The 427th year of Ming passed quickly for Cheng Xinzhan, and it was a full year.
That year began with Peach Capital, broken in two, surging against the torrent of falling swords above White Jade Capital.
Learning Thunder Arts at Pivot Mountain, swordsmanship at Sword-Casting Mountain, and artifact refining at White Tiger Mountain-these three things ran through the entire year.
These three things were undoubtedly his greatest gains that year.
In one year, he learned all five thunders, drawing marveling exclamations from the elders of the Five Thunder Court.
His swordsmanship no longer relied on doing as he pleased and winning through speed; he now knew when to press and when to ease, advancing and retreating freely.
He had gained an initial grasp of artifact refining, reforged Peach Capital, and refined Autumn Water. His first Five-Element Dharma Sword would soon emerge from the furnace as well.
On the Dao Path of Qi Refining, he visualized the mountains, and Crown Prince Bingling, the Inner Landscape Deity of his Earth Palace, had begun to acquire a spiritual presence.
In the talisman arts, his Thunder Talismans and Mountain Talismans earned unstinting praise even from Tongxuan Patriarch.
And this was only Cheng Xinzhan's fourth year of studying the Dao.
There were a few interludes along the way. For instance, Three Pure Ones Mountain's reputation for excellence in swordsmanship spread through the mouths of the guests who had watched the Sword-Dueling Gathering in White Jade Capital.
Quite a few people learned that Three Pure Ones Mountain had a young disciple named Cheng Xinzhan.
For instance, in the eighth month, the daughter of the Xiao Household of White Jade Capital visited Three Pure Ones Mountain with several hundred servants.
For instance, someone came from Dragon-Tiger Mountain to invite Three Pure Ones Mountain to the Dragon-Tiger Dharma