Chapter Forty-Three: Flight Technique—Wings of Shadow

Lu Zhe and Old Master Ye had been cultivating deep in the mountains for more than twenty days. During this time, Lu Zhe had made some progress in mastering the Crushing Fist, though all he could manage was to snap a tree about the thickness of a grown man’s fist. Compared to Old Master Ye, who could shatter a tree so large it would take two men to encircle it with their arms, Lu Zhe’s efforts were worlds apart. He even ended up with a swollen fist for three days.

That day, after finishing his spiritual training, Old Master Ye told Lu Zhe they would head to the other side of the mountain. Lu Zhe had no objections; after all, cultivation was the same wherever one went.

Packing up was a simple affair—everything could be swept into his storage ring with a thought. Lu Zhe and Old Master Ye set off toward another part of the mountain.

As they walked, Lu Zhe, bored, struck up a conversation with Old Master Ye, though it was mostly Lu Zhe talking to himself. The old man scarcely answered, which left Lu Zhe feeling frustrated for quite some time.

As he spoke, Lu Zhe suddenly remembered something and said, “Master, do you remember the cave I told you about?”

Old Master Ye simply nodded.

Lu Zhe continued, “I found three strange scrolls there.”

Old Master Ye replied in his usual calm manner, “What kind of scrolls? What’s strange about them?”

Lu Zhe recalled, “Two of them couldn’t be opened, and the last one had a peculiar pattern on it.”

Old Master Ye walked on, asking, “And what was peculiar about it?”

Lu Zhe thought for a moment. “Um, it was suddenly symmetrical, like a pair of wings.”

Old Master Ye stopped and turned to look at Lu Zhe, causing him to freeze in place. Then the old man asked, “Where is the scroll?”

“It’s in the Violet Nether Divine Ring,” Lu Zhe answered, bewildered.

Hearing this, Old Master Ye took the ring from his waist and with a flick of his finger, sent it flying back to Lu Zhe. Lu Zhe caught it, baffled, and looked at Old Master Ye for an explanation.

Old Master Ye’s voice was indifferent as he said, “Hold the ring and think about what the scroll looks like.”

Lu Zhe repeated, “That scroll?”

“The one with the strange pattern,” Old Master Ye clarified.

Lu Zhe grasped the Violet Nether Divine Ring tightly and concentrated, recalling the appearance of that scroll from that day.

Suddenly, a faint purple light emanated from the ring in his hand. When the light faded, a black scroll appeared before him—the very scroll he had found in the mysterious cave, the one with the strange pattern.

Old Master Ye moved in a flash, grabbed the scroll floating before Lu Zhe, and said, “That’s enough.”

Lu Zhe opened his eyes and saw that Old Master Ye was holding the scroll he had just been thinking of.

Taking back the Violet Nether Divine Ring from Lu Zhe’s hand without a glance at his crestfallen face, Old Master Ye unrolled the scroll, studied it for a while, and then handed it to Lu Zhe. “You’ve stumbled upon a treasure,” he said coolly.

Lu Zhe took the scroll without understanding, opened it, and once again saw the enormous pattern that occupied half the scroll. To the right of the design were several lines of text. Last time, he hadn’t had a chance to read them; this time, he could take a good look.

He examined the lines written vertically beside the pattern. They read:

Flight Technique: Black Soaring Wings.

Lu Zhe read on, not quite grasping the meaning, and continued downward.

Black Soaring Wings, a flight technique. In my lifetime, I once researched with friends how to soar through the skies without becoming a Spirit King. After more than thirty years, I eventually succeeded, aided by a method recorded in an ancient book, in discovering how to use the power of a Beast King to achieve flight. In the end, my friend and I managed to capture a Tier-Two Beast King, the Three-Fathom Black Eagle, and using the ancient method, severed its wings and sealed them within this scroll.

Lu Zhe read these lines, understanding only the beginning—that it allowed one to fly without becoming a Spirit King. The rest was rather cryptic.

