Chapter 49 - Lian’s Resolve (1/2)

'You have reached the third stage, but you will need to train yourself to increase your poison resistance capacity. It isn't only indispensable for when you reach the meridian stage, but also to learn the two detection techniques at your disposal - spider hair and snake tongue.'

It was what his mother said as she introduced the two new techniques Hei was supposed to learn. This time was one technique per style, for a total of two.

'Although these are neither attack nor defense techniques, these two are essential techniques for your growth. Martial artists, having reached a certain level of mastery of their spirit power, can use that to perform a technique called spirit search. It merely consists of spreading one's spirit power in the surroundings to detect any traces of spirit power, thus avoiding being caught unawares by the enemy.

However, its weak point is that it detects only active spirit power sources. That is to say; if one momentarily deactivate one's spirit power, they cannot be perceived. Furthermore, using spirit search implies revealing your position to anyone within the search range. For this reason, it can be considered a double-edged technique to be used with due precautions.'

Bao Bei paused to let Hei understand every word and didn't lose the flow of the conversation. Only after she was assured that Hei was following what she was saying, she went on.

'Therefore, you must learn to use alternative techniques that don't require using spirit power and can perceive nearby enemies. And regarding that aspect, here come into play spider hair and snake tongue. These two derive from how spiders and snakes perceive the surrounding world.

You must know, typically, spiders don't have such good eyesight, except for some spider species. In order to detect prey, they use the hair on their bodies to pick up vibrations from a moving object or body. Snakes also don't have good eyesight, although some species have adapted to see in low light conditions. But, in any case, they cannot see detailed images. However, they have another way to detect prey or predators, which is their tongue. Snakes' tongues are, in fact, capable of detecting scents.

Thus, spider hair technique consists of using your body hair to detect vibrations while snake tongue uses your tongue to identify scents. As a human being, you, Hei, you have good eyesight. However, your sense of hearing and smell are inferior to those of animals. With these techniques, you can improve your flaws. But you must always remember not to trust too much in a single sense. Only by utilizing multiple sense you can contrast enemies who are good at hiding themselves.'

Hearing this, Hei was struck. Over the years, he had actually noticed that fact. He had been surprised by how he was easily discovered at the beginning of his hunting training. Therefore, he was happy to be able to fill his flaws in those aspects. Yet something was tugging his mind.

”Mother, you said that spiders and snakes don't usually have good eyesight; yet you, Xing and Ye don't seem to have ever had any vision problems of any kind, or am I wrong?”

Even after all these years together, he had never heard his mother or his two little sisters complain about their sights. Indeed, if his mother hadn't pointed it out to him, he would never have known that fact.

Bao Bei chuckled at her son's question before answering. Of course, more than a human-like laugh, it would have seemed like a series of squeaks in succession to another's ear. But for Hei, it was a beautiful sound. Like a forest fairy who was playing with him.

'As we are divine beasts, we don't have that kind of problem. Therefore, we can see as good as humans or other creatures. Before being a divine beast, mother had, in fact, various vision problems. So I had to rely on sounds to understand where I was. Looking back, it was pretty scary because predators are skilled. They stand still all the time before slinging against you, and they make little noise when they move. But fortunately, for Ye and Xing, it wasn't the case; after all, we couldn't have seen your face well if we hadn't been divine beasts, and that would have been very unfortunate.'

While explaining that anecdote, Bao Bei stretched one of her legs to caress her son's head gently. It was true. When she was just a small spider, she had spent countless days filled with the fear of being devoured at any time. For that reason, she was grateful to her companion, who had helped her escape from that nightmare and allowed her to become a divine beast. She was also grateful that her daughters didn't have to live that terrific experience. They could perceive the world with their own eyes and use, at the same, their other sense.

After cuddling Hei a bit, Bao Bei went on to explain.

'As I was saying, these two techniques are based on these detection principles. But unfortunately, it isn't possible for humans to autonomously use their own body like that without a catalyst that allows hair and tongue to pick up sounds and smells like spiders and snakes do. And here the poison comes into play - using your sisters' poison as a catalyst, you can use these two techniques. For your training, you will need to be subjected to continuous poison injections over your body's entire surface while you will also need to swallow lots of poison and let it permeate in your tongue. Did you understand everything, my little one?'

”Yes, I correctly understood, mother. So this time, I just have to hold on until I can stand the poison, and then I can use those two techniques, right? ”

'Yes, but don't think that you just need to learn how to endure poison. You will also need to figure out how to perceive sounds and smells in that way until you feel them naturally as your other senses. If not, anyone who has done a similar training to increase their poison resistance capacity could have discovered those moves.'

”Got it. And your poison, mother? Will we only use Ye and Xing's? ”

'My poison is too powerful for you. To use it, we should dilute a small amount with other substances, but it would still be more harmful and difficult than using that of your two little sisters. But in the future, we will use my poison when you reach the fifth stage, that of the bones. Furthermore, using Ye and Xing's poison, the two of them will be able to train themselves by controlling their poison while injecting it into a body and increasing its quantity.'

That said, she called the two little spirit beasts engaged with their exercises. The little spider and the little snake cheerfully ran to their mother's call and listened as good daughters to what Bao Bei wanted them to do.

At first, they were a little appalled to have to hurt their big brother and even injecting their poison, but since their mother said it was for Hei's good, they decided to do it. Moreover, it was also an excuse to train with him; lately, in fact, they hadn't trained together much since Hei was busy with his exercises and in cultivating. So they gladly accepted that opportunity.

After a moment's reflection, Bao Bei also called Lian in the meantime. Although she didn't need to undergo all this, it was undeniable that it was a good thing if she increased her resistance to poison. But it was especially for another reason she decided to do so.