Chapter 106: Inspiration from Cricket Fighting
Long Tao was montarily speechless, only feeling that this Peak Master was truly a remarkable character.
Not only had he chatted cheerfully with a Qi-Refining disciple he had never t before, completely without airs, he had even casually gifted him a peak-entry token.
“Look at ,” True Person Gongsun patted his forehead, “I kept talking about my crickets and forgot to ask your na, little friend.”
“This disciple is Long Tao. I am currently a Registered Disciple under True Person Shi Manyu, and I usually work at the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion… uh, you could say I do miscellaneous chores.”
“So you’re Manyu’s disciple.” True Person Gongsun revealed a aningful smile. “Then your daily life must be quite exhausting. Don’t tell
you’ve just finished writing reports until your head spun, and snuck out to slack off?”
“Your eyesight is truly sharp… though not entirely correct. I just finished the report and ca out to get so fresh air.”
“Ah, close enough.” The True Person waved his hand carelessly. “Since official duties are done, how about coming with
to watch a round of cricket fighting? In life, one ought to change one’s way of living from ti to ti and see sothing new.”
An invitation from a Golden Core True Person left Long Tao both flattered and startled.
He had originally intended to decline, but upon second thought, since he had no better ideas at the mont, it might be good to follow this interesting True Person for a bit of relaxation.
Perhaps in a better mood, so new inspiration would co to him.
“Well… if True Person does not mind this disciple’s intrusion, I would be willing to broaden my horizons.”
“Excellent! I like soone straightforward like you.” True Person Gongsun laughed heartily, clapping his hands. With a sweep of his sleeve, he strode forward. “Co with . Today I’ll make sure you truly expand your knowledge. Cricket fighting in the Cultivation World is completely different from the mortal realm.”
Before his words even finished, True Person Gongsun flicked his sleeve.
Long Tao only felt the scenery before his eyes whirl rapidly.
When his vision stabilized and he looked again, he found himself already standing within a lively courtyard.
He imdiately looked up and spotted a familiar tower to his right.
Recognizing that this was within Qixia Town, he finally relaxed.
The courtyard covered a considerable area. At the mont, roughly twenty to thirty people had gathered, making it exceptionally lively.
So were cultivators dressed in various sect disciple robes, while others were mortals in coarse linen clothing.
They clustered in small groups of three or five around several specially made round tables, sotis holding their breath in concentration, sotis erupting into cheers.
“Brother Gongsun, you’ve finally co today!”
“Hurry, hurry! We’re just waiting for your ‘Banner Sword Saint’ to enter the arena!”
True Person Gongsun was clearly a regular.
As soon as he appeared, he was surrounded and escorted toward the largest round table in the center.
He turned back and smiled at Long Tao. “Little Friend Long Tao, feel free to look around. The people here are all decent; no need to be reserved. This old man will go play a few rounds first!”
Long Tao cupped his hands in acknowledgnt and strolled about with interest.
Upon closer inspection, he could not help but marvel.
The cricket fighting here was indeed vastly different from that of the mortal world.
First was the venue.
He rembered seeing cricket fights in clay jars back in his childhood hotown.
Here, however, the crickets battled atop specially crafted round tables.
The tabletop was spread with fine, soft sand, and around it faintly shimred a pale blue spiritual energy barrier.
The arena was more than several tis larger—and of course… the crickets here were also much larger than those in the mortal world.
On a round table to the left, two crickets were locked in an intense battle.
One was entirely crimson; when it vibrated its wings, sparks scattered into the air.
The other was jet black, seemingly ordinary at first glance, but it possessed two extrely long antennae that lashed like whips, maintaining a distance advantage. With each clash, faint ripples of spiritual energy were stirred.
“The Crimson Commandant might suffer a loss today!” A young man dressed like a scholar clapped lightly and sighed. “The Black Jade Queen’s twin whips have grown increasingly skillful.”
No sooner had he spoken than the black cricket truly flicked its antennae and unleashed a blade of wind, striking the crimson cricket with precision and sending up a trail of sparks.
Long Tao stared in astonishnt.
Unable to resist, he leaned toward the scholar and asked curiously, “Brother, how do these crickets know how to cast spells?”
