Chapter II: Accused of Cheating
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"He's a 14 years old boy, a commoner from the village. He joined the Xu clan's training camp and... Selling Soul Regenerating Pills in the morning, training during the day and collecting herbs during the night, this is the usual lifestyle of that young boy called Yin Yun sir..."
Telling his report to his master, the servant of the medicine store's owner tensed up while waiting for a good reaction from him.
"And when or how does he even create his Soul Regenerating Pills? You do not care about your life, do you? You better not joking around and do your job correctly! You... Useless fool! Keep following that young boy until that you find out his secret in creating the Soul Regenerating Pills!"
Infuriated by the undetailed report from his servant, the medicine store owner throws the report sheets towards his servant. Afraid of angering his master any longer, the servant left the medicine store as quickly as possible leaving the medicine store owner alone in the medicine store.
"Really... what a useless servant... I may need a better plan against that boy, but this is weird, how does this young boy have so much Soul Regenerating Pills? Did he really become the disciple of an alchemist? But the report didn't mention any master alchemist... but If this is really the case, I should be more careful from now on, I don't want to dig my own grave while scamming that boy."
After a deep thought, a wave of hesitation falls upon the medicine store owner, he was a smart merchant, he didn't want to choose the wrong choice. What was the good thing to do? To forcibly steal his secret method to craft the Soul Regenerating Pills? Or to associate with that boy to earn more money, which was the right choice?
The store owner was at loss about what to do with that young lad named Yin Yun.
*****
Three days have passed since the day that Yin Yun found the Legendary All Jobs Book. His every day's lifestyle didn't change much since then but today was different.After finishing his daily training in the Xu clan's training camp, Yin Yun head back home and was meditating on his straw bed in his bedroom.
Today was an exception, after these three past days, Yin Yun succeeds to earn a total amount of sixty silver coins from selling Soul Regenerating Pills. It was a huge amount of money that he couldn't earn for a whole two months of selling medicinal herbs.
During those past three days, Yin Yun collected and created a large amount of Soul Regenerating Pills, selling ten pills per day, he stocked up a total amount of two hundred Soul Regenerating Pills. Exhausting his Soul Energy every day, his Soul Energy has increased significantly.
The reason why he didn't go to the forest's entrance today was quite simple. To begin, the Medicinal Green Leaves could only be harvested after a full day of growth, thus, during those past three days, Yin Yun actually collected too many Medicinal Green Leaves near the forest's entrance of the Jiangsu Village leaving almost no Green Leaf herbs remaining to grow.
Leaving only a tiny amount of Green Leaves left, he needed to wait at least a full day without collecting it for the Medicinal Green Leaf to let it expand its territory.
The second reason was the main reason and it was to learn a new cultivation technique, the Body Strengthening Cultivation Technique. The Body Strengthening Cultivation Technique was a cultivation technique that Yin Yun discovered from the Legendary All Jobs Book, requiring more than three hundred Soul Energy to unlock the cultivation technique, only reaching three hundred and twenty Soul Energy today, he didn't have enough Soul Energy until now to learn that cultivation technique.
Meditating for two whole hours, Yin Yun was finally able to use the Body Strengthening Cultivation Technique. Lying on his straw bed, the exhausting meditation that he has this past two hours has exhausted almost all of his soul energy.
The Body Strengthening Cultivation Technique, as the name said could strengthen a part of his body or even his whole body using his Soul Energy giving him a massive amount of strength. He thought that he'll probably need this cultivation technique later on and the earlier he learned that cultivation technique, the better it is.
Right now, Yin Yun could only strengthen a small part of his bodies such as one of his hand or one of his feet. Using the Strengthening technique was exhausting, spending a large amount of Soul Energy just by strengthening his right hand, he was depleted of his Soul Energy a few seconds later. When strengthening his whole hand, Yin Yun could destroy a rock by punching it, which was impossible for him with his current strength without using the Body Strengthening Cultivation Technique. Compared to his actual strength, the Body Strengthening Technique could multiply his actual strength by several folds.
After learning and testing thoroughly his new cultivation technique, Yin Yun decided to prepare the dinner to help his mother's daily task at home. Finishing his hard-boiled eggs dish, Yin Yun suddenly remembered that the Legendary All Jobs Book could be used in cooking as well. Using Analyze on the dish, a notification popped into his head.
Item: Hard-Boiled Egg Quality: Average Ingredients: Egg Improvement Requirement: 10 Soul Energy
Interested in what will happen to the dish once it was improved, Yin Yun decided to give it a try.
'Improve!'
Successful Food Improvement!
The boiled Eggs dish started to shined, a few seconds later a notification replaced the last notification which shocked Yin Yun.
Item: Hard-Boiled Egg Quality: Average Ingredients: Egg Level of Improvement: +1 Bonus Effects Given: +2 Deliciousness, +1 Stamina Permanently, +1 Strength Permanently Improvement Requirement: 11 Soul Energy
'Does that mean that if I eat this dish, my stamina and strength will increase? I can still improve the dish... Should I give it another try?'
After hesitating for few seconds, he decided to give it a try, after all, it only required him to use 11 Soul energy to improve the dish.
'Improve!'
Not too long afterward...
Item: Hard-Boiled Egg Quality: Average Ingredients: Egg Level of Improvement: +9 Bonus Effects Given: +18 Deliciousness, +9 Stamina Permanently, +9 Strength Permanently Improvement Requirement: 19 Soul Energy
'Improve!'
But the next time Yin Yun upgraded it, an unexpected result came up.
Failed Food Improvement!
The Hard-Boiled Egg disappeared in front of Yin Yun's eyes as if it never existed after it stopped shining.
'What the heck... It can fail? Furthermore, after it failed the Hard-Boiled Egg disappeared...'
Interested in the new functionality of improving foods, Yin Yun once again upgraded another Hard-Boiled Egg.
A few minutes later...
Item: Hard-Boiled Egg Quality: Average Ingredients: Egg Level of Improvement: +10 Bonus Effects Given: +20 Deliciousness, +10 Stamina Permanently, +10 Strength Permanently, +10 Soul Energy Permanently Additional Bonus Effect Given: Increase the Endurance of the eater of 10% for 30 minutes. Improvement Requirement: 50 Soul Energy
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After several tests, Yin Yun learned that he could improve the Hard-Boiled Eggs as long as the improvement succeeded. Increasing further than the level 10 also give additional effect to the food.
Until now, he could only improve the food to the level 10, unfortunately, he didn't succeed to improve the Hard-Boiled Egg more than the level 10. Afraid of wasting all the remaining Hard-Boiled Eggs, in the end, Yin Yun didn't try to increase the level any further.
"I'm home! Oh, my little Yun'er did you came back home earlier than usual today? You even prepared the dinner... Ai, what a proud son I have there."
Hearing his mom at the entrance, she was surprised to see that his son prepared the dinner, showing an exquisite smile filled with happiness, she sat on the wooden chair and start trying the food Yin Yun brought.
"What is this? So delicious?! You should head back earlier more often to cook the food! You improved way better than last time, did anyone teach you how to cook better?"
"Yes, Kind of... I also tried my best in that dish so that you can enjoy the food... Mother, do you have any impression after eating the food"
"Ngh, yeah I strangely feel lighter after eating that hard-boiled egg. It feels like my tiredness faded away..."
Seeing such a face filled with happiness from his mother, Yin Yun resolved himself to prepare the dinner every night for her mother's sake. Picking a hard-boiled egg, he bit the hard-boiled egg in his hand. The sweetness of the egg could be felt from his mouth as if a strange but pleasant energy entered his body. Opening his wide eyes, he took another bite and before realizing it, ate the whole hard-boiled egg.
On that night, Yin Yun made 20 hard-boiled eggs disappeared out of 40 hard-boiled eggs he prepared, but there was no way he could say that to his mother. Fortunately, it was the eggs that he bought before heading back home
*****
"Master, I think this young boy is really an alchemist! I saw it with my own eyes! I took a peek in his room from the window yesterday, he... he created a Soul Regenerating Pill with his own hand after picking up a leaf from his bag! He must be an alchemist there is no doubt about it!"
Hearing the report of his servant, the medicine store owner frowned. 'If this is true, then he must be a disciple of an alchemist master...' with that thought, the medicine store owner ordered.
"Stop investigating about that lad any longer. As long as he keeps selling us the Soul Regenerating Pills, then this is a good trade for us."
