Yuan and his wives had been on the road for over two hours, having taken a brief lunch break. They were determined to cover as much ground as possible before nightfall.
Despite being cultivators with the ability to see clearly in the dark, they preferred to avoid traveling at night due to the heightened danger posed by fierce monsters.
They understood that an attack on their horses could force them to continue on foot, greatly prolonging their journey to Monbrook City.
As they rode in the carriage, Yuan suddenly heard Nora’s voice in his mind. [Host, since you inquired about their weapon preferences, aren’t you planning to purchase martial techniques and weapons for Rose, Julie, and Ava? You’ve already acquired cultivation techniques for Julie and Ava.]
Yuan shook his head in response. “I don’t intend to buy anything for them from the system shop,” he explained. “I already possess numerous martial techniques and a variety of weapons from the ancient treasury. Many of these techniques are highly suitable for them. So, there’s no need for me to spend my SP when I already have what they need.”
Given that he had obtained a wealth of valuable techniques and weapons from the ancient treasury, Yuan didn’t want to squander his hard-earned SP, which couldn’t be replenished at will. Moreover, the techniques and weapons he had acquired were on par with those available in the system shop.
Nora confirmed, [You do indeed have a substantial collection of techniques stored in your system storage. Most of them are Heaven rank, with only a few at the Earth and Spirit ranks.]
“That’s correct,” Yuan affirmed, adding, “However, the only caveat is that in order to learn these techniques, they’ll need to reach specific cultivation realms. Otherwise, their bodies won’t be strong enough to handle the power of these techniques.”
[That’s very true. These techniques surpass the norm in terms of power and rarity. Not only the techniques, but the weapons are the same. To wield them, one must attain a specific cultivation realm, or else attempting to use them could prove fatal, as their bodies wouldn’t be able to handle the immense power of these weapons.] Nora elaborated, providing Yuan with further insight.
Some of the techniques demanded a specific cultivation foundation due to their extraordinary power, surpassing the norms of techniques within their respective ranks.
Attempting to learn such techniques without the requisite cultivation base could prove perilous.
With her cultivation having reached the Spirit Warrior realm, Rose was now eligible to learn one of these potent techniques. Additionally, she possessed the proficiency to wield any weapon or treasure classified under heaven-grade.
Curious about when Julie and Ava might be able to commence their training in these techniques, Yuan turned to Nora for insight. He was keen on avoiding unnecessary expenditure of his SP on techniques he already possessed in abundance.
Nora swiftly responded, [They can begin learning these techniques once they attain the sixth level of the Spirit Apprentice realm. With your guidance, they could attain that level quite easily through dual cultivation with you.]
“The sixth level of the Spirit Apprentice realm, huh? I’ll let them reach that milestone naturally; otherwise, their bodies won’t be able to handle my Peak Spirit Master realm Yang Qi,” Yuan mused in a hushed tone, stealing a quick glance at Julie and Ava who were peering outside the carriage, captivated by the scenery passing by.
Anna and Grace couldn’t help but notice the pensive expression on Yuan’s face, a departure from his usual demeanor. Their curiosity and concern were piqued.
With a forced smile, Anna gently inquired, “Darling, what has you so lost in thought? It’s unusual to see you so deep in contemplation, especially with that distant look in your eyes.”
Grace chimed in, equally curious, “Indeed, my dear. Please share with us your thoughts. Is there a potential danger ahead that you’ve perceived?”
Yuan assured them, “No, there’s no imminent danger ahead, so there’s no need for concern.”
He went on to explain his contemplation, addressing both of his mothers. “I was actually pondering the martial techniques I plan to provide to Rose, Julie, and Ava. Although Rose has now become a cultivator, I haven’t yet equipped her with any martial techniques or a suitable weapon for self-defense.”
Anna and Grace were acutely aware that Yuan hadn’t imparted any offensive or defensive techniques to Rose. As they journeyed, they saw an opportunity to utilize encounters with monsters to train Rose and her sisters.
“You’re absolutely right, Darling. You haven’t taught Rose any offensive or defensive techniques, nor have you provided her with a weapon for training,” Grace concurred, nodding in agreement.
