Shi Tao was running ahead with the ball in her hand and she would only bump it against the ground once every three steps. This was the most efficient way of dribbling without breaking the rules. She was very careful to maintain this method.
Shi Lang was also chasing after her, but what surprised him was how this little one was dodging his advances. Shi Tao was used to being chased by the rest of the people. This was a way of training devised by Amelia for her.
The students in the class all played this game to learn and create a footwork of their own. No student had the same mindset while chasing after someone or avoiding advances. The goal was to last longer.
In the game of hunt, as Amelia called it, one person was the prey while the other four were the hunters. So, when Shi Lang chased after Shi Tao alone and that too with a cultivation base that did not give her too much of a disparity.
Shi Tao was at the peak of the body refinement realm already and Shi Lang was chasing after her with the gap of one realm. The difference between the early stage of the next realm and the peak of the previous one did not matter much if the practitioner of the latter realm had the potential to jump realms.
Shi Tao had the potential to get through the differences between the realms. Shi Lang was just about to catch up to her when the girl landed on the array formation near the scoring zone allowed her to jump and then she dumped the ball in the basket.
The crowd cheered and clapped for Shi Tao, but Shi Lang did not stop and rushed forward to pick up the ball and said, “I get to start from here, right?”
Shi Tao nodded and Shi Lang rushed forward while dribbling the ball in his hand. He did not hold back and passed Shi Tao with a cleverly executed sharp turn. The young man rushed ahead while dribbling the ball every three steps. Behind him Shi Tao chased, but she was unable to keep up with his strides.
The gap he covered with three strides was greater than Shi Tao could even with the boost of the spirit arrays. Shi Lang reached the basket and performed a slam dunk. However, he did not receive any cheers.
Not that he cared but in the eyes of his soldiers, he was a demon while his daughter was an angel reincarnated. Shi Tao adopted the strategy used by her father and grabbed the ball as soon as it landed and then she ran to the opposite end of the court to put the ball through the hoop.
Shi Lang was prepared this time and he defended very neatly, however, Shi Tao was not going to play by ordinary tactics, she turned her back to him while dribbling, and then she suddenly pushed the ball from between Shi Lang’s legs while she ran around him to catch it.
This move was something Shi Lang did not expect and was caught off guard. The little one caught the ball and then she used the jump boost array to dunk the ball.
The game continued in this manner, the people were surprised that Shi Lang was unable to keep up and was behind two points. During one of his counters, Shi Tao used the jump boost array and caught the ball over the hoop and then cleverly turned this chance into her own glory.
…
After the game was finished Shi Tao won by one point. Shi Lang sighed and said, “How many laps do I have to run, Tao?”
Shi Tao smiled and said, “Hundred. Can you do it?”
Shi Lang smiled and said, “Little brat, do not forget that you will have a stronger opponent the next time.”
Shi Tao stuck out her tongue and Shi Lang looked at the soldier at the side, and said, “Bring me a set of spirit-blocking shackles.”
The soldier nodded and rushed to grab a pair from the inventory. The Ace division was surprised and they did not expect Shi Lang to actually agree to this. They wanted to come forward and tell him otherwise. However, the shura glared at them and said, “By the time the construction of this array reaches completion, I want all of you to be in the Primordial soul realm. I will not have scared kittens in my division.”
That said, he walked to the side and asked the soldier to tie the shackles around his wrist, and then he began to run around the training ground at a moderate pace. The words he spoke did not reach Shi Tao’s ears, because the division was aware that Shi Lang would actually dismiss them from the ace division.
Despite being part of the Galactic Strike force, Shi Lang would never work with them again and all their strength had a deep connection with him. Thinking about this, they all mustered up the courage and decided to break through the realm of the Primordial soul in the coming month. They were all stuck at the peak of the Core condensation realm for past some time.
…
Shi Lang finished his hundred laps and then took off the shackles. He went to the barracks and washed himself to clean the sweat. When he came back he found Shi Lang looking at him with big eyes. He asked with a smile, “What happened?”
Shi Tao asked, “Dad, my clothes.”
Shi Lang nodded and took out the clothes from his space ring. He helped the girl dress up and then combed her wet hair gently. He said, “Did you have fun while playing?”
Shi Tao nodded and said, “A lot, though you gave me the easy way out in the last round.”
Shi Lang scooped her up in his arms and said in a gentle tone, “How can I have my already hard-working baby go through more of it? I am not a demon.”
Shi Tao giggled as he rubbed his nose against her neck. Shi Lang smiled and then tucked her in. He sang her favorite song too. The rest of the Ace division had also come inside and witnessed this scene with their eyes. Crystal was looking at all this very curiously.
Shi Lang caught her gaze and asked, “What is it?”
Crystal asked, “I do not understand how can you love someone that is not your own flesh and blood. I can sense it from the smell of blood coursing through her veins.”
Shi Lang replied nonchalantly as he adjusted the posture of the little girl in his lap, ‘Being someone of your own does not make a difference to me. I found her in a situation that I never wish for anyone to suffer.”
Crystal nodded and asked, “Boss, how long before the teleportation array can be completed?”
Shi Lang sighed and said, “Two days to clean the place, and the third day for terrain survey, I will say a total of ten days, and then the various description with the people of your world. So, a month in total.”
Crystal did not say much and went back to bed. Shi Lang also did not continue talking and began meditating. The night passed quickly and Shi Tao woke up with a silly expression on her face.
Shi Lang brushed her hair to the side, and the little one hugged him. He patted her and took her to the washroom to help her brush her teeth. Usually, Shi Tao would do this on her own, but Shi Lang spoiled her to no end. The girl got dressed after a quick shower. Then the two went to the food court to get breakfast.
Shi Tao was the angel, who won a battle against the demon last night. So, she got an extra serving of dessert. The girl showed it off in front of Shi Lang with a beaming smile. The next two days passed with Shi Lang showing his princess around the base, introducing her to other big shots.
Crystal followed the rest of the division as they all began to cultivate with great effort. The target set in front of them was not an easy task to achieve. Since they were allowed inside the parameter around the valley, they all selected the cliff summits to cultivate.
After two days when the debris and the trash were cleared, Shi Lang arrived at the spot with Shi Tao on his tail. He surveyed the terrain and used his spirit cultivation to level the ground evenly. He was faster than a machine and much more efficient at stomping big areas.
He looked for Crystal and asked her to inform her people that the array setup will not commence. The other side replied with a yes, and Shi Lang started working. Shi Tao also learned a lot of things beside him as he explained everything he knew about setting up spirit arrays.
He told her that this information must not be leaked to anyone so that she was able to understand his methods, or this may cause some strong guy to take advantage of her and harm the federation. After, seven days, Shi Lang was placing a formation core when the sky turned dark.
He looked around and said, “Good.”