Returning to the Mysterious Era

Chapter 108 - The Grim Reaper Opens the Door!

Cassius was a bit surprised himself.

The last time he tried to perform the Azure Wind Flow, the spiraling energy ball had exploded. But, to his shock, it had worked this time!

Ignoring the three people beside him, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to feel the changes in airflow within his palm. The rotation, the wind force, the eye of the storm...

Numerous insights flashed through his mind in quick succession, firmly etched in his memory. After just a few seconds, the swirling airflow in his palm began to destabilize. The energy ball wobbled, and Cassius's arm ached from the intense spiraling. His skin felt like it was seconds away from peeling off.

It's still too much!

He clenched his five fingers, and a loud bang exploded out as the white Tornado Sphere burst apart, sending a strong wind sweeping within a dozen meters radius.

The three of them had to close their eyes against the blast, their clothes fluttering and sticking tightly to their skin from the gust.

"Phew..." Cassius exhaled lightly, the blood vessels in his eyes receding rapidly until they looked normal again.

This unexpected success in condensing the spiraling energy ball had given him some important, some especially detailed, insights. His chances of success in future attempts would be much higher, albeit not by a lot. However minimal it was, progress was still progress and just as precious.

He looked at the three dumbfounded people standing two meters away. He held up his right palm. "Did you see that?"

"Yes!" they answered in unison.

"Do you want to learn?"

"Yes!"

"Well, too bad! No way!" Cassius shook his head. "You have to be, at minimum, a pugilist who has surpassed the limits of the human body. Otherwise, you're not even qualified to learn it."

"Coach, what is a pugilist?" Tifa asked.

"Don't call me 'coach' anymore, call me 'Master.' You should've already called me that the moment I showed you the Azure Wind Flow," Cassius said. He paused slightly before he continued, "You must have heard of the Federation's five-stage system, right?"

"Yes." The three nodded.

"There's another name we call the Federation's five-stage system," Cassius recalled Lisa's words. "Amateur."

"Amateur!" Tifa was shocked. How could a combat master who at the peak of the pugilist level just be considered an amateur?

"If there's an amateur level, then there must be a professional level, right?" Milo asked curiously.

"Correct. The professional level is above the amateur level." Cassius began to elaborate, "There is some overlap between the two. The peak of the amateur level is the Federation's fifth stage, which is about the same as the professional stage's mid-level. In other words, if you reach the peak of the professional stage, you will be half a level higher than the Federation's fifth stage." He gestured with his hand.

"Like I said earlier, if you can master the two Explosive Techniques of speed and strength, you will have reached the peak of the amateur level, the Federation's fifth stage. If you can't beat someone at an ordinary fourth or fifth stage with this kind of strength, then you might as well quit," Cassius said as he sauntered over to the window and pulled the curtain.

"These two Explosive Techniques are based off of a martial art I practice called The Wind Elephant Sect's Basic Combat Arts, which has a complete framework for deadly Combat Techniques. The combat moves I taught you in the past few days come from there, which is the foundation for everything."

Milo was taken aback when he heard this. When he fought those three thugs in the alley, all of those sharp combat moves he doled out—the strikes, hooks, thrusts, and straight punches—were what really hurt them.

Cassius walked back and stood in the center so he could face the three.

"The professional level is a process of constantly tempering the body and pushing its limits. To strengthen the body, you must master Combat Techniques, do actual combat training, and use medicinal baths on a daily basis until your physique gets stronger and surpasses ordinary people's. Once you reach a bottleneck, you've reached the limits of the human body!"

His gaze swept over the three, who stared blankly back at him. "Once you break through this limit, you can control your body's blood circulation with your mind, doubling your speed and strength in an instant. Your perception expands, your reaction speed increases, and your dynamic vision and hearing evolve. At that point, you become superhuman."

The whites of Cassius's eyes suddenly turned red, and he vanished, leaving behind only a black afterimage.

"Where is he?! Where did he go?!" Milo shouted. Tifa and Phil, who were sitting on the ground, were just about to look around when a pair of rough hands pressed on their cheeks, and Cassius's head squeezed in between them.

"I'm right here."

They jumped to their feet. Tifa was about to speak, but a large shadow loomed over them like a python and swallowed the air. There was a loud thud.

Tifa's bangs fluttered wildly as she stared wide-eyed. She swallowed hard and looked around her. Phil and Milo were standing at her side, looking equally shocked.

Cassius had thrown three punches in a split second.

"To have the strength to fight a hundred or even a thousand, with a punch that can pierce through metal armor, and movements so swift that you can catch a flying sparrow—this is what it means to be a pugilist."

Two minutes later.

"Master! I want to learn Combat Arts!"

Three fervent gazes from three directions fell on Cassius.

"You want to learn, huh? Alright, let's see if you have the resolve to walk this path first," Cassius said with a smile. He reached into his bag and after a bit of rummaging around, he procured three bottles. The bottles were transparent, containing a sticky ointment inside.

"Take one each," Cassius shook the bottles.

The three exchanged glances and did as they were told.

"What is this, Master?" Tifa asked.

"Wind Elephant Ointment, used to temper the body and stimulate muscle growth. Don't worry, other than a bit of stinging during practice, there aren't any major side effects," Cassius replied honestly. It was true: the Wind Elephant Ointment didn't have any significant side effects with the only drawback being the stinging sensation it caused when practicing the Elephant Soul. The first time Cassius used the ointment, the stinging wasn't too bad because it was at the beginning of the practice when the pain was the weakest. Not to mention, the Wind Elephant Ointment from that era was too diluted and impure.

But the three bottles in Cassius's hands now were different. They contained sufficient, even excessive, amounts of Lanxin Grass. Because the stinging sensation from the ointment and the medicinal baths were due in large part to Lanxin Grass, which stimulated muscles and skin, Cassius wasn't sure how strong the stinging sensation would be for the three of them.

