บท 21: Chapter 21: Tranquility

"Arion, how and when do I know it's the right time to break through to the next realm?" Elan asked.

"You don't have to worry about it, you'll naturally feel it. This happens when you've consolidated enough," Arion replied.

Elan nodded, looked around his surroundings, and noticed the sun was already high in the sky.

"I didn't even notice the time passing. It's almost noon," he said.

surprised at how quickly the hours had flown by. He also noticed that he did not feel sleepy or hungry at all.

'It must be due to the spiritual energy I've absorbed,' he thought.

"That's normal when you're cultivating. You lose track of time. You might think you've been cultivating for an hour when, in fact, days have passed," Arion said.

Elan pondered this for a moment, thinking that he might age quickly if he continued to cultivate without keeping track of time. The thought of growing old rapidly because of his intense focus made him realize he needed to find a balance.

With nothing else to do, Elan asked Arion, "What should I do next?"

"You should take a bath first to clean off the impurities in your body," Arion suggested.

Elan glanced down at his body and saw that the impurities were much more abundant compared to the first time he drank the spiritual water. His skin was covered in a thick, dark sludge that emitted a foul odor.

Elan ran towards the stream. However, he struggled to control his newfound speed and stumbled near the stream, tumbling to the ground. He marveled at his new abilities and noticed he didn't feel any pain from the fall at all, thanks to his now stronger skin and muscles. "I can't believe I am this fast and that my body is this strong now," he said, astonished.

Elan stood up after his faceplant near the stream and looked at the center of the stream, about four meters away.

He smiled, feeling a surge of energy and confidence. Without hesitation, he leaped towards the stream, easily clearing a height of three to four meters before landing gracefully in the water.

The cool, refreshing water enveloped him, washing away the impurities and leaving him feeling rejuvenated. As he floated in the stream, he couldn't help but smile at his newfound strength and agility. Smiling, Elan said to himself, "First I can run fast, have a tough body, and now I can jump higher. This feeling of being strong is exhilarating. I can get used to this."

The rush of newfound power coursing through his veins filled him with a sense of invincibility and excitement. Elan could not wait to test his strength.

-----

Elan stood near the Spiritual Water, contemplating whether to scoop another handful to see if there was any change in its effect now that he had reached the second stage of the Radiant Body Realm. The thought of further enhancing his abilities intrigued him.

Without hesitation, he scooped a large amount of spiritual water into his hands and immediately drank it. This time, he only felt a slight pain, similar to a mosquito bite. Sighing, he said, "The effect is barely noticeable now, almost like regular water."

Arion's voice chimed in, "Well, if you absorb the spiritual energy from the water, it should be more than enough to consolidate your realm because the spiritual energy here is incredibly concentrated."

Elan's eyes lit up upon hearing Arion's words. He was about to act on the suggestion when Arion spoke again, "But then again, if you absorb all the spiritual energy from the water, there won't be any left to share with your clansmen."

Hearing this, Elan paused. The thought of depriving his clansmen of the benefits of the Spiritual Water made him reconsider. He decided against absorbing all the spiritual energy, realizing that the well-being of his clan was more important than his immediate gains.

As Elan was about to return to the hut, he heard Arion's baffling voice say, "I think there's something at the bottom of the pond."

Confused, Elan asked, "Why do you say that, Arion? What do you think is at the bottom of the pond?"

"I'm not sure, I'm just puzzled why the water in the pond has spiritual energy while the fruits and vegetables here are normal. I believe there must be something that changed the water here into spiritual water."

Elan thought about it and realized that Arion might be right. "Should I dive down and see what's at the bottom of the pond? I'm not a normal person anymore, so I think I can handle diving deep."

Arion was almost tempted by Elan's suggestion, but ultimately decided against it. "No, don't do it. You're not powerful enough yet. We don't know if there might be a beast down there, and you don't have any experience fighting underwater."

Elan nodded, accepting Arion's caution and realizing that it was best to avoid unnecessary risks for now.

Elan walked back to the hut to retrieve the sword, the golden token, and the old book. He removed the storage ring from his finger to put the three items back inside. Just as he was about to concentrate, Arion suddenly spoke.

"Don't tell me you're still trying to use the storage ring the old way to return the items inside. Did you forget that you now have spiritual energy to use?"

Elan realized he had indeed forgotten. "Oh, right. My bad," he said, scratching his head. He then put the storage ring back on his index finger. Concentrating, he used his spiritual energy to transfer the three items into the storage ring.

After transferring the items, Elan looked at the skeleton and said, "Arion, I think we should bury the skeleton properly. Thanks to this person, I was able to start cultivating. We should give this person a proper burial."

