Chương 23: Two Months
For the next month, Yu Hao didn't dare to casually speak to his father anymore.
Old Yu's mood seemed to become worse with every passing day and Yu Hao was constantly suffering under the increasing pressure.
Five days after Old Yu had left the house in a hurry and returned in anger, he had come to find Yu Hao of his own volition.
The older man's expression was cold and his eyes carried an unspoken anger again. Yu Hao faced with cold sweat running down his back.
"Zhang Baichi reached the 8th Layer of the Body Forging Realm."
That one sentence was everything Old Yu told his son before he left again. Yu Hao stared at his father's back as the latter slammed the door shut with a stupefied expression.
Another week later, Old Yu came to find Yu Hao once again, his expression even more fearsome than before.
"Zhang Baichi has reached the 9th Layer of the Body Forging Realm."
This time, Yu Hao also couldn't keep his calm. Such a cultivation speed was unheard of. Three weeks ago, Yu Hao had first met Zhang Baichi, who at the time was a cultivator at the 5th Layer of the Body Forging Realm.
Now, in those three weeks, he had reached the 9th Layer? Was this young man even human anymore?
And why did Yu Hao's father of all people know about this so clearly?
Yu Hao's mind was in disarray. He grit his teeth and focused on his own cultivation for the coming time.
He even went as far as informing Elder Jian Fu that he wouldn't be able to take charge of his obligation in the Law Enforcement Division for the time being.
Surprisingly, the usually stern and unreadable Elder looked at him with a smile like a friendly old man from a rural neighbourhood and granted the leave.
Another week later, Yu Hao's seclusion ended, and he returned home with pride welling in his chest.
A week of painstaking cultivation allowed him to also break through and reach the 9th Layer of the Body Forging Realm!
In the old cottage by the side of the training fields, Yu Hao proudly announced his breakthrough to his father, ignoring the older man's dark, cold expression.
Unlike what he was expecting, Yu Hao didn't obtain his father's praise, but was instead told that Zhang Baichi had reached the 10th Layer of the Body Forging Realm.
"This… this doesn't make any sense!"
Thus, a month of indignation and painstaking cultivation ended with Yu Hao's total defeat.
.
.
.
Zhang Baichi breathed out a mouthful of foul air and stretched his body.
The fight with Ji Jian was only less than a month away, but these past few weeks had completely transformed Zhang Baichi's strength.
He had reached the 10th Layer of the Body Forging Realm the night before and worked hard to stabilize his cultivation the following night.
A few more nights of cultivating the Black Heaven Scripture and he would reach the peak of the Body Forging Realm!
His prowess in his swordplay was also reaching new heights with each passing day, as would his understanding of Star Intent.
He had yet to fully grasp it, but he had already reached the level of Quasi-Star Intent.
Surprisingly, this was also reflected in the system interface.
When his comprehension reached the Quasi-Intent stage, the System had informed him as such, and a new line of text was added to Zhang Baichi's profile within the system.
Zhang Baichi was delighted, as this was the first time the system had recognized and rewarded his efforts other than when he broke though to a higher cultivation level.
"Cultivating an Intent is definitely the correct way to progress on the path of cultivation…", Zhang Baichi muttered, hardly able to wait until he returned to the training field.
Cultivation was a gradual process and while Zhang Baichi felt himself get stronger every day the effects were much less pronounced now that his cultivation was already sufficiently high.
Training his Sword Technique, on the other hand, was greatly rewarding at the moment, as his comprehension for Star Intent increased, giving him new a new understanding of the sword and the stars each time he trained.
The feeling of growing stronger day by day and the feeling of learning day by day were both addicting to the extreme!
"System, show me the status interface.", Zhang Baichi spoke while wiping his face with a clean rag.
[Ding! Displaying information as instructed:]
[Name: Zhang Baichi
Age: 13 years
Occupation: Personal Disciple of Jian Wubai, the Sect Master of the Fleeting Storm Sword Sect
Reputation: None
Cultivation: 10th Layer of the Body Forging Realm(!)
Techniques: Black Heaven Scripture, Breezing Wind Sword Technique, Fractured Star Sword Technique
Intent: Quasi-Star Intent
Points: 0
Inventory Shop]
"Just a bit more." Zhang Baichi was satisfied with his results. His cultivation would soon reach the peak of the Body Forging Realm and he could also feel himself inch closer to comprehending the complete Star Intent.
