Chapter 29: Sensitive Arrival
---
The arena judge's voice echoed across the vast space. "Number 105, Zhang Shin", a bucky guy stepped forward. It appears the judges had been calling the constants into the arena in this manner. "Number 106, Wen Ming" a young cultivation stepped out of the crowd and into the arena.
The judge continued as his voice echoed across the vast space powered by spirit essence. "Number 107, Yin Zhe!"
Step… step… chatter… The sound of footsteps from other competitors faded as the judge's call continued. "Number 107, Yin Zhe!" The crowd's murmur started to rise, an odd mix of curiosity and impatience.
For some reason nobody was stepping forward. The judge repeated the call, his voice was a little sharper this time. "Number 107!. Is Yin Zhe present?"
Chatter… chatter… Conversations started to ripple through the stands. "Maybe he's just late," someone murmured, while shrugging. "Late you say?. Who's ever late for an event like this?. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance!" another protested.
The judge's patience grew thinned, and he repeated the name for the last time. Then, from somewhere near the back, a voice finally spoke up. "He's here."
"Hhhh… hpmh…" Yin Zhe walked forward, each of his steps looked like they were being measured yet oddly hesitant. His body moved in a strange way, he moved carefully, almost exaggerated care, brushing against the folds of his robe with a rhythm that was… intoxicating. His mind hummed with the pleasure of sensation, every nerve almost vibrating. "Gurgle… gurgle…" his mouth almost foamed from pleasure.
Inwardly, he noted, All of this… it's the Nine Breaths Circle Reactive Techniques. He had been cultivated with, all night, methodically and carefully. Unlike ordinary cultivators who simply swallowed pills and waited, he had inhaled the pill's essence slowly, letting it dissolve in his nostrils, regulating it with his breathing technique. "Sniff… sniff… sniff…"
By now, Yin Zhe was at the peak of Stage 6 of the Root Awakening Realm. Almost breaking into Stage 7. The closer he got to the next stage, the more meticulous and precise his cultivation had to be. He needed more spirit essence pills. Or a location with an abundance of spirit Essence. every bit of spirit Essence energy counted.
Before he left home. He glanced at the spirit essence pills left on his table. There were only two remaining. His core had expanded slightly, a faint glow radiating from it, storing more essence with each breath of the Nine Breath Circle Reactive Technique. "Huuu… whoosh… whezzz…"
In his hand rested the gift from the sword maniac himself. Elder Chen Niao. The 12th-grade sword, Roaring Cat, which he now calls Roaring Tiger. It gleamed under the sunlight that was filtering through the arena roof.
Screech… hiss… huh… He ran a fingertip along the blade, while dragging it lightly. The feeling of the sword combined with his sensitive cultivation from the Nine Breath Cycles reactive technique, made his entire body tingle in ways he hadn't expected. The technique. The feeling. It was very addictive, almost intoxicating. He felt a strong rush like nothing he had ever felt before. Even in his past life. His movements were subtle but undeniably odd to anyone who was observing.
People nearby would steal a few glances, whispering among themselves. Some suspected he had been performing some strange ritual. The kind of ritual y'all did in beds. Perverts. Some mocked him for his odd posture. Some were curious, even jealous.
Yin Zhe cleared his throat, raising his hand slightly. "Sorry for being late… I was… busy. huh… moan… hisss…" His voice was strange, but inwardly, he was riding the peak of his cultivation pleasure, every single one of his breath coordinated perfectly with his Nine Breaths Circle.
The system instantly began recording the crowd's reactions:
[Suspected RP +87]
[Mocked RP +76]
[Cursed RP +94]
"Hmph… hiss… hmmm…" Yin Zhe noted the points, with a small smile forming on his lips. Each Reactive Points gained felt like some kind of motivational fuel, like reinforcement that his strategy was working perfectly. "My Reactive Points Farming Has Begone"
His mind wandered briefly. "They think I'm weird… suspicious… and cursed… perfect. Every reaction makes me richer. Keep em coming. I just have to play it smart and farm every single one."
The arena seemed to pulse with energy. Whispers and murmurs bounced from the stands to the floors below. The judges' eyes scanned the participants, noting their names and ranks. The attendants raised their tokens, the arrays lighting up with soft crackles and faint sparks. Crackle… striik… crackle… crackle…
Yin Zhe felt his body shivered slightly, not from cold or fear, but from the subtle surge of power within him. Each sensation of the Nine Breaths Circle seemed amplified now by the sword's presence. "Uhh… hisss…" Even a light brush of the hilt against his palm sent shivers up his arm.
He adjusted his grip, holding the Roaring Tiger naturally, letting the tip scrape lightly against the floor as he walked forward. Thud… thud… Around him, competitors' eyes widened. Some felt envy. Others felt suspicion. A few whispered amongst each other about how weird that guy was acting, but no one dared approach him to ask about it.
"Hiss… hisss… humm…" He could feel the energy in the arena responding, almost like it was alive. "Hmmm The array?" The system's notifications kept on buzzing faintly in his mind with each crowd reaction, logging every point, every suspicion, mockery, curse that were directed at him.
Yin Zhe's lips curved slightly. "Perfect… just perfect. the higher the reaction, the stronger I become. I just need to endure, and play my part, and farm every Reactive Points greedily…"
The judge raised a hand, signaling him to step into the center of the arena. Ruffle… ruffle… buzz… Yin Zhe adjusted his stance, making sure the Roaring Cat was perfectly balanced. His body, still riding with the aftershocks of his sensitive cultivation, he moved with an awkward elegance that drew more stares.
Step… step… chatter… Each subtle of his motion, and delicate shuffle of the feet, plus every flick of his robe seemed amplified in the eyes of the audience. They didn't and couldn't understand, but that didn't matter to him. What mattered was that every eye on him was a point gained, a step closer to strengthening himself before the competition truly began.
His breathing slowed just slightly, each inhale and exhale precise and measured. He could feel the last two pills in his pocket, his skin looked delicate shiny and smooth due to his skill Jade skin. A skin any lady would kill to obtain.
Yin Zhe's mind was calm but alert, his senses heightened. He scanned the audience and the other competitors, reading their reactions.