Amuche sought out Nedu, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and trepidation. She had been thinking about Jidenna nonstop since their separation, her mind filled with worries about his safety and well-being.
"Joining the academy is a wise choice, Amuche," Nedu said, nodding his head in agreement. "Staying in this village won't help you grow stronger. You need to explore the world, seek opportunities, and treasure to develop yourself and break through to higher realms."
Amuche's heart skipped a beat as Nedu mentioned Jidenna. "But what about Jidenna?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Nedu's expression turned serious. "Jidenna is currently in the fifth realm, trapped by a powerful dark spirits cultivator named Damuck. I'm not sure why Damuck wants him, but we need to reach Jidenna before it's too late."
As Nedu spoke, Amuche's eyes stung with tears. She felt a surge of determination and grit, her resolve to rescue Jidenna hardening into an unshakeable conviction. She thought about the moments they shared, the laughter, the adventures, and the quiet moments when it was just the two of them. The memory of his smile and his piercing eyes strengthened her resolve.
"How do you know Jidenna is still alive?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Nedu's eyes locked onto hers. "The amulet you wear is connected to Jidenna's life force. As long as it glows, I know he's alive. But I don't know his current situation."
Amuche's grip on the amulet tightened as she listened. Her mind raced with questions. What was Jidenna going through? Was he suffering? Was he thinking of her too? The uncertainty gnawed at her, but she pushed it aside, focusing on the task ahead.
With a deep breath, Amuche steeled herself for the journey ahead. She would face whatever challenges came her way, armed with the thought of Jidenna's smile and the burning desire to reunite with him.
"I will join the hunting squad and grow stronger," she said, her voice firm. "I will rescue Jidenna, no matter what it takes."
Nedu nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. "I knew you had the spirit,
....
Meanwhile, in the 5th realm, a majestic mountain pierced the sky, its peak shrouded in mist. A volcano at its center spewed forth rivers of lava, and amidst the fiery torrent, a man was suspended in a cage, chained and cultivation-sealed. This was Jidenna, his eyes closed until he sensed movement around him. As he opened them, he saw Damuck standing before him.
Damuck, a middle-aged man with burly hair and a formidable build, wore a mocking smile. "How long will you keep resisting?" he taunted. Jidenna remained silent, his gaze fixed on Damuck.
Undeterred, Damuck continued, "It's only a matter of time before I refine your life force and step into the legendary land of Ijele. I will become the ultimate ruler of this world!" Jidenna's eyes narrowed, and he spat, "You'll never succeed. Your dreams are futile."
Damuck laughed, his voice echoing off the mountain walls. "So says my vanquished foe!" Jidenna's eyes flashed with anger. "That was never a fair fight, Damuck. If you have the guts, release me, and let's fight. If you win, I'll tell you the secret you seek."
Damuck's smile faltered for a moment before he sighed. "There's no such thing as equal treatment or being fair. The winner is king, the loser is a bandit. The winner writes history, while the loser is mocked by history and generations to come. Equal treatment is not always fair, and fair treatment is not always equal. Enjoy your last days, Jidenna. I will soon refine you and take your memories. Then, I will know the knowledge I seek."
With a wicked laugh, Damuck departed, leaving Jidenna to his thoughts. As the strange feeling in his body intensified, his mind raced with concerns for Nedu and Amuche. Did Nedu reach Amuche safely? Is she living a good life, or did she follow Nedu back into the spirit world? The uncertainty gnawed at him, and with a gritted teeth, he sank into a slumber, his mind tormented by the unknown.
Amuche, now armed with a sword, was eager to join the hunting squad and put her skills to the test. However, before they set off on their expedition, she wanted to hone her sword skills with Nedu's guidance. For days, she practiced tirelessly, her movements becoming more fluid and precise with each passing moment. Her mastery of the sword continued to grow, and she could feel her confidence building.
Nedu, sensing her progress, emphasized the importance of building a strong physical body defense. "You can't always dodge or evade every attack," he cautioned. "A strong physique is crucial for survival." He handed her a cultivation manual focused on physical strengthening, divided into ten tiers. Each tier required specific ingredients, which Amuche needed to gather.
He continued, "All cultivation manuals, fighting techniques, and movement arts are categorized into ten tiers, with each tier having three grades: low, middle, and high. The higher the tier and grade, the more powerful the technique."
Amuche's curiosity got the better of her. "Nedu, what tier is this physical body cultivation manual?" she asked, her eyes fixed on the manual.
Nedu's expression turned thoughtful. "To be honest, Amuche, even I don't know its exact tier. I discovered it in the ruins of a once powerful clan, and I can tell you it's no ordinary manual. Its level might be as high as a tier 8 cultivation manual."
Amuche's eyes widened in awe. "Tier 8? That's incredible!" She had never seen a manual of such high caliber before.
Nedu nodded. "Yes, it's a rare find. The techniques and ingredients required are unlike anything I've seen before. But I believe it has the potential to make you incredibly strong, Amuche."
Amuche's determination grew. She was eager to start cultivating and unlock the secrets of the manual. With a tier 8 manual, she might have a chance to rescue Jidenna and defeat Damuck.
