"How much is this guide?"
"Ensuring the safe transport of supplies for the airship is paramount, so it's distributed free of charge."
"Thank you, then."
Li Fan took the Airspace Guide and sat down at a round table in the guild hall, beginning to read.
It was a compilation of recent monster intelligence gathered in the upper atmosphere by hunter teams, the Dragonology Institute, the scholar teams, and airship transport convoys.
Its purpose was not to support hunts, but rather to help your airship avoid these areas, or to provide self-rescue methods when encountering different monsters during an attack.
While it lacked the comprehensive information of a single monster sighting report, it excelled in its broad coverage.
After reading the first few pages detailing monster flight altitudes, airspace danger levels were indicated by color-coded blocks on the paper.
Danger levels, from low to high, were represented by green, yellow, and red.
Areas Li Fan had never heard of were marked with detailed annotations.
On the page for volcanic airspace, a large section was colored black. Apart from the words "Forbidden Zone! No Entry!" in prominent red text at the center, there was only a single annotation: Divine Realm.
Divine Realm... Is this the lair of the Crimson Glow Dragon?
Although the guide provided no further information, in the game, Divine Realm specifically referred to the turbulent elemental field radiating outwards from the Crimson Glow Dragon's habitat.
The Crimson Glow Dragon preferred to stay in its habitat, so it should be relatively safe, right?
Flipping through a few more pages, the marked red high-danger zone, the Ancient Ruins Ridge, appeared.
Rathalos, Zinogre, Seregios, and Black Diablos were frequently sighted in the nearby airspace. As humans rarely ventured there, these monsters were curious about passing airships, easily provoking hostility.
This meant that the monsters there rarely saw human airships, so they'd come to investigate, and contact between the two sides would easily lead to combat.
Li Fan deduced this from the descriptions on the page.
The suggested method of escape was simple: tossing meat chunks.
Except for some special individuals, monsters did not harbor extreme hostility towards airships.
Therefore, food was more attractive to monsters than attacking airships.
The guide also emphasized never adding anything to the meat chunks, as it could easily make monsters develop hatred towards airships, affecting their future safety.
The last few pages of the guide focused on specific individuals that should be avoided upon sight.
Due to these individuals having extremely wide activity ranges, often spanning two or more airspaces, they were not categorized into any specific airspace.
This is what I'm looking for!
Li Fan began to read carefully.
Rathalos, individual codename Gluttonous Snake, estimated age: elder stage.
Description: Adept at chasing airships for meat chunks, capable of rapid feeding in flight.
If the quantity of meat chunks is insufficient, it has a chance to attack the airship.
External characteristics: Obese, with aging, white-tipped scales.
Last sighted: Misty Peaks airspace.
This dragon is quite shameless, and too old, completely unworthy of Little Dumbbell.
After analyzing, Li Fan looked at the next Rathalos recorded.
Rathalos, individual codename Pathological Navigator, estimated age: middle-aged.
Description: Usually does not display hostility when encountered.
Prefers to fly to the front of the airship and guide its flight.
If its guidance is not followed, it will provoke hostility and engage in attacks.
External characteristics: Exceptionally long wingspan, particularly developed wing muscles.
Last sighted: Sandy Plains airspace.
Its flight ability is quite appealing, but this one's personality is too bizarre...
Li Fan looked at the next one.
Rathalos, individual codename Playful, estimated age: young adult.
Description: Attempts to attack airships in various ways upon encounter.
If not counter-attacked, it will leave on its own shortly, seemingly treating airships as targets for attack practice.
External characteristics: Well-proportioned body, no visible injuries, extremely strong flight capability, varied attack patterns.
Last sighted: Forest Plateau airspace.
This Playful one seems good. Young, motivated, and even uses airships to practice attacks and enhance its aerial combat skills.
But wasn't it the breeding season for Rathalos in the Forest Plateau back then?
Everyone was looking for a mate, so why was it the only one charging at airships?
Li Fan couldn't help but be curious.
Returning to the research lab with the Airspace Guide, Yodora also found it strange after hearing Li Fan's chosen target.
At that time, there were indeed many Rathalos gathered in the Forest Plateau, making the area extremely unstable and high-risk.
However, as they needed to build nests and lay eggs, most Rathalos were only active at low altitudes.
"I know!"
Yodora exclaimed, a sudden realization dawning.
"You know what?"
"Little Dumbbell was also in the Forest Plateau during that time."
"So?"
Li Fan still didn't understand.