The man looked up and smiled. “New here? Then let
explain. These aren’t ordinary insects—they’re specially bred. They’re fed spiritual herbs daily and trained with particular thods. Over ti, they naturally awaken a bit of innate divine ability.” He pointed toward the arena. “Take that Black Jade Queen. She may look plain, but those whip-like antennae can do far more than just that wind blade you saw.”
“This… today truly broadened my horizons. They’re practically no different from spirit beasts.”
“Indeed.” The scholar smiled. “These crickets are essentially weaker spirit beasts. For example, if True Person Gongsun were fighting enemies outside, under the enhancent of spells, his crickets could genuinely serve a role in real combat.”
As Long Tao clicked his tongue in wonder, the battle shifted again.
The crimson cricket, which had been suppressed all along, suddenly leapt into the air, wings beating furiously as it scattered a rain of sparks.
The Black Jade Queen, caught off guard by the sudden counterattack, was forced into close quarters.
The two insects imdiately beca entangled in fierce combat.
“Excellent! Now this is interesting!” The scholar and surrounding spectators cheered in unison. Turning to Long Tao, he explained, “Many crickets have strong innate talent but lack fighting spirit and endurance. At the first setback, they retreat. The Crimson Commandant may not be high-grade, but it’s famous for its resilience. It always finds a chance to counterattack in adversity.”
“Truly admirable,” Long Tao praised sincerely. “To remain calm under such a fierce offensive is indeed rare.”
“Heh, there are many intricacies here.” The scholar lowered his voice. “If you co often, you’ll see even stranger things. I’ve heard that True Person Gongsun’s ‘Banner Sword Saint’ has already cultivated the ability to create a manifested clone.”
“A manifested clone?” Long Tao nearly bit his tongue. “From a cricket?”
“Exactly!” The scholar nodded sagely. “But raising these crickets costs a fortune in spirit stones. Just the daily spiritual herb expenses are enough to make an ordinary cultivator’s heart ache. Fortunately, the lady owner here is quite easygoing. Even if you co empty-handed, you can still watch the excitent anyti.”
“The owner is a woman?” Long Tao was genuinely surprised.
“Haha, most people react just like you when they first hear that.” The scholar laughed. “After all, won who enjoy crickets are rare. Unfortunately, this lady proprietor is often away conducting business, so she’s absent much of the ti. Otherwise, you might have t her today.”
As they spoke, the outco had already been decided.
The Crimson Commandant ultimately fell due to exhaustion, defeated by the Black Jade Queen.
Yet though it lost, it lost with honor. Given its lower grade, being able to fight so long won it widespread admiration from the spectators, so of whom even took out spiritual herbs to feed it.
“So there are rewards after the match as well.” Long Tao watched with keen interest.
The two crickets that had just fought now leisurely ate spiritual herbs.
The Black Jade Queen even magnanimously allowed the Crimson Commandant to eat first, displaying the deanor of a victor.
Watching them feast heartily, Long Tao suddenly felt an urge to raise one himself.
“Besides the wagers between the owners, if onlookers enjoy the match, they can spend money to buy spiritual herbs to feed them,” the scholar explained. “Of course, to prevent random feeding, all the herbs co from the owner. If you’re interested, you can buy a handful right now and give it a try.”
Afterward, Long Tao and the scholar introduced themselves to each other. Under the other’s enthusiastic guidance, Long Tao went on to watch several more thrilling cricket matches.
This Scholar Chen truly was an expert, able to analyze each match thoroughly and clearly.
…
“See that? That’s a classic defensive counterattack.” The scholar pointed at a jade-green spiritual cricket in the arena, explaining animatedly. “The Green Jade Recluse doesn’t attack fiercely, but its resilience is exceptional. It simply outlasted its opponent.”
…
“Look at this Blood Fox—typical assassin style. It plays for the one-hit kill. If the first ambush fails, it basically surrenders afterward.”
…
Listening to the scholar’s endless breakdowns of each match’s tactical characteristics, Long Tao could not help but laugh inwardly.
The man’s speaking style was exactly like sports comntators from his previous life—professional and entertaining. With him explaining at the side, even soone like Long Tao, who knew nothing about cricket fighting, could watch with relish.
Just as he was about to follow the scholar to watch the next match, a word suddenly flashed through his mind, making him abruptly stop in his tracks.
Wait! Comntary?
Reviews
All reviews (0)