Chapter 86
In the black of the night where light can be seldom seen, houses lit with small fire lamps give a tranquil vibe of their surroundings. In the silence of the night, a couple of shadows suddenly appear from out of nowhere and is now running at the top of the tiled roofs of the houses. These shadows wore masks on their faces and are donned in black.
The direction they ran is towards the courtyard where the eldest young master of the Nian clan lives. Jumping from roof to roof the shadows seems to be skilled in both combat and tactics as they stayed in a formation while moving.
"Wei'er, you have already advanced to the core-forming realm primary stage along with your sister. I hope that you will show your abilities in the Clan Trials and inspire the young ones in the clan." A middle-aged man with a square face said as he patted a young man's shoulder sitting next to him.
This middle-aged man and the young man is the father and son from the Nian clan. The father is Jin Nian, who is the current head of the Nian clan and a grand elder of the Heavenly Crow sect. Right now he is talking to his eldest son Wei Qin Nian, who will be the future clan head.
While the two are chatting, several shadows suddenly appear and immediately kneeled in front of the two people.
"Master we have finished the preparation in the Dark forest. We have secured the mountainside and is ready for the incoming clan trials." The leader of the group said.
"Good, good… We must show the other clans attending this event on how powerful our clan youths are." The clan leader, Jin Nian said.
He slowly stood and walk towards the window looking at the night sky. His mind is filled with things that the clan talked about. Right now he is excited because a clan Dao ancestor will be with them, he wanted to show what he had done for the clan as the clan leader.
With his great contribution, he expects the Dao ancestor to give out a great benefit for the winner. If his son will win the competition as always, the Dao ancestor of their clan might give him some high-grade cultivation technique or treasures which could aid his house in its growth and will be unchallenged in the clan.
Meanwhile…
Inside a small room with a dim light stood three people, the man in the front is Shin Jiao and the other two are Rat Ling and Zen Nian. As per his promise he is going to teach Zen Nian some techniques he can use for the upcoming clan trials.
"Young master Zen, what I will teach you both are 2 techniques that I am using. One is a movement technique that focuses on short and precise evasion which will aid you as you become stronger and the other one is a technique that can sharpen and develop your spiritual sense to grow further." Shin Jiao said as he took out a piece of paper and give it to his two current students.
"The first one is the movement technique I called, Shadow step. It is an evasion skill that utilizes your accuracy to its limit as you evade incoming blows while utilizing minimal movement. This technique can make you evade any attacks when practiced to the extreme. It has three levels, when you reach the extreme your opponent will think that they hit you when you evade as a clear after image will be left from where you stood before." Shin Jiao explained.
"The next is an eye technique I called, mind eye. This is a skill that can make you read and predict the trajectory and movement of your opponent, this technique will test the limit of your senses. If it is used in tandem with your spiritual sense, it would be a great skill for evasion and precise attacking." Shin Jiao continued as he pointed at the papers.
As the two scrutinize the techniques in the paper, their eyes are covered in confusion. Upon seeing this Shin Jiao know that he needs to show it to them before they can understand it fully. Taking a deep breath he takes a step back and looks at Rat Ling.
"Attack me!" Shin Jiao suddenly commanded as he gestured with his hand.
Rat Ling immediately donned a confused expression on his face as he could not understand why Shin Jiao wanted him to attack.
"I want you to attack me." Shin Jiao repeated.
With this, Rat Ling turns his head towards Zen Nian who nods his head in confirmation.
"I… I don't want to hurt you, brother." Rat Ling said as he clenched his fist.
"Don't worry, you won't." Shin Jiao smiled confidently.
"Here I go!" Rat Ling shouted as he dashed forward with his fist towards Shin Jiao's shoulder.
Seeing this Shin Jiao shook his head as he knows that Rat Ling truly didn't want to hurt him. But as an instructor, he needs to show his students the outcome when they hesitate.
So Shin Jiao made a move using his walking stick and hit the back of Rat Ling's head. The inertia sent Rat Ling directly to the wall with a thud.
Rat Ling felt a little angry as he didn't expect Shin Jiao to hit him at the back of his head with a little force. Although he was not hurt at all as he is already a strong cultivator than Shin Jiao, still he could not believe that he already lost the fight in just one move.
Turning around this time Rat Ling didn't hold back and attack Shin Jiao's body squarely. But with just a twist of his body, Shin Jiao was able to evade that punch. Then Rat Ling continued sending his barrage of attacks, but all he hit was air.
Then he suddenly discovers his world turning upside down and his back on the floor. Although Rat Ling was still not hurt however he still is dumbfounded. He now realized and almost grasps the technique that Shin Jiao is showing him, the position of the body and the proper tension in the muscles. Both seem to have realized that they have encountered a very special kind of technique. They now realized the special trait of the technique and once they can practice it even to the first level, they would be untouchable.
Back in the underground base, Shin Jiao taught the Shadow Squad these techniques and they only reach level 1 after a month. This level is already enough for them to be able to hunt or escape beast that is at a level 4 or level 5.
Shin Jiao extended his hand towards Rat Ling and help him up.
"From today onward, both Young Master and brother Rat Ling should work hard to reach at least level 1, okay?" Shin Jiao said as he limply walks to the side.
The two immediately nods their head and went to a corner and started to analyze the technique and put it in their minds. They now have a goal to learn this technique as soon as possible as they will be facing another beating if they are not ready before the Clan Trials starts.
...
A few weeks later…
Two days to go and the commencement of the Clan Trials will start soon. The festive atmosphere in the Nian clan can be felt as many youths can be seen practicing and training. Meanwhile, in a certain closed room, two figures can be seen fighting each other. But the fight is quite unique as only a blur of shadows can be seen everywhere.
