Qin Chuan took a lap around the house.
Yue Guan stood at the entrance to the study on the first floor. After Qin Chuan came downstairs, he pointed to the row of books on the shelf.
"These are the basic theory textbooks and cultivation manuals of Spirit Hall. You've studied some of this at Shrek Academy, but Spirit Hall's system is a little different from theirs. I suggest you spend a few days reading through these."
Qin Chuan glanced at the titles on the spines. Soul Power Execution Basics, Soul Skill Release and Control, Combat Coordination Theory, Meditation Mental Method Compilation—there were more than twenty books in all.
"Also," Yue Guan said, his tone turning more serious, "His Holiness the Pope asked me to personally guide you. Starting tomorrow, you'll train with Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan. I'll teach you everything I know about combat techniques, Soul Skill sparring, teamwork, and improving your meditation."
Yue Guan paused and stared into Qin Chuan's eyes.
"Qin Chuan, I know your aptitude and talent far surpass those of your peers. But talent is one thing; systematic training is another. Spirit Hall's training system has been honed over hundreds of years. There are things you won't learn anywhere else."
Qin Chuan listened carefully, then nodded. "I understand."
Only then did Yue Guan give his shoulder a satisfied pat.
"All right, it's been a long day. Get some rest. Be at the Martial Arts Arena halfway up the mountain at the mao hour tomorrow."
Yue Guan turned and left.
Hu Liena had been standing at the door the whole time. She waited until Yue Guan was far away before leaning halfway inside.
"Qin Chuan, I live in the building next door." Hu Liena pointed to the small house beside his.
Qin Chuan looked where she was pointing.
"If you need anything, just come knock." After saying that, Hu Liena didn't linger. She turned and walked back to her place.
The hem of her purple-red skirt trailed over the gravel path, and the silver chain at her waist glimmered in the moonlight. After walking a few steps, she glanced back and saw Qin Chuan still standing at the door watching her. She quickly turned her face away and picked up her pace.
Qin Chuan closed the door and went upstairs.
He didn't go straight to bed. Instead, he sat by the window, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.
He circulated Heavenly Dao Power, drawing the moonlight and starlight from outside the window into his body, transforming them into Soul Power and channeling them into his dantian.
The concentration of Soul Power in the air around Spirit Hall wasn't low. Though it couldn't compare to the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, it was several times higher than in an ordinary town. Spirit Hall had probably set up a Spirit Gathering Array beneath the building foundations to artificially increase the concentration of Soul Power in the area.
As he meditated, Qin Chuan reviewed the day's events.
From watching Tang Hao and Yue Guan fight deep in the Star Dou Great Forest, to stepping in to save Hu Liena, to joining Spirit Hall—the whole sequence might have looked like a string of coincidences, but he had kept every step within his control.
He'd bet right on Tang Hao's hammer strike.
He'd passed Bibi Dong's interview, too.
What came next was simple. He'd establish himself in Spirit Hall, make use of its resources and environment, and improve his strength as quickly as possible.
As for his grudge against the Clear Sky Sect, there was no rush. Once he was strong enough, the Clear Sky Sect wouldn't be able to escape him.
The corners of Qin Chuan's mouth lifted slightly. Outside the window, the moon was full.
The next day, just as dawn began to break,
Qin Chuan arrived at the Martial Arts Arena right on time.
The arena was a rectangular open space paved with gray bricks, about three hundred meters long and a hundred meters wide. A waist-high stone railing enclosed it, and white circles and grids had been painted on the ground.
When Qin Chuan arrived, Xie Yue was already there.
Xie Yue leaned against the railing with his arms folded across his chest. His left arm was wrapped in white bandages, but he looked much better than he had the day before.
When he saw Qin Chuan approach, Xie Yue gave a slight nod in greeting.
"Are you feeling better?" Qin Chuan asked, walking over to stand beside him.
"More or less." Xie Yue's voice was even, neither warm nor cold. "What did you do yesterday? My injuries are healing unnaturally fast."
"It's a kind of talent." Qin Chuan didn't elaborate.
Xie Yue glanced at him but didn't press further.
A few minutes later, Yan arrived.
He had changed into a clean, fiery-red training outfit. His hair was still dark red, short and tousled. The burns on his face had been covered in ointment, leaving blotchy white patches.
"Well, look at that, everyone's here." Yan walked over and plopped down on the railing, swinging his legs.
Two minutes later, Hu Liena arrived.
Qin Chuan's gaze drifted toward her of its own accord.
Hu Liena had changed into a different outfit today. She wore a fitted, dark-purple training top that hugged her waist, clearly outlining her figure. Her matching narrow-legged pants were tucked into soft leather boots.
She had tied up her hair with a silver ribbon, gathering it high behind her head. She'd also washed off her makeup; bare-faced, she looked more comfortable to be around than she had with yesterday's seductive appearance.
"Morning." Hu Liena greeted everyone, then went to stand beside Qin Chuan.
At a quarter past seven, Yue Guan arrived.
"Everyone's here." Yue Guan stopped in the middle of the arena, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked over the four of them.
"Starting today, Qin Chuan will officially join your training. To keep it simple, my training has three parts. First, physical combat. Second, Soul Skill Release and Control. Third, meditation. We'll practice physical combat and Soul Skills in the morning, meditate in the afternoon, and leave the evenings free."
Yue Guan walked to the edge of the arena, took four wooden sticks from behind the railing, and tossed them onto the ground.
"Warm up first. Pair off and spar for ten minutes."
Yan was the first to jump up. "I'll fight Qin Chuan!"
Qin Chuan bent down, picked up a wooden stick, and weighed it in his hand. It was ordinary hardwood, nothing special.
Yan picked one up too and charged over to face Qin Chuan, taking up a stance.
"Come on, new guy. Let's see what you're made of."
Qin Chuan didn't answer. He stepped forward half a pace with his left foot and held the stick crosswise in front of him.
"Begin!" Yue Guan called.
Yan rushed forward with a whoosh, bringing his stick down from above. The swing was powerful, cutting through the air with a whistling sound.
Qin Chuan sidestepped. The stick grazed his shoulder and smashed into the ground, leaving a white mark on the stone bricks.
Qin Chuan counterattacked at once. His stick swept in from the side, aiming for Yan's ribs.
Yan couldn't pull back in time and had no choice but to block with his left arm. The stick struck his forearm with a sharp crack.
"Ah!" Yan sucked in a breath, his arm stinging with pain.
"You've got some strength," Yan said, shaking his arm.
Qin Chuan didn't respond. He thrust his stick forward again.
They traded blows for more than ten exchanges. Yan's advantage lay in his strength and ferocious attacks; every swing came with brute force. But his movements were too wide, he was slow to recover, and he left plenty of openings.
Qin Chuan's strengths were speed and anticipation. Though he hadn't activated his Six Paths Reincarnation Eye, the heightened perception he'd gained from using it over time had become second nature.
Before each of Yan's attacks, Qin Chuan could sense the slightest movement of his shoulders and shift in his center of gravity.
Ten minutes were up.
Yan's training outfit was soaked through in a large patch, and he was panting heavily. Qin Chuan had broken a light sweat too, but his breathing remained steady.
"Not bad," Yue Guan said from the side.
Meanwhile, Xie Yue and Hu Liena had also finished sparring. Xie Yue's injuries hadn't fully healed, so he'd fought cautiously. Close-quarters combat wasn't Hu Liena's strong suit, either, and both of them had held back. Their spar had been mild and uneventful.
"Rest for five minutes, then we'll begin Soul Skill training."