Chapter 170: Shed Snake Skin Style

Chapter 170: Shed Snake Skin Style

Back in his vertebra, Hui paused. In the distance, a few disciples flew off on their swords, racing away at top speed. He closed his eyes and focused his qi, listening in.

broke the barrier! Hes getting away!

Who is it in his arms? Jing Aimei?

Dont be stupid. Jing Aimei doesnt have purple hair!

Quickly, catch him before any of the elders have to move!

Hui snorted. So Bai Xue really did up and leave. Im not surprised. Shes always been a bit impetuous.

Shaking his head, he stepped into the vertebra. He sealed the entrance and settled into a meditation pose. Quietly, he reached out toward Zhubi. That sixth level technique can I sense it inside the snake he swallowed?

Zhubi yawned and looked up at him. He nudged Huis fingertip with his nose, then settled back to sleep.

Hui sighed. Nothing. Not even a hint of a magical technique. Its a good thing Zhubi is so cute. He pet Zhubi for a moment, then flicked his hand. The snake scale materialized in his hand. Pressing it to his forehead, he sent his mental energy inside and allowed himself to be immersed in the technique written on the scale.

A snake wriggled, shedding old, ragged skin. It hurried off, sliding away at top speed, new scales glittering in the sunlight.

He blinked. That thats all? Closing his eyes, he pressed the scale to his forehead again.

The same image. This time, however, Hui faintly sensed something behind the image. The sound of the wind in the background distilled into a droning voice. Hui furrowed his brows. I cant understand the voice, but if I keep listening, keep watching I feel like Ill understand!

Settling his breathing, he entered a meditative state, the snake scale pressed against his forehead. Over and over, he watched the image, letting the voice wash over him. The two beat into his mind, becoming almost a song.

Hui opened his eyes. He held out his hand and operated the technique, circulating his qi and repeating the voices chant in his head. The skin on his hand sloughed off, revealing a tough, burly hand. He furrowed his brows and repeated it again. Back to his normal hand, a second layer of skin on the floor.

Hui flexed his hand. He turned it over. Unlike my cruder skin shed technique, this doesnt hurt afterward. My skin isnt red or tender. Actually it feels better than before.

His eyes widened. The snake! It slithered off with fresh scales. Then can I use this technique to heal, too?

He drew Gu Tians sword and held out his hand. He hesitated, then clenched his teeth. Just a shallow cut. I have to know! If this is true, it can take my faking death to the next level! Sure, I have the technique of holding a pill in my mouth or suppressing it in my stomach, but itll be much more convenient if I can do it even when I dont have pills, or when Im in a situation where I cant take a pill.

Decisively, Hui slit his palm. Blood welled up. He closed his eyes and operated the skin shed technique. The pain faded away. Opening his eyes, he flexed his hand. A pristine palm greeted him, no hint of blood or cut on his hand at all. Crimson colored the hand-skin that fluttered to the floor.

I used more qi to recover from the injury than I had to just shed my skin, but thats a reasonable price to pay for regeneration of that level! I wonder how much it can handle? Can I regrow limbs?

Hui hesitated. Probably not at that level. But I think this technique can handle most flesh wounds. Ill have to test it out more thoroughly or, or, seek further enlightenment to understand! Yes, like Master would say, everything can be comprehended as long as one has a high enough comprehension! Theres no need to subject myself to more pain.

He sat back down and immersed himself in his studies again.

As he sat there, time passed. Day and night passed him by. Weeks, then months piled up. Hui swapped between meditating and drawing new talismans to replace the ones hed burned in the inheritance realm, including two with the technique from Zhu Diyu. The others he redrew at the fourth realm, though some couldnt be pushed any further. The fire talisman couldnt be empowered beyond the third realm, nor could the wood talisman. Whenever a block came up in his meditation on the snake shed technique, he meditated on improving those, instead, but made no significant breakthroughs during the time.

Hui shook his head. Elder Brother, I wouldnt dare impinge a senior cultivator such as yourself.

Gu Tian looked at him for a moment, then snorted. Youre an odd duck, arent you?

A quiet quack sounded from Huis dantian.

Eeh? Gu Tian asked, gaping.

Hui coughed. A bit of a cold, thats all.

We cultivators cant get colds. And that didnt sound like a cough Gu Tian said.

Of all people, Gu Tian cant know about the ducks! Hes one of the few cultivators here whos almost certainly seen me use the ducks in battle! Hui coughed again. Must have been a hiccup.

Er right, Gu Tian said, frowning.

Gu Tian, have you already been to the Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect? Hui asked, abruptly changing the subject.

Mmm, I have. Ah, although I say Im a disciple in name only, theres times when the Sect Master suddenly remembers me and drags me along places. Im not sure if hes trying to help or remind me of Gu Tian fell silent. He twisted his lips.

Of Hui prompted.

Oh, Ive already told you, havent I? I was once a righteous sects disciple, Gu Tian said, smiling.

If you dont mind me asking, senior which sect? Hui asked, tipping his head.

Gu Tian hesitated, then shook his head. Starbound Sect. Back then, I had the surname Lan

Oh? Huis eyebrows shot up. Lan? So was he a disciple of Lan Taijian? Ah! That odd conversation between Master and the Sect Master back during the inter-sect tournament, about a disciple whod gone wrong and sought the demonic path instead! Is thatcould that be Gu Tian? Or should I say, Lan Tian?

Hmm, but that conversation made it sound like the stray disciple was a disciple of Sect Master Lan directly. Was Gu Tian that heaven-defying back in the day before his injury, that he could be the disciple of not one but two separate Sect Masters?

But wait, injury. Is it really an injury, or is that simply a quiet way to refer to the fact that his soul is in the wrong body? And, wait, how did his soul end up in this body? Theres the Blood Mist Valley spell formation that can swap souls, but that requires a third party, as far as I could tell. Maybe a higher realm cultivator could do it to themselves, but no, that doesnt feel right. If Gu Tian was that heaven-defying, I feel like he wouldnt be stuck at the second realm after all these years.

And come to think of it, Li Xiang isnt Lan Xiang. Lan Taijians disciples dont take his surname, and Lan Taijian is Sect Master Lans blood-related son, so its not as if Sect Master Lan necessarily hands out his surname, either, unlike a certain Master of mine. Was there another Master Lan on Starbound Sect? Its a common name, after all. Mmm Im still missing something.

Gu Tian waved his hand, dismissing Huis thoughts. It was a long time ago. Ive come to accept my fate. Its better to live on than to lie dead in some cave somewhere, after all.

Hui nodded firmly. Indeed. Better to live than die, thats the principle I live by.

Gu Tian paused at that, then chuckled. You are an odd duck.

Hui coughed just as a second quack emanated from his dantian. Gu Tian frowned at him.

Ah, a cold, a cold, Hui excused himself, rubbing his abdomen. Hey! Quiet down in there!