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How much longer will it take to reach New Moon Town, Elder Brother? Liu Jin asks Xiao Nan.
It is already the second day of their journey. The afternoon sun still shines brightly in the sky. Eastern Port City is nowhere to be seen. They left it behind a long ti ago. There is nothing but gently rolling hills as far as the eye can see. The road ahead of them stretches for miles with no end in sight.
I believe it would take a full day to get there on my own, Xiao Nan replies, stroking his chin. Since Little Brother is with , it will probably take five days provided we keep this pace.
Liu Jin knows Xiao Nan well enough to know there is no ill-intent in his words. The difference in ability between them is just that big. There is little point in pretending otherwise. It would not surprise Liu Jin if Xiao Nan could reach New Moon Town in only a few hours and is just being modest.
If we sped up, we could probably halve that ti, Liu Jin notes. Though nowhere near as good as Xiao Nan, Liu Jin is still a cultivator. Even if the Inner Realm is the second-lowest of all cultivation realms, maintaining a decent running pace for half a day is not beyond Liu Jin.
Right now, Liu Jin does not want to be an obstacle for Xiao Nan. It is already enough that Xiao Nan is taking him along on this journey. Liu Jin does not want Xiao Nan to be late because of him as well.
If we did that, we would not be able to appreciate the sights, Little Brother, Xiao Nan says. The teen smiles as he gestures at the grassy plains around them. You need to take the ti to appreciate the little things. If I cared about getting to New Moon Town as fast as possible, I would have carried you there over my shoulder already.
Liu Jin pictures it for one horror-filled mont. Its too embarrassing. That Xiao Nan is not only completely capable of it but also wouldnt even bat an eyelid when doing so only makes it scarier. Liu Jin wisely shuts his mouth.
Although, Xiao Nan suddenly says, if Little Brother knew Ground Contraction, we could easily reach New Moon Town in just three days.
Ground Contraction? Liu Jin echoes, cocking his head to one side. It takes him a mont to recognize the term. That is the Xiao Sects signature movent technique, is it not? That technique is only taught to Inner Disciples and above, not Outer Disciples like myself, Elder Brother.
Xiao Nan sighs.
Little Brother should not pay so much attention to those restrictions. Stealing techniques is a perfectly fine thing to do as long as you believe you can get away with it, Xiao Nan explains. He raises a finger as if to underscore his point. Although Ground Contraction is only taught to those who are Inner Disciples or higher, the technique is not particularly hard. In fact, it is ranked first among the most stolen techniques within the Xiao Sect.
Liu Jin blinks. There is a ranking?
Of course, there is, Little Brother. I made it myself. Xiao Nan says, clearly pleased with himself. Void Fist is the hardest to steal while Ground Contraction is the easiest.
Occasionally, Liu Jin sees Inner Disciples of the Xiao Sect sparring. Outer Disciples would usually flock around those spars. Ground Contraction is a fairly common sight in those spars. Void Fist, however, is not. Void Fist is a technique Liu Jin has only heard about in whispers. Supposedly, it is taught only to the Xiao Sects Core Disciples.
Ground Contraction is a fairly simple movent technique when you get down to it, Xiao Nan says, shrugging. As soon as he says it, Xiao Nan disappears only to reappear 3 ters away from Liu Jin.
See, Xiao Nan says as he reappears at Liu Jins side just as easily. It is nothing special. The Yun Sect has sothing very similar to it although the na is different. Most major Sects and Clans in the Empire have at least one movent technique. Those who dont will steal one soon enough and claim they ca up with it.
Xiao Nan demonstrates Ground Contraction again.
I bet Little Brother could pick it up easily enough. You would rely need to pay attention to the flow of my Qi as I do it.
And again.
I am sure Little Brother would only need to see it a couple of tis to understand it.
And again.
After that, it is only a matter of practice.
Elder Brother, Liu Jin says, his tone serious. I am content to follow the rules of the Xiao Sect. Do not feel obligated to circumvent them for my benefit.
Xiao Nan clicks his tongue. Little Brother is far too serious and honest. If you lightened up a little and made so friends, soone would have already taught you the technique. Really, you and Xiao Fang are the sa that way. He also needs to learn how to make friends.
