Astral Apostle

Barong stroked his beard as he continued, "Up until now, no one has been able to say how many kinds of breathing techniques there are for hunters. Everyone knows different kinds of breathing techniques. If you want to learn other breathing techniques, you can usually exchange them with other Mutant Beast Hunters in the future."

"Has no one integrated all the breathing techniques?"

Zhou Jing couldn't help but ask.

Barong shook his head as he answered.

"The Terra Empire has been trying in this regard, but it's not that easy to learn Hunter's Breath Techniques, and it's even harder to master it. It's impossible for ordinary people to master it just by relying on text records, so most of the time, it requires the guidance of a hunter who has mastered it.

"However… a person's energy is limited. Generally, after learning two or three types of breathing techniques, one would not have the energy to practice new ones. Take me, for example. I spent nearly 14 years truly mastering these two types of breathing techniques to become proficient in using them. As for the less proficient breathing techniques, not only will they be useless in battle, but they can also disrupt one's own fighting rhythm. After all, one can only use one type of breathing technique at one time.

"Thus, Mutated Beast Hunters will usually choose a breathing technique that is suitable for them based on the direction of their strengthening. Then, they will go and learn from hunters who understand them and rely on the two or three types of breathing techniques they have chosen for their hunts."

Zhou Jing nodded. He roughly understood the process now.

The blood enhancement brought about extraordinary power, and Hunter's Breath Technique was a skill that allowed the hunters to better utilize this power, similar to combat skills.

There were many types of breathing techniques, but due to their limited learning abilities and aptitude, Mutated Beast Hunters took the path of quality rather than quantity.

At this moment, Barong had put back on his clothes.

He spoke out, "When you learn this breathing technique, use it to train your body. Once your body becomes stronger, you will be able to receive the enhancement of the foreign mutant blood… It will take about two to three years."

"That long?" Zhou Jing was slightly stunned.

"You call this long?!" Barong's eyes widened as he said seriously, "Do you think that the Hunter's Breath Technique is easy to master? Do you think that it will immediately take effect? The training of Mutated Beast Hunters is something that takes years! Wind or snow, you have to train hard every day. You can only grow stronger by growing slowly… Even with your physical talent, it's the same!"

At this point, he suddenly paused. As though he felt that it was a little harsh, he softened his tone.

"I know that you are eager to take revenge on the Subterraneans, but you need to make sufficient preparations before you receive the enhancement of the mutant blood. Otherwise, even with your body, you might die during the enhancement. You have to be patient."

"Alright."

Zhou Jing made no comment, but in his mind, he had already started calculating.

Based on the current time flow, one day in the main world was equivalent to one month in the Mutant World. Thus, three years in the Mutant World… would be more than one month in the main world.

He did not forget that his goal was to use an Apostle to clear the objectives within two months in the main world. Although he wanted to develop the Apostle, he did not plan to take so long.

But, with Accelerated Learning, I should be able to shorten this time. It shouldn't take as much time as he mentioned… I just don't know how much it can shorten it.

Zhou Jing thought to himself.

He did not dwell on this issue. He would find out once he started practicing. At this moment, it was better to focus on the details of the blood strengthening.

When his last apostle was with Barong, the latter had avoided this question. Now, he had the qualifications to ask more.

The world of mutant beasts was still in its primitive stages, and it was not the era of information explosion. Some remote villages might not even know the Emperor's name, so Zhou Jing could ask for some information without worry.

He deliberated over his choice of words and explained his doubts about the mutant blood potion. This time, Barong replied and explained the situation of the heterogeneous blood potion in detail.

When a person drank a blood potion, the effect of the potion would be released in their body, and their body would rapidly strengthen. This was a painful process.

There were three scenarios.

The first was naturally to successfully strengthen and become a Mutant Blood Warrior, obtaining stable Supernatural Powers.

The second and third scenarios were both failures, except in different forms.

One scenario would be that they died on the spot and rose into the sky, directly stepping into their coffins.

The other would be what they termed "false success." The user would seem to have passed the strengthening and gained powers. But, in the next few hours or days, they would be in intense discomfort, similar to rejection and gene collapse. In the end, they would still die violently. It was just a few more days of life, giving hope and despair.

Because the ingredients of the blood potion were made up of a multitude of different beasts, according to the characteristics of the ingredients, they had different ways of strengthening, such as strength, agility, defense, and so on.

However, the effect could only strengthen the body, and it could not obtain special abilities such as the release of electricity and fire. The effect of the blood potion made by these beasts was only to increase one's resistance to electric shocks and flames.

"During the tribal era, there were many pharmacists who tried to bestow the special abilities of mutated beasts to humans through the strengthening of the blood. After the establishment of the Terra Empire, it was said that many master pharmacists were even gathered to study it together. However, up until today, there has been no results."

Barong sounded regretful.

Zhou Jing's eyes flickered. He thought for a moment and asked, "In this world, is there any other way to obtain extraordinary power other than the mutant blood potion?"

"That… I've never heard of it." Barong scratched his bald head.

Zhou Jing exhaled.

It seemed his only way through would be using the mutant blood potion at the moment. As he suspected, it was indeed a pure physical Strengthening ability. It was impossible to produce any energy attacks.

Zhou Jing thought for a moment and asked, "How do we get the blood potion? Do we need to spend money to buy it?"

"You can spend money but you might not need to as well." Barong's answer was unexpected.

Zhou Jing was left stunned by his answer.

