Time-Reversing Water Clock

"Why does this clepsydra look exactly like the ornament on my office desk?"

The dripping clepsydra within the blue light looked exceptionally familiar to He Sheng, but its origins were clearly no longer important.

He Sheng examined it closely and saw that the droplets flowing from the clepsydra were arranged in three rows—upper, middle, and lower—with the bottom row containing the most droplets.

[Arts]:

[Clear Billows Water Control Art (Major Accomplishment): 62/400]

(Total cultivation time: two years, six months, three days)

[Clear Water Shield (Perfection): 500/500]

(Total cultivation time: one year, six months, six days)

[Water Bullet Art (Perfection): 500/500]

(Total cultivation time: one year, five months, seventeen days)

[Riding Waves Art (Perfection): 500/500]

(Total cultivation time: one year, eleven months, seven days)

The information contained within the droplets made He Sheng's eyes swim.

He carefully examined everything from beginning to end, then matched it item by item against Brother Piao's memories before realizing that these droplets recorded the various spells Brother Piao had cultivated.

The middle and upper rows each contained only a single droplet.

[Cultivation]:

[Clear Billows Water Origin Art, Fifth Layer (Perfection): 500/500]

(Total cultivation time: eleven years, seven months, six days)

[Skills]:

[First-Rank High-Grade Array Master: 896/3000]

(Total practice time: eight years, eleven months, twenty-two days)

[Cultivation] was in the middle, while [Skills] was above it.

After studying it carefully, He Sheng said somewhat strangely, "Brother Piao cultivated for nearly thirty years. The Clear Billows Water Origin Art was an intermediate cultivation method the He family had spent a fortune to buy specifically for him in his early years. He started cultivating it the moment he entered the Qi Refinement Realm, so why does this clepsydra show a total cultivation time of only a little over eleven years?"

He Sheng had sorted through Brother Piao's memories. For all that the man was flighty, he had been exceedingly diligent throughout his brief twenty-nine-year cultivation career.

Take the Clear Billows Water Origin Art, for instance. Unless he had business outside, Brother Piao would unfailingly sit in meditation and refine qi with this cultivation method for at least five hours every day.

Something suddenly occurred to He Sheng. After carefully doing the math, he murmured, "So the total cultivation time recorded by the clepsydra droplets is calculated according to a twelve-hour day!"

Simply put, take the Water Bullet Art as an example. If one cultivated this art for all twelve hours of every day, then with Brother Piao's aptitude, it would take one year, five months, and seventeen days to reach Great Perfection—the time recorded by the clepsydra droplets.

But if he cultivated the Water Bullet Art for only one hour a day, it would take around seventeen years to cultivate it to Great Perfection.

"Brother Piao had OCD."

Combining this with Brother Piao's memories, He Sheng made another discovery.

For some basic spells that this fellow had spent a great deal of time cultivating during the Qi Refinement Realm, even if they became practically useless after reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, he had still continued pouring time into them until he cultivated them to Great Perfection.

Like the Clear Water Shield, Water Bullet Art, Riding Waves Art, and so on.

However, after cultivating the Clear Billows Water Origin Art to the Foundation Establishment Realm, one could cultivate the exclusive high-level spell included with the cultivation method—the Clear Billows Water Control Art.

This spell commanded all water-controlling abilities. Once cultivated to profound heights, it could not only drive water into shields and transform water into arrows, but also ride upon rolling waves.

Its effects far surpassed basic Qi Refinement Realm spells such as the Water Bullet Art.

When He Sheng had just channeled his spiritual power to control the parasol artifact, the spell he had instinctively used was the Clear Billows Water Control Art.

"But could it be that these clepsydra droplets merely display the cultivation methods and spells I've cultivated, then mark the time spent cultivating them, with no other use?"

At that thought, a minus sign appeared behind the information listed for every cultivation method.

"A minus sign?

"Don't everyone else's systems have plus signs?

"Either they directly raise your realm, or break through the limit and bring forth the new from the old.

"What use is a minus sign?"

After pondering briefly, He Sheng focused his thoughts on the minus sign behind the Water Bullet Art.

In an instant, the total cultivation time of the Water Bullet Art began to change—not increasing, but rapidly decreasing!

In merely a few breaths, It dropped from a total cultivation time of one year, five months, and seventeen days to eleven months, and the Water Bullet Art had also fallen from the realm of Great Perfection to the Major Accomplishment realm.

He Sheng immediately stopped. The clepsydra's main body gleamed, and a line of information appeared within it.

[Current Total Allocable Cultivation Time: Six Months, Seventeen Days]

When he looked again at the information inside the water droplet, he saw that a plus sign had appeared after the minus sign!

"Could it be... that this minus sign can roll back cultivation techniques and spells I've already cultivated, turning the cultivation time invested in them into universal cultivation time?

