Unable to fall asleep and feeling too agitated to meditate Huang Li quickly ascended the stairs and reached the roof of the housing they had been provided by the Orchard Tomorrow they were matched up against Richter and Blackhand the representatives of Zone 1 They were surely the most difficult foes they had yet faced in all of their time living under the thumb of the Nexus
Huang Li sensed that Huang Shou was struggling with something internally but hadnÆt pressed the issue during their dinner of steamed fish and rice They both seemed locked in with their own thoughts separated by the gulf of distance created by their opposed beliefs And now Huang Li needed time to think
But when he arrived at the roof and looked up at the night sky Huang Li didnÆt have much time for thinking Instead he watched with wide eyes as he failed to sense even the sliver of an image reverberation and yet someone was casually punching holes in clouds
This This must be the work of Randidly Ghosthound Huang Li clenched his hands into fists and stared fervently upward The casual power displayed was overwhelming The distance between them was immense
But gradually as Huang Li watched he was able to calm down But I always knew I wasnÆt a grand character who would become a hero didnÆt I It is only with years of hard work and the guidance of my betters that I was able to reach this point And now those facts about myself havenÆt changed If I want to improve I need to observe carefully and learn
And these palm strikes the reason they are powerful is not that they utilize an image to dominate the surroundings all the way to the target but instead the Ghosthound just physically pushes aside all obstacles
An image that doesnÆt bother to attack the opponentÆs image an image that just draws a clear separation between them and cuts forward
Gradually his eyes began to glow and the long body of a dragon appeared with him on the roof Then Huang Li hurried back down to his room to retrieve his interspatial amulet and his wo dao within He needed to practice before the inspiration passed
Chapter 1447
Hotdogs Hamburgers Fries
Sweets and treats Ice cream and funnel cakes
Long odds and prop bets First contestant to swear first to bleed first to be knocked unconscious
The cries from the shopowners along the thoroughfare were just a few drops in the bucket Around them the general babble rising up from the thousands of gathered people was practically deafening
Hydie Mordath didnÆt like crowds When she was younger it was because she didnÆt feel like she fit into the groups of happy people After the System arrived it was because she feared the broad negative effect that she would have on those same fragile happy people Her Skill seemed only bound by distance the more people that were crowded into a small space the more people would suffer accidents due to her presence
But the crowd of people that churned happily through the broad roads leading to the arena for the round of sixteen couldnÆt even be called a crowd any longer it was a veritable sea of people with waves crashing in from every direction People joined lines for stalls or just wove through them to save time Others rushed out of bathrooms and were practically hopping with anticipation of getting a good seat for the matches The surroundings were absolute bedlam
Even with their Order Ducis uniforms there simply wasnÆt enough room for anyone to give them some respectful distance They were completely pressed together and HydieÆs mood rapidly degenerated into irritation as elbows and shoulders kept knocking against her
Derek Moss as annoyingly observant as he always was glanced back over his shoulder at her and then grinned Why donÆt we stop and grab a bite to eat WeÆre just supposed to keep any incidents from escalating anyway No need to follow all this traffic
So the two of them cut sideways through the main flow of bodies and swam toward a side path to another section of the fairgrounds There had originally been only a single food court arena planned but the number of the attendees for the tournament was so high that the original plan had to be scrapped and expanded to include four large food courts with stalls running up and down the paths around the stadium Otherwise the lines at the single food court would have been hours long as the tournament wore on
Once they were on the side path the crowd thinned out a lot and Hydie could release a breath without spitting on someone Then she scowled over at Derek CanÆt we just watch from up on Kharon Why do we need to be down here
Being immersed in the crowdÆs image is the best way to spot the first signs of trouble Derek replied Then he glanced over his shoulder When my partner isnÆt dominating the surrounding space with her surly image
You are literally a shiny piece of military shit Hydie said without any venom She took several more deep breaths The cool autumn air flowing into her body was a relief from the heat of the crowd They continued off of the dirt path into the well paved Northwest food court I just wish once I got to see you I donÆt know looking like an idiot Maybe we could walk past a pie shop and you get one splattered over your gob I just feel
Hydie paused because Derek was no longer walking beside her He had frozen the expression on his face studiously blank while his lips mimicked the mouth of a fish He stood with one leg slightly off the ground and one arm raised perfectly midstep Hydie couldnÆt help but be impressed by the casual athleticism he displayed by stopping like that
She followed his gaze and saw a pretty young woman sitting at one of the dozens of wooden picnic tables situated in the middle of the food court Hydie looked back at Derek and then turned again to the woman noticing this time that the table around her was filled with a half dozen grey spiders three strange people seemingly made of stone and a towering ogre woman that hunched over in order to listen into the conversation More impressively all of them had very poignant and restrained images they were not just ordinary people
Derek Moss Hydie said lightly The corners of her eyes crinkled as she felt her mood rapidly rising Oho ohohohohoho Do you happened to have a crush
I No thatÆs Gertrude is just an acquaintance Derek finally finished his step and began fussing with the buttons of his uniform and wiping his sweaty palms against his slacks We simply happened to move to Kharon at similar times
Uh huh I see A gloating Hydie practically glided forward and slid her arm through DerekÆs as a queen would imperiously grace a dust covered knight Well perhaps IÆm not such a constant source of bad luck after all Truly quite serendipitous for us to run into an acquaintance here Why donÆt we go say hello Ohoho
Derek licked his lips his eyes were still locked on Gertrude That would probably be inappropriate We are currently on duty And besides it appears they are in the middle of an important meeting
A meeting at a picnic table DonÆt mind that DidnÆt you just say we are here to deal with any escalating issues I certainly donÆt sense any big issues The first match doesnÆt start for another hour anyway letÆs just go over and say hi
Although DerekÆs face continued to be dominated by an uneasy frown his feet were more honest When Hydie pulled him forward he followed easily They wove their way through the wooden tables and Derek was so distracted that he actually stumbled over a discarded beer can It was with Hydie bearing a sunny smile that the two of them arrived at the table of Gertrude the teacher
Seeing as Derek was tongue tied Hydie took it upon herself to start the interaction She did her best not to giggle Miss Gertrude
ThatÆs why the location should match oh yes Oh Mr Moss hello And you are Gertrude looked over and met HydieÆs wide smile with a politely reciprocated smile
Hydie withdrew her arm from DerekÆs IÆm DerekÆs partner in the Order Ducis HeÆs told me so much about you itÆs nice to meet you all I must say though your images are all very powerful ItÆs very impressive