Halu Reaches Saint-level

Halu lay sprawled atop the largest rock in the courtyard, eyes closed and utterly motionless.

Three days had already passed.

Ever since Linley had given him that darkness-element Saint-level Magic Core, Halu had maintained this posture. He held the core in his mouth as wisps of dark energy seeped from his body, waxing and waning like the tide.

The courtyard was quiet. Barker and his four brothers gathered in a corner, speaking in low voices for fear of disturbing Halu. Sessler had also emerged from the laboratory and stood at the doorway, squinting as he observed Halu's condition. Bebe crouched on the courtyard wall, his little eyes fixed unblinkingly on Halu. Rarely, he was not scampering about.

Akes leaned against the entrance to his own room, watching as well.

A Saint-level magical beast.

For magical beasts, the leap from the ninth rank to Saint-level was an enormous threshold.

"Lord Linley treats him very well." Barker leaned closer and lowered his voice. "A Saint-level Magic Core is something money can't buy."

Akes nodded.

That was true. A Saint-level Magic Core was a treasure obtainable only by killing a Saint-level magical beast. Setting aside how difficult Saint-level magical beasts were to kill, the core itself was priceless—it could be used to forge Saint-level magical items or set up powerful magic formations. Countless people would have gladly spent their entire fortunes for one, yet still failed to obtain it.

"Where's Linley?"

"Lord Linley is at the back mountain," Barker said.

Akes gave a quiet grunt and turned toward the back mountain.

A stream ran through the back mountain, and beside it stood a broad, flat boulder where Linley often cultivated. When Akes found him, Linley was sitting cross-legged atop the rock, his eyes closed and his body still.

Yet Akes could sense the surrounding air moving.

The currents were gentle, winding around Linley like flowing water.

As he watched the currents, a realization stirred within him.

Was this the Wind Profound Truth?

His fire laws followed another path—destruction, incineration, scorching heat. Wind was different. Wind was movement, speed, formlessness. The two laws were completely different, yet as he watched Linley comprehend them, Akes vaguely sensed something they shared.

Whether flame or wind, in the end, both were applications of the laws of heaven and earth.

He recalled that the essence of flame he had comprehended was destruction and devouring. But what about wind?

Wind was movement, change, and eternal motion.

He simply found a rock nearby and sat down. As he watched the circulating air currents around Linley, he also contemplated his own fire laws.

Time passed little by little.

The sun moved from overhead to the west, then gradually sank behind the mountains. Linley never moved, and the currents continued circling him without pause. Akes also remained seated on his rock with his eyes closed, faint firelight flickering around his body.

Suddenly, the airflow stalled.

Akes looked up and saw Linley open his eyes.

The surrounding air abruptly accelerated, forming a visible whirlwind around Linley. The whirlwind spun faster and faster, more and more violently, before exploding with a bang and transforming into countless tiny wind blades that shot in every direction.

The wind blades skimmed past Akes's cheek and slashed into the tree trunks behind him, leaving deep marks. Several others flew toward the stream, carving deep furrows across the water's surface before it slowly calmed again.

Linley rose to his feet, a smile appearing on his face.

It was the exhilarated smile of someone who had comprehended a new profound truth, the satisfaction of increased strength. Akes had seen that expression before—he himself had worn it when he comprehended a new level of the Essence of Flame.

Akes nodded. "Congratulations."

Linley walked over, and the two headed down the mountain side by side.

"How is Halu?"

"He's still refining it," Akes said. "His aura has remained stable. There shouldn't be any problems."

Linley nodded and did not ask further.

The two walked downstream along the creek. Moonlight spilled over the mountains, coating everything in silver-white. Night birds called in the distance, while insects chirped now and then.

By the time they returned to the courtyard, darkness had fallen. Sessler had lit a bonfire in the yard, and Barker and his four brothers sat around it roasting a wild boar they had somehow acquired. The boar was sizable, impaled on a thick wooden pole and slowly turning over the flames. Fat dripped into the fire with sizzling sounds, and the aroma spread everywhere.

Bebe crouched beside the fire, his little eyes locked on the sizzling, grease-dripping meat. Drool was practically spilling from his mouth. Every so often, he pawed at Barker, his meaning obvious—hurry up, faster.

Barker helplessly turned the meat. "Don't rush, don't rush. It isn't cooked through yet."

Bebe squeaked twice in displeasure and pawed at him again.

