Qiao Zhi showed a map on the table and placed pins on the map. "We must travel through the Forest of Fei Lian then go through Tengshan, the City of Wind, and finally through the Great Shizou Valley. Shiwei will be there and that is where we will invade. Nagini, translate."
Nagini looked at Qiao Zhi and sighed. "Why..? Alright, these three points are where we are travelling to reach Shiwei. It won't be an easy journey and your powers-"
"Noxius." Shi said and frowned at her. "The Power of a Miko is beyond imagination. She has direct connections to the Shinto Legends, all of them. Once she grows her abilities, she will become stronger and match our level."
"We don't need patience. People are out there DYING as we speak. If she can't grow stronger by the time it's time for us to go to the Forest of Fei Lian, she's getting exiled." Nagini combated.
"That's not really fair to kick someone off for having a slower growing curve." I said.
"What do you know about anything, Phoenix?" Nagini glared at me.
"I know what it's like to be weaker than everyone else. We all start from somewhere. Even people talented like me started from nothing. I used to be a mere commoner. It is you who has no idea what it's like to be weak." I said.
Nagini smirked and her eyes shined. "You talk very boldly, Bird. I like that about you. I hate how you're always so quick to defend the weak ones."
I glared at Nagini and slight ominous energy began to flow from my hand. "Allow me to remind you who you are speaking to, Nagini."
"Master." Meng Xun said then placed her hand on my shoulder.
I looked at Meng Xun and noticed her shake her head. I closed my eyes and my aura disappeared. I stood up and opened my eyes. "I'm getting some air."
Misao watched me walk out the building then looked at everyone else. She looked down and placed her hands on her lap.
Qiao Zhi sighed and shook his head. "We're never going to accomplish anything like this."
Shi crossed his arms. "Listen, we are the only ones who can save this world from Bai Xang. We are the Guardians chosen by the Sovereigns to protect Earth from the evils that arise. We need to be a better team."
"We can't." Nagini said and filed her nails. "I am years beyond your time with my inventions and assistance from a very widely known scientist. Misao quite literally can't communicate with us plus you were really hyping up her abilities for nothing."
"What do you mean? Misao was chosen because of her abilities." Shi said.
"She used it ONCE. Even that was just out of panic. Her powers are useless if even she doesn't know how she did it." Nagini said.
"Allow me to play Terminus's Advocate for a second." Qiao Zhi said. "Misao is a Supernatural Miko and her powers solely revolve around her religion which happens to be the Shinto. Her powers were most effective in Japan, where we found her. Her powers are weakened in China because of the Chinese Legends' presence. Not a hint of Shinto Energy is in China. She can't use her power here."
Nagini looked at Misao then smirked. "So basically you're just proving my point. She holds no play here."
"That's where you're wrong." Meng Xun said. "Qiao Zhi is also wrong. A Miko's powers can work with Shinto Legends and closely related systems of divinity. Taoism and Chinese Divination practices are closely related to Shintoism. All Misao has to do is have a connection to Taoism and Chinese Divination. Who else is a Master of Taoism and Chinese Divination? Master Liao Ru!"
Shi looked at Meng Xun with an impressed expression. "Huh, she's right. Liao Ru is the best teacher for Misao and maybe she can teach Misao our language so we can communicate easier!"
"Saved by the student. We set out for the forest in a week and on the last day, I will test your skills to see how much you've grown." Nagini said.
Misao looked at Nagini then nodded. She looked at Qiao Zhi and noticed he put on his mask.
"I will be preparing everything we need for the invasion. You all have a week to train and prepare as much as possible." Qiao Zhi said then vanished into a purple lightning bolt.
Misao's first instinct was to find me. She hurried out the building and searched for me. Meng Xun followed her. She decided to help Misao find me by using her ability to sense my chi.
Chi or often called Qigong in China and Kikou on Japan, a concept not talked much about since it holds the same properties as Aura. Chi and Aura are like sisters the difference being Chi is Inward Energy. It harnesses the user's Physical Life-Force. Aura on the other hand is purely spiritual.
There are many things users of Chi can do that users of Aura can't. One of them being able to gather Chi from surroundings without any form of additional abilities. Another is the ability to manipulate one's own life force to slow down aging. A main ability of Chi is the ability to manipulate invisible energy to our advantage. Masters of Chi using Invisible Energy can essentially become immortal by manipulating their life force, manipulate gravity and space, air, and more.
-----
Meng Xun and Misao finally found me. I sat along a lake in the prairie of Yuanxing, meditating. The two approached me and stopped.
"Meng Xun and Misao. I know you two are there." I said and opened my eyes.
"Master, we are given a week to train and prepare. Misao has only a week to train for her exhibition match against Nagini. I was hoping you could train Misao and teach her some Mandarin." Meng Xun said.
I stood up and turned around to face the two. I placed my hand behind my back. "It will be difficult to train her because of our language barrier, but I will try my best. Now you go train. I wish for you to be at your best."
Meng Xun bowed and rose back up with a smile on her face. "You have my thanks, Master Liao Ru."
I watched Meng Xun hurry off. I looked at Misao and wondered how I was to fix our language barrier. She stared at me albeit very timidly. Her soft pink eyes looked at me with bashfulness.
I gestured for her to follow me. I walked off and she followed behind. We went deep into the forest where it was secluded. I sat down on my knees and placed my hands on my lap. Here there were no distractions.
Misao sat beside me on her knees and placed her hands on her lap just as I did. She noticed me close my eyes and she did also. Her fox ears flicked as the forest ambiance caught her attention.
"Hello." I said.
