The speed of a cultivator in the Foundation Building Realm was not something that should be underestimated. This was something Xiao Ji had come to fully realise at the last minute..

His entire body was enhanced to some extent, with the qi even more concentrated in his legs and wings. Even with all that, it had taken everything he had to dodge the man’s powerful strikes. And dodge them he must. He could feel the power contained in those punches and knew things would not end well for him if he was hit by one of them.

He tried to find a little space to counterattack, yet every attempt of his was foiled. His claws were either dodged or blocked easily. Trying to add a layer of qi was also futile. The first time he did it, the qi was simply snuffed out when it reached the man’s body. When he thought about it, it made sense that the qi of some one a realm lower would struggle to overcome the higher realm cultivator.

At this point, it was already clear to him that winning was just a far away dream. He had no techniques that could really be used to fight. His highest damage dealers did nothing to his foe and he was only barely able to keep up with the man’s speed. As it was, he would be lucky to last a few more minutes.

Maybe it was a bad idea to accept the fight in the first place. Of that he could not say. He had to admit it had shown him his limits and where he was lacking.

Nevertheless he kept himself on the move, not staying in one place for more than a second. Yet, all things came to an end, and a small lapse in judgement had his opponents hands wrapped around one of his legs. Just before he was slammed against the ground, he directed qi to the spur on his other leg and twisted till he found purchase on the man’s hand.

Alas, it was not enough, and he gave a cry of surrender just before he hit the ground. He planted his feet on the ground once more as his opponent let him go. He felt slightly sore, but even that was rapidly fading.

He had lost.

It was the inevitable truth, and it had not even take more than a few minutes at most. Yet almost no one was focused on that fact. For on his opponent’s right hand, clear for all to see, was a red line that dripped blood on the grass.

It was the only injury of the fight.

When the man met his eyes once more, there was a strange look in his eyes.. It took him a moment to identify it as respect. As if to prove that point, he bowed to Ji.

“This lowly sect disciple greets the disciple of the Great Divine Master Fain Guo and apologises for his earlier words. This one merely wanted to test your strength and found no other way.”

Ji was not sure whether he believed that. The man had been oddly provocative. Either way, it did not matter. Though he lost, he had some ideas on things he needed to fix when he got back to the mountain. That he chose to forgo body strengthening did not mean he was giving up on his goal. Far from it, in fact. He would need to pick up the martial art forms his master mentioned.

Qian Shi was the first to come meet him after the fight ended. She gave the man an openly hostile look and even growled a little, which caused him to scurry away with a rushed apology.

“That was great, Ji,” she praised. “I didn’t even know it was possible to be that fast at your level. And being able to leave a wound on the body of a Foundation Building cultivator really shocked everyone.”

“But I still lost,” he pointed out.

“Of course you did.” It was Bai Lin, not Shi, that chose to answer him. “You’re on the fourth stage of the Qi Condensation Realm while your opponent is at the first stage of Foundation Building. You’re untrained and don’t know any martial art forms. And I don’t believe you’ve been cultivating for up to four months. Your opponent had years of experience. In all honesty, I do not believe I could have managed the same in your situation.”

If it was Qian Shi that spoke, he would have suspected she was simply trying to cheer him up. It was the sort of thing he would do. This Bai Lin, however, was a fellow Beyond grade awakened. More importantly, the little he had seen of her character did not seem to imply that she would lie to make him feel better. So he took the compliment for what it was.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Thank you for your praise, Bai Lin.”

“It is nothing. I simply speak the truth. Now come, fellow awakened, let me properly welcome you to my home.”

She slithered away, and both Ji and Qian Shi followed after her. Ruo Long was still with a small crowd of disciples. He supposed the dragon would come whenever he decided to. Bai Lin seemed to have the same thought because she only looked in his direction for a moment before beckoning the other two to after her.

