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The surge of new internal energy did more than grant Lu Sheng an inner breakthrough—it transformed him entirely. The Black Tiger Jade Crane Art and the Black Fiend Art harmonized rather than clashed. Enhanced together, they caused his energy to circulate more freely, invigorating his spirit with newfound strength.
He rose to his feet, replaced his blade with an open palm, and unleashed a Tiger’s Wrath forward.
Chi!
A faint tiger’s roar echoed, and the air around him instantly grew hot.
That was merely a quarter of his full strength. Previously, achieving such intensity required at least half of his internal energy.
“The effect of my internal energy has at least doubled!” Lu Sheng exclaimed, excitement flashing in his eyes. His thoughts turned to the masters of the Jianghu realm, whom Uncle Zhao had once described to him.
“In the martial arts world, especially in the Central Plains, the Tongli realm is considered the mark of a basic master. Above it are the Tongyi and Ningshen realms. Most famous experts are at the Ningshen level. They cultivate both internally and externally, condensing their spirit until every move embodies the essence of their martial arts. Their internal energy is near-endless, and their combat power immense. I wonder what level I’ve reached now?”
He silently assessed his progress.
“I accidentally reached the Tongyi realm back in Jiulian City. The Black Tiger Saber Techniques was my only Tongyi-level technique. Even if I haven’t reached Ningshen yet, the density of my internal energy far surpasses that of average Tongyi practitioners. If I were to face a Ningshen expert... it’s hard to say who would win. That means I may already be a Ningshen-level master—on par with the most renowned fighters in the Central Plains.”
Confidence welled up in him. Both the Black Fiend Art and the Black Tiger Jade Crane Art had reached the peak of the third level. For most, this kind of progress would take forty to fifty years—and only with excellent aptitude, consistent medicinal baths, and a steady supply of nourishing herbs.
“I’m only nineteen, yet I’ve already laid such a solid foundation. If it weren’t for those ghosts...” Lu Sheng’s expression darkened slightly as his thoughts turned back to the spectral threat he had encountered. “Without them, I could have traveled the world freely. What a pity...”
As the thought passed, a rooster’s crow pierced the morning stillness from outside the window.
Lu Sheng looked up. Dawn had arrived. The entire night had slipped by.
He climbed out of bed, fetched water to wash, dressed in his robe, and strode confidently out of the room.
Crossing to the restaurant next door, he ordered his usual breakfast: meat buns, millet porridge, and a plate of stir-fried vegetables. The meal was simple, but plentiful—so much so that nearby patrons couldn’t help but look on in amazement.
The palm-sized meat buns had thin, delicate skin wrapped around generous fillings. Lu Sheng ate them one after another, unfazed by the heat. Ever since mastering the Black Fiend Art, his tolerance for high temperatures had increased dramatically. He could press his hands near an open flame and only feel warmth after five or six breaths.
Each basket held six buns—and Lu Sheng devoured five baskets in one sitting. Thirty buns vanished without pause. Then came a dish of stir-fried greens, which he picked up in one hand, tilted into his mouth, gave a couple of casual chews, and swallowed whole.
It was no different from how an ordinary person might sip water after a meal.
Beside him sat a massive bowl of millet porridge—roughly the size of a face basin, tall as a man’s forearm, and enough to feed five or six people. Lu Sheng lifted it with both hands and drank deeply.
Three gulps.
He set the bowl down.
It was empty.
"Ohhh!!!"
Gasps erupted all around him. For the bystanders, whose daily lives rarely offered surprises, witnessing such an act was enough to fuel three days of gossip.
Lu Sheng remained composed. He gracefully wiped his mouth with a silk scarf, rose to his feet, and walked away without a word. The elegance of his departure stood in stark contrast to the gluttony he'd just displayed, leaving the other diners and even the waitstaff staring in stunned silence.
Internal Qi, after all, refines essence into energy—and essence must come from food.
With both the Black Fiend Art and the Black Tiger Jade Crane Skill flowing within him, Lu Sheng’s consumption needs far exceeded that of a normal man. The Black Fiend Art, despite being incomplete, was of extraordinary origin and potent enough to harm even spirits. Meanwhile, the Black Tiger Jade Crane Skill—a health-preserving technique that Lu Sheng had meticulously refined to its peak—focused on recovery and internal balance.
