Why are this Young Master's thoughts so invariably complex?
In the first few days of Cultivation in the riverside cabin, Wu Wang's questions were still simple, all about the basics of Cultivation. Lin Suqing, who had raised several junior martial brothers and sisters, had no problem answering these.
But as Wu Wang's questions gradually deepened, Lin Suqing quickly found herself outmatched.
"Miss Lin, if everyone's body is biased towards one of the five elements, and Cultivation Methods differ because of the five elements they belong to, why not determine which of the five elements one is most inclined towards before cultivating and then use the corresponding foundation-building methods? Wouldn't that achieve twice the result with half the effort?"
"Only large Sects have the resources to do what you are suggesting, Young Master. It is very difficult for ordinary small Sects to achieve that."
"It seems that class stratification emerged long ago within the Human Domain. Thank you... Miss Lin."
"You do not have to be so formal with me, Young Master. Just call me Suqing."
Wu Wang smiled calmly but did not call her 'Hey' or 'Eh' anymore.
For example:
"Miss Lin, how do you understand the phrase 'Qi utilizes form; when form is exhausted, Qi is not. Fire utilizes kindling; when kindling is exhausted, fire is not'?"
"I, erm…"
"Miss Lin, looking at this qi circulation diagram, can you see anything wrong with it?"
"HISS—HMM—this might be too complicated for a Cultivator in the Returning Origin Realm."
"Suqing, if some of the Spells from the Praying Star Technique were expressed through the Dao of Talismans, wouldn't that greatly enhance their power? You can draw Talismans, right?"
"I can draw them a little, but I am not very skilled at it."
"Suqing, the method you mentioned yesterday to control objects with Qi seems to have many flaws; it could be easily disrupted by enemies."
"Suqing?"
"Suqing…"
These recurring images, scenes, and layered questions, like arrows, pierced Lin Suqing to the core, sending a chill through her heart!
The Young Master is truly a Cultivation monster!
To describe him as extraordinarily talented would be disrespectful to the prodigies of the Immortal Sects across the Human Domain!
Therefore, whenever night grew deep and silent, Lin Suqing would retrieve the most treasured cultivation manuals—texts she had tucked away at the bottom of her Storage magic treasure—and reread what she had learned as a child.
She was an experienced Cultivator in the Returning Origin Realm; could she really be stumped by a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy?
After devouring her own collection of texts, Lin Suqing went directly to the nearby market to buy various tomes related to Cultivation. She then returned and buried herself in them, forgoing sleep and food.
I have to win this!
In Cultivation, my own area of expertise, I absolutely cannot be stumped by a mere youth!
And so, half a year later.
"Suqing."
A familiar greeting suddenly came from outside the cabin.
Lin Suqing, dressed in a loose, coarse cloth skirt and sporting large dark circles under her eyes, jolted. The sudden movement caused half the mountain-like pile of scrolls, Sheepskin Scrolls, and paper books before her to collapse.
"Ah! Do not come over here! I do not want to debate the Dao with you! The Dao is nameless, the Dharma has an end! All that is formless must be based on form! You are right about everything! My knowledge is too shallow! I shouldn't have argued with you!"
Wu Wang called out with some helplessness, "Time for dinner."
"Ah, dinner time."
Lin Suqing felt as if a great weight had been lifted. She slumped onto the table, a faint smile of someone who had narrowly escaped disaster playing on her lips.
Those days of blissful ignorance and carefree confusion were truly wonderful.
...
When one's attention is focused on a single matter, time seems to fly by, passing with an almost frivolous abandon.
After dinner, Wu Wang, who could now abstain from food entirely thanks to his Cultivation, sat at his desk. He opened a book Lin Suqing had acquired from the market—*Qingmu Thunder Method: Annotated by Sanxian Daoist*—and began to read it intently.
Lin Suqing sat nearby, carefully inscribing something onto a Jade Talisman used for recording information.
After half a year of formal Cultivation, Wu Wang had many reflections.
He discovered that Cultivation itself was an extremely interesting pursuit. It involved constantly tapping into one's own potential, continuously merging with nature, seeking spiritual communication with heaven and earth, and allowing one's humble life to revere the eternity of the cosmos. This itself was incredibly romantic.
However...
Wu Wang sighed with a touch of melancholy.
