A few days after the storm had settled, Su Ming’s life returned to its regular rhythm.

During the day, he handled affairs at the Repair Hall, and at night, he would return to his meditation room to cultivate.

After experiencing this covert contest with the Vessel Hall, Su Ming’s state of mind seemed to have undergone some subtle changes. He gained a deeper level of insight into the phrase from the Like Water Art: “It benefits all things without contention, thus it is almost like the Dao.”

Not contending does not mean not acting.

It means not contending with others over temporary advantages or superiority, not competing for superficial sharpness.

Like water, it avoids the high and flows to the low, appearing soft and yielding, yet in reality, it permeates all things, seeping into every crevice. Once the time is ripe, it can gather momentum and wash away all obstacles.

The night was like water, and the small courtyard was silent.

Beside the ancient well, dew quietly condensed on the grass blades. Su Ming sat cross-legged by the well, his breathing long and steady. A tiny vortex of mist slowly rotated before his mouth and nose with each exhalation and inhalation, faintly resonating with the misty water vapor rising from the well.

He was not deliberately trying to break through the bottleneck to the fifth layer of Qi Refining.

At this moment, he was in his Consciousness Sea, working with Lin Yu to deduce a modified version of a complex water-attribute defensive rune—the “Flowing Light Shield.”

“Master, if we slightly elongate the structure of the ‘Control’ character, forming a loop, would it be better at dispersing force?”

“Interesting, it’s like the principle of Tai Chi. Try adding a bit of a centrifugal force structure with rotation.”

Master and disciple were immersed in their academic discussion, completely forgetting about cultivation itself.

Right at the moment Su Ming’s mind stirred and he perfectly constructed that modified rune within his Consciousness Sea…

Inspiration struck.

The originally full spiritual energy within his body seemed to receive some kind of summons, naturally beginning to circulate along the pathways of the Like Water Art.

He did not deliberately assault the bottleneck; he simply allowed his mind to sink completely into the circulation of the Like Water Art. His consciousness seemed to transform into a drop of water, merging into the great cycle of spiritual energy flowing around him.

Not striving to be first, not clinging, just following its inherent laws, flowing slowly.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when that barrier that had troubled him for so long actually melted away silently under the gentle, persistent permeation of his spiritual energy.

There was no thunderous roar, no severe pain, only a sense of fulfillment, as natural as water flowing into a channel.

It was like a frozen stream quietly thawing under the warm spring sun, merging into a great river.

A faint, gurgling sound came from within his body. All the pores on his body dilated and then contracted, expelling some turbid qi and absorbing more of heaven and earth’s essence.

The water in the ancient well in the courtyard rippled with fine, delicate waves without any wind, as if cheering for Su Ming.

Su Ming slowly opened his eyes. A flash of deep blue, water-like light seemed to flicker in their depths.

The fifth layer of Qi Refining—achieved!

He raised his hand, his mind stirring slightly.

*Hum!*

Three layers of “water membranes,” thin as cicada wings and shimmering with flowing light, instantly materialized before him. They were no longer static shields but flowed and rotated slowly like living water.

Su Ming casually picked up a stone and threw it.

*Pat.*

The stone touched the first water membrane, its speed instantly slowing as if it had sunk into a quagmire. Upon touching the second layer, it was deflected by the rotating water flow. By the time it reached the third layer, its force was spent, and it was gently bounced off, falling to the ground.

“What excellent ‘force dispersion’!” Lin Yu praised. “This is the charm of physical defense combined with fluid mechanics. Disciple, this move is much more sophisticated than just taking a hit head-on.”

Feeling the surging power within his body, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Su Ming’s mouth.

This was what it meant for water to flow naturally into its channel.

…

Early the next morning.

The morning sun rose, casting myriad rays of rosy light.

Two auspicious clouds drifted leisurely from the horizon, landing precisely at the entrance of Courtyard D-7, drawing sidelong glances and looks of envy from passing menial disciples.

Those were flight artifacts only high-ranking inner sect disciples possessed.

Two exquisitely beautiful childlike figures stepped down from the clouds.

