Returning to the Mysterious Era

Chapter 232 - Two Months Of Practice

Cassius did not consider himself a natural-born killer. Though his primary personality sometimes displayed violent tendencies, he was not a bloodthirsty psychopath most of the time. Objectively speaking, he wasn't a good fit for practicing the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist. In fact, his compatibility might be even lower than Feng Liusi's.

However, Cassius's Killer Persona could play a huge role at this moment. The persona was created from the Golem Covert Martial Arts and was linked to dark creatures transformation. Ultimately, dark creatures didn't harbor a conscious desire to kill; they simply consumed humans like food, driven by hunger rather than hatred.

This was a far more terrifying subconscious state than that of a natural-born killer. It wasn't about hatred or disgust. It was simply a natural instinct.

The moment Cassius switched to his Killer Persona, he felt a vibration in all sixty-six of his acupoints. He didn't need to perform any specific actions or intentionally guide it. Death's Fang Force began to move automatically within those acupoints.

Zzi, Zzi, Zzi...

It was as though Cassius could hear the buzzing of electricity, near and far. His vision blurred, like the stars that danced before one's eyes after extreme physical exertion. He took a deep breath.

Zzi...

The sixty-six acupoints that formed the Giant Falcon constellation resonated simultaneously, sending a special kind of energy coursing through Cassius's body. A thread of red blood began to spread from the corners of his eyes, gradually crawling across the whites and into his pupils. His eyes resembled a serpent's, but rather than vertical slits, they were horizontal and faintly glowing a blood-red light.

Every hair on Cassius's body stood on end, and he could hear Death's Fang Force flowing through his body like water, following a precise pathway. The theoretical meridians linked the sixty-six acupoints, forming a complex structure resembling an elevated bridge.

He took a deep breath and looked at Feng Liusi.

Suddenly, a sharp awareness filled him. Cassius instantly locked onto two weak points on Feng Liusi—his shoulder and neck. The sensation was hazy, but it was akin to an animal's natural instinct for hunting.

He knew exactly where to strike his prey and where the most damage could be inflicted.

Next to him, Feng Liusi's wrinkled face blossomed into a smile. He stroked his white beard, the astonishment still visible on his face.

"The Giant Falcon acupoints have just formed, and you've already entered the Southern Dipper state. Your talent is even greater than I imagined..."

Feng Liusi met Cassius's bloodshot eyes. "Good, keep it up. The duration of the Southern Dipper state varies, but if I'm not mistaken, you should have about two hours left. The first time you enter this state, the benefits are at their greatest, and it will significantly speed up your training. Don't waste time. Go practice the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist techniques I taught you yesterday. I'll go get some healing medicine."

Feng Liusi leaped several meters in a single step, reaching the shore and entering the wooden cabin.

On the island, Cassius sat cross-legged, visualizing the Giant Falcon star map in his mind. It was the guiding diagram from the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist manual, detailing the acupoint locations, their functions, and the methods for storing and transmitting Death's Fang Force. He remembered them well.

One by one, faint red dots flickered beneath his skin like faint lights, giving the impression of strange, glowing marks etched across his body. @@novelbin@@

Settling into a meditative state, Cassius diligently ran through the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist techniques. He took some of the healing medicine Feng Liusi had provided to speed up the healing of his injuries. Before he knew it, an hour had passed, as the brilliant sun moved westward through the clouds.

Nearby, Feng Liusi sat cross-legged, quietly fishing with a makeshift rod crafted from a tree branch. However, his luck wasn't great as nearly an hour passed without a single bite.

Five minutes later, a palm-sized fish cautiously nudged the hook in the lake's clear waters. The ripples on the water grew larger, and it seemed he was about to catch something.

Suddenly, there was a faint sound from Cassius's direction, and his arm trembled slightly. He opened his pale red eyes moments later.

Feng Liusi immediately retrieved his fishing rod, losing all interest in continuing. He frowned and turned to look at Cassius.

"This isn't right, it's only been an hour. Your compatibility with the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist is higher than mine so I expected you to stay in that state for two to three hours. How have you already left the Southern Dipper state?" Feng Liusi rested the fishing rod on his knee.

"No," Cassius spoke up from where he was on the nearby stone. "I haven't left the Southern Dipper state—I've just made a breakthrough."

"Oh, just a breakthrough. As long as you haven't left the state, the longer you maintain it, the better—" Feng Liusi's words abruptly cut off, and he coughed twice, studying Cassius. "Cough, cough, what do you mean by breakthrough? Explain."

"The first acupoint, just above the navel," Cassius said, pointing at his abdomen. His clothes billowed as though blown by an unseen force. It was as if a gust of wind had stirred them, forming wave-like ripples.

"..." Feng Liusi fell silent for a moment. After about half a minute, he finally forced out a response. "Well done."

"Keep it up." He stopped looking at Cassius and casually tossed his rod back into the river, like an old fisherman at ease.

Cassius glanced at Feng Liusi's back before closing his eyes once again, returning to his practice of the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist acupoint training.

"Haah..."

Feeling Cassius's gaze fade, Feng Liusi let out a deep breath. His expression grew complicated as he looked at Cassius's blurry reflection on the water—he was shocked, envious, jealous, and perhaps even a little annoyed.

The difference between people was just too vast! What took him over ten days, Cassius achieved in an hour. It wasn't just a matter of being slightly more compatible; it was a gulf as wide as heaven and earth.

Sure, Cassius had a teacher, experienced the Southern Dipper state earlier, and had a stronger innate talent, but the difference of hundreds of times in speed? That was beyond exaggeration. He was a true freak of nature.

He must be on some kind of drug, this kid!

Feng Liusi took a deep breath, calming the feelings of imbalance in his heart. His hands trembled slightly as he released the fishing rod, the heat from his palms evaporating. He then resumed his fishing.

This time, Feng Liusi had better luck. Before 2 p.m., he caught two fish and placed them in a water-filled wooden bucket by the shore. He hadn't used any special techniques. It was just the simple pleasures of an old man fishing.

The bright sunlight cascaded through the gaps in the white clouds like golden waterfalls. Some beams bathed the dense forests of the Loka Mountains, making the sea of trees appear even more verdant. Others lit up the uneven paths of the clearing, while a few scattered across the lake's surface, shimmering as the wind stirred the waters.

With a light flick of the rod, Feng Liusi hooked a lively fish, its tail splashing water as it flopped about.

"Not bad luck." He waved his hands, and the rod snapped toward the shore. Under his strength, the white fish soared through the air, drawing a graceful arc before landing with a plop in the water-filled bucket.

Feng Liusi was about to reel in and cast again, ready for another catch. Suddenly, another faint "pop" echoed in his ear.

"Two hours have passed. That should be about right..." Feng Liusi thought to himself as he turned to look at Cassius a few meters away. Cassius hadn't opened his eyes and remained in his cross-legged position, his hands clawed like a bird of prey. His breathing was steady, and his clothes moved gently despite the still air.

With his eyes still closed, Cassius suddenly muttered, "I made another breakthrough."

"What?" Feng Liusi froze. He opened his mouth to speak but didn't want to distract Cassius from his training. Instead, he tugged at his white beard with enough force that he almost pulled out a couple of strands.

"This kid..."

Another hour passed and Feng Liusi caught two more fish. However, his mind was no longer on fishing. As it was nearing 3 p.m., his clouded old eyes kept glancing at Cassius's reflection in the water.

There was an inexplicable mix of anxiety and anticipation in his demeanor. A few minutes passed, and just as expected...

At precisely 3 p.m., another dull sound reached his ears. Feng Liusi quickly turned his head to look. This time, Cassius didn't even bother to speak. Sensing Feng Liusi's gaze, he gave a casual nod.

It was obvious: he had made another breakthrough.

"Show-off... Brat." Feng Liusi's right eyelid twitched involuntarily. "Back in my day, I... I... definitely couldn't compare to you. Fuck, even ten of me combined wouldn't..."

He reluctantly accepted the truth, unable even to argue out of pride. The gap was just too large—there was no comparison to be made.

Feeling a bit dejected, Feng Liusi returned to the shore and began preparing a fire to cook the fish. Neve had brought some spices from the cabin, and grilling a few fish wasn't a difficult task.