'What does that mean? Are you planning to bring me to do some "Zero-dollar Shopping?"

I don't mind. After all, if I die, I can just open another apostle. But shouldn't you think twice before you act…

At this moment, Barong explained in a muffled voice:

"Every tribe has their own hunting workshops that are used to process mutated beasts' materials and make all kinds of weapons or blood potions. After the Empire was established, they opened workshops in every town to recycle the mutated beasts' materials. Thus, mutated beast hunters would sell the hunted mutated beasts to the workshops in exchange for some money.

The products made by the workshop were all sold, including the blood potion.

"However, if the Mutated Beast Hunters have needs, the workshop can also give them the mutant blood potion for free."

Zhou Jing blinked in confusion.

Giving it directly? Isn't that a losing deal?

Moreover, with the efficiency of information exchange in this era, it was easy to exploit loopholes. As long as a mutant hunter went to a different town after the exchange each time, wouldn't it be easy to collect a large amount of the mutant blood potions?

As though he could see Zhou Jing's confusion, Barong laughed and further explained.

"Of course, there are conditions. The workshop will only give out potions based on the number of times the hunter had submitted and sold mutated beast materials to them."

"I see…"

Zhou Jing immediately understood.

Hunters would constantly submit or sell the beasts they hunted in certain workshops. Thus, there would be a record in the workshop, and they would get opportunities to obtain free blood potions.

However, it would not be the same in a different town. The records of the workshops in different areas were not interconnected. If a hunter went to another area, he would have to start over.

Therefore, Mutant Beast Hunters tended to stay around a certain town and wouldn't change places easily.

This might be a way for the different towns and workshops to compete with each other. Using this method, they try their best to make the mutated beast hunters stay with them and bring mutated beast materials to the local workshops… Is this similar to not having any base cost to operate their business?

Zhou Jing's mind raced.

In an era where information and communication were inefficient, this was indeed a feasible plan.

Unlike modern times, there was no way to ignore the distance. The hunters weren't on a centralized database, so they could only work locally in each workshop.

Moreover, it was not necessarily a loss for the workshop. If the processing skills were good, there might be a few sets of mutant blood potions that could be made from a mutant beast, not to mention that there were other body parts used to make equipment.

Barong stroked his beard and laughed. "I've been stationed in Frostwood Village for many years. I've submitted many hunting materials to the workshops in the city, and I've saved up quite a number of times I can exchange for the blood potion, but never used it. When you're almost done with your training, I'll get a blood potion from the workshops. You don't have to spend money."

"Then, I'll thank you first."

Zhou Jing smiled.

This was much easier than he had expected. At first, he had thought that obtaining the Mutant Blood Potion would be very difficult.

The main threat in this world was the mutant beasts. Therefore, the countries and tribes would definitely want more Mutant Beast Hunters. However, they were afraid that ordinary people would not dare to use the blood potion or that it was too costly.

However, while he did not need to spend money this time, he still owed Barong a favor. After all, he was using the free potion quota that Barong had saved up.

It's probably not just because of my talent but also because of Will·Wood's influence. Barong's deciding to use this method to "compensate?"

Zhou Jing pondered to himself.

In this case, the path ahead was clear. As long as the level of Hunter's Breath was increased, he would be able to receive the Supernatural Powers, and there was no need to worry about anything else.

At this moment, Barong suddenly changed the topic and pointed at the weapons rack at the edge of the training ground.

"Let's not talk about the strengthening through the mutant blood first. It's still far away from you. What you need to consider now is what weapon to practice with."

"Maybe a blade."

Zhou Jing did not think much about it.

For his current Astral Apostle, [Blade Technique] was at the green level of Aptitude. Among the abilities that he inherited, there was also the Hunting Blade Mastery.

Although Barong was good at axes, Zhou Jing had studied the panel and felt that it was more cost-effective to determine the direction of growth based on one's own aptitude.

Normal people needed to figure it out personally to know what they were good at. Through the interface's ability file, he could directly see the innate talent of this body. He could start with targeted training and immediately work on his strengths.

With such an advantage, he naturally had to make use of it.

"That's fine too… I know some blade techniques too. I can teach you."

Barong sounded regretful.

He still wanted to recommend his own weapon so that this place would become an "Ax Gang."

But, it would take at least three years to train Jason. There was still time.

Perhaps in time, he will realize that he was not good at blade practice and turn around to follow me in ax practice, and we'll happily create miracles together?

They finished discussing the training program and did not continue chatting. Soon, they started training.

Today was mainly to learn Hunter's Breath. As Zhou Jing listened to Barong's explanation, relevant information quickly popped up on the interface:

[Hunter's Breath·Forging!]

[One of the fabled Hunter's Breath Techniques has the ability to improve one's Physical Fitness rapidly.]

[Skill Level: Lv 0 (Novice)]

[Minimum Cost for Accelerated Learning: 100 Astral Points]

"The cost of Accelerated Learning for the Novice stage is already so high. I wonder how many Astral Points it will cost to level up… However, the higher the initial cost, it might mean that this skill is rarer and has more potential."

Zhou Jing did not hesitate. He immediately consumed 100 points and activated the Accelerated Learning function for [Hunter's Breath·Forging].

He had already discovered it.

This Accelerated Learning function was basically a bottomless pit that burned money…

He probably didn't have enough Astral Points to finish developing his apostle.

Looks like I have to think of a way to earn some resources…

Zhou Jing sank deep in thought as he began his training.