Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

In the days that followed, Rain, Branden, and Esmeralda tirelessly engaged in negotiations with the council. However, progress was frustratingly slow, and it felt like a tug-of-war with neither side willing to give in too much.

As they readied themselves for their fourth meeting with the council, they couldn't help but notice an unusual commotion in the city. Crowds of magic people were converging on one side of the city. Intrigued, the trio decided to investigate further.

Upon reaching a vantage point at the city's peak, they were greeted by a remarkable sight. Coming from the west, a group of individuals was solemnly transporting not one but three lifeless dragon bodies. These once-majestic creatures lay still and lifeless on massive platforms.

"Ah, I get it now…" Rain said. "They wanted us to see this."

"... They wanted us to see their might in action," Branden said while furrowing his eyebrows.

Esmeralda couldn't help but gulp audibly at the sight of the dragons. The mere presence of these colossal creatures, even in death, sent shivers down her spine. These earth dragons, distinguished by their earthy-toned scales, were an embodiment of natural grandeur.

Their scales, resembling large shields, covered their bodies, forming an impenetrable armor that spoke of countless battles and unwavering resilience.

Enormous limbs, as sturdy as tree trunks, extended from their colossal frames, each terminating in formidable claws designed for earth-shaking digs and formidable combat. Their long, sinuous tails coiled gracefully by their sides, a stark reminder of their capacity to unleash devastating earthquakes with a mere flick in times of fury.

While life had left their once-fiery eyes, they retained a hauntingly captivating quality. Rows of serrated teeth lined their powerful jaws, frozen eternally in a fearsome, menacing snarl.

Rain couldn't help but recall that, during his time in the city, he hadn't come across a single item that appeared to be crafted from dragon materials. This observation intrigued him. While he had anticipated some remnants of the dragons' presence in the form of valuable artifacts, it seemed as though the magic people had meticulously removed any such traces from the public eye.

Rain suspected that dragon-related items had been acquired early on by those with sufficient resources. However, he couldn't identify anyone among the magic people who would likely possess or employ such unique items.

The absence of these dragon-based artifacts during the war puzzled him, raising questions about the magic people's connection with these formidable beings and their willingness to utilize such materials.

"Do you know why people around here don't use relics?" Rain asked. "It should be easy to make them with the bodies of dragons, right?"

"I have no idea, but you have a point," Branden rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "At first, I imagined that they didn't defeat many dragons, but their timing is quite good to show off when we are here."

"... What do you think we should do now?" Esmeralda asked. "They will be even more assertive trying to add clauses to the truce that will benefit them."

"We will have to endure and find reasons to keep reasoning against all that," Branden replied.

Rain speculated that the creation of magic relics from the body parts of monsters could be tied to the magic people's intention to safeguard certain species and grant them the freedom to exist without harm.

Based on Rain's observations, it was clear that the magic people had a close connection with nature. This deep affinity with the natural world led Rain to believe that the magic people might find it ethically unsettling to use the body parts of monsters in crafting weapons. To them, such practices could be perceived as unnatural and inharmonious with their reverence for the environment.

"I need to investigate this more, I guess," Rain thought.

Just as they had expected, the council was a lot more insistent on the last few clauses thanks to the dragons. Thanks to that, Branden and Esmeralda were suffering a lot.

Despite that, they looked a bit satisfied since it looked like the magic people truly wanted for some peace… Rain couldn't help but think that they either wanted to rebuild their strength to attack them again or get them by surprise.

At first, Rain had a hard time enduring all of the meetings, but things started to get easier. The reason for that was the fact that he was getting the hang of meditating even while he was standing, and that wasn't all…

An unknown skill leveled up.

The Martial Artist path received 300 experience points.

"Hehehe, now we are talking about," Rain thought while smirking.

Rain's sudden smile during the meeting caught the attention of the council members. This unexpected expression seemed to irk some of them, creating a subtle air of discomfort in the room.

Rain had delved deep into the art of meditation, uncovering its secrets to enhance his mana regeneration. One crucial lesson he had learned was that relaxation was the key. By calming both body and mind, he could effectively speed up the replenishment of his mana reserves.

The lotus position, with its unique posture, acted like a magnet, drawing in the spiritual energy from the surrounding air and channeling it into his core.

However, Rain had also explored the more challenging path of standing meditation. Unlike the seated lotus position, standing meditation requires a more deliberate effort. He had to actively make his body receptive to the spiritual energy and then absorb it. What he had found intriguing was that focusing on his belly button seemed to facilitate the absorption process.

It was an unconventional discovery, but it worked for him.

"This technique should be connected to the next level of the Sage's path… I should try to keep using it, perhaps with that path as well, since the new one will already come at a higher level," Rain thought.

Rain checked the martial artist's path and couldn't help but sigh… just like the previous one, the skills increased the right parameters for him… Now he didn't feel that eager to level up the Sage's path.