Lost in his studies, Xu Qingxian didn't notice the passage of time. By the time afternoon arrived, he finally opened his eyes and glanced around the quiet chamber.
Normally, Lin Fan would have brought his lunch by now, but it seemed he had truly left.
Just then, a soft metallic sound echoed from the cold, steel door.
"Lin Fan?" Xu Qingxian thought silently, his gaze sharpening. "Or perhaps someone else he sent to attend to me?" His thoughts remained calm, curious yet unbothered.
The door creaked open, and Xu Qingxian's eyes widened slightly as he saw Lin Fan stepping into the room. The man's posture was tense, his expression far from normal.
He looked more withdrawn than usual, his back slightly hunched, and his face shadowed by disappointment.
Xu Qingxian narrowed his eyes, sensing something was wrong.
"What's the matter?" he asked, voice low but firm, his gaze locked onto Lin Fan's conflicted face.
Lin Fan forced a tight smile, though it barely masked the turbulent emotions roiling beneath. "It's nothing, young master. I brought your meal." His voice quivered slightly, betraying his inner unrest.
Xu Qingxian scrutinized him carefully. The strained smile, the stiff posture, the avoidance of eye contact—it was obvious something had happened. Yet Lin Fan seemed unwilling to share. Realizing this, Xu Qingxian didn't press him.
Instead, he sighed softly and turned his attention to the fragrant meal that had been set before him. Steam curled upward from the neatly arranged dishes, filling the room with a savory aroma that made his stomach growl.
After the quiet meal was served, Lin Fan knelt slightly and pulled a small object from his spatial ring. A soft glow pulsed from within his hand.
"Young master," he said quietly, offering the item forward. "Please accept my apology for ever thinking of leaving you."
Xu Qingxian's brow furrowed as he looked down. It was a middle-grade spirit stone, radiating a warm, milky aura that pulsed gently, as if alive. It was one of the stones Lin Fan had likely prepared for his own cultivation journey.
"This…" Xu Qingxian paused, fingers hovering over the stone. Normally, he would have refused such a gesture. But now, he needed it—to check in with the system before the day ended. After a brief moment of hesitation, he accepted it with a sigh.
"Are you ready to speak about what happened?" Xu Qingxian asked, placing the spirit stone beside him. Lin Fan inhaled deeply, but the words refused to come. He sighed again, shoulders sagging. Xu Qingxian could guess the truth.
"He wasn't accepted into the Profound Dao Sect," Xu Qingxian thought silently. "Is his aptitude too low? Or did he choose not to go through with it in the end?" The latter seemed unlikely but still within the realm of possibility.
Once the meal was finished, Xu Qingxian absorbed the energy within the food and gained 10 attribute points, bringing his total to 373.
As Lin Fan silently took his leave, Xu Qingxian watched his hunched figure retreat into the corridor, his footsteps muted on the polished floor.
They hadn't exchanged many words during the meal. The atmosphere had been heavy, the silence oppressive.
Lin Fan stared blankly at the ground, lost in thought. Xu Qingxian knew forcing him to speak would do more harm than good. Though curious, he chose to give the man space.
After Lin Fan's departure, Xu Qingxian reached into his robes and retrieved his phone. He loaded the spirit stone, and a surge of data rushed into the device.
The screen glowed brighter as the energy was transferred. Despite the success, Xu Qingxian made a silent vow.
'I'll never wait till the last moment again. As soon as I receive a spirit stone, I'll check in immediately.'
Smiling faintly, he slid his fingers across the screen and tapped the confirmation prompt.
[Congratulations on checking in on the eighth day. You have received the Flowing Dream Robe.]
Xu Qingxian blinked, surprised. "An artifact?" His eyes landed on a pristine white robe folded neatly on a nearby stand.
As he reached for it, information about the robe surged into his mind. He stood still, absorbing it.
"I see..." he muttered.
The robe appeared ordinary, but it had subtle differences. It was dust-repellent, carried a faint natural scent, and offered light protection against minor attacks.
While its defensive properties were not overwhelming, they were still useful.
Xu Qingxian ran his fingers over the smooth, silky fabric and then donned it. The robe clung to him perfectly, fitting like it had been tailored just for him.
A fresh, clean scent now surrounded him, the robe's passive fragrance filling the room.
He smiled faintly, the scent oddly comforting, and turned his focus back to his comprehension of the Basic Movement Technique.
Evening settled over the realm, casting long shadows across the room. Lin Fan returned with dinner, his silence unchanged. Xu Qingxian accepted the meal, but said nothing. Pushing him again would only cause more pain.
Suddenly, Xu Qingxian's eyes snapped open, a surge of energy coursing through him.
"Basic Movement Technique comprehended!"
A wave of joy swept through his chest, and the system interface appeared before him.
[Congratulations on comprehending a new technique: the Basic Movement Technique.]
[Do you wish to assign attribute points?]
[Yes or No?]
Xu Qingxian pressed "Yes" without hesitation. This technique could significantly improve his survivability.
Instantly, a stream of detailed instructions flooded his mind. Without pause, he began distributing attribute points.
Second level. Third level. Fifth. Sixth. All the way to the eighth.
He spent 255 attribute points in total, elevating the technique to Level 8. The amount of knowledge that rushed into his mind was nearly overwhelming.
He gritted his teeth and endured, allowing the data to fully integrate into his memory.
When the flood finally eased, he opened his eyes and glanced at the system panel hovering before him.
[Host: Xu Qingxian]
[Cultivation Techniques: Basic Sword Technique, Starlight Sword Technique, Basic Qi Gathering Technique, Qi Nurturing Technique (Incomplete), Basic Movement Technique, Eight Trigrams Steps]
[Attribute Points: 128]
He read through the information, then smiled faintly. Yet one line drew his attention with unmistakable weight.
The Eight Trigrams Steps.
A terrifying movement technique that allowed its user to move at the speed of sound. At such velocity, even cultivators above the Nascent Soul Realm would barely be able to perceive his movement.
To them, Xu Qingxian would appear as a blur, a phantom in motion.
The sheer thought of it made his blood race.
Anyone who dared to chase him would only be chasing despair. A grin played on his lips. Everything was unfolding perfectly.
Xu Qingxian pulled his thoughts away from the movement technique, feeling a sense of calm settle in his heart.
With his Basic Movement Technique mastered and Eight Trigrams Steps at his disposal, he could now shift his focus to breaking through to the Golden Core Realm.
Currently in the sixth stage of Foundation Establishment, the breakthrough was within reach. The path ahead had become clearer.
He crossed his legs and closed his eyes, entering a deep meditative state.
Cool wisps of qi drifted through the air, gently drawn into his body. They flowed through the countless intersections of his meridians like shimmering threads of light, nourishing the multiple dantians that resided within him.
The cultivation process had begun once more.