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After an incense stick's worth of time, Wang Yu felt his head grow heavy. His eyes opened against his will, bringing his cultivation to a halt.

"Good, good! For your first time cultivating, being able to last this long is quite respectable—only a little short of Qingfeng. Remember, drawing in spiritual energy consumes the power of your Divine Sense. When your Divine Sense is insufficient, you can no longer sense the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy and cannot continue cultivating. With your current Divine Sense, an incense stick's worth of breathing exercises each day is your limit. Continuing beyond that would accomplish little. Wait until your Divine Sense recovers the next day before cultivating again," Daoist Chongyun said with a smile when he saw Wang Yu stop cultivating.

"Master, how long did Senior Brother Qingfeng last on his first attempt?" Wang Yu rubbed his head. It felt so muddled and heavy that he really could no longer sense the spiritual energy around him, and he could not help asking with a grimace.

"Qingfeng only lasted a third longer than you on his first attempt. Once your bloodline awakens completely, though, you should be able to keep up the breathing exercises somewhat longer. Although yours is a Physical Bloodline, it will certainly benefit your Divine Sense a little as well," the Daoist replied after a moment's thought.

"I see. How much longer will it take for this disciple's Iron-Eater Crocodile bloodline to awaken completely?" Wang Yu asked tentatively.

"As long as you keep taking Blood-Refining Soup, and I find you a Body-Tempering Method, it should not take too long. From now on, come here for a bowl of Blood-Refining Soup every three days, and spend an incense stick's worth of time each day drawing in the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. With your aptitude, you should break through the first level of the Yin Water Art and reach the second in about a year," the Daoist said slowly.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master. This disciple will take his leave." Wang Yu felt his head growing ever heavier and had no choice but to excuse himself.

"Yes, you really should not stay here long in your present condition. Go back and rest. Oh, and when you feel the Blood-Refining Soup taking effect, do not be too alarmed. Practice that Wind-Splitting Sword Technique some more; you should gain something from it. Also, stop contemplating the Cloud Pattern in the White Cloud Scripture for now. Save your energy for cultivating the Yin Water Art first," the Daoist added meaningfully.

Wang Yu agreed and left the Quiet Chamber.

On his way back, he saw Dongyue sweeping the square. The moment Dongyue spotted Wang Yu emerging from the main hall, he rushed over with his broom in his arms.

"Autumn Leaf, Eldest Senior Brother said the abbey master has taken you as a formal disciple. Is that true?" the chubby boy asked eagerly, lowering his voice.

"The abbey master did take me as his disciple yesterday. Eldest Senior Brother told you, then?" Wang Yu replied with a smile.

"Yes. Eldest Senior Brother said you only need to concentrate on cultivating from now on and no longer have to clean the abbey. Congratulations, Junior Brother! Since the abbey master has taken you as his disciple, he will teach you spells sooner or later. Ah, what a pity I have no Spiritual Perception and cannot become his disciple. Otherwise, if I could learn even one or two spells, I could become an immortal master too," Dongyue said, beating his chest and stamping his feet.

"You know about Spiritual Perception and spells too, Senior Brother Dongyue?" Wang Yu blinked, looking somewhat surprised.

"Of course I do. My family is reasonably well-off in Yellowstone City. Why else would we come all this way and donate so much silver? Sadly, I have no talent. But even if I am only an attendant at the White Cloud Abbey, my family still has a connection to the abbey master, so the silver was not wasted," Dongyue said, rolling his eyes.

Wang Yu was left rather speechless.

Only after he was forced to promise that he would show Dongyue his spells as soon as he learned them did Wang Yu finally return to his quarters beneath Dongyue's envious gaze.

That evening, on the Martial Arts Practice Field behind the abbey.

Wooden sword in hand and face flushed red, Wang Yu practiced the Wind-Splitting Sword Technique, every move stirring a whistling gust.

He felt as though all the blood in his body had been set alight. His stamina was boundless, and he could easily perform many movements that had previously been beyond him in a single fluid motion. He repeated the first seven forms of the Wind-Splitting Sword Technique over and over. His initially slow, awkward moves gradually became practiced, his movements growing faster at a rate visible to the naked eye. He threw himself heart and soul into practicing his swordsmanship, forgetting the passage of time entirely...

The next morning, Wang Yu slowly woke on the grass beside the Martial Arts Practice Field, a wooden sword cradled in his arms. Only then did he realize that he had unknowingly spent most of the night practicing, yet his body felt neither sore nor uncomfortable.

Astonished, he thought for a moment, then returned to the Martial Arts Practice Field. Holding his wooden sword horizontally before him, he bent slightly and abruptly shot forward. With a hiss, the wooden sword became a blur as he thrust straight at a nearby sapling.

Bang!

The sword tip shattered against the sapling, leaving only a shallow little hole in its trunk.

Wang Yu stood motionless before the tree, holding his sword in one hand with his arm still extended, but inwardly he was both startled and delighted.

That thrust had imitated the strike Daoist Chongyun had used to pierce a sapling that day. It clearly fell far short, but Wang Yu had a vague feeling that if he kept practicing, reaching the level of Daoist Chongyun's strike might not be impossible.

He did not know whether it was the Blood-Refining Soup or the awakening of his Physical Bloodline. While practicing the night before, he had not only felt brimming with stamina, but his flexibility and coordination had also improved as though he were a different person. The Wind-Splitting Sword Technique came readily to him, as though aided by the gods. In just one night, he had actually gained a basic grasp of the first seven forms.

Moreover, his strength was now tremendous. Every sword form he executed was swift and fierce, beyond anything an ordinary person could manage.

