Page 55: Lightning strides the skies
There was silence in the crowd but it was broken by Tao Yin's strong laughter. With his loud voice, he once again ridiculed Mu Fan's futile struggle. However everyone knows what really happened. Mu Fan almost reached Tao Yin just before the sound of the gong. This was just Tao Yin's charade to keep an appearance. While Tao Yin throws every word he can say, Mu Fan exited the stage in silence, contemplating something. It was as if he came into a realization and reached a breakthrough in his cultivation. There was no way of knowing, only him can tell.
When Mu Fan has already left the arena, Tao Yin has again declared the challenge but this time, he rested for a full ten minutes. It was a long rest compared with the past where he only required 2 to 5 minutes only. With the previous bout, everyone's confidence dropped and there was no one raising their hands to try. After watching another youth with good skills still fail the capture, everyone with an ordinary skills thought they would never have a chance. They have finally settled to be just spectators of anyone foolish who wants to try the challenge.
Tao Yin rose from the platform floor and called for any challenges. Everyone was just looking at each other trying to see who would dare to be foolish. After a a near minute of whispers, one young man raised his hand and approached the platform. on the stairs, there they saw a growing man, 5'4" in height with normal build, wearing a casual cultivator's robe but beams with a friendly smile. Everyone from the crowd began scrutinizing the young man who dared to challenge the fastest youth in the city.
"He looks ordinary, and no one even knows who he is. He's also at the late stages of flesh refining,he doesn't look like he have what it takes to compete with Young master Tao Yin."
People around were having the same opinions about the challenger on the stage. Although some gave some comments of 'you'll never know' statements, most still were finalizing the man's failure.
On the stage, Long Bai was giving of a friendly smile to Tao Yin. Since they have met yesterday, Long Bai felt he should at least be congenial with him.
"Aiya.. young master Yin, nice to meet you. May I also try the challenge?"
Tao Yin was a bit stricken by the face of the challenger. It was the man he encountered yesterday. Scrutinizing him, he doesn't feel anything special and all his looks was just plain ordinary. If he was a fellow noble, he would have shed a bit of that noble aura but since even his clothes were normal, he felt no threat.
"You.. of course but what's on the table? I can only grant you the chance if you show something good."
"Ahh, you're right. I heard young master Yin is interested in a pill called berserk pill? U have one here."
Long Bai showed a small unadorned pill bottle. Inside was the pill which he made some time ago.
"A berserk's pill?" Tao Yin's curiosity was again piqued. I'll give the same offer as the man who presented that a while ago."
Long Bai smiled and explained. "Young master, you see. What I have here is a mid quality of the pill. Its effects are even greater than the pill you received a while back. You can check if you want."
Long Bai threw the pill bottle towards Tao Yin's direction and was caught easily. Tao Yin took off the stopper of the bottle and took a whiff of the pill's aroma. Everyone saw him jolted after taking a snif of the pill. This means that the pill was genuine. Although they were jot alchemists, they can tell if a pill is real with just experiencing its slight effects from a smell.
"Fellow cultivator, may I know how you were able to get your hands of this quality. Do you perhaps know someone who can make these?" Tao Yin has speculated that the man in front was an alchemist but immediately gave up the idea since alchemists stay most of their time in their houses studying and making pills. The next thing he could think was that this person has some connections which he may use layer if he can befriend the guy.
"Ahh, you may say it that way. However the origin of that pill is not important isn't it? But if you are interested, I'll use the information as a bet instead of the pill if that's what you want?" Long Bai received back the pill bottle emphasizing that the pill is more important than the information. Even if he wins the information, Tao Yin can't be sure about its authenticity unlike the pill which he knows is real. Aside from that, the pill of a higher grade can serve more importance to preserve his life with their upcoming school fight. A few months later, the Mirage art school will also have their selection as with the other independent union cities.
"I'll give a full five minutes for you to read the manual if you successfully catch me." Tao Yin beamed with confidence as he thought of getting another precious item. Just before he can stay as such, Long Bai interrupted with a suggestion.
"Young master, I would like each of us to make the heaven's oath. I'm not doubting young master Yin but since this is a serious match, we should make it official. How about it? Will young master Yin dare do it?"
Everyone was shocked with the declaration. Having the heaven's oath just tells them how serious this has come.
"Fellow cultivator, we are just having fun but you want to take it this further? Haha! Well, I don't mind. In the end, I'll still receive that pill. It is true that we need to ensure our bet since the materials on the plate are precious." Tao Yin didn't even doubt after hearing about the heaven's oath. This was his first time doing it so there's no problem with it.
