Soon, as it always does, morning arrived, its gentle rays shimmering between the branches, leaves and petals of the plum forest. Kang Shan and Chang Yu were the first to awake, the former taking his rest while leaning against a tree, while the latter shared Mei Lin's bed at her request. While both men awoke simultaneously, Kang Shan was the first to get up, while Chang Yu had to untangle himself from the still-asleep Mei Lin.
Apparently, she is in love with Chang Yu
Was it really that obvious Kang Shan?
The two exchanged a brief glance before breaking out into a small chuckle as they thought about Mei Lin's actions, both had quite quickly figured out Mei Lin's warmth for Chang Yu, though, her earlier rancour for him disregarding her was genuine as it came. The two continued to chuckle as they exchanged thoughts for a little while longer before Mei Lin finally woke up, a slight hint of disappointment on her face as she found Chang Yu was missing, only to look up and see Kang Shan and Chang Yu laughing together like lifelong friends.
"Since when were you two so close?"
This question caused the duo to freeze, given she had been sleeping soundly, Kang Shan and Chang Yu had complete faith that they might have another hour or two since neither had any qualms about continuing their journey in the afternoon.
Kang Shan was the first to respond, clearing his throat and coughing into his fist.
"I have discovered that Brother Chang Yu has some admirable qualities after all"
"Please, you're just acting friendly now that I'm in the Qi Condensation stage"
"Perhaps."
Mei Lin sighed deeply as she got up from the bedroll where she and Chang Yu had been resting. With a heavy heart, she carefully folded the bedroll and readied herself to join the others on the journey ahead.
"All of you get walking, your travel rations can be eaten while we walk. If we're lucky and meet some travellers we may be able to get on their cart with them until we arrive at the Blue Dragon River"
Chang Yu and Kang Shan nodded in agreement, neither wanting to walk more than they needed to, but, they began to make pace as Mei Lin took the leader position in front of them.
"So… How many tales from the upper realms make their way to the mortal realm?"
As Chang Yu asked his question Mei Lin appeared to perk up, taking a few steps so she was walking between Chang Yu and Kang Shan
"Not many, but, I heard a few tales in my childhood, since I haven't stepped foot into the upper realms, I can't exactly tell you how true they are, but, since you asked, I assume you want to hear about some upper realm heroes?"
Chang Yu gave an affirmation to Mei Lin's question as Kang Shan reached into his pack, grabbing a piece of dried meat, he bit into it and found it to be oddly tough. After trying to tear the piece in half with his teeth he'd let out a grunt.
"To think I'd have to use my family's technique on a piece of meat…"
There was a hint of defeat in his voice as his mouth and the area of his face pulsed with small veins of golden light as the skin took on a scaled appearance, his teeth quickly sharpening, and his jaws extended to better resemble a crocodile's snout. On his second attempt to pull apart the meat, his crocodilian teeth
"Beast Strength Transformation?"
Mei Lin's surprising knowledge on this subject prompted Chang Yu to inquire with Kang Shan, not regarding the matter of his technique, but, on the matter of the sect they had just left.
If this is a family technique, then what methods do we learn from Blossom Mountain Palace?
What we learn is their cultivation method, though, you might not need it if you can absorb more souls.
So, I assume the original Kang Shan was sent to study at Blossom Mountain Palace by his family then?
Yes.
"Hey, Mei Lin, you were going to tell me about some mythical characters from the upper realm?"
"A-Ah! Right, right, right… Who to start with…"
Mei Lin brought her hand to her face, rubbing her chin as she gave some thought before her eyes bolted open as she came to an answer.
"Alright. I'll start with an easy one since he had some renown in the lower realms. He was called Wandering Scholar he was an intellectual of great renown, his most notable work during his time in the lower realm was a technique called 'Thinking While Walking'."
"Thinking While Walking? A utilitarian name, but, may you tell us about someone more, um, legendary?"
"Alright, alright, this one came during a brief period after the demise of Pale Soul Monarch!"
Kang Shan and Chang Yu locked gazes, at least they no longer had to assume that they were still in the same world.
"Ok, who is he?"
"The one in question was called Life and Death Supreme General! It's said that in the chaos that plagued the upper realms after the death of Pale Soul Monarch, he wandered in the Absolute Yin Cloud and located the Doors of Life and Death."
"Doors of Life and Death?"
Chang Yu was bewildered, this was something he had sought out ever since he invented his soul cultivation method. The Doors of Life and Death, a legendary treasure without equal, was said to have been created from a fragment of the Heavenly Dao at the moment of the universe's creation! According to myth, the souls of the deceased are pulled into the Doors of Life and Death the moment they die. Naturally, finding it had been his life's goal, but, he fell victim to the soul-dissolving talisman and reincarnated.
