Li Gang looked at the arrows in his hands.
'The arrows are very sharp, and are capable of killing even rank 3. There is a qualitative change from rank 3 to rank 4. Rank 4 warriors are capable of using their Heavenly core, and are much more strong as compared to rank 3.'
Rank 4s are like Elephant, and Rank 3 are like humans. This is something a huge difference in strength. Without any special means, it is impossible to fight Rank 4. Not to mention, if Rank 3 have special means, then Rank 4 have even more so.
Li Gang was still satisfied from this. He knew he couldn't get everything. The disguise technique was something he needed the most after Speed type technique. After all, no matter how strong, if he is able to sneak attack, he would be able to kill even a rank 5. Their body may have heighten defense, but there are weak points, like Neck, that is something even a Rank 1 can kill if succeed in a sneak attack. There is also various poisons. Li Gang can safely say, when it comes to poison, even Li Hua isn't even close to him. He had read many books, and is even capable of making poisons to kill Rank 6 Warriors! It's just that materials required to make them has to be available.
Li Gang recollected his thoughts, and started looking at the secret scrolls.
Thundering Dragon Strike: Thunder type attacking Secret Technique, with varying effects. It can be used with palm, or fist, or even finger. Just the way to channel the spiritual essence should be same internally. Although it has high flexibility, it's attack power itself isn't great. It can at most seriously injure a Rank 2 Warrior without defense. (Grade 2)
Knife Dance: It is the most basic knife technique, that almost every knife user has gone through. It can't be used as a technique in fight, but can be used as an insight, to create your own knife technique or understand some mysteries of knife. (Basic Technique, No Grade)
Crimson Lotus Palm: It is fire type attacking Secret Technique. It has quite a bit of attack power, capable of injuring a rank 3 Warrior heavily, who is completely defenseless. (Grade 2)
Wind Rider Sprint: Utilizing the wind, one is capable of running very fast, up to double the speed.(Grade 2)
Wind-Thunder Eagle Eye: This technique is inspired from Wind-Thunder Eagle's perception. It allows one to see through 50 miles far ahead, which is similar to the perception of an average rank 7 Warrior. (Grade 4)
Li Gang immediately planned to focus on Thundering Dragon Strike, and Wind Rider Sprint. One for flexibility and other for speed. He gauged immediately, Wind Rider Sprint can help one to reach a speed of 400 meters per second. But because of the limitation of his cultivation, and the fact that he couldn't probably harness even 50% of it's abilities, he should reach around 50-55 meters per second, with various benefits like changing direction mid way and so on.
Grade 4 Wind-Thunder Eagle Eye will take too long to cultivate, and even though it has so much potential, he probably couldn't even harness 10% of it's ability. Even if he did, because of the limitation of his own eyes, he could at most see through 1 miles further.
But these speculations may change, because he doesn't have any idea how much not having Spiritual Imprint may affect!
The Great Forest
In the depth of The Great Forest, a waterfall known as the "Jade Dragon Fall" flows from the towering cliffs above. The water enters and forms a crystal-clear pool below, its spray creates mist in the air. Surrounding the waterfall, ancient trees stand tall, their crooked branches reaching towards the heavens. Here, amidst the beautiful scenery of nature, a young man was practicing very hard. From time to time, he moves horizontally, sometimes vertically, sometimes diagonally, and sometimes he jumps from one branch to another.
Few hours later, Li Gang finished practicing Wind Rider Sprint. He got the general situation of learning Wind Rider Sprint without Spiritual Imprint.
With Spiritual Imprint, One is able to harness up to 50% of the abilities of the skill, if the skill is compatible, and if the skill doesn't belong to the Spiritual Imprint attribute, then depending on the compatibility of attribute of Secret Technique and Spiritual Imprint, the level may change.
Though these percentage are only average condition. With sufficient hard work, and proper understanding of the technique, one may be able to harness even 80% of the ability, even if they don't have compatible Spiritual Imprint but this needs overwhelming comprehension talent. This is also the reason, a Warrior's combat power mostly depends on Secret Technique. Spiritual Imprint is generally a secret weapon for a Warrior!
In common places like Mountain View Village and Tranquil Vale Village, the ability of Spiritual Imprint is revealed. But in those big sects, other than revealing the name of Spiritual Imprint, the ability is not revealed. Sometimes, even the Spiritual Imprint is not revealed. But during decisive battles, every secrets are exposed!
'Without Spiritual Imprint, I should be able to harness at least 50% of the ability of Wind Rider Sprint within this month with my understanding. This is probably because of the fact that I have a lot of understanding about wind from my previous life. People in this world believe Wind as a spiritual attribute. Though I don't believe there is no one in the world who doesn't have the true secrets of Wind attribute. It seems they want to hide about these information. Or may be it's because Azure Mountain is too remote to know those secrets.'
The power of Secret Technique mainly depends on two factors: User's understanding of the corresponding attribute, and Compatibility of the Attribute with Spiritual Imprint.
Li Gang immediately realized his advantage as a traverser. He thought of something, and his smile deepened.
'It seems I have to ask for Space attribute Secret Technique from mother. If possible, I can even try searching for Time attribute Secret Technique.'
Although there may be many people whose understanding is near complete about the space itself, but for beginners, no one should have as much of an understanding as him. As a traverser, he has this advantage.
However, he need to verify whether he can truly use such techniques because physics is not properly applicable in this world. In fact, one can't say it is applicable, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. It may be due to Spiritual Essence coming into picture, which changes the situation entirely. He had seen that Wind in this world is a bit weird. It doesn't follow law of Mass. He had once kept some amount of Wind, and weighted it. It's weight was weirdly fluctuating. This may be due to the Spiritual Essence available in the Wind, causing it to create difficulty in measuring weight, like creating varying upward force, rendering the weighing machine useless. This is not just with Wind, even Water. In this world, any fluid's own existence seems to fluctuate. If you use a normal container, Water would disappear eventually. So, they use some special containers, that attracts water attributes to contain the liquids!
There is another case, this World is not a planet, but a plane. It is said that there is a boundary surrounding the plane which acts as a barrier that isolates this world. But, surprisingly, every 12 hours, we still can see the light. There is no source of light, it just appears and disappears every 12 hours, creating day and night. And, this was not all, this light seems to be everywhere whether it is a room enclosed by boundaries or even within a human body! And again, nothing is absolute, even this has many exceptions.
The only good thing is that, this light is mild and doesn't possess excessive heat like on Earth, it is likely that people have adapted and thus Li Gang doesn't feel any heat at all. No one knows why it happens, or those strong old monsters may know about it. Li Gang had always pondered upon these. Even though the physics laws seem to apply in many cases, but ironically it doesn't apply at all. He always gave the reasons to Spiritual Essence, since it is the only variable he don't know about.
3 months later
14th July, Year 42014 of Elemental Era
Li Gang was panting heavily, with his both hands on the knees. He had been practicing 12 hours every day. He doesn't blindly practice. He kept thinking about the behaviour of various attributes while practicing Techniques.
He has already grasped all of those techniques to certain levels!
Thundering Dragon Strike: 56%
Knife Dance: Completed.
Crimson Lotus Palm: 59%
Wind Rider Sprint: 44%
Wind-Thunder Eagle Eye: 49%
Li Gang thought of his progress, he was disappointed. If anyone else knew about this, they would call him crazy. In fact, Li Gang's worry was true. What he wanted most was Thundering Dragon Strike, Wind-Thunder Eagle Eye and Wind Rider Sprint, but the progress of the latter two was too slow, as compared to others. So, he had to switch to practice the ones suitable for him.
"There can be many possibilities. First, the Wind attribute of this World may be somewhat different from what I know. It is also possible that utilizing elements of this World is hindering me. Thundering Dragon Strike and Crimson Lotus Palm doesn't utilize external attributes, but uses Spiritual Essence of body itself as a base for the technique. While only Wind-Thunder Eagle Eye and Wind Rider Sprint uses external attribute. Wind Rider Sprint uses more of the external attributes than the Eye technique, which may be why Eye technique had more progress. It is also possible that both are the causes. It is also possible none of them are the reasons!"
Suddenly he felt something, he activated Wind Rider Sprint and jumped towards his left. The initial position, where he was standing blasted suddenly. Li Gang's expression was serious. He looked at the opponent who arrived, and fear enveloped his heart as the tremendous Murderous intent suppressed him.
"As I expected, you truly are special", Wang Xueyao said with an innocent smile. But, this smile gave chills to Li Gang.
Her murderous aura has completely locked Li Gang.
'I can't move. Is this what it means to be afraid of death? I thought I controlled my emotion, but now when I truly am in danger, I am afraid.' Li Gang was shaking, his hands couldn't move, he couldn't speak. He couldn't even think of anything in such a life and death situation. He now realized how foolish he was to think he could handle Monarch Inheritance on his own. He knew he was suppressing his emotions, but he thought he could control them. He was utterly wrong. He realized his shortcoming. His back was drenched with sweat.
'No, If I don't think of anything, I will die. Move, move' Li Gang was screaming inside. But his body didn't respond. He was still staring at her with full of fear in his eyes.