Chapter 23: Is He a Genius?

On the way, the youth told Lin Xiu that if he needs someone to practice with in the future,he would be available anytime.

"Are you sure? Lin Dun, if you're thinking of repaying me for helping you get the Qi Method, it's completely unnecessary," Lin Xiu looked at the other party somewhat unexpectedly. This young man named Lin Dun was a year older than him and hailed from Wu Tan City.

Because he wanted to gain experience and needed serious sparring, pretending to practice was useless, which often meant getting beaten up.

He didn't want to coerce others by helping them get the Qi Method.

"Repaying is just one aspect. Actually... Brother Xiu, I have an Earth Attribute Dou Qi. Properly tempering it through battle is just right for my Qi Method cultivation."

Although Lin Dun was older, he didn't hesitate to call Lin Xiu brother.

In this world, strength was respected.

Having grown up in Wu Tan City, Lin Dun had understood this from an early age.

Without Lin Xiu's help before, he would never have been able to obtain the Black Rank Low-Level Qi Method.

The path of cultivation was slow and steady.

"Let's support each other." Lin Xiu needed someone to spar with to gain experience, so he didn't insist further.

Back in the dormitory, after Lin Xiu finished washing up, he sat on the bed to cultivate.

After obtaining the Qi Method, there were no longer restrictions on cultivation like in the Dou Disciple stage.

Except for a few who hadn't yet advanced to Dou Practitioner, Xiao Ning was also cultivating on his bed.

He seemed immersed in his cultivation, and when Lin Xiu returned, he hadn't even opened his eyes.

Feeling the recovery of Dou Qi in his body, Lin Xiu controlled the Dou Qi to circulate according to the route of the Qi Method.

Morning.

After cultivating all night, Lin Xiu didn't feel tired at all. Instead, his Spirit was very vigorous, and his body was full of strength.

"Tomorrow, I should be able to break through to 2 Stars." Glancing at the panel information, Lin Xiu got up and washed up.

Leaving the dormitory, he bought some food and headed towards the lake.

Eating breakfast on the way, when he reached the lakeside, Lin Xiu first prepared for fishing.

Fishing for experience was very simple; as long as the fishing hook was cast, he would gain 1 point of experience every ten minutes without needing to do anything else.

If he could catch fish, he could trigger a large amount of experience.

"Fishing is really good. If I catch the target, I can complete tasks and earn Task Points. Even if I don't catch anything, I can still earn Attribute Points."

After preparing, Lin Xiu began practicing Dou Technique.

There were many low-level Dou Techniques in the ring, and these Abilities were not very powerful. If it were someone else, they wouldn't bother spending time learning them.

However, Lin Xiu was different. He could merge Dou Techniques with each other to obtain stronger Dou Techniques, and during the practice process, he could also increase the level of Dou Techniques, thus earning Attribute Points.

As Lin Xiu entered a state of immersion, time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was afternoon. Lin Xiu had caught a total of two fish, raising his Fishing level to 2 and earning 1 Attribute Point.

Unfortunately, he hadn't caught the target fish required for the task.

The fish the task issuer wanted was the White Carp, entirely snowy white and about half a meter in length.

This kind of fish was very fast and generally wouldn't easily show itself on the water's surface. Occasionally, it would emerge like an arrow and then dive back down.

Having stayed by the lake for several days, Lin Xiu had only seen the White Carp twice. At one point, he almost doubted if there were any White Carp in the lake at all.

"Fortunately, I'm not here just for the task, but because I find this place quiet and suitable for practicing Dou Techniques."

With a relaxe attitude. Lin Xiu's fishing was primarily about doing as he pleased.

So, not catching any fish for a few days didn't affect Lin Xiu's mindset at all.

During a break, Lin Xiu looked up and saw an old man sitting across the lake. The old man happened to be looking in his direction, so Lin Xiu waved to him as a way of greeting.

When his Dou Qi recovered, Lin Xiu practiced Dou Techniques, reeling in his rod if he caught a fish.

In the evening, Lin Xiu packed up his things, exchanged greetings with the old man, and left the lake.

"I mastered two kinds of attack Dou Techniques today and one for defense and one for agility. Practicing them with Xiao Ning and Lin Dun tonight should be able to elevate them by 2 levels."

