"I finally reached the peak of the 2nd stage!" Shi Li couldn't help but shout out as he was finally getting closer and closer to his goal of competing in the Tri-clan Tournament around 2 months after the Novice Tournament within the Shi clan. Of course, he would make sure to not cultivate beyond the Martial Novice stage since he still coveted the prize that he would get from winning the tournament.
"Nya...? Congratulations nya," Moddy, who suddenly felt an aura of tenacity and strength coming from Shi Li, congratulated him as it knew that Shi Li growing stronger would lead to more Rank 3 Beasts getting killed.
Shi Li took a few deep breaths before laying down on the somewhat bumpy ground once more. Moddy looked at this and felt confused. "Nya? Aren't you going to solidify your foundation before moving onto the next stage?"
"Move onto the next stage?" Shi Li shook his head. "I'm not breaking through just yet. I need to complete the second level of another cultivation technique before I can do so." He lifted up the Wooden War Hammer he crafted with ease thanks to his newfound strength and started to hammer on his body through a weird pattern. If the first level of the [Grand Steel Will and Vessel Fusion Manual] focused on a calm heart and the soul and skin being as one, the second level focused on inscribing special seals to enhance the unity between the body and soul, allowing it to exert more power while having less strength.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Shi Li continued to hammer down on his body through the weird pattern written on the manual he read, gradually feeling that his body was turning numb. At this moment, he cut off the connection of all his senses to his surroundings as he focused on connecting his muscles to his soul. It was also at this time that the strength of Shi Li's hammering increased, the explosions resounding throughout the clearing as it got a few howls and roars from beasts nearby.
Seeing that it might cause some unwanted danger, Moddy hurriedly went to the drum Shi Li crafted and tapped a few times, forming a soundproof barrier around Shi Li so as to remove the possible ambushes of the beasts while allowing Shi Li to wholeheartedly focus on his cultivation.
...
As usual, he condensed the strength of his soul into strands of pure energy as they connected with his muscles. Like before, the pain Shi Li felt was intensified by tens of times, making him want to groan and grimace in pain. But since he was able to endure the pain he received from the first level, it only took around twenty minutes or so for Shi Li to get used to the pain and allow the unification between the muscles and soul to be successful.
Boom!
Another explosion resounded within Shi Li's body as the second level of the auxiliary cultivation technique was successfully cultivated. When the aura exuded before showed tenacity and strength, the aura that was exuded now showed harmony and unification, as if Shi Li was a perfect being.
Moddy could feel this aura as well and couldn't help but kneel down in front of the currently laying down Shi Li. After getting used to his newfound strength, Shi Li opened his eyes and sat up straight as he looked at Moddy before giving a light smile. "I did it."
Moddy couldn't help but smile as well as the soundproof barrier surrounding the both of them gradually dissipated. Shi Li noticed this and instantly gave Moddy a pat on the head, resulting in a soft purr from Moddy.
Afterwards, Shi Li and Moddy went to sleep in Shi Li's wooden house as the night passed by peacefully.
...
The next day. For Moddy, it was just any normal day except for the fact that Shi Li was with it. As for Shi Li, it was the final day for his challenge. It was time for him to go home.
"Ngh..." Moddy, who was still sleeping, suddenly heard sounds of digging beside its body as it tossed and turned, finding a comfortable spot to sleep on. Not long after, the digging sounds got louder and louder to the point where Moddy was forced to wake up.
"Nya! What is with that ruck—" Moddy, who was visibly stressed out from the sound, noticed Shi Li digging beneath the floor of the house he built and retrieving the important materials of the beasts they've killed as he put them in his knapsack.
At first, Moddy thought that Shi Li was just going to move the items they've killed into a more secure place. But then it saw Shi Li's clothing. Although it was still dusty thanks to the dirt being dug, the designs on the robe were clear thanks to Shi Li waking up early and washing it along the nearby stream.
This made Moddy fully wake up as it sent a wisp of world energy towards Shi Li. "Shi Li, where are you going?"
Shi Li gave a bitter smile as he looked at Moddy and replied, "I'm going back home Moddy. Back to my hometown."
"Your home?" At that moment, Moddy remembered the times they've shared together and instantly felt an emptiness within its start as tears started to form around its eyes. It was the first time Moddy cared for a human like Shi Li. "Does that mean you're going to leave me nya?"
"I'm afraid so Moddy," Shi Li couldn't help but sigh. He wanted to bring Moddy back home but it knew that it was better off in the forest, where it truly belonged. But seeing the tears around Moddy's eyes, he then said, "Don't worry, I'll come back every once in a while."
"Every once in a while? You might not even come back at all!" Moddy's tears started to fall down from its face as a wave of sadness muddled its rationality. It didn't want to be betrayed anymore. It didn't want to be left alone anymore. "I just...I just want to be with you nya..."
All of a sudden, Moddy then asked a question Shi Li didn't expect to hear.
"C-can I stay by your side forever nya...? Can I join on your journey back home?"
Shi Li was flabbergasted to hear that from a cat. Of course, the bonds they've built together weren't insignificant as he felt a liking towards Moddy. In the end, Shi Li smiled and placed Moddy on his shoulder. He then placed his hands as he wiped the tears off Moddy's eyes and said...
"Sure Moddy, if that's what makes you happy, let's do it."
"Come on. Let's go home."