Yodora propped her chin with one hand and began to narrate: "It was a night that influenced the destinies of two dragons, and the first encounter between Little Dumbbell and Playful..."
"Hold on, isn't this the plot of a romance novel?"
Li Fan felt increasingly uneasy as he listened.
"Yes, I suspect Little Dumbbell and Playful must have had a breathtaking encounter, and then developed feelings for each other. For some reason, the two dragons couldn't be together, so Playful ignored all other female Rathalos, dedicating himself to desperately training his aerial combat skills, waiting for the chance to meet Little Dumbbell again."
"Rathalos are indeed quite loyal among monsters... at least they have a strong sense of family."
Li Fan felt Yodora was talking nonsense.
However, from this perspective, Playful was most likely still single.
Otherwise, with the scarcity of food in the Forest Plateau during the breeding season, if they had formed a family, they wouldn't have had time to practice with airships.
"It's decided, it's this Playful one."
Li Fan confirmed.
With the target set, the two discussed more detailed plans until evening.
The next morning, Li Fan, carrying a large wooden bucket, ventured deep into the forest.
Little Dumbbell, seeing him draw his hunter's knife, thought he was there to cut its back spikes. It lowered its head, lay on its side, and arched its back.
"This time, I'm not cutting spikes. I'm giving your scales and armor a spa treatment."
Roar?
Little Dumbbell didn't quite understand, but it still followed the guidance and extended its head.
Li Fan took out a glass bottle from the large wooden bucket he had set down.
"Your head carapace is so rough on the surface, it's obvious it's never been cared for. Lower your head a bit more... First, some puff pastry original essence for a foaming lubricant, 100% purity, simply unavailable on the market."
Li Fan poured the foaming lubricant onto his hands and applied it to Little Dumbbell's light green carapace, rubbing it vigorously.
Once fully spread, Li Fan took out a brush and began to gently scrub.
Swish! Swish! Swish!....
Countless tiny, sparkling bubbles dripped to the ground.
As the dirt and grime were washed away, the outer surface of the carapace became shiny, as if coated with a thin mirror film.
Next, Li Fan scooped out a clump of mud from the bottom of the bucket.
"This is old mud from Shasha's back. It's been pressed and rolled 1800 times daily, making its texture extremely fine. It's rich in various minerals and can effectively repair tiny cracks on carapaces and scales."
Pat! Pat!
Li Fan smeared the mud onto the head carapace and rubbed it in.
Feeling extremely comfortable, Little Dumbbell's eyelids slowly closed during the massage.
When it woke up, two hours had already passed.
Screech! As it stood up and moved its body, the hardened mud mask on its skin shattered into countless mud chunks, falling onto the grass.
Feeling a bit thirsty and seeing Li Fan was gone, Little Dumbbell went to the lake.
Just as it was about to lower its head to drink, it saw its emerald green reflection in the water and recoiled in fright.
Looking up at the sky, it confirmed there were no female Rathalos present, only then realizing the reflection in the lake was itself.
Back in the research lab, Li Fan, with a mud mask on, heard a notification from his handheld device. He opened it to see:
Little Dumbbell (Rathalos) has increased its affinity with you!
Little Dumbbell (Rathalos) has increased its affinity with you!
......
Seeing the flood of notifications, Li Fan was convinced Little Dumbbell was very satisfied with this spa treatment.
After four days of preparation, the team decided to set sail for the Forest Plateau.
As the breeding season had passed, the Kokoto Village branch had no special restrictions on airships entering the Forest Plateau airspace.
Li Fan decided to utilize the medium airship's superior carrying capacity and bring all necessary supplies from the start, avoiding the need to stop for resupply at the local branch's airport.
The Hinomoto was released from its moorings and slowly ascended.
White clouds drifted by, the sun shone brightly.
Li Fan leaned against the base of the mast, opened the scroll for the Third Moon Iai Slash, and continued his research.
Inhale, slow, still, eternal.
Exhale, fast, moving, instant.
After staring at the two lines of text for a long time with no clue, Li Fan decided to practice with the training katana crafted from Yunmo wood.
Upon releasing a special sheath strike, if successful, it grants immunity to attacks, a Spirit Gauge burst slash, and an increase in Spirit Gauge level.
As for the form of the Spirit Gauge slash, the New World depicts it as a horizontal slash, while the scroll from the Hinomoto Village shows a circular one.
Clang! Li Fan sheathed the training katana and assumed a stance, feeling no unusual sensation.
This won't do. Even if I encounter an attack and execute a precise counter-attack, I won't achieve those effects.