He practiced during the day for basics and sparred with Xiao Ning and Lin Dun at night to gain experience and level up. Lin Xiu's plans were clear and straightforward.

Back at the dormitory, Lin Dun once again prepared dinner for Lin Xiu.

"Brother Xiu, tell me what you like to eat, and I'll make a note of it," Lin Dun asked as he handed over the dinner to Lin Xiu.

Lin Xiu wasn't being polite either; after listing out a bunch of preferences, he also gave Lin Dun some gold coins.

He could tell that Lin Dun's financial situation wasn't particularly good.

Having someone to help with meals was already quite good, but it would be a bit much if he ate for free.

Coincidentally, Steward Lin had previously given him five thousand gold coins, so Lin Xiu could be considered somewhat well-off and not lacking in money.

He practiced again until late at night.

"Panel."

When his Dou Qi flowed smoothly according to the Qi Method, Lin Xiu had a thought.

[Name: Lin Xiu]

[Age: 17]

[Realm: 1 Star Dou Practitioner (52/100)]

[Constitution: 12]

[Spirit: 6]

[Aptitude: 10]

[Abilities: Wind Lightning Technique Lv2 (115/200), ..., Mountain Breaker Lv5 (90/500), Shadow Step Lv4 (260/400), Qi Strength Lv4 (160/400), Fishing Lv2 (55/200), Straight Punch Lv2 (130/200), Three-Step Water Crossing Lv2 (110/200) ...]

[Attribute Points: 9]

Seeing the Attribute Points immediately surpass two digits, Lin Xiu couldn't help but think of his initial reaction when he saw a bunch of low-level Dou Techniques in the ring.

Back then, he truly believed that a bunch of Yellow Rank Low-Level Dou Techniques were useless.

But now... if there were a bunch of them in front of him, he would definitely pick them up without hesitation.

Low-level Dou Techniques may not have great power, but they are easy to start with due to their low entry barriers, quick to get the hang of, and very convenient to level up.

If Lin Xiu had a bunch of Black Rank Dou Techniques, he would indeed have trouble finding suitable sparring partners.

After all, using Black Rank Dou Techniques against Yellow Rank Dou Techniques, opponents of the same realm would definitely not be able to withstand them.

Yellow Rank Low-Level Dou Techniques may be a bit low-tier, but they can be used to earn Attribute Points, enrich combat experience, and can also be merged after reaching higher levels.

This is simply hitting multiple birds with one stone!

"Tomorrow, the Wind Lightning Technique should be able to break through to level 3, and then I can use the Attribute Points."

Since there wasn't much experience left, Lin Xiu decided to endure a bit and not waste the Attribute Points.

Lin Xiu stopped thinking too much and focused on his cultivation.

...

[You completed one session of cultivation, gaining +3 realm experience]

[You completed one session of cultivation, gaining +5 Wind Lightning Technique experience]

[Your Ability Wind Lightning Technique has been raised to level 3, earning 1 Attribute Point.]

[Your realm has been promoted, earning 1 Attribute Point.]

After some time passed, Lin Xiu was inundated with a large amount of information, and at the same time, he felt a dull sound as if a bottle stopper was being pulled out from within him.

In his dantian, the Dou Qi surged, continuously contracting and expanding.

However, upon closer inspection, one would notice that the Dou Qi had become denser than before.

[Realm: 2 Star Dou Practitioner (5/200)]

[Wind Lightning Technique Lv3 (0/300)]

[Attribute Points: 11]

"Allocate points!"

Lin Xiu snapped back to attention.

[Your Ability Wind Lightning Technique has been raised to Lv4]

[Your Ability...]

[Your Ability Wind Lightning Technique has been raised to Lv8]

[Note: Your Ability Wind Lightning Technique has reached the maximum level. You can use Attribute Points to raise it a maximum of 2 times, or you can choose to merge it with a Qi Method of the same rank.]

[Note: If you choose to raise it, merging will no longer be possible.]

[Wind Lightning Technique Lv8 (800/800)]

"Let's stop here for now." Lin Xiu decided not to continue using Attribute Points and instead started a new round of cultivation.

