Chapter 11: Body Refining 1st Layer
The dawn broke over Mountain Heart Pavilion as Xiang Yu emerged from his humble dwelling, determination etched into every line of his face. Today would be different—today he would devote himself entirely to the Mountain Heart Scripture, leaving his practice knife untouched. The memory of his embarrassment from the previous day's awkward movements lingered, but he pushed it aside. What was temporary humiliation compared to the power he sought?
Throughout the day, he repeated the flowing movements described in the ancient scroll. His body protested, muscles burning with unfamiliar strain as he shifted through positions that seemed to defy natural movement. Sweat soaked through his simple robes, plastering them against his skin as the sun tracked its path across the sky.
Only meals provided brief respite from his relentless practice. Even then, his mind remained fixed on the scripture, mentally rehearsing sequences he would soon physically execute once more. As dusk painted the mountain in shades of purple and gold, Xiang Yu continued with undiminished intensity, pushing his mortal frame beyond reasonable limits.
When midnight approached, bringing with it the familiar translucent blue screen, Xiang Yu finally allowed himself to rest:
[Calculating Settlement] [
Calculation Complete]
[Mountain Heart Scripture: (0/100)]
[Basic Knife Technique: Minor Success (24/200)]
[Experience Points Doubled]
[Basic Knife Technique: Minor Success (24/200) → (48/200)]
[Next Settlement: 23:59:59]
Just like the previous day, the Mountain Heart Scripture showed absolutely no progress. Zero points gained despite hours of dedicated practice. Yet Xiang Yu felt no disappointment coursing through him—only strengthened resolve. This wasn't unexpected. Scriptures, especially one as profound as the Mountain Heart Scripture, were naturally more challenging than basic techniques.
His lips curved into a tired smile as he watched his knife technique experience double automatically. At least something was progressing. He collapsed onto his bed of dried leaves, exhaustion claiming him almost instantly.
Morning arrived with inexorable certainty, rousing Xiang Yu from dreamless slumber. Without hesitation, he resumed his practice, flowing through the strange movements with slightly more fluidity than the previous day. His dedication remained absolute, unflinching in the face of apparent failure.
Unknown to him, Li Yao perched in a nearby tree, her eyes bright with mischief as she observed her senior brother's training. "He's working so hard," she thought with genuine admiration, even as her hands manipulated a small crystalline device that recorded his every movement. The memory crystal gleamed in the dappled sunlight as it captured particularly awkward transitions between stances, moments where Xiang Yu's face contorted with concentration and strain.
Her task complete, Li Yao slipped away to resume her own cultivation, the precious recordings safely tucked into her robes. She would treasure these memories for years to come, both as blackmail material and as testament to her senior brother's unexpected transformation.
Xiang Yu paused suddenly, glancing around with narrowed eyes. A prickling sensation at the back of his neck suggested he was being watched. After several moments of tense silence, he shook his head, dismissing the feeling as mere paranoia. Still, the sensation persisted, unsettling enough that he eventually decided to change his training location entirely.
In his private chambers, Elder Guo's lips twitched with amusement as he observed his disciples' antics through a specialized spiritual technique. "At least they seem to be working hard," he thought with grudging approval, stroking his beard contemplatively.
The day passed in much the same manner as the previous one, ending with another settlement that showed substantial progress in his knife technique but nothing whatsoever in the scripture:
[Basic Knife Technique: Minor Success (48/200) → (96/200)]
Despite the continued zero in his scripture cultivation, Xiang Yu maintained his optimism. He understood his limitations—he had no talent, no spiritual roots, nothing but sheer determination and his system's doubling function. As long as he made even minimal progress, exponential growth would eventually follow. With this comforting thought, he surrendered to exhaustion, allowing his depleted body the rest it desperately needed.
The following day unfolded with familiar routine in his new training ground. Li Yao, finding his usual spot empty, merely smiled. Her spiritual sense easily detected his unique scent, leading her unerringly to his new location. Once again, she recorded his practice, particularly focusing on moments when his face screwed up in concentration or when he wobbled precariously between stances.
Xiang Yu repeatedly glanced around, that uncomfortable sensation of being observed intensifying throughout the morning. During lunch, he mentioned to Elder Guo that there might be some wild animal lurking in the forest, watching him. But the elder didn't seem to believe him, prompting Xiang Yu to change locations yet again for his evening practice.
When midnight approached, bringing the familiar settlement screen, Xiang Yu was greeted with the now-expected results:
[Basic Knife Technique: Minor Success (96/200) → (192/200)]
Still zero progress with the Mountain Heart Scripture, but his knife technique now stood at the precipice of advancement. One more settlement, one more doubling, and he would breach the Intermediate stage—a significant milestone in his cultivation journey. According to cultivation conventions, reaching the Intermediate stage of a technique would theoretically grant him combat power equivalent to a first-layer Body Refining cultivator, albeit one without technique cultivation.
Against a Body Refining cultivator who had also mastered techniques, he would still stand no chance. But for someone with no spiritual roots, it represented a tremendous breakthrough—a concrete step toward his ultimate goal of surviving in this dangerous world.
