[Panel]

  Name: Ji Ning

  Spiritual Root: Mid-grade Spiritual Root

  Attributes: Five Elemental Attributes

  Talent: Extreme Space-Time Sensitivity

  Realm: 5th Stage of Qi Condensation (Consolidating), Skin Refining

  Cultivation Methods: Pure Qi Sutra, Jade Skin and Ice Meridians

  Martial Arts: Bone Forging Fist (Great Accomplishment), Shadow Steps (Great Accomplishment), Turtle Breathing (Great Accomplishment), Spiral Shot (Starting), Falling Leaf Spear Technique (Starting)

  Spells: Small Cloud Rain Technique (Great Accomplishment), Soil Refining Technique (Great Accomplishment), Scorching Purge (Minor Accomplishment), Golden Finger (Minor Accomplishment), Withering and Flourishing Technique (Minor Accomplishment), Hidden Icy Mist Technique (Minor Accomplishment)

  ]

  "Where are my numbers?" Ning froze.

  The best part of Know Thyself was, well… the numbers. Watching them go brrr was half his motivation. If Elder Shen had something like this, he probably wouldn't have abandoned his cultivation path and evolved into a full-time couch potato.

  So losing the numbers?

  A devastating emotional blow.

  But Ning quickly calmed himself and noticed something in the corner of the interface.

  He focused on it mentally, and lo and behold, a 3D model of a human body materialized. Meridians could be seen in the model; some were green, some blue, and some red.

  Ning narrowed his eyes, analyzing.

  He immediately understood the meaning of the colors. They represented the routes his Qi had recently taken to push through the bottleneck, green for slight pressure, blue for stronger strain, and the red glow in key nodes indicating the areas of highest tension.

  Once the initial confusion passed, everything clicked.

  His panel had become more comprehensive.

  But why?

  A breakthrough in cultivation? No, that alone wouldn't cause such a drastic change, especially since this wasn't even a major step like reaching the fourth stage of Qi Condensation.

  The answer was simple.

  He had finally grasped the true nature of the panel.

  Know Thyself, his supernatural ability, was literally meant to understand oneself inside and out. For two whole years, despite his countless experiments, the interface had never altered.

  But now that he figured out the true nature of the panel, it finally changed.

  Ironically, to upgrade Know Thyself, one had to… well, know the true nature of Know Thyself.

  "If my hypothesis is correct," Ning mused, "the panel will keep evolving as my self-understanding deepens. Cultivation strengthens that understanding, so realm breakthroughs should be the trigger."

  The potential was exciting. Even the simple fact that he could eventually identify whatever he ingested would be incredibly useful.

  After all, cultivation was basically:

  Eat mysterious things → hope you don't explode → see what happens.

  Having a panel that could warn him before he detonated? A phenomenal quality-of-life upgrade.

  With that thought, Ning commanded:

  "Show my numbers."

  Since the panel responded to intent, the numerical interface should return as long as he genuinely wanted it.

  For the next few hours, Ning replenished his Qi while continuously focusing on switching the interface back.

  Finally, the panel flickered, and the familiar number-filled display reappeared.

  The 3D body model faded away like a pop-up ad.

  "So I can only use one interface at a time in my current realm." Ning nodded to himself. Switching had taken six whole hours of constant mental effort.

  Alas! Such was the price of a growth-type ability; they were quite troublesome at the beginning.

  Still, he was satisfied.

  Exhausted, he collapsed onto his bed. The mental fatigue from the breakthrough, combined with the panel's evolution, hit him all at once.

  Just like that, Ning entered his favorite kind of relationship.

  Death without commitment.

  He slept.

  ...

  The martial courtyard buzzed with heat and vigor.

  Numerous outer-sect martial artists swung swords, sabers, and staffs. Every movement seemed to ignite the air itself, making the courtyard several degrees hotter than the outside world.

  Fortunately, Ning had already reached the Skin Refinement stage of body training. At the very least, his body temperature wouldn’t rise too quickly; you could even say he was cold as ice.

  …Well. Not really.

  Having reached the fifth stage, Ning was determined to improve his close-combat ability. Hence, the martial courtyard.

  Training spear in hand, Ning arrived at the arena.

  Yes. A spear.

  After pondering for some time, Ning had chosen the spear as his secondary weapon.

  The reason was simple: he realized he had a fondness for weapons with long reach. Simply put, he liked hitting enemies with a pointy stick.

  Among close-combat weapons, the spear stood at the very top.

  It also helped that the spear was both prominent and highly reliant on spatial perception, something Ning happened to be talented at. Only by building upon your strength can you truly stand out.

  “Ning, you’re late.”

  The one smiling brightly was none other than Zhang Feng.

  Zhang Feng was usually a carefree fellow, but when it came to martial arts, he turned into a fanatic. He trained body refinement even more diligently than qi cultivation, obsessively honing his physical combat skills.

  “It took me a while to tend to the fields,” Ning replied with a smile.

  “Eh! If that’s the case, then fine. Let’s begin the lesson,” Zhang Feng said, waving him over.

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Okay.” Ning nodded, unwilling to waste precious sparring time, especially with someone like Zhang Feng.

