I Have Infinite Skill Points-Chapter 459: The Number One Expert of Paradise Bird
In the underground parking garage of Xinyu Building, which once served as Wang Lan’s daily training ground, it had fallen into disuse ever since his strength ascended to the Star Cloud Stage.
Below the Star Cloud Stage, one could still improve through conventional training, but above that level, conventional training became pointless. However, today, in the abandoned training ground, a petite figure, reminiscent of a younger Wang Lan, moved with difficulty yet deftly across the training area.
Watching Song Jia, Wang Lan’s eyes filled with the vision of himself years ago. Back then, Wang Lan hadn’t yet awakened his talent and was just an ordinary person. Huang Feilong certainly wouldn’t have been as merciful as Wang Lan was being now, merely substituting attacks with tennis balls.
Thinking back to when I was just twelve or thirteen, being relentlessly tormented and beaten for over an hour by a hulking man weighing over one hundred fifty pounds... Even with protective gear, the memory is unbearable to recall.
"I’m still too lenient... You need to synchronize intent and body. Your intent moves, then your body moves, not the other way around. By the time you see the tennis ball and think to dodge, it’s too late. You should be executing the dodge the instant you see the ball coming!"
Wang Lan shouted, and with a WHOOSH, the tennis ball in his hand transformed into a streak of light, shooting toward Song Jia. The tennis ball hit Song Jia’s chest precisely, sending her flying backward into the boundary ropes.
SMACK—
She landed face down, a perfect five-point prostration—the opening stance of the Toad Technique.
"Sob, sob... Brother, you’re bullying me..." Song Jia cried, her current pitiful state a stark contrast to the brimming confidence she’d had upon arrival.
"This is bullying? This is just standard training. You’ve already awakened your talent as a Star Martial Warrior. Your physical stats far exceed those of an ordinary person, and you possess the Massive Strength talent. Honestly, even some Star Shine Stage Star Martial Warriors don’t have a physical foundation comparable to yours. When I underwent such training, I was still an ordinary person. If you can’t even withstand this level, I advise you to cancel your Star Martial Badge sooner rather than later. And don’t ever speak of wanting to become a powerful Star Martial Warrior again. A Star Martial Warrior’s achievements are ninety percent effort and only ten percent talent. Even the best talent would be wasted on you."
"Sob, sob..." Song Jia continued to hug her knees, crying pitifully.
"If that’s the case, take a rest then," Wang Lan finally couldn’t bring himself to be harsh, sighing.
"I don’t want to!" Song Jia stood up defiantly and shouted.
"Then what do you want to do?"
"Keep training!"
"Oh? So you *can* be taught!" Wang Lan said with great satisfaction, a rare note of praise in his voice.
"I don’t have any other grand ideas. I just think, sooner or later, I’m going to beat you up. I’ve never suffered a loss like this in my entire life growing up!" Song Jia declared, trying to look fierce but only managing an adorable pout. Wang Lan found her expression highly amusing.
Such a child. Just too stubborn to admit defeat verbally.
"Brother, I understand what you mean about synchronizing intent and body, so the body moves with intent, but how do I actually do it? Isn’t there a gentler, more convenient way?"
"Ever heard of the startle reflex?" Wang Lan’s mouth curved into a mischievous smile.
"What startle reflex?"
"It’s like this—" Suddenly, Wang Lan pointed a finger toward Song Jia’s feet. An arc of electricity flashed, instantly spreading beneath Song Jia’s feet. Instantly, Song Jia leaped up, retreating six or seven steps.
"Brother, what are you doing? That could kill someone—"
Children have an innate fear of lightning.
"See? Didn’t you dodge pretty quickly that time? When startled, people react in one of two ways: they either freeze up, or they dodge quickly. That quick dodge is the mind-body synchronization I’m talking about. In that state, do you still have time to ponder whether to dodge or not? But you can’t rely on being startled to achieve this mind-body synchronization during training or combat. You need to remember that state: your body poised and ready, yet your mind exceptionally calm and clear..."