He could not forget that his primary goal in Cultivation was to cure his strange illness and avoid the tragedy of dying alone.
Indeed, never forget your original aspiration; only then can you achieve your ultimate goal.
If you never stop thinking about it, there will eventually be a response!
Cultivation could not be achieved overnight; rushing would only lead to inferior results. His progress over the past six months had been quite good, so he deserved a half-day break to relax.
"Suqing, today's Cultivation shall cease..."
"Young Maaaster~"
Suddenly, a furtive call came from outside the door.
"General Xiong San, please come in."
The wooden door was pushed open, and General Xiong San's burly figure squeezed through. He shifted left and scraped right, barely managing to get inside.
This great General, responsible for guarding the Royal Court and protecting the Young Master's safety, glanced outside several times like a thief before carefully closing the wooden door.
"Heh heh heh, Young Master..."
General Xiong San called out in the lowest voice he could manage.
"General Xiong San, what is it? There are only a few guards within a hundred zhang; you can speak freely."
Wu Wang greeted him with a smile, inviting the loyal General to take a seat on the wooden bench by the wall.
Lin Suqing also rose to nod respectfully.
"I hope I am not disturbing you, Young Master, heh."
General Xiong San rubbed his large hands together, chuckled a few times as if to build up some warmth, and said in a low voice, "Young Master, I came to tell you something. In three days, it will be your first Chieftain Trial."
Has the day arrived so soon?
Wu Wang glanced at the simple calendar he had made.
"You have not forgotten, have you?" General Xiong San asked a bit uncertainly.
"Of course not," Wu Wang cleared his throat. "I will return to the Royal Court in advance to prepare."
General Xiong San continued, "Well, Young Master, this is how it is. Traditionally, the future Chieftain's first trial is a battle with a three-hundred-year-old Fierce Beast. But you are strong, as everyone knows. And the Chieftain, considering your strange illness, has ordered us to capture a thousand-year-old Fierce Beast alive from the border. Do not worry. We have already secretly injured this Fierce Beast; it only looks terrifying. When the time comes, you just need to make your move, finish it off decisively, and the trial will be considered passed."
Wu Wang nodded with a smile. "I appreciate your efforts, General Xiong San."
General Xiong San assured, "Rest assured, everything has been arranged. There will absolutely be no accidents on that day."
"I naturally trust your capabilities, General Xiong San," Wu Wang said seriously. "Where is the trial taking place?"
"Right near the Royal Court," General Xiong San replied. "We have arranged for one hundred thousand Giant Wolf Riders to patrol the area in advance, ensuring the trial proceeds smoothly."
Wu Wang frowned and said, "Isn't that a bit excessive? A smaller scale would suffice."
"Absolutely not! This is a major event!"
Wu Wang asked, "Will my father be back?"
"The Chieftain went to inspect the North Territory; it seems he will not make it back in time."
General Xiong San quickly added, "The Chieftain has complete confidence in you, Young Master. Across the entire Northern Wilderness, even the strongest Waves Tribe has never produced a Young Master with the power of a Grand Star Ritual. Everyone is greatly looking forward to your trial! Young Master, on that day, you must dress formally. You will surely captivate the hearts of countless maidens in the clan... although captivating them is not of much use, heh heh."
Wu Wang responded with an indifferent smile, "We are all family here. Does it really matter what I wear?"
Lin Suqing, who was bringing tea, twitched her small, delicate nose. Having spent some time with Wu Wang, she suddenly sensed the insincerity in his words.
After a few more instructions, General Xiong San squeezed out of the wooden door with some difficulty, mounted his Giant Wolf, and galloped back to the Royal Court.
Wu Wang stood with his hands behind his back, watching the General's silhouette fade into the night.
[Chieftain Trial].
The men of the Northern Wilderness valued martial prowess, and most clans had similar trials.
Before succeeding as Chieftain, Wu Wang had to undergo five to seven trials. The first trial was at age thirteen, which was three days from now.
As a Young Master who practiced the Praying Star Technique, although he was quite unconventional, his combat strength was undeniable.
"Young Master, what will you wear on that day?" Lin Suqing asked quietly from the side. "Do you need me to prepare an embroidered robe for you in advance? The clothing styles here in the Northern Wilderness are rather simple."
"No need. Something casual will be fine," Wu Wang replied calmly. "That is enough for today. Go back and cultivate."