Together, these twin arts demanded immense nourishment. That was why Lu Sheng had to eat so much—he was feeding not just his body, but the fire within.
After breakfast, Lu Sheng hailed a carriage and made his way to Dongshan College. The ride was swift and uninterrupted. By the time he arrived, the morning bell had just begun to ring.
He jumped down from the carriage and hurried through the college gates, making his way straight toward his school building.
Dongshan College sprawled across a vast estate at the foot of Dongshan Mountain, just outside the borders of Yanshan City. Though near the city, it wasn’t governed by it. The college had its own private guards and administrative system. Its head, known as the Cave Master, was a court-appointed official, independent of the city's authority.
Legend had it that the college was originally founded by a renowned scholar who later became a high-ranking minister. Over the years, it gradually expanded into the prestigious institution it was today.
Familiar with the layout, Lu Sheng navigated through the grounds quickly and arrived at his designated school building. His instructor was Lu Rao, a scholar who had successfully passed the imperial examination.
By the time Lu Sheng entered, Instructor Lu was already standing at the lectern, ready to begin roll call.
Lu Sheng and a few other students who had just arrived bowed respectfully and hurried to their seats.
The classroom was rectangular and sparsely populated, with just over a dozen students. These were all under Lu Rao’s personal guidance.
Lu Sheng’s usual seat was next to Song Zhenguo. He adjusted his robe, sat upright, and began searching his desk—more accurately, his low wooden bookcase—for the literature and history texts that would be used today. The bookcases were built like short desks to accommodate cross-legged seating, and the day’s required books were always placed there in advance.
Roll call began.
"Du Zhenxu."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSd8VxriylR
"I'm here."
"Wang Dao."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwi93coCbY
"I'm here."
"Zhao Banyue."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IDc9HFx19
"I'm here."
"Yan Song."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIL6U21uSq
"I'm here."
Lu Rao, expressionless, continued down the list. When he reached Lu Sheng, he didn’t even glance up.
"Lu Sheng."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCoZkNq0Ch
"I'm here."
"Zhao Zhenguo."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbTAy4aWSG
"I'm here."
"Wang Ziquan."
A brief silence.
"Wang Ziquan?"
Instructor Lu finally raised his eyes, scanning the room with a sharp gaze. With so few students, he had long since memorized their names and faces. A single glance was enough to confirm who was missing.
"Wang Ziquan didn’t come?" he asked again, his voice laced with displeasure.
Song Zhenguo turned to look at the empty seat next to him.
Sure enough, it was vacant.
"Maybe something urgent came up at home, and he had to return to his hometown?" Song Zhenguo muttered under his breath.
Lu Sheng also glanced over. Wang Ziquan was indeed absent. For some reason, the image of the strange pleasure boat he’d seen the night before floated into his mind.
"Maybe he just overslept?" he offered casually.
At that, Song Zhenguo’s eyes widened slightly. As if suddenly reminded of something, he gave a knowing smile.
The two exchanged no further words. Seeing that Wang Ziquan truly wasn’t present, Mr. Lu gave a cold snort and marked a line through his name with a charcoal pencil.
"Let’s begin today's lesson. Last time, we discussed the phrase: ‘Civilians act in accordance with the law and are upright; businesses act in accordance with honesty and are honored.’" With that, Mr. Lu set aside all other matters and launched into his lecture, focusing on the interpretation of literature and history.
Lu Sheng listened quietly at first, but his eyes kept drifting toward the empty seat where Wang Ziquan should have been. The oddity of last night’s pleasure boat still lingered in his thoughts. Something about it felt... connected.
An hour passed, and class ended. Mr. Lu closed his book, tucked it under his arm, and left in a hurry.
Lu Sheng and Song Zhenguo rose from their seats.
"It seems Mr. Sheng is more than ready for the annual exam," Song Zhenguo said with a grin. "You sat through class calm as ever, clearly understanding the deeper meanings. Placing first this year should be no problem at all!"
"Brother Zhenguo, you flatter me," Lu Sheng replied with a smile. He genuinely respected Song Zhenguo—generous, sincere, and loyal. Though he came from a wealthy family, he never looked down on classmates of humbler origins. More importantly, when friends needed help, he never hesitated.
