Chapter 121: A Taoist's Forbidden Feast
I groaned as I slowly became aware of my surroundings, every muscle in my body protesting even the slightest movement. It felt like I’d been run over by a herd of stampeding spirit beasts.
Although admittedly that wasn't too far from the case.
The dull ache in my limbs was a stark reminder of the sparring session from the night before, where I had faced the brutal onslaught of my own companions.
Windy’s qi-infused tail strikes had been far more powerful than I anticipated. The sheer force behind each whip of his tail had nearly knocked the wind out of me, and I was pretty sure I’d have quite a few bruises had it not been for the Rooted Banyan Stance.
As I slowly stretched out my arm, I winced, feeling the soreness in my muscles. Tianyi had been no less formidable. Her lightning-fast bladed wings had forced me to stay on my toes, dodging and weaving as best as I could. The cuts on my robes—and the few shallow ones on my skin—were a testament to her precision.
As I lay there, staring up at the wooden ceiling, I couldn’t help but replay the events of the previous night in my mind. Lan Sheng had been right, of course. Just because someone had immense qi reserves didn’t mean they could wield them effectively in battle. Tianyi, despite having reached a rank comparable to a sect elder according to the Interface, wasn’t yet a seasoned fighter. She had the power, yes, but her lack of experience was evident. Her attacks were fast, her wings sharp enough to slice through wood, but there was a predictability to her movements that I could exploit—if I was fast enough, that is.
But even knowing that, I couldn’t ignore the reality of our sparring session. If we had been fighting for real, with the intent to kill, there was no doubt in my mind that Tianyi would have left me in a puddle of my own blood. She was strong, far stronger than me in terms of raw power, but it wasn’t an insurmountable strength. There was still a gap between us, but it wasn’t the kind of gap that left me feeling hopeless. Instead, it was a challenge—a challenge to close that distance, to grow stronger alongside her.
'Good morning,' The butterfly in question said. She fluttered over, perching atop my nose.
"Good morning to you too, Tianyi."