"Fuck you! Let me reiterate, this is just a misunderstanding! Is this never going to end? Is it?!"

"Zheng Jituo, don't say it! Really, don't! It seems we really can't get past this!"

"Zhang Beixing, I'll fucking get you, you son of a—"

Amidst the swearing match between Zhang Beixing and Zheng Jituo, time quietly advanced to noon.

Zhang Beixing declined Zheng Jituo's invitation to go down the mountain for a meal. After putting away the ingredients bought from the market, he walked over to the windproof stove to light a fire.

After simply preparing a super-sized portion of cured meat fried rice for himself, Zhang Beixing finished it all.

He put out the fire, then washed the pot and dishes.

As per his routine, he first warmed up by practicing the Hidden Force version of the Northern Sect's Eight Pieces of Brocade.

Then he picked up his spear and began practicing the Yue Family Spear technique.

After several days of intensive martial arts training, Zhang Beixing's Yue Family Spear technique had finally been raised by him to Great Accomplishment +30.

Despite that, he still hadn't managed to produce the Piercing Gale.

But he wasn't in a hurry because he knew that achieving the Piercing Gale required arduous practice, and arduous practice meant slow, steady effort.

If he couldn't achieve it in one day, he would practice for a week.

If not in one week, then for a month.

After all, he was in the midst of summer vacation. He might not have anything else, but he had plenty of time!

After practicing the Yue Family Spear technique four times, Zhang Beixing's understanding of the spear method improved even further.

He sat down and rested for half an hour, snacking on something.

Once he felt his exhaustion lessen from severe to moderate, Zhang Beixing put the spear aside. He walked into the nearby waterfall to train, bracing himself against the pressure and pain brought by the fierce Lily Waters.

But halfway through, a sudden thought struck Zhang Beixing.

If practicing Yue Family Fist under the waterfall proved so fruitful, what would happen if I practiced the even more powerful Hidden Force version of the Northern Sect's Eight Pieces of Brocade in the same conditions? What would that be like?

Out of curiosity, Zhang Beixing began to try.

Then...

There were no more "thens."

The Lily Waters, impacting his body, brought pressure and pain, and also disrupted Zhang Beixing's resonance frequency.

The problem was that this interference lacked any pattern. It was so disruptive that Zhang Beixing couldn't even smoothly perform the first form of the Hidden Force Northern Sect's Eight Pieces of Brocade—"Lifting Earth to Support Heaven." Under the impact of the Lily Waters, his Qi, Blood, and Hidden Force all collapsed due to the vibrations.

He had to stop training to avoid harming himself.

"Looks like I have to stick with the Yue Family Fist after all!" Zhang Beixing muttered to himself, then switched back to the Yue Family Fist and continued his practice.

「July 14th, Friday.」

It had been ten days since Zhang Beixing came to West Yin Mountain for martial arts training.

Aside from going down the mountain once on July 6th to buy supplies, he spent the rest of his time living on the mountain, with nature as his companion.

Breathing fresh air every day and watching the sun rise and set, Zhang Beixing's spirit grew increasingly relaxed. He began to truly enjoy this lifestyle, a return to nature.

This change in his state of mind, in turn, made his demeanor even more transcendent.

As he practiced martial arts, his insights also grew deeper.

To describe it in more scholarly terms, it was as if he had achieved "Unity with Nature."

SWOOSH—

With his spear in hand, he unleashed the Yue Family Spear's ultimate skill, Long River Sunset. As he looked at the leaves trembling and RUSTLING, stirred by the airflow from his spear, Zhang Beixing felt it.

My Yue Family Spear technique should be considered mastered!

To verify this thought, he took out the candle he had prepared earlier, lit it, and placed it on the table.

Then, holding the spear, he stood a meter away.

Staring at the small, burning candle flame, Zhang Beixing closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He gathered all his Essence, Qi, and Spirit, as if to concentrate them into the spear in his hand. Then, he made a spear flourish and aimed at the candle.

"Go!" Zhang Beixing called out softly.

The spear in his hand suddenly shot out like a silver snake, with unstoppable momentum, straight towards the candle.

But when it was about half a palm's distance from the candle, it abruptly stopped.

WHOOSH—

A soft sound was heard.

An invisible gust of wind, the Piercing Gale, burst from the trembling tip of the spear, striking fiercely at the flame burning on the wick.

POOF—

With a soft sound, Zhang Beixing looked intently. He saw that under his spear thrust, the candle, which had been burning brightly, seemed to be hit by a violent wind. It flickered violently and then immediately went out.

Wisps of white smoke rose from the wick.

At the same time, the System's voice also rang in his ear.

[Detection confirmed: suggestion completed—Piercing Gale, Sword Intent and Blade Qi (Reward: 3 Ability Points)]

[Suggestion reward dispensed, current Ability Points owned by master: 51.1]

[Progress for Piercing Gale, Sword Intent and Blade Qi has been refreshed]

As for 'Sword Intent and Blade Qi,' that's clearly an exaggerated phrase for effect and not to be taken literally. After all, such things are too mysterious and can't be achieved without becoming Transcendent. Therefore, the core of this suggestion was the 'Piercing Gale'!

I've finally made it!

It had taken over a month since Zhang Beixing received this suggestion, but he had finally completed the [Piercing Gale, Sword Intent and Blade Qi] task!

This filled Zhang Beixing with immense joy, even though he had just expended a good deal of his Essence, Qi, and Spirit and felt somewhat fatigued after that spear thrust.

Because now, every time he practiced the Yue Family Spear technique, he would earn a full three Ability Points!

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