Chapter 216: Chapter 109: A Double Breakthrough

In the afternoon, Cai Zhengyang eagerly sought out Luo Min to relay Wang Zhanshan’s instructions.

“Well, thank you, Zhengyang!”

Luo Min said with a soft smile.

’Zhengyang?’

A shiver ran through Cai Zhengyang, and a wave of pleasure washed over him.

’I have a shot!’

He quickly adopted a serious expression. “It’s nothing, leave it to me. I’ll make sure you catch up on everything you missed during the intensive training, Minmin.”

Cai Zhengyang said, full of assurance, even switching to the more intimate “Minmin.”

A flicker of disgust flashed through the corner of Luo Min’s eyes, but her face was a mask of warmth as she nodded obediently.

“Alright, let’s get started. We cover a lot in our training, so let’s begin with body control…”

As Cai Zhengyang spoke, his eyes swept over Luo Min’s delicate figure. He felt a stir of desire that was difficult to suppress.

Fortunately, he was aware that they were at the university, and the girl before him wasn’t some commoner he could take advantage of as he pleased.

He immediately reined in his thoughts, put on a stern face, and began to teach in earnest.

Just as Cai Zhengyang’s romantic feelings were budding and he began his efforts to escape bachelorhood, Zhao Rui finally descended the mountain.

His Realm had stabilized, and after a long period of quiet cultivation, he was itching for some activity. He decided to “redecorate” the area around the Wall-Facing Chamber.

No one else used this place anyway, so he figured he might as well fix it up and turn it into his own private retreat for cultivation.

’It was a bit brazen, sure. But if no one said anything and the people in charge looked the other way, who was there to complain?’

Wang Zhanshan was a bit of a snob and generally self-serving, but as long as you performed well and brought him glory, he wouldn’t meddle in minor affairs.

It was just like with Gongye Lingchen before. He had been arrogant, domineering, and bullied newcomers, yet Wang Zhanshan had always turned a blind eye, even condoning his behavior.

Only when the freshmen rose to prominence and Zhao Rui defeated Gongye Lingchen did he use the opportunity to settle old scores and punish him.

After coming down from the small mountain, Zhao Rui headed straight off campus.

Not far from the Dongqi University gate was a bustling suburban commercial street and a large market.

It was easy to buy whatever one needed.

Zhao Rui browsed around and bought dozens of flowers and shrubs, as well as the materials to build a small, man-made fishpond.

He then hired a few workers with a small truck and headed back toward campus.

A newly transferred security guard at the gate saw the truck was not a university vehicle and started to step forward to question them.

Before he could take two steps, an older guard behind him grabbed his sleeve and said in a low voice,

“That’s Zhao Rui from the Martial Arts Team. Just let them through.”

Hearing this, the young guard immediately stopped, gave Zhao Rui a sheepish smile, and raised the barrier arm to let the truck pass.

Zhao Rui rolled down the window, extended his arm, and smilingly offered two cigarettes. “Just hired some guys to plant a few things in the courtyard.”

The two guards hurried forward to accept the cigarettes, saying with a laugh, “You didn’t have to hire anyone else. We could have just popped over during our shift change and handled it.”

“Oh, I couldn’t impose.”

“It’s no problem, really. We’re not busy. We’ll come by in a little while to check it out.”

“Thanks, then!”

Zhao Rui smiled and gestured for the driver to proceed onto campus.

Once the truck was out of earshot, the older guard clicked his tongue in admiration. “I wish my son was that capable.”

“So that’s Zhao Rui? He seems pretty easygoing.”

the young guard asked.

“Yep, that’s him. But don’t you underestimate him just because he’s friendly. Right now, on the Martial Arts Team, he’s *this*!”

The older guard gave a thumbs-up and continued,

“On campus, the ones you don’t want to mess with are the Martial Arts Students, especially the ones on the Martial Arts Team. They act like they own the place.”

“But this new captain seems like a reasonable guy. If we’re on his good side, it’ll make things easier for us down the line.”

“So, should we head over after our shift change?”

“Yep. Let’s change into our work clothes and go have a look.”

After speaking, the older guard lit his cigarette and began puffing away contentedly.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the front mountain of Mingcan Courtyard, several workers were busy digging a small pond by the Wall-Facing Chamber on the mountainside.

Others were planting flowers and trees behind a fence.

Among them, conspicuously, were the two campus guards from the front gate.

The whole area in front of the Wall-Facing Chamber was a lively, bustling scene.

Zhao Rui wasn’t idle, either; he was right there with them, learning how to plant the saplings and flowers.

