by KSY
Ryan was still an Early Mortal Elite Realm Martial Artist and had yet to liquefy his Spirit Power. Poison Elemental Energy was slowly converted into Poison Attribute Spirit Power by Ryan’s Poison Attribute Soul Core. Both Ryan and Dargar were connected to the universe and had started gaining insights into Poison Elemental Laws.
It didn’t take long for Ryan to completely replenish the Gaseous Poison Spirit Power which he had consumed while fighting the Elemental Beasts earlier that day. After that, he tried to fill his Poison Attribute Soul Core with an excess amount of Gaseous Spirit Power. He kept on filling his Poison Attribute Soul Core with Gaseous Spirit Power but no matter how much Gaseous Spirit Power he pumped in, the Gaseous Spirit Power just refused to liquefy. He continued this for some time before finally giving up.
He knew that the reason he couldn’t liquefy his Gaseous Spirit Power was because he lacked understanding and insight into the Poison Elemental Laws. However, this fact didn’t demoralize him – on the contrary, it encouraged him to work hard.
He gave up on liquefying his Gaseous Poison Attribute Spirit Power and started cultivating Poison Elemental Laws. He wished to advance his Poison Attribute Soul Core to Mid Mortal Elite Realm as soon as possible.
He cultivated them for the next few hours before finally opening his eyes. He felt refreshed. Even though he was still a little far from a breakthrough to Mid Mortal Elite Realm, his insights and understanding of the Poison Elemental Laws had increased by a little. He was certain that he would be able to advance his Soul Core to the Mid Mortal Elite Realm within a few days.
“Ryan, I have already converted the soul of that Elemental Beast into Death Elemental Energy,” Yama said. He wanted Ryan to cultivate Death Laws seriously. A Martial Spirit is unable to gain a lot of insights into Elemental Laws if it cultivates all alone, but if its Martial Artist cultivates along with it, then it might even surpass the Martial Artist in terms of the insights gained into Elementals Laws during a Cultivation session. Yama wanted to gain maximum profit, so he wished to cultivate along with Ryan.
“OK. Let’s cultivate Death Laws. Dargar you can continue cultivating Poison Elemental Laws on your own for the time being,” Ryan said as he got ready to cultivate Death Laws. This was his first time trying to gain insights into Death Elemental Laws. Earlier, he had been unable to cultivate Death Elemental Laws, as he’d lacked Death Elemental Energy.
Inside the black side of his Soul World, Yama opened his mouth and large quantities of Death Elemental Energy flowed out. It collected around Ryan’s Death Attribute Soul Core. Ryan was happy seeing that they had sufficient Death Elemental Energy for one session of cultivation. Ryan closed his eyes and began cultivating Death Elemental Laws. Yama followed Ryan’s lead and he too started cultivating with a satisfied expression.
The Death Attribute Soul Core started converting Death Elemental Energy into Death Attribute Spirit Power at a rapid pace. The speed at which Death Elemental Energy was converted into Death Attribute Spirit Power by his Death Attribute Soul Core astonished Ryan. It was many times faster than the conversion of Poison Elemental Energy into Poison Attribute Spirit Power by his Poison Attribute Soul Core. Ryan didn’t know the reason for this, so he just ignored it and continued to concentrate on cultivating Death Elemental Laws. Soon though, he had an astonished expression.
Ryan, who’d had no insights in Death Elemental Laws previously, suddenly found that his insights and understanding in Death Elemental Laws exceeded his insights and understanding in Poison Elemental Laws, which he had been cultivating for the past half month since his breakthrough into the Early Mortal Elite Realm. He found this shocking.
Ryan didn’t let this bother him for long, though, and decided to take advantage of it and continued cultivating Death Elemental Laws. Soon the Death Elemental Energy was totally consumed by him and Yama. He then felt frustrated and wished he had some more Death Elemental Energy so his insights and understanding of Death Elemental Energy would exceed the threshold requirement for advancing his Death Attribute Soul Core to the Mid Mortal Elite Realm.
As Ryan was about to curse his luck, his body was enveloped in Unholy black light. The moment that happened, he could feel his body being reformed. Baleful aura erupted out of it soon afterwards and completely covering him. The process was terribly painful and Ryan howled in pain, but the Unholy black light kept on reforming his body. He was unable to withstand the pain though and fainted before it could finish the reforming process.
