Mentor's Guidance: Take the Shorter Road

Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy lay under a veil of morning mist.

Lin Fan crossed the main campus road, paved with bluestone slabs, and headed toward the teachers' offices. Many students he passed cast complicated looks his way—curiosity, admiration, and a hint of envy they couldn't quite hide.

"Look, that's Lin Fan, the freshman competition champion."

"I heard he smashed Wang Hao's Golden Scale Armor. Is that true?"

"The Wang Family sent someone to negotiate with the academy yesterday, demanding that Lin Fan be severely punished for 'deliberately injuring a fellow student.'"

"Please. Injuries are inevitable in an arena match. The Wang Family just can't take a loss."

The comments drifted by on the breeze. Lin Fan's expression remained calm, his pace unhurried.

He was long accustomed to talk like this.

The path of martial arts was built on climbing over other people's failures. If you were strong, people talked about you; if you were weak, you weren't even worth talking about.

What mattered more to him now was the message Teacher Zhang had sent through the academy's communication talisman the night before:

"Come to my office tomorrow at the hour of the snake. There are some things about the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art that I need to explain to you in person."

The tone had been formal.

Lin Fan guessed it might have something to do with what Old Man Li had revealed yesterday. That skill seemed to conceal secrets even the academy's senior leaders didn't fully understand.

As he passed the mission hall, Lin Fan slowed.

Through the open carved wooden doors, he could see that quite a few students had already gathered inside. The enormous mission board was plastered with densely packed commissions: hunting Demonic Beasts, gathering medicinal herbs, escorting merchant caravans, investigating anomalies...

Each mission listed its Academic Credit reward and danger rating.

Lin Fan's eyes swept over several lucrative commissions:

[Investigate Demonic Beast disturbances in Black Wind Valley (Danger Rating: Area C, Upper)] Reward: 300 Academic Credits

[Gather the 3rd Tier spirit herb 'Frostheart Lotus' (Danger Rating: Area B, Lower)] Reward: 500 Academic Credits

[Assist the military department in clearing a small Beast Tide east of the city (Danger Rating: Area B, Middle)] Reward: 800 Academic Credits, 10 military contribution points

Area B missions involved dangers that only a 3rd Grade Martial Master could handle. With his current strength, Lin Fan could just about attempt an upper Area C mission, but Area B... was still beyond him.

"I'm not strong enough yet." Lin Fan sighed and looked away.

Right now, he needed two things most: time and resources.

He needed time to cultivate and resources to sustain his cultivation.

And he could get both by completing missions. Academic Credits could be exchanged for cultivation resources and time in special facilities, while actual combat would also improve his proficiency.

"I'll take a mission after I've met with Teacher Zhang." Having made up his mind, Lin Fan continued toward the offices.

The teachers' offices stood in the academy's northeastern corner, a row of three-story blue-brick buildings with upturned eaves and an antique charm.

Teacher Zhang's office was on the far eastern end of the second floor. Outside its window stood a century-old ginkgo, its leaves golden and rustling in the morning breeze.

"Knock, knock."

Lin Fan knocked on the door.

"Come in," Teacher Zhang called.

When Lin Fan stepped inside, the office was filled with the faint scent of ink.

Teacher Zhang sat behind a wide rosewood desk, an old bamboo manuscript spread before him and a wolf-hair brush in hand. He seemed to be making annotations.

When he saw Lin Fan, he set down the brush and pointed to the chair opposite him. "Sit."

Lin Fan did as he was told.

"Have some tea." Teacher Zhang pushed a white porcelain cup toward him. The tea was clear, steam curled from its surface, and a refreshing fragrance filled the air.

Lin Fan took a sip and immediately felt invigorated. Even the fatigue left over from last night's cultivation faded considerably.

"This is Clear Heart Tea, made by roasting 2nd Tier spirit leaves called Calm Heart Grass. It helps settle the mind and nourish the spirit," Teacher Zhang explained. "Cultivating the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art will take a heavy toll on your mental energy, so you can drink this regularly."

"Thank you, Teacher." Lin Fan took another sip.

Teacher Zhang studied him, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Your aura... is much steadier than it was yesterday. Have you entered the art?"

Lin Fan nodded. "I tried cultivating last night and was fortunate enough to get started."