He only stopped his work when Li Xinran came looking for him, her face beaming with excitement.

Li Xinran stared in astonishment at Zhao Rui, who was barefoot and covered in mud.

“Are you trying to make this place your home?”

“I’m still being punished. Can’t I tidy the place up a bit?”

“Fine! You’re something else!”

Li Xinran gave him a thumbs-up.

“So, what’s up?”

Zhao Rui asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her. Then he broke into a grin. “Ah, so you’ve broken through to the Eighth Level of the Meridian Passage Realm.”

“Hehe, impressive, isn’t it!”

Li Xinran said smugly.

“Not bad. Since you’ve reached Level 8, come with Qin Rui and the others tomorrow night. I’ll teach you all something.”

Zhao Rui said.

“Teach us what?”

“You’ll find out then. Since you’re here, don’t just stand around. Go plant a flower. I’ll even let you pick one out and name it.”

“Pfft, as if I’d want to!”

Despite her dismissive words, Li Xinran had already taken off her shoes and was running barefoot and giggling onto the grassy area.

’This isn’t work at all,’ she thought. ’It’s just like playing house when we were kids.’

Playing alone wasn’t enough fun, so she called Qin Rui over to join in.

The three of them busied themselves for quite some time, only finishing their “work” when the sun sank below the mountains, painting the sky with crimson clouds.

The flowers were planted, the small pond was built, and all that was left was to add the fry in a couple of days.

After finishing up, the trio washed their hands and feet and headed to the Martial Arts Team’s cafeteria for a small celebration.

After dinner, Zhao Rui waved goodbye to the two girls and leisurely made his way back to the Wall-Facing Chamber.

「The following evening.」

The moon was bright, and a gentle breeze was blowing.

In a small pavilion on the mountain in Mingcan Courtyard, Zhao Rui held a flute to his lips, softly playing the Nine Yin Scripture’s version of the Jade Sea Tide-Rising Melody.

The lingering notes of the flute sounded exceptionally clear and melodious in the night sky.

“Zhao Rui, you’re giving off more and more of an otherworldly vibe. You’re not about to ascend to immortality, are you?”

Li Xinran and the others approached the pavilion. Seeing his carefree and detached demeanor, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“If I could really ascend, why wouldn’t I give it a try?”

Zhao Rui put away the flute and, with a SWOOSH, rose to his feet. In a single step, he was already outside the pavilion.

“So, why’d you call us here? It wasn’t just to listen to you play, was it?”

Li Xinran asked.

“I wouldn’t mind listening, actually. It had a great atmosphere,” Cao Guannan said, a little wistfully.

The only ones who came were Qin Rui, Li Xinran, and Cao Guannan; Miao Miaomiao wasn’t there.

“All right, no more joking,” Zhao Rui said, his tone turning serious. “I’ve developed a minor cultivation technique I’m going to teach you. Listen carefully. It could save your life.”

Hearing the words “save your life,” the three of them immediately dropped their playful expressions.

Zhao Rui cut right to the chase, explaining a clever little application he had discovered while studying the Charm Immortal Technique.

The technique wasn’t complex, but it was effective, allowing one to briefly resist mental attacks from martial arts like Enchanting Soul.

Though its effects were limited, that single moment of clarity at a critical time could be enough to save their lives.

With solemn expressions, the three of them focused on learning, afraid of missing a single detail.

They practiced for over two hours, and by the time even Li Xinran, the slowest learner of the group, had mastered it, the moon had already passed its zenith.

“Now that you’ve all learned it, practice it diligently. I won’t ask you to stay the night; the place is too small.”

Zhao Rui said with a smile after he finished teaching.

“Oh, revered master, this humble maiden is willing to procure a beautiful young lady to warm your bed. What do you think of this one?”

Li Xinran giggled mischievously, pulling Qin Rui forward.

Qin Rui shot her an exasperated glare.

“This one’s too ugly. Find another!”

“Hey!”

Now it was Qin Rui’s turn to be indignant. She turned and made a rude gesture at him.

“Haha, we’re leaving!”

After the bout of teasing, the three of them departed down the mountain together.

Zhao Rui watched their figures disappear into the darkness. Just as he was about to turn back to the Wall-Facing Chamber to sleep,

the hair on his arms suddenly stood on end. His body tensed, and he spun around like a cheetah.

“Well now, what a quick reaction.”

A familiar figure emerged from the darkness, a faint smile on his face.

The newcomer had white hair but a youthful complexion; it was the hidden master of Mingcan Courtyard whom Zhao Rui had met on two prior occasions.

