First The Prologue

"Uwaaa.. it's already morning? I guess it's time to grind again."

These past 2 months I have only focused my time on my magic and news for my cultivation is still going strong though I haven't really learned moves from martial arts of different sects. I think I need to create my own or I will request it from Grandpa Bing later. Back to the magic things, after my defeat to Uncle Tom. My training has been intensified by that bitch. She even participates in the actual combat in my consciousness and she smokes the hell out of me.

We re-organize my magic training with the help of my masters. We improve, discover, and re-approach the spells I learned thus far. Totally busy, we only ate yesterday after we finished the magic and spells that's useful to me. But the spells who are not beneficial to me as of now are being restored, so that if the time comes I can use them.

My mana training is going smoothly without any trouble. Some of my marble is being compressed 1 thousand times. But not all of them are the same, some of them are 10 times or only 1. I also made another space with the help of the hag. This space is meant to reserve my ki and mana and also I try to refine my ki and mana together to create the ultimate energy. But it's hard to do because I need to calculate how much I can mix with these two. The good news is I create that energy and its size of a small ball. Unlike the ki I'm refining automatically, this one where I mixed with mana was so strong. Not gonna sugar coat it and the horror of this is so easy to control but hard to steal. You need to be me like literally a power which no one can steal.

I arrived at the portal and headed to the practice room and then I configured the A.I behavior and set it to magic only fight. After that I prepared myself for the fight by stretching my whole body. After 3 minutes of stretching, I faced my opponent.

When the A.I appears they immediately attack me but the good thing I already buff myself with shield, attack power, and defense. As they continue to attack me, I also attack them and pretty much the fight is a match even, even though they're 3 of them. I try to hold myself not using restriction magic and only some debuff spells. Unlike the A.I who I don't restrict their spells.

I start to cast some debuff spells such as slow and spell power decrease. They immediately remove the debuff by themselves or the other one becomes the support to remove the debuff. What goes around comes around, they also start using debuff on me. Now I am splitting my mind into 3 parts where I need to pay attention seriously to my surroundings, timing of my attack, and decision making. The fight is getting longer and the spells are getting intense as we enter the climax of our fight.

I unleashed a series of thunder spells and mixed them with debuffs. I also consume 1 marble that has been condensed for 10 times. Then my enemies combine their spells making new spells fusing 3 magic. The collision of our spells is so strong but none of us fly away but because of the combined spells I get the damage. I use another marble to increase my speed and when I catch one of my enemies I cast a curse spell to it making the one A.I immovable and it will only take a second to uncurse my curse but this seconds makes our battle advantageous to me.

Then I consume another marble to increase again my magic which is fire magic: fire punch, the spell can ignore the defense inside of the opponent and it has two times damage. After I hit my opponent I distance myself quickly. The enemy who received my attack is in critical condition but thanks to its teammate the recovery is fast! Then I began to mix my defense spells with other debuff and curse spells. The enemy also put their defense high this time. We are about to end this battle once and for all.

Feint, defense, attack, mistakes, decision making.. in the span of a minute everything is in chaos.. after the battle the A.I's triumph in our battle while me kissing the ground.

"Ayy.. I lost.. but everything is good! still if I manage to boost my fire power I can at least bring one down with me.. another skill issue to improve!"

After that fierce battle I updated my battle log and left the portal. I head to the kitchen to grab some food then head to the lake to eat and relax. After I destroyed my food I took a quick nap, I didn't enter the bitch domain. I think I did pretty good this time. Later, Grandpa Bing woke me up and notified me to eat our lunch. I quickly got up and followed Grandpa Bing, when we arrived everything was prepared. We eat while we chat about stuff, even though some of it is kind of repetitive.

I asked them if there is major news circulating.

"The human side appointed a new "Saint" and it was a girl again."

"So you mean the previous one is also a girl?"

"Yeah, apparently the new girl easily passed the trial made by the church. She also cleared the dungeon made by @#$_&-+ with no major injury with her knights. Thus the dungeon gives blessings to that girl and to her knights."

"Wow! @#$_&-+() is so generous lah."