"Good idea, at least it's the least we can do for this person," Arion replied.

Elan carefully picked up the skeleton, making sure not to break any bones, and slowly carried it outside the hut. About five meters in front of the hut, he gently placed the skeleton on the ground and took the sword out of the storage ring. He began digging with the sword.

After minutes of digging, Elan finally finished. He had dug a hole about five feet deep and four feet long. He then placed the skeleton in the hole he had made and carefully covered it with soil. After covering the hole, he wrote on the ground, "Here lies John Doe."

Arion reacted, "That's a fitting tribute for someone who unknowingly helped you."

Elan nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of closure and respect for the unknown person who had indirectly aided him in his cultivation.

After burying the skeleton, Elan looked at the Scarlet Reaper in his right hand and felt that the nearly 23-pound sword now seemed as light as a feather.

He walked towards a tree, its trunk as thick as an adult man's leg. He decided to test the sharpness of the sword. As he swung the sword, he expected the blade to slice through the tree, but instead, the tree exploded upon impact.

Elan stared at the sword in bewilderment, wondering why the tree had shattered as if he had used a hammer instead of a blade.

Arion sensed Elan's confusion and explained, "Drop a little blood on the sword to create a connection with it, then use your spiritual energy to harness the sword's full power."

Elan nodded and pricked his finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the sword. He then infused the sword with his spiritual energy.

After infusing the sword, Elan walked towards a tree that was twice the size of the one that had exploded earlier.

He looked at the sword in his hands and then at the tree in front of him. Without hesitation, Elan swung the sword with all his might.

The outcome surprised Elan. The tree was cleanly cut, and he watched as the tree slowly began to slide and eventually toppled over.

Elan was very impressed with the power of the sword. He now fully understood just how powerful a spiritual weapon could be.

As he marveled at the sword in his hand, he thought to himself that now, with such a powerful spiritual weapon and his own increased strength, perhaps he was ready to return to his village.

"Arion, now that I'm stronger, do you think it's time to go back to the village?" Elan asked.

Arion thought for a moment and replied, "I think it's much safer for you to go back after you break through to the 3rd stage. Just in case."

"Alright," Elan said, understanding the caution. Now that he had tested his capabilities, he suggested to Arion that they continue their search for herbs before nightfall.

Arion agreed without hesitation. "Yes, let's continue our search."

Elan started walking towards an area they hadn't searched the previous day.

The path led him through a dense forest, where towering trees with thick canopies blocked most of the sunlight, creating a slightly eerie atmosphere. The ground was covered in a carpet of leaves and moss, and the air was filled with the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves. The forest floor was dotted with colorful wildflowers and occasional patches of edible fruits.

After searching for some time, Arion still couldn't detect any spiritual fruits or herbs.

Along the way, Elan munched on the edible fruits he came across, thinking to himself about the location's peculiarities. "Where could the exit of this place be? This area is completely surrounded by mountains," he mused.

Arion chimed in, "We'll know where the exit is if we follow the mountain that surrounds this area. It's impossible for there to be no entrance or exit since the person we buried must have entered somehow."

"True, but if we follow the mountain, how many days will it take to find the exit?" Elan wondered.

"We don't have much choice. We'll remain stuck here if we don't. Besides, we might find some natural treasures along the way while searching for the exit," Arion suggested.

Elan couldn't argue with Arion's logic. He sighed, looking up at the sky, and noticed the sun was about to set. "What time is it?"

"It's 4:55 and 33 seconds PM," Arion replied precisely.

"We should go back to the hut while there's still sunlight," Elan decided.

As they made their way back, they took a different path instead of retracing their steps. Elan used his sword to clear the way, cutting through the dense underbrush. As he walked, he suddenly felt a profound sense of peace. The tranquility of the forest, with its gentle rustling leaves and the soft glow of the setting sun, made him feel serene and relaxed. It was as if he was floating, and the fatigue of the day melted away.

He could also smell a soothing fragrance in the air, a blend of flowers and fresh foliage that seemed to calm his very soul. Elan couldn't quite understand why he felt this way, but he enjoyed the sensation immensely. It was a feeling of being in perfect harmony with his surroundings, his worries dissolving into the calm atmosphere of the forest. He felt connected to the natural world around him, as if the energy of the forest was rejuvenating him from within.

Suddenly, Arion's voice broke the silence. "Stop."

Elan halted immediately, wondering what Arion had detected. Despite the interruption, he still felt calm and at peace. He looked around at his surroundings and saw only trees that had unique colors. The forest was indeed beautiful and relaxing, but nothing seemed particularly interesting.

"What did you detect, Arion?" Elan asked in a very relaxed voice, still enjoying the tranquil atmosphere.