A trace of oppression still lingered in the academic affairs office, and Director Su's seemingly concerned words, which actually concealed barbs, still echoed in his ears.
The Soul Hunting Forest. An accident.
With a hint of coldness at the corner of his mouth, Ling Feng walked out of the main teaching building.
The sunlight was somewhat dazzling, but even as it fell on him, it could not dispel the faint chill brought on by human scheming.
I need strength.
Faster progress, a firmer foundation, greater power.
Only then can I crush every "accident" that comes hurtling my way.
Instead of returning to Dorm Seven, he circled behind the teaching building and climbed, step by step, up a narrow, seldom-used iron maintenance staircase to the rooftop terrace.
Creak-
The rusty iron door groaned under its burden as he pushed it open.
An unobstructed breeze immediately blew into his face, carrying the warmth of sunlight and thoroughly sweeping away the lingering stuffiness.
The rooftop was spacious, with no one to disturb him.
This was one of his secret cultivation spots.
The elevated vantage point offered an excellent view over most of Nuoding Academy, with the outline of the distant city walls and the faint ridgeline of even more distant mountains barely visible.
His spirits opened up with the view.
He walked to the center of the rooftop and stood still.
His mind stirred slightly.
"System, check in."
[Ding! Host detected at a special permanent location: Nuoding Academy teaching building rooftop. Check in?]
"Yes."
[Ding! Check-in successful! Congratulations, host. Reward obtained: Soul Power increased to level 12!]
Boom!
Without warning, a surge of energy far purer and more immense than any before erupted from deep within his body!
Like a flood long held back, it instantly smashed through the dam and surged through the meridians throughout his limbs and body!
This time, it was no longer a warm current, but an almost scalding torrent!
Every cell greedily devoured this sudden influx of energy, cheering and leaping for joy.
His meridians widened, and his Soul Power grew denser and more substantial at a rate visible to the naked eye.
Under the impact of this tremendous force, the bottleneck that had held him at the peak of level eleven was pierced as easily as thin paper!
There was no pain, only the ultimate exhilaration of water flowing naturally into its channel!
His Soul Power Level rose!
Level twelve!
The process was brief but incomparably intense.
A few breaths later, the hot current slowly subsided, merging completely into his body and becoming part of his strength.
Ling Feng slowly opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing through them before vanishing, and felt that the entire world had become a little clearer.
His body felt so light that he might float, while a sense of strength surged within him.
"The Soul Power rewarded by the system seems denser and purer than what I cultivate myself. The foundation is incredibly solid."
Satisfied, he clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking crisply.
The clear sensation of constantly growing stronger was intoxicating.
He walked to the edge of the rooftop, rested his hands on the somewhat rusty railing, and looked down over the academy.
His gaze searched unconsciously.
Soon, in a clearing in a small grove near the back hill, he spotted two familiar figures.
Tang San and Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu was skipping about as she said something, a carrot in her hand that she occasionally took a bite from.
Tang San was practicing his footwork in the clearing beside her.
It was Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
His movements were swift and nimble, his figure shifting unpredictably with each changing step, impossible to pin down.
They carried a distinctive rhythm and cadence.
The Tang Sect Secret Arts were indeed exquisite.
Ling Feng's gaze sharpened slightly as he watched more closely.
Thanks to the complete understanding of the improved Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track that the system had imparted to him, he could clearly discern how Tang San exerted force with every step, how his center of gravity shifted, and the essentials linking each movement.
He could even vaguely predict where Tang San's next step would land.
So here, the toes have to grip the ground and exert force for an instant twist...
Hmm? For this turn, it seems I could draw on the strength of the waist and hips and incorporate the trembling technique used to accumulate force in Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer...
Would suddenly changing speed here work better?
Absorbed in watching, he unconsciously began imitating, breaking down, and reconstructing the movements.
His body swayed slightly in unconscious response to Tang San's movements below, and his feet began to move as well, attempting to incorporate his newly attained level-twelve Soul Power and his understanding of how Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer generated force into his own footwork.
At first, it was somewhat awkward.
During several attempts, his steps even staggered a little.
But his comprehension was already extremely high, and with the foundation imparted by the system, he soon grasped the key.
His steps grew faster and smoother.
He was no longer merely imitating, but beginning to incorporate his own understanding.
Whoosh, whoosh-
On the rooftop, the wind grew more urgent.
Ling Feng's figure darted and twisted within a tiny space, moving faster and faster.
The improved Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, combined with Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer's unique force-generating vibration technique, made his movements even stranger and harder to predict!
They were no longer merely nimble, but carried the sharpness of instantaneous bursts and abrupt changes in direction!
Whoosh!
A swift sideways slide followed by an instant stop!
Swish!
A sudden reversal without the slightest warning left a trailing afterimage!
His body followed his thoughts; wherever his intent reached, his feet arrived.
With this increase in Soul Power and these insights, his control over his strength and body climbed another step.
A sense of sudden clarity welled up in his heart.
Exhilarating!
In the clearing below.
Tang San had just finished a round of practice and slowly settled out of his stance, regulating his breathing.
Xiao Wu clapped beside him. "Xiao San, your footwork is amazing! You're as slippery as a loach!"
Tang San smiled and was just about to say something when his brows suddenly furrowed slightly.
A strange feeling.
As though... something was watching him.
It was not a malicious gaze, but more like some kind of... synchronized resonance?
He instinctively raised his head, his sharp gaze sweeping toward the source of the sensation-the rooftop of the main teaching building.
The sunlight was somewhat dazzling, and the railing along the rooftop's edge stood empty, with only traces of the passing wind.
There was no one there.
"What's wrong, Xiao San?" Xiao Wu followed his gaze but saw nothing.
His brows knitted, Tang San stared at the rooftop for several seconds, but that strange sense of synchronization vanished again.
Was it an illusion?
He shook his head, suppressing that faint sense of something amiss. "Nothing. Maybe I sensed it wrong."
"You're being weird." Xiao Wu muttered, then cheerfully took his hand. "Come on, come on! I'm hungry. Let's go eat!"
"All right," Tang San answered, taking one last look at the deserted rooftop railing before letting Xiao Wu pull him away.
On the rooftop, Ling Feng leaned against the cold concrete wall, holding his breath and focusing his mind.
Only when the sounds of laughter and playful chatter below gradually faded into the distance did he slowly breathe a sigh of relief.
What keen perception!
I was merely absorbed in my insights into the footwork, and my breathing and Soul Power fluctuations unconsciously resonated with his, yet I nearly got discovered.
Someone from the Tang Sect truly cannot be measured by ordinary standards.
He walked to the railing and watched Tang San and Xiao Wu disappear at the end of the path, his gaze deep.
Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track...
Chaotic Cloak...
This is only the beginning.
The Soul Hunting Forest...
He gently rubbed the rough rust on the railing, its cold touch reaching his fingertips.
Who will that "accident" there be?
The corners of his mouth slowly curled into an icy arc.
Truly...
Something to look forward to.