"Huhh…"
Ken sighed in relief as he inspected his core and found it spotless. The extra attributes that were mixed with it had highly distressed him the whole time, and he was finally done with it.
Now even if he was forced to use the Blood Transfusion technique again, he'd be able to purify his core with the pill's help, and he had 15 of them left. He assumed it was invented to support the Qi Devour technique that he claimed.
"Hey guys, any news or encounters?"
"No, nobody can sense our location."
He managed to extract some of his Bloodlust Qi and incorporate it into his Concealing Formation, so their tokens' aura was hidden, and they were safe from prying eyes.
---------
"Here's the improved manual I promised you for developing your Nascent Soul. Just tell me when you finish memorizing it and start practicing it. I want to watch you in the process and maybe modify it to perfection."
Ken handed Alaric the manual he was working on those few last days. He read all the manuals he purchased despite being from different types of Qi. Even if they weren't related to Alaric's Qi, reading them would still broaden his horizons and teach him more about Nascent Souls in general.
"Thank you, Team Leader. For which Qi is it?"
Alaric opened the manual and started the first page. He expected Ken to give him three manuals since he used three types of Qi, but it made sense that the leader didn't have enough time to write something for all of them.
"Since it's tailored for you there's no point in separating it into a few volumes. This manual includes your three specialized Qi types, and you can just destroy the book once you've memorized it."
Ken explained to Alaric why there was a single book and looked at Tiara who was peeking at them curiously. She was surprised to see that Ken was confident about creating a whole improved manual.
"I can also make a manual for you if you want."
He smiled at the young lady who nodded hesitantly and handed him her handwritten manuals.
"So you've written them. Why did you pretend not to be interested then?"
Ken teased her, earning a glare in return. He took her two manuals and sat down to read them.
Through the next few days, Ken monitored the two's training and kept adjusting their cultivation manual. Gladly, he could just sense their cultivation process by placing a hand on their shoulders.
When he was satisfied with the final product, he believed it was time to leave.
"Okay, it seems like you two have mastered your new manuals and I have nothing else to change in them. A whole month passed since we entered the secret realm, it's time to go grinding."
"Grinding?"
"I mean exploring."
"I see."
Tiara didn't mind being delayed by Ken's choice so far since she already gained enough to justify the whole trip, whilst Alaric stayed because of his blind faith in Ken.
"As I said before, we are going to the Mystic Chasms which is supposed to be all about Elemental Qi. It means that we can expect to find many of the Four Seasons Sect disciples there if they managed to get a map, and in case you forgot, they don't like me."
Ken explained the plan as the two listened. The Mystic Chasms were located west of them, in an area described on the map as a canyon. The three agreed to let Ken carry everyone's Blood Tokens because he was the only one with the ability to hide their aura.
"Wow, I didn't expect an evil sect to create such beautiful scenery. Although the eerie vibes here and threatening spikes do match the owners. Team Leader, do you think this red fog will be lifted if we wait enough?"
They jogged cautiously toward the canyon and made it there by the evening. When they arrived, Alaric was the most vocal about the view.
As the three reached the edge of the canyon, a breathtaking sight unfolded before them. They stood on a precipice, peering down into the vast expanse below. The canyon stretched out like a gaping maw, its jagged rock formations descending into a deep chasm.
However, they couldn't see beyond that. The bottom of the canyon was hidden inside a red mist that seemed like a steam generated by boiling blood. Ken ignored Alaric's question, as the mist was obviously there to stay.
"How did you plan to get down there?"
Tiara asked as she peered down. The next footing she could detect was 200 meters below them unless they planned on jumping on the threatening spikes that came out of the tall walls.
"We have you."
"Are you sure about entering this bloody mist? It doesn't seem safe."
"We will find out once we are inside."
Tiara generated three ice steps. They were simple discs with a circumference of 40 cm each.
"My Qi isn't strong enough to hold people yet, but they will slow down our descent significantly. You just need to use your weapons to slow down by stabbing the walls. The further you get from me, the weaker the disc will be, so don't get more than 30 meters away unless you don't mind dying."
She was the only cultivator with a solid elemental Qi among them, so it was the only option.
The three stepped carefully onto the ice simultaneously and began their descent. At first, they moved down slowly, making everyone feel safe, but they only gained speed as time passed.
"Ready your weapons!"
Tiara shouted, but her voice was lost in the wind. The canyon seemed to have the effect of dimming noises. She looked to her side and saw that the two were just looking at her.
She brandished her saber, trying to explain what she wanted them to do, and the two brought out their own weapons. She saw their lips move, but she couldn't hear anything. They couldn't match their thrusts without talking, and they'd risk separating.
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