Chapter 308 – Secrets of the Lake (V)

Chapter 308

Secrets of the Lake (V)

[Word of Shadows]
[Type: Shamanic Art]
[Rank: low-Myth Tier]
[Host Comprehension: None (Fails to meet minimum requirements)]
[…]
[Uniquely concentrates mana in a way that allows for tracking of individual bits even at great distances, without expending too much energy. Though difficult to comprehend innately, once mastered, it would allow the Shaman to track a million people with ease. Increasing mastery not only increases how many motes of mana can be tracked but also greatly increases distances at which they can be tracked]
[…]
[Creation Points Value: 400/400]
[Comprehension Difficulty: ???]
[…]
[Creation Bonus: Ink of Elements (1x bottle)]
[…]
[Ink of Elements: a special ink curated by the Ancient Shaman Clans that enhances the quality of the written word twofold. One bottle is enough to write anywhere between 3 and 40 Words, depending on their complexity]

Huh.

Ain’t that a beaut?

I’ve spent all night coming up with a way for Rayce to track people, and this was the end result of it–it was somewhat crude and simple, but it did cost full 400 points, and did precisely what I wanted it to do. One worry was that it’d be difficult to master, but Rayce is nothing if not a genius in his own right, so it should be fine.

The bonus was a bit of a surprise, though a welcome one, of course; I’ve seen the potency of Words firsthand, and if any one of them can be doubled in efficiency… well, it’ll be big.

Phew, time to stretch these old bones.

It’s still before dawn, ‘s far as I can tell looking out the window, but that mattered little for the city. There was a hubbub going on day and night, mirroring somewhat the few months I spent in New York.

As I stepped out to take in some fresh air, I immediately noticed something strange–ground was kind of… wet? And slippery? But it didn’t rain, nor did it feel like water-wet dirt.

… hm?

What’s this thing?

HOLY SHIT!!!

“Long Tao!!” I snapped to my knees and pressed my fingers against his neck; luckily, he was alive, though looking at him… yeah, he certainly didn’t look alive. Blood had poured out of his eyes and dried on his face, and he was as pale as a ghost.

Sending some Qi into him, I realized that his body was an absolute wreck–honestly, I’m pretty sure if it were anyone else, they’d already be dead. His meridians were in shambles, and there wasn’t a clear passage for Qi to go through so that it could heal his body.

My startled yelp must have woken up everyone as they bolted out like thunder out of the house, weapons drawn.

“Master, are you alright?!” Dai Xiu asked.

“Yes, yes, I’m fine; Lao Shun, get over here! Help him!”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The old alchemist appeared, too, crouching next to me and assessing his situation as well.

“… how in the damn hell is this kid still alive?” he grumbled while taking out a pill from one of his rings–it was pearlescent, glowing in dull golden, and almost throbbing on the surface.

Lao Shun’s expression distorted heavily as he fed it to Long Tao, closing his mouth and using Qi to force him to swallow it.

“Let’s get him inside.”

We carried him back in while the kids stayed outside to clean up the blood. Even by the time we got him to the bed, his condition had improved visibly; there was some rosiness in his cheeks, and his breaths weren’t nearly as shallow anymore.

“What’d you feed him?” I asked.

“Two years’ worth of Spirit Stones,” Lao Shun grumbled.