The waterfall roared down from the rocky cliffs above, crashing onto the rocks below and creating a thick mist that engulfed the surrounding area. Amidst the deafening noise of the water, two humans crouched in a small air pocket hidden beneath the waterfall's cascade. The pair huddled together, their bodies pressed tightly against the wet rock as they listened intently for any sign of danger. The sound and smell of the waterfall masked their presence from the monsters that lurked around.
The two humans were using a pair of dark goblins as cover from the cold created by the waterfall. If one took a closer look, one could also see a proud rabbit perched on the shoulder of the male human. Occasionally, large aquatic monsters would drop down from the top of the waterfall and badly startle Kyoma and Rina. However, as if oblivious to their presence, the aquatic monsters would be washed downstream by the waterfall.
Kyoma's hobgoblin positioned itself on the outer layer of the air bubble, serving as a barrier against the splashing water and any lurking monsters that might have been waiting to ambush them. So far, their stealth had remained intact and they hadn't attracted any unwanted attention. Kyoma and Rina used this brief respite to catch their breath and rest their weary bodies. Their constant vigilance since leaving the wild boar territory had taken a toll on their mental and physical stamina. They had battled various monsters, confronted a group of goblins led by an evolved leader, and narrowly escaped the stampede of a goblin army and the claws of ferocious beasts as they ventured deeper into the treacherous Southern Forest.
Beneath the tranquil veil of the waterfall, Kyoma and Rina found respite from their constant state of alertness that had drained them of all energy and focus. The soothing surroundings acted as a balm to their agitated souls, easing away the tension that had accumulated within them. Exhausted from the relentless battles and the need to remain vigilant at all times, they quickly succumbed to their weariness and fell into a deep slumber. Even the undead creatures, the dark goblins and windcutter rabbit, were lulled into a peaceful sleep. Only the hobgoblin, whose strength had been enhanced by the assimilation of numerous hobgoblins, remained vigilant, standing guard against any potential danger that may threaten their safety.
As Kyoma awoke from his slumber, he was greeted by the peaceful sight of Rina and the dark goblin archer cuddling together in a serene sleep. The image of the two sleeping beauties brought forth a sense of fierce determination within Kyoma's chest. He was determined to keep them safe, to ensure that they survived their perilous journey through the treacherous Southern Forest. With this determination in mind, Kyoma set to work, beginning by checking the special feature of the Loran's ring, which he had unlocked but had not yet had the energy to investigate.
Description:
1. The Loran's Ring has the capability to store physical items within a spatial dimension that measures 15x15x15 meters.
2. Unfortunately, living creatures cannot be stored within the spatial dimension.
3. To store a physical object, the owner simply needs to touch the object and will it to enter the Loran's Ring spatial dimension. To retrieve an object, the owner needs to will it out of the dimension.
4. The spatial dimension has no weight restrictions, allowing the storage of even heavy objects.
Upon reading the description of the special function, Kyoma wasted no time in testing it out. He grabbed the heavy sack of materials he had gathered and willed it to be stored inside the ring. As if space itself had bent to his will, the bag was drawn in by an invisible force and shrank smaller and smaller until it vanished completely. It was like watching a miniature black hole form and devour the bag.
When Kyoma inspected the storage dimension inside the ring, he found the bag floating neatly in one corner. To his amazement, the bag appeared unharmed despite being compressed to an incredibly small size. It was as if only the space surrounding the bag had been compressed and absorbed into the ring, leaving the contents untouched.
Kyoma repeated the same process on the hobgoblin's and melee dark goblin's heavy bags, watching as they were sucked into the ring's spatial dimension, reducing the group's burden significantly. Three bags now floated neatly in the storage space, leaving plenty of room for more monster ingredients. Kyoma couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret as he thought about the heaps of wild boar and other monster materials they had left behind. That was potential profit they had missed out on.
Afterwards, Kyoma used his soul energy to inspect his watch and seek out the next daily quest. Escaping this region of the Southern Forest required him to become significantly stronger than before. He needed enough power to defeat the giant tiger, lizard, and mantis that were lurking around. Although some were killed by the goblin stampede, there were still other formidable monsters wandering about. The most effective way to increase his power at the moment was by completing the quests provided by the Loran's ring on a daily basis.
Complete 15 rounds of the Apprentice Level Yin and Yang breathing technique.
