It was another new day in this unfamiliar yet increasingly comfortable world. I had already completed my daily physical routine—a series of precise movements designed to strengthen my meridians and expand my soul power capacity—and had taken a fresh bath, the cold water invigorating my senses and preparing me for the challenges ahead.
The girl was still asleep, her small form curled beneath the thin blanket, her breathing soft and steady. I believe her deep slumber is due to her awakening her martial spirit recently; her body is gradually adapting to the profound changes occurring within. The only problem is that she is two years behind other children her age, but this delay can be easily remedied by training her body to its maximum potential. With my guidance and the right techniques, she could easily surpass those with an earlier start.
The morning sunlight filtered through the cracks in the wooden shutters, casting long, golden rays across the small room. I stood by the window for a moment, contemplating my next steps. The world outside was already bustling with activity—merchants calling out their wares, the distant clang of metal from the blacksmith's forge, the occasional laughter of children playing in the streets. But my focus remained on the task at hand: training this girl with potential.
I glanced at the small container in my hand. Inside was the remaining half piece of whale glue, a rare and valuable substance known for its body-enhancing properties. I had consumed half already—or rather, I had taken more than enough whale glue to enhance my body to its current limits. Due to this, more whale glue would not work on me, but it could serve a better purpose now.
The aroma of cooking meat drifted through the air as I prepared breakfast for myself and the girl. It was another rabbit dish, seasoned with wild herbs I had gathered from the forest edge the previous evening. And Xiao Wu is now unavailable due to me cooking rabbit dish.
The food ready, I approached the sleeping girl and gently shook her shoulder. "Wake up," I said, my voice soft but commanding. "Breakfast is ready."
Her eyes fluttered open, confusion briefly clouding her gaze before recognition set in. She sat up quickly, perhaps too quickly, as she swayed slightly from the sudden movement.
"Good morning," she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep.
"First things first," I said, guiding her to the small basin of water I had prepared. "Brush your teeth, and wash your face." She complied without complaint, and I noted with approval her increasing adaptability.
We sat together at the simple wooden table, eating our breakfast in comfortable silence. I observed that her appetite had grown significantly since I had first encountered her. She consumed her portion with surprising speed, occasionally glancing at me as if to gauge my reaction. It might be due to the influence of her martial soul, or perhaps her body's increased demand for nutrients to keep up with the growth her awakened martial soul required.
"Eat slowly," I advised, pushing a cup of water toward her. "Only by repeatedly chewing will let you ingest and absorb nutrients better."
She nodded, visibly trying to pace herself with the remainder of her meal. After breakfast, I had to wipe her mouth clean—she still ate with the enthusiasm of a child—and help her change into fresh clothes suitable for the day's activities.
The room grew quiet as we finished our morning routines. The moment of decision had come.
"So," I asked her softly, watching her face carefully, "what have you decided?" The question hung in the air between us, weighted with significance.
She fidgeted with the hem of her tunic, her eyes downcast. "Would you take care of me, sister? Would you be always there for me?" Her voice trembled slightly, revealing her vulnerability and the depth of her need for attachment.
I recognized her tendency toward dependence—not unexpected given her age and recent traumatic experiences. While affection and protection were natural desires, they could become dangerous weaknesses in this world. I needed to address this mindset immediately.
"No," I replied firmly, maintaining eye contact to ensure my message was received clearly. "I am not your nanny to take care of you every moment. The only reason I decided to teach you is because you have potential."
I leaned forward slightly, emphasizing my next words. "If you are looking to rely entirely on others, then I will be disappointed. Just as I told you before, this world is selfish—there is no law, only interest. Here, only strength is respected, only the strong are cared for."
My voice softened slightly, though my expression remained serious. "If you want me to always be there for you, then show me the strength that I will value enough to care about. Prove your worth through dedication and growth, not through dependency."
I knew my words were heavy for a child her age, but if she didn't mature faster, her future would become increasingly difficult. The world we inhabited showed no mercy to the weak, regardless of age or circumstance. From what I had observed, she possessed an intelligence beyond her years—a sharp mind concealed behind those innocent eyes. That's precisely why I told her plainly what I expected from her. The decision to follow my path would be hers alone.
