Free Web NovelChapter 418: Chapter 405: Observation
To refine Innate Qi, two Pet Beast Inner Cores must be scattered.
No matter who attempted this step, it was bound to be incredibly perilous.
Because the consequence of failure was regression to a Zero-star Pet Beast, and the loss of any qualification for Evolution.
His classmates, traveling alongside him, didn’t truly believe in such an unorthodox Evolution method.
They were only accompanying Gu Ming out of curiosity, and also because he had successfully launched a research project at the school.
It was a new academic project approved by the school, and participants received Credit Points as a reward.
So, those who needed Credit Points and were interested in Gu Ming’s new Evolution Method joined the team.
However, being interested didn’t mean they would follow this path themselves.
Their reasons for joining were many: to gain experience, to learn by analogy, or perhaps to find something beneficial for their own Pet Beasts.
Along the way, someone couldn’t resist asking Gu Ming multiple times just how confident he was.
Naturally, Gu Ming wasn’t one hundred percent confident himself.
But in order to leech some knowledge about Qi Refining, Gu Ming stated without hesitation that he was certain of success.
At this very moment, Gu Ming stepped into the Valley of Meteorology, clad in a raincoat.
Thunder boomed overhead. Rain poured down like a waterfall, and rose-colored clouds blanketed the land.
Beside him, a senior from the same club released a Water Element Pet Beast, conjuring a protective, curtain-like barrier of water for the group, blocking the torrential downpour.
His gaze was intense as he stared at the scene in the valley, but Elder Huo’s grave questions still reached his ears from time to time:
"Scattering the Pill to recultivate, reverse-refining Innate Qi... Gu Ming, do you truly understand the risks involved?"
"If the two Inner Cores are scattered and cannot be reformed, your Pet Beast will never have another chance to evolve in its lifetime."
Gu Ming didn’t turn back, but his voice cut clearly through the curtain of rain.
"I understand, Elder Huo."
"But without witnessing Innate Qi, without comprehending the true meaning of the meteorological phenomena, this Qi Refining Method is ultimately just a castle in the sky."
He raised his hand and pointed to a spot in the distance where thunderclouds roiled. "Look—"
A bolt of lightning tore through the sky, striking a charred, ancient tree at the bottom of the valley.
The tree’s body was covered in scorch marks and should have been devoid of life, yet after the lightning dissipated, a single, pale eye slowly opened in its crown.
Its charcoal-like bark cracked open, and several vines wreathed in electricity emerged, drawing in the stray arcs of lightning in the air as if breathing.
"It’s a Three-star Thunderstruck Wood Spirit!" a student from the Cultivation Technique Class exclaimed in a low voice. "It’s using the thunderstorm for Cultivation!"
Electric light flowed around the Thunderstruck Wood Spirit, forming a swirling Energy Core in the center of its trunk that converted the violent power of lightning into pure energy.
Gu Ming extended his Divine Sense and perceived a high-purity Thunder Spirit Qi flowing through the area.
This wasn’t a meteorology-type Pet Beast; it wasn’t the one Gu Ming was looking for.
But for some reason, a notification flashed across his system interface.
Gu Ming had no choice but to stop and observe more closely.
You have encountered a Thunderstruck Wood Spirit King.
You have witnessed a tribulation.
You have witnessed the birth of Innate Qi for the first time. Your Qi Refining Evolution Method cultivation experience +10!
’Huh? There’s Innate Qi here?’
"Why aren’t we leaving yet?"
"Hold on, let’s watch a little longer," Gu Ming murmured, his eyes burning with intensity.
"This isn’t an ordinary Spiritual Qi conversion. Everyone, pay close attention. There might be Innate Qi in there."
However, after the Thunderstruck Wood Spirit was struck by lightning, it acted like a Lightning Rod, and a continuous barrage of lightning bolts as thick as water buckets came crashing down.
Ten strikes.
Fifty strikes, a hundred strikes.
Until the Thunder Element Wood Spirit’s entire body was set ablaze, turning into a piece of charred wood.
Finally, as if it had died, it was completely reduced to ash, showing no signs of life.
This left the observers with nothing more than new experience; they did not perceive the so-called Innate Qi.
No one on the scene attempted a rescue because the descending lightning storm was incredibly powerful, far beyond the capabilities of any of the senior students.
As for the strongest member of the team, Mr. Huo, he remained calm throughout, his hands clasped behind his back, with no intention of intervening.
He had seen too much of life and death. The life of a Spirit Beast that had no connection to him was something he would naturally leave alone, respecting the trials of nature.
If Elder Huo were to save it, that would establish a karmic bond.
But Elder Huo had no such intention. Besides, nature is impartial to all life.
If it could survive, it would advance to Four-star.
If it couldn’t, then that was its final destiny.
To rashly alter its fate meant he would be the one to bear the ultimate responsibility, and he would not do that.
The students were silent for a long time. Having personally witnessed the life-and-death trial of a Three-star Wood Spirit, they had a more concrete understanding of the dangers within the Valley of Meteorology.
In the treacherous places of nature, life and death were decided in an instant.
A Three-star Spirit Wood that had been perfectly fine just seconds ago was struck dead by the lightning storm just like that.
If it had been them in its place, the outcome clearly wouldn’t have been good.
This was also the reason Elder Huo was traveling with the team.
If they weren’t careful, the terrifying weather phenomena overhead could strike them dead.
The group continued deeper into the valley.
The wind and rain grew more violent. A tornado-like column of wind suddenly rose from the valley floor, shattering rocks wherever it passed.
Yet, in the eye of the storm, a flock of cyan-feathered sparrows soared against the wind.
Every feather shimmered with a Rune-like luster. Their flight path seemed to follow a kind of Array, converting the violent wind pressure into lift.
Elder Huo, an expert in Arrays, immediately focused his attention on the flock of birds. After observing for a moment, a look of surprise appeared in his eyes.
"Wind-Speaking Sparrows... they can actually command Celestial Power with a Three-star body?"
Elder Huo saw "command," but when Gu Ming observed the flock, he saw their natural Talent for survival within the storm.
To be able to survive in such a gale, they must have an extremely keen Perception of the local wind currents.
But after watching, Gu Ming suddenly added, "They aren’t commanding it. They’re learning."
You have observed the Wind-Speaking Sparrow flock. You have heard Elder Huo’s teachings. Knowledge of the Wind-Speaking Sparrow flock has increased!
With Elder Huo’s guidance, you have once again discovered Innate Qi flowing between their wings. It is a Talent for manipulating nature, not Innate Qi they produce themselves.
The parents of the flock are teaching the younger generation how to perceive Innate Qi. Wielding a small amount of Innate Qi allows them to survive in the storm.
"Learning?"
Elder Huo murmured, then observed them intently for a while longer.
The accompanying students looked at each other, their eyes wide as they stared at the Wind-Speaking Sparrows flying in the storm.
The range of their Divine Sense was nowhere near enough to reach the storm, so they could only watch from a distance.
Of everyone present, only Elder Huo’s Divine Sense could cross the distance of nearly a mile, penetrate the storm, and observe their flight patterns and the linguistic communication within the flock.
Before long, Elder Huo’s expression relaxed, and he nodded. "Your judgment is very precise. It is indeed the experienced teaching the young. The newborn sparrows are learning from their parents’ generation how to master the gales."
"Teacher, they don’t even have Four-star bodies. Surviving in a storm like that is no different from flying alongside the Wind Blades released by a Four-star Wind Pet. It would be impossible without Innate Qi."
