Training and Upgrade

--- Chapter 5 ---

In the forest near a rundown cottage, a blue-haired small boy with a blindfold dodged several moving blocks of wood tied in rope. He skillfully swayed his body left and right, sensing multiple objects move toward him at different tempos.

BAM!

Cough!

Huo Yuhao jumped and welcomed with a whole tree smashing his stomach. "Damn it." He cursed while falling to the ground.

He opened his blindfold and watched the tree floating above his head with an annoyed look. It's been a few days since he reincarnated into this world and progressed relatively fast because his senses reached their former heights again.

As long as Huo Yuhao grasped the entry level of Haki, he could use [UT] to upgrade his mastery to a higher stage. Well, that was a plan, but he didn't get any results for a few days. And Huo Yuhao even visualized all kinds of enemies from his past lives. Only today, he felt everything flow correctly.

He used the Master Skill Book from the Greatest Starter Pack and made this makeshift training ground with Craftsmanship Skill. It helps quite a lot more than just meditating.

"I'm close..." He commented while grasping a rope and pulling it down to return every bounded piece of wood to its original position.

Haki is, frankly speaking, Ambition or Willpower. It manifested from the depth of the user.

Huo Yuhao dodged and closed his eyes, feeling the air current created by the wood movement. He felt no intention because wood is a dead object, but everything seemed transparent for a moment.

However, like inside a deep trance, Huo Yuhao kept moving and felt spiritual energy flowing out of him. His eyes closed tightly, but he could sense the woods floating around him.

[You have learned basic Kenbunshoku(Observation) Haki] Evo announced with a dull tone.

"I did it?" Huo Yuhao opened his eyes and grabbed an incoming piece of wood with his hand. It was a surprise for him because Haki was hard to achieve unless the individual was talented or born with it.

"Ah, talent... Huo Yuhao awakened Spirit Eyes, which was a spiritual-based martial soul. It's a sudden theory, but my innate talent for Kenbunshoku(Observation) Haki should be quite high, no?"

[Name: Kenbunshoku(Observation) Haki]

[Type: Spiritual Skill]

[Grade: F+/Entry Level]

"I only have 14 Upgrading Tickets left." Huo Yuhao pondered for a moment. "Evo... Upgrade my Kenbunshoku(Observation) Haki with a Bronze Upgrading Ticket."

[Processing...]

Bronze Upgrading Ticket has a 60% of upgrading low-leveled anything to C-B Grade and 40% of becoming A Grade. It's only 20% odd between those chances, but Huo Yuhao never hoped much.

[Using one Bronze UT on Kenbunshoku(Observation) Haki]

[Upgrading...]

[...]

Huo Yuhao felt his brain pierced by a thousand needles, and his overall sense became abnormal. He slowly stumbled to the ground and began to throw up. Everything felt weird.

Blergh!

[You have upgraded Kenbunshoku(Observation) Haki into C+ Grade]

[Your spiritual energy indirectly has increased by ten folds and reached a new stage]

[This might cause mild shock]

"Mild, your head! Warned me sooner, EVO!" Huo Yuhao smacked his hand on the ground in frustration. This system is messing with him.

[Do you want to adjust the setting of notification?]

He stared at the system panel coldly and said, "Yes..."

[The {Warned the host when something wrong happened} Protocol has been created and implemented within the system]

Huo Yuhao sighed and crouched to the nearest tree, leaning his back on it. He closed his eyes and familiarized himself with the current mastery of Kenbunshoku(Observation) Haki. It allowed him to feel everything below future sight's stage, which is pretty neat.

Still, He smiled and peeked at his Kenbunshoku(Observation) Haki's panel.

[Grade: C+/Middle Fundamental Stage]

"Evo, you said I have to reach at least the peak fundamental stage on Kenbunshoku(Observation) and Busoshoku(Armament) Haki to take Purple-Flamed Divine Dragon's legacy, right?"

[Yes, Host. That's the minimum condition to absorb Purple-Flamed Divine Dragon's legacy] Evo replied monotonously.

When Huo Yuhao tried to use Purple-Flamed Divine Dragon's legacy a few days ago, Evo warned him to prepare himself first because this legacy was too strong for him.

Huo Yuhao nodded in understanding and commented, "My Kenbunshoku(Observation) Haki is near the requirement, so I'll focus on Busoshoku(Armament) Haki now."

"The method is vague, but Busoshoku Haki is a form of Haki that allows the user to use their spiritual energy/Willpower to create, in essence, an invisible armor around themself, providing incredible offensive and defensive capabilities."

"Which means manifestation." He muttered while picking one Dragon-Blooded Body Tempering Pill. A small-looking red pearl with silver shone.

[Name: Dragon-Blooded Body Tempering Pill]

[Type: Consumable]

[Grade: B+]

[Description: A pill created with several rare medicines and a drop of Earth Dragon's Blood, having a heating and tempering effect on one's body. It could bring out impurity and refine one's body to the [Body Metamorphosis] stage]

You might think, why don't Huo Yuhao upgrade his body? He can't because it hastens his growth and makes him a child longer than people his age. It's not a good move because the result is more harmful than the payback.

