My ankles imdiatly began healing, the bones regrowing under the skin, as I rose above the floating elf.
As a result of the devil’s invasion, when one kills a mber of the elven race, a permanent mark is left on their skin.
This mark was originally introduced to track down devils and demons, but notably, it also affects every race in the world.
At that mont, a holographic footprint appeared below , and like a key in a lock, my left foot fit perfectly within it.
A counter-attack to this specific elf’s style had been manifested.
Even without mastering the movents, my martial art could still create attacks by incorporating my current dance and analyzing the opponent.
Perhaps it was the clarity of mind I received in this subspace or my already incredible mastery of dance in water, but sohow, an attack had been created.
Without hesitation, my sword jabbed forward in a perfectly straight line.
Simultaneously, a jade-tipped arrow flew through the water, as if it were air, at an incredible speed with a single holographic line appearing from its tip, ending at my heart.
However, at that mont, I felt it.
I should have been stuck, unable to move.
Neither of my feet was planted on hard ground, and I was surrounded by complete water.
In ancient China, Taoism initially arose as a philosophical counter to Confucianism. Confucianism declares that everything has structure and that everything should be done in harmony.
Yet, the Tao believes the exact opposite. Nature is chaotic and unharmonious, so man should simply accept that and live in harmony with that natural harmony.
Empty yourself of everything, let the mind beco still. Do not be lost in the future or past.
Clear your mind of the preconceived notions of nature.
In the past, one thing may have been true, but do not believe it.
Only believe the present before you.
No one can walk or jump on water; it is a liquid.
Taking a deep breath, I smiled and pushed my left leg downward.
However, it didn’t go down.
Because I didn’t believe it would.
The dance must go on. It had to.
Nothing is constant. Nature is an ever-changing enigma.
Boosting myself off the water below my left leg, as if it were solid ground, I leaped upward, watching the arrow pass right below my right feet.
Erging from the water, my entire body highlighted under the bright-yellow sun, I took a deep breath, relishing in the perfect heat.
I felt it.
My mastery of the white-robed man’s dance increased...by just a tiny bit.
Previously, I had seen him double-jump in the air and been confused. But now, I understand.
Plumting down into the water, like an angel falling from the heavens, I held my sword below , its tip aiming right at the elf’s unprotected head.
I had never given a na to this dance, had I?
Perhaps it was still too early, but it must be at least ti to na this small movent of the dance.
This was now the second ti I was performing this move.
"Defy Past, Leap to Heavens, and Fall back to Reality!"
As I rapidly descended toward the ground, my sword pierced through the elf’s head, his pupils instantly freezing in place upon impact.
The elf’s unmoving body sank to the pond’s ground, eyes widened, and bow still tightly gripped in the right hand.
Simultaneously, as I retrieved my sword, I felt a tight pinch on my left chest, just above my heart.
Elves were always supposed to be a righteous race, but this group of elves invading the castle had succumbed to greed.
A tinge of sorrow still couldn’t help but flow through my mind.
This was just the start.
My hands were now tainted.
Not sinking to the pond floor, I silently pushed myself upward and grasped the lilypad I had torn apart.
There was no ti to waste.
Recalling the endpoints of the holagraphic lines I had seen while the elf was pushing the lilypads, I swam around in the pond, pushing each lilypad in the correct place to complete the circle formation.
Finally, I returned to the middle-lilypad and climbed atop it, rejoicing in the sun’s heat.
Subspaces were already rare, fewer than a thousand of them existing, but this was an S-ranked one, with perfect training and recovery conditions.
A boon that would aid in the journey toward the peak of martial arts.
Subspaces could only be naturally created.
A piece of work considered to be "perfect" will turn into a subspace, only once the creator dies.
At that mont, I felt my surroundings distort as a force pulled my body up to the sky and into the air.
In the next mont, a green flash blinded , and when I reopened my eyes, I found myself in a familiar corridor.
However, the lilypad pond painting before had vanished.
Instead, I felt a small tal ring in my pocket, a canvas the size of a cracker attached to it.
I claid it...
Not wasting a mont longer, I sprinted back out of the fortress’s keep and into the courtyard.
Glancing around and ensuring no one was near, I rapidly opened the portcullis with a lever, watching it roll upward, and escaped back into the forest.
...
...
...
Rubbing his head, the black-haired figure slowly got up, rubbing his head and pushing his hair back, revealing his onyx-black pupils.
"Ah...I can’t go back to sleep. That kid ruined my rest."
Sighing, the hero slowly scanned his surroundings, looking for a new place to rest.
However, his eyesight paused as he scanned the area before .
"The fortress...?"
Leaping upward, his previous exhaustion vanishing, the man rubbed his eyes, ensuring what he was seeing was in fact real.
"The defenses are disabled..."
Sprinting forward, the hero entered the forest, weaving in and out of the shadows cast by the dense trees.
However, he suddenly paused mid-way through.
"...my tablet?"
Against a tree trunk lay a familiar tablet with a cracked screen, completely broken.
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