24 There's something strange...

Xin Feng followed the slithering dragon that was flying in the air with his new method to fly. The method was him releasing a constant blast of fire instead of explosions from his palms and feet. It was an idea from a comic that he wanted to try out, and since Hua Mei was wasting her Qi, he didn't mind wasting a bit of his mana that he knew would regenerate sooner or later.

"So… Why not just cover yourself in a ball of water to fly?!" Xin Feng asked while they were flying.

"I can't!"

"Heh?! Didn't you just say you were a number one genius?"

"Genius?! It would take more than talent and hard work to do that!'

"Doing something like that isn't simple! One has to find the proper technique first through many trials and errors!"

"What do you think would happen if I did that? I would probably fail to use the proper amount of Qi, I would not able to stabilize myself, and most likely, I might not be able to control anything at all!"

"Let's say I succeeded in all that, but what if, just what if one day I meet with an unsuspected situation like a different environment! Yes! I would fail in flight and splash! I'm Dead!"

"This is why techniques exist! To memorize certain details that's been written, to avoid thousands of mistakes that lead to death or unfortunate accidents!"

"I see your point…! But hey, I guess I'm an ultimate genius then!"

"If you never try out something, you'll never know what you're capable of!"

"You are indeed! But you see… I don't want to die a stupid death after working hard to not die!"

"Haha!"

"Ha! You coward! Catch up if you can!" Xin Feng intimidated, before he boosted his speed, leaving Hua Mei behind!"

"Hey! No fair!"

"This is our gap of our determination, haha!"

…

"Pause! I'm almost out of Qi!"

When Xin Feng heard Hua Mei's cries, he changed his direction downwards, before landing on the ground. Hua Mei soon followed, and lay flat on the ground due to exhaustion. For a second, Xin Feng looked at her, before he sat down to meditate.

After Hua Mei had enough air, she sat in a meditative position as well, and went to cultivate spiritual energy to replenish her Qi and strengthen her body and dantians at the same time. A few hours had passed, when Hua Mei had her Qi refilled. The two were still were only a few miles away from the sect, which was why they continued to fly after Hua Mei had recovered her Qi.

A few days quickly passed by. They were finally far away from the sect, and close to cascade that brought Hua Mei fortune. The reason why they didn't teleport, was because they had to show the patriarch and the others that they went away. If they simply teleported to fight beasts, it would make the patriarch suspicious if ever they befell injuries. Going away for field experience was their best approach to gain strength continuously and to let others not know about the hidden knowledge.

Xin Feng had asked before why Hua Mei why she kept her discovery a secret. She of course, gave him an entire speech. She told him that as told before that she would only give this information to others whom she deems worthy. Those who were worthy to her were those that were hard working and determined to grow. She explained how others knowing the information was unnecessary because the country was in peace due to every sect taking care of threats that appear.

The sect gaining the secret, would give birth to rivalry and war between sects. She then finished her explanation, saying that if unworthy people would get it, it would indeed raise their strength, but it would make them lazier and their descendant even worse.

"They would be arrogant without dignity and appreciation for their reason of lavishness." Was the last sentence she said.

Hua Mei wanted to see how Xin Feng would do in the cascade. That's why they both entered to see if they could resist the strong pressure. With her water abilities and strength, she was able to resist the pressure and stand still on a rock. Xin Feng though, had a hard time and had to use all of his stamina to resist the pressure for a few minutes. It wasn't for naught though, for he was able to increase some of his stats and receive the ability to control water.

At the end, Xin Feng got caught up by the stream and was brought to the deep canyon. There were five rotten bodies and broken materials not too far from him…

"Looks like a few unfortunate people fell to their death… Even mortals." Hua Mei uttered. 

The two of them checked to see if there were any familiar sect members or other cultivators, and found two…

"The mortals seemed to be small merchants who might've met an unfortunate event, while the two cultivators seemed to be disciples of the Seven Soaring Swords sect who were on an escort quest."

Hua Mei continued walking around to inspect the broken planks and wheels. After searching under the debris for more than five minutes, she recognized the few needles that were different from common ones.

"The crimson Lunar cult…" She uttered next, when she saw the faded inscriptions on the needles that that cult is famous for.