"Chen Yunxi is here," Song Zhenguo suddenly said, nudging him with a wink. "You stood up for the beauty yesterday, and now her heart seems firmly tied to yours. Go on."
Lu Sheng turned around—and froze for a moment.
At the school’s entrance stood Chen Yunxi. She had changed into a flowing white gauze dress, its sleeves draping elegantly and concealing something in her hands. Her long hair was pulled into a soft bun secured by a white jade hairpin, with a single strand cascading over her chest. She stood tall and graceful, her waist slender, her skin like polished jade. Her figure was elegant, her presence serene—and her chest gently rose and fell with quiet breath.
There was an air of purity and innocence about her that made Lu Sheng’s heart stir.
"Who is that girl? Her legs are so long... it’s hideous!" a scholar nearby muttered, instantly shattering the atmosphere.
"Yeah, yeah. So long they're almost unbearable to look at. If it weren’t for that, I would’ve tried to woo her long ago."
"Chen Yunxi... if her legs weren’t so ugly, she’d have countless suitors by now. Her family is rich and prominent in Yanshan City, after all. What a shame."
"Ugly legs! Such a waste!"
"Exactly! What a pity!"
Amid the shallow laughter and snide remarks, a girl’s voice finally cut in.
"You all should stop talking. She didn’t choose to be born this way. Our bodies come from heaven and our parents—how could you mock someone for that?" the female student said sharply. "We’re all classmates at the academy. Isn’t it shameful to speak about someone like this?"
A sigh passed through the group. Slowly, the crowd dispersed.
Lu Sheng stood silently. He glanced at Chen Yunxi’s long, elegant legs—graceful and balanced in his eyes. Then he looked at the other students who turned their heads in discomfort, and he couldn't help but feel speechless.
"Go on already," Song Zhenguo nudged him. "Yunxi dressed up like this just for you."
Understanding his intent, Lu Sheng strode forward without hesitation, took Chen Yunxi’s hand, and together they left the school grounds. Their path led them toward the lecture platform of the college.
The lecture platform was usually used when the academy invited renowned scholars for public speeches. But on regular days, it was nearly empty—and so, it had become a quiet meeting place for students who wished to talk in private, or express affection.
In this world, both men and women had access to education and could become officials. Though not fully equal, their status was more balanced than in many other societies—somewhat akin to what Lu Sheng recalled of the Tang Dynasty in his past knowledge.
The two of them jogged toward a quiet grove behind the platform. Nestled close to the mountain wall, the forest was dimly lit and carried a hint of chill.
Lu Sheng finally stopped and turned to face her.
"Why did you come find me? Is everything alright after what happened yesterday?"
Chen Yunxi smiled softly and drew her other hand from the folds of her sleeve. In her palm rested a single, exquisite red peony.
"It’s for you."
Lu Sheng blinked in surprise, accepting the flower without a word. In this world, women were often bold and direct—but even then, few were as straightforward as Chen Yunxi.
And yet, her sincerity was unmistakable.
Chen Yunxi smiled faintly, but there was sorrow behind it.
"My family tried to arrange a marriage with the man from yesterday," she said softly. "I even asked my eldest brother to flatter and plead with him... but it was no use. In the end, he wouldn’t even consider me—not even as a concubine."
Her smile wavered, touched by pain.
"I know I’m not beautiful. My legs are too long... It’s normal for people to look down on me. Every time I hear someone mention it, I feel ashamed. I just lower my head... I can’t bear to listen."
Lu Sheng’s lips twitched. Something feels off about that… A strange dissonance stirred inside him, and he couldn't quite shake it.
"But what can I do? I was born this way," Chen Yunxi said with a forced smile. "Maybe you look down on me too... but I—I really like you."
She bit her lip and, after a moment’s hesitation, reached into the small bag at her waist. With trembling hands, she pulled out a scroll bound with a copper seal. Slowly, carefully, she unrolled it in front of him.
"My father said your Lu family is planning to move into the city. Why not make it Yanshan?" Her voice was calm, but her eyes searched his face nervously. "If you’re willing... this is the deed to fifteen restaurants in Yanshan City. All yours. Enough for the Lu family to establish a strong foothold."
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