Exchanging pointers

Sai Ling had a hard time believing Sora's answer. But a gasp from the sideline brought him the effect of a cold shower. The girl with wavy hair was the one who gasped and she was looking at Sora with both envy and admiration. It only took him a glance but it gave him his motivation back. It wasn't because he was jealous but because he felt like his reputation as a talented individual was at stake.

That glance caught Sora's eyes. He took this moment of distraction to take the initiative and use his third ring ability, making his purple ring shine brightly…

A golden light briefly covered Sora while his ability Breathing Amber Coating covered him from hair to toes. The attention of his opponent returned to him and seeing this body enhancement, he didn't know what to think of it. Sora didn't look at all like a common agility spirit master to begin with and this transformation made him more like an attack or defense type spirit master. Being experimented, he already guessed Sora's spirit was a spirit deviation... and not a weak one. With a serious look on his face, he used his third ability…

The dark layers of thicker skin on his body changed to what looked like a steel type of armor. Only the area around his mouth, below the nose, was revealing his original skin. His head looked like he now wore a strange helmet. At the height of where was his eyes, two round deep red gem where reflecting the light. On his forehead, they were 3 similar but smaller gems, arranged in a triangle pattern. Below the neck, his muscles had swelled, making him look stronger and more intimidating. As for his pincers, they got slightly bigger, looking like boxing gloves.

Sai Ling still waited for Sora to see what would be his first move would be. Despise the difference in power rank, he still thought he had a chance to win… He was very confident in his third ring ability. This ability was called Shadow Striker Transformation. It had similarity from Vajra transformation but instead of having of an affinity toward light and a resistance toward lightning, they had an affinity for shadow and a resistance to cold. This body enhancement increased Sai Ling strength, defense and spirit power twofold but also, it increased the user spirit power recovery. Because of it, they were able to use spirit abilities in succession without losing too much momentum.

Power Attack based spirit master focused on attack and defense, in that order. Agility type spirit master were strong only if they could outrun the movement of their opponents. That's why defense type spirit master were normally countered by agility type spirit masters as their movement were hindered by their powerful but slow bodies. As for power attack spirit master, especially for beast type spirit master like himself, they were only at disadvantage against flying type agility spirit master. If they couldn't fly, he could easily rely on the resistance of his body and burst power to prevent the opponent attacks from landing. Even more, if Sai Ling focused on counterattacking, he could focus on not show any weaknesses while striking fast and strong enough at close range to get the advantage or better, defeat him.

Sora however, was five power rank above him, just needing a spirit ring to become a Spirit Ancestor. It wouldn't be as easy as every rank was important when considering two spirit master strength.

Sora charged first. Sai Ling had trouble following his movement but he didn't panic. As soon as Sora came close enough, both youngsters launched an ability. While Sora launched his first spirit ability, Sai Ling used his second ring...

Sai Ling pincers increased in size, becoming as big as his own torso. The ability was called Giant Pincers and in increased his pincers defense and attack range. The increase in defense meant they could be used as shield as well. As for Sora, his hair extended and striking from above, aiming for Sai Ling head.

Sai Ling rejoiced seeing that his opponent attack was something he could handle easily. He extended one of his claw, planning to grab Sora's hair and pull. He was planning to make him lose balance and attack Sora's body with his other pincer.

However, as he was about to grab it, Sora's hair separated in two and stroked him down on his left shoulder. The sudden change surprised him and it was too quick for him to block now. The fierce strike met the armor... and managed to pierce it. Although the attack was small, it still pierced through his armor and draw blood.

Ignoring the pain, Sai Ling grinded his teeth and pulled hard the part of the hair he had successfully grabbed. But to his surprise, even that was to no avail. He felt no resistance as Sora's hair collapsed in his grip. Losing his balance for a brief moment because of his own strength, he couldn't dodge the sharp claws of Sora's striking him on his left side who had become exposed. Sai Ling was sent backward for a few steps. He managed to remain on his feet but he was injured. Sai Ling was astonished, even more since he discover as he regained his footing that his right pincer was glued together by the tree sap from Sora's ability: Breathing Amber Coating.

