Chapter 48
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Shi clan, Logistics Hall, the next day.
Ding!
Shi Li tapped on the bell as the plan he made last night surfaced on his mind.
'First, go to the Logistics Hall to receive my rewards, then go to the Clan Library to grab the secret technique, and then hunt,' Shi Li repeated this statement multiple times as a man came up to the counter with a smile on their face.
"What can I help—oh! If it isn't Shi Li!" The man said his usual greetings before stopping mid-sentence as he exclaimed in surprise.
Shi Li smiled back and bowed respectfully to the man in front of him. "Greetings Master."
"Hahaha! Even though I didn't really tell you to call me Master, it was gonna happen eventually right?" the man chuckled. "Anyways, if you still want to call me Master, we'll go through a formal ceremony, as for now, calling me Senior Yan is fine."
"Okay then Senior Yan," Shi Li corrected himself. "I've come here to claim my rewards from the tournament."
"The first prize right?" Senior Yan smiled and looked at him as if he knew this was going to happen. "Give me a moment."
He then went to the storage room as Shi Li stood in front of the counter, waiting for the pills. But since there was an awkward silence in the hall, Senior Yan decided to engage in a conversation with Shi Li as he shuffled through the items in the storage room.
"You're going to the Clan Library after this right?"
Shi Li's eyes twitched in surprise before answering, "Yes Senior Yan. I plan to grab the secret technique from the clan library afterwards. Anyways, how did you know I was going there Senior?"
"Call it intuition," Senior Yan couldn't help but smile as he continued to rummage through the shelves. "Anyways, since I'm your 'Master,' you should listen to my words, okay?"
Shi Li was somewhat confused at first but agreed to what Senior Yan said. He knew the basic rule of respecting elders after all. "I will follow what Senior Yan says."
"Good, good! You'll possibly become someone great in the future when you listen to me!" Senior Yan laughed. "Anyways, you must be wondering what secret techniques are, right?"
Shi Li was taken aback from surprise. He then nodded even though Senior Yan wasn't in front of him. "I've been wondering about it ever since I was first place in the tournament. Is it stronger than auxiliary techniques?"
"Well that's a given! That's why they're called secret techniques, they hold immense power...which is why clans and sects hide them for their own usage, which makes them secret techniques. Secret where that certain clan or sect knows the technique," Senior Yan answered with a slightly harsh tone.
He then continued with a calmer tone. "Anyways, secret techniques are not only better than auxiliary techniques, they're also better than martial techniques as well. Think of it as a triangle where martial and auxiliary techniques exist on the bottom half and secret techniques exist on the top half."
Shi Li gained even more knowledge after listening to Senior Yan's lecture. "So that means secret techniques are the best techniques to cultivate?"
Senior Yan shuffled a bit more through the shelves before answering with a doubtful tone. "Well...yes and no. Secret techniques are incredibly strong since it allows you to fend yourself off against those at higher realms for a while, but most of the time, they come with a huge price...vital blood, cultivation realm, attribute, you name it, a secret technique's gonna take it away."
Shi Li shuddered slightly after hearing Senior Yan's answer. He remembered Shi Kuai's [Lightning Burst] skill and saw how it took away a part of his attributes in exchange for strength. He didn't really want to trade that away, nor his vital blood...or anything really.
"Well with that taken care of, you gotta pick a special secret technique in our clan library. It's not useful to me anymore, but for you who's going out hunting afterwards, I'm sure you're gonna need it," Senior Yan continued as he grabbed three certain pills from the storage room.
"H-How did you know I was gonna go hunting?" Shi Li shivered once more. He wanted to know how Senior Yan had the ability to read his mind in a way.
"Intuition..." Senior Yan chuckled as he placed the three pills on the counter. "Just kidding. It's spirit sense, you'll find out soon enough."
"Anyways, here's your three pills. A Skin Compacting Pill, a Body Cleansing Pill, and a Bone Hardening Pill. Please do double check before you leave," Senior Yan smiled at Shi Li.
"Spirit sense..." Shi Li imprinted this phrase in his mind before continuing to ask, "You were going to say something about a specific secret technique?"
