Book 15: Chapter 6

No Constant State

Bai Ju gave his Enlightenment blue energy the form of a spider and octopus, except each leg could morph into tough as steel or flexible as strings of water similarly to how he wielded his whip.

Shen Yiren indulged Bai Ju in a few exchanges before being forced to back off. Her limit was taking on one leg at a time. She had witnessed the special abilities that Enlightenment granted before, but she had never seen anyone manipulate their Enlightenment so proficiently that they could use it as limbs.

Bai Ju wasnt able to use his Enlightenment as his whip because he learnt some unique or sophisticated discipline; he simply refined and improved every technique in actual combat. There was no way he was only at He Kanyus level. While both of them were blessed with similar talent for martial arts, the gap was a product of training methodology. He Kanyu took the conventional route of progress, while Bai Ju, being someone who valued real combat most, pressure tested himself to grow. When he advanced into Quasi-Divine and grasped Enlightenment, instead of treating it as a martial arts realm, he treated it as a supplementary tool. Since then, he tirelessly experimented with imbuing his techniques and reactions into his Enlightenment in actual combat.

Upon glancing at the eight tentacles again, Shen Yiren saw the remaining tentacles targeting Yi Ya. Based on the nature of Bai Jus ability, it was clearly most apt for team fights. Even alone, he had the ability to take on a hundred men. It was apparent, then, that, regardless of where he built it up, he had far more experience than one couldve imagined. When he said he wasnt holding back anymore, he didnt mean it in the sense that he was going to kill them. If that was the goal, then he couldve just overwhelmed Shen Yiren with eight tentacles and killed her instantly.

You think youre just going to be able to keep your distance, kid?! Bai Ju ignored Shen Yiren to single out Yi Ya, which didnt make sense when he no longer had a reason to avoid fighting them both at the same time.

Yi Ya, once again, retreated away from Bai Jus attack without telegraphing, but he wasnt able to create as much distance as prior.

Shen Yiren discerned that, given Bai Jus power and weapon, he could still hurt his opponent with dozens of metres between them. If Yi Ya went any further, with Bai Ju at the centre, Yi Ya wouldve had to travel a hundred metres to reach Shen Yiren. Accordingly, hed have to be twice as fast as Bai Ju if he were to a.s.sist her. They couldnt just join up because neither of them could predict what sort of a.s.sault theyd be subjected to once they were close to Bai Ju. Fighting a Divine Realm adept required careful deliberation each step to avoid the predicament they were in.

Yi Ya propelled himself towards Shen Yiren. Alas, without Bai Ju even having to lift a finger, his blue eight tentacles intercepted Yi Ya. Yi Ya managed to slip past the first three, but the fourth and fifth trapped him. Bai Ju subsequently had the remaining tentacles attack Yi Ya, too.

Bai Ju got the inspiration to name his Enlightenment Celestial Spiders Eight Bandits from a big hot shot. No matter how skilled and crafty you were, there was no way youd be able to take on eight Bai Jus simultaneously. Despite how impressive it was, he was still unable to subdue Yi Ya.

Had Bai Ju not recognising Yi Yas techniques, he wouldve had to a.s.sume Yi Ya had ten legs.

The man who trained Yi Ya at the frigid northern border once said, There is no such thing as an enemy that can be predicted and no enemy who never changes. Remember that. Even though he was only told that once, Yi Ya never dared to forget it because the consequence was far worse than mere death. His thousands of brothers buried beneath the frozen earth was a reminder. Yi Ya never wasted time, including when it came to training. The No Constant State discipline was a symbol of it. Its essence was to change as ones opponent changed. As a defensive method, people who mastered it were virtually untouchable.

Yi Ya didnt lie when he said he didnt learn any new skill. It wasnt that he wasnt capable of learning a new one; he simply saw it as a waste of time. He created No Constant State in his younger years, but he never had the opportunity to use it.

Although Bai Ju could see exploitable flaws in Yi Yas techniques, it was impossible to spot any openings while attacking because thatd the same as finding his own openings. In terms of technique alone, Yi Ya had outcla.s.sed Bai Ju.

This kids style is going to make him the next w.a.n.g Muren.

Upon feeling a sting on his cheek, Bai Ju was forced to summon over two tentacles to defend him from Shen Yirens sword attack that he couldnt determine the target of. Yi Ya immediately jumped on the brief lull in pace, back tucking out of the tentacles range.

These two runts are so annoying! Why cant you just quiet?! Id spank the both of you if it werent for Master!

Being ferocious is one thing, but you lack brute strength.

Bai Ju finally used his whip, summoning a tornado more dangerous than the eight tentacles.

They call me Disaster in the Western Regions because Im considered one of the four worst natural disasters. If I let you kids still wet behind the ears stop me, Ill never live down the shame! Im laying you both out!