind the door. Having been given permission he opens the door. Walking into his parents' living quarters with a pep in his step. Excited for the chance to finally acquire his first soul skill.
He finds his parents immediately, sitting down. Several books from the clan library are in front of them. They were likely in the middle of reading he realizes. Yet a greater portion of his mind is simply too excited to pay further attention. He walks up to them with a smiling "Dad, Mom I broke through to level 10 today." he tells them his face brimming with a smile.
Tang Chen and Tang Nuan both stand up to congratulate their son. In reality, however, they already had a clue that he had. Having just broken through his soul energy had yet to settle properly. Thus allowing them to tell just by looking at him. Still, they could tell he was incredibly excited about breaking through. So they properly congratulated him as they should.
Tang Yuan's Parents were in fact happy for him. Both happy and impressed at his speed of cultivation. In a span of less than 7 months, he managed to grow three ranks. That is rather impressive even if it was below the 10th rank. Normally at best it would take nine months to grow three ranks at that level.
"Congratulations Xiao Yuan." Tang Chen says as he pats his son's head ruffling his hair. A gentle smile on his face with a hint of pride. "Dad." Tang Yuan with a tone saying he is embarrassed by the head rubbing. Though inwardly he is enjoying it quite a bit.
Tang Nuan laughs at the little play before her. She can tell her sun is simply pretending to dislike it. Still, she should bring the two of them back to the matter at hand. "Since you have reached level ten. We will need to find a soul ring for you. Do you have an idea of the spirit beast you want for your ring? If not we can provide options for you." she tells him gently waiting to hear his thoughts.
"As you know I want to cultivate the hammer first. I want an enhancement skill for the first ring. Other wise there is a good chance the ring will fall out of use later. I was hoping that the two of you would have ideas." he tells them his desires in a spirit ring. Aware that both of them likely have far better knowledge than he does. In terms of spirit beasts, they have far more experience.
"If they are of the gold element that would be the best case," he tells them even knowing how hard that might be. Spirit beasts with the golden bloodline aren't easy to find. The gold element is even rarer than that.
Not all those with the golden bloodline also possess the gold element. Yet all who possess the gold element have the golden bloodline. At least that's what he has learned from his books. Once more there are actually different ways that the gold element can manifest. The most common manifestation is simply being a body of gold.
"An enhancement skill, coming from a golden bloodline or gold element beast." Tang Yuan muses to herself with a thinking expression on her face. Then she slams a fist into her palm. A look of realization was growing on her face. "I have the perfect idea then. If it's the first spirit ring below a millennium years. Then that spirit beast is guaranteed to give an enhancement-type skill." she says with absolute confidence in her voice at her deduction.
"Really is there such a beast?" Tang Yuan said with interest. Usually, when obtaining a soul ring it is like a lottery. The soul master has absolutely no control over what they get. It could be an absolutely useful skill or relatively good. If the spirit beast in question is guaranteed to give an enhancement skill. Then it must not have many skills itself.
Tang Nuan nods her head with her hands on her hips. "I'll tell you my hatchling this sport beast below 1,000 years has only three spirit skills," she says holding up three fingers for emphasis. His mother sometimes gets like this. Becoming playful or impish in nature when she knows something.
It changes her from a beautiful woman to one with cuteness. At least according to his father, and he does agree with him. His mother not knowing his hidden thoughts continues talking. "This spirit beast has two enhancement skills, and one offensive one. Said offensive skill however is a biting skill with fangs," she says this partially nonsensical thing to Tang Yuan.
If someone heard "biting skill with fangs." they would wonder exactly why that matters. However such information is critical when deciding on a skill. Beast soul masters for example can just hunt spirit beasts of their martial soul type. A cat beast soul master would hunt cat-type beasts. This includes the big cats tigers, lions, and others. A dog or wolf would hunt the same type of beasts.
In contrast, tool soul masters are different as their martial souls aren't living things. Thus like him, they can't simply choose a type of sport beast to hunt. Instead for tool types soul beasts are hunted based upon either element or attack method. Usually, both are considered in the consideration with the element being self-explanatory.
Attack method refers to how the spirit beast attacks enemies. Sword, spear, and bow martial souls follow a similar path. That is soul beasts with slashing, piercing, and hacking aspects. The bow is mainly piercing as a result of the arrows. This results in beasts with horns, claws, thorns, spikes, and feathers being the main targets.