"Huh? Oh yeah," Senior Yan slapped himself on the forehead as he forgot what he was going to say. "This secret technique is not commonly used because people don't usually do hunting for a living within this clan. The name of the secret technique I'm gonna recommend you is called [Phoenix Rebirth]. Even though the name of the secret technique sounds like it's a high-grade technique, well it is but it's only at the Low Human grade, which is exactly at the level the prize for the tournament gave you."
He took a deep breath before continuing, "Not only that. The technique actually doesn't end there. It's also a prerequisite technique to practice the more advanced version available to those at the Creation realm, the [Soaring Phoenix Rejuvenation]. Sounds cool right?"
Shi Li imprinted the name of the technique in his mind before grabbing the three pills and placing them within his robe. He then asked, "What do these three pills do?"
Senior Yan lightly smiled at his question. "You know what? I'm a busy man, you're busy as well in terms of cultivating. If you need me, just scream my name out in your mind and I'll be there to ask any question you have."
Shi Li was quite surprised as to what Senior Yan said before realizing that he could ask any question he had in mind and get answers within seconds. This made him happy as he bowed respectfully. "Thanks to Senior for his help, I'll go to the clan library now."
After that, Shi Li turned around as he ran towards the clan library, with Moddy tightly holding on to his shoulder. This left Senior Yan alone in the Logistics Hall with a smile still plastered on his face.
Not long after, the smile on his face was replaced with a solemn expression as a certain silhouette appeared in his mind. "Is this some sort of omen? Even though I talked about it with the elders, I still can't help but shake off the feeling that he is the focal point of everything. Not just that, his mother is maybe the whole reason for this as well."
...
Shi clan, a secluded room, the day before Shi Li went to the Logistics Hall.
"Nurture Shi Li and make him a cannon fodder for the clan," Senior Yan answered with a solemn state.
"What?!" Shi Xingwan stood up from his seat and looked at Senior Yan. "You're telling me that I should sacrifice my son for the sake of the clan?"
Shi Xingtai also looked at Senior Yan with a frown on his face. "Even though it could be a last resort, don't you think it's too harsh to sacrifice my brother's son for this?"
Shi Buyong's pervertedness was easily dispelled after hearing Senior Yan's statement and thought about it rationally. "If you think about it, the wins outweigh the losses. Sacrificing one person for the sake of hundreds of people seems like a good deal to me."
"I know that! But..." Shi Xingwan shouted before biting on his lip. "But why does it have to be my son?"
This question popped up in all of the elders' minds, prompting them to look at Senior Yan for the answer.
Senior Yan noticed their gazes and sighed. He recalled a certain part of his memory before replying.
"You may not know this but...Shi Li holds secrets that even we don't know."
"And it might be related to his mother."
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Shi clan, Logistics Hall, the next day.
Ding!
Shi Li tapped on the bell as the plan he made last night surfaced on his mind.
'First, go to the Logistics Hall to receive my rewards, then go to the Clan Library to grab the secret technique, and then hunt,' Shi Li repeated this statement multiple times as a man came up to the counter with a smile on their face.
"What can I help—oh! If it isn't Shi Li!" The man said his usual greetings before stopping mid-sentence as he exclaimed in surprise.
Shi Li smiled back and bowed respectfully to the man in front of him. "Greetings Master."
"Hahaha! Even though I didn't really tell you to call me Master, it was gonna happen eventually right?" the man chuckled. "Anyways, if you still want to call me Master, we'll go through a formal ceremony, as for now, calling me Senior Yan is fine."
"Okay then Senior Yan," Shi Li corrected himself. "I've come here to claim my rewards from the tournament."
"The first prize right?" Senior Yan smiled and looked at him as if he knew this was going to happen. "Give me a moment."
He then went to the storage room as Shi Li stood in front of the counter, waiting for the pills. But since there was an awkward silence in the hall, Senior Yan decided to engage in a conversation with Shi Li as he shuffled through the items in the storage room.
"You're going to the Clan Library after this right?"
