As Nedu transmitted the cultivation manual to Amuche's soul, she felt a surge of energy course through her body. Her eyes closed, and her mind focused on the ancient knowledge flooding her senses. The air around her seemed to vibrate with an otherworldly energy, as if reality itself was shifting to accommodate her newfound potential. Amuche's heart raced, her spirit soaring with the promise of a new adventure.
After fully absorbing the manual, Amuche began to digest the information carefully, ensuring she didn't make any mistakes. The cultivation process was straightforward: draw spiritual energy from the atmosphere, ignite the body's core, and produce a pearl to store and utilize spiritual energy.
Amuche remained poised for about two hours before the energy around her began modulating slowly. Nedu was startled, as it usually took others a considerable amount of time to understand how to draw spiritual energy. However, Amuche grasped it in just two hours, leaving him astonished and eager to see the type of pearl she could awaken.
"Wooshhh woossshhh" the energy continued to modulate, enveloping Amuche in a dance of white and dark light that lasted for ten hours.
During this time, the two girls returned from playing outside but were unable to enter the room due to Nedu's seal. They consulted their father, the old man, who noticed Amuche's cultivation and told the girls to share another room with other family friends. Nedu saw this but was more concerned with helping Amuche in case of any danger.
Suddenly, the energy swirling around Amuche shot out from her body with a loud bang, heading for the sky like a firecracker. The sky rumbled, and a loud thundering sound vibrated, followed by a large thunderstorm that quickly dispersed, returning calmness. Most villagers stepped outside to witness different stars sparkling brightly, as if the heavens were rejoicing over the birth of a savior.
Nedu was shockingly stunned, having never witnessed such a phenomenon. Far away, in the northern region, a middle-aged woman cultivating sensed the event and gazed at the sky, mumbling softly, "It's time." Similar scenarios played out in different regions, surprising powerful men and women.
The stars soon faded, and the clouds returned to normal. Amuche slowly opened her eyes, exhaled softly, and stood up. Her eyes were pure black, and tears of blood dropped from them. Nedu was left baffled, stuttering, "Ey... eyes of truth." Amuche's eyes soon returned to normal, and she smiled charmingly at Nedu, feeling the energy inside her body, making her feel invincible.
"What color pearl did you awaken?" Nedu asked her. "Try reflecting your pearl color on your palm."
Amuche quickly did as she was instructed, and both of them were stunned as the color burning like fire on her palm was a mixture of dark and light, intertwining together like dancing flames.
"Why is my pearl a different color?" Amuche asked Nedu.
"I don't know," Nedu replied, scratching his small dragon head. "I have never seen such a weirdly colored pearl before."
"But as long as it can help you draw spiritual energy and accommodate different elements, then there's no problem. However, I have a weird feeling that it's actually a very powerful pearl that you have awakened," Nedu said.
"You should rest early; tomorrow, we will head out to train in the woods so you can get accustomed to your newfound power." Nedu advised and went off to rest and recover his energy.
The next day, Amuche and Nedu set out for the woods, eager to begin her training. As they walked, Nedu explained the basics of wielding spiritual energy.
"Remember, Amuche, the key is to focus your mind and connect with the energy within you. Once you've mastered that, you can start to manipulate the energy to achieve various effects."
Amuche listened intently, her eyes shining with excitement. She had always been eager to learn, and this was no exception.
When they arrived at a clearing, Nedu gestured for Amuche to begin. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and focused her mind. Slowly but surely, she felt the energy within her stirring.
"Good!" Nedu encouraged. "Now, try to shape the energy into a small ball."
Amuche concentrated harder, her hands trembling slightly as she struggled to control the energy. Suddenly, a tiny orb of light appeared in front of her.
Nedu beamed with pride. "Excellent! You're a natural!"
As the day went on, Amuche practiced various techniques, gradually increasing her proficiency. She learned how to create larger orbs, manipulate their color and intensity, and even use the energy to enhance her physical abilities.
By the end of the day, Amuche was exhausted but exhilarated. She had
never felt so empowered in her life before.
Before heading off to train the next day, Amuche found out that the village men had gone out to hunt in the woods. All the strongest cultivators of the village were gone, leaving only young women, elderly men, and children behind.