Old Master Ye seemed to notice his confusion and explained, “This is a rare flight technique. It allows a person to fly. For those who have cultivated for decades without breaking through to Spirit King, or for anyone who yearns to soar through the skies, it holds immense allure.”

He paused, then continued, “I have a similar scroll myself. I’d planned to give it to you, but since you already have one, there’s no need.”

After hearing the explanation, Lu Zhe thought for a moment, then looked up at Old Master Ye, his eyes shining. “Master, if I cultivate this scroll, does that mean I’ll be able to fly?”

Old Master Ye nodded, but then added, “This isn’t true spiritual wings. In terms of flight altitude, speed, and duration, it can’t compare to spirit-forged wings. And since this isn’t produced by your own body but rather borrows the power of a flying Beast King, the consumption of spiritual energy is enormous. With your current abilities, you’d be lucky to last ten or so minutes in the air.”

Lu Zhe was a bit disappointed.

Old Master Ye glanced at him and said, “This technique is rare for a reason—the advantages outweigh the drawbacks. It may not rival true spirit wings, but it allows flight. In a dire situation, it might just save your life. So yes, you’ve found a treasure.”

These words rekindled Lu Zhe’s hope. He looked at Old Master Ye and, excited, asked, “Master, aside from the introduction on the scroll, there’s nothing else written here. How am I supposed to cultivate it?”

Old Master Ye sat on a rock by the roadside and said coolly, “The cultivation method for this technique is different from others.”

He gestured for Lu Zhe to sit.

Once Lu Zhe was seated, Old Master Ye spread the scroll before him and pointed to the pattern that took up half the scroll. “Do you know what this pattern is for?”

Lu Zhe shook his head, then, as if recalling something, ventured, “Could it be the wings of the Tier-Two Beast King, the Three-Fathom Black Eagle?”

Old Master Ye nodded. “Point to it with your finger.”

At his master’s words, Lu Zhe extended his right index finger and pointed at the pattern. He then heard Old Master Ye say, “Close your eyes and focus your mind, channeling your spirit from your finger into the pattern.”

Lu Zhe closed his eyes, focused his mind, and guided his consciousness through his finger into the design.

As his mind delved deeper, a sudden headache struck him, and he seemed to hear the shrill cry of an eagle, piercing and furious.

Old Master Ye watched Lu Zhe’s pained expression and murmured, “I didn’t expect the soul of the Three-Fathom Black Eagle to be so strong, still lingering in the scroll with such force. Boy, if you can withstand this, you’ll have gained greatly.”

Just as Lu Zhe was about to collapse under the strain, Old Master Ye’s voice rang in his ears:

“Zhe’er, control your mind. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Suppress it, don’t be defeated.”

With this guidance, Lu Zhe strengthened his focus, and the mysterious cry seemed to sense this and grew more resistant.

A silent struggle ensued between man and eagle’s soul. Just as Lu Zhe was about to yield, the strange shriek rose one last time, then its resistance began to wane.

Seizing the opportunity, Lu Zhe poured all his will into the winged pattern, erasing the last vestiges of the Three-Fathom Black Eagle’s soul.

Old Master Ye watched quietly as the pattern on the scroll began to fade. A wisp of black energy climbed up Lu Zhe’s arm, slowly gathering at his shoulders.

With a muffled crack, Lu Zhe’s shirt at the shoulders split apart, and a pair of black wings, each nearly three fathoms wide, unfurled from his back.

Old Master Ye nodded approvingly as the wings manifested, then vanished without a trace. He walked over and found that the pattern from the scroll had now appeared as a tattoo on Lu Zhe’s shoulders.

With a light slap on Lu Zhe’s shoulder, Old Master Ye said, “Well done, boy, you’ve succeeded.”

Lu Zhe opened his eyes and, his voice weak, murmured, “That’s wonderful.”

(I apologize, everyone. I was delayed updating today because I was working on the cover. I’m sorry for the wait, but if you enjoy my work, please add it to your favorites and recommend it. I’d be most grateful.)