"More or less."
Tang Jiaren nodded and spoke.
"And you were telling me where I fall short. Thanks to my talent, Transparent World, I mastered the Tang Sect's Observation Method very quickly."
"But because I mastered it too quickly, my foundations are weak, and I'm lacking in many areas."
Qin Qi continued.
"Exactly. Your talent, Transparent World, is your strength, but it's also your greatest weakness."
"Now watch me closely, and analyze what I'm going to do."
Tang Jiaren said.
"Mm."
Qin Qi nodded and activated Transparent World. Tang Jiaren's body instantly turned transparent, and Qin Qi could see the Qi inside him with perfect clarity.
Tang Jiaren began to move. By observing his muscles and the flow of his Qi, Qin Qi judged that he was about to raise his hand and use Instant Strike.
But in the next moment, Tang Jiaren used Catkin Step and appeared behind Qin Qi in an instant, placing his hand on the back of Qin Qi's neck.
"Your talent, Transparent World, is indeed impressive, but it has its flaws."
"Your talent is incredibly useful, but that means you'll unconsciously start relying on it."
"And when you start relying on your talent instead of striving to improve, that's when you'll meet your end."
Tang Jiaren looked at Qin Qi sternly. Why hadn't he simply pointed out the problem?
Why had he chosen to beat around the bush and warn Qin Qi with a sneak attack?
The reason was simple: you couldn't teach someone by telling them, but one lesson from experience was enough. No matter how many times Tang Jiaren explained it, it wouldn't be as effective as Qin Qi discovering the problem himself.
"..."
Qin Qi fell silent. He sat cross-legged and began to reflect.
After a long while, he looked up at Tang Jiaren.
"Granduncle, there's a problem with my cultivation."
"The Tang Sect's Observation Method isn't just about watching the muscles move. It's also about observing people, objects, and hearts."
"At first, I could enter a state of observing the heart when I was in danger. But ever since I got used to using Transparent World..."
"I haven't truly entered that state in a long time."
Qin Qi shook his head. He still remembered his first time learning Observation, when he'd sparred with Tang Jiaren.
Back then, Tang Jiaren had relied on his incredible control over his body to deceive him with completely false muscle movements and flows of energy.
But Qin Qi had seen through the trap by relying on his instincts. Now his technique had improved, yet he'd made the same mistake.
"After frying too many small fish, you become one yourself."
Qin Qi smiled and shook his head. He thought of Tang San, whom he'd once laughed at.
But wasn't he the same now? He'd gotten so used to beating up children that he'd forgotten how hard the championship matches were.
The difference of a single thought could mean the difference between life and death!
"Granduncle, I'm sorry for the trouble, but I'd like you to train with me more during this time."
Qin Qi deactivated Transparent World. From now on, he'd spar with Tang Jiaren using his own abilities.
"Once you turn off Transparent World, you can't control your presence at all. It's just pouring out."
"Your control over your presence still has a long way to go."
Tang Jiaren looked at Qin Qi and smiled as he spoke.
"Then I'll keep training! Until I've completely mastered it!"
Qin Qi now understood that talent determined his lower limit, while diligent practice and solid foundations determined his upper limit!
"Relax a little. We're not warriors; we're assassins. And the most important thing for an assassin is to catch the enemy off guard."
A satisfied smile appeared on Tang Jiaren's face. Then he began fighting Qin Qi in a seemingly casual manner.
But Qin Qi didn't dare let his guard down for even a moment. A relaxed member of the Tang Sect was the most dangerous kind!
Because you never knew when a Hand Spike might pierce a vital spot!
[Ding, you have gained a private tutor. Tang Jiaren's guidance: Credits +10] [Ding, you have gained a private tutor. Tang Jiaren's guidance: Credits +10] [Ding, congratulations on achieving the "Correct Your Mistakes" achievement. Achievement Points +1, Credits +100]
The greatest advantage of having a teacher was this: when you went astray, your master could use his experience to guide you back onto the right path.
When you cultivated alone, no one would warn you if you made a mistake. Without anyone to correct you, you might keep making the same mistake forever!
In the blink of an eye, a month passed.
[Proficiency Panel] [Talent: Transparent World (Beginner) Development Progress: 50%] [Qi Poison (Beginner): Cultivation Progress: 30%] [Five Treasures Body Protection Method (Beginner): Cultivation Progress: 40%.] [Tang Sect's Observation Method (Proficient): Cultivation Progress: 20%] [Poison Barrier (Beginner): Cultivation Progress: 40%.] [Instant Strike (Beginner): Cultivation Progress: 10%.] [Catkin Step (Beginner): Cultivation Progress: 15%.]
Over the course of that month's training, Qin Qi had made significant progress in every skill.
The biggest improvement had been in the Five Treasures Body Protection Method. With a medicinal pill every day to replenish him,
Qin Qi had quickly improved not only his physical fitness and Soul Power, but also his mastery of the Five Treasures Body Protection Method.
His development of Transparent World came next. Ever since he'd understood his weakness a month ago,
Qin Qi had stopped relying on Transparent World and started learning the Tang Sect's Observation Method from scratch.
At first, his powers of observation had regressed dramatically. When slaughtering pigs, he often failed to kill them with a single blow.
He also often made mistakes with his knife while butchering them, and his movements were no longer as smooth and fluid.
The butcher had been very concerned about Qin Qi's health at the time, and even wondered if he'd fallen ill.
But with constant practice day and night, along with studying in the Study Space, his Observation Method began to improve rapidly.
The sights he'd seen were etched into his heart. On the twentieth day, Qin Qi had advanced into the higher stage of Observation on his own!
At that stage, he hadn't activated Transparent World, yet he could see the pig's body clearly in his mind.
His butchering skills had returned, and they were even better than before. He could even sense the pig's thoughts through Observation!
At the same time, Qin Qi's control over his presence had become more refined. He no longer needed Transparent World to keep his presence from leaking out.
With Transparent World activated, his control over his presence became even better, letting him do many things that had once been impossible.
In the Study Space, Qin Qi finished his training.
"You've more or less mastered the Five Treasures Body Protection Method. You can start the next stage: Poison Refining."
"I'll write you a prescription. Go and get the medicine."
Tang Jiaren wrote out another prescription for Qin Qi.
Qin Qi looked at the prescription Tang Jiaren had written and silently felt his pocket. Mm, his wallet had gotten very thin.
"Once your Qi Poison improves, I'll teach you the last of the Tang Sect's secret arts."
Tang Jiaren looked at Qin Qi and spoke.
"What's the last secret art of the Tang Sect?"
Qin Qi looked at Tang Jiaren curiously and asked.
"The first is Earth-Wood Flow, which can instantly restore your stamina and greatly increase your combat power."
"The second is Illusion Barrier, which can conceal your body and create illusions."
Tang Jiaren said.