Suddenly, Wang Lan stopped speaking as Xiao Ai’s notification chimed in his ear, "Wang Lan, Wang Qianfeng has arrived."
"Practice the basic movements for now; I’ll be right back."
「At the elevator entrance」
Wang Lan met Wang Qianfeng, who wore a grave expression. Seeing that look, Wang Lan’s heart lurched.
"Wang Lan, I just received news. Everyone in the Zhenjiang King Mansion has been massacred."
"The Zhenjiang King Mansion... I remember now, Yu Ruohuai is the heir apparent of the Zhenjiang King Mansion... Wait, Uncle Wang, you don’t suspect me, do you?"
"You’ve been in Suzhou City these past few days, so it naturally couldn’t have been you. However, the massacre at the Zhenjiang King Mansion is one of the biggest cases in recent decades," Wang Qianfeng said with a heavy expression, leaving Wang Lan rather baffled.
Wang Lan felt no sympathy for the Zhenjiang King Mansion. Although the truth about his aunt’s stabbing was now clear—that the Yu Family wasn’t involved—if it hadn’t been for the problems with Yu Ruohuai, how would his aunt have attracted the Demon Clan’s attention?
So, hearing this news, Wang Lan felt no particular emotion. He didn’t feel like laughing; he was simply indifferent.
"The Zhenjiang King Mansion was full of experts, including a Titled Strongman and twelve Star Sea Stage masters. Yet, they were all slaughtered in a very short time, without even a chance to raise an alarm. Six hours had passed after the massacre at the Zhenjiang King Mansion before it was discovered. Although I didn’t see the scene myself, the information has already been relayed to me. According to the evidence at the scene, it was the work of a single individual. Most victims were killed before they could even react."
"Is Uncle Wang suggesting... you want me to investigate?"
"You investigate? Aren’t you afraid the Yu Family will eat you alive? This incident has already alarmed the Qing Emperor. I came to tell you something important: the Demon Clan is making a big move. This expert is assessed to be no weaker than any of the Five Emperors. And I can’t fathom why anyone would annihilate the Zhenjiang King Mansion at this time, other than to vent their fury. There aren’t many in Jade Country who can defend against such an expert."
Hearing this, Wang Lan instantly understood. Is he targeting my aunt? Then he shook his head. "That’s not right either. Wiping out the entire Zhenjiang King Mansion... isn’t that just a warning for us to make preparations? If I were a member of the Demon Clan, I would have targeted my aunt for assassination first."
"I don’t understand it either. As for Wang Qi... you’ll have to protect her personally."
"Understood. I’ll bring my aunt here immediately. I won’t leave her side for a moment until she’s in a safe place."
「Meanwhile, at the Zhenjiang King Mansion」
Qing Emperor Yu Qing had also arrived. "Are the autopsy reports ready?"
"They’re ready!" Yu Ruoyun said, holding a file. "The injuries on all the bodies are very strange and terrifying. Their eardrums were ruptured, their brains turned to pulp, and all their internal organs had burst, yet their skin showed no external damage whatsoever. That’s why all the bodies showed bleeding from the seven orifices. But the most baffling part is that the guards of the Zhenjiang King Mansion seemed completely unable to move at the time."
"Unable to move?"
"Correct! Several Star Sea Stage experts had clearly reacted, at least aware of an enemy attack, yet they were killed before they could make a single counter-move. The killer apparently entered through the front gate and killed everyone they encountered, proceeding straight to the rear courtyard. Not a single soul in the entire Zhenjiang King Mansion was left alive."
"Qing Emperor, the perpetrator was utterly ruthless! Since ancient times, it’s been said that killing should have its limits; annihilating an entire family is an act that even Heaven cannot condone. Even during the imperial era, no past emperor ever ordered the ’extermination of nine relations.’ Yet now, such a massacre has occurred within our own Yu imperial clan. This isn’t just about a blood debt that must be repaid in kind; we must seek vengeance tenfold! What do you say we should do?"
