The Heavenly Road: God Hunters

Chapter 002 Initial Step (revision)

After crying all day, Asta finally fell asleep while still hugging Ace who was also asleep in his arms.

Helio Utake shook his head slowly while moving Asta to his bed.

The next day, Asta woke up with a very hungry stomach. Helio was already there and gave food to him.

"How did you sleep?" helio asked, to which Asta replied, "Very bad."

After eating, Helio invited Asta out of the house to talk about everything related to cultivation.

Asta nodded and tried to absorb all of his explanations. He deeply regretted his decision to refuse to learn cultivation when Arai Ken wanted to teach him. Apparently, the reason behind the toughness of Arai Ken who had never been injured when attacked by a savage beast was because of his level in the Body Body Raga.

"Everything you need to know has Uncle explained. Now, let's check out your Spirit Essence first," Helio said as he thrust the spirit stone at Asta. As Asta touched it, something like a small blackish flame appeared within the spirit stone.

Spirit Essence is an aspect that exists in every living being, and symbolizes the characteristics of that individual. Cultivators who focus on increasing their understanding of Spirit Essence are known as Spirit Masters.

Spirit Essence can be divided into three types, namely:

1) The Essence of the Human Spirit:

The Human Spirit Essence was the most difficult type of Spirit Essence to train at the initial stage, and the higher the cultivation level, the harder it was to reach higher levels.

2) Heaven Spirit Essence:

The Heaven Spirit Essence was a type of Spirit Essence that was relatively easy to train at the initial stage, but the higher the cultivation level, the harder it was to reach higher levels.

3) God Spirit Essence:

The Spirit God Essence was an extremely flexible type of Spirit Essence. Individuals born with the Spirit God Essence tended to have talent in cultivation. The God Spirit Essence was neither too difficult nor too easy to train, thus reaching the right level of balance.

Helio was astonished at the results; asta Spirit Essence turned out to be a type of God Spirit Essence. "Next, we will learn a simple breathing method to collect Heavenly Sources," Helio said.

"The focus of the mind and the tranquility of the soul is the basis for being able to absorb the Heavenly Sources scattered around and drain them into the bones, muscles, and blood."

Asta chuckled as he scratched his non-itchy hair, realizing that he did not understand the explanation at all.

Helio Utake smiled, "Try it first" Helio said.

Following his instructions, Asta immediately tried it.

Helio smiled gently, "That's not the way. If so, just close your eyes as you do" he said with a laugh.

"I don't understand Uncle's intent with the focus of the mind and the peace of the soul, what does he mean...?" asta asked while scratching her non-itchy hair.

"Instead, can Uncle teach me how to recognize the level of the Body Raga...?" ask Asta.

"It's very easy, use the Heavenly Source as an intermediary to identify the Body Body Body Body," he explained. Asta frowned, finally returning to that simple breathing method.

"How about..." Helio got up from his seat, "We continue your training at my house...? You can also ask Kenshin about it," he asked. Helio was worried that Asta was losing his interest in cultivating.

Asta fell silent for a moment thinking of something, "Sorry, Uncle. But I can't" he said, leaving Helio shocked.

"Ahh. I mean it's not like that. Uncle, see my posture...? In addition, my mother also asked that I exercise diligently so as not to be left behind in growth compared to Kenshin and the others," Asta explained the meaning of his words.

Helio was relieved to hear that. He thought Asta lost his interest in cultivating just for a difficult reason.

"It seems like I misunderstood," Helio said with a chuckle.

"After you're ready and understand more about the meaning of breathing, come to my house" Helio said. Asta smiled while nodding in understanding.

"Take good care of yourself. If there's anything you need, just tell Kenshin, "the message is one more time before it actually leaves.

---

It's noon, it's time for lunch. Asta then prepares to roast the remaining venison stored in the cooling machine.

"Hmmm..." Asta thought while waiting for his meat to ripen.

"I forgot to ask Uncle Helio about how to improve Body Bodybuilding...?" asta gumam.

"Isn't that easy...? You just need to get your body used to feeling the pain out of bounds for a long time" came the voice Asta was familiar with, but he wasn't sure where the voice was coming from.

The 27-year-old man with long hair is Asta's teacher candidate Flares.

"Ka... you...?!" Asta was surprised to see the figure of the man before him. The figure he had thought only existed in his dreams.

