Armad wanted to test the third key importance of increasing the toughness of his bones. He already knew the first two benefits: increased resilience and enhanced physical strength. However, this third benefit enhancing his speed remained a mystery to him. The system had hinted at this advantage, and Armad was eager to understand it better.
Although he possessed a skill that boosted his speed, called Kaban Shishu, it consumed a significant amount of his cultivation each time he used it, even at his current deva level. This consumption was a major drawback. Additionally, Kaban Shishu was a spell, which meant its usage was inherently limited. Every time Armad used the spell, he had to channel his cultivation into it, a process that was both time-consuming and exhausting.
Recently, Armad used Kaban Shishu to travel from the town of Konfot to Tiriba. The journey, which he hoped would be quick, ended up taking several days because he could only use the spell intermittently. Each time he invoked the spell, he had to gather and channel his cultivation energy, which slowed his progress significantly.
However, if Armad understood the system correctly, the speed increase from toughening his bones wouldn’t require invoking a spell or using any cultivation. This was akin to how his smash power remained potent even when his cultivation was depleted. The system suggested that this speed enhancement would become an innate ability, not reliant on his cultivation. This change would be a game-changer for Armad.
Imagine the possibilities, Armad thought. If he could travel from Konfot to Tiriba in a single day without exhausting his cultivation, his efficiency and effectiveness would skyrocket. More importantly, he would arrive at his destination with his cultivation fully intact, ready for any challenges that awaited him. This would be immensely beneficial, especially in battle situations.
In combat, the most frequently used skills involved launching attacks and defending against them. If Armad could utilize these skills using only his physical power, without depleting his cultivation or becoming fatigued, he would gain a significant advantage. This newfound endurance would allow him to outlast and overpower cultivators who previously had the upper hand due to their stronger cultivation.
Moreover, being able to conserve his cultivation meant that Armad could maintain his peak performance for longer periods. This would not only improve his chances of victory but also enhance his overall survival in dangerous situations.
He quickly left the cave and scanned his surroundings. The dense forest was filled with towering trees, but one in particular caught his eye—the tallest tree in the vicinity. The system had not explicitly told him that increasing the toughness of his bones would simply increase his speed. Instead, it had explained that his ability to walk and run depended heavily on the strength and resilience of his bones. Therefore, by enhancing their toughness, his jumping and speed would naturally improve. The first thing he wanted to test was his jumping ability.
Taking a deep breath, he pressed his legs against the ground and launched himself upward. He had always known his previous jumping limit, and today he was eager to test his current capacity. Before he could even fully process what was happening, he found himself soaring over five meters into the air. Previously, no matter how much strength he mustered, he could never jump higher than one meter. But now, to his amazement, he had leaped over five meters. Although he did not quite reach the top of the tree, he knew this was just the beginning. He had only increased the toughness of his bones by six percent, but even this minor improvement had yielded significant results. He was confident that with continued effort, he could eventually surpass the height of the tallest tree.
A broad smile spread across his face. The pain and effort of strengthening his bones were starting to feel worthwhile. Each ache and fracture he had endured seemed to melt away in the face of this newfound power. He realized that this enhancement in his bone toughness would provide him with numerous advantages in the future. Eager to continue his progress, he quickly rummaged through his magical bag to assess his remaining supply of pills that boosted bone toughness. Seeing that his stock was low, he decided he needed to embark on another hunting expedition to acquire more.
With determination, he set off deeper into the forest, moving swiftly and silently among the trees. His senses were heightened, and he felt more attuned to his surroundings than ever before. The forest was alive with the sounds of wildlife, and he knew he had to remain vigilant.
Meanwhile, Armad was not the only one experiencing significant progress. Nusi, who had secluded herself in a nearby cave, was also on the brink of a breakthrough. She was about to reach 99% in increasing the toughness of her muscles, a milestone that would put her on par with Armad’s current level. However, before she reached the milestone Ai had been the first to complete the process of enhancing the toughness of his skin to 100%.
