Chapter 43: Back to the Forest

Chapter 43: Back to the Forest

43

Back to the Forest

I

Huh. So you did break through.

Hao Zhen opened his eyes and saw that Lan Yue was looking at him. Near them, Tian Jin also opened his eyes. The three of them were still sitting in the cave on their cultivation cushions.

Using Spiritual Sight, Hao Zhen confirmed that both of them were still second-level redsouls. He had seen them taking some pills yesterday, but it didnt seem like it had been enough to break through quite yet. He didnt know how much they had improved, however, as hed need to be able to see their crux to tell that.

Tian Jin looked up at him and down before smiling. Congratulations.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Hao Zhen smiled back. Thanks.

Tian Jins congratulations seemed heartfelt, and Hao Zhen had no doubt they were. He didnt think that the second level of the Red Spiritual Realm meant all that much to the other boy, but it was clear that his friend was happy for him all the same. Hao Zhen didnt really think that what he had done was worth congratulating, however.

Lan Yue seemed to share his opinion. Please, she huffed, looking at Tian Jin. He just took some pills. She then returned her attention to him. But I guess you did play a role in getting those pills, so She shrugged.

Hao Zhen tipped his head toward her. He hadnt been expecting anything from her, so her acknowledgment that he had been of help was already plenty. That thought, however, gave him a pause, as the implications sunk in.

Right. He did play a role in getting those pills. It was he who had realized that they might be able to use the schemas on the cave to get themselves out of that situation instead of running away. Maybe Tian Jin or Lan Yue would have still figured that out, so he wasnt sure he could take credit for that. However, he doubted theyd have had the idea to stay behind in the cave and use the same strategy against the inner disciple, so that victory, at least, could be attributed to him.

This, however, made him realize that he was reaping the fruits of a murder. Sure, the ones they had killed had been after their lives. However, the realization that the pills he had taken yesterday originally belonged to people he had helped kill didnt sit well with him.

There was something he found much more troubling than that, however. If the Weaveor something like itdid exist, then Du Jian, his lackeys, the inner disciple, and the inner elder hadnt been in control of their own actions. Was it right to kill them? If it were not for the Weave, could

Hao Zhen shook his head, stopping himself from continuing that line of thought. Ultimately, if his theory about the Weave was correct, and their enemies had indeed been acting like minor cultivation novel antagonists because of its influence, then letting them live would have resulted in what happened when minor antagonists were spared in cultivation novels. Mercy would have been repaid with revenge. Sparing them would be a decision he and his companions would most likely come to regret later.

Maybe he was wrongmaybe that wouldnt have happenedbut Hao Zhen had had no intention of taking that risk. And he still didnt.

Hao Zhen?

Hao Zhen blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. Tian Jin was giving him a look of concern, whereas Lan Yue appeared confused.

Is everything all right? Tian Jin asked. He seemed tense, ready to stand up at any moment.

I am, yeah, Hao Zhen said, offering the two a smile he hoped wasnt too strained. They must have found his sudden silence strange. On top of that, he most likely had also been wearing a rather glum expressionor at least a pensive one. Just thinking. Anyway

Raising his head, he glanced at Tian Jin and Lan Yue, who ran a few steps in front of him. The distance between them didnt increase, even though he could tell his two teammates were running as fast as they could. Yesterday, he never would have managed to keep up with them. Even right now, he had to strain himself to match their speedbut he could match it, and that was what mattered to him.

They ran for a good while, only coming to a stop in a clearing after what Hao Zhen assumed had been dozens of miles.

This should be far enough, I think, Hao Zhen said, wiping some sweat off his forehead. He felt somewhat winded, and his legs burned a little, but he could have still kept running for a while longer.

It should be, Tian Jin agreed, looking around. There wasnt any sweat on the other boys face, nor did he show any signs of tiredness.

Hao Zhen wasnt too surprised. The effect spiritual aura had on the body wasas far as Hao Zhen could tellmultiplicative instead of additive. That meant that the better the cultivators base physical qualities were, the greater the extent to which their body would be enhanced through spiritual aura.

Before he started training with Tian Jin, Hao Zhen had never really dedicated his time to exercise. Tian Jin, on the other hand, had grown up learning martial arts, which meant he was in much better shape. There was also the question of genetics. Tian Jin had clearly hit the genetic lottery in pretty much every sense. Because of those factors, even though both of them were currently second-level redsouls, they couldnt really be compared in terms of physical qualities.

The same went for Lan Yue. Like Tian Jin, she wasnt showing any signs of exertion, appearing completely at ease.

Looking at his two teammates, Hao Zhen realized that even though they were now all on the same level, he still couldnt really be compared to them. Not only that, it was only a matter of time before they broke through to the third level, further widening the gap between them.

No matter what, if he wanted to keep up with them, hed have to keep working on himself, Hao Zhen determined.

Well, should we get back to hunting, then? Lan Yue asked. Not waiting for a reply, she walked over to a nearby tree and closed her eyes. Then she nodded to herself, turning back to look at them. Theres a second-level monster nearby.

She then started walking back into the forest, promptly taking the lead without a second thought.

Hao Zhen narrowed his eyes at her back. Unlike in the previous times she had led the way, he was no longer keeping his questions to himself. He glanced at Tian Jin, who nodded his head.

Wait, Hao Zhen called out, and Lan Yue halted, turning her head to look back at him.

Whats wrong? she asked. There was a frown on her face.

The thing you did just now, Hao Zhen said, walking over, Tian Jin right behind him. What was it?

What do you Lan Yue blinked. Oh. That. Right. Her frown deepened, and she gave the two of them a long, careful look. Hmmm. Well, I guess theres no harm in telling you.

She shrugged.

For as long as I can remember, Ive been able to well, communicate with plants.

Hao Zhen stared at her blankly.

What?