Shi Li's eyes twitched in surprise before answering, "Yes Senior Yan. I plan to grab the secret technique from the clan library afterwards. Anyways, how did you know I was going there Senior?"
"Call it intuition," Senior Yan couldn't help but smile as he continued to rummage through the shelves. "Anyways, since I'm your 'Master,' you should listen to my words, okay?"
Shi Li was somewhat confused at first but agreed to what Senior Yan said. He knew the basic rule of respecting elders after all. "I will follow what Senior Yan says."
"Good, good! You'll possibly become someone great in the future when you listen to me!" Senior Yan laughed. "Anyways, you must be wondering what secret techniques are, right?"
Shi Li was taken aback from surprise. He then nodded even though Senior Yan wasn't in front of him. "I've been wondering about it ever since I was first place in the tournament. Is it stronger than auxiliary techniques?"
"Well that's a given! That's why they're called secret techniques, they hold immense power...which is why clans and sects hide them for their own usage, which makes them secret techniques. Secret where that certain clan or sect knows the technique," Senior Yan answered with a slightly harsh tone.
He then continued with a calmer tone. "Anyways, secret techniques are not only better than auxiliary techniques, they're also better than martial techniques as well. Think of it as a triangle where martial and auxiliary techniques exist on the bottom half and secret techniques exist on the top half."
Shi Li gained even more knowledge after listening to Senior Yan's lecture. "So that means secret techniques are the best techniques to cultivate?"
Senior Yan shuffled a bit more through the shelves before answering with a doubtful tone. "Well...yes and no. Secret techniques are incredibly strong since it allows you to fend yourself off against those at higher realms for a while, but most of the time, they come with a huge price...vital blood, cultivation realm, attribute, you name it, a secret technique's gonna take it away."
Shi Li shuddered slightly after hearing Senior Yan's answer. He remembered Shi Kuai's [Lightning Burst] skill and saw how it took away a part of his attributes in exchange for strength. He didn't really want to trade that away, nor his vital blood...or anything really.
"Well with that taken care of, you gotta pick a special secret technique in our clan library. It's not useful to me anymore, but for you who's going out hunting afterwards, I'm sure you're gonna need it," Senior Yan continued as he grabbed three certain pills from the storage room.
"H-How did you know I was gonna go hunting?" Shi Li shivered once more. He wanted to know how Senior Yan had the ability to read his mind in a way.
"Intuition..." Senior Yan chuckled as he placed the three pills on the counter. "Just kidding. It's spirit sense, you'll find out soon enough."
"Anyways, here's your three pills. A Skin Compacting Pill, a Body Cleansing Pill, and a Bone Hardening Pill. Please do double check before you leave," Senior Yan smiled at Shi Li.
"Spirit sense..." Shi Li imprinted this phrase in his mind before continuing to ask, "You were going to say something about a specific secret technique?"
"Huh? Oh yeah," Senior Yan slapped himself on the forehead as he forgot what he was going to say. "This secret technique is not commonly used because people don't usually do hunting for a living within this clan. The name of the secret technique I'm gonna recommend you is called [Phoenix Rebirth]. Even though the name of the secret technique sounds like it's a high-grade technique, well it is but it's only at the Low Human grade, which is exactly at the level the prize for the tournament gave you."
He took a deep breath before continuing, "Not only that. The technique actually doesn't end there. It's also a prerequisite technique to practice the more advanced version available to those at the Creation realm, the [Soaring Phoenix Rejuvenation]. Sounds cool right?"
Shi Li imprinted the name of the technique in his mind before grabbing the three pills and placing them within his robe. He then asked, "What do these three pills do?"
Senior Yan lightly smiled at his question. "You know what? I'm a busy man, you're busy as well in terms of cultivating. If you need me, just scream my name out in your mind and I'll be there to ask any question you have."
Shi Li was quite surprised as to what Senior Yan said before realizing that he could ask any question he had in mind and get answers within seconds. This made him happy as he bowed respectfully. "Thanks to Senior for his help, I'll go to the clan library now."