"Fortunate?" Teacher Zhang smiled. "Old Man Li came to see me yesterday and said your talent for cultivating skills might be even greater than we imagined. Normally, it takes seven days to a month to enter the first revolution of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art. You managed it in a single night..."

He paused, his expression turning serious. "But I have to warn you: quick progress isn't necessarily a good thing."

Lin Fan set down his teacup and sat up straight. "I'm listening, Teacher."

Teacher Zhang took a thick notebook from his desk drawer, opened it to a page, and slid it over to Lin Fan.

The page showed a complicated map of the human meridians, covered in densely marked red dots and blue lines.

"This is the complete route for the first revolution of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art." Teacher Zhang pointed to the diagram. "Look here, and here. These branch meridians are extremely fine and fragile. When you circulate the art, Vital Energy will force its way through them to expand their capacity."

"The process is extremely painful, and it carries risks. If your meridians can't withstand the impact and are damaged, the consequences could be as mild as leaking Vital Energy and losing cultivation, or as severe as your meridians being completely severed and you becoming crippled."

Lin Fan studied the diagram, comparing it with what he'd felt during last night's cultivation.

Indeed, circulating Vital Energy through those branch meridians had caused the most intense swelling pain.

"That's why Old Man Li gave you the Spirit Locking Pill," Teacher Zhang continued. "If you feel anything wrong with your meridians, take one immediately and stop circulating the art. Remember, cultivation isn't about risking your life. If you lose your life, you lose everything."

"I understand," Lin Fan said respectfully.

"One more thing." Teacher Zhang tapped several acupoints on the diagram. "Tanzhong, Sea of Qi, Mingmen... These major acupoints are the core nodes of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art. Each time you advance one revolution, you need to condense a Profound Origin Seal in each of them."

"Condensing a seal takes an immense amount of Vital Energy and blood essence. At your current level, it'll be difficult even to form a complete seal for the first revolution."

Lin Fan's heart stirred. "You mean...?"

"I mean don't be greedy for quick progress." Teacher Zhang met Lin Fan's gaze. "I know you're talented and hardworking, and that you want to spend all your time cultivating. But the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art is different from a Mortal Tier Skill. It's not something you can advance just by piling on the hours."

"You need to lay a solid foundation and take it one step at a time. Each time you advance a revolution, you have to refine your current realm to perfection, temper your body to its limit, and build up your Vital Energy until it's saturated. Only then can you withstand the impact of the next revolution."

"Otherwise," Teacher Zhang said more firmly, "it's like building a high-rise on a weak foundation. The taller you build it, the faster it'll collapse."

Silence settled over the office.

The ginkgo leaves rustled outside the window. A few golden leaves drifted down and clung to the glass.

Lin Fan was quiet for a moment, then looked up at Teacher Zhang. "Teacher, what if... my foundation is already very solid?"

Teacher Zhang paused. "What do you mean?"

"My Iron Body Skill has already reached perfection," Lin Fan said evenly. "My physical strength should be no weaker than that of a 3rd Grade Martial Master. After taking Body Tempering Pills and entering the art, my Vital Energy Cap has also reached 500. Is that foundation solid enough?"

The teacup in Teacher Zhang's hand wobbled, and the tea nearly spilled.

"Your Iron Body Skill... has reached perfection?" He stared fixedly at Lin Fan. "How long have you been training? Three months? Four?"

"Three and a half months," Lin Fan answered honestly.

Teacher Zhang took a deep breath, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed his temples.

"Three and a half months to perfect a Mortal Tier Top Grade body-tempering skill... Do you know what that means?"

"I don't, Teacher."

"In the 120 years since Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy was founded, the record for perfecting the Iron Body Skill was seven months and three days," Teacher Zhang said slowly. "The student who set it was here thirty years ago. He later became a Martial Ancestor and is now a Lieutenant General in the Huaxia Alliance Military Department."

"And you cut that record in half."

Lin Fan said nothing.

What could he say? That he had a system and could grind his proficiency endlessly?

"No wonder..." Teacher Zhang murmured. "No wonder you could smash the Golden Scale Armor. No wonder you dared to choose the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art... You've been hiding quite a lot, young man."

