MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 226
Chapter 226: Homecoming
More than two months had passed since Lu Ming left South Mountain. When he departed, the settlement was still in its infancy - farmland lay uncultivated, and the cave dwellings were rudimentary.
Now, as he returned, he could see patches of vibrant black rice fields from afar.
As he ascended the mountain, he heard the distant sounds of activity.
"Mr. Lu, you're finally back!" a voice called out.
There was no urgency in the tone, just a casual greeting, suggesting all was well in South Mountain.
Lu Ming smiled and nodded in the direction of the voice. Velo and Fala were descending the mountain path, their faces alight with smiles.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Velo," Lu Ming said as they approached.
South Mountain, situated within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, wasn't without its dangers. A variety of exotic beasts roamed the vicinity, including some at the Physique Realm.
Without Velo's vigilant protection, the settlement wouldn't have flourished as it had.
Velo waved a hand dismissively. "Fala, why don't you show Mr. Lu around?"
He then turned to Lu Ming. "I have some matters to attend to, so I won't be accompanying you back to your house."
Fala, despite the time they had spent apart, showed no signs of awkwardness. She chattered animatedly as they walked, her voice like a cheerful songbird.
"Over there, we have the black rice fields, with enough space to feed 180 people," Fala explained, pointing towards a vast expanse of dark green stalks swaying in the breeze.
"Next to the rice fields are the vegetable gardens."
Her enthusiasm was contagious, her voice bubbling with pride as she continued the tour.
"And that's the ranch. We had an Awakened here recently who could control exotic beasts. He can't tame the powerful ones, but it's perfect for raising livestock. We won't have to worry about meat anymore."
She paused, her curiosity piqued. "By the way, Brother Lu, did you have any interesting experiences in the Flame Clan Ruin?"
Lu Ming casually shared some of his observations, careful to omit any details that might cause alarm. Fala listened with rapt attention, her eyes wide with wonder.
Soon, they reached the cave entrance and followed the illuminated path inside.
Wang Xiong, Zhang Chengcheng, Wei Lan, and the others, likely notified by Velo, were waiting for them.
Seeing Lu Ming, they greeted him with excited cheers.
Brother Lu is back! Our home is complete!
Lu Ming returned their greetings with a warm smile, then followed Zhang Chengcheng to his new house.
In the outdoor dining area, Zhang Chengcheng, Wei Lan, and Fala busied themselves preparing a meal while Lu Ming chatted with them.
They discussed the aftermath of the Flame Clan Ruin and the recent events in South Mountain. Huo Sheng had been a frequent visitor, though he hadn't been able to meet with Lu Ming directly. He had, however, exchanged information and resources with Wang Xiong.
Based on Huo Sheng's visits, Lu Ming estimated he would return in three days. That would be the perfect opportunity to discuss the Aeonians with him.
As for other matters, there had been no significant developments, and thankfully, no major threats had arisen. Any minor dangers that had surfaced were swiftly dealt with by Velo, ensuring the safety of the community.
Overall, everything was progressing smoothly.
The further the settlement developed, the more it could provide Lu Ming with the peace and stability he craved for his cultivation.
"By the way, these are the items I acquired in the Flame Clan Ruin," Lu Ming said, placing a collection of items, including Body Forging Pills, on the table. He instructed the three women to distribute them as they saw fit.
The women's faces lit up with excitement.
After enjoying a warm and hearty meal, Lu Ming led Chengcheng and Wei Lan to the small courtyard.
Currently, both Chengcheng and Wei Lan were at the Ninth Level of the Mortal Realm.
The gap between them and Lu Ming was vast. No matter how they utilized their superpowers, they could no longer pose any challenge to him.
This realization left Lu Ming feeling somewhat helpless.
I'm afraid there won't be any more daily attribute point farming in the future...
The daily routine used to provide him with 2 points in all attributes, but it had become inefficient.
Lu Ming could gain far more attribute points in the same amount of time by practicing the Body Forging Technique within the Void Space.
The sense of loss he felt stemmed from the fact that the daily routine had become ingrained in his life. Not being able to continue it felt like a piece of his identity was missing.
"Well," Lu Ming sighed, "I suppose I'll have to adapt." He turned to Zhang Chengcheng and Wei Lan, noticing their own melancholic expressions.
An idea sparked in his mind. "I have another task for you two," he said, his voice regaining its usual firmness.
Zhang Chengcheng perked up immediately. "Brother Lu, what is it?"
"From now on, I'll be in seclusion in my bedroom," Lu Ming explained. "If there's anything urgent, please knock on the window."
He knew that entering the Void Space would significantly dampen his awareness of the outside world. In that state, he might not even notice if an enemy approached.
Therefore, he needed trustworthy people to stand guard, and Zhang Chengcheng and Wei Lan were the obvious choices.
Hearing their new mission, the two girls brightened, their resolve renewed.
"You can count on us," they said in unison.
Lu Ming reminded them, "And don't forget to prepare meals."
They smiled. "Of course, we'll take care of the cooking too."
After dinner and ensuring everything was in order outside, Lu Ming finally retreated to his room.
Lying on his bed, he gazed into the distance, lost in thought.
"The Void Space has advanced to the intermediate level," he mused. "This will bring significant changes to my future cultivation."
"The daily attribute farming routine is no longer viable. From now on, I'll focus on gaining attribute points through the Body Forging Technique and increasing my Origin Power Skill levels."
"To save time, I'll do my cultivation in the Void Space. It's necessary."
Lu Ming's primary objective remained the same: farming attributes.
This meant Lu Ming would likely need to spend over 20 hours a day within the Void Space.
For most, this would be an unbearably monotonous existence.
But for Lu Ming, it was a blessing.
He no longer had to engage in social interactions or worry about lurking dangers.
He placed a soft cushion on the ground, scattered the Flame Stones around him, and sat cross-legged, closing his eyes.
Cultivation commenced.
His consciousness flickered, and when he opened his eyes again, he was within the familiar white expanse of the Void Space. The emptiness and silence brought a profound sense of tranquility and security.
He inhaled, exhaled, centering himself.
Then, Lu Ming took a deep breath, raised his hand, and assumed the starting posture of the Flame Body Forging Technique.
He would begin by familiarizing himself with this newly acquired technique.
Compared to the Knight Body Forging Technique, the Flame Body Forging Technique was more intricate and demanding. It also required the aid of Flame Stones during practice.
As Lu Ming flowed through the movements, he felt a warmth spreading through his body—his external body absorbing the fiery energy of the Flame Stones.
Soon, his entire being felt ablaze.
Under the tempering heat, his cells seemed to sing with newfound vitality, growing subtly stronger with each passing moment.
After half an hour, Lu Ming completed his practice and exhaled a warm breath. A quick check of his attribute panel revealed that the Flame Body Forging Technique's experience points had increased by one, now displaying "(Entry 1/100)."
Simultaneously, his three-dimensional attributes and free attribute points had also risen by one each.
"Excellent," Lu Ming murmured, a pleased smile gracing his lips. "And the time required is the same as the Knight Body Forging Technique."
He was particularly gratified by the fact that each attribute point now represented a staggering 10,000 points from his Mortal Realm days.
"Next," Lu Ming declared, his eyes gleaming with determination, "I need to figure out the exact value of one unit of Flame Stone."
End of Chapter 226