Chapter Thirty-Six: Thrusting Forward into the Rising Sun

“Teacher Tang, is there really no way to fight for it? Even with your reputation, is it impossible?” Qin Shuang asked softly.

Tang Zhixuan smiled and shook her head. “I can’t reveal my true identity, so there’s really nothing I can do this time. Li Yuancheng’s influence at First High is unexpectedly great... With Vice Principal Lin supporting him, the right to use the Crystal Stone Chamber simply won’t fall into your hands.

After all, even Principal Sun and Director Wen don’t want the school’s precious resources to be spent on a student already recruited by a prestigious academy. It would be a waste.”

“If not on me, then what, on Li Shaohua?” Qin Shuang snorted coldly, clearly dissatisfied.

“Not necessarily,” Tang Zhixuan replied with a smile. “Though Li Shaohua is currently in the lead, I see at least two others this year who might compete with him. Li Yuancheng underestimates those unaffiliated martial artists. During the trials, someone might just win first place... If the Crystal Stone Chamber is awarded to someone else, there’ll be a good show to watch.”

“Teacher Tang...”

“No need to call me Teacher Tang—just call me Senior Sister. I’ll be returning to campus to apply for a lecturer position as soon as I finish the senior trial mission. You can call me teacher then. In truth, you don’t need to focus on the Crystal Stone Chamber at Yuanjiang First High. The Emerald Lake Trial at Qingning Academy would suit you better. This is a rare opportunity to be personally led by Mentor Yunxi. She specifically requested you to go to the capital early—don’t miss it.”

“It’s not the same,” Qin Shuang shook her head, her expression icy. “The Crystal Stone Chamber can not only enhance one’s blood and energy cultivation, but also allows insight into the mysteries of spatial pathways.”

“But it isn’t compatible with your constitution... You started practicing the Jade Wave Heart Technique too early. Though you’ve cultivated a Water Spirit Physique, it comes with hidden dangers. Emerald Lake is the best place to resolve them. I know you’re still hoping to comprehend some spatial secrets, to enter the Wall of Sighs and search for your father, but that place is too dangerous—almost certain death...”

Here, a trace of pity flashed in Tang Zhixuan’s eyes and her smile faded. “If I were you, I wouldn’t harbor such unrealistic hopes. That place is ruled by divine domains—you wouldn’t even be able to tell direction inside and could easily lose yourself.”

“Let’s not talk about this. Since the Crystal Stone Chamber is out of reach, I’ll set off for the capital today,” Qin Shuang said, her tone as decisive and sharp as ever.

“That’s the spirit. Mentor will be delighted to see you,” Tang Zhixuan said with a smile.

“Senior Sister, about the other matter I mentioned…”

“You mean Xiao Nan.” Tang Zhixuan’s smile vanished. She took Qin Shuang’s hand and spoke earnestly, “Honestly, what era are we living in? Why are you still clinging to those old traditions of arranged marriages and parental orders?”

“That’s my business... Senior Sister, if you won’t help, I’ll find someone else.” Qin Shuang’s face darkened as she calmly withdrew her hand.

“All right, all right. You’re Mentor’s personally recruited junior, so in the old way of speaking, we’re from the same school. If I won’t help you, who will? I agree to your request,” Tang Zhixuan said, gritting her teeth and smiling with narrowed eyes.

She thought to herself she’d just brush it off for now. By the time action was needed, Qin Shuang would be far away in the capital—what could she do about it?

She’d met Xiao Nan before; aside from his good looks, he had nothing else to offer. And he wanted to use the back door to pass the martial skills assessment? Impossible.

In fact, she felt that boy was completely unworthy of her extraordinarily gifted junior.

This girl, not yet eighteen, had already reached the Fetal Breath Realm of spiritual cultivation and possessed the Water Spirit Physique... In Yuanjiang, or even in the prestigious Qingning Academy where geniuses from all over the country gathered, students like her were rare.

Her future was limitless.

Hearing Tang Zhixuan’s agreement, Qin Shuang’s lips twitched, as if she wanted to show goodwill, but still didn’t smile. Her face seemed frozen by ice and snow, unable to form a smile.

“Then I’ll leave it to you, Senior Sister.”

“Go on, go on. When you see Mentor, remember to give her my regards. Tell her that the case of collusion with the savage beasts in Yuanjiang City will soon be resolved, and I’ll definitely achieve an excellent result in this year’s graduation trial, so she won’t lose face.”

“Collusion with savage beasts—could it be the Longevity Society?”

“Don’t worry about that. It’s the Beast God Cult. They’ve already left clues behind; they won’t escape...” Tang Zhixuan seemed unwilling to say more, smiling gently as she saw Qin Shuang off.

...

The next morning.

The sky was just beginning to brighten. Xiao Nan got up early and washed away the black-red grime that had seeped from his pores.

The power of the Blood Vitality Pill was truly astounding. As far as he could recall, his previous self had taken it twice before...

But the effects of those first two times were largely wasted; about seventy to eighty percent of the medicine was lost, and it had done little to transform his body.

That’s why most families are reluctant to buy such pills. You spend a fortune, but if your talent isn’t up to par and your efficiency is low, it’s a huge waste.

After breaking through spiritually and achieving inner tranquility, Xiao Nan used the Tidal Body-Quenching Method he’d learned from Teacher Yang Yankun, along with the Mind-Body Forging Technique, to refine the medicinal energy. This time, results were clear.

Wave after wave of blood and energy, driven by his spiritual force, washed through every corner of his body, penetrating muscles, bones, and tendons.

His body grew stronger by the minute.