Horn beasts are ideal for piercing attacks, but can also result in slashing attacks. A spear can be used mainly for piercing, but also for slashing. Horns can be called natural spears as well. These horned beasts are a favored target for the spear wielders. This includes beasts like rhinos that charge with their horns.
Claws are somewhat easy to guess. They are most often used for slashing and cutting. Thus they are best for swords or daggers. They can also be used for piercing-based attacks. Allowing for two possible attacks both compatible with swords.
Spikes, and thorns are more esoteric choices. Most beasts that have the first one are capable of launching them as projectiles. Thus leading to skills that see copies of the weapons fired as projectiles. The second one is rarely chosen by weapon users unless they are the rare whip tool souls.
Feathers can unleash slashing and cutting attacks. Yet some feathered beasts can fire them like arrows. This makes them a target for bow martial soul possessors. Bird beasts also have talons that provide slashing and piercing. Thus feathered beasts are well sought by bow users.
Hammer martial souls and other blunt weapons don't seek those types. Instead, the targets are blunt damage types. This is why ape-type spirit beasts are often hunted by the clan. They use their fists paired with immense strength in battle. Making them ideal for hammer martial souls. Especially the Titan Giant Ape that possesses immense power.
Thus by saying that the spirit beast has a bite attack. It classifies it as being close to a piercing type of attack. While it's true that a soul master can't choose their abilities. They can shift the possibilities. Martial souls will most often absorb the most compatible ability from the ring.
In this case, rather than acquiring a biting attack. He would get the enhancement skill instead as they are more compatible. This is an unspoken trick of the clans who have experienced it. Of course, the skill might not always be an attack. Someone absorbing from a Titan Giant Ape might get gravity control instead.
"So what exactly is this spirit beast you are talking about?" Tang Yuan asks his mother his curiosity certainly piqued about it. He wonders what type of beast it is going to be. Only he notices a certain mischievous expression on his mother. He has a feeling that he is about to be ranked or tricked by her.
Indeed his mother brings a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture. "It's a secret," she says with a particular expression on her face. Tang Yuan can tell she is enjoying this greatly. In fact, he had done this to her more than once. He got her interested in something and then pulled this prank.
Honestly, his mother is mostly a serious and mature woman. She is incredibly motherly yet also rather stern. Yet sometimes she lets a fun side out like this. Then he catches sight of an entirely different side of her. One who enjoys little pranks from what he has been able to tell.
"I will tell you where we are going to find said beast however," she said with a bit more seriousness to her now. Yet there was still a mischievous delight to her as well. He had the feeling that she was really looking forward to this. Likely for more than one reason. She finally reveals the location to you "The place we are going is the Thousand Marshes, also called the Swamps of Death."
The Swamps of Death or Thousand Marshes as they are called. One of the major Soul Beast habitats on the Soul Land continent. It's not on the same level as the four extremes, or Star Dou Forest. Yet it was considered to be a major habit, and second only to those five.
As its names suggest it is a vast swamp land. The habitat changes from swamp zones to marsh zones at different intervals. It earned the title, Thousand Marsh because it is said there are a thousand sections. Rather 1000 territories within ruled by different beasts. Whether the number is actually 1000 is difficult to determine.
As for the other title, The Swamp of Death. That is because of its infamy in terms of treachery. It is well known for having a high danger in terms of poison. When a poison spirit master seeks spirit rings this treacherous place is always considered. The wet environment makes locating the beast incredibly treacherous. Especially in terms of powerful serpent-type spirit beasts.
In fact, when thinking of the swamps snakes are amongst the first thoughts. There are just simply that many dangrough serpent beasts. Others are the poisonous insects or plant beasts. Those are just as sneaky and dangerous as the snakes if not more so. The plant beasts range from carnivores to poisonous and sometimes both.
These dangers combined are what result in the Swamps of Death. That is discounting other more frontal dangers of the area. Including the non-poisonous serpents who instead rely on might. Ironically the non-poisonous serpents, are just as dangerous as their poisonous counterparts.
The Deathly Swamps are certainly not a place he would like to go. At least without an experienced guide to take him through it safely. His mother is basically an expert in moving through the swamp. Likely because of the powerful crocodile soul beasts that live in the swamp. This attracts his mother's family to the swamp for spirit rings.
"Alright, the Death Swamps are then a dangerous place. I trust you to lead us through the swamps than Mother," he says asking Tang Nuan. He is unsure of how this is going to go. Honestly, he has spent all of his life in the clan complex. That or wandering along the perimeter of the area. Now his first destination is going to be a deathly treacherous swamp. Certainly sounds like how a fantasy world works.