Difficulty Level: Basic
Time Limit: 24 hours (23 hours 11 minutes remaining)
Rewards: +9 Strength and Agility, +3 Physical Resistance
Penalty: Unknown
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Execute 5 Apprentice Level Yin and Yang Punching Art
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Time Limit: 1 week
Rewards: Unlocks next Special Quest: Apprentice Level Yin and Yang Movement Art
Penalty: All subsequent special quests will be forfeited automatically
The daily quest remains unchanged, but there is now an extra special quest that is particularly useful in Kyoma's current circumstances: battle arts. Not only will this improve his fundamental abilities, but the Loran's Ring is now providing quests that teach Kyoma how to execute a punching technique. As Kyoma employed his soul energy to learn more about the yin and yang punching art, the Loran's Ring responded by inundating him with information on how to properly execute the technique.
In essence, the Yin and Yang Punching Art builds upon the Yin and Yang breathing technique, taking it to an advanced level. While the breathing technique strengthens Kyoma's physique and improves his control over his muscles, the punching art requires even greater mastery. Kyoma must not only control all the muscles in his body to regulate his breathing, a feat he had previously barely achieved, but also activate even finer muscles throughout his body to execute a punch. The physical demands of the yin and yang punching art are ten times greater than those of the breathing technique alone.
To say the least, the Yin and Yang Punching Art demands an almost impossible level of physical prowess. Notably, even the muscles responsible for controlling the eyeball's movement are required to work in concert with other muscles in the body for the punch's proper execution. The level of mastery required to perform this technique is almost unheard of. In Kyoma's previous life, only those devoted to mastering their body, such as monks, were capable of achieving such a feat. The notion of Kyoma properly performing the yin and yang punching art seems almost comical, was the Loran's ring joking with him?
Kyoma understood that before attempting the Yin and Yang Punching Art, he needed to master the Yin and Yang breathing technique. He had one week to complete the special quest, and based on the previous trend, he needed to complete 15 repetitions today, 20 tomorrow, and a total of 210 by the end of the week. This would greatly enhance his mastery over both the breathing technique and his body. Without hesitation, Kyoma began his training with dedication.
With every cycle of the Yin and Yang breathing technique, Kyoma let out a steady "Huuu.... Haaaaa..." as he focused on his breathing. As he progressed through each repetition, he could feel his body heat up, as if a fire was igniting from within. The technique was so unconventional that it forced Kyoma to engage muscles that were previously hidden, leading to an unprecedented level of body mastery. The dedication required for such a feat would have taken monks in his previous life decades of abstention from pleasure and daily physical training. If they knew of this technique, they would be green with envy.
After completing 6 cycles of the Yin and Yang breathing technique, and failing 5 times, Kyoma reached his physical limit and had to take a break. Covered in sweat, he walked over to the nearby waterfalls to wash off the dirt on his body. He noticed that Rina was also meditating nearby. Both of them were aware of the seriousness of their situation and knew that, with their current power, their chances of survival were slim.
A week had passed and Kyoma had sustained himself on only dried and preserved food to last through his training. He was determined to complete his daily quest and had consistently practiced his Yin and Yang breathing technique. With each passing day, Kyoma's mastery over the technique improved, and he could perfectly execute it 29 out of 30 times. On the third day, Kyoma attempted to push himself even further by completing additional breathing techniques. However, he soon regretted his decision when he struggled to execute the required 30 breathing techniques the following day. Despite his regrets, Kyoma remained steadfast in his commitment to push beyond his limits and consistently completed an extra 5 to 20 sets of the Yin and Yang breathing technique daily.
At the end of the week, Kyoma's body had attained a state of complete purity, as all impurities had been expelled. At the start of his training, he would be covered in dirt and have a foul odor whenever he executed the Yin and Yang breathing technique. However, now only pure sweat was expelled from his body, which lacked any impurities. The quality of his sweat was so pure that it could be compared to spring water from the Alps. It was even more accurate to refer to it as spring water rather than sweat.
Kyoma had now memorised the Yin and Yang breathing technique, performing it with ease as if it was second nature to him. Though the physical strain was still present, executing the technique felt like a leisurely marathon compared to the intense sprint of a 100m race. Kyoma's complete mastery over the Yin and Yang breathing technique gave him the confidence to finally attempt the Yin and Yang Punching Arts.