"Which can then be invested into other techniques to raise their cultivation realms?!"

He Sheng's heart began pounding wildly.

"I haven't fully escaped danger yet. I need to find a way out of here as quickly as possible.

"But if that suspected Core Formation cultivator really is still waiting on the river's surface, then I either have to keep playing dead or find a way to break out."

He Sheng felt that the former would not work, because he was alive now.

According to Brother Piao's memories, living cultivators had fluctuations of spiritual power as well as fluctuations of divine sense. It was difficult to evade the careful scrutiny of a cultivator at a higher realm.

"Then I can only find a way to break out!

"If I can raise the Clear Billows Water Control Art by another level, my speed in water-flight will naturally become faster, which will help me escape!"

The moment He Sheng thought of it, he acted. He focused his mind on the plus sign that had appeared after the Clear Billows Water Control Art.

Whoosh!

The allocable cultivation time displayed in the clepsydra rapidly emptied out, and a line of information appeared before He Sheng's eyes:

[You have quite good affinity with water-element spells. Six months of buried-head bitter cultivation have brought considerable further progress to your Clear Billows Water Control Art.]

Hm?

He Sheng hurriedly looked at the clepsydra water droplet displaying the Clear Billows Water Control Art, and sure enough, the art's status had changed.

[Clear Billows Water Control Art (Major Accomplishment): 205/400]

(Total Cultivation Time: Three Years, Twenty Days)

Although he had not broken through to a new realm, He Sheng vaguely felt that he had become even more proficient in the Clear Billows Water Control Art.

Delighted, He Sheng quickly turned his attention to the array of Qi Condensation-stage spells.

He was not Brother Piao. He had not the slightest attachment to them, nor did he have any obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

Besides, before transmigrating, he had been a project manager. The two things he was best at were pushing project progress and cutting off irrelevant branches.

So... cut!

Water Bullet Art, reset to zero!

Once the Water Bullet Art's cultivation time had been completely reset to zero, he discovered that all of the cultivation and insights concerning the Water Bullet Art in the Brother Piao memories he had inherited had vanished.

"Let it vanish. It's only a Qi Condensation-stage spell anyway."

He Sheng continued stockpiling allocable cultivation time.

Clear Water Shield, reset to zero!

Riding Waves Art, reset to zero!

Water Spirit Sensing Art, reset to zero!

One Qi Condensation-stage spell after another was reset to zero by He Sheng.

By the end, only four water droplets remained across the clepsydra's upper, middle, and lower rows combined:

[Arts]:

[Clear Billows Water Control Art (Major Accomplishment): 205/400]

(Total Cultivation Time: Three Years, Twenty Days)

[Clear Billows Moistening Art (Proficient): 121/300]

(Total Cultivation Time: Six Months, Twelve Days)

[Techniques]:

[Clear Billows Water Origin Art, Fifth Layer (Perfected): 500/500]

(Total Cultivation Time: Eleven Years, Seven Months, Six Days)

[Skills]:

[First-Rank Upper-Grade Formation Master: 896/3000]

(Total Practice Time: Eight Years, Eleven Months, Twenty-Two Days)

As the entire panel became clean and uncluttered, the cultivation time recovered through rollback naturally increased greatly as well!

[Current Total Allocable Cultivation Time: Six Years, Eleven Months, Twenty-Seven Days]

"Nearly seven years of cultivation time—getting the Clear Billows Water Control Art to the Great Perfection realm shouldn't be a problem, right?"

He Sheng immediately focused his mind on the plus sign beside the Clear Billows Water Control Art, and the cultivation information appeared once more.

[After another nine months of bitter cultivation, your Clear Billows Water Control Art advances to the Perfection realm. You marvel that you truly are a genius at cultivating water arts!]

[Your will is steadfast, and you do not grow proud over temporary achievements. You continue to bury yourself in the bitter cultivation of the Clear Billows Water Control Art.]

[Another year passes. Though your Clear Billows Water Control Art has yet to reach the Great Perfection realm, you gain a vague insight into the art of water escape, though it remains unclear.]

[Ten months later, your Clear Billows Water Control Art advances to the Great Perfection realm. Yet you are not particularly delighted, because you still have not comprehended the art of water escape.]

[You had originally believed that once the Clear Billows Water Control Art reached the Great Perfection realm, you would naturally attain an epiphany into the art of water escape. But now, it seems you had thought too simply.

For the first time, you doubt yourself. Are you truly a genius at water arts?]

Eh.

There was something wrong with this system. He had told it to cultivate the Clear Billows Water Control Art, so why was it secretly trying to make him doubt himself?

He Sheng paused his further investment of cultivation time and glanced at the art's information.