"Not so fast Xiao Yuan. We will head to acquire your spirit ring tomorrow. It will take a number of days to reach the Death Swamps. Plus we need a bit of time to prepare for the journey." Tang Nuan says to her son with sternness. Well aware that he might be extremely impatient to go. Yet a journey is not something that can be done on a dime.
Even if it is true that she and her husband could simply run their far faster. They could probably make it themselves in two days at most. If they took Tang Yuan however they would need to stop far more. Not only would the running exhaust him, but he would still need to sleep and eat. The time it would take would increase to at least 5 or 7 days. Uncomfortable days at that especially for one so young.
Thus the carriage is far more tolerable an idea for a six-year-old. Besides it will also be slower which is not a bad thing. They can have time together on the journey. They can also expand their sons' worldly experience which is never bad. Learning from books is never a bad thing either. Yet experience has a greater weight on an individual.
Tang Yuan was already aware that that might have been the case. Still, he couldn't help the instinctive disappointment. He had been so excited to obtain a soul ring. His impatience had blown up as a result of that. Still, he looks forward to tomorrow for more than one reason. He will not only get a soul ring, but also experience the wide world for the first time.
"Alright then, good night Mom, good night Dad. See you both tomorrow," he tells them with a degree of haste. Intending to use a trick from his old life. The sooner you get to sleep the sooner tomorrow comes. He walks to his room to begin finishing some things. Then he can get to sleep, and the next day will come about. He does not see his parents' amused smiles. They can guess his reasoning to a degree.
Tang Yuan quickly wakes up earlier than normal the next morning. His eagerness practically radiated from him. As he goes through his exercises and breakfast. That causes his family to twitch their lips in amusement. The fact that he had reached level ten had already spread.
It was before midday that the time to depart had come. This journey would only see Tang Yuan, Tang Chen, and Tang Nuan on the journey. Serving not only a purpose, but also as a small family outing as well. Other members of the family had seen them off before they left the mountain.
Tang Yuan was picked up by his father to move down the mountain. It is an incredibly treacherous environment that he could never handle right now. With his parents' swift movement speed, they quickly reach the bottom mountain. They walk into the town that stands at the base of the mountain.
Unlike the town seen in Soul Land which had seen better days. The current city is rather bustling in its environment. From what he had heard the city has actually expanded somewhat. Since his creation of the printer a little over a year ago. It had brought a great deal of revenue to the city.
Once more the introduction of so many books caused changes. He recommended a few of those changes himself. A number of bookshops were founded throughout the city. All of the said shops were under the Clear Sky Clan. Then was the creation of a town library in the town.
The said library was very different from the ones in his past life. For one thing, the library does not allow for the checkout of books. Instead, people have to read the books inside the library. They also have to pay money to enter the library. The collection is divided into levels of rarity and importance. Merely entering costs five gold coins, and increases with level.
The elders thought that no one would choose to enter knowing the cost. Then a few people from the city entered and it became a constant thing. Then word spread causing more to enter the library. Especially considering that many people had come to the town. Seeking to buy books both for reading and selling. The clan keeps the selling mostly to our own territory in the town.
Of course, the books are usually more expensive than five gold coins. Thus they try to save money by going to the library instead. That and certain books can only be found in higher collections in the library. This has caused the attraction of scholars and merchants to the town. Some of whom decide to stay for the benefits of the library. The library has still not redeemed the money used in its making. Yet the coin made is steadily increasing.
Tang Yuan can see a path for the town's expansion from its current form. Originally the town was made for the clan's subordinates. Few members of the sect actually live in the town itself. Instead, it was a majority of the four subordinate sects. As well as smaller clans subordinated to the sect over time. Serving as a stopgap to the clan fortress, and a supply depot as it were. With the purpose of obtaining revenue from the four clans.
The Strength Clan would open blacksmith shops selling them in the town. The Breaking Clan would sell their alchemical works. Excess of both would be sold outside the town by traveling members. This provided the town and sect a good deal of revenue already. Now even more is starting to accumulate.
The town is becoming a place of knowledge and learning. There are ways to capitalize on this in the future. The expansion of the library in the future is one method. The creation of schools or learning environments is another. Allowing for the acquisition of skilled labor in the future. This will provide numerous opportunities for the future.
While thinking about the town's events, and possible future prospects. They quickly pass through the medium-sized town. They arrive at the entrance of the town where a carriage awaits them. Said carriage is rather large in size and form able to easily fit more than six. The back is packed with things that they need pots and pans. As well as blankets and other survival essentials they might need.
