Time passed in a flash, like a white steed glimpsed through a crack in a door. In the blink of an eye, another month had slipped away.
"Stop."
At the sound of Daoist Zhang’s calm yet dignified voice, the four disciples sitting cross-legged in the hall slowly drew their practice to a close and exhaled long breaths of turbid air.
After round after round of high-intensity meditative breathing, fine beads of sweat dotted everyone’s foreheads and their clothes were slightly damp, yet their eyes shone with an unconcealable excitement and anticipation.
Over the past month, everyone’s progress had been plain to see.
Li Jinyuan and Wang Xiaoliu, who sat on the outside, were less talented and not exactly the ascetic types, but they had finally crossed the threshold of Qi Sensing this month.
Each had managed to accumulate their first wisp or two of Spiritual Qi. Though as faint as a candle flickering in the wind, it meant they had officially stepped through the gates of cultivation and were no longer outsiders who could only look on with envy.
Daoist Zhang rose, flicked his duster, and with a sharp gaze, began to point out the shortcomings in each person’s recent practice.
"Jinyuan, you’ve made progress these past few days, and your Qi Absorption speed has increased. However, you were too impatient in that last session. When Qi travels through your meridians, it should be like a gentle stream, a Silent Moisture. Yours, however, was somewhat superficial, like rootless duckweed.
Remember, on the path of Cultivation, haste makes waste. If you don’t build a solid foundation during Qi Introduction, you’ll pay a heavy price later during Foundation Establishment."
Hearing this, a flash of shame crossed Li Jinyuan’s face. He quickly stood and bowed respectfully. "I was wrong. I have indeed been too impatient these past few days. I will correct my ways."
Daoist Zhang nodded slightly and turned his gaze to the other side. "Xiaoliu, your aptitude is average, but your strength lies in your simple and honest nature. However, your perception of Spiritual Qi needs to be more refined. Practice the Calm Heart Spell more in your free time, and don’t let external things disturb your mind."
"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Master Zhang," Wang Xiaoliu hastily replied.
After critiquing those two, Daoist Zhang’s gaze finally landed on Gu Qinghe, a hint of approval in his eyes. "Qinghe, not bad. Your aura is stable and solid. Over this past month, you’ve accumulated sixteen wisps of Spiritual Qi. At this rate, while you won’t make it to this year’s Daoist School trial, if you continue to work diligently, you might just have a shot at next year’s Celestial Examination."
Upon hearing this, although Gu Qinghe felt a pang of regret that he couldn’t make this year’s great examination, he couldn’t hide his delight. He cupped his hands in thanks.
For a youth from a humble family like him, getting this far had already taken every ounce of his effort. To receive such an evaluation from his master was no small feat.
However, when everyone’s gazes subconsciously drifted to the green-robed youth in the corner, their eyes held nothing but pure envy, and even... a hint of despair.
"Chu Bai."
Daoist Zhang looked at his most prized closed-door disciple, his tone filled with unconcealed gratification and pride. "Twenty-seven wisps of Spiritual Qi in your body. This month, you’ve accumulated another seventeen?"
Twenty-seven wisps!
Hearing that number, even Li Jinyuan, who had always prided himself on his wealthy family and worldly experience, couldn’t help but gasp.
That averaged out to a wisp of Spiritual Qi in less than two days!
Such a speed was simply unheard-of.
While they were patting themselves on the back for gathering a single wisp of qi every three to five, or even seven to eight days, Chu Bai had already left them in the dust, so far ahead on the path that they could barely even see his silhouette.
"It’s all thanks to Master’s excellent guidance, and... I’ve had decent luck recently, and my mind has been focused." Chu Bai stood and replied humbly, his expression composed and unfazed, showing not a hint of arrogance despite his astonishing results.
’He knew better than anyone that this astonishing progress wasn’t all luck. Besides the high-efficiency conversion from his Nourishing and Exquisite Fate Chart, which turned every bite of meat he ate into pure energy, it was also thanks to the Purifying Spirit Flow on the Sanmu Riverbank.’
’That high-quality Water Attribute Spiritual Energy not only filled his Dantian but also seemed to be subtly nourishing his meridians and physique, improving his aptitude bit by bit. It was like swapping out the ordinary horses of a carriage for thousand-li steeds; the speed was naturally in a different league.’
Taking advantage of the break, Chu Bai sat down cross-legged again. With a thought, he summoned his panel.
A translucent blue screen appeared in his mind, the lines of data clearly visible.
[Name: Chu Bai]
[Realm: Qi Introduction (27/100)]
[Acquired Fate Chart: Non-stop Rushing, Unceasing Labor]
[Acquired Fate Chart: Nourishing and Exquisite, Rapid Thinking]
[Skill:]
[Small Qi Gathering Technique: skilled (135/200)]
Looking at the lines of data, Chu Bai calculated silently in his mind.
’The Daoist School selection is, at most, four months away.’
’At my current speed of one wisp every two days, gathering one hundred wisps of Spiritual Qi to break through to the Qi Cultivation First Layer before the selection isn’t a big problem. You could even say it’s a sure thing.’
’But that’s far from enough.’
Chu Bai’s brow furrowed slightly; he didn’t let his guard down because of this.
’The Daoist School selection is like an army of thousands trying to cross a single-plank bridge. They don’t just test your Cultivation Realm, but also your Practical Combat Techniques. If I barely manage to break through to the Qi Cultivation First Layer, with just a reservoir of Spiritual Qi but no time to practice even one offensive Magic Technique, I’ll just be a living target who only knows how to meditate.’
’What’s more, this year’s Chief Examiner is the notoriously strict ’Iron Face’ Magistrate Zhao. Under him, having a high Realm but no practical skills is a surefire way to fail.’
’I have to be faster. I need to leave at least a month, maybe even more, to focus on an offensive Magic Technique and get familiar with actual combat.’
His gaze fell on the proficiency level of his [Small Qi Gathering Technique].
’In a little while, this basic Cultivation Technique will break through its current ’skilled’ level and enter the next stage. Based on how the panel works, a Skill breakthrough usually brings about a qualitative change. When that happens, my cultivation speed is bound to have another explosive increase!’
’Besides the Cultivation Technique breakthrough, there’s also the Sanmu River...’
Chu Bai mused. He had been cultivating in the reeds along the bank, and while the effects were significant, he was greatly affected by the weather and environment. And as his perception of the Purifying Spirit Flow grew sharper, he had a faint feeling that the Spiritual Qi in the center of the river was even denser and might even have some kind of source.
’If only I had a boat to go deeper into the river...’
Once this thought arose, he couldn’t suppress it.

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