Sighing, then nodding, Kiso said, “It seems the spiritual pressure inside this forest is much higher then normal, perhaps we won’t need to stay too long.”

The two tiny silhouettes penetrated the black wall as they entered the forest.

Chapter Eight –

Tiny strings of light can be seen randomly descending from the dark world above.

Aside from a few scattered sickly looking plants and the giant trunks of seemingly millions of trees, the forest was completely lifeless.

Kiso and Yuni have been walking deeper into the forest for several hours now.

“This forest is very mysterious, there isn’t a single sign of life, yet the deeper we go the stronger the spiritual pressure gets.” Kiso thought aloud.

Yuni was happily skipping forward, matching her pace with Kiso’s. “Big brother Kiso, we should find somewhere to make a home for the next few months or years.”

Nodding in agreement, Kiso added, “Right, it should be somewhere close to water, let’s keep walking until we find a stream or lake.”

On cue, twenty minutes later, the faint sound of flowing water first struck Kiso’s ears.

As Kiso shifted his path and gaze along with it, he suddenly stopped. In the distance, next to a healthy flowing ravine, was an ancient looking dwelling carved into one of the giant trees near the water.

Kiso’s first thought was danger. He immediately determined that someone capable of living in the Byuki Forest would not be weak. With the dangers that person would face on a daily basis, they would probably wouldn’t be a very kind person either.

“Yuni, hold on, let’s avoid this person and head a few miles downstream.” Kiso had already turned once more walking away from that dwelling, but Yuni’s steps could no be heard.

“Big brother Kiso…” Kiso turned around hearing her words to find a large, dark cloaked man had appeared ten feet away from them.

“Danger!” Kiso immediately urged his spiritual pressure outside his body and into his fingers simultaneously.

Before he even had an inclination to cast a lightning bolt, an ancient voice rang out in his mind, “Little person of the Thunderblack clan, do not act so quickly, I do not wish to harm you or your little friend.”

The voice didn’t carry any tone of deceit, yet Kiso would not be so quick to trust someone he just met, especially in the middle of the Byuki Forest.

Kiso’s body flickered and he appeared between Yuni and the dark cloaked figure, then he spoke out, “Elder, I do not know who you are, but have not come to cause you any trouble, I wonder if you would let us off just this once for entering your territory?”

The cloaked man’s hood fell back as his face went skyward and deep crackling laughter filled the air. From the cracks in the voice, it could be determined that this old man had not laughed, or possibly even spoken, in a very long time.

“You are quite alright young one, I like you! You seem to have quite some ability yet are kind and considerate of others. Come, I wish to have a conversation with another human, its been far too long!” The old man’s face was now visible, on his face was an extremely bizarre amount of wrinkles.

Kiso was hesitant, although he didn’t want to risk dealing with this old man, offending him now would likely result in even more danger. Kiso decided to ask Yuni in front of the old man, “Yuni, what do you think? Should we trust an old man who doesn’t even introduce himself before sneaking up on a couple of children?”

Kiso’s words shocked Yuni and the old man, she simply responded, “I think it would be wise to not offend this honorable mister, big brother Kiso, don’t you agree?” Yuni’s words were hushed and he could tell she didn’t want the old man to hear her.

Despite that, he laughed again before saying, “So your name is Kiso, it is true, I have forgotten my manners. My name is Magnum Black, by the nature of your spiritual pressure, I’d say your my junior!”

Kiso immediately fell to a knee, pulling Yuni down along with him as he bowed his head and said, “Elder Magnum, please forgive me! I had no idea I was in the presence of such a legendary man!” Kiso immediately lost himself and tried to kiss Magnum’s ass.

Magnum’s face lost its smile as he sighed, “Although that is my name, I have long since abandoned it! I would prefer you simply call me Elder Sage from now on. Also, dispense with your silly ceremony! I do not wish to be talked up to by someone I just met!”

Magnum then turned and started walking back towards that dwelling in the ancient tree as he called out, “You two must be hungry, come, today you will be my guests!”

Yuni and Kiso just stared at each other.

Kiso sent out his spiritual pressure to encompass the tree dwelling to probe it for traps, only to discover something extremely bizarre. That tree dwelling was a living creature! Kiso’s spiritual pressure is capable of identifying the difference between regular plants and spiritual beasts, that was how the two of them had avoided the handful of spiritual beasts they might otherwise have encountered.

As Elder Sage was about to enter the tree dwelling, Kiso called out to him, “Elder Sage, what is this home of yours? Why does it feel like a spiritual beast?”

Elder Sage turned around and smiled before glancing back at his home, “Koho, I believe it’s time to introduce yourself!”

The bark on the tree twisted and formed the face of an extremely beautiful mature looking woman. Strangely enough, the face of the woman actually had eyes and a mouth, which both opened and she spoke saying, “Hubby, you know I prefer to stay hidden, why reveal me to these little people?”

Elder Sage laughed again, “Koho, this little one is able to sense your spiritual pressure, there is no hiding it this time.”

