Chapter 106: Progress of One Month (2)

  Xu Mo did not stop and continued on to the next training area.

  Soft Bark Palm!

  A low-grade palm art meant for breaking stone and wooden structures without drawing attention.

  Not strong offensively, but useful for breaking terrain or pushing quietly.

  A huge boulder was placed in the peaceful grounds, specifically designed for palm techniques. Only now, out of the ten or so boulders, only nine remained—Xu Mo's Qi, being so pure, had penetrated through the boulder. And this time, even Xu Mo noticed that only the sound of the boulder breaking had been heard. That meant that before striking, no one would be able to detect his techniques.

  Might have been a coincidence.

  He considered trying again. This time, he walked toward the bamboo forest.

  He lowered into position. His right hand gently hovered over the hilt, while his left thumb barely nudged the guard. His breath stilled.

  Then, movement.

  But not the kind that shook air or tore silence—it was the ghost of movement, a ripple without a wave. His blade left its scabbard in a slow arc, glinting just once under the dying sun, and returned just as softly, as if it had never left.

  Quiet Sheath Form. A practice form, meant for sparring. But Xu Mo wasn’t using it for combat—not today. He felt something in its simplicity. The way it guided his Qi inward, harmonizing his flow instead of exploding outward.

  Again, he drew. Again, he sheathed.

  The world remained undisturbed. Not even the falling leaves reacted.

  As his hand moved for the third time, he felt something shift. Not in the sword, but in himself. His Qi, once like a current searching for an outlet, began folding in on itself—circling, deepening, refining.

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  “So this is it…” Xu Mo’s eyes remained calm. “It’s not a technique for defeating others. It’s a form for disappearing within.”

  His understanding ticked upward—33% >> 35%.

  A direct 2% increase.

  A realization surfaced—subtle but firm. This form… it could evolve. Not into a flashy technique or a devastating slash. But the path forward was still hazy.

  It was the sheath, not the strike.

  The pause, not the roar.

  Xu Mo continued until midnight, almost lost in his flow of training, forgetting how much time had lapsed.

  Xu Mo wiped away the sweat that was about to fall from his chin after traveling from his hair. A few strands were stuck to his face.

  His Qi reserves had almost run out, and he dared not test his limits like some self-harming, obsessed disciples who trained until they lost consciousness, thinking that pushing past their limits would expand their Qi reserves or Dantian’s capacity.

  “I can’t believe it.”

  Long Bai’s voice suddenly echoed in the silent grounds, where only the sound of grasshoppers could be heard. Xu Mo almost shrieked in surprise.

  “Did you really reach that level of strength in just one week after barely brushing past it?”

  “Huh?! How do you know, Head Elder?” Xu Mo asked back, startled.

  “I am the Head Elder, Xu Mo. Nothing escapes my ears—especially news about some new nerd in the Technique Hall who was buried in the sea of books day and night for a whole week.”

  Long Bai threw a mischievous response at Xu Mo’s question.

  Xu Mo didn’t know how to respond, so he just played with his scabbard using his thumb and index finger, putting on an innocent face.

  “I was forced into a corner by you guys. Did you want me to die inside the Secret Realm?”

  Though Xu Mo tried to keep his voice as low as possible, who was the Head Elder if not the strongest among all the elders in both the inner and outer sects combined?

  “I feel sorry for you, child… and also a little guilty that I couldn’t protect you. But I believe you are destined to achieve greatness and leave a mark on the history of this region.”

  Long Bai patted his head, making Xu Mo’s already ruined hairstyle even messier.

  “I haven’t heard any news about the Saintess and Long Chen for a while now. They’re okay, right?” Xu Mo asked cautiously, afraid that his bad luck might’ve also affected them when they met. He wasn’t worried about the Sect Master or the Head Elder, as they had the Ancestor to care for them. But Jin Meiyu and Long Chen were alone, and who knew if something had happened to them too—something the Head Elder and Sect Master were hiding from him.

  “What could happen to the Saintess? She’s doing well and has recently improved her realm.”

  “That’s good. She’ll be going to the Secret Realm too, right?”

  “Yeah, she’s representing our sect as well,” Long Bai replied, not entirely sure what Xu Mo was aiming for.

  30 Chapter Ahead.

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