Warm sunlight filtered through the cracks in the windows, casting delicate, scattered patches of light across the neat room. Inside, a young boy sat cross-legged in a wooden basin, his hands joined in a strange gesture before him, eyes closed, breathing steadily and evenly. The basin was filled with a clear, jade-colored liquid that shimmered faintly, reflecting subtle glimmers as it gently swayed—remarkably magical. With each breath, the boy’s chest rose and fell gently, in a rhythmic pattern. As the duration of his meditation lengthened, the jade liquid in the basin began to emit a soft, pale flow of qi, tinged with a gentle green hue, rising slowly and finally flowing into his body with each breath. As the qi entered, the boy’s youthful face suddenly radiated a lustrous, warm glow, like that of fine jade. Sensing the steadily growing abundance of his combat energy, a faint, contented smile bloomed on his face. After tasting the benefits, the young one did not cease his efforts. His eyes remained closed, the handprints on his skin unchanged, his mind deeply focused and his breath steady, maintaining the optimal state of cultivation, greedily absorbing the gentle energy from the azure liquid. The azure liquid seeped into his skin, threading through pores and gradually nourishing his bones, cleansing his meridians... Under the young one's ceaseless absorption, an increasing flow of energy drifted upward from the water basin, until eventually, it began to subtly veil his bare form. The cultivation process unfolded slowly, sustained by days of tireless dedication, with the sunlight filtering through the window gradually weakening and the intense heat steadily diminishing. ... At last, the young one, with his eyes still closed, drew in the final stream of energy. His eyelashes fluttered slightly, and after a moment, his dark eyes suddenly opened. The white glow that typically flashed within them now carried a subtle hint of pale azure. Gently expelling a thick breath from his chest, the young man blinked with bright eyes, then suddenly stood up, allowing icy droplets to cascade down his body. He lazily stretched, feeling the fullness of the Du Qi that had been building within him for three years—now flowing richly and steadily—and murmured softly, almost enchanted: "At this pace, I believe I'll be able to reach the fifth stage of Du Qi within another two months..." Since the last time he had fully prepared everything, Xiao Yan had remained in his room for nearly half a month, living a secluded, simple life of quiet cultivation—except for basic needs like eating, drinking, and sleeping. Though the days of practice were somewhat monotonous, for Xiao Yan, who had endured three years of constant mockery and indifference, this was merely a small matter. The years of criticism had made him deeply aware of how crucial strength truly was on this continent. Despite the simplicity of daily life, the progress he had made through cultivation filled him with genuine joy. The elixir refined by the medicine elder possessed a potency far exceeding both Xiao Yan's and the elder's own expectations. Originally, they had anticipated that even with the elixir's power, Xiao Yan would require at least a month to reach the fourth stage of battle energy—yet he had managed to halve that time. To the medicine elder himself, this remarkable pace of cultivation was truly astonishing. While it was partly due to Xiao Yan having walked this path before, the speed was still beyond belief. To be honest, the cultivation of Qi is fundamentally challenging. It takes ten to twenty years—indeed, even more—for many to reach the initial ten stages of Qi. Of course, once one becomes a true warrior, their cultivation pace significantly accelerates. Before attaining that status, a single year might only yield one additional stage of Qi. However, after becoming a warrior, one might see several leaps in just one year. Against this stark contrast in progression, Xiao Yan's performance over the past month has truly been astonishing. Wiping away the water stains on his body, Xiao Yan casually donned a clean garment and climbed onto the soft bed. From beneath the pillow, he reached for the dark iron slab. The rust spots on the slab had been carefully cleaned by Xiao Yan, leaving the surface somewhat luminous and glowing with a subtle, mysterious radiance. Over the past half-month, aside from focusing intently on his cultivation, Xiao Yan had devoted all his mental energy to mastering the mid-tier, basic combat technique inscribed on the iron slab. Under the guidance of Yao Lao, Xiao Yan had gradually grasped the essentials of the "Absorbing Palm" technique, though due to the thinness of his internal Qi, he had yet to witness any tangible results—this did leave him somewhat disappointed. Another long stretch of silence. At a certain moment, Xiao Yan on the bed suddenly opened his eyes wide, slightly curling his right palm into a claw-like shape. Under the control of his consciousness, the thin Qi of his combat technique swiftly flowed through several specific meridians and acupoints at the palm's center, finally erupting in a strong suction. "Boom..." The blue-and-white porcelain vase on the table suddenly trembled and then fell to the ground with a crisp sound, shattering into a scattering of fragments. "Ah, though combat technique is of the supreme rank, the Qi itself is too weak—it simply can't exert much power," Xiao Yan sighed, shaking his head with a tone of resignation. "Given this effect, it seems at least seven stages of combat Qi would be required to generate a suction strong enough to pull someone off their feet." "Well, let's check the family Dueling Hall for any convenient beginner dueling techniques. This Absorption Palm won't be of much use in the near term. Now that I can cultivate Dueling Qi, I can't just keep practicing like I used to...," sighed Xiao Yan, getting off the bed, glancing at the silent black ring in his hand, then walking to the door and stepping out. After briefly adjusting to the intense sunlight, he carefully closed the door behind him and strolled leisurely along the stone path toward the back courtyard. Along both sides of the path stood lush willow trees, their vibrant greenery invigorating and refreshing. Turning down a side path, a group of girls' laughter drifted from another path. Disturbed by the sudden break in the quiet, Xiao Yan furrowed his brows, his gaze following the sound as he watched the group of girls approaching with cheerful smiles. Surrounded by several graceful young girls, a slightly charming young woman was smiling gently, her delicate charm casting a touch of self-consciousness upon the more inexperienced girls beside her. This young woman was Xiao Mei, who had recently made a strong impression on the examination square. As Xiao Yan calmly glanced at her—once a constant companion who had repeatedly called out her name—his youthful face briefly flashed a hint of disdain, and he gently shook his head before turning away without hesitation. At the very end of the path, Xiao Mei’s alluring laughter softened slightly. She noticed the young man standing not far to her left. As the setting sun poured across the sky, it bathed the young man—his arm resting against his head, his face serene—in a particularly enchanting light. A pair of eyes somewhat enchanting and captivating, fixed on the approaching youth, observing the faint curve on his young face—uncertain whether it was scorn or a smile—Xiao Mei suddenly felt a strange, inexplicable dizziness. Three years ago, that same youth often carried this mesmerizing curve at the corner of his mouth.