Chapter 37: Rapid Progress (fixed)
The mountain dawn painted the training ground in hues of gold and amber as Xiang Yu and Li Yao faced each other, their silhouettes sharp against the rising sun. As always, both disciples had risen with the first light, drawn to their daily ritual of combat with unwavering dedication.
Xiang Yu adjusted his grip on the sword, its weight now familiar in his hands. As he moved through his forms, he noticed something different—a subtle shift in his awareness. His movements flowed with newfound fluidity, each stance transitioning into the next with improved precision. More remarkably, he found himself anticipating Li Yao’s attacks moments before they came, his body reacting to signals his conscious mind barely registered.
Li Yao lunged forward, her blade tracing a deadly arc through the morning air. Xiang Yu pivoted, his body responding to some primal instinct rather than calculated thought. He avoided the main force of her strike—a feat that would have been impossible just days ago.
Though he still couldn’t match her overwhelming skill and physical superiority, Li Yao couldn’t help but notice the changes in her senior brother’s combat awareness. His movements contained fewer openings, his reactions came faster, and occasionally, his eyes would track her intended strikes before she executed them. His improvement wasn’t in raw power or speed, but in the fundamental understanding of combat itself.
"He’s reading my movements," she realized with a flash of pride, even as she exploited a minor opening to sweep his legs from beneath him.
Xiang Yu landed hard on his back but rose immediately, a satisfied smile playing across his lips. The Battle Instinct stat was proving its worth already. Though still in its infancy at merely two points, it granted him insights that technique mastery alone couldn’t provide. He understood now why Li Yao could overwhelm his Major Success knife technique with her beginner-level sword skills.
Still, the potential thrilled him. With sufficient growth in this attribute, he might eventually compensate for differences in technique level or even cultivation base. The thought energized him as he resumed his stance, ready for another exchange.
Their training continued uninterrupted, the rhythmic clash of weapons punctuating the morning quiet as the sun climbed higher. Only when it reached its zenith did they finally pause, both acknowledging the arrival of lunchtime with unspoken agreement.
In the pavilion kitchen, Xiang Yu moved with practiced efficiency, his hands dancing between ingredients with remarkable precision. Each slice, each seasoning, each adjustment of heat reflected his growing mastery of culinary arts. Li Yao watched in undisguised amazement—her senior brother worked with the confidence and skill of a professional chef, transforming simple ingredients into something extraordinary.
The enticing aromas had barely begun to permeate the pavilion when Elder Guo appeared, accompanied once again by Huang Fengqi.
"This time I must eat a lot," Fengqi declared without preamble. "I missed last night’s portion."
Elder Guo snorted dismissively. "So what if you missed? Since when were you entitled to our food?"
"Hmph, since when was it your food?" she countered before turning toward Xiang Yu with a winning smile. "Martial nephew, you don’t mind, right?"
Xiang Yu responded with warm hospitality. "Of course not. I even prepared an extra portion for you."
"I knew my martial nephew would agree," Fengqi beamed triumphantly. "You’re so nice. Don’t become grumpy like your master in the future."
"Who are you calling grumpy—" Elder Guo began, his bushy eyebrows drawing together in annoyance. But as the fragrant steam wafted toward him, his protest dissolved into appreciative silence. All four settled around the table, anticipation building as they awaited Xiang Yu’s culinary creation.
When he finally served the meal, conversation ceased entirely. Each bite commanded complete attention, the flavors more nuanced and harmonious than ever before. Fengqi savored each mouthful with growing amazement—his cooking had been exceptional previously, but today’s meal transcended even those standards. Had his skills truly advanced so dramatically overnight?
The meal concluded in reverent silence, empty plates testament to its quality. Though everyone secretly wished for seconds, every morsel had been consumed. They exchanged slightly embarrassed glances, none willing to voice their desire for more, silently consoling themselves with thoughts of the evening meal to come.
...
