It took longer than expected to get used to the new movement technique. I started with forward steps shifting in different directions and followed up with left steps moving everywhere but left, I did the same thing with right sidesteps. The most difficult thing I did was taking a step backwards just to end up infront of my original position.
As soon as I could take a step in any direction and end up in any position I wanted I would reach the begginer stage. It took me nearly half a day to reach this stage, this included meditating to restore my qi. From here, the speed at which I could change positions and the distance I could proficiently move would be an indicator of what stage I was at.
This martial art would only get better the higher your realm. At my realm, reaching the perfection stage would mean I could perfectly, almost instantly move a few hundred meters away. An added benefit of reaching perfection would be not having to actually take a step.
It had been a while since I felt the exhilaration of practicing and becoming stronger. I was determined not to stop until I reached perfection, this time I made sure not to rush myself and freak out if I couldn't do it in one go.
Little by little I was expanding the range at which I could move and shortening the time it took me to do so.
It took three days of non-stop practicing and meditating to reach small accomplishment. It took another week to reach great accomplishment. By the end of the month I had nearly reached perfection.
If someone were to watch my training they would see me basically teleporting around my room in an eratic manner with no indication of the direction I was going.
I had a realization that if I took a step towards where I was going to be when fighting an opponent of similar strength I could confuse them when they got used to it.
I wanted to test my new martial art on someone of similar level to me fast.
"Master!" I yelled out
'What is it? Did you actually reach the beginner stage in only a month? Impressive.'
"Sort of, is there anyone I can fight to test myself?"
'There is an arena but most of the cultivators there are at the Nascent Soul realm or above.'
"Why haven't I heard of this?"
'Is not normal to fight across realms I'm sure you would naturally learn this when you breakthrough.'
"Can I go?"
'You want to fight people in a higher realm?'
"Yes!" It had been a while since I had last fought someone else. I couldn't hide the excitement in my tone.
'On the Eastern most part of the sect there is a large arena, use your jade token and register for fights at the Nascent Soul realm.'
"Alright."
It didn't take long to find a large circular arena. I had seen this building before but didn't know it's use.
As I approached the arena I could hear loud shouts that weren't there before I approached.
***
"Fuck! I lost a hundred spirit stones! So much for being a dark horse."
"A hundred? I lost a thousand!"
"Why would you waste that many spirit stones?!"
"We'll have to teach him a lesson later and get our money back!"
""Yeah!!""
***
I walked up to the counter and registered for fights at the Nascent Soul realm. I got the number forty and was told to wait until it was announced.
It took about ten minutes for my number to be announced.
"Fellow disciples we have a rare cross realm battle today. The sect masters new disciple is here to fight today, let's not disappoint her. Place your bets before the battle begins."
"Number forty and number seven please come to the stage."
I could finally fight someone and test my strength.
"Don't worry I won't end this too fast."
My opponent had said so but he wouldn't even know how he lost.
"Begin!"
I wanted to be on the defensive first to test myself without relying on the void.
My opponent arrived infront of me and swung a sword at my neck, I shifted my weight to my back foot and narrowly doged the blade. In the same motion I brought my foot up to kick his wrist. He backed off as soon as he missed though.
The look in his eyes changed, he spread his qi out about a meter around himself. He approached slowly this time. Neither of us were blinking we were waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
I pretended to let my guard down so he would approach. When he lunged at me I could feel my body getting heavier and more sluggish. I had to circulate my qi a little faster in order to dodge.
If this was the extent of his strength he wouldn't even be strong enough to test myself.
***
'How is she moving so fast? Isn't she only at Golden Core?'
'Even though that first strike wasn't at full power a mere Golden Core cultivator couldn't dodge it that easily. That second strike should have been fatal too, I used my domain to slow down her movements and she still dodged! She even has a disappointed look on her face?'
'I'll definitely beat you now!'
***
My opponent seemed to have finally gotten serious about fighting me.
Even faster than the other two times he had attacked, he had arrived behind me. It was ultimately pointless though because I could sense his location through the void. I took a single step forward as if I was taking a stroll and dodged the blade. This was probably too much for my opponent as he had stopped moving.
The qi was gathering around his feet and extending towards the qi field he was emitting. I felt a small sense of danger coming from him now.
'Finally.'
"Finally."
I could see my opponents eyes twitch, the dangerous feeling increased a little and I could feel killing intent radiating from him.
In less than the time it took to blink he had already arrived infront of me. He had a smile on his face because I hadn't moved at all. It didn't take long for him to see the smile on my face as well, I could see the change in emotion in his eyes that went from arrogance to fear.
I had coated my body in qi to reinforce my already strong defenses. The moment his qi imbued sword came in contact with my neck it shattered. The smile on my face only widened as I saw the fear in his face grow deeper. I took this opportunity to attack, my fingers were straight and my nails were extended to a point. My arm shot forward as my nails had come within a millimeter of his eye.
From his attack to mine, the time that was taken was less than a second. My opponent had fallen backwards and landed on his rear. All of the blood had drained from his face and he was looking at me like a monster.
"It...it seems we have a winner!"
The croud started cheering loudly, they had only come to make money or pass the time but were able to witness an extraordinary battle that only lasted for about ten seconds.
"The odds were actually one to a thousand! HAHAHAHAHAH!!! I'M RICH!" Someone shouted.
"Will you continue?" I was asked.
Of course I was going to continue I hadn't even tested my movement technique yet. I gave a nod to the announcer that had asked.
"Number twenty! Let's see how well you fare."
A large man with blue hair immediately walked onto the stage.
"Begin!"
This person was dangerous I could feel it. The moment he took a step he had disappeared. Even though I could track his movements it was hard to react. He had shown up at my side and stabbed his spear towards my head. I only barely dodged the attack.
I saw him smirk and touch his cheek. I reached up and felt blood on my cheek. I smiled devilishly, I don't think I've ever fought against anyone who had the ability to harm me. When my opponent saw this he had unconsciously taken a step back. He spread his qi out around himself and started circulating his qi through his whole body. Electricity started to spread around him as his eyes had been covered in white lightning.
We both started moving at the same time. I took a step forward and he shot forward faster than my eyes could follow. His spear ripped forward forcibly causing a loud boom, he didnt have the luxury to hold back.
My opponents eyes were filled with shock instead of fear this time. The end of his spear was clean, there was no blood anywhere to be seen.
My nails were pressed in to the back of his neck drawing a little blood.
***
'I didn't even notice her stepping into my lightning field! If this were a real battle I wouldn't even know how I died. This little girl is terrifying she's already stronger than me and I'm a whole realm ahead of her
"I lost."
I don't have a problem admitting to a one sided defeat.
***
The croud was shocked. What had they just seen? They didn't even know. One moment the sect leaders disciple had raised her foot to take a step and the next moment the Victor had already been decided.