59 Zooming Through

Whoosh!

The distance that Shi Li traversed with just one complete [Flame Bursting Step] shocked a lot of the other participants that gave up midway on the endurance test. All of them looked at Shi Li as if he was some sort of monster that was still holding back.

As for the clan members that were given preferential treatment, excluding Shi Shisi and Shi Daoliang, at the moment they heard the sound of a huge gust of wind being created, they couldn't help but look at where it came from and look at the distance Shi Li traversed with shock.

As for Shi Li, he didn't hesitate to use it once more as he moved his feet like blades slashing down with his full strength.

Bang!

Only for it to fail.

Whoosh!

Nonetheless, the distance that Shi Li traversed was still better than the distance traversed by the incomplete form of his [Flame Bursting Step], being twice as far when compared to his incomplete [Flame Bursting Step].

Shi Li looked at this situation and couldn't help but mumble to himself, "Eh? Why did it not work this time?"

Continuing to execute [Flame Bursting Step] at every chance he could get, he could execute the full form of the [Flame Bursting Step] around 30% of the time, with the remaining 70% being only the movement needed to execute it but not the full effect.

Thinking about it, Shi Li knew the crux of his problem. "Since my feet are mostly used to being flat on the ground, having them move in a curved position is new for my feet. Hence, I can't show the full form of [Flame Bursting Step] every time."

At these moments, Shi Li's motivation shot up and let out a soft chuckle. "Since I have no other way to go about raising my proficiency in an instant, it can only be done in one way."

"Re. pe. ti. tion!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Having an ecstatic and motivated aura around him, Shi Li grew more and more proficient in executing his newly-created [Flame Bursting Step], with each step even being slightly faster than the last.

With him grasping the full form of the [Flame Bursting Step], it wasn't surprising for Shi Li's speed to rise up exponentially, which mean that his speed in clearing laps grew as well, placing him at an above average number of 74, considering the fact that Shi Shisi, the fastest out of the 10 chosen clan members, had already cleared 77 laps.

More and more participants dropped out of the endurance test midway at around 25 laps left before the full 100 laps, with 26 participants giving up, leaving only 42 participants that stayed strong. Of course, the 10 chosen clan members were still clearing laps like cutting tofu.

...

On one of the highest seats within the clan arena, Shi Xingwan looked at his son's progress in creating a new movement technique and couldn't help but be shocked at his son's speed.

"Considering the fact that it takes around 5 minutes for a normal participant to clear a lap, it only took Shi Li around 5 hours to successfully create it?"

Shi Xingwan couldn't believe it. "His aptitude is definitely shocking, if his progress were to be known by the other clans, it will definitely force them to wipe out our clan."

Of course, Shi Xingwan already knew that his clan was in a small town, it wouldn't be hard for the other clans to obtain information on the happenings within the Shi clan. Nonetheless, he would try to keep Shi Li's progress a complete secret.

Releasing multiple dozen strands of qi towards the six Elders of the Shi clan and the clan members that held esteemed positions within the clan, Shi Xingwan imbued each and every strand of qi with the same message.

"Looking at Shi Li's current progress in the Novice Tournament, I beseech all of the Elders and all of the clan members to keep Shi Li's progress a secret."

Not long after, Shi Xingwan released a few more strands of qi, specifically six strands, towards the Elders of the Shi clan.

"An additional announcement to the Elders. Do you remember our plans before? We will hold another meeting in the Ancestral Hall once the Novice Tournament ends. Our topic will be of course, revising the contigency plans we've devised in preparation for the Huang clan's attack."

"We need to add Shi Li's progress in the variable."

...

And so, the final laps that remained until a full 100 laps were finished, were done within a few more hours, as more participants gave up midway. Some gave up around the 80th lap, some around the 90th, and some persevered until the final lap.

Of course, the 10 chosen clan members finished it without a hitch.

Since Shi Shisi was the fastest out of the chosen clan members, it was a given that he would finish 100 laps first. He was then followed by Shi Daoliang, being extremely proficient in his movement technique. As for third place...

Surprisingly, it was Shi Li.

As the laps continued to be cleared, the feeling of treated his feet as blades became more and more familiar to happen, allowing his chances of activating the full form of [Flame Bursting Step] to increase as a lap followed by another was cleared.

Shi Li's current chances of activating the full form of [Flame Bursting Step] was currently at 85%, and he planned to improve that rate to 100% since he didn't want it to be unreliable.

All in all, a total of 21 participants cleared the full 100 laps, with the 11 participants that consisted half of the chosen 21, panting their lives out near the raised platform.

At these moments, Shi Xingtai looked at the 21 participants that cleared the 100 laps with a smile on his face. He then turned his head to face Shi Li, to which he let out a serious gaze, that was instantly concealed not long after with a light smile.

Since he received Shi Xingwan's message in an instant due to him being the presider of the Novice Tournament, he had a premonition that Shi Li would be an important asset to fighting against the Huang clan.

Noticing that he was overthinking, he let out a soft sigh. 'Why am I thinking of my nephew as a strategic tool of the clan? Hah...although I want the clan to be safe, he's a human like me first and foremost.'

'Anyways, we'll talk about it in the meeting later.'

Lightly coughing to grab the participants' attention, Shi Xingtai snapped his fingers as the Shi clan members of the Martial Adept stage shone lights towards the center stage, as the sun was already starting to set.

He then started to talk. "To all of the participants, you did your best in this test and I hope you do better next year. Don't stop pursuing the pinnacle of strength."

"Anyways, the second test has preferential treatment as well, just like the first test. Well...not really preferential treatment, but a reward."

"For those who finished 80 to 89 laps, they will get a Calming Mind Pill that would slightly boost their cultivation speed."

"For those who finished 90 to 95 laps, they will get a Marrow Tempering Pill, boosting their cultivation speed by a good amount."

"And for those who finished 96 to 100 laps, the clan won't be stingy at all with your rewards! The clan will reward all of you each with a Spirit Gathering Pill, the best Grade 0 Cultivation Pill within Verdant Breeze Town!"