Chapter 72: Even Elders Err
Unlike the others, Paike didn't start to meditate as he sat on the edge of the group. He hadn't been explicitly told, even though it was heavily implied. But he was going to take that leeway and use it while he could.
It wasn't hard for him to believe that he would gain more from watching the echoes of qi from the clashes of middle realm cultivators honestly fighting.
He might be able to get some from his family to show him their techniques. If they had time and thought he deserved it. However, that would be very different.
It was unlikely that they would show him any technique that was too powerful or that they wanted to keep hidden. They also would be unwilling to waste a lot of qi, so they would use the lowest power possible. He would also be seeing them close up instead of at a distance.
That wasn't to say he wouldn't ask for that when he got the chance; that would still be invaluable, but in a different way. A much different way.
Because more than anything, there wouldn't be any of the desperate intent he would feel even in the echoes of qi that shone in his sight even through the thick wooden doors.
As he had learned over the past month, mindset and intent matter more than he had been taught. As he watched, he could read the difference in intent in the workings.
He was pretty sure he could see the raw ferocity in some of them that was coming from the weakened Elder Ji. They were less frequent, which followed as his focus was on physical cultivation, so more of his qi would be dedicated to that.
The rest came from Elder Chu, and there was something lacking. Not that she was less skilled, but rather her attempt to delay and capture rather than kill was coming through.