Glimmering Shadow

Was this what he should expect from a teacher like the Yellow Springs Demon Saint?

First, a Heaven—no, an Earth-Rank Cultivation Technique, then an Earth-Rank Dou Technique. Now he was offering a high-level Earth-Rank movement technique.

Seeing the shock written all over Wu Bai's young face, the Yellow Springs Demon Saint was secretly pleased. Let's see you resist this one, brat!

"Glimmering Shadow is a high-level Earth-Rank movement technique. As the name suggests, once mastered, it lets you move as fast as light. No one at your level will be able to catch you. Add your ever-growing Soul Power, and you'll easily crush most opponents even without much combat experience."

"More importantly, once you master it, you can create two Shadow Clones. Each has half your strength, so you can outnumber your opponents. You can also swap places with either clone through space. How far you can do that depends on the strength of your Soul Power."

Wu Bai's mouth fell farther and farther open, his eyes brimming with longing.

Glimmering Shadow was on a completely different level from that whatever-it-was that made him stand still. This was a lifesaving technique!

Moving as fast as light was obviously an exaggeration, but it had to be incredibly fast. And if he used those two Shadow Clones well, he could make himself almost impossible to beat.

He could hide one clone ahead of time. If he couldn't beat his opponent, he could use the other to stall, swap places with the hidden one, and make his escape!

Heh heh...

"Hey, what are you daydreaming about, brat?"

"Heh heh. Teacher, I want this technique so badly!"

"Good. Then get ready."

The Yellow Springs Demon Saint nodded in satisfaction. I knew this technique would win you over!

Wu Bai closed his eyes and received the complete Glimmering Shadow technique from his teacher.

Only then did he discover that cultivating it was not so simple.

He needed to combine certain Medicinal Herbs and soak in them regularly, gradually opening the tiny meridians throughout his body.

Only after meeting that prerequisite could he begin cultivating Glimmering Shadow in earnest.

Fortunately, he was at Jia Nan Academy, where Medicinal Herbs were plentiful. Wu Bai was also an Alchemist, so he did not have to worry about the prescription leaking.

For the next hundred days, Wu Bai divided his time between cultivating in the Qi Refining Tower and taking medicinal baths.

When the last tiny meridian opened, Wu Bai could not help letting out a long breath.

"Phew... My whole body feels so free. My Dou Qi circulates much faster than before. This feels amazing!"

Wu Bai stepped naked out of the bath barrel. Perhaps it was the hundred days of medicinal baths, or perhaps it was simply puberty, but he had shot up in height.

He had been nearly 1.7 meters tall before. Now he stood at 1.78 meters, and he was still growing. Reaching 1.8 meters should be no problem.

He deftly guided blue-white flames over his body, evaporating the water from his skin.

After advancing to Da Dou Shi, his Soul Power had grown substantially, surpassing the threshold for a Fifth-Rank Alchemist.

That had allowed him to become thoroughly proficient with the Flood Dragon Flame Seed in very little time.

Seeing Wu Bai put away the flames but make no move to dress, instead stretching every inch of his body with a contented sigh, the Yellow Springs Demon Saint could not resist teasing him.

"Well, well. You really have grown up..."

Flushing, Wu Bai immediately bent over and covered his rather impressive little Wu Bai with his hands.

Once dressed, Wu Bai glared at the shameless old man.

"Hahahaha..."

After a hearty laugh, the Yellow Springs Demon Saint placed a hand on Wu Bai's shoulder.

"Don't resist, brat. I'll take you somewhere suitable for practicing Glimmering Shadow."

At those words, Wu Bai promptly relaxed.

Warmth stirred in the Yellow Springs Demon Saint's heart. Wu Bai's trust pleased him deeply.

A dark blur shot through the academy like a huge black rat, crossed the edge of the meteor crater at astonishing speed, and plunged into the Magical Beast Forest.

All Wu Bai could see was the view before him changing rapidly as the scenery flew past.

Soon, they stopped near an enormous beehive.

Wu Bai's lips twitched. He suddenly had a bad feeling.

"This swarm will be your best training partner for Glimmering Shadow. Remember, unless you have no other choice, you must not hurt them with your flames. Understand?"

"...I understand."

"Good. Now take down the hive and dodge the Venomous Bees while carrying it."

As he spoke, the Yellow Springs Demon Saint withdrew his power, returning control of Wu Bai's body to him.

Wu Bai swallowed. Recalling his preliminary training in Glimmering Shadow, he moved on instinct.

Like a flash of light slipping into an ever-present shadow, he suddenly appeared before the hive.

The bees around it froze, unsure what this thing that had appeared on their doorstep was.

But when Wu Bai took their home, even a swarm of Tier 2 Magical Beasts with little intelligence knew he was trouble.

Wu Bai appeared a hundred meters away, but before he could catch his breath, Venomous Bees were already pouring out of the hive in his hands.

Without hesitation, he flickered through the dense forest.

While evading the swarm's pursuit, Wu Bai also had to watch his surroundings. It would be ridiculous if he blundered into another Magical Beast's lair and delivered himself right to its door.

After several days of this, the Venomous Bees gave up the chase and left him the honey-filled hive.

"Looks like you've got the hang of it. As it happens, I've found another excellent place for you to practice Glimmering Shadow."

Wu Bai arrived at the area his teacher had mentioned: a swamp.

He could sense many tiny creatures within it, none of them particularly friendly.

"Almost nowhere to push off from, huh?"

At the thought, eagerness flashed in Wu Bai's eyes.

He was young. Why would he hesitate at a challenge?

A blur of light and shadow streaked over the swamp. A moment too late, a cluster of venomous snakes raised their heads and spat foul-smelling venom.

"Not right."

The Yellow Springs Demon Saint shook his head in judgment.

Wu Bai nodded silently and sprang into the air again, his figure flickering.

"Glimmering Shadow, Glimmering Shadow..."

He turned the words over in his mind as he maneuvered through the air.

Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he noticed the deep shadow beneath a tree.

"Glimmering Shadow isn't just about sheer speed. It's about concealing my presence too, like that shadow!"

Wu Bai's eyes lit up. He had found the answer.

When light and shadow swept over the swamp again, the tiny venomous snakes below seemed to sense nothing. They did not move at all, as though a cloud had merely drifted across the sky.

"That's the right approach, but your speed still isn't quite there. You're not fast enough."

The Yellow Springs Demon Saint nodded approvingly, then raised his standards.