To the mortal world outside the Daoist School, a month might just be a few sunrises and sunsets, a bit of neighborhood gossip.
But for the new students who had just entered the Prefecture Daoist School, this past month was the beginning of a complete transformation.
Chu Bai, dressed in a bluish-gray student’s long robe with a Gray Talisman identity token hanging from his waist, walked out of his room with a calm expression.
The area around the rooms was still quiet at this hour. Occasionally, a few early-rising Spiritual Cranes would preen their feathers in the woods, letting out crisp calls.
For this past month or so, his routine had been as precise as clockwork.
From 7:00 AM to noon was the inviolable General Knowledge class.
In the spacious and bright classroom, Chu Bai systematically learned about the vastness of the Cultivation Realm for the first time.
He learned that beyond the Great Zhou’s Seventy-Two Prefectures lay the endless Barbaric Demon Realm. He learned that in addition to orthodox Daoist Cultivators, there were Body Cultivators who achieved the Dao through martial arts, fringe sects that commanded ghosts and spirits, and the dreaded Demon Dao, whose very name struck fear into people’s hearts.
"Spiritual Medicines are categorized by their properties and age. Take this Red Blood Ginseng, for example. If its fibrous roots turn purple, it’s considered graded. It becomes resistant to Mortal Fire and must be refined with Spiritual Fire..."
"The art of Talismans requires you to begin your stroke like a drifting cloud and end it like a clap of thunder. This one stroke for the Soul-Suppressing Patterns—if you draw it even slightly askew, you’ll be lucky if the Talisman is merely ruined. In the worst case, it will explode in your face..."
Chu Bai sat before his desk, his Wolf Hair Brush flying across the paper as he took notes.
Back in Anping County, he had been studying in isolation. He only ever heard bits and pieces of this knowledge from Daoist Zhang.
It wasn’t that Daoist Zhang lacked the knowledge or was unwilling to teach him. It was simply that their main goal back then had been the Daoist School’s entrance exam; there was no spare time to delve into these subjects.
After a simple lunch of Spiritual Food, it was time for Jii Yu’s instruction on Magic Techniques.
Unlike Zhou Changkong’s sternness, Jii Yu’s teaching style was more inclined toward guidance.
She wouldn’t provide step-by-step instructions on forming hand seals. Instead, she had Chu Bai feel for himself the path of Spiritual Qi as it flowed through his meridians.
"Chu Bai, your Spirit Water Needle is too rigid."
On the Martial Arts Arena, Jii Yu watched the Water Needle Chu Bai had fired and offered a quiet critique. "Water has no constant form. It is both yielding and unyielding. Since you cultivate the Guiyuan Technique, you should understand the concepts of ’inclusiveness’ and ’change.’ Try to add a hint of rotational force as you condense the Water Needle."
Chu Bai grew pensive upon hearing her words. In his subsequent practice, he tried to integrate the profound and subtle nature of the Guiyuan Technique’s Magical Power into the Magic Technique.
After countless failures and adjustments, the Water Needle was no longer just a lifeless projectile flying in a straight line, but had become as nimble as a darting fish.
Inside his room, the Spirit Gathering Array hummed softly, emitting a gentle glow.
Chu Bai sat cross-legged on his bed, his eyes slightly closed, his mind completely immersed in the world of the meridians inside his body.
The Heart Method Mantra of the Guiyuan Technique flowed through his mind over and over.
With each breath, ambient Spiritual Qi was drawn toward him. It entered his body through his pores, converged into tiny streams within his meridians, and finally flowed into the deep, cold pool of his Dantian Qi Sea.
The feeling of watching his Cultivation grow, bit by bit, was tedious yet utterly captivating.
Moreover, he also had the boon of his special Fate Chart.
A direct path, with depths unseen.
「Noon. The Daoist School Cafeteria.」
The first-floor hall was abuzz with activity. The aroma of food mingled with the students’ cheerful chatter, creating a lively, down-to-earth atmosphere.
The group of four from Room B-7 sat around a table as usual.
"We’ve been antsy for over a month! The practical combat class finally starts this afternoon!"
Chen Shi said indistinctly while shoveling mouthfuls of Spirit Rice from his bowl.
After more than a month together, the once quiet and reserved boy had opened up considerably, and a new glint of confidence shone in his eyes.
"It’s about time."
Jiang Kuo set down his chopsticks and rubbed his slightly round stomach, a look of eagerness on his face. "I’ve spent the whole month practicing the Thick Earth Technique until I know it like the back of my hand. Paired with my family’s Rock Spike Technique... Heh heh, when we get to the Martial Arts Arena later, I’ll show them what it means to be as immovable as a mountain!"