Asta rubbed his eyes quickly, hoping that it was just an illusion, but unfortunately the figure of the man did not disappear. On the other hand, Ace was silent, watching anxiously.

"No! It must be an illusion! It's illusion...!!" Asta continued to rub his eyes.

With an annoyed face, the man hit his head, "False illusion of your head...!! I'm real! REAL..!!" he shouted, emphasizing the word "real".

"Oh..!!" asta Pekik.

"My name is Flares, and from now on, I am your teacher. There is no rejection. Absolutely not!" flares said, emphasizing his last words.

"Isn't this too much?" Ace stood up and said to him. Asta was wide-eyed, not believing what was happening.

Ace approached, "Come in and force someone to become a student, who do you think you are?" A bluish aura was burning around Ace.

"Uhh! It's...!" Asta is pushed back, speechless when he realizes that Ace is no ordinary wolf.

"Actually, what happened to me... I've been dreaming of strange things lately." he murmured softly, in disbelief.

"Pffit...!" Flares let out a laugh, "You want to fight me...? With that alone...? Pfft... Ahahahahaha...!!" so, he said, then laughed. Then, he snapped his finger.

"Whusshhhh...!!"

The bluish aura emitted by Ace was instantly blown away by the wind. Instantly, Ace immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

"What's your excuse? I wonder why a supposedly arrogant figure like you is bowing to him," Flares hit his head like when he hit Asta.

After having lunch with Ace and his teacher, they went to the forest to practice.

During the trip to the forest, Asta felt something strange. It seemed like only the two of them could see Flares. No one asked about his presence.

When they arrived at the side of the waterfall in the forest, Asta revealed his astonishment, "Teacher, it seems like only the two of us can see you. Why so?"

"of course. It's because I'm only a spirit, so who can see me depends on my will" Flares casually replied.

"But instead of thinking about it, you better prepare for your training that starts today. Please remember, my training is not easy" he added.

Flares snapped his finger, and something came out of the necklace hanging around his neck. Asta was shocked and only realized there was a necklace on his neck.

"Teacher... I find this exercise too difficult, can we replace it with another...?" bargain Asta, look at the list of exercises given by her teacher.

"Of course you can't" Flares replied briefly.

The body is the structure that makes up the body of living things. The Body Body Body consists of three main components, namely Blood, Bones, and Muscles.

The Body Body Body Rankings consist of 10 realms. Although there were similarities to the Cultivation Realm, the Body Physique Rankings had only reached the level of a Sky Elder.

There are several methods to improve Bodybuilding, including using common methods, using Medicinal Plants, or taking Medicinal Pills.

Common methods include cleaning the blood, strengthening bones, and repairing muscles. To reach the level 1 Body Bodybuilding Level, the step is to strengthen the three components to reach 10 percent, and so on.

A long and intense workout begins for Asta. The list of exercises includes running up and down mountains with increasingly heavy weights, standing under waterfalls while lifting weights, as well as other strenuous exercises that seem inhumane. Extreme exercise that often makes Asta almost exhausted half to death.

One month passed, two months passed, three months passed. Asta actually experienced a significant improvement in his posture. Thanks to the help of Flares, Asta was also able to understand the simple breathing method.

Today, Flares ended their training because the exercise no longer provides benefits for Asta.

"To avoid the suspicion that you're practicing with me, go to his house and ask as if you've only learned about the breathing method" Flares said, and Ace agreed with the plan. Asta rushed to get ready to go to the residence of Helio Utake.

---

"Ohh... So how are you doing now? Looks like you're practicing hard, huh?" greet Kenshin when he sees who comes to visit him.

Kenshin Utake, 7 years old, is a brave boy and has a leadership spirit. He was the son of Helio Utake.

"of course. It feels like my body feels light," Asta said as he stretched his body.

"Where's your dad...?" ask Asta, look for Helio Utake.

"Dad was busy doing something. Wait a minute," replied Kenshin, telling him to wait.

Shortly after, Kenshin returned. "I was really surprised when my dad talked about you. I remember you used to reject my father's invitation, didn't you...?" ask Kenshin.

"Yes, I used to feel that cultivating was exhausting. So, I decided to refuse back then," Asta explained.