Ryan woke after a few hours, and quickly checked his body for any anomalies but found none. Some information appeared in his mind soon afterwards. This was similar to what had happened when he’d gained Emerald Fog Innate Ability and a big smile appeared on Ryan’s face. According to the information that had just appeared in his mind, he had gained the Physique of Asuras!
Just like Innate abilities, the Physique of a being that the Martial Spirit of the Martial Artist resembles can also be gained, in a process that is exactly like the one for gaining Innate abilities, even though it is many times more difficult to gain the Physique of the being his or her Martial Spirit resembles, than its Innate abilities. Ryan had gained the Physique due to some dog shit luck.
Ryan hadn’t yet gained an Innate Ability of Asuras since he’d stepped into the Mortal Elite Realm, because he’d not started gaining insight in Death Elemental Laws. Once Ryan formally started cultivating Death Elemental Laws, he gained the Physique of Asuras, instead of one of their Innate Abilities. Something like that had never been heard of.
Asuras are known for their terrifying bodily strength and toughness. Even Martial Artists a few sub-realms above them have a hard time injuring one, and even if they manage to injure one, the self-healing capability of its body kicks in, and within a few minutes, it recovers from all its injuries. Since he now had an Asura Physique, that meant his human body would now possess all the abilities that an Asura’s body had – like terrifying bodily strength and toughness, high-speed self-healing capabilities and so on.
Ryan could feel that his strength had gone up by leaps and bounds. Now, he was certain that he could easily kill with his bare hands the Elementals Beasts that he’d had a lot of problems killing during his first hunt. He could feel explosive strength in every part of his body.
Ryan’s eyes had also gained the Special vision of Asuras, which Ryan decided to name Asura Eyes. All living beings would be highlighted whenever Ryan activated his Asura Eyes, no matter how good they were at hiding themselves or how high their Cultivation Level was. His other senses had also become many times more sensitive than before. This was good, as now no one would be able to launch a surprise attack on him during a fight or set up an ambush for him. He could also use his highly sensitive senses to find Heavenly Treasures in Treasure Lands.
“Your luck is pretty good. I never thought that you’d actually gain Asura Physique in your entire lifetime,” Yama said with a teasing smile. Ryan didn’t mind Yama’s teasing. He himself had never anticipated this day, the reason being the difficulty associated with gaining Asura Physique. Since Asura Physique is so tyrannical, the difficulty associated with gaining it also increases exponentially, compared to gaining the physiques of other beings. Ryan had always dreamt of gaining the Physique of Emerald viper as it would have been many times easier to gain than Asura Physique.
“Asura Physique is terrifying. I can now fight with enemies that have a Cultivation Level higher than mine by a few sub-realms,” Ryan said with a cheeky grin. He was imagining all sorts of fight scenarios where his enemies had a Cultivation Level higher than he did and he would trump them with ease.
“Well, it is the Physique of Asuras. They are not nicked-named God Slayers for nothing!” Yama said proudly. Asuras are not Normal beings, and one can destroy a higher world like Grandura with ease, so their terrifying might can only be imagined.
Ryan knew that with his gaining of Asura Physique, people in the same sub-realm as he was would no longer be his opponents. He quickly e
nded his Cultivation session as he’d been inside the Spatial Cultivation chamber for a quite some time and decided to exit quickly. He had already gained a lot in that Cultivation session.
Ryan got up from the mattress and started to punch and kick in the air. Each punch created a whirl wind. The power behind those punches and kicks of his could only be imagined, which astonished Ryan, because he hadn’t used any Spirit Power for them. It was purely his bodily strength. Ryan could tell the power behind his punches could lethally injure an Early Mortal Lord easily.
“Just how powerful would my strikes be if I powered them with my Spirit Power?” the thought flashed in Ryan’s mind.
