Days blurred into a whirlwind of wood, sweat, and iron as Li Jian honed _Lóng Yá Qiáng_. The spear became an extension - thrusts piercing further, turns swifter. In the stillness before dawn, he'd stalk the training yard, spear dancing shadows onto walls. The clan's juniors watched, awed.
A week and three days in, Li Jian halted mid-form. Perfect. Like _Lóng Yá Qiáng_'s script unfolded itself in air. He stood, feet shoulder-width, spear tip an inch off the ground. Breathed out.
- "Dragon fang unsheathes, momentum like splitting bamboo!" As he spoke, the spear lunged -Pierce Heart). Whizz.
He twisted, (_xuàn fēng rào liáng shì_, "Whirling Wind Wraps Beam") - spear head traced a tight circle, then jabbed low. soared, as if lifting stars. Li Jian's _qì_ surged.
Moves flowed - _Lóng Yá Qiáng_'s passages unfolding like a scroll. _P (Break Army), _yǐn shé shì_ (Hidden Snake)... each name a whisper, each move precise. The yard seemed a _qì_ sea, parting for the spear.
He stopped. Breathed. Perfection hung, fading.
"It was the Spring," he whispered. The Eternal Spring's water - he'd soaked in it daily, letting its _húnyuán_ energy seep in. Speeding mastery.
Without the Spring... "Half a year more," he estimated. Maybe.
Li Jian walked, spear on shoulder, to the Eternal Spring. Dusk painted the forest gold. He knelt by the pool's edge, water liling with tiny ripples.
"Thanks," he said, voice low. _Eternal Spring._ For a Postnatal 4th layer breakthrough and _Lóng Yá_ mastery.
He dipped fingers in. Icy, fragrant water swirled patterns. _Li_ clan future... clearer.
A _lù_ (deer) stepped forestward, unseen, as if the Spring agreed.
Li Jian smiled - a flash of teeth. Li Clan's turn to rise.
The night hid his grin .
😊 Li Jian walked towards the Li Clan's martial arts training area, the iron spear on his shoulder, its worn wooden grip familiar as an extension of himself. He'd decided to showcase his newfound mastery of _Lóng Yá Qiáng_ to the elders and the new generation disciples, letting them see the fruits of his practice by the Eternal Spring. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows through the hall's open sides, dappling the sand floor with patterns like shifting _qì_ flows.
As he arrived, several elders were practicing in the large, sand-floored hall - Li Changsheng was teaching _qì_ breathing to a group of juniors, their faces intent as they drew in _yáng_ energy with each inhale; Li Yuwen was paired with a disciple, drilling _pūquán_ (punching techniques) with solid _thuds_. The other elders were scattered around, either practicing forms or watching the juniors with critical eyes. They turned as Li Jian entered, a mix of curiosity and slight concern on their faces.
"Leader Li!" Li Changsheng nodded, a bit formal. "Careful, you were badly injured in the Tuskan ambush two weeks ago. The _wūshā_ (martial injuries) need time." Li Yuwen added a nod, eyes on the iron spear.
Li Jian smiled, patting the spear's shaft. "I'm fine. Thought I'd practice _Lóng Yá Qiáng_. See how it feels." His voice was casual, but the elders knew better than to underestimate him - Li Jian was not one to push recklessly.
The elders exchanged looks. "Be careful with that spear then. We don't want a repeat of last time," Li Changsheng said, meaning the injury. They returned to their teaching, though eyes kept flicking to Li Jian.
Li Jian nodded. He moved to an open space, the spear tip touching ground. _Hū_... He closed his eyes a heartbeat, centering _qì_. Then...
"Dragon fang unsheathes, momentum like splitting bamboo!" As he spoke, the spear blurred. _Chuān xīn shì_ (Pierce Heart) - a thrust like a _húdié_ (butterfly) darting into a flower; _xuàn fēng rào liáng shì_ (Whirling Wind Wraps Beam) - the spear head traced a tight, lethal circle; _tiāo tiān shì_ (Lift Sky) - tip soared, as if lifting the very stars. Passages flowed like a storm. Sand swirled; _qì_ rippled out in palpable waves. The hall's sounds paused as everyone turned.
The Li Clan members stared. They knew Li Jian was strong... but _this_. Leaps above the elders. A _Lóng Yá Qiáng_ master. Even Li Changsheng's teaching paused; juniors' mouths hung open.
A small figure's eyes widened tremendously - Li Weizhi, the Great Elder's grandson (Li Jian's grandnephew), watching from the edge, face a mix of awe and yearning. _Wow_...
Li Jian stopped, spear tip to ground. Breathed out. The hall was silent... then erupted in _hǔhǎn_ (exclamations). Elders exchanged impressed nods; disciples whispered to each other.
Li Weizhi sprinted over, almost tripping on his own feet. "Super strong, Leader Uncle! _Zhēn qiáng_! Teach me!" He halted in front of Li Jian, looking up with shining eyes.
Li Jian ruffled the boy's hair, smiling. "Hmm? Want to learn _Lóng Yá Qiáng_?"
Li Weizhi nodded vigorously. "I want! I want!"
The elders approached, impressed. "Leader Li... you've broken through," Li Changsheng said, a statement rather than a question.
Li Jian nodded . "Thanks to the Eternal Spring."
The scene hung, full of promise.
Li Jian walked back to his quarters, spear stowed, thoughts lingering on the day's display. As he poured himself a cup of _gūlù_ tea, he spoke softly to himself.
"Li Weizhi... that boy's got _tiān fù_ (heavenly talent). 15, broke through Postnatal... _hěn niú_ (very awesome). Even some noble _wǔmén_ (martial families) of Wìn City don't have juniors like him."
He sipped tea, eyes narrowing in thought.
"If only he was in a big clan... _tiē_ (would) limitless. The paths he'd open... _Lóng Yá Qiáng_, _Yǐng Bù_... he'd master them like breathing."
Li Jian's voice dropped to a murmurs
He leaned back, a mix of anticipation and calculation on his face.
"The Great Elder's genes... _(good kid)."
The night swallowed his whisper .