After that, Shi Li turned around as he ran towards the clan library, with Moddy tightly holding on to his shoulder. This left Senior Yan alone in the Logistics Hall with a smile still plastered on his face.
Not long after, the smile on his face was replaced with a solemn expression as a certain silhouette appeared in his mind. "Is this some sort of omen? Even though I talked about it with the elders, I still can't help but shake off the feeling that he is the focal point of everything. Not just that, his mother is maybe the whole reason for this as well."
...
Shi clan, a secluded room, the day before Shi Li went to the Logistics Hall.
"Nurture Shi Li and make him a cannon fodder for the clan," Senior Yan answered with a solemn state.
"What?!" Shi Xingwan stood up from his seat and looked at Senior Yan. "You're telling me that I should sacrifice my son for the sake of the clan?"
Shi Xingtai also looked at Senior Yan with a frown on his face. "Even though it could be a last resort, don't you think it's too harsh to sacrifice my brother's son for this?"
Shi Buyong's pervertedness was easily dispelled after hearing Senior Yan's statement and thought about it rationally. "If you think about it, the wins outweigh the losses. Sacrificing one person for the sake of hundreds of people seems like a good deal to me."
"I know that! But..." Shi Xingwan shouted before biting on his lip. "But why does it have to be my son?"
This question popped up in all of the elders' minds, prompting them to look at Senior Yan for the answer.
Senior Yan noticed their gazes and sighed. He recalled a certain part of his memory before replying.
"You may not know this but...Shi Li holds secrets that even we don't know."
"And it might be related to his mother."
Shi clan, Logistics Hall, the next day.Ding!Shi Li tapped on the bell as the plan he made last night surfaced on his mind.'First, go to the Logistics Hall to receive my rewards, then go to the Clan Library to grab the secret technique, and then hunt,' Shi Li repeated this statement multiple times as a man came up to the counter with a smile on their face."What can I helpoh! If it isn't Shi Li!" The man said his usual greetings before stopping mid-sentence as he exclaimed in surprise.Shi Li smiled back and bowed respectfully to the man in front of him. "Greetings Master.""Hahaha! Even though I didn't really tell you to call me Master, it was gonna happen eventually right?" the man chuckled. "Anyways, if you still want to call me Master, we'll go through a formal ceremony, as for now, calling me Senior Yan is fine.""Okay then Senior Yan," Shi Li corrected himself. "I've come here to claim my rewards from the tournament.""The first prize right?" Senior Yan smiled and looked at him as if he knew this was going to happen. "Give me a moment."He then went to the storage room as Shi Li stood in front of the counter, waiting for the pills. But since there was an awkward silence in the hall, Senior Yan decided to engage in a conversation with Shi Li as he shuffled through the items in the storage room."You're going to the Clan Library after this right?"Shi Li's eyes twitched in surprise before answering, "Yes Senior Yan. I plan to grab the secret technique from the clan library afterwards. Anyways, how did you know I was going there Senior?""Call it intuition," Senior Yan couldn't help but smile as he continued to rummage through the shelves. "Anyways, since I'm your 'Master,' you should listen to my words, okay?"Shi Li was somewhat confused at first but agreed to what Senior Yan said. He knew the basic rule of respecting elders after all. "I will follow what Senior Yan says.""Good, good! You'll possibly become someone great in the future when you listen to me!" Senior Yan laughed. "Anyways, you must be wondering what secret techniques are, right?"Shi Li was taken aback from surprise. He then nodded even though Senior Yan wasn't in front of him. "I've been wondering about it ever since I was first place in the tournament. Is it stronger than auxiliary techniques?""Well that's a given! That's why they're called secret techniques, they hold immense power...which is why clans and sects hide them for their own usage, which makes them secret techniques. Secret where that certain clan or sect knows the technique," Senior Yan answered with a slightly harsh tone.He then continued with a calmer tone. "Anyways, secret techniques are not only better than auxiliary techniques, they're also better than martial techniques as well. Think of it as a triangle where martial and auxiliary techniques exist on the bottom half and secret techniques exist on the top half."Shi Li gained even more knowledge after listening to Senior Yan's lecture. "So that means secret techniques