"Then get excited to pursue my level now. I am a peak cultivator of the Beginner Realm now," said Kenshin, with a hint of arrogance.

"Pff... hahaha...! Two years just to reach the Beginner's Realm? You seem to be lazy to practice," said Asta, calling Ace closer.

"Ace, I hope you help me as well as Uncle Helio to give a little punishment to this often lazy brat" Asta pinta. Without a doubt, Ace instantly complied with his request.

"Fuck you, Asta...!!" kenshin shouted, running away as Ace tried to catch him.

Asta laughed out loud enjoying the situation, until Ace finally managed to catch Kenshin. Kenshin tries to protect his head from Ace's scratch.

Moments later, Helio came up with a tray full of food and drinks. Asta asks Ace to let him go.

"Damn you!" kenshin complained while grunting in annoyance.

Asta does not care and prefers to eat from the tray offered by Helio.

"So... Do you understand it now...?" ask Helio.

Asta nodded quickly, "Yes, I already understand it and have even been able to do it," Asta replied firmly.

"alright. Follow me, there's something I'll show you" Helio asked. Ace and Kenshin also follow.

Helio led them into a room similar to the library in his residence.

"Do you have any interest in martial arts or anything else...?" ask Helio.

"To help you tread the path of cultivation that you choose, I will give you a set of heavenly arts" he said.

Heavenly Art was a record written by the predecessors for the next generation. Celestial Art includes Combat Techniques, Spirit Arrangements, Pill Recipes, Artifact Blueprints, Spirit Techniques, Domains, and Cultivation Techniques.

Heavenly Art consists of 7 types, sorted from lowest to highest:

1. Low

2. Intermediate

3. High-ranking

4. Earth

5. Sky

6. Legend

7. Deities

Each type of Heavenly Art has 3 levels, namely:

1. Whiter

2. Gold

3. Black

Previously, Asta had never learned any martial arts or had any interest except hunting.

"What about you...?" Asta tries to ask Kenshin to find out what martial arts he learned.

"I'm interested in the art of swordsmanship. However, I not only focused on the swordsman, but also pursued the path as a Spirit Master. Are you interested in following me...?" kenshin said as he raised both eyebrows.

Asta opened his eyes wide, "Then can you show me how far you are? I'm very curious to see the results of your training so far," he said, trying to understand Kenshin's sword technique.

Helio smiled happily to see the two of them excited, "Then, you must not refuse the challenge, Kenshin," Helio said.

They were then taken to the backyard of the Helio residence to conduct a training fight.

"It's too much if we use real swords in this fight. What if we use a wooden sword...?" Kenshin thrust out a wooden sword while underestimating it.

"Huhh...?!! Wood...?! How can you practice sword arts if you are unable to raise a sword?" asta said, underestimating the wooden sword. Helio laughed a little hearing that.

"All right! But don't blame me if you get hurt later. Because you asked for this yourself," Kenshin said confidently.

Kenshin goes for a moment to retrieve his original sword while Asta warms up before a match.

Soon after, Kenshin returned with two swords in his right and left hands. He offers one of the swords to Asta, but Asta resists it.

"My goal is not to challenge you to engage in swordsmanship. I want to feel the results of your training in the art of sword all this time. If the fight is aimed at understanding, sorry, I refused because I have never swung a sword before" Asta explained.

"It seems that you really underestimated my abilities. If so, show me all your skills. I will not hold back from you" Kenshin said firmly.

Helio then ordered them to get ready to start the fight.

"Don't disappoint me, Asta...!!"

"That should be my word...!"

In an instant, Kenshin disappeared from Asta's sight. Asta was shocked when suddenly Kenshin was in front of him.

"Low Golden Heavenly Art! Soul Slash...!" kenshin shouted loudly, calling out the name of the nurse.

Quickly, Asta lowered his head as a sword darted over his head. Kenshin continued to launch attacks with slash after slash. Asta was completely overwhelmed and rolled away from the range of the attack.

Kenshin can read Asta's mind. He did not allow Asta to escape his attack range, even though Asta tried to dodge and roll here and there. Kenshin went ahead and launched a series of attacks. Attack after attack continued to rain down on Asta, making it difficult to avoid him.

Alongside them, Helio watched Kenshin and Asta's movements carefully to use as evaluation material for the two of them.