Without taking much time, she has also started increasing the toughness of her muscles and has already reached six percent out of a hundred. She is currently in her cave, sitting cross-legged, with a look of surprise on her face. Armad had already told her about the hardships she would face when she started to increase the toughness of her muscles, such as pain, headaches, and other discomforts. He warned her about the excruciating pain that would accompany the strengthening process, painting a vivid picture of the agony she would endure. Despite this, she felt none of it.
Even before, when they informed her that she would feel intense pain while increasing the toughness of her skin, she did not experience it. When she was increasing the toughness of her skin, she sometimes felt as if pepper was being rubbed on her skin, but apart from that, she did not feel anything. This anomaly puzzled her, yet she continued with her training, determined to push her limits. She suspected that her unique condition might be related to her demon. She made a mental note to discuss this with her master, Prince Armad, hoping he could shed some light on her unusual resilience.
Now, as she is increasing the toughness of her muscles, she does not feel any pain, which is why she quickly swallowed the pills designed to enhance muscle toughness. The lack of pain allowed her to consume the pills rapidly and efficiently, without the need for breaks or recovery time. She marveled at her ability to progress so swiftly, her body absorbing the power of the pills effortlessly. Each dose seemed to invigorate her muscles, reinforcing them with a strength that felt almost supernatural.
She had already consumed all the pills at her disposal, and the toughness of her muscles had reached thirty percent out of a hundred. The transformation was remarkable, her muscles feeling denser and more powerful than ever before.
Nine days had passed since these cultivators reached a new milestone. At that time, Nusi had also finished increasing the toughness of her muscles and had reached the level where she could start increasing the toughness of her bones. However, she did not have any pills to enhance the toughness of her bones which is why she decided to take a break from her isolated training, she left the cave she had been residing in.
As Nusi stepped outside, she observed the soldiers she had left to guard the area diligently performing their duties. Some were standing vigilantly at their posts, while others were engaged in rigorous exercises, honing their skills and strengthening their bodies.
When the soldiers noticed her presence, they swiftly stopped what they were doing and bowed deeply. “Welcome back, Your Highness,” they greeted in unison. “We hope your deep meditation has brought you many benefits.”
Nusi nodded, a pleased smile playing on her lips. The progress she had made was indeed significant. She had already increased the toughness of her muscles to 100% and she did not spend all the pills that she took to reach this milestone. She still had more to share. She intended to pass these valuable pills on to Ai.
After the initial exchange of greetings, Nusi addressed the soldiers. “How have you progressed with the tasks I assigned to you?” she inquired.
The tasks she had given them were crucial, albeit not overly complex. The first task was to scour every corner of the forest and exterminate all demonic animals within. Her instructions were clear: they were not to spare a single rabbit if it was demonic. She had confidence in their abilities, knowing that after she had eliminated the most powerful demonic creatures, the remaining soldiers, all at the Deva level, could handle the rest. She understood that a Deva-level cultivator, regardless of their prowess, was more than capable of defeating demonic animals at the core formation level. Given this, she expected the task to be completed during the days she had been in deep meditation.
“Your Highness,” one of the soldiers stepped forward, “we have thoroughly executed your orders. Every demonic animal in the forest has been eradicated, as per your command.”
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Nusi’s eyes shone with satisfaction. “Excellent work,” she praised. “And what of the second task?”
“The second task is also complete,” the soldier continued. “We have dug the trench that will serve as the foundation for the new walls of the town of Tiriba.”
Prince Armad had issued specific orders regarding the devas she was to select for this important task. He instructed her to ensure that every deva chosen should possess demons who are proficient earthbenders. If there were devas whose demons did not have earth-bending abilities, they should instead possess demons skilled in either fire-bending or water-bending. The rationale behind this strategy was that earthbender demons are crucial for the construction phase, as they have the unique ability to shape and mold the earth. However, their work needs to be complemented by the abilities of waterbenders and airbenders for optimal results.