"Yes, so this new saint will accompany the hero."

"By the way Uncle, how will I accompany these people?"

"I don't know how will @#$_&-+() incorporate you in the party. After all, only two positions are vacant."

"And what are those, Uncle?"

"The production job and the mage. Interesting that a production job will be included in the party. That person is an embodiment of skills and brain. The other one who will be loved by the mana and the planet. But this is not limited to humans, any living being is loved by the planet but mana is different."

"I see, so I just need to wait."

"Yes, but don't worry because you will be stronger than them, but I don't know how much @#£_&-+() will give to the hero. Still, don't worry you are much stronger than him."

"Ayaka, self confidence has risen up!"

"Such a nerd, hahahahaha!"

"Truly! oh by the way, Grandpa Bing, how can I train in martial arts?"

"Eh? You sure you need to train in martial arts, despite you already being strong?"

"Of course, I still want to perform some flashy skills like in the novels I read."

"Ok-ok, I will give you some manuals and those manuals will help you to achieve your goal. Those manuals are the ones I bought when I was a teenager, ranging from orthodox up to demonic sects. I was just lucky when I brought those and it was dirt cheap. Think about it, that old man is sketchy."

"Why did you buy them Grandpa? Have you performed them?"

"Well, in my youth I didn't really focus my attention on martial arts, because I was busy finding a job to feed my three little brothers. But that doesn't mean that I'm not interested in martial arts, whenever I have spare time, I try to do it. It took many years before I gained internal energy and another years to master different kinds of movements. Thankfully I haven't experienced qi deviation."

"Ooooh, isn't your body suitable for different kinds of martial arts, Master Bing?"

"Perhaps? Because in terms of martial arts, my little brothers are more proficient than me. It's been years since I have heard about them before I moved here. But looking back, my body is just so normal unlike my three little brothers. Now that I think about it, those moves compliment the techniques of orthodox down to demonic sect with each other as if it was intended blend with each other."

"..."

"?"

"Oh wait! Now it makes sense that way!"

"What do you mean Master Bing?"

"In my world, there is a story of 3 brothers who conquered the whole continent, in just 1 year since they appeared in the country. They said that after they conquer the continent, they establish the three factions naming them orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic sect. These three will be the pillar of the country against the unknown enemies, years later the three leaders step down and hand their position to the deserving people, which will support the whole country towards a bright future. Then the 3 brothers banish to the murim world as if they are chasing something. Then decades or even longer, the three factions start to drift apart and forget what their original goal is and start fighting with each other."

"What a sad story."

"Truly sad, because the state of the country is so chaotic before I transport here. Not only the three factions, there are other groups trying to swallow the country. Ordinary people will only suffer in this useless war."

"By the way, Bing."

"Yes, Tom?"

"Thousand times I hear this story from you, but I am still wondering how many years or decades this story is around?"

"I think, I forgot to mention but this story has been around for 1000 years."

"For 1000 years?!"

"Yeah, it's just a story from the past, but now I think I decode the message! But I wonder where that old man is? He said these manuals are limited edition."

"By saying that, it means the man you buy manuals from is the original author or co-author!"

"Also this can be an implication that man is one of the 3 people who conquered the continent and is still around! because as you say that they are chasing something."

"I'm not really sure how I can find that man after I go home, I still have my family waiting for me."

"Ayaka can help you with your problem after this!"

"Oh, it's you @#£_&+(), how can Ayaka help me?"

"You forget that Ayaka will visit your world."

"Oh! I forgot that!"

"Well, I will try to find that man Master! but it will take time before I come to your world."

"Don't worry I can wait, but you need to experience what is murim first!"

"Noted! That will be my side quest."

"By the way, Why are you here @#£_&-+()?"

"I will borrow Ayaka for a moment."

"Me? Where are we going?"

"Here."

All of the sudden, he cast some space magic. Then he proceeds to apply some spells in our surroundings.

"Ayaka, you need to grow stronger and faster. So this is my gift to you."

"Eh?! all of the sudden? I didn't do anything wrong to you except I ate your food mistakenly!"

