Two days later, Liu Jinfá came running toward Lin Fei and Li Chen, excitement written all over his face.
"Lin Fei! Li Chen! Great news!"
He was panting heavily from the run, the flesh on his cheeks trembling, but the thrill in his voice was impossible to hide.
Lin Fei had been practicing hand seals in the dormitory courtyard. Hearing him, he stopped and asked, "What good news?"
Liu Jinfá leaned closer. "Those three guys—Mao Fei and his friends—have been severely punished by the Discipline Hall!"
Lin Fei's eyes lit up. "Really? What was their punishment?"
Li Chen also poked his head out of the room.
"They're locked up in the Discipline Hall for a whole year!" Liu Jinfá said proudly. "I made a special trip to find out."
"A whole year?" Lin Fei was a little surprised.
"You think that's heavy?" Liu Jinfá snorted. "You don't know how many lower-year students Mao Fei bullied after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Robbing people, beating them, threatening them—he did everything. This time he even used high-tier Lin Arts against us. That just happened to violate one of the Discipline Hall's Ten Prohibitions—'No high-tier Lin Arts may be used against junior students.' Add his past offenses to that, and a year is already a light sentence!"
Li Chen walked out of the room with a grin. "Serves them right!"
Lin Fei shrugged. "Honestly, it's a bit of a pity. Opportunities to spar with senior students don't come often—even if they meant trouble."
"You're kidding, brother. We almost got seriously injured!" Liu Jinfá said helplessly.
Then his expression suddenly changed. He pulled out a box of pastries from his treasure pouch.
"Oh right! To thank you two, I had my parents send over the best pastries from my family!"
He opened the carefully wrapped box. Inside were neatly arranged golden pastries and delicate sweets.
"Come on, eat!" Liu Jinfá stuffed pastries into Lin Fei and Li Chen's hands.
Lin Fei couldn't refuse and took a few casual bites.
Days passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, Lin Fei had already spent more than a month at Giantwood Institute.
Outside the window, maple leaves had turned from golden yellow to deep crimson. They layered the mountain paths like a carpet. The morning mist grew thicker with the deepening autumn chill, yet it could not hide the sweat-soaked figures training in the martial field.
Lin Fei's progress in Lin Arts was rapid.
He had already mastered the beginner Wood Art Leaf Dance Technique. With a simple wave of his hand, fallen leaves would rise and swirl around him. They gathered, scattered, fluttered like butterflies, or rained down like blades. When used against wooden training posts, the flying leaves could leave clear scratches on their surfaces.
As for the control-focused Binding Technique, the vines he summoned now burst from the ground like agile serpents, precisely coiling around their targets. Their toughness could even withstand certain Lin Arts attacks, effectively restraining an enemy's movement.
Although Lin Fei did not know exactly how strong his techniques were, none of the other students nearby seemed to match his level.
So when Elder Li passed by during inspection, Lin Fei lowered his voice and asked, "Elder Li, may I learn more advanced Wood Arts?"
Elder Li looked down at him. "You've mastered Leaf Dance and Binding?"
Lin Fei nodded. "Yes."
"Show me."
Lin Fei took a deep breath and formed hand seals.
"Wood Art—Leaf Dance!"
Instantly, leaves from the ground flew into the air, circling around him. They shifted shapes according to his will, moving with graceful precision.
Elder Li nodded slightly.
"Wood Art—Binding!"
Lin Fei changed his seals. Several vines burst from the earth and shot toward a wooden post three meters away, coiling tightly around it. The vines tightened further, making the post creak loudly.
Elder Li walked over to inspect the vines before turning back.
"Your techniques are indeed impressive," he said. "But I cannot teach you higher-level Lin Arts yet."
"Why not?" Lin Fei asked in confusion.
Elder Li patted his shoulder.
"The practice of Lin Arts is closely tied to one's realm. Beginner techniques consume little spiritual power and are best for training control. Though you have reached the peak of the Spirit Motion Realm, that does not mean you can freely use every technique. Forcing yourself to learn techniques beyond your level could lead to spiritual exhaustion—or even damage your meridians."
He paused.
"For now, your priority is not learning stronger Lin Arts, but strengthening your foundation and advancing your realm."
Lin Fei nodded thoughtfully.
Elder Li suddenly asked, "Would you like to learn some basic techniques from another element?"
"Another element?" Lin Fei's eyes brightened.
"Your spiritual power is pure wood. Wood Arts should remain your main path. But the Five Elements generate one another—wood gives birth to fire, and water nourishes wood. You cannot learn Fire Arts yet, but you may try basic Water Arts. It will broaden your skills and train your control over different attributes."
"I'd be honored, Elder."
Elder Li gestured for him to come closer.
"I will teach you two beginner Water Arts—Water Mist Technique and Slowing Current."
He demonstrated the hand seals while explaining.
"Water Mist forms dense fog around you using spiritual power."