Earthbender demons are the primary builders, capable of manipulating the soil and rock to create sturdy foundations and structures. Yet, their efforts can be significantly enhanced by waterbenders, who can wet the land, making the soil more malleable and easier to work with. Airbenders, on the other hand, can facilitate the digging process by moving large quantities of earth quickly and efficiently. This collaboration between different elemental benders would allow the team to lay the groundwork for any building project rapidly and with greater precision.
Among the devas she had carefully selected, there were 30 with earth-bending demons. This was a fortunate outcome, as earthbending demons are relatively common among cultivators. This abundance is why large kingdoms often boast numerous grand and beautiful buildings, some of which have stood the test of time for more than 5,000 or even 10,000 years. These magnificent structures are a testament to the skill and cooperation of cultivators with earth-bending abilities. Renowned and elegant places across the land are typically the result of their hard work and dedication.
In contrast, cultivators with airbending demons are much rarer. This scarcity was reflected in her selection, with only four devas possessing airbending demons. The remaining devas had waterbending demons. Despite the limited number of airbenders, the team was deemed sufficient for the work ahead due to the high number of earthbenders and waterbenders available.
Upon gathering the devas, she explained the task in detail. They were to begin digging by precise calculations, which showed that the forest stretched 50 kilometers from the outskirts of the town of Tiriba. This distance, while considerable, represented just the length of the forest. The width was even more expansive, exceeding 50 kilometers, making the forest area roughly one and a half times the size of Tiriba.
However, the objective was not to clear the entire forest or replicate the town’s size within it. Instead, they were instructed to leave a strategic gap of at least 10 kilometers between the wall they would erect and the nearest edge of the forest.
This is because he did not know the danger of the next forest. The reason was simple: they hadn’t yet eradicated all the demonic animals in the area. If they managed to cover every corner of the forest, the demonic animals would have no choice but to remain confined and would eventually turn to invade human towns. Such a scenario posed significant risks, and he wasn’t prepared to deal with the consequences of having these creatures encroach upon human settlements.
The forest was home to numerous powerful demonic animals that had reached the peak of the Deva level. These creatures possessed the ability to transform into human forms and communicate just like people. They were the leaders of the demonic hierarchy within the forest. Specialists who studied these entities discovered that their life activities were eerily similar to those of humans, displaying complex social behaviors and structures. Confronting these formidable beings was not something he wanted to undertake. The threats and challenges he faced in his current situation were already more than enough, and he was keen on avoiding unnecessary conflict with the demonic animals.
Nusi watched the Devas meticulously as they dug the foundation, noting that the process required digging to a depth of at least five meters. She carefully assessed the depth and determined it was sufficient for their needs. Satisfied with the progress, she extended her spiritual sense to survey the surrounding area. From her current position to the farthest point behind her, she estimated a distance of at least 41 kilometers, and she found no signs of demonic animals in the vicinity. With this confirmation that everything was proceeding according to plan, she turned her attention to organizing the next phase of their operation. Nusi then selected cultivators skilled in earth-bending and arranged them into orderly lines.
“We will commence our work before Prince Armad returns. He is currently engaged in cultivation activities in the nearby forests that far surpass our current abilities. In the meantime, we must start the construction of the new wall for the town. Among the thirty of you, we will divide you into two groups: one half will go to the left side, and the other half will go to the right side.
I need you to materialize a wall of substantial thickness—at least five meters thick. On top of this wall, we will construct a building robust enough to accommodate five lines of soldiers along with their horses. This building must be constructed to endure for at least one thousand years without cracking. The wall you materialize must be made from the strongest stones you can summon. The durability and strength of this structure are essential for our long-term defense and stability.
Once you are prepared, we can begin the task.”
Without delay, the selected devas stepped forward, taking their designated positions. The group assigned to the right side began their work while the left-side group mirrored their actions. Each deva placed their hands on the ground and carefully excavated the foundation, their eyes closed in concentration as they silently chanted the spells necessary for the task. The air grew thick with anticipation as the ground began to shift and tremble.