Lin Fan smiled wryly. "I didn't mean to hide it, Teacher. It's just..."

"You didn't want to draw too much attention. I understand." Teacher Zhang waved a hand. "The tallest tree catches the wind. You did the right thing."

He rose and went to the window, watching the ginkgo leaves drift down. For a long while, he remained silent.

"Lin Fan," Teacher Zhang said suddenly. "Do you know why I've taken special care of you?"

"Because... my potential is decent?"

"There are plenty of talented students at the academy. Every one of the Genius Class students is one in a hundred." Teacher Zhang turned around, his gaze deep. "I look out for you because I see my younger self in you."

"You, Teacher?"

"I came from the Slum District too." Teacher Zhang smiled, but there was a world-weary quality to it. "My parents were ordinary workers. We had no resources and no connections. The only way I got into Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy was by pushing myself to the limit."

"I used to be just like you. I slept three hours a day and spent all the rest of my time cultivating. If other people practiced a skill once, I practiced it ten times. If they practiced a martial technique ten times, I practiced it a hundred."

"I thought that as long as I worked hard enough, I could change my fate."

Lin Fan listened in silence.

"I did change part of my fate." Teacher Zhang returned to his desk and took a wooden box from a drawer. He opened it.

Inside lay a dark golden medal engraved with a sword and a shield crossed over each other. Beneath them, four tiny characters read "Huaxia Military Department."

"This is the Medal of Valor the military department gave me when I graduated." Teacher Zhang ran his fingers over its surface. "I killed a 4th Tier Demonic Beast despite being only a 3rd Grade Martial Master, saving a Hunting Group that had been surrounded."

Lin Fan felt a deep respect for him.

Killing a 4th Tier Demonic Beast while crossing an entire Major Realm was almost unthinkable. The danger must have been immense.

"But I paid a price." Teacher Zhang put down the medal and rolled up the sleeve of his left arm.

A gruesome scar ran from his wrist to his elbow. It was purplish-black, as if something had corroded it.

"The Demonic Beast's venom left this behind," Teacher Zhang said calmly. "I saved my arm, but the meridians in it were half-ruined. They could never again withstand the circulation of Vital Energy at high intensity. My cultivation stopped forever at the 4th Grade Great Martial Master level. I could never advance another step."

Lin Fan's heart jolted.

"That's why I'm telling you not to rush or risk your life." Teacher Zhang lowered his sleeve and sat back down. "The path of martial arts is long. There's no need to win a moment's advantage. Build a solid foundation and stay alive; only then can you go farther."

"I'll remember, Teacher," Lin Fan said solemnly.

Silence fell over the office once more.

Teacher Zhang took a sip of tea, then suddenly asked, "When you cultivated the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art last night, what did you feel besides pain?"

Lin Fan thought for a moment. "My Vital Energy became purer and circulated faster. It also fused more closely with my body. And... it seemed to temper my body automatically?"

"Profound Origin Qi," Teacher Zhang said with a nod. "That's one of the core properties of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art. The art produces Profound Origin Qi as it circulates, subtly strengthening the body, meridians, bones... It's slow, but continuous, and it has no side effects."

"However," he continued, changing tack, "how quickly it produces Profound Origin Qi depends on your proficiency with the art. You've only just entered it, so the amount you produce is negligible. You'll need to reach Minor Accomplishment at the very least before you see a noticeable effect."

Lin Fan's heart stirred. "Teacher, is there a way I could reach Minor Accomplishment in the first revolution as quickly as possible?"

Teacher Zhang frowned. "Are you trying to rush again?"

"I'm not trying to rush." Lin Fan chose his words carefully. "I just feel that since I've already built a solid foundation, I should improve my skill level as quickly as possible. The higher the skill level, the stronger the Profound Origin Qi. That, in turn, would further strengthen my foundation. It's a virtuous cycle."

Teacher Zhang stared at Lin Fan for a long moment, then suddenly laughed.

"You've got quite the answer for everything." He shook his head. "Still, you're not wrong. When your foundation is solid, appropriately speeding up your cultivation can indeed create positive feedback."

He pulled a thin booklet from the bookshelf and handed it to Lin Fan.

