"Here you are, a full pound," the quartermaster said, handing Oliver a kilogram of monster meat. Oliver passed over ten strings of copper coins, totaling one hundred.
After double-checking the transaction, Oliver returned to his quarters.
"One hundred copper coins..." he mused. The price was steep, but worse was the monthly purchase limit of just one kilogram.
Having experienced the rapid progress from consuming monster meat, how could one tolerate the snail's pace of normal cultivation?
This limitation drove hunters to risk their lives pursuing monsters, seeking both strength and profit.
Oliver portioned the meat into ten equal parts. He swallowed one, then turned to the kilogram of barbecued ordinary meat he'd prepared. In moments, it too vanished.
Breaking from his usual routine, Oliver skipped his customary hour of rest, diving straight into Energy Cultivation.
Monster meat replenished life energy swiftly, negating the need to wait for ordinary meat's digestion.
Vitality surged from his core, spreading throughout his body before concentrating in his dantian, transforming into internal energy.
The efficiency was staggering.
In just three days, Oliver's internal energy skyrocketed by fifteen silk-like strands.
His total now stood at four basic internal energy cores plus thirty-two silk-like strands – a formidable amount.
Fighting at full capacity, he could now last four minutes – likely sufficient to hunt a single monster.
Moreover, Oliver noticed his skill progression rate had further improved.
From roughly 2 points daily to 2.3, monster meat indeed accelerated skill advancement!
If all three daily meals were replaced with monster meat, his skill experience gain might well exceed 5 points per day.
Incredible potential!
"My Energy Cultivation skill sits at 522 points," Oliver calculated. "With ample meat, I should level up within a month. Here's hoping for significant gains this time!"
...
The team gathered at dawn, setting out fully equipped.
They passed through sparse forest, gradually penetrating deeper into the middle layer.
No prey worth mentioning crossed their path during the initial trek.
The group made quick work of what small game they did encounter.
"The environment beyond the river is far more complex," Luke explained as they traveled. "Abundant food supports diverse creatures. Naturally, the chances of encountering monsters are much higher than in the outer layer. Generally, serious monster hunting requires venturing deep into the middle layer."
"What about the deep zone?" Oliver inquired.
"The deep zone is... special," Luke replied hesitantly. "It harbors terrifying monsters. Even those who've awakened spirit roots dare not enter. Its true nature remains a mystery. It's not a place for the likes of us to explore."
Luke and the others clearly viewed the deep zone as dangerous territory, but had no personal interest in investigating further.
They could barely handle the middle layer. The deep zone? That was beyond their lifetime's reach.
The sound of flowing water interrupted their conversation.
The Middle Layer River stretched before them, neither particularly wide nor narrow – perhaps twenty meters across.
With no bridge in sight, they'd have to rely on their agility to cross.
"Captain, how exactly do we... fly across?" Oliver asked, scratching his head. Had he missed some crucial lightness skill training?
"Ah, right," Luke clapped his forehead. "I forgot you're new. We should have had you practice in advance."
Oliver's silence spoke volumes.
"It's not actually that difficult," Laura chimed in. "Some animals are naturally light enough to run on water. Humans can do the same. With sufficient speed and strength, water-running becomes feasible. Anyone who's mastered the second level of Energy Cultivation can manage it."
"Generally, silk-like internal energy is enough," Eric added. "For your first attempt, you might want to use a basic internal energy core to force your way across."
"It's simple enough to learn on the spot," Luke assured him, rubbing his eyes. "Eric, give him a demonstration."
Eric nodded curtly. In a flash, he dashed towards the river.
Water sprayed in his wake as he sprinted across the surface, clearing the twenty-meter expanse in seconds. He reached the far bank without breaking a sweat, clearly having energy to spare.
This feat wasn't surprising. One who could move freely while carrying hundreds of kilograms of prey should find water-walking trivial.
"Laura," Luke prompted.
Laura nodded, circulated her internal energy, and gracefully crossed the river.
Her movements, more fluid and natural than Eric's, suggested true mastery of the lightness skill.
"Your turn," Luke said, arms crossed. "The faster you run, the less likely you are to sink."
Oliver eyed his teammates on the opposite bank, his blood surging with excitement. Water-walking! A true martial arts technique!
Though this world held spirit roots and supernatural powers, he'd never imagined mastering such an ability. The thought had never crossed his mind back in Willowbrook.
The prospect thrilled him. Had he truly cultivated to this level without realizing it?
Oliver took a deep breath, standing about seven meters from the riverbank. He circulated his internal energy suddenly.
Basic internal energy exploded through his body. He felt lighter, more buoyant.
With astonishing speed, he leapt the seven meters to the water's edge in a single bound.
Common sense dictated he should immediately sink upon touching the water.
Instead, Oliver felt as if he stood upon an elastic net. Exerting slight pressure, he sprang upward without sinking.
"Splash!"
Water erupted a meter high as Oliver leapt forward again.
This effortless bound both surprised and delighted him. He took several successive leaps, as if transformed into the wind itself, drifting freely through the material world.
It was a sensation he'd only experienced in dreams.
"Exhilarating!" he thought, a smile breaking across his face.
Splash after splash, Oliver crossed the twenty meters, landing steadily on the far bank.
He found himself wanting to continue, to bound across the water's surface again and again.
The sensation of swift movement on water differed entirely from land!
For a moment, Oliver felt truly heroic – as if the entire world lay open before him.
Reality quickly tempered this thought.
He was, after all, merely a novice at the second level of Energy Cultivation.
What right did he have to such grandiose notions?
Yet even as he suppressed the thought, its seed had taken root.
The vistas Oliver had pursued in his heart suddenly expanded, revealing a vast new world!
Could wealth, status, or beauty truly compare to such boundless freedom?
"Everyone, stay alert," Luke called as he took point. "If you notice anything unusual, inform Laura immediately!"
The team nodded in unison.
Monsters weren't ubiquitous in the middle layer. Finding their traces required considerable experience.
Laura excelled in this regard.
Oliver nodded too, but his focus remained on potential dangers rather than potential gains.
His logic was simple: As a newcomer, what clues could he possibly spot?
Familiarizing himself with the middle layer's hazards took priority over any immediate rewards.
Even mastery of internal energy didn't guarantee survival here!
Strange flora and fauna abounded. One might be poisoned, ambushed, or fall into hidden traps.
If even the experienced members of Luke's team could perish here, Oliver knew he must exercise extreme caution.