With his current strength, there was no Body Forging Realm cultivator within the Fleeting Storm Sword Sect that could possibly be his match when it came to strength of comprehension.
Even most Inner Disciples, who were all at least in the Qi Gathering Realm, would have trouble facing him.
After once again stuffing himself with food, Zhang Baichi made his way over to the training field and picked a spot in a corner to train.
Around him, people rolled their eyes and moved further away; They were already used to him coming over every day and practising.
However, they couldn't concentrate on their own training under the suppression of the Fractured Star Sword Technique.
Still, no one asked about the Sword Technique, nor spoke about it to someone else, as it was common sense that every cultivator had their own secrets.
No one wanted others to poke at their secrets, so they themselves wouldn't inquire about others'.
Zhang Baichi warmed up as usual and then started training. He still didn't use any Qi, but his sword still left behind twinkling images of shooting stars formed of Sword Qi.
Under Zhang Baichi's control, the Sword Qi followed along with the movements described in the Fractured Star Sword Technique and slowly formed a completed field of stars; The same technique he had used in his fight against Li Yao.
For close to an hour, Zhang Baichi remained in motion, but a frown was present on his face.
'Something's still not right…' Compared to the day before, there was no obvious improvement in his swordplay. He still gained a new understanding of the essence of his Sword Technique and his Star Intent, but something was amiss.
Zhang Baichi ended his training a few minutes later and absentmindedly swung his sword a few more times. 'According to the technique, I'm doing everything right, so what is it that I'm missing? I just need to comprehend the last step, but why can't I do it?'
He kept thinking about it and just swung his sword for another hour, only stopping then since his arms were aching from exhaustion.
Back in his wooden cottage, Zhang Baichi plopped down on the bed and pulled the Fractured Star Sword Technique's manual out of his Inventory to re-read it once more.
"I'm doing everything right." A silent mutter sounded from him after a while. "Even the trailing stars behind me are just as the book explains, following along with every movement…"
His half-closed eyes drifted away from the book and Zhang Baichi just sprawled out like a starfish, lost in thought.
Seconds turned to minutes until Zhang Baichi's eyes suddenly opened wide. He pulled himself up and sat on the bed, once again cramming through the Sword Technique with a stupefied expression. "It's not Sword Qi… The trailing stars aren't supposed to be made out of Sword Qi."
He read it again and again just to confirm his guess, but this only made his expression grow more and more sullen. "What's going on? Am I supposed to make actual stars follow along my sword? Sword Qi is used for the Stardust Stage, but the Star Stage doesn't use Sword Qi and not even ordinary Qi, but actual stars? That's ridiculous."
A long time passed until Zhang Baichi sighed. "F*ck common sense, alright. I'll just try it tomorrow."
He threw the manual back into his Inventory and took some time to calm himself down. It was growing dark outside, so his next step would be to cultivate the Black Heaven Scripture.
The Void Forge kicked into full throttle as soon as Zhang Baichi started to absorb the Qi from beyond the Heavens and the searing pain soon followed.
The next day, Zhang Baichi stood in the training field with an incredulous expression on his face. His guess was actually right; The Sword Technique called for actual stars to trail behind his sword, not stars made of Sword Qi…
'Why does it have to be so hard…' Zhang Baichi ruffled his own hair in frustration, then focussed on his Sword Technique again. 'If it continues like this, I won't learn any Intents before the fight against Ji Jian…'
.
.
.
Three weeks later, this foreboding feeling would prove to be correct.
Zhang Baichi was on his way to the Life and Death Arena close to the Law Enforcement Division with frustration in his heart.
He really didn't manage to comprehend any Intent and was still stuck at the Quasi-Star Intent stage after practising for so long.
This, the closer he drew to the Life and Death Arena, the more calm he became.
When he reached the plaza, there was no more frustration in his heart, only a burning hatred.
A burning hatred for the man standing in the middle of the arena.
It was finally time to settle the old Zhang Baichi's unyielding resentment.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
Yozuka
Yozuka Timeskips and power ups - done!
Now its finally time for some bloodshed!
Grab your torches and pitchforks here!
Prices are cheap!
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