When the Qi Method level was maxed out, it meant that Lin Xiu had completely mastered this Qi Method. He was curious about what new changes cultivation would bring.

Lin Xiu's mind sank into his body, and a large amount of Dou Qi was drawn into the air, flowing through his entire body along the route, finally merging into his dantian.

"What is this..." Lin Xiu concentrated and noticed a strand of thunder within the Dou Qi of his dantian.

With the injection of new Dou Qi, the thunder flickered, appearing slightly stronger than before.

If it weren't for his focused observation, this subtle change might not have been noticed.

Lin Xiu attempted to control it, and to his surprise, he could actually manipulate the strand of thunder, smoothly guiding it through his body.

Wherever the thunder passed, his meridians felt a tingling sensation, and some of the smaller ones felt like they were on the verge of bursting.

Initially intending to endure the pain, Lin Xiu noticed that the thunder carried a numbing sensation, making him lose feeling in his meridians.

"Numbness prevents feeling pain..." Lin Xiu decided not to heavily rely on this thunder, "I can only describe it as... unique."

Although numbness could temporarily mask pain, the scars it left behind could not be ignored.

"I could use it to expand my meridians in the future, which could be considered a form of tempering."

The movement of Dou Qi in the meridians is somewhat affected by their width.

Some higher-ranked Dou Techniques have extremely fast Dou Qi circulation. If the meridians are not strong enough, forcing the cultivation could result in self-injury.

"If I follow this training method, perhaps I won't have to worry about damaging my meridians when practicing Earth Rank Dou Techniques in the future."

Upon reflection, Lin Xiu realized that his synthesized Qi Method seemed not only limited to the attributes of wind and thunder but also included a bit of body forging.

Moreover, this strand of thunder, if cultivated continuously, would continue to grow. It might become a means of injuring enemies in the future.

"Now, each cultivation session increases my realm experience by 8 points. If I focus on cultivation, I could break through to 3 Star Dou Practitioner in just one day."

After a brief consideration, Lin Xiu was astonished by his terrifying cultivation speed.

You should know, not even Xiao Yan has such a crazy cultivation speed.

Calming his excited emotions, Lin Xiu got up and washed up.

Seeing Xiao Ning rinsing his mouth, Lin Xiu suddenly pinched the back of his neck, Dou Qi circulating in his fingers.

"Giggle."

Instantly, Xiao Ning shook as if he had been shocked.

Once he regained composure, he quickly moved aside, casting fearful glances at Lin Xiu.

'What's going on? Have I really developed feelings from sparring with Lin Xiu every day? He just touched me, and I felt like I was being electrocuted.'

Thinking about how he could have feelings for another man, goosebumps rose on his arms, and his hairs stood on end.

Seeing Xiao Ning hurriedly leave, Lin Xiu was stunned. Did the side effect of the electric shock hit him so hard? It didn't feel like much voltage.

"Brother Xiu, do you want me to bring you lunch?" Lin Dun asked as they walked to class together.

"No need, I'll buy lunch in the morning."

After a brief rest, the Academy also began its normal routine. Lin Xiu had daily classes, with teachers in the morning covering various aspects of cultivation.

Most of these classes focused on imparting Dou Techniques and combat skills. After all, the practice of Qi Method was more of a master guiding one through the door, while personal cultivation was an individual journey.

Dou Techniques, on the other hand, were crucial for survival in future battles.

In addition to combat-related subjects, the Academy offered elective courses in politics, culture, and other areas, depending on personal interests.

Students at Jia Nan Academy came from several empires, and not everyone could enter the inner courtyard or continue practicing at the Academy indefinitely. Some individuals would leave the Academy and return to their home countries.

Therefore, the teachings at the Academy were not limited to cultivation alone.

Lin Xiu had no interest in elective courses. Being a solitary individual, he didn't have a strong affiliation with the Jia Ma Empire.

In Lin Xiu's impression of the world of "Dou Po", strength was paramount. As long as one was strong enough, all problems were not problems at all.

After the morning Dou Technique class ended, Lin Xiu headed straight to the lakeside. There was nothing more convenient for gaining experience than fishing. It was like AFK gaming.

The old man across the lake arrived very early today. When he saw Lin Xiu greet him, he smiled in response.

