The Supreme God

The night air was quiet except for Austin's short puffs of breath when he slowed down a little. He used the rest of the pill he had swallowed earlier to strengthen his power, as he had just reached the fourth level of Energy Gathering Realm.

Half an hour later, his body had completely absorbed the elixir.

He looked inside his body and saw the thick, dense amount of vital energy that flowed through him. It was definitely more concentrated than before.

At this fourth level, he was now stabilized and had even better understanding of energy use than most people in the same grade. His energy was also more concentrated than those who had been in this stage for a longer time.

In combat, there were other factors to consider aside from one's stage—for example, the quality of one's vital energy.

Two warriors at the same level could have vastly different qualities of vital energy. Some people's foundations were weakly established, so their vital energy was thin and unstable. Others' were firm, thus their vital energy was strong and dense.

Now, Austin had collected enough energy and his stage had jumped from level two to level four. However, his very noticeable advance was a natural one.

He was once a warrior at the ninth level of Energy Gathering Realm, and had corresponding understanding about energy and skills. This allowed his improvements to be built on a solid foundation.

Moreover, he would stop for a while to stabilize himself whenever he re-climbed to the ninth level of Energy Gathering Realm. High realm level and solid energy storage were equally important to warriors.

Austin was satisfied with his achievements. He even did a set of exercises to stretch his sore limbs.

Then he sat cross-legged on the floor again, and took out a pamphlet—which he had previously looted from Rafat, from his storage. The title of the book read "Wind-commanding Skill."

His fingers lifted the cover and he started to read the first page, "Wind is a fundamental force that had existed since the beginning of heaven and earth. It is formed by the essence of the five basic elements. It is invisible in shape or color, but tangible to one's touch."

"It can be soft, and also fierce. When a breeze flows, it kisses the rustling grass and rippling rivers with its amorous fingers. When a gale roars by, it blows roofs off houses and uproots large trees."

"The power of wind can also be used in combat. The person who studies this book will learn how to use the power of wind. His movements are elusive as wind and his attacks hide in the wind."

"Above all, the Wind-commanding Skill is a bodily movement skill. It is recorded in five sections: Feeling the Wind, Knowing the Wind, Using the Wind, Conforming to the Wind, and Hiding in the Wind. By reading this book thoroughly, one will learn to wield the ultimate source of power. He who uses the wind is the wind."

Those were what the general principles read.

The introduction stated that when a person had mastered the skill, he could hide himself in the wind.

Austin couldn't help but sigh emotionally. This Wind-commanding Skill was both mysterious and natural, delicate, and free from any frame. He had never seen any bodily movement skill like it before.

It was also one of those advanced martial art skills as well—it was a grade-fifth in terms of quality. He believed that the skill would be quite powerful.

He couldn't wait to read and learn more.

His eyes read the first section of the text, "Feeling the Wind," several times until every detail was embedded in his mind. Then, he stood up, walked outside the hut, and climbed on top of a ridge.

midnight. Everything was still and quiet.

directed it to the key points as stated in the book. In just a

closed his eyes under the bright moonlight, and quietly felt for the wind.

seemed to have picked up something.

wind…I seem to have sensed it...' he

were

known to him as

his face, hair, and clothes from time to

It was as

passed by in

hour. Two hours. Three

had passed, but Austin remained still. He was completely immersed in his search for the wind, and stood

seen a map of it. He felt the breeze blew at him, then the mountain wind came out of the woods

made the leaves fall. The grass around the hut fluttered in the breeze, and the corners of

wind, as his mind followed its

winds

the soft hands of a shy maiden, it touched the thick blades of grass coltishly. Then the breeze brushed his face, and

the air a while later. It blew over the tops of the grass without swaying

hung in the air and swirled into a mysterious shape—the shape of wind. A wisp of smoke was

'I've sensed it...

I've sensed the wind...'

realize something at that moment.

all night long, and wholeheartedly observed its every

warmth of the first rays of sunshine had woken him up. Austin sobered up and suddenly realized that the whole night had passed.

the past night and felt that he benefited so much from his practice. No wonder that the Wind-commanding

one night's worth of practice, Austin's understanding of

rushed forward like a flexible fish, his movements greatly agile. That was the Fish Swimming Pace, a bodily movement skill he had

as swift as a fish that bolted through the water,

his vital energy now, which made his footsteps elusive and

ran faster and faster, and left traces of residual shadows behind in his rapid movement. They

instantly disappeared. He breathed deeply and laughed out loud again. He looked so effortless when he ran that not even a drop of

felt as carefree as a bird.

Vital energy ran in a circle around him, and

They began their morning ritual of washing and dressing

started their day. The activity area became

had reached Austin and woke him up from his meditation.

place that would be fit for his future cultivation soon.