“Damnit! Stop, you stupid hippo!”

Tumbling around and holding for dear life, Tez had to resign himself as he rode past the desert. The rocky cliffs in the distance were growing larger and larger. Tez grabbed the strange fur that ran around the hippo’s neck, analysing it for intel.

Klerihoppo (Illusory Grade. Dissipates in 52 seconds.)

Qidense Realm: Stage 4 Beast

Found in the marshes of the Crestfell Continent. Carnivorous beast that grows the more it runs madly, running for up to 10 hours a day. It usually kills multiple of its prey before coming to a halt to run back and eat, with each corpse marked with its incense.

Suggested area of attack: Its major weakness is the abdomen in its underbelly, causing an involuntary reflex for when it’s submerged in the marsh.

“Okay, just a minute. It should be fine, good thing it’s only a few stages above me. Otherwise couldn’t be able to examine it.”

Skidding to a stop when the time was up, Tez was flung from the air. He ate dirt and dust, rolling through the ground with his injuries getting even more sore. “Shit! No wonder it ran from seeing that guy!”

He heard the familiar ding inside his head. Ignoring the pain, Tez stood up as he focused on his mind. The only thing that gave him solace, the screen of numbers and letters, filled him with information he desperately wanted.

Achievement Unlocked: Hold on for dear life! Mounted a Beast for the first time! Reward: Congealed Drop of Crystallised Qi. Can now break through to Stage 3!

System! Use it and help me break through to Stage 3.

Tez felt the sensation of being completely bloated, like he gorged on a feast. Then, the warmth in his body crackled into sheer cold, like he was encased in a sheen cover of ice. He went from melting in the sun to being in like a refrigerator. The bloated feeling disappeared as well, and when Tez took a sharp breath, it felt like he’d just eaten a mentos with orange juice.

He wasn’t sure if this was how the others felt when they reached the next stages of cultivation. There wasn’t any filth expelling from his skin or any deep meditation required.

But it worked out in the end.

Filled with energy once more, Tez held his sword tightly and ran towards the edge of the cliff. A vantage point to point out anything worthwhile. “I’ve only beaten 15 fighters. How the hell am I gonna get another 85 done? If there’s some sort of loot I can find that gives me intel on everyone’s location, or those flying eagles I saw, that’d be perfect. With ten more Spiritual Meridians unlocked, my Talisoul should upgrade from Bronze to Iron!”

At the edge of the jagged cliff, Tez saw multiple other floating rocky platforms levitating in chaotic patterns, with leaves and vines connecting to each rock. The one in the middle had a small hole, looking like it led into an underground cavern.

“I hope I can find some more mobs to deal with. If I can just finish that quest…”

Spiritual Meridians, were channels within your body that optimised the flow of Qi. At the same time, they were used to refine Qi from the environment, an intangible form similar to air, into a denser form more suitable for cultivator use. The more you had, the faster your cultivation absorption and speed would be.

But the true beauty and strength of Spiritual Meridians would be put into play after Rank 3; Core Genesis. When you could form your Talispirit and link it with both your Talisbody and Talisoul.

That was when you could refine your very body, using the resources of the world to reach the next level in your path. For example, a Fire Path cultivator with an Talisoul of Iron Grade, could form a Fire Grade Talispirit. In return, their Spiritual Meridians would gain the aspects of fire, and their Talisoul could increase from Iron Grade to Fiery Silver Grade. So long as they focused on their Path, even the innate talent of Talisoul and cultivation speed could be increased.

Every cultivator could go against their birthright, increasing their talent through hard work and ingenuity.

Tez had heard from folklore, that this cultivation knowledge was taught and expanded on by the Grand Sovereign, an ancient being from the Second Grand Era. Moments in history where the world flourished the most. There had only been three such eras.

There were three main ways to increase Spiritual Meridians.

First, was through the development of your Talisbody. The more you trained, the higher the chances of your body locating and unlocking a Spiritual Meridian. After all, using and training your body to its very peak would naturally give you an idea of how your body worked intrinsically.

Second, was specific breathing techniques and meditative techniques while absorbing and cycling your Qi. Akin to training your Talisbody, the more you could feel for your inner body, down to even your nerves and blood vessels with Qi, the higher the chance for gaining enlightenment and unlocking a Spiritual Meridian.

Third, was getting stronger and breaking through to the next stages of your cultivation realm.

Each was an arduous process, and you were lucky to even find a single Spiritual Meridian. Which was why Tez was desperate to accomplish his quest. Ten Spiritual Meridians was an absurd amount. The advantage it would give him would be insurmountable.

Once he carefully walked on each vine and made his way to the most auspicious looking platform, Tez kneeled and observed through the hole.

Arochnids

Qidense Realm: Stage 3 Beast.

