Chapter 453: Storm on the Sky Island

Three days passed in a flash, and the Wind King Palace began its routine recruitment of children to become Windwalkers.

Qi Suian didn't go to the site to watch, instead viewing a live feed via satellite.

Although many parents were opposed, not every family was like Mi Yun's with only one child. Most had at least three or more.

Therefore, if a child was willing, the arrangements would be made for them to go.

If a child successfully became a Windwalker, the help it would bring to their family was undoubtedly immense.

They could even leap directly across social classes.

Even failure wasn't a big deal. For the few days they spent trying to communicate with the wind, all their food, drink, and lodging were provided by the Wind King Palace.

As the saying goes, a growing boy will eat you out of house and home, so getting to freeload for a few days was a good deal. Not to mention, the food at the Wind King Palace was far better than anything their families could provide.

Coupled with the low success rate, the vast majority of children who came simply went home with their bellies full and round.

The Wind King Palace was naturally aware of these little schemes, but they didn't pay them any mind. It was hardly a major issue.

During the process, there were none of the typical fantasy tropes like martial arts contests or aptitude tests—it was nothing more than stating one's name and age.

Of course, there were always some who tried to take advantage of the situation, like overage individuals who looked young for their age. They were ignored once or twice, but if they persisted, they would be driven away.

As for those who looked old for their age, they would generally be subjected to a bone age test.

Once the recruitment was complete, the Windwalkers of the Wind King Palace led the children into their residence, where they would be divided and arranged according to age.

And then, it was over.

What else could there be? It was a simple process. The main thing was whether they could communicate with the wind within the allotted time.

This, in itself, was the entry barrier.

And it wasn't a low one.

Qi Suian watched the entire process and was somewhat disappointed. He had expected some of the usual drama to unfold.

'But I guess that makes sense,' Qi Suian thought. 'Everyone here just dropped off their kids. They have to get back to work. Why would there be so much conflict?'

'Besides, how foolish would a group of ordinary people have to be to stir up trouble in front of Extraordinary Beings?'

"So this 'communication' is literally just... communication," Qi Suian remarked with a look of surprise as he glanced at the children beginning to commune with the wind.

They used language and body gestures, treating the wind as a friend, a relative, or some other close, personified being.

If the wind was willing to accept you, then communication was considered a success.

"Well, look at that. A genuine genius," Qi Suian had just finished speaking when an eight-year-old boy actually managed to complete his communication with the wind.

A gentle breeze swirled around him, darting across his body like a dancing sprite.

With communication established, the next step was to continuously increase the wind's favorability toward him until enough wind had accumulated in his body to trigger an awakening.

This little boy could now be considered a Windwalker-in-training.

'There's a high probability he possesses a natural talent for wind affinity,' Qi Suian mused. He didn't think it was because of any pretty words the boy used; to succeed after just a single phrase could only be due to his innate qualities.

And so, as soon as he completed the communication, personnel from the Wind King Palace immediately led the boy away.

With this kind of aptitude, he would naturally be given priority for special training.

There wouldn't be any scenarios where he had to fight for his own resources while being given so-called "training" missions that were actually designed to make his life difficult.

'What's the point of joining you then, if I still have to rely on myself for everything?'

Perhaps the Wind King Palaces on other Sky Islands had such eccentricities, but the one in Flying Fish Town did not.

At the same time, news of the event was quickly suppressed.

The atmosphere in Flying Fish Town was good, but there were many outsiders. Who knew if some jealous individual, unable to stand seeing others succeed, might try to cause trouble?

'So, the Extraordinary system of the Sky Island World isn't a process of seeking power from within. Instead, it's about gaining something akin to usage rights through external communication.'

'At its core, the object of their communication isn't the wind, but nature itself.'

'But because the wind here is alive, they can only communicate with the wind.'

'Therefore, this Extraordinary system wouldn't likely fail even if it were in a different world.'

'They could even communicate directly with the environment, or even the world itself.' It was only after sorting through the massive amounts of data he was receiving that Qi Suian realized this.

It seemed unremarkable on the surface, but in reality, it operated on an extremely potent logic.

'Borrowing strength, or even borrowing momentum.'

'In fact, they are actually being held back by the wind of the Sky Island World.'

'In another world, each of them could become a minor protagonist, perhaps even more adaptable than a main character.'

Qi Suian wondered if he could use the communication ability from the Windwalker system to connect with the World Core in his possession.

'The wind isn't their true Extraordinary power. Communication is.'

'But... what is the principle behind it?' Qi Suian couldn't help but ponder this question.

As more data was compiled, his understanding of the Windwalker's Extraordinary system became increasingly clear.

'The living wind is not just a restraint on the Windwalkers; it's also a medium.'

'It's precisely because the wind is alive that accurate communication is possible.'

'Otherwise, trying to communicate with other natural phenomena would be extremely difficult, as they are inanimate.'

