“Elder Horse, do you still wish to compete?” Ye Qiu stood a hundred li away, his voice rolling like thunder.
Elder Horse could never have imagined that Ye Qiu’s speed would be so astonishing. After the initial shock, a trace of unwillingness lingered in his heart.
“Young Master Ye, this elder was careless just now. Let us compete once more.”
Ye Qiu took one step and appeared beside Elder Horse. He made an inviting gesture and said, “After you.”
Elder Horse replied, “Young Master Ye, this time you must be careful. I will not hold back.”
What does that mean?
You were holding back earlier?
It certainly did not seem so!
Ye Qiu said, “As you wish.”
“Begin.” As Elder Horse’s words fell, divine light swirled beneath his feet. With one step, he appeared a hundred li away.
This time, he had quietly raised his cultivation to the Nascent Soul realm. Precisely because of this, his speed was ten times faster than before.
“Hmph, I refuse to believe you can still catch up to me.”
Elder Horse glanced back, and his expression changed dramatically, for Ye Qiu had somehow silently followed right behind him.
“Good heavens, how is it still so fast?”
Elder Horse gritted his teeth fiercely and surged forward again. Yet no matter how fast he went, Ye Qiu remained like his shadow, inseparable.
The two chased each other through the air in a full circle. In the end, Ye Qiu streaked past overhead and stood in front.
“Elder Horse, do you still wish to compete?”
“No more.” Elder Horse cupped his hands in salute to Ye Qiu and said, “Young Master Ye’s divine speed leaves me far behind in shame.”
Ye Qiu replied, “In truth, Elder Horse’s speed is also very swift. If you did not suppress your cultivation, I would be no match for you at all.”
Hearing this, Elder Horse felt overwhelming shame, for in the second competition, he had used Nascent Soul cultivation.
“Young Master Ye need not be modest. Your speed is extraordinary. If you reach the Communion realm, your speed might even allow you to contend with a Saint.” Elder Horse changed the subject and asked, “Young Master Ye, may I know the name of this divine ability of yours?”
“One Step to Heaven!” Ye Qiu answered.
Elder Horse lowered his head in thought. Although he had never heard of One Step to Heaven before, just from the name alone, he knew this divine ability was immensely powerful.
“Ye…”
Elder Horse raised his head, about to speak, only to see that Ye Qiu had already begun chatting with the little white fox.
“Which elder shall teach me the next unique skill?” Ye Qiu asked.
“Why not choose one yourself?” the little white fox said. “Among the remaining elders, Elder Dog excels in tracking.”
“Elder Snake excels in swordsmanship.”
“Elder Sheep excels in mind-reading.”
“Elder Rabbit possesses divine eyes of perspective vision.”
“Elder Tiger has a Tiger Roar technique.”
“Elder Bear excels in defence.”
“Of these, Elder Sheep’s mind-reading and Elder Rabbit’s perspective vision are innate and cannot be taught.”
“As for the others, consider for yourself which elder you wish to learn from.”
(Note: There is no Elder Rat among the ten great elders. Previous mentions were errors and have all been corrected. Thank you for your understanding.)
Ye Qiu fell into thought.
“Elder Dog excels in tracking, but I have tracking talismans, so there is no need to learn his unique skill.”
“I am quite interested in Elder Sheep’s mind-reading. If I mastered it, I could eavesdrop on others’ inner thoughts. Unfortunately, this ability is innate to Elder Sheep, and I cannot learn it.”
“Elder Rabbit’s perspective vision is also innate and cannot be taught. Besides, my heavenly eye is no inferior to perspective vision.”
“As for Elder Bear’s defence, not to mention my physique can already withstand attacks from Communion realm experts, I also have the Qiankun Cauldron for protection. What divine ability could be more formidable than the Qiankun Cauldron?”
“As for Elder Tiger’s Tiger Roar and Elder Snake’s swordsmanship, those could be worth learning.”
