Hours passed.
As Liam cultivated, he was simultaneously studying the Blood Arts and Revel’s attempts at creating spells with Blood Weaving.
All the while, his core was repeatedly corroding away the impurities.
At the same time, he had tried to inscribe and try his hand at creating a simple spell for his darkness.
His understanding of it was so weak (by his standards) that Liam felt embarrassed as he made the Meanings and created the Links.
It was like a legally-blind person attempting to describe colors.
That’s how difficult creating a spell really was, partially due to Liam’s unorthodox method of inscribing.
Liam’s motivation didn’t wane.
Everyone had to start somewhere.
Studying Revel’s parchments definitely gave him an edge over others, and the Blood Arts weren’t so difficult to understand anymore.
After he concluded his cultivation session, Liam had a slight frown on his face.
He was a complete Rank 2 cultivator… by human standards.
With a fourth center of power, his ranking system had changed, and so did his progression speed.
However, Liam was sure he could easily kill any Rank 2 cultivator on the same level of strength as him. .
And with his Ashura form?
He killed Janice. A Rank 3 battle professor with a Rank 4 body.
Though that caused him to suffer for weeks on end and he couldn’t actively train due to the backlash he suffered.
Concluding his training session, Liam wore his clothes and exited when it was daytime.
During the morning, the stall owners worked on resupplying their merchandise.
Shouts and orders echoed around every corner, but the warm sunlight and the chirping of birds softened the atmosphere.
Looking at the map in his hands, Liam scanned the regions.
Most Sects were separated by natural landscapes, like rivers, lakes or mountains.
Some Sects actually did live in mountains, and others above waterfalls.
Not all Sects were big.
Depending on their size, they spanned from having a few hundred disciples, up to ten thousands.
This also determined how much land they possessed and were given control over.
For a Sect to claim more land, they would have to challenge another Sect for theirs.
Some Sectors didn’t even have land.
The Seven Clans were different.
Although their numbers weren’t the highest, especially the Luminous Light Sect, their disciples were all powerful experts.
At the same time, they split the giant Main Lands into seven different sections, where the largest Sects lived under.
Although the Safe Zones made it seem like everything was perfect, the real gangho was dog-eats-dog.
As Liam continued exploring, he got to discover the wildlife of Ilali.
Spirit Beasts were indeed, a different kind of magical beast.
On farmlands, Liam saw truck-sized turtles that helped irrigate the crops, carrying farmers on their backs without tearing them apart.
They were indeed magical beasts, only way friendlier and more docile. It was only like that in the Safe Zones, Liam presumed.
‘Would forging with their parts produce a different effect? I need to exit this Safe Zone already!’
Liam missed the grip on his blades.
///
Three days passed.
Liam had finally exited from the Safe Zone, along with crowds of other people that did the same.
Most were ambitious mercenaries planning to make it big.
A regular warning sign informed the groups of the dangers ahead, but there wasn’t any abrupt attack waiting in ambush.
In fact, civilization bustled just as much outside the Safe Zones as it did inside. There were small villages erected upon lush plains, in the crevices of mountains and atop rocky cliffs.
Although he had planned to enter the wilderness first thing and hunt Spirit Beasts, Liam held off.
‘The Soaring Rain Sect won’t accept me because of my element, but they can always point me in the right direction.’
Between training and cultivation breaks, Liam took another three days to arrive at the Soaring Rain Sect, following the lines of people heading there.
The Sector itself was a grand pavilion.
Architecturally, it resembled ancient Chinese buildings, with curved tiled roofs and flying eaves. It was erected over a small area of land surrounded by gushing rivers.
Azure-robed ladies at the entrance gave directions to those willing to take their Sector’s test.
After briefly asking them, Liam found out the bare minimum requirement to join was a Rank 1 sea of consciousness, a Rank 3 body, and a Rank 2 core.
And of course, being attuned with water.
Depending on age, they could even lower those standards and accept non-cultivators to train early on.
‘The Soaring Rain Sect is a mid-sized clan. Honestly, their system resembles Echorian politics… only they’re less restrictive over resources.’
Depending on one’s cultivation base and proficiency with the Clan’s unique martial art, they’d be given a specific rank within the Sector.
More talented disciples would be given greater resources and techniques, while those weaker off had to complete missions and assignments in order to achieve the same results.
‘They’re not bloodline based, which is a good thing. Hard work is rewarded.’
“Would you like to see our martial arts, young man?” said the beautiful robed lady who explained everything to Liam.
“Since you’re so inquisitive,” she added with a dazzling smile.
Curious of their abilities, Liam nodded.
With his suppressed aura, the lady didn’t know Liam was of the same strength as her.
The Soaring Rain disciple withdrew to the side and unsheathed her patterned blade.
It was smaller than Liam’s katana but longer than his shortsword, while the material it was made from didn’t have a metallic sheen.
It glowed azure on its own, making Liam raise his brows.
‘Is it made from a Spirit Beast?’
Before he could ask, the disciple closed her eyes then flickered them open.
With a series of lithe and delicate movements, she swung her blade through the air as though performing a dance.
To Liam’s surprise, mist gathered on her sword and formed tiny raindrops that radiated sharpness.
With one last swing, all the raindrops tore through the air like bullets.
THUCK.
They smashed against a boulder and pierced through it!