Unsurprisingly, the word missing appeared behind Xiao Yus full name, bolded out in bright red color.
Xia Feis heart sank as he hesitated for a moment before clicking on her name. Almost instantly, the information regarding Xiao Yu was displayed right before his eyes.
Name: Su Ruoyu
Gender: Female
Age: 11
Place of birth: Pan Human Alliance, Endaro Star Region, Earth Federation.
Special Ability: Amethyst Guard
Rank: Primary Star Base
Status: Missing
There was even a picture of Xiao Yu on that information page. In the picture, the girl was riding on a giraffes back, very excitedly waving the straw hat in her hand.
Xia Fei lit another cigarette as he stared at this little girls picture for a long time. The cigarette burnt till the end and was almost about to burn his fingers, yet he never took a puff.
This photograph is pretty nice. Store it in your AI computer, so you can look at it whenever you feel like it, Phantom whimpered. At the moment, the eyes of this sensitive assassin were filled with a shiny liquid.
Xia Fei shook his head and changed the page on his AI computer to the Pairing Table for the assessments second round, softly saying, Theres no need to do that. I wont ever forget something that I do not wish to forget. Life goes on, no matter what, so its best if I study the opponent whom Ill be up against in the next round.
He had very quickly located his and Chen Dongs name on that Pairing Table, as Xia Fei clicked on Chen Dongs name for more information.
Advanced Star Domain rank Xia Fei slowly read out the words on the display screen.
He laughed in self-deprecation, Looks like I really have bad luck. Not only is Chen Dong a powerful Nature Special Ability User, but he had even cultivated to the Advanced Star Domain rank.
Xia Feis ability was speed. This was the second most common ability in the universe, while most people possessed the Strength Ability.
If all the various abilities across the universe were to be divided into top, middle and low grades, the Speed Ability would only rank around middle-grade at best.
Conversely, Chen Dongs Nature Special Ability, Freeze, had the qualifications to be considered top-grade. Xia Fei was already at a disadvantage in terms of his ability, let alone the fact that Chen Dongs cultivation was four whole ranks higher than his own!
Every rank meant the power of the user would be doubled, not to mention that this was not merely a one rank difference, but four!
The differences between the two were simply Heaven and Earth. Xia Fei wished he could beat Chen Dong, but that would simply be an impossible task!
Xia Fei could use his experience, judgment, and technique to make up for the difference of one rank, but just what could he use to make up for four ranks worth? His life?
Xia Fei quietly stood up and suited up his Windshade Mark IV combat suit. Securing his Chasing Light on his arm, Xia Fei stepped out of the door.
Where are you going? Phantom asked.
Xia Fei did not turn back as his footsteps continued marching, Im off to cultivate and train, of course. Its as the old saying goes, Even preparations made in the last minute would turn out helpful. Heh, I have no intention of losing too uglily when the time comes, after all.
Phantom followed closely behind Xia Fei, his head hung low with a solemn expression as if he were deep in thought.
Theres no way for you to win against a Freeze Ability User at the Advanced Star Domain rank. No matter how fast you are, the best you can do is escape, but theres no way for you to beat him in combat, Phantom worriedly commented.
Xia Fei smiled, I never did say Im going to beat him in combat. I merely dont want to lose too badly.
Turning at a corner, Xia Fei entered an elevator, This is an opportunity for me to spar with an expert. Ive checked the rules of this round, and candidates are allowed to admit defeat if they cant win. Ill just admit defeat if I really cant take it; Ill just end up lowering my head a little, so I wont need to sacrifice my life What are you being so gloomy for?
Phantom was still in deep thought, only slightly nodding to the prompt, not saying a word.
Before, I wanted to be strong because I was not satisfied being holed up in this small Earth. I wanted to head out to see the mysterious alien planets while still alive, find out just what the universe out there is like, see if these so-called experts have grown three heads and six arms.
After this incident, Ive suddenly realized that the world beyond is a lot more complex than I had imagined. Ill need to get stronger myself. Otherwise, whos to guarantee that what happened to Xiao Yu wont happen a second time or even a third time?
Xia Fei sounded very relaxed when he said this like he was just having a casual chat with an old friend, but Phantom could tell that Xia Fei had made a huge decision. The incident with Xiao Yu had encouraged him to speed up his own lifes path.
Leading an aimless life was a frightening existence, and only a person of talent would endure all sorts of pressure and keep going ahead when given a clear and defined goal in front of them.
Phantom gazed at Xia Fei with quite a bit of excitement before he knitted his eyebrows and shook his head, as if he were experiencing a bitter struggle between heaven and man.
The elevator stopped at the lowest level. Xia Fei walked out of the spaceship with a smile on his face as he stood on the yellow soil of Australia.
The first round of assessment had already finished, so many candidates were carrying their bags and preparing to leave. All of them had a heart full of excitement and hope on arrival, yet all they were left with now was just disappointment and a body in pain.
Xia Fei waved goodbye to a big and tall candidate, possessing a height that could easily qualify for a basketball player and a physique that could do weightlifting. This man was presently carrying a heavy backpack, wordless as he got ready to board a spaceship that would take him home.
His left arm was heavily bandaged, and tears ran down his cheeks. His torso was bent over like he was a huge shrimp, and the big and fat head of his was drooping, almost as if he were about to kneel over to the ground.
Look, this is what a loser looks like. I admit that I would have a very tough time beating that battle maniac Chen Dong, but I do not wish to leave so crest-fallen. Even if Im beaten, Ill make sure to return home with my back straight and head held high!
