Copying her, he crossed his legs, took a couple of breaths, closed his eyes, and started feeling the Qi around him. She said that only those at the 4th-Step Foundation Building and above could command Qi, but for some reason, he could do it even though he was still at the 3rd-Step.
Deciding to think about this further later, Apollo started gathering the Qi around him. Instead of inhaling it, he guided it towards his back and other parts of his body with small cuts.
As soon as the Qi made contact with his back, Apollo expected to feel great pain, but contrary to his expectation, he felt a coolness that massaged his back. The pain vanished, followed by relief. He also noticed that the small cuts on his hands and legs closed up on their own, though their marks still remained.
He guided the Qi for a while, making the wound on his back slightly better. However, it didn't take long before he found the limit of this method. Because the wound was quite severe, he only managed to stop the burning sensation, heal the skin, and close the small cuts.
But the Qi could only heal a small amount of muscle that had been burnt. No matter how many times the Qi touched it, nothing changed. Furthermore, it became painful instead of the comforting sensation he had felt earlier.
Without a choice, Apollo opened his eyes and stopped healing using the Qi.
"What's happening?" Apollo muttered in confusion. But recalling what happened earlier, Bel could only manage to stop her wound from bleeding, and she was already at the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage. She could only achieve this much. "But this is better than feeling that pain."
The beggar sighed and put on his clothes. He looked at the moon in the sky while recalling his conversation with Bel.
Apollo gained a lot from their conversation. He learned that there's no cultivator his age. At seven years old, most of them are still training their body and mind, preparing to become a cultivator. But he was already at the 3rd-Step, and it wouldn't be long before he reached the 4th-Step.
So revealing his age, his name, and his cultivation to someone is a big no. Trouble will come if he does, which he doesn't want.
She also said that cultivating alone without any affiliation to someone else or an organization is very dangerous. Apollo understood what she meant. Cultivation is not simple. That's why there's only one talented person in a thousand people who can achieve the Foundation Building Stage. They have a method to reach that stage besides their talents.
What if people desired that method, no matter how simple it is? And what if those strong cultivators laid eyes on him, a defenseless and weak cultivator that they could easily bully and take advantage of?
Apollo had already realized that people with strength in this world had the authority. If you are weak, you don't have a say, unless you are brave enough to face the consequence of death.
"I have to be more lowkey than before," Apollo muttered, though he knew it was just a matter of time before people found out that he was more than just a beggar. He was talented, smart, and handsome. This thought put a smug smile on his face.
Then his thoughts went back to his injuries. Although he had managed to alleviate some of the damage, he knew that if he left it untreated, it would harm him more in the long run. He had to heal it as soon as possible.
I need Alm points, Apollo thought. "But what will happen if my cultivation increases? Will it heal by itself?" the beggar muttered.
How long will it take then? Apollo decided to look at his status screen and ask the system. However, the moment the interface appeared, another one materialized with the word 'Notification' on top.
Seeing this, Apollo was surprised before his surprise turned into shock when his eyes landed on the text written on the interface.
"You have been marked by the Alphadusk Shadowtail.
Because you have incurred the wrath of the Alpha, he put a mark on you. Alphadusk Shadowtail will hunt you no matter where you are. Kill or be killed. The time of the hunt depends on the Alpha and the situation."
After reading this, Apollo couldn't help but glance back at the moon. "Fck. Fck you."
If he could see his back right now, he would see that a black mark had been engraved. It was where the burning sensation had come from.
Apollo started regretting going back into that forest. If he had known about this, he would never have dared to step foot inside that forest filled with two-tailed wolves. Actually, Apollo had already considered that there was going to be an Alpha among them and had been careful not to make too much noise when he decided to hunt some Duskfang Shadowtails.
But the situation changed, and he had to adjust.
He also noticed that the notification was sent to him around the time he was hit in the back when he was carrying Bel. That Alphadusk Shadowtail must have been the culprit.
After cursing at the sky for a while, Apollo sighed and waved his hand in front of him, making the interface disappear in a particle of light.
"I should cultivate and think about this later," Apollo muttered. The notification said that the Alpha would hunt him depending on the situation. Well, it also meant that there was time for him to get stronger. Although this put pressure on him, he realized that it wouldn't matter to get nervous. It was better to get stronger faster and earn more Alm points.
With this thought in mind, he closed his eyes and started inhaling the Qi in the surroundings. Following the Simple Breathing Technique, which was obviously not as simple as he first thought it would be, he instructed the Qi in a pattern.
Peace and calm, Apollo relished in this moment as he entered the 'void' with only him and the Qi around.
But unbeknownst to him, the hunt of the Alpha was not going to be a hunt, but a declaration of war.