"Evo, use one Bronze Upgrading Ticket on this Dragon-Blooded Body Tempering Pill." He instructed the system.

[Using one Brozen UT on Dragon-Blooded Body Tempering Pill]

[Upgrading...]

[...]

[You have acquired Sky Dragon Body Pill]

"Oh, wow." He noticed the pearl on his hand become translucent white with a cloud pattern.

[Name: Sky Dragon Body Pill]

[Type: Consumable]

[Grade: A+]

[Description: A pill created with a few heavenly medicines and Sky Dragon's Blood, having an extreme heating and tempering effect on one's body. It could bring out all impurity and refine one's mortal body to the highest [Body Metamorphosis] stage in the "mortal." realm]

Huo Yuhao shrugged casually and flicked the Sky Dragon Body Pill into his mouth. As He swallowed the consumable item, warm energy spread across his body. He felt heat coming from his stomach and ran up to his throat.

[I advise you to keep your mouth closed, host. The medicine tried to escape your body]

He narrowed his eyes and maintained a relaxed posture while his body released a sweat like no tomorrow. A black sweet slowly seeped out and hardened on his skin like a shell.

An hour later.

Kacha!

Huo Yuhao's body released a white vapor filled with medicinal aroma. He opened his eyes and was fascinated because his whole body felt like getting reborn. It's a liberating feeling similar to getting into a warm bath-up.

"Awesome." He uttered all this sensation in one word. His spiritual energy rushed out of his skin, forming an invisible shield.

[You have learned basic Busoshoku(Armament) Haki] Evo announced again.

[Name: Busoshoku(Armament) Haki]

[Type: Spiritual Skill]

[Grade: D/Entry Level]

"Oh, D Grade? That's beyond my expectation." A translucent shield coated Huo Yuhao's palm. It also releases this calm white-colored energy.

"Then... What are we waiting for, Evo? Use one Bronze Upgrading Ticket on Busoshoku(Armament) Haki."

[Using one Bronze UT on Busoshoku(Armament) Haki]

[Upgrading...]

[...]

[You have upgraded Busoshoku(Armament) Haki into B Grade]

"Having S Rank Luck is so nice." Huo Yuhao commented with a small laugh. "And with this, I've reached the Peak Fundamental Stage in Busoshoku(Armament) Haki."

The translucent shield turned into dull black, which shone with a slight metallic luster. It's weak, but Huo Yuhao could feel his physical strength multiplied by several folds. He has reached the basic "Hardening." stage and can coat his whole body with spiritual energy.

He picked a random pebble and tried to use the Imbuement of Busoshoku(Armament) Haki, which resulted in disappointment because he couldn't do it yet. And It has something to do with getting his Spiritual Energy manifested outside his body.

"Hmm, Should I upgrade the Kenbunshoku(Observation) Haki with a Silver Upgrading Ticket? It's tempting." He stared at the sky peacefully. "No, let's not be greedy and throw up again. It's better to get everything naturally."

"I also have to tune myself with these new skills first. There are only two weeks and a few more days before I turn six. It's tight, but I should be able to squeeze out some technique."

"Haa... I should have told mom to think about our condition, but I am sleepy." He yawned and fell asleep.

...

...

"Hao'er?"

"Hao'er??!"

"Huh!" Huo Yuhao opened his eyes and saw his mother's worried expression. "What are you doing here... Mom?"

Huo Yun'er placed her hands on her hips and replied, "I should be the one who asked that, Hao'er. You left home often these days, and today you haven't returned afternoon."

"Afternoon?" The sky has turned orange, and crows are flying everywhere.

"..." Huo Yuhao.

"I-I can explain..."

He half-explained why he repeatedly was in the forest for the last few days and gained an awed look from his mother. She covered her mouth in surprise.

"I've been training here. Take a look at those wood pieces I tied to small ropes." He said with a weak smile. "After getting beaten up by children in the White Tiger's Mansion, I realized being weak is not comfortable."

"It's a sin for being weak."

He stared at his mother's eyes and asked, "After I awakened my martial soul... Mom, do you think we can get out of this place?"

It caused Huo Yun'er to change her expression. The former shock was replaced with hesitation because Huo Yuhao knew she was waiting for the White Tiger's Duke, who wouldn't return soon to protect them.

'Even without Kenbunshoku(Observation) Haki, I could tell she didn't want to leave. How pitiful, because as a Huo Yuhao, I believed you deserved better than this. At this point, you're pushing yourself to a cliff, mom.' He sighed inside.

Huo Yun'er has suffered a lot, but her determination and hope kept her through it. Nevertheless, those things wouldn't cause her life any good because everything would gradually worsen beyond saving. It's saddening, to be honest.

'Two weeks... I have two weeks to convince her.' Huo Yuhao thought solemnly. If the thing doesn't go well, he'll use force.