Chapter 56: Instructor Xia Ji

Chapter 56: Instructor Xia Ji

As I stepped into the office, the grandeur of the room momentarily took my breath away. It was spacious and elegantly decorated, with intricate, wooden tapestries adorning the walls and a large, polished desk sitting prominently in the center. However, even this grandiosity paled in comparison to the aura of the man seated behind the desk.

Sect Leader Ye Shaotian was a figure of quiet authority. His sharp features and thick eyebrows gave him a commanding presence, and his greying hair and the lines etched on his face spoke of wisdom gained through years of experience. He appeared to be around the same age as Elder Zhu. His eyes, deep and insightful, seemed to hold the weight of untold stories and profound depth, a depth I couldn't begin to fathom.

I bowed deeply, my heart racing. "Sect Leader Ye Shaotian, I am Kai. It's an honor to meet you." My voice trembled slightly despite my efforts to sound composed.

Sect Leader Ye nodded, his gaze appraising. "Rise, Kai. I've heard much about you lately."

Elder Zhu stood to the side, his presence both reassuring and intimidating. He gave me an encouraging nod, urging me to stand straight and face the Sect Leader with confidence.

Sect Leader Ye's voice was calm yet resonated with an underlying strength. "Your actions against the Silent Moon sect have not gone unnoticed, Kai. However, contrary to what you might expect, it's not something punishable."

I blinked in surprise, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. "Not punishable, Sect Leader?"

He snorted, a sound that seemed too casual coming from such an esteemed figure. "Elder Jun's posturing is of little consequence to us. In the grand scheme of things, he's a minor player, scrambling for a position he's ill-equipped to fill. His schemes are transparent and hardly a threat."

Inside, I was reeling. Elder Jun, who had loomed so large in my mind, was just a minor annoyance in the eyes of the Verdant Lotus Sect Leader?

I let out a silent sigh of relief, feeling a weight lift off my chest. Elder Zhu added, "You've shown bravery and cunning, qualities that are valuable to the Verdant Lotus Sect. mendable."

The older man continued, "Instructor Xia Ji will be responsible for your training. Given the circumstances, we've decided it's best to prepare you thoroughly."

I nodded, absorbing the information. "Instructor Xia Ji, understood."

Sect Leader Ye then looked at me intently. "Tell me, Kai, do you have a background in martial arts?"

The question caught me off guard. I hesitated for a moment before replying, "My experience is limited, Sect Leader. I've only recently begun training this year, when the Heavenly Interface came into existence."

Sect Leader Ye nodded thoughtfully. "A solid foundation in both body and qi is essential before delving into advanced techniques. But that requires time; time we do not have."

He nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Building a solid foundation in both body and qi is crucial for any cultivator. It's a slow process, one that cannot be rushed without risking harm. However, given your upcoming challenge, we find ourselves in a peculiar situation where time is a luxury we do not have."

His words echoed my own thoughts, the reality of my situation settling in. I was a novice trying to prepare for a battle against a seasoned cultivator. The odds were not in my favor.

Sect Leader Ye leaned back in his chair, his gaze still fixed on me. "First-class disciple Xia Ji is skilled in various martial techniques. Under her guidance, you will learn a series of techniques that will aid you in your upcoming trial. It won't be easy, but it's necessary."

I nodded, a mix of apprehension and determination building within me. "I understand, Sect Leader. I'll do whatever it takes."

Sect Leader Ye continued, his voice carrying a weight that underscored the seriousness of the situation. "Although this match is not directly linked to our Verdant Lotus Sect, since you are not a disciple, the outcome will nonetheless reflect upon us. The sect's reputation and influence extend far beyond our immediate members."

I swallowed hard, the gravity of his words hitting me. It was one thing to face a personal challenge, but now the stakes were even higher. My actions, my performance, would cast a shadow - or light - on the entire sect.

Xia Ji's eyes narrowed slightly, continuing her explanation. "The Silent Moon's style is aggressive, but it's predictable once you understand their rhythm. You need a technique that can counter their brute force - something that combines the principles of hard and soft defense. A technique that not only guards against their strike but also allows for a counter-attack at the moment of impact."