Her fox ear tilted toward me. She opened one eye and looked at me.
I noticed I didn't get a response then softly sighed. I opened my eyes then leaned down to write on the dirt. Misao watched my finger as I wrote down a few words and their meanings. I pointed at the first words.
"Ni hao. Hello." I said.
"Mm...N-Ni...hao." Misao said, very slowly so she didn't mess up.
"Ni hao." I said and looked at Misao.
"Ni hao." She said. "Hello."
I smiled at her then nodded. "My name is..."
"My name is..." Misao repeated.
"Hello, my name is Liao Ru." I greeted.
"Hello...my name is...Misao." Misao said.
I nodded and began to teach her common phrases and the Chinese alphabet. We spent the first day learning my language up to where she could hold her own in a conversation. It wasn't easy teaching Misao because of her timidness and the language barrier that still existed, but I managed to get her to say her first few sentences with confidence.
I gave Misao a book. "Use this to keep learning overnight. Tomorrow training actually starts."
"Okay." Misao bowed toward me.
I looked at Misao and resisted the urge to pet her head because of her fox ears. I noticed her tail swaying a bit as well then turned around. "Follow me."
I led Misao back to Yuanxing and we retreated back into our base to rest for the night.
-----
Day Two...Misao and I met at the forest to begin actual training. She wore her training kimono and I wore my casual wear outside of Shangqiu.
"Today I will teach you, Wu Xing." I said with my hands behind my back.
"Wu Xing?" Misao asked and tilted her head.
"The Five Elements also known as the Five Phases. Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. I will make sure you master all five before it is time for you to battle Nagini." I said.
"Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water. I will pass them?" Misao asked.
Her broken Mandarin was cute to me and it made me giggle a bit.
"A-Ahh, did I misspeak?" Misao asked.
"No, no. You're okay." I said and smiled at Misao. "You will pass all five tests before it is time."
Misao smiled back at me and nodded.
----
Nagini sat on her hovering platform and crossed one leg over the other as she experimented with Chi Energy. "Chi...is a magnificent source of energy. The things you can do with Chi amazes me."
Shi looked at Nagini and crossed his arms. "Are you finished using my energy? I know I have an infinite supply of Chi, but I do still get tired Noxius."
"Yeah, since you want to be a little wuss. The amount I have is more than sufficient for multiple tests. I will enhance Chi Energy into something greater. The world will witness Infinity Council's original Super Energy." Nagini said.
"Super Energy? What is that?" Shi asked.
"I am glad you asked my Wushin ally." Nagini said then took off her goggles then turned around to the board on the wall.
"Chi and Aura both have properties that allow Transformations. You would need a lot of Chi and Aura to turn Super. That's why only few achieved a Super Form like Qiao Zhi, Liao Ru, and you." Nagini explained.
"You can't turn Super?" Shi asked.
"I can, but my energy source works different. I have what is called Esoteric Energy. It is incredibly hard to generate such energy to achieve it. I've only turned Super once in my life and that was to save my Doctor from a group of Ronin back in Japan." Nagini said. "But that's besides the point."
"Alright, you may continue." Shi said.
"Chi and Aura are essential for life and offer transformation abilities. By combining the two together carefully, I can create a medicine that allows the usage of the combined two which is named Super Energy. It will allow the user to take the physical and spiritual properties of generating enough energy to turn Super without the stress of tiring one's self out and the best part is because Chi allows you to generate energy from just your surroundings and Aura allows you to keep an infinite amount of energy stored inside, it's perfect for having an infinite source without common practices!" Nagini said, proudly.
"So basically you're cheating is what you're saying." Shi asked.
"Cheating? This is called working smarter not harder. I'm a scientist and alchemist for crying out loud. This is what I do. I help create easier solutions to seemingly unending problems." Nagini said.
"Alright, but I don't want you to test a failed serum on me. If it kills me, I will personally haunt you." Shi said.
"Whatever.." Nagini rolled her eyes and got back to working.
-----
Misao grunted as she tried to manipulate the wood of the trees, but was only able to break off a piece of bark. She sighed and closed her eyes. She watched me and noticed I was moving gracefully and fluidly.
"You're moving too stiff. It's all about Control, Discipline, and Restraint. You must let the energy flow throughout your body then you can do this." I said then raised my arm up and a wooden pillar rose from the ground.
"This is difficult." Misao said.
I lowered my arm and the wood pillar disappeared back underground. I looked at Misao and placed my hands behind my back. "Patience, Xeusheng Misao. I did not become a master in one day. It took years of practice and experience. With time, you will awaken your new powers."
Misao looked at me in awe of my wisdom. She bowed toward me. "Yes, Liao Ru! I will be patient!"
I smiled at Misao. "Now back from the top."
Misao stood up quickly. "Yes!"
Misao trained for hours trying to learn the Wood Element in its basic form of Wood Generation and Manipulation. Each attempt was a fail, but she didn't quit. She kept going at it until progress was made.
Misao rose her arm up and snapped one of the branches off the tree with her Wood Manipulation. "I-I did it..!"
I looked at the branch and smiled. "Your potential is pretty great. To learn that in only 8 hours."
"I couldn't have done it without you." Misao bowed toward me.
I smiled at her and gently pat her head. This made her really happy and her tail began wagging. "Let's get some rest. You've earned it."
"Okay." Misao said then stood up straight.
The two of us returned back to base on day two and Misao was pleased with her progress in her speaking ability and her Wu Xing training. It was only going to get tougher from here so I had to make sure she's well rested at all time. Next was for her to learn the basics of the Fire Element.