Days passed. Lin Shu was in a forest, his hand raised and pointed towards where his eyes were focused. His ivory gauntlet, coated in steel, had two fingers extended, forming a spike of steel-coated ivory at each of their tips.
Lin Shu looked ahead. About a quarter of a li away, arrow targets hung from trees. None had holes in them, though some trees around the targets were torn apart.
Lin Shu breathed slowly and closed one eye. "Peak Tier Rank 1 Technique: Scorch Piercer." The steel on the spike grew hotter and hotter until, in an instant, a small explosion occurred. White flames shot from Lin Shu's fingers, the spike was gone, and a loud sound echoed. Lin Shu looked ahead to see a tree falling, a hole blown through its lower middle. "Didn't hit the target…"
Lin Shu sat down on a rock, breathing slowly. "I've been doing this for the past few days without stop, but I've rarely hit any targets with the technique. My aim is terrible. I've actually only used my ranged techniques at close range, and while that's dangerous for most, I was safe because of my armor. I guess I should have tried to get my aim better sooner. It also annoys me that I used to use bows to hunt animals and other people before I became a cultivator, but it's been almost six years since that time, and my skills have rusted away."
He then thought slowly, "I wonder if there's a technique that can help me with my aim." Lin Shu looked inside his spatial ring and took out a pouch. Inside were nine shards. "I have nine aether shards. I can definitely afford a high-tier technique. Maybe I should ask Yanqi for a loan. I've tried to stay away from such things since it always involves binding contracts, but maybe I can have Yanqi take the loan back from my earnings in the upcoming hunt."
Lin Shu breathed slowly as he lay back. "Yanqi said I am one of the strongest peak-stage cultivators around. I wonder if I could get a good spot in the race, especially since I have to protect those two while trying to acquire points." Lin Shu slowly thought about Aoyan and Kai. "I should keep them away from Kun and Su. Aoyan's beast should be able to let us get away from any danger. I feel like Aoyan will listen to me, but I am afraid Kai will act like an idiot and barge into a fight with them. He looked extremely mad when Yanqi mentioned those two. I wonder why."
Lin Shu stood up and began to cultivate, refining qi and storing infernal force.
Evening arrived, and Lin Shu was now extremely tired. His hand shook as he sat down to rest, breathing slowly. "I definitely need a technique for this. It would take years and years to hit something that far away without one, let alone a moving target." He then slowly considered his choices. "I need to ask Yanqi for this, and I'll have to show him my technique, though that doesn't matter since Aoyan and Kai would see it in the hunt and tell him about it anyway."
But as if answering his wishes, a man with a jug sat down next to him. "Ask me about what?"
Lin Shu stood up immediately but sat back down just as fast when he realized it was Yanqi. Yanqi laughed at the boy's reaction and looked around until he squinted his eyes ahead. "I came to check on you. Also, that's your doing?" Yanqi said.
Lin Shu nodded as Yanqi looked at the trees far ahead. "The trees have holes that fractured and tore them apart. Some are still intact, but some trees behind them are destroyed or deformed with a hole in them. But that aim looks quite terrible. You've set up bow targets but didn't hit a single one. Every tree hit was just you missing your target. I don't remember you having any technique like that?"
Lin Shu took the chance. "It's a new technique I got a while ago."
Yanqi then said, "Show me."
Lin Shu slowly stood up. His steel-coated ivory gauntlet was raised, two fingers extended as he formed a spike. The steel began to grow hotter and hotter until white flames shot from his fingers. The spike was gone, and a loud sound echoed as trees could be heard falling.
Yanqi looked at Lin Shu, his eyes squinted. "Wait, I just felt the heat in his bones be released just now, and the flame was white. That must be the crucible technique I gave him. Is he using the heat and force released by the technique to power his new one? How was he able to achieve that? He has created a technique." Yanqi looked at Lin Shu and said, "You're using the crucible to power this new technique. I didn't feel any qi being lost when you used it, so it didn't need qi. I also recognize the technique because of its white flames. I can also tell the heat in your bones went down a little after you used it, so you used that energy to power this art."
Lin Shu didn't think Yanqi would be able to deduce all of that so easily. "It is the technique you gave me. I used it alongside my other technique to make this one."