As he spoke, thick mist rapidly filled the area, obscuring everything within several meters.
"When mastered, it can reduce visibility to nothing."
The mist soon dispersed.
Elder Li formed another seal.
"Slowing Current disrupts the flow of water to slow an opponent's movements."
Faint streams of water appeared in the air and wrapped around Lin Fei. From the neck down, he felt as if submerged in water, his movements becoming sluggish.
"This technique is strongest near water sources, but even humid air can support it."
Elder Li dispersed the technique. The moisture on Lin Fei's clothes vanished instantly.
"Memorized the seals?"
"Yes."
"Good. Practice on your own. When you reach the Qi Refining Realm, I will teach you stronger Wood Arts."
Lin Fei bowed respectfully.
Elder Meng's training remained as harsh as ever.
Ten-li runs, climbing the mountain twice, hanging from a bar for half an hour—these had become daily routines for the new students.
At first, many could not keep up.
Some vomited while running. Some had their arms cramp while hanging from the bar. Others collapsed after climbing the mountain.
But after a month, most had adapted.
Lin Fei touched his arms and legs. They felt much firmer than before. The once-soft flesh had hardened into clear muscle lines.
That evening in the dormitory, Lin Fei removed his shirt to bathe.
"Xiao Fei, you've got muscles now," Li Chen laughed, squeezing his bicep.
Lin Fei grinned. "Does it make me look more manly?"
"Haha, I've got them too!" Li Chen rolled up his sleeves proudly.
The next day during cultivation class, Elder Meng did something unexpected.
He did not make them train.
"Come sit down," he said, pointing to an empty area beside the training ground.
The freshmen looked at one another in confusion but obediently sat down.
Elder Meng stood before them with his hands behind his back.
"It has been one month," he said slowly. "Your physical foundation is now sufficient. Starting today, I will teach you an inner cultivation method."
Murmurs spread among the students.
Elder Meng raised a hand.
"The method I will teach you is the fundamental technique of Giantwood Institute—The Evergreen Art."
The crowd fell silent.
"This method expands the dantian and increases spiritual power reserves. When practiced, it accelerates spiritual recovery. When mastered, even without conscious circulation, your spiritual power will recover quickly. At higher levels, it can even extend one's lifespan."
He continued:
"The Evergreen Art has ten levels. Many of you at the peak of the Spirit Motion Realm may break through to the Qi Refining Realm during cultivation."
Lin Fei's heart leaped with excitement.
Once he reached the Qi Refining Realm, he could learn stronger Lin Arts.
"Now listen carefully," Elder Meng said as he sat cross-legged.
"Sit cross-legged. Five points facing heaven—the crown of the head, both palms, and both soles."
The students copied his posture.
"Clear your mind. Focus on the spirit altar. Begin breathing—inhale deeply, letting the breath sink to the dantian. Exhale slowly, expelling the turbid air. Repeat until you enter meditation."
Lin Fei closed his eyes and followed the instructions.
At first, his thoughts wandered endlessly.
Then Elder Meng's chant echoed:
"Center the mind. Sink the qi to the dantian. Guard the mysterious gate. Expel the old, take in the new…"
Inhale.
Exhale.
Again and again.
Gradually, Lin Fei felt something.
A faint warmth appeared within his body.
It flowed slowly with his breathing—rising from the dantian, traveling along his meridians, circling his body before returning again.
He immersed himself in that mysterious sensation.
Time seemed to vanish.
Suddenly, Elder Meng's voice sounded.
"That's enough for today."
Lin Fei opened his eyes, sweat forming on his forehead.
Elder Meng walked over and looked at him curiously.
"What did you feel just now?"
Lin Fei thought for a moment.
"A warm current… flowing with my breath."
"A warm current?" Elder Meng raised an eyebrow.
Lin Fei nodded.
After a moment of silence, Elder Meng smiled.
"You're quite the cultivation prodigy."
Lin Fei blinked in confusion.
Elder Meng simply patted his shoulder.
"Practice diligently. The best times to cultivate the Evergreen Art are at midnight and dawn. Keep at it, and you will soon break through to the Qi Refining Realm."
Lin Fei nodded firmly.
That night in the dormitory.
Lin Fei and Li Chen sat cross-legged on their beds, practicing quietly.
After a long time, Lin Fei opened his eyes.
Li Chen did the same.
"Did you feel it?" Lin Fei asked.
Li Chen nodded excitedly.
"Yes. A warm current moving along my back meridians."
Lin Fei grinned. "Exactly what I felt!"
The two exchanged a look and laughed.
"Let's wake up at dawn tomorrow and cultivate again," Li Chen said.
Lin Fei nodded. "Every midnight and dawn."
They slapped hands and lay down.
Outside, the moon hung high in the sky.
Crickets chirped softly, and the mountain breeze carried the scent of the forest.
That night, Lin Fei slept deeply.
In his dream, the warm current within him flowed faster and faster—until it became a gentle light that illuminated his entire body.