[Clear Billows Water Control Art (Perfection): 500/500]

(Total cultivation time: five years, seven months, twenty-four days)

He Sheng then looked at his remaining available cultivation time.

[Current total available cultivation time: four years, two months, twenty-three days]

"According to Brother Piao's memories of cultivation, reaching the Great Perfection realm in an art is already the ultimate state. There's no further room to advance.

But judging from the cultivation information, it clearly seems to be holding something back.

And the art of water escape sounds like a top-tier life-saving divine skill. If I can figure this thing out, it should greatly improve my chances of escaping dangerous situations, right?"

He Sheng glanced at the water droplet displaying the Clear Billows Water Control Art. Sure enough, the plus sign behind the art's information was still there, and he could continue investing cultivation time.

"Cultivation time can be rolled back anyway. I'll give it a try!"

Gritting his teeth, He Sheng focused his mind on the plus sign again, and the cultivation information reappeared.

[You have already cultivated the Clear Billows Water Control Art to the Great Perfection realm. Whenever you cast the art, watery vapor swirls around your body, and you can sense the existence of every wisp of moisture in the air.

With a lift of your hand, the art takes form—attack, defense, or movement. Yet you are not satisfied, and prepare to delve deeper into this art!]

[In the first month, you attempt to make a breakthrough beyond the Great Perfection realm, but gain nothing.]

[Three months later, you seem to gain some insight. You understand that controlling water goes beyond form; whether water shields, water bullets, or water waves, they are merely outward appearances. You feel that you should seek the flow of water and sense its formlessness.]

[Another three months pass, and you still gain nothing. You begin to feel discouraged. Your daily meditations and contemplations become more like going through the motions, and once again you doubt whether you truly are a genius at water arts.]

[Half a year later, amid one tedious meditation session after another, you suddenly come to understand certain truths: in the instant where still waters run deep, at the boundary between form and formlessness, at the point where illusion and reality give rise to one another...]

[Another half year passes, and you finally see through the true meaning of the Clear Billows Water Control Art. Though the art does not break through the Great Perfection realm, you comprehend the profound realm of water transformation.]

[The surrounding watery vapor becomes incomparably clear to your senses. When you circulate your spiritual power, you truly feel as though you are about to merge into the subtle ripples between heaven and earth.]

[Three months later, you completely consolidate the realm of water transformation and touch upon the threshold of the art of water escape. Your spirits soar, and you once again believe yourself to be a genius at cultivating water arts!]

[Another two months later, you comprehend the key to the art of water escape: merging your body into water. But as for how to merge your body into water, you cannot figure it out.]

[Three months later, you gain nothing.]

[Another three months pass, and you still gain nothing. You are somewhat disheartened and begin doubting yourself once more.]

[After reaching the Great Perfection of the Clear Billows Water Control Art, you invest a full two years, yet comprehend only the realm of water transformation. This makes you scrutinize whether your investment was worthwhile, and stray thoughts begin to swarm through your mind.

Fortunately, the Clear Billows Water Origin Art has a calming effect, and coupled with your steadfast will, you suppress all distracting thoughts and once more delve deeply into the fundamentals of clear billows.]

[Two months later, inspiration flashes through your mind, and you gain a vague insight, though it remains unclear.]

[Another three months later, as though blessings have descended upon your heart, you suddenly understand something.]

[Half a year later, a light rain falls upon the river. You stand quietly atop the river's surface, inspiration in your heart streaming without end like threads of rain. At last, you achieve great enlightenment!]

[You begin attempting the profound essence of the escape art, "I Am Flowing Water." Years of deep contemplation allow you, once enlightened, to advance with irresistible force!]

[Eight months later, you succeed!

You successfully advance the Clear Billows Water Control Art into the unprecedented realm of "Transcendent Mastery"!

You also fully grasp the mystery of "I Am Flowing Water"!

No longer do you remain bound by the form and substance of spells. You pursue a realm where motion and stillness harmonize, illusion and reality shift, and form and formlessness move as your heart wills.]

[Five months later, you firmly establish yourself in the realm of Transcendent Mastery and perceive the principle that physical form is like an obstacle, while space is like a net.]

[You visualize yourself becoming a clear spring, gradually dispersing into mist. Then you visualize the mist gathering into rain, reforging your body. Then you visualize the fine rain flowing into rivers...

Wherever there is watery vapor or subtle ripples between heaven and earth, you may go.

Thirty zhang in an instant, your trail impossible to trace.

**"Subtle Ripple Water Escape" achieved!**]

"Thirty zhang in an instant?!

Even if a Core Formation cultivator were guarding my corpse, I could use the Muddy Dragon River to escape danger now, right?"

Whoosh!

With a thought, He Sheng took the azure parasol from atop his head and vanished into the distance along the Muddy Dragon River in an instant.