This Is What a Cultivation Prodigy Is

After looking over Cloud Sword Palace's mountain gate and roughly familiarizing himself with the route, Xiao Rang took Lin Heng—whose meal had settled and who seemed much more energetic—back to the Cloud Sword Palace Main Hall.

There, beside Lin Heng's bedroom, a study had been specially prepared for him. It was filled with books, and his lessons would take place there.

"This character is 'Lin,' and this character is 'Heng.' Together, they are your name."

Xiao Rang wrote the two fairly complex characters on a small blackboard and pointed to them as he spoke.

The writing and language of this world differed greatly from those of Lin Heng's previous life. As someone living a Second Life, Lin Heng needed to learn the written language all over again.

But this was not particularly difficult for Lin Heng. Every additional point of Comprehension was a qualitative transformation. With sixteen points of Comprehension in his previous life, he already possessed Photographic Memory and the ability to draw inferences from one instance to another. Now that his Comprehension had reached twenty, it was even more outrageous.

Xiao Rang only needed to teach him a character once, and Lin Heng could learn it and write it back correctly.

Xiao Rang had originally prepared himself to slowly work through it with Lin Heng, but he had not expected him to learn so quickly. In the span of a single morning, Lin Heng had mastered all ten thousand-odd commonly and uncommonly used characters. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing were no longer problems.

This delighted Xiao Rang. Teaching a genius who learned everything at a glance was truly comfortable; the positive feedback of being a master was completely maxed out.

"Master, I've finished learning all the characters. What do we learn next?"

Lin Heng reluctantly put down his paper and brush. This kind of efficient learning not only gave the teacher powerful positive feedback, but also made him feel wonderful. It gave him the satisfying sense that he was becoming better and better.

Unfortunately, he had not possessed this kind of learning ability in his previous life. Even his sixteen points of Comprehension had been accumulated over a lifetime of knowledge and experience, leaving him neither exceptional nor ordinary.

If he had been this smart in his previous life, he would at least have become a great scientist leading the age.

"No rush. We will study again tomorrow. This afternoon, Master will take you fishing."

Xiao Rang refused Lin Heng's request.

Although Lin Heng felt that he could keep studying and was in high spirits, his body was still weak. An unmistakable weariness had already surfaced on his handsome little face.

After all, only a few days had passed since Lin Heng suffered the ravages of Li Hen Pavilion's Blood Pool and Tiger Wolf Medicine. He had only just clawed his way back from death.

He needed to rest well that afternoon and recover his body so that he would have the energy to continue studying the next day.

Lunch was still Emerald Rice Porridge. After finishing a bowl, Lin Heng took a two-hour nap. Then Xiao Rang brought him to a small pond behind the Cloud Sword Palace Mountain Gate. Using specially made bait to chum the waters, Xiao Rang set up his gear and began fishing.

"Heng'er, this pond is filled with Blue Whisker Fish raised by your Martial Uncle Zhang Ya. Not only do they replenish qi and blood and strengthen one's foundation and essence, they are especially delicious."

"Today, your master will catch a few and make dinner for the two of us."

Xiao Rang spoke with a smile.

Lin Heng nodded, looking forward to the delicacy.

Lin Heng already thought Emerald Rice tasted excellent, yet Xiao Rang had only considered it passable.

Even Xiao Rang found these Blue Whisker Fish delicious. Just how good could they possibly taste?

After that, one of the master and disciple fished while the other watched from the side.

As Xiao Rang fished, he occasionally told Lin Heng little stories from his travels through the Jianghu, using them to shape Lin Heng's outlook on life.

Lin Heng's values had long since taken shape, so Xiao Rang did not influence him much. Still, he listened with great interest, using the stories to understand this unfamiliar world, and did not find it boring in the least.

Yet by the time the sun set, the fish basket was still empty.

Xiao Rang was so enraged that he directly began blasting fish with his vast inner force.

In any case, Lin Heng still got to drink delicious fresh fish soup that night.

The next day, after a nourishing breakfast, they resumed their lessons.

That day's lesson covered the foundations of cultivation: understanding the Human Body's Meridians and Acupoints. After his afternoon nap, Lin Heng was once again taken by Xiao Rang to wander around the mountain gate.

This time, master and disciple did not go fishing. Instead, they went to the summit of Cloud Sword Mountain to pick a Spirit Fruit called the Red Dragon Fruit.

Besides being sweet, this Spirit Fruit also replenished qi and blood and strengthened one's foundation and essence.

Over the following period, Lin Heng settled into a regular life. Every day, he received Xiao Rang's personal instruction, learning all sorts of cultivation-related terms, understanding the taboos that required attention in cultivation, and acquiring the knowledge of identifying poisons and medicines needed for traveling the Jianghu.

Then he would eat and wander about everywhere, getting to know the various Martial Uncles and Martial Uncles of the Cloud Sword Palace, as well as the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters under their tutelage.

Being good-looking was indeed an advantage. Lin Heng's twenty points of Charm meant that people basically never disliked him. He became a familiar face throughout the sect, and everyone knew that he was Xiao Rang, the Sect Master's Direct Disciple.

Quite a few Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters knew that Lin Heng was physically weak, so they deliberately gave him many Spirit Medicines and Spirit Fruits that replenished qi and blood and strengthened his foundation and essence, for him to carry as little snacks.

In the blink of an eye, half a year passed.

Although Lin Heng had not officially begun cultivating, color gradually returned to his handsome little face, once pale as cold jade. He no longer often felt weak or cold, and perhaps his constitution had recovered to the normal person's level of five points.

It was also at this time that Xiao Rang taught Lin Heng a Sword Art.

"This is a martial art used by our Cloud Sword Palace to lay the Foundation Establishment, called the Cloud Sword Nineteen Forms. It has nineteen forms and one thousand seventy-six variations. When performed in full, it can drive changes throughout the Muscles, Bones, and Flesh, guiding the circulation of qi and blood through the entire body."

"Thus, it can train the Muscles, Bones, Skin, Membranes, and Internal Organs throughout your body, strengthen your qi, blood, and spirit, and lay the foundation for your formal cultivation of martial arts."

Xiao Rang explained.

Standing opposite him, Lin Heng nodded. With his tiny arms and legs and a short sword in hand, he focused intently on Xiao Rang's movements.

Next, Xiao Rang began demonstrating the complete Sword Art. He broke down every form and every variation, teaching Lin Heng the Sword Art along with its accompanying methods of breathing and guiding qi.

This time, Lin Heng found it even easier than learning theoretical knowledge.

With the dual boost of his powerful Comprehension and the Talent of a Cultivation Prodigy, Lin Heng's cultivation aptitude had now reached the Peak. After watching the Sword Art once, he had memorized it all, and his body began following Xiao Rang's movements.

By the time Xiao Rang finished explaining it once, Lin Heng had already followed along and performed the complete Sword Art. Though he was still somewhat clumsy, he had truly learned every move of the Sword Art and all the accompanying breathing methods for guiding qi and blood.

Afterward, Lin Heng continued practicing the Sword Art, and his movements gradually changed from clumsy to smooth.

Then, his Sword Art became increasingly proficient and fierce.

Lin Heng felt his qi and blood flowing along with the guidance of the Sword Art and his breathing. His entire body became warm, and his heart felt incomparably carefree. He wanted to continue practicing the Sword Art like this forever.

The sensation of growing stronger every moment made Lin Heng fall completely in love with cultivation.