Advice

A new day began.

When Chen Yiming woke, he tucked away his joy at reaching the Third Body Metamorphosis. He ate a quick bite and headed to the academy.

As soon as he arrived, he saw Senior Brother Wang already doing his morning training.

Chen Yiming had his cheat to tell him how much he was improving at every moment. It was like leveling up in a game: watching his character's stats rise kept him going.

Senior Brother Wang, on the other hand, relied entirely on self-discipline. Every morning before class, he trained on his own. Since joining the academy, Chen Yiming had never seen him slack off for a single day.

Chen Yiming had come in his training clothes, so he joined him without needing to change.

They practiced Mantis Snake Swordsmanship, the academy's primary technique. They went through it again and again until they were exhausted, stopped to let their bodies recover, then started over.

That was their morning routine. Neither spoke. They stayed focused, wasting not a moment as they pushed their bodies to the limit.

Their shared attitude toward training had brought them closer, and Senior Brother Wang had grown increasingly fond of Chen Yiming.

As nine o'clock approached, there was still a little time before the morning's group training class.

They stopped and sat side by side on the stone steps, resting and chatting.

Wang Bowen wiped the sweat from his face with a towel and asked about his junior brother's progress.

"Junior Brother Chen, your strikes had a lot more force today. Have you completed your First Body Metamorphosis?"

The Third Body Metamorphosis was a qualitative leap, greater than the first two combined. Chen Yiming had yet to fully master his new body, and Wang Bowen had noticed something different.

Chen Yiming scratched the back of his head to hide his nerves and laughed.

"Haha, I broke through last night. I didn't expect you to spot it right away."

He had prepared that answer when he broke through to the First Body Metamorphosis, so he would not seem too exceptional.

Wang Bowen gave Chen Yiming a firm pat on the chest and laughed too.

"You're not treating me like a brother if you don't tell me you've broken through. With the First Body Metamorphosis, you've entered the Apprentice Realm, the first realm of martial arts. There's plenty you need to watch out for."

"I'd feel bad asking any more of you. You've already done so much for me, and I don't know how to thank you."

Chen Yiming meant it. He had known nothing about the path of cultivation when he started, and meeting a senior brother willing to guide him had been a stroke of luck.

Wang Bowen put an arm around his shoulders and praised him.

"Not bad, not bad. You're only a little slower than I was back then. Compared with the other students, you're making quick progress."

"You're too modest, Senior Brother. You're an expert who's undergone eight Body Metamorphoses. I'm nowhere near that."

Wang Bowen was one of only two Core Disciples at the Praying Mantis Snake Sword Academy who had undergone eight Body Metamorphoses. The other was their eldest senior brother, Lin Yixuan.

Wang Bowen was only in his early twenties, at the peak of his physical vitality, and had a chance of reaching the Warrior Realm. Judging by the progress Chen Yiming had shown publicly, he was not as talented as Wang Bowen.

Wang Bowen thought for a moment, then spoke again.

"You have an excellent grasp of sword techniques, but your body-tempering speed is average. I tempered my body extremely quickly, and my grasp of sword techniques was above average. You may break through more slowly at first, but that doesn't mean you'll fall behind me in the future."

"I suggest you start eating Mutated Beast meat regularly. It nourishes the body. Improve your constitution as much as you can, and reaching the Sixth Body Metamorphosis will be easier."

In the Apprentice Realm, the degree of physical tempering was the only measure that mattered. Physical talent carried more weight at this stage; it came down to who was stronger and faster.

"Mutated Beast meat?"

Chen Yiming had heard of it but had never seen any.

Seeing that his junior brother knew little about it, Wang Bowen explained.

"Mutated Beasts are animals that evolved under the influence of the Otherworld's vital energy. Most of the Mutated Beast meat you can buy comes from animals taken from Blue Star to the Otherworld and raised there. The meat is then shipped back to Blue Star to support cultivation here."

"Is Mutated Beast meat sold anywhere? How come I've never seen it?" Chen Yiming asked, puzzled.

He had delivered food to the commercial district for months, but had never seen a shop selling Mutated Beast meat.

Wang Bowen chuckled smugly.

"Mutated Beast meat is a strategic resource. Of course it isn't sold openly. It's essential to martial arts organizations, and ordinary people have no way to get hold of it."

Wang Bowen had piqued Chen Yiming's interest. He asked eagerly, "Then please tell me how."

Wang Bowen pointed one hand at the sky and the other at the ground.

"What you're looking for is right under your nose. Become a Core Disciple of the academy, and you'll receive a monthly allotment of Mutated Beast meat. You can also buy more from the academy."

Chen Yiming was a little disappointed. He sighed.

"A Core Disciple? I'm still a long way from that."

Unless the head of the academy made an exception, becoming a Core Disciple required reaching the Third Body Metamorphosis. Chen Yiming did not want to reveal his true progress.

He did not come from a Martial Arts Family. If he stood out too much, the academy could not protect him from every danger. The tallest tree caught the strongest wind.

Wang Bowen spread his hands and offered another option.

"Join a company that transports supplies between the Otherworld and Blue Star. You can buy it through them."

Chen Yiming's eyes widened.

"Transport supplies?"

He would rather make steady progress than risk leaving the city unless he had to. He did not mind taking longer.

Sooner or later, he would save enough skill points to improve his talent. Breakthroughs between realms were not a problem for him, as long as he had the appropriate cultivation technique.

Wang Bowen saw Chen Yiming hesitate and stopped teasing him.

"I was only having a little fun with you. At your current level, any Mutated Beast that sprang out in the Wilderness Zone could kill you easily. You wouldn't even qualify as cannon fodder."

Beyond the city, vital energy spilling from the spatial passages to the Otherworld had caused Blue Star's native animals to evolve into Mutated Beasts over generations. Most were now at least at the level of the Third Body Metamorphosis.

With its body impervious to blades and spears, a Mutated Beast at the Third Body Metamorphosis could not be stopped by dozens of apprentices at the first or second.

That was why supply convoys required even ordinary guards to have undergone three Body Metamorphoses, while their leaders usually needed six. Otherwise, too many convoys would fail, and the losses would be unbearable.

"My family has a way to get some. I'll give you an address later, and you can go buy it when you have time."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Chen Yiming did not know how to express his gratitude.

Mutated Beast meat was something money alone could not buy. This was no small favor. All he could do was find a chance to repay Wang Bowen when he had the means.