Xia Feis eyes glowed as he spoke, like he had fired a ray of light right at that burly mans back.
That man felt an intensity build behind him, but he was not in the mood to pay any attention to it. With a sigh, he trudged along and took the escalator up to get on the spaceship.
With that, Xia Fei somewhat embarrassingly used his hand to scratch the back of his head, laughing, I forgot, Im still staying in a hotel right now. How can that even be called a home?!
Then, Ill just raise my head and head back to the hotel! Xia Fei cracked a joke to Phantom.
Phantom was completely moved by Xia Feis seemingly calm yet absolutely stirring speech. He gritted his teeth and very gravely said, I believe theres a way to help you, perhaps. Though winning is still improbable, you would at least not lose too badly in the fight.
What method is this? Trickery? Ive already thought about that. Against an opponent who possesses true strength that far outstripped my own, deception is of no use, Xia Fei remarked.
Phantom shook his head as if he had already made some sort of decision, Do you know why the Crafty Thrust technique isnt called Assassination technique, and why theres that word crafty added to it? 1
Xia Fei shrugged, How would I know. Isnt it just because it sounds cool?
Phantom chuckled, Its because Crafty Thrust isnt just a thrust technique. Theres another approach to the technique that focuses on craftiness!
Xia Fei was slightly surprised, Do you mean to say that Ive actually only learned half of Crafty Thrust and that theres still another half to the technique that Ive not touched yet?
Phantom nodded with a measure of delight, Thats right! Youve only grasped Thrust, and not Crafty!
Xia Feis expression turned somber as the smile disappeared from his face. Why have I never heard you mention this? Then why did you impart me with just half of it?
The moment Xia Fei said this, he already understood the part of the reason behind it. I got it. Every time you speak of your master, you turn into a different person. I suppose this must be your masters rules, making it impossible for you to teach the true Crafty Thrust to me?
Phantom was a little helpless as he replied, Im greatly indebted to my master, so how could I break the rules that he had set in place.
Xia Fei was even more puzzled, Since you dont plan to impart Crafty Thrust to me, why are you telling me about it? Are you just deliberately teasing me? Man, youre really quite unbearable if youre doing such distasteful things.
I didnt say Im not teaching you, Phantom hastily corrected him, But you need to agree to a few conditions.
Xia Fei was elated, As long as I can learn the Crafty approach, Id agree to any of your conditions.
Phantom assumed a very serious pose and used his hands to rub his chin for a while before saying, If theres ever a day in the future where my master is in trouble, you will need to take my place and help him, not refusing this responsibility even if it means certain death.
Xia Fei nodded, gravely replying, That is only appropriate. Learning the extinct technique of your master, I could be considered an external disciple, and it only makes sense for a disciple to aid his or her master when they are in trouble.
Second. If my master dies one day, youll have to take my place to send him off, and youll have to guard his grave for three years.
Third.
Phantom gave a wordy recitation of 13 conditions, each one all relating to his master. It could be seen that even though Phantom had failed as an assassin, his respect toward his master and his own discipleship ran deep, and could be considered a sentimental and righteous assassin.
Xia Fei very readily agreed to everything Phantom had stated, and as for whether he was willing to do everything asked of him, that was something only Xia Fei and the heavens knew.
Any other requests? Xia Fei asked. Ill agree to everything if theres still more.
Phantom lowered his head and thought for a good long while, That should be it. If youre able to adhere to these 13 conditions, I wouldnt be considered betraying my master if I impart the full Crafty Thrust technique to you.
After all your talking, I still have no clue about the name of your master. What is it? Xia Fei asked.
That Wel Phantom was a little hesitant. Lets leave that to another day. Ill tell you when the time is right.
It was already late in the night before Xia Fei returned back to his bunk completely exhausted.
Phantoms Crafty approach had truly lived up to its name; it was something that would add a myriad of variations and adaptations to the act of assassination, making it that much more difficult for enemies to guard against and was absolutely unpredictable.
Unfortunately, Xia Fei had been unable to demonstrate the full potential of the approach with his current strength. Variations were not a simple matter. It required him to have powerful bodily mobility to work in tandem with the approach, given how there would be a greater strain on the body as the variations in the approach increased.
He made very slow progress with todays training, which was very likely due to the fact that Xia Feis body had yet to recover back to its peak state. After seven consecutive days of forgoing sleep, just getting several hours of sleep the night before was far from enough.
That was why Xia Fei was not in any rush to succeed but was sensibly taking the time for rest.
Without even taking off his suit, Xia Fei collapsed headfirst into his bed to get some sleep.
The instant his body touched the bed, Xia Fei instantly felt something underneath him and he panicked.
Reaching his hand out, Xia Fei felt several rings under him. Xia Fei had not just obtained two tokens during the first round of assessment, but he had also collected three other spatial rings and a spatial bracelet. Among this lot was also that emerald-stone ring that Xiao Yong had handed over. Xia Fei had yet to inspect its content.
Xia Fei took these items in hand as his eyes rested on the ring that he had not yet checked, Ive yet to find the time to examine the contents within this ring, could there be something good inside?
With that thought in mind, he placed the ring by his bedside table, Forget it. Ill wait until tomorrow before I take a look.
Footnotes:
A little wordplay that is lost in translation.
What Phantom is talking about is how assassination is formed with the chinese characters , while Crafty Thrust was named .
Basically, Assassination and Crafty Thrust share the same chinese character , which means pierce/thrust, and Phantom is trying to say theres more to the name than merely just what it appears.
