The warmth of shared laughter and conversation lingered in the air as the unusual dinner gathering came to an end. Elder Guo Shantian, with his white beard still bearing the traces of the sauce he had devoured with youthful enthusiasm, gave a solemn nod of satisfaction before vanishing in a blur of motion toward his private chambers.
Meanwhile, after helping to stack the dishes, Li Yao excused herself, eager to resume her own cultivation routine.
Left alone amid the quiet aftermath of their meal, Xiang Yu cleaned each utensil. Though the task was mundane, his thoughts never drifted from his cultivation goals. The moment the last bowl was dried and stored, he seized his training knife and hurried back to his training ground.
The moon cast silver patterns through the forest canopy as Xiang Yu resumed his form. Each swing of his blade now carried a subtle harmony that was absent in his earlier attempts. Time slipped by unnoticed beneath the night sky until, at last, a translucent blue screen shimmered into view before his exhausted eyes:
*****
[Calculating Settlement]
[Calculation Complete]
[Basic Knife Technique: 10 (+6)]
[Experience Points Doubled]
[Basic Knife Technique: 10 → 20]
[Next Settlement: 23:59:59]
*****
Xiang Yu's breath caught in his throat as he read the numbers with undisguised wonder. Six additional points in just one night! After yesterday's initial struggle, he had clearly found his rhythm, pushing his training efficiency to new heights. And now, with his experience doubled from ten to twenty, he could feel the knowledge seeping into his very being, countless phantom knife swings echoing through his muscle memory as if he'd performed them thousands of times.
"At this rate," he murmured, a rare smile playing across his lips, "I could reach Minor Success in just five days even without lifting a finger." The thought of his rate of progress sent a surge of excitement through him. While it was nowhere near the meteoric rise of a genuine cultivation prodigy, it was substantial nonetheless.
Then the exhaustion hit. He sank to his knees, suddenly aware of the bone-deep ache in his limbs and exhaustion permeating his mortal frame. "But I won't just rely on the system to carry me," he promised the silent night. "Though maybe after a bit of sleep…"
Unlike the previous night, Xiang Yu had the presence of mind to drag himself back to his humble dwelling. The makeshift bed of dried leaves welcomed him like the finest silk as he collapsed, slipping instantly into dreamless sleep.
Morning arrived with relentless certainty. Before the sun rose above the horizon, Xiang Yu was already moving. Without hesitation, he made his way to the secluded bathing spot, the bracing water washing away the lingering fatigue as effectively as it cleansed his body.
Feeling refreshed and focused, he returned to his training ground and took his practice knife. Each movement now flowed more easily and precisely, something that would have felt unimaginable just days earlier. "At this pace," he thought, cautiously optimistic, "I might reach Minor Success in just three days."
In his private chambers, Elder Guo Shantian's eyes twitched open in mild irritation as the distant rhythm of knife practice disrupted his morning meditation once again.
"That boy again," he grumbled, stroking his long beard. "Does he truly intend to maintain this fervor forever?" The elder took a measured breath to calm himself. "Surely it's merely a temporary burst of initial enthusiasm. It will burn out soon."
Elsewhere, Li Yao emerged from her quarters, her gaze immediately drawn to the training clearing where her senior brother's blade shimmered under the morning light. A look of quiet determination settled across her delicate features as she turned toward her own practice area. If her senior brother could show such dedication despite his limitations, how could she afford to fall behind?
The sun rose higher, its heat beating down mercilessly upon Xiang Yu's relentless form. Sweat soaked his garments, but Xian Yu didn't falter. His blade continued to move, relentlessly. Only when the sun reached its peak did he finally lower his knife, the growl from his stomach reminding him of more mundane responsibilities.
"Time to cook," he murmured, wiping the sweat from his brow. Since yesterday's unexpected culinary triumph, Elder Guo had appointed him the "Chef of Mountain Heart Pavilion"—a position Xiang Yu strongly suspected hadn't existed until that very moment. Regardless, he accepted the role with stoic resignation and made his way toward the kitchen, already planning the day's lunch in his mind.
_____
"Your cooking is really amazing, senior brother. Where did you learn to cook like this?" Li Yao asked between eager bites, her eyes shining with genuine appreciation.