Amuche's eyes scanned the manual. To reach the first level, Copper Body, she needed two great herbs - Uzuza and Avoko Purple Grass - and the core of a divine beast from the Mmuo Ndu late stage. Nedu explained that not all divine beasts have monster cores, and each core takes time and strength to develop.
Nedu also handed her a sword cultivation technique manual, a high-grade second-tier technique called "Thousand Swords Slash." This technique focused on speed and penetrating opponents' defenses. "This manual is a rare find," Nedu said. "Most cultivation manuals are either lost or hidden, and only a few are passed down through generations."
Amuche practiced for two weeks, her movements becoming faster and more precise. She could feel the technique becoming second nature to her. Her body was becoming stronger, her movements more agile, and her sword skills more deadly.
One day, Kael informed Amuche that they would set off the next day to explore the mountains for two weeks, hunting and searching for treasure. Amuche's heart raced with excitement. She was ready, her sword skills and physical strength improved, now is the time to brace real danger.
The next day a squad of 32 people, led by Village Chief Ojo, a seasoned cultivator at the early stage of Mmuo Ndu, embarked on their expedition into the treacherous woods. The group comprised twenty middle-aged men and twelve youths, including Amuche, each with their unique skills and strengths. Some villagers had opted out of this perilous journey, aware of the perils that lay ahead. The squad's cultivation levels varied, with most men at the peak stage of Mmuo, five at the late stage, and ten middle-aged men at the early stage of Mmuo Ndu. Amuche, at the middle stage of Mmuo, was the weakest in terms of cultivation level, but her determination and potential were evident. She was on the cusp of a breakthrough, requiring only a spark to ignite her growth.
Before joining the squad, Nedu, her trusted companion and mentor, had cautioned her about the dangers of being seen with a young dragon on her shoulder. As a powerful cultivator on the brink of a breakthrough, Nedu needed to reach at least the peak stage of Mmuo Ndu to transform into a less conspicuous form, like a parrot, and avoid drawing unnecessary attention from formidable cultivators and potential beast tamers.
The squad ventured deep into the forest, bypassing the outer region, and arrived at the middle area, where they established a temporary camp. Chief Ojo instructed them to set up traps and prepare for the hunt, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and cooperation. After setting up camp, the chief divided the squad into eight groups of four people each, with at least one early Mmuo Ndu cultivator leading each group. The groups were to return to the campsite by nightfall, their missions to hunt and gather resources crucial to the village's survival.
Amuche found herself in a group with Kael, Chief Ojo, and another youth, their diverse skills and experiences meshing well together. With their routes assigned, the groups set off in different directions, ready to face the challenges of the forest. The atmosphere was tense, the silence punctuated only by the sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs. Each step was calculated, each movement deliberate, as they navigated the treacherous terrain.
As they advanced, they encountered a divine beast - a massive bear at the early stage of Mmuo Ndu. Chief Ojo took the lead, his spear at the ready, while Kael, Amuche, and the other youth flanked it, their weapons poised for attack. The battle was intense, the bear's ferocity matched only by the squad's determination. In the end, they emerged victorious, the bear lying exhausted and defeated.
The squad continued on their hunt, encountering two more divine beasts, which they defeated with ease. Chief Ojo and the others were impressed by Amuche's skills and instincts, wondering which powerful clan she hailed from. Her ability to blend in seamlessly with the group suggested she was no novice in hunting expeditions. As they set traps and prepared to head back to camp, Amuche caught her first glimpse of a spiritual ring. Chief Ojo used it to store the beast bodies, and she marveled at the ingenuity of the Dintas, who had created a device that could store treasures in a space inside the ring. Nedu had told her about spiritual rings, but seeing one in action was a different story altogether. She learned that storage rings came in different tiers, each with its unique capabilities, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the vast world of cultivation that lay before her.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the groups returned to the campsite, their weary faces a testament to the day's grueling battles. Amuche's group was among the last to arrive, their exhaustion palpable as they settled into their tents. The campsite was a hive of activity, with cultivators tending to their wounds and preparing for the night ahead.
Village Chief Ojo activated the defense formation plate, its energy pulsating softly as it enveloped the camp in a protective embrace. Amuche turned to Kael, her curiosity piqued. "Kael, what tier is this formation plate?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kael's response was measured, his eyes gleaming with a hint of pride. "It's a tier one, high-grade formation plate, capable of withstanding attacks from Mmuo Ndu late-stage cultivations ten times before crumbling."
Amuche nodded thoughtfully, her mind racing with the implications. She recalled Nedu's erudite explanation of formation plates - how they were crafted by the ancient Dintas to amplify a cultivator's power, allowing them to establish formidable formations that could repel even the most formidable foes. Yet, Nedu had also cautioned her about the plates' vulnerabilities - how they could be destroyed if the force attacking them was too potent, or if the formation eye was discovered and exploited.
As she drifted off to sleep, Amuche felt a sense of reassurance wash over her, knowing that the formation plate's protection would allow her to rest easy, her dreams untroubled by the dangers that lurked in the shadows.