Seeing her questionable face, 36 thought nothing of it.

“Nothing much to add. Considering the time he spent on this in a few days, this will do. Anything strange happened since the last time?”

“Nothing much as well. His strange healing factor is acting up whenever he has an open wound when exercising or training. Other than that, I can't say anything strange. Although I found it rather strange that whenever I will wound his palm myself, nothing happens.” Sarey answered

“Hmmm. Alright, that seems like something strange if I say so myself. Perhaps the healing factor or whatever is happening to him isn't achievable by mortal or immortal means. It didn't happen overnight or by simple training. I am sure of it. Energy training could cause similar changes, such as healing or rapid regeneration.”

“It's part of certain body forging techniques, after awakening the Spark. Allan doesn't have it... so the effects of the soul-fire are completely unknown to me. I know plenty of the techniques, but nothing which could be even close to Allan's case. He just stepped on his path, but the case of the soul-fire is above me.”

“I know that. Could this not be the effect of the soul-fire, but something else instead?” Sarey asked in return for his explanation.

“How am I supposed to know that? No idea.”

Sarey stomped the rocky ground in disappointment and continued with the daily routine of 36's summoning.

While she and 36 talked, Allan returned to his training, as he had better things to do, than their rumbling talking. 36 and Sarey observed the climb. This conversation was in the 2nd valley after Sarey considered Allan's climbing progress. Showing it to 36 was also a part of the training.

As he started his climb, 36, and Sarey remained talking to each other, while 36 expressed his worries and information that was needed to know. 36 held little from her, as she was very reliable, and without her, Allan would be gone as himself.

The only downside was her cheekiness. But that doesn't bother someone like him. It was not to his dislike, since any form of the world apart from the void was worse than this.

Far above for one to see, Allan reached the 50-meter mark. This was already very high for any normal adult climber. It was quite a surprise, but Allan thought little of this. Below him is the same void as he felt before, but the darkness helped with the lack of stress.

He already knew what to expect, and he was getting used to this. It did not matter to him being 10 meters above the ground or 50.

“Huh. Let's go down, I guess.” Allan decided and secured a piece of the rope around his back towards the deep crevice. Forcing a sharp twisting knob around it, he secured it with a spiked piece of metal. Like this, it would be secure until intentionally retrieved.

This sort of rope managed to hold however heavy he was and caused him to reach the lower parts of the wall. There, the similar spiked metal secured more ropes. It made it seem like a cascade of climbing ropes to get down with ease.

This was Sarey's idea, and he liked it quite a bit. He could return or climb as he wanted from any point for up to 50 meters. Practicing the use of body strength, stability, and movement was upwards of 50 meters in the height. The practice was easily done, but for what? He questioned it many times in his mind, but he couldn't be sure what's the true reason was for this training.

Balance, strength, and core strength could be trained in different methods, so why this?

Allan wasn't sure about anything any longer. All of his progress was in small parts revealed in his spars. He could notice some improvements, but that was about it.

This afternoon, he was, at last, a 3rd part of the training. Sarey will lead him toward a different location. Going uphill towards the raging mountain river, where was the source, as well as more mountains. Sarey had already found a rather suitable place for the practice.

But, before their departure, 36 wanted to tell them something important. He will take his leave after checking more on Allan's progress.

The climb was below his expectations, but he knew the reason for it. It was his second or even third intention to choose this method of training. Too much of the kind would be redundant, so 36 decided long ago to use the part of 3 truths.

It was a rather old way of training, where the master made the disciple act within some boundaries of the 3 different training methods. Each had some ways, and improvements within their reason. It was the same with Allan, who need a lot of care.

That wasn't about the spar, which was self-explanatory and independent from his training. His 3 truths were for other things. Rock smashing, rock climbing, and the river part which was approaching.

After all, his life was on the line, so no matter what, 36 was trying his best. At least until the end of the 1st year, which will have either a bad end or not.

Until then, Allan had to manage this training, and 36 could throw anything at him.

As he can see, rock smashing went more than fine since Allan had already moved past 2 additional rocks after his first day.

Allan found rather strange techniques and ways to strike the living shit out of these rocks. Knuckles and knees were the most effective in his many experiments. Of course, apart from hands which he found unreasonable to damage. He likes to work with them after all, and damaging his treasured hands wouldn't be nice at all.