With renewed determination strengthening his resolve, Xiang Yu closed his eyes, already anticipating the coming day's training and the advancement it would bring.
...
Perched elegantly atop a sturdy branch, Li Yao's keen eyes tracked every movement of her senior brother's training. The morning sun filtered through the canopy, casting dappled patterns across her flowing azure robes as she watched with growing admiration. Her delicate fingers manipulated a small crystalline device, ensuring it captured each moment of Xiang Yu's practice.
"Senior brother is really working hard," she thought, a mixture of pride and fascination warming her chest. The transformation in him continued to amaze her—from a lazy, unmotivated youth to this determined cultivator who pushed himself beyond normal limits day after day.
After gathering enough footage to satisfy her daily collection, Li Yao's expression shifted from playful to serious. She recalled Xiang Yu's recent complaints about sensing something in the forest watching him, causing him to repeatedly change his training locations. Her protective instincts flared immediately.
"How dare some beast disturb senior brother's training!" Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she scanned the surrounding forest. Whatever creature was making her senior brother uncomfortable would soon regret its actions. She would personally ensure it learned a painful lesson about the consequences of interfering with what belonged to her.
A mischievous smile suddenly bloomed across her delicate features as another thought occurred to her. After capturing this troublesome beast, what reward should she request from her grateful senior brother? Perhaps a day spent together in the nearest town? Or maybe she could convince him to cook that special dish he'd prepared last week—the one with the mushrooms and secret spices that had even impressed their master?
Her imagination spun pleasant scenarios as she leapt silently from branch to branch, beginning her hunt for the mysterious forest intruder.
Meanwhile, Xiang Yu froze mid-movement, a sudden chill racing down his spine like ice water. Without hesitation, he spun around, drawing his practice knife in one fluid motion. His eyes darted between shadows, scanning for hidden threats as his heart hammered against his ribs.
"Is someone targeting me?" he wondered, tension coiling through every muscle. Despite his vigilance, he could detect no visible assailant—only the usual forest ambiance surrounded him. Yet the unsettling sensation persisted, that peculiar feeling of being watched by unseen eyes.
With a resigned sigh, he sheathed his knife. "This location doesn't seem safe anymore," he muttered, gathering his few possessions. Once again, he would need to find a new training ground—the fourth this week. At this rate, he would soon run out of suitable clearings within reasonable distance of the pavilion.
In his private chambers atop Mountain Heart Pavilion, Elder Guo observed the unfolding drama through specialized spiritual techniques. The cultivator's mouth twitched with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
"What are those kids up to this time?" he grumbled, stroking his long beard. After a moment's consideration, he simply shook his head and returned to his meditation posture. Experience had taught him valuable lessons about interfering with those two disciples of his—they were far from normal, each in their own peculiar way. Better to maintain his dignified distance than become entangled in whatever strange game they were playing.
After relocating to yet another secluded clearing, Xiang Yu resumed his practice with renewed focus. This time, mercifully, he completed his daily regimen without further disturbances. As midnight approached, bringing with it the familiar translucent blue screen, he finally allowed his exhausted body to rest:
[Calculating Settlement]
[Calculation Complete]
[Mountain Heart Scripture: (0/100)]
[Basic Knife Technique: Minor Success (192/200)]
[Experience Points Doubled]
[Basic Knife Technique: Minor Success (192/200) → Intermediate (0/300)]
[Next Settlement: 23:59:59]
A sigh escaped Xiang Yu's lips as he studied the notification, it wasn't that he was disappointed by the zero progress in the Mountain Heart Scripture. His knife technique had indeed advanced to the Intermediate stage—a significant achievement worthy of celebration. Yet the concurrent reset to zero progress points gave him pause. Since he now had zero in both his techniques, if he didn't make any progress in the scripture, he might end up with nothing to double at the end of the day.
"Should I temporarily abandon the scripture and focus on the knife technique?" he wondered. Building up experience points in his newly advanced knife technique would ensure he had something substantial to double tomorrow. Yet abandoning the scripture now, when he might be on the verge of breakthrough, seemed equally foolish. What if he lost the subtle insights he'd been accumulating through persistent practice?
"I'm too tired to make this decision now," he concluded, his eyelids growing impossibly heavy. "I'll sleep on it and decide in the morning."
As he pushed himself upright to return to his dwelling, something extraordinary happened. His leg pressed downward with unexpected force, breaking through the packed earth beneath him and creating a small crater. Stunned, Xiang Yu lifted his foot, staring in amazement at the impression left behind.
His body felt different—stronger, more substantial, yet somehow harder to control precisely. With trembling fingers, he summoned his status screen:
[Name: Xiang Yu]
[Realm: Body Refining 1st Layer]
[Species: Human]
[Spiritual Root: null]
[Techniques: Basic Knife Technique: Intermediate (0/300)]
[Scriptures: Mountain Heart Scripture: 1st Layer (10/100)]
[System Function: Double Exp (Cooldown: 24hrs)]