Lu Yuling's Clear Wave Palm

"You were far too impulsive. And you actually told him about the Blood Spirit Fruit. If word gets out, aren't you afraid someone will snatch it away...?"

Inside a bright, clean, spacious room, a boy of about thirteen or fourteen wore an expression of disappointment at his failure to live up to expectations as he bluntly spoke to Li Bin before him. This boy was Zhao Feiyun, the cousin Li Bin had always bragged about, who had comprehended Qi Energy three months ago.

Among the Hundred Thousand Disciples of the Asura Sect undergoing grueling training, those who had not comprehended Qi Energy could only share a small room three to a room. But once one comprehended Qi Energy and officially entered the first level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, becoming an official disciple of the Asura Sect was as certain as a nail driven into a board. Both meals and lodging would improve. Like Zhao Feiyun, one could already occupy a large room alone.

Though the person before him was his own cousin, Li Bin did not dare talk back upon hearing those words. He merely gave an embarrassed smile. "You didn't see Zhuge Xiang's expression. Someone who hasn't even comprehended Qi Energy, yet he acted like he was worth two and a half million. Besides, you're my only relative in the Asura Sect. You have to help me."

"Don't worry. When we came to the Asura Sect, Aunt said we were to help each other. Of course I'll help you." Zhao Feiyun nodded, looking mature beyond his years, though his voice carried some helplessness. "You arranged to duel him in three days? Time is a little tight. You could have waited until after taking the Blood Spirit Fruit before making your move."

At this point, he paused slightly. Seeing Li Bin's awkward expression, he knew there was no use saying such things now, so he changed the subject. "Still, if we make good use of it, three days will be enough for you to defeat someone who hasn't comprehended Qi Energy."

"My Ghost Step has reached Entry Level over these past few months. Though you haven't comprehended Qi Energy and can't grasp its true essence, after three days of practice, someone without Qi Energy likely won't even be able to touch the hem of your clothes. Three days from now, don't hold back. The fewer people who know about the Blood Spirit Fruit, the better."

By the end, a vicious gleam had appeared in Zhao Feilong's eyes. Li Bin nodded in delight, as though he could already see Zhuge Xiang being beaten to death by his hand. "Haha! With Cousin teaching me Ghost Step, what is Zhuge Xiang worth? In three days, I'll beat him until he's crawling around looking for his teeth!"

Li Bin received Zhao Feiyun's guidance and began practicing Ghost Step in preparation for the battle three days later. Zhuge Xiang, meanwhile, went to the small lake. Without even thinking, he knew Li Bin would surely seek Zhao Feiyun's help. Zhuge Xiang did not concern himself too much with such matters. No matter whom Li Bin found to help him, all Zhuge Xiang needed to do was cultivate diligently on his own.

Why had Zhuge Xiang come to the Asura Sect? The reason was simple. He did not want to be a beggar. The Asura Sect let him eat meat and fish to his fill. If he became an official disciple of the Asura Sect, he could become a cultivator above ordinary men, take control of his own fate, and no longer fear that one day he might be beaten to death for no reason, just like the old beggar.

However, when Zhuge Xiang arrived at the small lake, his steps paused slightly. This lake was some distance from the Asura Sect's grounds and rather secluded, seldom visited by anyone. Yet today, an uninvited guest had arrived by its shore.

Her skirts drifted gracefully, her skin rivaled snow, and her figure was supple and elegant. By the lake, a young woman in a white gauze dress was cultivating. As her slender, jade-white hands moved, waves of faint blue, misty radiance emerged.

She was clearly practicing a palm technique. Her gentle palm strikes were like the rippling waters of a jade-green lake, seeping through every opening. They appeared not especially powerful, yet every movement carried linked currents of force, one ring fastening onto another. Even the sand and stones on the ground danced with that force. Anyone caught within it would likely find it difficult to break free.

"Lu Yuling?" Zhuge Xiang was slightly startled as he looked at the unexpected visitor by the lake.

Lu Yuling was a prominent figure in the Asura Sect, known to everyone. Why did the Hundred Thousand Disciples endure a year of bitter cultivation? To comprehend Qi Energy and become official disciples of the Asura Sect. Lu Yuling had successfully comprehended Qi Energy half a year ago. Among the Hundred Thousand Disciples of Zhuge Xiang's generation, she was a favored daughter of heaven, one of the foremost geniuses, brilliant as the stars.

Her graceful figure and the aura stirred by her palm technique deeply drew Zhuge Xiang's gaze. Before he realized it, she had completed the palm technique. Lu Yuling let out a long breath of turbid air, then turned her eyes toward Zhuge Xiang. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly. "You've watched for so long. Isn't it time you came out?"

Watching someone else cultivate in secret was taboo. Hearing this, Zhuge Xiang realized that he had indeed been hiding in the shadows and watching for quite some time. He walked out somewhat awkwardly, but his tone was frank and direct. "Sorry. Your palm technique had me so absorbed that I lost track of myself. I usually train alone by the lake, so I didn't expect anyone else to come here today."