“I just popped out to see a friend, and you’ve already broken through to the True Essence Realm?”

Seeing Zhao Rui in person, the old man was visibly taken aback, his expression filled with astonishment.

“It was just a lucky breakthrough. It’s been a while, Senior. You’re looking as distinguished as ever!”

Zhao Rui smiled, but inwardly, he didn’t dare to relax one bit.

He had already broken through to the True Essence Realm and had even cultivated two top-tier Divine Soul Skills.

Yet he still couldn’t fathom the depths of the old man’s martial arts.

’Looks like he’s at least a master on the same level as Nun Lejing.’

“Distinguished my ass! I nearly kicked the bucket!”

It was as if Zhao Rui’s words had struck a nerve, or perhaps it was that the current Zhao Rui was now worthy of hearing a bit more from him.

The old man spat on the ground with a colorful expression.

The crude display was such a far cry from his sage-like appearance that Zhao Rui was momentarily stunned.

“Do you know my name?”

After his outburst, the old man looked at Zhao Rui with great interest.

“If this junior may be so bold as to guess… is your surname Ge, Senior?”

“Since you know my surname is Ge, what should you call me?”

“Coach Ge!”

“You’re not a complete idiot, then!”

The old man stroked the wisp of pure white beard on his chin and ambled toward the Wall-Facing Chamber.

Zhao Rui shrugged and hurried to catch up.

’I should have realized it sooner,’ he thought. ’A place as huge as Mingcan Courtyard isn’t something a mere university Martial Arts Team should possess.’

’When I joined the team, I knew Wang Zhanshan wasn’t the head coach, just the second-in-command.’

’Even though he’s been in charge for years, there’s a head coach above him named Ge Changsheng.’

’I should have put two and two together the first time I saw him, but I just couldn’t connect this eccentric old man with the title of head coach.’

“Well now, quite the elegant hobby you’ve picked up. You plan on using this pond as a bathtub?”

“It’s for raising fish!”

“Oh. A bit small, but it has my flair. See that lake down below?”

“I had people dig that sixty years ago!”

Zhao Rui’s cheek twitched. ’Great, so this is some kind of tradition here at Mingcan Courtyard.’

Ge Changsheng continued walking. He glanced at the entrance to the chamber, then stopped, turned to Zhao Rui, and said,

“I thought I was pretty shameless back in my day for taking over Mingcan Courtyard, but you, kid… you’ve managed to claim my Wall-Facing Chamber as your own right under my nose.”

“And I, Old Ge, have never even brought a woman here in my entire life!”

Ge Changsheng sized Zhao Rui up, an extremely odd look in his eyes.

“Ahem, Coach, I’m just following the example set by my superiors. It’s an inherent tradition of this courtyard!”

Zhao Rui said with a sheepish grin.

Ge Changsheng ignored his excuse and continued on his own way up the mountain.

Zhao Rui was about to follow.

But then he heard Ge Changsheng’s voice drift back. “Go on back. Nothing else to talk about. I’m tired. Tomorrow night, prepare a pot of good wine and a few side dishes for me.”

As he spoke, his figure seemed to shrink the very ground he walked on, appearing in the distance in a flash. By the time his voice faded, he had already vanished over the summit.

“Uh…”

Zhao Rui rolled his eyes. ’The nerve of him, demanding a free meal so brazenly.’

’Still, that Lightweight Skill is seriously enviable.’

He shook his head, put it out of his mind, and returned to the Wall-Facing Chamber to fall straight asleep.

The next day, Zhao Rui woke up as usual to practice his techniques, train in martial arts, and meditate to nurture his energy.

From his high vantage point, he had a clear view of Mingcan Courtyard below. The sight of it across the lake, with its rippling reflection, had a unique charm.

He continued his cultivation until around ten o’clock before stopping and heading down the mountain.

He hurried toward Mingcan Courtyard.

As soon as he reached the gate, he heard a clamor from within.

“Luo Min broke through to Level 9!”

“Shen Xinzhu broke through too!”

“I’m still just at Level 7. How are they so fast?”

“I know, right? Is Level 9 that common now?”

“Common? Why don’t you try breaking through to it, then?”

Hearing the whispers from inside, Zhao Rui raised an eyebrow. ’How did they break through so fast?’

’Logically, Luo Min’s foundation is weaker than Wang Dalong’s and the others, and she was set back by over a month of filming. She shouldn’t have been able to break through this quickly.’

’As for that Shen Xinzhu, I don’t know her, but anyone who can break through to Level 9 this fast is clearly no ordinary talent.’

As these thoughts ran through his mind, he stepped inside.

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