Chapter 219: Lightning Flash Divine Movement Technique

Moreover, stealing under the eyes of so many people would no longer be considered theft, but rather an overt robbery; thus, Dao Zhi never actually entered the Heaven-Ascension Pavilion to steal anything.

"This is for you!" Xiao Xie retrieved a green Heaven-Ascension Token from his robes and handed it to Dao Zhi.

"What is this? Could it be the legendary Heaven-Ascension Token?" Dao Zhi asked, somewhat surprised.

"That's right!" Xiao Xie nodded.

"I cannot accept this," Dao Zhi began to refuse, but was interrupted by Xiao Xie.

Xiao Xie smiled and said, "Do not be in such a hurry to refuse. Miss Rong has already accepted a Heaven-Ascension Token from me as well!"

Upon hearing that Duanmu Rong had accepted the token, Dao Zhi immediately changed his mind, tucking the token away as he chuckled, "Heh, actually, I suddenly think that being able to enter the Heaven-Ascension Pavilion to see the treasures inside would be quite interesting."

"Very well. Now, I shall give you your first task: teach me your Lightning-Flash Step. The reward for this task is this Heavenly Saint Pill. It is a pill I refined using various rare medicinal herbs, capable of healing your internal injuries," Xiao Xie said with a smile. Although his alchemy skills were currently sealed, he could still manage to prepare some simple medicinal concoctions; strictly speaking, he was not performing true alchemy, merely mixing herbs, and these preparations did not even qualify as the lowest grade of pills.

Dao Zhi was slightly taken aback by Xiao Xie's words, then replied with a mocking smile, "So, you are after my Lightning-Flash Step. A single Heavenly Saint Pill is not enough to trade for it. However, I can perform the Lightning-Flash Step before you; whether or not you can learn it is up to your own ability."

"That is acceptable, but I must place my hand on your shoulder and follow you through it once!" Xiao Xie said, handing the Heavenly Saint Pill to Dao Zhi.

"Of course, that is fine." Dao Zhi agreed with a smile, not believing for a moment that Xiao Xie could learn the move after just one viewing. He then swallowed the pill.

"This Heavenly Saint Pill is indeed a miraculous medicine for healing. Dao Zhi's internal injuries are completely gone." After Dao Zhi finished the pill, Duanmu Rong took his pulse and remarked with astonishment. It was well known that external wounds were easy to treat, but internal ones required a long period of rest and recovery; she had not expected a single pill to cure him entirely.

"Not bad. Please, Young Master Xiao, let us begin!" Feeling that his internal injuries were healed, Dao Zhi turned to Xiao Xie.

As Dao Zhi spoke, Xiao Xie placed his hand on his shoulder. Dao Zhi smiled slightly and immediately activated the Lightning-Flash Step. To Tianming and the others, Xiao Xie and Dao Zhi appeared as if they were teleporting, flickering from one spot to another, their movements impossible to track.

Originally, due to his internal injuries, Dao Zhi could not fully utilize the Lightning-Flash Step. Now that he was healed, the speed of the technique was fully unleashed. Even Ge Nie could only catch a glimpse of his afterimage. While Ge Nie’s overall strength was far superior to Dao Zhi’s, in terms of agility and light-body techniques, Dao Zhi left him far behind.

Soon, Dao Zhi finished the demonstration and returned with Xiao Xie to where Duanmu Rong stood. Dao Zhi was surprised; he had expected that carrying Xiao Xie would affect his speed, but he hadn't felt any weight from him at all. It seemed this Young Master Xiao was also a master of martial arts!

"Young Master Xiao, how was it? Did you learn it?" Dao Zhi asked with a smirk.

He did not believe Xiao Xie could master the technique, as learning a martial art required not only the corresponding method but also the matching internal energy. Techniques that could be learned in a single glance were usually low-level, but his Lightning-Flash Step was an extremely advanced movement technique; even with the method, one could not execute it without the necessary internal power.