Yanqi looked at Lin Shu and thought, "That still doesn't explain how he was able to mix the techniques. Such a thing requires a deep understanding of at least the fire path, or whatever his other technique is related to. And I know he's not even an adept of the fire path, so he must have some form of mastery over another path. But even then, unless he's a master, he cannot mix techniques. His knowledge and experience must be high for him to be able to do this." Yanqi nodded to himself. "I've underestimated this boy. While his innate cultivation talent is low, his intelligence is high enough for him to reach the level of a master of whatever his path is at such a young age. Even Su and Kun are, at most, adepts or quasi-masters, not full-fledged masters."
Yanqi smiled and said, "I see. That's a good technique. It'll serve you well in the hunt. Actually, it will serve you well anywhere. But i must admit you've surprised me, Li. I didn't expect you to be this talented—to use the weakness of your cultivation art and make it a strength. Well done." Lin Shu nodded. He believed it would be good for assassinations too, but not always, since he couldn't leave evidence behind. Someone might trace it back to him after he used it in the hunt.
"So, what did you want to ask?"
Lin Shu spoke slowly. "I want to buy a technique that enhances my accuracy so I can use this technique to the fullest."
Yanqi laughed. "That is a wise thing to do. But unfortunately for you, I am not doing that. And before you try to trick me and say it's for Aoyan, I already know you can protect her as you are now. There's no need for me to give something more when the outcome will be the same." Lin Shu looked disappointed.
Yanqi nudged him and said, "But… I will advise you to place your request in an auction. You'll be able to get something eventually."
"How much would they cost?" asked Lin Shu. He needed to know if he could afford it.
"Well, a peak-tier technique would be around thirty to a hundred aether shards depending on what path they're related to since some are rarer then others what you're looking for might cost you around thiry or more shards depending on how optimal the art is. Anything lower then peak tier you can trade with gold. Why? How much do you have?"
Lin Shu took the chance. "Nine."
Yanqi laughed. "Good luck with that," he said as he got up and left.
Lin Shu stood up and followed the departing Yanqi. "It looks like he doesn't plan on helping me. Right, I should try Kai. Wait, actually, Yanqi can go to hell. I'll ask Kai for a loan. No I have an even better of an idea, he hates his siblings, right? I'll offer that I'll beat one of them to a pulp if he helps me buy the technique though i wouldn't count on that since i don't think he has enough shards for it either."
Lin Shu headed back with Yanqi as they met Kai leaving the arena's building. Lin Shu noticed him, and Kai smiled and walked over.
Lin shu quickly moved with his plan. "Elder Yanqi, I'll have to be away for a while, maybe an hour or two, and I'm gonna need to take Kai with me."
Kai pointed to himself. "Me?"
Yanqi squinted his eyes at him and smiled. "He's gonna rip you off, Kai. Don't trust him."
Lin Shu couldn't believe what he heard. "What is this bastard's problem? Is he still petty about me getting two things from Aoyan for free? I'm starting to hate the fact that I made a deal with this cheap bastard."
Kai looked at Lin Shu. He didn't understand why Yanqi said that, and Lin Shu thought it was better to move with Kai right now and not have Yanqi barge in every time he said something. "He's just joking. Come on, let's go. I need you to help me with something."
Kai looked wary but still agreed to his friend's request. "It was very rare for Li to ask anyone for a favor. Actually, he has never asked me for anything—he's only asked Aoyan and Yanqi." He looked at Lin Shu, who was pulling him away as Yanqi was still trying to persuade him not to help. "He's been kind to me for a long time, helping me in the arena, and Elder Yanqi has been messing with him every day, so I think he's just joking. And he's my friend, so I should help him now."
"Alright, alright, alright. I'll help you."
Lin Shu smiled as he put his arm around Kai's shoulder. "I knew you would."
Kai was still wary about how friendly Lin Shu was, but he thought, "This is kinda nice," as he smiled and walked with him.
Yanqi smiled as he left for his lodging. He hadn't really tried to stop Kai from helping Lin Shu; he was just messing with him since the boy was always too fearful to talk back. He was wondering how much it would take for the boy to snap and answer him. "He's extremely untrusting and uncasual, even after being with me for three years. Although I do admit that threatening him might have made whatever trust he had crumble a little, unfortunately it wasn't something I could avoid since it involved Aoyan. Though, at least now I am sure he'll do his best to protect her."
Lin Shu and Kai walked through the city, and Kai asked, "Where are we heading again?"
Lin Shu said, "To the market, or an auction if we find any. I wanna try and buy something, but first I'm gonna need you to loan me some shards. In return, I'll do you one favor equal to the loan, as long as it doesn't involve something too dangerous."
Kai smiled. "I mean, if you want the shards, I can just lend them to you. You don't have to repay me or anything. Though I only have eleven shards right now. I hope they're enough."
