Chapter: 902 (1/2)

AST 902 – Accidental Touch, Qing Shui’s Experiment with Formations

Qing Shui and Mu Qing walked towards her manor. Although Mu Qing appeared to be absent-minded, she would occasionally steal glances at Qing Shui.

“Are you worried about the Yin Clan?” Qing Shui asked with a smile.

Mu Qing sighed and said,“Qing Shui, we have a problem.”

Qing Shui smiled, he really didn’t feel troubled at all. He gently asked, “What is the problem? Is the Yin Clan that strong?”

“It is not the Yin Clan that I am worried about. My concern is whether the Sky Prison Sect will be added to the mix.” Mu Qing’s heart was a mess. She could not say it out loud, but she was worried that Qing Shui might be killed the moment he left. Therefore, she wanted to tell him everything of importance to allow him time to better prepare.

Although Qing Shui also had the Sky Prison Sect on his mind, seeing the hesitation from Mu Qing was already enough to let him know what she was thinking. When she first learned formations he already knew that people were of flesh and blood. Qing Shui was internally grateful for the sympathy he received at that time.

If it wasn’t because she was concerned for his safety, she would see to it that he left this dangerous place unharmed. Qing Shui thought of this while walking, a smile leaking from his face.

If you give me a foot worth of respect, I will return it to you ten times. He would never change his principles and would sincerely aid those that had helped him before.

“Qing Shui, I am not sure how you escaped from the beasts in Sky Penetrating Mountains, but do you have any confidence in escaping the Eastern Victory Divine Continent?” Mu Qing realized she had almost reached her manor and stopped to ask Qing Shui.

Everything about this incident was a mistake. It was merely a coincidence that Qing Shui, Mu Qing and the others had entered the Sky Penetrating Mountains together but it was due to this coincidence that Mu Qing had been rescued from the hands of the Flower Crusher.

However, this created resentment with the Sky Prison Sect. On top of that, the incident with the Yin Clan was another fuse that was lit. She was well aware that this fuse was a short one, and it was ready to explode anytime.

The Jun City and Continent’s Capital area was home to many groups that carried a huge influence. These groups included the Sky Prison Sect, Tyrant Fist Sect, Godly Sword Sect, Mu Clan, Yin Clan and more… Although all these influential powers were huddled around Jun City and the Continent’s Capital area, there weren’t many conflicts or disputes, so their interactions were limited.

Although the Mu Clan was more famous in the area where the Mu Clan and Yin Clan resided, the Yin Clan wasn’t weak by any means. Additionally, since both clans resided in the same area, it was sometimes inevitable that they had to cooperate with each other, which led to conflicts of interest when the distribution of goods appeared uneven on either side.

After hearing what Mu Qing had to say, Qing Shui hesitated “Do they know?”

What Qing Shui was referring to was the incident where they killed the Flower Crusher. If they were discovered then there would be no place to hide. No wall was ever airtight.

“At the time we had missed one, the news of this has only spread recently and the Sky Prison Sect is trying to condemn us now.” Mu Qing looked at Qing Shui, this time everything with a calm countenance.

“If it has been discovered then so be it, it’s not a huge deal. If they come, we’ll cut them down. Let’s see if they still want to condemn us. Do they think we are some small fry?” Qing Shui mumbled while shaking his head. However, the situation was very clear.

Mu Qing looked at Qing Shui with surprise. She knew that this man never lied, nor was he the type to show off. If the enemy hadn’t forced his hand, he wouldn’t expose his true strength.

“Qing Shui, I am being serious here. The Sky Prison Sect is very strong.” Mu Qing gave Qing Shui a glance. She had dragged out her voice a little in displeasure.

Qing Shui rubbed his nose a little and smirked. “Alright, not to worry, there won’t be any incidents. How’s the practice with positioning and footwork coming along?”

“It has been a mess. I have no idea where to start, so the progress has not been good.” Mu Qing felt a headache just thinking about it.

Qing Shui stopped, then suddenly closed the gap between them using One Origin Steps. Although his footwork looked tricky, it was executed elegantly as though he was drifting.

Qing Shui was using One Origin Steps on purpose. If the opposition also knew the One Origin Steps, then they would dodge away like a conditioned reflex.

Mu Qing was shocked by Qing Shui’s sudden movement. Her mind was also confused for a bit, but she dodged instinctively. To her surprise, she was actually moving away with the strange movement technique that she learned recently.

From this single action, she understood what Qing Shui was trying to do and started to dodge seriously. The progression in a real battle was faster and Mu Qing was well aware of this fact.

Qing Shui tried to make his move from different angles, but his attacks were nothing but feints. The purpose of his moves wasn’t to hit his target, but rather to apply pressure. Right now, Qing Shui could freely cast from a variety of angles to force Mu Qing to move.

Qing Shui approached with growing coercive pressure to develop Mu Qing’s potential. His footwork speed, angles and precision were steadily increasing as he observed Mu Qing’s growth in skill. Compared to before, she was utilizing the One Origin Steps with more fluidity. At this point, Qing Shui began to use the Duality Steps, which could also be called Yin Yang Steps.

Nine Palace Steps had nine realms like that of a staircase that rose a step at a time. The higher one reached in the steps, the stronger it became and the further one could see. Each realm was the basis for the next realm.

Mu Qing was barely proficient in Duality Steps. With Qing Shui’s persistent pressure Mu Qing’s footwork became a disorderly mess. Qing Shui’s goal was to put Mu Qing in a difficult position without completely discouraging her. As such, Qing Shui would leave a bit of room for Mu Qing to maneuver each time. This was to help her to fully adapt to the situation.

This method of practice was forcing her to dodge while drilling her with attacks, the effect was immediate but this approach cannot be used persistently. Continuously using this method would slow down her realm level up. Nonetheless, this method would allow her to hone her skill more, to the point where she will become able to execute the steps as though it was second nature. Therefore, if it was required, they could ask the elders of her clan to drill her later.