  After deciding to practice the spear, Ning had searched for a suitable manual. That was where Zhang Feng came in.

  Falling Leaf Spear Technique.

  This was the spear technique Zhang Feng had recommended.

  After reading the manual, Ning immediately understood why.

  The Falling Leaf Spear Technique didn’t begin with flashy or mystical moves. Instead, it started with the most basic spear training. This section alone spanned several pages, detailing the exertion of nearly every muscle in the body.

  Spear training wasn’t just about technique, it was about physical strength. It tempered the body, refined blood and qi, and trained explosive force, so that a single thrust could be as swift as the wind and sharp enough to pierce a falling leaf.

  There were two core principles: Four-Sided Stability and Double Dragons Overturning the Sea.

  Four-Sided Stability meant that the head, shoulders, feet, and spear must remain level. The so-called eight stabilities referred to stable shoulders, hips, arms, and legs.

  To generate power and maximize effectiveness, force had to flow through the entire body. This required first achieving balance and stability, ensuring muscles and bones moved in unison, preventing power from dispersing.

  Then came Double Dragons Overturning the Sea.

  The spear was the first dragon, trembling and churning like raging waters. The second dragon was the human body itself. Since power originated from the spine, the spine was the great dragon, flowing through the entire body.

  Man like a dragon. Spear like a dragon.

  With each thrust, muscles and bones surged together, like a dragon overturning the sea. This power propelled the spear forward, making it strike with the swiftness of wind and the speed of thunder.

  …Okay, that last part was clearly exaggerated.

  But the technique itself was solid.

  “As I told you last time,” Zhang Feng said, “all weapons, spears included, follow a similar progression: Scattered Hands, Penetration, Unity, Transformation, and finally, Ultimate Intent.”

  He pointed his spear at Ning.

  “Now show me your Scattered Hand.”

  Scattered Hand referred to basic mastery, being able to strike, dodge, and parry. However, it relied on random swings and brute force. The techniques hadn’t yet formed a system, often collapsing into chaotic fighting after a few exchanges.

  Ning inhaled, channeled force into his arms, and remembered the manual.

  Relax the tendons and bones… Engage the skin and hair…

  Ning lifted the spear. He stabilized his stance, loosened his waist, and pushed force upward from his feet. The spear trembled, but was generally controlled.

  "It seems you have practiced what I told you last time."Zhang Feng nodded.

  "I have." Ning had been training the basics for a while.

  And through the basics, he realized his talent in spear was probably good, but not that great. Using bows came incredibly easily to him, so his talent for archery probably outstripped that of the spear.

  The easiest way to differentiate that was that it only took Ning about a month to pass the scattered hand stage with ease, but he had been practicing the spear stance for three months and was still in this phase.

  Zhang Feng nodded. “Remember: power doesn’t come from your arms. The whole body must flow like a rising dragon. Relax the waist, root the feet, and let the force ripple upward.”

  Ning imagined riding a powerful horse, his body rising and falling with each stride, transmitting that rhythm into the spear.

  The image helped… somewhat.

  For a brief moment, the spear finally trembled properly.

  “Hoo...” Ning exhaled. “Spear shaking is brutal. My arms feel like noodles.”

  Zhang Feng laughed. “Of course. This is the most basic spear training. It hones control and stirs blood and qi.”

  Ning rested briefly, then began again.

  Zhang Feng circled him like a strict instructor.

  “Relax your shoulders!”

  “Sink your waist!”

  “Root your feet! You’re swaying like a drunk duck!”

  Within half an hour, Ning’s spear trembled with clear force. Still flawed, but far more stable.

  Zhang Feng nodded. “Good. You have a solid foundation.” Then he lowered his stance. “Enough shaking. Let’s spar lightly.”

  Ning blinked. “Already?!”

  “You only learn real spear techniques by hitting someone,” Zhang Feng replied seriously.

  Before Ning could object, Zhang Feng thrust forward.

  Whoosh!

  Ning barely blocked.

  Zhang Feng explained, even as he attacked, helpful and terrifying.

  “Spears are about reach and momentum! Your thrust should be like a falling leaf, soft at first, then sharp. This technique isn’t brute force, it’s rhythm!”

  He slashed sideways.

  Ning parried, feet sliding back.

  “Good reaction,” Zhang Feng said. “But don’t retreat too much. Advance and retreat like breathing.”

  They exchanged several blows.

  Ning’s movements were still rough, but no longer chaotic.

  Zhang Feng swept low.

  Ning instinctively stepped back, angling his spear to deflect.

  “Wrong,” Zhang Feng said calmly, pressing forward. “You gave up ground for free.”

  A second thrust followed, faster.

  Ning gritted his teeth and stepped in, twisting his waist and guiding the spearhead aside. The force traveled through his legs, spine, and shoulders, exactly as the manual described.

  Their spear shafts locked briefly.

  Zhang Feng’s eyes flickered with approval.

  “Good. That’s Four-Sided Stability. Your body didn’t collapse under pressure. Your martial comprehension isn’t bad.”