"Wait! He's a 2 Star Dou Practitioner?" As his gaze returned to the lake, Hu Gan suddenly sensed something amiss. He raised his head abruptly, reevaluating Lin Xiu.

These days, Lin Xiu had been coming regularly. It was hard for Hu Gan not to pay attention.

However, Hu Gan hadn't taken it seriously because in his view, a student taking a fishing task at the Task Hall must lack the strength to participate in other tasks and likely lacked any talent for cultivation.

Although Lin Xiu had been practicing Dou Techniques these days, Hu Gan could tell at a glance that those Dou Techniques were all Yellow Rank Low Level ones that nobody would bother picking up even if they were thrown on the ground.

In a place like Jia Nan Academy, among a hundred people, ninety-nine would choose to pick up a bag of coins over a Yellow Rank Low Level Dou Technique.

So, seeing Lin Xiu practicing Yellow Rank Low Level Dou Techniques all day, Hu Gan lost even more interest.

"Just a few days, is he a genius?" Hu Gan felt somewhat incredulous.

After some thought, he decided to have a chat with this young man.

Setting down his fishing rod, about to practice Dou Techniques, Lin Xiu saw the old man walking towards him from across the lake and stopped his actions.

"Lin Xiu, not planning to give up the White Carp fishing task?" Hu Gan smiled.

Since their first meeting, Lin Xiu had approached him first for inquiries, so they had exchanged words before.

"Elder, fishing for White Carp isn't the main point. I just like the environment here," Lin Xiu spoke honestly.

Hu Gan knew that the White Carp task didn't offer many Task Points as rewards. He knew Old Man Huo who issued the task was a stingy fellow.

Although power could be used to catch it, they insist on having students fish for it, refusing to increase the reward.

Upon hearing Lin Xiu's straightforward response, a hint of surprise flickered in his eyes. "This place is indeed quite nice, but since you've just enrolled, I believe you should spend your time on cultivation. Fishing can easily distract you."

'Is he here to show concern for me?' Lin Xiu was also somewhat surprised. A senior elder unexpectedly reminded a student about issues related to cultivation, which made him feel somewhat honored.

Especially since this elder was not just an ordinary person; he seemed to be the Deputy Headmaster of the outer courtyard of the Academy.

"Thank you for your concern, Elder. I will manage my time well and not let it interfere with my cultivation." Lin Xiu could not mention his experience-grinding activities, so he could only make verbal assurances.

"I noticed that you've been practicing low-level Dou Techniques all along. In fact, the Academy has many Yellow Rank Mid-Level and High-Level Dou Techniques, all taught by teachers. You can go learn from them."

Hu Gan observed closely, feeling even more keenly the unstable aura that Lin Xiu had just broken through.

This is a good seedling; we can't let the task of fishing for White Carp waste valuable cultivation time.

"Uh, thank you for your concern, Elder." Faced with the sudden care, Lin Xiu was at a loss.

He also knew about the Mid-Level and High-Level Dou Techniques, but one could only learn one each week.

Although they were more powerful than low-level techniques, the amount of Attribute Points one could obtain was too small, and it wasn't part of Lin Xiu's current plans.

"I suggest you don't waste time on this White Carp task. Fishing it tests your skills. Sometimes, it takes me more than half a month to catch one," Hu Gan looked at the lake, gazing for a moment, seemingly pondering, then turned, "Lin Xiu, how about a competition?"

"A competition about what, Elder?" Lin Xiu was puzzled.

"A fishing competition. If I catch more, you give up this task, and in the future, don't waste your time fishing." Hu Gan was a Deputy Headmaster who appreciated talent.

"What if you lose?" Lin Xiu asked instinctively, surprised by the request.

"Lose? How could I possibly lose?" Hu Gan felt challenged. He had been fishing in this lake for many years and was highly skilled.

After a moment's thought, he said, "If I lose, I won't advise you anymore. Additionally, since you like Dou Techniques so much, I'll give you a Black Rank Dou Technique."

Worried that Lin Xiu might not dare to challenge him, Hu Gan, with absolute confidence in himself, placed a significant bet.

"How about it? Do you dare to compete with me?" He stared at Lin Xiu.

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