Fate Pattern Unlocked

Inside Stillheart Hall, a breeze drifted through.

Chu Bai sat cross-legged, feeling the first thread of Pure-Origin Spiritual Qi in his dantian, faint as gossamer yet tenacious. His attention, however, rested on the pale-blue panel in his mind.

The instant he had successfully captured that wisp of Qi, the panel had undergone a subtle change.

Beneath the Fate Destiny entry that had once contained only [Relentless Toil, Relentless Effort], a second line was slowly appearing.

The characters were still blurry, brightening and dimming like a candle flame in the wind, not yet stable.

[Acquired Fate Pattern: Food Injury Leaks Elegance, Quick-Witted (Not Yet Set)]

(Note: Improves comprehension and accelerates cultivation. Innate talent allows surplus vital essence to be efficiently converted into cultivation.)

"This is..."

Chu Bai's heart gave a violent leap, followed by a rush of joy he could hardly describe.

His earlier guess had been right!

The Fate Destiny on the panel was not fixed. It evolved in response to his actions and circumstances.

To survive, he had once labored in the fields day and night while studying diligently at the academy. That had triggered [Toiling Fate] and granted him Relentless Effort, a reliable ability that let him make progress as long as he kept grinding.

Now, as a student, he had shown more than diligence. By capturing spiritual Qi in just seven days, he had displayed talent far beyond the ordinary.

In the study of fate, the "Food God" and "Injured Officer" represented the expression of talent, known as Leaking Elegance.

In the cultivation world, that meant converting the energy one took in and the knowledge one learned into personal cultivation more efficiently!

"Relentless Effort guarantees I won't hit a bottleneck. As long as I practice, the road stays open; Food Injury Leaks Elegance puts faster wheels on the cart!"

Chu Bai weighed it over in his mind.

Once this Fate Destiny fully took shape, his cultivation efficiency would likely rise another level.

Even with scarce resources, he could use that extraordinary conversion rate to catch up with wealthy youths who relied on pills.

Watching the characters flicker, Chu Bai understood that the Fate Destiny was probably still being assessed.

As long as I keep improving at this pace, it's only a matter of time before this Fate Destiny takes shape.

He pushed aside his tangled thoughts and slowly opened his eyes.

Just then, he heard Daoist Zhang speak beside him.

"Seven days to capture a thread of Qi."

Daoist Zhang looked at Chu Bai, a hint of admiration on his usually impassive face. "Though the Inner Gate cultivation method helped, your household has no spirit food or spiritual materials to support you. Achieving this through your own hard work in seven days was no small feat."

"At this pace, you would rank among the best even in past Dao Academy Selections."

Gu Qinghe spoke up as well, a note of feeling in his voice. "To be honest, I had a little talent myself, but it took me nearly half a month to capture my first thread of Qi. Brother Chu's aptitude truly surpasses mine."

Gu Qinghe's frank admission only raised him in Chu Bai's estimation.

"You flatter me, Brother Gu. Without your earlier advice about breathing, I might have spent several more days figuring it out." Chu Bai returned the courtesy modestly, showing no trace of arrogance over his early lead.

Even so, the atmosphere in Stillheart Hall quietly changed.

Even Wang Xiaoliu, who had always made the slowest progress, now looked at Chu Bai with less casual familiarity and more awe and envy.

In a world where strength commanded respect, showing potential meant he was no longer merely a classmate. He had become a fellow cultivator worth befriending and investing in.

"That will be all for today."

Daoist Zhang waved his horsetail whisk and dismissed the class. "Chu Bai, remember not to grow complacent. That first thread of Qi is especially delicate. Nurture it well, and don't let it dissipate."

"I'll remember, Master."

Everyone gathered their belongings and filed out through the academy gates.

Night had fallen deep. Few people remained on the streets, and the distant clack of a night watchman's wooden clappers carried through the air.

Chu Bai pulled his thin clothes tighter and was about to set off toward the city outskirts when a gentle voice called from behind him.

"Brother Chu, wait a moment."

Chu Bai turned to see Li Jinyuan striding toward him.

The young master of the Li family, usually accompanied by carriages and attendants, had dismissed his servants tonight. Only one young attendant carrying a lantern followed at a distance.

"Did you need something, Brother Li?" Chu Bai stopped, puzzled.

Li Jinyuan wore a smile as warm as a spring breeze. He cupped his hands and said, "I heard you captured Qi, Brother Chu. I'm impressed. It's getting late, and I hear you have a long journey back to your village. Our paths happen to run together for a while, so why don't we walk? I could ask you a few things about cultivation along the way."

Our paths run together?

The truth was clear as a mirror to Chu Bai.

The Li residence stood in the wealthiest district in the city's west, while his home lay in a run-down village ten li away. Their destinations were as far apart as south and north. How could their paths possibly run together?

This supposed coincidence was merely an excuse the wealthy young master had found to approach someone beneath his station without making his intentions too obvious.

A hotheaded youth might have been overwhelmed by the attention or avoided him out of insecurity.

But Chu Bai remained at ease. He neither exposed the lie nor fawned over Li Jinyuan. He simply smiled and returned the salute:

"If we're going the same way, then sorry to trouble you for the company, Brother Li. It's a long night, and a conversation will help pass the time."

Surprise flickered in Li Jinyuan's eyes, then his smile deepened.

Though Chu Bai came from a poor family, his composure in the face of favor or slight rivaled that of the city's well-bred youths.

The two walked side by side along the moonlit flagstones.

Li Jinyuan said nothing of his family or worldly matters like money. Instead, with a deft sense of proportion, he shared interesting tidbits from the cultivation world.

"Brother Chu, did you know the chief examiner for this year's Dao Academy Selection is the notoriously strict 'Iron-Faced' County Commandant Zhao?"

"I hear Lord Zhao values combat ability and temperament most. Those embroidered pillows who build their cultivation with pills but couldn't truss a chicken won't have an easy time under him."

"And Hundred Herbs Hall in the south of the city recently received a shipment of spirit rice. I hear it's excellent quality. If you ever... happen to need some, mention my name. The shopkeeper should give you at least twenty percent off."

Li Jinyuan spoke casually, but every remark contained something useful.

Such information was hard for Chu Bai, confined to the lowest rung of society, to obtain.

Chu Bai said little, but whenever he spoke, he went straight to the heart of the matter. He seemed neither ignorant nor overly inquisitive.

Before they knew it, they had reached the fork by the city gate.

To the left lay the prosperous western district of the inner city; to the right, a dirt road leading into the wilderness outside the walls.

"Brother Li, even if you escort a friend a thousand li, you must part eventually. I think this is where our 'shared route' ends." Chu Bai stopped and gave Li Jinyuan a faintly amused look.

Li Jinyuan laughed too, without a trace of embarrassment at being found out. If anything, he seemed more forthright. "I enjoyed our conversation so much that I walked this far without noticing. Let's part here, then. I'll see you at the academy tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

On the dirt road back to his village, Chu Bai was in a good mood too.

This was what strength could do.

It could break through the barriers between classes and bring together people from two different worlds.

Sensing that the new Fate Destiny in his mind seemed to be flickering more steadily, he smiled faintly.

"Food Injury Leaks Elegance..."

I need to make this new Fate Destiny take shape as soon as possible.