Needless to say, this fellow was stretched to the limit under my finger-technique attacks. Like a monkey, he could only dart left and right to hide, while my movement technique was as elusive as a ghost. The movement technique of a Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Root was an absolute wonder in itself, and my sonic-boom-like movements were impossible to track.
He lasted barely three or four exchanges before throwing in the towel. Seeing him drenched in sweat, I smiled and asked, "How does it feel?"
"This... Dao Master Xia, although you're only at Nascent Soul Great Perfection, your strength is simply terrifying. If I didn't have this martial-technique umbrella divine artifact, I'm afraid I wouldn't have lasted even one exchange..." Hong Shi had taken quite a blow, and his face was full of lingering fear.
"You don't have to take it so hard. Compared to other people, you're already very strong. I'm just an oddball, that's all," I explained.
Hong Shi naturally didn't recover his spirits just like that. Along the way, he became much more humble, taking the initiative to handle every task. He even asked me about the subtleties of using the martial-technique umbrella and spirit-technique ball. Whenever we passed through territory governed by various sects and encountered immortals, he would go over to negotiate with them on his own without waiting for me to say anything.
I also gave him some pointers in his cultivation, which gradually restored Hong Shi's confidence. He became convinced that this trip to the Xianle Sect would certainly be a runaway success.
Yet reality slapped him in the face once again. When we arrived at the secluded paradise nestled in a deep valley—the very valley where the Xianle Sect was located—we were stopped at the main gate.
"Hey! Have you people from the Xianle