Early in the morning, Ye Mingzhi was rudely awakened by a smack on the head—courtesy of his so-called "little ancestor," Qi Jue, the spirit of his sword.
"Hey, stupid master!" she shouted, glaring at him. "How dare you sleep until the sun's already up? Ugh—I swear, I really want to hammer your head in! Get up, it's training time!"
Moments later, she tossed a heavy sandbag onto Ye Mingzhi's back.
"Today's training is simple," she grinned. "Run ten kilometers with this on your back. No aura, no energy. Oh—and I'll be riding on top! Hehe~ Let's go!"
As she cheerfully hummed a tune, Ye Mingzhi sighed. This was clearly the beginning of a long, torturous journey toward becoming stronger.
With every step, the muscles in his legs screamed in protest, and the weight on his back nearly brought him to his knees. Then came the familiar teasing voice:
"Look at you—this is just the beginning, baka master. The former ruler of the Nine Heavens, reduced to this?"
But Ye Mingzhi gritted his teeth and pushed forward. After an exhausting hour and a half, he finally completed the run, collapsing in the grass.
Qi Jue smirked. "That was just the first session. Take a break—we're only getting started."
Meanwhile, Chu Xiyue was training under the guidance of Fei Yue, the spirit of her blade. She stood alone in the forest, steadying her breath.
"Focus on your striking point," Fei Yue instructed gently. "And more importantly, learn to control the flow of your energy."
Chu Xiyue struggled at first, missing her target multiple times. But Fei Yue placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Calm down, don't rush. You're doing well."
On her fourth attempt, Chu Xiyue landed the strike cleanly. Her eyes brightened with a hint of confidence.
After a short break, the two sword spirits—Qi Jue and Fei Yue—began arguing over whose teaching method was better.
"My way is obviously more effective!" Qi Jue snapped.
"You? You're just torturing him," Fei Yue countered calmly.
Unable to reach an agreement, the two decided to switch students for the afternoon session.
"Fine, we'll swap. Let's see whose method works better," Qi Jue declared.
Chu Xiyue blinked. "Wait, I'm following her now?"
"Yes," Qi Jue said with a gleam in her eye. "And I think I'll enjoy training you more than that thick-headed master of mine."
Qi Jue had sensed something in Chu Xiyue—a deep insecurity masked by determination. She gently guided her onto a set of stones placed unevenly on the ground.
"Today's task—jump in rhythm, balance your weight, and learn your tempo. No rushing."
On the other side, Ye Mingzhi was sparring with Fei Yue. Unlike Qi Jue's chaotic style, Fei Yue's movements were elegant and precise, a fluid combination of speed and swordplay. Ye Mingzhi struggled to keep up.
"You're fast," he admitted between breaths.
Fei Yue studied him for a moment before speaking.
"Speed and power aren't what you're lacking," she said softly. "It's the purpose behind your sword. Why do you draw your blade? What are you fighting for?"
Ye Mingzhi froze.
"When you understand the reason behind your blade," she continued, "your techniques will no longer feel rigid. They'll flow naturally."
She turned away, leaving those words to linger.