This sounded complex, yet intriguing. A style that could turn the Silent Moon sect's strength against them? My mind raced with possibilities. "...What's technique is that?"

Xia Ji's expression turned serious. "It's a lesser-known technique within our sect, known as the Bamboo Reprisal Counter. It's based on the concept of bamboo bending under force but not breaking, using the opponent's energy to fuel your counterattack."

However, Xia Ji added, to effectively use the Bamboo Reprisal Counter, you need to endure the strikes of a cultivator without faltering. This means intensive physical training to reinforce your bodys durability. Are you ready for that?

I nodded, my resolve firming. Yes, Instructor. I understand and Im prepared. However, I do have a defensive technique of my own which I hope could be of some use for the battle. I was wondering if I could demonstrate it?

Xia Ji's expression shifted from amusement to curiosity. "A defensive technique of your own creation? This should be interesting. Show me."

I nodded, centering myself in the middle of the training grounds. As I assumed the Rooted Banyan Stance, I recalled the principles that had guided its creation. The stance was about grounding oneself, like a banyan tree's roots delving deep into the earth. My feet spread apart, knees slightly bent, my body lowered in a stance that mirrored the robust stability of a mighty tree. I tucked my arms and clenched my fist, poised yet relaxed.

I took a deep breath, feeling the qi rise within me, flowing like blood through my veins. I focused, channeling it through my body, reinforcing my muscles and bones. The essence of the stance was not just physical; it was about being immovable, unyielding, yet flexible enough to absorb and redirect force.

"Rooted Banyan Stance!"

As Instructor Xia Ji approached, she raised her palm and struck. Her strike was like a thunderbolt, swift and powerful, as it rocketed towards my sternum.

The Rooted Banyan Stance held. My body absorbed the impact, qi flaring at the point of contact, dispersing the force across my frame. My feet dug into the ground, a testament to the power of her blow and the efficacy of my stance. But I remained upright, unshaken.

Xia Ji's eyes widened in genuine surprise, but then narrowed into suspicion. "Impressive. You've already grasped rudimentary fundamentals of qi defense. Not to dissimilar to the Iron Palm Sect's defensive techniques. Tell me, how did you accomplish it?"

I let go of my defensive stance, feeling around my sternum but sensing no lasting damage. I hesitated for a moment, but decided to tell her as honestly as I could. If I couldn't be upfront with them, who could I trust? It wasn't like I was saying anything wrong.

"My mentor...He taught me the basics of martial arts back in the village. As I continued my training, and with the help of the Interface, I gained an understanding of how to use this technique. I likened it to how the banyan tree near my village never wavered, and incorporated it into the horse stance that I used for physical conditioning."

Her eyes widened incredulously, and she began to laugh. "So you're saying that this technique is of your own creation?"

I scratched my head embarrassedly. "I wouldn't say that...It had more to do with my mentor's teachings and the Heavenly Interface. How could I say that I made it?"

It was genuinely how I felt. The technique was borne of my training with Elder Ming and the Heavenly Interface. Without even one of them, I probably wouldn't have attained the knowledge on how to do the stance. It simply built upon what I already had, advancing it to the next stage.

As she circled around me, analyzing the stance, her demeanor turned thoughtful. "Regardless...Your Rooted Banyan Stance has merit, especially against straightforward, powerful attacks. But in your upcoming battle, you'll need more than just defense. Even if it's a singular blow, landing one against someone superior to you in both skill and physical ability isn't easy."

She paused, then continued, "The Bamboo Reprisal Counter I'm about to teach you will complement your Rooted Banyan Stance perfectly. When an opponent's attack is absorbed by your stance, you can redirect that energy, countering with the flexibility and snap of bamboo. At such a close distance, most third-class disciples wouldn't be able to "

I listened intently as she explained the principles of the Bamboo Reprisal Counter. It was about the harmony of yielding and striking, a delicate balance between accepting force and redirecting it. It shouldn't be too hard to learn, right?

"So with that in mind, let's get you started." She said with a smile.