Bab 57: Flame Bursting Step

"But first, how do I go about making one?" This was the first question that popped up in Shi Li's mind. In the novels he read, they made it look easy as they gained an understanding of a certain thing, or perhaps they combined the good aspects of multiple techniques into one, forming a superior technique.

As for Shi Li, he hasn't learned any movement technique, so he could not do the latter where he could combine multiple techniques into one. Hence, he had no choice but to use the first option, understanding a certain thing.

"Who should I ask about this?" While still pondering on how to start creating a technique, Shi Li knew that it was good to get advice from others who already had experience in creating a technique.

Thinking for a bit, he didn't hesitate to head towards the first person he became friends with in the tournament, Shi Shisi.

Whoosh!

Speeding his pace up a bit more as the [Energy Condensation Art] was in full effect, it took Shi Li a few minutes to catch up to Shi Shisi who was moving at an extremely fast pace.

"Haah...haah...Shi Shisi...wait up!" Although the [Energy Condensation Art] did conserve stamina and regenerated it faster, it still took a good chunk of Shi Li's stamina to catch up to Shi Shisi.

"Oh?" Hearing someone call for him, Shi Shisi turned around and noticed Shi Li, who was gasping for air as he continued to run. "Oh hey Shi Li. You seem to be gasping for air right now. Did you catch up to me because you're going to give up soon?"

"Haah...haah... that's not...haah...it," Shi Li replied as he asked Shi Shisi to slow down for a bit, to which Shi Shisi complied.

Finally being able to relax, Shi Li took a few deep breaths before looking at Shi Shisi and asking, "You have a movement technique right?"

Being hit with a question that was too abrupt, Shi Shisi was stunned for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I do. Why?"

"According to Shi Chunxi, all of you created your own movement techniques. Is that correct?"

Not knowing where the conversation was heading, Shi Shisi still nodded as he replied, "Yeah. The movement technique I crafted is called the [Spatial Compression Art], although it's not really compressing space."

Seeing that Shi Chunxi's words were correct, Shi Li's eyes lit up and continued to ask. "How do you go about making a movement technique?"

"Hm?" This time, Shi Shisi understood what Shi Li was getting at. "I see. So you don't have any movement techniques yet?"

Shi Li shook his head. "No, I don't. That's why I'm asking right?"

"Well true," Shi Shisi replied. "Anyways, there's two ways of creating a movement technique...well any technique in general. One is to transform a technique you already know into another type of technique that could possibly synergize with your base technique, or rely on a spark of inspiration and observe your surroundings."

"So what did you use then?" Shi Li asked.

"The latter. This [Spatial Compression Art] was formed after staring at the ebb and flow of the nearby river while a spark of inspiration flashed in my mind. It's also the only way I know how to create a technique," Shi Shisi replied.

"As for the creating a technique through transforming a technique you already know, it's better if you ask Shi Daoliang on that."

Feeling that the method of creation that Shi Shisi used didn't fit him, Shi Li lightly nodded and said a few words of gratitude before speeding off once more to head towards Shi Daoliang.

"I wonder what kind of movement technique he's going to make..." Pondering as to what Shi Li was going to create, Shi Shisi put that at the back of his head as he gradually sped up to his previous speed.

...

Shi Li has completed 26 laps already before he could catch up to Shi Daoliang, who was the third strongest in terms of strength out of all the clan members that were at the Martial Novice stage.

"Hey! Shi Daoliang! Wait up!" Shi Li couldn't help but shout out as he noticed that there was only a few decimeters of space separating the two of them.

"Hm?" Hearing someone call for him, Shi Daoliang unconsciously reduced his speed as the person who called for him gradually caught up at him and looked at him face-to-face.

"Ah. It's Young Master Shi Li. What's wrong?"

"Shi Daoliang. I heard from Shi Shisi that you created a movement technique by transforming a technique you already know, is that correct?" At the instant, Shi Li caught up with him, he threw a question at him.

"Yes." Shi Daoliang nodded as he wasn't shocked. He slightly overheard the conversation that happened between Shi Shisi and Shi Li before, so he was somewhat prepared for Shi Li to ask him these questions.

"The technique I used to create my movement technique was the same technique I used in the first test, the [One Fleeting Slash]. From this, I have copied the movements of my blade by using my feet instead and created the [Fleeting Blade Step] technique."

Being quick in comprehending, Shi Li read between the lines of what Shi Daoliang said and replied, "So what you're saying is...use the technique in a way that allows you to do what you want to do?"

Shi Daoliang's eyes slightly lit up as he nodded. "Yes, that is exactly it."

Shi Li felt a bit enlightened as the shroud that covered the creation of his own techniques was slightly removed. Thanking Shi Daoliang afterwards, Shi Li let Shi Daoliang speed up as he maintained his current pace.

"Alright. Now that I have an idea on how to craft a movement technique. I should now apply it to what I'm going to do," Shi Li muttered to himself.

"What technique am I going to use as a basis for my movement technique?" Shi Li tried to recall the techniques he picked up and only remembered two, [Three Element Sword Technique] and [All-encompassing Sword]. Ah, there was the [Five Roaring Smash Technique] as well but he hasn't learned it yet.

"[Three Element Sword Technique] or [All-encompassing Sword]..." Shi Li pondered for a bit as to what technique he was going to use. Not long after, he had his mind set straight.

"I guess I'm going to use the [Three Element Sword Technique], specifically [Flame Slash] as that's the only technique I learned from the manual. [All-encompassing Sword] is a defensive technique and I don't need to deflect attacks with my legs."

With him finally deciding on the technique he was going to use a basis, Shi Li then tried to think up of a name for the movement technique.

"Of course, the name must go first before I try and create it. If I create it before making a name, only to end up with a crappy name, I would be laugh at for sure."

What Shi Li didn't know was that, in the world of cultivation, whatever the name of the technique was, if the technique had enough power, it wouldn't be laughed at at all.

"Hmm... I'm going to be using the [Flame Slash] as the basis of my movement technique...and the way to execute the slash is to imagine a flame exploding at the tip of the sword so..."

"I'll call it the [Flame Bursting Step]!"