They take the carriage from the clan members tending to it. His father himself takes the reins of the carriage. He and his mother enter the carriage as it quickly begins to move. The horses of the carriage are not in fact normal creatures. Instead, they are a type of spirit beast known as Earth Shock Horses.
These horses possess impressive speed. More importantly, they possess incredible endurance and toughness. This not only allows them to move longer than normal horses. They can also handle rough terrain far more readily. Even if they are only decade-year beasts they are far better than normal horses.
Tang Yuan can't help but watch out the window. Watching as the scenery flows by in a steady sight. He is eager to see the locations they will travel through. To see parts of this world not seen through the eyes of fantasy. Thinking about it brings a deep curiosity that brings a wide smile to his face.
That deep smile does not fade for a long while. It keeps him interested in the terrain for more than two hours. In fact, he is still not completely drained from that excitement. Yet simply looking out the window can drain to a degree. It's like a car ride, but much slower. It's also much bumpier, he should have created proper suspension. Now he will have to suffer through the rough patches.
Thus Tang Yuan sets himself up to begin meditating. He can pass some of the time through cultivation. He begins to circulate his soul power through his body. While it's true it won't increase his soul rank until he gets a soul ring. His cultivation efforts will be stored as it were in his body.
As for the problem of cultivating in a moving carriage. That is nothing special by high-tier cultivation terms. Some soul masters cultivate in the middle of raging storms. Others do so surrounded by ice and fire. He has learned to meditate while using the tree-climbing techniques. Doing so actually helps one's ability to control their soul power.
Tang Yuan takes things in shifts between, cultivation and scenery. His cultivation takes up a bit more than an hour every cycle. This takes up a great deal of his focus. Then he can return to watching the outside with a fresh mind.
He continues this until he eventually reaches his absorption limit. By that time they have already found themselves stopping for the day. Eating whale glue and his training regimen strengthened his body. This has resulted in a gradual increase in his absorption limit. A most welcome occurrence to be sure for him.
As they stop for the day the sun has already set. Tang Yuan gathers firewood with his mother. Tang Chen uses his ability to easily hunt some food. Fish from a nearby river, and a few rabbits from the forest. Along with some edible berries from the bushes around them. They have quite a small feast in the wild area.
Tang Yuan fully helps in handling the fish and rabbits. His dad in his previous life was an officer of the law. He knew how to use firearms as a result of that. Eventually, he found the hobby of hunting wild game. This saw Tang Yuan sometimes help with hunting and also with the processing. Giving him some experience already in such matters.
Tang Yuan in this life had also considered parts of the kitchen before. During his wandering around the clan hall, he had hunted and killed animals before. Then he possessed them himself despite some complaints by maids. Part of the reason was to keep that skill sharp. The other reason was to have a reason for knowing how to do so.
Cooking was one of his favorite hobbies in his past life. He loved to experiment with new dishes with exotic components. This world had its own fair share of ingredients to enjoy. Especially in regards to spirit beasts and ingredients from them. Their cultivation causes their bodies to become increasingly delicious and nutritious.
One of his small peaves in his last life was the wasting of food. Not to the point of becoming burning with anger or anything. Instead, it is a feeling of disappointment at wasted food. He would often let out a sigh of regret when that happened. A part of him is looking forward to seeing what he can cook out of spirit beasts.
Tang Yuan quickly enough finishes processing the rabbits and fish. He impaled the fish on skewers with salt and pepper. He was surprised to learn that the world did in fact have pepper. The fish are placed against the fire to cook over time.
The rabbits after being processed are cut into chunks of meat. The cooking pot had already been put in the middle of the fire. Some water had been thrown in from the nearby river. Having let the water heat up and begin boiling. A few choice spices are thrown into the rabbit meat. Then the rabbit meat is thrown into the boiling pot of water.
The meat quickly begins to cook in the hot water. Tang Yuan throws a number of other things into the pot. Nothing especially special about the local garlic, onion, carrot, and celery equivalents. The flavor begins to heighten with the resulting additions. He throws in some other seasonings from his storage belt.
While the stew continues to cook he takes the first round of fish off. All of them are cooked well and ready to eat. They are simple enough, yet sometimes simple is best. Tang Yuan hands his parents a few fish first. Then he puts a few more on to cook while they eat. Once the new fish are set he begins to dig into his own fish.
It is as delicious as he hoped even with only salt and pepper. The family of three happily eats several fish each. Tang Yuan continues to stir the pot while he continues to eat away. As they eat the pot continues to cook away for a time. Until finally the delicious smell reaches a peak as the pot is finished.