"Great-Uncle, we haven’t even identified the killer. Even if we demand blood for blood, we have to find the person first, don’t we?" Yu Ruoyun frowned, unable to hold back his words.
"Not many people held grudges against the Zhenjiang King Mansion. And those who would dare, and are capable of doing this to them, are even fewer. Do we truly need to search for the killer?"
"Oh? Uncle, are you suggesting..." Yu Qing raised an eyebrow, asking doubtfully.
"Who else could it be but the Flame Emperor? She has always been erratic and merciless when she holds power, and she’s done plenty of outrageous things in the past. She never considers the consequences. Her sister suffered such a grievous loss; annihilating the entire Zhenjiang King Mansion to avenge her is exactly the kind of thing she’d do. The Zhenjiang King Mansion was formidable. To silence them so completely that they couldn’t even send out a single alarm—only five individuals in all of Jade Country are capable of such a feat. If it wasn’t the Flame Emperor, could it have been the Xuan Emperor, the Ming Emperor, or Emperor Bai?"
"The Flame Emperor? Impossible!" The Qing Emperor immediately shook his head in denial. "When the Flame Emperor strikes, her power is like a raging inferno."
"Qing Emperor, if you say it’s her, then it’s her! If she denies it, then let her find the true culprit to prove her innocence."
Hearing this, Yu Ruoyun’s face darkened. "Great-Uncle, are you deliberately trying to stir up trouble? Will you only be content when Jade Country is plunged into chaos?"
"Those who incite chaos in the nation shall be executed! But we cannot simply accept this loss. Our aim is to use this as leverage to reclaim some benefits. Besides, the number of people in Jade Country capable of this is limited to that small group. If it wasn’t one of them, then it must be those experts Jade Country has secretly cultivated. Don’t think I’m unaware that Number One possesses a list of ’Dark Swords.’"
"Uncle, do you genuinely not know who it is, or do you know and are deliberately trying to slander someone?" The Qing Emperor stared intently at the elder who was speaking.
"While I don’t know precisely who it is, the culprit is undoubtedly within that circle! Qing Emperor, are you implying the perpetrator isn’t from Jade Country? That would be interesting. How would a foreign expert of such caliber enter Jade Country? And why travel all this way just to annihilate the Zhenjiang King Mansion?"
"Uncle, do you think Paradise Bird could have evaded the International Security Council’s suppression campaigns for decades and continued to stir up trouble if they didn’t possess some trump cards? The culprit made no attempt to hide his identity. His name is Sony."
"Sony? A citizen of the Eastern nation?"
"No. Although that’s his name, he has never spent any time in the Eastern nation. You don’t even know of him? It seems... you haven’t paid attention to international affairs or figures for a very long time. Sonic—Sony. He’s the fastest person in the world and also Paradise Bird’s most renowned master. Ten years ago, Wang Ling and I joined forces to pursue him. We pursued him for a month, but he still escaped. This shows how difficult he is to deal with."
"Someone from Paradise Bird? Why would Paradise Bird target the Zhenjiang King Mansion?"
"Paradise Bird is an enemy to the entire world. It’s not surprising for them to target anyone. Furthermore, Paradise Bird is an organization of human traitors. They revere the Demon Clan as the Divine Clan. Do we even need to question their motives for such an act?"
"Ruoyun, you’re mistaken," the Qing Emperor shook his head. "Have you noticed Yu Xuzuo’s eyes?"
"Eyes?" Yu Ruoyun looked toward Yu Xuzuo, who sat in the main seat, long dead, yet his eyes remained open. Suddenly, Yu Ruoyun’s expression changed. "His eyes are unfocused. Was he already mentally unhinged when he died?"
"The Demon Clan hasn’t given up. They extracted information about the Raw Jade from Yu Xuzuo. This time, I shall personally escort the Raw Jade."