Honestly, the effects of the Iai Slash felt somewhat magical in the game.
However, he didn't give up. At least the standard movements were extremely clear, and even without the special effects, repeatedly reinforcing these movements into muscle memory would be very beneficial.
This is because even when activating the sheath strike skill, the speed of the special sheath strike is not constant.
The wielder's proficiency with the sheathing motion is the most crucial indicator.
Li Fan felt he had a lot of room for improvement in this regard.
Ding! Ding! Ding!....
The ship's bell rang.
"First Mate Dilu reminds everyone! A mass of air currents is approaching, and we may have to pass through it. There's a risk of wind intrusion, so please hold onto the nearest safety rope, meow!"
Dilu called out.
Li Fan looked around and said helplessly, "Dilu, it's just me here..."
"Uh... this is a mandatory safety procedure, meow."
Dilu explained.
"Alright, thank you for the notification."
Li Fan said, finding a safety rope hanging from the mast and gripping it tightly.
Whoosh...
The wind on the ship intensified, howling across the deck.
Hummm! Hummm!...
A somewhat familiar sound echoed in his ears.
"This is..."
Li Fan looked down, following the sound, and realized it was the noise made by the strong wind passing through the vent holes of the training katana.
As the wind grew stronger, the humming sound also increased.
He stared at the wooden blade, lost in thought.
Spirit energy is fed back through slashing and then absorbed into the katana's Spirit Gauge, enveloping the blade before being swung out – that is the Spirit Gauge slash.
Dispersing the Spirit energy can produce blue, misty Spirit energy. Misty Spirit energy, upon a powerful impact, can not only negate the attack but also reactivate into more Spirit energy.
This is the principle of the Foresight Slash...
Spirit energy, conversion....
Could it be that the Iai Slash is not a standalone move!
Li Fan vaguely felt he had found the key to the problem.
If the effects of the Iai Slash are viewed as three components, then everything simplifies.
Immunity to attacks comes from the Foresight Slash, the Spirit Gauge burst comes from the Sakura Amaterasu Silk Spirit Gauge Slash, and the increase in Spirit Gauge level comes from the Spirit Gauge Great Roundhouse.
The combined effect of these three moves is the Iai Slash!
Could it be that the reason the Iai Slash is so difficult to master is that these three moves are required as prerequisites?
But how can they be combined?
Whoosh....
At this moment, the surrounding dark clouds rapidly receded, and sunlight once again illuminated the deck.
The sound of wind continuously flowing into the vent holes also abruptly stopped.
The Hinomoto, having bypassed the air current mass, continued its journey through the clouds.
Inhale, slow, still, eternal.
Exhale, fast, moving, instant.
These two lines he had read countless times appeared in his mind.
Li Fan didn't want to let this feeling slip away, so he quickly threw out a ball and summoned Kuku.
"Kuku, practice tail whip!"
Wow!
Kuku let out a high-pitched cry and then hopped around, turning.
Li Fan took a deep breath, holding the scabbard with his left hand at his side, and reversed-gripped the training katana with his right, sheathing it.
Clang! A crisp ringing sound.
Kuku, who had turned its head, had seen this poised stance many times before.
Each time it whipped its tail, Li Fan would either charge forward and be sent flying, or wouldn't even charge and be knocked away directly.
The same scenario had played out countless times recently, so Kuku decided to give a warning first.
Wow!
Li Fan gave no response, maintaining the poised sheathing stance, appearing like a statue.
Kuku thought, if you're not going to respond, then I won't hold back!
Whoosh! Kuku twisted its body, creating a gust of wind on the deck, its tail whipping like a long whip.
Ching!
Li Fan drew his sword, as fast as lightning.
For this strike, he abandoned the standard form, abandoned the angle, prioritizing only the speed of the slash.
Hummm! The blade of the katana, which cut through the air, instantly turned from faint red to light blue.
When the light blue blade struck its tail, *ding!* a spark of blue light exploded.
The faint blue Spirit energy instantly burst, deflecting its tail, and the remaining Spirit energy rapidly reverted to faint red.
"Haaah!"
Li Fan roared, swinging with all his might in a spinning motion. The faint red Spirit energy rippled outwards like waves.
Wow?
By the time Kuku reacted, Li Fan had already lunged in front of it.
Just as it wondered why it wasn't sent flying by the tail, three strip-shaped arcs of Spirit energy sliced past Kuku.
Puff! Puff! Puff!
The Spirit energy exploded at the base of Kuku's tail!