As Xiang Yu and Li Yao returned to their training ground, a satisfied warmth lingered in Xiang Yu’s chest. The subtle differences in his cooking hadn’t gone unnoticed—even he could perceive the enhanced harmony of flavors, the improved texture, the more precise balance of seasonings. His cooking skill was advancing steadily, perhaps one day reaching heights where he might prepare spiritual foods that nourished cultivation directly. Of course, that possibility remained distant without spiritual roots, but the path was becoming clearer.
They resumed their positions across from each other, swords raised in practiced stances. Li Yao moved first, her blade cutting through air with lethal grace. Xiang Yu responded, his movements increasingly refined as the sword became an extension of his will rather than a mere tool in his hands. Each exchange built upon the foundations of the last, his technique growing more polished with every strike and parry.
A surge of confidence warmed his chest as his instincts guided a particularly smooth counter-maneuver. At this pace, true invincibility felt like an achievable goal rather than a distant fantasy. The thought had barely formed when Li Yao’s blade found an opening, sending him sprawling onto the packed earth once again.
"First, I need to get up," he thought wryly, pushing himself from the ground with renewed determination. He reclaimed his stance, sword raised and ready to continue despite the growing collection of bruises beneath his training clothes.
They practiced relentlessly throughout the afternoon, the sun tracing its arc across the azure sky as their blades clashed in rhythmic harmony. Only when twilight painted the mountain in deepening purple did they pause, acknowledging dinner time with unspoken agreement.
The evening meal passed swiftly, both disciples focused more on replenishing energy than savoring flavors. Without lingering, they returned immediately to their training ground, utilizing every precious moment of remaining daylight before continuing under the silver glow of moonlight.
As midnight approached, they finally sheathed their weapons, exchanging respectful goodnights before retiring to their separate quarters.
In her private chamber, Li Yao settled into the lotus position, her back perfectly straight as spiritual energy began circulating through her meridians. Since breaking through to Core Formation, she no longer required sleep—a luxury that transformed her cultivation regimen entirely. While daylight hours were dedicated to body refinement and sparring with her senior brother, these quiet night hours allowed uninterrupted advancement of her realm and mastery of spell techniques.
Her lips curved into a satisfied smile as energy pulsed through her core. Even this limited cultivation time was more than sufficient given her extraordinary talent. Within a month—perhaps sooner—she would achieve her goal and finally retrieve the Rebirth Pill for her senior brother. The thought fueled her determination as she guided spiritual energy through increasingly complex paths within her body.
Meanwhile, in his humble dwelling, Xiang Yu lay on his simple bed, focused entirely on the system notification hovering before his eyes:
[Calculating Settlement]
[Calculation Complete]
[Enlightenment: Low (6/1000)]
[Battle Instinct: (2/100,000)]
[Mountain Heart Scripture: 3rd Layer (72/300) (+32/300)]
[Low-grade Iron Body Technique: Minor Success (50/200) (+50/200)]
[Basic Knife Technique: Major Success (240/400)]
[Basic Sword Technique: Intermediate (100/300) (+100/300)]
[Cook: 9th Grade (20/100) (+4/100)]
[Experience Points Doubled]
[Cook: 9th Grade (20/100) → 9th Grade (40/100)]
[Basic Sword Technique: Intermediate (100/300) → Intermediate (200/300)]
[Basic Knife Technique: Major Success (240/400) → Completion (0/500)]
[Low-grade Iron Body Technique: Minor Success (50/200) → Minor Success (100/200)]
[Mountain Heart Scripture: 3rd Layer (72/300) → 3rd Layer (144/300)]
[Battle Instinct: (2/100,000) → (4/100,000)]
[Enlightenment: Low (6/1000) → Low (12/1000)]
[Next Settlement: 23:59:59]
...
Author’s Corner:
I noticed that the stats are starting to get out of hand so I’ll find a way to take care of that, for now, we’ll have to keep up with it.
Should we go slower or faster?
I wanted the MC to have at least decent cultivation before I start advancing the main plot but it feels like it’s taking so long so idk what to do, what do you guys think? (I wanted him to have at least a month to cultivate, it’s been about two weeks now, I think, but I’m not too sure)