Chapter 7 – Yuan Li Manipulation (2/2)
“Young master may not know, but the Tiger’s Bite Bracelet is an upper tier Practitioner Weapon and, by that virtue, should not be that easy to control. According to my knowledge, the Bai Clan should have a secret technique, specific to controlling this Practitioner Weapon. Right now I only have normal techniques to pass to you and thus the affect is greatly lessened. Of course with your talent, two months should be more than enough for you to grasp the basics of manipulating this Practitioner Weapon” Guan Lao Da explained to him.
“Since Guan Da says it is so, there should be no problem. However, even after understanding the Tiger’s Bite Bracelet, there are still attack and defense techniques to be learned. I am afraid that those might take some time as well.” Liu Ming responded.
“Young master need not worry. So long as you can master the art of control and are able to synchronize with the Practitioner Weapon to a certain degree, then everything else is a small matter of practice and familiarity.” Guan Lao Da replied without hesitation.
“So that is how it is. Then I will spend these few days focusing on my control. That’s right, exactly what kind of a sect is the Barbarian Ghost Sect? Guan Da should have at least some knowledge of this area.” Liu Ming suddenly thought of this and asked.
“If Young Master wishes to know about the Barbarian Ghost Sect, this might be a slightly difficult request to accommodate. Although its ranking among the Sects in the Kingdom of Xuan is closer to the bottom, if one is to talk merely about secrecy, then no other sect can come close the Barbarian Ghost Sect in the way they so jealously guard their secrets.” Guan Lao Da said with an uneasy expression on his face.
“Oh? Why?” Liu Ming was taken aback.
“This is because the Barbarian Ghost Sect is a sect that specializes in manipulating ghosts. I have heard that the sect is built in a terrifying place where humans are unable to live and is surrounded by miasma all year round. As for the apostles and masters who practice the techniques of this sect, all of them have a strong connection with the river styx and can thus summon and subdue ghosts to use against their foes. However, it is because of this that the participants for the Barbarian Ghost Sect Opening Spirit Ceremony are rather few and most capable Practitioners instead opt to join other sects. Of course this is all just hearsay. Anything else regarding the sect I honestly cannot say for sure.” Guan Lao Da replied after thinking for a long while.
“Manipulating ghosts does indeed sound extremely terrifying. However, apart from the Barbarian Ghost Sect, the other sects in the Kingdom of Xuan are…?” Liu Ming asked curiously.
“I am actually more familiar regarding the other sects. In the Kingdom of Xuan, apart from the Barbarian Ghost Sect, there is the Heavenly Moon Sect, the Hall of Blood, the Nine Enlightenment Mountain, and the Firestorm Way. These are the four biggest sects.” Guan Lao Da recited their names by heart.
“Oh, then what techniques do these sects specialize in?” Liu Ming asked excitedly
“The Heavenly Moon Sect is a sect that specializes in wielding swords. It is said that the students under the sect can wield flying swords that can kill someone hundreds of meters away. The Hall of Blood is…”
At his request, Guan Lao Da starting describing the sects without withholding any information
……
Half a month later, a pitch black carriage, drawn by four horses, was flying down an official road.
Gu Lao San was sitting peacefully in the coachman’s seat without moving.
Within the carriage, Liu Ming was seated cross-legged with his eyes firmly shut. Both of his hands rested on his knees while he was lightly breathing in a steady pattern.
As he breathed, the bronze bracelet he wore on his arm continuously vibrated as it followed his breathing pattern.
It was almost as if there was some form of resonance between the two of them.
Guan Lao Da nodded his head as he watched this scene from the opposite side of the carriage.
To be honest, he originally thought that the youth’s potential was average at best. He was instead treated to a surprise with the intensity in which the youth showed in the Yuan Li manipulation exercises performed throughout their journey.
Apart from the time spent sleeping, Liu Ming practically spent every available minute moving Yuan Li throughout his body, searching for a feeling of resonance with the Tiger’s Bite Bracelet.
Even during mealtimes, one could get a glimpse of the bracelet on his hand vibrating and producing light yellow glow.
This form of training was extremely dry and boring and required the highest levels of concentration and discipline from the Practitioner.
No matter how insistent ordinary Practitioners were, they would at most be able to keep this up for a few hours a day. Any longer than that and it would definitely take a toll on their spirit, causing them to be unable to focus — it would basically become a Sisyphean task.
Unable to contain their curiosity, the two men asked Liu Ming how he accomplished such a feat.
In the end Liu Ming revealed to them his innate ability of being able to split his consciousness which left them speechless.
TL: To be able to do two things at once
Now they realized how, without the supervision of a teacher, this youth managed to train himself to attain such a large amount of Yuan Li.
……
A month later, Guan Lao Da and Gu Lao San were standing atop a knoll, attentively staring into the distance.
Liu Ming was sitting hundreds of feet away from them with his eyes closed, while raising the arm on which the Tiger’s Bite Bracelet was worn.
All of a sudden, he opened his eyes, flicked his wrist slightly, and called out, “Element Shield!”
In an instant, the bracelet made a buzzing noise as it gave off a brilliant flash of light, a small round shield appeared and fixed itself to his forearm.
The shield was glowing yellow and was apparently made entirely out of Yuan Li.
“Finally! Though it is the most basic of Yuan Li defensive techniques it is sufficient to say that you have already mastered the basics of using the Tiger’s Bite Bracelet. Originally I thought that it would take the Young Master at least two months to reach this stage, I never expected for you to reach it so quickly.” Guan Lao Da let out a sigh of relief while being unable to cover up his surprised expression.
“Me reaching this stage is all thanks to the patient efforts of the two of you. Now that I have this Practitioner Weapon to protect me, I can—to a certain extent—say that I am less worried about the Opening Spirit Ceremony.” Liu Ming cheerfully replied and, with the flick of his wrist, extinguished the shield.