Chapter 33 - Wu Yi
In the cave behind the waterfall, Yang Xie pointed to a black stone and asked Nangong Qing, "Brother Qing, do you know what this is?"
Nangong Qing took a careful look at it, his fingers lightly tracing the stone's surface. "This is just an ordinary stone, Yang Xie. Did you find something?"
Yang Xie grinned. "Haha, not much. I just think this stone looks interesting."
Nangong Qing raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "What's so special about it? The Star Orchid is the real treasure here. It's the main ingredient for the third-level Star Soul Pill. That pill can help Wu Wu increase his chances of breaking through to the Martial Sect."
Yang Xie chuckled. "Personal taste, personal taste. I'm taking this stone back with me. It's just something I collect."
As Yang Xie spoke, he thought to himself, You can't say that this stone actually draws me in, can you? The moment he entered the cave, he could feel an undeniable pull from the stone, and his intuition told him it was significant. If Nangong Qing didn't recognize its value, Yang Xie wouldn't explain further. He was sure the stone held some kind of power, especially since it seemed to attract him so strongly.
The stone was round and black, weighing around ten kilograms. To Yang Xie now, it felt as light as a feather. He carefully packed it into his backpack.
Nangong Ya, who had been watching, raised an eyebrow at Yang Xie packing the stone but said nothing.
"This is the right place. We've made a good harvest. After returning to the city, I'll divide the rewards into seven parts, and everyone will get a share," Nangong Qing said, his excitement palpable as he packed the Star Orchid into a special medicinal container.
"We don't need to split it, Brother Qing!" Nangong Ya spoke up shyly. She hadn't contributed much on the journey and felt a little embarrassed to take any share. Besides, she didn't need the money.
Nangong Qing shook his head. "We're all part of the same team. There's no need to be so polite. Even though it may seem insignificant to you, Xiaoya, it's a matter of principle for us."
Nangong Xiuqin also joined in. "Yes, Sister Xiaoya, without your protection this time, we would have been stuck."
Yang Xie added, "Exactly, Yaya, you're a crucial part of the team. You deserve your share."
Seeing the insistence in their words, Nangong Ya had no choice but to nod in agreement.
It was growing dark, and with the Star Orchid secured, they decided not to rush back just yet. They would spend the night near the waterfall.
As the fire crackled and kept everyone warm, the group sat around and enjoyed their time together, laughing and chatting.
"Our mission has been accomplished," Nangong Qing said, his tone more relaxed now. "Since this is your first time out in the wild, I think it's best we stay for two more days to give you some survival experience."
This was the first time Yang Xie and Nangong Ya had ventured into the wild, and aside from traveling with them, they hadn't really faced any dangers or fought strange beasts along the way. As per the clan leader's instructions, Nangong Qing decided to stay longer.
"Alright, thank you, Brother Qing, for looking after me," Yang Xie said sincerely.
"Thank you for your kindness, Brother Qing," Nangong Ya echoed, both of them appreciating the opportunity.
Yang Xie felt pleased because the wild was the perfect place for his Shadow Soldiers to grow stronger. With every extra day spent in this environment full of strange beasts, his power would increase exponentially.
He also made a mental note to register as a warrior at the Warriors Association when they returned. He wanted to become a lone wanderer, traveling the wild on his own. Being part of a team was limiting, and he preferred to roam free.
However, he couldn't help but feel a slight regret that despite his Shadow Soldiers devouring Xie Hu's team, they hadn't gained the Treasure Hunter talent. His cultivation had improved, but the absence of new talents was disappointing. It seemed that Shadow Devouring had a certain probability of granting talents, rather than being a guaranteed outcome.
Later, the group settled in and enjoyed a barbecue of exotic beasts they had caught earlier.
"Still delicious, Xiao Yang Xie. I can't bear to say goodbye," Nangong Xiuqin said, wiping the remnants of meat from her mouth and giving Yang Xie a playful look.
Yang Xie casually replied, "Barbecues are easy to come by. We can always meet again after returning to Nangong's house, Sister Xiuqin."
Xiuqin chuckled. "You're so serious, Xiao Yang Xie. Why not just join our team? It'd be a good fit."
"Hahahaha, you all are great, but the college entrance exam is coming up soon, and I'm not sure where I can go," Yang Xie scratched his head sheepishly.
"I see," Nangong Qing said with a thoughtful expression. "I forgot that both you and Sister Xiaoya are about to take the college entrance exam."
"But you two are so talented. You've already become warriors while the exam is still a few weeks away. I only became a warrior the day before the exam and was considered remarkable at the time. Now, seeing you two, I feel like I have no talent at all."
"Yes, Xiaoya and Yang Xie are both true geniuses. You'll definitely make a name for yourselves in this year's college entrance exam."
Nangong Xiuqin sighed, clearly impressed.
Yang Xie smiled, though he didn't want to dwell on this. "How can we know the future? All I can say is that I'll do my best!"
He quickly changed the topic, eager to learn more. "Brother Qing, you mentioned that Xie Hu had condensed martial intent. What exactly is martial intent?"
"Martial intent is a unique concept in the martial arts world. In the warrior realm, spiritual seeds are formed. Before someone can become a martial artist, they must cultivate and nurture these spiritual seeds."
Nangong Qing's explanation continued, "To nourish these seeds, warriors absorb spiritual energy from the environment. The more spiritual energy they absorb, the stronger their body becomes, and the seeds gradually grow, eventually becoming spiritual fruits. When the seeds are fully nourished, and spiritual energy reaches a certain threshold, the warrior can condense spiritual fruits and become a martial artist."
"Martial intent comes into play when transitioning from the Martial Master realm to the Martial Arts Master realm. Warriors don't just absorb spiritual energy; they also condense their martial intent, which is an abstract concept. It involves understanding martial arts at a deeper level, perfecting one's skills, and matching them with the attributes of their martial soul. The result is the generation of martial intent, which makes a warrior's attacks more powerful."
Yang Xie listened carefully, realizing how limited his own knowledge was. He still had a long way to go in his journey, but this conversation helped him understand the world of martial arts better. I still have a lot to learn and improve, he thought, his resolve strengthening.