A flutter of the heart, down the cliff - bonus update for 1,200 monthly votes

As for his Internal Martial Arts, he had reached the peak of Transformed Force. His qi and blood were as dense as mercury, his marrow as compact as arsenic, and his entire frame worked as one, holding immense strength.

With a single thought, he could exert force or attack from any part of his body. Even a flick of his fingertip could carry tremendous, precisely controlled power.

Tang Shan felt he could achieve Elixir Force at any moment. But he sensed that this breakthrough would take his entire cultivation to a new level, so he had stopped training over the past few days and let himself relax, hoping to make the breakthrough in the best possible condition.

Whoosh!

A hand struck at him from behind. Tang Shan casually reached back, caught it, and pulled.

With a deft application of force, he drew a slender figure around in front of him.

Beneath his fingers were emerald snake scales, cool and finely textured. As her martial soul withdrew, the scales vanished, leaving smooth, warm skin beneath his hand, as though he were stroking a piece of warm jade.

"How did you find me here?"

Tang Shan looked curiously at Dugu Yan.

"Xie Fei said yesterday that he saw you exploring the source of the academy's lake," Dugu Yan said. "I looked around a little and found my way up."

Tang Shan sat at the cliff's edge, letting his legs dangle as he gazed idly at the distant scenery. "What did you need me for?"

Dugu Yan copied him and sat down, lightly bumping her legs against his thigh. Her tone was cheerful. "Grandpa wanted me to ask when you're going to visit his herb garden."

Tang Shan raised an eyebrow and could not resist teasing her. "That eager for me to take