The girl fell silent, her small hands clenched into fists on her lap. The morning light illuminated the dust particles floating in the air between us as she processed my words. I waited patiently, giving her the space needed to make this crucial decision. Forcing an answer would defeat the purpose—this needed to be her choice, made with full understanding of the implications.
After several minutes of contemplation, she raised her head. What I saw surprised even me—instead of the weak, fearful expression I had grown accustomed to, I glimpsed something else entirely: a spark in her eyes, tiny but unmistakable. Even if it was small, it represented the essential beginning—the single ember capable of igniting an entire forest fire.
"Sister," she began, then paused, straightening her posture with newfound resolve. "No. Master. Please accept me as your disciple."
I studied her for a moment, searching for any hesitation or uncertainty. Finding none, I continued, "Are you sure about becoming my disciple? For your information, I am the same age as you and have already obtained two soul rings. And you cannot regret your decision after being accepted."
Her eyes widened slightly at the mention of my soul rings—an exceptional achievement for someone so young—but her determination did not waver.
"Yes, I am sure," she replied, her voice stronger than before. "Master, please accept me as your disciple."
An unexpected warmth spread through my chest. I hadn't anticipated finding a disciple so soon in my journey, especially not one with such raw potential. "Then, I will accept you as my disciple," I declared. "Give me a bow according to the tradition of master and disciple."
Without hesitation, she stood up from seat and bowed to me. "I greet you master."
"Rise," I commanded after the appropriate interval. "Now, let me introduce myself properly. I am Xiao Qingxue. You may call me Master and sister Qingxue in public."
At that moment, she looked up with a slightly embarrassed expression, her cheeks tinged with pink. "Master," she said hesitantly, "actually, I don't remember my name. Would you... please give me a name?"
"Well, I am not particularly good with names," I admitted, considering the request carefully. "But I have thought of one that might suit you: 'Qing Baixue.' It means Clear White Snow. I chose it because of your martial soul, or more specifically, the colour of your hair."
Her hair was indeed remarkable—pure white, like freshly fallen snow, with an almost translucent quality that seemed to capture and reflect light in subtle, beautiful ways. It was a physical manifestation of her rare martial soul, and her golden eye which too captivating.
Her face brightened immediately. "Then from today onward, I am Master's disciple, Qing Baixue," she declared, the name already seeming to strengthen her presence in the room.
[Bronze rank achievement: Get a Talented Disciple|| Claim: Whole elementary, primary and secondary school knowledges.]
'Fine, I will take that. There's no problem on gaining more knowledge and now I even completely remember every chemical formula, physics rule, geometry etc.'
Standing, I focused my soul power, concentrating it between my palms. The energy glowed with a soft, pulsing light as I shaped it according to my will. With careful precision, I created a storage soul guide in the shape of a delicate hair clip, with a small gem embedded in its center.
The process consumed ten times the soul power that would be required for a temporary creation, but the result was permanent—a tangible manifestation of my power and a symbol of our new bond. The clip gleamed in the sunlight, catching the light and reflecting it in rainbow patterns across the room's simple walls. Though created on a whim, it appeared precious and elegant—a fitting gift for my first disciple.
"This is a gift from me to commemorate you becoming my first disciple," I explained, placing the clip in her small hands. "It is a storage-type soul guide which can help you store objects in a space of about one cubic meter. I can expand its capacity after I reach a higher level."
Baixue's eyes widened as she carefully examined the clip, turning it over in her hands with reverent attention. "It's beautiful," she whispered, clearly awed by both the gift's appearance and its practical function.
"It's more than ornamental," I explained. "Such tools are essential for any serious cultivator. Now, carefully pin it in your hair, and we will begin your first lesson."
She obeyed immediately, securing the clip above her right ear with trembling fingers. The gem seemed to pulse briefly as it connected with her nascent soul power—a good sign that the bond was forming properly.
"Now," I continued, "the first thing I need to teach you is my personal soul power cultivation technique. For that, you must first..." I paused, observing how her eyes shone with undisguised curiosity and eagerness to learn. This was the proper attitude for a disciple.