Found in the melded caverns beneath the Glacial Volcanoes at the Northern Boundary. Typically led by a King Arochnid, a Core Genesis Beast, making tunnels through mountains and form underground temples worshipping the decaying corpse of ???.

Heavily weak to reagents that induce deep sleep. When this creature falls asleep, it dies.

Suggested area of attack: The top of its head has a sensor which allows it to smell. Destroying it will give a huge opening.

“What the hell is that description?! Is there even a normal bloody animal in this place?! Give me back normal spiders, please!” A sweat formed on Tez’s head as he stared at their ghastly appearance, but the radiating light of three crystals caught his attention, in the midst of a nest.

There were ten Rocky Arachnids, Stage 3 beasts, nestling in a cave. And on one side was a black-haired girl with a glaive and pouch, crushing different sorts of plants and liquids.

“She probably knows their weakness, so I’ll let her do whatever she’s doing. I just need to find an opening to grab those crystals.”

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“How’s that kid alive? He’s somehow run into all the top 5 rankers and survived every single time!” A spectator yelled, noticing Tez’s performance.

“Talk about demon’s luck. The only one he hasn’t run into yet is Wu Ming and that Silvent girl. Look at him hiding like a rat. No dignity, no honour.” Liu Wei commented with a drink in his hand.

Droves of people who were focused on Wu Ming paid their attention, with it coming new waves of bets and speculators.

Focusing on his cousin for now, his boredom disappeared, with a proud smile. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. A true fight between two men.”

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Shuren loosened his right hand on the staff, still shivering as Ming’s blade sparked deeper against it. I’ll need to distract him.

He had no time to put force on this move. With a flick, he let go of his right hand, aiming for an instant jab at Ming’s abdomen.

He was met with equivalent force.

Ming had blocked his jab with a counter jab! Both wielding their weapons with a single hand, Ming reacted to Shuren’s off-hand strike with ease.

The sounds of pincers snapping grew louder, so Shuren gathered Qi aura around his feet.

Time to lure him.

Shuren backed off a few steps, lowering his guard with his staff aiming at the ground. He slouched forward to the point his neck was wide open. He even took a deep breath, giving off the signs of exhaustion.

The glacial scorpion was but a metre behind him, yet Ming held his sword with a high guard, raising it above his shoulder. With a forward stance, his right foot was placed forward, knees slightly bent.

It’s going to be a forward lunge.

At the exact moment the pincers slashed towards Shuren, Ming flickered forward with intense speed. One foot away from Shuren, he cut downwards with the power of a Stage 8.

Fast, powerful, efficient. There was no fancy techniques, or flashy footwork. It was the cold and efficient cut of a raw swordsman.

Boiling green blood of the scorpion spurted out with its head decapitated. Ming had to pry his sword out, but he had to focus on Shuren’s position. He actually deceived me? He wasn’t exhausted at all. I could barely even tell that movement! Ming thought in a blink, but the small moment he tried to pry out his sword was his biggest opening.

Shuren spun around in an arc, his ankle still burning from forcing a dash at the last moment. But that momentum still held on as he spun with his staff. Aimed at Ming‘s left arm.

I’ll break his arm. The tempo will change with that. Once he fractured Ming’s arm or even broke it, his strength as a swordsman would sharply diminish. Shuren knew that best.

Shuren’s staff was met with the bulwark defence of two arms raised in defence, enforced with most of his Qi aura. Wu Ming had completely abandoned his sword at the risk of fighting unarmed!

The shifting sounds of a second glacial scorpion gathered in the vicinity, intently eyeing both Ming and Shuren as worthy prey. Directly behind Ming.

Shuren remained emotionless, but he cheered within. Focusing strength in his left leg, Shuren threw out a brute front kick at Ming’s torso, barely reinforced with defence.

Ming flew back towards the scorpion.

Shuren kicked the rubble of the volcano as he dashed forth, not letting up this opening. But he heard the whizz of metal at the back.

He turned his head to the side as Ming’s sword flew right past him to its rightful owner. And with that same motion, Ming grasped its hilt and did a full slash behind his head, killing the scorpion in one strike mid-air.

Qi Tether! Of course, I should’ve expected that much!

Qi Tether was a technique learnt to all cultivators of Rank 1, mainly in the second half.

Those beyond Stage 6 were able to manipulate Qi aura outside of their body. They could reinforce their weapons separately, rather than just their body. And this was the first step to see the Paths, transmuting Qi into a fireball, or manipulating rocks to make an earth wall.

And Qi Tether was to leave a string of Qi from your body to your chosen weapon, so even if you were disarmed, you could use Qi Tether to bring it back.

Shuren could also use Qi Tether, but it wasn’t as stable and fast as Ming’s.

Both Shuren and Ming walked perpendicular to each other, closing the distance while scrutinising their strength.

