Chen Xu slept deeply and soundly.

When he awoke, the sun had risen high, and sunlight slanted through the window lattice.

For some reason, he suddenly felt his heart pounding like a drum.

But this heartbeat was not because he sensed any crisis—

Indeed, with Chen Xu's current tri-attribute and cultivation realm, he would naturally have a subtle sense of certain crises.

Although it might not allow him to avoid all dangers, it would provide some benefits in an invisible way.

However, this time, it was not a crisis.

But rather...

What was it?

Chen Xu placed his hand on his chest, and for some reason, looking at the sunlight passing through the window lattice, an indescribable joy and excitement surged within him.

It was as if he were indoors, yet could see the vastness of the world.

With each heartbeat, it was like breathing in the vitality of the four seasons.

And in his Sea of Literature, the literary qi within the Ink Pool unknowingly grew by half an inch.

Hmm...

Moreover, the Wu Hook floating above the inkstone had not only taken solid form but also shone with a frosty blade, faintly reflecting a bright moonlight on its edge.

The moonlight was cool like water, the blade exuded a killing aura.

Vaguely, there was even a sense of leaping out from the Sea of Literature at any moment, capable of taking an enemy's head within ten steps, or even a hundred or thousand steps, with spiritual energy surging.

What a fierce weapon!

This Wu Hook was clearly stronger than the previous night, with significant advancement.

Chen Xu had merely slept; he hadn't secretly gotten up to train in his sleep. How could his cultivation suddenly progress so much?

It's important to note that an increase of half an inch in literary qi is truly a remarkable improvement.

Chen Xu recalled some words once shared by Master Wu and could only speculate: perhaps it was due to the dissemination of his poetry and essays in the Great Li's Splendor Record that caused his literary qi to soar.

Among these works, the most celebrated by the world was the "Knight's Journey."

Otherwise, following the increase in literary qi, the Wu Hook wouldn't have solidified to such a lively extent first.

Chen Xu summoned the Wu Hook and lightly traced his finger along the edge.

Immediately, a sensation of coldness rushed over his skin, but with a thought, the chill dissipated.

The Wu Hook, born of his Poetry Spirit, naturally obeyed his will and would not harm him.

Chen Xu was about to habitually wield the Wu Hook, twirling it in his hand, when suddenly he heard a faint rustling sound from the bedside.

The little mouse had woken up!

"So cold..." A faint voice came from Ah Shi inside the Spirit Garden Pouch.

It turned out the cold glow of the Wu Hook had woken Ah Shi inside the Spirit Garden Pouch.

Chen Xu quickly retracted the Wu Hook into the Sea of Literature and, with a flash, appeared by the bedside—

Hmm, no, how did he suddenly seem to possess some mystical body technique, able to appear ahead while trailing behind?

Thinking back, Chen Xu had learned the Firewood Splitting Knife Technique, acquiring some close combat skills, but the footwork that came with the Level 2 Chopping Wood was only meant to complement the sword technique and was not independently refined.

Nowadays, Chen Xu used the Wind Summoning Skill more frequently for travel.

Yet it's not used all the time, and the Wind Summoning Skill is more suited for long-distance pursuits and lacks agility in closer quarters.

However, Chen Xu's earlier flash movement somehow resembled the scene described in the "Knight's Journey" poem, "Ten steps kill one."

A ten-step flash, like electricity in motion.

...

No, this is the influence brought about by the "Knight's Journey!"

Chen Xu's insight came quickly, benefiting from several bouts of consuming the Lotus Wisdom Soup, which invisibly heightened his perception.

It's truly wondrous; it turns out the incredible imagery contained within a poem can manifest in the poet himself as the Poetry Spirit develops.

This feeling is so intriguing, although Chen Xu didn't have the time to delve deeply into it now.

The little mouse Ah Shi, still groggy in the Spirit Garden Pouch, murmured, "So cold, Ah Shi wants to sleep, wants to eat..."

What a gluttonous little mouse, never forgetting to eat.

Chen Xu's heart softened, and he took Ah Shi out of the Spirit Garden Pouch, gently stroking it in his palm.

Seeing the tiny creature's eyelids sticking together, seemingly struggling to open its eyes, Chen Xu initially intended to use the Life-Reflected Fiend to first draw away a thread of Disease Fiend from it.

But just as the Life-Reflected Fiend was summoned, Chen Xu felt a sudden movement in his heart.

He recalled what Master Jiu had once said: as long as his literary qi was sufficient, there would come a day he could protect two demon spirits.

Chen Xu's literary qi had now increased by half an inch, which, in terms of total literary qi, already exceeded the standard of an ordinary scholar.

And the quality of his literary qi was equally high, surpassing that of common scholars.

So why not try using literary qi to nurture the little mouse?

Chen Xu cradled little Ah Shi in his left hand and covered it with his right.

With a movement of heart and spirit, literary qi surged within the Sea of Literature.

"All things bear yin and embrace yang, surging qi creates harmony."

Chen Xu recited, as gradually, a bit of Vast Qi emanated from his heart, flowing to his palm, enveloping the little mouse with sunlight-like warmth.

Ah Shi, originally curled up trembling in Chen Xu's palm, felt the Disease Fiend churning out from its belly, wreaking havoc within its tiny body.

In the past, this painful clash of Disease Fiend wouldn't last long, as Chen Xu could promptly use the Life-Reflected Fiend to absorb it.

Then Ah Shi could briefly wake, eat something, or play with Chen Xu for a bit before sleeping again.

But this time, Chen Xu didn't use the Life-Reflected Fiend; instead, he enveloped Ah Shi in literary qi.

"I am skilled at nurturing my vast qi...this qi, immense and unyielding, flourished between heaven and earth."

As he slowly chanted, the literary qi in his palm was grand yet gentle.

And this very gentle covering of literary qi unexpectedly managed to wear down, disperse, and successfully drive out the Disease Fiend running amok within Ah Shi!

"Interacting with the spirit of heaven and earth."

"In an empty room, white arises, auspicious omens appear..."

Vast Qi was like a bright light.

Unlike the Life-Reflected Fiend, which directly and decisively absorbed the Disease Fiend, the fiendish qi dispersed by Chen Xu's Vast Qi melted like snow in the sunlight.

Once melted, it turned into flowing streams, becoming the energy of vitality.

They dispersed into the little mouse's body, unbeknownst to it, so that Ah Shi's previously feeble body seemed to gain a trace of strength.

"Ah!" A tiny startled cry suddenly interrupted the chanting.

Chen Xu raised his right hand, and Ah Shi suddenly bounced up from his left palm.

Bam!

But Chen Xu's hand-raising wasn't quick enough; the little mouse, leaping three inches high, bumped its head into Chen Xu's right palm.

Ashi instantly landed back onto Chen Xu's palm, sitting dazedly.

The little creature sat dizzily in Chen Xu's left palm, looking up in a confused manner at Chen Xu. As it looked, it rubbed its eyes with small paws, muttering:

"Why do I feel like I've been through winter and suddenly it's spring?"

Ahem, Chen Xu couldn't help but laugh.

Forgive his impoliteness; it truly wasn't meant as mockery towards Ah Shi.

It's just endearingly adorable.

He said, "Ah Shi, having entered spring, do you feel much better?"

Speaking, Chen Xu took out a Red Vermilion Robe, feeding it to Ah Shi's mouth.

Ah Shi wriggled its nose, joyfully clutching the Red Vermilion Robe.

Just then, footsteps could be heard approaching from outside the room.

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