27 1st Step. (1/2)

Under the starry sky that shined an ethereal light; Su Min gripped the manual and wandered outside. He looked at the healthy grass that sprinkled the ground with dew from a fairyland; he saw the numerous huts surrounding him, captivating the night with a primal touch of simplicity.

'She needs to fight it... Strength can only be gained by yourself... Right?'

A thought that some may consider being ruthless entered his mind. However, he isn't being ruthless at all. His future is a muddy road; a road that may cause his end. So how could he let her rely on him all the time?

Looking at his chest, Su Min realized that an immense amount of life force was currently swirling there. Though, he still couldn't control it.

'Maybe I'll be able to control it once I cultivate.'

*Hahh...*

Breathing a deep breath, Su Min sat on the grass and looked at the manual. Pausing, he moved in the same position as the diagram and closed his eyes. His breathing relaxed and his demeanour slouched; resembling a monk.

'Huh..?'

Su Min felt strange as he tried to follow the technique that didn't seem like a technique at all. All it told him to do was breath in a specific pattern and try to sense the world. Nothing more, nothing less.

However, without even needing to try, Su Min started to feel a strange presence around him. It was an all-encompassing energy, tingling up his body with an etheral breeze. It was like the whole world was absolutely covered in it, and he had just realized its existence. It's like air, but even more ever-present.

However, as he looked closer, he felt two different energies! One was golden and fierce; one was black and simple. They floated around him, scraping past his back as he watched.

'Gold and black?'

Su Min felt that the golden energy resonated with the symbol on his chest, thrumming with a hymn. Considering this, the black energy was completely different. It was simple and didn't carry anything peculiar at all, and from this, Su Min guessed that it was Martial Energy!

'The manual didn't say anything about what happens when you can sense two energies... Does it have something to do with the ancient race?”

Su Min remembered the technique he has from the ancient race, but it said nothing about a unique energy. All it said was that you need to absorb the essence of the world.

'Maybe the race has its own energy? But then what is martial energy? Why is it martial condensation? Why can't we cultivate a different form of energy?'

Su Min felt confused as the two forms of energy swished around him, and no matter how hard he tried to think he couldn't think of an answer. Of course, now he has a dilemma.

'What would happen if I absorbed the golden energy through the symbol?'

Su Min got curious, so by his will, he directed one of the golden strands of energy towards the symbol on his chest. The energy didn't fight back at all, making Su Min surprised.

*SWISH*

The symbol on his chest trembled as it sucked the strand with a great force. Su Min wanted to see whether he could cultivate the lifeforce technique with this energy, reinforcing his muscles.

However, instead of this, a strange occurrence happened...

'Huh- The symbols!'

Su Min gasped as he saw the numerous symbols that had engraved themselves all over his body light up, causing the strand of energy in his chest to dart towards the closest one.

However, the symbol that touched the strand didn't absorb it, instead, it propelled it forwards! The strand, without Su Min's control, started to dart around his body. It began at his arm then, within seconds, it had zoomed to his right foot. Yet, it still wasn't the end as the strand became faster and faster, darting to each and every symbol in Su Min's body.

'Uh...'

Su Min groaned as the strand became so fast that it was practically travelling across the whole of his body every second. Though it didn't stop, instead, it was still getting faster!

'What is happening?!'

The strand seemed to become a blur as it got the point that it seemed like his whole body contained the strand; like the strand was everywhere at the same time. His bones and his muscles contained the strand, although it was just an illusion due to how fast it was going.

However, instead of feeling discomfort, Su Min felt a strange strength blast into him. It was different from simple fleshly power, it was like he could manipulate it to do things only immortals could do.

At this moment, Su Min's mind trembled as he realized something!

'The ancient fist arts!'

Su Min remembered that whenever he performed the art; a strange energy would emerge from the symbols on his body! It was this energy that allowed him to perform the technique, and by all means, the strand he has darting around him must be this energy!

It is like the life force is what builds his body, and this golden energy is what fuels it!

However, what would happen if he absorbed the martial energy as well? He isn't limited by the races energy; he can use both the human's martial energy and the ancients races golden energy!