Chapter Twenty-Three: Are You Going to Do It or Not?

Over the next two days, Xiao Bei finally came to terms with the fact that she was not quite the genius she had imagined herself to be. The evidence was clear: in terms of swordsmanship, she was thoroughly outmatched by her so-called useless brother.

Heartbroken and frustrated, the little girl channeled her sorrow into an insatiable appetite, devouring every treat her brother's pocket money could buy. From time to time, she would cast strange glances at Xiao Nan.

“If I can’t beat you in swordsmanship, I’ll beat you in spirit and vitality. Soon, I’ll surpass you…” she muttered, shaking her tiny fists behind his back in a display of resolve, none of which escaped Xiao Nan’s notice.

He found it amusing, but paid it no mind, knowing she was quietly steeling herself for a future rivalry. For now, however, she stood no chance.

With the golden threads in the mirror-shaped birthmark gradually depleted, his spiritual strength had stabilized. When meditating, his mind was as calm and peaceful as the deepest night, where stars scattered across the sky.

At such moments, he would sense subtle changes in his body, as minute streams of energy seeped from the air into his skin, gently diffusing throughout. This progress was heartening, as if he had activated some mysterious mark—a sensation he had never experienced in his past life.

In his previous incarnation, he had neither spiritual power nor a treasured mirror at his side, and his senses were dull. He had focused solely on physical training, a far cry from his current state.

According to his teacher’s lecture, his “Moonlit Starry Sky Visualization” technique had reached the second layer of the first stage—the meditative phase. Whether it was deep or shallow meditation, he could not yet tell, lacking any reference point.

His vitality was also growing stronger under the “Divine Intent Body Tempering” method. Now he understood why the homeroom teacher always stressed that spiritual cultivation was the foundation, while tempering the body was the cornerstone.

The stronger the spirit, the more efficient the body’s training, and the faster its growth. In principle, if one failed to reach the meditative stage before eighteen and trigger the body’s self-evolving potential, there would be little hope of achieving greatness in life.

A slow start meant a slow journey throughout. Missing the optimal window for transformation, when bones set and the spirit grows sluggish, no amount of resources or time could make up for it. Martial arts training would be nothing more than an illusion, a flower reflected in water or a moon in a mirror.

It must be said, after the blood ritual, Xiao Nan had unknowingly acquired a divine bloodline, awakening the mirror space and causing a massive leap in spiritual progress—catching the very last train, so to speak.

Though his body seemed unchanged, and his vitality had not increased much—still appearing as a fragile third-rate cripple—his essence had undergone a profound transformation. With enough resources, everything would be different.

As for Xiao Bei, she was lost in self-doubt, unable to regain confidence through her brother for the next two years at least.

Normally, due to age, students would begin body training and spiritual visualization only in their first year of high school.

Before that, in junior high, they only studied cultural knowledge and basic martial theory. To avoid harming the body, Tan Qiuyi forbade her from training spirit and vitality before fifteen. At most, she could practice various techniques—flexibility, coordination, swordplay, boxing, and the synchronization of hands, eyes, body, and steps.

These were not particularly demanding. Children could begin as soon as they learned to run, as long as they were supervised. Those from families with martial traditions could pass down secret techniques early, allowing their children to become proficient before high school, so that when they began strengthening their bodies and vitality, they would have a clear advantage.

Pure technique training, lacking the support of strength, was often mere showmanship; in actual combat, it was of little use. Still, children who practiced martial arts from a young age, even if they failed as adults, would at least be faster and more agile than bookish types, better able to escape danger.

This was the purpose of promoting martial arts nationwide: a vast population base, elite warriors, and an atmosphere of growth—everyone practicing martial arts to prepare for great change.

The original Xiao Nan was a failure because, even by his senior year of high school, he not only lacked spiritual and physical prowess, he couldn’t even grasp the basic martial routines. How he got into Yuanjiang First High School was a mystery.

“He must have used connections,” Xiao Nan thought with a wry smile. Yet there was no such memory—whether someone secretly helped him or kept it hidden, he didn’t know.

...

Monday.

Xiao Nan finished a night of meditation and opened his eyes groggily. Crimson sunlight streamed through the window. Glancing at the clock, he hurried to wash up.

The college entrance exam was fast approaching; teachers and students alike were tense. Being late now was certainly a bad idea.

He wasn’t sure when he had fallen asleep, his mind feeling muddled and unclear.

“Meditation can’t truly replace sleep. Only when the spirit reaches the fetal breath stage—when spirit permeates the body, thought ceases, neither alive nor dead, and the body breathes on its own, constantly training—can one truly go without sleep.”

Such a spiritual realm was nearly unattainable for a high school student. People spoke of it with longing.

At this thought, an image of Qin Shuang flashed in Xiao Nan’s mind.

Back in the hospital, Qin Shuang had uttered a command, instantly conjuring the image of a bright moon in his mind, breaking Gu Junwu’s hypnosis. Her spiritual power was vast and resilient, able to affect others—it must have reached the fetal breath stage, neither dead nor alive.

“No wonder the top schools are vying for her. Her superior spiritual realm is the key reason.”

“If so, Qin Shuang may have mastered Divine Intent Body Tempering at just sixteen. Her family lacked neither resources nor heritage. After three years of training, strengthening her vitality and spirit, her foundation would be solid—what level has her power reached now? She may have already surpassed the martial artist realm, possibly more than the lowest rank.”

Just as he thought of Qin Shuang, Xiao Nan encountered his nominal bride.

Not far from his house, a voice called out.

“Get in.”

A bright yellow sports car pulled up beside him. The window rolled down, revealing Qin Shuang in a snowy white suit, seated at the wheel. Her eyes, cold as ice, gazed at him expressionlessly.

“Uh…”

She’s even driven here to pick me up—what does that mean? Did she predict I’d head to school? This girl was fierce, and her family situation too complicated. Xiao Nan, new to the scene, was reluctant to get involved with her.

As the old saying goes, beauty brings trouble. With his frail build, the best course was to keep a low profile and avoid attention.

Definitely not the time to show off.

Getting involved with the high school’s cross-dressing queen was anything but wise.

“I’d rather not. The school isn’t far, walking is good exercise,” Xiao Nan said, puffing out his chest to appear strong, smiling.

“Are you getting in or not?” Qin Shuang’s gaze was truly icy, a chill radiating through the window.

“I’m in!” Xiao Nan yielded without hesitation.