The Mystery of Fate Destiny

The corners of Chu Bai's mouth lifted as he rowed over to retrieve his spoils.

It was a wild carp weighing a good two or three jin. Though it was only an ordinary river fish, nowhere near as nourishing as that mutated monster fish, its firm, delicious flesh still made an excellent source of meat, enough for a hearty meal.

He built a campfire on the bank, deftly cleaned the fish, and set it over the flames to roast.

Before long, the rich aroma of roasted fish filled the air.

As he ate the fish, crisp outside and tender within, Chu Bai summoned his panel.

[Skills:]

[Spirit Water Needle: Beginner (39/100)]

After several days of practice, I'm gaining roughly two points of progress a day.

Chu Bai silently did the math, determination gleaming in his eyes.

Although my limited spiritual energy means I often have to meditate to recover, at least I have Qi-Replenishing Pills to sustain me, along with this endless supply of fish to replenish my strength.

If I push all-out from here, I'll definitely grind it up to proficient before the end of the month! Only then will this spell art truly have killing power.

The Zhao Residence has raised my pay, and Zhao Xing's cultivation is close to mine. I can earn money while getting a chance to cultivate myself... I'll keep going twice every weekend.

That evening, the setting sun glowed blood-red, dyeing the entire Three-Bath River gold and crimson.

Chu Bai slowly rowed his little boat toward the bank, his oars cutting through the water and sending ripples spreading outward.

After a day of cultivation, his body was utterly exhausted, as though every muscle were protesting. His spirits, however, remained high with the exhilaration of growing stronger.

He stared at the line on his panel that remained gray and unchanged, sinking into thought.

[Acquired Fate Pattern: Seven Killings in the Fate Palace (Inactive)]

This fate destiny appeared after I killed that fish, but no matter how I cultivate—even when I spar fiercely at the Zhao Residence, even when I beat Zhao Xing until he can't fight back—it shows no sign of activating.

Chu Bai's brows knitted tightly as understanding dawned on him.

It seems these so-called "Seven Killings" are no child's play. In ordinary contests and sparring, however fierce they get, everyone knows to stop short. Without genuine killing intent and the resolve to face death, there's no way to trigger this fate destiny.

Perhaps only a true life-or-death struggle like that night, facing a monster fish ready to devour anyone it caught—that ruthless determination to go mad or die—can fully awaken it.

Rather than growing impatient, he let out a long breath.

A fate destiny may be good, but I have to live long enough to claim it.

Chu Bai remained clearheaded. He would not go courting death by challenging a demon beast alone just to activate a fate destiny. That would be asking to shorten his life.

Last time, there had truly been no escape, leaving him no choice but to fight for his life. Had he known beforehand, he would probably have avoided it and waited until he was fully prepared before considering a fight.

At his current cultivation level, lying low and growing stronger was the surest path.

Once he was stronger, opportunities would naturally come. Why rush?

Battles between cultivators were complicated. Spell arts, talismans, magical artifacts... countless factors affected combat strength, and the same naturally held true for demon beasts. There might even be genuine demons lurking in these waters, far stronger than ordinary Qi Refining cultivators, let alone Chu Bai, who had only just entered that realm.

The days passed, until only ten remained before the end of the month.

To speed up his progress, Chu Bai stopped sparing his Qi-Replenishing Pills and doubled his daily rounds of cultivation. Like a tireless machine, he frantically squeezed out every last scrap of his potential.

Even in wind and rain, he insisted on taking the boat out.

In fact, foul weather became his finest whetstone.

One afternoon, rain poured down in torrents beneath a sky so dark it seemed about to collapse, while thunder exploded overhead. Chu Bai stood at the bow, letting the icy rain soak his clothes, his hair plastered to his cheeks.

The curtain of rain provided the best cover—and the greatest interference.

He tried blending the aura of his Spirit Water Needle into the surrounding rain, rendering it silent and difficult to detect.

Whoosh!

A water needle shot out amid countless raindrops and struck a piece of deadwood drifting in the current. Without close observation, it was impossible to tell which drop was rain and which was a deadly needle.

This demanding training sent his proficiency soaring, gradually increasing his daily gains from two points to three, then four.

At last, a stormy night arrived at the end of the month.

Gales howled over the Three-Bath River and thunder rolled, as though the celestial river had burst its banks and poured down.

Chu Bai stood at the violently rocking bow as it rose and fell with the waves, like a statue nailed to the ground. Wind and rain battered him, but he remained immovable. His eyes saw only the constantly changing data.

The number on his panel had reached [99/100].

He had reached the threshold.

"One last round."

Chu Bai drew a deep breath. The moisture-laden air invigorated him, and the spell power within him seemed to answer the call of the wind and rain, surging to a boil.

He marshaled all his spell power, even overtaxing a sliver of his meridians' potential until his dantian gave a faint hum. This time, he did not deliberately control the number. Instead, he followed his instincts, yielding to the will of the storm.

"Rise!"

His fierce shout drowned out the thunder.

Chu Bai flicked both hands repeatedly, blue light blazing at his fingertips like the brightest stars in the night sky.

This time, not three but five water needles formed at once!

They no longer flew in rigid straight lines. Instead, they wove a deep-blue net in the air, tracing five strange yet perfect arcs through the curtain of rain under the guidance of Chu Bai's spiritual sense, instantly enveloping a stretch of water ahead.

"Break!"

All five water needles struck the surface at once.

Boom!

As though struck by an enormous invisible hand, the water erupted into five huge splashes. Columns of water shot three feet high, merging with the torrential rain above.

At the same time, a clear hum rang through Chu Bai's mind, as though some shackle had shattered.

That feeling of wielding water spiritual energy as effortlessly as his own arm, of being joined with it in thought, returned stronger and clearer than ever. He could even sense every raindrop cheering.

He slowly lowered his hands, letting rain run down his cheeks as the panel before his eyes underwent a dazzling change.

[Skills:]

[Spirit Water Needle: Proficient (1/200)]

"I did it!"

A smile of profound relief spread across Chu Bai's face, looking especially brilliant in the lightning's glow.

At the proficient level, Spirit Water Needle could finally be cast truly instantaneously.

No buildup was needed; a thought was enough.

Moreover, the water needles had become more transparent, almost blending into their surroundings. Their concealment had improved immensely. Now they were truly lethal tools for assassination.

More importantly, he could now use his spiritual sense to make them perform simple turns and curves in midair, leaving enemies hard-pressed to guard against them!

As he watched the water needle dancing nimbly at his fingertip like a sprite, confidence shone in Chu Bai's eyes.

"A month of bitter cultivation wasn't wasted after all. The improved Spirit Water Needle is now a true cultivator's weapon."

"Dao Academy Selection... here I come."