"Several seniors at the academy who cultivated the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art left behind these notes. They record techniques for speeding up cultivation, along with precautions to keep in mind. Take it home and have a look."

Lin Fan accepted the booklet and opened to the first page. Neat, delicate script read:

"Core principle of the first revolution: stability. Do not seek speed; let time and patience do their work, advancing slowly..."

A typical conservative viewpoint.

"Don't jump to conclusions," Teacher Zhang said, as if he had read Lin Fan's mind. "Turn a few pages."

Lin Fan flipped to the middle of the booklet, where the writing had grown bold and unruly:

"To hell with slow and steady! In the struggle of martial arts, stand still and you fall behind! Charge through the first revolution like a thunderbolt! It hurts? Good! How else are you supposed to grow stronger?"

"This old man reached Minor Accomplishment in the first revolution in three months and the fifth revolution in five years, becoming a Martial Ancestor! Those who preached 'slow and steady' are still spinning their wheels at the second and third revolutions!"

Lin Fan's eyes lit up.

This style suited him.

"These notes were left by Senior Mad Saber," Teacher Zhang said. "He reached the highest level of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art in the academy's history: the sixth revolution, at the 7th Grade Martial Emperor level. He never managed to break through to the seventh revolution, but his methods were still clearly viable."

Lin Fan kept flipping through the booklet.

The following pages presented several more approaches. Some advocated supplementing cultivation with pills, others favored training in special environments, while still others recommended using high-intensity combat as a stimulus...

The methods varied widely, but they all had one thing in common: speed.

"All of these methods carry risks," Teacher Zhang warned. "Senior Mad Saber's approach was the most aggressive, but also the most dangerous. Of the twelve students in his group who cultivated the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art, only three survived. The other nine either suffered cultivation deviation or had their meridians completely severed."

Lin Fan closed the booklet and drew a deep breath.

"Teacher, I want to try Senior Mad Saber's method."

Teacher Zhang wasn't surprised. "I knew you'd choose that one. But you have to agree to two conditions."

"Please tell me, Teacher."

"First, come see me every day. I'll check your progress and physical condition. If I notice anything wrong, you stop immediately."

"Second..." Teacher Zhang took another small jade bottle from his desk drawer. "This is a Vessel Protecting Pill, an Earth Tier Low Grade pill. It can protect your meridians and reduce damage from the impact. Take one before cultivating each day. I have thirty here, enough for a month."

Lin Fan accepted the bottle, a warm feeling rising in his heart.

"Thank you, Teacher."

"Don't thank me yet." Teacher Zhang waved a hand. "Senior Mad Saber's method comes down to one word: charge."

"Use powerful Vital Energy to force its way through the skill's circulation route, especially the fragile branch meridians. Each impact will bring intense pain, but it can also rapidly expand the meridians' capacity and improve circulation efficiency."

"In theory, if you can bear the pain and have enough Vital Energy to sustain you, you could reach Minor Accomplishment in the first revolution in a short time."

"But the prerequisite," Teacher Zhang emphasized, "is that your body and meridians really can take it."

Lin Fan tightened his grip around the jade bottle. "I want to try."

"Then give it a try." Teacher Zhang sighed. "But remember, stop immediately if anything feels wrong. The Spirit Locking Pill and Vessel Protecting Pill should keep you safe when used together."

"Also," he added, "Senior Mad Saber's method consumes an enormous amount of resources. How much did you use in last night's cultivation?"

Lin Fan answered honestly. "A pound of 2nd Tier Demonic Beast meat and one slice of blood ginseng."

"Using Senior Mad Saber's method, you may need..." Teacher Zhang frowned. "Five times that, maybe even ten."

"Can you afford it with your current Academic Credits and finances?"

Lin Fan smiled wryly. "No."

"Then you'll have to take missions." Teacher Zhang thought for a moment. "I have an Area C, Middle mission on hand. The pay is decent, and it isn't too dangerous. Would you like it?"

"What's the mission?"

"Escort a medicinal-herb caravan to Qingmu Town and back. Three days in total. The reward is 200 Academic Credits, plus an extra 100,000 Huaxia Coins from the caravan." Teacher Zhang continued, "The caravan belongs to Hundred Herbs Hall. They have a good reputation and won't cheat you out of your pay. Their security captain is an old friend of mine and will look after you."

