61 Observing chosen talents

After leaving Nathan, Xue Mo and Lu Yao headed towards a deeper part of the Assassination Academy beyond the essential city-like structure. A lake and various vegetation appeared in their view.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Two men wearing black cloaks landed in front of the approached partners. The men kneeled before cupping their fists, "Master, Madame, welcome!"

Xue Mo and Lu Yao looked at the kneeling men and ordered, "no need for the cloaks, Hiari, Myzer!" With Lu Yao's words, the vampire and giant dwarf removed their capes.

Lu Yao had gotten comfortable talking to other men these years, but she still didn't like getting touched by them. Even her voice when talking to Myzer and Hiari was a little warm. She felt like a parent that saw her children grown up.

Hiari and Myzer didn't get up, still kneeling, they reported, "thank you for your care, madame, but we got used to this, so it's fine." Even though they already removed the cloaks, Myzer said that, making Lu Yao smile wryly.

"Master, am I correct to assume that you came here to check on our progress and the young ones too?"

Xue Mo nodded his head and said, "correct, Hiari. Not only that, though, I came to pass on something that would benefit you later."

Myzer and Hiari exchanged glances and saw the excitement in the other's eyes. A gift from Xue Mo, who already helped them so much already, they were happy.

Quickly calming down their excitement, they waited for Xue Mo to proceed with instructions. Although they were happy to see him and wanted to show the fruits of their labor, they didn't say it and waited for orders.

Xue Mo had an idea of what these two wanted but didn't care. Whatever they thought was right wouldn't be that good compared to people with more resources. He wanted people who could provide themselves with better opportunities by themselves, yet doing that without a little help wouldn't work.

Lu Yao also had these thoughts. She knew from Xue Mo thought he didn't just choose anyone to nurture, and he had a plan. From what he said, he had always been a loner but still knew the power of numbers.

Quality wouldn't always be enough, and they knew it. If quality wasn't enough, then they just had to make quantity with superior qualities. Hesroth, Declan, Myzer, Hiari, Deckim, and more people, weren't chosen in vain. Xue Mo had used his experience to analyze what roles these guys would have and how to improve them.

Clearing his head from thoughts, Xue Mo asked, "how's he doing?" Knowing that he was talking about Deckim, Hiari and Myzer bowed and gestured for Xue Mo to follow them.

Xue Mo didn't see this as disrespect as he knew that since they wanted him to see with his own eyes, that person's growth was something they couldn't put into mere words.

Xue Mo smirked and thought of how much that person improved as he followed the duo assassins.

BURBLE! BURBLE!

The sound of a flowing river became more pronounced the more they walked. Soon, a lake came to view with a half-naked kobold swinging a giant sword. The man's moves were smooth, and with every swing and movement, Arch Energy flowed in him.

The man was the person Xue Mo asked about and was also the one who barely joined the wagon of the Battle Mage Academy. Deckim's features became more challenging as his face lost any baby fat that his growing body had. He looked like a man with fine-looking muscles.

As Xue Mo watched, the smirk on his face became a smile, one filled with unknown intents. Deckim's weird absorption technique enhanced his body while also sucking more Energy into him.

This was a technique that he made Hiari and Myzer leave for Deckim to find. Xue Mo had noticed that Deckim had an unusual physique, which would make his body triple time stronger when he absorbs Arch Energy and starts Cultivation. With a little help from Infinite Darkness, Xue Mo made a technique that would enhance that physique's quality once he began Cultivating.

Deckim had no idea about this, so he thought it was ordinary for others to get strong fast. Yet, because of his physique, his body's potential would evolve, and when he stats body Cultivation, he might not need to Cultivate Energy but only his body.

Furthermore, with Xue Mo's help and sponsorship, Deckim would surely become one of the most substantial body Cultivator's later. 'Hmm, his weak race and body are a little deterrent though,' Xue Mo thought while watching the Cultivating Deckim.

But he didn't mind. With his abilities, he could help modify Deckim's body and enhance his unique constitution. This was also another reason why he didn't possess him and take the physique.

Hiari and Myzer were silent as they observed Xue Mo watching Deckim's practice. His training was truly something else. They were surprised at how quickly and powerful he became, but Xue Mo's discovery for that talent made them more assured of their decision to follow him.

With the last swing of his sword, Deckim dived into the lake and sat crosslegged at the bottom. His muscles were contracting and tightening due to the intense Cultivation, yet instead of resting, he went deep into the lake where the pressure was intense. This made him even more tired and exhausted, but it was a good thing to watch Xue Mo.

What Deckim was doing was working himself to the limit and trying to break past that limit slowly. 'I knew I didn't choose wrongly. This kid's potential and will for Cultivation will take him far. I don't even want to imagine what would happen to such wasted potential; good thing I met him,' Xue Mo patted himself inwardly. He knew talent when he saw one.

SPLASH!

Twenty minutes after Deckim's dive, he went back up. He was heavily breathing as he laid down near the lake. His body was too tired to move. Although this was good training, Xue Mo still thought it was stupid.

If someone suddenly attacked Deckim when he was in that state, he would surely die. 'I should let him learn how to keep his senses open all the time.' If Deckim got attacked at that moment, he wouldn't be able to retaliate.

'No matter, the special event will soon happen, I will teach him at that time,' Xue Mo's thoughts stopped as his happy inward smile turned ferocious and full of sadistic intent. Yet, no one could sense it.

Even though Hesroth, Hiari, Myzer, Deckim, and more people, felt goosebumps. Unknowingly they felt that they would soon go through hell.

"You two, let's go. I said I would give you something this time, and the time has come to take it. Follow me," Xue Mo said before moving.

After he checked on Hesroth's training, Xue Mo made his way back out of the Assassination Academy's deep parts. However, this time, Hiari and Myzer were following him. They were going to get something that would make them stronger, which excited them.