He tried to open it with his full strength but he was still unable to open it.

In one fast exchange, Sora managed to injure Sai Ling while he had suffered no injuries. Even more, he used his first spirit ring ability to counter his second ring ability and countered one of his opponent main weapon in the process. His timing and strategy proven to be excellent.

Sora didn't continue to attack after the first bow. He was trying very hard to hide his excitement while asking: "Still wish to go on?"

Sai Ling was pissed. He misunderstood Sora's excitement for haughtiness. Without answering he charged forward. His stance was different this time. He had close his other pincer, using it in a guarding fashion close to his body. His shoulder began to move in unison with his knees in a weird fashion. His head was moving side to side and this weird slow charge seemed to not let any gap in in defense while showing the potential of several counters.

It was the first time Sora saw such fighting stance. It couldn't be considered to be fast but a beast spirit master body was powerful and he was able to close the distance between them shortly. However, Sora had experience and he thought he saw a gap in it. Using Porcupine Tail again, he tried to swipe it close to the ground where his pincers couldn't reach.

But Sai Ling was prepared. He leaped forward Sora and his first ring flashed. Suddenly, his pincers made a barrage of huge fists charging toward Sora. Those fist were so fast that it they left ghostly six afterimages.

The ability was called Ghostly Eight Scorpion Legs. It was a close range ability but it increased the power and speed of his fists and mixing them with shadow afterimage. It was a hard to counter ability once you were in range. With Sai Ling body enhancement of his second and third rings, this attack seemed even fiercer then before! Sora's realized Sai ling spirit quality was quite high seeing this.

But even so, Sora didn't even try to dodge. He let Sai Ling attack hit him head-on with a smile. Sora's parent were astonished and nervous as such action while Sai Ling thought it was fishy but he couldn't go back on his attack now. As the attack hit Sora, Sai Ling suddenly felt a pressure on his back...

Sora body flew backward from the attack like a kite without a string... but in the same time, everyone watching the match noticed something else: Sora's hair was stuck on Sai Ling back. The tree sap from Breathing Amber Coating was no joke. Using both the attack momentum Sora received and the lack of defense of his opponent in midair, Sora threw him in a large arc over him. Sai Ling literally flew over him and hit the ground very hard behind Sora. Using Sai Ling as an anchor, Sora managed to stop in midair and land on his feet.

Even if he had received his opponent attack, to everyone surprise, Sora didn't seem harmed in the slightest. Sora knew however it was thanks to the defense of the earth element associated with his third ring ability. Attacks using blunt force would actually be less effective than a penetrating weapon against such defense and even his attack were enhanced by his other rings, the poor scorpion spirit master was bond to get restricted if he used his pincers as boxing gloves.

This time, Sai Ling clearly knew he had being defeated. His body hurt a lot and he understood his opponent had being lenient. The light pressure of Sora's hair was still on his back and he knew a real opponent wouldn't have stop there. He sighed and said as he rose up to sit down: "I lost. Thank you for the sparring."

Sora nodded: «It was a good match. With your strength, if you work hard, I'm sure you'll be an inner disciple one day. «Sora then walked back to the carriage with a happiness in his heart seeing the look of his parents face. As he was getting in the carriage, he heard the elder voice behind him: "I'll escort you inside."

Once sited, Sora turned to him and smiled: "Thank you senior."

Sora's father brushed his son hair like he was a little boy as they were entering the gate: "Boy, I knew you were talented but you didn't need to show off like that! You are making me look so weak compared to you!"

However, his tone was playful and proud. He was clearly happy about the sparring results. His mom said nothing but her smile warmed her son's heart.

Sora smiled, a bit embarrassed: "I was just lucky. His pincers were restricted by my third ring ability. I'm just glad I could show you that you don't need to worry too much about me anymore."

Sora didn't realized but his words hurt his father. Back then, he was so desperate in giving his son a future and he felt he might have put too much pressure on himself and on Sora. He found it awkward to apologize now so he hidden those feelings.

Fortunately, as they left the carriage and arrived inside the Great Clan estate, their mood changed to awe. None of the newcomers were prepared to see such display of grand architecture and superb interior design. The elder in front of them was unaffected of course but he took his time walking to where they needed to be, letting Sora and his family enjoy to their heart content the grandeur of the place.

They finally arrived in a waiting room where a servant was waiting. The waiting room had a Library on one of the wall and four armored chairs facing each other around a round carpet. To the side of each chair, there was a lovely coffee table.

A servant had being following them for some time discreetly once they had reach a hallway earlier. Senior Fu turned to that servant and said: "We need an evaluation for a very talented youngster, pass the message to the evaluation team. And also, please, bring some tea for our estimated guests on your way back."

The servant was experimented and even if he was slightly surprise by such favored treatment, he didn't show it. He bowed with a smile and went on his way. Once he left, Senior Fu went on one of the chair and sat lazily with a sigh. Sora and his mom didn't hesitate and sat down on the remaining chairs. His father hesitated for a moment but in the end couldn't resist go to the Library on the wall and see what kind of book there was.

Senior Fu looked at Sora directly with a smile: "Say young man, did you go in any intermediate spirit masters school? I'm surprised they didn't try to enroll a young genius like you..."

Sora smiled: "My father is a teacher in Nuoding Spirit Master school. After that, I trained in battle arenas to hone my battle skills. After I got my silver badge and broke the fourth bottleneck, I figured I trained enough to gain acceptance in any schools I wanted..."

At this point, Sora's father came back to sit down with no books in hand. He seemed a bit disappointed and we could easily guess the books on the shelves weren't to his liking. As for Sora's mom, she smiled seeing how her son avoided the issue at the Shrek Academy. She didn't try to refute him either and both of Sora's parents knew it would be best to not bring it up.

Sora continued: "You see, I didn't want to continue battling in spirit arenas as a living. While I love the thrill of a good sparring, I don't see this as I what I wanted to do with my life. Furthermore, I want my family to be protected from any harm and such life might not be the best choice for it."

Senior Fu was impressed by Sora's wisdom and self-awareness. At his age, he was way more carefree. With a half-smile, he had look at Sora's father with an appreciative look. Then he turned back to Sora:

"Well you came to the right place. Our Great clan accept important missions and we work closely with the Heaven Dou Empire to maintain peace and order in the country. And once you get accepted in as an inner disciple, your family will be protected and took care for as well."

Sora smiled and stopped himself from talking as the servant came back with the tea. The flavor was better than anything Sora tasted before. His parents seemed surprised too and his mom couldn't hide her appreciation, losing her eyes at every sip and concentrating on the flavor.

Only after the servant left that Sora asked: "I heard your facilities are top notch for cultivation but tell me, do the inner disciple get other advantages I should know about?"

Senior Fu smiled: "You came here at the right time young man. This year, all disciples who are accepted as an inner disciple before they are twenty year old are given a free admission in the Sunrise Pavilion. It's a school in the capital, always named after its head and normally reserved for the highest ranks in nobility. It's a school that promise to train the heart of the student, allowing them to have a better control over their emotions and of their aura. For an agility spirit master like yourself, such thing would be extremely useful to avoid detection while scouting or betray yourself when questioned. After all a scout can use stealth or be hidden in plain sight."

Senior Fu was sly fox: he didn't mention how the school was training the students in acting, noble etiquette and music. Although he mentioned the results, most spirit masters would think twice before accepting such offer, thinking it would ruin their own training or simply lacking interest. After all, spirit masters had their own special status, not lacking any money or fame coming from a nobility title. Such specialized school was not well known among commoners as well so most spirit masters didn't know about it. Sora and his family unfortunately didn't know about it either, hearing about it for the first time.