Xiang Yu's lips curved into a modest smile as he watched her relish the meal he'd prepared. In his previous life, his culinary skills had been merely a matter of survival, born of necessity rather than passion. Never had he imagined that he would receive such a sincere compliment for something so ordinary.
If the whole cultivation thing doesn't work out, maybe I could open a restaurant in this world, he mused silently, the thought both amusing and strangely comforting.
"Just a little practice," he replied casually, avoiding specifics as he carefully added another serving to Elder Guo's plate before the venerable cultivator could voice his request.
Throughout the meal, Elder Guo repeatedly observed Xiang Yu with a keen, penetrating gaze, assessing the subtle changes brought into his disciple after three days of relentless training.
The boy's movements displayed a newfound efficiency and precision, noticeable even in something as mundane as serving food. His once-average frame now showed the beginning of lean muscle, and the hesitation in his demeanor had been replaced with quiet confidence.
Perhaps there's hope for him after all, Elder Guo thought, stroking his beard thoughtfully. If only his personality weren't so frustratingly timid.
After the meal concluded and the dishes were cleared, each member of their trio returned to their respective individual pursuits. Xiang Yu resumed his knife practice at once, his blade cutting through the afternoon air with increasingly fluid and focused movements.
Just like the day before, hours passed by in a blur of repetition and refinement as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting his dedicated form in hues of amber and gold.
Only when twilight gave way to the night did he finally pause, his sweat-soaked clothes clinging uncomfortably to his skin. A quick bath in the mountain stream refreshed both body and spirit before he returned to the communal kitchen to prepare the evening meal.
After dinner and a bit of light conversation, Xiang Yu once again retreated to his training ground, resuming his practice with undiminished intensity. Under the moon's steady gaze as it tracked its slow arc across the star-filled sky, Xiang Yu's blade continued to flash silver in its pale light, each movement more fluid than the last.
From his private chambers, Elder Guo observed the persistent disciple with growing resignation. The boy's dedication clearly wasn't the temporary enthusiasm he'd initially dismissed as—it was real, sustained by his deep desire. With a heavy sigh, the elder mentally added "soundproofing formation" to his list of necessary purchases. If Xiang Yu intended to maintain this relentless schedule every night, the elder would need magical assistance to preserve the tranquility of his morning meditations.
Even as midnight approached, Xiang Yu's movements remained sharp and controlled despite hours of continuous exertion. Then, like a faithful companion, the translucent blue screen materialized before his eyes:
*****
[Calculating Settlement]
[Calculation Complete]
[Basic Knife Technique: 30 (+10)]
[Experience Points Doubled]
[Basic Knife Technique: 30 → 60]
[Next Settlement: 23:59:59]
*****
Xiang Yu's eyes widened in amazement. Ten experience points gained in a single day! And with the system's doubling boost, his understanding of the Basic Knife Technique had jumped dramatically. He could feel it: the knowledge of forms was seamlessly integrating with his muscle memory, each form now flowing naturally into the next with minimal conscious thought, like it had become a second nature for him.
With a mental command, he summoned his status screen:
*****
[Name: Xiang Yu]
[Realm: Mortal]
[Species: Human]
[Spiritual Root: Null]
[Techniques: Basic Knife Technique: Beginner (60/100)]
[Scriptures: Null]
[System Function: Double Exp (Cooldown: 24hrs)]
*****
A rare grin spread across his features as he studied the numbers. Three days of dedicated practice had brought him more than halfway through the Beginner stage. At this rate, he would undoubtedly reach Minor Success tomorrow—and with it, finally qualify to request a scripture and truly begin his cultivation journey.
The cultivation stages flickered through his mind as he thought of his future path: Body Refining, Qi Gathering, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul… and perhaps even higher realms. But for now, his immediate focus remained on the first step—Body Refining, a stage mercifully accessible even by those like himself who lacked spiritual roots.
Body Refining was all about refining and tempering the body repeatedly, even mortals with no spiritual roots like him could grasp it.
"Tomorrow," he promised himself, his voice barely disturbing the night's stillness. "Tomorrow, I take my first real step on the path of cultivation."
But for now, his mortal body demanded rest. Sheathing his training knife, Xiang Yu made his way back to his humble dwelling, already looking forward to the system's next settlement—and the exponential growth it would bring.