Ryan’s right hand was covered in Death aura as he infused his arm with Death Attribute Spirit Power. He punched in the air again. His punch tore through the air and a roar like that of an Elemental Beast resounded inside the Cultivation chamber. Ryan had an astonished expression. He knew the feat he’d just performed could only be performed by Mid Mortal Lord Realm Martial Artists. He was certain now that he could easily exchange blows with a Mid Mortal Lord Realm Martial Artist without being at a disadvantage; and that his punches powered with his Spirit Power could easily wound a Mid Mortal Lord Realm Martial Artist lethally, if he or she didn’t dodge them in time. This made him giddy and an ominous smile flashed on his face. It wasn’t just his bodily strength that had got a massive boost! His bodily toughness had also increased by leaps and bounds. No Mortal Lord Realm Martial Artist would be able to injure him.
Once Ryan was done with testing his new Physique, he exited the Spatial Cultivation chamber and appeared in his room again. He found his grandfather sitting on his bed patiently waiting for him. Oscar hadn’t disturbed Ryan as it was considered taboo to disturb a Martial Artist who was cultivating. Ryan was happy that his grandfather hadn’t entered his Spatial Cultivation chamber. If he’d done so, then Ryan’s secret would have been out and he would have a difficult task at hand.
“You have been inside the Spatial Cultivation chamber for over twenty hours. How was your Closed-door Cultivation session?” Oscar asked with a concerned look.
“That Closed-door Cultivation session was remarkably fruitful, as my insights in Poison Elemental Laws have increased by leaps and bounds,” Ryan replied with a smile.
“In a few days’ time, I am certain that I might attain a breakthrough into the Mid Mortal Elite Realm,” he continued. He could tell that his family was concerned about him.
“Good. You can consult me if you encounter any kind of problem in your cultivation. I will try to help you out as much as I can,” Oscar smiled.
“Now, quickly go to the dining room your mother has been waiting for you to finish your Closed-door Cultivation session for quite some time,” Oscar said as he left the room.
Ryan immediately left for the dining room, and as he approached he could hear two familiar voices. A smile crept onto his face, as they belonged to his brothers, who had already completed their Closed-door Cultivation sessions.
He entered the dining room with a big smile on his face. Blake and Cris understood that Ryan’s first hunting expedition had been hugely successful after seeing their brother enter the dining room with such a triumphant smile. They had just ended their cultivation session and had arrived at the dining room just a few minutes ago so they didn’t have an opportunity to ask Emilia or Oscar about Ryan’s first hunting expedition.
“Brother!!” Blake and Cris exclaimed in unison with big smiles on their faces. But this one word conveyed a lot of their feelings for Ryan. He was truly happy to have a family in this life.
“How many Elemental Beasts did you kill?” Cris asked excitedly.
“Ten and all of them were killed by me without any major help from Grandfather,” Ryan said with a proud expression.
“What was the Cultivation Level of those Elemental Beasts?” Blake and Cris asked in unison. They were in awe of their elder brother. It was not easy for any young Martial Artist to kill any Elemental Beasts on his or her own as they lacked both Martial Skills and combat experience to deal with an Elemental Beast.
“You guys quickly take your seats,” Ryan’s mother voice came from the kitchen.
“Nine were in the Early Mortal Beast Elite Realm and one was in the Mid Mortal Beast Elite Realm,” Ryan said as he took his seat.
He took out the Elemental Cores of the Elemental Beasts he’d hunted from his Spatial pouch to show to his brothers. Blake and Cris looked at them with unblinking eyes. Seeing these Elemental Cores increased the pressure on them by a notch. They had been trying to surpass their elder brother, but their elder brother’s performance on his first hunt was quite splendid. It would be difficult for them to replicate such a feat. This made them tense, but they didn’t show it on their faces. Their determination to surpass Ryan emboldened though.
“Ryan, you are overrating yourself. Your performance was good, but it had some major flaws,” Ryan’s grandfather said, as entered the dining area and took his seat at the dining table. The three brothers perked their ears to listen to their grandfather.
“Ryan, you heavily rely on Emerald fog, so your fighting style lacks versatility. Practice some Martial Skills to increase your versatility. It is very easy to deal with a Martial Artist that fights like you,” Ryan’s grandfather said in serious and grave tone. Ryan’s triumphant smile vanished. The flaws his grandfather pointed out were his Achilles heel.