'This young boy is really an alchemist?! I never expected that such a poor boy like him could have talents for alchemist... "The clothes do not make the monk" after all, but I should keep in touch with him. This boy is truly a gold mine! As long as he's willing to sell the Soul Regenerating Pills to me, I can easily become the wealthiest merchant of the Qin Empire...If I'm not mistaken, he joined the training camp of the Xu clan, I should head towards the Xu Village as soon as possible.'
"You will keep the store and continue to sell the medicines in my stead there. I'll be moving to the Xu Village. You better do a good work! You may receive a raise of salary once I'm back."
Hearing that he may receive a raise of his salary, the servant answered with a cheerful voice
"Yes, master! I'll try my best!"
Heading for the Xu Village, the medicine store owner directed towards his main store located at the Xu Village.
*****
Ten days have passed since that night, during these past ten days, Yin Yun's every day's lifestyle didn't change much apart from meditating the Body Strengthening Cultivation Technique.
After earning a gold coin from the medicine store, Yin Yun stopped collecting Medicinal Green Leaf. Giving the gold coin to his beloved mother, Yin Yun lied to his mother by telling her that he found a rare medicinal herb while collecting Medicinal Green Leaf.
Creating quite an amount of Soul Regenerating Pills, Yin Yun didn't have the need to collect Medicinal Green Leaf anymore at least until that he used all the four hundred his Soul Regenerating Pills that he kept.
With the remaining sixty silver coins he earned, Yin Yun expected to buy some armor gears after entering the Xu Village. Confident enough to succeed today's test to join the Xu clan, Yin Yun directed towards the training camp of the Xu clan.
The moment Yin Yun arrived at the training camp, the instructor could be seen with two men next to him with an emblem of "Xu" showing behind their back, one could guess that they were two elders from the Xu clan. One was wearing a white robe and luxury accessories while the other one was wearing the same white robe but with his face was hidden by a hood.
In front of them, a crowd of youths could be seen standing straight waiting for the elderly old man to speak, joining the group of youths, Yin Yun wondered what kind of test will be held to determine either or not he'll be accepted to join the Xu clan.
"Alright, It's about time. Form a line in front of me. Each of you will be tested either or not you have enough Soul Energy to join our Xu Clan."
With that single announcement from one of the elderly man, the group of youths quickly moved in front of the old man forming a long line hoping to pass the test.Even though the Xu clan was a strong clan within the Blue Azure Province, it was still amazing to see that many people participating in that training camp.
The first one to pass the test was Xu Chen from the Xu clan, holding a red Soul Crystal in his hand, the crystal shined brightly with a red color. Watching the brightness of the crystal, the elderly man nodded his head.
"Xu Chen, Soul Energy 239, you passed. Come behind me. Next!"
"Pan Long, Soul Energy 200, you passed. Come behind me. Next!"
"Pan Luo, Soul Energy 180, you passed. Come behind me. Next!"
"Luo Fong, Soul Energy 149, you failed. Leave that place. Next!"
"...Next!"
"...Next!"
"..."
The long line was gradually shrinking as the youths who failed the test left the training camp. Behind the old man, only twenty young boys out of two hundred passed the test. Now it was finally Yin Yun's turn.
"Yin Yun, Soul Energy... What?! Three... No, Four hundred Fifty?!"
Showing a unbelieved face, the elderly old man takes a closer look at Yin Yun, from his clothes, he should be a common young boy from the Jiangsu Village and couldn't afford to use pills to increase his Soul Energy.
"Then how come he had such a huge Soul Energy at the young age of fourteen?!"
With such thought, the elderly old man's body trembled as he shouted. "A genius...It must be a genius! Pass! You passed the test!"
On the contrary, the other man whose face was hidden by the hood muttered "Yin Yun... Yin?!" But his voice was too low, thus, nobody knows that he actually spoke.
"No way, this weakling a genius? He cheated! He must be cheating! There is no way such a weakling could be stronger than me."
Hearing the shout of one of the youths who passed the test, the old man turned his back and saw a handsome black-haired boy walking towards Yin Yun while pointing towards him, it was Xu Cheng.
"You..."
'To accuse me of cheating?! Your foolishness knows no limit, Xu Chen!!!'
Fiercely glaring at Xu Chen, a slight killing intent leaked out from Yin Yun. It was the first time that he actually wants to give Xu Chen a beating.
'If the Xu clan reject me because of you, I'll definitely seek for revenge!'
It was the only opportunity for Yin Yun to become a Soul Warrior within the Blue Azure Province. If he was rejected by the Xu clan, he was losing his only opportunity to become a Soul Warrior.