Halu remained in the same position, sprawled on the boulder without moving. Yet Akes could sense that his aura was stronger than it had been during the day. The dark energy emanating from him rose and fell rhythmically, like breathing.

"He still hasn't woken up." Seeing the two return, Sessler shook his head. "But his aura is much stronger than yesterday. This old man estimates that in another three to five days, we should know the result."

Linley walked to Halu's side and reached out to stroke his head.

Halu did not react, but his breathing was steady, and he did not seem to be in trouble. Linley's hand rested on his head for a moment before gently patting him.

"Let him refine it slowly," Linley said. "Don't disturb him."

Everyone nodded.

Over the following days, life returned to its usual rhythm.

Linley went to the back mountain every day to cultivate. The second level of the Wind Profound Truth he had just comprehended needed time to stabilize. Sometimes he went alone, and sometimes he brought Bebe. Bebe ran wild through the back mountain, chasing rabbits and birds, enjoying himself immensely. Linley sat on the large rock by the stream for an entire day at a time.

Akes spent most of his time cultivating indoors. The insight he had gained on the mountain kept circling through his mind—the flow of flame. He tried to make fire flow like water and drift like wind. But once the flames left the range of his control, they lost all restraint, either extinguishing or burning out of control.

It was too difficult.

The essence of flame was destruction and violence. To make something violent become gentle and controllable required extraordinarily precise control. He tried again and again, failing each time, but every failure deepened his understanding of flame.

Halu still did not wake.

He lay on that boulder like a statue. Yet his aura grew stronger by the day, and the dark mist around him became denser and denser.

Bebe ran about every day, catching bugs and chasing birds, his energy terrifyingly abundant. Sometimes he would lie atop the courtyard wall and stare at Halu for half the day, then squeak twice as though cheering him on.

The seventh day.

The eighth day.

The ninth day.

On the evening of the tenth day, Halu's aura suddenly began to fluctuate violently.

Akes had been cultivating in his room when he suddenly sensed a powerful surge of energy outside. The fluctuation was so intense that even the walls of the house trembled faintly. He opened his eyes and pushed open the door.

Everyone in the courtyard had already come out.

Barker and his four brothers stood in a circle, watching nervously. Gates clenched his fists and muttered under his breath, though no one knew what he was saying.

Sessler stood in the doorway, squinting intently at the churning mass of mist.

Bebe crouched on the courtyard wall, his little eyes unblinking and unusually quiet.

Halu lay atop the boulder, his entire body shrouded in dense black mist. The mist churned violently, as though something were struggling within it. Wave after wave of powerful aura burst from the mist and spread in all directions, shaking the trees in the courtyard. The ground around the boulder began to crack, fissures spreading outward.

"He's about to break through!" Sessler shouted excitedly. "The most critical moment has arrived!"

The mist grew denser and churned ever more violently.

Suddenly, a deep roar came from within the mist.

The mist exploded.

Halu walked out from within.

He was still that Black-Striped Cloud Leopard, but he was an entire size larger than before. His fur gleamed with oil-like luster, and the black markings on his forehead had become deeper, faintly shining with a metallic sheen. Most striking were his eyes—once yellow vertical pupils, they had now become dark gold, radiating the light of intelligence.

It was the light belonging to a Saint-level magical beast.

Halu stood there, radiating a powerful aura. It was a true Saint-level aura, a realm dreamed of by countless magical beasts. He lowered his head to look at his claws, then raised it to look around him. His eyes held confusion and disbelief.

Saint-level.

He had truly reached Saint-level.

Halu's gaze swept over everyone before finally settling on Linley.

He lowered his head and spoke, his voice deep and strong. "My lord."

Only magical beasts that reached Saint-level could speak.

A smile appeared on Linley's face. "Good."

Barker and his four brothers burst into cheers. Gates rushed forward, intending to hug Halu, only for Halu to swat him aside with one paw. Gates did not mind at all and climbed back up with a grin. Walter rarely showed a smile, while the others all breathed sighs of relief.

Bebe leaped down from the courtyard wall and darted before Halu, squeaking as he climbed upward. Halu lowered his head and let him climb onto his back. Sitting on Halu's back, Bebe looked around smugly, his expression seeming to say—Look, this is my territory!

Sessler stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly. "Good, good. Halu has broken through to Saint-level. Our strength has increased again."

Linley walked over and reached out to pat Halu's head. Halu lowered his head and rubbed against Linley's hand.