Page 57: Just to meet Mister Old man
Ruiya was still in daze while leading Long Bai towards their residence. Since she was approached a while ago, she didn't know how to react will all the attention she was getting from the spectators and now that they are walking towards the Yang residences, she doesn't know how to interact. Instead, it was Yuqi who was talking with him trying to get more information about him. Listening to the conversation, Long Bai gave his name and at the same time, he told them that he is from merchant city. He even told them how he got hold of the skill
There was no reason for Long Bai to lie to them. To Long Bai, life is a series of giving and receiving. Whoever gives are blessed by the heavens and whoever receives are blessed by the people. Since he was able to reach such levels, he would like to return the favor for his heart to be at ease. After learning about the situation, he thought that maybe he can do something to pay the kindness the old man did when he had nothing.
The three reached the Yang Residence around dusk. The area they entered was the living quarters of the adopted families. In one house, there will be at least two people who lives in there. In Ruiya's case, she lives alone while Yuqi lives on the house next door. It has been arranged by Yuqi that Bai would be staying at Ruiya's vacant room and that they would meet the elders tomorrow. Before Yuqi went back to her place, they first ate together and told each other stories. This setup was not strange to Long Bai since he feels like he returned during the time when the four of them were still at the slums. Even such stories were told during that dinner.
On the other hand, Long Bai learned how Mirage Art School take in disciples. Unlike the Six Star School, mirage art school conducts a trial every year and during the trial, they are evaluated based on their performance. The school believes that using one's aptitude to tell what a person's capabilities is an insult to the wonders one can do. They don't base a person's core grade as the sole determinant of how far a person can be in the future since there are arts that can be practiced and miracle pills that can change one's constitution to compensate what is lacking. The important thing is that one is willing to pursue great things with grit and unyielding determination.
This year, the trial was announced to be held at the mirage mountains and it would be a game of stealing tags. One will posses a number tag and a target number which will qualify the person if he or she will have both. On another note, some can also hunt other tags but the points of a non-designated tag is 1/3 of its true value. This means that if one cannot find his/her designated tag, one can hunt 3 others to compensate the original tag. No one is allowed to kill but one can incapacitate someone when they have not declared surrender. In this game, a person who is faster will have the upper hand as they can do a hit and run style of approaching their target. If one is a target, they can run away from them since they are faster. This is the challenge that all the young members of the four household in the mirage city are preparing for.
(Days before the sect's martial and alchemy competition: 118 days)
After that dinner, the three went to their own accords. Long Bai stayed awake all night just to check the available options that recently appeared after learning a new movement skill.
[System notice: You are about to combine the movement skill
[System alert: Skill combination option
1.
-improved version of the
-sky rank, high grade
-improved dexterity allowing the user to move in 8 directions
-mastery level guide
*initial success (8 directional maneuver + 60m/s)
*intermediate success (air step + 120 m/s)
*advanced success (wind walk + 240 m/s)
*mastered (artificial flight + 380m/s)
2.
-physical based movement skill that allows user to move at the speed of sound when mastered
-multidirectional maneuver
-heaven rank, high grade
-mastery level guide
*initial success (+ 50m/s)
*intermediate success (ghostly steps + 100m/s)
*advanced success (mirage steps+ 200m/s)
*mastered (cloned steps + 350m/s)
Choose 1 skill to add in your library. Unpicked skill will be permanently deleted. ]
It was a pity that the system cannot save both but since it still offers something great, Long Bai can't be too greedy. For a couple of minites, he has put all considerations and had chosen the skill that would be klmost beneficial to his endeavors.
