For several days straight, Xiao Yan shut himself in his room, copying out the Jade Pivot Void Danger Scripture with undivided attention. The cultivation method's contents were not as crazed as he had imagined. If anything, they were rather... practical?
Finally, at dusk on the fifth day, Xiao Yan wrote the last character and let out a long breath. He looked as though he had been hauled out of the water, fine beads of sweat covering his forehead and the back of his clothes long since soaked through.
"I never thought... just copying it once would take so much out of me."
Xiao Yan leaned back in his chair and murmured to himself. This exhaustion came not from his body, but from his mind, as though a piece of his very soul had been hollowed out.
From within the ring, Yao Lao's voice drifted out, sounding as though this was only to be expected.
"Of course. It's only because this cultivation method has no grade that a mere Dou Zhe like you can copy it freely. With another high-grade method, you'd probably collapse from exhaustion halfway through."
Hearing his teacher's explanation, Xiao Yan gave it little further thought. He felt only the relief of having completed his task. All he wanted now was to get some fresh air. Who would have thought that he would nearly collide head-on with someone the moment he stepped out of the courtyard gate?
Xiao Yan looked closely. The newcomer was none other than Xiao Yi. He held that gourd in one hand and carried a fishing rod over his shoulder with the other, apparently having just returned from fishing. A thought stirred in Xiao Yan's mind. Better to arrive at the right moment than to arrive early.
"This is for you."
Xiao Yan took