"I mean, I can forgive you about that. 😜"

"What?"

"I mean I can forgive you because you are the one who will accompany the chosen hero, so food is just a trivial thing. 😜"

"I don't believe you!"

"Anyway, ready yourself!"

When we start to fight, he easily beats me down as if I'm just a child to this guy! Even his debuffs and restrictions are nuts! Whenever I get knocked down, he will cast some recovery magic, this man is a torturer!

The fight lasts like a year or 2, by the time we finish all of his debuffs and attack has been fully ingrained to my body, making it more invincible. Then the flow of time resumed. My masters greet us with food outside of the kitchen. Then master Bing handed me the manuals and he said that I need to prepare because they will let me venture now to the otherside of the forest. Which is exciting!

"Like quests in the game, we will give you a quest, try to analyze different species, location, and other things in other territories. The duration of these quests are depending but it only takes 1 year each. Try to learn everything within those years, this will help you in the wild."

"Ok master Tom! I guess I will see you guys in the next 2 weeks?"

"Yes, now go forth and learn some flashy moves!"

With that, I pour myself into learning different Martial arts from murim as much as possible. To do that, I need to understand first the nature of the martial art, then I will just choose the basics, because learning them is easy and not time consuming. Then after that I can train the difficult ones later, since I will practically be there for months or year.

..

...

....

Just like that, 2 weeks are gone, now I'm preparing my things, keeping them in my pocket of space. Then I go to the outside kitchen to meet my masters and @#£_&-+(), after we eat. We ran and ran until we reached our destination.

"Here, Ayaka, is your first territory to familiarize yourself with."

"Familiarize and not conquer?"

"Yes, because here it has already established an ecosystem. Also it has a guardian, A lifeform who is far more stronger than the demon lord/king/god or whatever you call. We only want you to explore the land and not cause too much disturbance in the balance."

"Ooooh! I see, Master Tom, by doing that I can integrate myself as one and not alien?"

"I guess you can say that being naturalized in the land. Research the land, gather some information and adapt to it. This will help you more in your life or at least in your adventure. Knowing this will make your life easier."

"Ok! I will try to do it right as long as I can!"

"Good! Then for your quest, here is the following."

I know that all of the quest will be here ranging from gathering up to exploring but holy shit! Too detailed for a quest! like I need to gather medicinal plants 1.5k varieties or how much more percent I need to explore in this land and so far. Still they gave me some books and items to identify and track my records. Which is heaven save. But two things caught my eyes are finding hidden items and to be recognized by the guardian. Like fight him or help him to acknowledge me?

"I guess this is where we part our ways Masters and @#$_&-+()?"

"Yep, take care Ayaka! Spoiler alert, beware in your surroundings, especially at night."

"We will see many many months from now!"

"May the dao help you in your journey!"

"A small good bye for now Ayaka! By the way, this is my quest for you before I forget."

"Only this?"

"Yep, nothing more."

"Ok, Masters and @#$_&-+()/, will see you for months"

As I gave my farewell and hugs, I entered the forest as fast as possible. Then I realized that the path is going down, seeing that it makes me want to accelerate more which I did. I arrived fast and I saw something good! The map indicates that this kind of sinkhole is the entrance to the first territory. It seems the trees here are healthy as fuck! Look how huge they are. Then my book for the plants ringing, I think it indicates that a species is nearby? I mean definitely those trees are my target. Without further ado, I jump then activate my sensory skills both magic and ki. When I landed, the shockwave was so huge as if it could devour an entire village or more, but the trees are still intact which is surprising! Then I see that the water is above my knees, then multiple life forms have been detected and rushing to my location. Not only that, all of them are huge!.

When they arrive, they stop first then they proceed to rush on me!

“What the heck?!”

As I am ready to kill these motherfuckers brutally(only defense), the book for animals, responds that I need at least 2 specimens per living being to verify their legitimacy and preserve them, it also warns me that I should not kill those. Since it’s a quest I just need to comply then after that, I use magic to hold them and after that I choose, but damn these animals are pretty weird! As if they combine each other or something, some are normal, is this evolution?! Nonetheless, I pick them one by one using my space magic, which is the name of it is prison skill. But before I put them inside, I proceed to sleep them using acupressure but since they’re not human I need the Eyes of the energy to know which parts are weak. Though it’s still 50/50 since I don’t know their body, some of them are not effective, then I use sleep skill to knock them down.