[System notice: You have chosen the skill
While the skill was being initialized, Long Bai thought of writing the skill in a manual for distribution later. Three manuals to be given to Yue, Ling Tian, and Ah Mu and another one for the old man who gave him the
[System notice: Skill initialization complete. The system detected your previous mastery of a similar skills
[STATUS:
Cultivation: bone tempering layer (4th level)
Core grade: Unique (multi-elemental)
Gate Channel opened: 1/8
-Gate of strength
Skills:
Movement skills:
~Thunder steps (intermediate success)
-ghostly steps skill mastered
-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 (advanced success)
-sky tier
-can be evolved when requirements are met
~White Dragon's Martial skill (intermediate success)
-sky tier
-can be evolved when requirements are met ]
Cultivation Base: Five Elemental Conversion(???) ]
After the finalization, Long Bai copied the skills into 4 thin manuals. With the rest of the night, Long Bai utilized it to circulate his essence all throughout his body.
Early morning, Ruiya and Yuqi escorted Long Bai to see the household head. Inside the hall room, there were seven seats all in all including the head's seat however, only three were occupied. It seemed that the three were discussing something at an early hour and was unaware of Long Bai's visit. One elder noticed their unannounced entry and questioned their purpose.
"Ruiya and Yuqi, you're here early in the morning with an unknown man. Why did you not inform us beforehand?"
Ruiya and Yuqi gave their greetings to the elders and the leader before replying.
"Wise elders, I believe you were informed about a youth that was able to catch the 2nd young master of the Tao household during a challenge and in that report, he was also able to use our family skill. The youth in question has come to search for someone."
The elders let Long Bai enter and present himself in front of the household head. With their scrutinizing eyes, Long Bai can't help but feel a bit uncomfortable. It was as if they were trying to pry him open and see everything he have inside.
"Greetings to the elders and the clan head. My name is Long Bai. I came here to find an old man."
Although Long Bai made it sound a bit rude, anyone who knows whom he was pertaining will definitely understand why he did that. The clan leader was a bit surprised with the revelation since he knew who the person Long Bai was pertaining to. An old man that was has taught his skill to an outsider, it would be him. His friend that has returned recently after travelling for a long time. On the other hand, the elders who were clueless about what is going on took Long Bai's words like an insult.
"Preposterous! How can a young child like you act so rude in front of his elders? Is that how you repay your family?"
Long Bai was supposed to reply but was already interrupted by the clan leader.
"Everyone! I want to speak with this boy alone. I request everyone to leave now."
The clan leader's imposing aura filled the hall causing everyone to feel pressured. Without delay, everyone except Long Bai stayed with the leader in the hall.
"So you are the kid my friend has been talking about. He said he gave you the family's skill manual cause you were interesting. May I see how far you were able to master the skill?" The household head demanded.
Long Bai thought he would be questioned heavily or make things difficult for him but to his surprise it wasn't anything of that sort. The man was reasonable and curious instead of being hard. There were times when Long Bai thought that these big shots are so high and mighty just like when he was at the previous restaurant. Since it wasn't a difficult request, he then showcased his mastered
"Ohh! Magnificent! It wasn't that long since Old man returned and here you are showing full mastery of it. Young Bai, to have this prowess you must have a master, am I right?"
"Ah, yes of some sort." Long Bai shortly replied. He can't really say that he have a system that guides and maximizes his learning and potential. Still it is similar since a master's purpose is to guide and help his apprentice grow so he wasn't sort of lying.
"Hm, it is a given. Since you came here to meet my friend, I will not delay further. By the way, how did you know he is from this family?"
"I saw Sister Ruiya one time executing the same skill so I though the two of them belong to the same background."
"I see. That was a good lead indeed. Follow me. Old man friend mist be still at his residence since it is early."
Long Bai followed the household head to a wide residence 80 meters away from the hall. Long Bai was thinking at that time if he would still look like a beggar or if he would be able to recognize him. When the two reached the place, they saw an old man doing some light exercises on an open space, more like a backyard. He hasn't noticed the two yet until they were 5nsmeters away. After the household head greeted the old man, Bai and the old man's eyes met. Long Bai threw a casual greeting.
"Mister Old Man, we met again."