Guidance

[In the midst of fierce battle, you experienced an epiphany. Blessed inspiration struck, and you used the method of the fourth layer of the Water Essence Art to drive the Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist, producing an extraordinary transformation. You unleashed an attack capable of contending with an Entry-tier Martial Skill.]

[Your understanding of the Water Essence Art has improved slightly. Your Water Essence Art proficiency +17.]

[Your understanding of the Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist has improved greatly. Your Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist proficiency +103.]

[You successfully fused the fourth layer of the Water Essence Art and the Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist. You have learned a Combination Skill: Collapsing Mountain Modified.]

Cultivation Method:

Water Essence Art: (fourth layer: 28/10000 (+17))

Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist: (Great Accomplishment: 832/1000 (+103))

Ultimate Skill:

Collapsing Mountain Modified: (???/???)

Deep within Zhang Qingyuan's mind,

lines of text appeared on the panel,

while changes also occurred within him.

A new category had appeared: Ultimate Skills.

However,

Zhang Qingyuan had no mind to pay attention to any of that.

At this moment,

he was following behind Headmaster Liu,

walking slowly through the deep woods of Chaoyang Peak.

"Qingyuan, it has been nearly two years since you entered the Seventeenth Branch, hasn't it?"

On the path,

Headmaster Liu walked forward at an unhurried pace as he spoke.

"Over these two years, I have not paid you much attention. You do not blame This Seat for that, do you?"

Zhang Qingyuan followed behind him,

matching his every step.

"I would not dare. Dean, you oversee the Seventeenth Branch; that alone is already the greatest care you can give us disciples. Without your guidance, Qingyuan fears he would not have reached his current level."

Those words

came from Zhang Qingyuan's heart.

Though Headmaster Liu had usually devoted more guidance and attention to the Top Students of the Separate Courtyard,

during the lectures held every three months, he had always fulfilled his duties conscientiously, explaining his own cultivation insights from the True Essence Realm one by one to aid the Seventeenth Branch disciples in their cultivation advancement.

If not for Headmaster Liu's past lectures,

where he often spoke of the many difficulties one might encounter while cultivating in the Spirit Essence Realm,

as well as matters such as breaking through bottlenecks and increasing cultivation speed,

giving Zhang Qingyuan immense reference and comparison,

then even now, Zhang Qingyuan would likely still have been struggling in the Mid Spirit Essence Realm.

As for whether it was fair,

the same words applied:

they were not his parents,

and this world had never been fair to begin with.

Nor was Zhang Qingyuan the only one subjected to such unfair treatment; there were countless other lower- and middle-ranked disciples of the Separate Courtyards as well.

That was reality.

Rather than blame heaven and resent others when treated unfairly,

it was better to cultivate diligently until one reached a level where others could treat them "fairly."

"Qingyuan,"

seemingly hearing the calm acceptance in Zhang Qingyuan's words,

Headmaster Liu came to a halt,

then turned around,

and looked Zhang Qingyuan up and down.

"You are quite good!"

This praise

was sincere and wholehearted.

From the time Zhang Qingyuan defeated Yao Ping until now, he had remained neither arrogant nor impetuous, keeping his heart steady. He had not developed any airy thoughts merely because of one battle that had made him shine so brightly.

Looking back at his past experiences,

his temperament had always been exceptionally stable,

and his Dao Heart resolute.

Even if such a cultivator's talent and luck were somewhat lacking, he would not fade into the crowd along the Dao Path ahead.

"Dean, you praise me too highly."

Zhang Qingyuan lowered his head slightly and spoke humbly.

"Excessive humility is arrogance."

Headmaster Liu waved a hand,

signaling that there was no need for such behavior.

"I recall that you are merely a collateral branch descendant of a small Lineage within the sect's sphere of influence. After joining the sect, the assistance you received from your Lineage has been barely better than nothing."

"To have reached your present level is entirely due to your own resolute Dao Heart and unceasing effort."

Hearing this, Zhang Qingyuan felt a trace of embarrassment in his heart.

In truth,

if he had not possessed the Golden Finger that was the Proficiency Panel, allowing him to regularly see the extent of improvement from his diligent cultivation,

he probably could not have achieved this much either.

After all, Zhang Qingyuan in his previous life

had merely been slacking off.

When one could not see the results of one's efforts,

it was perfectly normal for cultivation to slacken.

However,

although this had something to do with his Golden Finger,

today's achievements were also inseparable from his own efforts.

Thus, Zhang Qingyuan could still accept the praise calmly.

"This Seat sees that the Water Essence Art you cultivate has already reached the fourth layer, correct?"

Though the words were phrased as a question,

Headmaster Liu's tone was certain.

Zhang Qingyuan's mind tightened slightly.

He knew

the real purpose of this trip had arrived.

What came next should be Headmaster Liu's personal guidance.

Zhang Qingyuan focused his mind and replied,

"Yes, Dean."

As expected,

Headmaster Liu nodded.

"Very good. Even among the Outer Sect's hundred thousand disciples, there are not many who can cultivate the Water Essence Art to the fourth layer."

"Although this Cultivation Method may seem unremarkable in its early stages, merely granting somewhat deeper Spirit Essence than ordinary cultivators possess, once it reaches the fourth layer, it will undergo an enormous improvement."

"I imagine you have already felt the changes that the fourth layer of the Water Essence Art has brought to the Spirit Essence within the body. I will not say much more about that."

"The main matter is the directions you must pay attention to in cultivation. The Water Essence Art is one of the most foundational and widely spread Cultivation Methods of our Cloud Water Sect. When the Founder established the sect in those days, he created several profound Cultivation Methods that pointed directly toward the Great Dao with his lofty vision. The Cloud Water Art was one of them, refined and simplified from it."

Beneath the shade of the trees,

Headmaster Liu began to earnestly instruct Zhang Qingyuan.

This

was profound knowledge concerning cultivation after the fourth layer of the Water Essence Art. It had never been covered in the usual lectures, nor had there been any need to cover it, because no one in the entire Seventeenth Branch had been able to cultivate the Water Essence Art beyond the fourth layer.

Headmaster Liu's guidance

allowed the doubts Zhang Qingyuan had developed after reaching the fourth layer of the Water Essence Art to suddenly become clear.

Many of the difficulties he had encountered in past cultivation were essentially resolved.

He gained much insight.

[You received Headmaster Liu's guidance regarding the subsequent cultivation of the Water Essence Art. You suddenly saw the light and understood a question you had previously failed to grasp. Your Water Essence Art proficiency +7.]

[You received Headmaster Liu's guidance and gained insight. Your Water Essence Art proficiency +2.]

[Your Water Essence Art proficiency +1.]

Line after line of text

continued to emerge upon the Data Panel in Zhang Qingyuan's mind.

The reason his improvement was so rapid

was that Headmaster Liu was personally guiding him. With the insight of a True Essence Realm expert, he could naturally see at a glance the problems Zhang Qingyuan encountered during cultivation.

This effect

was utterly different from lectures given to everyone at gatherings.

Let alone,

after three years of tireless effort, through repeated and tedious cultivation, Zhang Qingyuan's accumulation had long become incomparably deep.

Once Headmaster Liu offered a few pointers,

his thick accumulation burst forth in a thin stream.

His understanding of the Water Essence Art, along with his proficiency in other Martial Skills,

naturally rose rapidly.