Soul-dissolving talisman… ha ha ha, Earth-Fire Ancestor, it seems your attempt to guarantee my death only helped me avoid it!
"Yes, the doors of life and death. It's said that 10000 years after he entered he reemerged on the back of a massive, black and white, kunpeng. Supposedly, he absorbed a tree that bore fruit bursting with Life Qi and Death Qi into his inner world thusly gaining the ability to command both powers."
"The Doors of Life and Death…"
Chang Yu still couldn't quite believe it, that seemingly mythical thing that many thought just to be a tall tale. Though, the more he thought of it the more its location began to intrigue him, after all, in his many years of existence in his previous life he had never heard of such a place or thing.
"What's an Absolute Yin Cloud?"
"I'd rather not have to explain everything, but, here goes. From what I remember, the Absolute Yin Cloud is, as the name suggests, a large cloud of yin energy."
The more Chang Yu heard the more he yearned to reach the upper realms faster, though, while he existed on the lower planes that goal of the Doors of Life and Death remained infinitely far from him. So far he only had one real connection and that was with Li Bing Wen and, by extension, Heaven Vine City, if he could make use of those resources he may be able to ascend in record time. Even faster if the Li family has an ancestor in the upper realms they can call upon to allow the three of them access.
Contrary to Kang Shan and Chang Yu's expectations, Mei Lin continued to speak of the exploits of the Life and Death Supreme General and his mount, the legendary Kunpeng from beyond the Doors of Life and Death, Shengsi. Naturally, it wasn't too long until Kang Shan and Chang Yu began to mentally converse with each other.
She… she knows a lot about this guy, doesn't she?
Certainly, lord, but. She may be a descendant.
A descendent? That does make sense, from the upper realms and lower realms, if I had an ancestor like that I'd make sure my descendants for 10000 generations know about it…
The two men looked at each other, then at the rambling Mei Lin, and then back at each other. They had found their backup plan in case the Heaven Vine City connection didn't bear any fruit worth harvesting. Though, before they were able to converse any further they heard a growl from deep in the trees, though, Mei Lin broke out of her Life and Death Supreme General trance.
"Kang Shan, Chang Yu, how proficient are you two with fighting?"
"I can handle myself well" "Believe it or not, I know a thing or two"
Mei Lin looked incredulously at Chang Yu's statement. Pale Soul Monarch was certainly knowledgeable, but he doubted that Chang Yu knew as much. Before Mei Lin could say anything else, a large bear appeared from between the trees. It was enormous, standing nearly as tall as Kang Shan even on all fours. Its fur was a faded purple, and its body seemed to be intertwined with vines covered in blossoming flowers.
Kang Shan was the first to engage, charging at the bear with significantly increased speed. His legs had transformed to resemble those of a horse, and long, curved horns jutted out from his temples as he impaled the bear's side, pushing it back a small distance.
Lord, do act quickly, I was lucky enough to act before it could orient itself!
Right!
Chang Yu drew the sect's sword from its sheath. Upon scrutinizing it, he realized that the straight sword was unremarkable. Despite having a sharp edge, it lacked effectiveness on its own. Nonetheless, Chang Yu possessed basic combat techniques that he could utilize, albeit with only 90 units of Man Soul remaining. Regrettably, it dwindled to 89, causing his soul to lose more of its shape as a ghostly aura cloaked the blade from hilt to tip.
Ghost Sword.
It was an adaptation of a sword sect technique using his soul foundation to empower his strikes, unfortunately, he never got the chance to use it seriously, alongside this, since it was only using 1 Man Soul he doubted it would have much effectiveness when he met strange people like the original Kang Shan who possessed a surprising soul foundation.
Chang Yu rushed forward, dashing around the other side of the bear, on its own the sword had little cutting power, but, when empowered by his Ghost Sword technique it managed to leave a gash that immediately began to lightly necrosis, were he able to utilise Death Qi it would be more than just some darkened blood and a pus spilling wound.
The bear roared in obvious from the combined force of both attacks, not to mention the pain from the necrosis Ghost Blade had inflicted, even if it was only minor damage in the greater scale of this battle. The bear roared as its bodily violently shook, knocking Kang Shan back by several meters as it quickly turned toward Chang Yu, before he could dodge or make an attempt to block, he felt the back of the bear's paw slam against his chest as he was sent flying back several meters.
He felt his shattered ribs dislodged from each other, puncturing his lungs and other organs. Though this sensation was replaced by the blunt force against his back when he collided with a tree, his body's impact caused the plum tree to topple over.
"This battle… revenge for elder… heaven fire…"
He felt himself about to pass out from the impact when he felt it, a sudden memory!