Tang Sect Disciples' Last Talisman of Protection, Five Treasures Body Protection Method: Earth-Wood Flow!

Qin Qi went to buy the ingredients needed for practicing poison, then trained under Tang Jiaren's supervision.

[Ding! Your Qi Poison cultivation has improved. Reward: +100 credits]

[Qi Poison (Beginner): Cultivation progress: 32%]

Qin Qi's Qi Poison cultivation had been at thirty percent. After practicing poison, his progress had increased by two percent.

"Granduncle, it's done."

Qin Qi looked at Tang Jiaren as he spoke.

"Mm. The poison's potency has increased. From here on, you'll need to refine and hone your Qi Poison yourself."

After hearing Qin Qi, Tang Jiaren carefully checked it again. Only after confirming there were no problems did he nod.

"But remember, you must keep the Five Treasures Body Protection Method balanced with your Qi Poison, or make sure it's stronger than your Qi Poison."

"Otherwise, you could be in danger."

Tang Jiaren sternly reminded Qin Qi once more.

"Understood."

Qin Qi nodded. His Five Treasures Body Protection Method cultivation was currently at forty percent.

That put him eight percent ahead of his Qi Poison, so he was in a very safe position.

"Now that you've finished practicing poison, we'll move on to Earth-Wood Flow and the Illusion Barrier."

"First, I'll teach you Earth-Wood Flow. It's actually an extension of the Five Treasures Body Protection Method."

"You could also call it a secret technique."

As Tang Jiaren spoke, his aura suddenly burst forth, surging like a raging tsunami!

In an instant, he appeared behind Qin Qi and patted him on the shoulder.

Before Qin Qi could turn around, he had already moved in front of him.

"So fast!"

Looking at Tang Jiaren, who was now incomparably faster than usual, Qin Qi spoke in astonishment.

"But it makes too much noise."

Watching Tang Jiaren move like a gale and thunderclap, Qin Qi shook his head.

"Exactly. Earth-Wood Flow's biggest drawback is that it creates too much commotion, which doesn't suit the Tang Sect's style of assassination."

"But this technique wasn't meant for assassinations in the first place. It's meant to keep Tang Sect disciples alive."

The aura around Tang Jiaren began to settle. He looked at Qin Qi as he spoke.

"Mm-hmm, I'm listening."

Qin Qi nodded, looking every bit the well-behaved student.

"When you're on a mission and get discovered, what should you do?"

Tang Jiaren looked at Qin Qi and asked.

"Turn around and run, then look for another opportunity."

Qin Qi answered without hesitation.

"..."

Tang Jiaren stared at Qin Qi, momentarily unsure what to say.

"Granduncle, was that wrong?"

Qin Qi looked at Tang Jiaren and asked.

"No. In fact, you're absolutely right. Life is precious. Don't stand your ground to the death unless you have no other choice."

"Although the Tang Sect believes in using any means necessary to complete a mission, we're assassins, not death warriors."

"If you're discovered under normal circumstances, you don't stand your ground to the death. You run, then look for another opportunity."

"But running away takes skill, too. That's why Earth-Wood Flow was created."

Looking at Qin Qi, Tang Jiaren felt that the boy had real talent, and the mindset of an assassin, too.

Being an assassin didn't mean you weren't afraid of dying, nor did it mean you should die for the sake of a mission.

If you could survive, then of course you should. Tang Jiaren's principles were the same as Qin Qi's.

"While learning the Five Treasures Body Protection Method, you should have learned how to generate the earth and wood energies."

"You should also have noticed that keeping those energies flowing makes your body very healthy."

"Earth-Wood Flow uses the generation of earth and wood energies to instantly unleash and increase your strength."

"It can replenish your stamina in an instant after you've exhausted yourself and greatly improve your mobility."

"You could say this is the last talisman of protection for Tang Sect disciples."

Tang Jiaren emphasized the words "last talisman of protection" as he spoke to Qin Qi with a grave expression.

"The trump card among trump cards. A lifesaving treasure."

Qin Qi nodded solemnly as he replied.

"Mm. As long as you understand that, we're good. Now I'll explain in detail how to use it."

Tang Jiaren proceeded to explain the technique in detail. After roughly half a day of training, Qin Qi had mastered it.

[Ding! Congratulations! Your Five Treasures Body Protection Method has advanced. Reward: 100 credits.]

[Ding! Congratulations! You have learned the Five Treasures Secret Technique: Earth-Wood Flow. Reward: 1 achievement point and 100 credits.]

"Earth-Wood Flow!"

Qin Qi performed Earth-Wood Flow. In an instant, his aura surged, and his movement speed increased dramatically.

It felt as if he had endless strength. Once he released the technique, though, his body felt a little weak.

But it was only weakness; there were no serious side effects.

"Granduncle, I feel like I'm back in action. Let's keep going and learn the Illusion Barrier!"

Qin Qi felt like he was on top of the world again. He'd learned such an impressive technique in half a day.

The blows he'd taken while learning Instant Strike, Catkin Step, and Tang Sect Observation had all been swept away!

"You're getting ahead of yourself. It's not that you're back in action; this technique simply isn't very difficult."

"The important part is cultivating the Five Treasures Body Protection Method. Once your cultivation is sufficient,"

"learning this technique will come naturally."

Tang Jiaren didn't spare Qin Qi's feelings as he spoke.

"Oh, I thought I was back in action."

Qin Qi was still as he'd always been. Having his fantasy shattered didn't disappoint him; his mood stayed perfectly calm.

"Mm."

Tang Jiaren looked at Qin Qi and nodded in approval. This was the best kind of calm mindset.

"The Illusion Barrier can conceal your figure and create illusions. As a beginner, you only need to learn how to conceal your figure."

"Concealing your figure has several stages. The first is Invisibility, and the second is Heart Concealment."

Tang Jiaren explained.

"I know what Invisibility is. What's Heart Concealment?"

Qin Qi looked at Tang Jiaren and asked.

"I'll show you."

As Tang Jiaren spoke, his figure began to turn transparent. In the blink of an eye, he vanished.

"Don't activate the Transparent World. Use Tang Sect Observation Method to find me."

Tang Jiaren instructed him.

"Mm."

Qin Qi activated Tang Sect Observation Method. Observation of People and Observation of Objects revealed nothing, but when he used Observation of Heart,

he sensed a faint ripple of emotion. Following it, he pinpointed Tang Jiaren's location.

"Granduncle, I found you."

Qin Qi turned and looked beside him. Tang Jiaren had somehow made his way over to his side.

"What I'm using right now is Invisibility. Heart Concealment means not giving off any emotional fluctuations."

"Whether you're assassinating someone or running away, you mustn't give off any emotional fluctuations."

"Otherwise, no matter how well you make yourself invisible, it won't help."

After saying that, Tang Jiaren fell silent.

Qin Qi kept trying to sense Tang Jiaren's location, but couldn't detect anything.

It was as if the grown man had vanished into thin air.

"Not only did your figure disappear, but I couldn't hear a sound when you moved, either."

"That must be Catkin Step, right?"

Qin Qi activated the Transparent World and searched his surroundings, but still found nothing. The Transparent World wasn't omnipotent, either.

It worked by sensing the conditions around him and using that information to see through things. If it couldn't sense anything, then it was useless.