Within moments, a thick plume of smoke began to rise from the newly dug foundation. The ground shook with increasing intensity, signaling the start of the materialization process. A massive, imposing wall began to take shape, emerging from the foundation and rising steadily into the air. As the wall expanded, it quickly reached a height of at least ten meters on each side. The process was efficient, with the sections of the wall seamlessly merging.
As the devas completed their task, signs of exhaustion became apparent. The strain of their magical efforts left visible marks of fatigue on their bodies. Recognizing the need for rest, the devas who had worked first quickly withdrew. They were promptly replaced by a new set of five devas, chosen specifically for their ability to handle the remaining tasks efficiently. The rotation was necessary to maintain the pace of construction and ensure the quality of the work remained high.
The Devas who had come to rest sat down and began to cycle the cultivation energy within their bodies, a process essential for their recovery. Nusi approached them with a calm, assured demeanor and handed out energy-boosting pills designed to expedite their cultivation recovery. Each Deva received five of these pills, and Nusi also distributed three additional pills of a different kind. As the Devas laid eyes on the new pills, their expressions changed dramatically; their eyes sparkled with excitement and longing.
These new pills were highly coveted, and the Devas recognized them immediately. They had been yearning for these pills for a long time, having longed for them ever since their master first provided them. The master’s gift had helped them advance their cultivation to the esteemed level of Deva—a rank they had once believed was beyond their reach. The pills had become an object of their dreams, symbolizing both aspiration and accomplishment. Despite their desire, they had never dared to ask their master for these precious pills directly.
Observing the glow of excitement in their eyes, Nusi smiled warmly and spoke. “This is a special gift from Prince Armad. He has instructed me to reward you with at least three of these pills whenever you manage to build a wall that is at least 10 meters long. Consider how many kilometers you will build and calculate how many pills you will earn as a result. Rest assured, the number of pills you receive will remain constant; not a single one will be deducted.”
The Devas, upon hearing this, were instantly reinvigorated. They sprang to their feet, their bodies trembling with a renewed sense of purpose and excitement. The fatigue they had felt moments before seemed to evaporate as they eagerly prepared to compete with the incoming Devas who were set to replace them. The new Devas, equally motivated, quickly joined the race and headed toward the wall, ready to start their tasks.
With a burst of energy, the Devas and their replacements scrambled to position themselves. The speed and intensity of their movements were palpable as they engaged in their work. Nusi watched intently, trying to track who among them reached the wall first. The competition was fierce, with all of them placing their hands on the wall almost simultaneously.
Nusi shook her head in disbelief as she reviewed the situation. Previously, when Armad suggested that they offer gifts to the devas who would help with the construction, she had been firmly against the idea. She had felt that since Armad had already aided them in reaching the level of devas, additional gifts for their work, which would ultimately benefit the town, seemed unnecessary. After all, assisting the town was also a form of self-help. Nevertheless, she had kept her dissenting opinion to herself. Now, however, she began to understand Armad’s reasoning behind the gift-giving. In truth, everyone needs a form of encouragement to keep morale high and maintain their dedication.
As she rummaged through her magical bag, her eyes widened in surprise. Armad had provided her with more than just a few of the cultivation-enhancing pills she had expected. These pills will effectively, help in constructing walls of at least five kilometers. Despite this, her calculations indicated a much larger task: the wall needed to span 500 kilometers to adequately encircle the town. This daunting requirement arose because the town’s boundaries had to stretch to the sea.
To add to her concerns, the left side of the town required an even greater distance to be covered compared to the right. They didn’t have access to an extended map to precisely estimate the distances involved. Armad had advised them to avoid crossing any formidable forests within the wall’s planned area, recommending instead that they go around these forests. This precaution was due to the forests’ unpredictable and irregular locations, making it challenging to determine the exact distance they could cover.
As she contemplated the enormity of the task, Nusi realized that the pills she had would not be sufficient. They would need additional pills or possibly a detailed book which will help to write the amount of pills that each of the devas will owe them.