Now they can enjoy the fish and the rabbit stew together. Such an abundance of food could likely feed a far larger number of people. Yet as soul masters, they can consume far more food in a day. The stronger you are the more energy you need to function. Tang Yuan thinks to himself as he continues to eat "Food is power." only partially in humor.
Tang Yuan among the three eats the least amount. Tang Chen despite being the strongest, does not in fact eat the most. That honor belongs to his mother Tang Nuan. He is not surprised by this as more often than not his mother is a gluten. Yet he has no true judgment about this, food is food, especially when it is delicious.
The Golden Crocodile method requires a large amount of food to cultivate. It has some connections to blood essence to strengthen the user. Thus users of the method eat far more than even normal beast soul masters. As one's cultivation increases further that need for food only increases. His mother's desire for food is a primary example of this. She is always among the biggest eaters in the family.
The three of them together manage to finish all of the food made. It really was a filling hearty meal in Tang Yuan's vision. He let out a contented sigh after he had finished. He was also the first to tap out as it were.
"That was good Xiao Yuan," his mother said with contentment. It looked almost like a cat ready to curl up on itself in satisfaction. She maintains that expression of satisfaction for only a few minutes. Then her expression returns to normal form. "Now then I should tell you of some of the dangers of our destination."
With those subtle dangerous words, she starts to speak. Tang Nuan would tell her son the dangers of the Swamps of Death. In the form of a long string of lectures on the dangers of the swamp. Not even into soul beasts even, instead into normal existences. Poisonous plants, toxic gas, and the like are told to him.
Tang Yuan goes to sleep his head spinning with the dangers of the swamp. The lecture had lasted for several hours into the night. On one hand, he now knows a lot more about the dangers. Yet he will probably need to catch up on sleep in the carriage tomorrow. Nevertheless, the lectures served their purpose of reinforcing the danger.
The next day they would create a breakfast before setting out. They would try to have only a large breakfast and dinner. Thus reducing the number of times they had to stop. Tang Yuan did indeed sleep for a few hours in the carriage. Yet he would eventually be unable to sleep anymore.
Thus he would repeat his actions from the first day. Watching the scenery go by and cultivating as he did so. This allowed him to make use of the time the journey provided him. Yet it kept his mind preoccupied as well so as not to face boredom.
He would also intermittently read from the books he brought with him. Thus the time of another day passes quickly enough. They once again stop during the night to cook dinner. This time a wild boar was found in the wild. Tang Yuan cuts it into cuts of meat grilling them on a metal board.
His mother does not begin her lecture this night. Instead, his father shares his stories of his adventures. They are much more dramatic and narrative than his mother's words. Tang Chen's calm and confident tone simply adds gravitas to them. Making them all the more compelling to listen to.
This would continue going forward in the next few days. They would have breakfast in the morning. Traveling afterward for several hours until nighttime where they stop. Foraging for dinner from the environment with Tang Yuan cooking it. Then alternation of either his mother or father speaks for hours. One thing is certain he learned a lot from both of them, his mother's lectures, and his father's tales.
This trend continued for a number of days of their traveling. It was far from an unenjoyable experience. Sleeping under the stars and foraging in the wild. It was just like camping only even more wild than normal.
Then after around 9 days they arrived at the pherrephery of their destination. The sun was still in the sky as it began its descent for the day. As the sun sets it outlines the massive marsh in the distance.
There is no true way to see the massive size of the biome before them. Though the marsh is still relatively far from them the swamp areas are even farther. The biome looks mostly like how a swamp or marsh should look in its previous life. Yet there are also major differences.
The biome is simply that of a prehistoric realm. The grass and trees in the distance are just simply larger than normal. Even those plants not spirit beasts are several times larger than normal. A result of the spirit energy in the air possibly. Even if they can't absorb enough to become spirit beasts. Absorbing minute amounts is still possible naturally.
In this world even merely absorbing light from the sun. Can absorb soul energy or perhaps especially so. As a result, even normal plant life is far stronger than his old life. From plant life, everything is at least partially greater than his past life.
Even as they watch the sun continues to set. There is little daylight left to find their way. While they could easily still find themselves through the swamp. It is always best to move through a spirit beast habit during the day. If only because it is easier to move and see during the day.
Thus they quickly set up their camp and prepared their dinner. While that happens the sun has already set, and the moon rises. Now in the darkness, the swamp takes a different appearance. Even from here it holds an ominous quality to its form now.