The face in the bark shifted her gaze to Kiso, then nodded and said, “So be it, come on then you two, this little husband of mine will not harm you, no need to feel fear.”

Kiso and Yuni could hear the sincerity in the woman’s voice and their last wall of skepticism fell as they followed the Elder Sage into this so called Koho.

– – – – –

Inside the dwelling, was a simple room, a single lantern on a table carved from the walls was all the lighting in the room. There was a fire pit, a storage closet, and a few beast skins on the ground forming a bed and seats around the table.

The most impressive thing was, the moment the three of them entered the dwelling, a section of wood on the wall separated from the tree forming a human shaped wood doll. The Elder Sage touched the wood doll, infusing it with his own spiritual pressure, and the doll’s body changed. The formerly inanimate piece of wood gained skin, hair, and clothing. One would not be able to tell that the woman currently standing in the place of that wood was once part of this giant tree.

This woman had the same face as the one they had seen outside the dwelling.

Koho smiled and sat on one of the seats around the table saying, “Little ones, my name is Koho, I am a spiritual beast Byuki tree. This old man here originally just carved me out without knowing what I was. He felt extremely bad and granted me a human body with his spiritual pressure. Although it is not a true body, I can move on my own and use the spiritual pressure from my main body all the same.

By now, the Elder Sage had sat, while Kiso and Yuni still stood with dumbstruck looks on their faces staring at Koho. They had never known it was possible to grant spiritual pressure to spiritual beasts giving them a human body.

In truth, only a true spiritual master is capable of doing this.

Elder Sage smiled and gestured for the two of them to sit down.

“Little master Kiso, tell me, how old are you this year?” Elder Sage opened up the conversation after he and Yuni had sat down with them.

“I turned ten seven months ago sir.” Kiso still felt the need to be respectful to this legendary figure of his clan.

Magnum’s eyes widened a little, “A little bit faster then me?” Magnum had never though this young man in front of him to be of similar talent to himself.

He continued his train of thought, “If he is truly like me, perhaps he can use that cultivation technique…”

As Magnum started to get a little excited that he might be able to impart some of his knowledge onto someone worthy, he began to size up Kiso closely.

Before him sat a ten something year old boy. He was large for his age, at five foot eight inches tall, with a well built frame as well. Although his body isn’t that of an adults yet, he can be considered one simply based on his size. Aside from his size, he was notably handsome as well, with pitch black hair hanging down to his shoulders and a chiseled face.

Yuni didn’t originally fall in love with him for his talent, decisive nature, or hidden kindness, but rather simply because he was extremely good looking.

Kiso normally wears an indifferent look on his face, neither smiling nor frowning, yet right now his lips curved up into a faint smile. It was obvious that he was excited right now.

Magnum’s lips finally curved up as well as he continued his questioning, “Kiso, I’d like to teach you some tricks to the Thunderblack lightning, but you have to promise me something.” Magnum’s face grew solemn as he waited for Kiso’s nod.

Kiso was a little taken aback, “Elder Sage wants to teach me something? Please speak Elder, what must I promise you?”

“Kiso, Yuni, this actually concerns both of you. My existence alone here is one that I sought on my own for very good reasons. There are powers on this continent who would seek to force me to reveal certain elements of my cultivation. These powers are extremely powerful and would reach a level of cultivation likely to challenge the heavens should I help them. However, I disagree with their personalities and would rather see their faces in the earth with their rear ends sprouting flowers, therefore, no matter what happens in the future, you must not speak of our meeting.” Magnum emphasized his last few words very strongly.

“Just that?” Kiso laughed softly and his smile finally blossomed, “If its just that, you need not worry, Elder Sage taking the initiative to even just talk to us is already an honor of a lifetime.”

Yuni hurriedly nodded in agreement.

Magnum had said these words not out of distrust, but rather because he wanted them to know he wanted to keep his existence hidden.

Slowly rising from the table, Magnum walked over to the only window in the room, peering out into the canopy of the forest. His tone slightly excited he called back to Kiso, “Actually Kiso, my method to cultivation is something only someone like me and you can appreciate and benefit from. Although there are a few more like us, they are extremely rare. Do you have any idea what I mean by that?” Magnum turned back to face him.

Kiso was naturally intelligent and had already begun to connect the dots the moment the words left Magnum’s mouth.

“Dual innate abilities, or rather, two types of nature energy residing in our cores, right?” Kiso’s interest was piqued.

Magnum had expected Kiso to catch on, “Right, having two separate nature energies in our core’s allows us to absorb nature energy at an astonishing rate compared to our peers. Beyond that however, we can also enter a completely different state of cultivation, one normal cultivators can only dream of.”

Turning back around to look out the window, Magnum raised his voice to match the intensity in the meaning of his next words, “Those of us with dual cores are not bound to only absorb nature energy, we can absorb heaven energy at the same time as well!”

Magnum waved his hand as a scroll appeared and he tossed it to Kiso.

On the scroll was written:

“The Heaven and Earth Cultivation Technique”

To Be Continued!