They passed many buildings of different sizes before coming to a stop in front of what seemed like a mini compound on its own. There were two rows of houses arranged in straight lines. Each house was a large two story house that reminded him of some of the houses in the upper district.

Carefully trimmed grass surrounded the buildings, with a single path paved through to allow passage. Humans really did dislike walking on grass. He still was not sure why. The feel of soft grass under his feet would always be more pleasant than hard pavement.

They stopped at one of the buildings, the door opening for them the moment Bai Lin was in front of it. Inside was fairly plain, and they went to a large room with classic human furniture. Bai Lin climbed one of the chairs and stayed there.

“Welcome to my home. It has been a while, Shi.”

“It has,” the mastiff admitted. “Master has not been interested in any errands to this settlement recently.”

“What changed, then? What kind of errand are you on?”

“Oh, we aren’t here on any errands. Just a short break.”

“A break?” There was genuine surprise in the snake’s voice. “Your master, the Great Divine Fan Guo, gave you a break? Are you sure?”

“Yes he did. We were as surprised as you. But we have the entire week here.”

“After all I have heard about that man, a break is the last thing I would expect from him.”

“Likewise, Lin. You’ve done well since we last met. Fancy house and the Foundation realm. You have almost surpassed me.”

The complete lack of envy in the way she said the last sentence stuck Ji. He was not sure he would have been able to manage it personally if he was in her situation.

“Indeed the sect has been good to me. My master might not be a Divine, but she is willing to spare no expense for my growth. Not that it should be any different. A Beyond grade awakened is worth far more than any expense to the sect.”

To that Ji had to agree. From all that he had read and experienced, a smaller sect like this gaining a normal awakened was almost impossible without getting taken over by a larger force. This sect, however, had the protection of a Divine. So Bai Lin’s existence could propel them to heights they could not imagine. That was the power of a Beyond grade breathing technique, a boon only granted to a fraction of awakened.

The mastiff and the snake continued talking, leaving Ji to ponder on his own for the most part, though he noticed the snake always keeping part of her attention on him. Ruo Long barged in at some point, finally done with whatever he was doing. From the look on Bai Lin’s face when he entered, Ji doubted the snake liked the dragon much. He was certain Ruo Long noticed it, but knowing his fellow disciple, he likely did not care.

A short while later, he approached the dragon, eager for another perspective on the brief fight, if it could really be called that. Knowing Ruo Long, he had likely kept a keen eye on things.

“I do not believe I would have performed as well as you in your situation.”

Though he technically knew it could be true, it remained hard to believe, given the sheer size of the dragon. When he said this, the dragon merely snorted.

“My larger size simply means he would have hit me a lot faster. And the man you fought has a decent body strengthening technique. Someone in the fourth stage of the Foundation Building Realm should not have been able to come close to breaking his skin.”

.Ruo Long gave him a long look that made him slightly uncomfortable.

“I’m sure I don’t have to tell you the reason why you succeeded.”

Ji shook his head. He would simply be harming himself if he could not acknowledge the reason for his success. A Beyond grade body strengthening technique was not something that should be underestimated. Still, it changed little.

“I am aware. But I stand by my decision.”

In that, he was resolute.

“I did not expect otherwise. I was simply trying to make sure things were clear.”

Ji said his thanks to the dragon and excused himself shortly after that. He wanted to feel the cool air on his feathers and skin and clear his mind a little.

As he walked on the soft grass of the mini compound, he felt someone approach him. A glance back revealed a snake slithering on the grass with scales as black as the night.

“Bai Lin,” he nodded to her in greeting.

“Xiao Ji. I hope you are not too displeased with my sect so far.”

He shook his head.

“Far from it. In fact I think your sect has given me some insight.”

“Is that so? Congratulations then.”

“Thank you,” he replied with a nod.

The next words the snake spoke were heavy in a way that he could not explain, Her tone did not change much, but something in the air did. Like a queen just got serious.

“Fellow Beyond grade awakened, I think we need to talk.”

To that, he could only nod his head.