"Alright~"
Lin Suqing smiled and responded, cleaned up the teacup tray, and hummed a tune as she returned to the neighboring wooden hut.
Not long after she began to meditate, Lin Suqing opened one eye. She tiptoed to a gap between the wooden planks where the two cabins met and peeked into the adjacent room.
Hehe, just as I thought.
Before an ice mirror conjured by the Praying Star Technique, a certain Young Master was holding up various beast-hide robes against his body, occasionally making gestures like waving his hand or clenching his fist.
PFFT!
Lin Suqing quickly covered her small mouth and floated back to the meditation cushion on her bed, a smile playing on her lips throughout her night of meditation.
「Three days passed in a flash.」
The current Young Master's first Chieftain Trial brought another grand celebration to the Bear Hug Clan.
Men, women, and children, young and old, living near the Royal Court had made a special trip to witness the ceremony. The crowd had already begun gathering the night before.
Young men and women sang and danced, highly respected elders were surrounded by food and fine wine, and children ran about playing, carrying Frost Wolf pups.
A powerful future Chieftain symbolized the continued prosperity of their clan.
To witness their future Chieftain, still a youth, display his Divine Power was a rare and fortunate event in one's lifetime.
The Solar Star had just climbed above the horizon of the grasslands, its rays eagerly illuminating the golden pinnacle of the Royal Tent.
Near the Royal Tent, a group of burly men began to blow long horns.
Around the perimeter of the Royal Court, thousands of Wolf Riders raised colorful flags made of tree bark high, riding back and forth.
The scene was incredibly lively, with gongs and drums sounding to the heavens and a sea of people.
A Thornback Lizard, fully twenty zhang tall, had been driven here by a large troop of Wolf Riders the previous night. This morning, it had been sealed by dozens of Priests. Now, it was trapped in the middle of a small lake, emitting low, helpless roars.
Soon, Wu Wang would have to leap into this lake and engage in a 'life-and-death battle' with this Fierce Beast.
At noon, the clan's revelry reached its zenith.
At the Royal Tent, numerous white-haired Priests and retired Generals watched the young man's figure with benevolent gazes.
Wu Wang already stood upon his chariot. Four Frost Wolves were held by two guards, their heads dutifully lowered as they gnawed on meat.
Today, he had changed into a light white short shirt and long pants, over which he wore a light grey cloak. The young beast's skull he wore on his head, symbolizing his status, also had some decorative patterns carved into it.
"Casual," indeed.
According to clan tradition, Wu Wang had to carry Weapons. Thus, he wore a Dagger at his waist, held a Crystal Ball flat in his left hand, and grasped a Priestly Scepter in his right.
Everything was ready.
General Xiong San ran over and asked, "Young Master, can we begin?"
Wu Wang nodded, his face impassive. General Xiong San immediately turned and waved his hand.
WHOO—
A unified blast of horns sounded from near the Royal Tent. Wu Wang's chariot trembled slightly. The four Frost Wolves lifted their heads and puffed out their chests, moving forward with small, mincing steps as the chariot began to advance steadily.
"Young Master!"
A few young women on either side shrieked, their voices cracking, followed by the hearty laughter of the elders and able-bodied men.
As the chariot passed before them, the crowd uniformly bowed their heads and placed a hand over their chests, offering heartfelt blessings to the youth on the chariot.
This was their future Chieftain, who would lead them and their children to continue surviving in the Northern Wilderness.
Pray to the Star God!
Pray for the clan's prosperity!
Pray for the Chieftain's long life!
Pray for the family's peace and tranquility!
A slight smile touched Wu Wang's lips as he continuously raised his hand, acknowledging the crowds in various directions. He handled the situation with calm composure, the sight of his handsome head from behind attracting the gazes of many unmarried young women.
His chariot slowly departed the Royal Court. It was flanked by the most powerful Giant Wolf Riders acting as his escort and followed by a tide of people singing and dancing joyfully.
Lin Suqing stood beside the Royal Tent, gazing at the grand spectacle. She inexplicably felt a surge of emotion, thinking, Ah, the Young Master has finally grown up.
"Eh?"
She tilted her head slightly, noticing a cross-shaped point of light in the azure sky, as if a Star was twinkling.
With the great Solar Star hanging high in the southern sky, how could one possibly see a meteor?
The Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth seemed to have... increased somehow.