are the best techniques to cultivate?"Senior Yan shuffled a bit more through the shelves before answering with a doubtful tone. "Well...yes and no. Secret techniques are incredibly strong since it allows you to fend yourself off against those at higher realms for a while, but most of the time, they come with a huge price...vital blood, cultivation realm, attribute, you name it, a secret technique's gonna take it away."Shi Li shuddered slightly after hearing Senior Yan's answer. He remembered Shi Kuai's Lightning Burst skill and saw how it took away a part of his attributes in exchange for strength. He didn't really want to trade that away, nor his vital blood...or anything really."Well with that taken care of, you gotta pick a special secret technique in our clan library. It's not useful to me anymore, but for you who's going out hunting afterwards, I'm sure you're gonna need it," Senior Yan continued as he grabbed three certain pills from the storage room."H-How did you know I was gonna go hunting?" Shi Li shivered once more. He wanted to know how Senior Yan had the ability to read his mind in a way."Intuition..." Senior Yan chuckled as he placed the three pills on the counter. "Just kidding. It's spirit sense, you'll find out soon enough.""Anyways, here's your three pills. A Skin Compacting Pill, a Body Cleansing Pill, and a Bone Hardening Pill. Please do double check before you leave," Senior Yan smiled at Shi Li."Spirit sense..." Shi Li imprinted this phrase in his mind before continuing to ask, "You were going to say something about a specific secret technique?""Huh? Oh yeah," Senior Yan slapped himself on the forehead as he forgot what he was going to say. "This secret technique is not commonly used because people don't usually do hunting for a living within this clan. The name of the secret technique I'm gonna recommend you is called Phoenix Rebirth. Even though the name of the secret technique sounds like it's a high-grade technique, well it is but it's only at the Low Human grade, which is exactly at the level the prize for the tournament gave you."He took a deep breath before continuing, "Not only that. The technique actually doesn't end there. It's also a prerequisite technique to practice the more advanced version available to those at the Creation realm, the Soaring Phoenix Rejuvenation. Sounds cool right?"Shi Li imprinted the name of the technique in his mind before grabbing the three pills and placing them within his robe. He then asked, "What do these three pills do?"Senior Yan lightly smiled at his question. "You know what? I'm a busy man, you're busy as well in terms of cultivating. If you need me, just scream my name out in your mind and I'll be there to ask any question you have."Shi Li was quite surprised as to what Senior Yan said before realizing that he could ask any question he had in mind and get answers within seconds. This made him happy as he bowed respectfully. "Thanks to Senior for his help, I'll go to the clan library now."After that, Shi Li turned around as he ran towards the clan library, with Moddy tightly holding on to his shoulder. This left Senior Yan alone in the Logistics Hall with a smile still plastered on his face.Not long after, the smile on his face was replaced with a solemn expression as a certain silhouette appeared in his mind. "Is this some sort of omen? Even though I talked about it with the elders, I still can't help but shake off the feeling that he is the focal point of everything. Not just that, his mother is maybe the whole reason for this as well."...Shi clan, a secluded room, the day before Shi Li went to the Logistics Hall."Nurture Shi Li and make him a cannon fodder for the clan," Senior Yan answered with a solemn state."What?!" Shi Xingwan stood up from his seat and looked at Senior Yan. "You're telling me that I should sacrifice my son for the sake of the clan?"Shi Xingtai also looked at Senior Yan with a frown on his face. "Even though it could be a last resort, don't you think it's too harsh to sacrifice my brother's son for this?"Shi Buyong's pervertedness was easily dispelled after hearing Senior Yan's statement and thought about it rationally. "If you think about it, the wins outweigh the losses. Sacrificing one person for the sake of hundreds of people seems like a good deal to me.""I know that! But..." Shi Xingwan shouted before biting on his lip. "But why does it have to be my son?"This question popped up in all of the elders' minds, prompting them to look at Senior Yan for the answer.Senior Yan noticed their gazes and sighed. He recalled a certain part of his memory before replying."You may not know this but...Shi Li holds secrets that even we don't know.""And it might be related to his mother."