Everyone was a witness of the two who made oaths under the heavens. The skies turned dark and thunderclouds formed above the place. This just tell them that the heavens will never forgive anyone who tries to defy its power.
When both were on the ready, the gong was struck to signal the start. As usual, Tao Yin was waiting for the attack. Long Bai tried to test the waters. Since he have a minute, he would like to try catching him using the
During the first fifteen seconds, Long Bai used a direct attempt of catching Tao Yin by following his tracks but what ever he does, he was still slower. With the next fifteen seconds, he tried to predict Tao Yin's movements but the sudden straight changes of direction made him have a difficulty. Although Tao Yin's skill allows him to change in four directions (NEWS), the range of each change was longer compared to the dexrerity- based flash steps that can change direction easily but with a limited distance. If Tao Yin's skill was made for travelling long distances, Long Bai's
"Huh? why did you stop? Are you forfeiting the match already? You still have more than 20 seconds."
Long Bai did not respond and just slightly gave off a light smile. Activating the
..45, 46, 47 secs..
Every step with every second but to Tao Yin's surprise, he can't hear any sound of footsteps. Long Bai's slowly approaching figure gave him an eerie feeling. It was as if the person in front was an approaching ghost. Tao Yin instinctively tried to move backwards to create distance but looking at Bai's slow approach, he began to feel uncomfortable.
..50, 51, 52, secs...
With the gap closing, Tao Ying decided to dash and change place since he felt being cornered.
...54, 55 secs...
Just as he reached his target position, he felt a tap from his right shoulder followed by a soft whisper behind, "You're it.". Tao Ying shivered from the surprise and failed to make a movement. At that time, Tao Yin didn't feel any turbulence from the air or any vibration from the ground aside from the remaining sparks from his skill. Everyone including him became silent. It took them more than 4 seconds to realize what happened then cheers erupted from the crowd.
"He's caught!" "The flash was caught!"
"This is big news!"
Tao Yin recovered from his surprise and gave a awefull face. "How did you do it?" Tell me!"
"When you decided to dash on the other side, I just followed you but just faster and more silent."
"Nonsense! How can you become faster all of a sudden? Did you take a pill without me knowing?"
Some in the crowd also made the same suspicion. They thought that he took the pill prior to the fight and just waited for the effects to take place. This created a ruse.
"He cheated? How?"
"Think, there's no way he could have caught young master Yin. The first seconds proved that."
However there were some who doubts the accusation. They believe that he just kept his trump card at the end to catch him off guard.
"Everyone, did you see me take a pill? Did you see any signs that a pill is taking effect? However, no matter what, a lose is a lose."
Long Bai stretched his right arm giving Tao Yin a gesture to hand over the manual.
"Don't think of running away after this or else I will kill you. Since you cheated, you will take the consequences afterwards."
Tao Yin threw the manual over to Long Bai. As Bai received the manual, he responded the threat.
"Don't worry, I won't run. Although if you really think that I cheated, I would like to make another bet. Just wait after I read this though. Look, the skies have not cleared yet since the heavens knows that the bargain was not yet fulfilled."
The smiling facade in Long Bai's face just irritate Tao Yin more. Without waisting time, Long Bai sat and started reading the book. Since it was a movement skill manual and incomplete at that, it only took him three minutes to read the content. Before five minutes have passed, the system gave a notification.
[System notice: The incomplete manual
[System notice: Analyze has been initiated. Time remaining for completing the
Long Bai thought it would take longer but to his surprise, the time was shorter instead. He speculated that the book must be missing only a small but important details that is why the system required a small amount of time.
When five minutes have passed, the skies began to clear out. Everyone was in awe by the scene but one person did not even care about it. On the platform, Tao Yin's rage can be seen from his crunched expression.
Just as the system finished the skill completion, Long Bai took the chance to lengthen the conversation while scanning the new information.
[System notice: The movement skill
[STATUS:
Cultivation: Bone tempering layer (mid- 4th)
Core grade: Unique (multi-elemental)
Gate Channel opened: 1/8
-Gate of strength
Skills
Movement skills:
~Flash Steps (mastered)
~Ghostly Steps (perfection)
-can be evolved when requirements are met
~Lightning Strides the Skies (not practiced)
-the user's body is imbued with lightning making the body lighter during skill execution. When mastered, the user can walk on air and travel the skies.
-can be combined with
....]