Lin Shu smiled and put his arm around his shoulder. "Really appreciate it, Kai." The latter smiled as they walked together.
Lin Shu thought, "Still, I need ten more shards. I've thought about Aoyan, but I'm sure that old man will stop me. Well, whatever. Actually, I have another plan. In case I can't afford a technique, I'll just find whoever has what I'm looking for and kill him. I'll just take it from him then. But I'd rather not do that, since that's too dangerous in the city with too many eyes everywhere."
Lin Shu and Kai soon reached a large open space. Several people could be seen talking and bickering in small shops and with people at small tables showing their merchandise. This was one of the markets of the city.
Lin Shu didn't expect to find a peak-tier technique of his desire here, but he was just looking. If nothing worked, he'd abandon using the technique as an assassination method for now and would just chase his targets.
Kai watched as Lin Shu looked around the shops. "We spent an hour looking around and you didn't find what you wanted, Li. Don't you think we should ask Elder Yanqi? I mean, I know he's been quite petty these past few weeks, but I'm sure if you actually ask him for it, he'll give it to you."
Lin Shu looked at Kai. "Well, I'm not interested in begging that old drunkard. So I'll keep looking. If I don't find a peak-tier art, I'll just take a high-tier one and be done with this."
Kai then said, "Well, whatever suits you. Though if you get a high-tier art, you wouldn't need to borrow my aether shards, since you can buy it with gold coins."
Lin Shu said, "I don't have any gold coins on me right now. I've used it all to buy the materials for my cultivation art. But I'll just spend a couple of aether shards and be done with it. There's not enough time for me to gather gold and train."
Kai nodded. There wasn't any more time before the hunt, so he understood Lin Shu's hurry.
Kai looked around trying to find a good shop and noticed someone. "Chicken wings."
Lin Shu was perplexed. "What?" He looked to where Kai was looking and saw a young man with brown and black striped hair.
"I can't stand that damn bastard," said Kai.
Lin Shu looked at Shang. "I don't like him a lot either, since he'll be targeting me in the hunt."
Kai said, "I really wanna tear off those chicken wings of his for stealing my wins. I got a lot of training and punishment from Elder Yanqi because of this guy, and him just running away from me in the arena."
Suddenly, Shang, as if sensing a familiar presence, looked behind him and saw Lin Shu and Kai. He smirked and headed toward them. "Well, well, well. If it isn't training dummy Kai and my rival, Li."
Lin Shu, confused, said, "Rival? We never fought before."
Kai said, "Dummy? Shang, if I find you in the hunt, I'm gonna rip those chicken wings off your damned back."
Shang laughed it off and said to Lin Shu, "We are soon to be rivals, of course. Though not for long, since I'll be beating you in the hunt. Do enjoy my rivalry for now, though not everyone gets to witness my greatness as their rival." Lin Shu was starting to get why Kai hated the guy.
"So what are you doing here today?" said Shang.
Kai cut him off. "Not trying to meet you, that's for sure. Now flap away, Shang. Not in the mood to look at your face."
Shang ignored Kai as Lin Shu said, "Looking around."
Kai in the background said, "Don't answer him."
Lin Shu ignored him and said, "What about you?"
Shang said, "Nothing, really. I'm bored, so I thought about looking around here for now. How about we move around together? We're gonna be a team in the future, after all."
Lin Shu wasn't against the idea, nor was he leaning toward it, but he decided he could maybe get something of use from Shang like good auctions or maybe something he doesn't know about Yu since the two of them are together a lot. "Alright. So where were you heading now?"
Shang said, "I planned on visiting some auctions. There are a few illegal ones going around, so I thought I'd check them out."
Lin Shu said, "Sounds good. Let's go, Kai."
Kai was still trying to chase Shang away but ultimately surrendered since Lin Shu agreed with him. "Alright. But first, Kai should wear a mask, and Li, you should change yours so no one recognizes it."
Lin Shu's mask started to deform and reshape into a new form.
"That works, I guess," said Shang.
Shang pulled a mask from his ring and tossed it to Kai. "Here, this one. It suits you." The mask was that of a jester. Kai hadn't brought any mask, so he was about to wear it when Lin Shu pulled another one out and gave it to him.
"Ah, come on, don't give him that. The one I gave him suits him more," said Shang.
Kai thanked Lin Shu as they moved on.
The night was spent with them going through multiple auctions. Shang started fights with many guards and customers to the point where they were asked to leave three times—and the point is, they were asked, not forced, since the first who tried it got his bones broken by Shang.
