Amid curses spoken with strong emotion but weak voices, and long, heavy, recurring sighs, the attempts at creating blades continued without any sign of success across the entire field. Teeth ground in every corner, sometimes in a disconcerting sync. Tongues clicked in displeasure. And no opinion could be shared that would change anything, for everyone who had the time to try was in the same situation.

  Meanwhile, Xiao Yun found himself immersed in a different problem, one he couldn't explain even though it was unfolding before his eyes from the very start. It was just unreal, nothing more.

  Is she really forming her dantian...? In less than a morning?!

  Unable to decide what he should feel, he watched. In silence. Sometimes trembling. For when the energy fluctuated, even minimally, as it entered her body, his heart would race, then slow almost to a stop, and his throat would tighten so much that not even air could pass through. He only returned to normal when the Qi would flow calmly and in sync.

  That might be strange, absurd, but it was equally exciting to witness. He couldn't waste time trying to create a single sword when something so amazing was happening right in front of him. If he did, he’d feel like he missed out on something. What? He couldn't say.

  Her fingers vibrated and he swallowed nervously. It was unsettling how anxious he was, yet he could do nothing. He wanted to know the result.

  He Rui opened her eyes and looked around. The air seemed purer than usual and her body lighter. A comforting warmth had arisen somewhere in her abdomen, soothing and reassuring.

  — How are you feeling?

  — How? — she clenched her fist, then released it. Even the pain in her finger, which had bothered her for days, had lessened — Well...? Yes, I think I'm fine.

  — Did you form your dantian?

  She nodded.

  — That’s ridiculous...

  — Excuse me?

  — No, it’s nothing. — Xiao Yun stood up. — Let's join the others. You should be able to do it too, now.

  Getting up, nodding her head, He Rui followed him toward the others. She was still confused and had no real information about what was actually happening, because the boy walking ahead had only spoken to her about cultivation, nothing more. After all, what was that group, or who was the person who brought her there? She could think of an answer to the latter, but it was hard to believe.

  Why would "god" bring me here? To these people...

  She didn't want to think about it too much. She preferred not to know, and to believe that, at the end of the day, they would let her go as long as she did nothing wrong.

  But what if they don't...? The thought made her tremble.

  — Aaahh! Damn it! This is impossible! — Gao Yu exclaimed, throwing himself to the ground.

  — How far have you all gotten so far?

  — Progress? What progress? This stuff doesn’t work, simple as that. — He noticed He Rui approaching and got up a bit after sensing a gentle energy coming from her — Looks like you really are a genius, Xiao Yun. What did you do, anyway? How did you get her to sense Qi so fast?

  — I did... — Xiao Yun looked away, glancing at the girl approaching more slowly behind. A heavy sigh echoed out.

  — What is it? What's the problem, is she that bad?

  — Bad...? Well, you'll soon understand.

  — Stop whining and do something. — Gao Yao looked at He Rui for a moment — You can sit here. — He called her over.

  Sense Qi... She kept watching the girl even as she sat beside her with a heavy chest. I don't think she just did that.

  He Rui looked at the untitled scroll and read its contents — Is this what that... wrote? Is it really that easy to create those blades?

  — Easy...? — Gao Yu’s head slipped from his palm making him fall back to the ground. He let out a weak laugh and didn't get up immediately, only after Gao Yao looked at him with an unhappy expression.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Displeasure at those words was universal among those who heard them, who had already been practicing the technique for some time without any progress. Many rolled their eyes, clenched their fists, and ground their teeth.

  Ma Lei clicked his tongue a little to the side of where she was.

  — ...Did I say something wrong...? — He Rui shrunk further under the stares.

  — No, they're just very sensitive. Try not to mind it.

  After nodding, He Rui returned her attention to the scroll. Everything was so clear to her eyes, so simple and practical. What could be wrong with following such straightforward instructions? She raised a palm and closed her eyes, focusing — First the form... — she murmured to herself.

  Xiao Yun was the first to pay attention, then others turned to her. They wanted to see if that confidence was justified. They believed it wasn't, that it was impossible. It wouldn't make sense otherwise, they didn't doubt it. And that's why the surprise was so great when they saw the Qi coming together.

  Gao Yu straightened his back — Seriously...?

