"System, enhance the Cloud-Dissipating Palm!"
After obtaining the technique, Su Han naturally wasn't satisfied. He immediately chose to enhance it. If he relied solely on his own cultivation, it would take him years to progress from beginner to mastery, something simply impossible in the short term.
Excluding the points he'd already spent at the beginning, he still had over 4,000 remaining. Because Xingqiu had bought 2,000 volumes, those were also counted as points he could freely use.
[Notice: Martial art Cloud-Dissipating Palm, one enhancement requires 500 points. Proceed with enhancement?]
"Yes."
As a beam of light merged into his mind, Su Han felt his understanding of the Cloud-Dissipating Palm advance significantly. Areas of confusion suddenly became clear.
[Notice: Your martial art Cloud-Dissipating Palm has consumed 500 points and advanced from Beginner to Skilled!]
"System, continue enhancement."
Su Han wasn't content with just that. With his business booming, he now needed bodyguards just to go outside. A blacksmith must have strong iron himself, after all. The Treasure-Hunting Group was one thing, but if the Fatui ever targeted him, it wouldn't be easy to escape.
He urgently needed great strength to arm himself.
[Notice: Your martial art Cloud-Dissipating Palm has consumed 500 points and advanced from Skilled to Minor Accomplishment!]
Another flash of white light erupted, and countless fragments of knowledge poured into his mind. Su Han's comprehension of the Cloud-Dissipating Palm transformed once more. Things he hadn't understood before now felt perfectly natural, his every movement seemed capable of summoning clouds and mist for attack.
But that still wasn't enough. Su Han continued to murmur, "System, enhance Cloud-Dissipating Palm."
[Notice: Your martial art Cloud-Dissipating Palm has reached Minor Accomplishment. Further enhancement requires 1,000 points. Proceed?]
[Note: After enhancement, further strengthening will be unavailable until system permissions are upgraded.]
Though it would stop at Major Accomplishment, that was already sufficient for Su Han, even if the cost had doubled.
"System, enhance!"
The white light turned golden and surged into his mind. With a thunderous boom, a blast resounded within his consciousness. Billowing clouds rose within his mental world, forming countless figures frantically practicing.
Body techniques, internal force, and footwork all improved.
Even knowledge he previously lacked was now filled in.
Acupoints.
Inner power.
Hemostasis.
All the benefits attached to martial arts had now become part of his muscle memory.
At the same time, as the figures within Su Han's mind moved, a mighty aura of clouds and mist gathered above the skies of Liyue Harbor, influenced by his power.
On the streets below, as people saw the changing clouds, they thought rain was coming and hurried home. However, those with stronger cultivation sensed that this power was man-made.
At the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Zhongli looked up at the sky, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Is that Su Han?"
At the Northland Bank, Tartaglia, who had just arrived from Snezhnaya, was also drawn by the phenomenon. Smiling, he said, "Interesting. I didn't expect to encounter something like this so soon after arriving in Liyue Harbor. I wonder who this expert is, anyone capable of shaking the heavens must be a fine opponent. Hopefully, I'll get the chance to spar with them."
As he spoke, Tartaglia's eyes gleamed with battlelust. For a maniac who lived for combat, nothing was more thrilling than meeting a powerful rival.
At Yujing Terrace, Ganyu gazed at the shifting clouds with some confusion, but when she saw where the mist was concentrating, she sighed in relief.
A Millelith soldier beside her asked if they should investigate. Ganyu shook her head. "No need. I'll go take a look myself."
The area where the clouds gathered was, of course, Su Han's home. She knew that much. Although he was a Fire Qilin, soaring among clouds and mist was a natural gift of the Qilin race.
Perhaps he was awakening his power. Thinking that she had a clansman in Liyue, Ganyu couldn't help but feel quietly happy.
Outside the city, Keqing had just finished work. When she saw the swirling clouds overhead behaving unnaturally, her expression turned serious. "Someone's meddling with Liyue Harbor's skies? Don't they understand the rules?"
As she spoke, Master Keqing transformed into a bolt of lightning, leaping across rooftops and rushing toward the source of the phenomenon.
As one of the Liyue Qixing, her foremost duty was to protect the people. If someone were truly causing trouble within the city, there could be severe casualties.
However, before she could reach the comic shop area, the clouds gradually dispersed.
"Huh? Why did it vanish? Could I have been mistaken?"
Keqing halted atop a rooftop, full of doubt. Her senses were rarely wrong, had the opponent detected her presence?
Regardless, she decided to investigate first.
A few breaths earlier, inside the comic shop, Su Han had sensed someone locking onto his aura. The feeling of being watched made him snap his eyes open. "Someone's approaching fast."
But once his cultivation stopped, that feeling faded.
He didn't know who it was, but that sharp, prickling sensation, there was likely only one person in Liyue Harbor who could give him that feeling: Keqing herself.
Su Han wasn't sure what exactly had happened, but he understood one thing, he couldn't continue cultivating within the city.
"Seems I'll need to find a secluded place for training from now on. The city's too unsafe, too easy to attract attention. Keqing is reasonable, but if it were the Yuheng following Night Court rules, I'd probably be invited for tea."
Finishing his cultivation, Su Han adjusted his clothes and was about to head out when a knock came from the door.
"Boss, Miss Ganyu is here to visit."
"Hm? Ganyu? Alright, I understand. Please, let her in."
"Yes."
Moments later, Ganyu entered carrying a packet of tea leaves.
The two exchanged smiles. Taking the gift, Su Han asked, "You're free today?"
"There's plenty of work as usual," Ganyu replied with a gentle smile. "But I was drawn here by the clouds you caused. Have you recently awakened your bloodline?"
"Mm, just recently."
He didn't quite understand what she meant, but it was best to go along with it.
Sure enough, Ganyu soon showed an expression of realization. "I thought so. Still, you shouldn't do that again. Displaying your ability to ride clouds within the city can easily cause panic. If you don't mind, I can take you near Jueyun Karst and guide you a bit in cultivation. How about it?"
"Hm? Are you sure it's fine? I heard you've been busy with work."
Su Han was surprised. From what he knew of Ganyu, she always prioritized her duties above all else. Even Lumine probably hadn't received such personal attention before.
Ganyu smiled gently and nodded. "Just two hours won't hurt. Besides, the Qingxin flowers you gave me last time tasted wonderful—and they let me rest a little."
Since she'd said so, Su Han naturally wouldn't refuse. He badly needed someone to help him practice his techniques anyway.
"In that case, let's go to Cuijue Slope instead."
Out of habit, Ganyu had first chosen Jueyun Karst, but that was far too close to Cloud Retainer's abode. That talkative master was her nemesis! If they happened to run into her, Cloud Retainer might expose embarrassing stories from Ganyu's childhood, something she could never bear before Su Han.
Compared to Jueyun Karst, Cuijue Slope was far safer.
As they left the shop together, a distant figure froze.
Keqing's eyes widened as she stared at the two chatting and smiling. Shock filled her face. "Huh? No way, Ganyu's actually chatting happily with a man?!"
According to legends of the Liyue Qixing, the celestial beast Ganyu served them loyally but seemed utterly indifferent to matters between men and women.
More than that, she usually interacted with humans only for official business. To see her smiling and conversing with a man, this was unprecedented!
"This is huge news…"
Rubbing her eyes, Keqing still found it hard to believe. In her astonishment, she completely forgot about investigating the cloud phenomenon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bonus chapters every 300 Power Stone!
10, 20, 30 Advanced chapters in my Patreon!
patreon.com/hollyrisk