'An analogy would be trying to talk to someone who doesn't speak your language and is also ignoring you. It's a tough situation.'

'The Windwalker system was able to develop in the Sky Island World because it had its own specific conditions for growth.'

Qi Suian sorted through a massive amount of data.

Then, he began to consider how he could tap into this Windwalker system.

Theoretically, he was also capable of communicating with the wind, since he possessed corresponding modules for language, signals, and the like.

However, this was just a theory. It would still require the special communicative talent inherent to the human natives of the Sky Island World.

Otherwise, the wind wouldn't pay him any mind at all.

If a stranger like Qi Suian were to start whispering a jumble of nonsense into the wind's ear, occasionally mixing in some rural slang and foreign dialects, the wind would only be left completely bewildered.

'The communication talent should reside within the soul, most likely not in the physical body. I'll need some test subjects.' Qi Suian pondered how to acquire test subjects discreetly.

Flying Fish Town had a population of over a hundred thousand, that was true, but if the number of missing persons reached around a hundred, it would inevitably attract attention.

As for them being blown away by the wind?

It was a possibility, but a gust of wind strong enough to carry a person away would surely cause a significant commotion.

That would mean it would most likely be a publicly witnessed event.

It might be possible in the wilderness, but for a hundred people to disappear at once? How could that not raise suspicions?

At that point, even the Wind King Palace would get involved.

Qi Suian wasn't afraid of these repercussions; he was worried about complications arising.

It might lead to unnecessary trouble.

Researching the Windwalker system didn't mean abandoning his research on the World Core; rather, it could serve as a preparatory supplement for studying the World Core.

Sharpening the axe doesn't delay chopping the wood.

As for the Wind King Palace finding out it was his doing? He wasn't the least bit worried.

He simply didn't want complications, it wasn't that he was afraid. That's why he was acting low-key.

Even if everyone in Flying Fish Town combined their strength, Qi Suian could cut through them all with his own power. Annihilating them would just be a matter of time.

"Uncle, Uncle, are you home?" Mi Yun's voice called from outside.

He hadn't gone to the Windwalker selection.

For one, his family didn't need the perks, and for another, he had to help with chores and was an only child, so he didn't even go to watch.

"What is it?" Qi Suian slowly got up, opened the door for him, and asked.

"A storm is coming. You need to be careful," Mi Yun said the moment he saw Qi Suian.

He knew Qi Suian had just arrived in Flying Fish Town and wasn't familiar with its stormy season.

Qi Suian glanced at the sky and said, "The weather is so clear. There shouldn't be a storm, right?"

His recent research on the World Core had filled many gaps in his knowledge, which naturally included meteorology and climatology.

"That's what the Wind King Palace said. Uncle, you should hide in the basement. Hurricane Beasts sometimes appear during storms in Flying Fish Town."

"But don't worry, the Windwalkers will deal with them." After saying this, Mi Yun looked at Qi Suian with expectant eyes.

How could Qi Suian not know what he wanted? He took out two exquisite candies and handed them to the boy.

"I understand. I'll be careful," Qi Suian said with a smile.

Hurricane Beasts are Extraordinary Life Forms that live in the hurricanes between the Sky Islands.

Due to their own evolution, they are unable to leave the hurricanes.

Thus, they can only enter the various Sky Islands when storms arrive.

In reality, most Hurricane Beasts wander onto the Sky Islands by accident during storms. Their diet isn't humans, but rather wind and other Hurricane Beasts.

But after accidentally entering, their wild instincts are stimulated, leading to stress responses. They might damage buildings and even become a threat to humans.

Therefore, the Windwalkers will try to drive them away. Only if a beast is completely unwilling to leave will they choose to kill it.

When a Hurricane Beast dies, it turns into a wind calamity, which is not an easy thing to resolve.

Otherwise, the Windwalkers wouldn't prioritize driving them away and would only kill as a last resort.

However, after the wind calamity subsides, there are many benefits to be gained, such as certain Extraordinary materials that can be used to make "wind windows."

As for cultivation, Windwalkers don't cultivate. They grow stronger by communicating with the wind and increasing its favorability toward them.

This means the concept of cultivation doesn't really exist in the Sky Island World.

Besides, even if someone wanted to cultivate, there's no path for it. Everything depends on your relationship with the wind.

If you have a good relationship, the wind will just WHOOSH and pour into your body, guaranteeing rapid improvement.

'I wonder what kind of life form a Hurricane Beast is.' Qi Suian was genuinely curious. He estimated they were most likely a type of energy-based life form.

It was a bit strange to think about—a group of living things living on another living thing. It reminded Qi Suian of the Extraordinary system in the Spirit Root World.

'However, the creatures that some Windwalkers acquire after awakening seem to be miniaturized Hurricane Beasts,' Qi Suian recalled.

"Hurricane Beast" isn't a single species, but a general term for the life forms living within hurricanes; in reality, there are many different species and types.

The natives of the Sky Island World just habitually classify them all as one.