There is not much Liu Jin can say to that since the words are coming from his one and only friend. Putting the words aid at aside, Xiao Fang is always surrounded by people.
Of course, he is. Xiao Nan nods. Xiao Fang is the heir to the Xiao Sect, Little Brother. It is only natural for him to be surrounded by people at all tis. However, those people follow Xiao Nan due to his position. That is the only thing they have acknowledged about him. If we are speaking about people who have acknowledged Xiao Fang as a person, then Xiao Fang has no one like that.
Xiao Nans words give Liu Jin pause. As long as Liu Jin can rember, Xiao Fang has been soone in an enviable position. Power. Wealth. Respect. Xiao Fang always had all those things. While Liu Jin stood alone, Xiao Fang always had soone behind him.
However, when Xiao Nan puts it like that, Liu Jin cannot help but find it a little pitiable.
Dont get wrong, Little Brother, Xiao Nan adds. There is nothing wrong with having people who are loyal to your position instead of your person. In fact, people loyal to your position can be more useful than people loyal to your person depending on the circumstances. However, to succeed, a man must have both. Until Xiao Fang understands that and makes an effort, the Xiao Sect wont be able to compete with the major Sects in the Empire.
It is the second ti Xiao Nan brings up Sects outside Eastern Port City. Perhaps, it is because leaving the city has encouraged Xiao Nan to look at things from a broader perspective. Nevertheless, the words jog sothing in Liu Jins mind.
Thats right, Liu Jin says, rembering. Elder Brother, you went to a tournant outside the city, right?
It is one of the reasons why Liu Jin has not seen Xiao Nan for the past couple of months. Xiao Nan has not been in Eastern Port City. The Xiao Sect sent him to a tournant in the capital. Liu Jin managed to overhear enough excited whispers around the city to know that.
A tournant outside the city? Xiao Nan laughs. Little Brother sure knows how to put things mildly.
Was it that important?
Extrely so. Xiao Nan nods. His face grows uncharacteristically serious. Every four years, the Emperor holds a grand tournant at the capital. Only those under 21 are allowed to compete. It is by far the grandest tournant in the Empire. Every major power sends their best to compete. Our tiny Eastern Port City Tournant cannot dream of comparing.
The grandest? Liu Jin asks. He does not doubt Xiao Nan. A tournant of the greatest youths in their generation is sothing Liu Jin can scarcely imagine, yet he cannot help but find it odd. Would not a tournant with older participants be a grander spectacle?
Xiao Nan is strong. Liu Jin knows this well. However, between Xiao Nan and Xiao Zheng, there is not a single doubt about who is stronger. It is the way of things. Older cultivators have had more ti to beco strong. Xiao Nan may be the strongest of his generation in Eastern Port City, but there are so who are stronger than him among the adults.
Such a thing would indeed be a far grander spectacle, Little Brother, so grand I cannot even begin to imagine it. However, there is no such tournant, Xiao Nan says, drawing a surprised look from Liu Jin. Think about it, Little Brother. If soone like Uncle were to fight soone close to his level in the city, then the city would disappear within 5 moves even if Uncle was exceedingly careful. As strong as Uncle is, hes not the strongest in the Empire. Uncle would not like saying this out loud, but he wouldnt even be within the top 10 or even the Top 50 of the Empire.
Liu Jin reflects on Xiao Nans words. He tries to think of the strongest person he knows and shivers as his mind brings up the image of Nine-Headed-God. No, even if soone with just a thousandth of his power were to fight, destroying sothing like a city would be all too easy. If one gathered thousands of people like that in one place and told them to fight, the Empire might very well end up destroyed.
Xiao Nan sees Liu Jin shiver and nods. Scary to think, isnt? That is why the Crimson Cloud Tournant only allows those under 21 to fight there. All major factions within the Empire send their best there. It is a relatively safe way to establish who is strong and who is weak. Naturally, I was chosen by the elders to represent the Xiao Sect.
Xiao Nan thinks about it, then lifts two fingers. Well, there were two others, but they were there to fill the space. They did not make it past the second round of the tournant. The disciples of the top Sects all have a very high level.
Xiao Nan pauses for a mont. Liu Jin uses the opportunity to ask a question. How did Elder Brother do?
Liu Jin does not ask whether Xiao Nan won or not. Had Xiao Nan won, the Xiao Sect would have wasted no ti letting everyone know it. The knowledge would have reached the ears of even the poorest of beggars in Eastern Port City. However, that had not happened which ans Xiao Nan had not won the tournant.
Xiao Nan is soone who has won every single Eastern Port City Tournant he has participated in. He is strong. There is no doubt about that in Liu Jins mind. However, what is the difference between soone who is strong in Eastern Port City and those who are strong in other parts of the Crimson Cloud Empire? Liu Jin now feels a burning curiosity regarding the subject.
Xiao Nan chuckles. Little Brother really doesnt hold back with the tough questions.
Liu Jin blushes and looks down. I am sorry. It is fine if Elder Brother doesnt an-
I placed within the Top 100, Xiao Nan cuts in. "That ans that, for now, the Xiao Sect is among the 100 strongest factions in the Empire.
Elder Brother, thats amazing!
In Eastern Port City, the Xiao and Yun Sects reign supre, but there are dozens of smaller factions within the city. How many more Sects and Clans are there in the Empire? Thousands? Tens of thousands? Even more?
How many people did Xiao Nan have to defeat to climb that high?
It is certainly a good result for the Xiao Sect but do not read too much into it, Little Brother. That I was able to get into the Top 100 says more about my luck than anything else. If I were to participate again, I am not certain I would be able to replicate the result. Thats just how tournants are.
Liu Jin blinks. But doesnt making it so far an Elder Brother is amazingly strong?
In a way, but there is more to tournants than just strength. Seeing Liu Jins confused expression, Xiao Nan decides to elaborate. Let explain. Strength is important in tournants. However, when there are people of similar or greater strength participating, luck is much more important. Under an unfavorable match-up, it is not an exaggeration to say I would have been knocked out in the first round.
You, Elder Brother? Liu Jin can scarcely believe it. Still, Xiao Nan nods.
Just imagine if, in the first round, you end up having to fight one of the strongest participants. Even if you were to win that fight, your performance in the next round would be severely hampered due to the effort. Even fighting those weaker than you can be a problem if they are still strong enough to put up a fight.
I see. Liu Jin nods as he digests the information. So under an unfavorable match-up, Elder Brother would not have reached the Top 100.
Indeed, under the most unfavorable outco, this Xiao Nan would not make it past the first round. With the right match-ups, I may barely make it to the Top 20. This ti, I managed to put the Xiao Sect among the Top 100. That is a good thing, but there is no guarantee the sa will happen next ti, not that I will have a chance to participate then.
Liu Jin hums in thought. Among the young disciples, none is as strong as Xiao Nan. Certainly, many would grow over the course of four years, but would that growth allow them to reach the level of the current Xiao Nan?
Liu Jin doubts it.
If that is the case, does that an the Sect rankings are always wildly changing with each tournant?
In so cases, yes. A few are rather stable, Xiao Nan replies. For example, the Top 4 Sects are always the sa. Certainly, which of the Top 4 spots they claim vary, but you can be certain those four Sects will always be there.
Always? Liu Jin echoes. In order for the Xiao Sect to be in the Top 100 every tournant, they would have to produce disciples on the level of Xiao Nan every four years. For these four Sects to always take the top four spots would an they can consistently produce disciples of a level even beyond that. The resources and talent required for such a feat must be imnse.
Always, Xiao Nan says. Eternal Fla Clan, Infinite Mountain Sect, Divine Frozen Palace, and Eternal Raging Valley. Those are the Top 4. Of those four, our Xiao Sect has managed to establish friendly relations with the Divine Frozen Palace. Perhaps Little Brother will get to et them one day.
Divine Frozen Palace, Liu Jin whispers, even as his mind makes sure to morize the nas of the four major powers in the Crimson Cloud Empire.
Although Liu Jin does not know it yet, his path will undoubtedly cross with theirs in the future.
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