Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Boundless Earth Body
As Sam examined the details of his newfound physique, he was filled with a sense of awe. It offered remarkable benefits, enhancing his defense and accelerating his understanding of the earth element. Intriguing thoughts began to race through his mind, imagining the possibilities of developing other elemental-related physiques by devouring beasts of different elements.
"System?" Sam called out, preparing to head home as it was getting late and he felt the weariness of sleep creeping in.
"Yes," the emotionless voice of the system replied.
"So, if I consume elemental beasts, I can evolve and develop other elemental-related physiques?" Sam expressed his skepticism.
"That is correct. By devouring sufficient elemental beasts, you can evolve your existing physique without any issues," the system confirmed.
Curious, Sam inquired further, "How many Wind Elemental beasts would I need to devour to acquire a Wind Elemental physique?" He knew that wind elemental beasts were relatively easier to find compared to other elements, except for earth elemental beasts.
If lightning elemental beasts were more accessible, Sam would have chosen a lightning-related physique since it aligned with his swift sword style.
"To evolve your Earthly Elemental Body, you must consume at least ten Wind elemental beasts," the system responded.
Sam aspired to create a well-rounded physique encompassing all aspects of martial arts. Through his experimentation with the system, he discovered that devouring every elemental beast would allow him to achieve a yin-yang balance within his body.
Just as he contemplated how he would embark on this journey, a small blue magic circle materialized near his right ear, and a voice from within spoke, "Come home, dear. Your grandfathers have captured the killer."
His grandmother, Jenna, sounded anxious over the magical communication, which caused Sam to worry and make the decision to return home.
He turned his gaze towards his grandfather's mansion, gathering his resolve. Chanting, "Breath of life, first form: the birth," he initiated his running technique.
Sam moved with tremendous speed, resembling a speeding bullet. A trail of white energy followed in his wake as he left a visible mark on his path. He felt the resistance of the air against his body and the solid ground beneath his feet.
His choice of utilizing the breath of life technique was focused on speed, allowing him to move faster with each passing second. His movements became fluid and unrestrained, fully utilizing the first form, birth.
In a dense forest far away, concealed from the sight of dangerous creatures, a human-sized eagle perched on a large branch. Its attention fixated on the direction of the eighteen-year-old runner. The intentions and thoughts of the eagle remained a mystery, as it was uncommon to find eagles in the mage world rather than on Earth.
Suddenly, the eagle's eyes began to emit a bright glow, enveloping its entire body in blinding light. As the radiance subsided, it revealed a towering figure exuding strength and authority. Possessing a muscular frame that represented divine power, his majestic appearance was further enhanced by his full, flowing beard and cascading wavy hair. Adorned with a golden crown, he exuded an air of ethereal power.
"Intriguing," he remarked, his eyes glowing with intense curiosity. Resting against the large tree trunk, he exuded a sense of power, seemingly wielding some kind of otherworldly energy.
Gradually, the luminosity in his eyes faded, unveiling brilliant blue eyes that conveyed excitement and interest.
With a brief wave of his hand, the figure vanished into the darkness, leaving behind the words, "I will wait for you at the top."
...
"The lockdown is being lifted. Inform the citizens that the murderer has been apprehended. However, we still haven't located the missing individuals; we might need to resort to extreme measures to extract the information from him."
Gradually, things were returning to normal. The first step involved lifting the lockdown and reopening the closed gates due to the murderer. However, this would have to wait until morning. For now, the priority was to allow the city dwellers a moment of respite, as they had been awoken by the alarm and had been on edge ever since the killer was apprehended.
BOOM!!!
A loud cracking sound suddenly resounded, capturing everyone's attention. All eyes turned toward the source of the commotion, witnessing an astonishing sight: Sam charging toward them like a speeding car. He moved at a speed that seemed impossible for someone of his caliber, leaving his grandfathers and the Tatsuya clan's men astonished.
Though he was only a few hundred meters away, Sam showed no signs of stopping. Sensing his unyielding momentum, those in the vicinity quickly stepped aside.
"He's not stopping," one of the guards muttered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"He will," Jin nodded confidently. "If there's one thing I've taught him repeatedly, it's control." His expression exuded a sense of certainty.
With every passing moment, Sam drew closer, leaving Jin in awe. "L-Legendary realm cultivation?" Jin stammered, unable to comprehend what he was witnessing. After four thousand years of personal struggle, he had never encountered such an astonishing feat. An eighteen-year-old cultivator achieving legendary realm cultivation? It was something his friends would dismiss as pure insanity from overexertion.
Jin had previously estimated that his grandson would require at least 40 years to break through to the legendary realm. Yet, he had been proven utterly wrong.
"He's unbelievably fast," Jin remarked, his astonishment evident.
Just before the point of impact, as predicted by Jin, Sam came to a halt. However, the way he stopped resembled splashing dirt and soil onto the faces of those nearby.
Jin scrutinized his grandson, his expression going through a series of dramatic changes. Initially, happiness washed over him as he realized Sam had returned unharmed. Then came a moment of realization, followed by surprise and, ultimately, a grave seriousness.
The astonishment wasn't limited to Jin alone; everyone present could sense that Sam was no longer the same person who had left earlier. The transformation was palpable and felt by everyone.
Another individual displaying extreme reactions was Anos. On closer inspection, a small golden magic circle could be observed in his pupils.
"Not only is his body imbued with earth elemental mana, but it's as if he has cultivated his earth elemental abilities for thousands of years," Anos pondered, captivated by the extraordinary display.
"What have you gotten yourself into, my grandson?" Jin wondered aloud, while Jin himself contemplated the situation from a different perspective. "His aura feels different, as if his very presence has been replaced by someone else." He exerted his own aura over Sam. "And not only that, his presence also feels... slightly grand." The subtlety of the change was such that only Jin's seasoned experience allowed him to perceive it.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone