'Sigh, it's a lonely night, and all that can keep me company is the borishly loud snoring of Luo Ren, and this foul green alien of a creature, which apparently, is just an ordinary praying mantis inside a bird cage'
David wouldn't had been bothered by this praying mantis usually, but the insect kept stalking him with its bugish eyes, swaying its hypnotizing sword like body left and right.
He was fairly annoyed at being stalked like a hound, and tried to ignore the green bug from influencing his mindset.
'Hmmm, I guess that this mantis was something of a hint that helped him advance from level one to two in the Twelve Heavenly Ghost Star Streaking Mantis Steps of the Immortal Gods, or it could just be an ordinary pet... But if it's true, then he would need to understand the other things in the technique name, such as 'ghost' and the other things'
XXX Six Hours Later XXX
Luo Ren slept for six hours before waking up, during that six hours, David was boredly waiting for his energy to refill up.
But these six hours had only regenerated 36 energy, which meant he had a total of 47 currently.
He decided to spend some of his energy on his wheels since he has no reason to stock his energy up just yet.
'Place 20 energy on both front and back wheels' He thought.
- 20 energy, + 20 Durability (Total energy: 27/110)
Front wheel 83% out of 110% Durability
- 20 energy, + 20 Durability (Total energy: 7/110)
Back wheel 82% out of 110% Durability
After that, David recalled the dark night he spent inside Luo Ren's shabby room, and felt anxious.
He sensed that there were multiple movements outside Luo Ren's room, and some even came close to breaking in, but for some reasons, they mysterious decided not to.
"Yawn, that was a good night slept, hmmm... Good morning little man, and good morning to you, ancient spiritual relic" Luo Ren said in a tired tone.
"Chirp chirp chirp" The mantis chirped happily, it seems his name is little man...
"Ding" David replied
- 1 energy (Ring Bell Function - 6/110 energy)
"Heh, you two must be happy to see me" Luo Ren chuckled embarrassingly.
"Welp, it's time to do my daily tradition, it's your turn little man" Luo Ren said happily as he took out praying mantis out of the cage, he then placed it before him before stepping a few steps backwards.
He then stretched his body out in multiple different ways, jumping up and down to loosen his muscles.
Suddenly Luo Ren paused, and so did the mantis, they were eyeing each other seriously like that nothing else matters.
They stood very still, almost like an icy swan lake with no ripples or currents, not even the winds howl will disturb their presences.
The mantis took the first move, slowly moving its arms at slow rate of a small timely fraction.
It's gentle oddity produced an aura of wisdom and age.
Like a monk standing on top of a mountain hill, before the dawning sun, praying by presenting a slow evening dance.
The mantis arms moved like waves, and Luo Ren copied its exact motion, they connected at different frequency, body and mind, with the energy of the world, but the vibe it presented itself wasn't power, it was more like nature taking its course, like a sage speaking the language of the earth, and the earth speaking back.
The rhythm began to beat faster, like a beating drums of the angry cloud sky thundering like two stones striking the bones of their rocky skull, thus producing a magnificent fiery blaze.
David had seen all odd things in his life, but seeing Luo Ren, becoming one with the mantis, had taken a spot in the top 10 list of weird shit he had seen since coming into this world.
It was like seeing a human mantis, his every movement mimic a real praying mantis, it was no wonder Luo Ren had done, what other people havn't.
Who in their right mind, would become 'one with the mantis', by copying its every movement, studying its habit every day, and turning these things into a reflective habit, an everyday habit such that rival those such as breathing and eating.
But looking back, it shouldn't be too stange, are there not stories of cultivators mimicking creatures to create their own skills based on their own interpretation?
You have people who briefly witness a legendary roc fly across the vast sky like an out-worldly comet, and then create a movement skill based on their own experience and memory of that legendary roc.
So why shouldn't an ordinary praying mantis be on that list? Just because it is a mortal creature with no cultivation talent? But a mantis can become extraordinary, given the chance of cultivation, so what if you give a human cultivator, the skills and movement of a mantis?
Given what Luo Ren had done recently, the results speak for itself.
But it is too bad that this praying mantis is still ordinary, given what wonders its powers could produce, if it could grow stronger.
Atlas, certain creatures are destined to stay mortal, perhaps its the punishment of the gods? Or was it the the unfair nature that the world has become? Some beings are birthed with great power, others are not.
Or perhaps, if this mantis would one day grow wings, would natures balance be upset?
David was intrigue to see what would happen, if he was to have an immortal medicine that could be used upon this ordinary mantis.
Wouldn't it be interesting to see what mortal creature would turn out to be, if given a chance at cultivation, rather then to dwindle in mediocrity for the rest of its life.
The daily routine has finished, Luo Ren was completely drenched in sweat, but the mantis seemed fine, like what it did was an ordinary everyday occurrence.
It seems that Luo Ren has a long way to go, before completely mastering the ways of the mantis.
He had only left the mastery realm of the beginner stage and is slightly on the border of the boundary stage.
He bowed towards the mantis like it was his master, before shredding his clothes, and walking limply into a different room, presumably the bathroom to take a bath, as his body was glistering in sweat and impurities.
The dance had a magical effect of expelling impurities.
How many trials and error did that routine take for him to get it right? Or how many days did it take him to get the trust of the creature, to teach him its ways?
If anyone was to force him to give away the secret of advancing from level one, to level two in The Twelve Heavenly Ghost Star Streaking Mantis Steps of the Immortal Gods, if he told them everything that he did, would they even believe him?
