"The quantity of the potion is significant, the Planting Servants at East Mountain farmstead don't amount to that many… There's a group of people inside the farmstead that we don't know."
"Could it be that those who have left, would still reside there at the farmstead for a while before descending the mountain?"
"But if that is the case, why would they need to drink these potions? What's the true efficacy of these potions without the pairing of Ferocious Beast Meat?"
"Perhaps, behind Hanging Fate Manor, really lies that sect…"
Returning from the Medicine Pavilion and back to his dormitory, An Jing's mind was filled with doubts.
An Jing, a man of Innate Wisdom, had been earnestly reading since childhood. Over the years, his experiences were not few, and with the channels of the An Family, he was definitely considered a well-informed person in the Embracing the Void realm.
Moreover, with his recent months' experience at Hanging Fate Manor, An Jing could actually deduce that the background of Hanging Fate Manor might not be clean.
But as to how unclean it actually was, An Jing hadn't pondered before.
Purely from an emotional standpoint, he wanted to trust Hanging Fate Manor, and for this, he would rather ignore some details.
However, circumstances have now pushed these details before his eyes, and he could no longer ignore them, even if he wished to. That seed of doubt, once sprouted, was difficult to quell.
No matter what, he must conduct a second investigation to uncover the true secrets hidden behind Hanging Fate Manor.
However, An Jing did not plan to undertake a nocturnal investigation immediately. His strength was not sufficient, and it would be difficult to avoid the patrolling instructors.
Moreover, there was only one wide straight path leading from the main manor to East Mountain farmstead. To pass without detection, he needed a night that was dark and overcast.
An Jing was awake in the middle of the night, not to embark on an immediate night exploration, but to actively engage in self-improvement, rapidly mastering the 'Mysterious Steps' from the Imperial Heaven Piercing Divine One Qi Cultivation Method.
Mysterious Steps without a doubt, is a kind of movement technique quite rare in Da Chen.
Assassination Skills and Cultivation Methods are not uncommon in Da Chen, but mental methods and movement techniques, even the simplest ones, are enough to form the core heritage of a Martial Family.
Just as An Jing regarded the other two parts of the Imperial Heaven Qi Nurturing Method as 'Assassination Skills,' Mysterious Steps also truly embodied the core concept of 'elusive as Heaven's Will, mysteriously untraceable'.
Its speed was not considered fast, but it could conceal sound and be extremely secretive, emphasizing a quiet approach and a sudden burst when necessary, like a thunderclap striking down Heaven's Will, then disappearing abruptly, withdrawing swiftly.
And that is the advantage of a complete set of Martial Skills.
The normal speed of Mysterious Steps was not fast, but when necessary, it could accelerate with a burst of Unquestioning Spirit Penetration employing Piercing Armor True Strength. Although the duration was short, it was enough for crucial moments.
In contrast, the 'Houtu Body Cultivation Method' should primarily focus on body tempering martial skills for direct combat, or possibly nourishing the meridians for better development of the body's potential.
At night, An Jing studied the secret manual carefully by moonlight, coupled with the enhanced vision from his martial arts practice. During the day, he pretended to study, concealing his progress.
Having already achieved first place and secured all the benefits, holding some things back would not hurt. Mainly, An Jing was curious about the whereabouts of those potions.
After all, lately he always felt unease.
Those bones with black stripes that might belong to Monsters/Demons, those potions of unknown function, and the overly mysterious background of Hanging Fate Manor made him feel at a loss.
Such was An Jing's nature; if he could not grasp a matter, he would strive to master it.
He would never remain indifferent, deceiving himself that 'there's nothing wrong'.
Soon, more than ten days passed.
An Jing's 'Mysterious Steps' had reached Minor Achievement. When executed, his steps sucked in force like treading on clouds, and even stepping on branches in the forest would not make the slightest sound, as all tremors were absorbed.
It could also be combined with other cultivation methods, like the Heart of Embracing the Abyss. Practicing stances with Mysterious Steps could accelerate the efficiency of Qi Nourishing.
Leveraging this effect, An Jing felt that the "innate qi" within his body had grown increasingly thick and powerful, and he would soon be able to break through Inner Breath.
But it wasn't the right time. If he broke through Inner Breath now, it would be a tremendous commotion that drew intense attention. Afterwards, he would be the focus of many, and at that time, it would be impossible to explore Hanging Fate Manor.
During this period, the personnel remaining at Hanging Fate Manor had stabilized, amounting to a total of one hundred and eight people.
Compared to the initial two hundred and forty-something people, these one hundred and eight had decreased by more than half, but those who remained indeed had better talent and a better mindset; they were the elite.
This was the final confirmed number, and no one else would be eliminated thereafter.
Although these one hundred and eight young men and women were pleased upon knowing this, they did not shout out in joy; instead, they sighed in relief.
They had after all not been eliminated.
Nearly half a year of training and nurturing had made their temperament 'steadier,' 'more mature,' or perhaps... 'more ruthless'?
Even Gu Yeqi and Cang Linzu were not surprised. Their temperaments had also grown more steady, but their feelings became even deeper for those friends they truly recognized.
An Jing also watched all this.
Practicing the Imperial Heaven Qi Nurturing Method, he felt that his mindset had also changed a bit, becoming more like the vast heavens; he had a peculiar sense of detachment, as if looking down on everything happening before him.
An Jing knew he should have certain feelings, but he had an eeriness, as if controlling a game character, unmoved by the events that unfolded.
At first, An Jing didn't notice anything strange, but one day, when he took a bowl of water from Gu Yeqi, he said very politely, "Thank you, Ye Qi," and upon seeing the odd expressions on the faces of Gu Yeqi and Cang Linzu, he suddenly realized.
Firstly, was there anything for them to thank each other for?
Even if it really was a thank you, it shouldn't be so formal—more casual phrases like "Thanks" or "Hey, thanks!" would be more appropriate. The more formal the courtesy, the more distant it seemed in their relationship!
These cultivation methods... and the dietary training were changing his nature!
[Fearless Abyssal, Embracing the Void, Unquestioning Spirit Penetration]
This might just be the transformation of the self by Imperial Heaven Method.
"Indeed, Fearless Abyssal makes one restrained in their emotions, Unquestioning Spirit Penetration brings serene thoughts and suddenly explosive emotions... and as for Mysterious Steps, the longer one practices, the more it elevates the mind, as if looking down from the heavens," An Jing reflected cautiously, "If I were to practice the complete Imperial Heaven Qi Nurturing Method, the effects would surely be even more... In the end, what would it make me become?"
It's difficult to say whether that would be a good thing.
Combating the influence of the cultivation technique is not difficult, but Hanging Fate Manor is also changing.
After confirming the numbers, Hanging Fate Manor divided the one hundred and eight children into twelve groups, to drill formations named after the twelve earthly branches, with An Jing leading the first group.
An Jing's group, named Star Era, comprised nine people, including himself, five males and four females, mostly youth from around the Ming Mountain City in the Northern Border.
Gu Yeqi and Cang Linzu were also among them. They were the two remaining members of the early group that had formed around An Jing and now had become his left and right arms.
Apart from requiring each group's members to be in harmony and meditate together, Hanging Fate Manor also demanded that each group practice a peculiar Battle Formation.
Such a Battle Formation, An Jing had seen something similar during militia drills in his hometown, but what they were training to combat seemed not to be humans but rather, beings much larger in size than humans.
All sorts of rolling, spearing, and attacks aimed at the underside were highly targeted.
"Is Hanging Fate Manor training the children... to hunt Ferocious Beasts?"