Our party, or rather, their party and mine, decided to sleep in on the night. However, their mere words aren't enough to make me believe they're a trustworthy bunch. That's why, although they were snugly fitted inside their loose sleeping bags, I stayed up all night, trying to cultivate both my Qi Core and Virus Qi Core just so they would stabilize.
And come to think about it, I did get a notification saying that I could get a breakthrough.
Click!
Ti-ring!
The moment I thought about that, a pinging sound entered my mind and the same old voice of the System spoke out to me. However, this time, it wasn't the automated response of the System that greeted me. "Yongrui, do you want to achieve the breakthrough, right now?" The System asked.
"Yeah, why?"
Pause.
"It's just that, I don't feel like this is the right time. Something in my guts is telling me that it would be far more advantageous for you if you achieved your cultivation at a later date." The System concernedly stated, much to my surprise.
After all, the System wasn't the kind to warn me of a decision made by the automatic notifications given by her. That's why I was a bit worried. If the System doesn't agree to the automated response, then does that mean the System and the automated responses are separate beings?
"That's not the time to be asking such questions. Of course, we aren't separated. However, I don't know much about the System. I do feel that my purpose here is to guide you through your cultivation." The System responded quite amazingly.
"I see, then I'll hold it off for now. It's not like it would affect my overall strength, considering that I'm on par with other cultivators on a realm one step from mine. Even without the breakthrough, I think I can manage."
At first, I didn't want to listen to the System but after hearing her desperate please, I realized that there's more than meet's the eye in her statement. If such is really the case, then I would reap better rewards the more I held off this specific level of cultivation. Aside from that, I won't be missing out on cultivating since I could freely cultivate as much as I can. The Realms and Levels are just thresholds that need to be surpassed after all. The only perks of reaching those thresholds is the improvement of cultivation efficiency.
And as a person who almost reached the highest realm in terms of cultivation, I do think I have dexterity when it comes to cultivating.
Kururuk kurkkurkuk...
As if my storyline started to resume, I heard a faint scratching noise from a distance, warning me of something quite eerie.
Kurururuk...
For the second time, it lightly screeched, followed by a rustling sound that came out from multiple directions. This, in turn, woke Liu Zhi and his party.
Swish.
In a split second, the three of them were already up on their toes with weapons at the ready. Liu Zhi was carrying a thin sword, Wu Yan with a bow, and Blade with his shortswords. The three of them darted their heads around.
Just as I thought, their perception is quite good, as expected of cultivators in the immortal realm.
"Don't just sit there, Yong Rui," Wu Yan called out to me with her forehead creased with worry. "There's a stage five nearby."
But while they were busily darting looking at each and every direction, I was just sitting beside the campfire, warming my hands. I was bluffing, of course. I've been avoiding stage fives ever since I entered the forest and now one of them appeared in front of me. If I can't defeat it, then god knows what will happen to me.
Or rather, what will become of me.
The reason why I maintained my composure was that I didn't want to revert to the same mindless rabid human I transformed into back when I was in the Si Shelter. If the Stage Five really did try to attack, then it's just about time before I lose it.
That's why I decided to leave it to the party and only act once I find out that it's safe. Or if there's any danger, then that's when I'd step in... even though I'm not confident that I would emerge from a fight against a Stage Five unscathed.
"Don't worry, I can take care of myself," I assured them. "Just fight it as you please."
I don't know if it was the tone of my voice or my reassuring complexion that made them not worry about me. After a nod, they continued to watch the surroundings since a Stage Five was actually pretty fast, its speed probably matching that of cultivators in the Immortal Realm.
Kiiaahhk!
The soft screeching sound suddenly turned into an ear-piercing scream as a monstrosity appeared from the bushes and tried pouncing towards the group.
Flame Arrow!
Before the Stage Five Rabid Human could react, it was hit on the head, heart, and crotch with flaming arrows, which made it instinctively retreat a few steps before resuming its attack.
"Careful, it's a Stage Five High-Leveled Rabid Human." Liu Zhi advised. "And it's a mutated one at that."
"By the looks of it, this is a Screecher, right?" Blade growled as he prepared his shortswords.
"Yeah, known for their screeching sound and unbelievable speeds. Fortunately, there's just one of them. If a horde was nearby, then that would've been dangerous." Liu Zhi continued as they watched the Screecher sidestep around them. "I mean, it would be quite hard to escape its attention and it's even harder with a Spirit Realm in tow."
"As I said, don't worry about me," I called out to them. "I can handle myself just fine."
Kiehk!
Once again, the Screecher pounced towards the group but once again, he was greeted with three flaming arrows to his head, heart, and crotch. It took all of my being to laugh at its screech when those arrows hit since the screeches were too fitting to overlook.
This time, however, he wasn't just met with three flaming arrows. Suddenly, a sword was lodged towards his chest, rupturing it as it emerged from its back. After that, Blade charged at him using the Dash Skill and beheaded it before it could see what transpired. No screech left the screecher's mouth as its head slowly rolled on the ground.