"So that was it. I saw that this rarely visited lake was quiet and secluded, with abundant water vapor, making it ideal for practicing the Clear Wave Palm. I didn't expect someone had already been cultivating here." Lu Yuling's furrowed brows relaxed as she spoke with understanding.

Looking at Zhuge Xiang, Lu Yuling felt somewhat troubled. The Clear Wave Palm was a Martial Art she had only recently begun practicing. It was best cultivated when one's mind was relaxed and one was in an environment rich in water vapor. She had only discovered this little lake by chance today. Its tranquil surroundings, coupled with its abundant moisture, made it the perfect place in her eyes to cultivate the Clear Wave Palm. Yet someone had already claimed it.

By rights, she should leave, but she could not bear to give up such a fine place. This concerned her cultivation and strength. To a cultivator, what could be more important than one's own cultivation?

After hesitating for a while, unable to bear leaving just like that, Lu Yuling pondered briefly before asking, "This lake is rarely visited. It should be only you who cultivate here, right? Would you mind if I stayed and cultivated here as well?"

"Ah!?" Lu Yuling's request to remain and cultivate left Zhuge Xiang somewhat dumbfounded. "You mean you want to stay and cultivate too? But isn't it taboo to let others watch while cultivating? Besides, you're this generation's favored daughter of heaven."

She smiled, dazzlingly radiant, and shook her head. "This Clear Wave Palm is merely a Martial Art from the Martial Arts Pavilion. Anyone who has comprehended Qi Energy can find it there. It isn't some exclusive Secret Technique. What I value is how this environment benefits the cultivation of the Clear Wave Palm. It's enough so long as you don't mind me disturbing you."

"I don't mind. The place is large enough anyway." Zhuge Xiang smiled as he answered. He had no secrets on him that he feared others discovering. Besides, though this small lake was not large, it could still accommodate several people cultivating freely.

Zhuge Xiang also felt some fondness toward Lu Yuling, not merely because of her beauty and strength, but more because of her kindness. The Asura Sect was, after all, a demonic sect. Within the Asura Sect, if someone found a valuable cultivation ground, it was not strange even for fellow disciples to directly fight and seize it. The truly ruthless might even kill for it.

The Asura Sect followed the creed that strength stood above all. So long as one was strong enough, even without reason, one had reason. Lu Yuling had taken a liking to this lake's cultivation environment, yet despite her ability and status, she had no intention of taking it by force. She merely asked to remain and cultivate.

And so, another person appeared by the lakeside that had once been quiet and solitary. Still, the two remained far apart, neither wishing to disturb the other. While practicing the Qi Nourishing Fist, Zhuge Xiang would occasionally watch Lu Yuling perform the Clear Wave Palm. Her graceful figure and profound palm technique seemed to contain some mysterious law. Studying it carefully, Zhuge Xiang occasionally felt he gained some insight. When he had nothing else to do, he began imitating Lu Yuling's movements.

Though he had no Qi Energy and no manual in hand, Zhuge Xiang was merely copying Lu Yuling's movements, like someone from Handan learning to walk. Yet the Clear Wave Palm truly deserved to be called a Martial Art for combat. After learning it several times, Zhuge Xiang could feel that while his physical condition had not improved, his attacks had become more structured. The Clear Wave Palm flowed from one move into the next without interruption, far better than the straightforward punches he had used before.

Lu Yuling was immersed in cultivating the Clear Wave Palm and said nothing about Zhuge Xiang's imitation. But late at night, when both were preparing to leave, she kindly reminded him, "Your foremost goal now is to comprehend Qi Energy, not to learn Martial Arts for combat. Imitating the Clear Wave Palm may temporarily increase your fighting strength, but without Qi Energy, even the greatest Martial Art is merely a castle in the air."

"I know that. I simply have other plans." Zhuge Xiang naturally understood Lu Yuling's good intentions. But the duel three days later concerned whether he could comprehend Qi Energy. To the current Zhuge Xiang, increasing his fighting strength was more important than practicing the Qi Nourishing Fist.

His clear eyes showed that Zhuge Xiang was not merely brushing her off. Lu Yuling's gaze held some surprise. Was imitating her Clear Wave Palm actually more important to him than comprehending Qi Energy?

Presumably Zhuge Xiang would not joke with his own future. Since it concerned his secret, Lu Yuling said no more. After bidding him farewell, she drifted away. As for Zhuge Xiang, having such a beautiful woman nearby to please the eye was never a bad thing. He had secretly learned a few moves of the Clear Wave Palm, increasing his fighting strength, and with the Steel Secret Medicine he had obtained, he was even more confident about the duel three days later.

No matter how one looked at it, encountering Lu Yuling by the small lake had not been a bad thing for Zhuge Xiang. Carrying anticipation for the duel three days later, Zhuge Xiang also left the lakeside.