“Don’t worry. You possess Asura Physique now. Your opponents will have a hard time killing you,” Yama said with a laugh. Ryan calmed down a little.
“Try to learn some Martial Skills. I will pass you one too. It is a Neutral Attribute Martial Skill, that can amplify your bodily strength for a few seconds, but if you can time your attack properly, then it can help you deal with a Martial Artist whose Cultivation Level is a sub-realm higher than yours. With its help, you’ll be able to stab the likes of the Elemental Beasts you failed to stab yesterday. This Martial Skill is called Tyrant Martial Skill,” Oscar said as he stopped to scan the faces of his grandsons. Ryan and his brothers were looking at Oscar with full attention and seriousness, especially Ryan as it concerned him.
He again continued as he sensed the seriousness with which they were listening to him, “This Martial Skill has five stages and after mastering each stage the time limit increases for which it amplifies your bodily strength. It can be used by you as a trump card. If you just rely on Emerald fog, then you will pay a heavy price someday.”
Oscar then placed his right hand’s fore finger on Ryan’s forehead.
The content of Tyrant Martial Skill appeared in his mind. Ryan knew what his grandfather said was absolutely true but he found little merit in learning this Martial Skill as now he possessed Asura Physique.
“Yes, Grandfather. I will concentrate on learning Martial Skills too,” Ryan said in a sincere manner, as he could sense the concern in his grandfather’s voice.
Ryan had never found a need to practice Martial Skills, as he could easily overpower his opponents just by using Emerald fog. But this time his grandfather’s words struck where it hurt the most. He had already made up his mind to learn a bunch of Martial Skills.
“Grandfather, I would like to buy a few Martial Skills of Poison Attribute,” Ryan said with a determined look on his face. Though his family was a Martial Arts family, the people born with Poison Attribute Martial Spirit are exceedingly rare in the Human race. In his family, except for him, no one had a Poison Attribute Martial Spirit, so the family lacked Poison Attribute Martial Skills.
“Take this and try to get some decent Martial Skills and a good Soul weapon of your own choice,” Ryan’s grandfather said as he handed Ryan a Spatial pouch.
After checking its contents, a smile appeared on Ryan’s face. The pouch contained a few hundred high-grade Water Elemental stones. Since Elemental stones can be used for cultivation, they are also used as hard currency. A high-grade Elemental stone is equal to a hundred low-grade Elemental stones, while
a mid-grade Elemental stone is equal to fifty low-grade Elemental stones.
Elemental stones of low-attributes like fire, water, metal, earth, wind, wood and so on, have a lower value than Elemental stones of high-attributes like death, life, darkness, light, thunder and so on. A high-attribute Elemental stone is equal to two low-attribute Elemental stones.
“Thank you, Grandfather,” Ryan said sincerely.
“Remember, only get something useful,” Ryan’s grandfather said in a serious tone. Ryan nodded again and again, until his grandfather had a change in his expression.
“Stop discussing and have dinner first,” Emilia said, as she came in the dining room with four big bowls of food hovering around her. The bowls were wrapped in her Water Attribute Spirit Power, as Ryan’s mother was a Water Martial Artist. Martial Artists can use their Spirit Power to lift objects and control them with their thought – just as previously, when Oscar had used his Spirit Power to make Ryan fly alongside him.
Emilia served the food to her family before taking a seat herself. The family had dinner in silence, since it was forbidden to speak while eating.
After dinner, Ryan returned to his room with his brothers.
“Brother, purchase some terrifying Martial Skills. They should be able to scare the shit out of your opponents,” Cris said with enthusiasm.
“No, don’t bother with Cris’ suggestion, Brother,” Blake said.
“Why???” Cris asked. He felt wronged, as he didn’t see anything wrong with his suggestion.
“Poison Attribute Martial Artists are known for their stealthy and deadly attacks. If the attacks of a Poison Martial Artist don’t possess stealth and deadliness, then the opponent could easily avoid them,” Blake said. Ryan was not shocked hearing his words. As a former contract killer and who’d specialized in using poisons knew that.
On the contrary, he was shocked by Blake’s knowledge. What Blake spoke of was the essence of the Poison arts. Cris was stunned for a second, as he too felt that Blake’s words made sense.