She understood her son’s intentions well, recognizing that the encounters with numerous monsters on their journey to the capital would serve as crucial training for the Monroe sisters.
‘Dear is truly looking out for the Monroe sisters. Their current level of strength won’t suffice for self-defense, especially considering that our adversaries in the capital will be much stronger. If they remain this vulnerable, they could become a liability,’ Anna reflected, aware that cultivators without proper techniques and experience were akin to fish out of water.
Shortly after, Anna turned to Yuan with a smile. “By the way, Dear, have you already found suitable cultivation techniques for Julie and Ava? Those two girls are eager to become cultivators as soon as possible. You should expedite the process of finding the right techniques for them.”
Yuan responded with a mysterious smile, leaving Anna to piece together his intentions. She realized that he had already located the appropriate cultivation techniques for the two girls, and anticipated their excitement upon learning the news.
A while later, Lily, who was managing the carriage, spotted a thick plume of black smoke rising in the distance. She squinted at it, noting that the smoke only seemed to intensify with each passing moment.
“The black smoke is only growing thicker, not dissipating. It appears that a village ahead is ablaze, or perhaps a forest has caught fire,” Lily murmured to herself, eyeing the ominous sight ahead. She felt compelled to inform the others.
“I need to let everyone know,” Lily muttered, turning her gaze back to Yuan and the rest of the group inside the carriage.
“Hey, everyone. I’ve just noticed a thick plume of black smoke up ahead. It seems there’s a village or forest on fire,” Lily relayed the situation with a grave expression on her face.
The gravity of the situation was evident in Lily’s expression, leaving no room for doubt. The possibility of a village engulfed in flames was a dire one.
“What!? Smoke rising!? It must be a village caught in fire,” Anna exclaimed, her voice tinged with surprise. She hurriedly turned her gaze outside, confirming the thick plume of black smoke not too far from their location.
“Oh my, this is serious. The amount of smoke suggests it’s a significant fire, as if an entire village is ablaze,” Anna remarked, astonished by the sheer scale of the smoke.
“What could have led to this?! How did such a massive fire start?” Ava’s face was etched with concern as she peered toward the source of the smoke.
Julie gazed at the billowing smoke, her expression pensive. “Could this be the work of bandits? They might have pillaged the village, abducted women and children, and then set it ablaze before making their escape.”
“That’s a possibility. Let’s head in that direction swiftly to investigate. We might find survivors, and later we can report the incident to the Hunter Association in Monbrook City,” Yuan proposed. He was convinced that this devastation was the handiwork of a ruthless bandit group, unburdened by morals and driven solely by the pursuit of gold.
“Very well, let’s proceed and assess the situation,” Lily declared, her focus on steering the carriage toward the source of the smoke.
After some time, they drew nearer to the scene. The village was now clearly visible, its structures consumed by the relentless flames. The carriage surged forward, closing the gap at an astonishing speed.
“Look ahead! There’s a village, but it’s entirely consumed by fire!” Lily’s voice carried over the rushing wind as she expertly guided the carriage toward the village.
The sight before them was devastating. Every structure in the village was ablaze, including the protective wooden wall that now served as a cruel pyre. The village was in the grips of an inferno, and the desperate cries of its inhabitants echoed through the air.
“Oh, my God! What’s happened here?! How could such a fierce fire break out!?” Rose’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock and horror. The distant screams only heightened the intensity of the scene.
Yuan’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the village, his senses honing in on the abnormality of the situation. He turned to his wives, concern etched on his face. “Something is amiss here. The houses are too widely spaced for a fire to naturally spread so uniformly. This seems deliberate.”
Anna’s gaze fixed on Yuan, comprehension dawning. Her expression shifted, darkening with realization.
“Are you suggesting, dear, that this fire was intentionally set?”
“Yes,” Yuan affirmed with a series of firm nods. “Given the distance between the houses, this blaze is unlikely to have occurred naturally. It’s likely the work of bandits, exploiting the chaos of the fire to plunder the village.”