Lin Fan's eyes lit up.

Three days, 200 Academic Credits, and 100,000 Huaxia Coins.

It was a generous reward.

"I'll take it," Lin Fan said without hesitation.

"Good. I'll register you." Teacher Zhang took out a mission scroll and began filling in the details. "The caravan leaves early tomorrow morning, so you still have time to prepare today. Remember to bring plenty of food and medicine. The road may be dangerous."

"Also," he said, looking up at Lin Fan, "I'll have Chen Dahu and Sun Wanting go with you. They're experienced and can help."

Lin Fan nodded. "Thank you for making the arrangements, Teacher."

By the time he left Teacher Zhang's office, it was already a quarter past nine.

Sunlight pierced the thin mist and spilled across the bluestone path, warm and bright.

Lin Fan held the notebook of insights and the jade bottle, a complete plan already taking shape in his mind.

Take on missions during the day and earn resources.

At night, use Mad Saber's method to train and rapidly improve his skill proficiency.

Two-pronged, advancing hand in hand.

"I'll head to the mission hall first and officially accept the escort mission." Lin Fan set off for the mission hall.

After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and turned his head slightly.

Behind him, he seemed to sense a gaze fixed on him.

It was subtle, but intensely focused.

Lin Fan didn't look back. He kept walking, while slowly spreading out his Mental Power.

The perfected Iron Body Skill had not only strengthened his physical body; it had also significantly heightened his senses. Combined with the nourishment his Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art gave his spirit, his perception of his surroundings now far surpassed that of other martial artists at the same level.

Ten meters... twenty meters... thirty meters...

Behind a parasol tree thirty meters away, he "saw" a blurry figure.

The person wore an ordinary academy uniform and had their head lowered, seemingly waiting for someone. But from the corner of their eye, they kept him in their sights.

Following me? Lin Fan sneered inwardly.

He showed no sign that he'd noticed and continued toward the mission hall.

Once he entered, the person didn't follow him in. Instead, they lingered outside, blending in with the crowd.

Lin Fan went to the mission registration desk and gave the clerk the mission number Teacher Zhang had provided.

"Escort the Hundred Herbs Hall caravan to Qingmu Town... Mm, you're all registered." The clerk, a young woman with glasses, handed Lin Fan a mission slip. "Gather at North City Gate tomorrow at the hour of the Dragon. Here's your identity token. Just show it to the caravan's guard captain for confirmation."

"Thank you." Lin Fan took the mission slip and identity token.

The token was made of wood. "Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy" was carved on the front, and "External Mission Credential" and the mission number on the back.

"One more thing," the clerk said in a lowered voice. "Teacher Zhang specifically told me to warn you to be careful. Things have been unsettled outside the academy lately."

Lin Fan's heart stirred. "What happened?"

"I'm not sure. Anyway, several groups have been asking about the academy students, especially... the top finishers in the freshman tournament." The clerk gave Lin Fan a pointed look.

"Understood. Thanks for the warning." Lin Fan put away the identity token and turned to leave.

By the time he walked out of the mission hall, the person following him had disappeared.

But Lin Fan could feel that the gaze hadn't vanished. It had merely shifted to a more concealed spot.

Someone from the Wang Family? Or... another faction? Lin Fan stayed on guard.

His position was delicate right now.

He'd placed first in the freshman tournament, shattered Wang Hao's Golden Scale Armor, and offended the Wang Family.

He'd chosen the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art, which might have drawn certain people's attention.

And then there was Zhao Ling'er, who'd suddenly sought him out to propose working together...

All these factors had made him the eye of the storm.

When soldiers come, meet them with soldiers; when water comes, dam it with earth. Lin Fan clenched his fist. "As long as I'm strong enough, all your schemes and tricks will be futile."

He quickened his pace toward the dormitory.

The most important thing now was to go back and study Mad Saber's training method, preparing for tonight's breakthrough.

As for those hidden gazes...

A cold smile tugged at Lin Fan's lips.

"Don't mess with me. Otherwise, I don't mind showing you what a real 'grind king' is."

Sunlight fell on him, stretching his shadow long across the ground.

At the end of that shadow lay unknown challenges—and limitless possibilities.