Hearing the accusation of the young black-haired boy, the hooded-man leaked out a slight smile that couldn't be seen from others and approached Yin Yun while grabbing one of his hand. Wondering why the hooded-man from the Xu clan grabbed his hand, Yin Yun's eyes were redirected towards the hooded-man releasing the killing intent he had towards Xu Chen.
"This young boy is right! That boy actually cheated with a Strengthening Soul Crystal on his hand, here is the proof!"
Showing the Strengthening Soul Crystal in the hand that grabbed Yin Yun, Yin Yun's eyes widened to the point of popping out both of his eyes from his face. He was totally shocked and didn't expect the hooded-man to collide with Xu Chen.
"I didn't! I swear I didn't cheat! I... I-"
Interrupted by the hooded-man, Yin Yun couldn't prove his innocence.
"This boy's test is canceled and he'll never be able to pass the test of any other clans within the Blue Azure Province ever again. He will also be banished off the Blue Azure Province. Now disappear from my sight!"
Since the hooded-man belongs to the Xu clan, he gained the trust of the people gathered at training camp. There was no apparent reason for the Xu clan to utter such lie. Whispers from the crowd of youths could be heard next to Yin Yun.
"Humph, I know that such a weakling could only have cheated to have such a high number of Soul Energy what an idiot." Snorted Xu Cheng.
"Hahaha, why did he even choose such a high number? He's indeed really stupid" One of the servants of Xu Chen said.
"Why did he even tried to cheat in front of two elders... he must to have a bird's brain."
All kind of swearing could be heard from the group of youths, everyone believed that Yin Yun truly cheated.
"Xu Fao... But..."
The old man from the Xu clan didn't saw any Strengthening Soul Crystal when he gave the red Soul Crystal to Yin Yun and tried to reason his senior, but the hooded-man, Xu Fao said in a cold tone towards his junior.
"Xu Hao, do you dare to contradict me?!"
With that single sentence, Xu Hao, the elderly old man shook his head and announced while feeling regretful, "Such a waste to refuse such a talented young boy..." He thought.
"Yin Yun, you are forbidden to join any other clans within the Blue Azure Province. Disappear from the Blue Azure Province and never appear again!"
The Xu clan's influence within the Blue Azure Province was huge, to never appear in the Blue Azure Province means that Yin Yun had to leave the Jiangsu Village and disappear from the Blue Azure Province if he didn't want his life or his family's life to be in danger. He had but no other choice to leave the Blue Azure Province!
'Why such a thing is happening to me... Xu Chen and that hooded man. If I'm not mistaken his name was Xu Fao, I swear I'll never forget your names... I'll make you pay back a hundred...No... A thousand-fold for what you've done to me today.'
Leaving the Xu clan's training camp, Yin Yun disappeared from the sight of the crowd, ignoring the mockery of the crowd, his eyes were filled with deep hatred towards the Xu clan.
On that day, twenty new youths joined the Xu clan. Yin Yun obliviously wasn't part of these twenty youths.
*****
Returning back to his home, Yin Yun entered his home with a depressed expression. Without leaving a single message of his departure, he took out the bag filled with a large amount of Soul Regenerating Pills.
"Big...brother? Are... you... back?"
When he was about to leave the house, Yin Yun heard a faint and weak feminine voice, his heart throbbed as if a dagger was piercing his heart. Entering in his little sister room, Yin Yun bid farewell to his little sister while trying to not cry in front of her little sister.
"Meng'er... Big brother needs to leave the house due to certain circumstances... But I promise you... I'll definitely come back and cure your disease."
"Big brother... I... I don't know what happened, but please... don't be sad... Meng'er will try her best... to become healthier...Have a good trip... Meng'er... will be... waiting... for big brother..."
Yin Meng used all of her remaining force to say that single sentence before closing her eyes from exhaustion due to the medicine she took in the morning and in addition to her frail body, she could not stay awake for too long and fell asleep.
Yin Yun who didn't want to stay any longer in that room left the house with drops of water falling from his cheek.
'If I can't become a Soul Warrior within the Blue Azure Province, then I'll become the strongest Soul Warrior within the Qin Empire! When I come back, I'll destroy your so-called honorable Xu clan.'
Directing towards the Jiangsu Village's exit and with the wish to become stronger, Yin Yun set his new goal.