With his staff held with a firm grip, Shuren brought his full focus to Ming’s every move, down to his very stance and posture. This guy… I didn’t expect a backwater Rank 5 region to hold such a talented swordsman. He’s fundamentals stand at the same level as even the Supreme Elder’s successors! Isn’t the Wu Clan in Cloud City simply known for their development for their formations?

Likewise, Ming stopped holding back on his opponent, who was two stages below him. I’ve seen this guy before with his dad once. The Liu Clan… One of the most greatest Sword Path establishments across the world. And it was once unanimously acknowledged as the strongest with the Divine Sword Saint as its leader… Is he really someone from there, even though he uses a staff? But he’s even tougher than the Stage 7’s I’ve fought. Much more tougher.

At the end of the standoff, there was only one thought that was shared in both Shuren and Ming’s mind.

He’s strong!

Shuren held his right arm firm, and while still retaining the distance, shot out his staff like a javelin towards Ming. In the same moment, Shuren ran forward, right behind it.

Ming deflected the staff with his sword arm, but Shuren twisted his hips and brought his right arm all the way back, stretched like a loaded rubber. With a blink, he shot out with a powerful punch at the end of his own staff, breaking Ming’s guard.

The skin of his knuckles tore with blood bleeding out, but Shuren moved without acknowledging that pain, grabbing his staff. Pushing forward with a stab, Shuren closed the distance while exchanging blows with Ming.

And this time, Ming was being pushed back. His legs almost buckled this time, even when he had the advantage of being Stage 8. This guy! He really has to be from the Liu Clan! Even if he’s using a staff, there’s no other explanation!

While Shuren bore his staff deeper against Ming, they both heard the auspicious sound of boiling and popping water.

Both of them stepped back, and a stream of a high-pressure, green substance shot out between them, coming exactly from an advancing glacial scorpion. Larger than the other two, it rolled up into its carapace and closed the distance between the two in a few seconds!

Shuren clicked his tongue. Both Shuren and Ming ignored each other to kill the scorpion. With a giant slam, Shuren cracked the carapace shell of the scorpion. And with a wide slash, Ming cut it open, green blood spurting everywhere.

It continued to roll down the volcanic mountain, even as blood spurted out of it. But both fighters barely acknowledged it, once more returning back to exchange blows.

We’re going to go on forever like this. It’s risky without having learnt grandfather’s breathing style, but I’ll have to close the gap even further.

Shuren backed off, stabbing his staff deep into the ground. Then he raised both his fists above his waist with a square stance, his fingers open into a bent palm.

Ming only smirked at this new change. His opponent dared to disarm himself and leave such a wide gap? He even felt a bit disappointed with Shuren’s absurd act, but pushed force to finish the battle.

I’ve fought with swords all my life, and my entire body has been carved up by them! Don’t you dare think you’ll be able to hand a hit on me, Wu Ming!

Shuren dashed forth, his eyes completely focused on the minute changes in Ming’s wrists and sword hand. The sword hilt was held in a side guard to launch the widest horizontal slash possible, covering as much distance and space as possible.

Unless Shuren could deflect this blade with his bare hands, there was no way out of this exchange!

Ming drew both his hands at his hip, bursting to slash.

Shuren ran with curled fingers, his body completely in the range of Ming’s blade.

90% of my Qi Aura should be more than enough, even if it’ll use a third of my Qi Reserves!

The volcano erupted with spits of lava flying out. And even when there were ominous rumbles in the ground, both fighters were completely focused.

Shuren’s Qi aura swam and writhed until most of it focused around his feet, with some traversing up his knees. Digging his foot deep into the crumbling volcanic ground, he sped even further like an eagle diving at a fish in the sea.

In a blink, he’d reach directly in front of Ming, letting out a knee high kick at Ming’s right elbow. With that, his sword arm faltered, and Shuren grabbed Ming’s left wrist.

“You madman!” Ming yelled with a crazed smile, even as sweat fell from his forehead, this time not from the heat.

Shuren twisted Ming’s wrist like a powerful snake wrapping around it, before putting pressure like a boulder slammed on him. With a few cracks, Ming’s grip on his sword loosened.

His left wrist was now broken! Even for a Stage 8 swordsman, that was still a massive disadvantage.

The rumbling continued to get louder.

Ming didn’t react to the pain, instead punching Shuren with a raw uppercut to his chin. Both finally backed away, both signalling an arm towards their weapon.

“Come.” Shuren commanded. The staff didn’t fly like a sword towards him, but spun after bouncing off the ground a few times. Meanwhile, Ming’s sword came smoothly to his right hand, ready for battle.

Once more, both flew forth with weapons armed, aiming for a clash.

Dirt and rubble exploded to their side, with the roar of a baleful beast bellowing across the volcano.

Its wide maws opened covered with pieces of carapace and green blood, dwarfing both Shuren and Ming, ready to devour them both.

The apex of the volcano, A Stage 8 Deviant Beast, had appeared!