Seeing Ye Qiu silent for a long while, the little white fox smiled. “Shall I recommend one for you?”
Ye Qiu had actually already decided, but he still wanted to hear her thoughts. “Which elder do you intend to recommend?”
The little white fox said, “Apart from the unique skills of Elder Sheep and Elder Rabbit being unteachable, you also need not learn those of Elder Dog and Elder Bear.”
“Only Elder Tiger and Elder Snake remain. You may learn their unique skills.”
Upon hearing this, the elders all turned to look at the little white fox in unison.
Especially Elder Bear and Elder Dog, their eyes showing puzzlement, for they clearly understood that the purpose of Her Majesty’s command for them to teach Ye Qiu was to keep him in the demon race longer. Yet now, why say he need not learn theirs?
Had Her Majesty changed her mind?
“Your Majesty…” Elder Bear began, only to see the little white fox wave her hand. He promptly closed his mouth.
The little white fox asked Ye Qiu, “Changsheng, are you satisfied with my recommendation?”
“Satisfied.” Ye Qiu had thought the same. He smiled. “Truly great minds think alike… no, our hearts are linked as one.”
The little white fox’s cheeks flushed slightly. She huffed, “You only know how to say sweet words.”
Ye Qiu chuckled and bowed to Elder Snake. “Elder Snake, I request that you teach me swordsmanship.”
“Very well,” Elder Snake said. “Young Master Ye, prepare yourself mentally. My swordsmanship is not easy to learn.”
“Oh?” Ye Qiu grew curious.
Elder Snake explained, “My swordsmanship is the Space-Time Sword Dao.”
Ye Qiu’s heart jolted. At the mention of Space-Time Sword Dao, he could not help thinking of the Nine Heavenly Emperor Swords.
The Nine Heavenly Emperor Swords were precisely Space-Time Sword Dao. He had spent so long yet only mastered the first sword.
Ye Qiu felt a surge of excitement. “I request Elder Snake to teach me this unique skill. I will study diligently and strive to master it soon.”
“Very well,” Elder Snake said. “Young Master Ye, my Space-Time Sword Dao is called 《Golden Snake Swordsmanship》. It comprises thirty-six forms. I shall first impart the sword manual to you.”
With that, Elder Snake pointed a finger at Ye Qiu’s brow. In an instant, a swordsmanship cultivation method appeared in Ye Qiu’s mind.
Ye Qiu quickly scanned through it, and the excitement in his heart vanished completely.
For compared to the Nine Heavenly Emperor Swords, 《Golden Snake Swordsmanship》 was mere dross. Even cultivated to the extreme, it could only cause space-time to pass for a hundred years.
Elder Snake did not notice the change in Ye Qiu’s expression. “Young Master Ye, I have mastered eighteen forms of 《Golden Snake Swordsmanship》. Now I shall demonstrate for you.”
“No…” Ye Qiu had not finished speaking when Elder Snake already drew his sword.
Clang!
The sword hummed.
Elder Snake held his long sword and performed the eighteen forms around an ancient tree. In an instant, a force of space-time enveloped the tree. The once lush and verdant ancient tree immediately shed yellow leaves, its trunk growing noticeably thicker.
Elder Snake sheathed his sword and said with some pride, “The eighteen forms of Golden Snake Swordsmanship have aged this ancient tree by fifty years.”
As his words fell, Elder Sheep smiled. “Old Snake’s swordsmanship has advanced considerably.”
Elder Monkey said, “Space-Time Sword Dao is truly extraordinary.”
Elder Bear nodded in comment. “Any divine ability related to space-time is far from simple.”
“…”
“Young Master Ye, why not try practising it?” Elder Snake suggested.
Ye Qiu nodded. “Elder Snake, lend me your sword.”
Elder Snake tossed the long sword to Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu caught it, his gaze sweeping the surroundings. He walked to a small tree about as thick as a water cup and swung the sword with a flourish.
