Early the next morning, outside the Heart-of-the-Lake Pavilion.
Liu Yunche stepped out, light on his feet.
Cicadas chirped ceaselessly beneath his feet as his figure flickered unpredictably. Gathering his strength for a burst of speed, he crossed several yards in just a few strides.
Not far away, Wei Tianhui and Qin Anming watched it all.
Standing half a step behind Wei Tianhui, Qin Anming stroked his long beard and smiled softly, a touch of ruefulness in his expression.
"He's only in the Tendon Forging Realm, isn't he? And he already wants to cross a lake a hundred yards wide?" He paused, then added, "Heroes truly do emerge young."
Wei Tianhui said nothing. He heard the trace of dismissal in Qin Anming's voice clearly enough.
He, too, was certain Liu Yunche could not make it across, but he preferred to keep his lips sealed. They were speaking right under a Spirit Cultivator's nose.
Who knew whether Qinglü, High Cultivator would remember? As Wei Tianhui saw it, saying less and doing more was the way to conduct oneself.
Out on the lake, Liu Yunche's first burst of strength had faded, and the next had yet to come. In the past, he could only have watched helplessly as he fell into the water and emerged like a drowned rat.
But now, just as he was about to fall,
Liu Yunche remained composed. He took a step forward, planting his foot on empty air.
To the astonishment of the two men on shore, his foot found purchase.
As Liu Yunche stepped forward, a series of muffled thuds rang out over the lake. He kept moving, step after step, briefly skimming through the air.
"What is this?" Qin Anming stopped stroking his beard and stared at the white-robed youth above the rippling water.
Only then