They would laugh in his face before telling him to reveal the true method.
Luo Ren had finished washing up, dressed in the same clothed he wore before. He then fed the mantis some mysterious insect snack, before letting it jump onto its shoulders.
"Hmmm, so I see, you have used up some energy to regenerate some of your wheels durability, so I assume you are low on energy, very well, I'll wait some time to ask more questions but for now, we are going on a very long ride today" Luo Ren said to David in a casual tone before picking him up, and carrying him to the front door.
'A long ride? that does sound good, I need to get more mile points to upgrade myself and I really don't want to listen or experience anymore drama, it's time to get some action on the road' David though excitedly.
'Please let there be nothing, stopping me from racking up some mile points' He prayed.
"Hey what's this?" Exclaimed Luo Ren as he opened the door.
There were a pile of letter envelopes, each of different quality, stacked up against his doorstep.
"Eh, there is even one from the Jing Clan?" Luo Ren slowly opened up the envelope with the Jing family seal on it.
"Dear Grandson
I hope you are doing well Luo Ren, sorry that our side of the family hasn't treated you well over the years, but I feel personally responsible as I neglected you well-being. I had many responsibilities in the clan and couldn't extend my hands to you as I had been swamped in family business and problems that are hard to understand.
Come visit, and I will personally send Jing Bai to kneel and apologize to you.
Your mother, Luo Xu was first, a Jing. You are half Jing, and you are always welcomed into our clans home.
From your Grandfather, the Patriarch of the Jing Family, Jing Dai."
'Wait, Luo Rens mother is a Jing? That means Luo Ren, and that bully Jing Bai is related by blood? Oh my god...' David thought, dumbfounded.
"Huuumpft, now they think of me being part of the family, such timing" Luo Ren scowled in disdain before tearing the paper in half.
He frowned, every power, every clan, every business, every individual, wants a piece of his knowledge.
"Now I know why they say, harboring a treasured jade with no power results in pain and death, I need a backing, but I won't choose the Jing's or the Luo's"
Luo Ren looked through all the envelopes, and found none of the invitations worth attending, each and every one of these invitation, are linked to families that had their descendants bully him without restraint, chasing him down like rabid dogs, and what do those family do? They let these descendants have a go at him, putting no leashes on their neck and letting those degenerates bark at him willfully.
"If worse comes to worse, should I choose to go under Tao Mins wing?" He said softly.
'You idiot, unless you want to turn into a boy toy, I suggest you run far from that man!' David screamed inwardly before spending more energy to answer Luo Rens delusions.
"Ding Ding"
- 2 energy (Ring Bell Function - 4/110 energy)
"Eh?" Luo Ren heard David ring his bell twice, and ringing twice means no.
Before Luo Ren could process Davids answer as to why he should go under Tao Min, he heard footsteps coming his way.
"Younger brother!"
Luo Ren saw a huge mountain running his way, but he didn't dare flee because it was his sweet and kind sister.
Luo Rei was currently crying with blobs of snot running down her nose, she hurriedly hugged her young brother tightly, in turn, squeezing the life out of him.
"Ugh..uh, sis...sister I ca..can't breathe!"
"Oh? I'm Sorry!" She hurriedly let go with an anxious expression.
"Are you ok? Nevermind that, I thought you had died!" She said tearfully.
Luo Ren laughed nervously with a dab of guilt in his eyes.
In his mind, after seeing his eldest sister cry for him now, he briefly thought that he should had met with his eldest sister after rocketing down the Divine Towering Steps.
David was currently shocked at the tall being behind the fat triplet, standing at around three meters tall was a brutish, bearish, monk-like bodyguard.
He wore a white Buddhist monk robe, had a red bead necklace, short brown hair, medium length scruffy beard, sharp eyebrows that seems like a great-sword, dark green eyes, and veiny muscles.
This man was like a living Hercules!
[David Lee]
Grade 1 (Low)
Health Points: 82/110
Energy Points: 4/110
Mile Points: 5
Attack: Ordinary
Defence: Grade 1 (Low)
Speed: Grade 1 (Low)
[Body strength]
Body Frame - Toughness 1/100 MP 0/2, Seat 0/100 MP 0/1, Chains 0/100 MP 0/1, Pedals 0/100 MP 0/1 , Handlebar 0/100 MP 0/1, Headlight 0/100 MP 0/1, Bell 0/100 MP 0/1, Basket 1/100 MP 0/2, Bottle holder 0/100 MP 0/1
Front wheel 83% out of 110% Durability - Toughness 1/100 MP 0/2, Rim 0/100 MP 0/1, Speed 1/100 MP 0/2, Breaks 0/10 MP 0/1
Back wheel 82% out of 110% Durability - Toughness 1/100 MP 0/2, Rim 0/100 MP 0/1, Speed 1/100 MP 0/2
Spirit - Soul 0/100 MP 0/1, Energy 1/100 MP 0/2
[Functions]
Lv 0 Devour [0/10 MP] - cost nil - Devour objects that is placed inside the basket, time spent siphoning depends on objects strength and the level of devour.
Ring Bell - cost 1 energy per use - ability to ring an ordinary bell sound
Flashlight - cost 1 energy per 10 seconds - ability to flash an ordinary light
Breaks - cost 10 energy per use - forcefully use your breaks.
[Luo Ren/Age 18]
Mortal Human Stage 9 and Mortal Qi Stage 9
Compatibility with host 9/10
Legendary Tier Rider
Rider Level 1: 14/100 EXP
Rider Benefits: Nil