It has been ten days since I first stepped into Small Success Mastery of the Flowing River Sword Art. For these ten days, I had hidden my progress, choosing not to reveal it immediately. The reason was simple: rapid comprehension and mastery drew too much attention. If others realized how quickly I advanced, the shock would only bring suspicion. Luo Cheng was the first to whom I decided to use this step, but he didn't seem concerned about my 2nd stage prowess, maybe he had thought something about me on his own?
During these ten days, my comprehension of the art had only grown deeper. The circulation of qi, the rhythm of my sword, the natural feeling and flow of its arcs—each movement carried the feeling of flowing water and reversing tide. I could sense that, if this continued, I might be able to touch the threshold of the intermediate stage within another six or seven days. That thought alone lit a quiet fire in my chest.
As I took a break one morning, leaning back against the worn railing of the courtyard, a sudden thought struck me.
"Sun Wukong… he was a staff user."
I almost laughed at my own stupidity. For days I had been obsessed only with sword practice, forgetting entirely that one of the greatest legends of old used a staff as his weapon. How dumb could I be? Still, no harm done. Sword and staff together would only make me more versatile. Instead of limiting myself, I would widen my path.
Without hesitation, I decided to obtain a staff technique. The Library Pavilion stood quiet under the pale sunlight as I walked in. Rows of shelves stretched endlessly, stacked with scrolls and manuals. At the entrance sat the elder in charge, an austere man with thin brows and eyes like polished stones. He gave me only a curt nod when I entered, as if acknowledging my presence but little more.
I did not bother with the second floor; I didn't need more sword techniques yet. Instead, I searched the first floor carefully until my hand brushed against a manual bound in faded red leather. The title carved across the front was heavy, almost domineering:
"Iron-Bending Monkey Staff Manual."
The name carried weight. It was not the most profound technique, but it was fierce, adaptable, and—above all—suited my intentions. Carrying it to the elder's desk, I presented it without a word. He inspected the cover briefly before taking up a brush and inscribing a note in his ledger.
"You have seven days to return it," he said in a flat voice just like before as the world didn't concern him.
"I understand," I replied, bowing lightly.
Back in the courtyard, I wasted no time. With a training staff in hand which I took from the training grounds, I opened the manual and began practicing its first forms. To my surprise, the movements came almost naturally. My body, already tempered by reaching Small Success in the Flowing River Sword Art, had grown accustomed to discipline, balance, and fluidity. Each swing of the staff felt strangely familiar, as if the blade in my hand had simply extended into a longer reach.
By the end of the first day, I had memorized the foundational sequences. By the second day, my staff spun with precision, my stance rooted firmly in the earth. What took ordinary disciples six to seven days to grasp, and top geniuses two to three days. I could feel it—I was already brushing against the beginner stage of mastery. Genius-level progress, as they called it as I too would be able to reach it in two days.
It was then that I remembered.
"My status… I haven't checked it since breaking through."
Drawing a deep breath, I summoned the panel.
Ding!
--- The Celestial System ---
[[Name: Xuan Yuan (Lucas Silva)
Age: 17
Cultivation Level: 4th stage of Qi Gathering – (10%)
Skills:- Flowing River Sword Art - Small Success(●●○○○), Iron-Bending Monkey Staff Manual – Beginner(●○○○○)
Abilities:- Lunar Slash (click to view details)
Items:- One-time use Power card(Increase strength by 3 minor realms)
Quests: CLICK HERE]]
---
A slow smile tugged at my lips. So it was true. In just ten days, I had advanced from the third stage to the fourth stage of Qi Gathering. The reason lay clear in my memory: till I reached the sixth day after small success mastery, I had consumed two pills, each taken three days apart. Together, they had pushed me forward by ten percent. And the daily five percent increment for 6 days straight gave me another 30% increase and with that, I had broken through to the fourth stage. The remaining four days were slower—just two percent daily. One more pill during those days gave me an additional two percent. In total, I stood at the fourth stage with ten percent progress.
But progress kept hidden too long raised its own doubts. If I suddenly appeared at the fourth stage with no explanation, questions would follow. It was time to reveal myself in a measured way.
I walked toward the training area, where disciples often gathered to spar. The clatter of wooden weapons and the occasional flare of qi filled the air. Some relaxed by the side pools, their laughter carried in the breeze. Stepping into the arena, I deliberately let out my aura—only enough to show mid-stage of the second realm. That alone would be enough to attract attention.
Several heads turned. Whispers rippled through the crowd.
I approached a disciple seated nearby, one who I knew was at the second stage. "Do you want to spar?" I asked.
The boy's eyes widened. He shook his head so quickly it was almost comical. "N-no. I… I think not."
He avoided my gaze, clearly frightened—not by my cultivation, but by the rumors of my former weakness. To defeat someone like me would bring no honor, and to lose would be humiliating. The others saw this, too. My seemingly arrogant challenge painted me in a new light.
Just as I planned.
As expected, a stronger one stepped forward. He was broad-shouldered, with a confident smirk on his lips. His aura pulsed with the pressure of a late-stage second-stage cultivator. "I'll fight you, trash of the clan, albeit a stronger trash now, nothing more," he said, stepping onto the platform.
"Good," I replied simply, unsheathing my sword.
The duel began with a sharp clang as steel met steel. He struck fiercely, his blade whistling through the air. I ducked under the first slash, spinning to the side, the Flowing River Sword Art guiding my movements like a tide flowing around stone. He pressed harder, his strikes swift and heavy, but I remained calm.
A thrust aimed at my chest—I sidestepped, my sword dragging along his in a twisting arc, redirecting the force. He stumbled a half-step, surprised. I countered with a sweep aimed at his legs, but he leaped back, narrowly evading.
The clash continued, blades sparking in the light. His late-stage strength bore down like a storm, but my technique flowed endlessly, turning every attack back upon him. At last, I feinted high and then spun low, my blade cutting upward in a rising arc. His guard broke for a fraction of a second—enough. My strike landed, pressing against his chest.
The arena fell silent.
The late-stage cultivator staggered back, face pale. He had lost. Not to someone stronger, but to me—someone he thought beneath him.
Murmurs erupted all around. "Impossible… he's only mid-stage… how could Xuan Yuan…" "Was that almost reaching Small Success? No, maybe it has reached…"
I sheathed my sword calmly, letting their words wash over me.
From the edge of the crowd, Luo Cheng met my eyes. He already knew that as I showed him mid-stage 2nd stage Qi Gathering prowess during our spar, so he was not surprised by it. To him, my silence meant trust. Let him think that. In truth, I was careful. On Earth, I had seen enough politics to know that every alliance carried hidden motives. Trust was a luxury I could not afford unless I was sure the person could earn my trust by their actions.
Later that day, word of my duel reached the Patriarch. Seated in the quiet of his hall, he listened to the report with a faint smile.
"So," he murmured, "my child made good use of the pills. Perhaps he has his own secrets too. But there's no need to pry."
He dismissed the messenger, his eyes thoughtful yet unconcerned.
And thus the day ended, my name whispered with awe among the 1st and 2nd stage Qi Gathering disciples, my progress both hidden and revealed as I intended. The Flowing River Sword Art surged within me, already pushing toward enlightenment, and the path ahead grew clearer with every breath.