Kai was complaining about Shang starting so many fights and him having to help him. Lin Shu was already in a bad mood when so many cultivators tried to rip him off and others tried to stalk them and steal his belongings. To add to that, he hadn't found anything. "These auctions are all held by peak-stage cultivators. Couldn't find a single peak-tier technique in most, let alone a specific one of the vision path and it didn't help that the good auctions with rank 2 cultivators behind them banned this feathered bastard for starting so many fights and kicked us out with him i thought I'll find some good spots if i rbing him along but I've only wasted my time."
Shang noticed Lin Shu's bad mood and nudged him. "Come on, don't lose hope. We still got all night, don't we? What are you looking for, anyway? Maybe I can help you with that."
Lin Shu looked at him. "Well, it wouldn't really matter since even if I don't tell him, he'll know once I buy it. Unfortunately, that's the downside of bringing him along with me. I thought I could get some good auction spots, but didn't find anything."
"Sure, why no—" Lin Shu was about to speak when he saw Shang's eyes turn golden like an owl's. His wings came from his back in an instant as he moved, shouting, "DODGE!"
He smashed his wing into Kai, pushing him away. when Lin Shu saw a sword fall on his shoulder. "GOT YOU!"
Shang looked up as the figure of a woman attacked. Kai was out of the way as a sword pierced the ground. He took his stance as fire formed in one of his hands, black gas in the other.
The ground beneath Lin Shu broke apart. The smiling man's smile vanished in an instant as he noticed Lin Shu standing unharmed, his clothes torn and under them a layer of dark metallic armor. Lightning roared from Lin Shu's hand. "Lightning Surge Fang!" His fist slammed into the man, whose belly was torn open, his bowels cooked from the lightning as he fell to his knees.
Shang was hovering in the sky with a woman choked between his hands. At Kai's feet was a guy with his head blown off.
"What was this about?" Lin Shu moved closer, trying to search the man but finding nothing in his pouch, nor in the others.
"Found anything?" asked Shang.
Lin Shu shook his head.
Shang looked at Kai and smirked.
"What?" Kai said.
"Nothing, just waiting for my thank you," said Shang.
Kai spat as he moved next to Lin Shu. Shang laughed as he moved closer too.
"What do you think they are?" said Kai.
Shang said, "Well, they're not bandits or thieves, that's for sure. I'd assume they're hired assassins. Maybe you two got anyone that hates you?"
Lin Shu laughed as Kai frowned.
"What about you?" said Lin Shu.
Shang said, "You really need to ask?"
Lin Shu laughed as Shang started to examine the corpses. He went behind the woman's neck and found something: a python mark. "Well, I think I've found whose enemy these ones are. They're mine."
Lin Shu thought it was Aoyan's siblings who had tried to assassinate him. "Guess it's not them," he thought.
Lin Shu thought about the attack earlier. He hadn't been able to sense them at all. Of course, if Shang hadn't warned them, he would still be fine, as they wouldn't have been able to harm him. But Kai isn't like him; he might've been injured fatally if Shang hadn't pushed him away. So Lin Shu wondered, "Hey, you noticed them before any of us did. I didn't even see any of them. How did you do that?"
Shang smirked. "Well, it's my technique. What you two see in darkness, I see clearly."
Lin Shu looked interested. "What is its rank?"
Shang said, "it's a high-tier technique."
Lin Shu smiled as he moved closer. "What do you want for it?"
Shang didn't expect Lin Shu to try and buy from him. "You wanna buy it?"
Lin Shu nodded.
Shang said, "Too bad, I'm not selling it."
Lin Shu frowned. "And why is that?"
Shang said, "Why would I give you something you'll need when I plan on fighting you in the hunt? I don't think I need to make it any clearer than that." They moved away from the place after Kai burned the corpses when Lin Shu told him to.
Name your price," said Lin Shu.
Shang smiled. "A hundred aether shards."
Kai laughed. "You think we're fools or something? That's a high-tier technique. You'll be lucky if we give five aether shards for that."
Shang lifted his hands in a surrendering sigh. "Your choice. I gave my offer; you can take it or leave it."
Lin Shu looked at him. "I don't have a hundred shards, and even if I did, I'm not desperate enough to pay that for a measly high-tier technique. So what do you want for it?"
Shang smiled. "Well, I might need you for a small little favor. Help me with it, and I'll give you the technique."
Lin Shu said, "You give me the technique, I give you ten shards as collateral, and after I do you the favor, you'll return the shards to me."