Page 45: Preparation

Days left before the sect's martial and alchemy competition: 155 days

After Long Bai tried to teach the skill set of , it has been added to his skill menu. After trying to evolve it to the sky grade skill, he wrote the skill set on a book and gave it to Feng Shangyuan, the village chief. As for the cultivation method, using the cultivation method the chief learned from the sect, Bai tried to learn it and after tweaking it a bit, he also wrote it on a book. Since the chief can't teach the method to a non- sect member, this is what Bai had thought.

Six days have already passed since Bai gave the manuals the children needs to learn. So far, they are progressing steadily with no problems since the chief was there to assist. As for Long Bai, he tried experimenting with the newly opened gate channel and noted its effects. One thing that Long Bai learned about the gates, they were points located at specific essence veins where the amount of essence is constricted. When such points or gates are opened widely, they would give the user an astounding benefits and so far the 1st gate channel can double or triple the strength of his attack depending on the amount of his internal essence.

So far, with his essence capacity, he can deliver a single attack that contains thrice the power or two attacks that contains twice the power. This was tried on the palm strike technique which he was able to evolve a few days before. Because his sword skills doesn't have an immission type skill, when the 1st gate's effects are used, its penetration or slashing capabilities are instead enhanced. In addition, using the 1st gate's effect on his original skill uses less amount of essence than the palm strike he learned from the sect. The difference was huge that the comparison of essence usage was like comparing the output of a river from a stream.

[STATUS

Cultivation: Bone tempering layer (early- 3rd)

Core grade: Unique (multi-elemental)

Gate Channel opened: 1/8

-Gate of strength

Skills

Movement skills:

~Flash Steps (mastered)

~Ghostly steps (perfection)

*You can't hide your presence but your movements are as silent as the lonely night.

-can be evolved when requirements are met

Martial art skills:

~Sword of Twelve Critical Strikes (mastered)

~Sky Sword of Critical Strikes (perfection)

-sky tier

-can be evolved when requirements are met

~Blazing Sky Palm (intermediate success)

-sky tier

-can be evolved when requirements are met

~White Dragon's Martial skill (intermediate success)

-sky tier

.....]

"Master Bai, the reconnaissance group has returned with some news."

Bai heard the voice from outside, took his robe and headed outside. Even though he told the villagers not to call him master, the elders and even the chief insisted so much he can't do anything about it. As of now, he gave instructions that they should treat him as normal as possible when the raid group arrives or else they will think something is wrong.

"What's the news?"

"Reporting to Master Bai, the raid group has arrived and will be camping outside the village since their numbers won't be accommodated inside. The presiding elder has called master to give reports of any developments in the area. That's all Master Bai."

"Alright, guard my place as I go and report."

"My greatest pleasure, master Bai!"

Long Bai gave a pained expression inside as he walk away from his place. He wasn't still uses to such treatment which makes it awkward most of the time. Although he gives some instructions, they were all meant to keep the secrets the village has. He doesn't want any outsiders to learn about their developments since they haven't established any forces yet. In case some may try to attack the village, it would just become a massacre. Since it was his fault for not thinking ahead, it is his part to keep the safety of the villagers.

Long Bai walked around 400 meter from the village before he saw the encampment of the raid team. According to the report, they were able to bring with them an elder who was at the initial layer of the soul tempering stage. In addition, Yang Kai, the sect leader's eldest disciple came too. From what he heard, he was already at the 2nd layer of the Bone tempering stage.

Upon reaching the tent where the sect's banner is raised, Long Bai announced his presence. When the permission was given, he entered slowly so to not give any bad impression.

Inside the huge tent, Long Bai noticed a young man who was in his late teens speaking with an old aged looking man.

[Yang Kai

Age: 18

Cultivation: Bone tempering layer (2nd)

Core grade: High

State: Healthy]

[Yang Dingxin

Age: 178

Cultivation: Soul tempering stage, core foundation layer (2nd)

Core grade: Ordinary

State: Old]

"Greetings to Elder and Senior Yang. I'm here to give my report."

"Hm. Speak."

The old man did not waste time and immediately listened to the report. After listening to the major events of his abduction until the rescue, there was no reaction from the elder except Yang Kai who looked doubtful of Bai's words. After he ended his report, Bai waited for a while before the elder spoke.

"Hmm. You're report coincides with what is written here. Tell me, how did you manage to trick the bandits?"