I go far away until I see a large hole, it seems connected from below? When I scan the place it is connected to the underground, then I let the water guide me as I’m falling again, while falling I undo my spell and I sense again multiple entities are rushing to the hole but they stop. I look down and I’m not seeing any living beings moving, though I sense trees and they’re pretty huge just like in the first.

“Hmmm.. wait a minute, I think I forgot to take a sample of those trees above.. I should come back there after this.”

When landing, the water acts as cushion in my fall and literally it is soft! But I wonder why those animals don't jump? The trees welcome me with the sun? It’s bright here even though I'm underground, for sure this ball of light is acting as the sun or is it the sun? Moving on, the water is low compared to above. Then I proceed to examine the trees here and other beings. While collecting samples, I realize that both sounds of the books are the same, I think they forgot to inform me, nonetheless I uproot some wildlings, gathering some branches, fruits. And many more. Not only that, I also take water samples and small living beings like worms, small insects, and even parasites! I even cast spell-like containment to separate my collection.

It feels like I have been collecting here for a solid 5 hours, then finally I see/sense something moving, I rush, I see some animals that are incredibly large! Larger than those above, I approach to take two with me, after successfully casting hold to these animals I see their features somewhat similar to those in the above.. I still get what I need, Then I sense above that something is moving,when turn around there is a giant bird diving in, as for me, I relocate the other species far away, then I brace the attack with my punch filled with determination and ki, this is somewhat similar to shaolin but it has many techniques from other sects and clans.

My fist and its beak collided with each other resulting in a big impact but in the end the big bird was dead with its beak shattered, after that the blood of it was leaking all over its body. Because it disgusts me, I cast some simple flame to cremate it and before I go away, I cancel my magic hold to the group of creatures I teleported earlier.

As I explore the nook and cranny of this place, I stumble upon a creepy looking swamp, as if light doesn’t penetrate this part. For me this is an opportunity to see some grotesque and awesome life. Before I even go deep inside, there is a large fish but it has eel-like features. Below, as if it was waiting for me to pass and then eat me.

“So you want to test me huh?”

I unleashed a murderous aura then the eel just froze up, when I was passing, it suddenly jumped on me with its mouth open. Then I immediately cut it with my sword ki, then I place it in my space while the other parts I keep them because I’m planning to feast tonight!

As I walk in the swamp with my qinggong above water, I discover a small hut. I approach it and look inside, suddenly the map rings and it shows the map via hologram, then suddenly I can see species where they are in real time.

“Wow! Super convenient! I bet I can progress much more this time, hmmm.. But wait, why does this species and that have exclamation points in their head? This one group also has it. Wait lemme see the legends.”

As I browse, I see the legend that the exclamation point is a mini boss in this swamp creepy place,

“So, it’s possible to have multiple mini bosses here huh? Aight, before I move on I need to munch first!”

The small hut have more equipments albeit its rusty and basic, nonetheless I clean them first and gather some woods, While collecting tree branches, The book of plants, keep ringing, and when I peek inside, I realized that it automatically register the trees and other plants I collect, I also check the animals, it also did it. Which is great! But the problem is I need to know which trees here are easy to use for cooking. Then I scroll/flip and compare the ones I collect and already collected, then for about 3 hrs, I successfully see the trees which are good for firewood! Then I try to memorize them all and their names.

“Whew! Well I just need to burn these trees and be ready to go but I guess it’s not harmful to know the names and characteristics of these trees!”

I quickly go to the hut and prepare the large fish that has an eel-like feature, and I thank my Grandpas and Uncle for this because they pack me some spices! Then I grilled, sear pan fry, and oven. After that I taste tested it, the grilled one is ok, like the texture and the aroma is good. Then the fry one is too fishy and feels like stink, the taste is bland?