Zen Nian suddenly saw an opening and his fist flew towards Rat Ling's chest. But then all of a sudden his face turned into a surprise as Rat Ling suddenly disappear. And then on his arm is the small hand of Rat Ling.
"Hehehe… Young master, I won this time!" Rat Ling said happily.
"This is my 3rd win master. Let's go again!" Rat Ling enthusiastically said.
"You little brat, I already beat you by two points. So I still win." Zen Nian said with a smile.
"But.. but… at that time, I thought that you were injured or something." Rat Ling justified.
"Shin Jiao already told us that other than techniques we should also learn how to use tactics. Although strength is the deciding factor in the cultivation land, only those who are wiser than others would always have the upper hand." Zen Nian said trying to advice Rat Ling.
"I know…" Rat Ling said with his head hanging low.
"Don't be sad, tomorrow we will still practice right?" Zen Nian consoled.
"Ah! Right! But… young master, we only have two days before the Clan Trials. Do you think we can make it this time without being beaten?" Rat Ling said with his self-confidence still low.
Because of their experience as master and servant always being beaten by either clan youths or some demon beasts in the Dark Forest, Rat Ling developed a mentality of losing any fight before it started.
But this is the reason and his motivation why he wanted to get stronger for his master.
"Shin Jiao has already given us a fighting chance, if we honed our technique and practice more we can be faster and become stronger than what we are today." Zen Nian said as he lifted his fist and slowly clenches it.
"You're right young master… Since we still have time, we must continue training then." Rat Ling replied with a glint of craftiness in his eyes.
While the two are busy practicing, Shin Jiao is already walking towards the innermost part of the medicinal field of plants covered in a barrier. Right now he has already disguised himself as a high-level servant. For weeks now he started to monitor and spy upon this area and already saw the weakness of the array.
Shin Jiao followed the other servants as they walk towards the pathway of the field.
"Hey, we are going to harvest the medicinal plants near the center, right?"
"Yeah… But I wish I can enter the barrier and take some ginsengs from the inner area. It would be useful for my brother's health."
"You wish! If they caught you, then you will be dead meat. There is a gold core senior always monitoring that area."
As they walk nearer to the barrier where most of the high-level medicinal materials are planted, Shin Jiao's figure suddenly disappears from the group.
"I should wait in here till its night time before making my move." Shin Jiao thought as he calculates the amount of time he needed to open a small passage at the barrier.
Right now he is hiding behind some thick bushes where people don't usually go. This place is a part of the plantation where the next harvest for the medicinal plants will be for another 3 months. Lying flat on the ground Shin Jiao waited till its night falls.
"I guess it's time." Shin Jiao said as he opens his eyes.
From his pocket he took out 4 low-grade spiritual stones, he got these stones from Zen Nien. There are already carved runes surrounding them, but these runes are not yet activated. Taking a thumb-size beast core fragment, Shin Jiao used it as a flint to light a fire. He then activated the four low-grade spiritual stones energy. As the energy started to circulate, Shin Jiao began to draw a diagram on the ground. He used water as a conductor for the energy that the spiritual stones projected. Not long later Shin Jiao can see a ripple of distortion on the side of the barrier.
Although he is powerless right now, because of his gained knowledge on runes and array he is able to make a hole in the barrier just enough for him to crawl in and out.
"This hole will only last for 30 minutes, I need to be fast." Shin Jiao thought.
Without another word, he started to crawl inside the hole and reached the other side of the barrier.
Upon entering the middle plantation, Shin Jiao's senses are suddenly assaulted by different high-grade medicinal plants. His eyes almost bulge in surprise at the treasure in front of him.
"Alas, I don't have my ring. If I can regain my powers back, then I will visit this place again." Although Shin Jiao wanted to take these treasures however right now he can't.
Plus he is not some greedy cultivator who would always covet other goods unscrupulously. He is would always take what he only needs and never do things that would jeopardize himself.
While Shin Jiao enters the barrier a figure is also calmly walking towards the center of the field of the medicinal plants. Behind that person are two young women also wearing cultivator's robe.
"Senior… You will give us the 100-year-old ginseng as per our agreement, right?" one of the women spoke with a soft beautiful voice.
"Of course, why would I trick my juniors. Since you've helped me concoct the bone transformation pill, as promise I will also give you one 100-year-old ginseng as compensation." The middle-aged man said in an amicable tone.
But unknown to the two young women the elder walking a few steps ahead of them already had a perverted glint in his eyes as he licks his lips.
"You two have helped me alright, but I cannot let others know that the two of you are the ones who made the pill. If not, then my position in the Alchemy house would be ruined. Blame your bad luck for being too naïve. I'll play with the both of you before I kill you. Kekeke…" the middle-aged man thought as an evil smirk appears on his face.
As the three approaches the barrier, Shin Jiao is busy looking for the 100-year-old ginseng.
"Where are the ginsengs located?" Shin Jiao stood as he looks around the field.
Then his eyes caught something not too far from him. It is like a small silver root and seems to just grow out of the ground. When Shin Jiao walks towards it his eye widens in disbelief.
The plant is a very rare plant called Silver Ghost root.
"This… this is really my lucky day! I didn't know why this Silver Ghost root is here but with this medicinal plant, I can already see my meridian healed. Not only that, I might have a stronger and wider meridian channel if I successfully concoct the level 4 Heavenly Mending Pill." Shin Jiao excitedly said to himself as he walks near the Silver Ghost Roots.
"I wonder why no one noticed this thing... Ah! These things only go out of the ground at night… I guess that's the reason why no one found this here." Shin Jiao thought.
He then carefully, took out a knife from his bag and slowly digs out the Silver Ghost root. He then carefully put it inside his bag, and immediately stood up.
But before he could walk away, three figures suddenly appear outside of the barrier walking towards his direction.