He figured it shouldn't be too bad. After all, it was their first time using it, and the pain should be minor.

Ten minutes later, the training room was filled with cries and wails.

"Ah! I can't take it anymore! It's itchy and painful!"

"It feels like a hundred needles are stabbing me all over!"

"My butt is on fire!"

"I need to go to the bathroom!"

"Sit down!" Cassius shouted, shoving Milo back down when he tried to stand. Milo plopped back onto the floor.

Milo bounced up and down thrice, as if he were sitting on a bed of hot coals. "Why does it feel like needles are poking my butt?!" He was on the verge of tears.

"What's a grown man crying like this for? Where's your dignity?" Cassius scolded. "When I used this ointment for the first time, I didn't even flinch. It was actually enjoyable!"

The truth was, when Cassius used it back then, it didn't hurt at all. It had felt like he had been submerged in a hot spring, warmth spreading through his entire body.

"Look at your Senior Sister Tifa. She can take it, so what's your excuse?" Cassius pointed out.

Tifa was indeed showing great resilience. Though her brow was furrowed and she bit her lip, she didn't utter a single sound. Her body trembled slightly, clearly enduring the pain. She was handling it much better than Milo and Phil.

"If Sis Tifa can do it, then so can I!" Phil said, sweat pouring down his forehead as he tried to control his breathing. He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself.

Smack!

A large hand slapped his shoulder.

"Ahhh! Owww!" Phil jumped up as if pricked by a porcupine, his face contorted in pain, snot dripping from his nose. He collided into Milo, who was beside him. Milo quickly stepped aside, his arms trembling. He was hyperventilating and his eyes were enormous.

"Master, don't touch me! It hurts!" Phil cried out.

"Phil, don't bump into me! It hurts!" Milo echoed.

Their red eyes brimmed with tears.

"Does it really hurt that much?" Cassius said, shaking his head. "Alright, I was just trying to tell you not to close your eyes. The next thing you have to do is mimic my movements. Watch carefully."

He couldn't help thinking, these modern ointments are really potent!

He then guided the three through the initial steps of the Elephant Soul technique, reminding them to keep their breathing steady.

Gradually, their expressions calmed. They now felt what Cassius once felt: the sensation of soaking in a hot spring. Warmth spread through their skin, seeping into their muscles, bones, meridians, and blood.

After a while, they opened their eyes. The afternoon sunlight had turned to a dusky yellow, as if the sun was ten minutes away from setting.

"How do you feel?" Cassius asked from where he stood at the window.

"Strange. My body feels lighter." Tifa looked down at her hands and lightly jumped on the spot.

"My vision is clearer, and my sense of smell too..." Milo said, sniffing the air like a dog.

Phil had quite an imagination. "It's like taking a cold shower after a hot and sweaty summer day."

"Go home so you can get used to this feeling without any disturbances. It's late now. I want you to come to me every day for your ointment training from now on," Cassius instructed as he collected the three bottles.

Five minutes later, the three of them walked down the hallway, a new spring in their steps.

"This is amazing," Tifa marveled. She peeked over at Cassius's tall figure, bag slung over his shoulder, walking behind them. In the shadows, he had an inexplicable, untouchable aura of mystery.

"Our teacher seems to be full of mysteries..."

The three parted ways as they each headed back home.

From that day onward, Tifa, Phil, and Milo officially started following Cassius, practicing the combat techniques of the Wind Elephant Sect. They trained in Basic Combat Arts daily and used the ointment to practice the Elephant Soul.

Three days later, the renovations for Cassius's new home were finally complete. While the walls and floor tiles remained mostly unchanged, there were other small improvements made, and the courtyard was rearranged.

Cassius moved in that day, leaving behind the remaining rent at Madam Jessica's place; he considered it a small expense for a few months' stay. He also kept the room to use as an occasional resting place.

That evening, Cassius drove home from the Gray Seal Martial Arts Hall in a new car he had acquired from Ace of Spades. Though not as luxurious as Matthew's Heitznauer series, it was still a decent vehicle.

Cassius felt comfortable in it, appreciating the seat, the layout of the driver's area, and the understated, elegant interior.

If he were driving by the river on Sunset Boulevard as he listened to long, crooning songs, what a beautiful experience that would be.

But even though he wasn't by the river, he was still on Sunset Boulevard. His car, bathed in white moonlight, sped forward. The car's radio played the melodic tunes of an unknown band.

The sun today feels wonderful,

With even the evening bringing a gentle breeze.

Hair defies the wind, reaching so high,

Candies and spices sway and laugh.

In quiet moments, everything's full,

But why can't I feel joy in the crowd?

Cassius's head swayed lightly to the music. He wasn't some cold machine; he enjoyed moments of freedom and happiness when he was alone.

If anyone dared to disturb Cassius at this moment, they would get a front row seat of what a "Mad Elephant" would look like!

Unfortunately, there was indeed such a fool today.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Twisted creatures emerged from the shadows, brandishing inhuman claws. They chased the car, slashing at the brand-new doors and scratching off the beautiful paint as sparks flew. The windows shattered.

Their goal was to stop the car, and announce to the parasitized Cassius, "The grim reaper has come knocking!"

Screech!

The car came to an abrupt halt, leaving black skid marks. A pack of shadow demons surrounded the car, their claws out like hyenas.

Boom!

One excited, bloodthirsty Shadow Demon was thrown into the air, tumbling across the ground for dozens of meters.

A strong, marble-like arm retracted from the window. With a click, a man with eyes burning red like flames stepped out. His muscular, statue-like body stood tall.

The grim reaper had opened the door.