  Ma Lei clenched his fists tightly, while Wu Xue and Guang Ai had the most common reaction among the rest — raising their eyebrows in mild shock and opening their mouths. Guang Jun, however, smiled with admiration.

  — That's what you call "bad"? — Wu Xue questioned Xiao Yun.

  — I never said that, I just said you'd understand.

  The Qi gathered calmly and precisely; it stopped, then began to move in sync during formation. First the hilt emerged, then stretched as the bright, clear blade appeared.

  He Rui opened her eyes and sighed — It's harder than I thought... — she admitted with disarming honesty for all who heard — I couldn't do it.

  — What...? — Gao Yu raised an eyebrow.

  Touching the blade’s tip with her finger, He Rui made it fragment — I couldn't do the interior, so it was fragile.

  Xiao Yun turned to the scroll ahead — First the form... — After reading the text, it didn't take long for him to understand what it meant. Raising his hand, he began his first attempt.

  The initial result was satisfactory, with the joining of Qi proceeding smoothly. However, when it came time to condense it, the hilt started to appear, but then a failure dispersed the energy like a small silent explosion.

  — You too..? — Gao Yao frowned, paid attention to He Rui’s words, and returned to the scroll, trying as she had — It’s a bit better, but it’s still not enough.

  The more attentive ones quickly did the same. They internalized the first phrase, knowing it was the first step, and took it as the beginning of a path. However, the results didn't change in the end. They could now start the process, but could never get far with it.

  Gao Yu, still lying down, tried without much effort and was still among those with the best performance. However, even he couldn't form a complete blade — Still missing something... — he sighed, closing his hand, dispersing the accumulated energy — Control or power, maybe both. Probably, we haven't reached the necessary stage to use a technique like this.

  — So it's not just about understanding. — Guang Ai commented.

  — Maybe... Well, it could be. — Gao Yao clenched his fist, canceling the Qi merger. She looked at He Rui, who, eyes closed, remained completely absorbed in her blade-shaping attempts — Even if it's difficult, this technique isn't impossible to learn even for those of us who haven't met the prerequisites. There must be a reason for that.

  — Do you think he gave us this technique hoping we’d reach the next stage through comprehending it? In a single day? If so, he really overestimates us, haha.

  — W-Well, I don't know about you guys, but... I think I feel the next step approaching. — Guang Jun murmured, speaking lower than he planned — Especially after what she said...

  — So comprehension wouldn't be limited to the technique, but would encompass the next stage of cultivation as a whole?

  — Anyone got something in mind? Now would be a great time to say something. — Gao Yu looked around, then dropped back to the ground after receiving only silence — Fine, forget it. You guys are lazier than me, incredible.

  — I don't think that's the problem. After all, many of them are trying much harder than you. — Wu Xue pointed out — The thing is, some of us can't get results by doing the bare minimum, no matter how small.

  — And how is that my fault? I don't—

  — Enough. — Gao Yao said, shutting Gao Yu up as he rolled his eyes — You’re forgetting what’s really important right now. We're not here together because we’re all friends, remember that. So stop these pointless quarrels and try to do something useful.

  — Ha, of course, who would imagine brothers being on the same side. — Ma Lei muttered with a low laugh.

  — What was that?

  — You’re not at home, and we don’t serve your family, so don’t act like you’re above any of us.

  — Oh, that... Sorry if I acted that way. Really, I take the blame for trying to keep this bunch of idiots in line while some arrogant fool keeps clicking his tongue every time he sees someone do better than him. Face it, you're not even better than Wu Xue, and she started training last among us all. If he picked the others based on talent, he definitely picked you to satisfy your ego.

  Attempts to stifle laughter failed and Gao Yu burst out laughing until he teared up.

  — You—

  In an instant the laughter stopped and, while wiping tears from his face, he said — Get up, and I promise you’ll never manage that again.

  Clenching his fists, Ma Lei averted his gaze and backed down.

  — I said stop.

  — I’ve stopped. — Gao Yu shrugged, laughing — I’m not doing anything.

  — And that’s the problem... — Gao Yao sighed.

  Opening her eyes, He Rui saw yet another failed blade and an unpleasant atmosphere. Everyone’s looks felt heavier. She leaned toward Xiao Yun — What happened..?

  The boy shook his head from side to side — Nothing important.