I’m in a great mood today, so I decided to update up to Chapter 20 as a small gift for my dear readers. This is the second update.

  Yun Che said nothing more and turned to leave the garden.

  The brand-new dark red inner disciple robe he wore stood out starkly among the dull gray garments of the registered disciples, instantly drawing every gaze along the path.

  At first, those looks carried the usual envy and reverence.

  But when they realized that the person wearing the robe was Yun Che—

  Shock flashed across their faces.

  Then disbelief.

  And finally, it twisted rapidly into undisguised jealousy, contempt, and bitterness so thick it was almost tangible.

  “So it’s him? The new inner registered disciple the Sect Master announced yesterday? Didn’t he only survive by jumping off a cliff? And now he’s already climbed into the inner sect? What insane luck!”

  “Luck? Don’t make me laugh. He probably groveled at an elder’s feet and did every disgusting, shameless thing imaginable to earn favor. People like him are truly despicable.”

  “Exactly. Look at that dull, poor bumpkin look of his. Even if you dress him in imperial robes, he wouldn’t look like a prince. Entering the inner sect won’t change anything—cultivation depends on real talent. With his aptitude, he won’t even qualify for the bottom ranks. A complete waste of resources.”

  “Trash will always be trash.”

  “Damn it! I’ve struggled among registered disciples for four years and never seen someone climb so shamelessly. What kind of world is this? Are the elders blind? What do I lack compared to him?!”

  “Four years? I’ve endured twelve! But at least we advanced step by step through real effort. Hmph. The inner sect is even more cutthroat. Sparring and competition are constant. Let’s just wait and watch him make a fool of himself.”

  Mockery, curses, and ridicule buzzed into his ears like swarming flies.

  Yun Che’s expression remained calm. His steps never faltered.

  He merely cast a cold glance at those faces twisted with jealousy and malice, committing them to memory one by one.

  When one lacks strength, arguing is nothing but meaningless noise.

  He had long understood this truth.

  Revenge required power—and timing—not empty words.

  Before long, he reached the eastern side gate and followed the familiar mountain path straight toward Cold Abyss Pond.

  The water was as clear and icy as ever. He scooped up a handful and splashed it over his face. The bone-chilling cold sharpened his mind instantly. He then bent down and drank several mouthfuls before calmly sitting cross-legged on a flat stone by the pond and closing his eyes to begin breathing cultivation.

  Not far away, hidden within the crown of a lush ancient tree, Elder Sun Dazhu crouched on a thick branch, frowning deeply as he stared at Yun Che through the leaves.

  He nearly cursed out loud.

  “That little bastard! He said he was coming to look for gourds, and he really just sits here waiting for one to float over? Is he playing games with me?!”

  The moment Yun Che left the garden, Sun Dazhu had concealed his aura and followed from afar, intending to see where this sly brat would go “treasure hunting.”

  Yet to his astonishment, Yun Che plopped down by the pond and assumed a posture of focused cultivation—remaining there for most of the day.

  Though the spiritual energy here was inferior to the core of the medicinal garden, it was still richer than ordinary disciple quarters.

  Yun Che did not experience the faint “ant-crawling sensation” he had felt briefly in the garden earlier, but his thoughts were clear.

  Isn’t the Qi Condensation Stage ultimately about accumulation?

  If his aptitude was lacking and his absorption efficiency low, then he would compensate with time.

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  Others cultivate for one hour—he would cultivate for three, for five.

  Day after day. Drop by drop, stone would be worn away.

  The idea was simple, even crude, yet it perfectly aligned with the essence of the Qi Condensation Stage: accumulation and transformation.

  Only the process would be longer—and far more arduous.

  By noon, Yun Che slowly ended his session and stretched his stiff limbs.

  The expected sensation still hadn’t appeared.

  Standing by the pond, he casually swept his gaze around, yet his mind was crystal clear.

  That old fox wouldn’t let me out for nothing.

  He must be watching from somewhere nearby.

  Rubbing his slightly hollow stomach, Yun Che turned and leisurely headed back toward the sect.

  High in the tree, Sun Dazhu nearly exploded with rage.

  He had wasted an entire morning roasting in the sun, watching this brat accomplish absolutely nothing.

  Staring at Yun Che’s retreating back, he gritted his teeth and muttered viciously, “Playing mind games with me, huh? Fine. If one day isn’t enough, I’ll watch you for a month. If a month isn’t enough, a year! I refuse to believe you only ever found one gourd. I’ll expose your secret sooner or later!”

  With that, his figure flickered like a ghost as he leapt down and silently returned to the medicinal garden ahead of Yun Che.