From the report, Long Bai insisted that the story should be in favor of the leader and the group. In the written report, it was stated that the rescue was done by the group but was only possible because Long Bai left a trail which lead to the hidden base.

"Ah, responding to the Elder's question. I was just lucky to trick them with some pill presentation which enabled me to buy some time until the rescue came. Since they were barbarians, they have not much experience about alchemy so I took that opportunity."

"Alright, if that's all, you may leave."

Looking at the old man's face, he did not show any hint of doubt or satisfaction. It was just too stoic that no one would know what he's thinking. Long Bai returned to his place after wards.

"Gramps, do you really believe that kid's words? I don't believe those bandits can be tricked like that."

"It doesn't matter now. No one from the sect members were hurt so that was already good. Since he's an alchemist, he must have done something but that's not the issue now. You have the highest cultivation level among the other cultivators but that's not enough. According to the reports, there are three personnel who reached the bone tempering layer, the leader at the middle layers while the two executives were at the early stages. Since no one from the group has reached the same level as you, we can only rely on the rest to hold out while we take care of our matches. That's your task today, enlist some group who would hold the other party, this way your merits would increase as long as you can take down your designated opponent. As for me, I was only tasked to hold down the leader until everyone is done."

Yang Kai headed out and searched for some volunteers akong the members. As he goes to a circle of people, he noticed the topic of discussion. It was as if he's deliberately spreading some news which seemed exaggerated. Listening to the story, this alchemist was talking about Long Bai's feats but in an exaggerated way.

"Another thing, he even said that the bandits were so weak that he didn't even need to use his skills. Ha! Isn't he just bragging? He even told us that he can take them alone. Wow! A total braggart if I say. That's why, I tell you. If you ever encounter that Long Bai, don't ever believe in whatever he says."

The man speaking such manner was none other than Hong Danyun, the alchemist who was envious of Bai's achievements. Although he went back to the city together with Jin Danyi, after learning that an elder will be accompanying the group, he decided to follow again but this time, his plan was to sabotage Long Bai in any way he can. Just as he was about go away from the listeners, Yang Kai called.

"Mister alchemist, wait a moment. Is what you said is true?"

Hong Danyun didn't recognized Yang Kai and blurted out his confident words of lies. After adding some spicy information, Yang Kai went to the village to search for Long Bai. Just before he could enter the village, he felt something was unusual about the place. He tried to observe well but its just that he can't put his finger unto it. Since he can't see what was unusual, he casted those feeling off and walked straight towards Long Bai's hut.

If someone was very observant, the unusual thing that Yang Kai felt would be noticed if they focused on the children. Knowing that the place was a far flung village, it would be impossible for the kids to have essence cores but in Yang Kai's case, since he was used to see children with essence core at the sect, this just became a normal occurrence in his mind. Because of this experience, he wasn't able to tell where the irregularity was.

"Alchemist Bai, its Yang Kai. May I have a word with you?"

Long Bai heard the call from the outside however learning that it came from Yang Kai, what could the issue be? While preparing to go out, his mind was still filled with questions as to what the business will be. 'Well, there is no use of thinking too much. Let me just hear what this man will say.'

Long Bai opened the door and the words he heard after was like a bomb.

"Alchemist Bai, I heard you're confident with your fighting skills, that you can defeat multiple bandits without help. I have already enlisted your name as part of the strike team who would go against the East tiger. Details will be given early in the morning as we depart. Ready yourself."

Yang Kai took off after saying what he wanted to say but didn't even wait for confirmation. Long Bai was speechless with what happened. He couldn't even say anything aside from the words, "What the hell?".

----------------

Yang Kai's thoughts

'This kid, named Yue. Why does she always spout the name Long Bai? It is really getting irritating. Was he special? What's good about him? He's just a medicine boy at Zhang Li's alchemy house.. Tsk.'

'What? He was able to pass the alchemy test and become a grade 1alchemist? If little Yue learns this, she would definitely ask about it nonstop. Tsk'

'Now, he became an alchemist apprentice? This is getting more annoying. I can't let little Yue learn about this.'

'Hmm? Why would he endanger himself by enlisting to this quest? He's just at the flesh tempering layer and yet he's doing this? Is he seeking death? If little Yue learns about this, she might try to go and help that brat! '

'He survived, I see. This guy named Long Bai is really resilient. Let me personally check him.'