"Strip down and lay naked on the bed," I instructed matter-of-factly.
The words hung in the air for a moment before her expression transformed from eager anticipation to complete shock. Her mouth opened and closed several times without producing sound, her face flushing a deep crimson that spread down her neck.
"I... what?" she finally managed, her voice barely audible.
I suppressed my amusement at her reaction. "I only need you to show your bare back so that I can circulate your soul power and demonstrate how the cultivation technique works," I clarified, keeping my tone professional and instructional. "And you must understand that you cannot teach this technique to anyone, as it is my own personal method. If I discover that someone else has learned it without my explicit permission, I will hunt you down relentlessly."
The severity of my warning was necessary—personal cultivation techniques were among the most closely guarded secrets in our world, often worth more than mountains of gold or the rarest of treasures.
Relief visibly washed over her features, though my warning about secrecy clearly registered. "I understand, Teacher," she responded formally. "I swear that I will not speak a word about your cultivation technique to anyone."
With renewed seriousness, she moved to the bed and carefully removed her upper garments, laying face down with her bare back exposed. The remnants of old bruises were still visible on her pale skin—fading yellows and greens that spoke of her previous hardships. These, too, would soon vanish under my care.
I sat behind her and placed both hands on her back, feeling the delicate structure of her spine and the subtle flow of energy beneath her skin. Activating my martial soul, the Herrscher's Eye of Truth, I perceived the complex network of meridians throughout her body—channels through which soul power would eventually flow freely.
According to the Nine Breath Convince Qi method, I began carefully circulating her soul power along the prescribed route. Several meridians showed blockages—not unusual for a novice, especially one who had suffered physical trauma—but these were relatively simple for me to clear with my advanced perception and control.
"Breathe deeply," I instructed, "and focus your attention on the movement of energy within you. Try to feel the path it follows."
As I completed multiple cycles of the technique, I could sense Baixue's growing awareness of the energy patterns. Her breathing synchronized with the circulation, and occasional small gasps indicated moments when she particularly felt the flow of power through previously blocked channels. By the time I removed my hands from her back, she had grasped the basic level of the technique—an impressive achievement for her first attempt.
"You've done well for a beginner," I acknowledged as she sat up and redressed herself. "Practice this circulation pattern exactly as I showed you, at least 2 hours daily with deep meditation, and natural circulation must be on instinct that with every breath you are circulating that energy. The timing is crucial for optimal absorption of natural energy."
She nodded eagerly, clearly pleased with even this measured praise. "Yes, Master! I will practice diligently."
"Good. However, learning the circulation technique is only the beginning." I reached for the container of whale glue I had set aside earlier. "There is medicine that can significantly increase your physical strength, but I must warn you—taking it will likely be unbearable and excruciatingly painful. I want you to practice the technique I've taught you for one week to prepare your body before attempting to consume this medicine."
Her expression grew solemn as she nodded her understanding. "I will prepare myself, Master."
I nodded, satisfied with her response. She was proving to be more obedient than I had anticipated—a quality I appreciated in a disciple. Obedience, when combined with talent and determination, often led to extraordinary growth.
Over the following week, I observed Baixue's progress with careful attention. Each morning and evening, she would sit in meditation, practicing the circulation technique with increasing proficiency. Between these sessions, I fed her carefully selected meals—rich in nutrients and proteins to build her physical foundation. I supplemented her diet with rare herbs known to enhance soul power absorption, gradually preparing her system for the trial ahead.
The changes became visible within days. Her complexion improved, gaining a healthy glow that replaced her previous pallor. Her movements became more coordinated, her stamina improved, and even her posture reflected the growing confidence within. According to my assessment through the cultivation technique, her health and physical condition had already recovered to what would be expected for her age.
She seemed more cheerful now, her nightmares less frequent, her sleep more restful. Her dedication to training impressed me—she never complained about fatigue or soreness, instead asking for additional exercises whenever she completed her assigned tasks. Sometimes, particularly after intensive training sessions that left her emotionally and physically drained, she would timidly ask if I would hold her as she fell asleep. I accepted these requests occasionally, recognizing that she was still processing traumatic experiences from her past. The human mind, like the body, required proper care during development.