These last few days, he found himself more and more unwilling to finish the three pieces. They were still laying on his worktable, but too much stuff was happening. During this training and time, Allan's mind was focused on different things. One would say more important things, but that was questionable.

From morning to evening, Allan had full attention on this, rather than anything else. After coming back from this training, Zigmund was already ready for the spar, so that left him almost no spare time for it. After the spar, he either went for the bath or laid down to rest.

All he was able to do was hope for Sarey's care, which she never turned down. Acupoint treatment, as well as general body checks, were done by her very evening. The next day after being tired and injured, he was already fine, but there were few wounds preserved for a day or two. The continuous observation revealed that the healing factor works with cuts in combat.

Blunt wounds and bruises go unaffected, but they were still healing much better than for any mortal. These problems mattered little to Allan, who rather kept his working mind intact. Being called madman or lunatic by Sarey was already a day-to-day thing.

He knew she was right, but he felt like he could manage this for the time being. He felt rushed. Be it from the adrenalin or things 36 kept talking about.

Today, 36 hold a conversation that was like a cold shower.

“What? Are you serious?” Sarey exclaimed, while Allan was sitting in shock. That or he was questioning his implication, what he couldn't understand.

“I am serious. This pill could change the course of our chances and lives. The first examination could even come early if you want after all, and time is of the essence.”

“No. no. Mister 36, what you talked about is outside of our possibilities. So what if your so-called reward can get me a furnace? What then?”

“Pill making doesn't just require energy users which will infuse the materials and fused them together with the energy of the heaven and earth. One had to be proficient with it for a long time.” Sarey added her surprising knowledge.

“How in the hell do you know something like that?” 36 asked in an obvious way since he never told her about this.

“My teacher told me some stories and information about it. You know, it is not all that important piece of information for a little girl.” She excused herself.

“Bah! Whatever, I can't care less of how small of a chance, or problem you have with it. It's very important! If you could manage to gain at least some information about potential pill-maker in this region, Allan could progress much faster.”

“Why so in a hurry? It has been so little time since I started this training. Why are you like this?” Allan asked as he got up and walked right before 36's "face".

“Heheh. What do you know, boy? Having resources and not having them are two completely different things that could change one's fate. Do you know the whole truth?”

“Go on, you piece of dull wood.”

“Hah! SO what if I am in a hurry? I have no idea wherever this mess I am in is sustainable or not. The fact that you want is very simple. This energy could involve the stages of bone and blood forging. Changing some things that I am not sure about and even more. Does it not sounds great to you?”

“Not really, unless we found an energy user who is proficient in pill-making,” Allan answered in an indifferent expression. Forcing some information from him was already quite easy, but it was more about 36's willingness. That played the most important part in Allan's tries.

The reason for telling them about the pill method 36 discovered so long ago, was caused by his change in attitude. The reason was the assassination by that woman, who almost ended his life.

“Question isn't about whether it is even possible. It's better to go all out in order to make it a possibility!” 36 shouted again.

“It's certainly not,” Sarey said, without a chance in her voice. She was realistic about this, while the course of the pill-making wasn't like the path of killing, or anything like that. It's much more than that, while money, resources, and time were necessary for it. Including the need for the skill, it was impossible.

It was no surprise that she shot down 36's words so fast.

Allan fell silent and pondered more about this, but couldn't help but sight. There was no point in going about something like this. It sounded more unrealistic than him, falling from the sky.

Finding someone who was keen on pill-making? Impossible. Maybe some kingdoms have someone like that in the royal courtyard, but that was only Allan's and Sarey's guess.

“Hmmm. Alright. Alright. Since you insist and doing things this way, I can understand it this time. Promise me to look for someone like that, and may the mother's fate decide for this chance. How about it?

“I can try. Time will tell if it's even possible in this world, am I right?” Sarey voiced her decision, which was at least a piece of a world, that calmed 36 down.

“I am fine with no promises. It all can work out in the end if Allan's pace remains. There could be even a chance he could shock his little core energy with that soul-fire he has inside of him. What do we know? I am so blind like you already. Heheheheheh.” 36 hysterically laughed, and before continuing, Allan's words shot him down.

“Leave already...”

“Oy! No! Ahhh..” 36 paused his laugh and disappeared into the book underneath him.

Allan did not even wait for Sarey's next words or topic she was curious about. He patted her on the shoulder since she was right behind him. She couldn't be angry at him, since 36 had another of his manic episodes.