Xiao Xie looked at Dao Zhi, a smile playing on his lips, and said, "The Lightning-Flash Step is indeed worthy of its name; it is truly extraordinary!"

As he finished speaking, his figure suddenly darted rapidly around the perimeter. That short-range, teleportation-like movement was undeniably the Lightning-Flash Step he had just seen!

"How is this possible?" Dao Zhi cried out in shock. He could clearly see that Xiao Xie was using his own technique! But how could Xiao Xie have mastered such a profound art after just one demonstration?

Except for Murong Feng and Murong Huang, who were well-acquainted with Xiao Xie’s astonishing speed of learning, the others—Ge Nie and Duanmu Rong—were left completely dumbfounded. How could anyone in this world learn such an advanced martial art in a single try?

Seeing their astonishment, Xiao Xie smiled. When he had his hand on Dao Zhi's shoulder, he used his internal energy to sense the flow of power in Dao Zhi’s body, and then converted a portion of his own energy to match the requirement of the Lightning-Flash Step, making the execution simple.

The Lightning-Flash Step was a short-range burst technique, very similar to the "Flash Step." While not quite as good, it was a perfect substitute for the Flash Step that Xiao Xie currently could not use.

"Alright, is there any need to be so surprised? It’s just learning a bit quickly, isn't it?" Xiao Xie shrugged at the stunned crowd, speaking with feigned indifference.

"Big brother, you call this 'a bit quick'? You're like a bolt of lightning!" Ge Nie and the others thought to themselves.

"A bit quick? Do you know I spent three years to fully master the Lightning-Flash Step? And you learned it in one go! Are you even human?" Dao Zhi stared at Xiao Xie’s innocent expression, feeling as if he were going mad.

"Alright, Xiao Zhi, don't dwell on it. Let me introduce you; this is Mr. Ge Nie." Old Man Ban was the first to regain his composure and quickly changed the subject, fearing that Dao Zhi might suffer a breakdown if he continued.

Dao Zhi’s attention was diverted, and he exclaimed, "Ge Nie! That is a truly famous name!"

"You are too kind," Ge Nie said, cupping his hands in a modest gesture.

Just then, Tianming slowly stepped out from behind Old Man Ban, eyes closed, swaying with an air of profound importance, and said seriously, "Old man! Why didn't you introduce me!"

Hearing Tianming, Dao Zhi asked with a slight smile, "And who are you?"

"Him? He’s just a brat brought along by Mr. Ge Nie," Old Man Ban said dismissively.

"Huh?! What is that supposed to mean!" Tianming roared in annoyance.

"Hahaha, alright, everyone, let's board the Cloud Ship!" Ignoring Tianming’s protest, Old Man Ban laughed.

As they boarded, Xiao Xie watched as Dao Zhi pulled a mechanism; the ship shuddered, then slowly began to rise, pulled by four massive iron chains.

As the ship ascended, Tianming became increasingly excited, having never seen anything so fascinating. Inadvertently, he noticed large characters carved into the cliffside ahead and pointed, crying out, "There's writing on that big rock! Uh? Damn, I can't read it!"

"Giggle! Those are ancient characters from the State of Song, because the founder of the Mohist School was from Song," Yue'er, standing beside Tianming, said with a giggle.

"What does it say?" Tianming scratched his head and asked sheepishly.

"The World's Paradise!" Yue'er smiled.

On the other side, Dao Zhi approached Old Man Ban, leaning in to whisper, "Hey, how did this guy Ge Nie end up here?"

"He is a guest invited by the Leader," Old Man Ban explained.

"It would be best if Xiao Gao doesn't see him, otherwise there will be big trouble," Dao Zhi warned.

"Where is Xiao Gao now?" Old Man Ban asked in return.

"He hasn't returned yet."

"Then there's nothing to worry about!" Old Man Ban chuckled.