So, with a lot of effort and no procrastination, I officially bring you the 80th chapter of OSME! We're getting there folks. We're another step closer to 100 chaps. Upon reaching it, new possibilities will open up. Enjoy the chapter!
Please inform me in the comments section if there are any grammatical errors.
EDIT: Fixed a few errors, thx for the support guys!
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Feng Yun was led to his room, which was an extremely spacious floor-like area with a vast assortment of ornaments and golden walls to decorate the exterior. There wasn't really any possessions in the room excluding the jewelry and Feng Yun could feel the tranquility that came from the silent room. There was a king-sized bed at the back of the room and a prayer mat for cultivation in the center. On the sides, were numerous bookshelves chock full of informational books for Feng Yun to browse through in his spare time. It was simple...yet not simple. But Feng Yun wasn't complaining and stepped into the room with shining eyes.
'This place looks like a penthouse from my previous world...only bigger and a lot more jewelry than an ordinary billionaire could afford!' Feng Yun thought to himself.
Bei Luo stood there in the entrance, waiting and watching for Feng Yun's expressions. After a moment of silence and Feng Yun surveying the room Bei Luo said,
"Junior Apprentice Brother, are your living quarters satisfactory?" Feng Yun turned around and gave him a wry smile filled with helplessness as well as satisfaction.
"Master... he really didn't need to set this much stuff up. I would have been comfortable just remaining in an ordinary room. He truly thinks a lot of his disciples, doesn't he?" Bei Luo smiled at Feng Yun's words. He alone understood the mind of Dai Tian to a great extent only because he had been with him for the longest time. Dai Tian's mindset was extremely complex, yet so simple if understood.
"Uncle is a very kind person, despite the coldness that he puts as a front. Uncle treats the few friends that he has like eternal brothers and his disciples with even more affection. But to those that would dare try to harm him or his closest acquaintances, Uncle doesn't hesitate to be ruthless. It's the path he chose. Uncle's mindset is one that I have always admired, and will continue to admire." Bei Luo's smile turned a little sad for a moment, but before Feng Yun could catch it, it reverted back to its original appearance.
"I see. Then, I shall see you later Senior Apprentice Brother."
"Haha. Of course, you need your rest for Uncle's training." Bei Luo turned around and began to exit the room. "However, calling me Senior Apprentice Brother is a bit too formal don't you think? We are all brothers under Dai Tian's teachings. Just call me Luo Ge Ge." Feng Yun was a bit surprised however nodded his head after a minute and smiled.
"Alright. I'll see you later, Luo Ge Ge." Bei Luo nodded and left the room, where Feng Yun let himself fall onto the bed. He was tired...insanely tired.
So many things had transpired in the past two years, from deciding to leave home to adventure with Xia Qing through the continent, joining a mercenary group, encountering formidable foes, to becoming the disciple of an extremely powerful figure. It made one feel exhilarated when they thought about the legendary feats that they themselves had accomplished.
"Xia Qing, I wonder how you'll be doing there. I'm sure you'll have a great time." Feng Yun then closed his eyes and slept, his body giving in to the relaxation that it provided.
The next morning, Feng Yun woke up early upon hearing the knocking of Bei Luo. He opened his eyes groggily and changed into a set of lush green robes, and then went to answer the door. Bei Luo stood in the doorway, ready to bring him to his master.
"Good morning, Junior Apprentice Brother!"
"Good morning Luo Ge Ge!" Bei Luo smiled after hearing the way Feng Yun called him and beckoned him to walk by his side. While they were walking to the throne room, Feng Yun decided to make small talk with his Senior Apprentice Brother.
"Luo Ge Ge, why do you call Master 'Uncle'?" Bei Luo slowed his steps as a sad expression appeared on his face. Then, he began to explain.
"As you can probably tell, Uncle isn't my biological uncle. He was very close friends with my parents, who were also Great Devil Apes like me. However, my parents were soon killed by a group of humans desiring to make them their spirit abilities. Uncle Dai came soon after and in anger, exterminated the humans. After that, since there was no one else who could take care of me, he himself took care of me." Feng Yun nodded his head in understanding.
There was nothing one could say about a tragedy like this. It was better to keep quiet. Their conversation ended abruptly as they reached the throne room. There at the front was Dai Tian, clearly awake and having waited for them. Feng Yun knelt down, as did Bei Luo. Unhesitatingly the two both said,
"Disciple pays his respects to Master!"
"Get up." The two disciples stood back up. Dai Tian gazed at Feng Yun with a firm look and said, "Feng Yun, the time for your training has begun."
"Master, what would you instruct Disciple to do?" Feng Yun felt excited. He knew that his strength would increase by leaps and bounds inevitably, so he couldn't help but fidget. Dai Tian closed his eyes for a moment before saying,
"Your cultivation increased a lot since the last time I saw you. You are now thirteen years old and though your cultivation is high, it is not enough to make you truly strong." He began to slither around as he continued his speech.
"For me, cultivation was merely one factor of my strength. What I truly valued, was the amount of fighting experience and killing I engaged in. The accumulation of all the killing intent made me able to contend with opponents beyond my own level and raised my overall power." Feng Yun could somewhat tell at this point what Dai Tian wished for him to do.
