Developments

Ryan and Inkeri both became silent as they didn't know how to continue with their previous conversation. In return they decided to go to sleep to get some rest as they needed to travel and cultivate with the best frame of mind.

3 months nearing four have past as they travelled toward the east and along the way they saw quite of few human camps so they knew to continue the way they were heading. The number of beasts they saw either lower or they were lower rank, but the number of supplies they had collected off the bodies of the higher rank were being used as clothing for Ryan.

To others this is seen as waste but he doesn't know the market plus money isn't even a priority to him since money can't be used in the forest. Most people never live in the forest for an extended period unless they fall in the category of dwellers, poor, or hunter.

Ryan's cultivation got a lot further long after the incident they had 2 weeks ago but that's due to Inkeri refining his energy. He realized that his energy was refined but as the cost his body couldn't hold as much as the purity made his body hurt.

He progressed to seventy percent purified veins but he couldn't cultivate as long as he used to since his reserves were smaller. The main benefit of purified energy became the fact that he was able to get bottlenecks faster and easier.

He saw some benefit from purifying his veins which were he could refill on energy faster, cultivate faster, store more, and move around easier. If fully purified the effects would allow for a ton improvement but as one gets further along the hard it is to get close too perfect.

Inkeri situation was a little better as she was restricting herself from a breakthrough at all cost to build a foundation. Her bones had reached a purity of ninety percent which was amazing for the time they have been practicing, but one problem that she found is that she barely go further and at this rate she will reach her limit at ninety-five percent in a week or two.

Hemming on the other had not shown off any power and sat back relaxing so they didn't know his strength or weaknesses. All they did know is that he has some strength to back up his words but won't show it.

Inkeri was very suspicious of hemming at every turn they took because he was the only one they didn't see cultivating but he kept getting stronger. It felt like he knew every movement there and always had eyes on them but she didn't voice her opinion.

* A couple of days past*

"This is where I leave for a while, but it was fun watching you two grow. I will see you later, but I have things I need to take care of so while you explore the city don't do anything stupid." said Hemming.

"Ok I will make sure that we will see each other again but I would say to you to be careful with your smug attitude."

"I will, but Ryan make sure you protect your girlfriend over there."

"Hemming, if you don't shut up I will fight you."

"Whatever you say Inkeri but remember to control yourself otherwise Ryan might have to save you again and end up worse because I'm not there to guide him." This cause Inkeri to go quiet as she knew he was accurate about what he remarked about her.

"I will start heading out, and Inkeri remember being more proactive or you will regret it," said Hemming as he left north into the forest. When Hemming was running off back into the forest he jumped into the trees causing birds to get scared.

The site of a dark black crows fly by with their small beady eyes that would give the idea that they were planning something.They kept coming until a huge flock was formed to be a huge black mass that looked like a cloud that would represent unpleasant fortune.

What Ryan and Inkeri didn't notice was that one of the crows staring right at them from this huge mass. It was watching every move there, but it is unclear it's motives to be watching them from the flock of crows.

"Inkeri, let's get going and enter the city otherwise we will fall behind Hemming and he will continue to tease you."

"Ryan, I will put him into the ground once I'm stronger than him," said Inkeri as she turned her head in complete confidence.

"Whatever you say but don't complain when he beats you."

"Wow it seems like you have no faith in me now. I'm hurt by that Ryan I thought you would be on my side," declared Inkeri with a pout.

"I'm not serving either side but when it happen make sure to invite me to watch so I can secure food and cloth," replied Ryan snickering at her act.

"Where did the Ryan that I know go? Who are you and what did you do to him?"complained Inkeri as Ryan teasing kept on going.

Ryan suddenly shifts forwards and collected her up into a hug and informed her, "you know I wouldn't enable you to confront him first because that would be my job as I'm the weaker one. Let's get going to the gate as it is a little way away and we have been messing around to much."

Inkeri nodded as started smiling since she was in his embrace and started to make sure he could budge her out of it. Ryan observes this and merely enables it happen since he isn't qualified to fight back anyways plus she felt soothing and delicate so it didn't matter to him.

Once they were approaching the gate a lot more people to see them, and when they saw Ryan they were repulsed by his savage clothing.Others felt pity for him as he looked like he was eight but had to survive in the forest.

Some didn't focus on Ryan but instead the fox that was a pure flawless white fur that had smokey gray tips. This gave some a greedy look as they saw an animal uncommonly seen or even rare.

Ryan noticed there were a few people there that could actually control energy so he keeps his guard against them just in case. His focus was everything on the ground that he could feel in a certain radius, so he didn't know that the crow watching them earlier was still watching and following them.

The people that could actually use energy were on guard due to one thing and that was his hair which was a symbol of the main family running the town. The Scarlett family was known for their hair color in their youth and unmatch priestess abilities.

This made many wary since if this kid was one of them that had gone on special training then they would be in for a treat. A breakage in the space above all the people happened but since everyone was to entry level they weren't experienced to undergo it.

The man who appeared was elderly but nevertheless possessed a hearty tone to his face, and his hair was still fiery red but a lot lighter compared to Ryan. He robes pale green that seemed like it represented grass but on the back it looked like cracks that led to scorched grounds to determine a representation of a phoenix.

When the man appeared above everybody all they suffered was a slight increase in heat but they concluded nothing of it.Inkeri, on the other hand, felt danger and with her head darting up looking for things that would give her this feeling.

When she looked up to see the old man, she started shivering as she never experienced such a suffocating atmosphere. Ryan felt her shivering very slightly, so he went checking on her but saw fear written on her faces.

He followed where Inkeri was looking at to see what would cause this fear and when he did he saw the old man just standing there looking at them. Ryan at that moment decided it would be for the best to raise his defense as much as possible to protect him and Inkeri.

Instinctively his hair starts moving like vipers once more to defend himself against this man that was very imposing. Suddenly the pressure started rising around Ryan causing him to be taken aback by the situation.

The crowd, on the other hand, was confused and weary as the young man started to look in the sky and get in a defensive position. When the pressure started to rise Ryan started end up kneeling with a pained look on his face.

The crowd mainly backed away in case anything bad happened but some watched as they knew this wasn't a normal occurrence. When they noticed that he kept on staring into the sky, they turned to see what he was looking at just to see the old man floating there.

This cause many to feel fear as they knew what this signified while others hadn't caught onto the situation. The old man had seen that he hadn't given up struggling but instead transferring his energy around Inkeri.

The old man decided to keep on increasing the energy on bit by bit to see his limit was since he gave up on defending himself. Ryan at this time felt the pressure rising which felt like the air was aflame and with every breath set his lungs a flame.

His bones were creaking as if the stress being exerted on them to much for them to bear anymore. His soul flame decides to move into his veins to provide support to his body which in turn started to refine them even further.

He old man kept on ticking the pressure up and discovered his veins enhance two colors which reminded of him the man in the visions. It caused him to hesitate for a moment before the memory fragment started talking to him once more.

"Owen, keep on going I want to see how far this one can reach." When Owen overheard the voice, he knew he wasn't the one testing anymore instead he lost control of that ship. The area around Ryan started tearing down bit by bit but the energy released by the earth instead started to be absorbed.

Ryan vein purification had reached ninety-five out of stress on them but wouldn't go further as if there was a impregnable fortress ahead. When the area around him started to break down but the energy got released his viper secured him to the ground so he wouldn't shift.

His soul flame started to change but from two colors to developing a third color which was purplish black that when stared at it seemed like it would consume them. When it completely forms, it lacked energy to maintain so it absorbed all his but what he was employing to defend Inkeri.