Nedu leaned against a nearby tree, his eyes serious. "Amuche, now that you've grasped the basics of spiritual energy, it's time to understand the different aspects of martial arts."
Amuche listened intently, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Cultivation manuals, like the one I gave you, teach you how to draw and control spiritual energy to strengthen your physical body. It's a lifelong process, and once you've chosen a manual, you must commit to it fully. If you want to switch to a different manual, you'll have to start from the beginning."
He paused, surveying the surrounding woods. "Fighting techniques, on the other hand, focus on weapon mastery and combat strategies. There are manuals for sword arts, spear techniques, fist arts, and more. These techniques help you utilize your weapons effectively in battle."
Nedu gestured, his hands weaving intricate patterns in the air. "Lastly, movement arts deal with body cultivation. These manuals teach you how to move swiftly, evade attacks, and escape dangerous situations. They're crucial for survival in the martial world."
Amuche's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I see! So, I can learn multiple fighting techniques and movement arts, but only one cultivation manual at a time?"
Nedu nodded. "Exactly! And remember, mastering one technique takes time and dedication. Don't spread yourself too thin, or you'll risk mediocre skills in multiple areas."
Amuche nodded, determination burning within her. "I understand, Nedu. I'll focus on one technique at a time and master it before moving on."
Nedu smiled, his eyes shining with pride. "That's the spirit, Amuche! Now, let's begin your training in a movement art. We'll focus on a speed-oriented technique that will boost your speed greatly."
He began to teach her the fundamentals of the "Wind Dash" technique, a movement art that emphasized rapid footwork and agile body movements. Amuche listened intently, her eyes wide with concentration.
As she practiced, Amuche's movements became more fluid and swift. She could feel her speed increasing with each passing day. Nedu encouraged her, offering words of praise and guidance.
One day, as Amuche practiced her Wind Dash, she felt a sudden surge of energy. Her movements became even faster, her feet barely touching the ground. She had reached a minor achievement!
Excited, Amuche turned to Nedu. "Nedu, I think I've got it! Watch this!"
She took off, dashing into the woods with incredible speed. Nedu chased after her, laughing. "Faster, Amuche! Show me what you're made of!"
Amuche's heart raced with exhilaration as she weaved through the trees, her movements a blur. She could feel the wind rushing past her face, her senses heightened.
As they emerged from the woods, Amuche slowed to a stop, beaming with pride. Nedu patted her on the back, his eyes shining with pride.
"You've made tremendous progress, Amuche. Your speed is incredible. Keep practicing, and you'll become one of the fastest warriors in the land!.
The continued to train every day in woods or at water fall as Amuche practices how to improve her movement arts.
Nedu's expression turned serious, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Amuche, I must tell you about the special ability associated with innate pearls. Though I can't identify the type of pearl you awakened, I noticed your Eyes of Truth. According to an ancient script I once encountered, the Eyes of Truth are a nature-defying skill that allows the user to see the true form of everything."
He paused, his voice filled with awe. "With this ability, you can analyze different arts and see the flaws in them. As a Dibia, you can look at another cultivator and find out the mistakes in their cultivation. You can even detect sickness with a single glance and discover traps and illusions easily."
Nedu's eyes sparkled with pride. "But remember, Amuche, the Eyes of Truth need to be trained to keep improving. The more you practice, the sharper your insight will become. And in battle, you can use your Eyes of Truth to grasp an opponent's flaws and capitalize on their weaknesses."
Amuche listened intently, her mind racing with the possibilities. She had always felt like there was something special about her, something that set her apart. Now, she knew what it was.
As she returned to the village one day, she was met with a sorrowful mood. Three or four dead bodies of villagers were brought back from the forest, and the women who had lost their husbands wailed in grief. Children cried, and Amuche felt her heart heavy with sorrow. These people had been kind to her, and she couldn't control her emotions as she saw the devastation around her.
Tears fell from her eyes as she mourned the loss of the villagers. She knew that she had to do something to help, to protect these people who had become like family to her. And so, she made a silent vow to use her abilities to keep them safe, to defend them against any harm that might come their way, as long as she was to stay in this village.