“What the heck?! Why are the spices gone??”

I don’t like the sear pan fry one, then I tried the oven one, the spices really blend with the fish, the aroma smells good, I think it can attract many carnivorous animals. Should I eat it raw next time? I can just burn the parasite inside me, oh well I really like the oven method one. Likewise I also finish the sear pan fry one, even though I don’t like the taste of it.

Then I resume my work, and in the map in the hut, the closest mini boss to me is that group, the look of it is a school of fish, according to this hut, the school of fish also known as Hanripa is a carnivorous animals who only prey to the big animals, they will scatter if they see a small one. Their scales are hard like a metal and their teeth are sharp that can cut in any meat or muscles, they don’t grow and their lifespan is only 1 month but their reproduction is on par with rabbits or rats, it will easily hatch in just 1 week.

“Damn, if this school of fish is aggressive then everything here will be gone huh?”

Then I ready myself and see the school of fishes, while I collect. Many varieties of life here but most of them are herbivores because even though they eat the leaves of the plant here, they grow fast as if nothing happens, while the carnivore here is less, but the balance is still good to be honest. I also encountered a large fish with eel-like features. It made me happy because I thought the one I killed was the only one here, but this one was small unlike the one I killed. Then I see some tadpoles here near the trees, when I get the specimen, they bite me and they release a toxin, motherfuckers! Then I read their description and their ability is that when in tadpole, they release toxin to immobilize their predator but once they become frog, they can be big as 3 meters and their stomach can hold much more space than it looks, the downside of it, they can’t jump nor walk until they digest their food. This makes them vulnerable to other predators, such as hanripa if they’re in the water.

About 2 hours of collecting, I see the hanripas swimming quietly as if they’re normal fish. I dive in the water to see them closely and upon making face to face with them, they make a face of disgust..

“Oy! Why are you guys making faces like that?!”

Then they swim far away to me, I chase them for like 10 minutes before they scatter. Then I realize that they lure me here.. The place where the monsters dwelling the two mini boss. I see, One of them is a snake figure, this one called Da’nacon and from the other side is alligator figure, name, Tore’gali. Both of them are huge as fuck. But this two is chilling with each other and the obvious answer is, they know each other. Also if these two is chilling then the idiots hanripas are acquainted also.

I jumped out of the water and the mini boss startled and when I landed, they immediately rushed to me and were ready to attack me, then I used some low quality fire magic, but they were really resistant to it. According to the data, these mini bosses are more resistant to magic than ordinary species.

“Resistance huh? Then how about the good quality spells?”

I barrage them with some good spells, but the two are still fine and enjoying it.

“Enjoying huh? Then I will use my marble to boost my low tier spells.”

After I pump my magic using marble which is condensed 10 times, I cast it to them and these two are arrogant and they don’t dodge, but when it lands on them, I only see their unconscious body.

“Where is your arrogance now you pathetic animals!”

Then I just leave their body in the shade of a tree, after that I roam the area as fast as I can. In the evening, I checked my progress and this area now is at 100% explored and same with books of animals and plants. Then before I sleep, which I don’t really need, I test the water here. Unlike the previous water I encountered, I was curious if this water is fresh or salty. Upon doing some experiment I just found that the fresh and salt water are present here, which is questioning my feeble mind, how come salt water is present here? It isn't near the ocean here. I think and think and think but nothing comes to my mind. I just sleep and move on.

“Wait.. before I sleep, I will set up a barrier and also use my marble, I feel like the mini bosses will pounce on me and I don’t want to disturb my sleep, which I don’t really need.”

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The next morning, I depart from the hut and I mark this as my location to teleport. Then before leaving this swamp, I need to check the animals here and the plants. I see the 3 mini bosses chilling with each other and then they notice me and they run. Anyway, I leave the swamp and go to the north. Arriving in the north, I see marsh but the water is low, the green grasses, the birds, insects, and other animals are here. I enjoy the view though some scenes here are pretty disturbing like that one, who is eating a bird and the other one stalking its prey.

“Truly the nature in the making! Now it’s my time to disturb it, like a true cancer!”

Chapter 12 End