It was a nice and beautiful morning. Yun Yi sat by the window, sipping warm tea as she admired the bustling cityscape of the Exalting Sanctum—its towering structures and endless streams of people flowing through the streets below.
"Sometimes, relaxing before getting busy is necessary," Yun Yi murmured softly, savoring the peaceful moment.
Her mind, however, was already on the move.
"The preparations are almost complete. I just need a supply of medicine, and then I'll be ready. First, I must temper this body... only then can I hope to begin cultivating again." Her thoughts were focused and precise. One missing piece remained: medicinal supplies.
"I know where to get them. Yesterday, when we were together, Bai Lu gave me her contact." Yun Yi planned to purchase everything she needed through Bai Lu. The connection was convenient—and trustworthy.
"Let me send her a direct message about the supply channel." She opened her Jade Abacus and began typing.
[Yun Yi] Good morning, Bai Lu.
A few minutes later, the response came:
[Bai Lu] Morning too!
[Yun Yi] Are you busy right now?
[Bai Lu] Nothing out of the ordinary. I'd say no, I'm not busy.
[Yun Yi] Then, could you help me buy some medicine?
[Bai Lu] Are you sick? Why not ask me to write you a prescription?
[Yun Yi] I'm not sick. Can you check if you have any of the ingredients that match the list I'm sending?
She attached an image of several herbs and spiritual ingredients.
[Bai Lu] This much?! What are you planning to make with all these?
[Bai Lu] Still, I'll check if I can find what's listed.
[Yun Yi] Okay. I'll wait for your good news.
[Yun Yi] Oh right—wanna tag along with me? I'm planning to head to Scalegorge Waterscape.
She closed the message window without waiting for a reply.
[Bai Lu] What?! Why are you going there, Yun Yi??
[Bai Lu] Yun Yi? Yun Yi??!
Yun Yi didn't check the messages. Her focus was already elsewhere.
She had made up her mind—to begin her training today, to push her physical state to the limits, and to prepare herself for the path of cultivation that lay ahead. She packed her gear and departed for Scalegorge Waterscape.
Before long, she arrived.
"This place has quite a few Abundance… that's what these creatures are called, right?" She scanned the surroundings, noting the local beasts.
"But they're not a threat, not even to me in my current state. This area suits my training well. It's settled—this will be my training ground."
She stretched lightly, gazing over the water and terrain ahead.
"Let's begin with a 10-kilometer run. After all, today's Tuesday," she said, half to herself, and started warming up.
Then she ran.
Hours later, she returned—sweat dripping, face flushed, and breath heavy.
"Didn't expect just a 10km run to wear me out this badly. This really takes me back… to when Master trained me." Despite her fatigue, she smiled, faintly but genuinely.
"This is going to be my daily routine now—twelve hours of uninterrupted training."
She mentally mapped out the plan:
> "This week: 10 kilometers on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
The rest of the days? 10km in the morning and evening.
Swimming will follow the same pattern."
She could only laugh dryly at how brutal her own schedule sounded.
"I must hone this body beyond its natural limits… only then can I begin cultivating again." Her words were steady, filled with conviction.
And so it began. Her days became cycles of grueling physical training. After Bai Lu delivered the required herbs, she began using medicinal baths to speed her recovery. She incorporated meditation, rest, and focused breathing techniques between workouts.
Without even realizing it, time began to flow faster—day after day spent in quiet, steady effort.