After the gathering ended, Xian Di returned to the Tang family estate. His victory had garnered him recognition, but he knew that attention could also bring danger. As he walked into the familiar courtyard, his mother, Mei Ling, awaited him, her face a mask of calm but her eyes betraying concern.
"Xian Di," she began softly, "there's something I need to tell you."
Xian Di remained silent, listening as she continued.
"When you were born, an engagement was arranged between you and a girl from the Qing Family, named Shen Yulan. At the time, it was meant to strengthen ties between the Bai Family and the Qing Family. But now, things have changed. Shen Yulan is coming to cancel the engagement."
Xian Di processed the information calmly. He had never been told of this arrangement, and now that it was being dissolved, he found he cared little about it.
"I see," Xian Di replied, his voice measured. "If she wishes to cancel it, let her. I've never relied on that connection."
Mei Ling gave a small nod of approval, though concern still clouded her eyes. "You've grown into a man, Xian Di. I'm proud of your strength."
She rose, walking to retrieve a long, silk-wrapped object. As she unwrapped it, a gleaming spear was revealed, the light catching on the finely crafted weapon.
"This is for your victory at the family gathering," Mei Ling said, handing him the spear. "The family wanted to reward you."
Xian Di took the spear, immediately feeling its weight and balance. The shaft was made of dark ironwood, reinforced with thin, spiraling bands of silver. The wood absorbed the light, giving it a shadowy, almost ominous quality. The spearhead was forged from Mithril Steel, its blade sharp and gleaming with faint silver runes along its edges. The weapon exuded power, and Xian Di knew it was crafted for someone of his growing strength.
"Thank you, Mother," Xian Di said, admiring the spear's craftsmanship. He could feel the potential within it, waiting to be unleashed.
---
That night, Xian Di sat in meditation in the courtyard, feeling the familiar presence of the system as it prepared to issue his rewards.
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System Notification
Quest Completed: Defeat an Enemy 1.5 Stages Above You
Reward: Thunder-based Spear Skill (Novice Level)
System Notification
Cultivation Upgrade: Qi Refinement Stage 3 (Mid) → Qi Refinement Stage 4 (Mid)
Note: Upgrade available now that you have returned home.
---
Xian Di felt the familiar surge of power as his cultivation advanced from Qi Refinement Stage 3 (Mid) to Stage 4 (Mid). The increase in his Qi flow was immediate, the strength in his body growing more refined. Along with the cultivation boost, the knowledge of the Thunder-based spear skill settled into his consciousness, the technique ready to be put to use.
---
Later that night, Xian Di rose from his meditation and stepped into the courtyard, gripping his new spear. The cool night air was still, and the moonlight illuminated the stone floor. He took a deep breath, letting his Qi flow through him as he prepared to test the new technique.
The Thunder-based spear skill required not only precision but speed—speed that mimicked the strike of a thunderclap. It was not about releasing lightning but about the sudden, blinding force of a strike that landed with the speed and power of a thunderbolt.
Xian Di raised the spear, focusing his Qi into the weapon. He thrust forward in one fluid motion, and in the blink of an eye, the spear struck the target before him, the sound of the impact like a crack of thunder. The force of the blow reverberated through the air, the sudden speed of the strike leaving a sharp, thunderous echo.
The power of the skill was not in its visual display but in the blindingly fast execution. In an instant, the spear struck with such speed and precision that it could catch even the most vigilant opponent off-guard. The air around him crackled with the residual energy of the strike, and the ground bore the mark of the spear's impact.
Xian Di continued, moving through the stances with increasing speed. Each strike of the spear was like the crack of thunder—sharp, fast, and devastating. The runes along the blade flickered with each impact, absorbing and stabilizing the raw energy being channeled through the weapon.
With each repetition, Xian Di's control over the technique grew. The Thunder-based spear skill was a weapon in itself, capable of overwhelming an enemy with the sheer speed of its execution. The suddenness of the strike would leave his opponents reeling, unable to defend against an attack that arrived faster than their minds could process.
He struck once more, the spear moving so swiftly that it seemed to disappear for a split second, only to reappear with a deafening crack as it struck the target with immense force. The power of the technique was undeniable—devastatingly fast, with the potential to turn the tide of any battle.
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As the night drew on, Xian Di lowered the spear, his breath steady but his body humming with the aftereffects of the technique. The Thunder-based spear skill was not yet mastered, but even at its current level, it was a formidable weapon in his arsenal.
Tomorrow, Shen Yulan would arrive, and Tang Weihao would soon return to the estate.