“Commander, it’s raining!”

The trainer exclaimed. He bustled to find an empty container and place it in the rain. The drops gathering in the container glowed with greenish-blue light.

Commander Du picked up the container and sipped on the few drops gathered inside. His eyes lit up when he finished the drops.

“It is Energy-infused Water! Haha! Trainer Feng, Place as many containers as possible in the rain. We need to collect this treasure!”

“Yes, Leader!” Trainer Feng got to work.

Ikasa was shocked by Commander Du’s words.

“Is that really the Energy-infused Water? The one that can clear the Energy Path 50% faster upon consumption?”

When the leader of guards nodded in affirmation, his mouth hit the floor. He needed such treasure to alleviate the kid’s glumness and support their practice.

“Brother Ikasa is really my lucky star! First, I got incredible techniques, and now this treasure.”

Du Man excitedly clapped Ikasa’s shoulders. He saw the rain fall on the paved ground and disappear between the cracks. A look of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

“It’s a pity that these grounds are paved. If this was a farm, it would’ve turned into treasured land for growing spirit medicine. What a waste!”

While Commander Du was rambling about the losses, Ikasa gathered his courage.

“Commander, can you give me a few bottles of Energy-infused water?”

The ramblings stopped instantly. The man turned his head away to avoid meeting Ikasa’s expectant gaze.

With an awkward expression, he said, “I would’ve given it to you if there was a surplus. But this much is insufficient for internal consumption.”

Ikasa looked at the man with a deadpan stare, but in his head, he couldn’t help but curse the man.

‘Shameless! One man can only drink 10 drops of this water at max. When the rain stops, the 50 pots will collect at least 100-120 drops each. And this will be insufficient for internal consumption? Just say you want money, you greedy pig!’

He decided to test his theory and see if he would agree to sell.

“Commander, I don’t mean to take advantage of you. I will exchange the Fast-Faster-Fastest Manual for two pots with 100 drops each.”

“Deal!”

Du Man shook Ikasa’s hand enthusiastically. He agreed so quickly that Ikasa almost regretted the deal.

People inside the cyclone slowly woke up, and the energy cocoons around them faded. The clouds also receded in the sky.

“Let’s go Ikasa. We still need to distribute the Battle Technique manuals.”

Commander Du brought Ikasa to the front by his arm.

“What? I am in the intermediate stage of Path Forging Realm?”

“I am at the 3rd stage!”

“Are all his manuals so awesome? I was not even a cultivator sometime ago, and now I am already at stage 2!”

“Me too!”

Almost all of the hundred had advanced into Stage 2 of the Path Forging Realm and many had even broken through to Stage 3.

Some geniuses had taken this opportunity to advance to Stage 4 of the Path Forging realm and become Intermediate Path Forgers.

These words fell on the ears of Trainer Feng and Commander Du. When their eyes met, they knew what exactly the other was thinking.

‘The energy storm couldn’t be the cause of this. It is often fatal to cultivators.’

‘This means his manuals are the reason for their advancement.’

Once they thought of this possibility, their reverence for Ikasa and his manuals skyrocketed. They looked at him with admiring gazes.

“Brother Ikasa, your manuals are truly heaven-defying!”

Commander Du sighed with wonderment.

“Indeed! I have never seen a cultivator breakthrough from just using the manual, let alone advance several stages!”

Trainer Feng seconded his superior while applauding in his own way.

Ikasa received their compliments with a smile. Even though he accepted their praises calmly, he himself was confused as to what happened.

‘Maybe it was the Energy Storm?’

He didn’t dwell on the matter for long and proceeded to pass on his Battle Techniques.

When the thick books were passed around, Du Man was constantly looking for signs of another energy vortex. To his dismay, there was no shocking phenomenon this time.

Ikasa noticed his antiques and grinned at his foolish hopes.

‘As if the energy storm was formed by my manuals…’

A few minutes later, all the people had learned the skills. Some were practicing punching through each other’s strengthened defenses. Others were running, utilizing the movement technique to its full potential.

“Good! Very Good! Good block! Good maneuver!”

Du Man exclaimed while clapping his hands. His eyes darted from one person to another. Mirth spilled from them as he kept on repeating the word ‘Good.’

Once he had seen enough, he led Ikasa to the Barracks.

“Here you go! 2000 Gold as promised. And 200 drops of Energy-infused Water.”

Ikasa was puzzled by the sum offered.

“Commander we agreed on 800 gold per manual. This is 400 gold more than promised?”

Du Man smiled kindly at him.

“Yes, we agreed on 800 gold. But your manual also performed better than expected. So take it. You deserve those extra coins.”

Commander Du grabbed Ikasa’s hand and placed the pouch on it forcefully.

‘Shameless!’ Ikasa cursed the man in his heart.

‘If you had to train all your 100 soldiers to Stage 2, it would cost you at least a few months and 5000 gold. And yet you are sending me off with just 400 gold?’

Ikasa wanted to spit out the facts and storm out of here. But he controlled himself. The entire point of providing manuals to the City Guards was to gain their protection. He couldn’t give up on it for momentary gains.

Still, he didn’t want to stay in the company of this conscienceless man any longer. He nodded with a forced smile to show his appreciation.

While receiving the pouch, he surreptitiously weighed it. The weight felt right for the amount, so he hung it on his belt.

After hastily bidding the man farewell, Ikasa hurried back home.

On the way, all he could think of was the points he gained today and the strange Energy Storm.

‘Was that Energy Storm really created by my manuals? Or was that a coincidence?’

He decided to test his theory at a later date when he was strong enough to guard his secret. He was sure Commander Du will not divulge such a piece of valuable information easily. So he could rest assured on that front.

When he returned home, he looked at his list where Commander Du’s name was crossed.

‘Now I only have to deliver one more cultivation manual and then my cooperation with Li Fan will begin.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep