"Didn't you say you've never used a bow? Or are you just looking for an excuse for when you lose?" Sanguang jeered.

Baiyun merely raised his bow.

"Grr... you're not even going to answer me? Fine, I'll beat that attitude out of you!" Sanguang shouted as he grabbed a wooden spear. "Against something like you, I won't even need to use my lightning!"

The two of them eyed each other.

"Enough chatter.!" Ying Shi declared. "Baiyun, Sanguang, your duel begins now!"

There wasn't a countdown?

But Sanguang had already shotward spear-first, blurring as he rushed towards him! Baiyun was caught off guard; his pupils shrank to a pinpoint. For a moment, time seemed to slow.

He channeled all his might into kicking upwards with his right leg, loosening the rest of his body to increase its range. Not enough... he puppetted his body with his soul at the same time as well!

In the next second, Baiyun's foot shot upwards with unbelievable speed, kicking the spear upwards! The onlookers watched in surprise as the weapon spun violently, shooting nearly 10 metres into the air.

Baiyun's face was covered in cold sweat. That was too close. Were he any weaker, he would not have made it before the weapon slammed into his ribs. Searing white pain screamed through the tendons of his right leg, stretched beyond their reasonable limit. He had avoided an attack, but he was now unable to run.

Sanguang froze as he rushed past Baiyun, unable to process what happened. Baiyun saw an opportunity and took aim with his bow.

But a shout echoed from behind.

"Baiyun! Kick his ass!" Mohei shouted.

"You wish!"

Sanguang snapped back to his senses.

Baiyun cursed at the sabotage, but decided it didn't matter. Even without Mohei bringing Sanguang back to his senses unintentionally, he would have been frozen for another second or two at best.

He unleashed the arrow. This time, it was far more accurate.

It shot through the air towards the startled Sanguang, narrowly missing him and hitting a guard in the chest instead.

"Hey!"

Tsk. He was so much closer this time. If he had aimed a bow a little to the right and slightly lower...

Baiyun narrowed his eyes as he slotted another arrow into his bow. Sanguang's face was filled with anger as he reached out with glowing hands.

"Lightning!"

A thin lightning bolt shot through the air, striking Baiyun on his exposed arm!

With a faint whirl, the spear had finally begun to fall. Sanguang grinned, reaching out a hand to snatch the falling weapon out of the air before brandishing it. A guard whistled at the smooth motion, and Sanguang began to feel rather smug.

"Hehe. Do you see how outmatched you are now?" he laughed. "No one can dodge something the speed of light!"

Baiyun frowned. What uneducated nonsense was that? Light was several thousand times faster than lightning! On his struck arm, arcs of lightning crackled across his skin and attempted to spread to the rest of his body like worms of light.

"Do you feel it now? The paralysation?" Sanguang continued. "You're finished!"

With a yell, he lunged forward with his spear one more, kicking up a cloud of dust in his wake.

But this time, Baiyun had anticipated it. He merely turned his body and raised his numbed leg. Sanguang's spear shot past the target and he tripped on the foot, tumbling to the ground.

"Gah!" Sanguang cried. "H-how?"

Baiyun shook his head.

While undodgeable lightning seemed powerful, most of its strength would be dissipated as it travelled through the air. Lightning cultivators were most dangerous when they managed to hit their target at point blank.

Still, a normal qi gatherer would be hampered by that. But against a servant's constitution, which lacked meridians and had a strong earth attribute? All he felt was an unpleasant tingle - there was little to no effect. In fact, he had done a better job disabling himself by overdoing his kick.

Servants had many large detriments, but they still had a few traits that made a select few worth training. Such was why sects trained Combat Servants on occasion, though usually only those with a powerful secondary constitution.

Baiyun pointed his bow at Sanguang's forehead and let loose.

"Ow!"

This time, he hit something. Sanguang winced as the arrow bounced off his shoulder. Tsk. Baiyun clicked his tongue in frustration. His aim was off again. Next time, he would do it.

He notched another arrow and fired, but Sanguang rolled away. Baiyun frowned. If not for that, he was certain he would have finally hit his target!

"Stop rolling around!" he cursed, reaching for another arrow.

"What? Why would I- eek!"

Sanguang's rebuttal was interrupted as Baiyun launched yet another arrow, forcing him to roll away yet again.

Baiyun might not have perfected his aim against a moving target yet, but he was getting used to reloading, notching in every arrow faster and faster.

Sanguang was reduced to dodging and rolling all over the ground as Baiyun let loose arrow after arrow like faulty artillery.

The audience quickly split up as the arrows spewed everywhere, only 3 of the arrows actually hitting Sanguang, while 5 of them hit random disciples and guards instead! They booed at him, but were ignored.

Baiyun's aim was improving, but the faster he aimed the less accurate he got. And his target was no slouch at dodging either, rolling all over the ground like a cornered hedgehog.

If Sanguang calmed down and allowed himself to be struck by a few arrows, he could ignore them and charge towards Baiyun with his weapon to regain his advantage. But he was inexperienced and panicked.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore.

"You... you are toying with me!" Sanguang huffed.

His clothes were covered in dirt and his eyes were red, on the verge of crying. Baiyun began to feel awkward. Why did it feel like he was just bullying a child?

"I'll hit you this time," he promised.

"What!?"

Sanguang freaked out, but Baiyun closed his eyes for a second, the memory of every attempt rushing through his mind. Every missed shot and misstep, all the mental notes he had made on how he could do better.

His eyes opened with a strange air of focus. He released an arrow once more.

Thwack!

Sanguang tried to roll away, but it stuck him on the back.

"Ack!"

"Your leg." Baiyun mumbled.

Thwack.

It struck Sanguang in the knee.

"Your shoulder."

Thwack.

"Your stomach."

Thwack.

"Your arm."

Thwack.

"Stop. Stop!" Sanguang waved his hands in a fluster. "I give up!"

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

But Baiyun had a strange light in his eye and did not listen. He would utter a word, and the arrow would strike it. It was as if the bow had become an extension of his arms.

"Enough." a stern voice rang out.

Ying Shi's sister snatched the bow out of his hands.

"He forfeited. Do not dishonour your opponent any further." she frowned. "Or did you not toy with him enough?"

"Uaaaah! Yingtao! He pretended to be bad with the bow just to bully me!" Sanguang grabbed her leg and began to cry.

"Ah..." Baiyun raised his hands.

His eyes now clear, he was slightly alarmed, realising he had overdone it. How had he gotten so carried away?

"Sanguang. You mock your opponent, but cling to another when mocked in return?" Ying Shi said. "Do not degrade your dignity any further."

"Hmph!"

Sanguang wiped off his tears and ran off behind the boulder, peeking out to glare at Baiyun occasionally. Moheit was about to jeer, but a quick glare from Ying Shi shut him up.

Ying Shi turned to Baiyun.

"Baiyun. Since you are new to the world of cultivators, allow me to demonstrate something." he said, his muscles bulging.

"Elder sister. Might I request a new boulder?" he clasped his hands together politely.

"Hah. As you wish."

Yingtao raised her hand and the old boulder rose into the air along with it. With a swipe to the left, the cracked stone was flung to the side with a loud thud that shook the very ground. She raised her other hand, and another boulder rose from the ground.

"Many thanks, elder sister."

Ying Shi marched to the new boulder, winding up his left arm.

BANG!

Like a spring released from its constraints, his fist shot forward and slammed into the boulder, smashing a crater the size of a head into it!

Ying Shi punched again and again, each punch just as devastating and quick. With each punch, a crackle could be heard from the boulder, growing louder and louder.

29 punches had been thrown, the boulder now covered in craters much like a moon. Ying Shi took a deep breath, before striking it with his strongest punch yet.

"HAH!"

As his fist struck it one last time, the boulder rumbled for a moment before violently exploding, shattering into countless fragments! Rock dust filled the air, and the disciples waved it away, coughing.

Baiyun would have widened his eyes if not for the bad air conditions. The guards being so powerful despite being at Qi Gathering was still believable. But Ying Shi's attacks were beyond reason.

To have done this with his bare hands, this was on par with a low Foundational cultivator's might!

The simplest guess was that Ying Shi had honed his body cultivation far beyond his qi cultivation. But Baiyun felt like that didn't add up either.

Ying Shi's attacks were still in-line with attacks on the 9th level of Qi Gathering. But somehow, it was as if a hidden force was behind his blows, amplifying his attacks by more than 10 times!

"Whoaa!"

The disciples cheered and clapped at the spectacle, despite already having seen it many times prior.

Ying Shi looked pleased by the shock on Baiyun's face.

"Since you lack meridians as a servant, you need two things. Are you aware of them?" he asked.

This again...

"Body cultivation and techniques?" Baiyun asked with a frown.

"Indeed. But I would only consider techniques partially correct." Ying Shi crossed his arms. "Learning techniques should only come after you have achieved enough Martial Expertise."

Martial Expertise?

For the next few minutes, Ying Shi explained how Martial Artists were ranked.

Novice, Practitioner, Advanced, Master, Perfected.

A Novice and Practitioner's attacks would have "martial force" behind them, allowing them to attack with strength beyond their cultivation.

An Advanced Artist would be able to penetrate defences with their attacks, damaging the opponent internally.

A Master could imbue even a flick of the finger with the force of their entire body.

As for the Perfected stage? Only legendary figures and powerful sect masters had attained such a grand thing.

Baiyun's frown deepened.

At first, he thought it was merely a standard for skill. In his previous world, martial artists would simply train in their school of techniques and arts. There was no universal standard for "Martial Expertise".

But after hearing about the effects, he grew baffled. Those phenomena did not sound like the result of expertise.

"When you achieve a certain stage, those effects are imbued into every action of yours? Even when just picking up chopsticks to eat?" Baiyun asked.

"Precisely." Ying Shi.

"That sounds inconvenient," Mohei said in the background, but was ignored.

"It's not just a technique of sorts but activated unconsciously?" Baiyun said.

"Somewhat, but I wouldn't describe it so." Yingshi seemed deep in thought. "Martial Expertise becomes part of you, much like we move our limbs without further thought."

Strange.

Only Daos comprehended at the Dao Seeking stage should have universal effects. But the sparse qi of this world made reaching that stage impossible. Baiyun's curiosity began to burn. Did the people of this world discover something truly revolutionary?

Ying Shi watched as Baiyun contemplated.

"It will be quite the arduous task to learn Martial Arts without a backer. It's not too late to take upon my offer."

Baiyun shook his head. This unique path seemed interesting to him, but he could learn it elsewhere instead. He had no intention of being shackled to the Ying Clan.

"Then so be it." Ying Shi said.

"No clan in the sect rivals the Arts of our clan," Yingtao said. "Don't regret your decision."

"Elder sister, don't pester him."

But a small hand suddenly tapped Ying Shi on the shoulder.

Fei An stared at him with a grin. Ying Shi sighed and tossed a pear over his shoulder. She lunged at it like a feral beast and instantly devoured it.

Baiyun decided it was not his place to question that.

"You babbled on and on and on about Martial Mastery or whatever!" she mumbled, her mouth still full of pear. "But magic is still stronger! Yingtao, summon another boulder so I can demonstrate!"

The older woman sighed but summoned another boulder.

"Just watch me, I'm going to destroy it in one hit this time!" Fei An laughed.

With a dramatic jump, she flew high into the air, disappearing into a speck in the sky. It was a tremendous distance away, but her voice boomed loudly. She was using a wind spell to amplify her voice!

"This is what I call a real meteor hammer!"

Beside the tiny speck, a massive sphere suddenly appeared. It whirled in the air once as it grew bigger and bigger.

A few seconds later, the team finally figured out what was going on. That maniac had swung an obscenely huge meteor hammer out of her bag!

"What the hell?"

"Run!"

With haste, everyone ran for their lives, except Yingtao and Ying Shi. This wasn't just an annoying nuisance like Baiyun's wooden arrows. If she missed, there could be actual casualties!

Moments later, a deafening boom swept the air. Countless pieces of rock shrapnel exploded outwards, but Yingtao raised a hand, stopping the dangerous fragments midair.

Nothing was left of the towering boulder. There was only a red-hot ball of spiked metal in a crater, heated from the sheer force of the impact.

"Ahahaha! I win!" Fei An laughed as she descended.

"You were too reckless with your attack. Consider your surroundings first." Yingtao said.

"Big sis! What the hell are you doing?" Jingfeng yelled.

"Cheater!" Mohei complained. "That's not magic, all the damage was done by you dropping a big ball! And you can't do it without your bag!"

"Stupid. Flying is magic and storage artefacts are magic too!"

"Gah! That's not what I meant!"

Baiyun wondered how long he had to watch children bicker with their ridiculous arguments. He hobbled away on his numbed leg, conveniently ignoring the childish actions he "indulged" himself every so often as of late.

The demonstrations ended soon. It was uneventful compared to the chaos Fei An caused; neither Sanguang, Qinghe the staffed girl, Jingfeng nor Mohei were able to damage the boulder much.

Most of the disciples had returned to the mansion, and Ying Shi and Baiyun were no exception.

The two of them were now alone in a large pantry, surrounded by shelves of miscellaneous dried foods and jars.

"Take whatever food supplies you need. Everything here is expendable." Ying Shi said.

But despite being spoiled for choice, Baiyun only grabbed grain balls. There were many luxurious items, but they would either spoil faster or require preparation to be edible. A large variety of carefully selected grains to provide every nutrient a mortal body could need, albeit with excessive amounts of carbohydrates, these were essentially the equivalent of all-in-one livestock feed but for humans.

Baiyun didn't particularly care; once he broke through into Elixir Condensation, there would no longer be a need for mortal food. He did enjoy the food in the servant canteen more than he expected, but he had no interest in letting mortal needs take up too much of his time.

"Suit yourself." Ying Shi said.

For a moment, there was only the sound of the two rummaging for supplies.

"Say. Do you know why I refused to intervene?" Ying Shi suddenly spoke.

"Intervene? As in when that boy I fought earlier picked a fight?" Baiyun asked.

"Yes. Sanguang."

Ah. Baiyun didn't bother to remember his name.

"Previously, when members of my team argued, I stopped them. But while they would behave before me, they would constantly fight behind my back."

Ying Shi said.

"So when conflict came between the two of you, I thought the best way would be for him to acknowledge you in combat and reconcile. But after what you did, I don't think that will happen."

Baiyun tensed.

"Perhaps it looked like you were mocking him. And perhaps you were." Ying Shi continued. "But Baiyun. That truly was your first time using a bow, wasn't it?"

"Huh?"

Baiyun was taken aback.

"I remember when you first joined the Martial Temple. It was strange how you joined so late, I took notice." Ying Shi looked into the air. "I watched as you fumbled with every weapon like a buffoon at first. But before my very eyes, you would improve at a tremendous speed."

Ying Shi paused, staring at him.

"Baiyun. You have a talent for weapons."

Baiyun could only laugh dryly.

A talent for weapons? He had no such thing. All he did was rely on memorisation and brute force. He still had a long way to go.