NOVEL WEB Chapter 27: Farewells
Over the course of slightly more than a year, with the aid of deep sleep fatigue-refreshing abilities and self-hypnosed mimicked "Blue Silver Grass" within a self-created "Blue Silver Grass" environment, Ling Yi's soul power has impressively climbed nearly three levels.
This pace, Ling Yi discovered from conversations with several elder soul masters and soul warriors in town, may stem in part from his low initial soul power, but nonetheless matches the typical cultivation speed of those at innate soul power levels one or two.
Beyond soul power cultivation, Ling Yi has not neglected fortifying his physique.
The "Basic Body Conditioning Exercises" has now expanded to include Rabbit and Chicken forms. Although the effects largely overlap with the previous Cat and Dog forms, they nonetheless target some body parts previously unattended to.
Moreover, the "Three Farmer Styles," following the autumn harvest last year and observations of over three hundred people's continuous work for half a month, saw the successful completion of the Scythe Wielding Style.
Meanwhile, the Axe Wielding Style was perfected just before winter, when Ling Xiaoshan and Zhang Dahe led Shan Hai Village's people to fell five to six hundred withered or crooked trees in the old forest.
Unfortunately, as a child, his not fully developed body imposes certain limits on strength improvement, resulting in an increase of under fifty pounds in strength.
This brings us to the iron birch wood slingshot, which, even with stronger bowstrings, limits effective range to within seventy meters.
It's not that longer distances can't be reached—Ling Yi is, in terms of accuracy, capable of calculating trajectories to strike a peanut at one hundred twenty meters precisely.
Though the distance diminished the impact to virtually that of a natural fall.
Only within seventy meters could a stone pellet guarantee a clean shot through the head of a wild pheasant.
Switching to iron pellets forged in the blacksmith's shop, the explosive power infused by a third-tier soul force could penetrate a wild boar's skull within twenty meters.
Sadly, given the scarcity of soul force, such explosive power is limited to a single strike, best aimed at weak spots like the eyes, ears, or joints for maximum efficiency.
In the realm of spiritual pathways, Ling Yi's progression has been nominal, still residing in the second stage of deep sleep, falling short of the breakthrough required for 'motion sleep' in the third stage.
On the brighter side, the presence of family, Ah Huang, Meow Meow, along with cows, sheep, pigs, and rabbits as practice subjects, combined with an increase in mental strength as he ages and gains soul force, has allowed Ling Yi to begin mastering the art of hypnosis.
He can now regulate the rhythm of his targets' lives without their cooperation, using his mental strength alone to hypnotize them through verbal and gestural cues swiftly.
This, of course, is contingent on the absence of strong vigilance or resistance from the target.
Additionally, thanks to his martial spirit 'Blue Silver Grass,' Ling Yi can manipulate his aura to blend seamlessly within the field of ‘Blue Silver Grass’ in Mount Hai Village.
With his mental strength, he stands as the sovereign of that vast 'Blue Silver Grass' environment!
The Blue Silver Simulation, terrifying indeed!
Ling Yi, entertaining himself in his mind, bid farewell to Master Jiang and Ling Bai, leaving the Jiang's blacksmith shop. He took the side path, heading towards the north of the town.
North Kou River Town was not large. With Ling Yi's brisk pace, it merely took about ten minutes to arrive at a courtyard on the edge of the town.
He knocked on the door and entered. Upon stepping into the courtyard, he saw a space of over two hundred square meters. Along the edges, several rows of brown wooden racks held various weapons like swords, spears, axes, and staffs.
"Ah, young Ling is here~"
A burly old man reclining on a deck chair before the main house, directly facing the gate, recognized Ling Yi as he approached. Without standing up, he greeted him with a smile.
Master Huang Liang Huang, a retired veteran, once served as a squad leader in the "Shui Mu Principality" military. Over a decade ago, while stationed with his century battalion on the outskirts of a soul-hunting forest in the north, he was attacked by a pack of "Gray Shadow Wolves" during patrol. Although he lost a leg, he survived.
With his disability, he naturally could not continue in the army. Bringing years of savings and thirty percent of the Gold Soul coins provided by the military, he returned to his hometown, North Kou River Town. He bought property, settled down, married, and started a family, thus becoming known as Master Huang.
A year ago, accompanied by Ling Xiaoshan, Ling Yi brought two wild boar carcasses, hunted in the old forest with Zhang Lei, to visit the Huang residence. With the support of his soul master status, Ling Yi successfully began learning combat techniques like sword, spear, and staff from Master Huang, who had military experience.
“Parting ways?” Master Huang paused with the teapot in his left hand, then lifted it to his lips for a sip of tea. Only after that did he cast his eyes upon Ling Yi, standing before him, scrutinizing him seriously from head to toe. He sighed, “Ah, yes, another year's school session at the Martial Soul Academy is starting...”
He then said to Ling Yi, “Last year's work-study spots were taken by those two families, so this year, by reason and logic, it should be your turn.”
Master Huang noted Ling Yi's calm expression, devoid of any hint of envy or resentment. Initially nodding in approval, he then dismissed some thoughts that surfaced, feeling a surge of admiration and, considering his young age, a touch of respect as well.
Shifting away from the previous topic, as if his prior words had never been spoken, Master Huang asked, “Have you arranged a carriage to Wood Plant City? It's not too far, but surely you won't walk there?”
Ling Yi nodded, then shook his head, “I haven't specifically found a carriage, but coincidentally, Young Master Yi from the Ethan family is also taking two of his younger cousins to Wood Plant City to report back early to the academy. They offered to take me along.”
Upon hearing this, Master Huang's gaze grew thoughtful as he looked at Ling Yi. After a few moments, seeing Ling Yi's straightforward demeanor, he chuckled, “That's indeed a good arrangement.”
“Alright then, once you reach the academy, study and train diligently. Although your innate soul power is only half a level, if you work hard, reaching level ten and acquiring a soul ring to become a soul master is still a very achievable goal.”
"It's a pity your martial spirit is 'Blue Silver Grass.' However, considering you've mastered the techniques of sword, spear, staff, and axe from me in just one year, you should be capable of handling any soul master below the Grand Soul Master level—unless they're geniuses with high-grade martial spirits," remarked Master Huang with a bold laughter that filled the massive square in the front courtyard of the Huang Residence.
Ling Yi maintained a gentle smile on his face throughout, occasionally nodding and offering a word or two of gratitude.
After bidding farewell to Master Huang, Ling Yi set off towards the Martial Soul Hall located in the center of town.
He thought to himself that he should also say goodbye to Deacon Yan Bin.
Over the past year, although Yan Bin's position remained unchanged, his soul power had increased by more than a level, nearing twenty-five.
Given his age and aptitude, he could potentially reach the Soul Exalted level before turning thirty.
With his position as a deacon of the Martial Soul Hall, Yan Bin is someone with whom maintaining a friendly relationship would be quite essential.
With a heavy heart, Ling Yi stood before the dimly lit path that led away from the Martial Soul Hall. Memories of his rigorous training filled his mind, each one marked by Master Huang’s unwavering guidance.
As he prepared to leave, the thoughts of the people he would miss lingered—as if each step away pulled at the bonds formed during this arduous year.
"Farewell, Master Huang," he whispered to the night, casting one last glance at the place where his journey had truly begun.
The echoes of his footsteps were accompanied by a sense of anticipation and melancholy as he moved forward, ready to face whatever the future would hold.
(End of Chapter)