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"Cultivation can only grow widely if you have gained plenty of energy. By slaughtering and fighting, upon cultivating once more, you will realize that the growth you feel from cultivating is much higher than before. What I want you to do is fight. Fight fight fight, kill kill kill!
For three months, stay in a secluded area in the Kaidu Mountains that I have designated for you. You are not to come out for three months, and by the end of those three months, you must collect the hearts of over three hundred beasts!"
Feng Yun felt shock as he heard the mind-boggling number. 300 beasts! And in three months as well. This was a task that was simply too hard for ordinary cultivators. In fact, if a normal cultivator was given this task, they would immediately abandon it. However, Feng Yun's reaction was slightly different. His heart was palpitating wildly, but he embraced the challenge instead of rejected it. If it could make his cultivation grow, then he would be willing to do anything. He nodded his head and said,
"Disciple understands his task."
"Do not think that it will be easy for you to overcome this challenge. The beasts of the Kaidu Mountains are abnormally ferocious. They're born killers and every single one of them has great strength. The weakest of them are of the Xiantian 4th Layer! By no reason should you underestimate them." Feng Yun was naturally aware of how difficult the task was. He wasn't arrogant. He was just determined.
"You are not to come back from the area until after the three months are over. If you die there, then there is nothing to it. I gave Bei Luo this task as well when I took him in. He passed, so you, as the Junior Apprentice Brother must do the same to receive my teachings. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple!"
As he said this, his voice softened slightly. Feng Yun could tell from this that Dai Tian wasn't being harsh on purpose. He wanted to make the resolve and will in Feng Yun stronger. In response to this Feng Yun's eyes flashed with a ray of cold light and said in a chilling voice,
"Disciple will kill everything he sees!"
"Good. Bei Luo, send him to the Violet Slaughter Valley." Bei Luo nodded and stood up, placing a hand on Feng Yun's shoulder. Dai Tian gave his new disciples as he spoke a single word.
"Survive."
Then, Bei Luo lifted Feng Yun and the two flew out of the Black Death Palace and towards the Violet Slaughter Valley. Bei Luo traveled quite fast and distance between the location and the palace being quite large, they were able to arrive there in a few minutes. The Violet Slaughter Valley was as the name described.
It was a large sloping valley with numerous forests. Oddly enough, the forests were all violet colored, as were the grass. Feng Yun couldn't exactly tell why but perhaps it was born under specific conditions that allowed it to have that color. The valley reeked with the smell of death, and Feng Yun could feel the auras of hundreds of beasts oppressing him unintentionally. Silently, he couldn't help but lament to himself,
'This place has many powerful foes. It seems it will be a difficult task to collect three hundred hearts'.
Bei Luo descended from the air slowly and his pressure was enough to ward off the oppressive aura bearing down on Feng Yun.
'As expected of a Tyrant Realm beast' Feng Yun thought.
The great ape lightly dropped Feng Yun at the base of the valley, near the entrance. As he gazed at the dark hole in which he was to enter into, Feng Yun still had no fear, and instead, undisguised excitement. He turned around and looked at Bei Luo who told him,
"Uncle has already told you about what you are to do. Junior Apprentice Brother, you must survive. People who are as kind and talented such as yourself are rare. It would truly be a shame." Feng Yun smiled and replied,
"I will take care of myself, Luo Ge Ge. Goodbye for now." Bei Luo nodded, and then flew back into the air, headed for the Black Death Palace. Feng Yun let out a breath as he attempted to calm himself and make his senses alert. After a minute of meditation while standing, he entered through the dark hole and surveyed his surroundings. Nothing but violet.
"It shouldn't be that hard to find a beast to kill. After all, Master said it himself, the beasts here are plentiful and powerful. Now, to find a...whoah!" As he walked and pondered, he felt a presence already. Through the darkness of the bushes, he could feel a red colored eye staring at him.
'Already?!!! I only stepped in here not even 5 minutes ago and there's already a beast that wants to kill me?! This challenge is going to be tough.'
As he thought this, Feng Yun summoned his sword and locked eyes with his foe while revealing an evil smile.
"Let's kill."
At the Black Death Palace, Bei Luo had just returned and directly entered the throne room. He stared at his uncle, who was silently in deep thought.
"Uncle, you gave him a bit too big of a challenge don't you think? When you told me to do it, you only asked for two hundred beast hearts...in the course of five months! He may die if he isn't able to complete it!" Bei Luo was genuinely concerned about his Uncle's decision. Dai Tian was completely calm as he answered Bei Luo's question without hesitation.
"That boy will be fine. I've already seen it in him. He has the heart of a warrior, a killer, and it's something that you don't find in kids his age that often. With his temperament and intelligence, he can survive the challenge. I'm certain of it. Think about it, Bei Luo. Feng Yun has a lot of talent, but that talent will never make him strong if he doesn't get used to fighting constantly. This kind of exercise will make him utterly peerless even in the face of multiple stronger opponents. A seedling like him needs to be challenged constantly in order for the talent to manifest itself into its most brilliant form."
Dai Tian finished his explanation. Bei Luo nodded in understanding. They both looked at the direction of the Violet Slaughter Valley with expectant gazes.
They would wait...wait until he came back.