Lin Suqing blinked. The spot on her forehead that Wu Wang's mother had touched revealed a faint, six-pointed star insignia.
「Meanwhile.」
At the Peak of the Snow Mountain, within the wooden cabin that housed the Star Sea.
Cang Xue still stood in the center of the Temple situated above the Ten Thousand Stars. Her eyes, which had been closed in meditation, suddenly snapped open.
The Divine Light in her eyes swiftly receded. Her fine eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her expression grew somewhat colder.
But before Cang Xue could turn, patches of light appeared in every corner of the Temple. Six figures were first outlined, then rapidly solidified into human form.
They were six beautiful female Priests with sacred countenances and somewhat cold, indifferent gazes.
They spoke:
"Lady Cang Xue, you cannot disrupt the Star God's blessing."
"These are the rules of the Northern Wilderness. We must maintain the balance among the clans."
"The Star God has already responded to our prayers. The divine blessing can no longer be stopped. Please wait here quietly for the outcome."
Cang Xue stood motionless, her grip tightening on the long Staff in her hand, which flowed with the light of the Stars. Her knuckles gradually turned white.
「Let us turn our gaze back to the Bear Hug Clan's Royal Court.」
Wu Wang's chariot began to accelerate, gradually leaving the clanspeople behind. Flanked by a large contingent of Giant Wolf Riders, he sped towards the lake.
After traveling several more li, General Xiong San shouted at the top of his voice.
The Giant Wolf Riders on both sides of the distant small lake retreated like a tide, and the Priests responsible for sealing the Fierce Beast simultaneously withdrew.
The thousand-year-old, thorn-backed Fierce Beast roared at the sky. It had broken free from the chains beneath the water, its savage eyes locked onto the distant, approaching chariot.
It began to crawl towards the edge of the great marsh, and from within its gaping, ferocious maw, streams of firelight flowed!
Still several li from this thousand-year-old Fierce Beast, Wu Wang raised the Priestly Scepter in his hand high. The Giant Wolf Riders on his flanks dispersed to the left and right, leaving only his chariot to speed forward alone.
The four Frost Wolves let out a series of challenging howls, and the chariot's speed increased yet again!
This is a tri... al... meant only for a king...
Hmm?
Without warning, the Frost Wolves' pace suddenly slowed.
Even more bizarrely, the thousand-year-old Fierce Beast, which an instant ago had been about to unleash its fury, abruptly snapped its great maw shut. Its four short legs scrambled desperately, struggling to halt its forward momentum as its massive body twisted frantically to the left.
The savage fury in its crimson beast eyes had completely vanished, replaced now only by terror.
This thousand-year-old Fierce Beast, which had been painstakingly driven here from the clan's border... It fled?!
The four Frost Wolves pulling the chariot continued to whimper and keen, the chariot having halted its forward charge. They were agitated, desperately trying to break free from their reins.
Wu Wang, however, had no time to pay attention to them.
He looked up at the sky.
The entire sky had, at some unknown point, been dyed blood-red. A fireball streaked across the firmament. Between the earth and the sky, seven crimson rings of light, each a hundred li in diameter, revolved!
An endless torrent of Spiritual Power flowed upon these rings of light.
Each time the fireball passed through one of these rings, its descending speed halved, while the dark shadow within the fireball doubled in size!
"'A... a blessing.'"
In the Royal Court, before a large tent, several elderly Priests witnessing this scene trembled, their faces utterly pale.
A female Priest cried out in a piercing voice, "It is the Star God's blessing!"
"'Why... why us?'"
The fireball had already plummeted, its impact point precisely that small lake!
ROARS! THUNDEROUS EXPLOSIONS!
The earth quaked. Raging winds seemed to swallow the entire grassland. Boundless water vapor transformed into a slowly ascending mushroom cloud. A white mist swiftly enveloped an area with a ten-li radius, like an unfurling curtain, revealing a mountainous, terrifying black silhouette.
BOOM!
A gigantic foot, covered in black and red patterns, stepped out from the white mist, crushing the thousand-year-old, thorn-backed lizard beneath it.
The earth quaked once more.
Four ferocious horns poked out from the white mist. A majestic bovine head entered Wu Wang's sight.
Fierce Beast: Zhu Huai!
Lifespan: Unknown!
"Young Master, quickly, come back!"