Chapter 21：A New Martial Technique (1/2)

Lin Mu started with physical training first. He ran a few laps, did push-ups and sit-ups, he then practiced his punches while being in the horse stance. In the end, he practiced using the sword; he followed the methods which he had seen the guards use.

Lin Mu trained for over 3 hours, after which he felt utterly tired and drained. He hurriedly sat down and chanted the calming heart sutra, after which he felt the calming waves spread over his body. This time he could feel the waves of energy not only in his muscles but also on his skin. The waves increased until they reached a crescendo and then faded, only to repeat once again.

After each repetition, he could feel the vital energy from the meat he had eaten being assimilated. This lasted for over thirty minutes, after which all the vital energy he had obtained from eating the beast's meat had been completely assimilated. Lin Mu stopped after this as he felt like he was starving.

He went inside and put some rice in the pot to cook, while he cut off a slab of meat from the carcass of the boar. He rubbed spices into the fatty meat and skewered it on some sticks, waiting for the rice to cook so that he can place it on the stove.

'I should make a larger stove to cook outside, I don't want to wait every time I'm hungry.' Thought Lin Mu.

While waiting he was adding wood to fuel the stove. He looked to the side and saw that his supply of wood was about to end.

'I'll need to get more wood tomorrow. Though it would be better if I had an axe, but I can chop some thinner trees with my sword as well, I'll just take it as more sword practice.' Thought Lin Mu.

Soon enough the rice was cooked and Lin Mu could let the meat roast. The aroma of the rich and fatty meat made Lin Mu's mouth water and his stomach rumbled with desire. After a brief wait Lin Mu ravenously ate his dinner, by the end of which his mouth and fingers were covered in the oil from the meat.

The more Lin Mu trained, the more he could feel his appetite increasing. In fact, the amount of food he ate in this one meal was double the amount he ate a week ago. Lin Mu felt a little surprised at this realisation and wondered how much he would be able to eat once he became a qi cultivator.

Lin Mu did not know much about the habits or life of the cultivators, except that they were much stronger than commoners and had a longer lifespan.

An ordinary cultivator of qi refining realm could live for 200 years, while few commoners could survive to live past 100 years. Lin Mu did not even know how long cultivators of higher cultivation could live, but from what the legends say they can become immortals and live forever.

After his meal Lin Mu could once again feel the comfortable warmth spreading from his stomach, restoring his energy. He once again sat down to chant the calming heart sutra until the vital energy from the meat was completely absorbed. Lin Mu felt that this time he could only absorb about half of the total energy from the meat with the rest still remaining in his body.

'I guess without training the effects of the calming heart sutra are not as good as with training. But even so, the energy I absorbed now was already more than I obtained from the entire hook winged swan. The amount of vital energy in a mid tiered beast is simply not comparable to low tiered beasts.' Thought Lin Mu as he understood the correct method of training.

The sun had set a while ago and it was dark now, even the crescent moon could not be seen as it was hidden behind the clouds. Lin Mu looked up at the pitch-black sky and pondered on some random thoughts. He used to enjoy gazing at the night sky ever since he was a child, but these days he just seemed to not have enough time to do it anymore.

As he was gazing at the dark sky Lin Mu felt the mysterious ring buzz.

”It is late this time. I wonder how the ring works. Does it just randomly open the spatial rifts or is there a pattern to it?” questioned Lin Mu to himself.

Lin Mu had already extended his hand in anticipation of the spatial rift. But this time he felt an even greater force pulling his hand than when the rift opened for the first time. He was pulled towards the forest for over 600 meters, after which he finally came to a halt.

”Damn, this is bad, I better keep all my senses alert for any danger.” Cursed Lin Mu as he unsheathed the sword with his left hand.