Chapter 11 - Can I go Outside?

2 days later, around the thick forestry, some grey wolves dashed about frantically. There was a short, clear-skinned boy with his hair wrapped by the back of his head, dashing after the wolves with ever-increasing speed.

The grey wolves ran for their lives, however, the youth's deathly grip reached first and mutilated them by the abdomen; making for a truly bloody scene. After ensuring that the grey wolves were totally dead, the youth wiped some blood off his face.

This youth is Tian Longmeng and he is currently enjoying his newfound cultivation. The Ark Elder told him that he entered into the Flesh Hardening Stage, which was the first stage in the Body Strengthening path of cultivation. He was precisely in the early period of the stage and would have to wait until he passes the mid and peak periods of the stage before advancing to the next stage.

In the Flesh Hardening Stage, the cultivator just becomes acquainted with sparse amounts of mortal essence. With this little control of essence, the cultivator uses it to strengthen and harden their exterior body, or skin. Doing this ensures that the body is partially fortified and being groomed to accept more strengthening.

What Tian Longmeng likes about this stage is the massive physical enhancements he received. In that chase after the grey wolves, Tian Longmeng ran 30 miles in just half an hour without the need of catching a breath. What Tian Longmeng does not know is that he probably could have accomplished that feat, not as casually though, with his freakish mortal body already!

Even more amazing is that he was able to quickly break 3-metre thick trees with one casual kick and is now able to shatter small 200 jin boulders with his fists.

Tian Longmeng had no need for the grey wolf corpses with how badly they were murdered so he went back to the Profound Cave entrance to nitpick all the most vicious and rare looking animal corpses to carry back.

Tian Longmeng found it a little strange that after a month of staying out in the open, these carcasses did not stink or even showed signs of any decay; however, he needed food to carry back so he was happy to take them without complaint.

Tian Longmeng went along with the position of the sun and directions of the shadows to eventually locate his home environment. He wound up about 2 miles away from his father's training area and he dropped off most of the corpses and only carried two bears and a bird to the house. He needed to carry something to explain his absence to his soon to be murderous mother.

If you may ask where the Ark of the Majesty went, it is with Tian Longmeng. To be more accurate, it is in Tian Longmeng.

The Ark Elder told him that during the process of seizing the essence from the pond, the Ark initiated its merger ceremony and fused into Tian Longmeng's soul.

Retrieving the Ark of the Majesty is not as simple as ripping Tian Longmeng open and taking it. The only way to get the Ark of the Majesty is to kill him and retrieve it from his true soul.

.....

Tian Longmeng arrived at the little, familiar cottage. He was back home to his father and mother. Speaking of father and mother, Tian Fengxian was currently inside the house and Tian Fengmeng was around the right side of the house cutting down trees to prepare wood for the dinner.

Tian Fengmeng rose and wiped the beads of sweat from his face but then turned to the sound of Tian Longmeng dragging the beast corpses across the dirt. Tian Fengmeng raised an eyebrow and his face brightened slightly to the scene of his son that went missing for about a month, but that was all the reaction that was squeezed out of Tian Fengmeng.

"Oh, you still care to return, you unfilial child. At least you brought good meat with you this time so I cannot justifiably kick you out. Bring'em here." Tian Fengmeng nonchalantly uttered these words as he dropped the tree chopping duty and took the beast corpses from Tian Longmeng, who was left standing there, frozen.

"Was I not missing for a month?" That was the thought rolling in Tian Longmeng's mind. A reasonable thought as well. Anyone would feel perplexed when his or her parents behave as if your absence was nothing in particular.

While Tian Longmeng was currently bamboozled, Tian Fengxian emerged to see what the commotion was about and then her gaze met upon the prodigal son. She stared at him with her cold, aloof gaze, and blinked rapidly before eventually sighing and returning inside. "At least you are alive and well. You have a million chores to catch up on."

Tian Fengmeng came out to front after stashing away the beasts and stood nearby Tian Longmeng. "So what do you say, ready for another training session?" Tian Fengmeng casually uprooted an 800 jin tree and sat on the bark of it so he can casually talk to his son.

Tian Longmeng felt cold sweat drench his back upon hearing those words. He finally realized his parents' maniacal plan. Tian Longmeng shivered, remembering scenes of what took place back then.

Tian Fengmeng rose and did some stretches before turning in the direction of the training area. At that point, Tian Longmeng decided that is was the best time to speak his thoughts.

He shook himself up and raised his voice, "Father, can I speak with you?"

"Huh, what is it Long'er?" Tian Fengmeng turned around, relatively surprised at the seriousness of his son's tone.

Tian Longmeng continued carefully, "I want to visit the outside world, and I feel that I am capable enough to survive out there. I ask to be able to go outside."