In his previous life, strengthening the body required years of absorbing the essence from food and enduring harsh training. Compared to that, today’s methods were obviously much more scientific—and effective.

This was a comprehensive refinement.

He could feel the rapid surge in his physical strength. The arms that once clung to his bones, pallid and thin, now flushed with healthy color.

There was a smooth, full sheen to his skin, the very picture of health.

He clenched his fist and heard the creaking of his bones, felt the tension in his muscles.

A punch sent a faint buzz through the air.

“My physique now, though still far behind what I achieved through more than a decade of hard training in my past life, can be estimated at nearly four hundred pounds of force.

Converted to this world’s standard of blood vitality, that’s about 1.8 to 1.9... Just one Blood Vitality Pill, when supported by the Mind-Body Forging Method, raised my value by over 0.4. Remarkable.”

“If I could get seven or eight more, I might reach the threshold for a prestigious university.”

He chuckled at the thought.

Never mind whether he could actually obtain seven or eight more pills.

There was also the issue of increasing resistance to the medicine, and the fact that the closer one’s blood vitality value is to the limit, the harder it is to improve...

If he kept taking pills, even seventeen or eighteen might not push him past 4.0.

“If I only had a few more months, my chances would be so much better.”

He felt some regret but didn’t dwell on it. Bare-chested, he stepped out into the yard and onto the grass.

He needed to adapt to his newly enhanced strength.

At first, whenever he exerted himself, he left deep footprints in the ground. His steps were unsteady and awkward.

It took quite a while before he could stand firmly.

Fortunately, in his previous life, he had once wielded strength in the thousands and was well-versed in all sorts of martial arts.

After a little shadowboxing with punches and kicks, he quickly adjusted.

With the ebony longsword in hand, Xiao Nan assumed the basic sword stance. He didn’t use any fancy moves—just the simple forward thrust.

Sword after sword, he struck toward the rising sun...

As the sun leapt above the horizon, its crimson light shone upon him, casting his rough-hewn muscles in sharp relief. They rolled beneath his skin like scurrying mice, possessing a strange and captivating beauty.

“Power unified, force flowing in one—though the training methods of these two worlds differ, their essence is the same.”

Xiao Nan practiced whole-body strength.

It was the best way to harmonize the body.

Muscle strength integrated, blood and energy condensed—each breath paired with a sword thrust...

The sword flashed like lightning.

A sharp, slicing sound split the air.

Again and again, the sound came, until it became a rapid, continuous storm, like rain beating down on shattered lotus leaves, a hissing that merged into an unbroken sheet.

His skin flushed red, white mist rose from his body, striking under the sunlight—his sweat evaporating in an instant.

Tan Qiuyi stood for a moment with her basket, watching Xiao Nan absorbed in his sword practice. Not wanting to disturb him, she simply smiled in satisfaction and left quietly through the gate.

She needed to go early to buy groceries and breakfast.

Xiao Bei, still half-asleep, pushed open her door, a porcelain mug in hand, about to brush her teeth, when she heard a strange noise.

She looked up, eyes wide.

“Xiao Nan is this strong now? Has he really gotten that much better?”

Watching the figure in the yard, she felt her once feeble brother had become unfamiliar, and yet, she felt reassured.

Xiao Nan finished his sword practice, exhaled deeply, and calmed his blood and energy.

Turning, he saw the dumbfounded look on the little girl’s face and laughed. “Xiao Bei, you’re lazy today—I’ve been practicing swordplay for ages and you’re just getting up...”

“I don’t have to rush to school—unlike you, who’s afraid of being late for the martial skills assessment.

Xiao Nan, don’t think just because your swordplay looks good that you’ll be a match for anyone. Don’t embarrass me during the assessment!”

“You little brat.”

Xiao Nan shook his head at her stubborn mouth.

“I am looking forward to the sword matches, though.”

What he was most looking forward to, of course, was the reward for passing—the Blood Vitality Pill.

...

Thank you, Xiao Yangyang (10,000), Xia Jiba Kan (1,000) for your generous tips, and thanks to everyone for your favorites and votes... It’s always heartening to see familiar names.

Let me talk about the pacing... The earlier chapters were deliberately slower, partly due to my writing habits. I’ve heard that if the pace is too fast, the protagonist becomes invincible within a few hundred thousand words, and the story collapses...

So, to lay out the background, plant foreshadowing, and bring the characters to life, I inevitably write at greater length. You could call it filler, or you could say I’m putting in the effort. This book is my attempt to write more substantial characters, to add depth to a wish-fulfillment story, so it isn’t so shallow. Otherwise, like my previous book, readers will complain that every side character is a fool, haha.

With this book, even if you put it down, you should remember the characters—they’re vivid and real. Maybe that’s progress.

Of course, if I write too much daily life, it does feel a bit drawn out. That’s my fault—my skill isn’t quite there yet and I tend to focus on one thing and overlook another.

Still, I ask for your continued support. Please don’t just save up chapters—if you do, many books wind up being abandoned, and you’ll lose me...

Web novels are unique—interaction is crucial. A book is shaped by both author and readers; your feedback directly affects how the story develops. After all, a book is written for its readers, not just for the author’s own amusement.

Just yesterday, I received a lot of valuable advice from reader “Dead Means Asleep”; and “Little Cabbage” tipped the book master-level rewards before even reading, and is helping me consider whether to change the book’s title or not. Then there’s “Boring Life 11,” who tipped 10,000 on the very first day, tossing out red envelopes... Thank you all.

I say all this not as filler—this is a free chapter, consider it a chat between us...

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