  When Yun Che returned, Sun Dazhu was already seated on a stone stool, stroking his sparse beard and forcing out a smile.

  “Well, my disciple, did you gain anything this morning? Find a gourd?”

  Yun Che sighed and shook his head regretfully.

  “Master, I watched Cold Abyss Pond all morning without even blinking. Unfortunately… not even a shadow of a gourd appeared. Perhaps none have drifted down from upstream recently. I’ll try again this afternoon—maybe my luck will improve.”

  Sun Dazhu cursed inwardly.

  You spent the entire morning with your eyes closed!

  Even if a gourd floated right in front of you, you wouldn’t see it!

  But outwardly, he maintained a gentle expression. “Mm. At least you’re diligent. Go eat first. Check again this afternoon.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  Inside the stone room, the furnishings were still sparse, but a low wooden table had appeared atop the hard bed.

  Four vegetable dishes, a plate of neatly sliced cured meat, and a large bowl of steaming mushroom soup sat upon it.

  The food wasn’t extravagant, but it was fragrant and well-balanced—far better than the dry rations or hunger he endured as a menial.

  Yun Che didn’t ask who brought it or when. He simply sat down and ate slowly yet thoroughly, draining even the last drop of soup. Only then did he pat his stomach contentedly and lie down to rest.

  Not long after, Sun Dazhu appeared soundlessly at the doorway.

  His face was dark, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes as he stared at Yun Che’s seemingly sleeping form.

  Hmph. Clever little brat, daring to play tricks on me.

  Sect rules prevent me from poisoning you outright—too risky.

  But slipping in something that hinders spiritual absorption and clogs meridians? That’s another matter.

  Your aptitude is already trash. Add my specially prepared “Spirit-Stagnating Powder,” and you’ll never break through Qi Condensation Stage Three in this lifetime.

  Then you’ll be nothing but an ant, your life and death firmly in my grasp. I’ll see if you still dare disobey.

  An hour later, Yun Che woke up on time.

  He straightened his robe and left the garden once more, heading straight back to Cold Abyss Pond.

  Sun Dazhu cursed his stubbornness but followed again regardless.

  From noon until sunset, Yun Che continued his relentless breathing cultivation.

  When the sky finally burned gold and red, he stood up.

  This time, he didn’t leave immediately.

  He lingered by the pond, scanning the surroundings as if searching for something. Then, as though making a decision, he turned and headed deeper into the forest.

  Hidden in a tree, Sun Dazhu’s spirit surged.

  Here it is. Finally showing his hand!

  He followed carefully, suppressing his aura like a seasoned hunter.

  Yun Che wandered slowly through the forest, occasionally inspecting bushes and occasionally glancing up at tree branches.

  After many twists and turns, he arrived at a cliff covered in wild vines. Numerous dried and half-green gourds hung among them.

  A look of “delight” crossed his face.

  After careful selection, he picked a medium-sized, well-shaped gourd, weighed it in his hand, nodded in satisfaction, and hurried away.

  Only after he vanished did Sun Dazhu emerge.

  He inspected the vines closely.

  The gourds were completely ordinary—no trace of spiritual energy.

  He picked several more and examined them carefully.

  Nothing.

  “…Strange,” he muttered, deeply puzzled. “Was it really just coincidence?”

  Memorizing the location, he vanished once more.

  Yun Che returned leisurely, ignoring the continued gossip along the way.

  Back at the medicinal garden, Sun Dazhu stood in the courtyard, face dark enough to drip water.

  Yun Che hurried forward respectfully, presenting the wild gourd with both hands.

  “Master! I was quite lucky this afternoon. Though nothing appeared at Cold Abyss Pond, I found a patch of wild gourds in the mountains. I selected this one carefully—it looks most like the one I found before!”

  “You—!”

  Sun Dazhu stared at the utterly ordinary gourd, then at Yun Che’s “sincere” face.

  Rage exploded in his chest.

  Barely restraining himself from striking, his face contorted as he forced out a smile uglier than crying.

  “I. Want. A. Gourd. Like. The. One. Before.”

  “Filled with spiritual energy!”

  “Not this worthless trash you can find everywhere!”

  “What use is this piece of crap?!”

  The final words erupted as a roar, echoing through the garden.

  He felt like a complete fool—spending an entire day spying, waiting, and even personally testing wild gourds.

  Utter humiliation.

  Yun Che lowered his head, appearing terrified.

  But where Sun Dazhu couldn’t see, the corner of his lips curved into a faint, icy smile.

  The game had only just begun.