“Senior Brother Su Ming! Congratulations on exiting seclusion and achieving great progress in your cultivation!”

Clear, crisp voices rang out. It was Qingfeng and Mingyue, whom he hadn’t seen for a long time.

The two still looked like children. One pretended to be mature, hands clasped behind his back; the other was lively and spirited, her big eyes darting around.

Mingyue bounced cheerfully up to Su Ming. Like presenting a treasure, she pulled out a jade box. “Senior Brother Su Ming! We heard you cultivate water techniques! This is… um, a ‘Water Cloud Fruit’ we picked… on the way… from Pill Cauldron Peak! It’s really good for water-attribute cultivation! We give it to you!”

She stuck out her tongue. Clearly, the truth was closer to “stole” than “picked.”

Qingfeng, on the other hand, saluted steadily with clasped hands, though his eyes held genuine delight and a trace of surprise. “I sense Senior Brother’s aura is vigorous and his spiritual energy is harmonious and full, surpassing the past. It seems the Like Water Art truly suits you. Our Master emerged from seclusion a few days ago and specifically asked about you.”

Su Ming’s heart tightened.

Qingfeng and Mingyue’s Master was a true giant of the Cloud Hidden Sect, a figure even Elder Ma regarded with awe.

“Oh? May I ask what guidance the Senior has?” Su Ming asked respectfully.

Mingyue, straightforward and quick to speak, rushed to answer. “Yes, yes! Master heard about that ‘standardization’ thing you did in the Repair Hall and laughed so hard his beard twitched! He said something like ‘Great formations arise from the minutiae, the great Dao walks in daily life,’ and told us to learn more from you! He said this is what you call… um, what was it again?”

Qingfeng gave his junior sister a helpless look and added, “Master said, Senior Brother’s actions constitute ‘tempering the heart within worldly affairs,’ finding clarity amidst complexity, which holds the true essence of the path of formations.”

Hearing this, Su Ming felt both moved and wary.

That great figure was indeed keeping an eye on him. Fortunately, the current evaluation was positive.

“The Senior praises me too highly. I am unworthy,” Su Ming said with a smile.

He accepted Mingyue’s gift and invited the two into the courtyard.

Qingfeng looked at the orderly assembly line in the courtyard, at those busy yet highly motivated menial disciples, a thoughtful glint flashing in his eyes.

“Senior Brother, your Repair Hall is quite famous now,” Qingfeng remarked with a sigh. “Even many inner sect senior brothers are talking about it, saying the External Affairs Hall has produced an extraordinary figure.”

“It’s just empty fame,” Su Ming said, pouring tea for the two. “I’m the one who caused trouble for you both, with that ‘lost’ report earlier…”

“Hey, that was fun!” Mingyue’s eyes sparkled. “I ‘found’ one too! Those bad guys from the Vessel Hall always used to shortchange us on furnace materials. Seeing them get their comeuppance this time was so satisfying!”

Qingfeng also smiled. “Senior Brother’s plan was brilliant. It solved the problem without leaving any handles. Master also said this is called… a ‘Yang Scheme’.”

The three chatted for a while longer in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

Before leaving, Qingfeng suddenly turned serious. “Senior Brother Su Ming, the outer sect assessment is approaching. This assessment is no ordinary matter. I’ve heard the difficulty will increase because of the ‘Minor Heavenly Cycle Martial Display’. Although you have Elder Ma’s recommendation, solid strength is still key. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Junior Brother,” Su Ming said solemnly.

After seeing Qingfeng and Mingyue off, Su Ming looked at the Water Cloud Fruit in his hand. Its surface was wreathed in a faint mist of water vapor; it was clearly no ordinary item.

“Master, it seems our ‘unorthodox path’ has caught the eye of a truly great figure,” Su Ming thought to himself.

Lin Yu chuckled in his mind. “Hey, what the great figure values isn’t your cultivation level, but your mind. Remember, disciple, in this world of cultivation, there are many who can fight. But those who can straighten out complex situations and invigorate interests are the rare resources.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep