(I killed a molestor, this is the happiest I have felt since realizing I was basically a demigod, but my cloooothes, theyre ruined!)
(Wait whats goin on)
Jin had already subconciously felt the man's soul with his own, but now something was happening.
(Is that... A ghost!? Oh snap it's coming over here!! Oh wait.)
When talking to the remaining bandits about different mantras they had told him about the Demonic mantras, they said they had wished they had one because it is so hard to gain power with an angelic mantra and for many it is usually self destructive to practice one, they said when a requirement is met for the demonic mantra, if it leads to the death of their target they can actually steal mantra energy, meaning the stronger they practiced their mantra the more amount of energy can be taken.
(Isn't this an angelic mantra though? I know for a fact that helping others increases my ML, and how come I did not get the bandit's essence? Does this mean I met the 'requirements' here? I wonder if it was breaking his bones..)
Jin had decided he would start traveling again because he needed new clothing, but even after taking quite some time packing the pervert's friend hadn't come back.
(Just the thought makes me shudder...)
Daybreak, on the continued journey he had already went further than he could get in a week in his old life, on his way he had fought even more beasts which had become considerabley easier now that they could barely do any damage.
(I really gotta get new clothes.. And a bath, there seems to be more and more beasts as I go further, my face is already messed up enough I really needa find a safe place to cultivate, if I was really immersed in my physical cultivation.. Who knows what would have happened to me)
Jin had found a river which would be good to wash his body and clothes
A while later..
(Alrighty! Haven't been this clean in a while haha! What's that noise... Don't wanna get all dirty this soon..)
Jin had learned that around waterbeds and rivers there was many more beasts so he was always extra weary of danger around them.
"W-whos there!? I have reached the Fourth Acolyte Rank!!"
"Hello I'm Jin! I haven't seen someone in a while why do you think it's safe to bathe around here?" Jin had noticed it was a boy, about as young as the body he had been using maybe a bit older.
"Oh uh Im Yan, well didn't you hear me? It would take five of the Soul Beasts around here to take me out."
The boy had a smug look on his face, he had a tan light skin light brown eyes and light brown hair, also seemed to be in pretty good shape.
"Hey what was that Fourth Acupoint Rank you mentioned earlier anyway?"
"Acolyte, aren't you traveling to the tournament as well?"
The boy had started getting dressed
"Yeah the tournament! I'm gonna have so much gold!"
"Uh, sure, anyways, If you have made it this far and to the river it means you are practicing a mantra as well as cultivating, levels of cultivation are seperated into ranks and levels which go from 1 to 9."
(Jeez he looks so happy about himself for knowing more than me, but when it comes to this world I have like, the knowledge of a baby he shouldn't be proud of himself so much.)
"Well how do you find out the level of cultivation or your level of mantra?"
"There are Blue Silver stones embedded with runes that show the level of cultivation, and the same with Red Silver stones, which show the level of your mantra or soul."
"Wow, hey, since we are goin the same way wanna travel together?"
"Sure, but try to keep up with my pace alright? I don't mind if you don't slow me down too much."
(So this kid thinks I'm just a hassle, whatever at least he's nice.)
The next few days went by, cultivating was easier because shifts were taken while one cultivates and the other takes lookout and whenever there were beasts Yan had usually taken the initiative and always got a smug look on his face when doing so. Jin had learned that in Yan's family he had been known as a prodigy and had been sent off to the tournament not only to try to win but also to restore some family glory.
"Hey Jin-Buddy, want to duel? Nothing serious but just to loosen up, if you wanna yield I'll stop right then."
"Uh, yeah sure but.. No groin or face shots alright?"
Jin had actually forgotten about his scarred face and this was something that happened often, but the pity in Yan's eyes as he heard those words and looked at his face reminded him immediately. Though in the same instant Yan had put on a smile.
"Alright Jin-Buddy."
The boys had gotten into their martial stances and Yan took initiative of starting the fight. Yan lunged forward with an open palm and Jin had gotten into position to block, but when they had come into contact an odd force had engulfed his arms and seemed to put force on his body.
(WHAT THE HELL!?) "Hey!!!"
Jin had gotten freaked out by the ordeal and did a similar exchange, except with a closed fist, this sent Yan flying, Yan landed on both feet but due to not landing with good enough footing fell down.
"Wow! Ouch.. You're really strong! Why'd you freak out so bad?"
"Sorry, uh, what was that weird force that you put on my body with that attack?"
"Jin-Buddy that is Power Manipulation, I guess if you come from a poor village you wouldn't know. The aura in the world can be manipulated by skilled cultivators heheh, but it is really hard to do so and even harder to do a good attack either, so a punch would do a lot more damage for most people but masters can use it to fight hundreds of people at the same time!"
"Woah, that's crazy people can actually accomplish that! Uh, can you teach me?"
"Hmmm.. I'm not yet a master but I can teach you the basics so you can cultivate your skill of Power Manipulation. I can't guarantee you will get anywhere with it though."
A long while went by of Jin learning the basics, but he had already begun to understand it.
Jin's Power Manipulation open palm technique had amazed him, though not very powerful when he attacks trees it shakes the leaves, like a wave of energy.
(Maybe if it was more compressed or focused in one area.. Hm. It's like playing in the water!)
When Jin was young and he went swimming on school trips, he would do the motion of raising his arm with his hand up, but not touching the surface of water, but a force would push through and penetrate the surface.
Jin had gotten into a martial stance but instead focused on the Power Manipulation technique, rather than pushing forward he had curled his hand like he was scooping something, and scooped at all the Nature Energy in the air behind him and pushed it forward with his soul strength.
(Oh my god.)
In the top of a tree there was a hole right through all the branches and leaves, and a ripple had ripped all the bark off the tree.
(I can't even imagine the power of the masters in this world, Ima head back to camp.)