Fog didn't stop his assault. He charged Leo again and launched a Heavy Water Paw.
Leo used his bracers to cross-block the attack. The boy slid backward.
"You can't keep this up, boy," said Lycan, paying attention to the fight again.
"I know," responded Leo, executing a Yin Step to dodge another attack.
Leo reached down and grabbed a handful of dirt. He then began channeling qi into that hand. He stood up, facing Fog.
'Sir, slow your qi circulation. Earth qi moves slowly in the bison, and you must do the same.'
'Thank you, Sprite.'
Hearing his voice calmed him down. Watching Fog charge him again, Leo leaped forward himself using Yang Step. Leo stomped on the ground using a Descending Moon as they were about to trade blows. Leo injected yang qi into the ground, causing it to explode.
Fog lost concentration for another attack and backed up to avoid getting caught in dust and dirt.
Leo jumped to the right and opened his hand. A hardened rock of enforced qi blasted to the beastman. The stone is shaped like a bullet to allow for greater speeds.
The earth shard collided with the bear variant's temple. Fog tumbled a bit and was rendered unconscious.
The training area went quiet. Not many of them can face off with Fog and win.
Striker checked on Fog while a hand patted Leo on the shoulder. He turned to see Shadow.
"Good job, Leo."
"Thank you, Shadow," replied Leo, catching his breath. He was glad the last attack worked. Otherwise, he was going to be out of energy soon.
Lycan said, "Good job today. You are good for the rest of the day."
"Thanks, will do." Leo looked over to see Fog waking and felt better about leaving.
Binx walked over and looked at Leo. "I want a rematch, human."
"See you tomorrow then, Binx," promised Leo as he waved bye to the rest of the beastmen.
Leo spotted Samantha and ran to catch up to her.
She turned to see the dirty-looking boy run up to her. The curly-haired girl gave Leo a stern look.
'Sir, she seems upset with you.'
Some days, Sprite's comments are unneeded.
"Samantha, I'm sorry I missed dinner."
"Hmmph." She turned and walked away. About ten feet away, she turned around and said, "You better make it up to me tonight. I will be by for dinner again."
Leo didn't know what to say, so he said, "Okay."
She gave him a big smile and said, "I will be on my way. Later, Leo." She turned and walked towards the library.
'Congratulations, Sir. I believe she has forgiven you.'
'Sprite, just… never mind. Let's head home.'
Leo headed home to cultivate and see how Joe's day went. The two talked for a bit until Samantha arrived. She brought a few things to make a soup.
Leo watched as the girl did all the prep and cooking herself.
"Joe, should we help out?"
Joe looked at the boy and then the girl. He also tried to help her the night before but was shooed away.
"Leo, I will give you some solid advice. The one thing you always need to do when someone cooks for you is to say you're thankful for the food."
"I was, but let me see if I can help."
Leo stood up, went into the makeshift kitchen area, and then came right back.
"She said leave her to it and told me to tell you the food will be done soon."
Joe smiled at the defeated boy. Joe thought Leo might be a cultivation genius, but he is no Casanova. He patted on the seat next to him for Leo to sit.
Soon, Samantha came into the room with two bowls.
"Now, you two eat up."
Leo stood up to grab the bowls.
"Thank you, Samantha," said Leo with his sincerest smile.
Samantha blushed and said, "Call me Sam." She left to get herself a bowl and return.
'Sir, you keep side-eyeing, Samantha.'
Leo ignored Sprite to ask Joe a question. If he thought about Samantha anymore, he might say something weird.
"How's cultivation going, Joe?"
"I think I'm getting a handle on it. Baptizing one's skin with two energies is a lot, but I think soon I should be done."
Leo was impressed. Even with Sprite's help, it took him much longer to get a handle on cultivation.
'Sir, let Joseph know that he needs to focus on his back and buttocks to even out his cultivation.'
"Joe, make sure you cultivate areas you don't look at, too."
Joe looked at Leo and knew it must be a comment from Sprite, so he took a mental note to pay attention to those areas.
"Leo, could I learn to cultivate too?" Asked Samantha.
She always felt helpless on this Earth. Monsters and invaders could cultivate if humans could level the playing ground. That's what most humans believed.
"I don't see why not. Anyone can do the Tempering Body realm."
Sprite informed Leo long ago about missing a long-lost organ. Humans evolved away from having a dantian organ or spirit root. It grew in one's chest near the heart. Now, without one, humans would have a more challenging time once they ascended past the Tempered body realm.
Sprite once translated text from the Egyptians about embalmers. The royalty would have the embalmers remove the best spirit roots from enslaved people and transplant them. This is how royalty stayed the most powerful compared to those underneath them.
Leo asked if they performed root transfer now, would it work? Sprite said the body accepting the foreign spirit root is dangerous without many healing materials.
Strengthening the body with qi and energy didn't need a spirit root or dantian. So Leo believed one hundred percent that everyone should cultivate if they can.
Sprite's lessons kept him alive, and he hoped to help others, too.
"Sam, I can help you cultivate if you want."
"Oh, would you?" She said as she looked at this boy younger than her but full of confidence.
"Yeah, I'm helping Joe after all. One more person won't hurt."
The three continued talking through dinner until Sam got up to go. She told them she would come by for dinner when she could, and the two guys accepted. Having a good cooked meal and her company sounded great to them.
- - - - -
On an island off of Africa, Hiro pulled his blade from the dead body of a draconian.
"Hiro, I see you have handled the warriors over here," remarked Reiner.
"Yes, Sir. I have finally recovered my previous strength," replied Hiro, referring to his taking the medicine. Now, with his new dantian, Hiro had recultivated to peak Aura Fighter realm.
Hiro wiped his blade off and walked over to Reiner. The Blood Knight was holding a container with large-looking pills inside.
"Today's mission was successful. We have secured the cultivation pills. These will allow you, me, and others to break through our current realms more easily."
Reiner handed the pills to Hiro, who looked conflicted.
"Humans are at a disadvantage. We need to use every opportunity to catch up."
Hiro's grip on the pills tightened. He nodded to Reiner to let him know he understood.
A draconian pretending to be dead attacked while the two knights had their backs turned.
Reiner turned and activated his Blood Freeze skill. The draconian stopped in its tracks. Hiro ran his sword through the still target's gut.
"That should be the last of them," commented Reiner.
"Reiner, why do all these draconians seem so weak even though we are in the same realm?" Asked Hiro.
"These invaders today are just their citizens and lifestyle professionals. They have scattered most of their true warriors to defend each outpost."
Hiro understood. That is why the Blood Knight attacked first to eliminate the strongest, leaving only these weaklings behind for Hiro to clean up.
The two knights left, meeting with Blackiron Knight, who was guarding their evac ship.
"Machine, start up the ship."
"Yes, Sir," responded the Blackiron Knight.
Hiro looked out at the coast into the sea. Today, the waves seemed nonexistent.
"It seems the weather is calm today," remarked Hiro.
Reiner walked over and looked out, too.
"The calm should allow for a smooth trip home," said Reiner, looking out with Hiro.