Sora was pondering senior Fu words, considering what he said. The elder in front of him raised his finger, not letting Sora and his family think about it too much: "But that's not all! We arranged with the Heaven Dou Empire to give every graduated youngster from the Sunrise Pavilion the knight nobility title. Although it's the smallest of nobility title, if you consider our school backing on the top of it, you will be able to marry into nobility and increase your rank in society, if that is your wish."

Sora's mom chuckled hearing this. Senior Fu was surprised by her reaction. She explained herself:

"I might be a spirit master but I'm also a knight. I'm the right arm of Nuoding city duke, only second in authority to him. My son would have the right to fulfill a knight training and get my place once I retire if he wanted. However, it's not his wish to do so as he say he aim for higher. I doubt you will win him over with this nobility title."

Sora nodded: "Indeed, I'm not interested in gaining a noble title. And the knight title imply being part of the army. I don't want that. I came here with protecting a charge in mind."

This answer made Senior Fu a bit embarrassed: "Well, our Great Clan is not the one giving nobility title. It's a favor we managed to secure with the Heaven Dou Empire. I'm sorry if it seem insufficient or inadequate. But still, for most spirit masters, having a knight title without any responsibilities linked to such title is a very good thing. As for the roles and jobs given to our disciples, they are very numerous. We are not a military organisation but jobs will be given depending of merits and strengths. Obviously, only our strongest and most loyal disciples get to protect spirit masters with the Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda spirit. The school have other support type spirit masters to protect if that is your wish. As long as you become an inner disciple of our Great Sect, any doors will eventually open to you as long as you have enough talent and dedication."

Sora nodded. The Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda spirit was the most powerful and treasured support type spirit. Guarding them was a form an honor so it was understandable for him he would need to prove himself first. He switched the topic: "What about the other jobs?"

Senior Fu regained his countenance: " Except for paid jobs from outsiders, we work very closely with the Heaven Dou Empire. Although the Empire nobility have spirit master to rely from, our school are often sent on mission to protect the Empire. For example, there is cultivators who are doing evil acts to increase their own cultivation or protecting cities next to forest containing spirit beasts if they were to create an uprising. We could even be hired to help on investigations that left the Heaven Dou Empire at a lost. Such cooperation with the Heaven Dou Empire also mean you won't get in a conflict of allegiance if you joined our Great Clan. Since your mom is a knight for the Heaven Dou Empire, it could also mean we would have the mean to protect your family on that regard as well if a conflict would occur."

Senior Fu saw he hit the mark with his last words. Nobilities often conflicted with each other in history, sometimes even going in war against each other if approved by the king of Heaven Dou Empire. His own grandfather had to battle in such feud in the past and even though such thing was rare for their small city to get involved with, he didn't want his mom to risk her life like that for somebody else interests then her own.

Sora sighed softly. He then smiled to Senior Fu: "Thank you for your guidance, Senior."

Senior Fu waved his hand dismissively with a smile: "I'm just making conversation, no need to thank me... "

They conversed for a while when finally, a servant opened the door and bowed: "You may enter in the testing room, Elder Gu Yu will receive you."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I inspired myself of a boxing charge to explain Sai Ling weird charge that I described above.

Also, The Moon Pavilion headmistress at the time would be 9 -10 year old or so at the time period I'm writing this fanfic. So she wouldn't be old enough to be in charge. So I figured I could make some lore about that. I also put some lore about nobility in a world with spirit masters in it. It's surprising such elite didn't try to conquer the world before like Spirit Hall did. I guess their small numbers, their lack of unity and also a lack of political interest made them unfit to lead in the past.

I had to do the corrections myself since I no longer have a betareader for this fanfic. I hope the quality didn't drop. Send me a private message if you think I should do some changes.

I will end on this reminder however: positive comments fuel me to write more and post my chapters more quickly! ;)