In no time at all, a simple grill was set up on the ground in front of the cabin, with branches piled together and stones arranged in a circle. The fire crackled as the fish skewered on the branches sizzled, their tender white flesh sprinkled with salt and chili powder. The salt melted to mix with the juices, and a faint popping sound echoed in the flames.

An enticing aroma wafted through the air. Five minutes later, the grilled fish was nearly ready. A sudden breeze swept by, and Cassius appeared by the shore. His eyes were fixed on the grill.

Feng Liusi looked up. "It's been three and a half hours. Are you done?"

Cassius shook his head, the blood vessels still visible in his eyes. "No, just hungry. Training consumes a lot of energy."

"Here, take this." Feng Liusi didn't hesitate and handed all the grilled fish to Cassius. "Is that enough? I can catch some wild chickens around Death Canyon if it's not... Never mind, it probably isn't enough, " Feng Liusi answered his own question. "You eat first, I'll be right back." He didn't seem remotely hesitant as he turned and swiftly headed out of Death Canyon.

Cassius sat on a wooden bench by the fire, watching Feng Liusi's figure fade into the distance as he took a bite of the grilled fish. A sense of nostalgia washed over him, as if he had returned to his days training at the Wind Elephant Sect. He remembered his sister, his friends, his senior brothers, and his instructors.

By the time he snapped back to reality, the fish had been reduced to bones and tail. Cassius smiled to himself and lifted his hand. White streams of flowing air danced nimbly between his fingers, lively and spirited.

At 4 p.m., as usual, the sound of another acupoint breakthrough echoed from Cassius's body right on time.

"Good." Feng Liusi, who had just caught another fish from the lake, didn't know if he was congratulating Cassius or just acknowledging his progress.

From noon until midnight, every hour brought another breakthrough. Feng Liusi had grown numb to the rhythmic sounds of progress. How was it that this kid made training seem as simple as eating or drinking?

Twelve acupoints—nearly one-fifth of the training had been completed. As a rough estimate, Cassius might need only three days to fully establish the foundation of the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist and master the basics.

It was terrifying. What should have taken three months would be completed in just three days!

By now, Feng Liusi had begun to look at Cassius with a certain wariness in his eyes. It wasn't just his freakish talent, it was what that incredible compatibility revealed. He thought to himself, didn't this mean that Cassius was a born killer and his mind was entirely filled with bloodshed and violence? He had to be worse than a natural-born murderer, he thought—he longed for blood, cared nothing for life, and was a butcher among men.

Only someone like that could achieve such perfect harmony with a bloodthirsty assassination art. The thought sent chills down Feng Liusi's spine.

Feng Liusi had even asked Cassius if he ever felt his blood boil with the overwhelming desire to kill. Cassius, blunt as always, admitted that he had felt that way when sparring with Feng Liusi. Ever since, Feng Liusi had made excuses about guarding the cabin from wild animals, only to sleep at the canyon's entrance every night. He gave up his own cabin, letting Cassius sleep there instead.

Three days passed and Feng Liusi's predictions were spot on. Cassius completed the training that should have taken three months. He fully established the foundation through his body, opening all sixty-six acupoints one by one.

He had imprinted the Giant Falcon constellation from the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist into his body, with each acupoint responding in harmony.

The shock that Feng Liusi felt these few days exceeded all the surprises he had experienced in the past twenty years. It left him both curious and perplexed.

He had the feeling that once Cassius entered the Southern Dipper state, he never came out of it. Whether walking, eating, training, or sleeping, his entire body remained shrouded in a faint aura of killing intent.

In the days that followed, Feng Liusi continued to impart his understanding and insights of the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist to Cassius in Death Canyon. He patiently taught him, little by little, like a true master passing down his wisdom. The two would spar occasionally, but not only against each other. Feng Liusi would also regularly take Cassius into the Loka Mountains to battle powerful beasts and strange creatures.

The routine continued for a long time, from June all the way into August. In other words, it had been sixty days since Cassius first arrived at Death Canyon in the Loka Mountains.

Two months later...