"Wang Zhong, where are you planning to go next?"
In the simulated environment, by a river in a forest, Qian Renxue sat on a smooth stone by the riverbank, resting her chin on her hands, and asked curiously as she watched Wang Zhong busy himself nearby.
Wang Zhong, with his trousers rolled up, was holding a wooden spike generated by his first spirit ability, thrusting it fiercely into the river. A plump, large fish was thus impaled.
Using river water, he split the fish open with a chop of his hand, scraped off the scales, rinsed it, and brought it to the fire he had already started to roast.
"For the next environment, I plan to go to the Wind Valley."
Wang Zhong twirled the wooden spike in his hand, pondered for a moment, and said uncertainly.
Now that he had made a new friend, he naturally wanted to entertain them properly, so he pulled Qian Renxue along to this place, intending to present his finest culinary skills to treat her.
And thus, the scene before them unfolded.
"Does your body training require wind? Can wind also be used to train the body?"
Qian Renxue asked with a hint of confusion.
"Sister Xue, the power of wind is immense. Powerful winds can even uproot trees, destroy cities, and stir up the seas. It is certainly feasible to use it for body training."
Wang Zhong focused on the fish he was roasting but answered Qian Renxue's question earnestly.
"Of course, I know what you're saying."
"But don't you think doing it like this is too foolish!"
"Why would you want to forcefully resist the power of the wind?"
As the owner of the Angel Martial Soul, Qian Renxue had been able to easily control the wind since her martial soul awakened. She knew how terrifying the power of wind was, but precisely because she knew, she was puzzled by Wang Zhong's choice.
Wouldn't it be better to borrow the power of the wind and turn it into one's own strength?
Resisting head-on! This was something that, in her opinion, was truly a foolish act.
"Heh heh, this is my training method!"
Wang Zhong chuckled, giving a non-answer, which naturally displeased Qian Renxue.
"Honestly, you're so silly."
"When we get inside, Sister Xue will definitely watch you make a fool of yourself."
Qian Renxue seemed to be looking forward to the spectacle. The wind in the Wind Valley was terrifying. She had come to the Wind Valley when she first learned to master the power of wind.
Wang Zhong shrugged, unconcerned. In cultivation, how could one not experience hardship?
Their conversation ended there. Qian Renxue continued to rest her chin on her hands, quietly watching Wang Zhong roast the fish, while Wang Zhong carefully turned the fish in his hands.
After a while, when the roasted fish in his hands turned golden brown, Wang Zhong proudly presented it to Qian Renxue.
"Try it. This is my specialty grilled fish. I'm sure it will surprise you with how delicious it is."
At Wang Zhong's confident words, Qian Renxue pursed her lips and smiled with great amusement.
"Wang Zhong, I am the little princess of the Spirit Hall. What kind of delicacy in this world haven't I tasted?"
"I'm very eager to taste a delicacy that can surprise me."
Wang Zhong's expression immediately soured. He had forgotten this crucial fact. He subtly pulled the fish back, regretting his boastful words.
However, Qian Renxue's hands were much faster than Wang Zhong's. She snatched the fish away with a laugh, looked at him with a smile, and then, under Wang Zhong's apprehensive gaze, took a small bite.
The moment it entered her mouth, Qian Renxue first felt a crispness, followed by a soft tenderness. The two different textures, along with the unique fresh flavor of the fish, flooded her taste buds, and her eyes brightened.
It was a peculiar sensation.
She had eaten many fish, in different flavors and of different varieties. Wang Zhong's grilled fish, among all the fish she had eaten, could only be considered average.
In her opinion, it wasn't delicious, but it wasn't unappetizing either.
However, some foods cannot be judged solely by whether they are delicious or not. Who prepared the food, with what mood, and for what purpose – all these are very important.
Chewing the fish meat in her mouth carefully, Qian Renxue tilted her head and pondered for a while. Meeting Wang Zhong's gaze, she playfully said, "I can't quite tell. Let me try another bite."
With that, she took another bite, and under Wang Zhong's gaze, she gently narrowed her eyes, shook her head, appearing very happy and joyful.
"Here, you try too. This half is mine, and you are not allowed to bite it!"
"This half is yours!"
Food offered by a friend naturally becomes more delicious when shared.
After the entire fish was finished, the two embarked on their journey to the Wind Valley.
Qian Renxue did not offer a specific evaluation of the fish, but where they had been sitting, only a clean fish bone remained.
"What a strong wind!"
The moment they stepped into the Wind Valley, the incoming air current forced Wang Zhong to retreat step by step. If he hadn't used his arms to shield his chest, he would have found it difficult to even breathe.
"Heh heh, heh heh!"
Qian Renxue's clear laughter could be heard from beside Wang Zhong. She was completely unaffected, save for her long hair whipping around due to the wind; there were no other abnormalities.
"See, I told you. Forcefully resisting the wind is foolish."
Wang Zhong did not offer any defense. His purpose in resisting the wind was to use the wind pressure to achieve the initial stage of Bajitian. The stronger the wind, the happier he felt; only then would his Bajitian become more powerful.
However, his current objective was not here.
Because Qian Renxue had told him that in the center of the Wind Valley, there was a forest of wind blades formed by wind, which was the core of the Wind Valley and the embodiment of the wind's strongest power.
The wind there could cut through refined iron!
But the problem at hand was that he could not move forward in such a strong wind. It wasn't that his strength was insufficient, but the ground beneath his feet did not permit it.
The Wind Valley was a vast gorge perpetually shrouded in gales. Apart from the sheer cliffs on both sides, everything within had been pulverized by the wind and blown away to some unknown location. The entire Wind Valley was bare, with little else but wind, and even stones were scarce.
Even those that remained were riddled with holes, corroded by the fierce winds. It was precisely because of such winds that the ground beneath Wang Zhong's feet was as brittle as paper; with any exertion, it would crumble, making it impossible for him to move forward.
"Look at me, look at me, Wang Zhong." Qian Renxue's clear laughter sounded in his ears. In response to her call, Wang Zhong raised his arm to block the oncoming wind. He saw her moving effortlessly in the gale, as if taking a leisurely stroll.
"Wang Zhong, the power of wind, though seemingly formless, has discernible patterns. Do not resist it head-on."
"Feel the currents of the wind with your body and discern its direction, then change the direction of your own strength, and you will be able to control the wind."
"The power of wind can be softer than water, or it can become harder than steel! When in the midst of a gale, we must transform the wind's power into the strength we desire to fearlessly advance with ease."