"Kenshin seems to hold himself back to embarrass him. If he was really serious, it was actually not difficult for him to defeat Asta who had never learned how to fight, "Helio's inner self while evaluating Kenshin.

"Don't I tell you...! Give up all your abilities, Asta!" kenshin once again disappeared from view.

Actually Kenshin did not really disappear, his movements were just too fast so Asta's eyes were difficult to follow him. So what Asta sees is Kenshin as if he disappeared and reappeared freely. But Helio, who was able to see his movements, certainly knew where Kenshin was.

Agilely, Asta lowered his head to avoid Kenshin's attack coming from behind. With complete confidence, Asta punches, convinced that Kenshin is still behind him. But unfortunately, Asta's estimate misses, Kenshin is no longer there.

"Your reflexes are great. But unfortunately your punch will never manage to touch me," Kenshin said with a triumphant smile.

Kenshin then touches Asta's back from behind. It is seen that the sword Kenshin used before has been placed next to another sword.

"Damn! I'm surrendering..!" Asta raised both of his hands as a sign of recognition of defeat. Helio then told them to rest for a while to recuperate.

Helio brought water from inside the house for the two of them. "Hows it? Are you interested in the art of the sword?" ask Helio.

"The sword art is interesting to me. But..." Asta deliberately gave a pause in his speech and looked at Kenshin.

"What...?" ask Kenshin.

"I see there are many gaps in each of your attacks that can be broken with a simple move. It's just that my body is still not able to do it" Asta continued.

Hearing that, Kenshin laughed, "Stop pretending as if you can read my movements alone," according to him Asta was trying to rebuild his confidence after the humiliating defeat.

"Then, what kind of fighting technique do you want to learn? If you want to become a Spirit Master, there is nothing I can give you. The path of a Spirit Master depends on your own understanding," Helio repeated his question.

"Would Uncle teach me empty-handed fighting techniques...? To me, hands and feet have been powerful weapons since birth," Asta asked with a bit of pleasantries. He knew that Flares had promised to teach him great fighting techniques.

"Uncle is not particularly adept at the art of bare-handed combat. However, it seems like I have a Heavenly Art that might be able to help you in that. At least, this Heavenly Art is equivalent to the sword technique Kenshin used earlier," Helio replied.

Helio then went inside his residence to retrieve the Heavenly Art.

"This is all I can give for a bare-handed fighting technique. His name was the Heavenly Art of Low Gold Ploughing Raga. Although it is only a low-level battle technique, but its strength still depends on your own abilities," Helio explained while giving the Heavenly Art to Asta.

"While this is the Heavenly Art of Black Sky Cultivation of Burning Flame. This was a Heavenly Art that contained cultivation techniques. With this, your improvement will become significant," Helio explained of the other Heavenly Arts. He gave Asta two sets of Heavenly Art, one for fighting techniques and one for cultivation methods.

"Thank you, Uncle!" asta said thankfully for the gift of the Heavenly Art.

When he finished, Asta woke up Ace who was asleep. They say goodbye to Helio and Kenshin to get back to training.

"Ah... So. That's why my sword got so hot. Even a natural aura can have such an impact. What if Asta used the power of his spirit essence?" kenshin said after Asta left.

"It's better to focus on yourself than to keep thinking about it. You never know when Asta can come after you" Helio told Kenshin.

Helio then left, leaving behind Kenshin who was still silent looking at his sword.

---

Arriving at the forest, Asta opened the Burning Flame Cultivation Technique he had obtained from Helio.

"Do you want to try it?" asked Flares who suddenly appeared beside him.

"of course. This is a gift from Uncle Helio to me. How could I not try?" Asta began to follow every step written in the Heavenly Art of Burning Fire.

Several hours had passed since Asta started cultivating with those Heavenly Art. Although he managed to grasp his spirit essence and increase his cultivation to the Beginner Realm, he felt a significant increase in absorbing his heavenly resources.

"This...?! Isn't this too easy! Now I am only half a step away towards becoming a Beginner Spirit Master! It's just so awesome! I can even train the Struggling Stroke Combat Technique right now," Asta said with excitement. Flares smiled happily to see him.

Asta opened the Heavenly Art of Low-Gold Ploughing Raga to study it as well.

"With this, my path to the top will not be long. Dad, Mum... Wait for me. I will definitely avenge you both." he muttered with determination in his heart.