Inscriptions Reflected

The faintest pale light of dawn crept across the eastern horizon, gently tracing the outline of Listening Tide Courtyard from the darkness.

Chen Yuan slowly awakened from his deep meditative state.

He opened his eyes, a sharp gleam of spirit shining within them. The mental and physical exhaustion from yesterday's cultivation of the Cold River Spirit Blade Saber Canon and practice of the "Mist Manipulation" divine ability had vanished without a trace.

In its place surged a fullness of blood and qi power, along with a clear and penetrating awareness in his Spirit Terrace.

He did not rise immediately. Instead, he habitually sank his mind into that mysterious Sea of Consciousness space.

The ancient Tidal Stele still floated silently, as if it had stood thus since time immemorial.

On its surface, a faint blue rippling light undulated like water patterns, and lines of clear, profound text emerged, reflecting his current complete status:

Realm: Skin Grinding Realm - Minor Accomplishment (32/100) (Skin toughness akin to cowhide, strength notably enhanced, blood qi and force circulation efficiency increased)

Cultivation Method: Mysterious Vortex Skin Grinding Method (Proficient) Spiral Force circulation grows increasingly smooth and natural; tempering of the skin proceeds from surface to depth, efficiency steadily rising.

Cold River Spirit Blade Saber Canon (Beginner) First stance "Cold River Reflecting Moon" has been initially grasped in its artistic conception of "stillness, roundness, unbroken continuity"; resonance with the accompanying blade "Cold Ripple" has faintly increased.

Divine Ability: Mist Walking (Initial Insight) Basic applications mastered: "Mist Barrier", "Mist Walking", "Gather Mist"; can be preliminarily combined with Cold River Spirit Blade Saber Canon to derive "Cold Mist" effect.

Skills: Basic Tracking (Beginner): Can identify common footprints and traces; Boat Handling (Rudimentary): Can skillfully control small to medium fishing vessels, handle ordinary winds and waves; Swimming (Mastery): Excellent aquatic ability, like a fish in water...

Items: Cold Ripple Blade (Low-Grade Initial Artifact): Sharp, faintly imbued with chill; Scarab Fish Secret Pouch (High-Grade Artifact, Bound): Contains: Zhao Canghai's cultivation experience notes, Crimson Blood Pill...

Tide Fortune: 10/100 (Must accumulate Tide Fortune to 100 before drawing upon it again)

His gaze carefully swept over each piece of information on the stele, giving Chen Yuan a clearer understanding of his current progress.

His cultivation base was steadily improving, especially the progress of his two main cultivation methods. Though the entry into Cold River Spirit Blade Saber Canon was arduous, it seemed slightly faster than his master had anticipated—undoubtedly the combined result of the Tidal Stele and his own comprehension.

The newly acquired divine ability was also being steadily mastered, and he had found a direction to integrate it with his own system—this would be a tremendous aid.

"Tide Fortune has accumulated another 10 points..." he calculated silently.

"It seems not only combat and breakthroughs, but also clear planning of one's path and mastery of new abilities can drive Tide Fortune growth. But at this rate... I still need more opportunities."

Withdrawing from his Sea of Consciousness, the sky outside the window had brightened considerably. He rose and went to the courtyard, beginning his unshakable morning practice.

It was still the tempering of Mysterious Vortex Skin Grinding Method.

But after yesterday's extreme refinement of saber techniques and the mentally draining divine ability practice, running this foundational method again brought new insights.

The Spiral Force seemed more obedient to his will, and the tempering of his skin felt deeper and more meticulous, carrying a penetrating nourishment.

As blood and qi surged, the rhythmic ebb and flow became more pronounced, faintly echoing the fluctuations of the Tidal Stele in his Sea of Consciousness, even slightly boosting his cultivation efficiency.

"Cultivating advanced martial arts can indeed nourish the foundation," Chen Yuan realized inwardly. "Different techniques and skills are not isolated—some may even complement each other."

After finishing his practice, his body radiated warmth. He returned indoors and solemnly took out the cultivation notes gifted by his master, Zhao Canghai, from the Scarab Fish Secret Pouch.

The paper of the notes had yellowed, the edges slightly worn, clearly often perused.

He took a deep breath and slowly opened the first page. The opening was not a specific technique, but a general discourse.

"The path of martial arts is like a boat sailing the vast sea. At first, one may borrow the momentum of wind and waves, but to travel far, one must first build the boat. The mind is the keel, the will the sail, the cultivation method the planks—none can be lacking. If the heart is not calm enough, like sudden ripples on a river's surface, how can it reflect the moon? Let those who come after be cautious and heed this warning."

Just these opening words made Chen Yuan's mind solemn.

He continued reading. The notes were extensive but clearly organized, not only detailing the cultivation barriers of the first few stances of Cold River Spirit Blade Saber Canon—"Cold River Reflecting Moon," "Lone Boat Cutting Waves"...—the techniques of force circulation, and common errors with corrections, but also interspersed with Zhao Canghai's cultivation insights and artistic conception realizations from different periods and moods, along with reflections after sparring with others.

"Seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, heavy snow. Watched the Cold River outside the city for three days, felt something in my heart. 'Reflecting Moon' is not imitating the moon, but the heart reflecting the Cold River's solitude and emptiness—only then does the blade's light reveal its 'cold' and 'stillness.' The force should be like the river's gentle ripples, arising slowly, unbroken and continuous. Avoid sudden bursts and stops."

"Fifteenth day of the first lunar month, full moon. Sparred with a steward of Mountain Carrying Sect. His strength was fierce. Used 'Undercurrent' against it, force layered three times, like hidden currents surging, breaking his fierce assault without form. But mental energy consumption was immense. This stance emphasizes intent and spirit—not to be used lightly without ample blood qi and strong mental fortitude."

"Seventh in the Province Examination! Consecutive victories. My name 'Cold Abyss Saber' is rising—excellent! But must not be complacent. Seeing the methods of various heroes this time, I realize there are always skies beyond the sky..."

"...The 'cold' of saber intent is 'calmness,' 'stillness,' 'serenity'—it is to guard a single point of clarity in the Spirit Terrace amidst chaos and combat, to see the opening first and strike down the enemy."

Chen Yuan read voraciously, closing the notes at key points to close his eyes and savor, cross-referencing with his own feelings from yesterday's practice of "Cold River Reflecting Moon." Many subtle doubts—why a certain force transition always felt sluggish, why a certain visualization node was hard to grasp—were suddenly resolved under the notes' guidance.

"So that's it! This force isn't forced through—it needs to be guided by intent, imagined as moonlight flowing, passing naturally..."

"When visualizing the Cold River, the focus should be on 'stillness' and 'emptiness,' not merely pursuing the sense of 'cold,' to capture its essence and reduce mental burden..."

"And so, my master's title 'Cold Abyss Saber' originated from the Province Examination."

He read with total concentration, his mind fully immersed in the profound saber intent and cultivation insights. Outside the window, the sun climbed higher, sunlight streaming through the lattice onto the pages, but he remained oblivious.

A whole morning slipped away in this rapt reading and contemplation.

Only when a faint hunger stirred in his stomach did he suddenly realize it was already noon.

Carefully returning the notes to the secret pouch, he felt his understanding of Cold River Spirit Blade Saber Canon had deepened another layer.

"What you get from books is ultimately shallow; to truly know, you must practice it yourself," Chen Yuan murmured, a glint of eagerness shining in his eyes. "These insights still need to be tested in real combat."

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