"Oh, give me a break. You’re just a turtle in a shell," Zhou Tong retorted with a laugh, then turned to Chu Bai with curiosity in his eyes. "What about you, Chu Bai? Ever since I heard you were the Top Scholar, I’ve been dying to know just how much progress you’ve made."
"Yeah, Brother Chu, you’ve been the most diligent one in our dorm this past month. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you idle, even at night," Jiang Kuo chimed in.
Chu Bai swallowed a bite of vegetables and smiled humbly. "I’ve made a little progress, that’s all. But I’m seriously lacking in practical combat experience. If we happen to face each other later, I hope you’ll all go easy on me so I don’t lose too embarrassingly."
"Pfft—"
The three of them let out a collective jeer.
"Yeah, right!" Zhou Tong rolled his eyes. "The Top Scholar asking *us* to go easy on him? Who’d believe that?! You’re just... what’s the phrase... playing the pig to eat the tiger!"
They bantered back and forth, the atmosphere light and friendly.
Taking advantage of a moment while sipping his soup, Chu Bai focused his mind inward and summoned the status panel he hadn’t checked in a long time.
[Name: Chu Bai]
[Realm: Qi Cultivation First Layer (16/100)]
[Cultivation Technique: Guiyuan Technique (Mastery 27/500)]
[Skill: Spirit Water Needle (skilled 78/200)]
[Acquired Fate Chart: ...]
Looking at the new lines of data, a sense of solid reassurance washed over Chu Bai.
In just over a month, his Realm progress had gone from 5 to 16, an increase of more than ten percent! Compared to his time back in Anping County, the speed was like the difference between night and day.
This was partly due to the superior environment provided by the Daoist School’s Spirit Gathering Array, but the more critical factor was the transformative effect of his Guiyuan Technique returning to the Mastery Level.
When he first switched techniques, his progress had dropped back to the ’skilled’ level. However, relying on his previous foundation and the intense grind afforded by his [Non-stop Rushing] Fate Chart, he had managed to push it back to the Mastery Level just half a month ago.
At the Mastery Level, the Guiyuan Technique absorbed Spiritual Qi with far greater efficiency than before.
Of course, there was one more crucial point.
It was the improvement brought by the Fate Chart.
Chu Bai could feel it. Ever since acquiring the [Nourishing and Exquisite] Fate Chart and supplementing his diet with meat, his innate talent had been steadily improving.
’And...’ Chu Bai thought, sensing the Magical Power flowing within him. As his Cultivation rose, the once-dominant [Purifying Power] was gradually being diluted. In its place was a purer, more substantial [Pure Qi].
Although it lacked the innate purification effect and the Water Element bonus, this Attributeless Magical Power’s strength lay in its neutrality and balance. It circulated without the slightest hint of sluggishness, as responsive as a limb.
’Is this the meaning of "Guiyuan"—returning to the origin—in the Guiyuan Technique?’
Chu Bai mused to himself. Over the past month, he had learned a great deal about Spiritual Qi in his General Knowledge class.
The bodies of most Cultivators actually contained trace amounts of various Exotic Spirit Energies, but for the sake of efficiency, they would almost always focus exclusively on one type.
The Guiyuan Technique, however, didn’t seem to reject Exotic Spirit Energy. On the contrary, it had an all-encompassing quality, like the ocean accepting a hundred rivers.
’Perhaps in the future, if I have the chance, I can try to absorb some Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects of other attributes and see if I can form some kind of balance in my body like Jiang Kuo...’
Just as he was thinking, Zhou Tong suddenly pointed toward the second floor with an envious look. "Man, if we had enough Daoist Merit, or plenty of Spirit Stones, I’d love to go up to the second floor and try their Entry-Level Spiritual Cuisine."
"I hear the Red Blood Demon Beef they serve up there is so good that one meal is worth three days of bitter cultivation! And it’s supposed to taste incredible!"
Chu Bai followed his gaze and saw a Restriction placed at the entrance to the second floor. Only a few wealthy students ever went up. It was another tier on the ladder of resources.
"Don’t worry!" Jiang Kuo declared with a magnanimous wave of his hand. "When I break through to the Qi Cultivation Second Layer, the old man at home will be so pleased he’s sure to give me a reward. When that happens, it’s my treat. I’ll take you guys up there for a real feast!"
"So generous, Boss Jiang!"
"That’s what we were waiting to hear!"
Chu Bai smiled and nodded along, but he made a mental note. ’Here at the Daoist School, making money is just as important as cultivation.’
The daily meals in the cafeteria were free, and there was really nothing else to spend money on day-to-day.
But whether for Spiritual Cuisine or for future access to the upper levels of the Scripture Pavilion, that hard currency was indispensable.

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