  He disengaged sharply. The spear bent like a living thing, snapping back toward Ning’s chest.

  Ning barely raised his weapon.

  So fast…

  Zhang Feng wasn’t relying on brute force. His spear felt light, almost playful, yet every movement was precise.

  This isn’t Scattered Hand anymore, Ning realized.

  This is Penetration.

  “Scattered Hand is knowing how to swing,” Zhang Feng said. “Penetration is knowing where to swing.”

  He thrust again.

  Ning parried and countered.

  Zhang Feng tilted his spear slightly. The attack slid off harmlessly.

  “You hesitated,” Zhang Feng said. “A spear rewards decisiveness.”

  They circled.

  This time, Ning attacked first. In such situations, only offense could seize the initiative.

  Using Shadow Steps as a base, Ning launched his smoothest attack yet.

  Zhang Feng blocked, surprised.

  “Oh?”

  Ning followed instinctively, sweeping sideways.

  For the first time, Zhang Feng retreated half a step.

  Ning’s heart leapt.

  I landed one.

  “Good!” Zhang Feng laughed. “That’s the Falling Leaf rhythm, soft entry, sudden change. But you’re not there yet.”

  His stance shifted.

  A powerful thrust followed, straight, ruthless, a killing line aimed slightly left of center.

  A blow that would have struck a normal cultivator.

  But Ning’s spatial sense flared.

  There!

  His body moved before thought.

  Then,

  The line bent.

  The thrust twisted.

  The twist became a sweep.

  Pa!

  Zhang Feng’s spear slid past Ning’s defense and tapped his shoulder.

  Clean. Controlled.

  Ning stumbled back.

  “You sensed it,” Zhang Feng said, smiling faintly. “Amazing. You’ve got real killer instinct.”

  Ning swallowed. “Then why, ”

  “Because sensing an attack,” Zhang Feng interrupted gently, “is not the same as understanding the person behind it.”

  “That’s Transformation,” he continued. “When intent becomes fluid.”

  The next few rounds were less combat and more being beaten into understanding. In the words of Zhang Feng, this was YOUTH. Only by pouring 120% of energy can one feel the passion, the burning of the martial arts.

  Eventually, they stopped their spar.

  “The spear’s strength lies in full-body power,” Zhang Feng said. “The moment you treat it like a long stick, you lose.”

  After two hours, Ning was drenched in sweat, limbs trembling.

  Zhang Feng chuckled. “From the looks of it, you’ve comprehended it. That pain means your movements are correct. Otherwise, you’d have already snapped something.”

  “Brother Feng,” Ning muttered, “please don’t say terrifying things during training.”

  Zhang Feng clapped his shoulder, painfully. “Practice spear shaking daily. Once you master it, everything else will follow naturally.”

  “I understand.”

  ...

  Zhang Feng was in high spirits, eating as though the food might escape if he slowed down.

  “Teaching you was absolutely worth it,” he declared between mouthfuls. “Not only do I finally have someone willing to practice martial arts with me, since some people,” he shot a pointed look across the table, “refuse to sweat, but I also get fed like a king.”

  “Hmph. I don’t want to practice with you,” Lang Rulang snorted without hesitation.

  “You people simply don’t understand the passion of youth!” Zhang Feng slammed the table lightly, nearly knocking over a bowl. “The burning sweat! The pounding heart! The heat of battle!”

  He leaned over and slung an arm around Ning’s shoulder. “Right, Ning?”

  Zhang Feng looked at him expectantly.

  Across the table, Lang Rulang said nothing, but her eyes locked onto Ning with unmistakable pressure.

  Ning felt a chill that had nothing to do with cultivation.

  “I believe… each approach has its own merits,” he said smoothly.

  Zhang Feng clicked his tongue in disappointment. Lang Rulang looked away, satisfied.

  Since Ning was already hosting Zhang Feng, he had simply invited everyone else along, Lang Rulang, Si Sihua, and Wei Zhusang included.

  Unfortunately, Wei Zhusang had drawn the short straw.

  “It’s such a pity Wei Zhusang had to go on a mission,” Zhang Feng sighed dramatically. “He missed out on a feast like this.”

  Ning’s cooking was excellent, and more importantly, novel. Case in point: the small bowl of ice cream placed at the center of the table. Even Lang Rulang, usually proud to the point of arrogance, hadn’t hesitated to show up once she heard what was being served.

  “Yes… such a pity,” Ning echoed, then glanced at Si Sihua.

  He had been slightly worried that the senior sister might feel awkward eating with people she barely knew.

  He was clearly overthinking it.

  “Damn!” Si Sihua exclaimed, shoveling another spoonful into her mouth. “This frozen breath rice is perfect for summer!”

  She ate without the slightest hint of restraint, completely absorbed in demolishing the food. She didn’t spare a single glance for anyone else at the table.

  Truly, this senior sister was immune to social pressure.

  Then, without warning, she spoke.

  “Oh, right. Speaking of missions,” Si Sihua said casually, as if she weren’t holding everyone’s attention. “I found one for you, junior brother. The red-paper mission you were looking for.”

  "Finally." Ning smiled.

  ...

  Thanks for reading~