With this being done, Allan remained in silence for quite some time. What if the words he said were correct and soul-fire within him could achieve something like that? He couldn't guess it even if he had tried for a long time.

“Let's go. I think I have the training to do.” Allan decided and took his staff from the wall. He no longer wanted to wonder about possibilities. They weren't for him to care about, since what was in front of him was more important. Whether that energy and whatever else he promised to him were possible was still questionable.

After all, he was still within the beginning path of Body Forging.

“Oh. A-alright, you piece of a lunatic!” Sarey complied and tossed the bags of stuff and book from the ground around her back.

She grans Allan by hand and dragged him towards the distant source of the river.

Moving across the rising hills, made of forest, the path wasn't that easy, or nice. Rocks and small vegetation littered the rough path, which was literary nothing but a natural path from some animals. In a bit, Allan became to hear a storm of water that was rising to his ear. He was still long from it, and still inside of the forest.

The regular-looking mountainous river entered their view. Although not for Allan to see.

He had a completely different view from Sarey, who was indifferent towards this. Sights of nature such as this are not that exciting for her any longer.

“What is in front of me? I can't tell from the sounds alone.”

“Just a mountainous river. With twists and turns, it goes throughout this region hundreds of kilometers from up in these mountains. Your task is to act according to this training page and move within the body of this water.” Sarey explained.

“Sounds interesting. I hope you will let me know more about this. I doubt it is a good idea for me to act recklessly in such a river. Although I can swim fine, the water seems rather fast, doesn't it?” Allan voiced his concern. It was the initial requirement, so Sarey had no choice but to answer it.

“I know. I know. There are a few things up ahead. These are calmer parts of this river that are not suitable for training. We will move more upwards to the mountains.”

“Sure.” Allan agreed, even with a little doubt of it. The river seemed fast even here, so he did not question the requirements. It sure wasn't as bad as he thought, but it will be revealed to him soon.

Almost all the intricacies of each training left a certain impression. They affected the physical means of his body since it's all about the Unmoving Technique.

Destroying the rocks made him aware of certain motions of attacking with his limbs and the body. Rock climbing was establishing a route of his core, as well as his balance and stability.

As for this, he had no clue whatsoever. It seemed he had to act according to the body of water, or within it. Submerged in it, he knew that the weight in the water was different. All he was fearful of was for him to become a subject of torture within this river.

Sarey soon discovered the same route she went through a couple of days ago. At the very end of it was a wide opening for the much wider, and not the least bit calm river. Further down, a couple of hundred meters was the calmer part of the water. Further up, there is a flat piece of land, which makes a small valley under a cliff, that is above the mountain.

A rather huge waterfall falls over the cliff, which ended in the raging waters of the river. Lots of rocks, smaller or bigger, were falling down with the water.

There was some dirt, and parts of trees mixed in it as well on certain occasions. It had a thunderous and great power that was hearable from a long distance.

There were quite a few individuals steams coming from the falling water. They flowed into different regions with a mind of their own. Gravity was the mastermind of it all, and the water will always be the wild on such an occasion. This valley is at least around 100 and something meters wide and tall. Bushes and lavish greenery and grass were for everyone.

“Oh, a waterfall?” Allan asked, upon realizing the sound.

“Yes, but be calm. It is not a part of your training, of course. You would get injured or die.”

“Huh? Why so?”

“Isn't it obvious? I don't think the rocks over there are something that any living can survive. There are even a lot of crevices and cavities from them throughout the years of falling on the ground. Even the river has deteriorated from it too. It is easy to figure it out like this.”

“Oh, Alright then. What am I supposed to do then? As I heard, there will be a portion of me forcing or enduring my way within this river?”

“Yes. You will need to figure out much of this training by yourself. I won't explain to you much, since 36 wanted to do it this way.” Sarey explained while remembering the information of this part of the training.

“So mysterious. What is it then?”

“Come on. It is no 200-meter-tall cliff, so no need to be that nervous.” Sarey, still grabbing his hand, led him into a part where was shallow water of meter and a few dozen centimeters. Rocks and residual wood of destroyed trees were passing through this region of water. It was faster, much deadlier than the one from before, and it was very noticeable.

Allan heard it right, and he had to remain inside for an extended period of time. Parts of the problem were being forced away by the river itself. Rocks and other parts which would care nothing of his presence were a problem too.

Allan couldn't help but gulp down the saliva and readied his mind for what was about to come.