Unfortunately, he could not remain in this world much longer. No matter how well he mastered this sword technique, it would be of little use.

At that thought, Wang Yu felt a deep pang of regret again.

And so, over the following days, Wang Yu spent his time either performing breathing exercises to cultivate the Yin Water Art or practicing the Wind-Splitting Sword Technique. Each day, he ate some Medicinal Beast Whip meat with his porridge. Every three days, he visited the Daoist for a bowl of Blood-Refining Soup and listened as his master explained matters of cultivation that puzzled him.

Perhaps because his bloodline was already half awakened, the Medicinal Meat soon had a negligible effect. The Blood-Refining Soup, however, remained astonishingly potent. Every bowl left him feeling his body grow stronger, and he gradually grew taller as well. He became increasingly proficient in the Wind-Splitting Sword Technique and even learned all six of its remaining forms from the Daoist.

The Daoist still showed no intention of teaching him spells.

According to him, most of the spiritual energy absorbed while cultivating the first level of the Yin Water Art went into nurturing the Spirit Seed. Only the small amount left over could be converted into Dharma Power, so Wang Yu could not learn spells yet. Only after he reached the second level of the Yin Water Art and accumulated a modest amount of Dharma Power could he barely begin learning unranked Parlor Trick Arts.

Wang Yu also learned from Daoist Chongyun that Qingfeng had already reached the third level of the Yin Water Art and successfully formed a Spirit Root. Once he cultivated that level to completion, he could advance to the fourth level of Qi Refining and become a true immortal cultivator.

As for what level the Daoist himself had reached in the Yin Water Art, he did not reveal a word, and Wang Yu naturally lacked the courage to ask.

Under Wang Yu's relentless pestering, however, Qingfeng did tell him that the Yin Water Art had twelve levels in total. He also demonstrated a Parlor Trick Arts called Firefly. Only after reciting an incantation for a while could he produce a tiny flame on his finger, leaving Wang Yu thoroughly disappointed once more.

Ever since Dongyue learned that Wang Yu had become Daoist Chongyun's disciple, he had grown even more enthusiastic. Not only did he insist on giving Wang Yu all his remaining Medicinal Beast Whip meat, but he also thumped his chest and promised to supply all the Medicinal Meat Wang Yu would need afterward. This left Wang Yu feeling rather embarrassed.

Just like that, ten-odd days passed in the blink of an eye.

At noon that day, Wang Yu went to the Quiet Chamber behind the main hall to see Daoist Chongyun as usual. The moment he entered, however, he discovered that his master was entertaining a visitor, a pale-faced, middle-aged man in yellow robes.

The man seemed to be arguing with Daoist Chongyun about something and looked rather agitated. Upon seeing someone enter, however, he immediately fell silent. Instead, he looked the boy up and down several times in surprise and asked, "Fellow Daoist Chongyun, is this your new disciple?"

"Autumn Leaf, come pay your respects. This is your Uncle-Master Huang," Daoist Chongyun said calmly.

"Greetings, Uncle-Master Huang." Suppressing his curiosity, Wang Yu hurriedly bowed.

"Fellow Daoist Chongyun, you already have Martial Nephew Qingfeng, yet you have taken another disciple at a time like this. Martial Nephew Autumn Leaf must possess something exceptional," the yellow-robed man said in surprise after waving a hand at the boy.

"Yes, Autumn Leaf has quite good aptitude, but I also took him in because we share a fated connection. Fellow Daoist Huang, did you bring what I asked for?" The Daoist seemed unwilling to discuss Wang Yu further and turned the conversation around after a cursory reply.

"Of course. This should meet your requirements. But will you truly not reconsider what I mentioned earlier? Everything our Huang Household promised is absolutely genuine. I can guarantee that." The yellow-robed man took a wooden box from inside his robes and handed it to Daoist Chongyun, unable to resist trying to persuade him again.

"Let us forget about joining the Huang Household. I have grown accustomed to an unfettered life. All I wish to do now is cultivate my body and nurture my nature here," the Daoist replied, shaking his head.

"Ah, if you are unwilling to accept, Fellow Daoist Chongyun, then so be it. But your agreement with our Huang Household still stands. I have much to attend to in Yellowstone City, so I will take my leave." The yellow-robed man sighed and could only bid farewell regretfully before turning and leaving the room.

Supporting the wooden box in one hand, Daoist Chongyun watched the yellow-robed man leave with an expressionless face and said nothing for a long while.

Wang Yu stood to one side, utterly bewildered by what he had heard, and did not dare speak out of turn.

"Come here. Let me see how your cultivation has progressed lately," the Daoist suddenly instructed Wang Yu.

"Yes, Master." Wang Yu hurried forward a couple of steps.

The Daoist merely pressed a palm against the boy's abdomen, and a cool sensation immediately rushed into Wang Yu's dantian. After making a circuit, it swiftly retraced its path into the Daoist's palm.

"Your Spirit Seed has only grown a fraction. At this rate, unless you can increase the amount of spiritual energy you draw in each day, it really will take more than a year to break through the first level of the Yin Water Art. The circumstances have changed now. I fear that may be too late," the Daoist said with a slight frown.

"Master, too late for what?" Wang Yu could no longer hold back his question.

"Naturally, there will not be enough time. Ideally, you should break through to the Yin Water Art Second Layer within six months and learn some Parlor Trick Arts. Only then will you have a basic ability to protect yourself. Come with me." After some thought, the Daoist seemed to finally reach a decision. He tucked the wooden box into his robes and beckoned to the boy.