Autumn in Anping County was deepening. The morning dew soaked the tops of his shoes, a chill seeping deep into his bones.
The distant mountains were veiled in a thin layer of mist, appearing hazy and mysterious.
Chu Bai stood before the somewhat worn wooden door of his home, a small, patched bundle on his back.
He watched the dim, yellow light of the oil lamp cast shadows within—the silhouettes of his parents, already up and busy. A current of warmth flowed through his heart.
He pushed open the door and gave a deep bow to his parents, who were bent over clearing the table. His voice carried a rare solemnity.
"Father, Mother. For the next month, I’ll be going into seclusion by the river to prepare for the examinations. I’m afraid I won’t be able to come home often to help."
Hearing this, Chu Xianglin stopped what he was doing. Although he was a simple, honest farmer who didn’t quite understand what Cultivators meant by "seclusion," he knew his son was doing something important—something that could change their fate.
He nervously rubbed his calloused hands on his apron and forced a simple, supportive smile. "Go on, go on. Your mother and I can handle the work in the fields. Don’t you worry. We have enough to eat at home, and your younger brother and sister are sensible enough to help out a bit."
Li Qing, who was busy by the stove, hurried over. Cupping a still-steaming cloth bundle in her hands, she pressed it into Chu Bai’s arms without taking no for an answer. The bundle was warm, carrying a mother’s unique care.
"These are the flatbreads I just made. I put some diced cured meat inside. Take them for the road. Don’t be frugal out there. Eat when you should eat, drink when you should drink. Your body is your capital. If you need anything at all, even if it’s the middle of the night, you just come back and get it."
Chu Bai felt the heavy warmth of the bundle in his arms, and his eyes grew a little hot.
He nodded, his voice a bit hoarse. "I understand. Take care of yourselves, Father and Mother."
After bidding his family farewell, Chu Bai turned and strode away without looking back.
He knew that only by pressing forward relentlessly could he live up to their profound expectations.
Having temporarily left his miscellaneous classes at the academy and requested a month’s leave from the Zhao Mansion, he was now free from all distractions. He had entered a state of extreme focus that bordered on madness.
On the Sanmu Riverbank, deep within a patch of reeds.
This place had become Chu Bai’s private Martial Arts Arena.
The river murmured, and the reeds swayed in the wind with a soft rustle, like nature’s own accompaniment.
"Condense!"
Chu Bai stood at the bow of a small boat, rocking with the waves. With a low cry, he pressed his right index and middle fingers together and pointed into the void.
Magical Power surged from within him like a river bursting its banks, rushing to his fingertips. In an instant, three eerie blue Water Needles formed, hovering in the air. They emanated a bone-chilling cold, and the surrounding air seemed to condense slightly from the chill.
"Go!"
With a flicker of his Divine Sense, the three Water Needles shot out like arrows loosed from a bowstring, carving three eerie blue arcs through the air.
Two of the Water Needles precisely pierced a withered yellow reed leaf as it drifted down from the sky. The leaf was penetrated before its trajectory could even change.
But the third, due to slightly weaker control, lost its aim mid-air and struck a piece of driftwood on the water, exploding into a fine mist.
Chu Bai’s brow furrowed slightly. Watching the mist dissipate, he didn’t feel discouraged. Instead, a fiercer fighting spirit ignited in his eyes.
’Using my mind for three things at once is still a bit of a stretch. Dividing my Divine Sense is like playing an instrument; there can’t be the slightest delay or deviation.’
He had been practicing nonstop during this period.
From barely being able to condense a single Water Needle that required a three-breath charge-up time, to now being able to instantly manifest and control three at once, his progress was already incredibly fast.
But it wasn’t enough.
In the Daoist School selection, combat ability was king.
If even one Water Needle went out of control during a battle, it could mean the difference between life and death. A true expert had to have Microscopic control over every shred of Spiritual Power.
He sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to replay his mistake over and over in his mind.
’That last attempt... it was because my Spiritual Power output was unstable. The third Water Needle lost momentum, and my Divine Sense was half a beat too slow to follow...’
After a moment of adjustment, Chu Bai stood up again, a sharp glint in his eyes.
"Again!"
Another three Water Needles condensed.
This time, he was even more careful. His Divine Sense wrapped around each Water Needle like a tentacle, feeling its subtle vibrations, as if the three needles were extensions of his own fingers.
Back and forth he went, the morning flying by in a blur of tedious, high-intensity practice.
He was forced to stop only when the last trace of Magical Power in his Dantian was drained, and the debilitating sensation of empty meridians, dizziness, and exhaustion washed over him like a tide.
His face was pale, his forehead beaded with cold sweat, and his body swayed slightly.
With his current Magical Power reserves at the Qi Cultivation First Layer, he could probably sustain five full-power Spirit Water Needles.
To maintain his training efficiency, he limited himself to three shots each time, keeping two in reserve as a trump card for emergencies. After all, there was no guarantee that strange fish was the only thing in the Sanmu River.
’Time to take the pill.’
Chu Bai took the cyan porcelain bottle he treasured so much from his robes and tipped out a Qi Recovery Pill that gave off a faint, herbal fragrance.
The Pill was perfectly round and smooth, with a verdant green luster. A single glance told you it was no ordinary item.
He tilted his head back and swallowed it.
The Pill entered his stomach and dissolved into a gentle yet immense current of heat that rapidly refilled his parched Dantian.
The sensation of going from utter emptiness to sudden fullness was like cracked earth receiving a timely rain. Although it was accompanied by the slight, aching pain of his meridians being forcibly expanded, what followed was an indescribable feeling of comfort and fulfillment, as if every cell in his body was cheering with joy.
’This extreme push-and-pull is agonizing. Every time I’m depleted it feels like I’ve died and come back, but the results are truly remarkable.’
Chu Bai could feel his meridians growing tougher and wider with each cycle of contraction and expansion, and he rejoiced inwardly.
This Resilience meant that among Cultivators of the same level, he possessed greater explosive power and longer-lasting stamina—an invisible asset others could only envy.
After resting for a short while until most of his Magical Power had recovered, Chu Bai’s gaze fell upon the calm surface of the river.
’I’m hungry. Perfect time to practice my aim.’
He stood up, his gaze sweeping over the water’s surface like a hawk’s, searching for any sign of prey.
The water’s refraction would offset the target’s position, and the fish were agile swimmers. This was far more difficult than hitting stationary reeds or drifting leaves; it was an extreme test of his predictive abilities.
Suddenly, the water ahead rippled. A fat carp leaped from the surface, seemingly to snatch a fallen insect, its scales reflecting a silvery light in the sun.
’Now!’
Chu Bai’s eyes narrowed. With a flick of his right index finger, his movement was as fast as lightning.
Three Water Needles shot out in a triangular formation, cutting off all the carp’s escape routes.
With a soft sound, the central Water Needle precisely pierced the carp’s belly, drawing a splash of blood. The carp didn’t even have time to struggle before it flipped over, its white belly floating to the surface, bobbing gently with the ripples.
"A hit!"

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